Birding

[Cedars]

We saw several eagles hunting the river, one who was splashing along the shore was much fun to watch but the highlight of the day was the baby Osprey who took a first flight as we watched.

 

These birds have nested on the train bridge for many years now. The nest is crowded with 3 young this year. Our attention was drawn to them calling out warning/alarm calls due to a boatload of people who had stopped just below their nest so 3 of their kids could jump from the bridge into the water.

 

Soon after this boat load of people had left, a parent bird returned to perch on the highest point of the bridge. The tourist train came at this time and I wanted to watch the birds reactions. The babys flapped their wings some but did not lift off. After the train had passed is when it occured.

 

More kids who were camping along the river came up to jump. They got right under the nest on their way to the jump spot and it happened. One of the babies lifted off! He/she was airborn! And screaming in fear the whole time. The bird circled the nest a few times then took off to the north. It wanted to land and approached a tree, wings outspread and feet reaching to land and Noooo!! It misjudged the branch and withdrew this attempt. I wondered if we would see the bird again this day as it continued north and disapeared from view.

 

We waited a bit to see if the others would follow. They did not appear interested in leaving home yet. Then the brave one returned. It came in too high and thought about landing but turned to circle the nest again. The second time it almost hovered and dropped but got scared again and aborted the landing. The young bird was going too fast and too high to land.

 

It widened it flight and found a dead tree about 600 feet from the nest to perch in. Well, perch isnt quite the word for this bird landed around 3/4 ths of the way up the tree on the main trunk. So it was really gripping the tree hanging like a squirrel does on a main trunk. Poor bird! We laughed as did the other canoers who had stopped to watch the action. The bird was tired and catching its breath for a bit. After a few minutes it dropped from the tree and made its approach. Coming in low, it did a manuver of three short wing flaps and came into the nest a bit fast, but at the right level. Three hops and the bird was parked in the safty of its nest again.

 

I imagine that by next weekend, this nest will be empty. It was a good day on the river!

 

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i3640id.html

 

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Osprey_dtl.html

[tangledup75]

I am so glad that you were able to see the babies trying to leave the nest. Most of us don't see that very often! The river is a great place to see the big birds, as you know.

The hummers also have their little ones around the feeders by my house. I counted 20 today. They are going through a quart of food everyday. That is okay though, then it doesn't go to waste when I clean out the bottles.

Good that I found your post Cedars!

[Cedars]

This last week my wild turkeys returned with their broods. Two hens (last year I had three) brought the babies to scratch for seeds. I counted 9 babies, but it was hard to see them in my long grass. We've been hot and dry so I havent been mowing.

 

The babies seem a bit small for this time of year so maybe it was a late hatch. They are feathered and taking small flights to keep up with the moms. Fun to watch as one or two take a short (20 foot) flight, inspiring the others to catch up. Kind of a leap frog blur of babies.

 

Its been so hot that only one of the mornings was cool enough to have the windows open all night. That morn I was able to hear the little peeps the birds were making between moms and kids. I hear them sometimes during the day in the brush peeping at each other. Turkeys make alot of different noises and its been nice with their recent recovery in numbers to have had the opportunity to learn some of these calls.

[tangledup75]

The day before yesterday, I decided to take the dogs on an early morning walk (6:00). I couldn’t believe my eyes. I knew it was a small owl, but couldn’t ID it. I looked it up in my field book as soon as we got home. It was a Northern Saw-whet. I thought it was a baby owl at first. But these owls are very small. It was so cool. I know I am going to have to take my binos and camera with me next time I go out so early.

 

The hummers are drinking about one and a half quarts the past couple days. They are so fun to watch. When I bring out fresh food they hardly wait for me to hang the feeders up. I have a couple males that seem to guard the feeder from others. It is like they think it is all for them! I’m not sure what behavior that is.

 

I too saw a huge batch of baby turkeys. My dog didn’t see them. She was too interested in climbing in the car! I counted 14 babies and there were 5 adults. Two of the adults were in front and the others were behind the chicks. They walked right through the yard and up the trail to the house next door.

[Tarantism]

when acmping a few days ago i saw a long-eared owl for the first time. that was cool.

[Cedars]

The day before yesterday, I decided to take the dogs on an early morning walk (6:00). I couldn’t believe my eyes. I knew it was a small owl, but couldn’t ID it. I looked it up in my field book as soon as we got home. It was a Northern Saw-whet. I thought it was a baby owl at first. But these owls are very small. It was so cool. I know I am going to have to take my binos and camera with me next time I go out so early.

 

Good sighting Tangled! You spotted a good one, its listed as occasional in the meadows, with sightings about every other year. I wonder if the fires have pushed some of these guys south. Have they hayed the field near the owl?

 

http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/nsw_owl.php

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/9/overview/Northern_Saw_Whet_Owl.aspx

http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/i3720id.html

 

 

The hummers are drinking about one and a half quarts the past couple days. They are so fun to watch. When I bring out fresh food they hardly wait for me to hang the feeders up. I have a couple males that seem to guard the feeder from others. It is like they think it is all for them! I’m not sure what behavior that is.

 

They do claim feeders for theirs. Brats!

[Cedars]

when acmping a few days ago i saw a long-eared owl for the first time. that was cool.

 

Congrats on achieving a birding first! This bird is struggling in a few states according to this website:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Long-eared_Owl.html

 

This page has good detail on the bird, which may help you spot more of them:

http://www.owlpages.com/owls.php?genus=Asio&species=otus

 

I did not know this (from above link):

 

"Unlike most other Owls, during winter they may roost communally (7 to 50 Owls) in dense thickets and range over very large undefended foraging areas. Communal roost sites are often used year after year, probably by the same birds."

[tangledup75]

Owls are so cool. I have seen them at night when the car lights catch them dodging the windsheild! I love camping and listening to the owls late at night.

The field that I saw it near was harvested, but the owl was near the corn.

[Tarantism]

yeah the sounds of the owls and wodpeckers help me sleep in the woods at night and during the day respectivley.

 

oh thats anothr- i saw a few bird which i thought were ivory blled woodpeckers. then again, while they were certainly 'peckers i dont know if they were ivory billed or Pleated. i should start taking photos. :eek2:

[tangledup75]

I guess I would say it was probably the Pileated woodpecker. Did you hear about the guys in Arkansas that thought they spotted the Ivory billed? They are on a mission now! The woodpecker was thought to be almost extinct. I found a link to Cornell about the Ivory Billed. It is very interesting. I would include the link, but I got an error message when I tried. I have to post some more first. Check it out!

 

Yesterday I saw a Marsh hawk go over the hummingbird feeders. I think it might have scooped one up if I hadn't been standing there!

 

I'm going birding this weekend with my niece and nephew, that should be interesting!

[Turtle]

Did you hear about the guys in Arkansas that thought they spotted the Ivory billed? They are on a mission now! The woodpecker was thought to be almost extinct. I found a link to Cornell about the Ivory Billed. It is very interesting. I would include the link, but I got an error message when I tried. I have to post some more first. Check it out!

We have an article on it here, & I think we discussed it earlier in this thread as well.

Ivory Billed Woodpecker

 

Alas, my yard and immediate area seem bereft of birds.:D I am now relying on you posters to satisy my avian interests.:)

[tangledup75]

Thanks! I have only begun to read it all. I appreciate any and all help!

[Turtle]

Thanks! I have only begun to read it all. I appreciate any and all help!

 

My pleasure.:eek:

 

I do now have a bird report from Vancouver Washington, and a bit unusual at that. The geese are migrating South already! They are moving at night by moonlight and tonight I first heard & then saw a flock of about 30 individuals winging South at about 2,000 ft. Two nights ago I heard but did not see a larger flock. This is at least a month early.

:hihi:

[tangledup75]

I do now have a bird report from Vancouver Washington, and a bit unusual at that. The geese are migrating South already! They are moving at night by moonlight and tonight I first heard & then saw a flock of about 30 individuals winging South at about 2,000 ft. Two nights ago I heard but did not see a larger flock. This is at least a month early.

:friday:

 

This morning I was up at dawn, I heard a flock of geese. They were just coming in for a landing in our field. I am not sure just how many there were, maybe about 20 or so. We are located in Western Wisconsin.

[tangledup75]

Does anyone have any idea how to keep the black hornets away from my hummingbird feeders? Today they are thick and in pursuit of the birds.

[Cedars]

Does anyone have any idea how to keep the black hornets away from my hummingbird feeders? Today they are thick and in pursuit of the birds.

 

A feeder with bee guards usually works but what can happen is, the wind or a bigger bird may land on the feeder causing a bit of fluid to leak out and hang below. Once the bees get some food from a feeder, they will defend the feeder from competition.

 

You can get a bug net and try to net the bees and kill them. If its only one or two bees who are defending, problem solved. If there is enough leakage, or the feeder doesnt have bee guards, you may have a whole hive defending the feeder. If that is the case, you might try a bottle fly trap with sugar as the bait. Narrow necked bottle, such as a pop bottle, a funnel and the bait. Orange pop may work as the bait.

 

You would need to move the feeder to a different side of your house until the bee problem is solved. If the feeder doesnt have bee guards, junk it and get a new feeder. Moving the feeder will not solve the problem.

[figment]

Cedar's right.. traps are the way to go. My neighbor had a pretty bad hornet problem and that's how he got rid of them. No matter if you use storebought traps or make your own, here's his recipe for the bait.

 

Put some small cubes of raw red meat in the trap (fish works good, too), and then add some cubes of canned fruit with juice. Then add a little bit of water so it doesn't dry up, and swirl it all around.

 

Put it about 6 feet from the Hummingbird feeder and in a few days the smell will start to draw the pests away from the feeder and into the trap. Make sure not to handle the trap unless it's dark and they've already flown back to the hive/nest.