ToddSpace: John's Birding Page

December Bird of the Month: Blue Jay

Most regions of the country have their resident "Blue Jay," but "cristata" is the species officially designated by that name. It ranges through Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and is the only Jay species in much of our area.

White patches and black-and-white barring ornament the Blue Jay's blue wings and tail, while a black necklace crosses the whitish breast. Washington Irving described it as "That noisy coxcomb, in his gay light blue coat and white underclothes," while 19th century ornithologist Charles Bendire was more fascinated by its ever-changing personality: "Cunning, inquisitive, an admirable mimic, full of mischief; in some localities extremely shy, in others exactly the reverse, it is difficult to paint him in his true colors."

Blue jays roam woodlands, parks and towns in search of a variety of foods. One study found their summer diet to contain 30 percent insects and other invertebrates, as well as some small vertebrates; the other 70 percent was made up of acorns, fruits and seeds.

The Blue Jay's nest is a bowl of twigs and dry leaves high in a tree; the three to five eggs are blue or greenish spotted with brown. They hatch after 16 to 18 days of incubation by the female and the young fledge in 17 to 21 days more. It has a piercing call...jay, jay, jay...once described by Thoreau as the "unrelenting steel-cold scream of the jay, unmelted, that never flows into a song, a sort of wintry trumpet..."

The Blue Jay is responsible for planting trees, such as oak trees. Blue jays love acorns. They take acorns and hide them so they can come back to the acorns later. However, the Blue Jays often forget where they hide them. These hidden acorns later sprout into oak trees.

Although the migration of Blue Jays is an obvious phenomenon, with thousands moving past some points along the coast, much about it remains a mystery. Some Jays are present throughout the winter in all parts of the range. Which Jays move and which stay put? Although young Jays may be more likely to migrate than adults, many adults do migrate. Some individual Jays may migrate south in one year, stay north the next winter, and then migrate south again the next year.

Many people dislike the Blue Jay because it is known to eat the eggs and nestling's of other birds. However, in an extensive study of Blue Jay feeding habits, only 1% of Jays had evidence of eggs or birds in their stomachs. Most of the diet was composed of insects and nuts.

The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. It has been suggested that these calls provide information to other Jays that a hawk is around, or that they are used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present.

This link represents the Blue Jay call.

Birding gift ideas

It’s that time of the year again. What can you get a birder for Christmas?

Try thinking in broader terms when searching for a gift for a birder. Everything from a feeder to binoculars and scopes will make a birder happy. Guide books, specific species books and ID guides will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

If your birding friend lives in Massachusetts, how about The Massachusetts Atlas and Gazetteer. Another favorite is A Birder's Guide to Eastern Massachusetts.

Does someone you know have the dreaded squirrel problem? Get them a baffle or a squirrel-proof feeder. A lot of feeders have metal seed ports to keep squirrels from chewing holes in the feeder.

From birdsong identifiers to specialty seed, there’s a wide range of gift ideas for your birding friends and family members.

Let’s hear some of your gift ideas. Simply reply by clicking the “Comments” link at the end of this article.

Happy birding!

November Bird of the Month: Dark-Eyed Junco

The Dark-eyed Junco, also known as the Snow Bird, is the best-known species of Junco, a genus of small American Sparrows.

Adults are generally gray on top with a white belly. The white outer tail feathers flash distinctively in flight. The bill is usually pinkish. The males tend to have darker, more conspicuous markings than the female. Juveniles often have pale streaks and may even be mistaken for a Vesper Sparrow until they acquire adult plumage at 2 to 3 months. There is a regional variation:

The Slate-colored Junco has a dark slate-gray head, breast and upper parts. Females are brownish gray. It is found in North America in taiga forests from Alaska to Newfoundland and south to the Appalachian Mountains, wintering further south; it is relatively common in its range.

Their breeding habitat is coniferous or mixed forest areas throughout North America. They usually nest in a cup shaped depression on the ground, well hidden by vegetation or other material, although they are sometimes found in the lower branches of a shrub or tree. The nests have an outer diameter of about 3.9 inches and are lined with fine grasses and hair.

Normally two broods of 4 eggs are laid during the breeding season. They are incubated by the female for 12 to 13 days. The slightly glossy egg shells are grayish or pale bluish-white in color and heavily spotted (sometimes splotched) with various shades of brown, purple or gray. The spotting is concentrated at the large end of the egg. The young leave the nest within 11 to 14 days of hatching.

Northern birds migrate further south; many populations are permanent residents or altitudinal migrants. In winter, juncos are familiar in and around towns.

These birds forage on the ground. In winter, they often forage in flocks that may comprise several races. They mainly eat insects and seeds. However the bird will sometimes eat its own droppings.

The following is the song of the Dark-Eyed Junco.

Preparing for winter bird feeding

Winter can be a difficult time for birds in New England. Days are short, windy and cold and nights are long and even colder. The abundant vegetation of summer and fall has withered or been consumed and most insects are dead or dormant.

If you don't already have a backyard feeder now is the perfect time to set one up. It will make your feathered friends lives easier and yours more enjoyable as you observe their beauty and antics.

What To Feed Them

Most songbirds feed on insects and spiders during the spring and summer months. However, in the fall and winter non-migratory songbirds must shift their diets to fruits and seeds to survive.
 
Black-oil Sunflower: Different birds prefer different types of seeds, but the seeds that attract the greatest variety of species are black-oil sunflower. These seeds are nutritious and high in fat plus their small size and thin shells make them easy for small birds to eat.

Thistle or Niger Seeds: Thistle seeds are a delicacy for goldfinches, siskins and redpolls. It is best to offer these seeds in a special thistle feeder which has tiny ports that prevent the seeds from spilling out.

Peanut Butter or Suet: You can attract insect-eating birds such as Chickadees, woodpeckers and nuthatches to your yard by offering peanut butter or suet. Peanut butter and suet are both excellent high energy foods.
   
Fruit: Thrushes, Mockingbirds, catbirds and waxwings will come to a feeder which offers fruit. Try dried fruits such as raisin and fresh sliced fruit on a platform feeder or plate.

Tips For Winter Feeding

Keep some extra feeders for use in bad weather. It will not only give birds more places to eat it will cut down on your trips outside to refill the feeder.

Make sure the seed is kept dry. Hopper and tube feeders will protect seed from wet weather and platform feeders should be swept of any snow.

Scatter seed in underbrush and sheltered places. Some birds prefer to feed in thicket and brambles so be sure to scatter seed in hedges, bushes and along wooded areas or even under your deck.

Use high energy food such as suet and peanut butter.

Use your old Christmas tree for shelter and as a windbreak near your feeder.

Prepare your birdhouses for winter roosting. Make sure the houses are clean and then use three to four inches of clean dry meadow grass or wood shavings. Then plug the air vent holes with removable weather stripping.

Keep your feeders clean. Take advantage of good weather to clean and disinfect your feeders.  Use one part bleach to nine parts hot water. 

Offer a fresh source of water and consider the use of a birdbath heater. If you do not have a birdbath heater, keep the water ice-free if at all possible. Empty the birdbath in the evening and fill again in the morning. NEVER use chemicals such as antifreeze to keep the water from freezing!

October Bird of the Month: Downy Woodpecker

Description : The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker of North America. It has black and white plumage, with white in the middle of the back, and also on the breast and belly, where white becomes grayish.

Wings are black with white spots. Tail is black, with white outer feathers, and sometimes barred with black.

The head is black, and we can see a white stripe above and below eyes. It has whitish feathers above the bill, black cheeks, and thin black mustache extending to the neck and upper sides of breast.

The male has a small red patch on the rear crown.
Bill is thick, short, black and chisel-shaped, but smaller than other woodpeckers. Eyes are dark. Legs and feet are pale Grey.

The female lacks the red patch on the head. She has a black patch. The juvenile male has a red forehead, but lacks a red patch on its rear crown. The juvenile female is similar, but lacks any red.

Voice: Downy Woodpeckers have a wide variety of sounds. During aggressive behavior, it utters "pik", introducing rattle calls. Young birds utter short "wad" and "chirp" calls, and also a longer note, the squeak. We can also hear scolding, squeak, screech and distress calls. Downy Woodpeckers also use drumming, a non vocal sound, to communicate. Here is a sample of the Downy Woodpecker call.

Habitat: The Downy Woodpecker lives in woodlands, deciduous forests in riparian areas. It is common in orchards, parks and urban areas.

Geographic Range: The Downy Woodpecker is found throughout North America. They are year round residents, except along the New England Coast where some populations are partially migratory.

Behavior: The Downy Woodpecker uses body postures to communicate, such as combination of bill pointing and waving, flicking wings, raising crest, wings and tail spreading, head turning  and swinging.

Drumming is used to establish territory, to attract a mate, and to communicate between them.
When feeding, the Downy Woodpecker gleans insects from tree trunks, shrubs and large weeds. It also probes into crevices, or excavates holes into wood to find food. Downy Woodpeckers are acrobatic foragers. They can hang upside down to feed.

It is a solitary diurnal bird, but sometimes, it forages in loose flocks. The male defends a territory against other males, and female against females. When an intruder comes into the territory, the Downy Woodpecker will perform a threat display, such as flicking wings, or a fan-tailed display, with erected crest, and trying to drive the intruder away, holding their bill high. It may attack the intruder, grappling with them in mid-air.

Downy Woodpeckers are monogamous. Once a pair is formed, they forage together until incubation begins. It is a form of mate guarding. They mate together for more than one breeding season.
To protect themselves from predators, Downy Woodpeckers flatten themselves against the tree bark, remaining motionless. It may also dodge a raptor, by darting behind  a tree branch, or winding their way around a branch to avoid the hawk.

Reproduction-nesting : The Downy Woodpecker's nest is excavated by both male and female, in a dead climb, or a living or dead tree. This work lasts between one and three weeks. The nest is lined only with wood chips, and the opening is concealed with mosses and lichens.

The female lays 3 to 8 white glossy eggs. Incubation lasts about 12 days, shared by both parents. Male incubates at night, and alternately with female during the day. Chicks hatch altricial, but they grow very quickly. They are brooded during the first four days after hatching, and both adults feed them. Young fledge at about 18 to 21 days of age. Parents feed them for at least three weeks more, and protect them against predators. The young reach their sexual maturity at one year. This species produces one single clutch per year.

Food habits: The Downy Woodpecker is omnivorous. It feeds mainly on insects (beetles, ants, bugs and caterpillars), but also arthropods, fruits, seeds and sap. It also consumes spiders and suet from feeders.

September Bird of the Month: American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch
Size: 4.5 - 5"
Range: Winters in much of the United States
Nest: Open nest on an upright fork of branch
Eggs per clutch:  4 to 5
Food: Seeds

Description

The American Goldfinch is smaller than a sparrow. The breeding male is known for its bright yellow color. The male also has a black forehead, white bottom and black wings with white edges. The female and male in the winter are duller than the breeding male.

Listen to a recording of an American Goldfinch: American Goldfinch call

Feeding

Seeds are the main diet of the American Goldfinch. These birds are attracted to thistle and hulled sunflower seeds and can be spotted at the feeders year round. During fall and winter, American Goldfinches will feed in flocks.

Habitat

Goldfinches are believed to be year round residents of most of North America. Seasonal movement of flocks, from ten to several hundred goldfinches, occur in the spring and fall.   American Goldfinches can be found living in areas with weedy grasslands or thickets with nearby trees.

Nesting

During the winter, American Goldfinches have only two calls. When spring arrives new songs can be heard. These new songs are signs of courtship taking place. Once summer arrives, finches begin to feed in small groups.

American Goldfinches mate late in summer, near the time of nest building. The female goldfinch collects materials for the nest and constructs it herself. Once the nest is complete the pair will leave the area for a couple of days. The pair will return to the nest anywhere between a few days to a few weeks later, so that the female can start laying the eggs.

Eggs are laid, one per day, until the clutch is complete. Usually five eggs are in a clutch. Incubations starts after the laying of the second or third egg. Incubation of the eggs is done only by the female and lasts approximately 11 to 15 days. The female will spend 95% of her time on the nest. During this time, the male will make regular visits to the nest to feed the female.

The nestlings are quiet in the nest for the first week after hatching. They are also silent when the parents arrive with food. They become more active the second week and call out when the parents arrive. When the young birds leave the  nest, they are still fed by the male. The fledglings have a call that helps the male locate them for feeding. When the birds become independent, they no longer give this call.

Western Reef Heron or Southern Little Egret

There seems to be some debate as to whether the rare visitor to the Maine and New Hampshire coasts this week is a Western Reef Heron or a dark morph Southern Little Egret.

A very interesting article can be read at Lillian and Don Stokes site concerning the debate as to what this bird may be.

It will be interesting to see what comes of this.

Plum Island, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge

Finally a little time to post about our trip to Plum Island, Massachusetts on August 12th. Have been very busy at work as of late, working 12-13 hour days.

Those of you who live in Massachusetts and New Hampshire should be on the look-out along coastal waters for a very rare visitor to the USA. A Western Reef Heron has been hanging around the islands just off Kittery Point, Maine (in Maine waters) this weekend. The above link also has some great pictures! It is only a matter of time before this rare visitor moves along on his migration. This sighting is only the second or third time this species has been sighted in the USA!

Now on to the Plum Island trip...

Just after sunrise on Saturday August 12th, we arrived at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island, Massachusetts.

The weather was spectacular! Clear skies, light winds and cool temperatures greeted us.

After passing through the gate to the refuge, imagine our surprise when we encountered hundreds of Tree Swallows on the road. What they were doing or why they were there is still a mystery to us, but I surmise that maybe they were warming themselves in the early morning sunlight, as the morning was very cool. I estimated that between 500 and 600 Tree Swallows were on the ground and in the air in this area.

All throughout the day, Tree Swallows were everywhere, hundreds of them flying here and there.

The tree swallow is a diurnal migrant and birds often congregate in large flocks during the early evening to share nocturnal roosts usually located in dense woody and emergent vegetation.

Flocking behavior along the outer coast of Massachusetts is a well-documented phenomenon with some flocks estimated in the hundreds of thousands as birds gather to exploit ripening bayberry and insect swarms.

Tree swallows are able to return to their breeding grounds earlier than other swallow species due to their ability to subsist on fruit. In New England, tree swallows arrive on territories in early April.

Just after the main road turns to gravels, we spotted some deer in the high grass. As I was setting up to get some pictures, we heard a commotion on the hill west of us. Three Broad-Winged Hawks were flying around at each other. As one would land in the field, the other two would dive-bomb it. We watched this activity for quite some time before they settled down, after which they sat in the field to preen.

I tried to get some footage with my camcorder, but the action was just a little to far away. Watching through the binoculars was excellent! (If only I had my scope!)

Our next stop was the Hellcat Wildlife Observation Area.

As we were walking the trail to the observation tower, we spied a fledgling Mockingbird.

He allowed a few photos to be taken along with some video, and then we were on our way.

Fledgling Mockingbird

Format: Windows .wmv   Size: 3.75 mb  Length: 42 sec.

When we arrived at the observation tower, the pond below the tower was a flurry of activity. Canada Geese, Cormorants, Egrets and Herons were feeding. We even watched as a Snowy Egret tried to chase away a Double-Crested Cormorant as seen in this next video.

Feeding Time: From the Hellcat Observation Tower

Format: Windows .wmv   Size: 6.39 mb  Length: 1:13

Many ducks were seen throughout the refuge, including Blue and Green Winged Teals, Pintails, Mallards and Black ducks. Most were feeding in the many pannes of the marsh, others were busy preening. This next video clip shows a few ducks in one of the pannes, cruising around looking for food.

Ducks Cruising the Pond

Format: Windows .wmv   Size: 6.67 mb  Length: 1:16

As we were leaving the Hellcat area, another mockingbird, this time an adult, posed long enough for a few photos.

The songs of 36 other species were recognized from the recording of one mockingbird in Massachusetts.

Birds in the western part of the species' range have less musical songs and are less imitative. Mockingbirds are strongly territorial and, like a number of other birds, will attack their reflection in a window, hubcap, or mirror, at times with such vigor that they injure or kill themselves. At mating time, the male Northern Mockingbird becomes increasingly exuberant, flashing his wings as he flies up in an aerial display, or singing while flying from one song post to another.

Many Mockingbirds were seen on this journey, including this one who flew straight at the camera!

it is not a pin sharp picture, but you get the idea. Surprised me when I viewed the photo the first time!

When my wife and I visited Wild Birds Unlimited in Portland, Maine a few weeks ago, we witnessed first hand the many sounds a mockingbird can imitate.

The bird we saw did every bird sound my wife did, and then countinued with a car alarm sound. It was simply amazing to watch this Mockingbird imitate the sounds my wife made. I love watching them in-flight, flashing the tell-tale white bullseye patches under their wings. At times they can be friendly, allowing you to appraoch within a reasonable distance.

Our trip ended with a stroll along the beach on Plum Island. We saw many Plovers and Sandpipers. Black-Backed Gulls were also plentiful. My wife found a few sand dollars while roaming the beach.

The time had come to leave with the rewards of watching many species of birds doing what they do best. Leaving us in awe at the amazing beauty and complexity of nature.

Birding is what we do, what we live for, it is never a dull moment! What some may think as a day wasted birding when only a few common species are seen, we take it in stride when this happens to us. We are grateful to be able to get out and about, seeing, feeling and experiencing nature in all her glory!

Happy birding!

Remember our feathered friends during the heat wave

With temperatures forecasted to be at or near the triple digits, please remember to have a supply of fresh water for the birds.

Now is a good time to clean out your birdbaths, removing algae and debris. (This should be done every few days regardless of the weather.) If possible, try to place your birdbath where shade will be during the hottest part of the day.

If you do not have a birdbath, you can make one cheaply. Purchase a large plastic flower pot drip saucer. I would suggest one with a diameter of at least 12". Level an area in your yard somewhere where shade will be during the hottest part of the day. Place the plastic saucer on the leveled area and fill with fresh cool water, not more than 3" deep. I suggest changing the water daily!

A few stones places in the middle of the plastic saucer will give smaller birds a place to perch, as they do not like the deeper water.

Try to stay away from glazed crock-type flower pot drip saucers. They are slippery and birds can slip and injure themselves or fall in the water and possibly drown. The plastic saucers has enough of a rough surface for birds to safely perch.

There is nothing like watching birds drink and/or bathe in a birdbath, no mater what type you have!

Try to stay cool and safe, and as always.... Happy Birding!!!!

Sunday Morning Birding

A clear blue sky and a beautiful sunrise greeted us this morning at the Rachael Carson Wildlife Refuge near Biddeford Pool, Maine.

Activity among the Great and Snowy Egrets, Blue Herons, and Double-Crested Cormorants was heavy.

Flights and landings persisted continuously at a pool in the marsh most of the morning. Egret fledglings could be seen feeding with the adults and a lone Blue Heron fledgling was seen away from the group.

The Double-Crested Cormorants fed along side all the others, at times spreading their wings looking like the pre-historic creatures that they are.

Cedar Waxwings were also prevalent. I was blessed to have gotten a picture of one in all its glory! Be sure to check out our Birding Gallery for a much larger picture than the one posted here.

As you can see near the bottom of the picture, berries are ripe, and they were being eaten by the Cedar Waxwings. Groups of 5-7 birds would land in an area and eat the berries.

As we watched, a lone Cedar Waxwing landed atop a bush. Even with our close proximity to it, it allowed me to get off several shots from my camera.

This shot is as is, except for some cropping I did for the article. No post-processing was done!

If all birds allowed this close of an approach, I would be one happy birder! But most birds don't allow this close of an encounter. For that reason, we have decided to purchase a spotting scope. (Something I wish we would have done along time ago!)

We have decided on the Celestron 80mm Ultima ED Spotting Scope. This scope will allow us to get close and personal with wildlife of all kinds, and it allows the attachment of a digital camera with an optional fitting. We expect to receive the scope sometime around the middle of August, and hopefully have some pictures using this outfit posted to the Birding Gallery during fall migration.

I am always amazed at how birds can blend in with their surroundings.

This picture of a Semi-Palmated Plover was taken on a small rocky beach at the refuge. I waited patiently for this small bird to get into some light colored sand so I could find him through my camera. When the a group of them were in the stones and rocks, they were nearly impossible to find through the view finder!

I love watching these birds along the surf of a beach, running away from the waves and then following the waves back to find food washed ashore before the next wave comes crashing in. All told, approx. 30 Semi-Palmated Plovers were seen on the beach.

At the end of our Sunday morning journey, we found ourselves taking a walk on Ocean Avenue in Biddeford Pool.

While walking back to the car, we heard a sharp chipping sound and looked around for the culprit.

Directly in front of us, on a big rock among the sea roses, was a chipmunk trying to hide from us.

I snapped several pictures as my wife talked to it. The chipmonk just sat there as if he thought that he was invisible, not moving at all. After we had passed several yards behind it, he finally deserted the rock and skittered across the street, more than likely looking for a spot away from the human intruders.

All told, much wildlife was seen this morning. Even a doe and a fawn out in the marsh.

Many species of butterflies were seen at the marsh along with the complimentary mosquitoes, deer flies and green heads.

Here is my listing of birds and wildlife seen this morning:

• Black Duck w/chicks
• Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• Snowy Egret
• Least Tern
• Tree Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• Willet w/chicks
• Semi-Palmated Plover
• Double-Crested Cormorant
• Song Sparrow
• House Finch
• Purple Finch
• Cedar Waxwing
• Kingbird
• Deer: doe w/fawn
• Chipmunk

That's it for now. Be safe and happy birding!