Very productive day of birdwatching....

[alicedee07]

Some pictures would be great next time. I would go birdwatching but I live in the city so it's kinda hard.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Originally Posted by Medicine Al

I definitely see the attraction, its fun to get baked and try to see what the hell is flying around.

One of my favorite aspects about birding is identifying birds I have yet to see. I almost think of it like a real-life video game. I have a state bird checklist and cross off a species when I see it. Some birds are harder to find/see then others....those would be the harder levels. As I continue to check off birds, I am getting deeper into the 'game'.

As of now, I have checked off (I think) 52 birds out of the 412 (once again, I think) birds in Connecticut. I started the second week in February.

[nitrum]

I think it's cool how birds are descendants of dinosaurs. The other day I say a magpie catch a mouse and peck it to death on my lawn. It was like watching a reinactment of the cretaceous period.

Mouse (mammal): You may dominate today you lizard beast. But somedayI tell you.... someday mammals will rule!

Bird (dinosaur): [emotionlessly pecking]


Seriously though, people make fun of bird watching because birds are common. Therefore they think it is mundane and boring. But if they took the time they'd realize birds are really freakin cool.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Originally Posted by nitrum

I think it's cool how birds are descendants of dinosaurs. The other day I say a magpie catch a mouse and peck it to death on my lawn. It was like watching a reinactment of the cretaceous period.

Mouse (mammal): You may dominate today you lizard beast. But somedayI tell you.... someday mammals will rule!

Bird (dinosaur): [emotionlessly pecking]


Seriously though, people make fun of bird watching because birds are common. Therefore they think it is mundane and boring. But if they took the time they'd realize birds are really freakin cool.

Man I wish Magpies lived in my area. Those are some beautiful birds.


Yea birds really do kick ass. There are many people who like nature yet don't know how broad a spectrum theres is when it comes to birds. While walking in the woods you may see a few deer, some squirrels and chipmonks, maybe some coyotes if you're lucky...... but no matter how dull the wildlife is at a certain time, there are always birds around.

Birds are a link between urban life and nature.

[the color green]

I was walking my dog like last week, and I saw some birds that were interesting I'm wondering if u can help me out ... I could probably go flip through the birdwatching books my dad has but I figure just ask a pro

They were normal sized, travelling from tree to tree in flocks of 15-20. They were the most common bird I saw when I was walking but I don't ever recall seeing them around here before. I live in a warm summer climate in the midwest, it's been a little chilly here for springtime. there are a few retention ponds and a fairly thick deciduous forest in my area. The bird was all black except for on the base of its wing it had a BRIGHT fucking orange, like hunter safety orange

is it some kind of oriole or anything?

[nitrum]

The color green, I laughed for like a minute straight when I saw that lame-ass/incredible rad picture. Then I read your avatar and laughed for another minute.

Thanks for making my day.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Originally Posted by the color green

I was walking my dog like last week, and I saw some birds that were interesting I'm wondering if u can help me out ... I could probably go flip through the birdwatching books my dad has but I figure just ask a pro

They were normal sized, travelling from tree to tree in flocks of 15-20. They were the most common bird I saw when I was walking but I don't ever recall seeing them around here before. I live in a warm summer climate in the midwest, it's been a little chilly here for springtime. there are a few retention ponds and a fairly thick deciduous forest in my area. The bird was all black except for on the base of its wing it had a BRIGHT fucking orange, like hunter safety orange

is it some kind of oriole or anything?

The picture you drew looks like a Northern 'Baltimore' Oriole. However, the description and location makes me think Red-winged blackbird. Do a google on both of those birds and I bet its one of the other.

The red-winged blackbird is all black, and has a red and yellow spot on either shoulder. Although, often you can only see yellow, only red, or neither.

But if it was FOR SURE orange, its probably an Oriole. Red-wings tend to travel together, but spread out over a small area.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Originally Posted by alicedee07

Some pictures would be great next time. I would go birdwatching but I live in the city so it's kinda hard.

Ya know, I've gone birding in Central Park, NYC and it was very productive. If your area has urban parks, or better, state parks..... you will have plenty of opportunities.

[morphyx]

I love birds. I go out back and watch them all the time. I keep the bird feeders full and make a corn offering to the squirrel demon who likes to bother my feeders.

I've been wanting to get a birding book but haven't yet. I know some finches, robins, cardinals, and orioles (saw one today) blue jays, crows, hawk, buzzards, starling but I've seen some I don't know.

One is a very small bird with a shiny black coat and bright yellow vest on. Beautiful bird. I haven't seen one yet this season.

I live in the blue ridge mountains of northern-western virginia.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Originally Posted by morphyx

I love birds. I go out back and watch them all the time. I keep the bird feeders full and make a corn offering to the squirrel demon who likes to bother my feeders.

I've been wanting to get a birding book but haven't yet. I know some finches, robins, cardinals, and orioles (saw one today) blue jays, crows, hawk, buzzards, starling but I've seen some I don't know.

One is a very small bird with a shiny black coat and bright yellow vest on. Beautiful bird. I haven't seen one yet this season.

I live in the blue ridge mountains of northern-western virginia.

I would suggest the National Audubon Society's Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region. That is the book I use most often. It's only $20 at any book store.

If the bird you saw was smaller than most finches, it could be some kind of warbler. There are dozens of species of warblers....all under 5", most around 4".

[the color green]

Originally Posted by chiefMOJOrisin

The picture you drew looks like a Northern 'Baltimore' Oriole. However, the description and location makes me think Red-winged blackbird. Do a google on both of those birds and I bet its one of the other.

The red-winged blackbird is all black, and has a red and yellow spot on either shoulder. Although, often you can only see yellow, only red, or neither.

But if it was FOR SURE orange, its probably an Oriole. Red-wings tend to travel together, but spread out over a small area.

All of the google pictures of orioles have orange bellies so I'm thinking probably not, and the Red-wing blackbird pictures look just like what I saw.


Thanks man.

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Since I last posted my bird species count (52 birds on 4/08/08), the number has risen to 98. I would consider myself an avid birder, but I do not do it everyday....although I would love to. The reason for me seeing 46 new (to me) species in one month is because April and May are the best months for birding. When birds are migrating, that is when you will see the greatest diversity of species. Bird that do not live in your area can be seen stopping over on their journey (usually north).





Here are a few of my favorite pictures so far this year (most are from April to now... there are more but most exceed the file size limit for pictures and I do not want to take the time out to resize them all).....



This is an Osprey. They are residents in my area (Connecticut coast) and this individual is a part of the Connecticut Audubon Society's Osprey program at their CAS center at Milford Point in Milford, Connecticut. This is the male..... I had already taken a few shots of him flying so he was aware of me. If you look close enough you can see that his pupils were looking directly at me....somewhat eerie. If you have time I would highly suggest checking out the CAS's Osprey webcam. It is hit or miss, but usually hit. I am not certain, but I believe it is either breeding time now, or very close.

http://67.86.143.68:81/view/index.shtml (If for some reason it doesn't work, go to the Connecticut Audubon Society's website and there is a link to the webcam on the left hand side)....





This next bird is a juvenile Cooper's Hawk. It too is a resident here in Connecticut. It is one of the best bird hunters.... I was at a salt marsh near the mouth of the Connecticut River and I saw this bird soaring somewhat low over the brush that lined the shore in some places, looking for prey. I turned my head to check out a noise in the bushes and when I turned back it was gone. Seconds later I heard a noise in the tree that was about 20 feet behind me......it was the Cooper landing. I snapped this shot and one other before it did a nose dive and attacked a small sparrow on the ground and flew off with it in his talons. It was an intense sight.





Another resident raptor of Connecticut is the Northern Harrier.....sometimes called the 'Marsh Hawk' because it mainly lives near marshes. And that is exactly where I saw this one....at the Great Meadow Marsh in Stratford, Connecticut. This photo shows a very common behavior of the Harrier.....when hunting, they fly very low over the marsh and before actually attacking/grabbing its prey. They throw their wings up over their head in a 'V' formation. Chances are that if you see a bird of prey flying low over a marsh with it's wings in the 'V' shape, it is a Northern Harrier. One cool thing about them, besides being awesome hunters, they have a the same type of rounded face that owls have.....the shape of the face somehow helps the bird hear or something. One very certain way to identify a Northern Harrier is its clear, white rump.





Continuing on the bird of prey trend, here is a bird that needs no introduction. (I apologize for the poor photo quality) I saw his majestic ass on a boat ride on the Connecticut River in Essex, Connecticut. In addition to this adult male, there were 3 juveniles and an adult female. (In case you are slow, or truely do not know....its a Bald Eagle.)





Lets change it up a little bit....... This next striking bird is a Blue-Winged Warbler. Warblers are small birds that NEVER sit still. While foraging for small insects or seeds/berries, they hop from branch to branch to twing to twig....never staying in one spot for longer than 5 seconds. I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when this gorgeous little guy poped out of the thorn bush he was in and into the open. I got a few shots and this one is my favorite of those.....





In Connecticut, and everywhere else, there are a lot of different warbler species. Don't quote me, but I believe throughout one year a determined birder can see 25-30 different warbler species in a single state. So far, out of my 98 positively identified birds, 9 are warblers. This is one of my favorites if only for the amazing contrast of black and white...... can you guess it's name???? Thats right (or wrong), a Black and White Warbler....





One of my all-time favorite birds recently made a home for itself in the woods behind my house. I have a series of different bird feeders set-up....all catering to as many types of birds as possible. Currently, I have feeders for general songbirds, finches, Eastern Bluebirds, orioles, and hummingbirds. This particualr one prefers the thislte I put out for the finches. He is a male (breeding plumage) Indigo Bunting. Once again I apologize for the bad photo.....if I got too close he would fly away. A cool fact about these birds is that their feathers are actually black. Either the feather density or make-up of the feather itself cause only the blue light spectrum to be seen.





Next up is an Eastern Phoebe. They get their name from their calls...which is a hoarse 'FEE-bee....fee-BEEEE'. They live only in the woods, and are quite often heard but not seen. Of the three times I have seen this bird, each time was luck. This particular individual just happened to perch itself on a branch in front of me while I was making my way along a path in the Westwood Trails in Guilford, Connecticut. They are related to flycatchers and I have seen them jump straight up off their perch to catch an insect, and land right back on the same spot.





Last but not least is probably one of the cutest living things in the universe.....not just birds. It is the Piping Plover and it is a nationally listed endangered animal. The loss of habitat has hurt these cute little plovers, to the point where protection programs were needed. They breed in New England (locally) and I am lucky enough to have some where I go birding in Milford, Connecticut. There, they have fences set up around a decent sized area of barrier beach (beach that isn't the shore and is a little out into the water.....it is a barrier of little salt water pools and what-not) so people, and pets, can't get to them. They do not make nests in the classic sense of the word....they build up little sand piles and lay their eggs directly on the sand in a small depression. So, a beach goer can far to easily crush the plovers eggs....the birds natural evolutionary tactics are now detrimental to them. They way the nests and eggs blend into the beach cause them to not be seen, and often stepped on. Hence, then fence.

(Is it possible for living creatures to be cuter than this bird???? ^^)