Birding

[hookem2010 2623]

No picture of the bird, but here's a bunch of white dudes looking for it while my 1 year-old slams veggie straws to delay the inevitable meltdown. Great birder watching today.

[hookem2010 2623]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/animalkind/2023/08/17/maui-bird-conservation-center/70591965007/

 

Cool story of a brave woman who may have saved 2 native Hawaiian birds (Hawaiian crow- extinct in the wild, akikiki- i think fewer than a dozen pairs remaining on Kauai) from extinction during the Maui fires.

Climate change and the subsequent elevation climb of avian influenza has devastated Hawaii's native songbirds. Releasing genetically modified mosquitoes that produce sterile offspring has been discussed, but I don't believe approval has been given, although I want to say this has been done elsewhere in the US.

[hookem2010 2623]

Cross-post from climate thread. Can we just turn off our lights when not using them? It's not hard.

 

Window strikes of single Chicago building kill 1,000 birds in one night

[hookem2010 2623]

Finally got out unencumbered by baby or dog and spent a few hours out at Granger Lake. Not huge numbers of fall migrant shorebirds and waders, but there were some decent finds, including a flock of avocets, a number of both black-bellied and American golden plover, a buff-breasted sandpiper, stilt sandpiper, and this little Merlin, waiting for an opportunity.

Edited October 17, 2023 by hookem2010

[Biff Tannen 45661]

5 minutes ago, hookem2010 said:

Finally got out unencumbered by baby or dog and spent a few hours out at Granger Lake. Not huge numbers of fall migrant shorebirds and waders, but there were some decent finds, including a flock of avocets, a number of both black-bellied and American golden plover, a buff-breasted sandpiper, stilt sandpiper, and this little Merlin, waiting for an opportunity.

Nice.  I went hiking there once, but need to make it out again.

[hookem2010 2623]

This bird is sure to get everyone excited. I found a Brewer's sparrow at my neighborhood park. It's not much to look at, but there are less than a half-dozen records for WilCo, as we are well east of their typical range. One day, I will get a real camera and will no longer have to hold my cell phone up to my bins while my dog pulls at my waist and my baby in a stroller cries. 

[Prepuce of Doom 21052]

Doomlet likes birds, so we've decorated our yard for Halloween with a bird-related theme. 

We first put some of it together last weekend. 

We later learned that John J. Audubon was a real "product of his times" sonofabitch and that most local and state groups are taking his name off of their organization. 

So we nixed to Audubon shirt... 

And the bird-shaped gourd that the boy insisted we buy because it looks like a bird. 

Edited October 30, 2023 by Prepuce of Doom

[686 3446]

I don’t know much about birds, but had a fun encounter with this one at the shooting range. Long sharp talons.

[Mdhorn 5945]

Could be an immature Cooper's hawk.  

[Biff Tannen 45661]

Speaking of, immature Cooper’s hawk just showed up in my backyard all puffed up trying to stay warm. Sorry for the crappy iPhone pic. Caught me unawares. 
 

 

[hookem2010 2623]

14 hours ago, 686 said:

I don’t know much about birds, but had a fun encounter with this one at the shooting range. Long sharp talons.

This one strikes me as an immature red-shouldered hawk, but I don't know for sure.

Also, if you hear strange honking the next few weeks, look up! Geese and cranes are on the move.

[hookem2010 2623]

Just found winter wren at my local neighborhood park for park bird #121. It's been great to have such a productive area walking distance from our new place. Unfortunately, a disturbing number of trees are getting tagged with pink ribbon, presumably by the gas company that has a line running through there. It's really going to suck if the couple undeveloped acres south of the park get turned into a sterile grass field.

[hookem2010 2623]

Anyone with an opinion about the AOS deciding to do away with all eponymous bird names in favor of more descriptive names? I'm sure the impetus for this was change was the switch from McCown's longspur (confederate general) to thick-billed longspur a few years ago. 

It will be annoying to learn a bunch of new names, but descriptive names make more sense, especially as there is a huge hobby dedicated to using physical descriptors to aid in identification. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what new names come of this. Even descriptive names are total shit sometimes (I'm looking at you, ring-necked duck!).

[DougO 5243]

A lot of bird names seem stupid as fuck. Suddenly deciding to change the bird names seems stupider than fuck, especially since the offensive names were those who had the biggest impact on ornithology and the mass popularity birding. 

But they won't force Audubon to change it's name, even though Audubon was associated with slave ownership. So it's also highly hypocritical. 

[Biff Tannen 45661]

There was a similar backlash for a hot minute with John Muir. It’s dumb and this will pass. 

[Mdhorn 5945]

On 11/10/2023 at 7:31 AM, hookem2010 said:

Anyone with an opinion about the AOS deciding to do away with all eponymous bird names in favor of more descriptive names? I'm sure the impetus for this was change was the switch from McCown's longspur (confederate general) to thick-billed longspur a few years ago. 

It will be annoying to learn a bunch of new names, but descriptive names make more sense, especially as there is a huge hobby dedicated to using physical descriptors to aid in identification. Regardless, it will be interesting to see what new names come of this. Even descriptive names are total shit sometimes (I'm looking at you, ring-necked duck!).

I can't wait to see what they do with the "cardinal."  

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I was down at the train yard today and saw this kingfisher.  I can never get a nice, sharp shot of these little shits.  Never stay still.

[Biff Tannen 45661]

Looks pretty good to me man. 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Looks pretty good to me man. 

Thanks. Would like to get closer so I wouldn’t have to crop so much.

[hookem2010 2623]

Shit has been slow around here recently, but I'm becoming increasingly optimistic that I will be joining my birding friends in NE Colombia next August. Basically heaven on Earth for a birder. 

[DougO 5243]

On 11/22/2023 at 9:03 PM, Patricio Swayze said:

Thanks. Would like to get closer so I wouldn’t have to crop so much.

They are really tough to creep up on. It's very rare that I've had a decent close-up opportunity, much like kestrels. Too small and too fast to catch up with. And they always see you first. They'll screw with you and watch you until you get close to being in range, then they bolt.

[DougO 5243]

I was out in my little UV on the land yesterday and came upon this merlin eating a bird. I had a cover on top of the vehicle so it was like a loud moving blind and he didn't detect human so I was able to get decently close. He was concentrating more on his dinner, but kept looking around trying to figure out where that clicking sound was coming from.

 

 

[hookem2010 2623]

The leucistic red-tailed hawk that I usually see way up on a radio tower was hanging out in a neighborhood tree for great looks.

[deadshank 24652]

City hawk keeping doing his thing at my warehouse.   

[WBT 20559]

Rufous this morning

[hookem2010 2623]

I helped out with the Round Rock Christmas Bird Count this morning at Lake Pflugerville. Absolutely perfect day, and our crew of 5 recorded just over 50 species in 3 1/2 hours, despite very few ducks on the water. Highlights were marsh wren, a couple northern harriers, a pair of hidden soras calling from the reeds, and an osprey as our very last bird.

I highly recommend checking out a CBC if you're interested in getting more into the hobby. You can see a ton of stuff, often with people more knowledgeable than you, who are happy to share what they know.

 

[Biff Tannen 45661]

5 hours ago, hookem2010 said:

I helped out with the Round Rock Christmas Bird Count this morning at Lake Pflugerville. Absolutely perfect day, and our crew of 5 recorded just over 50 species in 3 1/2 hours, despite very few ducks on the water. Highlights were marsh wren, a couple northern harriers, a pair of hidden soras calling from the reeds, and an osprey as our very last bird.

I highly recommend checking out a CBC if you're interested in getting more into the hobby. You can see a ton of stuff, often with people more knowledgeable than you, who are happy to share what they know.

 

They do this at the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory too and I really need to get my ass out there. 

[DougO 5243]

8 hours ago, hookem2010 said:

I helped out with the Round Rock Christmas Bird Count this morning at Lake Pflugerville. Absolutely perfect day, and our crew of 5 recorded just over 50 species in 3 1/2 hours, despite very few ducks on the water. Highlights were marsh wren, a couple northern harriers, a pair of hidden soras calling from the reeds, and an osprey as our very last bird.

I highly recommend checking out a CBC if you're interested in getting more into the hobby. You can see a ton of stuff, often with people more knowledgeable than you, who are happy to share what they know.

 

Any hooded mergansers there? I think there was a pair reported recently. I was thinking about maybe heading that way to get it on my list, haven't had one this year.

[Coach pop a bitch 5459]

Anyone putting out suet with good results?

[hookem2010 2623]

4 hours ago, DougO said:

Any hooded mergansers there? I think there was a pair reported recently. I was thinking about maybe heading that way to get it on my list, haven't had one this year.

Nope, I haven't had any in 2023 either, actually. Even at Mueller in Austin, where they seem to be very regular, I haven't seen many reports.

[hookem2010 2623]

8 hours ago, Coach pop a bitch said:

Anyone putting out suet with good results?

I've really slacked on my feeder game as of late. My suet tended to get raided by starlings in the past.

[hookem2010 2623]

15 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

They do this at the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory too and I really need to get my ass out there. 

Do it. Really easy to see a ton of birds out there, especially in the winter. There are probably a couple thousand ducks on the water right now. The "pond 3" swamp down the river trail is a really good spot for things you won't see driving around.

[deadshank 24652]

Frio River hawk eyeballing me while I was out stumbling around looking for cool stuff. 

[DougO 5243]

Green-tailed towhees have been all the rage this year. They aren't easy to find, but they are around in central Texas if you look in the right places. They seem very shy and take some coaxing and patience.

 

 

[hookem2010 2623]

I FINALLY got on one after about 6 tries this winter. Seems like they've been everywhere. My looks were nowhere near as satisfying as that photo though.

[Jerry Callo 8695]

What have I got here? Other than a gutsy ass squirrel.

[hookem2010 2623]

Juvie red-shouldered hawk, I believe.

[hookem2010 2623]

I learned about 'firehawks' today. Apparently, some kites and falcons in Australia will take advantage of wildfires by grabbing a smoldering stick and dropping it an unburned area to start a new fire and stir up prey animals. Wild...

[WBT 20559]

So a Wilson's warbler in the backyard today.  Went to get my camera but then couldn't find him again.  Little guy must have been thinking that he was supposed to have left this cold shit behind.

[Mdhorn 5945]

2 hours ago, hookem2010 said:

I learned about 'firehawks' today. Apparently, some kites and falcons in Australia will take advantage of wildfires by grabbing a smoldering stick and dropping it an unburned area to start a new fire and stir up prey animals. Wild...

Firehawks are damn interesting.  I'll add shrikes, too, and found in Texas:  Famous for impaling their victims, these songbirds first use a special maneuver to break the necks of small rodents. 

It’s no secret that shrikes are formidable predators. The grayscale songbirds of the open country might look as harmless as mockingbirds, but these black-masked “butcherbirds,” as they’re known, pack more fierceness ounce for ounce than any other bird in the country.

As the new study reveals, once shrikes induce paralysis with a precise bite to the neck, they roll their heads rapidly to vigorously shake their immobilized food. According to the researchers, this back-and-forth whipping motion generates accelerations of up to six g-forces—roughly the same amount of force felt by passengers on high-g rollercoasters, or the whiplash experienced by victims of low-speed, rear-end car crashes. This is more than enough force to snap the vertebrae of a large rat or break a mouse’s neck, and it’s all generated by the roll of a Loggerhead Shrike’s head.

https://www.audubon.org/news/shrikes-have-absolutely-brutal-way-killing-large-prey

Edited January 18 by Mdhorn

[WBT 20559]

The most metal picture I've taken, of a loggerhead shrike

[Prepuce of Doom 21052]

Note to self: stop purchasing the habanero variety of wild birdseed mix because you think it's funny. The birds think it's funny when you're filling the hopper of a feeder that is above your head and the wind catches something just right and then you've got habanero in your eyes. 

Hopefully the act of transcribing this lesson will prevent the same thing from happening for a third time... 

[hookem2010 2623]

Baffle, bro

[Biff Tannen 45661]

Was going to go out to Hornsby Bend in the morning this weekend, but it's gonna be fucking cold.  Gonna wait for a non-20 degree morning instead.

[hookem2010 2623]

Good idea. Cold birding is no fun. Windy birding is...

 

 

[hookem2010 2623]

Roy Guerrero seems to be the new Hotspot in town recently. Tons of ducks and herons, good number of passerines in the woods, including several rarities this winter. No reason to try anywhere the next several days though.

[hookem2010 2623]

Pelicans spurred a bit of a feeding frenzy out at Meadow Lake in Round Rock today. 30 pelicans, probably an equal number of cormorants and about 50 ring-billed gulls, with some great egrets spying the action from shore.

[Elvis 3370]

I just finished watching a show about some interesting byrds.

Spoiler

 

[DougO 5243]

On 12/31/2023 at 12:59 AM, Coach pop a bitch said:

Anyone putting out suet with good results?

I bought a new hanging feeder for suet type stuff and it took about two days before it was on the ground busted because of the fucking squirrels.  

[hookem2010 2623]

The akikiki, native songbird of Kauai, is down to likely one individual and will almost certainly go extinct in the wild this year. There haven't been many bird extinctions in North America the last few decades, and this is the first one I've been aware of as it happens. Pretty sobering stuff.