Scientist and author Donald Kroodsma talks about his life-long passion for bird song. The conversation took place at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology where he was working on CDs to accompany a new book.
Monthly Archive: January 2010
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Follow Bluebird enthusiast Jack Finch as he examines his Eastern Bluebird nest boxes and discusses his 30 years of efforts to help save the Eastern Bluebird from extinction.
Posted on:
January 28, 2010
Spatuletail Courting Display
Video of the Spatuletail’s amazing courtship display. This rare humminbird inhabits the highlands of Peru.
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About Chickadees
The next time you hear a familiar “chick a dee dee dee”, listen closely, because a chickadee’s call can tell you a lot. Biologists have discovered that the more “dees” there are in a Black-capped Chickadee’s warning call, the more dangerous the predator.
One very threatening predator is the pygmy owl. Its prey is often small birds, and they are able to maneuver swiftly enough to capture a chickadee. When scientists tethered these birds close to chickadees in a test environment, they caused the chickadees to add as many as 23 “dees” to their warning calls!
Larger predators that don’t maneuver well and don’t cause much of a threat to chickadees only warranted an additional 3 or 4 “dees!” Chickadees also have a quiet “seet” call, which is believed to warn others of flying raptors. In fact, biologists have actually recognized more than 30 variations in chickadee songs and calls.
There are seven species of chickadees found in North America. The Black Capped Chickadee of the north was once called the Appalachian Chickadee, while the Mountain Chickadee of the Rockies and west was once called Bailey’s Chickadee–and the Chestnut-sided or Chestnut-backed Chickadee of the northwest coast was once named Barlow’s. Chickadees are in the same family as the Tits of Europe and Africa and the well known American Titmouse.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/about-chickadees/
Colorful Cardinals Bring Winter Cheer
Can anything beat the sight of a bright red Cardinal against a backdrop of white snow? In my northeastern backyard, the Northern Cardinal is a faithful visitor to bird feeders and can be one of the easiest species to attract. It is such a popular and widespread species throughout the east. It is the state bird for seven states and the mascot for professional baseball and football teams.
The Cardinal’s heavy triangular beak is red, contrasted by a black throat on the male. Their name comes from the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. The female is brownish overall with reddish highlights on the wings and tail.
In the summer, dark beaked juvenile birds come in a variety of “half-baked” plumages, with a mixing and mottling of red and brown. The crested head is another good field mark for adults and may be missing or shaggy on the juveniles.
Female Cardinal
Female Cardinal
Spring through fall their clear slurred, slurred and whistly song “Cheer, Cheer, Cheer!” rings throughout the landscape, with females joining the singing too Year round, listen for their incessant, short metallic calls and occasional bursts of song.
Cardinals live in a wide variety of habitats including woodland edges, thickets, forests, swamps, urban areas and gardens. They are typically seen alone or in small groups. To encourage nesting, plant viney, fruit-bearing shrubbery. During the courtship process, the male will feed seeds to the female.
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Illustrating Birds
Learn how illustrator Pedro Fernandes is creating a new poster of nesting birds for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch citizen-science project.
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Tips to Attracting Goldfinches To Your Backyard
The American Goldfinch is a favorite backyard songbird, adored for their bright yellow color, graceful flight and enchanting song.
Many people call this bird the “Wild Canary”- Much of the public doesn’t realize that the Goldfinches are not bright gold “all” year.
Goldfinches with winter plumage
Goldfinches with winter plumage
As the nesting season winds down and fall colors begin to appear, Goldfinches molt. That is, they replace their worn, tattered feathers with a set of fresh, new feathers. The appearance of males changes drastically at this time.
The brilliant yellow body feathers are replaced by dull brownish plumes, and the striking black cap disappears. Females also molt, but their appearance doesn’t change. Goldfinches wearing drab winter plumage flock to bird feeders.
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Tips to Attracting Nesting Birds To Your Backyard
Many North American birds nest in “cavities” (holes in trees and fence posts). Although some birds, such as woodpeckers, can chisel their own holes with their heavy, sharp bills, other cavity-nesters must find suitable holes for nesting. Unfortunately, suitable nest cavities can be hard to find in much of North America.
One way to solve the nest-site shortage is to provide artificial cavities, also known as birdhouses or nest boxes. More than 50 species of birds-including Bluebirds, Kestrels, Owls, Titmice, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Wrens, Tree Swallows, and Woodpeckers-Will use nest boxes. Nest Boxes have helped boost populations of many cavity-nesting bird species whose numbers were declining.
For example, both Wood Ducks and Eastern Bluebirds recently have made dramatic comebacks. A Nest Box on your property will provide a valuable home for birds and enjoyable bird watching for you.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/attract-nesting-birds/
White Nose Syndrome Continues To Devastate Bat Populations
Populations of some bat species have plummeted more than 90 percent in Northeast caves impacted by “White Nose Syndrome,” according to an extensive investigation by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.
Surveying 23 caves at the epicenter of the bat die-off in early 2009, researchers found an alarming decline – 91 percent on average — in the number of hibernating bats. The study included 18 caves in eastern New York, four in western Massachusetts and one in Vermont.
“These steep declines are alarming and disheartening,” Commissioner Grannis said. “Researchers from around the country are focusing on the bat die-off and DEC will continue to work with a wide range of partners to try to get to the heart of the problem.”
The study showed that not all species have reacted the same to White Nose Syndrome (WNS). Species that prefer warmer, wetter roosting spots than other bats have been impacted most severely. For example, the Little Brown bat has declined by an average of 93 percent (Little Browns account for 85 percent of all the bats that hibernate in the Northeast).
The Little Brown bat has declined by an average of 93 percent
A separate survey of the endangered Indiana bat showed it declined 53 percent on average. DEC bat specialist Alan Hicks said roost conditions may explain part but not all of the difference — Indiana bats prefer a colder, dryer hibernating spot than others.
Also, the survey of Indiana bats found stark contrasts between sites. For example, two former mines in Ulster County showed Indiana bat declines of 97 and 29 percent, respectively, with no obvious physical differences other than humidity.
Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/white-nose-syndrome-update/
Four Winter Getaways in New England
New England is famous for its historic inns, luxurious resorts, and intimate bed and breakfasts. But during the winter it’s also popular for its downhill and cross country skiing, luxurious spa and fitness resorts, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and skating on the local ponds.
Currier and Ives ingrained the scenes on our brains with their prints but isn’t it time to see it for real? Take a winter getaway in New England and explore the region when the slopes and tree tops are glistening white and you can experience dog sledding, trek along trails in snow shoes, and settle down next to a roasting fire after your gourmet dinner.
Here are four destinations for winter getaways in New England that always bring a smile to my face.
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