Zonotrichia leucophrys
Tag: birds
Maui chickens
The Hawaiian islands are home to large populations of feral chooks. While chickens have existed in Hawaii for centuries, their dramatic population boom is quite recent. Hurricanes in 1982 and 1992 destroyed thousands of chicken coops, allowing domesticated birds to escape into the wild, where they interbred with ancient junglefowl (brought by the Polynesians 1000 years ago).
With warm weather, plentiful food, and few predators, chooks have established themselves as a happy feral population. On Maui, the only wild predator is the mongoose, who eats their eggs. This mammal doesn’t live on Kauaʻi, so the chickens are even more widespread on that island.
We spent the last two nights in a tent cabin at Camp Olowalu, where the plentiful roosters woke us at 4am. But at least there were no noisy humans there.
blind gesture birds
One of the camp instructors was Debby Kaspari, who encouraged us to draw birds FAST without looking at the page, then clean up and correct our initial blind gesture sketch.
blue-faced honeyeater
Happy birthday, Cass!
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
At the State Park the other day, I amazed and delighted a group of toddlers by pointing out the cliff swallow nests under the eaves of the restrooms.
The cliff swallow is among North America’s most social landbirds. They often nest in large colonies, with a single site sometimes hosting several thousand active nests. Their nests are made from sticky clay, which can endure for years, and the birds’ tier-stacking building technique helps support them. Swallows from the same colony cooperate in nest building: they gather mud together in small areas and then return to their nests carrying clumps in their bills. They preen, feed, drink, and bathe in groups, and they continue sticking together in large flocks during migration and on their wintering grounds.
bear creek
I’m just back from a weekend conference for outdoor educators held at the Clemmie Gill School of Science and Conservation (SCICON), an amazing 1,100 acre property in the western Sierra Mountains.
Pheucticus melanocephalus
Tachycineta thalassina
Like many people, I use the Merlin app to help train my ear to recognise bird calls. This morning the app alerted me to a bird I’d never even heard of, let alone seen: the violet-green swallow. Apparently this passerine is pretty common, with a wide range through all of the western North American continent. It’s a cavity nester, laying eggs in tree holes as well as cracks in cliffs. I hope I get to see one while they’re here for breeding season.
Melanerpes formicivorus
Is the woodpecker attracted to vertical cylinders, even if they are cold and smooth? If this had been a rectangular prism, would it have tried to drill? Why did it take so long to give up? Bird brain!
Update: Kit, in the comments, writes: “Many woodpeckers “drill” as a signal to others. In our area, the northern flickers often find something metallic to hammer on as a display. So maybe this acorn woodpecker isn’t after food, but is magnifying his voice.” Thank you, Kit!
preen and proper
Channel Islands Nature Journalers met at the botanic garden today, but it was unexpectedly closed. Not to be deterred, we spent a few hours observing the nature in the adjacent park. I was entertained by the contortions of a fastidious drake.
