Bird Watching - The Outdoor Directory for Birding

Violet-green Swallows

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:26:02 -0800

My swallow nest boxes have been a big hit with the Violet-green swallows this year. the nest box on the east side of the house over the kitchen window has been home for two broods of swallows this year. Different adults Ii assume. It has been a delight watching the adult swallows flying back and forth to the nest box as they feed their young. Yesterday morning about 10:00 am I was lucky enough to be out on the deck and watching them when the first nestling shot out of the nest box hole on its first flight. Moments later the second swallow took flight, then the third and the fourth were airborne. That's all of them I thought as I looked upward at the little cloud of swallows chasing their parents. Then the fifth nestling poked its head out of the nest hole. The nest box hole is only big enough for two nestlings to look out, three if they squeeze together, so I never knew how many nestling swallows were in the box. What a surprise to see the fifth. Periodically the adults flew by the nest. the adults even perched on top of the nest box in an attempt to coax the last one out. After an hour the fifth and last young Violet-green swallow took flight. It seems too quiet now when I look out the kitchen window. But higher up above the Douglas firs I will see the swallows in the evening until it is time for the season to change and for these swallows to head south.

The Red-breasted Sapsucker and the Willow Tree

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:13:29 -0800

I noticed the tell tale even rows of holes of the Red-breasted Sapsucker in the bark of a willow tree. The dull, light green bark of the tree had turned dark and shiny where the sap oozing from the dozens of holes was dripping down the side of the willow. I waited for the Sapsucker to makes its appearance which the bird did after a short time. Its beautiful red head darted back and forth feeding on the willow sap and the insects attracted to the sap. Turning its head to look at me, a mere 4 feet away, it flew off and a Rufus Hummingbird replaced the Sapsucker at the tree. The little hummer's tongue flitting in and out it feed until a more aggressive Rufus Hummingbird chased it away. As the two hummingbirds spun around each other the Sapsucker returned. For two hours I took close photographs of the Hummingbirds and the Sapsucker feeding. A few Black cap Chickadees also plucked insects off the willows wounds. A steady flight of various bees and yellow jackets and small midgy insects fed on the sap and flew off. Others insects became stuck and were held until they became food for the birds. I finally left this little microcosmic world created by the Sapsucker on the side of the willow with over 70 photos in my camera

Cedar Waxwings

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:29:38 -0800

While walking through the woods I was delighted to hear the beautiful sounds of Cedar Waxwings high in the trees. I counted 43 Cedar Waxwings. There were many more that I could hear in the distance. Their long, conspicuous crest, black mask and yellow tail band make these very striking birds. Fruit, berries, insects and sap are their diet. When searching the trees with for birds like these I prefer binoculars with a wide field of view and 6 to 8 power, never more than 8 power. In the fall when we are searching the distant skies for migrating hawks and eagles I will use my 10x40 binoculars but in the woods like a set of 8x32 binoculars works great.

Rescuing Birds

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:13:26 -0800

We always get many inquiries in the Spring about birds people have found that appear to have been abandoned by their parents and about injured birds. Our Website Birdingguide.com has a good article on rescuing birds and links to Audubon Society Chapters around the country. Look also under our Menu, click on "clubs" for list of Audubon chapters nearest you for contact information and advice on injured birds. Young fledglings that are found on the ground are most often best just left alone. Their parents are nearby and many young birds do spend a couple of days on the ground before learning to fly. this is a time when young birds are especially prone to being killed by house cats and feral cats. Your Audubon chapter is a good contact source and also your State Fish and Game departments for injured birds. Just recently an injured Osprey was brought to our Audubon Care Center. The Osprey had gunshot wounds to its neck and wing. It was partially paralyzed and had to be humanely euthenized. A Red tail hawk was also brought in with gunshots wounds but happily it was able to be treated and released.

Bill@birdingguide.com

Birds On The Move

Thu, 15 May 2008 17:10:00 -0800

The spring migration of birds here in the Northwest is in full swing. The beginning of May was the peak of the shorebird migration along the coast. At home our invasion of Goldfinches and Grosbeaks continues where three bird feeders of sunflowers seeds a day are emptied. Unfortunately, many of our migratory birds are declining. The Audubon society lists over 210 species of American birds in decline. You can personally do a lot to help migratory birds by e-mailing your congressional representatives to fund the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act at a higher level of funding. Check the web for more information on the NMBCA and the important work it does. A short e-mail to your Senators and Representatives in the House will help.

A Sunday Walk In The Woods

Sun, 11 May 2008 10:31:11 -0800

Nature's varied shades of green in Spring are so lovely with yellow the dominant base of all the varied spring greens unfolding on the trees and shrubs and grasses. Later in the year the sun will harden the greens of spring into the darker even brownish and blackish greens of summer. But for this morning yet the unfolding of all the hues of spring green drew us out into the woods for a walk midst the morning chorus of bird songs. The woods here are filled with small clouds of birds this time of year. Some are active with the breeding colors of the new season others feeding and foraging heavily as they pause on their journey northward to their breeding grounds.

The trees tops this morning are heavy with Evening Grosbeaks and Black Headed Grosbeaks. A small cloud of Pine Siskins are feeding in the alders and birches. Several Purple Finches are mixed in with all the Grosbeaks. After a brief rain shower we turn our focus from the tree tops to the ground shrubbery and spotted several Song Sparrows. A Rufus Hummingbird darts past my head. As always the ever present local residents are flying by throughout the morning: the Black Cap Chickadees, the Chestnut Backed Chickadees and Red Breasted Nuthatches.

Red Tail Hawks Nesting On Portland, OR Fire Escape

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:47:09 -0800

For another season a pair of Red Tail Hawks are nesting on a fire escape in downtown Portland OR. The young hawks have hatched. You can follow their growth and nest activity from a camera mounted at the nesting site. Go to KGW.com/raptorcam for past photos and a live camera feed.

Spring and Winter

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:54:19 -0800

Spring and winter are pushing against each other for dominance this year here in the Northwest. We have had a light snow fall for three mornings at our elevation of only 660 feet, which is most unusual for the Coast Range. Such late freezing weather is a big concern for the fruit orchards with are in bloom. With spring and winter overlapping so much I went on a mid April snowshoe trip to Mt Hood in celebration of my 62nd birthday. With over 15 feet of snow on the ground I snowshoed up a steep mountain ridge on the east side of Mt Hood to Elk Meadow, a lovely bowl of wild flowers in the spring, but still deeply covered in snow. Pushing back against winter the birds of spring are arriving even with all the snow. Dozens of Tree Creepers were in the forest, the songs of Robins were ever present and I caught a glimpse of a couple of warblers. The forest around Elk Meadow at 4,500 feet in elevation, though still snowbound, had many orange and brown California Tortiseshell butterflies flying through the trees. A wonderful day it was but I do hope the butterflies in the snow signal the end of winter soon.

Varied Thrush

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 18:48:57 -0800

Here in the coastal range of the Pacific Northwest we are experiencing a delightful invasion of Varied Thrushes. One can not look out any window of our house without seeing these black, gray and striking orange birds foraging in the lawns for insects, worms and snails. Any apples that have remained all winter on the trees are attractive to the Varied Thrush. Typical of the far west, British Columbia and Alaska they sometimes stray all the way to the Atlantic. They nest in conifers but sometimes also on the ground. Their songs, especially at dawn and dusk, are enchanting. Each evening I enjoy walking the old logging road to listen to their music. In the mornings I pause before getting into my car to listen again to their morning song. There is something about their song that makes it difficult to locate the position of the singer. Their numbers will taper off as many will move on to Alaska before their return in the Fall. but for now what a delight to see them running across the yard and flying through our trees.

Easter Greetings

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:39:32 -0800

Our male Rufus Hummingbirds returned right on schedule last weekend. The females will soon follow. Some birding excitement around here last week. Our neighbors spotted a couple of Banannaquits. One hit their window and was stunned but recovered quickly. These birds are tropical and are only known as strays in southern Florida. The birds at my neighbors are obviously escapees but still it was nice to get a close look before they flew off.

HAPPY EASTER

Bill@birdingguide.com

Signs of Spring Migration

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:47:57 -0800

The Rufus Hummingbirds that spend the spring and early summer nesting here at our house are due to arrive the day after tomorow. This week has been quite cold so I am curious to see if they delay their return. For years they have showed up plus or minus 24 hours of the 15th of March. the first ones will be males which is typical of migrating birds in the spring The first sighting and the first major movements of all spring birds are nearly always the males. Different species begin their northward migration at different times, of course, but the birds among the same species feel the drive to move at the same time. Usually the birds do not move in one massive flight but in a series of waves. One group following the other. We are waiting for our little "Hummers".

Trumpeter Swans, Gray Jays And A Day in the Snow

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:30:01 -0800

There is still nearly 200 inches of snow in the mountains although the valleys are filled with spring blossoms of daffodils, crocus, snow drops and camellia. We threw out snow shoes in the pick-up and headed for the east side of Mount Hood for a day in the snowy back country. "Let drive out through the Columbia River Gorge", my friend Anthony suggested. "We may get lucky and spot the Trumpeter Swans that frequently over winter near the river." Luck was with us for we did spot Trumpeters in a pond just beyond Crown Point. The Trumpeter is the largest of swans in the world and the largest North American waterfowl. Once nearly extinct they have made a recovery. The Trumpeter is entirely white but sometimes their heads are stained red brown from feeding in water with iron. Leaving these beautiful birds was hard but the snow beckoned. An hour into our snow shoe trek with snow falling out of the sky we attracted the attention of three Gray Jays. They stay in the mountains all winter having learned to survive in snow country. Beautifully toned in black, white and shades of gray they followed us as we crunched through the snow. The Jays flitted from tree to tree approaching ever closer until the three birds landed on a small fir ten feet away from us. "All right. Just a little bit", I said and reached into my jacket pocket for my sandwich. Tearing off a few bits of bread I extended my hand into the air with bread crumbs in my open palm. Quickly flying into my hand each jay grabbed a crumb and flew back to its tree. With no more "people food" forth coming the jays flew off but the sweet, tactile memory of their little feet in my hand remained with me the rest of the day.

12th Annual Celebration of Whooping Cranes

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:32:36 -0800

Port Aransas, Texas is hosting the 12th Annual Celebration of Whooping Cranes and other birds this coming February 22-24th, 2008. There will be boat trips to see the Whooping cranes, speakers and workshops. For more information and to register contact www.portaransas.org/cranes.html or the Chamber of Commerce 800-45-COAST.

I remember when the numbers of Whooping Cranes had dropped to an alarmingly low number. The Post Office issued a very nice Whooping Crane stamp. Fortunately many people got involved to save these beautiful birds from extinction and the number of cranes has been slowly increasing.

Check out the Crane Celebration if you are anywhere in the area. Birding festivals are fun, bring attention to birds and birding and help the local economy.
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Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Festival

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:46:55 -0800

Located in Southeast Oregon near the city of Burns, the Malheur Refuge is one of the premier wildlife and birding areas in America. During spring migration the varieties of bird species are in the hundreds in this high desert area of lakes and marshlands. bobcats, coyotes mule deer and badgers are also to be seen. However, at the turn of the 19th century the birds at Malheur were not protected and plume hunters came to this area to kill swans, egrets, herons and grebes for feathers for the millinery trade. An ounce of feathers actually sold for more than an once of gold at that time. To stop the slaughter, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Lake Malheur reservation in 1908. The Refuge has grown. 187,00 acres of bird habitat and wetlands along the Pacific flyway make this an area not to be missed.

The John Schaff migratory Bird Festival is coming up soon. Registration begins February 4 for the festival at Burns. Oregon. Check out www.migratorybirdfestival.com for more information

Winter Backyard Birding

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:43:52 -0800

A friend wrote after Christmas in appreciation of a nice bird bath she had received as a Christmas gift: "I love the artistic bird bath and cannot wait until Spring to set it up in the yard!" "Actually the bird bath was meant to be used right away", I responded. " Set it up right away for birds actually have a greater need for water in the winter when natural sources of water may be frozen." I continued. Our feathered friends often have more of a need of help in having a water source than a human provided food source in the cold months. Here at home our daytime high temperatures have been below freezing this last week. So if you can set out some water with a small bird bath coil heater your back yard birds will appreciate your efforts.

Bill@birdingguide.com