Nature Walk #4.2 – Birds
Spring is Here!
This Nature Walk edition continues from #4.1 - Arthopods.
I've broken this post up into four parts due to the large number of images:
- 4.1 - Arthropods
- 4.2 - Birds (this post)
- 4.3 - Reptiles, Amphibians, & Mammals
- 4.4 - Plants & Fungi
The images are highly compressed for bandwidth's sake, but you can click on the images for larger versions (and a few are much deserving of an extra click).
As always feel free to give me any species identifications where I have failed to do so or done so incorrectly.
Birds
Other than all the other scurrying, fluttering, swimming, and pulsing critters of the world, birds are my favorite.
I've managed to snap quite a few good bird images over the past few days (though more eluded me, such as the dastardly killdeer that continually thwarted my focusing attempts). Here are some of them.
First, the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis). This bird was hanging out over by the Environmental Protection Agency (near the NIEHS). It was quite a distant shot, but turned out pretty well, considering. I am rarely able to get close enough to bluebirds around here. They're just so skittish.
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
This next is my favorite bluebird image ever. Today I just happened to walk by this birdhouse nestled in in the woods at the treeline (the NIEHS campus is covered with them), and I saw this single eye staring out at me. Priceless!
"Please don't eat me, please don't eat me, please don't eat me!"
And the cutest thing I've seen this spring: a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) mother with eleven ducklings.
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Swimming among the algal mats - Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Check out the front baby's face! - Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
And to top it off, I even have some video:
As I've mentioned before, one of the great things about the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (and the EPA) is the large lake in the middle of campus. We are a stopping ground for all sorts of migratory water fowl, with several species appearing and dissappearing throughout the year. (see the ruddy ducks from a previous Nature Walk)
One bird that I've seen alot of this year is the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus).
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
So regal!
"Do I look fatter to you?"
Of course, our campus is infamous for the gazillion Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) that stalk the grounds. Right now the females are mostly nested, with the males hovering nearby - both ready to start a hissy fit (literally) if you get near the nests.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
"Back off!"
"And you think we don't have teeth"
To truly appreciate their menacing display (more hiss than bite) you must see the video:
Don't worry - this goose was not overly stressed by me. They nest about 3 feet from the walking trail. This female makes this display probably about a hundred times per day as each jogger strolls by. It's quite hilarious actually. One has to admire their ability to keep up the front (I know of quite a few people who find them dangerous and terrifying - trust me, they are neither once you've figured out their game. It's the same as a defensive opossum: open your mouth and hiss alot - that's it).
As I was walking along, a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) plopped down right next to me.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) coming in for a landing
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Back at the homestead, I captured another priceless avian expression: an American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) suddenly noticing that I had snuck up behind the feeder.
American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Nearby, a White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) skittered up the huge poplar tree in my front yard:
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
A Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) perched as well.
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Finally, I managed to capture a far away American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) scoping the farmland below for tasty treats. I grew up calling these "Sparrow Hawks," which is apparently a common misnomer - they are actually falcons (not hawks).
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Who says the dinosaurs went extinct?
See the rest of this Nature Walk:
- 4.1 - Arthropods
- 4.2 - Birds (this post)
- 4.3 - Reptiles, Amphibians, & Mammals
- 4.4 - Plants & Fungi
I and the Bird #94 – The Birder’s Report
For the first time ever, I have been included in the blog carnival for the birds: I and the Bird #94! And wow are there alot of people who are into birding! Each edition is jam packed with stories of birds, pictures of birds, and recipes of birds (not really).
So set aside some time over the coming days to peruse through the avian wonders. My own post on the Great Blue Heron and the Catfish is included in this 94th edition (with pretty cool videos).
The Great Blue Heron and the Catfish (with Video!)
Note: If you do nothing else, check out the videos at the very bottom before leaving!!
What a day! A two post day for sure.
The morning started off with an entertaining and educational tour of the Duke Lemur Center in Durham, NC (blog post to follow).
Next, my wife and I were off to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, where I had a birding opportunity heretofore unprecedented for me.
Duke Gardens is a massive cross between city park and botanical garden, sprawling with trails and ponds and happy people. My goal was to simply find some interesting natural wonders to photograph, as it's been a while since the weather has allowed me to partake in my outdoor hobby.
We began at a nice looking little pond where my eyes became drawn to a set of cypress knees under a beautiful sun.
For oxygen or support? The jury is still out...
After snapping a few shots, I looked way across the pond and saw a Great Blue Heron patiently fishing. I've photographed many herons - in fact, I had previously considered my coolest heron spotting as last summer when one let me get within about 15 feet. Normally in the wild, I've found that blue herons get rather irritated when a human passes too closely, letting you know quite vocally before taking flight that you've mucked up their fishing. If you've heard their loud angry squawk, then you know exactly what I mean. If you use your imagination you can almost hear the word "asshole!" escape their beaks as they take off.
If only I could get closer...
I have a decent (non-professional) camera - so the above image was taken with 12x optical zoom - further than it looks.
Immediately after getting this shot, a couple of kids approached the heron and started throwing bread at it.
"Damn," I think, "now they're gonna scare it away." I look over at my wife, shaking my head. "They don't even eat bread!"
But the big bird doesn't move. In fact, he gets closer to the the kids and begins staring at the water where the bread floats by. The heron had become completely acclimated to people! (note: I'm using "he" but herons are not sexually dimorphic, so I have no idea its gender)
"I've got to get over there to get some pictures - mind if I run ahead?" I ask my wife, as I begin sprinting down the trail around the far side of the pond - just knowing that the bird will be gone by the time I get there.
It was my lucky day - it was still there!
I immediately (and slowly) perched about 15 feet away and started shooting.
closer...
See the arrow? (S)he let me get that close!
I decided to test his comfort zone limits and slowly moved to the arrow in the above image.
He still remained statuesque. In fact, the kids continued to thrown bread into the water, even pelting him a couple of times. At this point it became quite clear that this bird had learned to use human behavior as fish bait. He stared intently directly over the floating bread, waiting for any fish to nibble.
This went on for ten minutes (no fish), so I just began taking as many cool shots that I could.
No sexual dimorphism?
Baby got back!
You know I can stab you with this, right?
Next I took a quick video of this beautiful bird.
And then - for the climactic ending.
I was in the middle of setting up for another shot when the heron lunged into the water in about a third of a second! I immediately tried to switch to video mode as quickly as possible, which took about two seconds.
THIS is what followed:
Truly amazing!
I was a bit sad to have missed recording the actual capture - but hey - how much can I really complain after witnessing it myself AND getting all these cool shots.
As an aside, after this event we went to watch "Coraline 3D" (an insanely creative movie by the way). This required wearing special polarized glasses.
Which got me thinking - any fisherman knows the value of a good pair of polarized glasses for reducing surface glare. Do herons and other fishing birds have polaroid filters in their eyes? I found one mention that this is the case in the abstract of a paper from 1973, but I haven't absolutely confirmed this.
And finally - check out this video of a green heron actually fishing with a piece of bread - utterly astonishing behavior!