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UMichBirders for Sunday, December 20, 2009
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Subject: [birders] Hartland CBC - zone 6 highlights (Livingston Co)
From: John Lowry <john(AT)kingbird.org>
Date: 20 Dec 2009 10:28am
Birders,
Clark (my nephew) and I covered the central zone (of seven) for the Highland
Christmas Bird Count yesterday. We recorded 38 species throughout the day, and
our best birds were actually found by Lyle and Sean who snuck into our territory
for some poaching. I'm glad they did!
Notable sightings.
Red Fox - hunting in a marsh - when it saw us from about 100 yards away it ran
off, delighting us with its light, bouncy gait.
Cooper's Hawks - Four, including three adults perched, affording great closeup
views.
Horned Grebe - Six(!) on Lake Chemung, found by Lyle Hamilton and Sean Bachman.
Eastern Bluebird - 12 in a flock - always a joy to see a big flock of these!
Flickers - 6, which seemed like a lot, especially since we noted only one
Red-bellied Woodpecker. I'll be interested to see if there were that many
flickers throughout SE Michigan.
We had no Purple Finches, and in a quick survey with some other parties after
the count, I don't recall any others. Of course, this morning there were three
at our home feeder - so they are around.
Lake Chemung has a large number of waterfowl right now. Among the 1000 Mallards
there are Canvasbacks, Ring-necks, Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded Merg and some
others.
Looking forward to hearing what was seen in Washtenaw County.
John Lowry
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
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Subject: [birders] Do birds depend on feeders in winter?
From: Wayne Fisher <waynef(AT)provide.net>
Date: 20 Dec 2009 5:59pm
How much do birds depend on feeders to survive the winter? I know that the
conventional wisdom is that they have plenty of natural food, and aren't
dependent on feeders, but what is that based on? How do we know?<br /><br
/>During the CBC, we find lots of birds near feeders. There are many areas of
good natural habitat away from feeders that seem almost empty. That would imply
that the feeder birds are getting a significant portion of their food from
feeders.<br /><br />There are a number of feeder birds that are expanding
their range northward - ie Cardinal and Tufted Titmouse. Is this evidence that
feeders make it easier for them to survive the winter?<br /><br />Wayne
Fisher<br />Dexter, MI<br />
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
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Subject: [birders] RE: Do birds depend on feeders in winter?
From: "Fred Kaluza" <fkaluza(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 20 Dec 2009 1:52pm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Wayne, I'm certain that their survival instincts will always
require birds to "go where the food is" if they find themselves where there
is none on has run out. What I'm not as certain about is the balance
between peril and comfort when birds are found in large numbers. I would
think wide disbursement would be best for survival generally but again, the
strategy probably depends on the species and a whole bunch of other
interrelated aspects of their surroundings. Inter-species survival
strategies and behaviors is fascinating stuff. Another certainty is that
Hawks and other predators are drawn to "where the action is".
I think birds are also "imprintable" and I'm fairly certain that many of my
local birds come here primarily because that's where their "parents" showed
them to come for food and over the last 18 years there are now multiple
generations with this knowledge around here. I'm sure that birds take
advantage of "sentinel" birds in that they easily take cues from their own
kind as well as from other bird species that issue intelligible warning
cries and/or show certain behaviors when predators come around.. No doubt
this is very complex and constantly involving as in how do native species
react to calls given by non-native birds in their midst? Also, who hasn't
noticed Blue Jays making Hawk calls or Crow calls for no apparent reason in
a feeder setting except seemingly to watch all the other birds scatter? Is
it just fun or are they driving competition away from the food? Here they
do it even when their primary source of food is open and available to them
with no other birds going after it.
Maybe it's just a reaction to seeing large numbers of birds in a feeding
environment? What I also see quite often is when the male Rick-Necked
Pheasant who has been a regular here for years finds Doves or Pigeons or
even Gray or Fox Squirrels around. Then he puts on a heck of a show.
Keeping his head down and flaring his wings and body he looks very much like
an avian "bull" charging after all comers and will only feed when he's
driven all the larger critters away.
Certainly birds are thinking and learning and using that knowledge to
enhance their daily survival but I wonder if they think we're crazy for
wasting, time, fuel and money to grow their food in one place and transport
to other places where we then give it to them when they would have been
happy to take it themselves directly from where it grew in the first place.
They probably evolved to take advantage of food that grew where the
surrounds allowed them to feed in relative security. What's problematic is
when we place their favorite foods in an area that provides no cover, no
shelter and no chance of escape. That kind of temptation is just a tease
that probably puts them under extreme stress against which their only
alternative is starvation or evacuation. The best feeding areas are
probably those that most closely mimic what they would be finding in
"nature" and not a hopper-full of pre-shelled Sunflower seeds in the middle
of an open backyard. Perhaps the ease of feeding in places like that
offsets the danger by letting them get in, get fed, and get back to
somewhere safe more quickly. What I don't "get" are the actions of
"hawk-bait" species like Mourning Doves. They will come in a gorge
themselves and then, just hang-around all day in the midst of all the other
"action" to the point where they become the most targeted prey for the
Hawks. I won't call them "dumb" as ascribing words like that to animals
seems silly however I don't recognize it as a very good survival tactic.
I think your question is a great one and hope it gets a lot of comments from
those researchers and observers that haunt this list. Fred in Warren
_____
From: Wayne Fisher [mailto:waynef(AT)provide.net]
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 1:00 PM
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] Do birds depend on feeders in winter?
How much do birds depend on feeders to survive the winter? I know that the
conventional wisdom is that they have plenty of natural food, and aren't
dependent on feeders, but what is that based on? How do we know?
During the CBC, we find lots of birds near feeders. There are many areas of
good natural habitat away from feeders that seem almost empty. That would
imply that the feeder birds are getting a significant portion of their food
from feeders.
There are a number of feeder birds that are expanding their range northward
- ie Cardinal and Tufted Titmouse. Is this evidence that feeders make it
easier for them to survive the winter?
Wayne Fisher
Dexter, MI
--- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html *
photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
lyris(AT)listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line.
To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.717 / Virus Database: 270.14.115/2577 - Release Date: 12/20/09
02:35:00
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
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----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] RE: Hartland CBC - zone 6 highlights (Livingston
Co)
From: "Fred Kaluza" <fkaluza(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 20 Dec 2009 2:02pm
Interesting point on Flickers John. I had one come around yesterday
and check-out a nest cavity for a minute or so. The sunlight was showing
vivid yellow through his wings as he struggled to maintain grip/balance at
the cavity entrance. I don't think I've ever seen a Flicker around here
before in the "dead" of winter. Certainly they have never frequented my
seeds or suet to date. I do like them a lot but nesting attempts here have
thus-far been thwarted by marauding European Starlings. I had an active
Flicker nest a few years ago with four eggs in it and the Starlings invaded
and threw the eggs out. Flickers have a tough time reproducing in many
areas now and I'm not sure how their overall numbers are trending. Fred in
Warren
-----Original Message-----
From: John Lowry [mailto:john(AT)kingbird.org]
Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2009 10:28 AM
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Subject: [birders] Hartland CBC - zone 6 highlights (Livingston Co)
Birders,
Clark (my nephew) and I covered the central zone (of seven) for the Highland
Christmas Bird Count yesterday. We recorded 38 species throughout the day,
and our best birds were actually found by Lyle and Sean who snuck into our
territory for some poaching. I'm glad they did!
Notable sightings.
Red Fox - hunting in a marsh - when it saw us from about 100 yards away it
ran off, delighting us with its light, bouncy gait.
Cooper's Hawks - Four, including three adults perched, affording great
closeup views.
Horned Grebe - Six(!) on Lake Chemung, found by Lyle Hamilton and Sean
Bachman.
Eastern Bluebird - 12 in a flock - always a joy to see a big flock of these!
Flickers - 6, which seemed like a lot, especially since we noted only one
Red-bellied Woodpecker. I'll be interested to see if there were that many
flickers throughout SE Michigan.
We had no Purple Finches, and in a quick survey with some other parties
after the count, I don't recall any others. Of course, this morning there
were three at our home feeder - so they are around.
Lake Chemung has a large number of waterfowl right now. Among the 1000
Mallards there are Canvasbacks, Ring-necks, Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded
Merg and some others.
Looking forward to hearing what was seen in Washtenaw County.
John Lowry
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site -
http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
lyris(AT)listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line.
To
resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 9.0.717 / Virus Database: 270.14.115/2577 - Release Date: 12/20/09
02:35:00
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
lyris(AT)listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To
resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [birders] Mockingbird- Joy Rd.
From: Andy Johnson <andysj531(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 20 Dec 2009 1:40pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
At about 4:00 this afternoon, Roger Wykes and I found a Mockingbird on Joy Rd,
just east of Gleaner. It was foraging on both sides of Joy.
Andy Johnson
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
lyris(AT)listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To
resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
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Subject: [birders] Re: Carolina wren in Canton
From: Diana Dyer <dianagrantdyer(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 20 Dec 2009 3:19pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
A Carolina wren was at our feeders in NE Ann Arbor this morning, too. After
leaving all my feeders empty since April, I finally got them all cleaned up
again this week, filled (including the heated bird bath), and within 10 minutes,
all the "usuals" were flying in (plus the squirrels came running!).
Diana Dyer
Ann Arbor, MI
________________________________
From: Bruce McCulloch <flavus94(AT)yahoo.com>
To: birders(AT)umich.edu
Sent: Sat, December 19, 2009 11:27:40 AM
Subject: [birders] Carolina wren in Canton
It has been a slow morning, but a Carolina wren stopped by for awhile to
feed on suet.
BRM,
Canton
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
lyris(AT)listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To
resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
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