Ending the Year

Well, it's been ages, so I might as well end the year with a bird blog.  I was out walking on the Vallejo waterfront this morning with a friend and spotted this unusual bird in the midst of all the seagulls.  This beak could come in handy for a lot of things...ear cleaning, stabbing stale stollen, knitting...well, use your imagination. 

Marbled Godwit

a large shorebird. On average, it is the largest of the 4 species of godwit. The total length is 40–50 cm (16–20 in), including a large bill of 8–13 cm (3.1–5.1 in), and wingspan is 70–88 cm (28–35 in).^[2] Body mass can vary from 240 to 510 g (8.5 to 18 oz).^[3]
Adults have long blue-grey hairy legs and a very long pink bill with a slight upward curve and dark at the tip. The long neck, breast and belly are pale brown with dark bars on the breast and flanks. The back is mottled and dark. They show cinnamon wing linings in flight.
Their breeding habitat is the northern prairies of western Canada-(Canadian Prairies), and the north central Great Plains, United States near marshes or ponds. They nest on the ground, usually in short grass.
In autumn, they migrate in flocks to the coasts of California, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico and South America.
These birds forage by probing on mudflats, in marshes, or at the beach (see picture below). In short grass, they may pick up insects by sight. They mainly eat insects and crustaceans, but also eat parts of aquatic plants.
Their numbers were reduced by hunting at the end of the 19th century. Although they had recovered somewhat since that time, their population has declined in recent times as suitable habitat is used for farming.

Staycation

Our travel buddy came out from Connecticut and visited for a few days and we did the "show off where you live" thingy.  We had great weather and hit various areas - Pt Reyes, Folsom and Sacramento, and Sonoma.  And, the Giants were soooo kind to let the Mets win since that is C's favorite team.  We had a good time!  So, here's a little info on woodpeckers.  I think this is an acorn woodpecker which is the type from which Woody was created.  We saw it at Sutter's Fort.  I got this information from Wikipedia.

Description

The adult Acorn Woodpecker has a brownish-black head, back, wings and tail, white forehead, throat, belly and rump. The eyes are white. There is a small part on the small of their backs were there are some green feathers. The adult male has a red cap starting at the forehead, whereas females have a black area between the forehead and the cap. The white neck, throat, and forehead patches are distinctive identifiers. When flying, they take a few flaps of their wings and drop a foot or so. White circles on the their wings are visible when in flight. Acorn Woodpeckers have a call that is almost like they are laughing.

Breeding communities

The breeding habitat is forested areas with oaks in the hills of coastal areas and foothills of California and the southwestern United States south to Colombia. This species may occur at low elevations in the north of its range, but rarely below 1000 m in Central America, and it breeds up to the timberline. The breeding pair excavate a nest in a large cavity in a dead tree or a dead part of a tree. A group of adults may participate in nesting activities: Field studies have shown that breeding groups range from monogamous pairs to breeding collectives of seven males and three females, plus up to 10 nonbreeding helpers. Young from a single brood have been found with multiple paternity.^[1]

Male Acorn Woodpecker with "Granary Tree" full of acorns

Acorn hoarded by Acorn Woodpecker

Food and homes

Acorn woodpeckers, as their name implies, depend heavily on acorns for food. In some parts of their range (e.g., California), the woodpeckers create granaries or "acorn trees" by drilling holes in dead trees, dead branches, telephone poles, and wooden buildings. The woodpeckers then collect acorns and find a hole that is just the right size for the acorn. As acorns dry out, they are moved to smaller holes and granary maintenance requires a significant amount of the bird's time. They also feed on insects, sap, and fruit.

Defense and storing

The acorns are visible, and the group defends the tree against potential cache robbers like Steller's Jays and Western Scrub Jays. Acorns are such an important resource to the California populations that Acorn Woodpeckers may nest in the fall to take advantage of the fall acorn crop, a rare behavior in birds.^[2] Acorn Woodpeckers can also be seen sallying from tree limbs to catch insects, eating fruit and seeds, and drilling holes to drink sap. The Acorn Woodpecker will use any human-made structures to store acorns, drilling holes into fence posts, utility poles, buildings, and even automobile radiators. Occasionally the woodpecker will put acorns into places where it cannot get them out. Woodpeckers put 220 kg (490 lb) of acorns into a wooden water tank in Arizona. In parts of its range the Acorn Woodpecker does not construct a "granary tree", but instead stores acorns in natural holes and cracks in bark. If the stores are eaten, the woodpecker will move to another area, even going from Arizona to Mexico to spend the winter.

Breeding behavior

In California, Acorn Woodpeckers breed from May–July. An Acorn Woodpecker group may consist of 1–7 male breeders that compete to mate with 1–3 females. The nest is excavated in a large tree, which may also be a granary tree. Tree cavities are created in both dead and living trees and snags and nest holes are reused for many years. Females typically lay 5 eggs that are incubated for 11–14 days. Male and females incubate and tend to their young. Non-breeding helpers (young from previous years) often help with incubation and other parental duties. The young leave the nest and take their first flight at approximately 30–32 days after hatching and return to the nest to be fed for several weeks.

Breeding female

In groups with more than one breeding female, the females put their eggs into a single nest cavity. A female usually destroys any eggs in the nest before she starts to lay, and more than one third of all eggs laid in joint nests are destroyed. Once all the females start to lay, they stop removing eggs.
This bird is a permanent resident throughout its range. They may relocate to another area if acorns are not readily available. It is sedentary and very sociable.

Threats and degradation

Female bathing in California, USA

Acorn Woodpeckers like many other species are threatened by habitat loss and degradation. Competition for nest cavities by non-native species is an ongoing threat in urbanized areas. Conservation of this species is dependent on the maintenance of functional ecosystems that provide the full range of resources upon which the species depends. These include mature forests with oaks capable of producing large mast crops and places for the woodpeckers to nest, roost, and store mast. Residents are encouraged to preserve mature oak and pine-oak stands of trees and to provide dead limbs and snags for nesting, roosting, and granary sites to help preserve the Acorn Woodpecker's population.

Popular culture

Walter Lantz is believed to have patterned the call of his cartoon character Woody Woodpecker on that of the acorn woodpecker, while patterning his appearance on that of the Pileated Woodpecker which has a prominent crest.^[3]

California Quail

We went to visit K's aunt today and there was a quail family out in the patio area.  The babies were like little wisps running and tumbling so quickly I could not get a picture of them.  It was a beautiful day and felt good to willow the hours away.  The last few days have been spent cleaning and organizing in the classroom and the school dreams have returned.
The California Quail is a handsome, round soccer ball of a bird with a rich gray breast, intricately scaled underparts, and a curious, forward-drooping head plume. Its stiffly accented Chi-ca-go call is a common sound of the chaparral and other brushy areas of California and the Northwest. Often seen scratching at the ground in large groups or dashing forward on blurred legs, California Quail are common but unobtrusive. They flush to cover if scared, so approach them gently. 

Keys to identification Help

Gamebirds

Typical Voice

• Size & Shape

  California Quail are plump, short-necked game birds with a small head and bill. They fly on short, very broad wings. The tail is fairly long and square. Both sexes have a comma-shaped topknot of feathers projecting forward from the forehead, longer in males than females.
  

• Color Pattern

  Adult males are rich gray and brown, with a black face outlined with bold white stripes. Females are a plainer brown and lack the facial markings. Both sexes have a pattern of white, creamy, and chestnut scales on the belly. Young birds look like females but have a shorter topknot.
  

• Behavior

  California Quail spend most of their time on the ground, walking and scratching in search of food. In morning and evening they forage beneath shrubs or on open ground near cover. They usually travel in groups called coveys. Their flight is explosive but lasts just long enough to reach cover.
  

• Habitat

  You’ll find California Quail in chaparral, sagebrush, oak woodlands, and foothill forests of California and the Northwest. They’re quite tolerant of people and can be common in city parks, suburban gardens, and agricultural areas.
  

Nesting

I've been staying home and nesting that's why this week's bird is a weaver bird.  Check out its nest.  This might be a baby.  Anyway the carpet is on order and I'm catching up on housework, gardening, and getting together with friends... and it feels good.  This was taken in Tanzania.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7972777536386580318#editor/target=post;postID=8823623840003362140

The Rufous-tailed Weaver (Histurgops ruficaudus) is an East African songbird. Despite its name, it is placed the Old World sparrow family (Passeridae).
It is a quite unusual sparrow species, and was included in the weaverbird family (Ploceidae) by many authors even after the other Old World sparrows were separated from the weaverbirds proper, hence its common name. Due to its distant position among the Old World sparrows, it is placed in the monotypic genus Histurgops.^{[citation needed]}
It is an endemic breeder in Tanzania, but vagrants occur in Kenya too.

Speke's Weaver (Ploceus spekei) is a familiar East African songbird.

Immature male, Serengeti NP, Tanzania

The eyes are pale and the bill is on the large side for a weaver. Unlike many weavers, it has the same plumage all year. The adult male is yellow with black throat (edged rusty), face, and bill, and variable black mottling on the back. The adult female's upperparts are dull olive-gray with dusky brown streaks; the underparts are pale yellow, whiter on the belly and grayer on the flanks. The juvenile is similar but duller.^[1]
The song is variable; one version is transcribed as "pew…pew…tew, chinkichi-chewchew-skerinkitsitew. Calls include harsh chatter at the nest and "a sharp tseep!" ^[1]
This species nests in colonies or occasionally singly. The nest, often woven in an acacia, is spherical with a short entrance tube opening sideways or downward. Many grass stems project sloppily, sometimes obscuring the shape.^[1] It nests in both the short rainy season and the middle of the long rainy season. Typical clutches comprise four eggs, which are unmarked deep blue, somewhat pointed at both ends, 24 to 26 mm long and 15 to 17 mm wide.^[2]
Speke's Weaver is found in northern and eastern Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya (mostly the central highlands), and northeastern Tanzania.^[3] It inhabits savanna, bush, agricultural land, and towns.^[1] In parts of its range it is common,^[1] notably the densely populated area of Nairobi and environs, where it visits bird feeders.^[3]
This bird was named in honor of John Speke.^[4]

The U. S. Capital and its bird

It's hard to believe we were going to choose the turkey over this distinguished looking
bird.  This is a serious looking creature.  It says don't mess around with me - I am very proud.  I was lucky to get to visit our nation's capital this summer and help make decisions on what we would like our National Education Association to do and endorse this coming year.  I was a part of 11,000 delegates from all over our country listening to debate and making decisions.  I learned first hand how a caucus works.  We also had people come talk to us - the Vice President and his wife, the Teacher of the Year, and even President Obama via phone.  It was 10-12 hour days with fun activities in the evenings.  I even got to see the 4th of July fireworks over the Capitol.  What an experience!  Well, on to some information about eagles.  I actually took this picture in Ft. Collins, Co.

Description

Eagles are large, powerfully built birds of prey, with a heavy head and beak. Even the smallest eagles, like the Booted Eagle (Aquila pennata) (which is comparable in size to a Common Buzzard(Buteo buteo) or Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis)), have relatively longer and more evenly broad wings, and more direct, faster flight. (Despite reduced size in aerodynamic feathers) Most eagles are larger than any other raptors apart from some vultures. The smallest species called eagle is the South Nicobar Serpent Eagle (Spilornis klossi), at 450 g (1 lb) and 40 cm (16 in). The largest species are discussed below. Like all birds of prey, eagles have very large hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong muscular legs, and powerful talons. The beak is typically heavier than most other birds of prey. They also have extremely keen eyesight (up to 3.6 times human acuity for the martial eagle) which enables them to spot potential prey from a very long distance.^[2] This keen eyesight is primarily contributed by their extremely large pupils which ensure minimal diffraction (scattering) of the incoming light. The female of all species of eagle known are larger than the male.^[3][4]
Eagles normally build their nests, called eyries, in tall trees or on high cliffs. Many species lay two eggs, but the older, larger chick frequently kills its younger sibling once it has hatched. The dominant chick tends to be the female, as they are bigger than the male. The parents take no action to stop the killing.^[5][6]
Among the eagles are some of the largest birds of prey: only the condors and some of the Old World vultures are larger. It is regularly debated which could be considered the largest species of eagle. They could be measured variously in total length, body mass or wingspan. Different lifestyle needs among various eagles result in variable measurements from species to species. For example, many forest-dwelling eagles, including the very large Harpy and Philippine Eagles, have relatively short wingspans, a feature necessary for being able to maneuver in quick, short bursts through dense forested habitats.^[7] On the other hand, eagles in the genus Aquila are found almost strictly in open country, are superlative soarers, and have relatively long wings for their size.^[7]
Here are lists of the top five eagles going on weight, length and, lastly, wingspan. Unless otherwise noted via reference, the figures listed are the median reported for each measurement in the guide Raptors of the World (Ferguson-Lees, et al.), in which only measurements that could be personally verified by the authors were listed.^{[7]
This information comes from Wikipedia and, of course, we know this is a bald eagle.}

Uniting in Utah

It had been far too long since seeing K's brother and sister-in-law.  This reunion was long overdue.  We had the best time.  They are fantastic hosts and can't wait to get together again.  Here's another reason to put on the side of reasons to retire.  The picture of the bird seems to be saying "what are you waiting for?"

he Western Scrub Jay is found in the west, from Washington and Montana all the way south into Mexico. They are non-migratory and often found in urban areas where they frequent our home bird feeders. They feed on small animals, bird eggs, young of other birds, insects, as well as nuts and berries in winter time. Western Scrub Jays inhabit areas of low scrub and brush, pinion and juniper forests, stands of mesquite and oak. They are known to hoard and bury or hide their food for future hard times.

Colorado Country

This was taken on our way to a bird sanctuary. People see geese often, but I thought these were striking, and having read The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White, I have a curiosity about what kind of geese these are.  We had a terrific time visiting our kids in Ft. Collins.  We took a hike in the Rockies in which I got beautiful butterfly pictures (no birds), but learned how to use my camera more effectively thanks to Snark.  We played games every night, went downtown for food and music one evening, and shared an enchanting evening with some of their friends over a bar-b-cue in the backyard.  I can't leave out the wonderful walks with veggie dog and getting the garden growing.  Oh the zucs and tomatoes that must be ripening as I write!

The Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is a wild goose with a black head and neck, white patches on the face, and a brownish-gray body. Native to arctic and temperate regions of North America, it is occasionally found in northern Europe, and has been introduced to other temperate regions.

 

Latin: Branta canadensis
Average length: M 25-45 inches
Average weight: M 3-13 lbs., F 3-11 lbs.

Description: Both sexes of Canada geese have a black head and neck except for broad white cheek patches extending from the throat to the rear of the eye. The female of a breeding pair is often smaller. The breast, abdomen and flanks range in coloring from a light gray to a dark chocolate brown, either blending into the black neck or being separated from it by a white collar. The back and scapulars are darker brown, the rump is blackish and the tail is blackish-brown with a U-shaped white band on the rump. The bill, legs and feet are black. Most subspecies are uniformly large and pale and exhibit the characteristic "honking" call.
There are 7 recognized subspecies of Canada geese: Atlantic, Hudson Bay or Interior, Giant, Moffitt's or Great Basin, Lesser, Dusky and Vancouver. In general, the subspecies nesting farther north are smaller in size and darker in color to the west. The Giant Canada goose is the largest goose in the world, with some individuals weighing more than 20 pounds. They can also be long-lived, with a banded Giant Canada goose at 30 years and 4 months currently holding the longevity record for waterfowl. David Sibley has developed an informative webpage that can assist in subspecies identification for Canada geese. Also, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has a helpful field guide (PDF) to identify Cackling and Canada geese.

Packin' my bags - headin' out

This picture tells the whole story - I'm outta here.  Off to visit family.  Well, there's a few things to accomplish yet, but the feeling is there. I've already blogged about storks and pelicans.  I believe this one is a pelican.  I still get them mixed up.  This was taken is the Caribbean.  Apparently the brown pelican is also in the Caribbean.   Let me learn something more:

Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus, 1766

Length 106–137 cm (42–54 in), wingspan 1.83-2.5 m (6–8 ft), weight 2.75-5.5 kg (6-12 lb). Smallest pelican; distinguished by brown plumage; feeds by plunge-diving.

Five subspecies. Coastal distribution ranging from North America and Caribbean to northern South America and Galapagos. Status: Least Concern.

Fast Facts

Type:

Bird

Diet:

Carnivore

Average life span in the wild:

10 to 25 years or more

Size:

Body, 5.8 ft (1.8 m); wingspan, 10 ft (3 m)

Weight:

30 lbs (13 kg)

Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man

There are more than half a dozen species of pelicans, but all of them have the famous throat pouch for which the birds are best known. These large birds use their elastic pouches to catch fish—though different species use it in different ways.
Many pelicans fish by swimming in cooperative groups. They may form a line or a "U" shape and drive fish into shallow water by beating their wings on the surface. When fish congregate in the shallows, the pelicans simply scoop them up. The brown pelican, on the other hand, dives on fish (usually a type of herring called menhaden) from above and snares them in its bill. Pelicans do not store fish in their pouch, but simply use it to catch them and then tip it back to drain out water and swallow the fish immediately. The American white pelican can hold some 3 gallons (11 1/2 liters) of water in its bill. Young pelicans feed by sticking their bills into their parents' throats to retrieve food.
Pelicans are found on many of the world's coastlines and also along lakes and rivers. They are social birds and typically travel in flocks, often strung out in a line. They also breed in groups called colonies, which typically gather on islands.
In North America, the brown pelican is endangered, but populations are recovering to some extent. The sea birds were devastated by chemical pesticides, such as DDT, which damaged the eggs of pelicans and many other species.

 

A Day In Redding, CA

K and I spent the weekend visiting our son and daughter-in-law.  The weather was perfect and it  sure was good to see both of them since it had been several months.  We spent Sunday at Turtle Bay  wandering through the Chocolate exhibit and collecting on the free samples at the end of the tour.   yum!  We flew over to the the bird exhibit as our son got a little carried away wheeling his wife  around in the wheelchair.  We braved the cage where apparently all the lorikeets have a sugar  addiction just like we humans.  Hence...my bird of the week.  This feathery friend fell in love  with our son and didn't want to leave him.  We had to practically pry him off.  It was all fun  though.  This is a rainbow lorikeet, I believe.

Lories and lorikeets have specialized brush-tipped tongues for feeding on nectar and soft fruits.  They can feed from the flowers of about 5,000 species of plants and use their specialized tongues  to take the nectar. The tip of their tongues have tufts of papillae (extremely fine hairs), which  collect nectar and pollen.

Lorikeets have tapered wings and pointed tails that allow them to fly easily and display great  agility.[citation needed] They also have strong feet and legs. They tend to be hyperactive and  clownish in personality both in captivity and the wild.[citation needed]

The multi-coloured Rainbow Lorikeet was one of the species of parrots appearing in the first  edition of The Parrots of the World and also in John Gould's lithographs of the Birds of Australia.  Then and now, lories and lorikeets are described[by whom?] as some of the most beautiful species of  parrot.

Saturday Afternoon Get-together

This is the third time I have tried blogging today and lost it.  What is going on?! 

I chose this picture of all the chickens chatting it up at Loma Vista Farm because it reminded of all the humans and other animals I saw out there visiting with each other and having a great time.   The weather could not have been more perfect and a good time was had by all, from the youngest to the eldest.  I saw several friends I hadn't seen for some time and it was great to reconnect.  I also got to know the ladies that I shared the booth with a little.  What a great day.  It was their Spring Festival.  I was helping out at Food Co-op booth.  They are trying to get a food co-operative started here in Vallejo and are looking for people with experience in finance, grants, and grocery, and especially PEOPLE with a little money (not more than $300) to buy ownership so this can happen.  It would be fantastic for the people of Vallejo.  We talked to a lot of interested people which was exciting.  Again, I am overwhelmed with the amount of different breeds of chickens that exist.  Here is some info about a couple of breeds they have at the LV farm:

The Plymouth Rock, often called simply Rocks or Barred Rocks (after their most popular color), is a chicken breed that originated in the United States. The Plymouth Rock is a dual-purpose, cold-hardy bird and therefore makes a great breed for the small farm or backyard flock owner. The Barred Rock is often called the Plymouth Rock, but this title correctly belongs to the entire breed, not just the Barred variety.

Plymouth Rock
A Barred Rock hen as part of a small backyard flock (with eglu in background)
Conservation status	Recovering
Country of origin	USA
Nicknames	Rocks or Barred Rocks
Classification APA American
[show]Traits
Notes
Dual purpose breed
Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)

Famous Hamburgs

Perhaps the most famous devotee of the Hamburg chicken was L. Frank Baum, author of the Oz books. He began a monthly trade journal, Hamburgs, in 1880 and in 1886, published his first and only book on the subject, The Book of the Hamburgs: A Brief Treatise upon the Mating, Rearing, and Management of the Different Varieties of Hamburgs.^[3]
In Baum's third Oz book, Ozma of Oz, he introduces Dorothy Gale's chicken, Billina. He must have drawn on his experience in breeding Hamburgs when creating her character, as she is appropriately spirited and active.

Hamburg
A Silver-Spangled Hamburg Rooster
Conservation status	Watch
Other names	Hamburgh
Country of origin	Holland
Nicknames	Dutch Everyday Layers Everlayers
Classification APA Continental
[show]Traits
Notes
Layer breed
Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus)

 

doves - twin posts

These mourning doves were out to greet me this morning.  Well, really they were interested in eating whatever was out there on the sidewalk.  They were enthusiastically munching away right in front of me when they knew very well that I had to go weigh in at Weight Watchers.  I lost .2 which I am not surprised as I had two difficult days - one being Day of the Teacher in which the union put on a celebration.  I did forego the dessert except for one bite of apple pie.  I know, I know - I have to count every bite, lick, and taste.  Let me put it this way - I'm glad I didn't gain.  This is so difficult!!!  Anywho - I chose the mourning doves because they are closely related to pigeons and I am blogging very closely together - at the end of one week and the beginning of the next.  alls and Songs
Sometimes mistaken for an owl, the male's courtship and territorial call is a series of cooing notes.  It sounds like coah cooo cooo coo.  Both adults give a shorter call like oowa when near the nest.  There is also a whistling twitter when they take off.
Hear Mourning Dove Sound

Range and Habitat

In late fall mourning doves gather in large flocks across nearly all of the United States, and southern Canada.  Many, but not all northern mourning doves migrate south in winter.  They can be found in grasslands, farmlands, open woods, and roadsides.  They are equally at home in backyards with evergreens, fruit trees, and suburban gardens.  In fact they are at home in virtually any habitat.  When you hear talk of a bird for all seasons this is it.

Breeding and Nesting

Mourning doves breed in all 50 states, southern Canada, Alaska, Mexico, and into Panama.  Breeding starts in March and April.

photo by Lee Karney U.S. Wildlife

Courtship starts with the male cooing call while puffing out his throat, and bobbing his tail. The Fish and Wild Life Service actually counts them by listening for this call. Another part of the courtship is the flight of the male. He will fly to around 100 feet then glide back down to the female in large sweeping circles. He will also strut and bow repeatedly in front of the female.  After mating the male vigorously defends the nesting area.  What is unusual is the Morning doves will do most of their feeding outside the nesting area.

The nesting site is often on a tree branch 10 to 25 feet up, and is chosen by the male.  He then gathers sticks, and bring them to the female, landing on her while she sits on the partly built nest.  Although they seem to take great care, their nest is one of the flimsiest of all bird nests.  The eggs can even be seen through the twigs.  Often they will just use old nests from other birds such as robins.

Usually there are two white eggs with both birds taking turns on the nest.  Many nests are lost to bad weather.  In addition doves have many predators such as squirrels, snakes, and other birds.  Both adults will feed the young, and they can leave the nest in 10 to 14 days.hey will have as many as six broods of two chicks each during a season.  This fast reproduction allows them to thrive and spread even with high predation.  Young birds leave the nest in around two weeks and the parents continue to feed them outside the nest for another two weeks.

Food and Feeding

Mourning doves natural foods are a wide variety of wild seeds, grains, and insects.  They often feed on grain in open fields, and croplands.  They will be seen at feeders in larger numbers when the ground is covered in deep snow.

Just as with other songbirds, food, water, and cover will attract them to your backyard.  Stock your feeders with cracked corn, millet, and a variety of other seeds to attract Mourning doves.  Doves are ground feeders, so tray feeders are best.  While many songbirds will scatter when jays or crows arrive, Mourning doves will just ignore them and keep eating.

Water
Birdbaths will attract them, but running or dripping water will draw more birds. You are also likely to get more birds if you have trees, and shrubs for cover.

Pidgeon Power

I never knew there were so many different types of pigeons.  This I believe is the rock pigeon though I don't see the bands of the wings that is talked about on Wikipedia.  I know they have a bad reputation just because there are so many of them everywhere (just like my students). They do have some beautiful coloring, and just like my students, I need to remember to look at the individual and not just the entire group.  That's not often easy (it's hard to see the trees for the forest).  Oh my! I'm full of this as this is what we have been working on in class.  These feathered friends were hanging out at the waterfront this week where I took a walk with my former partner, but still friend - P.  Here are some fun facts about pigeons.

Cool Pigeon Facts

Origins: Pigeons and doves have been around for a long time—long before humans. Rock Doves are thought to have originated in southern Asia several million years ago. Compare this to modern humans that first appeared about 120,000 years ago.
Size and weight: A pigeon is about 13 inches (32 cm) in length from bill to tail and weighs a little less than a pound (0.35 kg). Males are slightly bigger than females.
A pigeon family:

• Hen: an adult female pigeon
• Cock: an adult male pigeon
• Hatchling: a newly hatched pigeon
  just a few days old
• Squab: a young pigeon from 1–30 days old.
  When ready to leave its nest, a squab can sometimes weigh more than its parents.
• Peeper or Squeaker: a young bird that is learning to eat
• Fledgling: a bird that is ready to fly or that has just taken its first flight
• Juvenile: a bird out of its nest and flying but less than eight months old

Nest and roosting sites: A pigeon nest usually is constructed on covered building ledges that resemble cliffs, a Rock Dove’s natural habitat. They also nest and roost on the support structures under bridges in cities and along highways.
Nests: Pigeons build their nests with small twigs. A cock brings the nesting material to his mate, one piece at a time, and she builds the nest. Nests are usually well-hidden and hard to find.

Eggs and incubation: Pigeons usually lay two white eggs. The parents take turns keeping their eggs warm (incubating). Males usually stay on the nest during the day; females, at night. Eggs take about 18 days to hatch.
Food for young: Both male and female parent pigeons produce a special substance called "pigeon milk," which they feed to their hatchlings during their first week of life. Pigeon milk is made in a special part of the bird’s digestive system called the "crop." When hatchlings are about one week old, the parents start regurgitating seeds with crop milk; eventually seeds replace the pigeon milk.
Colors: There may be as many as 28 pigeon color types, called "morphs," but Project PigeonWatch groups them into just seven morphs. Pigeons also have colorful neck feathers. These iridescent green, yellow, and purple feathers are called "hackle." Adult males and females look alike, but a male’s hackle is more iridescent than a female’s.
White "color:" White feathers are actually feathers that have no color pigments. So, when you see white on pigeons you are actually seeing no color.
Feathers: Pigeons have many types of feathers including contour feathers, the stiff feathers that give the body its shape, and down, the fluffy insulating feathers. Many pigeon feathers are accompanied by one or two filoplume feathers, which look like hairs. These filoplumes may have sensory functions, such as, detecting touch and pressure changes.
Eye colors: Adults have orange or reddish orange eyes; juveniles that are less than six to eight months old have medium brown or grayish brown eyes.
Leg and feet colors: Pigeon legs and feet are red to pink to grayish black. Their claws are usually grayish black but can be white on some pigeons. Some birds have "stockings," which are feathers on their legs and feet!
Cere: The cere is the fleshy covering on the upper part of a pigeon's beak.  It is grayish in young birds or juveniles, and white in adults.  Albino birds may have pinkish ceres.
Eyesight: Pigeon eyesight is excellent. Like humans, pigeons can see color, but they also can see ultraviolet light—part of the light spectrum that humans can’t see. Pigeons are sometimes used in human search-and-rescue missions because of their exceptional vision.
Hearing: Pigeons can hear sounds at much lower frequencies than humans can, such as wind blowing across buildings and mountains, distant thunderstorms, and even far-away volcanoes. Sensitive hearing may explain why pigeons sometimes fly away for no apparent reason: maybe they heard something you can’t.
Sounds: Pigeons make two types of sounds: vocal (using voice) and nonvocal. The primary call used by males to attract mates and defend territories is coo roo-c’too-coo. From their nests they might say oh-oo-oor. When they are startled or scared they might make an alarm call like: oorhh! Pigeon babies make nonvocal sounds such as bill snapping and hissing. After mating, males often make clapping sounds with their wings.
Unique drinking behavior: Most birds take a sip of water and throw back their heads to let the water trickle down their throats. But pigeons (and all of their relatives in the family Columbidae) suck up water, using their beaks like straws.
Magnetic sensitivity: Do pigeons have compasses in their heads? Not really, but pigeons, especially those bred for their homing instincts, seem to be able to detect the Earth’s magnetic fields. Cornell University pigeon researcher Dr. Charles Walcott says that magnetic sensitivity, along with an ability to tell direction by the sun, seems to help pigeons find their ways home.
Locomotion: On the ground, pigeons don’t hop the way many birds do. They walk or run with their heads bobbing back and forth. Pigeons are strong fliers and can fly up to 40 or 50 miles per hour. Some pigeons are raised for their exceptional abilities to fly fast and find their ways home. These pigeons may fly as far as 600 miles in a day.  Although feral pigeons are good fliers too, most of these birds seem to stay close to their regular feeding sites.
Natural predators: One species of falcon, Merlin, eats so many pigeons its scientific name is Falco columbarius (with the "columba-" meaning pigeon) and it was formerly called Pigeon Hawk. Merlins are medium-sized falcons and although they are not very common in cities, you can bet they are preying on pigeons living in open parks near marshes and ponds. In cities where Peregrine Falcons have become established, they catch and eat feral pigeons, often carrying them back to feed to their nestlings. Red-tailed and Cooper’s hawks also prey on pigeons in cities and in rural areas.
Fancy pigeons: People raise all kinds of fancy pigeons. The breeds have names, such as rollers, tumblers, and fantails, which reflect the way the birds fly or the way they look. Sometimes, people take their fancy pigeons to compete in shows.

Spring has Sprung

Check out this youtube video my sort-of son-in-law's father sent me.  The bird is a hummingbird again, but really worth the video.  I've been springing around everywhere trying to get myself organized, but alas, I always seem to need more time, and we all know how limited time is - it waits for no one.  CSTs this week.  I hope our students take it seriously and try their best. 

" http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/xHkq1edcbk4?rel=0"

Falcons

I saw this on the news last night.  Go to See It On Tv - ABC Channel 7

Nest Cam - San Francisco

This view of Peregrine Falcons is possible because biologists at UC Santa Cruz and Cornell University collaborated in the mid-1970s to restore a nearly extinct Peregrine Falcon population. At the time, two pairs were known in California—none could be found nesting east of the Mississippi River.
Widespread use of the persistent pesticide, DDT, contaminated the environment worldwide resulting in eggshell thinning that decimated the Peregrine population. DDT was banned by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1972. For the next three decades, the U. C. Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group bred falcons in large aviaries, hatched thin-shelled eggs, climbed to the Cliffside nests of these birds, and restored the California population to an estimated 250 pairs—up from just 2 pairs.
We celebrate this extraordinary success story with the falcon nest camera view of wild nature as it unfolds above city streets. We share the story with school students by presenting school assemblies and with the community by engaging the participation of a large network of UC Santa Cruz students and community volunteers who assist with our ongoing baseline research on this species.
To learn more and be a part of an ongoing discussion about these birds, join the Yahoo! Group at: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/SF_PGE_Falcons/.

Falcon nest cameras and discussion groups are a compelling gateway activity where people can gain an appreciation of nature. Together, the nest cameras and discussion groups provide entertainment, wonder, and learning, about nature through an intimate look at iconic birds. They also put wildlife in the headlines stimulating interest community-wide. The discussion group is moderated by a university professor who is also an experienced field biologist specializing in birds of prey. Many teachers use the cameras and discussion groups as teaching tools.

It's been a week already?

I'm still playing catsup, so this will be a bird from the past.  I went for a tiny hike with our classroom students on a field trip, but forgot to take my camera.  We really didn't see any birds although the scouts had built houses for bluebirds.  I think we were just way too noisy.   We did see ground squirrels and jack rabbits and the leftovers from cows and horses. This swam was staying at a fancy hotel on Aruba.  The service rivaled ours on the ship.  I think she was taking the yoga class offered on our days at sea. 

Black Swans are primarily black-feathered birds, with white flight feathers. The bill is bright red, with a pale bar and tip; and legs and feet are greyish-black. Cobs (males) are slightly larger than pens (females), with a longer and straighter bill. Cygnets (immature birds) are a greyish-brown with pale-edged feathers.^[2]
A mature Black Swan measures between 110 and 142 centimetres (43 and 56 in) in length and weighs 3.7–9 kilograms (8.2–20 lb). Its wing span is between 1.6 and 2 metres (5.2 and 6.6 ft).^[2][3] The neck is long (relatively the longest neck among the swans) and curved in an "S"-shape.
The Black Swan utters a musical and far reaching bugle-like sound, called either on the water or in flight, as well as a range of softer crooning notes. It can also whistle, especially when disturbed while breeding and nesting.^[2][4]
When swimming, Black Swans hold their necks arched or erect, and often carry their feathers or wings raised in an aggressive display. In flight, a wedge of Black Swans will form as a line or a V, with the individual birds flying strongly with undulating long necks, making whistling sounds with their wings and baying, bugling or trumpeting calls.^[2]

Checking out the birds in the Caribbean

These little fellows I will call the buffet penguins.  Their origins are from an eggplant and avocado.  They live on cruise ships --  ok, ok --just having a little fun.  I just returned from a cruise in the Caribbean where I practiced doing nothing.  It was hard work, but I give myself an A- because the first week I was still talking work when someone would ask me about my profession.  After that, there was some serious deck lounging and paperback reading going on.  When off on an excursion snorkeling, I worked on sunning and learning how to get tipsy on rum punch and margaritas.  I think my travel mates were proud of the good job I did at all these skills and someday invite me back for a repeat performance.

This hummingbird was taken while we toured Diamond Botanical Gardens on the island of St. Lucia.  I believe it is the purple-throated carib.
Hummingbird Metabolism and Survival & Flight Adaption - Interesting Information
With the exception of insects, hummingbirds have the highest  metabolism rate of any animal on earth (high breathing rate, high heart rate, high body temperature).
Because of their "extreme" metabolism, the active hummingbirds require frequent feedings throughout the day - every ten to fifteen minutes and potentially visiting 1,000 flowers a day, lapping up nectar at the rate of 13 licks per second. They have to eat up to half of its body mass and drink roughly eight times its body mass each day. In preparation for an impending migration, hummingbirds may consume 3 up to 10 times their body weight in food - about 14,000 calories per kilogram - per day. (Humans consume, on average, 26 calories per kilogram per day). Before migration, hummingbirds will almost double their weight as they store up fat to serve as fuel and hence increasing their potential flying time.
The hummingbird has the largest heart in proportion to its body- and has the highest heartbeat rate. Their hearts pump about 1,200 times per minute in flight and 200 beats per minute at rest– making it the fastest beating heart of all animals - except for the pygmy shrew with a recorded heartbeat of up to 1511 times per minute. (A shrew is a small animal that resembles a mouse – it occurs in Asia.) Their wings beat seventy times each second; and their hovering flight used by them to gather nectar requires staggering amounts of energy. Their daytime body temperature ranges from 105° to 108°F (40.5° to 42.2°C).

Migrating South

I'm taking off for warmer weather during Spring Break.  Will land in Florida, and what better bird to represent the state.  Then will glide onto a ship which will escort me and my girlfriends around the Caribbean for some sun and whatever else happens to cross our path.  Here's a little information about flamingos.  By the way, these were taken at the zoo in Hong Kong
.A wide variety of birds have been proposed as their closest relatives, on a wide variety of evidence. As a result, flamingos are generally placed in their own order.

The arcuate bill of this American Flamingo is well adapted to bottom scooping

Flamingos often stand on one leg, the other tucked beneath the body. The reason for this behavior is not fully understood. Some suggest that the flamingo, like some other animals, has the ability to have half of its body go into a state of sleep, and when one side is rested, the flamingo will swap legs and then let the other half sleep, but this has not been proven.^{[citation needed]} Recent research has indicated that standing on one leg may allow the birds to conserve more body heat, given that they spend a significant amount of time wading in cold water.^[12] As well as standing in the water, flamingos may stamp their webbed feet in the mud to stir up food from the bottom.
Young flamingos hatch with grey plumage, but adults range from light pink to bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta carotene obtained from their food supply. A well-fed, healthy flamingo is more vibrantly coloured and thus a more desirable mate; a white or pale flamingo, however, is usually unhealthy or malnourished. Captive flamingos are a notable exception; many turn a pale pink as they are not fed carotene at levels comparable to the wild. This is changing as more zoos begin to add prawns and other supplements to the diets of their flamingos.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Feeding

Flamingos filter-feed on brine shrimp and blue-green algae. Their beaks are specially adapted to separate mud and silt from the food they eat, and are uniquely used upside-down. The filtering of food items is assisted by hairy structures called lamellae which line the mandibles, and the large rough-surfaced tongue. The pink or reddish color of flamingos comes from carotenoid proteins in their diet of animal and plant plankton. These proteins are broken down into pigments by liver enzymes.^[13] The source of this varies by species, and affects the saturation of color. Flamingos whose sole diet is blue-green algae are darker in color compared to those who get it second hand (e.g. from animals that have digested blue-green algae).^[14] Zoo-fed flamingos, who often lack the color enhancer in their diet, may be given food with the additive canthaxanthin.^{[citation needed]}lamingos are very social birds that live in colonies that can number in the thousands. These large colonies are believed to serve three purposes for the flamingos: predator avoidance, maximizing food intake, and exploiting scarce suitable nesting sites.^[15] The most basic and stable social unit of flamingos are pair bonds which are made up of one male and one female. The bond between them tends to be strong; however, in larger colonies (where there are more mates to choose from), mate changes will occur.^[16] In pair bonds, both the male and the female contribute to building the nest for their egg and defending it. Before breeding, flamingo colonies split into breeding groups of around 15-50 birds. Both males and females in these groups perform synchronized ritual displays. These displays serve to both stimulate synchronous nesting and establish pair formation for birds that do not already have mates.^[17] A flamingo group stands together and display to each other by rasing neck, followed by calling with head-flagging and then wing flapping.^[18] The displays do not seem to be directed towards an individual but instead occur randomly.^[18]
Flamingo pair bonds establish and defend nesting territories. They locate a suitable spot on the mudflat to build a nest, which is usually chosen by the female.^[18] It is during nest building that copulation usually occurs. Nest building can also be interrupted by another couple trying to steal the nesting site. Flamingos will viciously defend their nesting sites and young. After the chicks hatch, the only parental expense is feeding.^[19] Flamingos produce a crop milk, like pigeons and doves, due to the action of a hormone called prolactin (see Columbidae). It contains more fat and less protein than the latter does, and it is produced in glands lining the whole of the upper digestive tract, not just the crop. Both parents nurse their chick, and young flamingos feed on this milk, which also contains red and white blood cells. In the first six days, the adults and chicks stay in the nesting sites. At around seven to twelve days the chicks begin to move and explore their surroundings. After two weeks, the chicks join groups called "microcrèches" and their parent soon leave them in these groups. Later, many microcrèches come together to form crèches which contain thousands of chicks. Chicks that do not stay in their crèches are vulnerable to predators.^[20]

Two for One

I missed last week - just too busy.  I took a bird picture in the parking lot of the grocery store and that's it.  I guess it's another type of sparrow or black bird (no time to hunt down the info)- just the ordinary bird that hangs out near a food store waiting for crumbs.   Why am I more willing to leave something for these feathered friends more than my human beggars?  I guess because they seem to appreciate it more.

Now onto my bird picture for this week...  this friendly fellow is named Paco and like a previous bird I photographed with one leg, Paco has one wing.  But one missing limb doesn't stop him.  He tried to bite me when I took his picture.  I think I have been having sympathy pains as my shoulder has been achy all week - Ha,Ha.  Paco joined us for book club this month and contributed his 2 cents.  We read the Memory Keeper's Daughter and he helped us every time we would forget what happened.  We had a lively discussion and lots of yummy southern food, including Paco's favorite - chicken.

Facts about this animal

This is a large amazon with a total lenght of 35-38 cm and a body-weight of up to 500g.

The plumage of the nominate subspecies is yellow on the entire head and throat, the upper parts are green, the under parts yellowish-green too, and the tighs yellow. The flight feathers are green becoming violet-blue towards the tips. The carpal edge is yellow, the bend of wing red with some yellow, and there is a red speculum. The tail is green with the lateral rectricess basally marked with red and outermost feathers edged with blue. The iris is orange, cere and base of bill grey, in particular in younger birds, or horn-coloured, tip of bill horn coloured, the bare eye-ring is whitish, and the legs and feet are pale grey.

Juveniles have yellow only on crown to lores. Their iris is brown.

Outside the breeding season, yellow-headed amazons have communal roosts and may congregate in large flocks, in which pairs are evident. During the day, they are seen in small parties of up to ten birds, foraging quietly in the crowns of trees.

Yellow-headed amazons begin exploring nest sites in March. Like all amazons, they are cavity nesters, and may start chewing out a hole in a tree trunk that had been previously nested by a woodpecker. The clutch of two to four eggs is incubated for 25–26 days by the female alone. The male remains near the nest entrance and feeds the sitting female.

Yellow-headed amazons feed regularly on the large green nut that is produced in abundance by the Ebano tree, and the small, not very sweet fruit of the Strangler Fig tree, as well as other nuts, seeds, fruits, buds and flowers. They are also fond of maize and cultivated fruit.