Bird Geeks's topics - tribe.net

When is the next Nat'l G being released?

2008-12-22T19:42:14Z

Does anyone know when the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition will be out in print? They seem to release a revision every 3-4 years, and the 5th Ed came out in 2006. Possibly a 2009 release date?

Rumors? Heresay? Conjecture?
:)

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Help identifying this bird?

2008-12-02T23:26:38Z

Can anyone identify this bird seen last week on the sand dunes of St. George Island?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dalaimickey/3071337416/

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Bird Feeder Needs Seed

2008-09-18T04:40:40Z

I always fill a friends birdfeeder when ever I have spare time. I love watching the sparrows. The doves come around too. The colorful scrub jays are one of my favorite to watch. I watch them from a window and they always seem to know I'm watching them and sometimes get spooked. Do birds have good eyesite?

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

trackers

2008-06-20T18:31:11Z

This is going to be an interesting project to follow....

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/06/hen_harrier_chicks_hatch.html

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

MIGRATION OF THE SONGBIRDS in southern OREGON

2008-03-17T23:20:04Z

Has anyone here been to the Malfeur Refuge to see the birds there? I am thinking of going for my birthday next month and curious about it. If you have, will you post or Email me? Thank you!

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

SF Bay Area - Oiled Bird Survey Leaders Needed

2007-11-11T21:00:17Z

Dear Golden Gate Audubon members and volunteers:

After the devastating oil spill yesterday, Golden Gate Audubon is
interested in helping to put volunteer energy into aiding oiled birds.
We
are looking for leaders to take volunteers to areas and document any
oiled
birds or mammals and report this information to the Oiled Wildlife Care
Network.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should people touch or approach an oiled animal
unless they have HAZWOPER training and are properly equipped. If you
see
someone doing this, please remind them that this is highly toxic
material
(the oil is not motor oil but fuel oil).

Calls from the general public wanting to volunteer outnumbered oiled
bird
reports yesterday by about five to one. Volunteer opportunities for
untrained members of the public are very limited currently but here's a
critical need: please make a special effort to look for oiled birds in
places where the general public doesn't go. Don't approach or touch the
birds, but call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at (877) 823-6926 and
provide information on the attached form. The faster they can get these
birds stabilized and washed, the higher their chances of recovery and
survival.

Golden Gate Audubon is looking for people to lead small groups of
volunteers to monitor and report any oiled birds to the OWCN. Things we
need our volunteer leaders to do:

- Identify the species and location of birds along San Francisco Bay
(form
provided)

- Use binoculars and spotting scope if you have one

- Use their own cell phone or home phone to report birds to the Oiled
Wildlife Care Network

- If you have GPS, please use it to help pinpoint the location of birds

- Photograph birds or marine mammals if possible and save to associate
with data sheets

San Francisco locations where leaders are needed:

- Ocean Beach from Lincoln/Golden Gate Park South

- Ocean Beach from Lincoln/Golden Gate Park North to China Beach

- Baker Beach to Golden Gate Bridge

- Fort Point to Golden Gate Yacht Club

- Marina to Pier 39

- Pier 43 to Ferry Building

- Ferry Building to Mission Creek

- Mission Creek along Southern Waterfront (Agua Vista, Pier 94, Herons
Head, India Basin, Warm Water Cove)

- Lake Merced

East Bay locations where volunteers are needed:

- Point Pinole south to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

- Richmond-San Rafael Bridge/Miller-Knox shoreline south to Golden Gate
Fields

- Golden Gate Fields south to Emeryville Crescent

- Emeryville Crescent south to Oakland Naval Supply Center/7th Street
in
Oakland

- North side of Alameda and Lake Merritt

- South side of Alameda

- MLK Shoreline/Shoreline Park/Bay Farm Island/Oakland Airport

- Interior reservoirs: San Pablo, Briones, Lafayette

If you are willing to be an area leader or volunteer in San Francisco,
please Noreen Weeden or Eddie Bartley at (415) 355-0450 or
Noreen@naturetrip.com or Eddie@naturetrip.com. If you want to be an
area
leader or volunteer in the East Bay, please contact Michael Martin at
(510) 919-5873 or mmartin@goldengateaudubon.org.

If you cannot participate, but want more information, please see the
contact numbers below or the attached sheet, or check for updates at
http://www.goldengateaudubon.org.

Michael

To report oiled wildlife, call the Oiled Wildlife Care Network at (877)
823-6926.

Wildcare in San Rafael is part of the OWCN:
http://www.wildcarebayarea.org
or (415) 456-SAVE.

The Marine Mammal Center is also part of the network:
http://www.marinemammalcenter.org or (415) 289-SEAL

To volunteer with OWCN, call (800) 228-4544.

To report an oil spill, call (800) OILS-911.

Report the extent of oiled habitats to Natalie Cosentino-Manning at
NOAA
by calling (707) 206-1642 or emailing Natalie.c-manning@noaa.gov.

To help track the movement of the spill, call (888) 850-8486.

Michael C. Martin

Development Manager

Golden Gate Audubon Society

2530 San Pablo Avenue, Suite G

Berkeley, California 94702

Phone: 510.843.7295

Mobile: 510.919.5873

FAX: 510.843.5351

Email: mmartin@goldengateaudubon.org

Web: http://www.goldengateaudubon.org

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

San Francisco wild parrots - where & when?

2007-08-03T00:26:11Z

Hi birders!

My dad is coming to visit San Francisco this weekend and wants to see the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill. I've never made much of an effort to find them since moving here, but I get the feeling they aren't always to be found right there (what wild bird is ever THAT predictable, after all?). I've heard they can be hanging out anywhere between Coit Tower and Embarcadero. Does anyone have a tip on the best place & best time of day to see the flock these days?

Thanks very much! :)

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

Lazuli Bunting

2007-05-29T00:01:14Z

For our birthdays we booked a couple of nights at the Columbia Gorge Hotel. On Sunday morning we did a small hike at the Tom McCall Preserve at Rowena. The wind we incredibly fierce, which is probably normal for this hike. We weren’t birding and we didn’t see many birds but we got an awesome look at a Lazuli Bunting. I’m could have swore we’ve seen one of those before but we didn’t have it recorded, so this may have been our first sighting. Other good sightings were a Wild Turkey running up the trail in front of us and a Peregrine Falcon flying up a canyon we hiked beside.

This is a link to the preserve.
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oregon/preserves/art6809.html

I posted a couple photos here of the place.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinwagoner/

posted in Bird Geeks - 5 replies

Can I brag?

2007-05-12T02:53:58Z

Hi all...

Thanks for having this tribe, I'm glad to be member. I'm curious what birds you have flying around your neighborhood/property.

Around my house: (here comes the bragging)
Bluebird (western)
Chickadee (black-capped)
Northern Flicker
Goldfinch
Grosbeak (black-headed)
Nuthatch (all varieties)
Jays (Stellar, Scrub & Blue)
Finch (house, cassin's)
Crows
Blackbird (red-winged)
Robin
Hummers (rufous, broad-tailed)
Junco
Sparrow (chipping)
Mockingbird
Yellowthroat
Woodpecker (downy, hairy)
Thrasher

I have my field guide right by my window, and I check each bird I see. All but the Thrasher and Mockingbird have actually come to my feeders, some quite regularly. This is the payoff for living in the foothills of the Rockies then...something that has certainly helped me get accustomed to me new home so far from my native bay area...

posted in Bird Geeks - 8 replies

Rock Doves

2007-05-06T20:30:47Z

I was wondering if Rock Doves have been renamed to Rock Pigeons? Saw Rock Pigeon in a new bird book and was wondering if this was wrong or not. Thanks.

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

Magpie Differences

2007-04-21T19:49:56Z

Why are there supposedly absolutely no sightings of black-billed magpies in the yellow-billed magpies' range, or vice versa, I wonder. And why are the yellow-billed magpies dying off right now? I literally see them dying. Are the black-billed magpies dying off too, where they live?

posted in Bird Geeks - 12 replies

Birding around Seattle

2007-02-22T20:56:08Z

Does anyone happen to have any recommendations on a good birding spot for the Seattle area this time of year?

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Are there any good NWRs in your area?

2007-02-10T23:21:12Z

We checked out the somewhat new Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge this morning. It is located roughly 15 miles south of Portland. Very nice place and great for waterfowl this time of year. The highlights included American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck. Along the trail we got great (and long) looks at a few American Kestrels and Western Bluebird. This is a great place to bird close to the city.

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Birding near Tampa and Bonita Beach FL

2007-01-11T03:13:56Z

I am taking a trip to visit some friends and family next month in Tampa and Bonita Beach FL. Does anyone have suggestions for places near by for birding?

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Best birding sites in Southern California?

2006-12-24T08:09:59Z

What sites have you found to be the best birding sites year-round? For spring / fall migrations?

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

For San Francisco area birders

2006-12-05T17:02:00Z

There's an interesting website:

www.nrdb.org

where records are kept of all flora/fauna seen in the various preserves / parks / open space areas in the SF bay area. It includes much more than birds, but it certainly contains birds, and if you're interested in seeing what you might find if you go to, say, Big Basin, it'll generate a check list for you. Also, if you spot something new, you can submit a report to have it added.

The "nrdb" stands for "Natural Resources Data Base".

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

What kind of bird is this?

2006-11-28T18:36:50Z

I've been seeing a light-colored, smallish bird that hovers in the air, flapping its wings while stationary, and tilted upright (not like it flies, but like it were standing up). I see these in the hills of the peninsula - portola valley, woodside, etc.

posted in Bird Geeks - 4 replies

Brazil!

2006-10-23T16:59:34Z

I just got back from a marathon (2 weeks) session of birding in Brazil.

It was fantastic! We did the Pantanal, Chapada dos Guimaraes, and Emas National Park. Saw lots of interesting mammals, too: Giant Anteater, Crab-eating Fox, and Brazilian Tapir.

But the birds were the best. I also lugged a huge lens along and got some nice photos. If anyone's interested, here's a web page:

http://www.geometer.org/Brazil2006/index.html

posted in Bird Geeks - 4 replies

yellow jackets!

2006-09-02T00:08:52Z

They are swarming around my hummingbird feeders. Any advice? Traps? Etc?
(x-posted)

Thank you!!!! ~B

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

Hummingbirds

2006-06-11T22:49:45Z

I moved from San Fran. CA. last Jan. and I put my large Ficus Tree on the front porch here in Vail. I noticed in the last 2 week a hummingbird starting to bulid a nest in it. I think I've got a whit eared hummingbird....My question is: Is it normal for them to build 2 nest side by side ?or why did it build 2 nest ?...SPYDER

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Bird geek from Veracruz Mexico - Introduction

2006-06-10T21:05:42Z

Hi All:
I am new to the group. I live in Mexico, Veracruz and my life is pretty much built around birds.
I am a birder/birding guide, nature photographer/digiscoper. I spend alot of time in the field photographing birds. I am presently involved in giving talks to high shool kids here in Mexico about the birds of Veracruz, bird conservation and migration. I look forward to participating in the group.
David

posted in Bird Geeks - 3 replies

stow lake

2006-04-09T05:58:10Z

took advantage of the break in rain to stretch legs around stow lake in golden gate park around noon today.
besides lots of spring activity in general (notably among the mallards and brewers blackbirds), swallows are back....but the interesing thing was hearing familiar but out-of-place scolding of STELLARS JAYS. i associate scrub jays w/ san francisco and stellars more w/ some of the e bay regional parks. but a friend who lives in bernal heights and works at city college mentioned recent sightings of stellers and the calls today were unmistakable. well, turned out they were mobbing a hapless immature redtail who did not have the adult hawk sense to fly up and away, into differen territory. this youngster flew from one exposed perch to another, getting strafed and yelled at, and--as young redtails seem wont to do--perching on the ground a couple of times.
one of the stellers jays did notice my in-shell peanuts and i was able to lure him very close. not to handfeed (as a couple of the arboretum scrub jays will do) but hopping on the ground to pick up the peanuts from around 3 ft from where i squatted. i've no doubt if they stay around and i return regularly on non-weekends that they will hand tame pretty easily.

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Confirmed - George and Gracie have moved.

2006-04-07T22:56:01Z

Everyone who doesn't have the link, here it is. The streaming video is much better and the nest looks less like a kitty litter box and more like a nest. I - am - so - excited.

:)

http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/peregrine_cam.htm

posted in Bird Geeks - 5 replies

yinyang

2006-04-07T13:24:13Z

i heard on the news this morning while i was getting ready for work about a bald eagle that was shot back in november they found it about a week ago (i guess it froze over the winter) - it makes me so sad. on the other hand, i was driving to wwork a few days ago and i saw a redwinged black bird which along with all the canadian geese is a sure sign spring is here to stay! - oh yeah i live in upstate ny on the canadian border.

posted in Bird Geeks - 3 replies

domestic birds

2006-04-02T04:42:48Z

does anyone know anything about parakeets?

I resqued one from in front of my office building yesterday. She could barely hop onto my finger when i found her. Now i have her in a cage with food and water.

She seems ok, but she's still so shaky and scared, does anyone have any experience with these birds, I think she's a baby, her wings aren't clipped.

posted in Bird Geeks - 6 replies

Flickers in Santa Monica, CA

2006-03-13T04:59:47Z

I noticed 3 pairs of Red-shafted Northern Flickers today in a cemetery. First I've seen flickers down here in the basin. Anyone else ever seen any?

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Falcons on mah Buil-ding, Falcons on mah Buil-ding

2006-03-09T23:52:24Z

Our maintenance crew discovered an egg at the top of our building, we are across the street from the PG&E building in SF. They had the Santa Cruz peeps up there yesterday and they found a second egg. So we don't know if it's George and Gracie, or their offspring, but Yea!!!

Hopefully they will put up a webcam.

:)

posted in Bird Geeks - 3 replies

The Edgewood Golden Pheasant

2006-02-24T00:20:44Z

Ive now spotted the wild Golden Pheasnt at Edgewood Park, San Mateo a couple of times.

Got within 6' of it without alarming the bird at all.

Must take my camera next time.

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

March Of The Penguins

2006-02-09T12:43:50Z

I went to see March Of The Penguins last night, I thought it was brilliant.

Has anyone else seen it yet?

posted in Bird Geeks - 6 replies

boids!

2006-01-17T20:41:23Z

Just back from a great couple days birding in the Lodi area. Caught a cold, but also lots of great birds including (besides the cranes and swans we were looking for) a pair of copulating great horned owls and my very first loggerhead shrike.
Here's the tally:
Birding in the areas around the Cosumnes and Mokelumne Rivers, besides seeing the Sandhill Cranes, what we saw in huge numbers were pintail and shoveler, black stilt, tundra swans and greater white fronted geese, and western meadowlarks.

Saturday, January 14th, Cosumnes River Preserve. This is a huge multi-part preserve, around 40,000 acres, and well worth multiple visits (for which we did not have time). It was chilly, windy and rainy so we birded by car except for a brief walk on the boardwalk near the visitor center.
1. Pie-billed Grebe
2. Eared Grebe
3. Great Blue Heron
4. Great Egret
5. Snowy Egret
6. Turkey Vulture
7. Canada Goose
8. Gadwall
9. American Wigeon
10. Mallard
11. Northern Shoveler
12. White Tailed Kite
13. Northern Harrier
14. Red-Tailed Hawk
15. American Kestrel
16. American Coot
17. Killdeer
18. Black-necked Stilt
19. Dowitcher
20. Mourning Dove
21. Belted Kingfisher
22. Northern Flicker
23. Black Phoebe
24. Western Scrub Jay
25. Yellow Billed Magpie
26. American Crow
27. Common Raven
28. Tree Swallow
29. Marsh Wren
30. American Robin
31. American Pipit
32. Common Yellowthroat
33. California Towhee
34. Savannah Sparrow
35. White-crowned Sparrow
36. Golden-crowned Sparrow
37. Red-winged Blackbird
38. Western Meadowlark
39. Starling

Sunday, January 15th, Camanche Reservoir. This is in the foothills between Lodi and Jackson. It was a sunny but quite chilly and windy late morning and we did brief visits at three sites. The thing that surpised us was seeing large numbers of flicker and meadowlark in amidst ground foraging flocks of mixed blackbirds.
1. Pie-billed Grebe
2. Double Crested Cormorant
3. Great Egret
4. Snow Goose
5. Canada Goose
6. Bufflehead
7. Osprey
8. Northern Harrier
9. Red Shouldered Hawk
10. Red Tailed Hawk
11. American Kestrel
12. California Quail
13. American Coot
14. Gull sp.
15. Forster’s Tern
16. Rock Pigeon
17. Mourning Dove
18. Belted Kingfisher
19. Acorn Woodpecker
20. Nuttal’s Woodpecker
21. Northern Flicker
22. Black Phoebe
23. Western Scrub Jay
24. American Crow
25. Common Raven
26. Oak Titmouse
27. Ruby Crowned Kinglet
28. Western Bluebird
29. White Crowned Sparrow
30. Red Winged Blackbird
31. Western Meadowlark
32. Brewer’s Blackbird
33. Brown Headed Cowbird
34. Starling

Sunday, January 15th, evening, and Monday, January 16th, morning, Isenberg Crane Preserve (also known as Woodbridge Ecological Preserve). This is the reason we went to Lodi. Sunday we went on a tour from a very sunny late afternoon til past sunset tour with docents. This included access to non-public areas. We returned the next morning, overcast but good light, and no wind, to revisit the public areas.
While there are good numbers of sandhill cranes, they tend to do nighttime “flydowns” in small groups, in contrast to the massive flights we had witnessed in Bosque de Apache Preserve in New Mexico. The greater white fronted geese, however, did make up for this both the in the spectacle of massive skeins of them in flight against the colors of sunset and in their incredibly loud gabbling. We were surprised by the numbers of tundra swans.
A special treat, as the sun was fading in the western sky, was that I noted in the distance the distinctive sillhoutte of a great horned owl. We were priveleged to see it fly down to a fence line and on two separate ocassions copulate with a second owl. And as we drove out down the levee road in the dark, a short eared owl zigzagged next to the truck, landed in brush where our headlights could catch it quite clearly, then zigzagged away again.
1. Pie-billed Grebe
2. Great Blue Heron
3. Great Egret
4. Snowy Egret
5. Greater White Fronted Goose
6. Snow Goose
7. Canada Goose
8. Mallard
9. Northern Shoveler
10. Northern Pintail
11. Ruddy Duck
12. Northern Harrier
13. Red Shouldered Hawk
14. Red Tailed Hawk
15. American Kestrel
16. Sora
17. Sandhill Crane
18. Killdeer
19. Black-necked Stilt
20. Greater Yellowlegs
21. Least Sandpiper
22. Dunlin
23. Snipe
24. Gull sp.
25. Rock Pigeon
26. Great Horned Owl
27. Short Eared Owl
28. Downy Woodpecker
29. Say’s Phoebe
30. Black Phoebe
31. Loggerhead Shrike
32. Northern Mockingbird
33. Spotted Towhee
34. Brewer’s Blackbird
35. Starling

Other birds seen en route to/from Lodi:
Redhead
Merlin
Wild Turkey

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Stupid mockingbirds

2005-08-30T01:33:21Z

The mockingbirds around my house have been busy this year. The problem is that they keep putting their nest in my front yard. That in itself isn't a problem.

The real issue is that evidently baby mockingbirds tend to go on walkabout about a week before they're ready to try flying. My front yard is a dangerous place for a flightless chick, with cats and a busy street.

Anyway, having learned from this pair's first nest, I watched the second nest carefully and spent a harrowing week trying to persuade the little chicks to stay in their bush. In the end, two of the three survived the wilds of the front yard to fly off into the great blue yonder. I call it a success.

Damn birds.

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Bird Flu

2005-08-25T15:12:47Z

http://www.guardian.co.uk/birdflu/story/0,14207,1556314,00.html

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

pelagic trip

2005-08-21T17:58:04Z

Can anyone recomend a good pelagic trip in Northern Cal? I hear fall is the best time to go.

posted in Bird Geeks - 7 replies

New photos: southern Brazil

2005-08-20T13:10:36Z

I've just posted a few of my photos from a recent trip to southern Brazil:

http://www.geometer.org/Brazil/index.html

The first shot on the page is one of the luckiest I've ever taken; the "best" bird, but the worst photo on that page is of the Harpy Eagle. Unfortunately, we found the eagle at dusk, in failing light, a decent distance away and pretty high up, and my camera just wasn't up to the challenge ....

I'd never been anywhere near south Brazil, so of the approximately 400 species I saw, I'd guess that 250 of them were "lifers". Not bad!

posted in Bird Geeks - 7 replies

Bird ID help (Bullock's Oriole?)

2005-07-28T19:41:30Z

I was at the Palo Alto Baylands at the duck pond today (on the San Francisco peninsula, for those not in the area) when I saw a flash of yellow and then it jumped in to take a bath. I snapped a couple of photos which I've added to this tribe's album, labeled "Mystery bird 1" and "Mystery bird 2".

It was about the size of an Oriole, but I've never seen one there before, and the only glimpse I got of it was soaking wet, as shown in the photos.

Any ideas what it is?

posted in Bird Geeks - 7 replies

Sooty Albatross

2005-07-26T17:08:11Z

I was fishing offshore last year, around the Half Moon Bay area of California. It was a great trip with lots of spotttings, Humpbacks (very close to our boat) Dhals Porpoises etc. We also spotted a large bird which the Captain identified as a Sooty Albatross, unfortunatley I dont have any pictures. Has anybody else ever come across this bird in the Northern Hemisphere?
http://www.earthlife.net/birds/albatross.html

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

A first for Mendo County!

2005-07-25T04:54:07Z

I was birding at the Ukiah Wastewater Treatment Plant this morning aka the sewage ponds--a wonderful managed wetland area between pear orchards and the Russian River--and there they were: the first known BlackNecked Stilts to breed in Mendocino County! Mom, dad, and two babes, fairly big bodied but considerably shorter legged than their very protective parents.
A couple of semipalmated plover, some early dowitchers and yellowlegs, and some spotted, western and least sandpipers rounded out the interesting shorebirds there....

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Pix of hummingbird nests

2005-07-14T16:57:45Z

these are just wonderful
http://community-2.webtv.net/Velpics/HUM/ is this winter, rufous hummingbirds and on the last page of it i found a link to an earlier year:
http://community-2.webtv.net/hotmail.com/verle33/HummingBirdNest/

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Introductions

2005-06-27T19:04:28Z

I encourage others in this group to introduce themselves briefly under this heading. :-) I enjoy birds generally, but crimson rosellas most particularly. Here is a painting of some wild ones:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an4085571-v

posted in Bird Geeks - 17 replies

Seen any birds lately?

2005-06-26T23:26:56Z

hee hee! Of course! You pretty much see birds on a daily basis if you go outside. But how many times do you really pay attention?
As much as I love birds, sometimes I don't even notice when I'm going about my busy day. And that's a shame. Even in a parking lot there's always a few birds foraging for that dropped potato chip and even that dead bug on the grill of your car.

Sooo.... like that old saying goes..."take time to smell the flowers"
.... well today, take time to look at that little birdie:-)

posted in Bird Geeks - 7 replies

holy bird sh*t

2005-04-29T04:24:58Z

perhaps there is a chance of redemption for humans.....an ivory billed woodpecker, a species thought to be extinct for the last 50 years, has been spotted in Arkansas.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2005/04/28/national/w052915D53.DTL

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Stow Lake today

2005-04-29T00:30:54Z

The rain stopped and so instead of taking my visiting mom to the movies to see Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill we took a walk around Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. Before we got there, I spotted a great blue heron on the meadow below the Lake area, east of 19th ave, stalking, and pulled over quickly; we got out just in time to watch it catch a gopher. This is the third time I've seen this and it never fails to be somewhat disconcerting!
The small heron rookery on the island in Stow Lake is doing very well and there are Canada geese goslings -- though a few regulars noted that the 2 are a reduction from 3 just yesterday: gulls? herons? racoons? Sudden raucus calls followed by distinctive red tail screams got us looking up in time to watch a red tail hauling ass over the lake to get away from a one-two hit: not only a raven but also a sharpshin in hot pursuit of him!
Not bad for a short afternoon stroll....

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

falcons in SF

2005-04-29T00:17:58Z

http://www.scpbrg.org/ is the falcon cam for the nest on the PG&E bldg

posted in Bird Geeks - 4 replies

The Great Backyard Bird Count

2005-02-17T17:08:53Z

GO OUT AND COUNT FOR THE BIRDS

The Great Backyard Bird Count is Back!

8th ANNUAL GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT INVITES EVERYONE TO GO OUT AND COUNT FOR THE BIRDS IN AMERICA'S GREAT BACKYARD

During the weekend of February 18 through 21, people across the North American continent are encouraged to count the birds in their backyards and report them over the Internet, as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), one of the world's largest volunteer efforts of its kind. In addition to its value as a research study, the GBBC allows people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate birds and provide vital information about North America's birds.

This is the eighth year of the popular event, developed and managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited store owners. This year's theme, "North America's Great Backyard," was chosen as a way to celebrate the beauty of birds found across the continent. People are encouraged to enjoy the birds around them by going out into the "Great Backyard" during any or all of the count days and keeping track of the highest numbers of each bird species they see.

For more info, see www.birdsource.org/gbbc

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Scarlet Macaw Reintroduction in Costa Rica

2005-01-31T21:33:57Z

I've just gotten back from Costa Rica, volunteering with an organization called Amigos de las Aves. They are breeding Scarlet and Great green macaws for reintroduction - they currently have 3 Scarlet flocks at three different sites - Tskita, Curu (where the released birds have successfully raised new chicks!), and Palo Verde, and looks like they have found a suitable site to release Great Greens soon.

Volunteers are welcome both at the breeding center and at the field sites - for more info or just to see what's going on with the project, check out www.hatchedtoflyfree.org.

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

Binocular Rec?

2005-01-28T19:34:02Z

My friend's buying a pair of binoculars for her mom for xmas--and needs some help.

I love my binoculars (Swift, ultra-light something or another), but I think they were around $200-300 and she's looking to spend between $100-200.

Any recommendations? Her mom will probably use them mostly for backyard viewing, but may get into birding a bit further. So it's really for a nice, but not crazy, starter pair.

Thanks! And happy holidays!

posted in Bird Geeks - 4 replies

Pale Male

2005-01-08T19:23:43Z

saw this online today. what a shame....I put a picture of the protesters in the tribe album.

Shame of the city: Bird watchers and environmentalists hold a candlelight vigil in New York to call attention to the plight of a red-tail hawk named Pale Male, whose nest was removed from its 14th-floor perch on 927 Fifth Avenue. The hawk and its mate, who have been using the nest since the early 90s, have been circling the building, trying to find their home.

posted in Bird Geeks - 8 replies

I think Harris Hawk

2004-11-16T09:39:09Z

But I'm no pro. What do you guys think? (I set the pic as my main photo, if I change it's in my photo album)

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Paced by geese

2004-09-20T16:02:07Z

I was heading south on Stony Point road, west of Rohnert Park, and was paced by the first large flock of geese I've seen in a while. At least a hundred birds, seemingly asking me to join them on their way. Riding a motorcycle is so close to flying already, that with the geese overhead I easily forgot my terrestrial ties for a moment.

Good stuff.

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Birds branching into the music industry

2004-09-20T04:56:20Z

A Death Metal Band whos vocalist is a parrot. I don't need to say anymore.

http://www.reptilianrecords.com/reptilian/hatebeek.html

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Red-footed Falcon, Martha's Vineyard

2004-08-13T21:22:59Z

Not that this is really a chasing list, it's still worth mentioning that the first occurrence of Red-footed Falcon in the western hemisphere is at Katama Airfield south of Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard in MA.

Check the Masschusett's birding list on http://www.birdingonthe.net for details. Best options are to get the passenger ferries from either Wood's Hole or Falmouth MA (or perhaps even New Bedford) and schlep. There's a bus service or the elusive/expensive taxi.

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Field Guide on DVD or CD-ROM??

2004-07-16T20:32:09Z

What is the best Field Guide published today on DVD or CD-ROM?

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Mist Netting

2004-07-16T17:39:31Z

What are your thoughts on Mist Nets? At first, I hated them, because I was not very good at rescuing the birds. Now I am fairly skilled and can get most birds out in less than two minutes, longer for the smaller birds and the darn thrashers which hold onto the net for dear life. Is there a less stressful, cost efficient, and time efficient means of catching and banding various birds that you are aware of? So far, the only bad things that have happened to me while netting is when we had the bats show up, and when one poor little white-eyed vireo had to be cut loose because he had spun himself around so much he was unable to be gently freed. That took a while and stressed the poor little guy so much we had to wet him down. I nearly cried. Any suggestions?

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Australian birds

2004-06-25T15:38:55Z

I have posted a photo of a big blue bird, and a dove, from Australia on page 4 of the group photos.

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

Secret Spots?

2004-06-21T16:57:38Z

Hello. I just joined this tribe yesterday and am enjoying the topic discussions here. I've been an environmental educator for Mass Audubon for 6 years. I just moved to Berkeley, CA to work for Save the Bay. I miss my New English friends the black-capped chicadee, cedar wax wings, timberdoodles at night...the call of the wood thrush. But I know there are many new birds to learn in this area. I'm looking for some good places to go viewing and meet other nature enthusiasts. Any suggestions? I don't have a car so biking distance or public transit are preferred.

Thanks.

posted in Bird Geeks - 3 replies

Winged Migration

2004-06-21T04:22:19Z

Has anybody here seen the film "Winged Migration"?

If you haven't heard of the film
look here:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/winged_migration.html

posted in Bird Geeks - 5 replies

What made you become a birdwatcher?

2004-05-04T17:02:52Z

For me, it was a canoe trip down the Cape Fear River in North Carolina with my father and my brother. I had wanted to go on this trip with them for years. Along the way, as my dad and bro were fishing they were also watching the birds. My brother had an uncanny ability to spot them and identify them by their song. I was impressed and inspired. When he pointed out a Prothonatory Warbler sitting on a branch inside a little tree, and I saw it, I was immediately hooked. After that we saw Summer Tanagers, herons, and tons more Warblers. My father can tell a bird just by how it flies. I credit them with showing me a part of nature that I had overlooked. I owe them big time!

posted in Bird Geeks - 5 replies

Greetings from southern NJ

2004-05-02T22:14:19Z

When I moved here in '89, from Colo, it was a very pleasant surprise to see the avian diversity of the area...and my amazement grew, season by season. The list is well over 50 species now (I guess I should tell you that number is ONLY the birds that I've seen in my own back yard, at the feeders). Now that I'm a widowed empty nester, I'm really thankful and appreciative of the endless entertainment they provide. Living across the street from a wildlife refuge, and on a major migration route, surely contributes to the count. Good to meet you all.

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

strangest bird sighting

2004-04-14T03:32:21Z

My strangest bird sighting happened one day when I was on my lunch break in downtown San Francisco. I was on my way back from picking up a salad and on the ground I saw a beautiful little blue bird. I bent down and saw that it had blood running out of it's beak. It was obviously dead. It must've flown into a window. I picked it up with a plastic bag, and carried it back to work. I wanted to take a picture of it so that I could identify it. I took a picture and sent it to Joe Morlan, a local birder, and he identified it as a lazuli bunting. Which is indeed what it was. It made me very sad to know that this poor bird flew into downtown, got confused and scared, and then flew into a window and died. I wish there was some way we could prevent this from happening, but I don't know what the solution would be. If we could somehow make our downtown buildings more eco-friendly, and add some greenery for the birds and insects to perch in, maybe that would help.

posted in Bird Geeks - 6 replies

common birds in your area

2004-03-30T22:04:16Z

Here are some of our year-rounders: scrub jays, crows, English sparrows, Brewer's blackbirds, mockingbirds, snowy egrets, kestrels, great blue herons, barn owls.

Seasonal -- or ones i don't see all-year round -- include juncoes, flickers, house finches, California gulls.

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Do Birds Dream?

2004-03-29T20:28:06Z

I share my home with a female cockatiel and i *swear* i think she dreams... i don't know *anything* about birds really so i don't know any kind of scientific input on the topic, so i thought i'd post the question here & see what everyone else thinks???

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

Colorado

2004-03-28T10:49:43Z

I'm considering a trip to CO in April, maybe for some grouse, maybe for some of my other "missing" Western species - anyone got any recommendations ? I'm aware of the Lane guide from ABA (but haven't actually ordered it yet ;)

Thanx, phil
[Most recent "interesting" birds: Bohemian Waxwing in NJ, Barn Owl in Central Park NYC]

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

At risk of being inane -- my favorite birding place

2004-03-08T19:20:17Z

It's an artificial wetland area in Tucson AZ called "Sweetwater wetland". Unfortunately, it's adjacent to (and part of) the city's wastewater treatment facility and sometimes the whole place doesn't smell quite right, but the birds don't care.

Mostly it's a treat to be able to see ducks out in the middle of the desert. In the winter you can usually see large numbers of northern shovelers, cinnamon teal and ruddy ducks.

posted in Bird Geeks - 6 replies

Appropriate backyard bird feeders and habitats

2003-12-30T21:30:30Z

I was curious if any of you have done any research into what might be considered inappropriate housing and feeding practices in your backyards in relation to migratory birds that might not leave if ready food is available? I currently provide no housing, however I do provide a birdfeeder. I live in South Texas, and so far only get sparrows, doves, and a Great Kiskadee. My hummingbird feeder is apparently not in a good location or I am just not getting the flavor right. I will be landscaping this coming spring to provide a butterfly garden and more hummingbird enticing flowers, but I don't want to mess up bykeeping some migratory bird here. Any suggestions?

posted in Bird Geeks - 1 reply

Few migrants this year

2003-12-30T02:02:31Z

Last year, April end, there were thousands of Cedar waxwings here in Santa Monica feeding on the figs of our Indian laurels (Ficus street trees) and also lesser goldfinches in the Casuarinas. I didn't see a one of either species though a rather confused Kingbird showed up later.
Anyone else notice anything similar about the migrating season this year?

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

Xmas Bird Count?

2003-12-18T07:31:50Z

I've never done one--has anyone ever participated in one? I'm a bit curious about what's involved...

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies

Howdy, Im a condor geek from central calif

2003-12-11T04:08:13Z

any other condor lovers out there.... seen any condors in AZ lately??

posted in Bird Geeks - 0 replies

I saw a couple new birds yesterday!

2003-12-01T07:35:10Z

Thanksgiving day I took a friend to the aforementioned Sweetwater Wetlands (Tucson AZ). Other people had the same idea. It was the first time I've seen the parking lot almost full. There must have been 6 cars!

Straight away we saw the resident Horned Grebe. It's apparently a year-round resident, as I've bumped into people at the wetlands who had come to see it based on a rumors of a sighting the day before.

Had two "what the heck is that" moments while looking into the massive catchment basins. The first turned out to be a group of Northern Pintail. We identified them by the swirl of white running from the neck onto the head. It took a lot more straining through the binoculars to actually see the "pintail" part of the duck.

Second was what we decided to be a white morph of a Snow Goose.
Or perhaps a feral domestic with a dirty tail. It was at the very edge of the binoculars resolution and the light was failing.

I doubt either of those are spectacular sightings -- the guides say both birds are common in their winter ranges. But y'know the important part is to be up and out and looking.

Has anybody else gotten a chance to go out birding recently?

posted in Bird Geeks - 2 replies