This is where discriminating Pileated Woodpeckers shop for food.
I don’t know what kind of bird this is, but I’m pretty sure it’s a rare one.
Holy cowbird!
This Red-winged Blackbird was hit in the face with a snowball
This Red-winged Blackbird was hit in the face with a snowball. Probably thrown by a snowbird.
These Brown-headed Cowbird females don’t build nests. While they wait for IKEA to move into the bird nest market, they parasitize the nests of more than 220 other bird species.
A yard-filling flock of red-winged blackbirds
Naturally
I seek magic. A yard-filling flock of red-winged blackbirds blackening the snow-covered ground was magical. The world needed to hear their song. It's spring singing. Researchers from California Polytechnic State University analyzed how the natural sounds people hear when outdoors affect well-being. They found the chorus of birdsong increased welfare. I tried to determine by use of my Hartland Grade School arithmetic how many blackbirds there were and reckoned there were at least 14, but that might have been low. I'd estimate it was well into the hundreds. A much smaller flock of rusty blackbirds blew in with a storm. I'm always happy to see them. I wanted to yell, "Pour another cup of water into the soup, we have company." Brown-headed cowbirds joined the melee on the ground below the feeders. A female cowbird was taking a break in a lilac when two male house sparrows attacked her. She fought back and the battle was prolonged. Had her parasitizing reputation preceded her? Was it over a prime perching position? Or was it merely orneriness? Interesting behavior no matter the cause.
Dark-eyed juncos made the sounds of ray guns. The snow must go. The juncos must, too.
A male and female cardinal kissed on a lilac branch. He offered her a sunflower seed and their bills touched in what I found a heartwarming moment. It's known as mate feeding and is a sign of courtship. I gave my wife a Chunky candy bar when courting her.
Crows walked bandy-legged over the lawn, searching winter's detritus for food. A northern harrier (formerly called a marsh hawk) male was a gray glider swooping low over a field. Glorious!
Q&A
Jim Beal of Eagle Lake wrote, "I rarely see a blue jay and haven’t seen any all winter. It seems like if I put peanuts in the shell out the blue jays come out of nowhere and take every peanut. How do they know that I put out peanuts?" Blue jays use trail cams to spot peanuts in feeders. This is a little-known fact. It's known only by me. It's not true, but it'd be cool if it were. They find the peanuts by sight. They notice them because they are always looking for food and check places that have proved rewarding in the past. When one jay sees peanuts, it calls loudly, announcing to the world the goobers have arrived. A cavalry of jays soon arrives.
Brenda Kotasek of St. Peter said her son saw a crow chasing a rabbit. He wondered if it was chasing it into traffic and harm's way. Crows are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and plants. Crows survive by being both scavengers and predators. Rabbits tend to try to escape rather than fight back. Aside from preying on dead rabbits, crows prey upon baby bunnies or rabbits that are ill, injured or old. Crows are intelligent. They could chase rabbits for practice or play. There are reports of crows driving rabbits onto roads where they are injured by cars. Whether this was done intentionally, only the crows know. A cottontail runs about 30 mph and a crow can fly at a speed double that.
"You should let everyone know about the award you received from the Minnesota Ornithologists' Union." How nice of you to give me an opportunity for humblebrag. A few years ago, I received the Thomas S. Roberts Memorial Award. MOU's lifetime achievement award for "Outstanding Contributions to Minnesota Ornithology and Birding." I'm delighted to be mentioned with Thomas Sadler Roberts (1858 - 1946) who was a physician known for his work in ornithology, bird conservation, his book "The Birds of Minnesota," and for his help in establishing the Bell Museum of Natural History.
The Book Club
"Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants." by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a trained botanist and member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. This well-written book combines the scientific with the mythic and poetic, and is terrific. She wrote, "In some Native languages the term for plants translates to those who take care of us." Plants were our first teachers. She wrote we should respect and care for nature by working in harmony with it. We need to give in the present to get in the future and consider the gifts we are given and be thankful. It's a great read.
Thanks for stopping by
"For 50 million years our biggest problems were too few calories, too little information. For about 50 years our biggest problem has been too many calories, too much information. We have to adjust, and I believe we will really fast. I also believe it will be wicked ugly while we're adjusting." — Penn Jillette
"When you pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud, too." — Denzel Washington (as Robert McCall in "The Equalizer")
Do good.
©Al Batt 2021
Male and female red-winged blackbird photos by Al Batt
Male and female red-winged blackbird photos by Al Batt
This snowbird becomes a springbird. Dark-eyed Juncos are handsome birds.
This snowbird becomes a springbird. Dark-eyed Juncos are handsome birds.
A little known fact. In just the right light, a Brown-headed Cowbird looks exactly like a cow.
The Song Sparrow sings “Hip, hip, hip hurrah boys, spring is here!”
The Song Sparrow sings “Hip, hip, hip hurrah boys, spring is here!”
The Common Grackle has a varied repertoire of squeaks, whistles and scrapes that some ears find grating.
The rufous-brown colors of the Fox Sparrow and the Brown Thrasher thrill me as much as hearing a favorite song of The Kinks.
The rufous-brown colors of the Fox Sparrow and the Brown Thrasher thrill me as much as hearing a favorite song of The Kinks.
The rufous-brown colors of the Fox Sparrow and the Brown Thrasher thrill me as much as hearing a favorite song of The Kinks.
Driver’s license photo of a Fox Sparrow..
Driver’s license photo of a Brown Thrasher.
The boys are back in town
The boys (Red-winged Blackbirds) are back in town.
This meadowlark is the master of flutelike, merry melodies.
Zebra Finches in an aviary greet me on each visit to the Care Center.
Zebra Finches in an aviary greet me on each visit to the Care Center.
Zebra Finches in an aviary greet me on each visit to the Care Center.
A true snowbird.
A Fox Sparrow in great need of a napkin. I love it when I get a chance to hear one sing. It produces a catchy tune that is easy to dance to.
A Fox Sparrow in great need of a napkin. I love it when I get a chance to hear one sing. It produces a catchy tune that is easy to dance to.
An American Goldfinch is good at what it does. That includes surviving a harsh winter.
What to do when your dog is sprayed by a skunk
Naturally
It was a lovely dawn on its way to becoming a lovely day. The yard was awash with migrants. I searched for primavera (spring). I found grackles.
Lord Byron wrote, "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, there is a rapture on the lonely shore." And through the glass. I stared out windows with hawklike attention. That suits me. I see the comings and goings. I hear them, too. Handsome red-winged blackbird males sang, "Look at me." I looked. Juncos made ray gun sounds. Both species give voice to spring. It's their thing.
Nature news
A cellphone was removed from a brown pelican's stomach in Florida after it likely thought the device was a fish.
A white bison lives in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. They’re becoming more common thanks to crossbreeding with cattle. The calf is named Takoda, meaning "friend to everyone." My wife and I visited Janesville, Wisconsin, years ago to see a white calf.
Q&A
"What can I do if my dog is sprayed by a skunk?" Move and leave no forwarding address. There are various remedies, but some are as bad as the skunk perfume. The Humane Society recommends washing your dog in a solution made from 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 1/4 cup baking soda and a teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap. Wear rubber gloves and don’t get the solution in its eyes. Don't leave it on long before rinsing thoroughly and shampooing. Or you could mix 2 parts water with 1 part apple cider vinegar, the amount needed varies the dog's size. There are commercial products available.
"Do woodpeckers reuse nests?" Woodpeckers are primary cavity nesters, meaning they create nest and roost sites for themselves. Secondary cavity-nesters are those that cannot excavate cavities such as bluebirds, wood ducks and swallows. Typically, woodpeckers make a hole for each brood. Some species, like red-headed woodpeckers, reuse nest cavities. Some use nest boxes. I pack flicker boxes with pine wood chips for the birds to excavate.
Karen Wright of Mankato asked the difference between mink, weasels, martens and fishers. They're all members of the Mustelidae (weasel family), which includes otters, skunks, ferrets, wolverines and badgers. Mink and weasels are common. Mink are larger and heavier than weasels and are typically found near water. Weasels are yellowish-brown or brown and have white fur in the winter. Mink have dark brown or black fur with a white chin and throat. The American (pine) marten and fisher (sometimes called fisher-cat) are rarely encountered as they prefer areas with wilderness character. Martens are similar in color, size and shape to mink, but are usually found in the uplands while mink are associated with water. A marten is smaller than a fisher and has orange on throat and chest, which fishers lack. Both have bushy tails, but a marten's ears and snout are more pointed than a fisher's. Martens live in northern Minnesota in deciduous and coniferous forests. Fishers live in various forest types in northern Minnesota with some animals reported in southeastern Minnesota.
"Are there butterflies that winter here as adults?" Yes. Mourning cloaks, eastern commas, gray commas and Compton tortoiseshells are some. They spend the winter in sheltered cracks, crannies and crevices.
"Why do raptors allow smaller birds to mob them?" They aren't given a choice. Mobbing isn't that dangerous to smaller birds as they know what they're doing, possess greater maneuverability than the raptor, and the raptor's element of surprise has been eliminated.
"When do barred owls nest?" The only owl species in Minnesota with dark eyes begins nesting in March in hollow trees, tree snags, abandoned nests of other animals or in nest boxes. The two or three white eggs hatch in 28-33 days. Owlets leave the nest 4-5 weeks after hatching.
The Book Club
"Celebrating Birds: An Interactive Field Guide Featuring Art from Wingspan" by Natalia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez is a lavishly illustrated and interactive full-color guide to 181 birds of North America and is based upon the bestselling bird-focused board game Wingspan, where birders and gamers come together. The number of birds in North America has declined precipitously and this book is an enjoyable way to raise awareness on important environmental issues. Maintaining its relationship to Wingspan, the book can be used to take a game outdoors. Players collect points based on birds, nests, habitats and foods of birds. Text and factoids are provided by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. All bird books resonate with me. Each one is an opportunity knocking. This book offers an engaging way to educate, entertain and enhance. It's available at your favorite book place.
Thanks for stopping by
"In come the March winds, they blow and blow, they sweep up the brown leaves that green ones may grow." — George Washington Wright
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." — From a fortune cookie but not from Confucius
Do good.
©Al Batt 2021
Dark eyes and yellow bill on a Barred Owl. Sorry, Shakespeare fans, it’s not a bard owl. It’s nicknamed hoot owl, eight hooter, rain owl, laughing owl and crazy owl. Photo by Al Batt
The Northern Pintail, the greyhound of the air
The Northern Pintail, the greyhound of the air.
A female Red-winged Blackbird is such a lovely sight.
A Canada Goose has a chinstrap, but no helmet.
This Common Grackle works in the billing department
This Common Grackle works in the billing department.
A Common Grackle fills out a verbal comment card regarding the weather.
California dreaming on such a winter’s day
California dreaming on such a winter’s day.
A Blue Jay decides to sleep until winter is over.
Rusty Blackbirds, you keep me hanging on.
Old Man Winter wears many faces. Some of them belong to starlings.
Old Man Winter wears many faces. Some of them belong to starlings.
Fans of Wingspan might find this of interest. The book will be available soon.
Dark-eyed Junco. Maybe an Oregon form.
Brown-headed Cowbirds have laid eggs in the nests of more than 220 species of birds. I’ve never found one in a chicken’s nest, but it wouldn’t surprise me if I did.
Female Brown-headed Cowbird.
Male Brown-headed Cowbird.
This female Red-winged Blackbird was greeted by a parade of Minnesota snow.
This female Red-winged Blackbird was greeted by a parade of Minnesota snow.
In March in Minnesota, a Rusty Blackbird is a flower.
Who is that hoot owl?
Naturally
It's sprinter. Part spring, part winter.
Chickadees, nuthatches, jays and some woodpeckers cache food. The success of this scatter-hoarding depends on the birds' spatial memories to find cached food.
I'll miss being along the Platte River in Nebraska for the sandhill crane migration this year. It's the greatest wildlife spectacle I've ever witnessed. Rowe Audubon Sanctuary in Minden and the Crane Trust in Wood River are marvelous resources. The crane counts by the Crane Trust are found at https://cranetrust.org/ and a crane cam at Rowe can be accessed at
https://explore.org/livecams/national-audubon-society/crane-camera
The light was fading as I noticed from my window how the sun had warmed the dark bark of trees enough to cause the snow to melt in a circle around the trunk of each tree. There was an incident at dusk under a bird feeding station in my yard. A raccoon, likely a kit (cub) from last year, became inquisitive about a skunk. The skunk gave a proper warning. It arched its back, raised its tail high like a flag, turned sideways, hopped and stamped its front feet. The raccoon must have thought it was playtime or the skunk was oddly behaving food. It got too close. I watched from my office window and was about to bang on the glass to scare them off, but I couldn't stop watching. I became a gawker. The skunk sprayed and the raccoon lumbered off. The putrid odor found entry into the friendly confines of my office. There was an opossum nearby, but it wasn't involved in the hostilities. Neither raccoons nor skunks are hibernators, but sleep through the coldest weather.
A small flock of rusty blackbirds showed up in the yard. Johnny Cash should have thrown a bit of brown into his wardrobe because that color combination sure looks good on a rusty. The birds slogged through wet areas at the edge of our woods, searching for food. I don't imagine they're picky when peckish in March.
Q&A
"How can I exclude bats from my house without harming them?" To the Navajos, the bat is an intermediary bridging the supernatural distance between men and gods. The bats most commonly found in homes are the little brown bat and the big brown bat. The big brown weighs less than an ounce and has a wingspan of 13 inches. Big brown bats tolerate colder winter temperatures and are active later in the fall than little browns, which are likely to hibernate in caves where the temperatures stay above freezing. Big brown bats successfully hibernate in caves or buildings. Examine your home for holes that might allow bats entry into your living quarters. Drape bird netting or plastic screen or sheeting over the outside entry points. The netting should extend several inches above, 1 foot to the sides and 2 feet below the opening. Tape or staple the top and sides of the netting to the structure, leaving the bottom open, allowing bats to crawl out. Don't stretch the netting too taut or the bats won't be able to leave. When the bats return from feeding, they'll land on the netting close to the hole but can't enter. Bats won't chew through the netting. Leave the netting in place for a week before caulking any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch. Avoid doing this from May through August because of the possibility of there being young bats.
"Thank you for identifying the bird for me. How did a Eurasian collared-dove end up in my yard?" The sandy brown bird with a black collar was brought to the Bahamas in the 1970s. Escapees from pet shops there found their way to Florida in 1982. Their goal was to make it to your yard. They were first seen in Minnesota in 1998 and were in Alaska by 2006.
"What is a hoot owl?" I reckon it could be any owl that gives a hoot. The distinctive call of the barred owl is "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?" It's commonly called a hoot owl.
"Why is the bufflehead called the spirit duck?" It came from the bufflehead’s ability to dive to safety as soon as it saw the flash of an old muzzleloader. A. C. Bent wrote in his "Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl" in 1925, “It can often succeed in diving at the flash of a gun and thus escape being shot.”
"Why are beaver teeth orange?" It's not from eating Cheetos. Beaver have long incisors that are orange from an iron-rich protective coating of enamel.
"Where are your favorite birding places?" My yard, local parks, trails and preserves, nature centers and Sax-Zim Bog.
Thanks for stopping by
"To see things in the seed, that is genius." – Lao Tzu
"Whenever you’re wrong, admit it; whenever you’re right, shut up." — Ogden Nash
Do good.
©Al Batt 2021
A rusty blackbird looks like a blackbird that is rusty. Photo by Al Batt
Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska.
Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska.
Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska.
A Pine Grosbeak
A Pine Grosbeak.
The peanuts jailbreak was aided and abetted by a chickadee.
I saw my first Killdeer of the year on a day when we were under a tornado watch. I liked the Killdeer much better than the tornado watch.
I saw my first Killdeer of the year on a day when we were under a tornado watch. I liked the Killdeer much better than the tornado watch.
I saw no Common Redpolls in my yard this winter. Their absence leaves a hole.
Max Headroom told them to catch the wave. The Common Mergansers made their own waves.
Max Headroom told them to catch the wave. The Common Mergansers made their own waves.
A female Common Merganser looks like a Red-breasted Merganser if that Red-breaded Merganser looks like a Common Merganser. The Common shows more contrast between her whitish throat and her brownish head.