Friday, March 26, 2010

A Pair of Eastern Bluebirds


Yesterday I saw a pair of Eastern Bluebirds perched on a phone line spanning an edge of the pasture above my house. This season I've caught several glimpses of bluebirds in flight, but this was my first sustained view. And while I shamelessly ogled the pretty, poised couple, they watched from above as I progressed along a path below. (Photo courtesy of Ken Thomas.)

Their steady watchfulness as I approached seemed to me odd since birds typically take flight from encroaching humans. Pondering their unusual bravery, I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten to do--clean out the bluebirds' nesting boxes! (A line of four nesting boxes, each separated from the next by a couple hundred feet, face a grove of wild cherry trees on the hillside by my home.) My memory now jolted, the birds flew off. Apparently I had gotten their message.

See my post from last year (June 2, 2009) on the battle between Tree Swallows and Eastern Bluebirds for these same nesting boxes.

Till next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Friday, March 19, 2010

Thousands of Snow Geese


On Saturday I went with two friends to Middle Creek Management Area (in southeastern Pennsylvania) to watch thousands of Snow Geese take a break from their migration north on the area’s large lake and surrounding fields. I learned of Middle Creek a couple years ago and was determined to finally visit this year. Those who had seen the spectacle in prior years spoke of thousands of geese covering the lake and filling the air like snow (Public Domain photo courtesy of NBII).

In late February people on the birding listserv I subscribe to began posting of their experiences at Middle Creek. Each day in early March the geese count grew until finally it crested at 120,000! My outing with friends, scheduled a bit earlier in March, was rained out and by the time we arrived most of the geese had already taken to the sky on route to their breeding grounds—the artic tundra. Even so, we were witness to about 12,000 of these “vegetarian” geese, mostly on the water but many grazing grass on the surrounding fields. These are white, medium-sized geese with black primary feathers. Yet scanning their numbers, you could also find some individuals splattered or sprinkled with black, a dark “morph” of the snow goose.

Though highly vocal, the continuous blanket of snow geese created a serene experience for those of us (a few dozen) watching and listening by the shore. But the mood changed dramatically when thousands of birds lifted from the water, sweeping into the air to swirl and circle over the blue water. Then a thrill ran through my veins as the choreography of their collective movement lifted me upward in mind and spirit. How exhilerating!

Here's a video I found on YouTube that can help you imagine the experience.



Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Black-masked Magic


Yesterday I hiked for a couple hours with a few friends on The Lower Trail (Blair County), starting at the Mt. Etna trailhead. The day was sunny and warm (40s) with lots of blue sky (Public Domain photo courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).

To start, the woods seemed silent, not a bird to be seen or heard. Things quickly changed when one in our group pointed out a Great Blue Heron flying low over the sparkling river below (Frankstown Branch of the Juniata). Next an American Robin posed in the naked branches long enough for each of us to take a good look. And then a Black-capped Chickadee offered us his two-note song fee-bee, fee-bee, fee bee--Yes, things were definitely looking up! Yet something quite wonderful still awaited us.

That's when someone pointed out a Cedar Waxwing--a crested bird with sleek, colorful plumage and a black mask like that of an elegant outlaw (see my prior post of 8/26/09). No wait, not one Waxwing--make that two. Actually a small group snacking on the black berries of wild privet (a bush). But each Waxwing that flew from this bush drew our eyes to yet another cluster of birds and still another . . . on both sides of the trail, behind and ahead of us. We were surrounded by a large flock of beautiful Cedar Waxwings.

For 15 minutes we stood watching and listening to these birds with pale yellow bellies, light brown heads, a tail trimmed in bright yellow, and a "dollop" of bright red on the wings (a waxy secretion from which the bird gets its name). Our presence appeared not to bother them in the least. They ignored our gawking and tended to the task at hand--eating berries. Finally, cheered on by a Downy Woodpecker, we forced ourselves onward, leaving our magical moments behind.

Well, not quite. Did I mention the brash, rattling Belted Kingfisher?

What a lovely day it was.

Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne