Interesting we have cardinals all over here in DC, and the blue jays have made a major comeback.
Birding!
- Thread starter jjohnwm
- Start date
Yeah, it's amazing how much one can look forward to the new species of plant and animal life that can be seen when moving to a new locale...but after the move it's saddening when you realize how many you left behind. I miss Cardinals...Praying Mantises (yeah, I know, introduced, but not invasive and also super cool)...Bullfrogs...and a host of other assorted critters that were favourites back in Ontario, but which I just won't see anymore without travelling.Add me to the missing Cardinals list. I was just mentioning this morning to my 95 yr old mom how I miss seeing and hearing them. She misses them too. I was also saying that one day I hope to make a trip back to the Point, with my wife who has never been.
Indeed, how could they? Now, you realize that the team travels together in the same vehicle? That we all have maps that delineate the edges of our areas, and jealously guard our areas against poaching by other teams? Birds certainly are mobile, but most species don't travel vast distances during the course of a single day; my teams area was roughly 30 square miles and any bird in the heart of that is likely staying put for the winter. At one point, we were driving along a road that represented the extreme edge of our area, so we were really, really trying to just look towards the left and ignore the right...but, wouldn't you know it, that's where we found "our" Gray Partridges and they were about 50 feet off the roadway on the wrong side!
So...in the interests of science...we conspired to submit our results after those of the team who rightfully owned those birds. Ha! Those dummies missed the Grays altogether, had none on their count, so of course we claimed them for ourselves. If those had been Ravens or Black-capped Chickadees or other extremely common birds, we would not have done so, but if Grays had been missed altogether that would have been a tragedy.
The Bald Eagle was a different scenario. That's one of the species which could and would easily overlap onto several adjacent blocks of coverage, and sure enough the groups on the next two blocks over from ours saw a single adult Bald as well. "Our" eagle was gone a half hour later, which was about when the adjacent group saw theirs, and the next one almost an hour later, so all of us mutually agreed that there was only the one eagle and it rightfully belonged on my team's list since we saw it first.
There's also a rule that allows the coordinator of the count to add in any species which is seen in the count area during the three days prior to and following the actual count day. This allows for an entire count week, but the only birds added to the count day total are completely new species that are not seen on that one day. So the Northern Shrike I had in my yard three days before count day was not added to the count, because a Shrike was also seen (by someone else) on the big day. But the Pileated Woodpecker I had on my feeder this morning will be added, because no others were seen on count day.
So, yes, there is some friendly rivalry and competition going on, but in the end the accuracy of the count as a whole is the primary motive for most of us...well, that and the fun factor...
When I went to a pond near me to catch bullfrog's I would walk up on pheasants. I believe they were the ring neck but not sure. I also like the praying mantis.Yeah, it's amazing how much one can look forward to the new species of plant and animal life that can be seen when moving to a new locale...but after the move it's saddening when you realize how many you left behind. I miss Cardinals...Praying Mantises (yeah, I know, introduced, but not invasive and also super cool)...Bullfrogs...and a host of other assorted critters that were favourites back in Ontario, but which I just won't see anymore without travelling.
Indeed, how could they? Now, you realize that the team travels together in the same vehicle? That we all have maps that delineate the edges of our areas, and jealously guard our areas against poaching by other teams? Birds certainly are mobile, but most species don't travel vast distances during the course of a single day; my teams area was roughly 30 square miles and any bird in the heart of that is likely staying put for the winter. At one point, we were driving along a road that represented the extreme edge of our area, so we were really, really trying to just look towards the left and ignore the right...but, wouldn't you know it, that's where we found "our" Gray Partridges and they were about 50 feet off the roadway on the wrong side!
So...in the interests of science...we conspired to submit our results after those of the team who rightfully owned those birds. Ha! Those dummies missed the Grays altogether, had none on their count, so of course we claimed them for ourselves. If those had been Ravens or Black-capped Chickadees or other extremely common birds, we would not have done so, but if Grays had been missed altogether that would have been a tragedy.
The Bald Eagle was a different scenario. That's one of the species which could and would easily overlap onto several adjacent blocks of coverage, and sure enough the groups on the next two blocks over from ours saw a single adult Bald as well. "Our" eagle was gone a half hour later, which was about when the adjacent group saw theirs, and the next one almost an hour later, so all of us mutually agreed that there was only the one eagle and it rightfully belonged on my team's list since we saw it first.
There's also a rule that allows the coordinator of the count to add in any species which is seen in the count area during the three days prior to and following the actual count day. This allows for an entire count week, but the only birds added to the count day total are completely new species that are not seen on that one day. So the Northern Shrike I had in my yard three days before count day was not added to the count, because a Shrike was also seen (by someone else) on the big day. But the Pileated Woodpecker I had on my feeder this morning will be added, because no others were seen on count day.
So, yes, there is some friendly rivalry and competition going on, but in the end the accuracy of the count as a whole is the primary motive for most of us...well, that and the fun factor...
Came across this today.
'It's striking:' Michigan woman finds ultra-rare yellow cardinal in her yard | Watch
'It's striking:' Michigan woman finds ultra-rare yellow cardinal in her yard | Watch
Yes because if a nocturnal species like most owls wouldn't effect other bird species during daylight.
I think attracting owls is a terrific idea, but that's mainly because I think owls as a group are among the coolest birds we have.
And as
tlindsey
stated, those smaller owl species that utilize nest boxes aren't really predators of diurnal songbirds to any significant extent. The only owl species that might be a problem in that regard is the Great Horned, which is a very large bird that nests in the open rather than in boxes. Great Horned Owls eat a wide variety of prey items, including...other owls.
Make sure you do some research regarding the size, shape, mounting height, entrance hole size and location etc. of nestboxes for owls; you can't just hammer together a cute little box, stick it on a pole in the yard and expect results. I have a single box carefully designed and built for Screech Owls. If I stand in just the right spot on my back deck, it can be seen with a spotting scope, just over 100 yards distant in a wooded patch. It's in its third spot now in the past 10 years, each one carefully chosen for height, etc. while still being visible from the house. No luck yet, but I keep hoping.
But you might put up your first house and find that a pair moves in next spring. Good luck!
And as
tlindsey
stated, those smaller owl species that utilize nest boxes aren't really predators of diurnal songbirds to any significant extent. The only owl species that might be a problem in that regard is the Great Horned, which is a very large bird that nests in the open rather than in boxes. Great Horned Owls eat a wide variety of prey items, including...other owls. Make sure you do some research regarding the size, shape, mounting height, entrance hole size and location etc. of nestboxes for owls; you can't just hammer together a cute little box, stick it on a pole in the yard and expect results. I have a single box carefully designed and built for Screech Owls. If I stand in just the right spot on my back deck, it can be seen with a spotting scope, just over 100 yards distant in a wooded patch. It's in its third spot now in the past 10 years, each one carefully chosen for height, etc. while still being visible from the house. No luck yet, but I keep hoping.
But you might put up your first house and find that a pair moves in next spring. Good luck!
I participated in them here too at the nearby Landfill, which is surprisingly a gold mine for rare gull species. We ended the bird count with Western Gull, California Gull, Ring-billed Gull (these 3 are normal), Iceland (thayers) Gull, Lesser black-backed, American Herring, Slaty-backed, and Glaucous-winged Gull.
Some of the rarest species from 2024 here in San Diego County I recorded were Curlew Sandpiper (very rare vagrant from Eurasia, only a couple records in San Diego County), Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (they pop up every so often), Ovenbird (recorded on the christmas bird count for the first time), Wood Stork (never seen one, really weird looking bird, very rare in the county).
And some of my favorites from elsewhere were Montezuma Oropendela, Snowy Cotinga, Fasciated Antshrike, White-fronted Nunbird, Yellow-throated and Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, and Broad-billed Motmot
My crown jewel is the Great Green Macaw from early this year, 500-1,000 mature individuals
Some great birds there! I am jealous of the Great Green Macaw. 
How come we don't have an envious-green emoji? I had to choose between this one, and the nauseated green one...
Landfills are traditional hotspots for gulls. I have staked one out a couple times while chasing a rarity found by someone else, but won't do that again, even for a lifer...well, probably not, anyway. Standing in one spot for hours watching acres of stinking, steaming, smoldering, rotting trash takes away most...or all!...of the fun in birding, IMHO. And birding...like fishkeeping...must be, first and foremost...fun.
If you are a gull-ologist...that's a highly-specialized "ornothologist" to you, Shadow!...the place you must visit at least once is the Niagara River between Ontario and New York State. Last time I checked that river has hosted over 20 species of gulls, including many rare vagrants and accidentals. It holds the record for the largest number of gull species seen in one day anywhere in the world...14 species! There are several traditional hotspots along the roughly 50-km-long river, including the Falls themselves, but Sir Adam Beck generating station is my favourite. You park right at the edge of the cliff, and are looking downwards on most of the gulls in the gorge below; a nice change in perspective from the usual neck-straining upwards observation. You won't likely see 14 gull species, but you will see thousands of gulls and can easily find 9 or 10 on most days. It's one of my favourite birding spots, and one of the things I miss the most about Ontario.
Bonus: the Niagara River is only about an hour away from Van Wagner's Beach, at the west end of Lake Ontario, where in winter with favourable winds, you have a reasonable chance of seeing multiple Jaegers of all three North American species. Not as many birds...usually not as close or easily seen...but still very exciting finds if you are the correct subspecies of lunatic.
How come we don't have an envious-green emoji? I had to choose between this one, and the nauseated green one...Landfills are traditional hotspots for gulls. I have staked one out a couple times while chasing a rarity found by someone else, but won't do that again, even for a lifer...well, probably not, anyway.
Standing in one spot for hours watching acres of stinking, steaming, smoldering, rotting trash takes away most...or all!...of the fun in birding, IMHO. And birding...like fishkeeping...must be, first and foremost...fun.If you are a gull-ologist...that's a highly-specialized "ornothologist" to you, Shadow!
...the place you must visit at least once is the Niagara River between Ontario and New York State. Last time I checked that river has hosted over 20 species of gulls, including many rare vagrants and accidentals. It holds the record for the largest number of gull species seen in one day anywhere in the world...14 species! There are several traditional hotspots along the roughly 50-km-long river, including the Falls themselves, but Sir Adam Beck generating station is my favourite. You park right at the edge of the cliff, and are looking downwards on most of the gulls in the gorge below; a nice change in perspective from the usual neck-straining upwards observation. You won't likely see 14 gull species, but you will see thousands of gulls and can easily find 9 or 10 on most days. It's one of my favourite birding spots, and one of the things I miss the most about Ontario. Bonus: the Niagara River is only about an hour away from Van Wagner's Beach, at the west end of Lake Ontario, where in winter with favourable winds, you have a reasonable chance of seeing multiple Jaegers of all three North American species. Not as many birds...usually not as close or easily seen...but still very exciting finds if you are the correct subspecies of lunatic.
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…What do we have here?! What are these…pink birds?!
You are damn right, A PAIR OF AMERICAN FLAMINGOS!!!
This is quite odd in the USA, let alone America. They are normally seen in the West Indies, but some do show up occasionally in Florida, Texas, and Mexico. Typically, reports are of a few dozen in some random location along the gulf.
HOWEVER, these two seem to have made their home here in the bay. I think one is escaped from a private collection, or banded at some point in his life, and the other is a vagrant who settled here with her newfound partner as of late 2022 due to tropical storms/wind pushing her here. Or atleast that is the theory. I guess they made their home in the bay because its 2025 and they are still here!
You are damn right, A PAIR OF AMERICAN FLAMINGOS!!!
This is quite odd in the USA, let alone America. They are normally seen in the West Indies, but some do show up occasionally in Florida, Texas, and Mexico. Typically, reports are of a few dozen in some random location along the gulf.
HOWEVER, these two seem to have made their home here in the bay. I think one is escaped from a private collection, or banded at some point in his life, and the other is a vagrant who settled here with her newfound partner as of late 2022 due to tropical storms/wind pushing her here. Or atleast that is the theory. I guess they made their home in the bay because its 2025 and they are still here!
