The Zen Birdfeeder

Local Birder in Search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Rich Guthrie, respected birder from New York's capitol and upstate region, is heading down to Arkansas again in search of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

Rich was a 2007 volunteer with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology team in search of the ivory-billed in the Big Woods of Arkansas.  Follow this link to see his picture in the 7th Group of search teams.

During that visit, Rich reported that he did indeed see the elusive bird.  Here's an article from The Daily Green on his 2007 report and you can listen to his report on the first part of his May 10, 2007 interview on WAMC Northeast Public Radio Vox Pop program, where he is a regular guest.

Rich spent two weeks in Arkansas in 2008 as well but reported no encounters with the Ivory billed.

Rich states, "The odds of success are improbable since there may be only one or two birds in existence (although there is evidence there may even be more)."  He helps put the enormity of his task in perspective:  "To put a sense of scale to the challenge, the area where they might be found is comparable in size to the Hudson Valley from Albany to Poughkeepsie with large sections impenetrable by swamps and flooded access."

The search will be complicated by high waters as well. "Last year, we had to abandon our search in a very favorable area because of the rising waters", Rich recalled. "This year I won't have the benefit of canoes, boats, or any institutional authorizations for privileged access to get into some of the more promising habitat."

Good luck Rich!  I know I am still hopeful that the "Lord God bird" still exists.

• If he's able, Rich will post his progress on his blog while he's gone.
• Read updates from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on their search teams at their "The Search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker" webpage.

Cooper's Hawk and Two Blue Jay Strikes

Before too much time passes and pictures of snow look terribly dated, I want to share photos of two unfortunate jays and one fortunate Cooper's Hawk.

The first strike was on February 16th, a cold Project FeederWatch day in which temps never got above freezing.  It was a clear day with no new snow added to the 2+ feet already on the ground.

Like other hawk strikes I've witnessed, it began with an explosion of warning calls from the sentry jays and a rush of feeder birds speeding off in every direction to the safety of nearby trees and shrubs.

The hawk's path was directly across the front deck and when one distressful call continued, I knew he had been successful.  I grabbed my camera and followed the calls to a spot only about 50 feet away in the cover off the west side of the house.

My first view was the jay being held down but fighting back valiantly, here recorded at 2:08p as the struggle and the cries continued.  (Click image to enlarge)

Back in March 2008, I witnessed a Sharp-shinned Hawk strike of a Tufted Titmouse, and in my blog post I commented "It seemed like it took a long time for him to kill the titmouse, though in looking at the camera times, it was over in less than 20 seconds.  It was the distress calls and struggling of the little bird that made it seem like an eternity."

Jays are much bigger than tufties (and the Coopers bigger than the sharpie) but the struggle between this jay and Coopers Hawk continued for seven minutes more.  Here are a series of shots through the trees documenting the encounter.

 

Coopers with tail fully spread and up as he holds jay down

Mantling the fighting jay.  Hawk's tail spread.

Five minutes pass and the stuggle goes on, the jay on its back but still putting up a fight.

Two more minutes pass and in the next image the hawk seems in control, jay unseen under the mantled wings and tail.

And another minute and a half later, the fight is over, jay on its back, tail up.

And the hawk begins consuming its meal.

Six days later, on a snowy Sunday around noon, I witnessed another successful strike by the Cooper's Hawk.  This time, it was over in a flash:  the strike, grab the camera, one set of burst photos from inside the house, and the hawk and jay were gone.  Here's all I captured:

These events are emotional to witness especially when the cry of the prey goes on and on and on.  I admire the jay for how long it continued to fight for its life.  I marvel at the size of the Cooper's Hawk and the strength it takes to overcome fighters like these jays.  This goes on in nature all the time; I was just lucky enough to witness it, and in doing so, gained an even greater appreciation for both predator and prey

Goldfinches Going through the Change (no, not THAT one!)

I haven't been at home much to watch birds but have noticed that the goldfinches are starting to molt into their breeding plumage.

 
American Goldfinch male beginning spring molt

• Male will replace the pale yellow winter plumage with bright yellow plumage
• A black cap will develop on his forehead
• Females will replace their very pale yellow winter plumage with a gray yellow plumage
• The bill of both the male and female will turn pinkish-orange
• Adult goldfinches molt twice a year
• Even though they molt in early spring, goldfinches are amongst the latest nesters (late August to early October in our area)

American Goldfinch male in breeding plumage


American Goldfinch female in breeding plumage

How far along are your goldfinches in their spring molt?

Vote EARTH in Tonight's Earth Hour Election

Earth Hour 2009 is the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming. For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.  TONIGHT - Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm (local time wherever you are).

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

Join me in voting EARTH by switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.  TONIGHT - Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

Will you use the comment section to let me know if you are participating?

Wordless Wednesday

Boat-tailed Grackles
Naples FL

Submitted to Bird Photography Weekly #30

I've Got Your Juncos

Warmer temperatures and the end of winter puts juncos in motion.  They leave their lower elevation wintering grounds and head back to breeding grounds at higher elevations.  And as the snowy ground cover retreats in my yard, your juncos are arriving here!

Dark-eyed Juncos are common breeders in New York in the higher elevations of the Catskills, Adirondacks, and the Appalachian Plateau.  And during the winter, they are common feeder visitors at lower elevations.

After a successful nesting season here at the foothills of the Adirondacks (1300 feet elevation), as the winter advanced their numbers decreased from the double digits to just 4 or 5.  But in just the last week, the number of juncos has jumped back up.  Yesterday's Project FeederWatch high count of juncos was 18.

They'll nest here in the coniferous and mixed forest with the female building the cup-like nest on the ground.  She'll hide it under a shrub or tree, will lay 3-5 eggs and will incubate them herself.

The Dark-eyed Junco's future seems to be in good shape in New York state, according to the Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State (species account by Charles R. Smith).  It reads, "With the continued maturation of forests in New York, its ability to nest in close association with people, the Dark-eyed Junco should continue to be a common bird in New York."

Thanks for taking care of the juncos this winter and I promise to treat them real well while they're here!

Kenn Kaufman Birds&Beans Talk forWBU Saratoga Springs NY

WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED - SARATOGA SPRINGS
WELCOMES AUTHOR AND BIRD EXPERT

KENN KAUFMAN

KENN KAUFMAN
Birds&Beans Talks Tour
Friday March 27, 2009
3:00pm

Renowned naturalist, birder and author, Kenn Kaufman will speak about our migratory birds at a special event sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited - Saratoga Springs and Birds&Beans the Good Coffee™, in cooperation with the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park.

Kenn will speak at 3:00pm Friday March 27th at the preserve office located at 80 Scout Road in Wilton.  Seating is limited; pre-register for the event by calling the Wild Birds Unlimited store at 226-0071.

As part of the Birds & Beans Talks tour, Kaufman will describe the travels and life histories of the beloved birds that spend summers raising young in the northeast and migrate extraordinary distances to tropical wintering grounds – to habitats that are increasingly devastated by unsustainable farming practices. As part of a regional initiative to inform all who cherish migratory songbirds, Kenn brings us tales and images of the marvels and challenges faced by these world travelers, from a bird’s eye view.

“In summer we all enjoy the color and song of our breeding birds, but know so little about their lives after they fly south in the fall,” says Nancy Castillo, co-owner of Wild Birds Unlimited. “Here at the very beginning of spring, Kenn Kaufman offers us rare insights into the tropical side of birds’ lives, and connects their daily challenges with our daily choices.” The Birds & Beans Talks is a series of lectures aimed at informing and educating birdwatchers and the general public about New York’s and New England’s migratory birds and the importance of sustainable and environmentally friendly coffee farming in ensuring habitat preservation.

In 2008, Kenn Kaufman was presented with the highest honor of the American Birding Association, the Roger Tory Peterson Award "for a lifetime of achievements in promoting the cause of birding" -- although, as he points out, he isn't finished yet.  Kenn burst onto the birding scene as a teenager, hitch-hiking around North America in pursuit of birds, and has gone on to travel and lead nature tours on all seven continents.  He is a field editor for Audubon and a contributor to every major birding magazine.  Most of his time, however, has gone into writing books, such as Kingbird Highway, Flights Against the Sunset, Lives of North American Birds, and Advanced Birding.  His own Kaufman Field Guides series now includes volumes on birds (in English and Spanish), butterflies, mammals, and insects.  He and his wife, Kim, keep busy with birds and rock music from their base in northwestern Ohio.

Wild Birds Unlimited – Saratoga Springs is the first retailer in New York to carry Birds & Beans™, “The Good Coffee”.  Lois Geshiwlm & Nancy Castillo, co-owners of the Saratoga Springs store have shared their passion for the birds and nature with their customers and the community since 2003, when they opened their store. Their commitment to the birds drove their decision to carry Birds & Beans coffee, which is certified ‘Bird Friendly®’ by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and artisan roasted in Maine

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KENN KAUFMAN

Birds & Beans Talk
Friday March 27, 2009
3:00pm
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Office, 80 Scout Rd., Wilton (directions below)
SEATING IS LIMITED - PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED - call the store at 226-0071

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Directions to Wilton Preserve Office from Wild Birds Unlimited:
1) Turn LEFT (northeast) out of The Shoppes at Wilton onto Route 50.
2) Continue on Route 50 for 2.4 miles to Edie Rd. Turn LEFT.
3) Continue on Edie Rd. for 1.4 miles to Scout Rd. Turn RIGHT.
4) Continue on Scout Rd. exactly 0.9 miles (you will pass Parking Lot #1 and go under the viaduct) to the preserve office, a wood-sided building on your LEFT.

For more information, check out these sites:

• Kenn Kaufman's Nature Site
• Kenn Kaufman's Blog "Birding with Kenn and Kim"
• " Brew the Right Thing" from Kenn's blog

• Introducing Birds&Beans 'Bird-Friendly' Coffee at Wild Birds Unlimited
• "Why Shade Grown Coffee Matters to Birds" from The Zen Birdfeeder

Zen Nature Lesson

This occasional feature highlights 3 blog posts from the past month (February) that exemplify the Zen nature lessons of Attention, Acceptance, and Responsibility. I encourage you to take a moment to enjoy these thoughtful posts.

Attention
In "An Acre Saved Is An Acre Earned", Larry of The Brownstone Birding Blog tells of his visit to a park that he almost passed by.  "When I came upon the location of the park, I realized that it was nothing more than an insignificant little mud hole of a pond that I had passed by so many times over the years. I almost turned around and left the minute I saw it."  Read on about his lesson in zen attention, concluding with "It's amazing what you can see when you slow down long enough to look."

Because I didn't find a zen acceptance post, I'll highlight another Attention post.  "Not all Red Birds are Cardinals" at Behind the Bins provides a good lesson in paying closer attention to that red streak!

Responsibility
Amber over at Birder's Lounge wants to know what conservation-minded things you've done lately in her "Do Something! Campaign" post.  She's made it easy for us too!

 Namaste

I and the Bird #96

Rob Fergus of the The Birdchaser blog pulled out all the creative stops in hosting IATB #96, the most recent edition of the bird blog carnival established by the folks over at 10,000 Birds.  I submitted my "Why Shade-Grown Coffee Matters to Birds" post.  Look for me under a purple starfish!  (Gets you curious, doesn't it?)

It's a great way to find new blogs to read.  Here are some new blogs I'll be following now:

    * The SW WI Birder
    * Rock Paper Lizard

Wordless Wednesday

They DO have red bellies!