Archive for April, 2009
« Previous EntriesSave Our Boreal Birds
Submitted by BrdPics Blog
From David Childs:
The Boreal Songbird Initiative, along with other environmental groups like Bird Studies Canada, Nature Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation, among others created a petition called “Save our Boreal Birds” a little over a year ago. This petition will be sent to the Prime Minister of Canada and many provincial leaders, [...]
The Warblers are Here!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by The Birdcouple Blog
Prarie Warbler
And all their migrant buddies, too. This is a great time of year! Migrant passerines have arrived from the south and, for just a few more days, the trees are not so thick with leaves that they are (relatively) easy to see and photograph.
We spent our spare hours [...]
Volunteer Presenter Orientation
Submitted by Bird TLC Blog
On Saturday, we had an orientation for possible new presenters. They get a crash course on what it takes to be a presenter and what their responsibilities are with the bird they choose. We prefer that each bird has at least 2 presenters
On a fast pace, a new presenter can [...]
Northern Parula
Submitted by Birding Notes Blog
A Northern Parula – a small warbler that’s often found in wooded areas near streams or wetlands – has been singing in the trees around our house since late March. Its buzzy, rising trill has become one of the most familiar songs of the morning – and much of the day.
This [...]
Sad news and good news
Submitted by Bird TLC Blog
We lost both the golden and the immature bald eagles this morning. On the bright side, they are in a place where they feel much better and get to fly with many great birds.
We received another electrocution bird about a month back. It will have some permanent injuries, but they might [...]
Acadian Flycatcher, House Wren, and Black and White Warbler
Submitted by Birding Notes Blog
Today three more bird species made their first-of-the-season appearance here. The familiar call of an Acadian Flycatcher from its usual territory down around the creek in the woods came about on schedule. I’d been listening for it the past few days, and thought I might have heard it yesterday and the [...]
Pileated Woodpecker – Listening?
Submitted by Birding Notes Blog
This afternoon a male Pileated Woodpecker flew into the lower part of a tall pine on the edge of the woods. After waiting for a few quiet, still minutes, he hitched up the trunk, making scratching sounds as he went, then suddenly let out a loud, startling trumpeted call. He attacked [...]
Thanks for the help PenAir
Submitted by Bird TLC Blog
Our golden is hanging in there, but it could use some kind thoughts to whom ever you say your bedtime prayers to. We are still having to tube feed him and today we had to add a heat lamp to help keep him warm. He is more alert and holding [...]
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Nest
Submitted by Birding Notes Blog
A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird is building a nest on the branch of a large pine tree at the corner of our back yard. The nest is far out on the branch from the trunk, but under several other branches with some green needles that arch over it and may provide some [...]
Rose-breasted Grosbeak in a Green Rain
Submitted by Birding Notes Blog
A gorgeous male Rose-breasted Grosbeak has been visiting the feeders in our front yard today. It is vividly colored, with black and white patterned wings, back and tail, an all-black head, large pinkish-ivory bill, and a deep rose-red bib that goes down the white breast in a perfect soft V-shape.
When not [...]
Setting your clock (or your calendar) by Wood Thrush
Submitted by The Birdcouple Blog
This blows Birdcouple away. Every spring, the Wood Thrushes arrive in our back forty (actually back 1.8 acres of woods) and serenade us throughout the summer, until they head south in August or early September. Their arrival heralds the start of the season here at the Lovenest.
Warren keeps pretty careful [...]
Bluebirding
Submitted by BrdPics Blog
A strong spring storm blasted through Colorado last Friday and Saturday, bringing lots of much-need moisture in the form of rain and snow. In some areas the snow piled up by the foot, especially in the elevations where Mountain and Western Bluebirds were already on territories. In April storms like this, the [...]
All things golden
Submitted by Bird TLC Blog
U.S.F.&W. in King Salmon sent us via Penn Air a golden eagle on Monday. I picked him up late and bedded him down at TLC for the evening. He didn’t look the best, but had no obvious injuries and it didn’t seem immediate life threatening. I called Dr. Palmatier, told [...]
EARTH DAY….Bring it on!
Submitted by The Birdcouple Blog
Happy Earth Day!
The day to celebrate the 4.6 billion year old blue and white ball that we all call home.
It is also a day when we are reminded that we have a commitment.
The purpose of Earth Day should not just be the accomplishment of a single action on a single [...]
Sky View Pillow
Submitted by BrdPics Blog
As migration gets into full swing, many birders deal with “warbler neck” from craning up towards the canopy while slinging bins.
Along comes an interesting product to support your neck- the Sky View Pillow! Looks like a great idea- check it out!
From their web site:
Whether you are searching the treetops and mountains for [...]
Lucky shot
Submitted by The Birdcouple Blog
Black-and-White Warbler
Warren took this photo of a Black-and-White Warbler on Sunday while Birdcouple was enjoying the annual “Walk for the Woods” at South River Greenway in Crownsville, Md., part of the Scenic Rivers Land Trust. Our group was ably led by Dan Haas.
We’d heard a few Black-and-White Warblers singing their [...]
Finally, GOOD NEWS for the Chesapeake’s Blue Crabs
Submitted by The Birdcouple Blog
Hmmm… maybe catch restrictions do work, after all?
From the Washington Post:
A Baby Boom Of Blue CrabsBay Rules May Have Aided 43% Increase
By David A. Fahrenthold
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 18, 2009
The number of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay increased about 43 percent last year, according to survey data released [...]
Spring at the flight center
Submitted by Bird TLC Blog
The temperatures are staying above freezing at night and the high 40’s during the day. That means the snow and ice is melting off and creating a nice sloppy mess that we can’t do much about for the next few weeks. Next month we will have a massive clean up to [...]
Upcoming Appearances
Submitted by The Birdcouple Blog
Birdcouple is pleased as punch to be participating in the Wintergreen Nature Foundation’s annual Spring Wildflower Symposium from May 15-17. We’ll be leading three bird walks over the course of the weekend, high up in the Virginia mountains at the height of spring migratiion. We can’t wait to share the [...]
New Equipment
Submitted by BrdPics Blog
A lot of the discussion on the Digiscoping Birds list for the past couple of months has been about a new camera, the Panasonic Lumix G1 DSLR. Neil Fifer broke the ice, finding that the camera’s included kit lens works well for digiscoping, and he has continued to refine the use of [...]
Oops
Submitted by Bird TLC Blog
A slight mishap at the Palmer Airport brings this Rough-Legged Hawk to visit us for a little while. I won’t get into the embarrassing situation, but in the long run all will turn out well in the end.
This RLH might not think so right now. It has its right wing in [...]
Rose-breasted Grosbeak in a Green Rain
Submitted by Birding Notes Blog
A gorgeous male Rose-breasted Grosbeak has been visiting the feeders in our front yard today. It is vividly colored, with black and white patterned wings, back and tail, an all-black head, large pinkish-ivory bill, and a deep rose-red bib that goes down the white breast in a perfect soft V-shape.
When not [...]
White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Grosbeak – and a Robin’s Song
Submitted by Birding Notes Blog
Many other birds also were singing in and after the rain, including a White-eyed Vireo in shrubs near the edge of the woods, and a Red-eyed Vireo in trees around the house and in the woods, both recent spring arrivals. I first heard the chick-perchickoree-chick calls of two White-eyed Vireos in [...]
Happy Easter Everyone!
Submitted by The Birdcouple Blog
Virginia Bluebells
Happy Easter*
Let BirdCouple’s favorite time of year commence!
* And Passover, Nowruz, Holi or whatever else applies….
Rating 3.50 out of 5
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Just visiting
Submitted by Bird TLC Blog
With the possible irruption of Mount Redoubt we have taken in a few visitors. Jack and Notch are both part of Elmendorf AFB memorials. They are non-releasable birds due to different injuries. They normally can be viewed everyday where they have a nice large mew, but it has large open [...]
