It was bi-monthly weigh day at the Education Training Center and I decided to take advantage and shoot some video. As you can see from the video, hopping up on the scale for a snack is no problem. We weigh them before they are fed to make the snack more appealing, though sometimes they forgo the scale and steal from the people.
This is Sara and Gomez, a pair of red legged seriemas. These mostly terrestrial birds stand about 30 inches long, and are named for their long reddish legs. Seriemas eat small reptiles and mammals, including snakes. They are native to eastern South America. They fly very little but perch high on termite mounds to sing and look for food. Their loud song can be heard from miles away! They are speedy runners, and have recorded running as fast as 70 km/hr.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Monday morning haiku...
Today's haiku by Susan Burchardt celebrates the eagle behind the eagle. Clark is a little younger than Lewis and still learning, but he too will fly at programs and games one day. Thanks to Gay Schroer for the beautiful photograph!
Clark may have come next
But don’t think of him “instead”
Like Lewis he soars
Clark may have come next
But don’t think of him “instead”
Like Lewis he soars
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Bird's Eye View
Meet Linus and Cayenne, two of our Green-winged Macaws (Ara chloroptera). These two beautiful parrots came to us from the Milwaukee County Zoo. During programs, Linus and Cayenne fly side by side around the stage, where they then land in a special artificial tree and collect their reward. This summer, a few of our staff members will be taking them back to the Milwaukee County Zoo, where they will again be participating in educational programs. In the wild, Green-winged Macaws are found in Central and South America in tropical forests, savannas, and mangrove swamps. Their diet is made up of seeds, fruit, berries, and leaves.
I took these pictures at our Education Training Center. Those two posed for pictures almost on cue right as I took out my camera.
Bird's Eye View is a regular column written and photographed by our volunteer Daniel.
I took these pictures at our Education Training Center. Those two posed for pictures almost on cue right as I took out my camera.
Bird's Eye View is a regular column written and photographed by our volunteer Daniel.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Adopt-a-bird spotlight: Ookpik (Snowy Owl)
Ookpik’s StorySpecies: Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiaca
Hatched: Unknown
Ookpik originally came to the World Bird Sanctuary from the Denver Zoo. From 1999-2007, he was on breeding loan to another organzization. He returned to WBS in the spring of 2007.
Ookpik is the Inuit word for owl. At one time Snowy Owls were believed to be the only member of a distinct genus. However, a recent DNA study has shown that they are closely related to members of the genus Bubo, such as the Great Horned Owl and the Eurasian Eagle Owl.
During the winter months you can see Ookpik and his female companion, Tundra, in their large enclosure on the upper trail of the World Bird Sanctuary. During the hot St. Louis summers they are housed in an air conditioned building behind the scenes at WBS.
To adopt Ookpik, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: OOKPIK. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!
Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:
*A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
your personal visit.
* Certificate of Adoption
* Color photo of the bird you've adopted
* Sponsorship Card
* One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
* Life History and Natural History of the bird
* 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
* Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
* Discounts on WBS Special Events
* WBS Decal
Natural History
Snowy Owl
Nyctea scandiaca
Description large, diurnal, white owl with a rounded head; yellow eyes and black bill; feet heavily feathered; overall plumage variably barred or speckled with thin, black, horizontal bars or spots; adult males almost pure white; adult females distinctly barred throughout with four to six tail bands; juveniles uniformly brown with scattered white tips of down
Sex: females somewhat larger than males
Age: to 9.5 years in the wild; up to 35 years in captivity;
Length: 20-27”
Wingspan: 54-65’
Weight: 2.5 – 4.5 lbs.
Habitat: the Arctic tundra or open grasslands and fields; windswept tundra when wintering in the Arctic; agricultural areas at more southerly lattitudes
Status: locally abundant during good lemming years; rare at some locations during low lemming years
Range: Arctic regions of the old and new worlds; highly nomadic, depending on the lemming and vole population; cyclical appearance in southern Canada and northern U.S. approximately every 3-5 years coinciding with lemming population crashes
,
Behavior: courtship behavior includes aerial displays and ground displays, including feeding the female; nests almost exclusively on the ground; nests lined with vegetation and Owl feathers; breeding in May; 5 to as many as 14 eggs are laid, depending on lemming availability; female incubates; eggs hatch in 32-34 days; young leave the nest after 25 days; fledge at 50-60 days; both parents feed young
Diet: mostly lemmings and voles; opportunistic and known to take prey ranging in size from small mammals and birds up to and including snowshoe hares; adult owl may eat around 3-5 lemmings per day
Vocalization: virtually silent during non-breeding season; during breeding the male has a loud booming “hoo, hoo”; females rarely hoot; the attack call is a gutteral “kruff-guh-guh-guk”; when excited it emits a loud “hooo-uh, hooo-uh, hooo-uh, wuh-whu-wuh”
√ A Snowy Owl family may eat up to 1500 lemmings during one nesting season
√ Recent reports indicate these birds are being illegally killed for their eyes and feet, which are traded in Asian markets.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Special guest appearances...
People aren't the only animals to visit the sanctuary! Lately, we've had a pair of bald eagles hanging around. Our volunteer, Daniel, took some pictures of them sitting in a tree. As you can see, one of them is a juvenile and hasn't yet molted into the adult's bold white head:
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Adopt-a-bird spotlight: Tundra (Snowy Owl)
Tundra’s StorySpecies: Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiaca
Hatched: Unknown
Tundra came to us from a rehabilitation facility in upstate New York in 2005. She had suffered a wing injury due to a vehicle collision. Because of the severe damage she sustained, her wing had to be amputated. When we received her she also had severe foot problems, and received intensive treatment at our on-site rehab facility for almost a year to clear up the problem.
Tundra is currently on winter display in one of the large enclosures on the upper trail at the World Bird Sanctuary’s headquarters in Valley Park, MO. She is being housed with Ookpik, a handsome male Snowy Owl. They seem to be getting along well, and we hope that they will mate and produce young. Only time will tell. To see information on the natural history of Snowy Owls, please see below.
To adopt Tundra, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $100, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: TUNDRA. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!
Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:
*A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
your personal visit.
* Certificate of Adoption
* Color photo of the bird you've adopted
* Sponsorship Card
* One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
* Life History and Natural History of the bird
* 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
* Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
* Discounts on WBS Special Events
* WBS Decal
Natural History
Snowy Owl
Nyctea scandiaca
Description: large, diurnal, white owl with a rounded head; yellow eyes and black bill; feet heavily feathered; overall plumage variably barred or speckled with thin, black, horizontal bars or spots; adult males almost pure white; adult females distinctly barred throughout with four to six tail bands; juveniles uniformly brown with scattered white tips of down
Sex: females somewhat larger than males
Age: to 9.5 years in the wild; up to 35 years in captivity;
Length: 20-27”
Wingspan: 54-65''
Weight: 2.5 – 4.5 lbs.
Habitat: the Arctic tundra or open grasslands and fields; windswept tundra when wintering in the Arctic; agricultural areas at more southerly lattitudes
Status: locally abundant during good lemming years; rare at some locations during low lemming years
Range: Arctic regions of the old and new worlds; highly nomadic, depending on the lemming and vole population; cyclical appearance in southern Canada and northern U.S. approximately every 3-5 years coinciding with lemming population crashes
Behavior: courtship behavior includes aerial displays and ground displays, including feeding the female; nests almost exclusively on the ground; nests lined with vegetation and Owl feathers; breeding in May; 5 to as many as 14 eggs are laid, depending on lemming availability; female incubates; eggs hatch in 32-34 days; young leave the nest after 25 days; fledge at 50-60 days; both parents feed young
Diet: mostly lemmings and voles; opportunistic and known to take prey ranging in size from small mammals and birds up to and including snowshoe hares; adult owl may eat around 3-5 lemmings per day.
Vocalization: virtually silent during non-breeding season; during breeding the male has a loud booming “hoo, hoo”; females rarely hoot; the attack call is a gutteral “kruff-guh-guh-guk”; when excited it emits a loud “hooo-uh, hooo-uh, hooo-uh, wuh-whu-wuh”
√ A Snowy Owl family may eat up to 1500 lemmings during one nesting season.
√ Recent reports indicate these birds are being illegally killed for their eyes and feet, which are traded in Asian markets.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Barn owls: they work hard; they play hard.
As with humans, play is an important part of an animal's development into adulthood. Our first clutch of barn owls have been busy "hunting" in the nursery. As you can see from these two videos, they like wiffle balls and a stuffed mouse. They also enjoy attacking towels. But then, who doesn't?
Monday, March 31, 2008
Adopt A Bird spotlight: Lewis
Lewis's Story
Species: Bald Eagle
Hatched: Spring 2002
Lewis was wild hatched in Washington state. At a very young age he fell out of his nest tree, injuring his hip and leg. He was brought in to a rehabilitation center in Washington, where he received intensive treatment for his injuries over an extended period of time. Though he survived his injuries, he did not regain full use of his foot and would not be able to survive in the wild.
Lewis arrived at the World Bird Sanctuary at the age of one year and, after careful training, has become a well known ambassador for his species. If you are a Cardinals baseball fan, you have probably seen Lewis at one of the Cardinals games. He is the majestic bird that flies to the pitcher's mound after the National Anthem. Lewis has performed at countless other special events and is a favorite of many of our visitors. If you'd like to see Lewis in action, check out the post from March 12th, which includes a video of Lewis practicing his flight!
To adopt Lewis, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: LEWIS. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!
Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Description: large; white head, neck and tail; brown-black body; massive yellow bill and feet
Sex: males and females are similar but females are larger
Age: juveniles are mostly dark brown with white blotches underneath and on the wing linings; become more white each molt; gain adult plumage after 4-5 years; immature calls are generally harsher
Length: 31-37”
Wingspan: 5.8-7.5’
Weight: 8-14 lbs.
Habitat: rivers, lakes, coastal areas
Status: seen across most of North America; common in Alaska, parts of Florida and in the Midwest during winter months; common along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in winter; became endangered in the 70s from pesticides; conservation programs and pesticide banning helped increase populations again
Range: Alaska and Canada to the southern United States
Behavior: monogamous pairs; breed April-August and build a stick nest as high as 150 feet above the ground, usually in a tree or on cliffs near water; renovate and add to their nest each year until it falls; 1 brood with 1-3 dull, whitish eggs; both parents incubate for 34-36 days until semi-altricial chicks hatch asynchronously; chicks leave nest at 10 weeks; large numbers of bald eagles often congregate where food is plentiful, like spawning ruts; will steal food from smaller and weaker osprey; fly low after prey
Diet: carrion, fish, waterfowl, birds, small mammals
Vocalization: sharp, pleading, creaking cackle; “kleek-kik-ik-ik-ik”; lower “kak-kak-kak”
√ The bald eagle has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782
Hatched: Spring 2002
Lewis was wild hatched in Washington state. At a very young age he fell out of his nest tree, injuring his hip and leg. He was brought in to a rehabilitation center in Washington, where he received intensive treatment for his injuries over an extended period of time. Though he survived his injuries, he did not regain full use of his foot and would not be able to survive in the wild.
Lewis arrived at the World Bird Sanctuary at the age of one year and, after careful training, has become a well known ambassador for his species. If you are a Cardinals baseball fan, you have probably seen Lewis at one of the Cardinals games. He is the majestic bird that flies to the pitcher's mound after the National Anthem. Lewis has performed at countless other special events and is a favorite of many of our visitors. If you'd like to see Lewis in action, check out the post from March 12th, which includes a video of Lewis practicing his flight!
To adopt Lewis, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $150, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: LEWIS. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!
Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:
- *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for
- your personal visit.
- * Certificate of Adoption
- * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
- * Sponsorship Card
- * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
- * Life History and Natural History of the bird
- * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
- * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
- * Discounts on WBS Special Events
- * WBS Decal
Natural History
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Description: large; white head, neck and tail; brown-black body; massive yellow bill and feet
Sex: males and females are similar but females are larger
Age: juveniles are mostly dark brown with white blotches underneath and on the wing linings; become more white each molt; gain adult plumage after 4-5 years; immature calls are generally harsher
Length: 31-37”
Wingspan: 5.8-7.5’
Weight: 8-14 lbs.
Habitat: rivers, lakes, coastal areas
Status: seen across most of North America; common in Alaska, parts of Florida and in the Midwest during winter months; common along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers in winter; became endangered in the 70s from pesticides; conservation programs and pesticide banning helped increase populations again
Range: Alaska and Canada to the southern United States
Behavior: monogamous pairs; breed April-August and build a stick nest as high as 150 feet above the ground, usually in a tree or on cliffs near water; renovate and add to their nest each year until it falls; 1 brood with 1-3 dull, whitish eggs; both parents incubate for 34-36 days until semi-altricial chicks hatch asynchronously; chicks leave nest at 10 weeks; large numbers of bald eagles often congregate where food is plentiful, like spawning ruts; will steal food from smaller and weaker osprey; fly low after prey
Diet: carrion, fish, waterfowl, birds, small mammals
Vocalization: sharp, pleading, creaking cackle; “kleek-kik-ik-ik-ik”; lower “kak-kak-kak”
√ The bald eagle has been the national symbol of the United States since 1782
Monday morning haiku...
Today’s poem was inspired by Tema, our sometimes alarmingly intelligent Augur Buzzard.
Tema: the happy
Captain of the sunshine squad
Showcasing talons.
For more information on augur buzzards, see the March 5, 2008 post and video.
Tema: the happy
Captain of the sunshine squad
Showcasing talons.
For more information on augur buzzards, see the March 5, 2008 post and video.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
How they grow…
Tawny Owl
Family Strigidae, Strix aluco
Tawny owls are medium sized owls found in Europe and Asia. They prefer to live in woods and open areas with large trees for perching. Their call is the famous "to-Wit, to-Woo."
With the loss of much of their rural habitat, tawny owls are moving into cities and suburbs. Their hunting techniques have changed with their new environment. One new technique involves landing on a branch and then slowly walking sideways along the limb until it is next to a sleeping songbird. One quick snatch, and the owl has a meal! Pretty sneaky…
These pictures chart the growth of tawny owl chicks from 7 to 64 days. They were taken by our friend and photographer Gay Schroer. Hmm…which is cuter, the tawny owl or the Eurasian eagle owl? (see post: March 23rd )
7 days
30 days
43 days
58 days
64 days
Family Strigidae, Strix aluco
Tawny owls are medium sized owls found in Europe and Asia. They prefer to live in woods and open areas with large trees for perching. Their call is the famous "to-Wit, to-Woo."
With the loss of much of their rural habitat, tawny owls are moving into cities and suburbs. Their hunting techniques have changed with their new environment. One new technique involves landing on a branch and then slowly walking sideways along the limb until it is next to a sleeping songbird. One quick snatch, and the owl has a meal! Pretty sneaky…
These pictures chart the growth of tawny owl chicks from 7 to 64 days. They were taken by our friend and photographer Gay Schroer. Hmm…which is cuter, the tawny owl or the Eurasian eagle owl? (see post: March 23rd )
7 days
30 days
43 days
58 days
64 daysSaturday, March 29, 2008
Adopt A Bird spotlight: Aspen
Starting today, I’ll be featuring a bird from our "Adopt-a-bird" program. Each post will include the individual bird’s story and a natural history of the species. Adopt-a-bird is a fun way to donate to the sanctuary. Every donation helps to feed, house, and provide medical care for the bird of your choice! Adopt-A-Bird Parents Receive:
* * Certificate of Adoption
* * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
* * Sponsorship Card
* * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
* * Life History and Natural History of the bird
* * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
* * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
* * Discounts on WBS Special Events
* * WBS Decal
* *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for your personal visit.
To adopt today’s bird, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $50, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: ASPEN. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!
Aspen’s story
Species: Northern Saw-whet Owl
Age: Unknown
Aspen was brought to our Rehabilitation Hospital after sustaining injuries due to a vehicle collision in the Hillsboro area. She had severe injuries to her right wing and shoulder. After three months of intensive treatment she was again healthy, but unable to fully extend her injured right wing. Because of this, she is unreleasable. It was decided that even though she can’t be returned to the wild, she can be a spokesbird for her species at the World Bird Sanctuary’s Office of Wildlife Learning. Though people have begun referring to Aspen as female, we do not really know the sex. The only way we can be certain is if we have the bird surgically sexed or if an egg is laid.
Because Aspen was already fully mature when we received her, she is still wary of humans, and is being allowed to slowly acclimate to the humans she will encounter as a display bird. If you visit Aspen in the near future, you will notice that she has a partial privacy screen around her enclosure so that, if she is feeling stressed by too much human contact, she can retreat to an area where she feels comfortable. The adoption donation for Aspen is $50.00.
Aegolius acadicus
Description: very small, short-bodied owl; relatively short tail; overly large head has no ear tufts; facial disk has brownish and whitish radials around the edge, which fade to a whitish area around the eyes; a dark area from the base of the bill extends to the bottom inside edge of each eye; rest of the head is brownish to grey-brown densely covered with white streaks, especially on the forehead; eyes are large and bright yellow-orange; bill is black; fluffy plumage is brownish overall, streaked with white underneath and spotted on the back; flight feathers are spotted white; legs and feet are light buff and heavily feathered; toes are lightly feathered; claws are dark horn with blackish tips;
Sex: females slightly larger than males, otherwise identical in appearance
Age: 8 years in captivity; high mortality in the wild
Length: 6.7-8.6” Wingspan: 18-22” Weight: 2.6-3.9 oz.
Habitat: coniferous and deciduous forests with thickets of second-growth or shrubs; breeding habitat usually swampy or wet
Status: not endangered; locally frequent
Range: southeast Alaska to Mexico in the west; from the west coast of southern Canada to the east coast of the northern U.S.; winter range covers most of the Midwestern U.S. from the Rockies to the east coast;
Behavior: strictly nocturnal; roost in foliage during the day, usually close to the ground; flight is rapid, woodpecker-like, and undulating; pair bonds are not believed to be permanent; males stake out territory in late March-April; once a female has been attracted, he will fly in circles above her while calling; then he begins a complex series of bobbing and shuffling; he may offer her a mouse; nests are usually in old woodpecker cavities; nesting occurs between March-July; clutch size ranges from 3-7 eggs; female does all the incubation; young fledge at 4-5 weeks and are cared for by parents for some weeks; sexually mature at 9-10 months.
Diet: feed almost entirely on mammals, primarily mice, shrews and voles; other prey may include squirrels, moles, bats, small birds, and occasionally frogs and insects;
Vocalization: vocalizes during breeding season only; courtship call is a monotonous, whistled “hoop”, emitted at about 1.5 notes per second; this owl’s name comes from the “skiew” call made when alarmed; when the male flies to the nest with food it gives a rapid staccato burst of toots, and female answers with a soft “swEE”
* * Certificate of Adoption
* * Color photo of the bird you've adopted
* * Sponsorship Card
* * One year's subscription to Mews News (our quarterly newsletter)
* * Life History and Natural History of the bird
* * 10% Discount off WBS merchandise
* * Invitation to Sponsors-only events like Camera Day
* * Discounts on WBS Special Events
* * WBS Decal
* *A personal visit with the bird you adopt!!!!! Call 636-861-3225 to set up a time for your personal visit.
To adopt today’s bird, simply click our donation button, make a donation of $50, and specify in your payment notes: Adopt-a-bird: ASPEN. Also include your name, phone number, and mailing address so that we can send you your adoption materials!
Aspen’s storyAge: Unknown
Aspen was brought to our Rehabilitation Hospital after sustaining injuries due to a vehicle collision in the Hillsboro area. She had severe injuries to her right wing and shoulder. After three months of intensive treatment she was again healthy, but unable to fully extend her injured right wing. Because of this, she is unreleasable. It was decided that even though she can’t be returned to the wild, she can be a spokesbird for her species at the World Bird Sanctuary’s Office of Wildlife Learning. Though people have begun referring to Aspen as female, we do not really know the sex. The only way we can be certain is if we have the bird surgically sexed or if an egg is laid.
Because Aspen was already fully mature when we received her, she is still wary of humans, and is being allowed to slowly acclimate to the humans she will encounter as a display bird. If you visit Aspen in the near future, you will notice that she has a partial privacy screen around her enclosure so that, if she is feeling stressed by too much human contact, she can retreat to an area where she feels comfortable. The adoption donation for Aspen is $50.00.
Natural History
Northern Saw-whet OwlAegolius acadicus
Description: very small, short-bodied owl; relatively short tail; overly large head has no ear tufts; facial disk has brownish and whitish radials around the edge, which fade to a whitish area around the eyes; a dark area from the base of the bill extends to the bottom inside edge of each eye; rest of the head is brownish to grey-brown densely covered with white streaks, especially on the forehead; eyes are large and bright yellow-orange; bill is black; fluffy plumage is brownish overall, streaked with white underneath and spotted on the back; flight feathers are spotted white; legs and feet are light buff and heavily feathered; toes are lightly feathered; claws are dark horn with blackish tips;
Sex: females slightly larger than males, otherwise identical in appearance
Age: 8 years in captivity; high mortality in the wild
Length: 6.7-8.6” Wingspan: 18-22” Weight: 2.6-3.9 oz.
Habitat: coniferous and deciduous forests with thickets of second-growth or shrubs; breeding habitat usually swampy or wet
Status: not endangered; locally frequent
Range: southeast Alaska to Mexico in the west; from the west coast of southern Canada to the east coast of the northern U.S.; winter range covers most of the Midwestern U.S. from the Rockies to the east coast;
Behavior: strictly nocturnal; roost in foliage during the day, usually close to the ground; flight is rapid, woodpecker-like, and undulating; pair bonds are not believed to be permanent; males stake out territory in late March-April; once a female has been attracted, he will fly in circles above her while calling; then he begins a complex series of bobbing and shuffling; he may offer her a mouse; nests are usually in old woodpecker cavities; nesting occurs between March-July; clutch size ranges from 3-7 eggs; female does all the incubation; young fledge at 4-5 weeks and are cared for by parents for some weeks; sexually mature at 9-10 months.
Diet: feed almost entirely on mammals, primarily mice, shrews and voles; other prey may include squirrels, moles, bats, small birds, and occasionally frogs and insects;
Vocalization: vocalizes during breeding season only; courtship call is a monotonous, whistled “hoop”, emitted at about 1.5 notes per second; this owl’s name comes from the “skiew” call made when alarmed; when the male flies to the nest with food it gives a rapid staccato burst of toots, and female answers with a soft “swEE”
Friday, March 28, 2008
Molting in Songbirds
Today's post is written and photographed by our volunteer, Daniel. Thanks Daniel!
Molting is a complex procedure that all birds go through at various
times in their lives. It’s the process of shedding damaged or dull
feathers, to be replaced with feathers appropriate to the time of
year and the sex of the bird. At the beginning of breeding season,
the males of some species of songbirds go through a large molt into
their breeding plumage. They do this to compete with other males of
the same species for possible mates. American Goldfinches,
Bobolinks, Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers, and most warblers, are
the most well known for their drastic color changes.
Here is a series of pictures showing the molting process of male
American Goldfinches into breeding plumage. These pictures were
taken over this past winter in my backyard.
For further reading on molting, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
web site at www.birds.cornell.edu
Molting is a complex procedure that all birds go through at various
times in their lives. It’s the process of shedding damaged or dull
feathers, to be replaced with feathers appropriate to the time of
year and the sex of the bird. At the beginning of breeding season,
the males of some species of songbirds go through a large molt into
their breeding plumage. They do this to compete with other males of
the same species for possible mates. American Goldfinches,
Bobolinks, Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers, and most warblers, are
the most well known for their drastic color changes.
Here is a series of pictures showing the molting process of male
American Goldfinches into breeding plumage. These pictures were
taken over this past winter in my backyard.
For further reading on molting, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
web site at www.birds.cornell.edu
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Who's on eggs...again?
This video, recorded on March 26, 2008 during a nest box check, shows that our barn owls are at it again! We left some of the babies with Athena and Sonar, but they have started a second clutch anyway. Here are the older babies and Athena's 6 new eggs:
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
How they grow...African Pied Crow
Family Corvidae, Corvus albus
This crow is about the same size as our American Crow, but their black and white coloring makes them distinct. Like their raven relatives, pied crows can be very playful. An acquaintance from Zimbabwe once told me that he enjoyed watching them slide down windshields in a parking lot where he worked. They would fly back up to the top of the car and do it again and again. Pied crows love attention and make wonderful education birds. They can learn to mimic up to 100 human words and 5 phrases!
The following pictures record the growth of a pied crow from 7 to 28 days. They were taken by our friend and photographer Gay Schroer. For me, they fall into the “so ugly they are cute” category.
7 days
22 days
28 days
28 days
This crow is about the same size as our American Crow, but their black and white coloring makes them distinct. Like their raven relatives, pied crows can be very playful. An acquaintance from Zimbabwe once told me that he enjoyed watching them slide down windshields in a parking lot where he worked. They would fly back up to the top of the car and do it again and again. Pied crows love attention and make wonderful education birds. They can learn to mimic up to 100 human words and 5 phrases!
The following pictures record the growth of a pied crow from 7 to 28 days. They were taken by our friend and photographer Gay Schroer. For me, they fall into the “so ugly they are cute” category.
7 days
22 days
28 days
28 daysTuesday, March 25, 2008
More spring cleaning...
White-naped Raven
Family Corvidae, Corvus albicollis
At 20 inches tall with a 3 foot wingspan, the white-naped (sometimes known as white-necked) raven is a large bird. In their native region of Africa (eastern edge of the continent from South Africa to Zaire), they are often mistaken for hawks. Like ravens worldwide, they are famous for their intelligence and frequently found playing the role of "trickster" in native mythology.
White-naped ravens are social birds. In non-breeding season, they form flocks of up to 150 members. A group of ravens is known as an "unkindness," a "constable," or a "conspiracy." The singular raven in this video is know as Mischief, Slayer of Broom.
Sorry for the shaking. I am trying to sweep, film, and maintain broom-control all at the same time!
Family Corvidae, Corvus albicollis
At 20 inches tall with a 3 foot wingspan, the white-naped (sometimes known as white-necked) raven is a large bird. In their native region of Africa (eastern edge of the continent from South Africa to Zaire), they are often mistaken for hawks. Like ravens worldwide, they are famous for their intelligence and frequently found playing the role of "trickster" in native mythology.
White-naped ravens are social birds. In non-breeding season, they form flocks of up to 150 members. A group of ravens is known as an "unkindness," a "constable," or a "conspiracy." The singular raven in this video is know as Mischief, Slayer of Broom.
Sorry for the shaking. I am trying to sweep, film, and maintain broom-control all at the same time!
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