Two Pine Siskins share the feeder with two American Goldfinches on Saturday, 19 February (the siskins are the two middle birds).

The requirements for participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count are a willingness to count birds in your backyard, favorite state park, or other location, and a willingness to write down what you see and submit it to the above mentioned project managers.

Often difficult to see in both in life and this picture is the Brown Creeper. Creepers cling to the sides of trees woodpecker-style, climbing up the trunks and branches to seek out insects and other invertebrates to eat (2/20/11).

I conducted the count by myself on Friday the 18th of February here at the Museum in Explore the Wild, the Dinosaur Trail, and Catch the Wind. Ranger Kristin counted with me the following day, and took on the job of counting by herself on the 21st, the final day of the four day count period. Other duties called both of us away on Sunday, the 20th of February.

This Red-shouldered Hawk (in its second year of life-SY) is one of 6 seen soaring over the Wetlands during the Great Backyard Bird Count (2/18/11).

We saw two species which can be a challenge to observe on any winter’s day, but on the count day they were a special surprise, Pine Siskin and Brown Creeper, both new birds for Kristin. And, on Saturday the 18th there were as many a six Red-shouldered Hawks soaring above the Wetlands at one time.

The same day, I saw both male and female Cooper’s Hawks soaring together. After a brief courtship display the male took off, presumably, to look for some of Durham’s downtown pigeons, while the female headed off to the pines just north of the Wetlands. It looks as though there’ll be another nest in our midst again this year.

This male Northern Cardinal belts out its song from a perch along the Dinosaur Trail. Common, but beautiful to both see and hear.

We averaged 33.3 bird species for the period (34 birds the day I counted alone, 36 the day of the joint count, and 30 birds when Kristin soloed). Not bad totals for a habitat within Durham’s city limits.

After a seven-month absence, a Green Heron was back on station on 28 April. As if it had never left the Wetlands, this colorful little heron (it’s very likely the same heron that was here last year) was trying to snag fish and tadpoles from the water while perched on one of the stumps just off the boardwalk in front of the Black Bear Exhibit. Welcome back!

The first Chimney Swifts of the year were seen foraging over Catch the Wind on the 26th of the month. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were seen, first at the Butterfly House April 22nd and in Explore the Wild a few days later.

A Great-crested Flycatcher was heard on 4/23 and thereafter. The first Red-eyed Vireos were seen on 4/27 and, although seen earlier in the month, two Rough-winged Swallows were seen perched on a snag in the Wetlands on the same day.

The first singing House Wren of the season was heard on 25 April. Ruby-crowned Kinglets have been heard singing their rapid, buzzy, whistly songs around the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop. They often begin singing before departing for points north and their breeding grounds. Wood Thrushes are back (4/25) as are Gray Catbirds, the first squeaky notes of a catbird being heard on April 22nd in the swamp adjacent to the Wetlands Overlook. If you want to see and hear what a Gray catbird looks and sounds like, check out this YouTube video.

Cedar Waxwings are still being seen. A group of 60 or so were seen in the trees above the main entrance to Explore the Wild.

Several singing Northern Parulas, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, and breeding plumaged Yellow-rumped Warblers were all seen on 26 April. Yellow-throated Warblers were first spied on 4/18 along with a single singing Prothonotary Warbler. Although at least one Yellow-throated Warbler remains in the area, the Prothonotary was not heard from again. An Eastern Palm Warbler showed up on the 22nd and a Yellow-breasted Chat was briefly heard on the 26th behind the Ornithopter.

A Rose-breasted Grosbeak was heard and then seen feeding high in the canopy on 26 April.

Like the Ruby-crowned Kinglets above, White-throated Sparrows are tuning up their vocals before leaving our area for their nesting grounds further north. Their sweet, plaintive, whistled songs can be heard from the underbrush or along wooded edges. They often get only half their song out before starting over again or quitting altogether, as if practicing so as to get it just right for their debuts on the breeding grounds. It is a pleasant song.

Common Grackles have been observed flying back and forth from the Wetlands to some uknown location behind the Ornithopter. Their bills are empty on the trip to the Wetlands, full on the way back. A Baltimore Oriole was seen on the same day and in the same tree as the grosbeak above (4/26). The grosbeak and oriole no doubt came in on the same winds.

Pine Siskins are still being seen at the Bird Feeder Exhibit in Catch the Wind.

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 up in the Wetlands.

Eastern Phoebes are calling regularly in and around the Wetlands. Phoebes nest on ledges. I’ve witnessed the birds investigating potential nest sites both under the boardwalk and in the vending area near the Red Wolf Enclosure. There are numerous crossbeams under the boardwalk for the phoebes to build a nest upon. The structure that houses the vending machines also offers many suitable ledges.

An American Crow was seen carrying nesting material on 1 March. Fish Crows had been seen (and heard) throughout the period.

The Brown-headed Nuthatches, which last month had so diligently excavated nest holes in a Loblolly Pine along the path between the entrances to Catch the Wind and Explore the Wild (see Brown-headed Nuthatches, Explore the Wild Journal, February 16-28, 2009), have apparently presented the holes to, or have been evicted by, a pair of Carolina Chickadees. In the images at left you can see a chickadee in the process of renovating one of the holes by first entering the hole, then exiting with a beak full of wood chips from the cavity’s interior.

During the first few days of this period, two Brown-headed Nuthatches were spotted working on a hole in a dead pine behind the vending area next to the Red Wolf Enclosure. They were not seen at that location during the second week of March. Are these the same two nuthatches that bored the holes for the chickadees? Have they abandoned this new hole too?

There have been numerous reports over the past several weeks of large numbers of American Robins throughout North Carolina; the robins are on the move north. So, it’s no surprise that hundreds of American Robins joined the already present, and equally numerous, Cedar Waxwings in an assault on the Museum’s hollies which began at the end of February (see Cedar Waxwings, Explore the Wild Journal, February 16-28, 2009). The birds were mainly concentrating on the hollies along the side entrance to the Museum’s main building, although few hollies anywhere on the grounds were immune to the onslaught (two trees out in front of the Museum seem to have been ably defended by a Northern Mockingbird, with most of its berries intact). Some of you may have noticed that all of the berries are missing from the small hollies behind the Ornithopter. The hollies in front of the Ornithopter were spared due to the human traffic through the area, the birds being reluctant to feed where people frequently pass. By the end of the first week in March, the waxwings had departed and only a handful of robins presently remain on site.

The first Red-winged Blackbird of the season appeared on the 7th of March. This lone male was seen and heard singing from a willow in the Wetlands.

Two Pine Siskins were observed at the Bird Feeder Exhibit during the period. Eight of those slender finches were seen in an elm tree behind the Sailboat Pond on the 3rd of March. It won’t be long before they leaves us.

The duck was nestled down in a shallow cup of dried grass. It sat motionless as if attempting to convince some nearby predator that it was part of the landscape and not something to eat. Although a bit early in the season, it appeared as though the duck was sitting on eggs, the “freezing” behavior typical of brooding ducks. I presume it was me from which the bird was trying to conceal itself.

A later check of the site, after the duck had departed and was seen swimming and preening with its look-a-like partner, revealed no eggs in the cup of grass. It was odd that, earlier, the duck had attempted to hide given the fact that there were no eggs in the “nest,” nothing in the grass to hide or conceal. I often see these two ducks swimming and feeding within yards of Museum guests as they (guests) stroll by, the ducks showing little or no concern for their safety. But, if I remember correctly, it was this same duck that, last spring, was seen swimming in the U-shaped pond at the Flap the Wings Exhibit and that had laid an egg on top of the bare concrete wall of the Sailboat Pond in Catch the Wind. So, perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise to see this duck act the way it did on the island in front of the Wetlands Overlook.

Red-tailed Hawks have been a daily sight. Their aerial acrobatics over the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop have become the main raptorial attraction during the past few weeks, often with three birds overhead at once. They’ve replaced the Red-shouldered Hawks as the most commonly seen raptor.

At this time, Red-shouldered Hawks in our general area are occupied with nest building. This preoccupation with nesting is perhaps why the swamp across from the Wetlands Overlook has not hosted our local Red-shouldered Hawk in recent weeks. I haven’t seen one in the swamp since January. I’m not certain that our resident red-shouldereds have begun a nest somewhere nearby, but it seems likely.

I heard, then saw, the first Fish Crows of the season on February 23rd when two flew over the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop.

Alerted by their incessant, toy-horn call notes, I noticed several Brown-headed Nuthatches busily pecking away at the underside of a branch of a Loblolly Pine. The pine is located within twenty feet or so of the path between the entrances to Catch the Wind and Explore the Wild on the back side of the loop. In reality, there were only two birds that were pecking at the tree, the other was running back and forth on top of the limb calling loudly as it went along. They all seemed very excited.

On Friday, February 20, the first day that I noticed the nuthatches, the two “workers” had only small, shallow holes started on the 4-inch-diameter limb. The holes are approximately 8-10 inches apart and are on the underside of a near-horizontal branch. By Monday (2/23) both birds were digging deep inside the branch, the excavations having progressed considerably. They’re still working on the holes.

The holes are no doubt intended to be used as nests. Supposedly, it’s the male who chooses the nest site. Perhaps these are two males competing for the same female and who have essentially chosen the same site. One more thing to consider. According to research done on Brown-headed Nuthatches, nests are occasionally attended by three birds with an unmated male as helper. So why excavate two separate holes? Who’s the helper and who’s the mate? There doesn’t appear to be any outward competition between the two nuthatches, there’s no bickering between the two. They each seem content to happily peck away while in the company of the other. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out in the next few weeks. Although it will be difficult to tell who’s who in this trio (the males and females look alike).

This is a good photo opportunity for anyone interested. The nuthatches are fairly close to the path and don’t seem overly concerned about being watched as they dig. (You can see a piece of wood taken from the interior of the hole in the bird’s bills in the images at left). If you can’t locate the birds on your stroll through this section of the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop, stop and listen – you may hear the birds calling as they dig. If you don’t see or hear them right away, wait a few minutes; they’re probably taking a break from their toil and will be back to work soon.

Hermit Thrushes continue to be seen both under the bird feeders in Catch the Wind and at the northwest corner of the Wetlands (most consistent location to see Hermit Thrush at this time). There were two Golden-crowned Kinglets seen on 22 February.

Not exactly on the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop but worthy of mention were the 400+ Cedar Waxwings that were observed in the main parking lot of the Museum on the morning of 23 February. As I pulled into the lot that morning I noticed a group of some fifty waxwings fly over my vehicle. They were heading towards the back side of the lot. Another group sailed over going in the same direction. Then another, and another much larger group of birds flew over, all descending on several small holly trees near the northwest corner of the lot. The birds perched on and milled about the hollies and other small trees near the hollies while they, in turn, lay waste to the holly berries, a flutter of activity. Then, as if on cue, they all lifted off the trees at once and were gone.

The first-of-the-season Common Grackle was seen on 21 February.

Several weeks ago I began seeing reports on a local listserv (carolinabirds) of dead or ill birds at area bird feeders. The birds mentioned in the reports were Pine Siskins and the suspected culprit was Salmonella. Here is one of the postings from that listserv with links to other postings on the same subject.

There have been no reported mass die-off of birds. The illnesses seem limited to a few birds at various backyard feeders. I’ve not noticed any ill birds at the Bird Feeder Exhibit at the Museum. Of course, birds don’t always die at backyard feeders (or exhibits) where they can be seen and documented and many birds may have gone unnoticed. To prevent any further spread or infection, it’s recommended that home bird feeders be emptied and cleaned out with bleach. It’s also a good idea to rake up all the seeds and shells that have collected below the feeders.

Interestingly, with all the reports in the news lately about peanut-butter-related Salmonella outbreaks among humans, there has been a recall of certain products made for birds which contain peanut butter.

You can subscribe to the carolinabirds listserv if you’re interested. The listserv covers both North and South Carolina. You can keep track of local bird sightings, area bird club meetings and field trips are often posted, and there are discussions (sometimes heated) about bird identification. Of course, if you have any bird questions and feel intimidated by asking them on a listserv where there may be hundreds, if not thousands, of subscribers, you can always direct your questions to me.

The female Belted Kingfisher, usually a daily fixture in the Wetlands, disappeared until the 29th when I heard its raspy call coming from the trees on the far side of the Wetlands.

It may be cold outside – hardly an insect in sight, reptiles laying low, groundhogs (usually) sleeping it off  - but there’s always birds to entertain the winter hiker. On Monday the 19th, at least three frogs were caught by the Red-shouldered Hawk who frequents the swamp across from the Wetlands Overlook. The hawk may have taken more frogs that day, but I was only witness to three. There was ice on the water, but enough free water remained to allow the hawk to continue hunting frogs. With the water frozen solid on the 21st, I didn’t see the hawk on its now familiar perch in the swamp. However, I saw it take two more frogs on the cold and raw 25th of January. I don’t know if it has any relevance, but it seems that the frogs that this hawk is now catching are smaller than the frogs I’d seen it take previously.

This hawk is becoming a much sought after feature of the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop. Museum guests are coming down to the Wetlands with the expectation of seeing the hawk and are disappointed when it’s not there. Some ask whether the hawk is part of an exhibit! I suppose that in a way it is: it’s part of the Wetlands’ fauna, free to come and go as they please.

As I was making my last round of the day on the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop on January 25, I heard an abbreviated call (the last two syllables, “you-all”) of a Barred Owl coming from the tall Loblolly Pines behind the Meadow across from the Bird Feeder Exhibit. I called back. The owl answered. Then silence. I looked but couldn’t visually locate the owl. I walked on. The owl, I assume, went on with whatever it was doing.

An Eastern Phoebe can still be seen on nearly every visit to the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop.

The cold weather quickened the pace at the Bird Feeder Exhibit. Six Pine Siskins (see Pine Siskins, January 1-15, 2009) were at the feeders during the first week of this period. That number doubled the following week. Pine Warblers have also been very busy at the feeders.

A Winter Wren was in the woods across from the Lemur House on the 18th of the month.

A Hermit Thrush was seen below the bird feeders. I saw two of these winter thrushes together near the Wetlands Overlook and another behind the Lemur House.

Noteworthy was a Gray Catbird seen next to the Ornithopter on January 24 as it dined on holly berries. Although most catbirds vacate the area during winter, migrating as far south as Central America, there are often a few that linger in our area each year. Still, not having seen one at the Museum since October, I was excited to see this bird. Northern Mockingbird and Brown Thrasher, the other resident mimic thrushes at the Museum, can be seen throughout the winter months, although the mockingbird is the standout, the thrasher a bit more reclusive.

I first noticed Northern Cardinals in song on 24 January and occasionally thereafter. Cardinals often start singing early in the year. By the end of February they should be in full swing. It’s not unusual to see them singing amongst newly sprouted Red Maple buds. Females sometimes sing as well, although not quite in the same manner as the males, who, intent on being seen and heard by everyone, in all their redness, seek out the most prominent of perches, stretch themselves out to appear as tall as possible and belt out their song, their bodies shaking with every note. No, the female’s song is more of a whistle-while-you-work kind of song, like a happy worker busy at her craft who can’t help but to start whistling a tune while she goes about her business among the branches of the trees and shrubs.

Besides the cardinals, the lengthening days are apparently having an effect on other avian hormonal flow. Song Sparrows began singing during the last week of January. Evidently, one male was successful in attracting a female, at least temporarily. I watched as a female (I assume it was a female) landed on the ground at the base of a cedar. The male, who had been singing from a perch in a small sycamore next to the cedar, dropped down beside her. The male began to run back and forth in front of her, doing semicircles around her while singing his song. He sang not the loud “here I am” song he caroled from the perch, but a shorter, softer, more subdued version of the same. The female, for the most part, remained stationary, occasionally sidestepping to the left or right, all the while her tail flicking up and down, her wings now and then flashing open, a blur. At times, the female would fly off a few feet, the male quickly following until they were eventually fifty feet from where they had started. The song and dance went on for nearly ten minutes. And then, it was all over, the female flew off and the male resumed his post on the sycamore. He was still singing when I left at the end of the day.

Three Field Sparrows were seen in the tall grass next to the Sailboat Pond. A group of White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos have been seen foraging in several locations along the path around the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop throughout the winter, lately concentrating on the area between the main entrance to Catch the Wind and the Bird Feeder Exhibit. There is a large, four-trunked Sweetgum on the south side of the path. Look in this area for the birds. Towhees, Song Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and other birds are often mixed in with this group. Still no Fox Sparrows. I thought that the cold weather would bring in one or two of these large, handsome sparrows. There’s still time, but it’s running out quickly.

Throughout the Carolinas, Pine Siskins have been reported at many bird feeders during the past several weeks. I hadn’t seen these small, slender birds at the Bird Feeder Exhibit in Catch the Wind until I paid a visit there on January 7th when I counted nine of them. Pine Siskins are seen in our area every year, although not in great numbers. This year appears to be an exceptional year. Their movements seemed tied to the availability of the wild seed crop. They tend to flock, sometimes with Goldfinches, and are nomadic in their movements. Their flocks may include thousands of individuals. I hadn’t seen a siskin in several years, although, as mentioned, they have been reported locally by others in past years.

In our area, Pine Siskins are most often confused with House Finches, Purple Finches, and American Goldfinches. They’re more alike in behavior, size, and structure to goldfinches, although as you can see in the accompanying photos, goldfinches do not have the streaks on their breasts as do siskins. It’s difficult to see in these photos, but siskins usually have a flash of yellow in the wings and at the base of the tail, which may add to the confusion when you’re trying to figure out just what that “new” little bird is that wandered into your yard.

Although three of the finches mentioned are heavily streaked, female House Finches and young male/female Purple Finches can be eliminated from the mix by their larger, more conical bills. Also, neither House nor Purple Finches have a notched tail as do the siskins (see photo, Pine Siskin 2, below). Both are larger and more heavily built than siskins. Unlike the other two streak-breasted finches, siskins have a wheezy or buzzy call and are usually very vocal, they’re usually making noise.

One of these sleek little birds hung around for Birdapalooza on January 10th at the Museum, to the delight of those who took part in the Bird Walk around the Explore the Wild/Catch the Wind Loop that day. This lone siskin is usually seen in the company of two or three American Goldfinches. If you stand, or sit, by the Bird Feeders in Catch the Wind you may see it. Be patient. The Pine Warblers, Brown-headed Nuthatches, Northern Cardinals, and other birds that frequent the feeders should keep you busy until this little band of finches arrives.