Tag Archives: Brown-headed Nuthatch

Family of Bluebirds

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: August 27, 2010

Ever since bluebird nest boxes were installed earlier this year in Catch the Wind, I’ve seen Carolina Chickadees, House Wrens, Brown-headed Nuthatches, and yes, the intended species, bluebirds, using the boxes. All of those species were observed building nests in the boxes, most laid eggs, and some were seen carrying food into the boxes and/or [...]

Posted in Birds, Summer | Also tagged bluebird fledglings, bluebird nest box, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Bluebird, House Wren, nest box, Tufted Titmouse | Leave a comment

Aloft at the Museum

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: February 4, 2010

If you look skyward while walking the trails through Explore the Wild and Catch the Wind you’re likely to see one of five hawks or vultures which are regular visitors to the Museum. Turkey Vultures are a daily sight as they soar, dip and bank across the Museum’s airspace. The slightly smaller Black Vulture, while [...]

Posted in Birds, Winter | Also tagged Black Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, nest hole, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture | Leave a comment

Who’s Nesting

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: June 15, 2009

A Cooper’s Hawk was seen carrying prey on the 7th of June. The hawk appeared to be a female and was flying in the direction of the pines which surround the Ellerbee Creek Railway tracks near the train tunnel. This is the area in which Cooper’s Hawks nested last year. The fact that this bird [...]

Posted in Birds, Summer | Also tagged Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Cooper’s Hawk, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Pine Warbler, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Song Sparrow, Tufted Titmice | Leave a comment

Mergs depart, Early Arrivals, and the Dreaded Cowbirds

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: April 15, 2009

I hadn’t seen a Hooded Merganser in the Wetlands since March. On the clear, cool morning of the 10th, there was a lone female swimming circles in the open water of the Wetlands. By mid-morning the bird took flight, circled the Wetlands once and headed off in a northwesterly direction. Will the mergansers return? My [...]

Posted in Birds, Spring | Also tagged Barn Swallow, Belted Kingfisher, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Broad-winged Hawk, Brown-headed Cowbird, Hooded Merganser, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, spring migrants, Tree Swallow, Tufted Titmouse, Worm-eating Warbler | 2 Comments

Nuthatch Landlords? Hollies under Assault?

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: March 15, 2009

There are still two pairs of Hooded Mergansers present in the Wetlands. There is one pair of Canada Geese present. Red-tailed Hawks continue to be seen daily and Cooper’s Hawks have been noticed flying and perching in the vicinity of the previous year’s nest site. And, as mentioned above, Red-shouldered Hawks are once again showing [...]

Posted in Birds, Spring | Also tagged American Crow, American Robin, Canada Geese, Carolina Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, Cooper’s Hawk, Eastern Phoebe, Fish Crow, Hooded Merganser, nest excavation, Pine Siskin, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird | Leave a comment

Nesting Duck? Excavating Nuthatches, and Waxwings Aplenty

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: February 28, 2009

On Saturday, February 21, I noticed a duck (a Mutt Duck, Mallard x Domestic Duck that’s often seen in the Wetlands) sitting hunched down on the small island out in front of the Wetlands Overlook. There are two of these Mutt Ducks in the Wetlands. They’re very similar in appearance with dark brown bodies and [...]

Posted in Birds, Winter | Also tagged cavity nester, Cedar Waxwing, Common Grackle, duck nest, Fish Crow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, hawks, Hermit Thrush, Mallard, Mutt Duck, Pine Siskin, Red-shouldered Hawk | Leave a comment

A Harrier, an Owl, and a Big Fish

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: November 30, 2008

Hooded Merganser numbers in the Wetlands have fluctuated between 4 and 11 birds. The males can sometimes be seen bobbing their heads, rearing up in the water and, with their bills pointed skyward, emitting a low-pitched snore-like staccato. They’re vying for the attention of the females. It often seems that all of the males are [...]

Posted in Birds, Fall | Also tagged Barred Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, Chipping Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Cooper’s Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco, Golden Shiner, Hermit Thrush, Hooded Merganser, Myrtle (Yellow-rumped) Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Northern Harrier, Pine Warbler, Red-tailed Hawk, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-throated Sparrow | Leave a comment

Look Up!

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: July 15, 2008

Look up! I see Chimney Swifts hawking insects above the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind loop every day. The number of swifts will no doubt increase as more young of the year leave their nests and join in on these foraging flights. If you’re not familiar with Chimney Swifts, they’re the small, acrobatic, black birds [...]

Posted in Birds, Summer | Also tagged Chimney Swift, Cooper’s Hawk, White-breasted Nuthatch | Leave a comment