Birding Week

 

American Avocet
Qwexcxewq, CC BY 4.0 <via Wikimedia Commons

A friend, Debra Halter,  gave a very interesting presentation on bird migration to the Rolling Plains Chapter Texas Master Naturalist chapter this week. It was focused on tools scientists have used to learn more about bird migration and tools birders can use to track migration.  A timely topic. 

This was a good week for birds. It is migration season, and although I didn't see as many birds as expected, there were still some good migrants. And the weather was almost perfect. It was so nice not to have 100-degree plus weather.

On Monday, I was at Lake Wichita Park with some other Texas Master Naturalists and Craig Hensley, who is currently working with the National Wildlife Federation, on a monarch butterfly project. While he was putting tiny transmitters on the butterflies, I did see a few birds: double crested cormorant, great blue heron, snowy egret, white-faced ibis, belted kingfisher,  mallard duck, white pelican, Eurasian collared dove, northern yellow warbler, orange-crowned warbler, and great-tailed grackle.

On Wednesday, we started a new bird walk at Lucy Park through the Wichita County Health Department. There was a small group for this first walk, which is fine. We didn't see many birds: white-winged dove, American robin, great-tailed grackle, northern cardinal, yellow-billed cuckoo, eastern bluebird, red-bellied woodpecker, northern flicker, and great-tailed grackle. We watched a little warbler/vireo type bird, but couldn't get a good enough look to identify it. We'll continue to do these walks on the first Wednesday of each month at 8:30 AM in Lucy Park (unless there is ice on the roads in the winter--Penny doesn't do icy roads).

On Friday, we were doing environmental water testing at the Lake Wichita boat ramp, and there were a few birds. A large group of American Avocets was turning as a group feeding. In addition to these beautiful birds, I saw/heard red-bellied woodpecker, white-winged dove, house finch, northern cardinal, and great-tailed grackle.

Nashville warbler
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren, CC BY 2.0,
via Wikimedia Commons

On Saturday, which coincidentally was World Migratory Bird Day (second Saturday of May and October), I was at Lake Arrowhead State Park for the monthly bird outing. We had a good morning and the weather was beautiful. Bright sunshine, cool temperatures, and no wind. The best part of the morning was a Nashville warbler, a lifer for me! In addition to this exciting (to me) bird, we had several other species: great egret, snowy egret, great blue heron, greater yellowlegs, least sandpiper, killdeer, white-winged dove, double-crested cormorant, white pelican, kestrel, turkey vulture, ladder-backer woodpecker, northern flicker, northern cardinal, blue jay, eastern bluebird, house finch, Bewick's wren, Carolina wren, eastern phoebe, orange-crowned warbler, northern yellow warbler, scissor-tailed flycatcher, brown-headed cowbird, and great-tailed grackle. Debra said a barn swallow flew over our heads, but I missed it, so it isn't on my list.

This is a great time of year for birding! Get outside and see some birds.

Good birding!

It's About That Time! Project Feederwatch

Errol Taskin/Project Feederwatch

 One of the activities I enjoy every year is Project Feederwatch. I see on the website that I have been participating for 28 years. Whew!

This citizen science projects provides important information on changes in bird populations over time. The Feederwatch website provides a summary of various studies and articles which used the information Feederwatchers have provided. However, the best part of Project Feederwatch is that you have another excuse to spend time watching birds.

The next Feederwatch season starts on November 1 and runs through April. There is an $18 fee to participate (Cornell Lab of Ornithology members are $15). However, you get a lot of enjoyment from that $18. 

This is an excellent activity for shut-ins and children. You can watch the birds from your windows. There is a minimum 15-minute timeframe to participate, which is great for kids, but you can observe for as long as you like. This is also a good activity for schools and scouts. If you have a group of children and would like to take part, but the fee is a barrier, email me at txbirds@gmail.com, and I'll see what I can do to support you on this.

Good Birding!

A New Local Opportunity to Go Birdwatching!

Willcook3, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Exciting news! The Wichita County Health Department is sponsoring a bird walk to encourage better health. Not only does birdwatching get people outside and moving, it helps reduce stress. For those who have a hard time getting to Lake Arrowhead State Park for the monthly outing there, this will be more convenient.

Our inaugural walk will be at Lucy Park on Wednesday, October 7, at 8:30 AM. We'll meet up at the Sunset Drive entrance to the park. This will be a leisurely walk--after all, we're there to see the birds--and will last about an hour. There is no charge to participate. I expect it will be a small group. We plan to continue these walks every month on the third Wed. Hope to see you there!

Good Birding!

September Blah at Lake Arrowhead SP

Alan D. Wilson, CC BY-SA 3.0
via Wikimedia Commons

Although the bird outing was a couple of weeks ago, I am just getting around to telling you about it. September is usually a good month for birding at Lake Arrowhead SP. This month's bird outing did not live up to past experience. Usually, migratory birds are more abundant. That doesn't mean we didn't see any birds because we did. Just not in the numbers we have seen in the past. Not that I can blame the birds. Who wants to visit a place that has been 100+ degrees for weeks? Ugh!

This month, we had a new birder with us. A new birder is always a treat, because they are excited about every bird. For example, he was so enthusiastic about the killdeer. Killdeer are so common here that we see them and keep right on looking for other, less common birds. With a new birder, you see again how special a common bird is. I love having people come for whom birdwatching is a new interest. It was a relatively noneventful outing for those of us who go out every month, but in Bennie's case, almost every bird was new and exciting, making the morning more enjoyable for all of us.

My challenge was the western sandpiper. We don't get a lot of practice identifying shorebirds in our area. They pass through for a short time on migration, so there isn't a lot of opportunity to practice identifying them. And the peeps are especially tough. I wrote down the field marks and got out the books at home to differentiate the western from the semipalmated.

Our list for the outing: Killdeer, western sandpiper, greater yellowlegs, great egret, snowy egret, great blue heron, white-winged dove, ladder-backed woodpecker, Bewick's wren, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, eastern phoebe, epidonax flycatcher (sorry, I wasn't able to get a good enough look to identify which one), red-winged blackbird, great-tailed grackle, and European starling.

Next month's bird outing at Lake Arrowhead will be on Saturday, October 10, 8 AM, at the admin building parking lot (near the fishing pier). There is a $4 entry fee, unless you have a park pass. October is usually an excellent time for migrants.

Good birding!

Summer Bird Feeding

Three birds feed at a tray feeder in Maryland.,
Mikey Lutmerding, Public Domain,
https://www.fws.gov/media/three-birds-feed-tray-feeder-maryland

Most people feed their birds only in the winter (except their hummingbirds, which are only here in the summer). After all, there is plenty of food available in the summer, right? In general, that is true.

I feed all year, although I do cut back on the number of feeders in the summer and feed less food. However, I do continue to feed my birds in the summer months.

Breeding season is tough for birds. Babies require constant food. They develop very quickly so they need a lot of protein and fats continuously. Most new songbird hatchlings need to be feed every 15 - 30 minutes. After a couple of weeks, the frequency goes down to 30 - 45 minutes, although the quantity of food does not. Let's say you are a cardinal parent. Most cardinals hatch 3 - 4 nestlings and may have as many as 4 clutches in the nesting season (I know the pair in my yard is on it's third clutch now). Not only do mom and dad spend all day running around catching insects for their young, they too have to eat.

Baby songbirds need protein--i.e., insects. They cannot eat seeds, and seeds don't have the type of nutrition they need anyway. However, their parents can eat seeds. It's an easy way for them to keep up their energy during this very trying time. Can you imagine the calories they are burning running around trying to find a meal and running it back to the nest for 4 babies every 15 minutes? In this heat? Summer feeding can give them a boost to get through the summer nesting season.

So yes, I feed in the summer. Besides food, I focus on keeping the bird baths full. If you don't have a bird bath, a large saucer or tray will do. Keeping that clean and full can be almost a full-time job when the weather is consistently above 100 degrees for days on end. One issue is bird seed tends to spoil faster in the heat. So, even though smaller bags of seed are more expensive initially, smaller bags help prevent having to throw food away, so it works out. It is also critical to keep the feeders clean. Ideally, you will want to clean them weekly.

A couple of weeks ago, I heard a baby cardinal in the back yard. I looked out my kitchen window and there was a male cardinal at the sunflower feeder, getting a snack. I did find the fledgling cardinal on the ground. Although the fledgling seemed to be searching the ground for food, dad was still helping him. At this point in life, the young birds can eat seeds. Dad took a sunflower seed and took it down to the ground for the young one. 

Give you bird parents a hand by providing some fast food this summer. Besides, it gives you the opportunity to watch your birds.

Good birding!

Circle Trail Bluebird Boxes

Andy  Morffew from Itchen Abbas, Hampshire, UK,

CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>,

via via Wikimedia Commons

The Rolling Plains Chapter Texas Master Naturalists asked the city of Wichita Falls to allow them to put up bluebird boxes along the Circle Trail. The city agreed. The number of boxes will depend upon the chapter's ability to fund, install, monitor, and maintain the boxes. The intent is to start with a handful and gradually increase the number each year.

The chapter is currently fundraising for this project. The first boxes will be installed in September/October of this year (bluebirds start scouting next year's nesting sites in the Fall).

Eastern bluebirds were in serious decline some years ago, as were other small cavity nesting birds. People don't leave up dead snags as much as they used to, creating a shortage of nesting sites. However, these birds have bounced back since people have started putting up nesting boxes. Other birds in our area which use bluebird nest boxes are wrens, chickadees, titmice, and tree swallows. Invaders which can take over bluebird houses include house sparrows and European starlings.

The Texas Master Naturalists will build and install the boxes and monitor and report nesting success for the various species. They will also ensure non-native birds do not take over the boxes and make repairs as needed.

The chapter is currently fundraising for this project. Any amount is welcome, but a $100 donation will ensure you are recognized as a sponsor for a box. Donations may be sent to Rolling Plains Texas Master Naturalist, 1300 Lamar Street, Wichita Falls, TX 76301. Since a state agency hosts the chapter website, the chapter does not have the ability to accept online donations.

If you would like more information about this project, you can email the chapter at rollingplainschaptertmn@gmail.com or you can contact me at txbirds@gmail.com.

Good birding!

Bird Outing at Lake Arrowhead State Park

 

Ómar Runólfsson,

CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>,

via Wikimedia Commons

The monthly bird outing at Lake Arrowhead SP on August 8 was, as is usual in August, a little slow. The birds don't like the heat any more than we do. We did have a nice breeze off the lake though, which helped a lot.

The best birds of the morning were a handful of black terns, which made the morning worthwhile. Black terns migrate through our area in the Spring and Fall.

I have trouble with tern ID, mostly because most terns look a lot alike and they are generally moving over the lake feeding, instead of sitting quietly to be observed. However, the black tern is easily identifiable, because it is dark gray/black, instead of the white of the other terns.

The birds seen Saturday included great egret, snowy egret, western cattle egret, double-crested cormorant, white pelican, killdeer, black tern, mourning dove, northern cardinal, northern mockingbird, orchard oriole, yellow-billed cuckoo, Bewick's wren, ladder-backed woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, great-tailed grackle, and turkey vulture. Not a bad morning for early August.

The bird outings at Lake Arrowhead SP are the second Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM. We meet at the parking lot adjacent to the admin building (near the fishing pier). The park entrance fee is $4 per person, unless you have a TPWD park pass.

Migration should be picking up in September, so come on out on September 12.

Good birding!