The Eyrie

Book Review: Small-headed Flycatcher

By Neil Gilbert

 

You can’t go wrong with Pete Dunne. He’s one of my favorite authors; I’ve been reading his books since I was ten. That’s why, upon receiving a gift certificate to Bueto Books, I ordered Small-headed Flycatcher. It was one of the few books by Dunne that I had not read.

Like several of Dunne’s other books, Small-headed Flycatcher is a collection of essays about birds, birding, and birders. With his usual creativity, Dunne infuses his stories with wit and humor. Dunne has a way of presenting serious topics from a humorous angle. For example, in “Separating Hoagies,” Dunne approaches the delicate topic of rare bird committees—by comparing rare birds to sandwiches.

 

Young birders appear frequently in Small-headed Flycatcher. I found it fascinating to read about Dunne as a young birder, as many of his experiences matched those of modern young birders. I could relate to several of his stories. For example, I’ve had encounters with condescending older birders just like in the story “Passing Sights and Sounds,” in which a penniless young birder has to tolerate a rich older birder who…

I shouldn’t spoil it for you.

   

Small-headed Flycatcher has my solid recommendation. Hardly surprising. I knew it would be good before I even cracked it open; after all, you can’t go wrong with Pete Dunne. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy—and try to read it faster than I did (two days.)

YBY Contest Deadline!

Hello young birders of America,

 

This is just to say….get yourself together because the Young Birder of the Year contest deadline is this Friday, October 23! Don't forget to send in your submissions....

 

For those of you who don’t know, the Young Birder of the Year contest, held by the ABA, is a competition in which participants choose to participate in any or all four categories (field notebook, illustration, writing, and photography). In order to win the overall contest, you must participate in the field notebook section plus two other modules. Participants may also place and win prizes within individual sections. Your next chance to enter will be April. For more information on guidelines and where to send your materials: http://www.aba.org/yby/index.html

 

I highly recommend participation in the contest. I entered it three years in a row (2004, 2005, and 2006). Through the contest, I developed my skills in birding. Receiving comments and advice from judges who are considered the “top-dogs” of the birding world was the best part. They gave sincere comments that helped me improve my art, writing, and note-taking skills. In addition, I received scholarships to birding camps which expanded my view of birding outside my home state. To see a sample of previous entries visit: http://www.aba.org/yby/2007winners/

5 Best Vocalizers (Debatable)

  
Sprague's Pipit (Apalachicola, FL), Courtesy of Andy Bankert
 

How many times have you argued with your birder friends over what birds are the coolest? Maybe you haven’t and I am a total nerdatron. Since “coolest” is kind of vague, I’ve instead chosen to think up a list of the best vocalizations. I did not say the best singers, so any vocalization can be included. Yes, even the short chips of warblers are fair game. Many birds on my list have somewhat sentimental vocalizations for me, they rattle my memory. Others just sound cool. No matter how common, I still get excited over hearing these birds.

 

The following is my personal list of favorite vocalizations (top 5). This is an invite for other young birders to share personal lists of favorite vocalizations, or even to debate the ones on my list, or each other’s list.  

 

Great Horned Owl—After sunset, the monotone, deep “who-who-who….whooo….whoooo” fills the empty void left by daytime singers. The call can be heard from quite a distance, but when heard from a branch right above you, the graveyard scene sound sends a shudder down the spine.

Sprague’s Pipit—I heard this bird at the ABA’s 2008 Young Birder Conference in Minot, North Dakota. We watched this high flying singer, a dot in the sky, deliver his rolling cascade of descending song. The pipit sang when he was not flapping his wings but coasting. The sound would not reach our ears until he had begun flapping again.

American Bittern—“unk-a-lunk”, says he with a resonant voice. The sound reminds me of emptying gallon jugs of water into the sink. The sound of air bubbles sneaking in and creeping through the emptying water, “lug-a-lug”.

Sora—I love to stand before some vast marsh bristled with cattails and hear, out of the blue, a burst of uproarious laughter from the Sora. The call is sudden and jocular, as if the bird had just been told a funny joke and could not help breaking out into hysterics.

Bullock’s Oriole—I am talking about call and song (but not the wren-like chatter). Both have a juicy, round quality, like squeezing an orange…oh, and their inmate suit plumage reminds of oranges, too.  

The Fourth Name Game

Your answers were correct as follows: (1) Carolina Parakeet, (2) Gambel's Quail, Mountain Chickadee, and subspecies of White-crowned Sparrow, (3) Brown-crested Flycatcher.

1. Named after the noble King of Athens whose daughters transformed into birds

2. White-necked night-runner

3. In Europe, Little Auk

4. A soft, downy bird true to "common" and scientific name. Great pillow stuffing, ZZZZzzzzzzzz....

Fledglings: Life After the Nest

Photos and Text by Hope Batcheller

Recently-fledged Eastern Phoebes

Every May, birders pile out of their houses, headed for local migration hotspots. Come June, a few run Breeding Bird Survey routes while others keep an eye on local nests. By July, though, the chicks fledge, birds become quiet, and the binoculars go on the shelf. End of story, right? Wrong! Those fledglings must go somewhere and do something, but what exactly they do is largely a mystery.

 

Essentially nothing is known about fledgling behavior, identification, and vocalizations. Why is this, given the ubiquity of fledglings and the important role they play in monitoring breeding birds? Fledglings are young birds that have recently left the nest but are still dependent on parental care and feeding. The presence of fledglings is therefore an indicator of breeding success. Understanding this key stage of birds' lives could prove helpful for Breeding Bird Atlases and similar breeding surveys.  

 

In 2007 I began a research project on fledgling warbler vocalizations. My first field season served to get my bearings and prepare for a more intensive effort the next year. Since only recording fledgling warblers was very limiting, I decided to expand my project to encompass all fledgling passerines. I received a grant from the Vermont Institute of Natural Science for the 2008 field season, which I used to purchase equipment. With the support of Carol Foss from New Hampshire Audubon and Lang Elliott (a professional nature recordist from Ithaca, NewYork), my 2008 summer field season was fantastic. I spent all of July (the northeast's peak time for fledglings) in the field, visiting a diversity of habitats across New England.

 

Of course, like any field work, there were ups and downs. The 2-inch-long Winter Wren fledglings at Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in northern NH...and later that day getting caught in a hail storm, three miles from civilization. A fledgling Eastern Towhee calling one foot from the path...and the construction noise in the background, making it impossible to get a perfect recording. The recently fledged Common Yellowthroat four feet away...that wasn't vocalizing. By the summer's end, however, I had recorded 35 species of fledglings, and learned much about their behavior to boot.

 

Fledglings are, arguably, the cutest possible research topic. They are also one of the most challenging. Sometimes they cooperate perfectly, but at other times they are nearly impossible to detect. Young fledglings often sit stationary, fluttering their wings and gaping widely when an adult brings food. Many are incapable of flight, leading concerned humans to believe they have prematurely fallen out of their nests. On the contrary, these young birds are safer when dispersed, rather than concentrated in the nest. The nest is a big, noisy, smelly target for predators. As fledglings age, they become more active and fledgling down is replaced by juvenal plumage. Older fledglings follow their foraging parents, begging constantly, and occasionally attempting to find their own food.

This punk Red-winged Blackbird is a stereotypical fledgling. Most young songbirds show a brightly-colored gape (fleshy area around beak) like this bird's, though this feature is gradually lost as the bird ages. Note also the downy plumage, short or non-existent tail, and klutzy perching posture.

Expert ventriloquists, fledglings of all ages are extremely difficult to locate, a trait which presumably helps them evade predators. Their vocalizations are generally short, repeated notes, but become faster whenever an adult brings food. For some broad examples, warblers' calls are usually a fast twittering, many sparrows have a soft "ticking", and flycatchers make a unique grating call when begging. Mimic thrushes (Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, and Brown Thrasher) all have a high, thin fledgling call. Species within each genus are often noticeably similar when it comes to fledgling calls. As an example, several Dendroica warblers have a two-or three-note call, followed by a lower note. Most species have distinctive calls, which are identifiable in the field with practice.

 

As our understanding of fledglings increases, efficiency for Breeding Bird Atlases and similar projects will be vastly improved. Much information for such projects is currently lost simply because volunteers cannot identify fledglings. Further studies could also provide insight on call development, adult behavior, and species relationships. From a less scientific perspective, fledglings are awesome and something anyone can observe. Undescribed behaviors and vocalizations are happening all around us, if only we pay attention. Better keep those binoculars off the shelf next summer!

 

Hope Batcheller is 17 years old and lives in Petersburgh, NY. To listen to her recordings, and more information on fledglings, please visit www.fledglingguide.org.

 

Photo Quiz 11

Answer to Previous: This picture of a Calliope Hummingbird was taken in Colorado. Chunky shape, buffy coloring, and primaries which appear to draw even with the tail (although, yes, a better view of the tail would help) support this ID.

Photo courtesy of Jacob Drucker

The Middle East—Potential and Politics

By Jacob Drucker

 

The role geography plays in ornithology is undeniably significant. Places where habitats merge, from forest edge to river mouths to migrant trapping oases, are some of the best places for birding and finding wildlife of all sorts. The Middle East is conveniently placed between three continents. The converging of different habitats and climates results in a great diversity of wildlife. Though it may not have as much to offer as the tropics, its role in bird migration is matched in few other places in the world. Israel and the Bosphorus Strait in Turkey serve as funnels between continents, concentrating a number of birds diverse in species. These places are especially noted for their role in raptor passage, each hosting up to two-hundred thousand birds in a day with species such as European Honey-buzzard, Lesser Spotted Eagle and Levant Sparrowhawk. Over the summer I was lucky enough to go on a family trip to Turkey, where from the roof of our hotel I counted in two hours 269 European Honey-buzzards, 19 Levant Sparrowhawks and 25 European Bee-eaters (earlier in the season, diversity is slightly lower). This was only in late August. Imagining what a good day in mid-September would be like is just mind-blowing.

 

 

Pale Rosefinch (Carpodacus synoicus), an inhabitant of desert mountain ranges in Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt's Sinai peninsula. Colored pencil and craypa, artwork by Jacob Drucker.

 

The Middle East is also home to many specialty birds for the region, and also a good sample of Asian, African and European birds all in one area. Time spent birding in Israel can result in sightings ranging from Collared Flycatchers, Blackcaps and Red-backed Shrikes to Cream-coloured Courser and Namaqua Dove, to Thick-billed Lark and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. Farther east reveals a taste of Central-Asian steppe, mountains occupied by Lammergeier and Caspian Snowcock, and deserts holding birds like Iranian Ground-Jay and Hypocolius. The accessibility of some of these birds can be very difficult for several reasons, one of which is the wild politics of the region.

   

When the average American thinks of the Middle East, the first thing they usually think of is political turmoil. The Israeli-Arab conflict makes security in that region incredibly tight, making birding in parts of Israel very sketchy. In my travels in the country, I would often be given strange looks by soldiers on the border for using binoculars. In Eilat, the southern tip of Israel, I nearly followed a singing Graceful Prinia into a former minefield. The situations in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan make a birding excursion to the country by westerners seem somewhat senseless. It goes without saying that these countries are not on the top of any ecotourism group’s lists. Along with leaving these areas unbirded, the conservation money generated by ecotourism goes down the drain, and localized species Iranian Ground-Jay (a species whose nest is still undescribed) and endangered ones like Waldrapp, Dalmatian Pelican and Sociable Lapwing that breed in, or move through, the areas get little or no protection. Military action results in terrible habitat loss, and already several species of mammal face extinction, Iranian Cheetah for example.

   

Along with the politics, many parts of the Middle East are incredibly remote and inaccessible. The status of many mountain species like Great Rosefinch and even Himalayan Griffon in eastern regions is unknown. Similar to what occurs in places like Peru and Kenya, isolated mountain valleys promote the evolution of unique endemic species. In underbirded places like Afghanistan—totally secluded by mountains and valleys—who knows what could be living in some isolated canyon inhabited by the Taliban. Though politics does complicate things and now may not be the best time to do so, these areas should not go unexplored.

 

 

*Because many of these birds have aliases (Waldrapp is also known as Bald Ibis, for example), the common names for this post have been taken from the Clements Checklist available online at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website.

Fall Banding

 

This Yellow-breasted Chat was caught August of last year. During the breeding season, males sport an all black beak while females retain some pearlescent coloring in the beak.

Some of us are listers, some of us casual admirers of birds, still others of us prefer the scientific end, perhaps a more ornithological approach. Bird banding itself provides a different lens from which to view our passion for birds. When holding a bird in the hand, I learn about things impossible to see in the field. I find I can apply what I learn with a bird in the hand to other areas such as art and field identification.

Ok, so you are watching a Wilson’s Warbler through your bins. Striking and yellow (all adult male warblers are bright yellow, right?), sporting a black beret, you think you’ve confirmed this flitting ball of gold as a male WIWA*. Now let’s say you manage to catch this bird (cough, mist net). Did you know female Wilson’s Warblers can have a cap also? By measuring the length of the cap across the head, you can accurately sex this bird. Banding is full of little tricks like this, and every time I accompany a master bird bander I learn something new. I find that I have assumed things in the field which can hardly be determined through binoculars.

 

This Townsend's Warbler was caught at Chico Basin Ranch in May of this year. Having birds in the hand allows us to appreciate their stunning (or sometimes subtle) beauty up close.

Clear Springs Ranch, a swath of riparian and field-farm habitat, witnesses mass migration of birds in the fall and spring. Generously canopied with cottonwoods and blanketed with scrubby fruit-heavy bushes, the habitat is an ideal sanctuary for hungry, travel-weary migrants. This weekend I visited Clear Springs Ranch to learn from two master bird banders. There we snagged a variety of birds…mainly Chipping Sparrows.

Frequenting banding stations is also a great way to experience the dynamics of migration. For example, I was informed that just last week the majority of birds caught here were Lazuli Buntings. This week the spotlight is on Chipping Sparrows. And maybe next week will be Wilson’s Warblers? So I have a general idea of who comes through when, whom before whom, etc.

If you are bored with the world as seen through binoculars, why not delve into a whole new dimension of birding? Every aspect of studying a bird (life history, identification, whatever) can be approached in various ways, and I find each approach gives me a fresh outlook on the world of birds.

*WIWA is a four letter banding code

Support the ABA

 

Most birders have a plethora of birdy T-shirts in their closet: conferences, symposiums, Audubon societies, ornithological societies, you name it. I confess, I’m a stickler for birding T-shirts. Many a time family members have said “Rae, you have so many nice shirts, and you never wear them”. Frankly, T-shirts are comfortable and birding T-shirts in particular reflect a part of my identity. No frilly collars, no tight fabric, and a menagerie of shorebirds on the front….perfect.

Feel the same way? Here’s a chance for you to acquire yet another birding T-shirt.

The American Birding Association (ABA) provides a number of programs for young birders. Many of you have participated in the Young Birder of the Year contest, an annual competition in which teen birders can further their skills in bird art, writing, photography, and note taking. The ABA provides generous prizes and participants receive helpful critiquing back from several judges. The ABA also cranks out several publications: Birding, Winging It, and North American Birds. The ABA is a vital resource for birders, and all the more deserving of support.

Here’s the deal: when you renew your membership and convince a friend to purchase a membership, you will receive a “Raw, Primitive Birding” T-shirt in Texas Orange or Stonewashed Blue (ok, this sounds like a sales commercial now). Remember, becoming a member includes receiving Birding and Winging It, both packed with intriguing articles covering a variety of topics from the minute details of identification to personal experiences with birds. To renew or sign up for a membership visit: https://www.aba.org/raw/

Call in the next hour and we’ll throw in a free terry cloth robe (just kidding)…

Sighted Recently: Blue-footed Booby

By Cole Wolf

  

Photo Courtesy of Cole Wolf

Conchas Lake, a large reservoir located 75 miles east of Las Vegas in northeastern New Mexico, is approximately 25 miles long and is a New Mexico State Park. Conchas is most frequently visited by birders between September and May. The lake is known for producing rare loons, grebes, and ducks, and gulls during the winter months. The lake has hosted several New Mexico “megas”, including the state’s first confirmed Parasitic Jaeger, first Mew Gull, and second documented Little Gull.

 

On August 15, Bob Mumford of the Army Corps of Engineers discovered an immature Blue-footed Booby near Conchas Dam. Though not an avid birder, Mumford had seen the species in the Gulf of California and realized that it was an extraordinary sighting. He took several pictures and called Santa Fe birder Bill West that evening. I was one of about fifteen New Mexico birders who chased the bird the following morning. It was tough to stay optimistic after two hours of fruitless searching. We had spent the entire time scoping near the dam –it seemed like a good bet that the booby would return to one of the deepest areas of the lake to hunt. As a last ditch effort, we decided to drive further north and look along the Canadian River where we hoped to find the booby perched on one of the many rock cliffs. Several minutes after we arrived, John Parmeter spotted the bird flying in from upriver. It flew by us and landed on the river until a passing boat flushed it. The booby eventually made its way to the main lake and began foraging near the dam; we got some great looks as it soared close to the dam. To top it off, a Piping Plover (New Mexico’s eighth documented record), was discovered that morning on the southeast shore of Conchas.

 

 

Photo courtesy of Cole Wolf

 

Although not migratory, post-breeding dispersal by Blue-footed Boobies into southeastern California and western Arizona from the Gulf of California is well known, so a New Mexico record is not totally unexpected. A front from the southwest that came through New Mexico the day before discovery of the bird may have aided the bird’s extreme dispersion. Conchas Lake is on the Canadian River, which starts in Colorado and goes east through the Texas Panhandle, so it seems improbable that the booby could have followed a waterway to the lake. Boobies are occasionally discovered following highways in California and Arizona, so a more likely scenario suggests this bird followed I-40, which is only thirty miles south of Conchas. A small state highway runs between the interstate and the lake.

 

Blue-footed Boobies on reservoirs in California have been known to stay for up to seven months, and one on Lake Lyndon B. Johnson in Texas stayed for over sixteen months. It seems unlikely that the Conchas bird will stick around for that long – by October, nighttime temperatures will be in the 40’s (°F). The bird appeared very healthy and was able to feed, so hopefully it will stay for a few more weeks. If you get a chance to chase this bird, do it – seeing it plunge-diving into the lake is well worth the trip.

 

All of the information on Blue-footed Booby vagrancy came from:

McCaskie, Guy. The Occurrences of Four Species of Pelecaniformes in the

Southwestern United States. (Western Birds: Vol. 1, No. 4, 1970)

 

Like many ornithological publications (including North American Birds) it is available on

SORA:  http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/