The American Kestrel, sometimes called the Sparrowhawk, is North America's smallest falcon.
Often found in fields and pastures, perched upon electrical wires, or fenceposts, they scan open fields for grasshoppers, mice or any other small prey. Kestrels are able to see the urine trails of mice due to ultraviolet sight.
The favored breeding habitat is where sparse trees or groves meet open country, which is not limited to agricultural lands and grasslands.
Usually the most sociable of falcons, males perform aerial displays and feed a female for courting interests. This proves to the female his hunting prowess and ability to provide for nestlings. It also continues to strengthen the pair bond. Females will do most of the incubating and the young fledge in about thirty days.
These falcons are cavity nesters, often using nestboxes, rock crevices, and sheltered platforms if necessary. An average of four eggs are laid, depending upon food availability at two-day intervals, then incubation begins just before the final egg is laid.
American Kestrel, Payne County, OK
They are in Oklahoma all year, and some of their breeding is quite concealed, which explains why they are not often seen in the summer, unless one of the pair is by a roadside seeking food for the female and the young.
This buoyant flier ranges throughout the Americas and is a dimorphic species (sexes differ). Their calls are quite distinctive, as "klee-klee-klee-ke-lee!," which helps to locate them.
The kestrel occasionally is prey for the Cooper's and Red-tailed Hawks, but there was an incident last year with all three sitting on electrical wires, hunting. They were all interested in one mouse, to which the Red-tailed Hawk was victorious. The second mouse was taken by the Cooper's Hawk, and the kestrel was so irritated, he gave the above call, then fled the area.
Greater Roadrunner Takes on rattlesnake and wins.
Don't worry about the bite on his leg. They have
natural antibodies to rattlesnake venom.
Oft thought as a bird solely of great speed that can outrun a human, the Greater Roadrunner is much more than what meets the eye. A solitary bird unless it is breeding season, this southwestern resident
is a cuckoo with a Latin moniker that translates to California earth cuckoo. Not only do they reside under some of the worst conditions in flatlands, they are also found up to ten thousand feet above sea level. They can be found in riparian areas, grasslands, parks, cemeteries, and woodland stands to loblolly pine and juniper landscapes.
Able to thrive in some of the harshest desert conditions, not only is this bird born to run, they are also formidable hunters that take their job vey seriously, and are very good at it. These meat eaters will take songbirds from back yards, peck rattlesnakes to death, and body slam rodents and lizards, so they might easily slide down their throats. They will also dine upon scorpions, bats, spiders, and other protein sources.
Greater Roadrunner
Payne County Oklahoma Christmas Bird Count 2014
Avid sunbathers, they will warm themselves after a chilly desert night, then wing-flash in order to obtain a meal by startling it with the white patches on the wings. They can be found perching on rocks or fence posts surveying their territory, and will erect their crests to protect their territory from usurping forces.
The biggest threats to their well being are the usual habitat loss, domestic animals, human
conveyance and feral animals.
Known as the ground cuckoo, chaparral cock, medicine bird, paisano, snake killer, and others, this unusual bird will stick in your mind long after it is gone from the immediate area. Breeding plumage includes a smart red and blue skin patch behind the eye.
Greater Roadrunner in breeding plumage
entry road to Laguna Atascosa, TX
Strong runners that can travel at up to twenty miles per hour, they are weak in flight, but can actually fly a short distance other than a general gliding movement. Their long term movement is to the north and east parts of the country, and their populations are stable.
Here you are privy to the secret lives of the shy Wood Duck.
The beautiful Wood Duck is a perching duck, as can be witnessed in the video above, hence it is the only duck in its genus, Aix.
In the early twentieth century, which was common, it was thought that this unusual species was on its way to becoming extinct due to habitat loss. As the Carolina Duck is a cavity nester, many of the large trees that it nested within were harvested for furniture, the paper industry, house building, and furniture. Hunting also took its toll, but the Endangered Species Act hoped to curb many of the negative effects, as well as the rampant millinery trade seeking heron aigrette (plumed feathers).
Male Wood Duck
Denizens of wooded waterways, open marshes, and mixed riparian country were large trees overhang water is a good area where the breeding species could be seen. Oaks are helpful, as acorns are one of their favored foods. They also like sloughs, slow moving rivers, ponds, and flood plains at depths of eighteen inches or less. Beavers also help to create ideal habitats through the Wood Duck range.
Wood ducks have large clutches of eggs averaging fourteen, which could go slightly either way depending upon food sources.
Artificial nest boxes helped the species survive, which are shown in the video, so if anyone owns a quiet pond with the habitat indicated, you could be in possession of the gold mine that will help the species proliferate even further. This is how to make your own nest box for your personal habitat.
This beautiful Wood Duck box by UpNorthJournal.com is a simple, step-by-step video instruction on the perfect home for ducks. Remember to pre-drill your holes, don't use treated lumber, and don't paint the inside of the box. If you view the podcast later for additional information, it will insure your best chances for success on how to attract these beautiful ducks for conservation purposes. Today we have healthy populations, but as is well known, any negative effects can quickly cause numbers in species to drop. In Oklahoma, the species is not widely prevalent.
How to install your Wood Duck Nest Box. This gives you everything you need, including what direction it should be facing at your wetland.
Maintaining your nest boxes, inspecting for repairs, and what other species might use them.
The only endemic shrike of North America, this handsome songbird has a secret. Known in a few circles as the "Butcherbird, " it spears its prey on chain link fences, thorny trees, and shrubs to save them for a later meal. However, this is not always the case, as shrunken corpses of previous hunts can be located around its favorite perches.
Fond of small songbirds, lizards, amphibians, and mammals, spearing dinner is helpful, because the bird of raptor tendencies has very weak talons, and that is the only way to "hold" its prey. A desperate bird will go for House Sparrows and warblers, but they tend to prefer grasshoppers. In the winter, mice are of preference, as well as vegetable matter, which is not hard to obtain in the south. Its eyesight is quite good and it can find insect victims at an unusual distance. It will sit still on a fence, high- or guidewire, or elevated branch, then dart out like a hawk, which lends to the common term of "hawking" for food.
Loggerhead Shrike 04-15-15 in Stillwater, OK
Also known as the "French Mockingbird," since it is often confused with the Northern Mockingbird, our black, gray, and white champion builds its nest at medium elevations, which was observed by myself in Texas. These birds like twiggy growth, which is easily seen before trees are leafed out in April right around normal songbird migration. The nests are thick, woven twigs and lined with a softer bed of grass, fine roots, weeds, grass, feathers, etc.
Loggerhead Shrike in Texas 04-30-15
Anahuac NWR
If observed for any length of time, the Loggerhead Shrike really does not resemble the mockingbird in the least. The shrike has a larger head, a thicker body, a black stripe covering the eyes like a mask, and the gray is much lighter. From the description of the bird's general impression, shape and size or GISS, it behaves in quite a different manner and there is no wing flash, which the mockingbird is famous for.
If one is lucky enough to hear the call, it is rather grating, and some have actually heard a melodious song. It appears to be uncommon and declining in open pastures with scattered bushes, trees and hedges. It once was a regular in central Oklahoma, where it was observed quite frequently in winter sallying for mice and insects.
This specialist black and white, robin-sized woodpecker has been through a very hard history. They were part of old-pine forest with a nearly clear understory. An endangered jewel like this occurs in loblolly, slash, and long leaf pine forest. They require frequent fire cleansing, in order to give them the best habitat so they will raise young and continue their population growth.
A most interesting notable fact about the species, is the fact that it deliberately allows sap to ooze around its nesting cavity. This keeps tree climbing snakes and rodentia at bay, i.e. the rat snake and flying squirrels, especially because the birds have the good sense to keep the sap wells open during the warm seasons of the year when snakes are active.
As another cooperative breeder, a couple of generations of family will incubate eggs, brood young, and forage for them, so that the matriarch and patriarch can do more important things and save their energy for producing eggs. Much of this activity is still closely monitored by Fish and Wildlife.
Controlled burns are done every few years within the viable environment that these birds favor. They will not tolerate a canopy within their nesting area, and the older trees must be well maintained as they will not nest in young trees, for they do not have enough girth for a nest cavity.
Female Red-cockaded Woodpecker
Over the years, to assist the species, manmade artificial nest cavities and translocation programs came into use. These programs were strictly for the good of the species, which was nearly extirpated in several locales. Through love and diligence for the species, they managed to prevail with extensive forest management. It may still be touch and go for the good of these woodpeckers, especially since habitat loss is a major setback for many birds.
The Calls and Sounds of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker:
Unfortunately, with the addition of the human population into segmented regions of the United States and logging operations, less habitat was available for not only the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, but many other animals were also affected. Therefore, once this inconspicuous woodpecker's populations were seriously impacted through ignorance, it was nearly too late for the species.
Forest landscape interactions, like tornados, hurricanes, bark beetle infestations, southern pine beetle epidemics, and beetle spots tend to affect cluster areas and foraging habitat. This could go either way once the human effect is added to the equation. There was a time when simple disease would be restricted to a small area, but with the compound effect, forestry practices must be tailored specifically to all difficulties at hand at any given time.
Through the good fortune and astute actions of a number of people, the survival of this bird was assured through proper fire-maintained ecology, as well as the historical knowledge of the southeast part of this country. Since we have managed to avoid another near catastrophic extinction, not only have we brought this unusual species back from the brink, but the same system is doing good for more birds and mammals of the eastern part of the country.
Now that we are once again at the crossroads of saving more species than we are losing, how we choose to act will determine the survival of our own species in the future. Hopefully, we will choose wisely over money and assets.
These are all birds of the month. Our shorebirds have been returning, included our Killdeer which
have not been noticed breeding at Boomer Lake anymore, since the cement on the edges of the lake have been covered with plants, grass, and trees. Spotted Sandpipers have been seen over the past few days, but I have not noticed any due to the recent heat wave keeping me away from my longer walks this year.
The last photo of the Green Heron is the one displayed above, as even they have departed Heron Cove. My assumption at this point is that it could be heat related for them, both for breeding purposes, and possibly even food resources going elsewhere.
The Northern Cardinal is molting, which is why you see missing and indiscriminate down on him.
Stay cool if you can, and happy birding in the earliest part of the day.
Thinking of the Mississippi Kite, one may visualize the sign of Batman and immediately think of that familiar call or whistle, "phee-phew! phee-phew! phee-phee!"
This migratory hawk of the south, as well as a growing northern spread is known by a number of colloquial names all over the southern states and beyond. Some of these monikers, like the Square-tailed Kite, Locust Kite, Blue Darter, Grasshopper Hawk, American Kite, and others that bear a fictional status, like Pigeon Hawk, Rabbit Hawk, Blue Snake-Hawk form no bearing whatsoever on this insect consumer.
Though uncommon and local, the Locust Kite is often discovered where large trees are found in open areas including riparian corridors. They forage high in the air seeking locusts, large beetles, cicadas, dragonflies and the like, and form small flocks during their slightly later migration. As time goes, on they will be looking for more northern venues that suit them outside normal breeding ranges due to the rapid march of extreme heat.
Mississippi Kite Foraging
The Blue Darter is usually in central Oklahoma by late April to nearly mid May, and this is expected to be later as time goes on. These South American migraters generally take three routes into the country. The may choose across the Gulf of Mexico via the Yucatan, the Caribbean jaunt (across the islands), and the overland sprint, through Mexico and Central America.
Our beloved Grasshopper Hawk has most likely chosen his mate while still within the heart of South America. Pairs likely mate for life, as they return to former nest sites, which can be within an assortment of taller trees. They favor the bald cypress as they wish to be near water, which attracts their favored high protein insects.
Mississippi Kites line their flimsy stick nests with end branches of leaves, making a soft overlay upon their stick nests. They often use living willow and cottonwood leaves, due to their texture, depending upon where they choose to nest. This could be in conifers or deciduous trees, and they do enjoy riparian woodlands or piney forest.
Mississippi Kite courtesy of Mark Bright
with red hoary bat
Eldon Lyon Park, Bethany, OK
As these kites usually choose insects for their food, many birds will nest in the same vicinity, as well as perch beside them after nesting season upon high wires. These social birds also tend to roost together and will often taken their young together where there are high large insect concentrations, like Boomer Lake Park, so they may practice hunting on the wing. They may choose either higher or lower altitudes for hunting, and will tend to stoop hunt, similar to a hawk, to close in upon their prey. Several adults and juveniles will perch together on large bald cypress during this time period, so that the immature birds can develop strong hunting skills. By the time they are seen frequently and in larger numbers, it is not long before they migrate.
Adult Mississippi Kite
Kites have grown to adapt, like many generalist species, to human environs, and they are not as gentle as some city birds when it comes to protecting their territory. There have been a number of instances where this species will react to unsuspecting folk that walk under their nests in parks and golf courses. Aerial bombardments rarely cause injury, but they will frighten the unfortunate who happen to be in the wrong area at the wrong time. These instances are usually avoided with the posting of signs and education, such as articles forewarning humanity about the activity.
Actions such as these will cease once young birds have fledged from the nest.
Juvenile Mississippi Kite
Fledged within two weeks
If there is reason to try to overwinter these birds, like in a rehab situation, chances are not good that the bird will survive long. Their bodies can't handle our winters.
Young Mississippi Kites in care of Nature's Vein in Oklahoma. Bird on the perch is a fledgling and the one in the rear would be a nestling. Notice how the nestling actively calls for food. These birds are two of four that came down from several nests, which was likely due to recent storms. They will be returned to the wild when they can fend for themselves. They had their mishap early enough in the season to fly south this fall. Show your support for wildlife rehabbers with financial or material donations.
The Andean Cock-of-the-Rock is the national bird of Peru, which is not to be confused with the Guinean Cock-of-the-Rock. Not only is the red-orange color exquisite, but the males also have a fan shaped crest.
Shy birds by nature, this cloud forest dweller gathers with other males on communal leks, or courtship sites, to entice females and challenge other males. The females spend their time on the nests incubating eggs on rock faces, under bridges, or cave entrances, solely building nests and rearing the young. Nests are located near the lek sites.
It is possible to find these birds eating fruit at trees away from the lek, but they also consume army ants, amphibians, lizards, and occasionally, rodents.
These passerines reside in the Andean cloud forests of Boliva, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. It is also a bird of least concern, and is visible between 0.3 mile and 1.5 miles in elevation. The species is also dimorphic, with the female a rust colored version of the male, who has a bright orange coloring and a half moon-shaped crest.
A heron that is found in shallow salt water, the Reddish Egret is the most uncommon of all in the United States. The species comes in two morphs, white and dark, both of which can be found in the same nest.
Dark morph Reddish Egret
Also the most acrobatic of the species, this wader runs, jumps, spins about, and is most famous for its canopy hunting technique. Not only does it run with wings raised, it flies over shallow water seeking groups of fish, which are rapid movers, necessitating that it move in the same manner. It takes about three years for a Reddish Egret to become skillful at this form of feeding.
Having a pink bill with a black tip, a medium to large sized bird, it also has blue-gray legs as a defining feature. The white morph is just that with the same color scheme on the bill. The dark morph is blue- or slate-gray with a reddish neck and head, and the immature is paler, but the red-brown neck could be missing. It tales three years for the adult plumes, and the mature lores are bright violet, as is the bill and legs.
White morph Reddish Egret
As many of our beautiful herons suffered greatly due to the millinery trade, this bird never really recovered, and the current difficulty is habitat degradation. There remains only 1500 to 2000 pairs of this colorful bird, and they are coastal denizens nesingt in colonies with other herons. Their lavish courtship displays are very animated, involving shaking the head, hooplike flight, bill clacking, and raising head, neck, and back feathers.
Reddish Egrets nest on stick platforms, as many other herons do. It is suspected that some of them nest inland in Texas.
These birds are classified as near threatened. They are found in the Caribbean, southern coastal, California coastal, and will migrate to the southeast coast of the US. Most of the population resides in Texas, followed by Florida, then Louisiana. This specialized heron likes barren and shallow flats that are quite salty. The diet is mostly killifish and sheephead minnows, followed by crustaceans and frogs.
Late April to early May is the time of year to be hearing that classic call around the Kentucky coffeetree, ficus, and willow thickets of central Oklahoma, as long as we are near water and dense shrubby ground.
Male Bell's Vireo In Ficus Tree
The adult male is first in his territory, calling at the tops of trees. He will establish an acre to two acre territory, which he will share with a mate and his young. Song is constant over a two week period after spring arrival in mid-May, until female arrives and this is followed by a short courtship period, where song is still at a fairly high rate. Several nests are built, including dummy nests to detract the Brown-headed Cowbird, who lays in wait for the first month in order to locate and predate the chosen nest. Nests have been easy to find, as the songs continue and become faster in tempo at this location. When eggs have been laid, the song wanes and then occurs much less often.
Female Bell's Vireo with Nesting Material
This species boasts four subspecies, the Eastern, Western, Arizona, and the intermediate West Texas birds. The Eastern are brighter yellow and olive with a shorter tail than the western, and will bob the tail. The Westerns flip the slightly longer tail up and sideways, in the gnatcatcher fashion. Western populations are divided into the California, or Least Bell's Vireo, and the Arizona race.
These shy birds are uncommon and declining, and are generally solitary, unless breeding. The species is very territorial, and stays low within vegetation. They feed upon larvae and insects.
They have never been observed drinking water, which could be provided by their choice of food, as well as during the bathing process.
The species has an elaborate repertoire of calls ranging from about a second to nearly five seconds. Naturally this includes the alarm call, a threat-in-area notification, morning and approaching night songs, nestbuilding, intrusion, courtship, and several others. For the Female Songbird Project, the female has been heard to produce a short answer call. The purpose of this designation appears to be for male and female communication is the absence of either vireo. This is very similar to the same practice of the Northern Cardinal, which is well known to all birders.
Courtship is an interesting affair, as the male perches and calls for anywhere from a week or two, then suddenly, a female appears. This was the first time that it was learned that females have a singing voice, as she would answer from the nest spot. She would rarely show herself and even when young were fledging, a young bird was usually seen before she was.
Bell's Vireo with caterpillar
There is no sexual dimorphism in the species, and the female is clearly the submissive bird. It is always the male that initiates attack toward intruding birds. The Northern Cardinal is no threat, Mourning Doves are ignored, as are both Baltimore and Orchard Orioles, as well as the Red-winged Blackbird. Carolina Chickadees are chased and driven from the area.
Nests are well concealed by dense foliage, and are usually no more than three feet from the ground. They are never seen near the trunk, but are located upon the ends of lateral forks, which can easily be seen in the fall or winter.
In good years, two broods are possible. If there is any human disturbance, such as construction, birds will relocate and if early enough in the season, they will renest. Light pole construction was done in June of 2018, and the family relocated in a southerly direction, but it is uncertain if there was a new nest.
Lead is a heavy metal and one of the most dangerous metals that has not been fully outlawed by
this country, even in the twenty-first century. Hunters are generally aware that the ammunition that
they use contains lead or they don't pay any mind, just by simply looking at the round. Since lead is very soft, it is very apparent that if the fired round has been damaged when it strikes bone or soft tissue, there is a problem.
Ducks and other game birds, like pheasant, are hunted for food and if the shot is lead based, this substance will get into the consumer's body and bloodstream when the contaminated meat is ingested. What makes matters compounded, is if the animal struck still lives. It is in a weakened state, losing blood, and will end up as prey for another animal, or as a carcass for an eagle or a vulture. If you watched the video above, you'll easily see what that Bald Eagle had for symptoms.
Lead poisoning is not pretty, glamorous, something to discuss at the dinner table, or pleasant to endure. Lead causes blindness, seizures will result, the body becomes emaciated, and weight loss is imminent. Lead builds up in the body and over time, fewer eggs will be laid, the affected animal's mortality will be higher, and if a chick manages to hatch, its development will be greatly retarded. With the size difference of an adult and chick, rest assured that the chick will die if the parent continues to live during its development.
Granted, the cost of leaded versus steel or copper rounds are comparing apples to oranges, but the cost difference to keep your family and yourself safe are negligible in comparison.
Another sport that is even more dangerous is going fishing if lead sinkers are used. If those sinkers are lost through entanglement, which many are, a fish will eventually consume them. Fish can get lead poisoning, too, with the same lethargic debilitation. If a fish-eating mammal can get easy prey with that fish instead of a healthy fighter, the animal will go after the easy prey first. That mammal can also acquire lead poisoning as well. I'm sure that you comprehend that whoever eats a contaminated body with lead will also suffer for it. It may not be right away, depending upon the weight of the subject eating the animal or fish with lead. That also means that shellfish in the ocean can be contaminated for the same reasons.
The list can go on. If one purchases an old house with lead pipes, the drinking water will be contaminated. Have the home inspected by a licensed inspector that will take his or her time in giving you the truth on the residence if you are not certain on what to look for.
It is nice to go to antique stores once in a while, but bear in mind that some of the furniture may be covered with lead paint, old homes might have chipping paint that could very well be lead based. Modern paint does not chip, it comes off in sheets and feels like plastic. As you know, anything will go in a baby's or young child's mouth.
We use leaded gasoline in lawnmowers and other three-cycled engines. Some of this gas is still being sold in Colorado and other surrounding states. If this fuel leaches into the ground, it will contaminate the soil where you might grow vegetables that you might eat. Oil will do the same thing, especially around oil and natural gas drilling equipment that might be on your property.
Also airplane fuels still contain lead and to convert the engines to unleaded gas would cost five figures, which most aircraft owners do not find cost effective.
Don't eat food out of pewter or glazed pottery, which also means not to cook in it, either.
Our pesticides also contain trace elements, as does some of the ground on our property. If you happen to reside in an area with lead and arsenic in the soil, don't use it for farming, raising a few animals, or growing vegetables. If there is any doubt, provide a soil sample to your local co-operative extension service and have it tested.
As human beings, we have an easier chance of not eating poison or heavy metals because we have intelligence and the ability to read about dangers in our environment. Birds and other animals do not, so we must take action for them.
Do your part for passing laws for lead free ammunition. You will save a lot in the long run, including your life or someone that you love.
Manufacturers and Retailers For Lead-Free Ammunition:
The beautiful, fast swimming, and unusual Atlantic Puffin left the breeding grounds of Eastern Egg Rock off the coast of Maine and it took nearly one hundred years for them to return.
The only puffin native to the Atlantic Ocean, this member of the Auk family was once known as the Common Puffin. This bird has had its troubles, and its numbers are still low in certain parts of its range, but it has been victorious with so much against it. In order to get there, it had to have a little help from friends in Bremen, Maine, the Audubon Nature Camp of Hog Island.
These birds are fabulous swimmers, diving as much as two hundred feet in order to capture their quarry to satiate their chicks. For anyone that has been a part of research, this is no easy task to keep the rapidly growing young healthy and developing steadily.
Wiped out in the 1880s by hunters on the seven acre Eastern Egg Rock and more protected islands, Project Puffin was born.
How would puffins return to the area to breed? How would they be attracted in order to stay and return?
Audubon's Donal O'Brien Jr, a collector of decoys and a professional carver, and ornithologist Steve Kress, created a brainchild through the use of decoys. Puffins were attracted back to Eastern Egg Rock with wooden birds and recordings as a last chance to save the species. It was never dreamed that the project with be a huge success and a pilot program for attracting puffins the world over would result.
As social birds with a cause, the historic population once again populated the islands, but the eccentric idea took years of effort. Interns live on the islands guarding the nests of valuable sea birds, not only for puffins, but Common and Arctic Terns, Storm Petrels, and more. Then came chick translocation, decoys, mirrors, and light colored carpet to control the mustard weed, as chicks were lost in it. Trial and error paid off, creating a successful story that only could be pulled off by scientific ingenuity.
However, other problems, like scavenging gulls, had to be dealt with. Anyone that knows gulls is aware of their persistence and the fact that they are opportunists.
In the 1980s, the success of the program started growing worldwide. Bermuda needed help with their national bird population, the Cahow. Audubon assisted and breeding pairs were attracted. House cats decimated millions of seabirds on Ascension Island off the African coast in the 1800s. The cats were eradicated, and in 2012 birds began nesting again after steps were taken to renew life. More invasive species were removed from New Zealand's islands for breeding birds there. Japan had breeding birds nesting on the rims of volcanos, and they were moved to safer ground to establish another colony. The success stories continue.
As you can see, bird life has been renewed in certain areas, just by some simple steps that were taken in the dawn of the project. It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears to gain ground, which has been taught to people in other parts of the world due to the love of birds and the importance of their survival. Balanced ecological systems yield a lot more than rampant population spread without being aware of the consequences.
BirdLife International, the National Audubon Society, American Birding Association, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, American Bird Conservancy, and so many other organizations driven to the pursuit of protecting our world of avian life as we once knew it is a struggle. The more that we can provide education to the public, the better we will be as a whole. We can each do our part. Learn as much as you can, and give that information to friends and relatives, for it will not stop there. Teach our youth and they will be our future.
Parental supervision will be necessary with some projects depending upon the age of the child. Get the young people involved with helping birds for our future. This is an excellent way to teach children about birds and birding. Don't forget the bird guide if they want to learn what kind of birds they find.
The Elegant Trogon or Holy Grail Bird is a spectacular bird that many people hold as reverent. Though of least concern, this avian is one that is sooner seen than heard, and once you are within earshot of it, which can actually be quite a distance, you will know it immediately. It's bark is unforgettable and very loud.
Resident is several locations, especially at the Sky Islands of Arizona, as well as Madera Canyon, the Elegant Trogon nests in old woodpecker holes in sycamores and enjoys canyon life.
With only two eggs in an average clutch in the four major mountains of the Arizona-Sonora borderlands, the love affair with the area began nearly a century prior.
The unparalleled male of the species boasts nine colors and once the sunlight hits him at the best position, green to azure blue reflects upon him, casting a tenth hue. The female's colors are much more sober, the term "copper-tailed," having arisen from her coloration. The young bird is adapted strictly for camouflage and is undefined, which seems to protect it from predation.
The medium sized birds have a wingspan of approximately a foot, with their weight at their advantage. They can snatch fruit or a prey item while hovering, then buoyantly retire to a perch to consume or share same.
They have sensory prowess and can remain silent, observing the watcher as much as they are being surveyed. Like many birds, they can hear a mate calling for roughly a half mile. They vocalize quite frequently in the spring for territorial reasons, and then the duet begins with the female, prior to nest selection. Pair bonding also fits into this scenario, and it all becomes necessary when trees leaf out as the year progresses.
These ae dramatic birds in more than one way, and sometimes, it could well be that they also wish to be seen and heard for vanity reasons. However, life can quickly come to a standstill with audio intrusions for insipient unwelcome human behaviors.
Since these beautiful birds are canyon dwellers, they are protected by most climate extremes due to shield and shade. Since they are also cavity nesters, that also dampens other negative effects due to climactic action.
Much study has been undertaken on these birds for good reason, and there is still much to be learned as we continue weather shifts and other anomalies that have not yet been recorded and studied for any great length of time.
This photo at the bottom was courteously provided by Skye Bloodgood of AZ. Thank you, Skye, and the work that you represent for helping birds.
One of the most remarkable birds that you will ever encounter or seek to locate is the water ouzel or the amazing American Dipper.
This is a bird that is most related to the thrush and other species can be found all over the world.
The remarkable and uncommon birds can be found along fast flowing mountain streams of the west with exposed rocks and logs. Its modus operandi is to perch upon these rocks and logs in order to dive for aquatic insect larvae.
This stocky, dark gray bird has bright white eyelids that will draw your attention to it and tends to build moss covered nest along the water's edge from six to thirty feet over the water. It is very streamlined with a short tail and actually swims underwater in order to capture prey. Surprisingly, it can hold its breath for up to thirty seconds, and has excellent insulation for cold water weather hunting, including oil glands. You will know it, as it bobs its body up and down while foraging along streams. It has a nictitating membrane on its eyes, similar to goggles, which raptors are also equipped with in order to protect its eyes from dust articles.
The nest is globular with a side entrance incubated only by the female, with a clutch size of two to four white eggs
The dipper is a fabulous indicator of water health, for if there are no available insects and larvae it will move elsewhere until it is assured of a good food supply.
Included is a video, so that if you hear the bird, you'll know that you are near in order to observe its entertaining and redeeming qualities, as well as observe some of its hunting prowess.
Wild Whooping Cranes are native to Louisiana, and the populations have risen about thirty percent since the early 2000s. Loss of habitat and hunting nearly drove them to extinction but efforts are stronger than ever to keep the species alive. Caregivers are doing their best to keep the species alive by raising chicks in captivity and are being raised for released. Caregivers must disguise themselves in Whooping Crane costumes in order to keep the chicks from imprinting upon humans.
Green Heron Juvenile Clutch 2, Tree 3
with Red Eared Slider (L)
Green Heron Juvenile, Clutch 1, Tree 1.5
Ditto
Ditto, in Cottonwood Tree
July 6 and 7, 2018
Action was heavy at Heron Cove over the past two days. All the young ones are building up their wings in order to get more distance behind them. They were all very active, as can be seen.
