Appreciating a Songbird - Cedar Waxwing

Digiscoped Cedar Waxwing

That Cedar Waxwings often perch nearly motionless for extended periods makes them perfect bird portraiture subjects. But for their high-pitched and forlorn calls, they're quiet sentinels of the branch. When hearing a waxwing call, I'm never too sure how many I've stumbled upon until I actually look up and count them. Their calls are so soft that they blend together sounding like a single bird. They're exhibit a high degree of sociality during winter, so it's not uncommon to find a dozen or more of these elegant little birds perched together in a single fruit-bearing tree during winter. You can find such flocks almost anywhere there are trees with berries, even in your own backyard. Check out this poem I wrote a few years ago about waxwings!

Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Jan 14, 2012 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM
30 species

Canada Goose
Red-tailed Hawk
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Shrike
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
American Tree Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Cedar Waxwing © 2012 Mike McDowell

January Birding

Digiscoped American Robin

The cold temperatures didn't last long. While this unseasonably warm weather streak has been pretty bizarre, it's coming to an end tomorrow with a winter storm warning. We're expected to get up to 8” of snow. I hope we get it so I can go snowshoeing at Pheasant Branch or Pope Farm Conservancy.

With all that's been going on with Operation Migration and my job, I haven't had time to report on my weekend birding. Like many other Wisconsin birders, there are a number of sightings that seem more befitting of spring than January. On December 31st I found a Gray Catbird at Pheasant Branch which was still present on Sunday. I saw a post to the Wisconsin Birding facebook group that Tom Prestby found a Common Yellowthroat at the 1918 Marsh near Picnic Point yesterday. While not totally unexpected, I found a Belted Kingfisher at the new pike breeding site, a Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow, and Winter Wren over the weekend at PBC. Though there have been other reports in southern Wisconsin, a pleasant surprise for me was a flock of Common Redpolls found at the Conservancy Condominium feeders. It's been a couple of years since I've seen one. There's also a large flock of American Robins moving about the conservancy in search of berries. Mostly, though, they're feeding on Buckthorn Berries, which isn't exactly good food for them, but it helps get them through winter. In this flock are two leucistic robins; one has a completely white head while the other is more speckled. Hopefully I can get a photo of either of them at some point.

Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Jan 8, 2012 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
30 species

Canada Goose
Mallard
Red-tailed Hawk
Mourning Dove
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

American Robin © 2012 Mike McDowell

Let the Cranes Fly!

Update:

Told ya! From the FAA's facebook wall...

"The FAA has granted an exemption to Operation Migration that will allow pilots to continue to aid the whooping crane migration. Normally, the FAA limits light sport aircraft and pilots to personal flights without compensation. Because the operation is in 'mid-migration,' the FAA is granting a one-time exemption so the migration can be completed. The FAA will work with Operation Migration to develop a more comprehensive, long-term solution."

I have always regarded everyone at Operation Migration as heroes, especially the ultralight pilots who accept the risk of flying the endangered Whooping Cranes down to Florida. As many of you know by now, Whooper Class of 2011 is stalled in northern Alabama waiting for Federal Aviation Administration to grant OM pilots a waiver. At issue is whether the pilots are flying for hire or the benefit of a nonprofit organization. Ultralight planes are licensed as sport aircraft and FAA rules prohibit flying them for hire. Once OM is granted a waiver by the FAA (which they will undoubtedly get), the pilots and cranes will be able complete their migration, with help from many friends, closing yet another chapter in this amazing and unique wildlife reintroduction program.

But I wonder how Chris Gullikson's legacy and reputation will fare once the propeller dust settles. As identified by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Chris is the disgruntled former Operation Migration employee (and pilot) who filed complaints to the FAA against OM. As such, Chris well knows the vast majority of hours worked by the pilots, year round, does not involve flying at all. They're not only pilots. The job requires unfailing patience and dedication, working with the cranes at all times. And even when they are flying, their main focus is the cranes. They must be in costume, are not allowed to talk, and must avoid coughing and sneezing as much as humanly possible. Even during the peak of migration, they are on duty 24/7 while only being in the air a few hours at most, and only on the days when weather permits flying.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, "The FAA scrutiny came after a former Operation Migration employee filed a complaint. The FAA office in Milwaukee told Operation Migration officials that the migration could go forward. But when a second complaint was filed at the regional level, the agency opened an investigation." Clearly, for Chris it's no longer about saving an endangered species; it's all about him and his personal vendetta against OM.

To me it doesn't seem like Chris has carefully thought through all the repercussions of going after a former employer, especially one as popular in the public eye as Operation Migration. I don't know the particulars and circumstances surrounding his termination with OM, but I was taught long ago never to burn a career bridge. So, what about any future prospective employers? Are they likely to hire someone who might turn on them should things sour?

There is an outpouring of support from people from all around the world calling for the FAA to act quickly to get the whoopers back into the air. One would hope Chris would have anticipated how unpopular his ill-intended actions would go over with the public and just moved on with his life instead of going after a nonprofit during troubled economic times. Though Chris may have scored a few legal and technical points, he will not have earned any moral points through his heartless and selfish behavior.

Link: New York Times article

Link: Huffington Post article

First Outing of 2012

We finally have below freezing temperatures but still no snow cover. Despite the blustery weather and extremely slippery ice-covered trails, I initiated my 2012 birding year yesterday at Pheasant Branch Conservancy. As usual this time of year, there was a lot of activity near the conservancy condominiums because of all the feeders placed on balconies. A few Northern Cardinals were singing and the chatter of chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches, and other songbirds made the winter day seem a little more cheerful. In addition to expected winter emberzids like American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos, I also found a Fox Sparrow and a few White-throated Sparrows. Perched right where they're supposed to be, I saw two roosting sentinel Barred Owls. The male tends to hold the same spot in the trees just north of the condominiums, while the female typically rests on a ledge at the entrance to their nest cavity.



Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Jan 2, 2012 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
27 species

Canada Goose
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

All images © 2012 Mike McDowell

2011 Ends

Looking back at 2011...

Middleton became an official Bird City Wisconsin. This fall I entered my 500th eBird checklist for Pheasant Branch Conservancy since I began entering my sightings in 2007. For the year, I made 144 birding visits, recording 176 species, which is my highest ever year-count for the conservancy. New were Prairie Warbler and Red Crossbill. Sadly, I missed the Black-throated Gray Warbler by mere minutes, which is arguably the best new species observed there (see Eric Wood's excellent photograph). With the Red Crossbill found during the Madison CBC, I'm pretty sure my master list for Pheasant Branch is now at 222 bird species, but I have yet to confirm the total.

Most years I consider myself fortunate if I see just one Prothonotary Warbler at Pheasant Branch. This spring, however, several were present from April 24th to May 15th along the creek corridor. For a while I was beginning to think they might stay, but perhaps the habitat wasn't quite what they were looking for and moved on. The Picnic Point Prothontary Warblers returned to find newly installed nest boxes and successfully fledged young late June. A Kentucky Warbler spent most of the summer at Hoyt Park in Madison.

For the first time at my apartment I enjoyed having Baltimore Orioles visit my balcony for grape jelly from early May through the end of June. Even an Orchard Oriole made a couple of appearances but didn't stick around as long as the Baltimores.

Coming upon hundreds of Tiger Swallowtails mud-puddling at Baxter's Hollow was a special spring treat. I've always wanted to experience this particular butterfly phenomenon but never expected to see so many attracted to one place.

During the summer doldrums I began working on my family ancestry. I found the identities of all my great grandparents and most of my great-great grandparents. I discovered that my maternal grandmother, Edrie L. Darrow-Kellerman, was related to the famous Scopes Trial lawyer Clarence S. Darrow. With a lot of electronic digging through various online vital records databases, I traced some of my family ancestral lines back to the early 1600s in Scotland and Holland.

This year's Snowy Owl irruption is getting a lot of press. The arrivals seemed to peak in late November and early December, but there are still a number of Snowy Owls in Wisconsin. Reports have significantly tapered off the past few weeks. The last time I saw the Waunakee owl was on December 20th, but someone spotted one at Governor Nelson State Park on the 25th. It might be the same bird.

Approaching 300 members, the Wisconsin Birding facebook group I created is thriving. It's become a great way to share reports, stories, photographs, and videos from birders all around the state. There was a brief scandal concerning an image I chose to use for the group's profile picture. Though I was under no obligation to do so, I eventually changed the group name and the profile image. I also created a facebook group about digiscoping.

This blog will begin its 8th year of publication in February 2012. Since January 1st of this year, 18,207 people have visited with over 4 million hits to the birddigiscoper.com domain.

See you in 2012!

Snowy Owl Video from Cornell

Here's a cool video about Snowy Owls from the The Cornell Lab of Ornithology:

Field Guides never looked so good!

Sibley Guide for iPad

I recently put my Digiscoper of the Year prize money toward the purchase of an iPad2 . Though I've been using Sibley and iBird Pro on my iPod Touch since early spring, the apps look so much nicer on an iPad. My eyes really appreciate the larger size and I'm certain my field trip participants will love the larger bird and range map images. My paper birding field guide of choice for years has been the Eastern Sibley, but what if I want to be able to identify butterflies, dragonflies, and wildflowers, too? I don't enjoy lugging around several books in the field, so in addition to Sibley and iBird Pro, I have various flora and fauna field guides installed as well. With an iPad or iPod, the conundrum over what field guides to bring along is gone! These handy gizmos easily fit inside a backpack or back pocket.


iBird Pro on iPad

All images © 2011 Mike McDowell

PBC CBC

Hermit Thrush

We had a successful Christmas Bird Count at Pheasant Branch Conservancy yesterday, part of Area 21 for the Madison CBC. There were a few misses (Winter Wren and Belted Kingfisher) but some nice surprises as well. The Hermit Thrush I've been keeping tabs on for the past few weeks was still present at the southeast corner along the boardwalk. Raptor-wise we saw a Bald Eagle, American Kestrel, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawks, and Red-tailed Hawks. Though most of the time I have no trouble finding Great Horned Owls, the only owl we found was a Barred Owl, which was perched at one of its usual roosting sites. The biggest surprise of the day was a flyover Red Crossbill, my first for Pheasant Branch!

Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Dec 17, 2011 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
39 species

Canada Goose
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Common Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
American Kestrel
Sandhill Crane
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Hermit Thrush © 2011 Mike McDowell

December Birding

Red-tailed Hawk

It was a clear and very cold morning with a strong breeze, so it felt even colder than 11 degrees. I didn't get up in time to watch the partial lunar eclipse, but this was intentional. I figured it wouldn't be as good as the opportunity I had back in February 2008 for photographs.

After making a quick trip to Waunakee to show Sylvia Marek the Snowy Owl, I hiked my usual route at Pheasant Branch Conservancy and observed 32 species. Birds I found last week but missed for today's eBird list were Northern Shrike, Winter Wren, and Rusty Blackbird. On the plus side, I found a Hermit Thrush and Belted Kingfisher. Perched on a limb at the southeast bridge by Century Avenue, a Red-tailed Hawk had its eye on something in the grass. Its back was to me while I was watching it, but just before taking flight it turned around and I was able to get a nice digiscoped photograph of it.

After Pheasant Branch, I stopped at Marshall Park to scope parts of Lake Mendota. There were Tundra Swans, Canada Geese, Common Mergansers, Common Loons, Common Goldeneye, Rudy Ducks, Bufflehead, Canvasback, American Coots, and Mallards.

Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Dec 10, 2011 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
32 species

Canada Goose
Bald Eagle
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Sandhill Crane
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Red-tailed Hawk © 2011 Mike McDowell

Dakota is back home!

"The great horned owl spirited away from an Oconomowoc wildlife rehabilitation facility last month was finally captured Wednesday morning. He was dehydrated, very thin and tired though otherwise appeared healthy."

Link: Keep reading at the Journal Sentinel

Photo courtesy of the Wildlife In Need Center

Waunakee Snowy Owl

Shortly after I finished birding at Pheasant Branch Conservancy this morning, my co-worker Tom Kuenzli called me with some interesting bird news. Apparently, someone spotted a Snowy Owl sitting right up along side of a building in the Waunakee Business Park. They were concerned about the bird’s condition and either called Waunakee Police or the Dane County Sheriff. Renee, Tom’s girlfriend and Dane County Animal Services officer, was called to the scene to assess the situation. When she approached the owl, preparing to capture it, she saw that it was merely guarding a freshly killed rat. The owl gave up its prey and flew across the parking lot to a patch of grass.



Renee had already left by the time I arrived and the owl had returned to the kill site where a few non-birders were watching it. I was told that the owl had eaten something, presumably the rat it was guarding. Moments later, the owl flew back to the patch of grass near the parking lot where I was able to get a few digiscoped photographs of it. Two American Crows flew in and began harassing the owl causing it to flee across the street where it perched on the roof of a building. The taunting crows were unrelenting and the owl took off behind the building. Eventually, I was able to relocate the snowy, which was hunkered down in tall grass about 30 yards from the road. A man from one of the nearby buildings wearing binoculars came down to look at the owl and told me it has been at this location since Friday.

Pheasant Branch, Dane, US-WI
Dec 4, 2011 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
36 species

Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Sandhill Crane
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Northern Shrike
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
American Robin
European Starling
American Tree Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rusty Blackbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Snowy Owl © 2011 Mike McDowell

Relevant

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~ George Washington