Valentine's Inspiration 9

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsS_VV5Vbe0&feature=autoplay&list=PL6CD9AEA0807CC8FD&index=101&playnext=2[/youtube] Today's Valentine's Day inspiration comes from one of the coolest ducks in North America: The Ruddy Duck!  Their display shows that there is truly someone for everyone.  If you need to renew that spark or pair bond with your partner, this might be something to shake things up to epic proportions.  Find a pool or large bathtub.  Float around and gather a bunch of bubbles at your chest, then pound it with your chin while making a flatulent sound (with your mouth, not the other end).*  If you have trouble creating bubbles with your chest, consider trying this technique in a hot tub.

Some ladies can't resist a little stifftail like the ruddy duck.

*Warning, use of the technique may result in blue bills.

ALERT: Yellow Cardinal In Kentucky

We interrupt this regularly scheduled blog post to direct your attention to a link to a YELLOW northern cardinal found in Kentucky.  This photo is interesting on many levels:  Number 1.  It's a freaking yellow cardinal.  Number 2.  Is that raw chicken breasts being offered as suet on that feeder? The cardinal is cool.  But what made it yellow?  I didn't think cardinal color came from food like it does with house finches.  Is this bird genetically lacking in carotenoids? So many questions!

If that is raw chicken in the suet feeder--that is disturbing.  Not due to cannibalism but raw chicken could have all sorts of disease transmittable to birds.  Think of the salmonella that could explode in a feeding situation.  I'm all for offering table scraps to birds, but for heaven sakes, if you're going to offer chicken, offer it cooked.

UPDATE 1: I just got an email from the photographer of the yellow cardinal in Kentucky:

Sharon,

I was reading your blog about the Yellow Cardinal that I took the picture of. I can assure you that it IS cantaloupe in the suet feeder. We were experimenting to see if the birds appreciated the sweetness of it.

thanks

David Gourley

UPDATE 2: I found a couple of other photos of yellow cardinals--one in Ohio and one in Mississippi (the male in Mississippi has even been observed feeding chicks, so hey, he found a mate).

Valentine's Inspiration 8

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW8GX2n4qbY[/youtube] And let's look to the lovely, pink of the Chilean flamingo for today's Valentine's Day inspiration.  Sometimes, a quirky little dance is all that's needed to make your partner smile and keep that pair bond alive.

Speaking of flamingos, did anyone see Disney's Crimson Wing?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8tKgBHFSVQ[/youtube]

I have no idea if I will ever make it to that area, but I am so grateful for modern technology and the ability to bring that AMAZING site into my living room on a morning when the windchill is -21 degrees Fahrenheit.

Have Bird Questions About Climate Change?

I'm going to record a segment with Jeff Jones on Minnesota Public Radio about climate change and birds.  They are looking for email questions for me to answer so if you have a question about how climate change might affect birds or maybe you've noticed some changes in birds and are curious if it's related to climate change please submit your questions here.

Cowbird Suet?

I found this suet at a Walmart last night.

Periodically,  people email or ask me, "Hey, I've had a suet feeder out, but no bird comes to it.  Why won't they come?"

Most of the time, I picture a yard void of trees, but after finding this suet in a popular shopping destination, I wonder if this might be one of the reasons?  The above suet cake is LOADED with milo.  This is a cheap filler seed that does not attract many birds.  If you live out west and get quail--milo is great.  In the eastern US only a few birds love it: pheasants, turkey, rock pigeons and brown-headed cowbirds.

This was not the only crap block of suet I found, but this was the worst offender I found on the shelf.  It's bad enough that suet cakes are being loaded with cracked corn but milo?  Really?

If you are looking for suet, look at it from the back.  If the label reads that it is a peanut suet and you see lots of corn...that may be a sign that it's not a good brand.  If you see lots of peanut chunks, then that is a good suet.  If you see lots of small, yellow round seeds, this is millet and woodpeckers don't care for that either.

I don't know if I can fault the company that makes the above suet.  I mean, they wouldn't unless they were making some sort of profit.  Is there enough of a profit to be made in a suet cake that is not attractive woodpeckers and ends up sitting in a feeder for along time?  Or maybe more people like to feed cowbirds than I realized?  I am frustrated because this company does make some pretty good, affordable bird seed mixes.  They make regional blends that are good for someone new to bird feeding and they don't know what seed to get.  But that suet...that's lame.

Valentine's Inspiration 7

Once again, we look to Sir David Attenborough for bird inspiration for hot moves on Valentine's Day.  This time, we're watching one of my favorite courtship rituals: albatross.  Below is a video for waved albatross: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2XyDF4cdpA&feature=related[/youtube]

My goodness, the first part was getting me a tad hot under the collar--such tenderness with such sharp beaks!  Then when the birds made their strange noises and odd dance movies, it reminded me of what I think people must think Non Birding Bill and I are like.  We've been together since 1994 that we have a sort of a twin speak when we have conversations and we've been known to flail in odd synchronization from time to time.  But that's all part of reestablishing that pair bond.

Incidentally, props to Sir David.  How many naturalists do you know who can keep a straight face and make you feel as though you should give your full attention and not giggle like a thirteen year old while a pair of albatross are knocking the boots right in front of him.  Well played, Sir, well played.

If you would like more albatross information, check out this video from Arkive--these are laysan albatross and they make some CRAZY clicking sounds.

Big Year Movie Opens Oct 14, 2011

I just got email confirmation from the unit publicist and it's on Internet Movie Database: The Big Year Movie opens October 14, 2011.

Valentine's Inspiration 6

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDvHI5ztj6M&feature=related[/youtube] Today, we go to Sir David Attenborough and look to the 12 wired bird-of-paradise for inspiration for Valentine's Day.  In this daring display, it's all about knowing what your partner needs.  Some prefer something beyond the usual flowers and chocolates.  They desire more than the holding of hands, they want you to take the wirey hair like structures on your backside and rub them in their face.  After making that bold of a move and rocking their world, it's important to reassure them with a little peck or two.  Sensing your partner's deeper, most secret desires is the key to a long lasting, passionate pair bond.

Valentine's Inspiration 5

Brace yourself, this one is a little...on the kinky side. I'm not sure how much inspiration one should take from the video of the courtship of a species of bird called a tragopan a small horned pheasant native to Asia.  I've never seen one of these in my travels but now I kind of want to.  Those with small children may want to avert their eyes of this video of a Temminck's tragopan:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9tdloS_A-4&feature=related[/youtube]

Some people like to look at a guy and see an appendage instantly increase in size and change color...but not everyone.  Careful of using this tactic, make sure your partner would be on board (perhaps establish a safe word beforehand)...and this is perhaps isn't the best tactic for a first date, as evidenced in this video of a Temminck's tragopan.  The link to that video shoes up close and personal the increasing appendage of the tragopan but about 40 seconds into it, you see the female's reaction.  Use this move with caution.

Rainbow Mealworms Is In Dire Need Of A Bird Consultant

Oh, Rainbow Mealworms, why couldn't you have had a birder to take a quick look at this ad before you submitted it for print?  I feel for you, I bet you'll get a few phone calls over this one.

I was thumbing through one of the many bird magazines that find their way into my mailbox when this half page ad caught my attention.  Rainbow Mealworms used a starling as the target bird to attract with their product for a US bird publication.  This is a bit of an advertising blunder when you consider the type of birders who purchases mealworms: bluebird and purple martin enthusiasts.

Mealworms gained a place on wild bird specialty store shelves because bluebirds do not eat seeds and bluebird trail monitors wanted a way to offer them food.  Starlings are one of the birds bluebird and purple martin enthusiasts work to great lengths to avoid since this introduced species will displace so many birds from nesting cavities like bluebirds, purple martins and flickers.  Using a starling in the advertising is somewhat of a smack in the face akin to giving the peace sign backwards in the United Kingdom.  Mealworms are a great addition to any feeding station, regulars like cardinals, chickadees and nuthatches eat them but so do catbirds, orioles and robins.  I've yet to see any US bird feeding enthusiast anxious to attract starlings.

I don't blame the magazine's editorial staff for this one.  Editors have remarkably little control over the ads, especially in this media era when few advertisers are investing in print. Often, the advertisers are submitting their pre designed ads last minute and the ads are put in with very little thought.  A company should do a bit of research before they do their marketing.  I'm sure both the magazine and the company will get some emails over this.  Perhaps some enterprising bluebird or purple martin enthusiast will offer use of their photos of birds eating mealworms in exchange for a few bags of a 1000 Mealworms?

Rainbow Mealworms has had a tough few years.  They are the biggest supplier of mealworms to North America and were one of the reasons for the mealworm shortage in 2008.

Better luck next time, Rainbow Mealworms.