Racoon Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 I also caught a pond with some Mallrds, just chilling, and occasionally submerging, around the Discovery trail bike path... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted December 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 You got me re-jazzed on the bird photos O Masked Mammal Racoon. :) I put my camera out today for an hour on the ground with a pile of seed, but nothing worth posting came of it. Nonetheless, I have some shots from my old place along the Columbia banks that I deleted from the Gallery when my space was limited. I'm going back now and getting them put back. I'll just edit them into this post as I restore them to the Hypography Science Gallery. Here's Hutton's vireo - Vireo Huttoni >>> Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca >>> Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius >>> White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinesis >>> House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus >>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedars Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 We had our first real snow of the season yesterday. A bad snow, starting out with alot of rain converting to big puffy flakes later. This is bad for alot of winter animals, if it doesnt melt. The snow will have a base of solid ice. This past 9 months I have not been leaving my outside light on at night much. Last night was different. I love the first snows because all my birds seem to come in at once to make sure I am still feeding. It seems very similar with the night animals. I looked outside and to my dismay, the seed eating yard scrounges (white tailed deer) were back, all fuzzy in their winter coats. I have a ritual with these pests and I banged on the window to get them to run away. A big bird flew out of the oak tree. DAMN! I had flushed an owl. I checked again about 15 minutes later, sneaking up to the window to peek out. The bird was back, in the same spot on the tree. He/she is hunting mice below and I got a good look this time. Distracted by the one deer who had returned, the birds head was turned and it hadnt seen me in the window. It turned its head back and watched a bit, then turned again towards the deer. I got me a Barred owl hunting my feeding area at night. It must be a favorite spot to have the bird return so fast to the same perch. Barred Owl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted December 23, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2006 I got me a Barred owl hunting my feeding area at night. It must be a favorite spot to have the bird return so fast to the same perch. Barred Owl Wow! Maybe I should try using infrared at night on the feeder area? Mmmmm.... Today I took a fair photo of a male House Sparrow, and the female is just a matter of time. This species is one of only two birds not protected by US law (the other is the European Starling). Here's my pic>>>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedars Posted December 25, 2006 Report Share Posted December 25, 2006 Interesting problem here: WP: Bald eagle to be off endangered list - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com Eagles are by no means rare in Minnesota. Their recovery after DDT has been phenominal, and that recovery is not only about the removal of the chemical, it was thru massive education efforts. In the early 70s I was warned not to speak of the pair I saw frequently because there were people in this rural community who killed them on sight (predators). I had spoken on the school bus about the birds and was almost laughed off the bus and called a liar (there havent been eagles around here for 25 years)... The linked story talks about the issue between landowner and protecting the birds nests. Eagles return to the same nest every year and can live quite a while. There is a pair near Hazelden (the treatment center) along the main highway, that has been active for around 20 years, even thru the loss of a mate a few years ago. The birds and nest are nicknamed "the hazelden birds/ hazelden nest" locally. Truth is, the landowner exagerates at the dilema that he faces. A 330 foot buffer around the nest does not mean he cannot develop the remainder of the 39 acres (but it will reduce it by almost 10 acres). He could plan for this because chances are great that the activity of development around the nest itself will drive the birds away. There is also the chance that Minnesota may enact (or could have an existing law) that would make removal of the bird from the protected species list moot by enacting the same nest protection regardless of this particular species listing. So here we come to the first issues the continued successful future of the birds, in their ability to nest once they are removed from protected status. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiniteNow Posted December 25, 2006 Report Share Posted December 25, 2006 My first thought... Why must an animal be on a list of those protected to prevent us from hunting it to extinction? :hyper: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedars Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 The local evening news did a story on this person regarding his building on his land. There is an existing law regarding the protection, called something like the Bald Eagle/Golden Eagle Protection Act. Even de-listed, the nests of these birds will remain protected. He says he will go to court if this particular law is used in the future to protect this nest after the bald eagle is de-listed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes Benzene Posted December 30, 2006 Report Share Posted December 30, 2006 With regards to birding:I'm being *forced* to read a book for school called "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" by Annie Dillard. Well, it's actually quite a good book, and the narrator details all sorts of interesting bird-watching experiences, in addition to many other natural wonders. To give a short synopsis of the book, here's an editorial review from "500 Great Books by Women":Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is a series of essays that combines scientific observation, philosophy, daily thoughts, and deeper introspection with glorious prose. On the surface, Annie Dillard is simply exploring a place called Tinker Creek and its inhabitants: "It's a good place to live; there's lots to think about." But as her observations range well beyond the landscape into worlds of esoteric fact and metaphysical insight, each paragraph becomes suffused with images and ideas. Whether she is quoting the Koran or Albert Einstein, describing the universe of an Eskimo shaman or the mating of luna moths, Annie Dillard offers up her own knowledge with reverence for her material and respect for her reader. She observes her surroundings faithfully, intimately, sharing what can be shared with anyone willing to wait and watch with her. In the end, however, "No matter how quiet we are, the muskrats stay hidden. Maybe they sense the tense hum of consciousness, the buzz from two human beings who in silence cannot help but be aware of each other, and so of themselves." The precision of individual words, the vitality of metaphor, the sheer profusion of sources, the vivid sensory and cerebral impressions - all combine to make Pilgrim at Tinker Creek something extravagant and extraordinary. Well, I highly suggest this book to anyone, especially Turtle.... although I have a feeling that this is exactly the type of book you would have already read cover to cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InfiniteNow Posted December 31, 2006 Report Share Posted December 31, 2006 Strongly suggest the special, Winged Migration, now being shown on Discovery HD. Wow... Discovery HD Theater :: Episode :: Winged Migration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted January 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 With regards to birding:I'm being *forced* to read a book for school called "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek" by Annie Dillard. Well, it's actually quite a good book, and the narrator details all sorts of interesting bird-watching experiences, in addition to many other natural wonders. To give a short synopsis of the book, here's an editorial review from "500 Great Books by Women": Well, I highly suggest this book to anyone, especially Turtle.... although I have a feeling that this is exactly the type of book you would have already read cover to cover. The name Annie Dillard sounds familiar, but from the synopsis I can say I haven't read this work. I may read it, if someone *forces* me too. :note: Birding here has been rather mundane, but this morning I had a Hairy Woodpecker at the suet and that is new. I was unprepared and failed to get a photo worth posting but I'm on the alert now. Meantime, I have put some older bird photos I took into the Hypography Science Gallery. (Click image for full-size view) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turtle Posted January 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 Aha! Question: What darkish brown bird with speckled front, light eyebrows, and dark bib hides from the Turtle's camera on the backside of the feeder and eludes identification for a week? :) :) Answer: The Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia Short video>>>>YouTube - Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofvZjK_Zir0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarantism Posted January 30, 2007 Report Share Posted January 30, 2007 i saw this bird i couldnt identify. maybe you cats can help me out. i was walking and chatting with my girlfriend on the warf in santa cruz. just taking a walk in the fog. we were walking on the left side of the warf and there was a line of seagull which flew away in sucession as we got close to them. near there was a mix between young (dirty brown) and mature (white with grey) seagulls, and i didnt see much other variety in the birds which was unfortunite. then near the middle of the warf we say a bird with black around the beak and black on the lower back and top of the tail feathers. from here my memory is foggy, and i cant remember if there was dark on the underbelly or over the eyes, but it was is patches. it was brown and nearly black (if not the latter). perhaps you could help me identify? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedars Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 i saw this bird i couldnt identify. maybe you cats can help me out. then near the middle of the warf we say a bird with black around the beak and black on the lower back and top of the tail feathers. from here my memory is foggy, and i cant remember if there was dark on the underbelly or over the eyes, but it was is patches. it was brown and nearly black (if not the latter). perhaps you could help me identify? Was the black around the beak on the beak itself (like a black circle around the beak) or was the black feathers on its face? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedars Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Not sure if this belonged here or in one of the warming threads. It may be that the changing bird ranges are not so much due to warming as bird feeding. Planet Ark : FEATURE - Bird Ranges Move, but is it Climate Change? One thing I had wondered in the begining of the range shift reports (in addition to the more feeders out there) was; are more people counting and reporting birds? It would seem so by this site: Christmas Bird Count There is a definiate increase in the numbers of counters out there for the CBC and the reported change in ranges. Graphs near bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedars Posted February 3, 2007 Report Share Posted February 3, 2007 Sad day for the reintroduction program. Storms kill endangered whooping cranes - Environment - MSNBC.com I disagree with this statement from the article: "Duff described the loss as an “unavoidable disaster” for the whooping cranes project that ironically followed a milestone." I dont know how they didnt foresee the potential for a storm surge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedars Posted February 7, 2007 Report Share Posted February 7, 2007 A way people can participate in furthering data on birds. A wonderful addition to the Christmas Day Bird Count giving more information for people to access. More about it: What is the GBBC? — Great Backyard Bird Count Easy or as hard as you want it to be. You determine your level of involvement. A great family project! How to Participate — Great Backyard Bird Count Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cedars Posted February 21, 2007 Report Share Posted February 21, 2007 Well heres most of my numbers from the Backyard Bird count last weekend. These are the confirmed numbers meaning I saw at least one male/one female of a type or like for the cardinals, I saw all four of these birds on the ground/in the trees at the same time. 2 pair of Cardinals1 pair Red Bellied woodpecker1 pair Hairy woodpecker3 Downy woodpecker (one male/two females)1 Pleated Woodpecker (earlier in the winter I had 3 of these in the tree at the same time)1 Sharp-shinned hawk (which lowered my bird numbers)42 Tree Sparrowsand10 other species not listed here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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