Birding / Wild Birds

If you haven't entered the May Bird Photo Contest, it's not too late! This month's theme is "Birds and Blossoms" and all photographers - amateur or experienced - are welcome to enter up to three photos. Just be sure to show both parts of the theme - a bird and a blossom!

Entries must be submitted to the official contest thread in the forum, and all entries are due no later than Wednesday, May 23. Finalists will be announced in the forum and blog, and reader voting will determine the winning photo. Take advantage of the beauty of spring and submit your bird and blossom photos today!

Need tips? Visit About.com Photography to learn how to photograph flowers and how to get great shots of birds!

Wild Sunflowers
Photo © Melissa Mayntz

This week's featured bird is a favorite year-round western hummingbird - the Anna's hummingbird remains in its Pacific coastal range all year, as well as in southwestern Arizona. The males are easily recognized by their brilliant rosy pink heads, though the females are much more camouflaged and may only show a few red spots on their throats.

Have you seen the Anna's hummingbird? Share your sightings in the comments!

Anna's Hummingbird
Photo © Linda Tanner

Florida blueberry farmers are having a spring season, not only because of warmer than typical weather, but also because of the hungry appetites of cedar waxwings. According to Bay News 9, the birds have not migrated as expected, and instead are feasting on farmers' crops. Farmers have been using cannons, balloons and other techniques to discourage the birds, but with only limited success. Officials from the Florida Farm Bureau are considering seeking permits to shoot the birds.

Cedar waxwings are largely frugivorous and feed on different types of fruits and berries, often staying in the same area until local plants are stripped of fruit. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Act, however, and anyone illegally harming the birds could face severe fines and other penalties.

Do you think farmers should be granted limited, temporary permits to kill birds to protect their crops? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Blueberries
Photo © Scott Schopieray

Officials in Turkey are concerned about wild birds used for espionage after finding a dead European bee-eater with a band marked "Isreal" recently. According to Ynetnews, the banded bird also had enlarged nostrils, which led to suspicions that it may have been implanted with a surveillance device. The bird was turned in to security services in Ankara for examination.

Israeli wildlife officials have traced the bird's band and confirmed that it was banded four years ago, but there is no evidence of surveillance equipment or espionage associated with it.

Bird banding is commonly used as a research tool for ornithologists. A bird is measured and weighed when it is banded, and after it is released, the bands can help researchers compare data if the bird is recaptured again in the future. Migration studies, bird ranges and population details are all frequently enhanced through banding information; espionage is not.

Have you participated in bird banding? Share your experiences in the comments!

European Bee-Eater
Photo © Ferran Pestaña

It's time again for Mailbag Monday, and during Hummingbird Month, each week I'm featuring a reader's question about these flying jewels. This week, Lil from Arizona asks...

"We live in a desert area and I never see hummingbirds, but my neighbors have hummingbird feeders and my friends say they've seen them. How can I find them?"

Hummingbirds are more adaptable than many people realize, and there are many appropriate hummingbird habitats where these birds can thrive. If you want to find hummingbirds in the wild, watch for their silhouettes as they perch, or watch for their quick flight movements. Listening for the sounds hummingbirds make - with their voices as well as their wings - can also give you a clue for finding hummingbirds. Once you know where to look and what to look for, you'll be surprised at how many hummingbirds you see!

Do you have a bird-related question to ask? Submit it to Mailbag Monday, or check out the recent question archive to see what other birders have been asking!

Hummingbird Silhouette
Photo © Larry Hennessy

A female mallard was euthanized May 9 after being mauled in Central Park. According to the New York Times, the bird was discovered in a pond near the southern end of the park by a ranger, and was taken to a local veterinary hospital. Half her bill was broken off, most of her tongue was missing and she had a deep bite on the back of her neck. While the mauling was not witnessed, it is believed to have been done by a dog, and the duck's head would have been completely in the dog's jaws.

While dogs are allowed off-leash in some areas of Central Park, that does not include near ponds. Dog owners who support the off-leash regulations have been dismayed over the incident, strongly agreeing that even off-leash dogs need to be controlled and trained to respond to commands.

It is unknown if this hen was caring for ducklings, but during the spring and summer months many birds will try to protect their chicks, even facing off with predators they would normally avoid. Dog owners should always have full control over their pets, and no pets should ever be permitted to harass wildlife.

Do you agree with off-leash laws? What consequences do you think there should be when a pet attacks a bird or other wild animal? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Mallard Hen
Photo © Ralph Daily

Florida scrub-jays need a hand, and Jay Watch is calling for volunteers to assist in bird population surveys in several Florida counties. According to the Great Florida Birding Trial blog, half-day trainings are provided to volunteers and the count periods take place on three consecutive mornings, though individual volunteers do not need to join each day's count to be of help.

The Florida scrub-jay is the state's only endemic bird and faces severe threats from habitat loss. By monitoring the species' population, the effectiveness of ongoing conservation programs can be judged, and adjustments can be made as necessary to continue to safeguard these birds.

To get involved with helping out the Florida scrub-jay, contact Marianne Korosy, Audubon Florida Important Bird Area Coordinator and Jay Watch Coordinator at mkorosy@audubon.org.

Florida Scrub-Jay
Photo © Dawn Scranton

More than 530 brown pelicans have been found dead on beaches near Lima, Peru, and authorities don't yet understand why. According to the New York Times, estimates of the bird deaths may be as high as 1,500, including not only pelicans but also boobies and other seabirds. Preliminary investigations indicate malnutrition as a cause of death, and warmer than normal waters are decimating the anchoveta fish population, a major food source for these birds.

The bird deaths are not considered related to massive numbers of virus-caused dolphin deaths in the same region in recent months. While the investigation is ongoing, however, the public is urged to avoid contact with dead birds and to choose other areas to enjoy local beaches.

There are many natural and artificial causes of bird die-offs, and it is critical to determine the cause so any problems or threats can be resolved.

Brown Pelican
Photo © Kevin Cole

I was privileged to add two hummingbirds to my life list during my trip to Texas last week; the ruby-throated hummingbird (a gaping hole in my life list), and this week's featured bird, the buff-bellied hummingbird. While this bird does have a buff belly, its stunning iridescent gorget, head and back are far more colorful, as is its rich rufous tail. A south Texas specialty bird, this hummingbird is easy to see in the Rio Grande Valley.

Is the buff-bellied hummingbird on your life list? Share your sightings in the comments!

Buff-Bellied Hummingbird
Photo © Melissa Mayntz

I've spent a whirlwind week in Texas, gathering details to review a wide variety of birding hotspots in the Rio Grande Valley, courtesy of the McAllen Convention and Visitors' Bureau and many other generous sponsors. After seven days of heat, humidity, mosquitoes, great food and even greater birds, I can completely agree with the sentiment that "everything is bigger in Texas."

Even without full days of birding (we broke in mid-afternoon to prepare for evenings of networking), no night birding, poor migration weather (no fallouts) and no opportunity to explore the western, drier end of the valley, I saw more than 130 species of birds. That includes an astonishing 66 lifers, with many south Texas specialties like the groove-billed ani, buff-bellied hummingbird and aplomado falcon.

Are you ready to add to your life list? These articles can help, and stay tuned for many details on south Texas birding to come!

• How to Build Your Life List
• What Birds Count on a Life List
• What Is a Lifer?

Aplomado Falcon
Photo © Melissa Mayntz