Since a lot of birders are talking about the Orioles and their migration, I thought I would post my Friday’s Feathered Friend on the Orchard Oriole. It was fun seeing this bird for the first time a few weeks ago.
I will say, as everyone is pointing out, its time to put your Oriole feeders out; it is easy to do. Cut a few oranges in half and place some grape jelly in a dish and you might have a beautiful Oriole in your yard. Here in Colorful Colorado we have the Bullock’s Oriole.
Orchard Oriole
Orchard Oriole:
Male:
`small Oriole 6-7.75 in length
`black-hood, back and wings
`burnt-orange underparts
`single-white wing bar
`white-edged flight feathers on wings
`chestnut underparts
`chestnut rump and shoulders
`black-tail with narrow white tips
Female:
`olive upperparts
`yellowish underparts
`dusky wings with two white wing bard
Their song sounds like this:
look here, what cheer, wee yo, what cheer, whip yo, what wheer
I happy bird I would say!
Population status: common to fairly common in open woodland, farmlands, scrub-mesquite, shade trees and orchards. Declining in parts of western range. They eat fruit and nectar.
Conservation: Neotropical migrant, Common host to cowbird parasitism (sad)
**information above taken from Smithsonian handbooks, Birds of North America**
Killdeer added to my Birding Life List in April of 1986
(Loveland, CO)
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Killdeer:
`largest of the ringed plovers and the only double-banded plover
`probably the most familiar shorebird in North America
`in the summer it is found across (almost) the entire continent south of the tundra
`two black bands across chest
`red eye ring
`slim black bill
`bright rufous-orange rump and upper tail coverts
`white underparts
`long-pointed wings with long white stripe
`loud cry sounding like, kill-dee or kill-deear
`monogamous, solitary nester, often returns to same mate and breeding site
`nests on open ground
`juveniles are similar in appearance, but have only one black band across the chest
**information above taken from Smithsonian handbooks, Birds of North America**
On April 10th we arrived in Kerrville, Texas staying for three nights at the Buckhorn Lake Resort. Howard and I were out walking the doggies and we heard then spotted a pair of Killdeer. After a few minutes of watching them we discovered they had three babies. These little guys were running all over the place and their parents were going crazy trying to keep track of them. I read that the babies feed themselves, but the parents tend to them. They will fly at around 25 days old.
I was so disappointed I didn’t have my camera with me. I ran back to the coach, picked up my camera and ran back to take a few shots of the babies. Well, I don’t know where they went, but I never did spot them again.
However, I did capture one of the parents faking injury to lure me away from the babies. It was amazing to watch this display. I had only seen this performed once before by a Nighthawk.
I didn’t want to disturb the family too much so I stayed well back from them.
Under behavior in one of my bird books it states the following about this fake injury display and it is very actuate.
Leads intruders away from nest and young with “broken wing” act, rapid calls, one or both wings dragging, tail spread, and often limping or listing to one side.
Killdeer, pretending to be hurt to lure me away from young
“Come after me, can’t you see I have a broken wing!”
Hello, my name is Eugene. That is me in the photo above. In case you don’t recognize me I am a Great Egret. I am currently staying at the Smith Oaks Rookery in High Island, Texas.
Handsome, aren’t I
My mate, Louise, is in the photo below. Some people believe her name is Jeez Louise, because that is what I yell at her all the time.
Louise? You’re not Louise!
Louise, is always complaining about how I do things and when she starts nagging, I yell Jeez Louise, give me a break!
Louise, there you are, Jeez!
You see, Louise, complains about the sticks I find and bring her to build our nest; she complains about how I take off; how I land on the nest; what foods I bring her and the list goes on and on.
“I found one”I’am working hard LouiseHere Honey, I brought you another stickA beautiful landing if I say so myself“I’ll be back, going to find another stick”Whoa, lookout below!“I’am coming in backwards”
I am hoping it won’t be long, the chicks will be born and out of the nest and Louise will once again be a happy bird.
Aren’t we a lovely coupleThanks Eugene, for everything
While you are here, I would like you to meet some of my friends here at The Rookery.
This is Captain, a Neotropical Cormorant. We should call him Shorty, because he has a very short tail, but that would be rude.
Meet The CaptainDon’t say anything about his short tail
Meet Showoff, a very handsome Snowy Egret who is always showing off his Yellow Slippers! The female Snowies are always after him. I’am jealous.
Meet ShowoffA Common Moorhen; get a load of the red shield!
Our next door neighbors, here at the Rookery, are Samuel and Rose! They are called Roseate Spoonbills. Can you guess why? They are a lovely couple and they never yell at each other.
Meet Samuel and Rose
More, gossip, on them later.
“Some days, I just can’t get a grip on things”
Sheila here: Aren’t my friends lovely?
It was a thrill to visit the Smith Oaks Rookery in High Island, Texas. To see the number of nesting birds was incredible; I will never forget this day.
For information of this area please visit this web-site:
The Pileated Woodpecker – red crest extending from forehead to nape, large black bill, scarlet mustache, white chin, white line from base of bill crosses face to back of neck and extends down neck to side and has a solid black back.
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Added to my Birding Life List on 09/21/98
(Beach Number Four, Washington)
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Pileated Woodpecker (listening to me as I try to get closer to him)
Pileated Woodpeckers:
drum on trees and logs to claim territory and attract a mate
the male roosts in the nesting cavity before the eggs are laid and afterward, incubates them there at night
bore deep into trees, dig on the ground and on fallen logs for food
eat ants, beetles and a variety of other insects, acorns, beechnuts, seeds of tree cones, other nuts and various fruits
are common to fairly common in the Southeast
vulnerable to habitat loss and forest fragmentation
have adapted to habitat changes
compete for excavated nesting cavities with European Starlings
**information above taken from Smithsonian handbooks, Birds of North America**
“Now you see me, now you don’t!” (This is how I saw him most of the time.)
He stopped pounding on the log for a second.
Stephen F. Austin State Park
The photo above shows our backyard from April 6th to April 10th. This is a beautiful Texas State Park located in San Felipe, which is about 20 miles west of Katy, Texas and it is a terrific place to see birds.
While there we saw the Tufted Titmouse, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, Black Vulture, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Ground Dove, Wood Duck, Red-winged Blackbird, Chipping Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Northern Cardinal and Indigo Bunting.
Our lovely and very green backyard for a few days. (Look close and you can see a few Northern Cardinals.)
Notice the felled trees in the background on the right of the photo above; this is where the Pileated was when we pulled into our site. It was a nice welcome!
Just as I am! Every Friday you may participate in Feathers on Friday at Prairie Birder.
The Boat-tailed Grackle – brown or dull yellow eyes, long keel-shaped tail, black overall, iridescent purple on head and back, black legs and black bill.
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Added to my Birding Life List on 04/10/93
(West Palm Beach, Florida)
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The Boat-tailed Grackle is a very large, glossy black bird.
The Boat-tailed Grackle’s common name refers to its long tail, often held in a V-shape to form a “keel.”
Found along the coast from Texas to Long Island, this songbird prefers salt and brackish marshes, where it breeds in colonies and socializes in noisy flocks.
The Boat-tailed Grackle has been expanding its range northward since the 1940’s, probably due to milder winters north of the Carolinas.
The female is a light, warm brown with dark brown wings and tail. The female’s “ear” is darker brown under a pale eyebrow. The eyes of both sexes are yellowish.
Boat-tailed Grackle
I photographed this beautiful bird while visiting the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge this past week.
What a beautiful black bird
Just as I am! Every Friday you may participate in Feathers on Friday at Prairie Birder.
Wolf Song Blog 