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Kern River Valley Hummingbird Celebration

Editor — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:56:43 +0000

The 13th Annual Kern River Valley Hummingbird Celebration is a delightful day for bird enthusiasts. The day will involve learning about hummingbird feeder maintenance, a bird walk and nature walk, hummingbird identification workshop, how to garden for hummingbirds and much more. The Hummingbird Celebration is hosted at the ideal time of year for those taking part to see about six species of hummingbird, including Black-chinned, Anna’s, Costa’s, Rufous, Allen’s and Calliope. Don’t forget to pack a picnic lunch!

Date: 6 August 2011
Time: 8am to 2pm
Location: 18747 Highway 178
City: Weldon
State: California
Country: United States of America

Activities

Editor — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 11:50:35 +0000

The main bird related activity that people engage in is that of bird watching, an activity that continues to increase in popularity with people all over the world showing renewed appreciation for the wonders of nature. Bird watching is a relatively inexpensive hobby and there are always opportunities to spot new bird species. One way to watch birds is to attract them to your garden. You can attract birds by providing food, water and shelter for them.

Use your bird guide to identify birds by looking at their general outline/shape, coloration, eye color, leg and bill color, behavior and considering the habitat that they are in. Listening to bird calls and sounds will assist you in identifying them. The more bird watching you do, the easier it will become to identify the bird species in your area. So don’t delay – get out there and spot some birds!

Identifying Birds

Editor — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 12:50:35 +0000

Bird watching involves identifying birds by their physical attributes as well as by their behavior. There are 9 points that can be used when identifying bird species – size, color, shape, bill (shape and color), leg (length and color), eye color, flight pattern, habitat and distribution. It is best to use a field guide for your area, for example a field guide on identifying British birds if you are in Britain, as these will contain the species for your area. The secret to bird identification is to recognize which family the bird belongs to. From there, finding the exact species is matter of elimination.

Let us take the example of identifying birds of prey. If you saw a large raptor with legs feathered to the feet, large powerful talons, you would know that it is a true eagle. To identify the exact species you would consider habitat, size and coloration. Another example of identifying birds of prey is: If you saw a small raptor with pointed wings, a long narrow tail, facial markings like “sideburns”, direct flight with rapid wing beats and hunting on the wing, you would know it belongs to the falcon family. By process of elimination you would identify the exact species of falcon.

When identifying backyard birds, consider the above points and pay particular attention to distribution. Distribution is an accurate and great help in identifying a bird. If a bird is noted as not being found in your area, chances are it’s a different species that you have spotted. Identifying garden birds can be difficult and may require the use of binoculars to note leg and bill color. However, starting with identifying backyard birds is the perfect way to begin birding.

Another useful way to determine bird species is by identifying bird song. Many CDs are available to assist in identifying bird song. Bird song is very species specific and leaves you with little doubt as to the bird you are listening to.

Once you have started to identify birds using the above tips, you will understand the delight that many bird watchers experience in observing these feathered wonders.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Editor — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:50:35 +0000

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a well-known bird of prey throughout the world and amongst the largest in North America. Osprey populations decreased due to pesticide poisoning during the 1950s to the 1970s. Although their numbers improved after the ban of DDT, they remain on threatened species and endangered species lists in some localities.

Ospreys are short-distant migrants who reside along waterways. As a large raptor, the Osprey is identified from beneath by their white breast and belly as well as their angled wings and the dark patch on the wrist bend. The back and upperwings are black. The wings are long and taper into a rounded tip. It has a short hooked beak ideal for capturing prey. A dark eyestripe marks the face. The tail is brown with white banding. They measure in at approximately 54 to 58 cm with a wingspan of 150 to 180 cm. The distinctive chirping whistle calls of the Osprey will also assist in identification.

Ospreys feed purely on fish, hovering over a body of water before plunging down to grab a tasty morsel. They have special barbed pads on their foot soles for gripping the fish, which they carry to the nest. Nests are frequently built on artificial structures such as nesting platforms, telephone poles, duck blinds and so forth. The nests are constructed with sticks and debris. Preferred breeding habitat for Ospreys is open water and wetlands. The pair will mate for life. A single clutch of 3 to 4 eggs is laid each year. Incubation is for 32 to 43 days. The chicks hatch individually over a period of 5 days. The oldest will gobble the majority of the food supplied by parents. This is not a major problem in times of abundance, but when little food is available the younger chicks will likely starve to death. In 48 to 59 days the young Osprey with fledge.

A very popular bird of prey, the Osprey features as Nova Scotia’s (Canada) official bird as well as the official bird of Sudermannia of Sweden. The name Osprey has been used for several sporting teams and the bird has been the official mascot of various universities and colleges. Ospreys are truly beautiful birds, exceptional fish hunters and fine parents, certainly worthy of conservation action and protection.

A Hint for Identifying Sandpipers

Editor — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:38:41 +0000

Sandpipers are familiar to most birdwatchers. Yet their identification can be very frustrating. Most sandpipers are feathered in browns or soft grays, and gather in flocks that contain many species. Some are distinctively patterned, but others are so similar even experienced birders have trouble identifying them.

An important clue to identifying sandpipers is their bill shape. Most species have unique bill shapes, which help them specialize in capturing certain foods.

For instance, Sanderlings have very short bills compared to other sandpipers. It’s the perfect bill for grabbing tiny crustaceans that sit on the surface of the sand, when waves recede. Another sandpiper, the Dunlin, has a medium-length bill. This bill can probe a bit into the mud or sand, down to where little worms and insect larvae live. The Dowitcher’s bill is even longer- it can access worms that are out of the Dunlin’s reach. A Curlew, with its 9-inch-long, curving bill, gets the deepest prey of all- and the curve of the bill helps reach into crooked worm burrows.

Then there is the Avocet, whose unique, delicate bill turns up towards the tip. The Avocet uses it as a scythe. It swings it along the surface of the water, stirring up the mud and snapping up tiny crustaceans. The Turnstone’s bill is also upswept, but is much sturdier than the Avocet’s. The Turnstone uses it to flip over stones and beach debris, revealing the tiny prey hiding underneath.

All these different bill shapes can help the birdwatcher tell sandpipers apart. They also allow the birds to feed side by side- each species finding its own particular niche of food.

Identifying Birds By Sound

Editor — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 09:30:20 +0000

Birds are very talented vocalists. They recognize each other over long distances and through thick shrubbery, using their voices. With a little practice, humans can also learn to recognize birds by their songs or calls.

Bird-watchers often identify birds just by their voice. This is usually because birds are more often heard than seen. But in some bird species, even a good look won’t help you identify them. For instance, North America’s Alder and Willow flycatchers look identical, but have very different voices. Most observers can’t identify them until the bird begins to sing.

Hunters and scientists also learn bird calls- to lure in ducks or to tally what bird species live in the area.

Interested in learning bird voices yourself? While your written field guide may describe the sounds, it’s best to learn by ear. Obtain a tape, CD, or online resource that has recordings of the birds in your area. Start by listening carefully to recordings of the most common birds. Then head outside to see if this helps you recognize these birds.

Once you have the common birds down, you can begin to work on more unusual songs. It takes practice. But you may soon be able to recognize your local birds as easily as you recognize a friend’s voice on the phone.