Avian Images

More Barred Owl

2012-02-13T05:22:00.001-08:00

These pics prove that owls are not just out at night. Barred Owls are often active during the day, especially on cloudy days. They might not be at the top of their game - obviously this bird was pretty doze-y, but it was actively hunting in between "naps", as you can see from the pics here.

Red bellied woodpecker

2012-02-10T04:49:00.000-08:00

A male Red-bellied Woodpecker too advantage of the suet at Lowry. The males have the red nape, crown and forehead, while females have noticeably less red on the forehead. Do you see how the bird uses his stiff-feathered tail as balance and/or leverage while he leans back or pulls chunks of suet?

Downy Woodpecker

2012-02-07T05:17:00.000-08:00

This female Downy was at Lowry for a recent banding. At Springbrook this past weekend, we had a Downy - with a possible brood patch already coming in!!!! In addition to size - the Downy Woodpeckers are about 6 inches long, the Hairy Woodpeckers are about 9 inches - there are a couple of other ways to tell them apart. Calls are different, the bills are MUCH shorter on Downys, and if you look at the second to the last picture - the Downys have barring on the white outer retrices (tail) feathers. The Hairys do not have that same distinct barring.

Great words to think about

2012-02-04T13:54:00.000-08:00

The writer Adam Frank posted this essay last week - it relates to why/how he (and I relate to this) uses science as the lens in which to view life. Or is that science is what shapes how we view life?

"In response I wanted to reflect on what science brings to the table. Some of what I have to say relates to the practice of science. I also think it's important to consider what science asks of us, and what it gives back as an approach to life.

Science certainly provides a powerful sense of meaning as an activity. Will my scientific papers be read 100 years from now? I hope so, but doubt it (sigh). Either way, the process of trying to honestly enter into a dialogue with the world establishes a context for my own life that sometimes allows me to rise above the petty day-to-day squabbles of broken washing machines and general knuckle-headedness. By entering into that dialogue with great effort and earnestness, the world ceases to be something merely "at-hand," something merely there for distraction or entertainment.

Instead, it's fully alive and fully present. The ever-opening sky, the wheeling stars and even the nightly stream of crows I watch heading to their evening roosts all become a poignant mysteries that speak of greater powers than I will ever fully understand. They surround me, whispering that there is more, so much more, to the world than my small concerns. Practicing science keeps my feet on the ground and my ear to the wind. It keeps me alert so that I might still hear that quiet call.
You don't have to be a practicing scientist to know any of that. You don't have to write papers to carry out your own research, your own fervent investigation into the texture of your own being.
The questions are always there.

They are waiting for you everyday when you open your eyes to yet another strange day in this strange world. The practice of science is just a codification of something that has always been possible for human beings. With integrity and honesty in our own investigations of what it means to be alive for these briefest of moments, we can all enrich our work, be it nursing, building, teaching or cooking.

Science always asks for excellence. In reality, life always asks for excellence, too. It asks us to give our best, to be attentive, to awake to the everyday miracle that is every day.
Nothing is more full of meaning and nothing holds out a greater hope for us all. As individuals in a culture we are forever re-inventing, this collaboration of investigation with the universe is the very essence of a meaningful life."

American Tree Sparrows

2012-02-02T05:37:00.001-08:00

The American Tree Sparrow has an odd name, since they are rarely seen actually sitting in trees. Most times you see them on the ground. From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - "The name was given by early European settlers for the superficial resemblance of this species to the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus).
In summer, males sing persistently to proclaim possession of territory. Individual males sing only a single song type each, although song types are widely shared among males. Females build a nest on the ground and incubate the eggs alone. Both parents help to raise the single brood of 4 to 6 young.
Although many aspects of the behavior and natural history of American Tree Sparrows are well studied, gaps still exist in our knowledge of this species; little is known of population structure, population regulation and dynamics, and dispersal, for example. In addition, most studies of the breeding biology of this species have been conducted in northern Manitoba. As American Tree Sparrows breed over a wide geographic area, it is likely that aspects of their biology may differ across their range."

They are always a winter treat! I love the bi-colored bills, and like all sparrows - lots of subtle colors.

Last Sax Zim - Black-backed woodpecker, others

2012-01-31T04:46:00.001-08:00

Last post from Sax Zim trip. What a great cornucopia of birds to find! The habitat is so unique that it offers quite a bit to birds, especially in winter. Red breasted nuthatches are around the feeders.

Though it wasn't a great shot, it was fantastic to get good looks at Black-billed Magpie. There are nesting records in the Bog for this species, and it is supposedly the eastern-most for it.

Boreal Chickadees can be found - usually at the feeders.

The bog - what a great landscape!

One of the specialties of the Bog at this time of year is catching a Black-backed or Three-toed Woodpecker. The group I was with was lucky enough to catch this Black-backed!

Pine Grosbeaks

2012-01-27T04:56:00.000-08:00

Pine Grosbeaks were a-plenty at feeders kindly stocked by residents to Sax Zim, as well as along power lines and roads in the area. The males all look like big scarlet Michelen (tires) Men - all smooth and poofy and round.

Evening Grosbeaks

2012-01-23T12:17:00.001-08:00

A friend who was around Sax Zim the same day I was asked me what my favorite bird was that I saw that day. Hands down - the Evening Grosbeaks. Here is a bird that I can usually find a single individual of if I make a trip to the Duluth and related area, but not always. This past trip found four adult males and several females at one time. Talk about a ray of sunlight in an otherwise dreary weather day!

Since this bird has interesting natural biology related to its migration, I copied this from Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Birds of America online: "An irruptive migrant across much of its range, it makes roughly biannual appearances at winter feeding stations throughout much of the coterminous United States. Often moving in large flocks, this boldly colored bird with the massive bill is difficult for observers to miss. During the breeding season, however, the species is quite secretive, and courtship occurs without elaborate song or display. This secretiveness, together with a spare, flimsy nest placed high in a tree, makes it a difficult subject of study. As a result, comparatively little is known of the species’ life history.
The breeding range of the Evening Grosbeak underwent a significant expansion in historic times. The contemporary scientific literature documented eastward movement, with the species regularly appearing in areas east of its known range, perhaps a result of the establishment of box elder (Acer negundo) in eastern cities as an ornamental planting. The abundant seeds of the box elder persist on the tree through the winter, providing a stable food supply. Outbreaks of forest insects may also have allowed this bird to extend its breeding range to the east."

Common Redpolls

2012-01-21T03:50:00.001-08:00

Common Redpolls are always a special, finch-y treat in the winter in the Cities. This year I haven't seen many, and had to head to Sax Zim for my fix. Cornell Lab of Ornithology has this to say about their seasonal movement,"During the summer, Common Redpolls are found in boreal and taiga regions of both the Old and New World Arctic, where they are often among the most common breeding passerines. In North America, their distribution shows significant overlap with human populations only in winter, and then only in alternating irruption years. The irruption cycle displayed by this species is driven by widespread failure in seed-crop production among high-latitude tree species—especially spruce (Picea sp.) and birch (Betula sp.)—which forces these birds to winter farther south.)

Can you see the dark blush-y pink/red on the ASY male in the first photo? The juveniles and females do not have that.

The Redpolls were in abundance on the sides of roads, presumably gathering grit. Some cars slowed down for them, while others did not. It was quite a sight to see a cloud of Redpolls!

White-winged Crossbills

2012-01-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

Had a great trip to Sax Zim Bog this weekend. That spot is pretty special to me - as part of my undergrad, I wrote the IBA (Important Bird Area) nomination. Some of the best, unique habitat types you will find in the state. Will post some more bird pics, but some highlights of birds were Great Grey, Common Redpolls, Rough-legged hawks, Ruffed Grouse, Northern Shrike, Evening Grosbeaks, Black-backed woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, and Gray Jays.

The pics of the White-winged Crossbills are pretty awful, but wanted to include a couple of great links here from Cornell Lab of Ornithology - watch this video of how these little industrious birds get their food.

Barred Owl

2012-01-13T04:34:00.001-08:00

One of the few things I do love about this time of year is how easy it is to spot birds with no leaves in trees. Great time to look for nests, too.

This Barred Owl was quite easy to spot, since it had figured out that spilled seed at bird feeders brought in voles and mice, and that made for a much easier hunt.

It enjoyed a long session of preening!

Cranes Not Following the Rules

2012-01-11T04:05:00.001-08:00

Here is a story from the "Are you kidding me?" desk - Whooping Cranes and Operation Migration grounded due to bureaucracy - and somehow the FAA still tries to make itself look like they are "doing us all a favor." Uhh - seriously?

Slate-colored Junco

2012-01-09T04:44:00.001-08:00

Banding at Springbrook Nature Center didn't yield a large variety of species, but did bring in this beautiful male Slate-colored Junco.

Como Zoo Tropical Encounters birds

2012-01-04T05:32:00.001-08:00

It's a little bleak, dark and cold in these winter months, so a great little "get-away" in town is to head to Como Zoo's Tropical Enounters. Your skin feels better - there is light - and all species of South American birds that you won't find here in Minnesota. One of my favorites is the White-tailed Trogon (first three pictures). Look at that great beak shape!

Next up is a Saffron Finch.

Here is a Rufous-crowned Tanager.

And finally a Blue Dacni.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T04:59:00.000-08:00

Northern Saw-whet owls wish you a happy new year!

Northern Flicker

2011-12-30T08:41:00.001-08:00

Ahh - warmer, sunnier days! These pics were taken of a Northern Flicker in the parking lot of a playground, near a park by my house. There was obviously some industriousness in trying to find some protein in the ground.

BCCH's and WBNU's

2011-12-28T05:13:00.001-08:00

Hope all had a wonderful holiday! With out amazing weather here in the Cities, I took a quick spin through a local park and found the usual suspects. These two - White-breasted Nuthatch and Black-capped Chickadee - were extremely amiable.

More SD

2011-12-22T06:03:00.000-08:00

More random shots of SD - golden eagle, and some mule deer. Can you pick out the two bucks in the pics?

Twas the Night Before Playoffs

2011-12-20T06:22:00.000-08:00

A hallowed tradition at the Steelers family is Dick LeBeau's reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas. Here is my own - unauthorized - take on this favorite classic:

Twas the night before Playoffs, when all at Heinz Field
Were dreaming of homefield advantage, with no Red Zone yield
The helmets were hung by the lockers with care,
In hopes to contain Polamalu’s very large hair.

The players were working out, the coaches had met
While visions of a seventh Lombardi trophy danced in their heads.
Coach Tomlin, as ever, looked fine in his cap,
With the last thing on his mind, a much-needed nap.

When out on the field there arose such a clatter,
The team sprang from the clubhouse to see what was the matter.
Wallace, Sanders and Brown were there in a flash,
Keisel and Smith tore apart the shutters and most of the sash.

The field lights on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the stadium below.
When, what to the Steelers’ wondering eyes should appear,
But the evil Baltimore Ravens, each with a terrible sneer.

Rotten Ray Lewis, who thinks he’s so quick,
And stupid Ed Reed, as dumb as a brick
More Steelers poured out, more rapid than eagles they came,
And they whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Flacco! now, Ngata! now, Suggs, Webb and Carr!
To come to our house to steal trophies has just gone too far!
To the top of the concourse! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

Ray Rice was so fast, he looked as if he could fly,
But he met with an obstacle, Casey Hampton, as big as the sky.
It scared those Ravens, so up to the rooftop they flew,
Bare-handed, no trophies taken, and stupid looks, too.

And then, in a twinkling, they all heard on the roof
A last ditch effort from Ravens defensive back Emanual Cook
As the Steelers turned their heads, and were turning around,
To help defeat the Ravens, former Steelers came with a bound.

Terry Bradshaw was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
With Franco Harris, Jack Hamm, and Mel Blount, all covered in soot
A bundle of Superbowl Rings, plus the greatest all-time stats
The Ravens looked frightened to behold such a pack.

Mike Webster’s eyes – how they twinkled! Lynn Swann’s dimples - how merry!
Mean Joe Greene’s eyes were red like a cherry!
Current Steeler’s DE Aaron Smith mentioned he could hunt with a bow
And James Harrison’s bared teeth were as white as the snow.

Newly acquired former Viking Bryant McKinnie was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And the Steelers laughed when they saw him, in spite of themselves!
With a wink of Lamar Woodley’s eye and a twist of his head,
Told the Ravens they would soon have something to dread.

The Steelers spoke not a word, but went straight to their work,
Ridding Heinz field of these onerous jerks.
No concussions were given, not one broken nose,
Take that, Roger Goodell, (no rhyme here).

Ravens coach Harbaugh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all ran, like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“We’ll see you in playoffs, but just not tonight.”

Genomes of Falcons

2011-12-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

Genomic sequence of two falcon species - peregrine and saker - decoded with interesting biological and populational effects. Also - don't beat your boobies. And finally - a new population model, which I better start learning for next semester.

SD Beauty

2011-12-15T12:51:00.000-08:00

Finals are really taking their toll on my time to keep up with this. While I ready some more bird-y shots, enjoy these from SD -

SD raptors

2011-12-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

Just got back from a trip out to SD. Lots of raptors; a few here are a Short-eared owl, snowy owl, prairie falcon and golden eagle. Snowies are being seen in large numbers this year; in most cases it signals that their main food source - lemmings - are at a low point in their cycle, and young birds are coming south looking for food. Oddly, though, some that have come into Raptor Center clinic are adults, not young, and not starving.

Purple Finches

2011-12-01T05:45:00.000-08:00

At a recent Springbrook banding, we were lucky enough to band three individuals. Purple Finches are less common at feeders in this part of the world than House Finches, though many people see the latter and assume they have Purples. There are certainly many dark and striking House Finches, but once you have seen a Purple, it is quite easy to tell the difference. Look at the absence of brown streaking on the breast, the dark "eyeline" and overall plumage of this individual.

Warmer Days and Hairy Woodpeckers

2011-11-26T14:51:00.000-08:00

It's cold and rainy and windy (but not snowy) in MN today, so I thought I'd bring back some memories of warmer days. This male Hairy Woodpecker was working away right next to the blind this past fall. You can see the holes in the branch - a giveaway he's been there often.

Brown Creeper

2011-11-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

Last bird banding session at Springbrook had a pretty nice selection of species. This Brown Creeper is always a great bird. Check out that decurved bill, long forked tail and long nails.

2011 Hawk trapping totals

2011-11-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Frank for compiling this:

This year we banded a total of 142 birds, not one of our best years, a little worse than last year at 167, but a little better than the year before when we only got 94.

Peregrines 2
Immys 2 . . . Males 0 . . . Females 2Adults 0 . . . Males 0 . . . Females 0

Merlins 14
Immys 14 . . . Males 8 . . . Females 6Adults 00 . . . Males 0 . . . Females 0

Kestrels 1
Immys 1 . . . Males 1 . . . Females 0 Adults 0 . . . Males 0 . . . Females 0

Goshawks 9
Immys 8 . . . Males 7 . . . Females 1 Adults 1 . . . Males 0 . . . Females 1

Cooper’s 5
Immys 1 . . . Males 1 . . . Females 0 Adults 4 . . . Males 2 . . . Females 2

Sharp-shins 92
Immys 61 . . . Males 28 . . . Females 33 Adults 31 . . . Males 11 . . . Females 20

Red-tails 19
Immys 13 . . . Males 10 . . . Females 3 Adults 6 . . . Males 5 . . . Females 1

Rough-legs 1
Immys 1 . . . Males 0 . . . Females 1Adults 0 . . . Males 0 . . . Females 0

No Broad-wings
No Harriers
No Eagles
Total Raptors 142

We caught only one banded bird this year,an immature male Goshawk, 20 minutes after we banded it and released it.

We had a total of 57 bounce-outs. (4 less than last year)

Shins Redux

2011-11-14T04:13:00.000-08:00

I will probably mine the pics from the Blind for a few more posts. Here are a few comparisons in the hand; first shot is male and female Hatch Year shins (female bigger); second is HY shin on the left, AHY on the right; and last one is a HY shin and a merlin.

Difference in Shins

2011-11-09T05:27:00.001-08:00

Here is a great depiction of what we experience at the blind; first two shots are of a Hatch-year shin, and next to are of a transitional After hatch year shin. The HY bird looks pretty keen to take a look at us. The AHY bird is obviously taking its time to plot the next move. A year of experience makes a lot of difference in how you respond to stimuli and make your hunting choices.

Starlings - Amazing!

2011-11-07T05:15:00.000-08:00

This video is making the rounds pretty quickly; I saw it on Friday and was waiting until today to post. By now many of you might have seen it already. Couple of people canoeing in Ireland, and got to see (and film!) a murmuration of starlings. You'll seriously not believe how beautiful this is.

Some interesting things

2011-11-04T05:05:00.001-07:00

2011 in the can - 142 birds total. Not a great take, but couldn't ask for better team to work with or better experience. In going through memories of the season, will try to pull some more pics to post. This one has a few anamolies - things that we noticed on birds that came in. First up - a sharp-shinned hawk with an iris that makes my eyes water every time I look at it.

The Red-tailed hawk had one foot with not only a pronounced "bump" on one side, but also a talong that was shorter and turned to the side. The feet worked well, grasping, etc., so the bird must have figured out ways to compensate.

Last one is the Coops that was in previous post - but had lots of pure white feathers on the head.

Goshawk and Cooper's Hawk comparisons

2011-11-02T04:31:00.001-07:00

The Cooper's hawks and Northern Goshawks are both accipiters, and do share many traits in body shape and hunting styles. However, they really look different in the hand. And - both look very different from hatch year plumage to after-hatch year. The first two shots are of Cooper's hawks - the first is a hatch year, and the second is after-hatch year. Note the flat head (different from a Sharp-shinned's very rounded head).

Now here is a bird who can strike fear in the heart of any grouse or pheasant - the might goshawk! The first shot is a of a hatch year bird, and the second is after-hatch year. Look at the strong, stocky head and body. We were lucky enough to band several of these fabulous birds this year.

Green Heron and Dragonfly

2011-10-31T04:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes I know- more hawks to come. In the meantime, since any followers know my love for Green Herons, check out this video friend Sharon sent me - it takes a few seconds to show the action, but it's worth it -

Sniff Tests

2011-10-26T06:40:00.000-07:00

Nothing like getting to bury your nose in the back of an accip's head. The young Northern Goshawk on the left got the first sniff test - and passed with flying colors. The young Cooper's Hawk also got a thumb's up.

And more Red Tails!

2011-10-24T09:45:00.001-07:00

Last season we were painfully low on banding Red tails - as in one lonely bird. That was it. We are doing better this season - adults as well as hatch years. More to come!

Part 2 - Red Tail Appreciation

2011-10-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

Enjoy!

Part 1 of Ode to Red Tails

2011-10-19T10:47:00.001-07:00

Have TONS of shots of Red-tails flying as they were released after banding. Try to spot the band in the pictures!

Dream weekend

2011-10-17T06:28:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was really the reason why we do what we do; 40 birds over the two days. 13 Red-tails, (I think) 6 Goshawks, several Cooper's hawks - the hits just kept coming. The skies were literally full of Red-tails on Saturday. Great winds helped us out a lot.

Because larger birds are a (little) slower, it helps to give us a little extra time to get some more shots in. First shot is one of my faves - we tossed this Red-tail into the wind. It pumped in flight for a bit, and then did a "wing over" - UPWARDS! The bird decided to flip over to change direction in the air to actually catch the winds behind it, as a tail wind. The other Red-tail flying shows the band we just put on it.

Bander Rick released a Goshawk, a Red-tail and a Cooper's Hawk as the rest of us took photos.

Eagle Owl video

2011-10-14T14:45:00.000-07:00

Ran out of time this week to post some more pics. Enjoy this video of a captive Eurasian Eagle Owl filmed as it flew to a perch, sent by friends Nancy and Chuck. Watch how the owl flares its feathers (wings and tail) to create drag as it slows down to land. Note also how the feet come up exactly between its ears; this is how the bird would approach prey.

Misc Pics from Up North

2011-10-10T12:45:00.001-07:00

Got a variety of stuff to post today. It was a weekend of pretty fall foliage, but not a lot for birds. SSE winds and a lot of savvy adults made for great watching, but not much interest in coming down from the Great Migration. Did catch a merlin and some more shins.

Here are a couple of pics to show the colors changing just around the blind.

This little buck came in to just feet from our blind! He was almost close enough to pull his chin whiskers!

This is a pretty famous Peregrine. For over 40 years, there has not been a wild-trapped Peregrine Falcon to be used for falconry in the state of Minnesota due to the decline of the species. This past year, one falconer applied for a take. He set up on the land close to us - and last weekend, this gorgeous 'blonde" came in! The falconer stopped in to show her off - and quite a beauty she is! We have falconers to thank for this species being restored to not only historical locations, but new ones that we all can enjoy today. Things have come full circle. We wish "Trudi" well on her hunting adventures.

Shin Molt

2011-10-06T05:14:00.001-07:00

This AHY Sharp-shinned Hawk had some great examples of molting in new feathers! You can clearly see the more blue-grey NEW feathers in wings and tail. We even had one that was just recently in blood, as you can see the protective casing that was around the feather as it grew in. The bird will preen the casing off.

Handsome bird!

Bigger Birds Coming Through!

2011-10-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

Headed up for an extra day with sub-bander Chuck and his wife Nancy. Had pretty good luck - got an AHY Northern Goshawk, AHY Cooper's Hawk, and a HY Red-tailed Hawk in addition to merlin and shins. Just pulled the pics of Chuck releasing the birds, plus another of a merlin release from a student who visited. Oh - and Chuck happened to catch me in the act of my favorite clandestine activity. Hawk sniffing. Might be the most addictive thing I have personally experienced.

Charismatic Megafauna weekend

2011-09-27T05:40:00.001-07:00

Quick post for today. Was able to spend a little more time at the blind this past weekend, but that means that getting everything done around home has less time! Going to call this past weekend the title of the blog; we had more eagles around than I think I have seen there, and we found the maker of the wolf scat that we saw at the first weekend of banding. The first pic shows two young eagle heads; someone had shot a deer illegally near the blind, and it sure brought in lots of attention from corvids and eagles alike.

Next couple of pics shows the wolf that we saw several times! We saw another individual, too. Pretty cool!

And finally - bander Rick releases two Sharp-shinned hawks with bands!

Heron comparisons

2011-09-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

This past summer I found a great opportunity to show the size difference in a Great Blue Heron, and a Green Heron. These two were sharing hunting grounds in a local lake.

Not a Great Hawk Weekend

2011-09-19T04:56:00.001-07:00

With SSE winds and rain, it didn't shape up to be a fantastic hawk weekend. Always great to hang out with a wonderful group of people, and who doesn't love being up near Duluth, though, right? And - in all the years I have been doing this - did see the most beguiling, comely female Sharp-shinned Hawk yet. Just look at her - what a sexpot.

A footnote that probably showcases the story better than anything else - some of the best pics I took were of a non-raptor. Though wrens of all species do share a certain inflated sense of self, Sedge Wrens are particularly full of. Themselves. ;)

Blue Jay Feeding TIme

2011-09-16T04:48:00.000-07:00

I'm not taking a break from hawks - still have plenty of photos to post of those. But did want to put up these - a young Blue Jay, doing his best imitation of I'm Starving. Blue Jays are moving south in big numbers now; they make up quite a few of the non-raptors we are seeing up north. These photos were taken in one of the MANY parks near me (did I mention I chose where I live well????).

Farewell, Good Friend

2011-09-13T14:18:00.001-07:00

I wish farewell to one of my oldest friends, and one of my greatest teachers - Dusty the Barn Owl. He was one of the first raptors I worked with, and what he taught me cannot be equalled. He passed away today. He came to Como Zoo in 1990 - it is believed to be his hatch year, but he could have been older. I started working with him in 1997, and hope that I gave him even one small part of the joy that he gave me by being in his presence.

We will miss you, good friend. Be at peace and know that you were loved in your time here with us.

The Blind - Weekend #2

2011-09-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

We had planned to get things open a little later than usual this weekend, but I am pretty programmed, and so just headed up. Found a nice little AHY male merlin, also up early and looking for feathered breakfast.

Got confirmation from Dr. David L. Mech, who offices where I do - this is wolf scat! We had seen a wolf close to the blind a few years ago, so was not completely surprised to find this.

Had some interesting cloud patterns over us for a while -

The last three pics show just a bit of the differences within species that we find. These are all HY Sharp-shinned hawks - but look how different they look! The first one was very light, and had green eyes.

This last bird had very dark, mottled plumage.

Hairy Woodpecker

2011-09-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

It didn't seem quite right to title this post as "Old Girl." However, this Hairy Woodpecker, retrapped recently at Springbrook, is 13 years old! She was banded here as a HY (Hatch Year) bird on October 4, 1998. In January 1999, she became, for records standardization, a SY (Second Year) bird. So, technically, on January 1, 2011, she became 13. Since her hatch date was probably sometime in March/April, she really did have her 13th birthday already!

The record for age for Hairy Woodpeckers is 15 years and 11 months, so she is not breaking any records. However, it is not common to find individuals that we can prove (with banding records) an age like this. The Bird Banding Lab has redone their website, so if you haven't checked it out recently, you should! You can report banded birds (dead or alive) and find lots of fantastic information that is known due to banding efforts.

Opening weekend at the Blind!

2011-09-06T05:22:00.000-07:00

We opened up the blind for the official 2011 season this past weekend! A better birthday present couldn't be had!

We had 11 birds on Saturday and 17 on Sunday. Majority, as expected, were Sharp-shinned hawks, and rest were merlins! Here are some release shots - Frank Taylor in the first two, releasing shins. Chuck Schotzko in the next one with a merlin, and Chuck and wife Nancy releasing two shins and a merlin in the last.

Whooping Crane National update

2011-09-01T04:12:00.000-07:00

(Thank you to Bob Russell of the USFWS for this MOU post): The Aransas-Wood Buffalo population (AWBP) of whooping cranes rebounded from 263 in the spring of 2010 to 279 in the spring, 2011. With approximately 37 chicks fledged from a record 75 nests in August 2011, theflock size should reach record levels of around 300 this fall. Threats to the flock in Texas including land development, reduced freshwater inflows,the spread of black mangrove, the long-term decline of blue crabpopulations, sea level rise, land subsidence, and wind farm and power lineconstruction in the migration corridor all continue to be important issues. Twelve whooping crane juveniles were captured in Wood Buffalo National Park(WBNP) in August 2011, bringing the total number of radioed birds to 23.

Crews visited migration stopover sites to gather habitat use data. This project is being carried out by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) withpartners including The Crane Trust, Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and others. It is funded by the PlatteRiver Recovery Implementation Program, The Crane Trust, and the NorthernPrairie Wildlife Research Center. The tracking is the first done on theAWBP in 25 years and is a top research priority of the Whooping CraneRecovery Team!

Since the 1950s, 525 AWBP whooping cranes have died withonly 50 carcasses recovered, and approximate cause of death was determinedin only 38 instances. It is imperative that we learn more about whoopingcrane mortality. Based on opportunistic sightings, the Cooperative Whooping Crane TrackingProject documented 79 confirmed sightings of whooping cranes in the U.S.Central Flyway during fall, 2010 and 49 sightings in spring, 2011. Ten captive-raised whooping cranes were released in February, 2011 at WhiteLake, Louisiana where a non-migratory flock had resided up until 1950. Seven of the birds were alive after the first seven months of the project.

Production in the wild from reintroduced flocks in 2011 was again verydisappointing with no chicks fledged in Florida or Wisconsin. Incubationbehavior in Florida and nest abandonment in Wisconsin continued to be thefocus of research. Data collected so far in Wisconsin indicates thatswarms of black flies play some kind of role in a majority of nestabandonments.The captive flocks had a good production season in 2011. Approximately 17 chicks were raised in captivity for the non-migratory flock in Louisiana,and 18 chicks are headed for Wisconsin (10 for the ultralight project atthe White River marshes, and 8 for Direct Autumn Release at HoriconNational Wildlife Refuge). Approximately four chicks of high genetic value were held back for the captive flocks. Including juvenile cranes expected to be reintroduced this fall, flocksizes are estimated at 278 for the AWBP, 115 for the WI to FL flock, 20nonmigratory birds in Florida, and 24 in Louisiana. With 162 cranes incaptivity, the total of whooping cranes is 599.

Urban Red tailed Hawk

2011-08-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

I've had the good fortune to have "run into" a few interesting Red-tailed hawks of late. The first two shots are of the same bird in a western suburb of the Metro area. It is perched on an osprey platform (the ospreys are long gone on their way south) in a field. The plumage is quite light. I couldn't get anything else, photo-wise - the bird was quite comfortable with me stopping on the road, judging from the foot-tuck, and that is a good sign that I didn't stress this bird out.

And here was a bird less than two miles from my house! All of the next shots are of the same bird - I did notice him/her because of the crow hassling! Another bird with interesting plumage - sent these to friend Bill Clark to get his take.

New Flamingo Chick at Como Zoo!

2011-08-24T04:39:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, Como Zoo welcomed a new Chilean flamingo chick! He/she is four days old in these photos. The parents are quite attentive, as shown here (and I did take photos to boost that cute factor.) So interesting to note that the beak will obviously change shape dramatically, and those short stubby legs will change in proportion to body as the chick grows.

Eastern Phoebe

2011-08-22T06:48:00.001-07:00

Great weekend weather paired with seasonal changes in daylight made for some great birding this weekend! Lots of hatch year youngsters about, who don't know yet that you shouldn't let humans with cameras THISCLOSE to you. I have more green heron shots than I think I had in culmination to date. Also just some great moments of feeling like you get to watch and be a part of birds' lives, even for a little while - while they hunt, preen, check out stuff. It's kinda humbling and kinda nice.

Eastern Phoebe just hanging out.

Amber Offense and Defense Dream Teams

2011-08-19T09:57:00.001-07:00

This the Steelers put to rest that goofy "dream team" nonsense from Philly last night. Did get me thinking about what my own dream team would look like. I did spend considerable time deciding which species of raptors most closely mirrored the "personalities" and "adaptations" of each position. (Should be without question that my dream team runs a 3-4 defense).

Osprey - one more time

2011-08-18T10:29:00.001-07:00

. . . and from the title, I reserve the right to actually post more osprey if I feel like it and get photos watermarked and resized. :)

Many of the female osprey (adults) have already started their travels south for the season. Won't be too much longer and these fabulous birds will be but a memory until they return next spring. Until then - a few more photos to enjoy!

Walker MN birds

2011-08-15T05:58:00.001-07:00

When I visited friends in Walker, MN a few weeks ago, I expected to see the requisite Northern Goshawk. I did - twice - or at least the feathered butts of two goshawks. Was surprised to see as many Broad-winged hawks as I did (second photo). Red-tails were even around - in trees along

some open areas.

Fabulous red breasted nuthatches in Itasca State Park. This one was removing a fecal sac from the nest cavity!

Not a great photo - but can obviously tell this Scarlet Tanager!

And finally - Chipping Sparrow with lunch!

Past Birds (but worth posting)

2011-08-11T05:39:00.000-07:00

Many people ask me, when they see me constantly with my camera, "what do you do with all those photos?" Good question. Someday - the Book. But in the meantime - trying to have some photos up for whomever reads the blog. Sometimes - just takes a cool bird, or something about them, that puts a smile on your face. Viva la avians, huh?

At any rate - WAAAAY back in May, when we were all just wide-eyed and desperate for the influx of migrants, we got this great Eastern Palm-warbler. I don't want time to diminsh how great this bird was in May. One of the great things about it is the ability to help tell its age from the cinnamon feathers on the crown.

Warbler Surprise

2011-08-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

Springbrook banding on Sunday was brutal with mosquitos - but worth with with 62 individuals of 16 species! Heavily loaded with Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees - and a female, SY Hooded Warbler! With a brood patch! No way to know if she bred there at Springbrook with timing. In all the years of the banding program, this is the first capture of this species. Pretty exciting! Though most range/breeding maps don't put them anywhere near us, there are some reliable breeding records in places to the north and to the south of us.

Ferruginous

2011-08-04T09:29:00.001-07:00

One of the truly best experiences you can have is literally stumbling on a fantastic bird species - one that you might have seen from afar, or one that you just don't see that often, even if you "know" it should be around.

My dad and I were heading down a section line between fields when we could clearly see the silhouette of hawks in the tree. As we got closer, it was pretty apparent that these were no ordinary (sorry, guys) red-tails. Look at those pants! FERRUGINOUS! It was a pretty warm day so we didn't stay long, but they seemed almost as curious about us as we were about them.

Green Heron part 2

2011-08-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a fabulous trip out to South Dakota. Still tallying the count - but up to 72 species just in one area!

I do enjoy Green Herons - this one had a successful hunt not far from my house -

Loons!

2011-07-25T12:44:00.001-07:00

First - I am pretty verklempt that there will be football this season. This week is going to be fast and furious with details and trades and signings and schedules. Whew!

Spent the weekend at friends' cabin in northern MN. Have tons of pics to post backlog from stuff here, but putting together some for them and so they are handy to post. Haven't really gotten great Common Loon shots before - some nice ones of adults with chicks here, taken from a boat.

Purple Martins

2011-07-20T05:21:00.000-07:00

As promised - everyone all together - OOOHH, AAAAHHH. Purple Martins really are pretty sexy. These shots were taken at one of the colonies where the team I am a part of banded 146 birds. In one day. It was a part of the 535 that we banded for the season.

These shots in flight are kinda neat. I will mention that the poor "Martin" at the top who looks upside down is actually a plastic decoy. It is there for the inevitable hawks who check out the birds. Looks this decoy did take a direct hit.

Amazing Goshawk

2011-07-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

If I were you, I would do as the young goshawk says, and check out this link; it shows jsut how cool an adult goshawk's adaptations are for getting through small spaces (dense woods, shrubs, etc).

More Osprey

2011-07-17T05:44:00.001-07:00

As promised - some of many more to come. This bird had a Northern Pike - quite a good-sized fish!

These chicks peeked over from over the top of their nest platform. All were healthy and hopefully we can learn more from spotting their bands later!

Osprey part 1

2011-07-12T15:18:00.001-07:00

Lots and lots and lots of osprey pics coming! It's the time of year when I get to assist banding osprey chicks, and watch some pretty incredible flights by these birds.

Apparently Red-winged Blackbirds don't realize how cool osprey are and won't give them a break.

Tree Swallows

2011-07-10T16:24:00.001-07:00

This is a pair of Tree Swallows - male on the left and female on the right.

Tree Swallows are not revered by many birders - especially those who have Eastern Bluebird boxes. True - they are little toughies and do try to displace bluebirds. But they are pretty aerodynamic to watch, and are downright pretty besides. At a recent banding we got a pair - here is a female in hand.

Barn Swallows

2011-07-05T10:30:00.001-07:00

Don't you hate it when you try to get in a little "me" time (preening, stretching) and friends just won't leave you alone?

Mist Netting and Birds

2011-07-03T15:59:00.000-07:00

I've always been proud of the brotherhood (or something akin to that) I belong to in bird banding. I think it is one way, amoung many, where contributions can be made to the continuing body of knowledge that is being compiled about birds, to learn about them and their needs. Recently, a doctoral student applied to use mist nets to learn about a target species, and was turned down with reasoning that this method would harm birds. She found out that there was very little evidence supporting that claim either way, and many of us are looking forward to the paper she wrote that says emphatically that mist netting is a safe way to capture birds.

Green Herons

2011-07-01T17:15:00.001-07:00

I really,really love green herons. Have found at least four pair this year and am watching them for nesting activity. This bird shows you some of the many faces that herons have.

More Bluebirds

2011-06-28T03:46:00.000-07:00

I've noticed quite a few Eastern Bluebird boxes in the parks and areas I frequent this year.

This species has certainly benefitted from the help in housing. There is always competition with House Wrens, House Sparrows and Tree Swallows, but this pair was in a local park and raised at least one brood successfully this year so far.

Neighbors

2011-06-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

In addition to the strategic plantings to encourage some wild neighbors to move in (or at least eat) in my yard, I put up a couple of nest boxes. There was a pretty big House Wren Smack-down (WWF style) right away. The winner started building within days. House Wrens can be jerks, and they are certainly vocal. This pair has actually been pretty good. They are certainly around quite a bit, but actually keep mostly to themselves. If any other birds get near their nest box, they defend it, but there haven't been many altercations.

Ducks and More Ducks

2011-06-21T10:23:00.001-07:00

Geese and ducks certainly have their young out already. Wood Ducks (first three pics) are pretty entertaining as their youngsters make the first step into the world - from inside a nest box, or as their natural biology evolved, from up in trees.

I have watched Mallards take their chicks directly to dead fish right to the shorelines; they snap up the flies that are invariably there over the carcass. Good thinking!

Eastern Bluebirds

2011-06-17T05:28:00.001-07:00

A friend told me about some Eastern bluebirds that her townhouse complex maintained with nesting boxes. Unfortunately, the day we planned to band chicks turned out to be that scorcher that we hadn't seen for a gajillion years. Since safety of the birds is always the primary concern, we opted not to.

Quasi Academic, Quasi Published

2011-06-15T04:41:00.000-07:00

This is actually pretty cool - I share a by-line with Dr. Pat Redig regarding peregrine falcons. We just finished up the 2009 and 2010 (don't ask) Midwest Peregrine reports. For those of you who know me well, one of the great parts of my job is getting to assist with the ongoing program of getting bands and materials out to the states for peregrine banding season every year, then collecting info and getting it into the database and creating reports. Though the big lifting happened over 20 years ago, it is really humbling and exciting to be a part of this amazing effort.

To view the reports, go to midwestperegrine.org. On the left hand side you can select Annual Reports, then 2010 (or 2009) and you can view or download the pdf. This site is a great way for the public to check in on their favorite bird/state/site and run their own reports. Check it out!

American Crow Youngsters

2011-06-13T06:29:00.001-07:00

This past week seems like youngsters of every species are just exploding out of their nests. Can't go anywhere without food begging behavior, more vocalizations, and feeling like there are creatures with feathers EVERYWHERE! Anyone in an urban setting knows that American Crows are almost omnipresent - in yards, around shopping centers, parks, you name it. Four new fledglings showed up in and around my house. If you thought one or two adults were loud, the entire block cannot contain these four. How do you tell they are youngsters? Well, the behavior for one - they are following and calling after adults. And then they sit in trees or in my yard and just calling for food to be brought to them.

Physically, you can tell they are just fledged if you look closely - they have blue eyes (which they will retain for about two months) and reddish-pink skin at the corners of their mouths (and gape) for about three months.

Checking in on Peregrines

2011-06-10T06:36:00.001-07:00

More peregrines! This from the same urban nest box. The male is unbanded, as you can see from the first pic.

Wanted to do a comparison with how quickly chicks "grow up." Pic of chick being held was on May 27 - you can see the b/r o4/U band. Look at the next shot - same bird on June 7! Flight and other feathers already poking out!

And my most favorite things to learn - what are they eating!?!?! Can you guess what the bits are that I found?

They are (in order): Wilson's Snipe, Pied-billed Grebe, and Northern Flicker. Quite a nice menu selection!

Random But Pretty

2011-06-07T07:26:00.001-07:00

I swear that future blogs will have a theme. As previously mentioned I am in the enviable position that I really do have more photos to go through and post (and of course great experiences to go with them) than I have time for. Today I just chose a few to post here. First photo - a pair of Tree Swallows on a wetland railing. Next two - my faves - the Cedar Waxwings.

Next up - an interesting Canada Goose. Check out the white feathers on the forehead (and the water drip off the bill).

And who doesn't have a million American Robin pics - but do you get them where they pose so nicely all the time??

Peregrines!

2011-05-31T12:32:00.001-07:00

Next few weeks will have peregrines interspersed with other banding. This past Friday I was granted permission to be able to see the peregrines at their nest box at one of our metro area locations! It has been a wet/cold year, so some nest boxes have failed and others are later this year than in past. The chicks here are between 2 and 3 weeks old.

Warbler Goodness Brought to You by the Letter "M"

2011-05-27T06:28:00.001-07:00

Still catching up on posts! Last weekend at Ritter Farm, in between some pretty crazy rain/storms, we did get a couple of FABULOUS warblers! First two pics are of a Mourning Warbler. The last two are of a Magnolia Warbler.

Caspian Tern

2011-05-23T05:20:00.001-07:00

My thoughts are out to anyone affected by the wave of storms that moved through the city over the weekend. My place didn't suffer much, but I know others might not have been so fortunate.

Catching up again on some blog posts - have had a wonderful time following a couple of Caspian Terns who just happen to be down the street from me. I photographed them flying, sitting, etc. Had my lens trained on the one - and then some other activities took place. Poor tern - just a bystander, not a voyeur. You can use your imagination to fill in the dialogue -

Rose-breasted Mystery

2011-05-20T05:34:00.000-07:00

This past banding session at Ritter was fantastic - Tennessee Warblers with faces full of apple blossom pollen, other warblers dripping from tree branches. And this Rose-breasted Grosbeak who almost put us into apoplexy. At first glance, he appeared to be a second year male, and fairly classic at that - brown worn primaries, yellow and spotting on the sides. But he was already banded - and in 2009 no less! As a second year bird! So - what is his story? Just a late bloomer? Individual or environmental factors delaying the plumage, or is this the "final product?"

Don't you love banding? More questions than answers!

Various interesting articles

2011-05-18T10:54:00.001-07:00

Couple of interesting things to read - Ivory-billed sighting, how the size of duck eggs might be a sign/response of climate variance, and how radiation sucks for orange birds.

Urban Owls

2011-05-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

Great horned owls are one of the first birds in the calendar year here in MN to have young out. Which means - during some of our coldest, wettest weather, they are able to successfully incubate eggs and keep warm chicks who are hatched with no feathers to hold their body heat. This bird has taken over an old squirrel nest in a very well-traveled park in Minneapolis. The chicks in these shots are between 4-5 weeks old.

Belated Postings - Yard Sparrows

2011-05-14T17:34:00.001-07:00

I've been a little bit of a slacker with the blog - but it's not intentional. Where do I start? Took a few days to spend at a friend's cabin to band 22 species and 62 birds - then helped with a bird banding event (24 species - 90 birds!). But wanted to go back a few weeks and just show what an amazing bit of birding can be had - just in my backyard! Looks like having feeders up/out (and seed on the ground) in addition to some plantings taking shape has put me on the Migration Highway. I was almost out of my mind to have so many species of sparrows come visit. Here are just a few:

This first is arguably my fave sparrow of all - Harris! I have seen them in SD and NE only - never MN, and here it was - in my yard! What a fabulous meatball of a bird!

The next three are of a White-crowned Sparrow. They are a little toughie of a bird - bigger than the White-throated and kind of bruisers.

Ahhh - here are a couple of White-throated Sparrows. Note the color difference in the white stripes - the first is more classic, and the second is more beige. The second one is a Second Year for sure - the first would need to be held in the hand to tell for sure. Some individuals within a species will molt a little sooner than others.

This Chipping Sparrow is the smallest of the ones I have had come in. It will breed in the neighborhood, so I will be seeing it!

These last two pics were taken through a screen and a glass window so they are blurry - but they are of a Clay-colored Sparrow! Did I mention my backyard? These are birds that breed in prairies, so I was glad that a little thistle stop could help it out on its journey.

A Little Self-promotion

2011-05-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

Normally I am not one to let the world know what I am up to - aside from birding. These two pieces are ones I don't mind sharing. Three Rivers Park District filmed a clip on birding, and the Star Trib ran a piece on banding at Ritter.

Spring Hawk Migration

2011-05-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

Got to have the experience of a lifetime recently. I really am pretty blessed to have people in my life who are not only kind and wonderful humans, but they are willing to share their knowledge. A wonderful couple on Duluth opened their home and let me stay and take in the fantastic spectacle of spring hawk migration. For someone like me who has done fall hawks for so long - seeing these birds six months later was quite an eye-opener. Birds hatched in 2010 now look remarkably different in the spring of the following year. I tried to soak up as much as I could, but hope to do more of this.

Quite a treat to get one Northern Harrier in a fall season - something else to get not just two, but a full adult AND a second year bird (meaning, hatched the year before) and have them in hand for comparison. The full adult is the bird on the right - look at the difference in eye color and plumage.

Merlins are always one of my favorites. This adult male looked so worn - see the tips of his inner (deck) feathers? Also check out the reddish color on the feathers over his legs.

Steelers are for the Birds

2011-05-02T14:47:00.001-07:00

So, I have this friend Kristin who is not only a great, sweet human being - she also has mad skillz at the sewing machine. AND - she knew that I am amassing all the tools of the trade I need now that I am an official sub-bander. Look at the AMAZING Bag of Bags - and the bird bag in stylish Steeler Black and Gold! What a great gift!

Fits well with the theme of NFL DRAFT WEEKEND! Not even the stupid Roayal Wedding can trump this annual event that is basically Christmas for us football fans. I give us a solid B+ this year - my second round tackle is going to fantastic, and if Kevin Colbert is going to be almost giddy about my first round DE, then I can get behind that, too -

Lowry Banding

2011-04-30T06:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay - stop me if you've heard this before. But seriously - White-throated Sparrows really are one of my fave sparrows. When we banded at Lowry a couple of weeks ago, this bird was the first of its species that I had seen in the cities. As I write this, though, there are about a dozen in my front and back yards. I heard the distinctive call notes, and ran outside (yes, in the full downpour of rain) and sprinkled some seed. Within moments there was a huge group. Along with them were Juncos, Cowbirds and a Blue Jay or two.

This Junco had white spots around its eyes.

This American Tree Sparrow was also banded at Lowry. It is a second year bird, so does not have its more defined eye line.

The Osprey have Returned!

2011-04-27T05:11:00.001-07:00

It;s a wonderful thing to have so many photos and adventures to write about that you have to think about what to post! Just got back from some amazing experiences Up North (will post soon). In the meantime, I will try to catch up with stuff I have from the past couple of weeks. This osprey nests in Carver, near Lowry Nature Center. Birds are coming through in waves - I think I have to mow soon - spring must really be here!

Ritter and Innsbruck

2011-04-23T05:22:00.001-07:00

I was introduced to Ritter Farm in Lakeville from the summer/early fall banding sessions I assist with. Be warned - take stock of your surroundings - it is a wonderful place to go walking, but easy to get turned around. !!!!. There is a bald eagle's nest at the entrance. Wonderful wetland and orchard with some great birds. Always a nice selection of habitats to find some wonderful birds.

Just introduced to Innsbruck in Fridley. A great mix of wooded and wetland, with some fantastic geographic features. When I was there, these Hooded Mergansers and Blue-winged teal were also visiting. Should be fantastic for warblers.

Spotlight - Riverfront Regional Park

2011-04-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

On the other side of the Mississippi River from North Mississippi Regional, is Riverfront Regional. The former is a part of the Three Rivers District, and the latter is an Anoka County park. I almost broke my wrist getting out of the car in the parking lot - just as I pulled up, and was facing the river, the unmistakable silhouette of a Peregrine Falcon popped up over the treeline along the river.

Yellow-rumped Warblers, aka Butter-butts, were present in droves. Literally, that little squirt bottle sound they make was everywhere - their little flippy-do flights as they hunt for insects felt like a Disney movie over me and in the trees along the trail. They are highly susceptible to pishing, so you can usually get more than a few curious individuals to come closer.

This male Downy had no problem preening just above my head on the paved trail.

Eastern Phoebes were present, hunting more on the ground for their lunches.

Ths Nothern Flicker and American Robin had a short disagreement, but resolved it with the Robin deciding he was more comfortable about three trees over.

Spotlights on Local/Metro Birding Spots

2011-04-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

Those of us in Minnesota, and specifically the Metro area are really pretty lucky. We don't have to go very far from our front doors to do some fantastic birding. Part of that is the sheer number, and diversity, of natural areas like parks and refuges that have been designated and are available to enjoy. I am going to try to spend the next couple of blog posts highlighting some of the lesser known ones.

First up - North Mississippi Regional Park in Minneapolis. Don't let the proximity to I-94 fool you - it is sandwiched between the river and the freeway, and has some real gems. The nature center is wonderful. They also have an open area that will attract Eastern Kingbirds, Eastern Phoebes and other flycatchers. Northern Flickers and other woodpeckers love it, too. This was the first spot this year that I heard and saw Song Sparrows (first two pics). It also features a large Great Blue Heron Rookery (next four pics).

Last photo is a Greater White-fronted Goose. Just happened to notice it as I was walking to the rookery.

Urban raptors

2011-04-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

Every so often I will just drive around in my neighborhood and see/hear what is around. Had my window down - what a great last few days! - and heard some raucous crow calling. Realized the source of their concern - a Cooper's hawk had just pegged a pigeon in a yard. Talk about an urban raptor - the mailman would have to actually step AROUND the bird to deliver the mail. How to tell it's a Coops (instead of a Shin?) Couple of things - check out that very dark greay "cap" that is more easily seen on a Coops. Also check out that flat head - you could set a coffee cup on it. Shins' heads are more rounded - like a pinhead (but don't tell them I said that.) Check out the moult pattern - some of the primaries are going to be moulted (the ones there now are very brown and worn) and the tail feathers are in various stages of moulting in for the season.

Banding Sunday

2011-04-11T07:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome to spring in MN. Last week Tuesday was gloves - yesterday was a T-shirt. Lots of species moving through or jsut getting to town. Here are some of my faves - the Sparrows! First bird (three photos) is a Fox Sparrow. We just see them passing through in spring and fall. What a meatball, huh? The last bird (two photos) is a Swamp Sparrow - smaller than the Fox. In between (three photos) is a Hermit Thrush - you can see how the thursh's bill is much more tapered and longer than the thick, stout Sparrow bills. Also caught a quick shot of just how detailed the colors are under the Thrush's wing.

Red tailed Hawk Cam

2011-04-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

From outside a library in New York - a Red-tailed Hawk cam!

Bald eagle cam - part 2

2011-04-05T05:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am hooked. These are just from this morning. Dad came in - tried the crow (no jokes about eating crow) and looks (or tastes) like it wasn't as good of an idea as originally thought. He turned to the more yummy muskrat. In a quick exchange, you can see the two chicks here -

Bald eagle cam (food)

2011-04-05T04:47:00.001-07:00

By now, it's almost impossible to think the world doesn't know about the eagle cam in Decorah Iowa. Bob Anderson and the Raptor Resource Project did a wonderful job of a making it possible for anyone, anywhere, to see what it is like to "grow up eagle." Using technology as a portal to environmental education is not only effective, it's almost unavoidable to reach the young audiences today.

What I appreciate the most is WHAT THEY ARE EATING! Over these various screenshots, you can see rabbit, fish, crow and muskrat. You can see the road in the background - wonder if this pair make their living on a lot of roadkill?

Migration Class April 7

2011-04-02T04:16:00.000-07:00

This Thursday, April 7, I am teaching a Migration class through the Columbia Heights Adult Enrichment/Education program. We will talk about types of movement (migration is just one that birds do), how they navigate when they migrate, how banding tells us things, and as much more as we can pack into the class! Optional field trip to see bird banding the following Saturday. You can sign up at the Columbia Heights Community Ed site here. Hope to see you there!

Bald eagles

2011-03-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

A trip down to Wabasha then on to WI yielded some fantastic views of bald eagles. Conservatively we saw over a hundred on each side of the river. March is really a month of change - birds heading back to breeding grounds north of here -birds heading back to MN since they are the breeding grounds - and birds just using the state as a tranportation stop going either direction. I was a little tickled at the gutsy group of starlings who thought that ganging up on an eagle really was a good idea.

Couple of great articles

2011-03-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Couple of interesting articles - birds and power lines, and birds and multiple man-made objects.

And I just had to add this one - who doesn't love an attention-grabbing headline like, "Cuckoo in Egg Pattern Arms Race?" One in which egg forgery skills are elaborated upon?