Meet the Rare Grassland Prairie Lesser Prairie Chicken

                                                             Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
                                                                    in lichen nest

                                                                       Wild Turkey

                                                                            Ditto

                                                                Lesser Prairie Chicken

                                                                       Horned Lark

                                                               Male Prairie Chicken

                                                                            Ditto

                                                                Eastern Meadowlark

                                                                   Male Prairie Chicken

                                                        Thirteen Lined Ground Squirrel

                                                                Male Prairie Chicken

                                                                             Ditto

                                           
                                                            Deflated Sac of Displaying
                                                           Male Lesser Prairie Chicken

                                                                   Sac Filled with Air

                                                                          Ditto

                                                                         Full Display

                                                                            At Rest

                                                                   Jumping Display

                                                                Displaying and Calling

                                                  Territory Face-off Between Two Males

                                                                     "In Your Face"

                                                 Most Likely Owner of this Lek Territory


04-15-16

50-52 degrees F/partly cloudy/27-34 mph winds/45 degrees wind chill

Today was the best of all three days that I was attending the Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival.
It had been extremely arid, so much so that wildfires have been fought all over the dry
grasslands in the OK and TX area.  It did not rain today, but it was predicted for tomorrow
and Sunday.  Fire is not always negative for these birds, but it isn't particularly helpful at
their critical mating season.

At approximately 0545 hrs., just prior to sunrise, we were set up in a permanent metal
blind and within a half hour, we could hear approaching male Lesser Prairie Chickens
approaching the lek, which is an area where males gather to display to entice prospective
female partners.

It was most likely that females were on these grounds prior to sunrise, as the males were in a
state of frenzy.  No females were on the grounds during daylight, and we saw approximately
ten males.  They performed various rituals trying to entice females to come around and were
calling and cackling, as well as fighting with each other for the top position.  One male was
the owner of this territory, and was not prepared to give it up.

This is a very rare bird, even in its home states of both Oklahoma and Texas in the arid
grasslands with low shrubs, including sandsage and shin oak, as well as other natural growth.
They form flocks in the winter and may be found in agricultural land as well as natural native
prairie.

However, humanity is the boon of this beautiful bird, which is rapidly losing ground, due to
oilfields, wind turbines, and construction of homes and businesses.  An already rare, local and
declining bird like this will not be available for future generations if we keep taking their homes.

These birds have been a threatened species since March of 2014, and their population decreased
25% from 2014 to 2015 alone.   Help me help them through the National Prairie Chicken Initiative
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detailfull/national/programs/initiatives/?cid=nrcsdev11_023912

Plenty of Migratory Birds Are Here For Your Viewing Pleasure

                                                               Lincoln's Sparrow

                                                               
                                                                       Lincoln's Sparrow

                                                                  Savannah Sparrow

                                                                     Least Sandpiper

                                                                      Canada Gosling

                                                          Female Northern Cardinal

                                                                      Male Wood Duck

                                                                   Pied-billed Grebe


These were photos from the first part of the week, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.  The
sparrows are an assortment, some of whom are current migratory inbounds, like the Lincoln's
and White-throated Sparrows.

The Least Sandpiper was located on the southernmost jetty on the east side, and on the same day,
a couple of Franklin's Gulls and an American Avocet were observed on the west side of the lake,
right across from the first jetty mentioned.

The Wood Ducks surprised me, as I saw two males, and know of one female, who must be with
eggs at this stage.  I am hoping that this second male is also paired,  both of which were located at
Boomer Creek.  A few Blue-winged Teal, a handful of American Coot, a couple of Mallards, and a
Pied-billed Grebe or two are usually out there with the occasional Double-crested Cormorant and
Great Blue Herons, who are also nesting.

There are also Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Orange-crowned Warblers, and plenty of other birds, including the Osprey, who I hope will say in the area.  The creek is very active during this time of year, with many cavity nesters.  I have observed the Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, and practically all of the woodpeckers working on a cavity of some kind.

Another Day In the Life of Songbird Central

                                                                Ring-billed Gull      
                                                                     First Cycle
                                               

                                                                       Osprey

                                                                 Great Blue Heron

                                                        Yellow-rumped Warbler(Myrtle)
                                                                   Breeding Plumage

                                                                             Ditto

                                                               Female Black Swallowtail


0825-1130 hrs./65-75 degrees F/partly cloudy/25-30 mph wind gusts

These shots were from yesterday and today.  Even though today had some eventful winds that
actually pushed me backward, it was still a remarkable day for birding.  For the first time this
year, the Osprey came to visit.  One tends to find Ospreys where eagles reside, so this seems
to show that our American Bald Eagles find this a worthy place in which to live.  Since they
still visit the lake, it appears to me that they have young this year, a banner event.

Yesterday, I heard the Marsh Wren on the north side of the lake in the reeds and rushes.  It
never came out, but I had noticed something in the grasses in the past.  It had been filled with
song yesterday, hence the positive ID on the bird.

Yellow-Rumped Warblers are all over the area, but the Song Sparrows are moving north now.  There are still a few hangers-on, and the Savannah Sparrow was recently seen, too.  We still have plenty of Harris's and Field Sparrows, AND even though they will soon be covered, we do have at least one breeding pair of Eastern Meadowlarks.  It would be nice if they could raise a clutch, but their field usually gets mowed.

Another Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was observed today, and one Cattle Egret was seen just east of
Goose Island.

There are at least two broods of Canada Goslings, one of five and another of three young.  I was
told that there was a single gosling seen with its parents recently, so there will be more coming.
Killdeer eggs have also been laid, more male Mallards are out and about than females, so the hens
are likely on theirs nests, too.

There had been large rafts of Pied-billed Grebes, Ruddy Ducks, Blue-winged Teal. and Northern Shovelers this morning, but once the wind subsides and they are well-rested, they will be on their way, too.

Let the spring and summer games begin, as we are ready!

041016 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-could-be-a-good-year-for/article_32eff70a-fea0-11e5-8c59-6f4ee7c4b40b.html

First of Season Early Birds Are Not Shy

                                                              American White Pelican

                                                                    Turkey Vulture

                                                                Male Wood Duck

                                                                   Great Blue Heron

                                                                  Brown Thrasher

                                                                Eastern Meadowlark

                                                          Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

                                                                 Savannah Sparrow

                                                                    Canada Gosling

                                                                    Savannah Sparrow


0720-1035 hrs./55-73 degrees F/sunny/light and variable winds to 22 mph gusts


These are photos from the past two days, some of which are first of season or first ever made.
As an example, the Wood Duck was up in a tree, which I knew that the hens raised their young in
a tree, and they literally jumped in the water from the tree for their first water voyage.  However, I
did not expect to see a Wood Duck staring down at me.  Due to the bright sunlight, I tried to get the best shot that I could, and this was passable, even though it was a good distance away.

The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was the first of season(year), and was in the company of another male,
which he got for me to view.  These are birds that I have known from last year, now all grown up, and I suspect that this was two from the nest of seven that I found last year and photographed.  Birds
usually return where they were born, which makes me believe that this was the case, and if fact, some
of these birds practiced their flight in this vicinity.

The Canada gosling was one of five.  Mother and father goose met me on a bank to show off the first born of the season, a strapping young group, I might add.  Don't you think?

This Turkey Vulture was waiting for me at shortly after sunrise over the berm on the southeast side
of the lake on the north end of the Southern Cove.  I shot this bird from both front and back, each
photo equally as good.

Believe it or not, this Savannah Sparrow was feeding in the same area where I met the Lark and the Vesper Sparrows a couple of weeks ago.  It makes sense, as they all like short, savannah-like areas.

The Brown Thrasher is one of a family of three born here two years ago, and they are staking out their claim.

This American White Pelican has been here on-and-off for the past several weeks.  He is a young
bird, and he has been doing a lot of preening, taking care of those new feathers that are coming in.  His clothing is a bit old and worn, but as new feathers come in, he will look a lot better, and remove those old juvenile feathers that he was born with.

Most of the Great Blue Heron are at the rookery, but Buddy is an older bird that I have known for the past five years.  As an incidental, three Great Egrets came through the area yesterday, so we should
be in for a nice surprise.  It will be interesting to see what youngsters are born here the year, as we have had both a Little Blue Heron last year and a Snowy Egret from the year prior to last.  If the Little Blue Heron makes it back this year, he will be in a pied coat, which is a mix of blue and white.

The Eastern Meadowlarks are courting, and I observed some rare mating rituals.  This photo was
a meadowlark that actually was walking up to me, a lovely male.  There are two pair here now.

040316 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-a-new-influx-of-birds-at/article_ff9b7022-f90f-11e5-b6f7-bf6180cd5594.html

Royalty of the Bird World Is in Town

                                                        Male Red-winged Blackbird

                                                                  American Coot

                                                                 Savannah Sparrow

                                                                   Cedar Waxwing

                                                                          Ditto


37-66 degrees F/0740-1115 hrs./partly cloudy/light and variable to 15 mph wind gusts

Being deprived of birds for several days made me eager to get out to view what was happening
this morning.  Since it was chilly, I expected a few ducks, but not quite as many as I managed to see.
Those birds are migrating now, heading for the north where many of them will breed, then return in
the fall to show off their young ones.  Not all of the birds will return to Boomer Lake in the fall, but
some will, and leave reluctantly if there is plenty of food.  However, I cannot think of any reason
why there will not be, since our spring is wet, so we'll be graced with plenty of foodstuffs in the
fall.

There is a good deal of food now, which gives us special visitors now.  Our herbivores are eating
young shoots from both the trees and bushes, as well as seeds that will be coming from flowers, and
in the summer, there will be plenty of berries from shrubs.  Weather plays a big part in what birds
will come and how many, so this will be another good year if my predictions are correct.

Today, royalty came to the lack in several waves.  My eBird reports were very conservative this
morning, but I wager to say that there were a good hundred Cedar Waxwings, who are a color palette
in and of themselves.  Those striking colors definitely are a show, and they have been visiting on and
off all winter.