Google Alerts On This Site

I've received several emails regarding the Google warning for my site--thanks so much for the head's up!  It appears to have been a problem with the Fat Birder 500 button and when I try to go to Fat Birder, I get the same warning.  Non Birding Bill removed the code from both the blog and from the RSS feed. However, certain RSS feeds may still have the code until they update. But it's gone and hopefully that will solve the problem.

Are These Oil Damaged Gulls?

I think I got an email report of oil damaged birds that are not the typical sludge covered birds we've seen in the media.  I think every birder along the Gulf Coast needs to pay special attention to feathers on the tails and wings of wetland birds.  All of the photos in this entry are by my buddy, Carrol Henderson. Carrol took some photos in Mobile, Alabama, last week (July 21 and 22, 2010) while attending the nongame technical section meeting of the Mississippi Flyway Council.  Carrol is always taking photos and he got some interesting shots of laughing gulls.

Here is a photo of a laughing gull in typical, adult plumage:

Note the above bird's tail feathers and wing feathers--they look strong and healthy. Now, take a look at this photo of a laughing gull:

Carrol reported, "As I looked over the photos from the trip, I noticed that there were some gulls with very degraded tail feathers and secondaries. The veins of the feathers were missing along the tips."  Not the pointy shafts on this bird?  It has a little bit of white feathers around the bill--which is normal but those pointy feathers are not.  How did that happen?  And this wasn't the only gull with this feather pattern.

Carrol mentioned, "I have photographed many species of gulls in many countries in the past 20-plus years, but I have never observed this pattern of plumage degradation before. It does not appear related to the molt patterns of gulls, because they typically lose matching feathers from both wings in synchrony."

Carrol wonders if this could be the result of the veins breaking off of the feather shafts because of excessive preening after the feathers have been exposed to oil residue? Is it the oil itself?  Is this the result of some of oil dispersant chemicals being used that the birds came into contact with while swimming on the water?  Mobile is not far from the Gulf.  Are there more birds out there with this sort of damage?  This is not good news and this is subtle enough that these birds may get lost and unreported because you don't see oil on them directly.

Carrol said this bird sported a “suspicious” brown residue on the bill--oil residue?  Oil is bad enough, but this feather damage can be just as devastating to a bird that only molts once a year.  And if it's affecting local gulls, what will happen when birds from all over North America migrate south and land in the marshes?

A local laughing gull relying on scavenging trash and taking chicken finger handouts from humans might be able to survive this feather damage.  But what about a migrating sora?  Or a migrating common yellowthroat?  A migrating green heron?  How can a bird go the long distance with such dramatic feather damage to the tail and wings?

Random House Finch

Have You Seen The Sibley Poster?

David Sibley has created a "backyard birds" poster.  While I don't think this will replace the millions of Klimpt and Dali posters hanging on college students dorm room walls, I do think it will be very popular in kitchens and nature centers.  The Sibley's Backyard Birds of Eastern North America poster features 98 common species in 144 illustrations--including both males and females of each species.  It's a handy tool for backyard bird feeding stations...although, the poster does not include in any raptors, so if a Cooper's hawk or sharp-shinned hawk shows up, the poster won't help you with that one.

The poster does organize the birds into their family groups and the illustrations of each species are in relative scale to show differences in size.  The posters run about $30 unframed (or $175 framed).  According to this page, if you use the coupon code of "SIBLEYNEWS" when ordering, you can receive 10% off.  This is sure to appeal to people who love this Sibley guide and who have backyard feeding stations.

Feeder Wrens Hatched!

Last night on Twitter, Mr. Neil posted a photo alerting me that the house wrens in the squirrel proof feeder hatched.  Look at those little naked chicks, they look fresh from the shell! Look at the wee little toes! It looks like three of them have hatched and last I checked, there were four eggs.  I'll be out on Wednesday to indulge in my fried green tomato habit (my all time favorite food outside of roasted eggplant with parmesan cheese...and well, bacon--but really, bacon should always go without saying).  Anyway, I'll be out tomorrow to check on the hatchlings.

I looked at my original blog post on July 13 when I predicted that incubation would start on the 14th and twelve days of incubation.  And what do you know?  Yesterday, July 26 would have been 12 days of incubation!  That means in two weeks or around August 8, the wrens will probably fledge.  Then they have lots to learn on how to feed themselves and then the will commence to migratin'.  They have a lot of work to do in a very little amount of time.

Birds and Beers This Thursday!

It's last minute, but there is a Birds and Beers this Thursday, July 29 at Merlin's Rest at 6pm! We can discuss the orange-billed nightengale thrush in South Dakota or strategies for applying to be president for the American Birding Association Presidency! Also, I booked the next Birds and Beers on Tuesday, August 17 at 6pm at Merlin's Rest.

What is Birds and Beers?  It's an informal gathering of birders of ALL abilities to meet outside of the Internet and connect.  Are you a hardcore lister--you're invited. Are you a researcher working on a cool project and want to recruit volunteers or just talk about your study--you're invited. Are you someone who just enjoys the birds you see out of your kitchen window--you're invited. Are you a birding guide and want to promote your tours and business--you're invited. Are you someone who has heard of this whole bird watching thing and want to see what it's all about--you're invited!  Looking for birders to volunteer at a booth for the State Fair--you're invited!

It's low key and it's fun.  Maybe you'll find a new friend to enjoy birds in the field?  Maybe you'll learn that secret spot to finally see a Henslow's sparrow?  Maybe you'll learn some tips on thwarting grackles from your feeder?

Pigeons Give Poor Review of Kings of Leon Concert

Apparently, the Kings of Leon stopped their concert because pigeons were pooping on them during a concert at the Verizon Amphitheater in St Louis.  The opening acts still performed despite the birds overhead which leads me to wonder if the pigeons timed their excrement to weigh in as judgement for the band's music style.  You can read the full story here.  My favorite headline regarding this story is here.

Want A Free Swarovski Shirt?

Right now on Facebook Swarovski Optik is having a "like giveaway." The fans that refer the most Friends in a week to "LIKE" the Swarovski page and submit a comment could win a Swarovski Crystal Binocular figurine.  I don't want to win the contest, but I would love it if people said they were referred by Sharon Stiteler or Birdchick because Swarovski has been such a HUGE supporter of my blog and I'd love to get a good showing. I just want to return the love that Swarovski has given me. All new fans that are referred will get a Swarovski Optik T-Shirt. The new Fan must hit "LIKE" on the Swarovksi page and submit a comment stating who referred them and their shirt size. Ex: "John Smith and I Like Swarovski Optik and want an XXL Shirt and Birdchick referred me!"

And why would you want to like Swarovski Optik?  Number 1 they have AWESOME product.  When I used to work for Eagle Optics and people would ask what the best pair of binoculars were, my first answer was, "If I was a woman of unlimited means, it's the ELs."  All the digiscoping and bird photos and most of the video is courtesy of my Swarovski Digiscoping set up.

Number two--they give back a lot to wildlife in a big and global way.  A great example is the Sociable Lapwing in Kaszakhstan.  Swarovski Optik is the Species Champion for this bird through BirdLife International. Basically, they give money so BirdLife can set up crews in Kazakhstan to work with locals to keep breeding habitat safe.  It's local people working with local people to build strong relationships and helps prevent a bird from going extinct.

Again, Swarovski has been a huge supporter of this website--from offering contests and making it possible for me to attend several bird festivals and well, all the digiscoping that goes on here.  I want them to know they are loved, so please fan them and remember, if you refer me, you get a t-shirt.

Random Grasshopper Sparrow

A grasshopper sparrow toes the line with authorities be pooping on the geodetic sign...what is a geodetic survey anyway?

Sandhill Crane Hunt In Minnesota

Well, I guess I better keep my lower back covered in orange this fall:  The Minnesota DNR announced that after 94 years they are reopening a hunting season on sandhill cranes this fall.

I know some birders are outraged by this, but I have to admit, I'm not so outraged.  I'm a little curious that it seemed to happen with no discussion, the DNR just suddenly announced it without any public input.  The only hint I saw was a pole on the Outdoor News website a few months ago asking if Minnesota should have a season on cranes.  Originally, the pole was in favor of the hunt until the site was mentioned on a few birding listservs and birders swayed the pole to a firm "No."  There's currently another pole asking if people approve of the season.  Birders have yet to find it, so the overwhelming answer on the hunting website is, "Yes!"

I'm not a hunter, although this summer I have been trying my hand at fishing and I understand the interest in hunting.  Heck, quite a few of the techniques I use for getting photos of birds are similar to hunting techniques of getting closer to wildlife, I understand the human nature's thrill of the chase (I have a ghillie suit for cryin' out loud).  But I see this being a good thing in the long run. When a bird or any other animal is suddenly made a game species, all sorts of money goes to habitat restoration and insuring we have a sustainable population (to hunt).  Many other bird species including native warblers, sparrows, shorebirds and all sorts of wildlife would benefit from sandhill crane habitat protection, so in the long run, this could be good news for habitat.

Sandhill cranes are already a game species in a handful of other states.  I have had conversations with 2 different crane hunters.  Both had the same comments about cranes: 1. They are hard to hunt, very cagey and wary of decoys.  2.  It is some of the best bird meat you will ever eat in your life--better than grouse, better than turkey and even better than pheasant.

Who knows, maybe a Cranes Unlimited organization will sprout up?  Will there be a Crane Stamp leading to more conservation dollars?  Hunting groups are well organized and get the money they need for their species, I would argue they are more organized than most birding groups.

We have a healthy population of cranes in Minnesota. Our population that breeds in the state is part of a 450,000 bird population that exceeded the conservation goal of 349,000.  That's a lot of cranes.  Birders may not agree with it, but they can at least take heart that there will be dollars seriously set aside for crane habitat.

And really, do birders have as organized a voice as hunters?  Had there been a time for public comment on a crane season, would they have had a strong enough voice to stop it?