Can There Be Too Many?

As I mentioned in the last post, my friend Polly Wren brought a new neighbor over when she came the other day. Turns out Colette is a budding birder and a very good photographer! I begged more photos...

I love this shot showing the beautiful silver undersides to their wings, as well as the mixed flock of Brown-capped and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches. Brown-capped have little to no gray on their heads, with a black forhead. Gray-crowned ...and I remember it's Grey-crowned because real crowns are usually made of something like silver or gold and not something brown (like a cap). We get both species, as well as the Black Rosy-Finches here...but didn't see them this visit. What we also get are a sub-species to the Gray-crowns called Hepburn's...which look to have a helmet rather than a crown of grey. The things I do to remember names!

I cropped this shot so that I could show the gorgeous photo Colette got of this Brown-capped Rosy-Finch. Be sure to click to embiggen!

Another fun shot of the birds close to my pond where we tossed seed under a volunteer Currant Bush. I wonder if
the less-pink birds are younger. That would be in keeping with how most young birds look; like the females, but even more drab.

Colette also took a shot right through the window, where the birds will also come to eat. It's very exciting to be nose-to-nose with these beauties. The netting is something I keep over the window; it helps keep birds from hitting the glass...most of the time. Those Evening Grosbeaks are the worst, however, and I usually have one or two that need rescuing per season.

Speaking of nose to nose, this stump, which I've photographed before, is just a few feet outside my back door. It's a blast to sit inside, with the door wide open, and watch the birds feeding practically at your feet. Thanks, Colette for a wonderful bunch of photographs!

New Year's Rosy-Finches

Yesterday I had the first visitors of the new year. What fun, and one is a new neighbor right up my street! Colette came with another friend of mine; Polly Wren. These are some of Polly Wren's photos of the day...

The Rosy-Finches love to 'stage' up on my roof. Colette noticed lots of seed up there, and suggested perhaps they take it with them when they whirl away...and sometimes eat up there. Who knows...could be; they sure do whirl around a lot...but it's always lovely seeing those silvery underwings.
This is a lovely shot of the Hepburn's Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. It is a sub-species of this finch that I call a 'helmet-head' to remember how much further down the head the Gray-crown comes. Usually it is just down as far as the eye, here you can see it's more like a helmet! The middle bird looks to be a Brown-capped Rosy Finch...

And you wonder why I call these Pink-butts! Ha...

Polly Wren calls this one 'Skippidy Do Dah'. This is a lovely shot of a Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch; for the oddest reason we aren't sure we saw but one single Black this visit. And none are here today...I'm happy Dale and Beverly made it over from Alamosa before the finches left.

Two waves of Rosies

A huge flock of Rosy-Finches in my yard: just before Christmas 2011. They first came on December 1st...the earliest recorded visit (by me). They were here about 5 days and left when the weather turned warm. They returned the 19th and have just left for higher country, where they prefer to live.

This photo, taken through the netting on my window (Rosy-Finches never hit the windows, but Evening Grosbeaks seem to do it with some regularity; the netting helps them see the glass). There are two waves feeding in this shot; one closer and the other is along the trees and shrubs in the back. They often 'stage' on top of my house, just above the bay window through which I view them, or along the wires that cross my property or in the huge trees that surround it. So far, I've had at least 600 Rosy-Finches visiting at a single time. The breakdown is generally: 50% Brown-capped, 40% Gray-crowned and 10% Black.

FOS Rosy-Finches!

I am feeling so smug! Is that okay, sitting alone, with a huge grin on my face? It was enough that I told my brother, in California, yesterday it was a beautiful, warm day outside. When he asked how warm, I said about 55; checked and found it was 56. Yeah, pretty smug.

Then I walked outside and told him about the 'mashed-potato clouds' just on the other side of the mountains. I told him (not having heard the weather report in days) that with the wind howling high in the trees and those clouds, we were in for a weather change; probably snow tomorrow. My yard is protected by the river-trees and a hill; I hardly feel a breeze, but you sure could hear it roar. I woke up to snow this morning! Smug; yup.

Not only THAT...but I washed every window outside my house and deep-watered every young tree and shrub in my yard. I even coiled the hose back where it belonged. And it's snowing like a banshee today; perfect timing!!

Yes, I feel smug...it's the first day of December: it's snowing and the Rosy Finches are here right on schedule! I love da Rosies...

I get all three species of Rosy Finch: Brown-capped, Black and Gray-crowned, including the Gray-crowned Hepburn's. I'm not sure other than I've never had them visit in November, but this might be the earliest date they've arrived.

You can read more about the Rosy-finches by clicking a Label below. You can also read more about the rosies at Sandia, in New Mexico by clicking this link. Be sure to explore that site, there are lots of beautiful pictures, too.

Oddly, I was rather surprised just now, when I observed at least a dozen big, black Crows (!!!) feeding on sun-flower seeds that I'd scattered around a feeder. A murder of crows, that's called; but don't ask me why. Perhaps it has something to do with E.A. Poe. I do see lots of crows around, but never on the ground together, under a feeder.

Photos from Nick Athanas, copyrighted: see more on his site here.
Other from Wikipedia

Pussy Willows

Okay, I admit it...I nearly always walk through the Garden Section at the big Target Stores. While I avoid Walmart and Sam's Club like the plague (that they are), I rather like Target. In spite of being a 'big box' store, I like their commercials and the way (I see) that they conduct business.

So, when one of the two River Birch I bought in Pueblo West from a family owned nursery died (I noticed when planting that they were horribly root bound with thick, winding roots and little soil), I looked to see what Target had to offer. I found River Birch! I looked through the whole pallet, pulling plants from containers and choosing the most likely plant to make it in my yard. The unfortunate thing was, I apparently picked up a Pussy Willow! [sigh]

I had no intention of planting a Pussy Willow. Other than knowing they like wet roots as much as a River Birch, I knew little about them. I've never heard they have real flowers and I had no idea if anything ate the little furry buds I know are called catkins. Past that...a rambunctious shrub that suckers, but offers little in the way of food, was the last thing I was interested in...pretty pussy willow branches in early spring or no.

Then my big dog, Zeus died. He was only about ten or eleven; young for an Akbash, I think. I was crushed and he was so big; I asked a friend to help me bury him in the spot he chose to die. Jerry hit water before he was two feet deep; not a good spot. He filled the hole back in and we came up with another plan, but I remembered how high the water table was in that spot.

I checked; this willow will take some shade. The spot is shaded a bit by huge cottonwoods and other willow trees, so I knew it'd be okay there. But it can be huge; and will grow to a thicket if not severely trimmed. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this today:

The Macphail Woods Ecological Forestry Project of Prince Edward Island, Canada notes the importance of pussy willows for feeding wild birds and other wildlife:

Willow buds are second only to the buds of poplars as preferred food of ruffed grouse. Beaver ... muskrat, red squirrel, and snowshoe hare all include willow in their diet. The leaves are rich in Vitamin C and zinc. Pussy willows are an important nesting site for American goldfinch, while other songbirds use them to a lesser degree. The cover and protection thickets of willow provide are probably of equal importance to wildlife as its food value.

Oh good I thought, this won't be so bad after all. At least it'll feed the birds. I seldom purposely purchase any kind of plant unless it feeds birds or at least offers 4-season good looks. Not only will this feed birds, young branches will look cool in a tall, glass vase.

But then I read on: Deer also like to eat the branches of pussy willows. All this attention from wildlife has its good side, of course, especially for bird watching. But the downside is that, if you don't want your pussy willows damaged, you'll have to protect them. Ugh

Since Zeus is gone, my yard has experienced even more squirrels, skunks, raccoons and deer; not to mention bears, I'm sure they'll be back, too. The damn skunks are turning my lawn (such as it is; I don't water it) into what looks like a mini-mine field and the raccoons are pushing down feeder-poles and tearing apart bird feeders!

The deer seem to enjoy my new puppies as much as I do. What on earth is afraid of a 10" fluffy-butt; even if there are two of 'em? [sigh] Even their growls are cute: Grrrrrrr is more like a Purrrrrr...

So, today I planted the Pussy Willow. It should do fine; presuming the deer don't chew it to the ground. I also planted two Trumpet Vines that I got from Perennial Favorites last month. Funny, a neighbor was walking buy and stopped to say hello. Turns out she was friends with the folks from whom I bought this house. She loves the spot, so I invited her in to take a look around.

Ahnee (sp?) works at the Ryus Street Bakery, so while I recognized her...we'd not officially met. What a nice lady! Anyway, she also has Trumpet Vines and says the little hummingbirds practically disappear into the flowers; so deep must they dive. I've looked some time for this plant; too bad I didn't meet her earlier. I hear this is yet another rampant, rambling vine that is easy to transplant! I'll share as soon as its established.

Everything was planted out front, if you'd like to see how things turn out; the Trumpet Vines will grow out front, next to my driveway (near the Virginia Creeper and Honeysuckle), and the Pussy Willow will be on the opposite corner of the front yard. Wish me luck...

Photos of plants from Wiki
Photos of puppies are mine

Q. I have been told

"... that I should stop feeding hummingbirds in the fall so that they can begin their southern migration. Is this correct?

A. That's a myth (from Cornell's All About Birds). A number of factors trigger the urge for birds to migrate, but the most significant one is day length. As days grow shorter in late summer, hummingbirds get restless and start to head south, taking advantage of abundant natural food, and feeders where available, to fuel their flight. A few individuals, especially Rufous Hummingbirds and a few other Western species, wander east rather than south; causes for this have not been entirely teased out, but it's not feeders that cause them to wander, and if a feeding station is closed down, chances are that a vagrant hummingbird will wander toward worse rather than better conditions.

We encourage people to keep hummingbird feeders full for several weeks after the last hummer leaves just in case a straggler shows up in need of additional energy before completing the long journey south. One of our own staff discovered an adult female Rufous Hummingbird at her feeder in northern Minnesota on November 16, 2004; that bird remained for over two weeks, surviving a blizzard and temperatures that dropped to just 6 degrees Fahrenheit, before leaving at mid-morning on December 3. That day temperatures climbed to a relatively warm 25 degrees; the bird's chances of survival without the feeder she stopped at were significantly lower."

I thought I'd re-print this Cornell Q&A, as I know folks who either don't feed past September or who quit when they don't see a hummingbird for a day or two. Personally, I think that's a sad mistake. I have spent many a winter-like day, changing out cold, slushy hummingbird feeders for ones I've warmed. Just think how much energy a tiny bird needs to stay warm enough on a snowy day; or how much energy it uses to warm up cold nectar.

Sometimes I won't see a hummingbird for two or three days, then suddenly I'll find several at the feeders. Please keep feeders up till you've not seen a hummer in two weeks. That outta keep even the stragglers safe.



See, if these were my feeders, I'd be alternating; one outside, one inside warming...switch and repeat. I'd keep the snow off the feeders, too, they can hardly find the ports in this clip. Perhaps hang them under an eve or put a baffle above. It's a good idea to keep 'em close to a door, too; you don't want to freeze either. PS: it's a long clip and the end is just like the beginning.

Recipe for nectar: One cup sugar to four cups boiling water. Bring to a boil, cool, refrigerate. During exceptionally cold weather, I use one and a half cups sugar to the four cups water. Stronger than that (say 2/4) some folks say is okay, others say it can hurt their kidneys.

Photos are mine...such as they are.
Clip from Youtube
Q&A from Cornell's Question of the Week

Did you know a Roadrunner

…can achieve speeds of up to 25 miles per hour when running down lizards? That question was posed by AudubonGuides on Facebook, recently, and I did NOT know this bit of information, of course I had to do some research on these unusual birds.



The name ‘roadrunner’ comes from the bird's habit of racing down roads and then darting to safety off road, if approached. The omnivorous roadrunner forages around the roadside for large insects, roadkill and reptiles. It is also known as the chaparral cock, ground cuckoo, and snake killer. Its call is a downward slurring "co-coo-coo-coo-cooooo." Also a clattering "whirrrr" call, like other cuckoos. You can hear these calls in the video; it does not go “beep-beep”.

The Greater Roadrunner is the epitome of the desert Southwest…and it lives on my street; or one has. The Neldner photo to the right was taken on the Christmas Bird Count in La Veta just a couple years ago.

The chicken-like bird is a ground-dwelling cuckoo and the larger of the two roadrunners; there is a Lesser Roadrunner in Southwestern Mexico and Northern Central America. The Greater Roadrunner feeds on snakes, scorpions, and any other small animal it can catch and subdue; including other birds. Two roadrunners may cooperate to kill larger snakes, even rattlesnakes. They eat many venomous prey items including said snakes, scorpions and poisonous spiders, as well as fruit and some seeds.

The ‘racing stripe’ on the side of the roadrunners head is not feathers, it is naked skin. As a male matures the skin behind its eye becomes a beautiful, vivid stripe of red/orange, white and blue. The skin on its back, however, is black. After a cold desert night, a cold roadrunner will turn its back to the sun, fluff its back feathers to expose this dark skin along its back and absorb the warm solar energy. The Greater Roadrunner adult sports a bushy, black crest and a long, thick, dark bill. It has a dark head and is blue-ish on the throat and belly. Like all cuckoos, the roadrunner has zygodactyl feet; four toes on each--two face forward and two face back.

This is a good sized bird; 20 to nearly 22 inches in length with a wingspan of some 19+ inches, though it flies weakly. Even if startled, it usually runs. It weighs about ten ounces. The roadrunner is a ground forager who hunts in open arid and semiarid country with scattered brush. When chasing lizards, it holds its head and tail flat and parallel to the ground while running at top speed…as fast as 25 mph. It is the fastest running flying bird, beat only by the Ostrich (which doesn’t fly, of course), but it measures only about two feet in length, half of which is tail. That tail acts as a rudder when it runs.

While this is an opportunistic hunter frequently capturing small birds and eggs at bird feeders and nest boxes, they have also been observed skulking in tall, dry grass to leap up suddenly and pluck a small bird from the air. I have come across videos of them doing just this, but couldn't find one for this post. It held it's body vertically and jumped straight up to catch the bird. If you find it, please post in comments and acknowledge the author.


This accomplished hunter kills with a blow from its beak to the base of a small animals neck, or by holding it in its beak and bashing it on the ground or against a rock. I wish it also showed the actual 'catch' and swallow. I wonder if it tears up the prey to bite-sized pieces. Probably.

Polly said: "Roadrunner copulation, where else but in the middle of the road! This went on for over 2 minutes. Our Guide, Forrest Davis, said in all his years in he had never witnessed this. In the end their "act of love" was interrupted by an oncoming vehicle ...but not before he passed the "bauble" he is holding to her!" Seems roadrunners are gracious lovers! Food is an important component of the mating ritual, but I hope she didn't consume the 'bauble'. The male tempts the female with a twig or bit of grass or food, such as a lizard or snake which it dangling from its bill while chasing her. His "prance display," "tail-wag display," and vocalizations in front of the female while bowing and making the whirring or cooing sound will get her interested; then he jumps into the air and onto his mate. If the female accepts the offered food, the pair will probably mate. While nesting, they are quite territorial and it's possible Greater Roadrunners mate for life.

Dr. Dean Ransom roadrunner study brings us an interesting and informative video:

This vide was taken in the Texas chaparral. I understand that in a dryer, more desert-like environment the bird nests on cactus. While both care for the young, oddly, it is the male who incubates eggs; his body-temp stays constant, while the female's drops at night.

As to the desert environ, roadrunner is equipped with salt glands in front of its eyes to excrete excess salt from its blood. This is also common in ocean-going birds that can drink seawater. The roadrunner is able to do without water if it eats juicy enough food, but it will drink when water
is available.


Sources:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Wikipedia
YouTube
AnimalDiversity.ummz.umich.edu
NHPTV.org/natureworks
Desertmuseum.org
PRBO.org


Photos:
P.Nelder where acknowledged
Wickipedia for still-shots
YouTube for video clips