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| INTERESTING ODDS & ENDS archive #1 |
| Eagles and Deer: Deer roadkill in some states, such as Wisconsit & Minnesota, is becoming a problem with regard to Bald Eagles. Eagles, which are opportunistic feeders, will take advantage of these easy meals. However, due to their large wingspan which makes take-off slower than smaller birds, and their lack of experience with traffic, the eagles themselves are becoming roadkill. The raptor centers in these states are receiving more and more of these dead or injured birds. (info from Birder's World, February 2004) Regardless of these reports, Bald Eagle numbers are generally on the increase, nearly 2 percent annually from 1986 to 2000, according to the US Geological Survey. One of the biggest threats to Bald Eagles now is habitat loss. |
| Piping Plover Conservation: Only 800 pairs of these wonderful little birds remained on the Atlantic Coast in 1986, and they were listed as threatened. Due in large part to the U.S. Atlantic Piping Plover Recovery Team, and many dedicated volunteers, that number has increased to 1.682 pairs as of 2002. In order for there to be considered a full recovery, there must be 2,000 breeding pairs for a five year period, producing an average of 1 1/2 fledged chicks for each pair per year. A full recovery is estimated to occur in 2010. (info from Wildbird Magazine, December 2003) Owl against Owl: The Barred Owl,which has expanded its range into Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana & California its beginning to displace the Spotted Owl. The Spotted,which is closely related to the Barred, is a threatened species and was the "poster-bird of anti-logging efforts" in the past. (info from Birder's World Magazine, June 2003) The West Nile virus spreads to Caribbean: The University of Kansas ornithologists have discovered WNV in the Dominican Republic in four different bird species. These are the first confirmed cases south of the US. Interestingly, the virus was not found in migratory birds, but in resident ones. (info from Birder's World, June 2003) Birds to Watch: According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service's "Birds of Conservation Concern" list these are some of the birds of particular concern: Painted Buntings, Cerulean & Golden-winged Warbler, Red-headed & Lewis's Woodpecker, Swallow-tailed Kite, Black & American Oystercatcher, Red Knot & Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. (info from Birder's World, June 2003) |
| Tips About Flight Patterns: From "Down & Dirty Birding" Joey Slinger, 1996 - A small bird flaps faster than a big bird - Woodpeckers & Nuthatches swoop up and down, "like a roller coaster". - Ducks flap hard, looking like they are really working at it. They also have take-off patterns: Puddle Ducks spring right up into the air, Diving Ducks, Loons, Geese and Swans need a running start - Blue Jays only raise their wings about halfway, looking like they are "doing push-ups". Robins look like they are rowing through the air (like a boat with oars). - Owl feather tips are "fluffy" which enable them to fly silently. - Upland Sandpiper gives a stretch as soon as it lands. - Geese fly in "V" formations, but so do Cranes, Gr.Blue Herons, Swans & Ibis. |
| Incubation: From "Down & Dirty Birding" Joey Slinger, 1996 Incubation is the "cooking" of the eggs to produce chicks. Usually, on average, the eggs reach about 34F degrees when they "are done". The brood patches are found on whichever of the mated pair is the one to sit on the eggs. Usually the female, although there are exceptions. Both sexes of the Woodpeckers have brood patches since both sit on the eggs. The male Rose-brested Grosbeak also sits on the eggs as well as many other birds. In some warmer climates, birds may spend more time shading the eggs to keep them cool, rather than sitting on them. Incubation is usually a nervous time for the incubating adult. Not only are they always on the look-out for predators, but egg turning must be done on a regular basis. |
| Duck Imprinting: A learning experience for young ducks that plays an important role in their survival. Imprinting occurs early in the life of precocial birds (birds that are well developed at birth and leave the nest very soon after hatching). Different forms of imprinting are: - Following response (filial imprinting) is when newly hatched birds learn to recognize the first thing that moves around them after hatching, usually their mother. - Auditory imprinting is when the hatchling imprints on not only a moving object, but on a sound as well. The mother's repeated call notes imprint on the young and can become especially important when the mother is leading the young through heavy vegetation. (This imprinting is essential for cavity nesters such as Wood Ducks.) - Sexual imprinting allows youngsters to identify the proper species for future mating. This form of imprinting usually occurs within the first two weeks of hatching. Studies have shown that if a hatchling is reared by a foster parent of a different species they will try to mate with the foster species. - Habitat imprinting is when the young form a mental image of their birth habitat and will seek similiar areas for their future nesting activities. (info from Birder's World, February 2004) |
| Molting: From "Down & Dirty Birding" Joey Slinger, 1996 Birds' feathers do not keep on growing like our hair does. Once it is grown it is "dead" and must be shed and new feathers grown in its place. This is called molting and most birds do it once a year. Most birds molt after breeding, and some molt partially again in the spring to add new and more colorful feathers. Most birds molt gradually since molting takes a great deal of energy. If birds molted all at once they would be vulnerable to predators and temperature changes. Ducks, however, do molt all at once and are flightless for as long as a month....while doing this they usually stay out of sight. Other birds, where flight is more crucial (eagles, vultures, cranes) will take as long as three years to shed and replace flight feathers. |
| Nests: From "Down & Dirty Birding" Joey Slinger, 1996 Nests come in all shapes and sizes: Eagles nests can weigh as much as a couple of tons, Hummingbird nests can be smaller than the tip of your index finger. They can be fancy like Oriole nests which are decorated with bits of colorful string and paper, to nothing more than a few sticks on the ground like pigeons use, or even nothing at all except a patch on the ground. Some nests are on rocky ledges (Murres), some in sides of cliffs (Cliff Swallow & Kingfishers), some floating (various ducks) or in holes in the ground (Burrowing Owls). Some birds, like Cowbirds, don't use nests at all but lay their eggs in other birds' nests. Ovenbirds nest are built on the ground and look just like small ovens, hence the name. "Birds' Nest Soup" is real. It is actually made from birds' nests...but a special bird, an Oriental cave swift called the Edible Nest Swiftlet. And those nests are made only from Edible Nest Swiftlet saliva. Hmm...Yummy! |
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