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Sign Up For Project Feeder Watch

December 22, 2009

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December 22, 2009

Evening Grossbeaks

Project Feeder Watch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit bird feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locations in North America. It is operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.

Feeder Watchers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send their counts to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Project FeederWatch.

FeederWatch data help scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. As a Feeder Watcher, you will learn more about winter birds and how their populations are faring.

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Signals for survival – Adversaries Find a Way to Coexist

December 21, 2009

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December 21, 2009

Herring Gull and Lesser Black Backed Gull

On a small rocky island off the Maine coast two adversarial species of gulls coexist in relative peace, despite each being a potential predator of the other.

Thousands of Greater Black-backed and Herring gulls have evolved a complex system of social signals that keep violence on the island to a minimum. The gulls use these signals to carve out and hold small territories spread just 4.5 meters apart across the 95 acre island.

In their 3 short months on Appledore island, the gulls court, mate, nest, fledge young all within the same patch of rocks that they have held for years.

Territoriality begins when males arrive in spring followed closely by their mates. These experienced pairs of gulls strut about inspecting their site for appropriate nest locations and reinforcing territorial boundaries. Boundaries must be constantly defended from rivals. An interloper or loafer approaching a neighbors territory, is met with a series of displays or signals intended to drive him away.

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Ribbon Cutting at the Byam Outdoor Learning Center

November 11, 2009

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November 11, 2009

Students cut ribbon to open the Byam Learning Center

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on October 29 to officially open the Byam Outdoor Learning Center in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Located in Byam Elementary School’s central courtyard, the Learning Center will be used as an outdoor classroom with an emphasis on ecology, biology, gardening, wildlife habitats, and recycling and reusing.

The Learning Center includes a variety of bird feeders, bird houses, a birdhouse video camera system, a wireless weather station, rain guage, butterfly garden and solar bird bath. In the future, the Learning Center will be expanded to include an herb garden and composting center.

The transformation from courtyard to Outdoor Learning Center was made possible by volunteer efforts, donations from local businesses, and a grant from the Chelmsford Arts and Technology Fund.

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Dance of the Sharp Tailed Grouse

November 7, 2009

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November 7, 2009

Male Sharp-Taled Grouse battle on a lek

In the plains of northern Wyoming, a group of male Sharp Tailed Grouse dance to attract a mate. Extending their colorful eye combs, puffing out their purple air sacs, and spreading and dipping their wings the males all intently motor across the grassland then suddenly and intently freeze in place.

Their vibrant colors would seemingly expose them to prey from above. However, as if with a flip of a switch, their bold colors are deflated, broad tails are flattened and they seamlessly blend into the grassy floor.

A truly wonderful dance recorded by the Cornell Lab or Ornithology.

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What Kind of Bird is it? Bird Identification Keys – Color Pattern

October 28, 2009

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October 28, 2009

Western Meadowlark

For beginning birders, it is often a wild bird’s brilliant color that attracts them to birding. Field guides are filled with detailed and beautiful illustrations and photos of wild birds, but the images can be misleading because field marks change throughout the season. Recognizing and identifying wild birds is made easier by using the four keys to bird identification – Size & Shape, Color Pattern, Behavior and Habitat.
Bird Identification – Color Pattern

When using color to identify a wild bird, it’s best to take an overall color inventory of the bird. Notice how the color arranged on the bird’s body, rather than trying to specifically match the colors to those found in the field guide. Ignore the subtleties of the color and placement (plumage changes throughout the season), and check patterns in places like the wing bar, eye ring or spectacles.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has created an excellent video series to help the beginning birder develop their wild bird identification skills. Below, is the second in the series – Recognizing Birds – Color Patterns.

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What Kind of Bird is it? Bird Identification Keys- Shape & Shape

October 27, 2009

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October 27, 2009

Look at the bird’s body, head, bill, wings and tail. Does it have a round or long thin profile or silhouette? Is it’s bill short and stout, or long and thin? Does it have a long or short tail? Using these observations and a field guide, you can put the bird into a group or family of other birds. Then comparisons can be made to other birds, as well as to the bird itself to create a short list of possibilities, and then move on to the other identification keys – color pattern, behavior and habitat.

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