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Nature_and_Environment.66 |
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Birds |
{Nature_and_Environment.66.1}: Kai Hagen {kai} Tue, 24 Feb 2004 01:46:39 CST (HTML)
We can pick up the discussion here.
Any recent sightings to share?
{Nature_and_Environment.66.2}: Steve {srs} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 20:50:23 CST (5 lines)
During the last week or two the Cowbirds, Grackles, and Robins have arrived here. But today when a Red-Wing Blackbird showed for the first time this year did I really believe that spring is nearly here. He must have heard that we were going to take a run at 60 degrees this weekend.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.3}: Kai Hagen {kai} Wed, 25 Feb 2004 23:31:28 CST (HTML)
Based on what you just said, I'll take a wild stab at the Virginia-Maryland area?
{Nature_and_Environment.66.4}: annie {oceanannie} Fri, 27 Feb 2004 19:54:16 CST (11 lines)
The housefinches are busy around here this week - here being on the north shore of Lake Ontario by Etobicoke Creek (almost opposite St. Catharine's on the south shore). The males aren't singing their little hearts out just yet, more twittering going on between the sexes and coy little hoppings away, then closer. Our balcony isn't suitable for their nests so they don't stay long. Later (and as I have to move away by the end of May I not get to hear) the males perch on the parapet top and sing wonderfully. Nor do all of them fly away if I am already outside, but sometimes hop right up close giving little questioning tweets.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.5}: annie {sggriffith} Fri, 27 Feb 2004 20:01:25 CST (1 line)
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{Nature_and_Environment.66.6}: Suzanne {oceanannie} Fri, 27 Feb 2004 21:40:46 CST (8 lines)
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{Nature_and_Environment.66.7}: annie {sggriffith} Fri, 27 Feb 2004 21:51:17 CST (1 line)
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{Nature_and_Environment.66.8}: Suzanne Griffith {sggriffith} Fri, 27 Feb 2004 21:52:09 CST (3 lines)
I thought I saw a duck flying into the woods today. That's such a weird thing to see that I'm not sure I saw it, but it sure looked like a duck.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.9}: Kai Hagen {kai} Sat, 28 Feb 2004 20:37:22 CST (HTML)
Did you get any sense of its look or coloration?
You do have wood ducks out there.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.10}: Suzanne Griffith {sggriffith} Sat, 28 Feb 2004 23:13:07 CST (3 lines)
I didn't get much of a look at it. I mostly saw that duck shape. But it seemed brown and a light color. I don't think it was a wood duck, but I've never seen one flying.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.11}: Kai Hagen {kai} Sun, 29 Feb 2004 20:03:20 CST (HTML)
{Nature_and_Environment.66.12}: Suzanne Griffith {sggriffith} Sun, 29 Feb 2004 20:08:46 CST (2 lines)
I'll walk up there and check out the stream and the woods when it dries out just a little.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.13}: Helge Hafstad {hhaf} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 07:27:42 CST (4 lines)
Is that how the bird got it's name? *Viewer sees fast bird flying straight(!) into the woods, ... thinking Duck!" ;)
{Nature_and_Environment.66.14}: Kai Hagen {kai} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 07:55:34 CST (HTML)
But, actually...yes...sort of. The name comes from the fact that it lives in the woods, and nests in trees.
It's also considered the most beautiful duck on th continent, and perhaps the second most lovely in the world (behind the Mandarine duck:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Wood_Duck.html
{Nature_and_Environment.66.15}: Suzanne Griffith {sggriffith} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 10:45:55 CST (1 line)
They're very beautiful. I've only seen two of them myself, in ponds.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.16}: Kai Hagen {kai} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 11:00:48 CST (HTML)
{Nature_and_Environment.66.17}: Suzanne Griffith {sggriffith} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 11:12:44 CST (1 line)
That's great! Are the nesting boxes specially made for that species?
{Nature_and_Environment.66.18}: Tom Elliot {telliot} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 11:37:07 CST (HTML)
{Nature_and_Environment.66.19}: Steve {srs} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 12:17:18 CST (12 lines)
A Wood Duck nesting box, that's cool Kai. I have put one out the last few years (4 or 5 yrs, I think) And it has always been used, but sometimes I don't think the hatch rate of the eggs has been that good. Often there are several un-hatched eggs found when I clean out the box. Along with the ones I can tell did hatch. Do you have any information on the average number of eggs lain and the percentage that hatch? The Wood Ducks who live around me are very skittish. Just turning the door knob to go out or walking too fast past the window will send them flying and yelling across the lake. Are yours that jumpy.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.20}: Kai Hagen {kai} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 13:01:30 CST (HTML)
I don't know, offhand, about the average number of eggs laid.
> Are the nesting boxes specially made for that species?
Yep.
It looks similar to this:
http://www.ducks.org/conservation/woodduck_box.asp
...except that ours is at least ten feet up on an old red maple, above a shallow marsh.
---
> first Grosbeaks of the yea
Cool!
We usually see bluebirds here quite late in the fall and pretty early in the spring. We're
not that far from areas where they can be found all winter.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.21}: Diane Hamilton {dianeh} Thu, 04 Mar 2004 23:04:25 CST (5 lines)
We have red wing blackbirds all year round in Cape May. I got to see displaying woodcocks on Sunday just after sunset. Also saw short eared owls, red tailed hawk, a flack of black crowned night herons and an eastern meadowlark.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.22}: Kai Hagen {kai} Fri, 05 Mar 2004 08:19:58 CST (HTML)
{Nature_and_Environment.66.23}: Diane Hamilton {dianeh} Fri, 05 Mar 2004 21:38:59 CST (2 lines)
I went to one of the local "walks" led by volunteer naturalists. It was very productive. The woodcock display was really cool.
{Nature_and_Environment.66.24}: Helge Hafstad {hhaf} Mon, 08 Mar 2004 02:43:00 CST (7 lines)
My bird feeder has finally paid off! It has been fairly disappointing this winter (since December) with little activity, but now it is warmer and the activity has picked up considerably. I have 2 tallow balls and one feeder tube with 6 stations. The birds seems to obey certain "rules of engagement" with one at a time at the balls and only 2 at a time on the feeder. Several birds are waiting their turn in the bushes. :)
{Nature_and_Environment.66.25}: Diane Hamilton {dianeh} Mon, 08 Mar 2004 09:48:35 CST (1 line)
It is funny how they line up, isn't it. Pecking order, I guess.
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