Thursday, May 17, 2012

The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming–Feb 17-20,2012

by SeEtta (South Central) on February 2, 2012

Join thousands of your friends and neighbors–and make your birds count–by taking part in this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count. Save these dates: February 17-20.   It is free and you can count the birds in your backyard, in your local park or a nearby wildlife refuge or anyplace you are able to legally access.   This is all you have to do:

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time.

3. When you’re finished, enter your results through this web page .

Female Northern Cardinal-©SeEttaMoss

That is all there is to it!

You can do a Stationary Count: This is a count made in one area, such as your backyard, where you remain in one place.

Or you can do a Traveling Count: This is a count made over a distance, such as birding on a trail.

You can upload and share the photos of birds you photograph during the Great Backyard Bird Count to the online photo gallery.  You can even enter those photos of birds taken during the Great Backyard Bird Count in their Photo Contest

Click here to see what birds others in your area saw during last year’s Great Backyard Bird Count.

Check here to see if there is an event in your local area–a slide show, a bird walk or other event–in conjunction during or before this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count.

Which species was #1 on the Top Ten Bird list last year–yes, the Northern Cardinal. The Downy Woodpecker was #4

Join us in making your birds count this year.

Did you participate in last year’s Backyard Bird Count?

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Great Horned Owl: hoo-hoo hoooooo hoo-hoo

by SeEtta (South Central) on January 28, 2012

Great Horned Owl-©SeEttaMoss

I heard a Great Horned Owl calling ‘hoo-hoo hoooo hoo-hoo’ from a neighbors tree a few nights ago reminding me that January and February are some of the best times of the year to hear their very deep territorial calls. Though these owls may call at other times of the year, they engage in the most frequent calling during these months as it is nesting season in all but extreme southern portions of their range. This species of owl is found throughout the United States and Canada plus into much of Mexico, Central America and even parts of South America.

The owl in my two photos is the same owl just taken from a different vantage point so they show much of their characteristics. Those two feathery tufts on top of their head, though the reason they are called ‘Great Horned’, are not horns or even ‘ear tufts’–they are only tufts of feathers which are thought to help camouflage them.

Great Horned Owl-©SeEttaMoss


The video below provides a lot of interesting information about Great Horned Owls as well as amazing close-ups of one that came from a rehabilitation center (these are great places to see raptors up close and the small admission fees help support their efforts).

You can purchase a poster or special edition print from Birds and Blooms Magazine. You can enjoy more photos and interesting information on this species in blogs earlier this year right on Birds and Blooms Magazine’s blog site. A cool photo of a Great Horned Owl was featured in a Birds and Blooms Magazine blog by Lorie last fall and Noelle blogged about this species nesting in cactus last winter.

The best way to see a wild Great Horned Owl is to hear one hooting. They will often hoot from the vicinity of a chosen or potential nest site which in many locations is in a tree or a cliff ledge, sometimes deserted buildings or from artificial nest platforms. They often use nests built previously by other species such as hawks. They are most active at dawn and dusk (from about an hour after sunset to a shorter time in the early morning before sunrise) when they are hunting for food and can sometimes be spotted on a utility pole or flying after prey. As their voices carry a long distance when there are fewer other noises, go to a location that is quiet and listen.

Have you seen or heard a Great Horned Owl? Please share your experiences below.

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2012 Birding Festival season has begun

by SeEtta (South Central) on January 25, 2012


The first major birding festival of the 2012 season–the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival–begins today and runs through this week-end. Though online registration is closed, their facebook page reports they have “many Field Trips and Classroom Presentations available” at the Festival headquarters on the Brevard Community College (BCC) – Titusville Campus, 1311 N. US 1, Titusville, Florida. (my apologies for not getting on this sooner but I have been waylayed by bursitis from overdoing it during my trip to So Texas from which I recently returned).

In addition to many field trips, the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival has a variety of classroom presentations, photography/digiscoping/optics workshops and some really interesting boat/kayak activities (the ‘Sunrise Kayak Tour to Mullethead Wading Bird Rookery Island’ sounds like something I would really like). There is also an Art Show, a Silent Auction and an Exhibitors Center. And to top it off, Birds and Blooms Magazine is one of the Festival sponsors!

By the way, this pink beauty with the spoon-like bill is a Roseate Spoonbill, a species I am sure people attending this Festival will have a chance to see.

Though not as large the Laredo Birding Festival, it will have a keynote presentation by Pete Dunne who is the Director of the Cape May Bird Observatory, V.P. of New Jersey Audubon Society Natural History Information, and founder of the World Series of Birding. Activities include field trips to some great birding hotspots, workshops and a kayak trip (I really want to go kayaking and will miss another cool trip).

Now to the West Coast for a FREE birding festival: the 16th Annual San Francisco Bay Flyway Festival. You won’t find a better deal than than this “annual celebration of the return to the San Francisco Bay of more than 1 million shorebirds and hundreds of thousands of waterfowl.” This festival, which takes place at Mare Island, runs from February 10-12, 2012. In addition to field trips there are exhibits, vendors, an art exhibit, and a silent auction.

 

Another West Coast event, the 33rd annual Winter Wings Festival will take place from February 17-19, 2012 in the Klamath Basin of southern Oregon and northern California. They will have field trips, workshops, presentations and family activities including the ‘Klamath Marsh Owl Prowl’, a unique overnight owling trip. On Sunday they will offer a free family outing at the Klamath Basin Wildlife Refuges, a great opportunity to get the kids out into nature.


The Whooping Crane Festival takes place in Port Aransas, TX which is on the Gulf Coast near the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where the largest number of endangered Whooping Cranes winter. They will have birding trips to local ranches as well as Whooping Crane Boat Tours (I have been on one of these and it is fantastic with great views of Whooping Cranes), workshops and a trade show. Among the free events are ‘brown bag lecture series’, a Butterfly Tent, Children’s Corner, and Guided Tour of the Wetlands Educations Center. I have birded the Port Aransas area and it has fantastic birds.

If you know of another birding/wildlife/nature festival happening in February, please share it in a comments box below.

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A January Gathering of Hummingbirds

by Noelle on January 23, 2012

Last week, I visited our local riparian preserve along with my sister.  We enjoy visiting this special place because of its beauty and especially for all the different bird species that visit, but our favorite are the hummingbirds.

Anna's Hummingbird

There are always hummingbirds in Southern Arizona throughout the year, and the winter is no exception.  I do have a regular hummingbird who visits my feeder 4 – 5 times each day, but I was anxious to see more all in one place.

Pathway through riparian preserve

As soon as we began walking down the pathway, I could hear the hummingbirds up in the trees.

I pointed my camera and through my lens, was able to spot these small, beautiful birds before they flew off.  Here are just a few of the photos that I was able to get.  I hope you enjoy them…

Anna's Hummingbird

 

 

Costa's Hummingbird

 

Anna's Hummingbird

 

 

We had a great hour observing and photographing these beautiful hummingbirds.  But, the sun was setting and it was time to go home.

But rest assured, we will be back.  I hope you enjoyed the pictures :-)

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A Winter Hummer Returns

by Noelle on January 17, 2012

Each year in winter, when the cold, gray days seem to outnumber the sunny days, I start looking for the return of a little visitor. Who is this visitor?  His name is ‘Jose’ and he is a Costa’s hummingbird.

In winter, he returns to his favorite perch high up in the leafless almond tree, which is located in my mother’s back garden.

Costa's hummingbird in almond treeCan you see him?

He appears every year about this time and hangs around until summer.  You may be wondering how we know it is the same hummingbird.  Well, there is no way to tell for sure.  But each winter, he appears perched up in the same tree each time and hangs around the back garden for months.

He spends his time feeding upon the blooming orange jubilee shrubs, the filled hummingbird feeder and also perches in the lemon tree.

Costa's hummingbird in tree

We don’t see a lot of Costa’s in our neighborhood in the winter, when they usually spend their time in Mexico.   They tend to visit us more often during the warmer season. However, in winter, there are quite a few Anna’s hummingbirds that continue to feed upon the few blooming shrubs and if they are lucky, a filled hummingbird feeder.

Costa's hummingbird

Jose’s favorite perch allows him a wide view of the small farms that surround him.  He keeps watch over the resident chickens and dogs.

The sight of Jose every winter, makes me think of spring, even though the thermometer says otherwise.

My hope for this new year is that I will be able to view some of the different hummingbird species that pass through Central Arizona on their way to the northern states; maybe a Rufous or an Allen’s?

How about you?  What types of hummingbirds do you hope to see this year?

For help identifying your tiny visitors, visit the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory website which lists photos and characteristics for many of the hummingbird species that are seen in the Southwest.

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Watch baby hummingbirds live on the web

December 31, 2011

I had to take a time out from my Texas birding fun to check out the Southern California hummingbird, Phoebe, who has 2 babies that I posted about a month ago. You can view Phoebes nest during daylight hours (California time) at PhoebeAllens.com . You may get the opportunity to watch Phoebe feeding her babies [...]

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Protecting Your Frost-Tender Plants

December 1, 2011

For those of us who live in areas that experience relatively mild winters – we are fortunate to be able to grow semi-tropical and/or tropical plants such as Bougainvillea, Lantana and Yellow Bells outdoors. However, those same frost-tender plants whose colorful blooms we enjoy during the warm months, often need extra protection when cold snaps [...]

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A ‘Green’ Garden Arises From a Mountain of Trash

November 28, 2011

A little over a year ago, I discovered a newly planted park that was built on top of a landfill that was recently closed. Now, I use the term ‘green’ for this new garden, not because it is green all over (this is a desert garden), but because it makes use of recycled materials. The [...]

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Happy Turkey Day!

November 23, 2011

I am certain that this turkey is thankful that he lives at the local zoo and not on a turkey farm HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

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Why Are Cacti Covered in Spines?

November 21, 2011

What do you think of when you see a cactus plant?  Do you experience a feeling of wariness about the spines and view them from a safe distance? Cacti are quite beautiful, especially when in flower and they are best viewed from a safe distance.  As a horticulturist in the desert southwest, I have had [...]

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Tips for Long-Lasting Bouquets

November 16, 2011

Do you love a bouquet made up of beautiful flowers?  I do.  Especially when someone special gives them to you. However, there is nothing quite as disappointing to see our beautiful cut flowers begin to droop and fade just a couple of days.But do not despair.  There are quite a few things that you can [...]

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The Exotic Lilac Breasted Roller

November 14, 2011

One of the things that I love to do when I travel, is to see what different types of birds that live in a a certain area or country.  To the native population, the birds may not seem particularly exciting, but to an outsider, they can be fascinating because they are different from what they [...]

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Creative Plant Ideas for Containers

November 11, 2011

Most of us are familiar with seeing containers overflowing with colorful annual flowers.  We alternate between using cool-season annuals such as pansies, petunias, snapdragons and lobelia and then we switch them out for warm-season annuals like portulaca, vinca, impatiens and marigolds. But have ever considered adding other types of plants to your containers besides using [...]

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