The Methuselah Generation

Let's take a brief break from birds this week to focus on butterflies, specifically the beautiful Monarch Butterfly. Coming late in my life to an appreciation of birds, I come even later to an appreciation of butterflies. Oh, I've always thought them beautiful. Even put in a butterfly garden a couple years ago, but not until this year, when I began to photograph them, did I recognize the unique beauty of each of the many species visiting my property.

Most people recognize the Monarch not only for its beauty but also for its amazing migration south each fall to Mexico, where it winters. But what they may not know, and what I only just learned, is that the Monarchs who make this incredible 3100-mile journey are of a special, long-lived group known as the Methuselah Generation.

To learn more about Monarchs and their "Methuselah Generation" read this article at bestday.com--but just briefly here . . .

The typical Monarch lives only four to five weeks, including all its life stages, "starting as an egg, going through the larva period, morphing into a pupa or chrysalis until it reaches the adult stage when it reproduces, and finally, dying" (as cited in the article above). However, toward the end of summer, a special breed of Monarch is born with Herculean abilities for these must travel to Mexico and back again. Of course to complete the quest, these Monarchs must live much longer lives--up to eight months!

In the Hebrew Bible, Methuselah is mentioned as the oldest man ever to live (969 years). To the typical, short-lived Monarch, those of their brethren carried thousands of miles by the high winds so as to carry on the species are indeed of the Methuselah Generation.

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

Georgia Anne

What's that clucking in my woods?

For a few days I heard a soft clucking in the woods beside my property. At first I was baffled by the sound, not allowing the obvious interpretation to take hold: the mystery animal must be a fowl-like bird. (Photograph of Ruffed Grouse is a Public Domain image.)

Then the other day while walking by the woodland's edge, I flushed several Ruffed Grouse that flew up into the trees. Now the only sound I've ever associated with the Ruffed Grouse has been that of the male who drums his wings in spring for a mate. Until seeing the amazing YouTube video below, I had never seen a grouse drumming, only ever heard it--a sound like a lawn mower being started.

So I rushed inside the house, eager to discover what a female Ruffed Grouse sounds like. It took some hunting because all the sources I found spoke of the male's drumming. Then, finally, I found an online description of the female's vocalization: "a hen-like clucking."

Wish I could share her vocalizations with you here, but maybe another time. For now, enjoy this amazing video of a male (in spring time) drumming for his mate.



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

Georgia Anne

Last year about this time (Aug 7), I posted on the American Goldfinch, including a video I captured of one singing. So visit that earlier post if you want info on this sunflower-yellow celebrant of the summer season. (Only the male acquires this sunny plumage during the breeding season, that is, spring and summer.)

The male you see clinging above is visiting the feeder pictured below. A perk to feeding birds sunflower seeds (black-oil is their favorite) is that you'll get a crop of sunflowers growing below your feeder. Then visiting birds can chose to snack from the tray or, if willing to be more "au naturale," from the sunflower.

Goldfinch and sunflowers on a sunny day. What more could you ask for?

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

Georgia Anne

Flash and Sparkle of the Ruby-Throat

Remember Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz? Remember those dazzling ruby slippers that sparkled on her feet? Now imagine yourself so adorned--an unlikely prospect for most.

Lucky for us folks living in eastern North America that the Ruby-throated Hummingbird makes his home here during the spring and summer.
Because then we can see that ruby flash and sparkle each time a male turns his head to look our way.

In fact, here I sit (6:43 pm Eastern Standard Time) on my chaise lounge enjoying the evening. Only moments ago I caught this image of a male Ruby-throat. Even in the shadows of the fading day, you can see a hint of his bright, iridescent red throat. Now imagine that spot of red ringing his neck and full throat in the bright light of the sun? It's not a sight you forget.

I never will.

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

Georgia Anne

Thank You Turkey Vultures

Turkey Vultures sometimes get a bad "rap" for being carrion eaters, as if that somehow makes them less noble than other raptors. And while it's true that dead animals comprise the main source of their diet, these large soaring birds also eat insects, invertebrates, and some fruits (All About Birds). Yet my profound respect for this species derives specifically from its diet of carrion--that and, of course, the serene beauty of its soaring flight. (Took this photo from my yard a couple days ago.)

Who hasn't seen one or more Turkey Vultures pecking at the innards of some hapless animal struck along the roadside? It's a common sight and happily so--not for the poor victim--but for the vulture, the environment, and thus for us.

Turkey Vultures provide a huge ecological service in being one of nature's "clean up" crews. Without them, dead animals large and small would litter not only our highways but our world, taking many months or more to decompose. But until last year I didn't understand just how proficient these birds are at their work.

I've a farm fence for my dogs that encloses a bit less than two acres. Last fall while walking its perimeter one morning, I was startled to find a dead deer, no doubt a victim of the hunting season, fallen on the other side of the high tensile wire. Seeing its huge body splayed before me, I fretted at the thought of each morning having to pass this sad (and smelly) spectacle. I even considered changing our morning routine.

However routines being what they are, the next morning found me and the dogs taking our morning circuit, apprehensive though I was at the prospect of encountering the deer. As we approached the carcass, a Turkey Vulture flushed from the scene, flying up and away. I saw then a channel of blood draining from the animal's backside.

All that day, Turkey Vultures swam in the sky above our yard. How can I describe the experience of sharing my property that day with dozens of vultures careening overhead whenever I approached? Vultures are BIG birds with wingspans of nearly six feet. A single bird flying up before you would be surprising, let alone six or more!

But to quickly end this overlong tale--the next morning when passing this spot I found not a carcass but rather a skeleton. Yes, within one day's time the flesh of this deer had been completely picked clean. All that remained was its bones, its hoofs, and its hide, sheered from the bones into a crumpled pile. That morning I sent a big Thank You to the Turkey Vultures who had already gone on to their next "clean up" job.

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

Georgia Anne