Birdlore: The Fleet-footed Quail of North America

Among the popular game bird species, quail are characteristic for their ability to hide exceedingly well in clumps of grass and brush from predators and human hunters.

In North America, 5 species of quail (not including the Northern Bobwhite) are native to the west and southwest of the United States and parts of Mexico.  These 5 species of quail are the Montezuma Quail, the California Quail, the Mountain Quail, the Scaled Quail, and lastly, the Gambel’s Quail.  They gather together in small groups called coveys.

The Montezuma Quail lives mostly in Mexico and parts of Arizona and New Mexico (photo: wikipedia)

When faced with the presence of a predator, the quail will hunker close to the ground and become very still.  Their plumage blends them in seamlessly with their grassy and brush-filled habitat so well that you could almost step on them without realizing it.  By the time a predator would close in on the quail’s precise location, the quail would burst from their hiding spot with a short and explosive flight through the field to safety.

Quail play a fairly minor role in Native American cultures.  However, the Pima tribe from Arizona tell one amusing tale of how a family of quail managed to outwit their predator, a coyote.

In a time long ago, Coyote slept so deeply that when a covey of quail came upon him, they cut off pieces of fleshy meat from his body without Coyote awaking up. 

Later after the quail had moved on, set up camp, and took to cooking the meat, Coyote walked up the trail to their encampment.

 “Where did you get that fresh meat? Give me some.”  He demanded.

Without protest, the quail gave it all to him.  After he had left and gone a ways down the trail, the quail called out to him, “Coyote, you were eating your own flesh.”

“What did you say?”  He questioned.

“Nothing, we heard something calling from behind the mountain.”

Coyote moved further down the trail, when the quail called again, “Coyote, you ate your own meat.”

“What did you say?” Coyote repeated.

“Nothing, we only heard somebody pounding his grinding stone.”  They replied.

Coyote left the quail, going further down the trail.  He then felt the places where the quail had cut him and understood what the quail had been saying.  He turned around and gave chase to the quail saying he would eat them.  The quail flew through the air with Coyote running beneath.  Finally, the quail could no longer fly because of exhaustion, but Coyote kept up the pursuit.  He was too angry.

When the quail came to a hole in the ground the cleverest of the quail picked up a piece of prickly cactus.  Pushing the cactus first into the hole, the rest followed in after it.  Coyote caught up to them and began digging up the hole to reach them.  He grabbed the  first quail and asked, “Was it you who told me I ate my own flesh?”

“No, I did not,” said the quail.

So Coyote released him and the quail flew away.  He then grabbed quail, one at a time, and asked the same question.  Each quail said “No,” and Coyote would release them to fly away until the last quail was gone.  When he finally came to the piece of cactus, Coyote mistook it for another quail as it was covered in feathers.  He asked the same question, but the cactus branch did not reply.

“I know it was you, because you do not answer”, he said at last.

So Coyote bit down hard onto the prickly cactus branch, and it killed him.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Birdlore: The Great Garuda

Mythology has a mixed bag of giant raptor legends, like the Thunderbird and the Roc, or creatures that looked like they came out of a blender with mixed characteristics, like the Piasa Bird.  

Another bird-like creature depicted in Hindu and Buddhist mythology is the part-man, part bird deity, Garuda.   The bird characteristics are usually referred to as eagle-like or kite-like depending on the source.

Garuda, half-man and half-bird (photo: the wikipedia files)

In Hinduism, Garuda was born from a huge egg with the torso and limbs of a man, and the talons, wings, and beak of an eagle.  His father was Kasyapa, an ancient sage, and his mother, Vinata, mother of all birds.  He was born with a radiance that made the gods cry in fear for the end of the world and at their request, Garuda diminished his splendor.

Before his birth, his mother was tricked into slavery with a bet by her sister-in-law, Kadru, mother of serpents.  In a bid to free her, Garuda asked Kadru and her serpent sons what he must do for his mother’s release.  Kadru decreed he must bring them the drink of the gods, amrita, so that she and her sons may become immortal.

However, the amrita was jealously guarded by Indra, King of the gods.  The elixir was protected by a massive fire covering the sky, a spinning mechanical door with spokes on the side blocking the way, and two large venomous snakes guarding the elixir’s resting place.  Not deterred, Garuda fought and defeated the host of gods with his power and drank from many nearby rivers to put out the fire in the sky.  He decreased his size to pass through the deadly spikes of the spinning door.  He snuck past the giant venomous serpents by blowing dust into their eyes.  Garuda took the elixir into his mouth without swallowing it and rose to the heavens.

On his journey back, Garuda was met by Indra, King of the gods.  Indra struck Garuda with his thunderbolt, but Garuda remained unharmed by the strike except for the loss of a single feather.  Faced with the reality of Garuda’s true strength, Indra called for a cease in fighting and formed a pact with the bird-man.  Garuda would be allowed to deliver the elixir to the serpents to fulfill his end of the deal and earn his mother’s freedom.  In return, Garuda would make it possible for Indra to reclaim the elixir from the serpents.  Indra also permitted Garuda to hunt the snakes as food.

Delivering the elixir, Garuda convinced the serpents that a bath of purification was required before partaking in the drink of the gods.  In the serpents’ brief absence, Indra descended from the sky to retrieve the elixir and left for the heavens.  When the serpents returned, they licked the grass on which the elixir had rested, slicing their tongues.  All modern snakes have forked tongues as a result. 

From that day forward, Garuda was a friend to the gods and enemy to snakes everywhere, devouring them at every opportunity.

To learn more about the contemporary bird species that inspire these amazing myths and legends, come to the World Bird Sanctuary and speak with one of our amazing Naturalists.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Santuary Naturalist/Trainer

Birdlore: The Hundred Eyes of the Peacock

The Peacock--almost every child growing up knows this colorful and glamorous bird by sight!  The sapphire glimmering blue body, the long green-yellow and fan-shaped tail display, and the eyed-patterned feathers that peer into your soul…yep, most everyone knows a peacock when they see one.

A Peacock with his feathers spread out in display. (Photo: wikipedia)

 We typically refer to this species as the peacock, since most specimens seen are those with the brilliant blue and green fan-shaped tail display.  In actuality, only the males are called peacocks.  The females are peahens and the chicks are referred to as peachicks.  Together, both males and females are called peafowl.

The blue peafowl (Pavo cristatus) originated in the country of India.  Over hundreds of years, the peafowl have been raised as pets among the royalty in many different cultures and countries.  Even today, peafowl are a popular bird found wandering zoos and farms in the countryside.

Perhaps the most striking feature of a peacock’s feather display is the ‘eye’ resting in the tip of the tail feathers.

The all-seeing ‘eye’ of the peacock.  (Photo: wikipedia)

One origin of the legend of the Peacock’s thousand eyes comes from a story concerning Juno, Queen of the Roman gods, (or Hera of Greek Mythology) and her servant, Argus.

Juno and the king of the gods were famed for fooling and playing tricks on one another.  So, when Juno had the fairest cow in the land, she knew the king would try to steal the cow away from her.  So, she gave the task of watching her cow to her servant, Argus.  He was a giant with a hundred eyes and never had anyone seen all the eyes sleep at the same time.

So, the king, knowing this, sent the smooth talker Mercury to retrieve the cow from the field where Argus guarded over it.  The king had chosen Mercury for this task, since he was a teller of tales and his voice could sing even a god to sleep.

When Mercury came to visit the field, Argus knew what the king was trying to do, but he had been alone with the cow for a long time and wished for the company and entertainment.  So what if a few of his eyes fell asleep.  The remaining awake eyes could still watch the cow.  Argus invited Mercury to tell his stories of the happenings of the world.

As Mercury shared his lively and sad stories, Argus’s eyes closed one by one, until only two remained opened.  Mercury decided then to play his magical reed.  While he played, those listening could hear waves brushing on the shore, the rush of the wind among the trees, lilies tilting their heads at dusk, and stars flickering in the seasonal sky.

Finally, Argus’s two remaining eyes closed in slumber and Mercury whisked away the cream-white cow to the king of the gods.

Juno became greatly angered, as the king had actually managed to play a trick on her and succeeded.  With severe words she berated her servant who could not keep guard over her cow even with a hundred eyes, “Even my peacock is far wiser, for he knows when someone is looking at him.  Every one of your eyes I shall place in the tail of the peacock.”

Today, whenever you look at the feathers of a peacock, you can count the hundred eyes that once belonged to Argus.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Birdlore: The Common Raven, Face of the Trickster

Imagine you are walking down the World Bird Sanctuary Display Line and it is a quiet weekday morning.  You’re glancing straight ahead, walking briskly, when a ‘Hello’ is echoed behind you.  Craning your head sharply to the right, no one is there.  In fact, you realize you’re utterly alone at that moment!

 Another ‘Hello’ sounds, and you follow the call to its source from a nearby enclosure.  Beady black eyes glare at you, glistening black tail feathers flex up and down, and a long, thick, pointy beak gapes open again, “Hello.”

Poe, the Common Raven, greets you with a tease.

Poe, WBS's Common Raven (photo: Gay Schroer)

Common Ravens (Corvus corax) are highly intelligent members of the corvid family.  They are described as having the brain capacity of a 3-5 year-old child and can use tools to gather food and solve puzzles.  This cleverness also allows them to outsmart or outmaneuver other birds.  A pair of ravens will work together to steal from seabird colonies.  One raven will distract a brooding adult on a nest and the other raven will make a grab for an egg or small chick.

Common Raven (Corvus corax) (photo: wikipedia)

Ravens are multifaceted characters in Native American culture.  They may be revered as a cultural hero, creator, or a being benevolent to humans.  Another side of the Raven is that of a trickster.  The raven will use his cunning and cleverness to obtain an object or goal, either for self-seeking or selfless reasons.

One story among the northwest tribes tells how raven reclaims the sun and moon hidden away from the rest of the world.

Raven Steals the Light

Once long ago in ancient times, a mighty chief lived with his beautiful daughter.  He took the sun and the moon from the sky and hung them in his house, leaving the rest of the world shrouded in darkness.

With the darkness, the people of the earth could not hunt or fish.  They had to crawl through the forest, with their hands as their guide, to hope to find wood to light the fires in their homes.  If they thought they had found firewood they would bite it to make certain indeed.

When Raven discovered the mighty chief had taken the sun and moon from the earth, he flew to the chief’s house to reclaim what had been stolen.  Raven asked the powerful chief to restore the sun and moon to its rightful place, but the chief refused.  Not the least bit discouraged, the clever black bird devised a devious plan.

He followed the chief’s beautiful daughter to a nearby stream which she visited every day.  There, Raven waited and hid until her return the next day.  As she approached the stream, Raven transformed himself into a tiny fish and leaped into the water.  The beautiful daughter filled her bucket and then dipped her drinking cup into the cool water.  In the form of a tiny fish, Raven swam into the cup and the girl drank the water and Raven unknowingly.

The girl became pregnant after Raven entered her body and transformed into a baby.  Time passed and the girl gave birth to a boy, who was in fact Raven.  The baby grew healthy and fast and soon was a young boy.  The mighty chief loved his grandson greatly and would spoil him.  One day his grandson began crying for something.

The chief asked his grandson what he wanted in order to make him happy.  The boy gestured to the sun and moon hanging from the ceiling of their home.  Reluctant at first, the grandfather relented and gave the boy the sun and moon if he would stop crying.  The child took them outside to play with for a time, whereupon he suddenly threw them high into the sky.  The mighty chief rushed outside of his house to see what had happened, but Raven had already returned to his true form and flew far away.

That is how Raven returned light to the world.

If you would like to learn more about the intelligence of Ravens and Crows, come to the World Bird Sanctuary and speak with one of our naturalists or visit Poe, the Common Raven, who lives on the Sanctuary’s Display Line.

As with all of the creatures that call the World Bird Sanctuary home, Poe is available for adoption in our Adopt A Bird program.  Click Here to adopt Poe, or call 636-861-3225 and ask for Marion to find out more about our Adopt A Bird Program.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Birdlore: Northern Mockingbird: The Best Singer of Them All

On a warm spring afternoon, you may find yourself relaxing on the porch or listening to the chitter- chatter of songbirds bobbing and weaving through the yard.  Listening, you hear the song of what seems like a dozen different bird species singing.  You decide to glance about to locate the gathering chorus, but all those songbirds are nowhere to be seen.

Except for a single, slender-bodied, grey songbird perched boldly high up in a bush, bursting proudly with song.

A Northern Mockingbird. in its typically subdued colors (photo: wikipedia)

 The Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) is renowned for its ability to mimic the songs of other songbirds, cats, dogs, frogs, and even human-made objects.  Their songs are made of a long series of phrases, usually repeated several times, and lasting upwards of half a minute.  The mockingbird, male and female, sings continuously throughout the day and even into the night.  Unmated males will sing longer and louder than mated males in the daytime.  A mockingbird will continue to add new songs and sounds to its repertoire throughout its lifespan.

The Mayans tell a story of how a young mockingbird named, X-chol-col-chek, was poor and could only dress in shabby feathers.  However, X-chol-col-chek had been blessed with a beautiful voice since the day she hatched, but couldn’t afford singing lessons. 

X-chol-col-chek found work with a rich cardinal family, when a famous singing professor, a blackbird, arrived to the Maya land one season.  The father cardinal asked the blackbird to teach his lazy daughter, Col-pol-che, to become a skilled singer.

Col-pol-che and the blackbird would head off into a quiet part of the forest for many weeks for lessons and X-col would follow in secret to watch.  However, over time, the blackbird came to realize that Col-pol-che had neither the skill nor the motivation to become a singer.  Afraid to tell the cardinal father of his daughter’s progress after much time and accepting a great deal of money, the blackbird simply flew away to forget the matter.

All the while, X-col-col-chek practiced the lessons she had watched, until one day Col-pol-che stumbled upon her practice in surprise.  At the same time, the proud father cardinal arranged for his daughter to perform before all their friends and family.  Lazy Col-pol-che was terrified and too afraid to tell her father she couldn’t sing. Instead, she turned to X-chol-col-chek for help.

The two birds recruited a woodpecker to drill a hole in the tree just below where Col-pol-che would perch for her concert.  Col-pol-che would pretend to sing, while X-chol-col-chek hid in the hole and provided the real voice. 

The time of the concert had finally arrived.  All the nobles, artists, singers, and musicians had gathered while Col-pol-che rose to her perch.  Col-pol-che opened her beak and the most enchanting voice to ever be heard in the Maya land spread throughout the whole forest.    The audience flapped and praised the beautiful voice, however, the father cardinal was not applauding.

He had seen X-chol-col-chek climb into the hole shortly before the concert.  When the audience finally settled down, the father cardinal joined his daughter on the perch and demanded silence.  Leaning towards the hole, he called the little mockingbird out.

Shaking with fright, the small, gray mockingbird came out, only to have the father cardinal gently guide her to the perch with him and his daughter.  Explaining to the audience that his daughter had tricked them and himself, he explained that it was really, “this shy little ‘nightingale’ singing the whole time.”

In a great roar of excitement, the audience cried for X-chol-col-chek to sing again.  Feeling more confident, the mockingbird sang with a full spirit and won the heart of every bird.  From then on, her children and her children’s children would inherit her lovely voice, but the cardinals never learned how to sing as well.

The Mayan legend teaches that we should use the abilities we are born with, to be confident and bold in ourselves, and to never stop pursuing our dreams.

You may see one of these amazing singers at one of the WBS feeders (photo: Gay Schroer)

The next time you visit the World Bird Sanctuary keep your ears tuned for the exuberant song of the Mockingbird.  You may see one at one of our feeders--or--you may have one of these joyful little singers in your own yard.  Just take the time to listen.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Birdlore: Common Loon, Spirit of the North

Imagine you are deep in the woods of the great north, wandering through the still trees and underbrush. 

The air is calm and quiet.  Sound doesn’t travel far in the dense forest.  A light fog lingers around you in the fading light.  As you push through the ferns and young trees, a clearing opens up to a calm and serene lake.  An eerie wail echoes across the flat water, sending a shiver down your back and drawing your attention to the center of the lake.

You've just entered the domain of the solitary Common Loon.

A typical Common Loon in breeding plumage (photo: the wikipedia files)

The common loon (Gavia immer) is a primitive bird species with a solid black head, red eyes, white ring around the neck, and colored with a black and white checkerboard pattern on their back (breeding plumage).  These water birds are found on lakes, rivers, large ponds, or estuaries in the northern wilderness during the breeding season.  They eat small fish for a living.

The loon is known for its haunting and beautiful calls which can be heard echoing across their watery habitat, especially at night.  They produce a tremolo when alarmed or announcing their presence on the lake.  Males give out a yodel to indicate their territory.   Lastly, the loon's wail, the most familiar and haunting call, is used to help determine a male and female's  location to each other. Click Here to hear the call of the Common Loon.

Common Loon swimming swiftly under the surface of a lake (photo: the wikipedia files)

The loon is also known as the Great Northern Diver in Britain, for their incredible diving and swimming ability.  This water bird has several adaptations lending to its superb skill. Their legs are situated to the rear of their body.  This allows for swift swimming underwater, but leaves the loon very clumsy and vulnerable on land.  Also, the loon is one of the few bird species with solid bones,  along with Puffins and Penguins, which helps them to sink more easily.  They also compress the interlocking pattern of their feathers to force out enclosed air before diving.  While under the water, loons will lower their heart rate to conserve oxygen.  The loon can dive without making a splash on the surface and reach a depth of 150 to 180 ft.

A Common Loon sitting on its nest near the water (photo: the wikipedia files)

Since the loon is so adapted to water, they are faced with equal disadvantages.  The rear legs of the loon are not suited to land, so they only go to shore to mate and nest.  Being a heavier bird, loons need to take a running start across open water for as much as a quarter mile to get airborne,  while at the same time flapping their wings.  Common loons can easily become stranded if they land in bodies of water that are too small. 

In the summer months, loons are spotted on the water's surface raising their feet to waggle them in the air.  Scientists believe this is done to help lower their body temperature.

The common loon often represents the northern wilderness's isolation and serene beauty with its own unique characteristics, haunting calls, and it's preference to live in remote quiet places away from humans.  

The Chippewa Indian tribe tells the following story of how, long ago, the whole world was covered in water.  One day the Great Spirit decided to make solid land for all the animals to rest on and live in.  The Great Spirit asked the animals if any of them would dive to the deep bottom to retrieve a little mud, so he could make the land.  Muskrat, otter, and beaver tried and failed.  Looking to the loon last, the Great Spirit asked if loon would dive as deep as he could.  Time passed and finally the loon surfaced, saddened.  He believed he had failed and waved his foot to the Great Spirit in farewell.  As he did so, mud appeared on the bottom of his foot and was enough for the Great Spirit to make the land.  Loon became a hero. 

To this day, when loons raise their feet and wave them in the air, they are remembering the hero of their species, the Loon Who Made the World.

If you wish to learn more about Common Loons or other water birds around the world, please stop by the World Bird Sanctuary and speak with one of our naturalists.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Birdlore: Ruffed Grouse, The Drumming Bird

As the snow slowly melts away and the buds and greens of the new season spring forth, a rapid thumping resonates throughout the deep woods. 

Is that a drum you ask? Is someone chopping a log?

Nay!  The Ruffed Grouse sits atop his ‘drumming log’ beating his wings frantically in a territorial and courtship display!

A male Ruffed Grouse fanning his tail feathers and extending his neck feathers (creating a ruff) in a courtship display.

(photo: the wikipedia files)

In the northern reaches of North America, the Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) lives in the thick bush of mixed hardwood trees.  When male ruffed grouse set out from their wintering areas to claim their own territory, they select a ‘drumming log’ as a stage for their display.  They do not beat their wings on the log or their breast to create this ‘thumping’ noise.  Rather, the speed at which they flap their wings in the air creates a temporary vacuum and a ‘thump’ results when air rushes in to fill the empty space.

The male will use this display year around on his ‘drumming log’ to announce his territory, but will increase in frequency during the spring mating season.  Once the males attract a prospective mate, they will initiate a brief courtship before actually mating.  The female leaves afterwards to establish her nest while the male waits for other receptive females.

The main avian predator of the Ruffed Grouse is the Northern Goshawk.   The Ruffed Grouse is a popular game bird for human hunters in the proper hunting season. The bird is often improperly referred to as a partridge, which is a smaller game bird related to grouse. 

One Native American tale tells how the thumping of the partridge made him the canoe-builder for all the birds.

“An Algonquin Tale:  How the Partridge built good canoes for all the birds and a bad one for himself.

As a partridge thumps a hollow log he sounds much like an Indian chopping and carving into a great log to create a canoe.  For in the ancient days, the Partridge was the builder of canoes for all birds of the earth.

On a chosen day, all the birds came together to receive their canoe, and what a grand sight it was to behold.  First the greatest of all the birds, the Eagle, entered his hollowed out log and pushed off into the water using the tips of his wings.  Then came the Owl, the Crane, the Bluebird, the Snipe, and the Blackbird all racing away proudly across the water in their canoes.  Even the diminutive Humming-Bird sailed in an elegant little boat with a specially made paddle provided by the good Partridge.

As the birds sailed proudly in their canoes, their attention turned back to Partridge, the canoe-builder, and asked why he did not have a canoe of his own.  Partridge remained closed mouthed and looked away.  Persistent, the other birds questioned him further and finally he relented and hinted that his canoe would be a marvel, a wonder, something only possible to conjure up in a dream.  So for many days, the birds waited for Partridge’s masterpiece.

Finally, at long last, a roar rose among the birds that Partridge’s canoe was ready.  At a designated time, all the birds gathered at the water’s shores to behold the marvel.  Partridge had pondered that if a canoe with two ends could be rowed in two different directions, surely, a boat that was completely round, like a nest, could be rowed in any direction.  His idea amazed all the birds that such a simple idea had not yet been done.

Yet, what should happen when Partridge entered the water with his marvelous canoe?

He would paddle and paddle, but no distance could he cover for he would turn in endless circles no matter his effort.  Weary and tired, he fled from the canoe to shore and hid beneath low bushes, too embarrassed to come out.  To this day the Partridge steers clear of seas and rivers and remains an inland bird.”

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Birdlore: The Wedged-tailed Eagle: Bunjil

On the continent of Australia, the land down under, lives a unique raptor known as the Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax).

The name of this bird of prey comes from its characteristic diamond-shaped tail. The Wedge-tailed Eagle can be seen widespread throughout the continent, as well as Tasmania, and parts of southern New Guinea.

A wedge-tailed eagle in flight with broad wings stretched out and its diamond-shape tail easily seen (photo: the Wikipedia files)

The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest raptor found in Australia and fills in the niche as nature’s scavenger, as there are no native vultures.  Despite past persecution due to accusations of predation on cattle and sheep herds, the Wedge-tailed Eagle population has thrived well from the introduction of rabbits, a pest species introduced in the early 1800’s, as well as the usual sources of carrion.

In many early cultures, apex predators were regarded as gods or spirits, responsible for the elements or even the creation of the world, the Wedge-tailed Eagle being no exception to this.

One creation story belonging to the Kulin, an aboriginal people of Australia’s Victoria state, tells the story of Bunjil, in the form of a

Wedge-tailed Eagle, and his creation of the world and humanity.

Bunjil, the Great Spirit and All-father, created the entire earth with the plants and animals to inhabit it.  He also made the form of man, which proved a greater undertaking than the rest of his creation, for man would require the complex power of thought and reasoning to separate him from simple animals. 

After much consideration, Bunjil selected two slabs of bark and crafted them into shapes suitable for his greatest creation, being sure to incorporate the necessary traits of mobility and dexterity into his design.  Next, he took soft clay from the earth and molded it around the bark sheets, smoothing it.  Completing this task, he danced around the still figures, implanting the seeds of knowledge, thought, and reason.

Granting them the names, Berrook-boorn and Kookin-berrook, Bunjil knew this was necessary so that they could retain individual personalities and spirit.  His creations ready to be filled with life force, Bunjil danced around them once again and proceeded to fill their mouths, nostrils, and navels with breath and life.

Dancing around them a third time, Bunjil weaved complex patterns in the dust.  As he did so, Berrook-boorn and Kookin-berrok rose from their place on the ground and linked hands with Bunjil.  They joined their All-Father in celebration of the dance of life, singing with Bunjil with the first song from the lips of man.

Duncan, WBS's resident Wedge-tailed Eagle (photo: Gay Schroer)

To see a flesh and blood example of Bunjil come visit us at the World Bird Sanctuary where you can meet Duncan our resident Wedge-tailed Eagle who usually resides in one of our exhibit enclosures on the path just past the Wildlife Hopital.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary ETC Trainer

Birdlore - Legend of the Red-tailed Hawk

Imagine you’re driving through the open countryside on a sunny day with a few puffy clouds drifting in the distance.   There’s little to no traffic, only farms and orchards passing by on the right and left as you cruise down the highway.  A very uneventful trip, you might say until a flurry of wings diving towards the ground captures your attention! (While still making glances towards the road for traffic, of course!)

Wagner displays the distinctive red tail feather for which the species is named (photo: Gay Schroer)

A Red-tailed Hawk, (buteo jamaiciensis) with its distinctive red tail feathers, has made an attempt to grab prey that it spotted in the tall grass or ditches alongside the road.  My frequent trips into the countryside are always filled with anticipation.  What birds am I going to see?  Where am I going to see them?  Are they just perching or flying?

A Red-tailed Hawk’s typical plummage (photo: The Wikipedia files)

Most of the time I see Red-tailed Hawks perching on branches, often on a specific fence post, or diving for their prey.  Once I even spotted a Red-tailed Hawk perched on the World Bird Sanctuary destination sign at the Highway 44/141 junction.  You simply never know where these hawks may appear next!

Despite how common they are, the Red-tailed Hawk is held in high esteem by Native Americans.  Native Americans treat the Red-tailed Hawk feathers as sacred objects, just as they do Bald Eagle feathers, and incorporate them into religious ceremonies and rituals. 

In the Legend of The Tlanuwa and The Uktena, a village of the Ani Yunwiya (the Cherokee people) rested near a place called Hogahega Uweyu i along the Wanegas, known today as the Tennessee River.  The caves at this place were an ancient home of the Tlanuwa.

The people in the village never had problems with the Tlanuwa before, until one day the great hawks came and carried away most of the young children.  The grieving mothers pleaded with the men to bring back the children stolen by the Tlanuwa.

So the men went to the Tlanuwa caves.  They made ropes from vines growing near by to climb down the cliffs to reach the caves and waited for the great hawks to leave again.  Once they lowered themselves into the caves and found the missing children, they heard more Tlanuwa returning with more children in their grasp.  In order to buy time and distract the great hawks, the men quickly threw the unhatched eggs of the Tlanuwa over the cliffs into the water below.  When the eggs hit the water, the great Uktena, horned serpents, came up from below the water and began eating the eggs as quickly as the men were throwing them.

The Tlanuwa, very angry, dropped the children from their talons to the waiting men below.  A long and terrible fight began between the Tlanuwa and Uktena.  The Tlanuwa destroyed the Uktena into four pieces and scattered its remains across the country.

After the terrible fight, the Tlanuwa were angry at the men for what they had done to their eggs and flew far away, beyond the sky, never to return.

Today, it is still said that on the banks of the Hogahega Uweyu i, one can still see the rocks that were stained from the blood of the Uktena and Tlanuwa from that terrible fight they had in ancient times.

Sequoia, a resident WBS Red-tailed Hawk (photo: Gay Schroer)

While we do not have a Tlanuwa at the World Bird Sanctuary, we do have their descendents (according to the legend—several Red-tailed Hawks on display.  As you stroll our paths and visit the Nature Center, look for the large hawk with the telltale rusty red tail.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/Trainer

Birdlore: The Roc

In my search for birds of myth and legend, I've been amazed by the number of stories concerning massive birds-of-prey in all parts of the world.

Starting my search with the Thunderbird and Piasa of North America, I've stumbled across many others, like the Phoenix in either Greek or Egyptian mythology, the Garuda of India, the Hungarian Turul, the Hokioi of Maori legend, and the Simurgh of Persia (to name just a few).

My legend of choice for this month is the Roc or Rukh, the mythological bird of Arabia.  In Arabic tradition, the roc flies over the earth and would only land on the mountain Qaf, the center of the world.

The Roc is a raptor (another name for bird of prey) of immense size and predominantly white in color.  With a supposed wingspan of 48 feet and feathers the size of palm leaves, the Roc could carry away adult elephants with ease.

A Roc carrying an elephant and a rhino in each talon (photo:  The Wikipedia Files)

The Roc gained much of its renown from accounts in the Arabic tales, The Thousand and One Nights, and Marco Polo's exaggerated travel journals.  In one of the Arabic tales, Sinbad the Sailor encounters the Roc's nest after being stranded on an island.  At first, he stood mesmerized by a large, smooth, and white object within the nest and proceeded to walk around it.  Sinbad counted 50 paces around the oblong object when a great dark shadow overtook him.  Discovering the shadow belonged to a bird known among sailors as the Roc, Sinbad realized the white object that puzzled him was in fact the Roc's egg.  The Roc settled upon the nest, unaware of Sinbad huddled next to its egg.  Noticing the trunk-sized feet before him, Sinbad devised a daring and dangerous plan to excape the island.  He tied himself to the Roc's feet with his turban, so he would be carried away from the island the next time the Roc left in search of food.

In other voyages of Sinbad the Sailor, he would observe an angry Roc dropping boulders from its talons on his ship after passengers shattered the Roc's egg and made a meal of the chick within.

Mommy's not going to be happy...(Photo:  The Wikipedia Files)

According to the 13th century world traveler, Marco Polo, the Roc lived on the island of Madagascar.  He describes the Roc as having a wingspan of 16 yards and feathers as long as 8 yards.  The Roc's egg measured out at 50 yards in circumference.  The Roc killed the elephants it hunted by dropping them to their deaths on the rocks of the earth.

Considering that Marco Polo's journeys were embellished in his travel log, it is likely that his account of the Roc was inspired from observing Madagascar's Elephant Bird, Aepyornis maximus.  Now extinct, the Elephant Bird lived on the island up until the 1600's.

While the World Bird Sanctuary does not have any birds as enormous as the Roc, we do have a juvenile Andean Condor named Dorothy whose size is quite impressive.  Be sure to take a walk down our paved trail to see her the next time you visit.

Submitted by Jessica Bunke, World Bird Sanctuary Trainer