Birding

[jcolvin2]

Mrs. FRP and I heard the Song of Destruction this morning, which means that our resident dinosaurs (a/k/a, the group of sandhill cranes that spend the warmer months in the industrial park adjacent to our home) have returned. No pictures yet, but they're making themselves heard. One morning last year, they literally walked out in front of my car as I drove through the park and stared me down while crossing the road.

I thought that as migratory birds, sandhill cranes were protected. A couple of years ago, I was surprised to learn that the federal government allows states to authorize the hunting of these birds, and that - because of the texture/quality of their meat - some people refer to sandhill crane as "the ribeye of the sky."

[Azastan]

I thought that as migratory birds, sandhill cranes were protected. A couple of years ago, I was surprised to learn that the federal government allows states to authorize the hunting of these birds, and that - because of the texture/quality of their meat - some people refer to sandhill crane as "the ribeye of the sky."

Waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, are migratory, but allowed to be hunted. Sandhill cranes are allowed to be hunted but states which allow them to be hunted almost always require a special permit because Whooping Cranes are also found with Sandhills, and you MUST be able to differentiate between Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes.

Washington State does not allow the hunting of Sandhill Cranes due to their low numbers and low rate of reproductivity. Most of the states which allow hunting of Sandhills are in the Central Flyway (except for Nebraska, which does not allow hunting of Sandhills).

[jcolvin2]

Sandhill cranes are allowed to be hunted but states which allow them to be hunted almost always require a special permit because Whooping Cranes are also found with Sandhills, and you MUST be able to differentiate between Whooping Cranes and Sandhill Cranes.

Washington State does not allow the hunting of Sandhill Cranes due to their low numbers and low rate of reproductivity. Most of the states which allow hunting of Sandhills are in the Central Flyway (except for Nebraska, which does not allow hunting of Sandhills).

I was raised in South Texas. I remember going to see th e then critically endangered whooping cranes along the lower Arkansas river. It was quite a sight.
Oddly enough, the Seattle Zoo has a nice collection of various Asian cranes. They are housed near the (fierce?) red pandas.

[pipistrelle]

I thought that as migratory birds, sandhill cranes were protected. A couple of years ago, I was surprised to learn that the federal government allows states to authorize the hunting of these birds, and that - because of the texture/quality of their meat - some people refer to sandhill crane as "the ribeye of the sky."

I was looking for videos of sandhill cranes because someone wanted to know what they sound like. Amongst the results are a series from someone in TX who regularly hunts them, with the preview often a pile of dead sandhill cranes. Unreal.

[northland10]

I thought that as migratory birds, sandhill cranes were protected. A couple of years ago, I was surprised to learn that the federal government allows states to authorize the hunting of these birds, and that - because of the texture/quality of their meat - some people refer to sandhill crane as "the ribeye of the sky."

I was looking for videos of sandhill cranes because someone wanted to know what they sound like. Amongst the results are a series from someone in TX who regularly hunts them, with the preview often a pile of dead sandhill cranes. Unreal.

The Middlefork Savannah Forest Preserve not far from where I live has sandhill cranes and has the occasional sighting of migrating whooping cranes, among other things. I once saw a bobcat when the train I was on was passing by the preserve.

[Foggy]

... the Seattle Zoo has a nice collection of various Asian cranes. They are housed near the (fierce?) red pandas.

I'll be visiting the Seattle zoo in August. I invite any locals to join me.

[Azastan]

... the Seattle Zoo has a nice collection of various Asian cranes. They are housed near the (fierce?) red pandas.

I'll be visiting the Seattle zoo in August. I invite any locals to join me.

Sounds like a plan! Unfortunately, the Nocturnal House still hasn't been replaced. That was my favourite part of the zoo.

[jcolvin2]

... the Seattle Zoo has a nice collection of various Asian cranes. They are housed near the (fierce?) red pandas.

I'll be visiting the Seattle zoo in August. I invite any locals to join me.

Sounds like a plan! Unfortunately, the Nocturnal House still hasn't been replaced. That was my favorite part of the zoo.

The Zoo is currently running at 25% capacity, and many of the exhibits with indoor components or tight quarters (especially birds and reptiles) are closed. If these restrictions are still in place in August, I would recommend obtaining reservations on the Woodland Park Zoo website beforehand.

I don't think Woodland Park is planning to replace the Nocturnal House. While it was one of my kids' favorite sections of the the Zoo, I think the decision was made that it was too expensive to run going forward.

I just noticed that autocorrect apparently turned the Aransas River into the Arkansas River in my prior post. Different worlds.

[jcolvin2]

I'll be visiting the Seattle zoo in August. I invite any locals to join me.

Another thing that avid birders may want to do on a trip to Western Washington is to take the North Cascade highway (US 20) up along the Skagit River. There is a large population of bald eagles.

[Azastan]

I just noticed that autocorrect apparently turned the Aransas River into the Arkansas River in my prior post. Different worlds.

I have to laugh at this, because my personal internal autocorrect read that as *Aransas* because I know that's what you meant!

[zekeb]

That's pronounced "Are Kansas", I'll have you know.

[Eaststander]

Here in Central Southern England, we frequently have magnificent Red Kites cruising around. These birds had almost disappeared in the UK by the 1980s, due to many factors including the stealing of eggs. From 1989 onwards a long-running programme of reintroducing birds from Spain and Sweden was started, and it has been so successful there are now estimated to be around 4,600 pairs here.
We often have fun by putting out the remains of a chicken carcass, and watch as the Kites at first cautiously circle around at altitude, then make a swoop for the morsels. Surprisingly, they are not terribly good at this, and it frequently takes several runs before they manage to pick up their prize and make off with it.

[AndyinPA]

They are beautiful birds!

[AndyinPA]

https://www.theguardian.com/science/202 ... gbirds-hum

Hummingbirds might be instantly recognisable from their eponymous sound, but the cause of the characteristic has long been a mystery.

Now researchers say they have cracked the conundrum, finally taking the “hmm?” out of hummingbirds.

David Lentink, the assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford University and a co-author of the research, says that while the hum was known to be linked to the movement of the wings, it was previously unclear what exactly was behind the sound. Pressure changes generated by the flapping, vortices in the air flow, and whistling sounds from the feathers themselves were all among the possibilities.

Now it seems the answer predominately lies in the aerodynamic forces, and hence pressure changes, produced as the wings move.

“This alone is enough to really understand what the main source of the hum is,” said Lentink.

[Azastan]

Here in Central Southern England, we frequently have magnificent Red Kites cruising around. These birds had almost disappeared in the UK by the 1980s...

I got to see them in Wales. That was a lovely trip, as I got to see a Eurasian Kingfisher as well!

[Uninformed]

I frequently drive over the Hogs Back (a ridge forming part of the South Downs) and there are usually one or more Kites circling. There appear to be other hawk species in the area but they are difficult to identify, although some are definitely Kestrels. I’m going to crash one day.

[pipistrelle]

I frequently drive over the Hogs Back (a ridge forming part of the South Downs) and there are usually one or more Kites circling. There appear to be other hawk species in the area but they are difficult to identify, although some are definitely Kestrels. I’m going to crash one day.

And the kites are waiting for that very moment.

[Azastan]

I frequently drive over the Hogs Back (a ridge forming part of the South Downs) and there are usually one or more Kites circling. There appear to be other hawk species in the area but they are difficult to identify, although some are definitely Kestrels. I’m going to crash one day.

My father, who grew up at the very edge of Chat Moss, was very enthusiastic in his on-the-go bird identification, and there were more than a few times that we feared for our lives when he would get distracted by 'oh, see that California Thrasher there!?', or 'there's California quail under that shrub there'. He did a lot of pointing.

[Eaststander]

I frequently drive over the Hogs Back (a ridge forming part of the South Downs) and there are usually one or more Kites circling. There appear to be other hawk species in the area but they are difficult to identify, although some are definitely Kestrels. I’m going to crash one day.

Buzzards and Kites look very similar from a distance except the Kite’s tail is forked, and the Buzzard’s is like a fan. And yes Uninformed, I have seen Kites pick up roadkill!

[Uninformed]

I frequently drive over the Hogs Back (a ridge forming part of the South Downs) and there are usually one or more Kites circling. There appear to be other hawk species in the area but they are difficult to identify, although some are definitely Kestrels. I’m going to crash one day.

And the kites are waiting for that very moment.

That’s a bit disconcerting. I already know that dogs, cats, and horses have my measure, now it’s birds.

[Chilidog]

The Middlefork Savannah Forest Preserve not far from where I live has sandhill cranes and has the occasional sighting of migrating whooping cranes, among other things. I once saw a bobcat when the train I was on was passing by the preserve.

That is an awesome place for birdwatching.

I've seen Sandhills, northern flickers, green herons, Bob whites, bluebirds, orioles, and so on there.

Last time, we saw mink.

[northland10]

The Middlefork Savannah Forest Preserve not far from where I live has sandhill cranes and has the occasional sighting of migrating whooping cranes, among other things. I once saw a bobcat when the train I was on was passing by the preserve.

That is an awesome place for birdwatching.

I've seen Sandhills, northern flickers, green herons, Bob whites, bluebirds, orioles, and so on there.

Last time, we saw mink.

I do need to get back out there. I am sometimes amazed at the difference in what you see at the Lake Bluff Train station versus what I get here. It may be that the area is a bit less built than up where I am. I see blue jays there but never see them at my place (only 6 miles away). I have also seen a scarlet tanager there once. One spring, the was a barn swallow nest under the roof of the train platform. We watched for a couple weeks while the parents would feed the little ones and they would grow bigger until the number of little ones trickled down to nothing.

[fierceredpanda]

Success! The sandies were calling just outside my den window this morning as I was getting ready for Zoom hearings.

[AndyinPA]

Nice shot!

[AndyinPA]

PITTSBURGH —

A new bald eagle was born in the City of Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

The Audubon Society confirmed the Hays bald eagles welcomed an eaglet just after three this morning.

The eaglet is the first to come from the three eggs the Hays eagles laid this year.

https://www.wtae.com/article/the-eagle- ... h/35910199

The second one hatched during the night last night. That makes H13 and H14 for this pair. One more to go.