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CarolinaBirds for Monday, August 14, 2006
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Subject: Ivory Bill and Nasa news; hummingbird questions...
From: "fred" <fredhouk(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 14 Aug 2006 4:37am
Here's the link to the NASA website showing what they're doing to help find
the Ivory Bill:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/woodpecker.html
And now for a question for the group, particularly Susan Campbell and Bill
Hilton...
I am currently going through approximately 200 liquid ounces of 1:4 mix
syrup per day. I am vaguely "aware" of the average weight of hummingbirds
being about 3 grams. I am alos vaguely "aware" that they can eat up to
their body weight each day.
So...by converting the weight of the syrup to grams, and doing the math, I
arrive at a rather astounding number of birds using my dozen or so feeders.
Question: what numbers do the experts use in quantifying the average number
of birds using feeders?
BTW...after starting the season late, and slow, and even in noting that the
number of older adults was WAY down from previous years, my useage to date
is over 75 pounds of raw sugar, which is close to the maximum amount of
syrup I've made, and the birds have consumed. The second brood seems to
have all shown up this week, and the sound of hundred(s) of hummers around
the feeders buzzing is downright loud at times...
Not that I'm complaining, of course...lol.
Thanks,
Fred Houk
Chatham County
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Ivory Bill and Nasa news; hummingbird questions...
From: James Coman <hillshepherd(AT)skybest.com>
Date: 14 Aug 2006 7:26am
Fred, and carolinabirds:
I am quite interested in the group's response to Fred's question below about
the numbers of hummingbirds using a group of feeders. Though I do not think
that I have "hundreds" at my three feeders, yesterday afternoon I was able
to watch between 13 and 19 birds continuously swarming three feeders. How
many are thus in the area using the feeders?
If it were chickadees or titmice, I would guess three times the maximum seen
at one time, which would mean 50 to 60. Does anyone have a "handle" on this?
James Coman
Executive Director
Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust
P. O. Box 2557
Boone, N. C. 28607
828-263-8776
info(AT)brrlt.org
www.brrlt.org
Farm Office:
9124 NC Hwy 93
Piney Creek, N. C. 28663
336-359-2909
Fax 336-359-8643
hillshepherd(AT)skybest.com
On 8/14/06 4:37 AM, "fred" <fredhouk(AT)bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Here's the link to the NASA website showing what they're doing to help find
> the Ivory Bill:
>
> http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/woodpecker.html
>
> And now for a question for the group, particularly Susan Campbell and Bill
> Hilton...
>
> I am currently going through approximately 200 liquid ounces of 1:4 mix
> syrup per day. I am vaguely "aware" of the average weight of hummingbirds
> being about 3 grams. I am alos vaguely "aware" that they can eat up to
> their body weight each day.
>
> So...by converting the weight of the syrup to grams, and doing the math, I
> arrive at a rather astounding number of birds using my dozen or so feeders.
>
> Question: what numbers do the experts use in quantifying the average number
> of birds using feeders?
>
> BTW...after starting the season late, and slow, and even in noting that the
> number of older adults was WAY down from previous years, my useage to date
> is over 75 pounds of raw sugar, which is close to the maximum amount of
> syrup I've made, and the birds have consumed. The second brood seems to
> have all shown up this week, and the sound of hundred(s) of hummers around
> the feeders buzzing is downright loud at times...
>
> Not that I'm complaining, of course...lol.
>
>
> Thanks,
>
> Fred Houk
> Chatham County
>
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Ivory Bill and Nasa news; hummingbird questions...
From: Dwayne Martin <redxbill(AT)charter.net>
Date: 14 Aug 2006 9:05am
The rule of thumb for Hummingbirds is to take the number you see at your feeder
at one time and multiply it times 6. There are lots more of those little jewels
out there than we think.
Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
redxbill(AT)charter.net
Catwaba County Park Ranger
Riverbend Park - Conover, NC
jdmartin(AT)catawbacountync.gov
http://www.catawbacountync.gov/depts/parks/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Ivory Bill and Nasa news; hummingbird questions...
From: Jesse Pope <osprey1014(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 14 Aug 2006 10:21am
Hello everyone,
I too have been keeping data on the amount of nectar
we made and offered this summer on Grandfather. We
are doing it so we can compare year to year as to the
amount of nectar consumed at our feeders. This should
in turn give us an idea of more or less birds each
year. I have also been keeping up with the amount
discarded and offered everyday and also the ratio of
sugar/water. The "missing amount" from the equation
should be the amount consumed. I'm assuming that only
a very small amount is going to insects and other
non-hummingbird feeder guests. I guess the question I
have is similar to the previous question. Can you get
an estimated number of hummers based on this data? If
so, does anyone else keep these records. Is there
anything else that I need to be keeping track of for
future years? Thanks for any help you can offer.
Jesse Pope
Naturalist, Grandfather Mountain
P.O. Box 129
Linville, NC 28646
828-733-4326
www.grandfather.com
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Subject: Bachman's Sparrows and Red-cockaded Woodpeckers
From: Russell-Roberson <Russell-Roberson(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 14 Aug 2006 12:10pm
Following John Fussell's message on Carolinabirds reporting a flock of 8
Bachman's Sparrows, several of us (mostly Chapel Hill Bird Club Officers)
birded Pringle Road(FSR123 off route 24) in the Croatan National Forest
Saturday morning. We did most of the 3 miles of Pringle using a tape and
saw nothing of interest. The weather was over cast and cloudy.
A cold front moved thru Saturday night and Sunday morning was sunny and
clear with the Temp in the low 80's. Pasty Bailey, Ruth Roberson and I
decided to try again. We entered Millis Road from the East end off Nine
Mile Road. In the area of the Millis Road Savanna, we walked the road
starting at the old jeep trail, which is on the left. Our first sighting
was a Common Night Hawk sleeping on a pine tree branch. Great scope
sightings -- it never moved in over 30 minutes. Next we had 4 Red-cockaded
Woodpeckers (a family maybe) move thru the pines along the road. We had
10-15 minutes of very clear sightings. Was also nice that they were calling
and answering each other. We saw that one of them had a red band on its
left leg and a pinkish on on the right.
We next turned left onto Pringle Road . After 1.5 miles we flushed a
small bird from the side of the road. It was an accomodating Bachman's
who sat about 3 feet above the ground long enough for us to scope it. There
were two other small brown birds flitting around but we were unable to
idenify them. They were likely Bachman's also. While watching the
Bachman's 3 other Red-cockaded Woodpeckers(another family?) flew into view.
Seven Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and three Bachman's made our day. We saw 7
other species but nothing unusual.
Russell Roberson
Durham and Cedar Point, NC
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Subject: Fig delight
From: Paula Jeannet Mangiafico <paula.mangiafico(AT)duke.edu>
Date: 14 Aug 2006 12:25pm
Having as our last name "Mangiafico" ("fig-eater" in Italian), we were
enchanted to discover that our new backyard includes a very large fig
tree that is now covered with fruit. Not sure what kind, but not the
classic darker Italian kind. However, the fruits are quite decent in
size. They're light yellow, and indeed very sweet.
It's been interesting to see which birds are enjoying them now that
they're ripening. So far, all yard birds have feasted, including a
thrasher and catbird, but the cardinals particularly seem to like them.
I'm surprised not to see blue jays, but we don't have any around our
immediate vicinity for some reason. The biggest surprise is the female
hummingbird. I think it's partaking as well, but I guess that makes
sense, as figs are incredibly high in sugar content. Does anyone know if
hummingbirds actually get anything out of figs or other fruit?
Cheers,
Paula Jeannet Mangiafico
Durham city
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Subject: Baird's Sparrow V Grasshopper ID Assistance
From: "John Ennis" <swampwolf(AT)thebusinessbirder.com>
Date: 14 Aug 2006 5:11pm
I posted photos of two sparrows I took in ND back in mid-July.
Go to: http://thebusinessbirder.com/bairdssparrow.pdf
Given that I struggle with sparrow ID's, I wanted to ensure birds 6049,
6055, and 6056 are all Baird's Sparrows...6049 is a different bird,
photographed at a different location than the other bird...
I worry that one or more are immature Grasshopper Sparrows...
The other images for comparison are of a Grasshopper Sparrow taken the day
before...I am still studying photos but I do not think I have an immature
Grasshopper image...
Any comments would be appreciated!
John Ennis
Leland, NC
910-371-9729
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Subject: Bucksport Sod Farm on Friday 8-11
From: "Jack" <jp5810(AT)sccoast.net>
Date: 14 Aug 2006 9:35pm
Hi C'birders,
I birded in the morning at the Bucksport Sod Farm, Horry County, SC and
had some good birds.
Mississippi Kite 1
Killdeer 3
Upland Sandpiper 6
Least Sandpiper 3
Pectoral Sandpiper
Jack Peachey
The number of Pectoral Sandpipers was 2
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