Birds Posts

Great White… by , Ranger

December 24th, 2011

It was dusk, the end of the day (12/22). It had been overcast most of the day with only a brief peek of sunshine at mid day. The rain started about 3 PM, cats and dogs at times, and continued until closing. At 4:50 PM the outdoor exhibits were clear except for one family watching the [...] Read the rest of this entry »

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‘Tis the Season… by , Ranger

December 21st, 2011

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Nothing but Butter Butts by , Ranger

December 19th, 2011

Back in October I posted a series of photos of fall plumaged Cape May Warblers feeding on aphids. Today it’s Yellow-rumped Warblers. Yellow-rumped Warblers have been variously known or referred to as Myrtle Warblers, Butter Butts, Dendroica coronata and Setophaga coronata. By whatever name, they’re still the same species and are the most often encountered warbler during North Carolina’s winter [...] Read the rest of this entry »

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Parts on the pavement by , Ranger

December 15th, 2011

This (above) is what greeted me as I made my rounds during the morning of 10 December, a Saturday. Obviously, the white and beige colored splatters are bird droppings. But what bird, and what are the larger brown masses? “Oh good,” I whispered to myself, “another mystery to solve.” I thought at first that the [...] Read the rest of this entry »

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Herding Shiners by , Ranger

December 12th, 2011

Back in October I expressed some concern for our local fish eating birds’ ability to see their prey due to the turbidity of the water in our Wetlands caused by the Red Swamp Crayfish. I specifically mentioned our winter resident Hooded Mergansers who prey upon the Golden Shiners that live in the Wetlands. After observing [...] Read the rest of this entry »

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Spring at the Museum? by , Ranger

December 7th, 2011

It’s December not April. What’s going on with the wildlife here at the Museum. Ranger Lew saw a Northern Water Snake on Saturday (12/3). Spring Peepers were calling and Yellow-bellied Sliders were out basking in the near 70 degree air of yesterday afternoon (12/6). Neither peepers or basking Turtles are unusual during this time of [...] Read the rest of this entry »

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Drilling wood by , Ranger

November 25th, 2011

There are four species of sapsucker in North America, Yellow-bellied, Williamson’s, Red-naped, and Red-breasted Sapsuckers. Being woodpeckers they all make their living by drilling holes in wood. Sapsuckers specialize in drilling shallow wells, often in neat little rows, in living trees in order to suck the sap that eventually fills those wells. They also take [...] Read the rest of this entry »

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ANSWER to last QUIZ by , Ranger

November 23rd, 2011

First, the “things to consider” from the last post are explained: My tracks are on the water. The tracks, or splashes, seem to be made by something striking the surface of the water, probably feet. Many creatures live in and around water, otters, beaver, muskrats, even raccoons take a dip every now and then. They [...] Read the rest of this entry »

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Yay, it’s Quiz Time!!! by , Ranger

November 21st, 2011

What’s this, splashes in the water? Yes, those splashes were made by something, your job is to figure out what. There are four distinct splashes. What creature would make tracks on the water’s surface, however temporary they are? Things to consider: My tracks are on the water. My feeding behavior is a clue to my tracks. [...] Read the rest of this entry »

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On the way to the Wetlands I saw… by , Ranger

November 17th, 2011

            …and much, much more. Read the rest of this entry »

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