Sunday Thread For the Birds [Y-not]

OK, given the supposed origins of "for the birds," I hope that's not true of this thread, but time will tell.

See the Vibrant Hummingbirds That Visit a Musician Every Morning https://t.co/rJ2eyu5vQ5 pic.twitter.com/FuWkN0kurg
— Visual News (@thevisualnews) May 5, 2016

Seems like we have a lot of amateur bird-watchers amongst the horde (and I have quite a few on my Twitter feed), so how about a thread for us bird brains?

Nevermore

https://t.co/BkaixJoWPD
— Ravenmaster (@ravenmaster1) May 8, 2016

Ravens are amazing:

It turns out that ravens make "very sophisticated nonvocal signals," according to researchers. In other words, they gesture to communicate. A study in Austria found that ravens point with their beaks to indicate an object to another bird, just as we do with our fingers. They also hold up an object to get another bird's attention. This is the first time researchers have observed naturally occurring gestures in any animal other than primates.

How can you tell if you're looking at a raven versus a crow?

Is that big black bird a crow or a raven? How can you tell? Ravens (seen right here) often travel in pairs, while crows (left) are seen in larger groups. Also, study the tail as the bird flies overhead. A crow's tail is shaped like a fan, while the raven's tail appears wedge-shaped. Another clue is to listen closely to the birds' calls. Crows give a cawing sound, but ravens produce a lower croaking sound.

Bird communication fascinates me. Back in the day, a colleague of mine studied (amongst other things) chickadee communication. Because of their small size and high metabolism, they form cooperative groups in the winter when food is scarce. Those groups develop "dialects" that they use within the group. I haven't kept tabs on my old colleague's research, but here's a recent study of how chickadee communication varies with elevation. Cool stuff.

Bird Brain

Ravens are known for being highly intelligent. On the other end of the spectrum, there's this:

crazy nonsense-goose thinks white circles drilled from pipe are eggs and is trying to gather, gander is gandering. pic.twitter.com/2ehpY7OkOf
— Patch Farmstead (@patchfarmstead) May 8, 2016

LOL!

In defense of the goose, this researcher says they're using their brains to adapt to urban life. He begins by contrasting crows and geese:

One of my favorite stories about the cognitive superiority of crows relative to other birds comes from my friend Valerie Allmendinger. Valerie was enjoying a break at Harrison Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada, when she noticed one of the kitchen staff members flipping slices of bread to a local flock of Canada geese. As the honkers waddled toward their tasty treats, about a dozen crows rushed ahead and individually placed fallen leaves atop the bread. For twenty minutes crows picked up single, red maple leaves and placed them directly over each bread slice, concealing the feast from the geese. The geese were miffed. Unable to perceive or comprehend that the bread was still there, albeit out of view, the geese lost out on a sure meal. Score one for the crows.

But then goes on to point out this:

That a crow can outsmart a goose does not mean the goose is dumb. Each species exhibits its intellect in distinct and often surprising ways. Most recently, geese showed me a cognitive side that I had not previously appreciated. A large flock of resident Canada geese prowl the lawns of my urban Seattle, WA, campus. They graze without fear of the 40,000 students who surround them and daily criss-cross their paths. It is rare that I see these honkers fly. They have habituated to humanity; learning to stay calm, graze on, and fatten with little expenditure of energy. I took this learned adaptation to city life for granted until last week when a storm pushed migratory geese into Seattle. The change in weather dropped a couple diminutive cackling Canada geese, four white-fronted geese, and a single snow goose into our flock of oversized, resident geese. The wild visitors had come from the arctic and surely had passed hunters as they traveled south. I expected them to fear people and nervously cope with the throngs of students. But this was not the case. Immediately upon joining their urban brethren, the wild geese became docile. They grazed and slept without concern as I stood less than two meters away. Instantly they were tame. When in Seattle, these geese did as the resident geese did. They learned by observation, itself a complex bit of cognition.

Share your stories of bird intelligence (or lack thereof) here.

Bird Photography

I think few animals are as beautiful as birds.

Have you seen the winners of the Audubon Photography Awards yet? Catch up: https://t.co/wRL4B8yKrJ @FastCoDesign pic.twitter.com/yUZQlqmwl5
— Audubon Society (@audubonsociety) May 11, 2016

Enjoy some glorious bird photography here.

Are any of you "serious" photographers? Do you have tips for amateurs like me? Share your experiences with bird photography, from equipment to set up to photographs, here.

Birds Afield

Mr Y-not and I are not "serious birders," but we do enjoy visiting places where we might see some interesting birds or bird behaviors. Courtesy of WildBirds.com, here's a list of 250 places in North America that are suitable for bird watching.

I happened to visit one of the Kentucky locations a couple of weeks ago, the John James Audubon State Park.

Museum and nature center. (Read about the history of the park here.)

Although the grounds housing the museum and nature center are quite spectacular, we found the bird-watching opportunities rather limited. It may just be that we were in the wrong section of this 575-acre park, but the one area set up for bird-watching was cordoned off from visitors. We barely explored the woods (a little too warm that day), so perhaps there was more to enjoy further into the park.

The museum provided an in-depth window into Audubon's life and work, in addition to housing many of his prints (no photography permitted, unfortunately).

Audubon's wild turkey

After our visit, we stopped by a gastropub in town (Henderson, Kentucky) for lunch and walked around the riverfront park for a bit. The town is pretty depressed, but they are trying to make the most of their connection to Audubon.

Sculptures on the grounds of the Audubon Museum (left, center) and in the town of Henderson (right).

Where do you like to go birding?

Birds of a Feather

Speaking of Audubon, this link from their Twitter feed sure is striking:

Robert Clark's newest book magnifies the mysterious landscapes of feathers. https://t.co/7T3SBCifx8 pic.twitter.com/2gWSsYH1IR
— Audubon Society (@audubonsociety) May 15, 2016

Follow this link to see a few more spectacular photographs of feathers.

If you're interested in learning a bit about how feathers came to be, you might enjoy this TED talk:

Another fun feather video here.

Backyard Birding

Of course, most of us do not have to travel far to enjoy our feathered friends. Here's Exhibit A:

@moxiemom A little taste from my back yard. :-) pic.twitter.com/0WVkYSQCEP
— DeannaRae (@DeannaRae77) May 22, 2016

That first "bird" sure is unusual!

It would be fun to see your backyard birding pictures from time to time. Send them, or any tips or requests, to me at bailesworth AT gmail (or @moxiemom on Twitter).

*tweet, tweet*

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:55 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 I like watching birds get crispy in the roasting pan.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:00 PM (2q8gu)

2 Birds!

OK, now that that's out f the way, let's go off-topic:

----------------

The tale is funny and important, but takes a bit of explaining:

-- Anti-immigrant group holds protest in Belgium
-- Smug Muslim counter-protesting girl in hijab takes selfie in front of line of anti-Islam protesters
-- Journalist takes picture of girl taking selfie
-- Every single moonbat in the world reposts the photo on Facebook and Twitter along with the meme that "love defeats hate" and that she "used humor to defeat the protesters," etc.
-- Moonbats everywhere wept with joy that a peaceful loving Muslim outwitted the evil racists nonviolently, and that a Muslim finally acted how they always hoped Muslims should act
-- Muslim girl is named and becomes a media star among moonbats and the MSM
-- ...and then...
-- ...and then...
-- ...AND THEN...
-- Someone digs up the Muslim girl's old Twitter posts, and of course she is a raving violent jihadist and anti-Semite who praised Hitler and calls for the extermination of Jews
-- ...and then...
-- ...and then...
-- ...AND THEN...
-- She tries to retract her previous tweets by freshly tweeting that her previous tweets were only directed at "Zionist Jews"; whew! Now I'm off the hook!
-- People point out, "Oh, so only people who support Israel deserve to be exterminated? That's OK with you?"
-- She deletes her Twitter account and now refuses to speak to the media.

Here's the link:

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-36353650

Posted by: zombie at May 22, 2016 02:00 PM (jBuUi)

3 >>1 I like watching birds get crispy in the roasting pan.

LOL, given the gun thread down below, I figured I'd get that sort of comment.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at May 22, 2016 02:01 PM (t5zYU)

4 Here's some bird pictures I took.

http://tinyurl.com/jnscnaa

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 22, 2016 02:02 PM (AroJD)

5 Avian dinosaurs sure are cool.

Posted by: eman at May 22, 2016 02:03 PM (MQEz6)

6 >>Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 22, 2016 02:02 PM

Those are nice! Any special equipment or strategies (when/where/how) to get those shots?

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at May 22, 2016 02:04 PM (t5zYU)

7 Does anyone have a camera w/ nest box set up that they like? I've been reading up on them trying to see if there's a really reliable (but affordable) one.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at May 22, 2016 02:05 PM (t5zYU)

8 >> I figured I'd get that sort of comment.

I do love birds.

I love shooting them and cooking them, most.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:05 PM (2q8gu)

9 My daughter lives on three acres with a pond and woods. She often has herons in her backyard, usually blue herons but this year I've only seen a snowy white one so far.

A few years ago we were sitting on her back patio having a barbecue when three great cranes came strolling by - right in front of us. They acted like we weren't even there. I felt like I was living in Dinosaur World.

Son-in-law built a duck house this winter and put it down by the pond, but no one has nested in it yet. I think he said it might take a couple of years before ducks will nest in the box. Although the Great Goofy Dane doesn't help the situation either.

Posted by: grammie winger at May 22, 2016 02:05 PM (dFi94)

10 I love to watch white pelicans gambol in formation.

When I first started walking down to the valley floor, four turkey vultures would circle far overhead. They were thinking "When this guy drops we will eat for a weeks."

Now I do not see them. Progress.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 22, 2016 02:05 PM (u82oZ)

11 Hate hate hate magpies. When I lived in Utah, they'd steal food from my dog's bowl. Shot about four or five with an air rifle and the rest figured out that my backyard was not the free lunch they thought it was.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 22, 2016 02:06 PM (kTF2Z)

12 Also, I love feathers.

Can't tie (most) flies without feathers.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:06 PM (2q8gu)

13 Does anyone have a camera w/ nest box set up that
they like? I've been reading up on them trying to see if there's a
really reliable (but affordable) one.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at May 22, 2016 02:05 PM (t5zYU)
===============================================

You mean like to set up a camera inside a duck box? How would you do that? Because the grands would be tickled pink.

Posted by: grammie winger at May 22, 2016 02:07 PM (dFi94)

14 Nah, birds ain't so smart. A bluejay of my acquaintance could do square roots in base 2, but when I asked it go base 10, it was totally flummoxed.

Posted by: GolfBoy at May 22, 2016 02:08 PM (moQX0)

15 Careful.
Shooting Magpies will get you on the wrong side of the Migratory Bird Act.

Hefty penalties and fines to be found there.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:08 PM (2q8gu)

16 I have some great pics of baby eastern phoebes peering over the nest top. The nest has been in use for 5 years and is above our patio door. They lay two clutches of 4-6 eggs every year.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 22, 2016 02:08 PM (u82oZ)

17 Big fat robin flew into daughter's picture window the other day. It layed there on its back for about twenty minutes so the four year old went out to poke it with a stick. It got better in a hurry.

Posted by: grammie winger at May 22, 2016 02:09 PM (dFi94)

18 We hung a realistic-looking toy stuffed owl from the porch overhang to keep birds from flying into the picture window. It works.

Posted by: Iforgot at May 22, 2016 02:12 PM (NHQQx)

19 15 Careful.
Shooting Magpies will get you on the wrong side of the Migratory Bird Act.

Hefty penalties and fines to be found there.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:08 PM (2q8gu)

---------

Which is why I practice the three S's.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 22, 2016 02:13 PM (kTF2Z)

20 I have a pair of Sandhill Cranes that live in the pasture along the river, here. Their chicks are the cutest things ever.

Look like they were drawn by Dr. Seuss.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:13 PM (2q8gu)

21 @Y-not - my camera is a Nikon D70 with a Quantary 18-200mm lens. It's about ten years old but still takes great shots.

The 200mm allows me to get somewhat close without disturbing the birds, although in special cases (the little blue-and-white guy was very patient, and waterfowl always think you have food) you can get even closer without alarming them. Every time I can get one step closer without them moving, I take a shot. Eventually they will leave when you get too close, but by that time I've generally either gotten a good one, or I know I'm not going to get a good shot.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 22, 2016 02:15 PM (AroJD)

22 Ravens are really smart.

And Ronald Raven was one of the best Presidents we've ever had.

Posted by: R. Perry at May 22, 2016 02:15 PM (H9MG5)

23 I once had a house with big bay windows that attracted bird strikes like nobody's business. Record was 14 in a day. Sometimes it'd kill them, but mostly they just knocked themselves stupid. I would put them someplace safe til they snapped out of it.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 22, 2016 02:19 PM (kTF2Z)

24 I set up a tray bird feeder beneath a kitchen window on my Mom's house many years ago.

She enjoyed seeing the birds feeding just inches away.

Sparrows, junkos, nuthatches, wrens, cardinals, bluejays, orioles, all visited.

The junkos were the most badass.

Posted by: eman at May 22, 2016 02:19 PM (MQEz6)

25 Right now at my feeders we have a couple of cardinals, a red bellied woodpecker and a blue jay tag teaming. The other area has a cluster of gold finches.

Posted by: Clarney at May 22, 2016 02:19 PM (dgO4h)

26 We have tons of sub/urban turkeys around the Asheville area. No idea where they came from, as I never saw one growing up. Now I see one every couple weeks on average- there was a big tom doing his mating strut by the side of the road a couple weeks ago.

One of the thngs I do like about Asheville - we've got lots of critters and trees.

Posted by: Grey Fox at May 22, 2016 02:20 PM (bZ7mE)

27 This Tree Sparrow moved in and started his family within days of hubby hanging the birdhouse:

http://tinypic.com/r/wi0zly/9

Posted by: JQ Flyover at May 22, 2016 02:21 PM (044Fx)

28 My little town is a magnet for bird watching as we are in the middle of the migratory path for a lot of species and there is a lot of park and protected land. There are some serious bird watchers around here and they just had their annual bird counting day last Saturday where they tally up the number of different species seen in one day.

This years count was 109 different species. But the only one that concerns me is a guinea fowl that seems to have taken up residence in my yard. If you've never heard one they are loud and annoying, particularly at 5 in the morning. No idea where it came from but one of us is going to have to move.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_B2lMEyBsk

Posted by: JackStraw at May 22, 2016 02:25 PM (/tuJf)

29 My youngest son had a classmate in elementary school who was seriously into bird watching. His grandparents were serious birdwatchers and they would take each child in the family on trips to try to get a sighting....Great quality time with each child, one on one, and they became passionate about birds, while traveling all over the world. What a great way to connect the generations.

Posted by: TX ette, resigned to accept the fresh hell at May 22, 2016 02:26 PM (A22Ea)

30 Great quality time with each child, one on one, and
they became passionate about birds, while traveling all over the world.
What a great way to connect the generations.

Posted by: TX ette, resigned to accept the fresh hell at May 22, 2016 02:26 PM (A22Ea)
==============================================

That really is quite wonderful.

Posted by: grammie winger at May 22, 2016 02:28 PM (dFi94)

31 Great idea for a thread. I've been addicted to amateur birding for years. I remember the bird & the day that got me so intrigued - a Pileated Woodpecker. Huge, beautiful creature.

The three S's?
Shoot, shovel, shut up?
IIRC, the only birds not federally protected are the English house sparrow and the European starling. Considered nuisance pests.

Posted by: Chi at May 22, 2016 02:28 PM (VJ3W8)

32 >>But the only one that concerns me is a guinea fowl that seems to have taken up residence in my yard. If you've never heard one they are loud and annoying, particularly at 5 in the morning. No idea where it came from but one of us is going to have to move.

Pretty sure that would be considered a non-native and you can dispatch of it. Also, tasty. Had a chance to shoot a half dozen or so about 6 years ago.
They got left behind on a homestead and moved into the adjacent State lands.
With an emu.
Who also tasted delicious.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:29 PM (2q8gu)

33 Hawaii has some very noisy birds.

Posted by: eman at May 22, 2016 02:30 PM (MQEz6)

34 I have a female cardinal that comes by every day to attack her reflection in my living room window. It's amusing.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 22, 2016 02:31 PM (kTF2Z)

35 Can I just say it out loud? Geese are of de debil.

Posted by: grammie winger at May 22, 2016 02:31 PM (dFi94)

36 last summer i went to the lee metcalf national wildlife refugee to look at birds.

i did not see one bird.
beautiful day, quiet, mine was the only vehicle.
i thought it was funny.

btw, hawks are my favorite birds.

Posted by: concrete girl at May 22, 2016 02:32 PM (ceWrl)

37 I have a big yard that is partly wooded and I keep a feeder and a bird bath near the back porch. We get cardinals, titmice, chckadees, wrens, etc. at the feeder, and the pecan trees attract crows and ravens. We also have a couple of different kinds of woodpeckers (red bellied and pileated), and there is a red shouldered hawk that patrols the yard occasionally.

I had a turkey hen in the back yard a couple of weeks ago. I think the rest of them were along the tree line of the cow pasture and she took a wrong turn and wound up in the yard. She foraged around for a few minutes and then took off running into the woods.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at May 22, 2016 02:32 PM (tEDMc)

38 >>Pretty sure that would be considered a non-native and you can dispatch of it. Also, tasty.

I'm a little conflicted here. They are supposed to be avid tick eaters and this area is chock full of ticks and lyme disease. So it does serve a useful purpose.

He mostly hangs out in the conservation land next door but comes over to join the squirrels eating the seed that drops from the bird feeder.

But that screeching is annoying as hell.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 22, 2016 02:32 PM (/tuJf)

39 >>last summer i went to the lee metcalf national wildlife refugee to look at birds.

That's like 1000 yards up the road from me.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:33 PM (2q8gu)

40 the only birds not federally protected are the English house sparrow and the European starling.

------------
Are cats exempt? Asking for a furry friend.

Posted by: olddog in mo at May 22, 2016 02:33 PM (Dhht7)

41 >>They are supposed to be avid tick eaters

Oh, yeah. They eat ticks like Martins eat mosquito.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:34 PM (2q8gu)

42 Sorry, I had to leave the thread for a bit. (Grilling walleye - yum!)

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at May 22, 2016 02:34 PM (t5zYU)

43 >>(Grilling walleye - yum!)

Good choice.

... they don't react at all to waterboarding.

Posted by: CIA Chef at May 22, 2016 02:36 PM (2q8gu)

44 If I had the capacity to carry a real camera around with me I'd have spectacular bird (And other wildlife too) pictures. The camera on my galaxy s7 is great for a phone but it's still a phone camera.

I see so much but I can't really share it especially the little guys like gnat catchers.

Posted by: Traye at May 22, 2016 02:37 PM (g9ApO)

45 Great idea for a thread. Thanks, Y-not. The Mrs. and I are casual watchers but hope to do more as we walk in woods for exercise. We started paying attention about thirty years ago when we saw an odd bird in the yard. It had yellow parts and a checkerboard pattern on its back. We were intrigued and learned it was a northern flicker. A bird identification book followed soon. Haven't looked at it for a while but think we got up to about 85 species.

Posted by: JTB at May 22, 2016 02:38 PM (V+03K)

46 42 Sorry, I had to leave the thread for a bit. (Grilling walleye - yum!)

-----------

I didn't do it! I have an alibi! You got the wrong guy!

Posted by: Wally at May 22, 2016 02:38 PM (kTF2Z)

47 Nah, birds ain't so smart. A bluejay of my acquaintance could do square roots in base 2, but when I asked it go base 10, it was totally flummoxed.

Posted by: GolfBoy at May 22, 2016 02:08 PM (moQX0)

There's more to a bluejay than any other creature. He has got more moods, and more different kinds of feelings than other creatures; and mind you, whatever a bluejay feels, he can put into language. And no mere commonplace language, either, but rattling, out-and-out book talk - and bristling with metaphor, too - just bristling! And as for command of language - why you never see a bluejay get stuck for a word. No man ever did. They just boil out of him!

Posted by: Jim Baker, Miner at May 22, 2016 02:40 PM (ry34m)

48 I love the desert southwest, including far west TX, for hummingbirds and other specialties there. However, the Texas coast has more birds than anywhere else in the US, and I'm a part time resident there now, so good birding for us.

We can sit on our balcony and depending on time of year see both sp. of pelicans, spoonbills, herons and egrets, gulls and terns, sea turtles and dolphins.

As far as brains, both the black-crowned night heron and green heron will grab food (like bread or fish pellets) that humans throw into the water and take it elsewhere to use as fishbait for themselves.

I am certainly no expert, and I've always found it very helpful to improve skills by going on the little tours with good guides. I like the boat tours especially.

Posted by: stace at May 22, 2016 02:41 PM (ozZau)

49
"Can I just say it out loud? Geese are of de debil."
-Posted by: grammie winger at May 22, 2016 02:31 PM (dFi94)

Ornery, stubborn, noisy, shit-producing idiots and menaces. They are the John Kerrys of the bird world.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 22, 2016 02:42 PM (OQ9R7)

50 Are cats exempt? Asking for a furry friend.
Posted by: olddog in mo
-------------------
Sure they are!
Send your friend over to hunt in my yard!

As an aside, has anyone seen that movie The Big Year? Actually a decent flick, even though it has Jack Black & Steve Martin.

Posted by: Chi's min-pin Tucker at May 22, 2016 02:43 PM (VJ3W8)

51 They eat ticks like Martins eat mosquito.

Posted by: garrett

Purple Martins eat mosquitoes like democrats cut spending.

They do eat dragonflies though and dragonflies would eat mosquitoes, if they weren't in the Purple Martin belly.

Posted by: Traye at May 22, 2016 02:43 PM (g9ApO)

52 We enjoy seeing the various birds, but are not what you'd call "avid birdwatchers".

The logic was simple:

Birds eat bugs--> Bugs were eating our plants--> We put up bird feeders to get more birds into our yard--> Fewer bugs! Yay!

Best result: Pretty flowers AND pretty birds.

Posted by: JQ Flyover at May 22, 2016 02:43 PM (044Fx)

53 "http://tinyurl.com/jnscnaa"
-Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 22, 2016 02:02 PM (AroJD)

Some quality photos, amigo!

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 22, 2016 02:44 PM (OQ9R7)

54 We have Great Horneds around here. The fledged adolescents have a characteristic sandpapery screech. Normally heard off at a distance. I walked out in the yard well after dark last night, without flipping on the lights, and heard that sound _right overhead_. And low. Startled me. I looked up at once, but nothing.

I am wondering if I startled prey on which the owl had been homing in, and it sheered off and vocalized its annoyance with me. Glad that was all it did to express annoyance, if so.

Posted by: torquewrench at May 22, 2016 02:44 PM (noWW6)

55 so dawn's crossing and this bird thing...small world

on another note, hearing an owl at night makes me happy.
and i saw my first set of quail just yesterday.

thanks Y-not

Posted by: concrete girl at May 22, 2016 02:46 PM (ceWrl)

56 OK, that walleye was awesome. Brushed the fillets with fresh rosemary/garlic/olive oil. Delicious!

Be back for reals in a bit.

Posted by: Y-not (@moxiemom) at May 22, 2016 02:46 PM (t5zYU)

57 I don't know if others agree but I found lower magnification works better for a steady image. In my case that means 7x50 binoculars vs. 10x50 (or higher). If I had a fixed spot like a feeder, I might use a spotting scope. I have a bit of astigmatism even with glasses so a steady image really helps. On the other hand, for some reason I am very good at noticing movement. That helps.

Posted by: JTB at May 22, 2016 02:48 PM (V+03K)

58 >> so dawn's crossing and this bird thing...small world

Small valley.
Odds are that most of the birds in Metcalf were out in the grain fields up on the bench when you were there.
That place is usually filthy with Waterfowl.

Posted by: garrett at May 22, 2016 02:50 PM (2q8gu)

59 If you ever get a chance, it's in the middle of nothing Scotland Neck NC, but Sylvan Heights is a phenomenal aviary.

From their website

In 1989, the Lubbocks moved the entire collection to Scotland Neck, North Carolina, in the northeast corner of the state. Sylvan Heights Waterfowl II, now called the Sylvan Heights Avian Breeding Center, was established, and has continued to grow into the largest collection of exotic and rare waterfowl in the world. The facility now houses more than 3,000 birds representing 140 species, and plays a key role in maintaining the captive populations of several endangered waterfowl species.

Posted by: Traye at May 22, 2016 02:50 PM (g9ApO)

60 Mmm, walleye.

I now you're off stuffing your face right now, Y-not, but I follow you on twitter (@mrsgrama) and you sure have a good thing going with the birdies at your casa.

Posted by: stace at May 22, 2016 02:52 PM (ozZau)

61 I'm a avid Bird watcher of the Philadelphia Eagles. But also the feathered kind, I have had nesting Broad Winged Hawks in or very near my yard for years. They are neat to watch but they tend to like other tasty little birds and isn't so fun to watch.

Posted by: Skip at May 22, 2016 02:53 PM (3wHFl)

62 "I now you're off stuffing your face right now"

Oh oops, didn't see that you'd already done that.

Posted by: stace at May 22, 2016 02:54 PM (ozZau)

63 Seeing that this thread is dedicated to birds, I would like to see the thread contrasted with one dedicated to windmills that have been proven to so effective at destroying them.

After all, isn't it really so much more enjoyable watching the monotony of giant windmills, gobbling up hundreds of millions in subsidies while they swat millions of unsuspecting, sometimes endangered birds out of the air with unthinking abandon?

Posted by: Mr Macca Bean at May 22, 2016 02:54 PM (4ng05)

64 Grammie, those are my geese, and as geese go, those are not terrible. Loud and obnoxious but not mean at all though, and their babies sell for $30 a pair.
I still hate them though because LOUD NOISES.

Posted by: Traye at May 22, 2016 02:55 PM (g9ApO)

65 Traye, you might look into getting a Fuji fine-pix or equivalent camera at your local pawn shop. They are cheaper that way since they usually are also obsolete.

(Get one that runs on AA batteries and uses a standard data card)

If you drop it in the swill boiler or run over it you are only out a small amount and obsolete in cameras means a whole lot less nowadays than it used to.

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2016 02:56 PM (ry34m)

66 For all of you DFW Morons, there is a great bird show at the Texas State Fair. They release a red tailed hawk from the top of the Ferris wheel about a half mile away. It dives in and catches a fake Mose his trainer tosses in the air. Impressive.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 22, 2016 02:57 PM (kTF2Z)

67 I found some cuckoo birds.

ESPN is smarter than a bunch of stupid savages.

http://tinyurl.com/jfkho8s

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 22, 2016 02:59 PM (Nwg0u)

68 Saw my first Indigo Bunting while visiting in Michigan. I saw a classic red cardinal and right next to it, what appeared to be a smaller bright teal cardinal. Just a pulsating blue. Very cool.

Also spotted a Cheez Whiz-orange bird at the hummingbird feeder and it was one of those thievin' orioles, who are apparently infamous nectar stealers.

On my last visit for Thanksgiving, a wild turkey blocked traffic on main street as it strutted across the intersection. Everybody stopped to let his jive ass cross the road.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, Literate Savage at May 22, 2016 02:59 PM (jR7Wy)

69 I've been reading all weekend that the solar panel project in Leftifornia that has tried to commit suicide also has taken lots of birds with it frying them out of the air.

Posted by: Skip at May 22, 2016 02:59 PM (3wHFl)

70 Oh, and Jedi Geese

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWPPKDMUK2M

Posted by: Kindltot at May 22, 2016 03:00 PM (ry34m)

71 Lived for a couple of years up against the John Audubon homestead in Pennsylvania, would take walks through the woods there.

Posted by: Skip at May 22, 2016 03:04 PM (3wHFl)

72 My sister's cat was mysteriously wounded. The vet's diagnosis: owl attack. If the cat had skipped a few meals, he'd be pining for the fjords.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 22, 2016 03:04 PM (Nwg0u)

73 On the left of our property is a 60 acre field, turkeys are in it every day. I walked out and had one in the woods to the right of the field and he wanted to run across the field away from me some kind of bad but he didn't want to come out in the open. I had him walking beside me in the woods clucking at me for a few minutes. I was busy so I left him alone, I'm sure he beat feet as soon as I walked a couple hundred feet.

Posted by: Traye at May 22, 2016 03:06 PM (g9ApO)

74 3 >>1 I like watching birds get crispy in the roasting pan.
------
LOL, given the gun thread down below, I figured I'd get that sort of comment.
Posted by: Y-not
---------------
It makes sense. A natural progression, really.
Gun thread.
Bird thread.
Up next, Food thread.

Posted by: Chi at May 22, 2016 03:09 PM (VJ3W8)

75 My brother once posted this under a missing cat sign.

You know what an owl pellet is? It a ball of bones and fur that an owl coughs up. Yeah, that's where your cat is.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 22, 2016 03:10 PM (kTF2Z)

76 Crows are smart, they poke holes in the drip tape to get a drink. I don't know how they know to do this.
We have woodpeckers, finches, hummingbirds, red tail hawks, sparrow hawks, barn owls, great horned owls and 2 owlets, quail. My favorite are these small black birds that imitate quail, frogs, and the woodpeckers. I call them the frog birds.

Posted by: CaliGirl at May 22, 2016 03:13 PM (egOGm)

77 This thread is pining for the fjords.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 22, 2016 03:14 PM (kTF2Z)

78 I have always had Downy Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals, and haven't taken note but Chickadees that I find the most curious birds. Saw a Red Winged Blackbird at the open area down the street today.

Posted by: Skip at May 22, 2016 03:17 PM (3wHFl)

79 We have the usual birds here in No. Il. But in may we get a number of travelers. This year was a Yellow Rumped Warbler, Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers, a herd of Cedar Waxwings, a hummer has now taken on the feeder as it's own. I wish some would stay thru the summer.

Posted by: Bruce at May 22, 2016 03:17 PM (8ikIW)

80 We went out once on a boat tour this winter to see the whooping cranes, which are right up the channel from us. Now there are so many that there some easy places on private land to go see them by car, but on the boat, a three hour tour, a three hour tour, comes with a guide who shows you all the other birds too.

Posted by: stace at May 22, 2016 03:21 PM (ozZau)

81 The birds that always amaze me are the Goldfinches. So dull and sparrow like during the winter at my thistle feeder. Then you see a hint of yellow come April. A month later the males are bright yellow. Then come the fall they start to go back to the dull brown

Posted by: Bruce at May 22, 2016 03:21 PM (8ikIW)

82 Almost forgot. We have a duck that nested on our retaining wall. Hoping everyone hatches and leaves by the end of the week.

I need to do some work on that side of the house!

Posted by: Bruce at May 22, 2016 03:23 PM (8ikIW)

83 Birds fascinate me with the huge diversity in size, color, behavior and shape. I do have favorites: owls for the complex feather patterns and those eyes, and the tiny ones like chickadees, titmice, and hummingbirds. (There is a certain Bambi meets Godzilla situation here.)

For some reason, I enjoy drawing feathers as an art exercise.

Posted by: JTB at May 22, 2016 03:28 PM (V+03K)

84 Here's a pic of the baby owls last night.

http://tinypic.com/r/2ymiwqt/9

Posted by: CaliGirl at May 22, 2016 03:30 PM (egOGm)

85
Here's something unusual: Sikh motorcycle ride in honor of Lee Rigby:

https://goo.gl/GdPwdq

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 22, 2016 03:37 PM (iQIUe)

86 I can recommend the Sibley Guide To Birds if anyone wants a great bird book. I use it for those "what the heck is that?" situations. We get all kinds of visitors who supposedly don't visit here. This year it was Baltimore orioles and Mexican finches. A few years ago a snowy owl showed up for a couple of weeks. I duck hunt a lot so I see a bunch of aquatic birds that I never knew the right name for but now I can ID them.
In Texas any small bird that you don't know the name of is called a chee-chee bird.

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at May 22, 2016 03:40 PM (B2Sin)

87
That guy who had 2 wives mysteriously fall down stair cases and die, had his conviction reversed. His new theory is that an owl attacked his wife causing her to fall and bleed to death.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 22, 2016 03:42 PM (iQIUe)

88 If mockingbirds weighed forty pounds we would have to hunt them to extinction.

Posted by: Dave at Buffalo Roam at May 22, 2016 03:46 PM (B2Sin)

89 we've got all sorts of birds in the yard and general area...

of course, the native planted yard, the water source, the 6 nyjer seed feeders, 5 regular seed feeders and the 45 or so humming bird feeders might have something to do with that, besides the wild areas further up the ridge from us, as well as the proximity of the LA River, might have something to do with that.

Resident Evil has been a birder for decades. i got into it because of her, and, since bird identification is pretty much the same as aircraft ID in the Army, it was easy to pick up.

Posted by: redc1c4 at May 22, 2016 03:51 PM (GnCxR)

90 Some of the finest bird photography out there is in Birds and Blooms magazine. The latest issue is mostly about hummingbirds. The magazine is well done and offers a lot of helpful information.

Posted by: JTB at May 22, 2016 03:51 PM (V+03K)

91 Dave @ 86

I have a few guide books, but never heard of the Sibley. That looks like a good one.
I always go back to my trusted old NatGeo field guide to north American birds. Excellent illustrations (which I prefer to photos). Mine is at least 20 years old and beat up. Looks like they've updated it and it's even better now...

Posted by: Chi at May 22, 2016 03:51 PM (VJ3W8)

92 Maybe someone here knows.....I have seen a particular hawk or falcon who tends to fly higher than say a red tail hawk and it's tail is V shaped. This bird flies a little too high to make out particulars with the nekkid eye except it's weird tail shape. In the Southern part of the US.

Any ideas?

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2016 03:53 PM (ej1L0)

93 note to self: proofread THEN post...

Posted by: redc1c4 at May 22, 2016 03:54 PM (GnCxR)

94 I walk the dog every morning around a local pond and there is this goose that someone dumped there. It's made friends with the wild Canadian geese... It's much bigger and has this fluffy white tail.. If it spots you it comes over looking for a hand out...Seems to be the leader now with the wild geese and their babies...

Posted by: donna at May 22, 2016 03:58 PM (O2RFr)

95 Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2016 03:53 PM (ej1L0)
Is it bigger or smaller than a red tail hawk?

Posted by: CaliGirl at May 22, 2016 03:59 PM (egOGm)

96 Ahhh Tower ravens. On my first visit to the the Tower, this obnoxious toddler was chasing one of the ravens around. Said child was waiving a little Union Jack. The raven finally had enough, squawked & started chasing the little brat. What was interesting was that he snapped at the flag, not the child. Grandma freaked out, snatched the kid up and ran. Everyone else, myself included applauded. The Raven gave us all a self satisfied smirk, and wandered off to do Raven stuff.

Posted by: bebe's boobs destroy at May 22, 2016 04:00 PM (RMGer)

97 Is it bigger or smaller than a red tail hawk?

Posted by: CaliGirl at May 22, 2016 03:59 PM (egOGm)

Longer, slimmer wings looks like too me but the body and head look like a red tail but also a little thinner.

They fly lazy, circling and not like bulletlike red tails do.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2016 04:02 PM (ej1L0)

98 Nood Food.

Posted by: olddog in mo at May 22, 2016 04:04 PM (Dhht7)

99 You can't say birds aren't adaptable and opportunistic. I used to fish from the seawall in St. Pete Beach, Florida. A couple of pelicans knew when someone reeled in a fish. They would stroll along the wall up to the angler and stand there with their mouths agape, waiting. At least half the time they were rewarded. On a good day I'm surprised they could get off the ground.

The snook and seatrout were mine. The mangrove snappers and runty sheepsheads were theirs. I had fun catching them and we all got fed.

Posted by: JTB at May 22, 2016 04:07 PM (V+03K)

100 You need a crow actually saying "nevermore"

https://youtu.be/rIX_6TBeph0

Posted by: Bird guy at May 22, 2016 04:08 PM (n9LsX)

101 92 Maybe someone here knows.....I have seen a particular hawk or falcon who tends to fly higher than say a red tail hawk and it's tail is V shaped. This bird flies a little too high to make out particulars with the nekkid eye except it's weird tail shape. In the Southern part of the US.

Any ideas?
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2016 03:53 PM (ej1L0)

-----------------

Sounds like the North American swallow tailed stogie sucker. Very rare.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at May 22, 2016 04:08 PM (kTF2Z)

102 Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2016 04:02 PM (ej1L0
I've never seen anything like that around here. Smaller hawks yes.
Maybe some other type of hawk?

Posted by: CaliGirl at May 22, 2016 04:11 PM (egOGm)

103 101 92 Maybe someone here knows.....I have seen a particular hawk or falcon who tends to fly higher than say a red tail hawk and it's tail is V shaped. This bird flies a little too high to make out particulars with the nekkid eye except it's weird tail shape. In the Southern part of the US.

Any ideas?
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2016 03:53 PM (ej1L0)

V-shaped like a swallowtail? That would probably be a kite. Google swallow-tailed kite for a pic. They are a southern species.

Posted by: stace at May 22, 2016 04:16 PM (ozZau)

104 Posted by: JTB at May 22, 2016 04:07 PM (V+03K)

yes, I've watched brown pelicans go right up to people cleaning fish. Funny.

We all think of grackles, for example, as ubiquitous annoying pests, but I get a kick out of them. When we drive onto the ferry, grackles always come aboard to check out the beds of the pickups for any goodies. They steal sugar packets off of outdoor restaurant tables and open them up, and they pick bugs off of car grills. No food goes uneaten. Drop a carton of food in the HEB parking lot, and you'll have some new little friends arrive to help pick up the mess.

Posted by: stace at May 22, 2016 04:24 PM (ozZau)

105 Birding is a good reason to spend more filthy lucre on an endless array of gadgets and gear.

Most of which is cross-applicable to the shooting sports.

So guys, tell the missus that your new Bogen Manfrotto tripod is to support that Zeiss ~~spotting~~ birding scope, and kind of forget to mention that it also supports a good sniper rifle with an adapter plate.

*sly grin*

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at May 22, 2016 04:26 PM (McRlu)

106 I was at a park not far from town and I got this pic of little ducklings:

http://tinyurl.com/hnytj55

Mom was right nearby helping them learn to swim. The current just moved them wherever it was going, so they finally figured out it was easier not to fight it.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 22, 2016 04:30 PM (AroJD)

107 Stace, Seagulls are like that. If I had any grass shrimp bait left, I could throw one in the air I n short order a flock of gulls were hovering and snatched them out of the air. It was quite the aerobatic display.

Jim, I am so fortunate. It was Mrs. JTB who suggested the cost of the Manfotto tripod was worth it since we could use it for the cameras and at the range. Bless her!

Posted by: JTB at May 22, 2016 04:38 PM (V+03K)

108 speaking of spotting rare birds, there's a B-17 flying out of Van Nuys airport this weekend, so i've been running outside every time i hear the rumble of it's engines...

i can't imagine what it was like to see and hear 100's of them flying in formation, back in the day.

Posted by: redc1c4 at May 22, 2016 04:41 PM (GnCxR)

109 A tale of bird intelligence -- two different species.

I grew up on a farm, and our barn was riddled with nests of birds we called "barn swallows". Based on what I've learned since, they may have been chimney swifts. These birds were bug-eaters, and apparently learned to like me -- I mowed the lawn, stirring up clouds of bugs for them to feast on.

A bit behind the house we had a pond, with fences on three sides, and those fences were filled with blackberries. One summer I went back to gather blackberries, and heard a bird chattering its head off in a nearby tree. I spotted it -- a redwing black-bird -- but kept walking to the blackberries. It swooped down at me -- one step away from the berries, and he turned back to the tree.

Step to the berries -- bird takes flight.

Step away -- bird returns to tree.

I did this two or three times, a little amused and a little annoyed -- I wanted berries, but didn't want to hurt the bird or get hurt.

Then I noticed the barn swallows feeding over the field next to me. And started immitating their call -- a stuttering whistle more like a machine gun firing than bird song.

After a couple repeats, the swallows started flying a different path -- from the field to the pond and back. I took a step toward the berries -- blackbird took off towards me again.

And got swarmed by swallows. They weren't trying to hit him, but doing their best to just miss him.

The black bird flew back to the tree, and stayed there, making a fuss the whole time I picked berries.

Posted by: Rob Crawford at May 22, 2016 05:16 PM (/JWIn)

110 V-shaped like a swallowtail? That would probably be a kite. Google swallow-tailed kite for a pic. They are a southern species.
Posted by: stace at May 22, 2016 04:16 PM (ozZau)

Cool! Thanks ya'll.....when I see one it is always flying kinda high and sailing like a kite.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at May 22, 2016 05:31 PM (ej1L0)

111 108 speaking of spotting rare birds, there's a B-17 flying out of Van Nuys airport this weekend, so i've been running outside every time i hear the rumble of it's engines...
Posted by: redc1c4 at May 22, 2016 04:41 PM (GnCxR)

A number of years ago, I was getting on the PA Turnpike when I spotted an airplane out of the corner of my eye.

I looked, and it was a B-24 coming in for a landing at the site of a local air show. I nearly drove off the road.

Posted by: rickl at May 22, 2016 06:28 PM (sdi6R)

112 There is NOTHING like the sound of the radial engines on those old warbirds.

And to tie it back to real birds, my granny told me that an Army Air Force retiree she knew thought male grackles in flight resemble B-17s, and they do have the same general shape and proportion.

Posted by: stace at May 22, 2016 06:52 PM (ozZau)

113 YES!!! I'm so excited to actually see a bird thread! You have my heartiest encouragement to keep it going in the weeks to come! And if I may contribute a suggestion: check out the Cornell Lab Bird Cams. They've got live footage of a fairly recently hatched California Condor chick in its nest. Both adoptive parents make frequent appearances to feed and care for it. And as for why they're "adoptive" parents, I'll just say that there's a really interesting story about how the chick came into the world. By all means, check it out!

Posted by: Shane Larsen at May 22, 2016 08:36 PM (JVBfx)

114 test

Posted by: Celsius at May 23, 2016 12:36 AM (kvhal)

115 Ravens, or crows, as we call them, are full-tilt evil. They pull up newly sprouted corn just to eat the seed. Each one can pull up and kill ~200 plants in a day. But I have a murderous solution.

If you can wing just one of them (a very difficult thing to do. They are quite skittish) he will gripe and moan and the flock won't leave him. They'll just fly around above him while you use your shotgun to end their evil existence.

I fucking hate crows.

Posted by: Kevin at May 23, 2016 11:40 AM (ntfb4)

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