Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Dickcissel

Sparrow-like, thin, and sleek, this passerine of the tallgrass prairies can flock with House Sparrows out of breeding season.  They are insectivores and seedeaters that enjoy fallow fields with scattered trees, shrubs and hedgerows.  The male will often sing atop fleshy plants and tall weeds, which makes his presence quite noticeable.

A summer resident of the Great Plains and Midwest, and scattered eastern and southeastern parts of the US, many are acquainted with the sound of "dick-dick-ciss-ciss."  This handsome bird is attracted by forbs, alfalfa fields, timothy grass and similar weeds and plantings.  Surprisingly, it is polygynous, but may also be quite monogamous.  Other than provide sperm, the male does little else, other than find a second mate to procreate the species.  The Dickcissel may nest upon the ground or in a sapling, whatever suits it during that stage.

                                                                 Male Dickcissel

The biggest attraction for this bird is extensive grassland, which tends to vary on a year-to-year basis, depending upon weather conditions.  In drought years, they will come north more often, and conversely, they will remain in southern Texas during rainy breeding seasons.  This practice also occurs on the wintering grounds, which can also markedly vary.  They are generally an agricultural pest in their winter range, and have been poisoned as a result.  The birds will flock before migration, much like Purple Martins, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, etc., creating a very large and often noisy group.

Unless we propagate more grassland, this bird will lose population and turn into an extirpated species if we allow it.  Since these things can rapidly occur, it is in our best interests to do what we can for the species, like eliminate pesticides.   Neonicotinoids can and will be a rapid negative effect for other grassland birds, namely the Bobolink, as well as many other pollinator species.  This bird is seeking out what can be turned into grasslands in the northeastern part of the country according to eBird numbers.

080518 Muskogee Edition, Birding Today

http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/lifestyles/birding-today-bird-habitats-require-occasional-cleansing/article_2d9a7bfd-0d24-5e55-902a-22e905488e4a.html

080518 SNP Edition, Life at Boomer Lake

http://www.stwnewspress.com/news/lifestyles/life-at-boomer-lake-food-sources-could-place-birds-in/article_bdd38b1e-f2fe-5649-981b-c6369133b91c.html

Boomer Birds Are Readying For Movement

                                                       European Starling with Cicada

                                                           Eastern Cottontail Juveniles

                                                  One of Two Eastern Cottontail Juveniles
                                                                   "Jumping For Joy"

                                                   Same Two Eastern Cottontail Juveniles
                                                                "Catch Me If You Can"

                                                                      Green Heron

                                                            Juvenile Carolina Wren

                                                               Juvenile Carolina Wren
                                                                           View 2


072318 through 080418

Much has been going on over the past several weeks, which includes the fact that the Green Herons all left Heron Cove and relinquished it to Great Blue Heron.  The last observation on the Green Herons was that a third nest had been built, then abandoned when the heatwave hit Boomer Lake.

Two weeks after their dispersal, one had been heard in the area, then this one was seen a few days later.  Basically, they deserted the area six weeks early, including the handful of young birds reared this year.

Many, many young birds were raised this year besides Green Herons, which include, but are not limited to Northern Mockingbirds, Western Kingbirds, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Northern Cardinals, Brown Thrashers, Mallards, Canada Goslings, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, and the list continues.  The Carolina Wren above, is one of those birds reared at Boomer Lake.

Several sets of eastern cottontail rabbits also are pictured above for your viewing pleasure.  Three of them were frolicking while I was present and a few shots were obtained.  There are thirteen species of the eastern cottontail, which is the most common in the US.

Low to medium migratory movement has already begun in the area, most notably with Mallards, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpipers, Green Herons, and many of the blackbird family.  Increased populations will be noticed upon local bodies of water, such as small ponds and lakes.  Larger numbers of Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets have already been making their way south due to cooler weather, which means food sources are also on the move.  Purple Martins are gathering in numbers, which is why fewer insects have been a source irritation around waterways.  They will be heading south in due time, since most of the young are capable of reasonable flight.

Since our Mississippi Kites were some of our later spring arrivals, they are still actively rearing young, so they will be some of our last birds to head south.  Recent violent storms over the past couple of weeks have hindered them to some degree, but they will prevail.  Rehabilitators have taken over the job of raising the young that were thrown out of these nesst, and this year, they should all have ample time to safely carry themselves to all points south.

Keep your eyes on the ground and your head in the clouds.  Happy birding!

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Carolina Wren

A remarkable little bird that sometimes visits feeders, the Carolina Wren can be seen fairly frequently under the right conditions.  This little dynamo appears to have excess energy and likes dense brushy tangles within the woods or riparian areas.  Its call and song repertoire features many unusual sounds that many do not associate with only one species.  From personal experience, there are approximately thirty calls and songs that are associated with this wren.

Most common year round in the southeastern part of the country, this energetic bird finds some of the most unusual locations to build a nest.  It has been known to use cavities, spring wreaths, laundry on the line, planters, forgotten hats in sheds, a rubber boot, and even inside grills.  Its creative locations for nesting either provide complete privacy or it sticks out like a sore thumb.  Either way, the Carolina Wren will provide hours of unusual entertainment and an appropriate study subject for the budding ornithologist.

                                                              Juvenile Carolina Wren
                                                        (note lack of orange-buff wash
                                                               on breast, belly, flanks)

This bird is not as shy as one would think, as it will even join other species in raising an alarm for intruders.  Being in the right place at the correct time, a cat was observed prowling and on the hunt for unsuspecting protein.  A Northern Cardinal first began the alarm call, was joined by another bird that I cannot recall, and the third hero was a Carolina Wren.  Watching this with complete fascination, I also became the fourth participant with a pishing call.  The cat was so dismayed with the unwanted attention, it disappeared into the tall grass on the water side of a local lake.  All parties victorious, they didn't mind my presence in the least until they became comfortable again.  They soon went their separate ways to continue their quest for sustenance.

                                                             Adult Carolina Wren

The Carolina Wren is a known victim of Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism, especially in April.

Adventure Outdoors Magazine Article

https://adventureoutdoorsmag.com/stillwater-oklahoma/

Oklahoma Breeding Bird Species Profile: Northern Bobwhite

The rotund, chicken-like Northern Bobwhite, or Bobwhite Quail, is an uncommon and declining species in many parts of the country, classified as endangered.  This reduction is due to the fact that agricultural lands, which the bird favors, are also in the same state of affairs.  A flocking species, males will sing from a low perch.  If disturbed, the species will all flush together, similar to the habits of the Ring-necked Pheasant.

There are several related kin, including the Eastern, Great Plains, Masked, and Florida subspecies, noticeable differences in the adult males.

These birds, as breeders, enjoy a diverse cover which includes woodlands with a brushy understory, cover crops in the agricultural off-season, including grassy nesting cover, and cultivated crop areas with a food source, dusting areas similar to Wild Turkey habits, and a source of water.

                                                           Male Northern Bobwhite,
                                                     Great Plains and Texas subspecies
                                             Photographed in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas

Bobwhites can sometimes breed quite early for their age, depending upon adequate conditions.  Young and their parents stay together even after the young are old enough to carry on without them, and coveys are formed by non-breeding birds.  Six birds are needed to form their circular roosting formations, which is natural for them both for the conservation of heat and for predator watch.

The diet is usually vegetable, seeds of undesirable weeds, especially ragweed, corn, acorns, sunflowers, and a number of other items.  This bird is indispensable to farmers, as it picks up its food solely by scavenging many seeds of weeds.  It also consumes its share of animals like the grasshopper, snails, locusts, slugs, and several others.  It requires grit to be used as a digestion aid.

The biggest enemy of this bird is pesticide related, and the change in agricultural diversity, which causes destruction of its habitat.  It has the same predator problem as most ground nesters, which includes rats, raccoons, domestic animals, snakes, and several others.

                                                              Female Northern Bobwhite,
                                                          Great Plains and Texas subspecies
                                                  Photographed in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas

The population has been declining, and an important help to the Masked Bobwhite has been the work of the Sutton Avian Research Center in Bartlesville, OK.   They have been raising chicks from the egg and relocating them to Southeast Arizona and New Mexico.  Their decline was caused by cattle grazing practices, as fodder was unable to regenerate quickly enough.  More than once, they were extirpated from their natural habitat, so several breeding facilities were brought on board by US Fish and Wildlife.  Our Oklahoma facility is one of many trying to save this important and valued grassland bird, where it will never be forgotten.

                                                                 Masked Bobwhite
                                                     Photographed in Southeast Arizona

The Northern Bobwhite hybridizes with the Scaled Quail in Kansas and Texas.