Mary
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Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)
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We have had Great Horned Owls on our property for a number of years. I have been able to observe them roosting in spruce and sycamore trees near our house. I think it is a nesting pair and that the nest is in a spruce tree on the edge of our field. I have seen two owls roosting together in this tree and we enjoy listening to the duet of hoots between the male and female. I have also observed one of the owls catching prey by swooping from a tree branch to the ground and carrying the prey off in its' talons. The only other owl I have seen up close is an Eastern Screech Owl that was sitting in the entrance to a cavity on a branch in a sycamore tree on near our house.
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Birds are a critical part of our ecosystem in so many ways. This course has inspired me to continue to learn more about birds and to take actions to protect them. I also plan to become more involved in citizen science activities. This spring I participated in the Global Bird Day and Nest Watch. I plan to continue to participate in these types of activities and as well as advocacy activities.
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I checked on the website of my local birding club to see what activities they offer. The club offers a monthly field trip in the area but the field trips have been cancelled since March due to Covid-19. They are currently doing virtual field trips where club members "bird on their own" during a specified period of time. They compile the checklists into a list of identified species to share what birds have been observed in the area on this "virtual" field trip. They identified 59 species on their last trip. I plan to join a field trip when they are offered again.
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Activity 1: One trail near me that is a hotspot for birders consists of open pastures and scrubby fields, wetland and boggy areas and a river. This habitat attracts birds that like open habitats, wetlands and being near water. Birds I observed there recently included Tree and Barn Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, and an Eastern Meadowlark. Other bird species that like this habitat have also been sighted here such as Northern-rough-winged Swallows, Grasshopper, Song, and Field Sparrows and a Great Blue Heron. A second birding hotspot that is near me is in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The habitat is primarily forested with thickets of mountain laurel and rhododendron. This area attracts birds species that prefer forested areas. Birds I have heard or seen there include a Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush and Ovenbird. Other bird species that have been observed here include several different types of warblers (Cerulean, Hooded, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided).
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Activity 1: I live on a 45 acre property that is mostly forested but has some open fields and a stream. I have been thrilled to be able to observe some feeding behaviors up close that were discussed in this module. For example, I have seen a Great Horned Owl at dusk perched on a branch watching for prey and then swooping down to the ground, pouncing up and down on the prey (mouse or vole), grasping it in its’ talons and flying away. I have also seen a Red-shouldered Hawk catch crawdad in our stream and sit on the railing of the footbridge that crosses the stream eating them. Another behavior I have found fascinating is mobbing. I have observed and heard crows mobbing a Great Horned Owl on our property. Activity 3: Some of the birds I see and hear most frequently on our property are the Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Carolina Wren and American Goldfinch. We also have a Northern Mockingbird that nests in a shrub near our house and it is fascinating to listen to the different bird songs the mockingbird imitates. I have been recording other bird songs that I do not recognize and using the Merlin app to look at birds I would expect to see in my area to try to identify what birds I am hearing.
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Activity Two: Three species of birds that are year round residents in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia where I live include the cardinal, bluebird and Eastern phoebe. Three birds that are only in my area for part of the year are the ruby-throated hummingbird, scarlet tanager and Baltimore oriole. They only spend the breeding season in this area. Activity Four: At one of the favorite spots for of bird watchers in my area, I could expect to see 57 species of birds in June according to eBird data. Some of the birds I have seen there in June include swallows (tree and barn), red-winged blackbirds, bluebirds, indigo bunting, red-shouldered hawk, and American goldfinch. According to eBird data, in six months (December) I could expect to see 28 species of birds. Some of the birds I would see would be the same as in June as they are year round residents. However, others that I would only expect to see during December would be part year residents such as the hermit thrush and yellow-bellied sapsucker. I have not seen either of these birds and plan to look for them this winter.
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I watched the Cornell Feeder Cam for 15 minutes and saw the following birds: Common Grackle, Mourning Dove, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker. I used the Cornell All About Birds site to help identify the 3 woodpeckers. The activity we did in the Joy of Birdwatching to differentiate between the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers by beak size was very helpful. I used Merlin to see what birds I would find in my local area and saw or heard the following birds: Eastern Phoebe, Carolina Wren, Bluebird, Crow, Cardinal and Robin. I am participating in Nest Watch as we have three Eastern Phoebe nests on our house. I cannot monitor two of them as they are in the gables of our two story house. However, I have been able to monitor the nest on our back porch. I used the eBird bar graphs to see what birds are in our area. There are several types of warblers that I did not know migrated through our area in the spring and fall. I also did not realize that the painted bunting was here for a short time during migration.
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I have always enjoyed looking for and listening to birds but I am just learning more about identification. This past year I have been trying to identify the birds I have seen on our property which includes open meadows, a forested area and a stream. Some of the favorite birds I have observed include wild turkeys, a great blue heron, and great horned owls. Two of my favorite songbirds that I have observed are the scarlet tanager and the Baltimore oriole.
Viewing 8 posts - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)