Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts

For the Birds: There’s Snow in the Valley -- Snow Geese that is…

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Snow Geese landing. Note the black wingtips.
Photo by Ray Hamlyn
By Christine Southwick

Snow Geese have returned to Skagit Valley, one of their prime wintering grounds, near Fir Island and northward to Port Susan Bay Preserve. They spend their summer breeding on the Russian island of Wrangel, 3,000 miles away.

Snow Geese are a North American species, with both lesser (western), and Greater (eastern) subspecies, all of which breed in various parts of the Arctic Tundra. They start arriving in late September and usually leave in late March.

Snow Geese can be identified by their black tips on the underside of their wings. Snow Geese have a black edge along their bills - it almost looks like someone ran a black crayon between the upper and lower bills. 

Their legs and feet are rose-colored, but their legs and heads are often stained a rusty-brown from the minerals in the soil.

The rich farmland in Skagit County supports approximately 100,000 Snow Geese in their large wintering and migration flocks. It’s a treat to see these white geese with black under-wing tips land in nearby fields. 

They are very vocal and can be heard more than a mile away from where they are foraging.

Flock by the road. Photo by Doug Parrott

A Snow Goose usually forms a lifelong pair bond in its second year and starts raising its annual three to five goslings in its third year. The females return to their hatching grounds to breed their young. The babies leave the nest and start feeding themselves within hours of hatching but stay under their parents’ protection for the next two to three years.

Snow Geese forage by using their sharp beaks to pick up seeds and rip vegetation from the ground. Because of their increase in numbers they are starting to destroy some of their winter habitat.

Snow Geese may be hunted between October through January in Washington State, so be aware of your surroundings if you go viewing where hunting is permitted. Hunters that I have seen have obvious locations and are required to shoot upward.

The Skagit Valley is a major wintering site for Snow Geese, Trumpeter Swans, and Tundra Swans. It is well worth the trip to go see and hear the flocks. There is an annual Port Susan Snow Goose and Birding Festival in February at the Nature Conservancy’s Port Susan Bay Preserve.

Just remember to pull off the much-used rural roads, don't approach the flocks, and respect the property rights of the local landowners.

Previous For the Birds columns can be seen here


Read more...

Gloria's Birds: I'm assuming the reservations I made

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

to stay in your ravine are good for the entire winter, yes, photog?

--Indeed, I'd have it no other way, you splendid [male] Varied Thrush!

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

"Happy Thanksgiving to all," said Ruby the Ring-billed Seagull

Friday, November 24, 2023

 
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

from her perch on Lake Washington.

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Some people call it Autumn, I call it Puffy Jay Season:)

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler
 
(Steller's Jay in the ravine on a cold afternoon)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Are you sure that's a high quality portrait lens you're using, photog?

Sunday, November 19, 2023

 

(Bernice the Barred Owl had exacting standards for her photo sessions.)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

A night to caw about: Crow Watch 2023 on Wednesday November 15, 2023

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Photo courtesy University of Washington
Join UW Bothell and Cascadia College to learn about the 10,000 crows that roost nightly near campus

Bothell, WA — UW Bothell and Cascadia College will be hosting their annual Crow Watch on Wednesday, November 15, 4 - 6:30pm, at the North Creek Events Center on the UW Bothell campus in Bothell, 18225 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011

This free event features birdwatching as well as talks from faculty crow experts, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, local author Kira Jane Buxton (Hollow Kingdom), and more.

Speakers include 
  • Dr. Ursula Valdez, lecturer in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts / Sciences, whose expertise is in ecology and ornithology; 
  • Dr. Doug Wacker, associate professor in the School of STEM, whose research focuses on animal behavior, specifically the behavior of the campus crows; and 
  • Dr. Jeff Jensen, teaching professor in the School of STEM, who uses the salmon run at the North Creek Wetland to study fish.

In addition to learning about crows, participants can engage in arts and crafts activities, connect with other bird enthusiasts and see the work of local artists who celebrate these intelligent creatures. Binoculars will be provided for birdwatching.

Photo courtesy University of Washington

Each night, thousands of crows gather on the UW Bothell and Cascadia College campus and fly together to the wetland. This has sparked curiosity about crows — the notoriously smart birds known for using tools, mourning their dead and remembering the faces of human friends and foes.

Visit Crow Watch for more information about the event.

About UW Bothell

UW Bothell’s commitment to increasing access to a UW education extends well beyond admissions. It includes the opportunities, resources and services its diverse students need to flourish while in college and after graduation. Access also means offering evening, offsite, online, hybrid and certificate programs that help make it possible for more students to pursue higher education. UW Bothell has been recognized for innovations in academic and extracurricular programming that helps students graduate on time and debt free.

About Cascadia College

Cascadia College is a comprehensive community college that specializes in university transfer education. It is nationally recognized for its high transfer rate and for its emphasis on collaborative and active learning across disciplines. It was established by the legislature to serve the higher education needs of Northeast King and South Snohomish counties.


Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Rainy Day Jay

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

Steller’s Jay (soon to be renamed, I hear) on our rainy deck the other day.

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

For the Birds: Pileated Woodpecker - Largest in North America

Saturday, November 4, 2023

Male Pileated - note red mustache.
Photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

We in the Pacific Northwest are enamored with “our” large and impressive black, white, and red Pileated Woodpeckers. In North America only the Imperial and the Ivory-billed woodpeckers were larger, and both of those are presumed extinct.

Pileated Woodpeckers are 16-19 inches tall with a wingspan up to 30 inches across. With their red cap, roller-coaster undulating flight, and usually loud call preceding their arrival at your suet feeder, these are impressive birds.

They are non-migratory, can live to be 12 years old, and stay with the same partner, only replacing a mate due to their partner’s death. They have a very large territory which they defend all year long.

Father and son drinking at birdbath.
Photo by Craig Kerns
Fortunately, as long as humans leave large dead or dying trees (called snags) for Pileated Woodpeckers to use for nesting, and roosting, we should be able to keep these magnificent woodpeckers viable.

Pileated Woodpeckers are found across much of the US and Canada, wherever stands of large diameter deciduous and evergreen trees are found and the dead trees are allowed to remain.

Mother bringing son to suet feeder.
Photo by Craig Kerns
Dead or dying trees are the housing needed for these large birds. Indeed, these birds are so large that the mated pair sleep in separate cavities due to how large a hole would be needed to accommodate two adult Pileated Woodpeckers.

Creating a nesting hole for the three to five offspring can take 3-6 weeks, be 10-24 inches deep, and has an oblong opening. Both parents help make the nest cavity, with the male doing the heavy work, and the female mostly completing the finishing touches.

Carpenter ants are their primary food, followed by beetle larvae, termites, spruce budworm, and other wood boring insects. They help make our forest healthier. They also eat blackberries and elderberries and have been known to eat apples in the wintertime.

Female -note black mustache.
Photo by Yokari Yoshioka
Being insect eaters, they will gladly eat suet all year long, and teach their young to use suet feeders. What a delight it is to watch these awkward punk-headed youngsters first being fed that suet, and then trying to retrieve it themselves.

I call them punk-headed because their topknot sticks up in unruly fashion, and is a pinkish-not-quite red. Next spring their head covering (the pilum) will be that brilliant red. Even the red mustache that identifies the males from the females is that lighter color the first season.

Put out suet where you can see it and watch for these magnificent birds. You will be pleased that you did so.


Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Yep, I looked away first!

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

 
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

(Cooper's Hawk on our deck the other day)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Red-breasted Nuthatch has a sharp beak, indeed!

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

He'll wedge a nut or a bug into a crevice and open the morsel with his needle-sharp bill.

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

For the Birds: Fall and Winter Birds

Monday, October 9, 2023

Fox sparrow in leaves
Photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

Migrant birds such as Western Tanagers, most of our warblers and flycatchers, plus our Osprey have flown southward heading to areas with winter food and warmth.

Because of our habitat-providing trees, this area has a good variety of resident birds, plus some that fly here to winter in our milder climate.

Year-round birds are easier to see in the winter perhaps because there are fewer leaves, or because they are drawn to bird feeders, suet, and liquid water in times of cold.

Two warblers who have adapted to our wet winter weather are the Townsend Warbler and the Yellow-rumped Warbler. They are a welcome splash of color during our grayer days.

Townsend's Warbler by Craig Kerns
Two migrating birds that will be arriving soon are the Varied Thrush and the Fox Sparrow.

Indeed, I have been hearing Varied Thrushes for the last two weeks, which seems early for this area. Maybe it was too dry for their mountain bugs…

Fox Sparrows could be arriving anytime now. They particularly like habitat with Himalayan Blackberries. 

These blackberry vines provide shelter from predators, protection from much of the cold weather, especially if we have snow (usually there is reduced or little snow on the ground under blackberry brambles), and there is always food such as bugs, spiders and leftover berries for them to forage.

Spotted Towhee by Christine Southwick
Our resident birds like the Spotted Towhee, the Song Sparrows and the Bewick’s Wrens all search through leaves to find their delectable life-saving bug meals. 

It is important for conservation-minded neighbors to keep areas of fallen leaves until spring cleaning.

When I first started attracting birds into my yard, I looked to other yards that had Spotted Towhees and found those birds foraging through leaves. 

Yellow-rumped Warbler on suet
by Christine Southwick
Once I started raking leaves off my grass onto my dormant flowerbeds, I had towhees and wrens and sparrows.

Suet and water kept liquid are two other life-sustaining commodities you can provide for birds.

Suet supplies much needed protein, especially when bugs can be scarce during cold weather. Chickadees, Juncos, Bushtits, Hairy, Downy, Pileated woodpeckers, and Flickers will all come to suet feeders. Townsend Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers will also eat suet.


Read more...

I ain't afraid of no crows

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Photo by John Wolfe

This barred owl spent several hours in our neighbor’s tree on Saturday. 
The crows raised up quite a fuss.

--Lee Wolfe



Read more...

What happens next depends on the eagle

Thursday, September 28, 2023

 
Photo by Martin DeGrazia
Bog Whisperer Martin DeGrazia didn't say what happened after he took this photo. 

Here's hoping that the eagle wasn't hungry.



Read more...

Heron Rises from the Dark, Summer Pond

Sunday, September 24, 2023

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Into a new life: see how the sudden
gray-blue sheets of her wings
strive toward the wind; see how the the clasp of nothing
takes her in.

poem by Mary Oliver


Read more...

Kingfisher lives up to its name

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

This pretty bird is a Kingfisher - living up to its name after fishing at Ronald Bog.



Read more...

Osprey - leaving soon for Mexico

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Migration coming soon
Photo by Jan Hansen
By Jan Hansen

The osprey will soon migrate to South America or Mexico. The females have left after the fledging of their young. Males stay to provide food and training. Then they leave followed shortly after by the offspring. 

Wild Scandinavia on PBS has a wonderful presentation of the osprey in Norway that winter in Africa. 

These are such strong birds flying so many miles and able to dive at 75mph with expert aim to catch fish like this one. Another reason to cheer, "Go Hawks!



Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Bufflehead gliding close to the water's surface, even touching it,

Friday, September 15, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

and not because it makes for a good image:).

It's the "ground effect", which, to the best of my understanding, is: air funnels between the bird's wings and the water's surface, creating a cushion that increases the lift and reduces the drag.

Go, Bufflehead!

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Cardinal Flower with Guest

Sunday, September 10, 2023

The Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a brilliant scarlet-colored native wildflower that grows in marshes, stream banks and low woods.

Its extremely showy blossoms can be recognized at considerable distance. 

Few native plants have flowers of such intense color as this common herbaceous perennial. 

The Cardinal flower is a member of the Bluebell Family.
It was named after the Flemish botanist, Matthias de L'Obel (1538-1616).

It was introduced to Europe in the mid-1620s, where the name cardinal flower was in use by 1629 likely due to the similarity of the flower's color to the vesture of Roman Catholic Cardinals. 

Hummingbirds love it.

Plants by Diane Cerretti, photos by Doug Cerretti.


Read more...

Avian influenza outbreak impacting seabirds and seals near Fort Flagler State Park, Port of Everett, Port of Tacoma

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) caution the public to avoid contact with wild birds and other wild animals, especially sick or dead wild animals or their young.

An outbreak of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is impacting wild birds and several seals near Fort Flagler State Park. This outbreak started in early July 2023.

WDFW staff are monitoring and responding to the situation and have removed more than 1,700 dead Caspian terns and gulls from Rat Island and adjacent shores near Fort Flagler State Park. Preliminary results indicate three harbor seals from the same area were also infected with avian influenza. Confirmation testing is pending.

Additionally, recent detections of infected Caspian terns have been documented near the Port of Everett, Port of Tacoma, and along the lower Columbia River.

People and their pets should avoid all contact with sick or dead wildlife. While avian influenza infections among people are rare, human infections can happen when the virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled. 

People may be at greater risk of bird flu virus infection during close or lengthy unprotected contact (not wearing respiratory protection or eye protection) with infected animals or surfaces contaminated with saliva, or feces of infected animals. 

Dogs and other animals can become sick with avian influenza, and care should be taken to avoid contact between pets and sick or dead animals. The United States Department of Agriculture monitors infections in wild mammals across the U.S.

Do not attempt to move sick wild animals to a veterinarian or rehabilitation center, or to your home, as this can spread the disease. WDFW continues to ask members of the public who find sick or dead birds to report them immediately using this online form.

As resources are available, biologists may respond to remove carcasses and, if in an area or species where avian influenza has not been confirmed, test for the virus. 

Due to the magnitude of this outbreak, WDFW staff will not be able to respond to all reported cases. More detailed information about avian influenza is available on this WDFW webpage. To report a dead, injured, or stranded marine mammal along the West Coast (i.e., off California, Oregon, and Washington) call the NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region Stranding Hotline: 1-866-767-6114.

Reports of suspected avian influenza in domestic poultry flocks should be sent to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Call 1-800-606-3056 or visit their webpage for more information about how to protect poultry and other domestic birds.

For additional information on avian influenza please visit: wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/diseases/bird-flu and https://doh.wa.gov/avian-influenza


Read more...

Gloria's Birds: Eat and run? How gauche do you think I am, photog, said Chuck the Black-capped Chickadee

Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

Fly and run, though, now that's enviably sophisticated.
(Chickadees don't lack confidence:)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP