BS: Other birds Thread

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Nov 13 - 09:13 PM

The gulls have gone.
They come up following waterways and lakes in the spring, as the ice is opening up in our lakes. We are always glad to see them as they are a sign that our short summer is on the way.

We live close to the reservoir and its marshy headlands, and watch them at dusk as they return to the water from their foraging. There are several species, for some the reservoir is a stepping stone on their way to the Arctic.

Swans follow a similar pattern, the tundra swan stopping on its way to the Arctic, and on its return. One species stays in Alberta all summer.

I have seen the trumpeter on its flyover to its nesting ground north of here just once.

Calgary, Alberta

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 01:06 PM

Texas also has a quite colorful selection of birds in the winter. Some of my best photos were taken a few years ago after a snowfall with birds under the feeder. It was a great mix of colors and shapes, sparrows, finches, cardinals, doves, pyrrhuloxia, and more.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 10:09 AM

Florida is a great place for wildlife. In January, 2011, we went to Everglades and points north, and we saw 65 kinds of wild birds and animals.

In October of this year, we did something different - took a 2-day paddleboat ride on the Illinois River. It was a surprise to me how big the Illinois River is. We saw these birds:

egrets
white pelicans
bald eagles
assorted ducks
coots
myrtle warbler (butter-butt)
cedar waxwing.

If you are ever in the Midwest, check out the boat called 'The Spirit of Peoria.'

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Nov 13 - 02:49 AM

I see I didn't reply to Ebbie -

Ebbie, I really like the ravens here in Northern California, but the ravens in Alaska are about the most entertaining birds I have ever seen - and the sounds they make are so interesting. They seem to be at their best in winter, when the tourists aren't there to see them.

I also find buzzards really interesting. Several years ago, I drove the ten-mile tour road in Big Cypress National Preserve, next to Everglades National Park. It was one of the most treacherous and most beautiful drives I have ever taken - a one-lane muddy road, with a very long walk back if I got stuck. I got to a swampy spot and saw maybe two dozen buzzards at the side of the road. All but two flew up into the trees when they saw me. Then I saw what made them gather - they were feasting on the carcass of an alligator. When buzzards gather like that, they seem to be having a party. It's a very sociable affair for them. I saw a gathering of buzzards like that alongside our road in the Sierra foothills this summer, but I didn't see any carrion around. I wonder what made them gather. And of course, watching buzzards fly is amazing.

And then there's ospreys - they seem to be very aware when there are humans around, and then they seem to put on a show.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Bee
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 04:59 PM

Living where I do, it's common to see Great Blue Herons every day. When the tides go out on the mudflats, I've seen as many as seventeen at a time, each singly occupying a broad expanse of inches deep water, still and patient.

I'm convinced they have a sense of humour. Twice while I lay half asleep on the wharf, a Heron has flown by and waited until s/he was almost at ear level and a few feet away to utter a loud, emphatic 'CRONK!', causing me to lift half a metre off the boards in shock.

I've never seen anything attempt to bother a Heron, and having held the skull of one, found on a gravel river island, I can see why. The beak is not just long, it is surprisingly thick, sharp-edged and strong. That, along with their astounding wingspan and effortless looking flight, makes them pretty safe from any creature but us.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 01:55 PM

Little Hawk-

"We have to get Shane outta the slammer, because I think his expertise is badly needed to crack this case."

No, I think this case is already "cracked."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 12:38 PM

Saw a blue heron fly over yesterday aftyernoon. Gee they're a size. There's a heck of lot of them all over NB, but rare to see one flying over my place in the city.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Little Hawk
Date: 15 Aug 08 - 12:34 PM

Say, I spotted a Midwestern Jadrool today. You don't often see them around here. It's a friggin' ugly bird too, so I can't say I'm sorry about their scarcity.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Little Hawk
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 12:39 PM

It was a 12 gauge, 2 barrel, 2 shot type of gun. Not one of them great pump guns like Steve McQueen used to such good effect in the movie "Getaway". Too bad. I figure he coulda used one of them, eh?

We have to get Shane outta the slammer, because I think his expertise is badly needed to crack this case.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 14 Aug 08 - 12:21 PM

LH... last night, after a few ales, (I said I tell tales, didn't say how tall) I was skeptical about that there farmer fellah. But, in the light of day, I have been checking back here impatiently to see if there have been any breaks in the case.

A 56" feather, eh? What gauge shotgun was it? What kinda shotgun was it?... if it had a mag with more than a capacity of two, was it still loaded? What was the shot size? Geeze, so many possibilities... so many questions.

And, where is Shane? On accounta, if there is a connection with some type of alien, I would think his experience would be of value.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 06:28 PM

Does she help with fractions? Hmmm. I shoulda cut two sixteenths a five eighths a fuck all off that last piece.... it woulda fit perfect! Back to the lumber yard eh.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Gurney
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 06:09 PM

A hen Mallard overnighted in our goldfish pond last night, after asking for and receiving a wet-bread supper.

Waxeyes live in, and Fantails and Tuis visit our suburban small garden, along with introduced species. European Blackbirds have raised families for three years in the carport. She sits six feet away and watches me work with the table-saw.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Little Hawk
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 03:44 PM

Okay, now there is a farmer missing. Halfway between Coldwater and Moonstone. Apparently he heard his cows kicking up a ruckus out in the field, so he went out with a shotgun to see what was going on. His wife heard two shots fired. A few seconds after that she heard a loud yell. Then nothing.

Police officers have investigated. They found the farmer's hat and his gun lying in the field, but no farmer. The gun had been discharged twice, then dropped, and the farmer's footprints led away from it, indicating that he was running. The footprints led to about 50 feet from the gun, then just stopped, as if the farmer had vanished into thin air. A single feather that measures 56 inches in length was also found at the scene.

The investigation continues.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 02:22 PM

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Ebbie - PM
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 10:55 PM

Joe O and KT, I much prefer ravens over the bald eagle. The raven enjoys life hugely but as I've said before the eagle seems not quite sure it is even on the right planet.

A few years back an apartment window near me sported the poster of a bald eagle in all its arrogance. The caption: "I am smiling."

*********************************************************************

Ebbie. You and I have talked about ravens before. I wish you would recount some stories about them.

I haven't been back to the deep bog country in well over ten years. But, one of the best parts of the trips I used to make was seeing the Bog Ravens. That's another name I made up, for the BIG ravens that live in the bog country aside the height of land between the drainages of the Mighty rivers St. John and Miramichi in New Brunswick, Canada.

Eagles do nest up there, but not near the Bog Ravens. The Bald Eagle is easily the more formidable foe, but the Raven is strong in numbers and a Murder of Bog Ravens can be an Unkindness to the eagles. If an eagle dares to challenge them, it's sent packing, to return Nevermore.

Yeah... I know. But, I had to do it. Kinda Poetic, tho? It's in my heart to tell tales. Okay, I'll try to stop crowing now.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 01:50 PM

SRS. Oh my! So many comments come to mind... and should stay there.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 01:46 PM

Bee... a weasel is okay in a camp (not in a house, of course) if you can train it to stay in a corner and not roam around. You have to make sure it has bedding or it will tear the heck out of any material and you can't leave any food or water around. If you set a stew pot anywhere at all, you have to put a good sized rock on the lid. And, if you feed it, you have to feed it in it's corner and be prepared to get a tad rough with it if it tries to roam.

But, they can be trained like that, and as long as they do their business outside, which they usually do, you'll never have a problem with mice or squirrels.

As for the dog, Shepherds don't normally have a ratter instinct and, more importantly, their keen sense of smell would explain why it stayed clear of the shoat... ever smell the musk of one? I found one caught by the foot in a rabbit slip once. I cut a forked stick and pinned it's head to the ground while I got it's foot free. After hours of trying everything I could think of, I put pine gum on my hands, which just made my stinky fingers sticky.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 12:36 PM

Gnu, I met a particularly unlucky Canada Jay while out climbing in the North Cascades. We were on our way out of an attempt to climb Jumbo peak up near Darrington, one of our earliest climbs of the season when there was still lots of snow on the ground. We had been weathered off the mountain, rain below, whiteout above, so were slogging back through a wooded drainage that we had to traverse to get to the chute and ridge that we intended to follow. You had to be careful about walking too close to the trees because there was a soft well of snow around each tree and you could sink into it.

There were probably fewer than 10 of us, all old friends who had climbed together for a couple of years. I was the only woman on the climb, so it was incumbent on me to get far enough away from the group to find privacy for "party breaks." With no leaves on the trees yet and mostly conifers, I was probably 20 or 30 yards away from the group when I stopped. I don't know if I'd been paying attention to the Canada Jays until then, but when I unpacked some gear to change socks, get out a snack, and then use non-existent facilities, a bird started hopping around my pack. It was cute.

I was a younger woman then, and it was that time of the month. I was making the change out of tampons and had dropped the one to be wrapped and carried out on the snow in front of me when damned if this cocky little bird doesn't swoop by, grab it by the bloody string, and fly straight through the trees and over the heads of the rest of my party. That was a real "Oh, shit!" moment.

I walked back to the group and asked if they'd seen anything unusual, but none had. Obviously not bird watchers, or they'd have been astonished.

I can only begin the imagine the disappointment that poor bird suffered when it started investigating it's find.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Bee
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:56 AM

You reminded me, gnu, of the time I had a weasel move into the house I was living in. Fella that owned the house was a friend, and I was paying half the expenses as a house mate. He'd gotten a job in another province, so I had the house to myself with just his young German Shepherd for companionship. One evening in winter I looked over at the dog's food dish in time to see a pretty little white weasel stealing food, while the dog lay beside me watching.

It did that every evening while it was still there, and the dog never went near it.

I spent a couple weeks trying to figure out a method of evicting the weasel without killing it, but after me meeting the critter in the dark on my way to the bathroom one night, whereupon it gave me a fine display of Angry Weasel At Bay, a couple of male friends took matters into their own hands, and the weasel met an untimely end. I still feel bad about that weasel - shoulda thought of using a broom.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 11:10 AM

Thanks for the story, gnu! It isn't over yet- keep us posted.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 10:14 AM

Stupid wasn't stupid. I just named him that because he scared the crap outta me when he flew in the camper. I might have just reacted like the time the weasel scampered in while I was sweeping the floor. Hmmm. If Stupid was nearby when the weasel visited me, I'll bet he was scared. A flying weasel would definitely scare a Moosebird.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: maeve
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 09:07 AM

Wonderful story! Stupid? I think not! What a picture you've given me; who needs a camcorder with a storyteller at work?

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: My guru always said
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 08:41 AM

Fantastic! I can just see the slice going up the tree!!

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 13 Aug 08 - 07:13 AM

I hadn't seen Stupid all morning because Bro and I had driven back to the washout and ran the brook for about 4km from its source. Then, we drove back to the bottom of Gary's Road. It was sunny and about 5C. I had beans and tea heatin on the old Coleman and I was slicin up cheese and a loaf of homemade bread.

Stupid arrived, followed by the missus and one youngun. I tore up a slice of bread into a dozen pieces and threw it into the grass. They each grabbed a piece. Herself and the youngun took off into the woods to store theirs and then return for more, but Stupid managed to get a purchase on a second piece and was trying the do the same with a third piece.

He was having quite a time with the third piece and was letting out muffled squawks as he grew more determined and obviously upset. Bro said, "You greedy little bugger. Here...", and threw a whole slice of bread close to Stupid. Stupid cocked head a bit, spit out the two pieces of bread and latched onto the the thick slice of bread by the upper crust with his beak.

He managed an arc of flight of about a metre before the bread hit the ground. No way was he letting go, so when the bread touched down and fell forward, he went with it and did a sommersault which landed him in a prone position with his head under the bread and his little legs scratching the air rapidly. Much nattering ensued as he uprighted himself, and I am sure he was swearing. A camcorder moment.

The next arc was close to two metres and he rode the bread surfer style as it skidded a bit. On the third attempt, carrying the bread in his talons, he made it to the edge of the woods. He was nattering profusely and he was panting heavily and that's when I really wished I had a camcorder.

When he caught his breath, he started to munch on the bread. I said to Bro, "Time for a break and some sustinence after all that work eh." Maybe, but after he had eaten a hole in the centre of the slice of bread, the aerodynamics were much different and he was able to maneuver the slice up into a pine tree with relative ease.

Stupid?

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: GUEST,hg
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 09:05 AM

Ivory Billed Woodpecker!!!! ....oh wait, I haven't seen one yet! Nevermind....see blog for latest birds....pineyflatwoodsgirl

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 08:52 AM

"Another couple of cows and a horse have mysteriously gone missing over near Coldwater, Ontario."

I knew there were some appropriate verses around here somewhere:

One day as I was punching cows, as all good cowboys do,
A well-known band of ru-st-lers, came rustling into view,
I said, "Hello, how are you, and what might bring you here?"
They said, "If it's all right with you, we'll rustle up a steer?"

I said, "Oh, no, kind sirs, that can never be,
For I am the best cow-puncher, upon the whole prairie,
And I would never have it said I gave you a bum steer,
But if you will sit down a spell, I'll rustle up some beer."

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Aug 08 - 02:55 AM

Little Hawk, I think that's a BIG Hawk. Like dogs, they do come in various predictable sizes. I've seen them.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: pdq
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 10:02 PM

THE PLIGHT OF THE PELICAN   ~   Ogden Nash

A wonderful bird is the pelican,
His bill will hold more than his belican;
He takes in his beak enough food for a week,
But I'm damned if I see how the helican.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 10:02 PM

Mrrzy-

Pelicans are moving up the coast; they're now nesting in the salt marches of Eastern Long Island. I won't be surprised if we see them in Maine next summer, along with salt water crocodiles, or crocogattors.

LH-

It's time that you rustled up some beer!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 07:56 PM

Just came back from 10 days at the beach watching pelicans, and trying not to think Wow, just like a nature video! when they dived.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Bee
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 07:47 PM

LH, I think you've taken to rustling cattle and horses and just want to spread this giant bird story around as a cover for your nefarious new lifestyle.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 07:13 PM

Mad flies?

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 06:04 PM

This just in. Another couple of cows and a horse have mysteriously gone missing over near Coldwater, Ontario. I think we might have a crisis on our hands here.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 04:35 PM

Snarple. Other typos are up to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Bee
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 04:34 PM

Geez, gnu, I even believe ya.

I've had Canada Jays waltz into my tent to steal food - while I was in there scuffling around for the stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 04:18 PM

So, I had a camper on the back of my old F250 years ago. I used to go just about as far back as you could. To various spots in an area I named "Partridge Flats". The land didn't rise over 30m in near 10km, 'cept fer at the brooks, and they easy saw 40m, some of it straight up. And a beaver dam every time ya turned around. And clear cut in the 60s and left to grow back on it's own. Which is why I was there. Not many people care for bear country, and they was thick.

But, the reason I was there was fer the Birch... Birch Partridge... Ruffed Grouse... Bonasa Umbellus. Look that up and you'll see. Even better fried in butter and washed down with black rum and stories at the end of a 30km day.

Now, I have hundreds of stories about The Flats, but this is a bird thread, so, I'll tell ya one about my favourite bird in the backwoods of Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada. The Gray Jay. Canada Jay, Whiskey Jack, Camp Robber, and other names… Moose Bird, locally… is a treasure. I've had them land on me, feed from my hand, play with me by sneaking up from behind and flying within an inch of my head and then sit a few feet away and "laugh" at my startled roar.

I worked like a dog at the office one October day and got away in the afternoon. Raced up country. It was sunny and about 6C and there was nare a strip a wind. Couldn't order a better day. Decided to put on supper and have it ready after a two hour walk before dark. I was fryin and peelin and havin a snarlpe (black rum, OJ and marichino cherries to deaden the OJ acid – try it… let two cherries and the juice settle… like a prize at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box) when into the camper he comes.

He alit about 1m inside the door. Scared the crap outta me. And then hopped toward me and nattered. I threw him a piece of the fried from the table and it was gone. He flew up to the table and grabbed a large piece and, as Moose Birds will do, tried to get it back out the door to store it somewhere. However, he grabbed a big piece. He lifted and then aerodynamics became a wee problem.

After getting such a huge prize, he wouldn't let go of it. Even after he sunk to the floor and pranged with all the grace of a rock, he struggled with it and smacked into the cupboard on two subsequent attempts to get out the door. Given the fact he came into the camper and was so brazen, I knew what to name him… Stupid. He finally made it and was skimming the ground when a Blue Jay mugged him. Poor bugger! I cut up some smaller pieces and feed him by hand… outside.

WARNING…. The feint of heart, tree huggers, vegans, and the like should go read another thread now.

Finally. Time for my walk. Guess who was with me. Sometimes behind, sometimes ahead, but like a stray dog I had fed.

Then, at an old pulp yard, all hell broke loose. Now, I haven't hunted in years, but, when I did, Birch were my passion. And, I was taught by my old man, who was the best I ever saw, and I learned better than he over the years. My double trigger, Russian made Baikal O&U, 28", vent rib, full & modified, thundered and every shell was true. I had my limit of 6 in jig time and headed back to the camper… yes, with Stupid in tow.

I cleaned the birds and Stupid had a feast, along with his mate and little ones (two) and some buddies that he called up, I guess. They hung around til dark. Then, the weasels took over and there was nowt left at dawn.

WARNING…. The skeptical and the like should go read another thread now.

At 7AM, I went for a walk. Guess who was with me. ALWAYS ahead. When he would fly way up in a tree and natter while looking down, I got ready by putting three shells between the fingers of my left hand. No shit. I kid you not. Best dog bird I ever had. But, I can get with that… he liked Bonasa Umbellus too. Had a great fall that year. So did Stupid.

I don't hunt anymore. Never even get up Kent County these days. I know Stupid is long gone but, I will always remember him.

Hehehehe… I got a great story about Stupid and a loaf of bread.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 04:15 PM

Rodan

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 02:53 PM

Or a Labrador Blackfly.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Peace
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 02:24 PM

Sounds like an Ontario mosquito to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 02:22 PM

You may be right, Charley. Actually, I've already done that twice in the past (for other reasons entirely). One must always be ready to travel light and move fast, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 02:16 PM

Little Hawk-

Without a doubt you have the first confirmed sighting of the fabled Guernsey Islands Eagle (aka the Great Moo Bird) in all of Canada. This is an udderly fantastic sighting and you should milk the story for all its worth. But beware! There are raptor aficionados who would kill for the privilege of reporting such a find so I would seriously suggest changing your name and moving to some other part of your fair land.

Your pal,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Bee
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 01:26 PM

Flashback, LH.

The birds that make me happiest are the Common Mergansers. They show up in small flocks of ten to seventy-five on our lake as soon as the lake has a little bit of open water, to feed and court on their way to the Northern nesting grounds. They are large and beautiful harbingers of Spring, are adorable to watch as they court, magnificant in their striding, wing-flapping take-offs, and always lift my spirits.

Next to them, I'm always thrilled to see the Pileated Woodpeckers, prehistoric looking creatures that could convince a creationist of the real relationship between birds and dinosaurs.

I've never seen a bird I couldn't find some redeeming characteristic in. I could wish we had fewer starlings; OTOH, they are so pretty in their mating plumage, and I knew of one that learned (rather dangerously)to mimic the sound of the crossing signal installed for the blind at an intersection in town.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Peace
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 01:06 PM

Bad acid.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 01:03 PM

Okay, I'm not sure what this thing was, but it took a cow out of the pasture down the road from here on Sunday afternoon. I was just coming out of the convenience store, having rented a movie, and this big shadow went over everything. I figured it was a cloud passing over, but then I heard wingbeats. Big ones. I looked up and saw a bird about the size of...well...not as big as a 747, but maybe about 2/3 that size? It had a fairly eagle-like head, but the neck was decorated with a sort of ring of larger feathers that stood out from the rest. The wings and tail were a very dark brown with pale yellow bar patterns underneath.

So the thing did a pass at a few hundred feet up and circled the pasture across the road. It was clearly taking a good look at the herd of cows, Guernseys, that are usually to be seen over there at any given time.

The cows continued grazing in their typical placid fashion. The bird suddenly seemed to make up its mind, swooped down, stretched forth its gigantic talons, and siezed the fattest cow around the middle. This created pandemonium. The cow bellowed frantically and waved its legs around as it was hauled skyward, and the rest of the herd scattered in all directions in a blind panic. Some guy that was going by in a four-by-four lost control, spun around a couple of times, and ended up in the ditch.

The bird then flapped vigorously and ascended with the bellowing cow securely grasped and headed off to the Northwest. It finally disappeared into some low clouds, but one could still hear the cow's despairing cries faintly for at least a minute longer. Then they faded out.

So...whaddya think it was?

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Aug 08 - 01:37 AM

From the August 8 Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Residents hope chimney swifts warm to new man-made homes

link
SOUTHLAKE — For 14 years, Karen Ledbetter barely tolerated the chimney swifts, tiny birds that nested, had babies and returned to the shelter of her chimney each year.

There would be feathers and eggshells and, if the wind blew a certain way, a smell. And the hungry chirping of the chicks. So, finally, she had her chimney capped after Christmas last year.

"But I found out about them being protected birds and I felt a little guilty," Ledbetter said. "I studied about it, and when you do you get this mental picture of them, and how they fly all the way to Venezuela in the winter, and you think, 'Oh, my gosh, these poor little birds.' But I thought they'd find other chimneys."

They didn't. This spring when the birds returned and made flying around her chimney a daily ritual, she relented and uncapped it.

The swifts flew right in.

Now, with the help of 911 Wildlife, area pest control experts, she'll have a chimney swift nursery tower built to offer the birds a new home. She's the third person in North Texas to build such a tower with 911 Wildlife. They cost between $1,500 and $1,800.

There's no guarantee that the chimney swifts will take to the switch. If it doesn't happen, Ledbetter says she'll uncap her chimney once more.

"This is my little part," she said. "I'm really learning to appreciate wild animals that take care of themselves if you just give them a little help."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beneficial birds Chimney swifts are sleek, bluish-black birds with long scythe-shaped wings. They also have sharp claws like grappling hooks that allow them to cling to vertical surfaces. They are sometimes confused with bats. They consume lots of mosquitoes and are a natural form of pest control. They are a protected species, and their numbers have declined dramatically since 1968, probably because of habitat depletion. With their original forest homes cleared for cities and modern homes no longer using masonry chimneys — their adapted habitat — they can't easily find nesting sites.
Chimney swift tower Last summer, Lisa O'Neill of Fort Worth noticed swifts nesting in her chimney. While she liked the natural mosquito control, she wanted to avoid the noise. So 911 Wildlife was hired to cap her chimney and construct a nursery tower next to her house. It's basically a fake chimney, about 15 feet tall, next to a fig tree and painted to match the house. She's seen some swifts in the area but hasn't had any takers this year. "I'm expecting them to use it next year," she said.

The Birdville boiler stack For 17 years Sandy Dunn of North Richland Hills has watched from her dining room as little birds flew in and out of the boiler stack at nearby Richland High School. But when she learned that the building would be demolished, she called the Birdville school district to see whether there was some way to either preserve the stack or build an alternative nesting site. "I don't want to cause trouble," Dunn said. "I just want to know if we can do something." The district is 12 to 15 months from demolition of the 1961 building to make way for a new campus. Administrators will weigh several options before proceeding, district spokesman Mark Thomas said.

Dealing with house guests If you hear noises in your chimney or have concerns about animals living in your chimney or attic, call 911 Wildlife and a technician will check it out for you for free. The tech will suggest the best way to solve the problem without injuring the animal or orphaning babies. The Tarrant County number is 817-737-0911. For information, go to 911wildlife.org.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 10:55 PM

Joe O and KT, I much prefer ravens over the bald eagle. The raven enjoys life hugely but as I've said before the eagle seems not quite sure it is even on the right planet.

A few years back an apartment window near me sported the poster of a bald eagle in all its arrogance. The caption: "I am smiling."

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 05:44 PM

Starlings- Some years back they showed up in Alberta and we began to worry that they would become a pest here, as they were in Texas and elsewhere.
I haven't seen one this year. Hooray!

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 03:44 PM

I watched an Osprey tackle a TOO big salmon one day at Couglhin's Pool (spg?) on the Main SW Miramichi at Grey Rapids. It fought valiantly, but so did the salmon. After a half hour of dunking and near drowning, the osprey let go and barely made it to shore... where it sat for 45 minutes before it lifted off again.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 02:44 PM

Judy and I were out in the boat today, running up and down the cove here in Maine for the first time this year (don't ask why it took half the summer to re-launch the boat) and we saw 6 osprey nests, each of which had a couple of fledglings hanging around waiting for a parent to deliver them fresh fish.

There was also one massive adult bald eagle but we're still unable to locate its nest.

I still remember when the osprey population had been reduced by DDT to one nesting pair, back in the 1960's. They certainly have come back strong, and are really beautiful to watch.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 02:18 PM

A hummingbird sitting motionless on the front porch railing.

Subject: RE: BS: Other birds Thread
From: gnu
Date: 10 Aug 08 - 01:54 PM

Raptor... THANKS! And, speaking of raptors... I could tell this story again, but, why bother...

Subject: BS: Dog : Yap... yap... yapyapyapyapyap...
From: gnu - PM
Date: 03 Aug 08 - 03:58 PM

A few weeks ago, at about 05:50h, I was watering the flower pots that hang from the eave of my mother's garage. As I hung the last one of five back up, sommat caught my attention about 25m up, about 100m out. My immediate thought was, odd looking gull. Then, as I focused in and gained a sense of distance and scale, it was not a gull... waaaaayy too big.

I stood in awe and watched it as it flew so effortlessly over me. When it was directly overhead, I gauged the wingspan at just over 1.2m. I had goosebumps. I guesed at what it might be. I was wrong. An hour later, after searching my bird books and the internut, I confirmed it was a female Northern Harrier. Never saw one before.

No matter that I could not identify it right away. As it flew out of sight over me Mum's house, I had a thought come to mind. If only her next door neighbour's yappy little dog had somehow gotten outside without being on it's leash, I wouldn't have to listen to it yap and yap and fookin yap all fookin day long from dawn til dusk. (I know it's not the dog's fault, but the Harrier couldn't carry Ches away, eh?)