31 Cool Bird Facts #1 – Black-billed Cuckoo
October 1, 2008
Article in: Birding
For the whole month of October we will be featuring a cool bird fact every day. To get us started, we have chosen one of our personal favorites, the Black-billed Cuckoo [Coccyzus erythropthalmus].
The apparent tendency to call more frequently before rain explains why both Black-billed and Yellow-billed cuckoos are called “Rain Crows.” – Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds
Cuckoos have a certain mysterious appeal to them, and even if this nickname seems a bit folklorish, it’s a fun term nonetheless.
Deer Run Bird Survey – #14
June 5, 2008
Article in: Bird Conservation
Our last Deer Run Bird Survey for May (31st) and warbler migration is definitely slowing down. However, we found several new species including some from the past week by other local birders.
First, the new birds found from others:
- Bald Eagle
- Bay-breasted Warbler
- Canada Warbler
- Eastern Wood Pewee
- Green Heron
- Kentucky Warbler
- Philadelphia Vireo
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Semipalmated Plover
Over our 72 hour count we also added two new species on an unofficial survey: American Woodcock and Common Nighthawk.
Black-billed Cuckoo
We spent over 5 hours hiking and were thrilled to find a lot of cuckoos, including 8 Yellow-billed and 2 Black-billed. Warbler numbers were low but we believe there are Prothonotary Warblers nesting in the swampy areas.
Prothonotary Warbler singing on his territory
New birds:
- Blackpoll Warbler*
- Cliff Swallow
- Eastern Screech-Owl
- Olive-sided Flycatcher
- Scarlet Tanager
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
We sighted 70 species and now have found 139 species for the survey area.
Total individual birds counted: 5,760
*sighted the following day on a non-survey outing
CNP Update: Bird Number 100
May 29, 2008
Article in: Birding
The Callaway Nature Preserve recorded a number of new species this spring, including our 100th bird!
The Philadelphia Vireo is officially our 100th species for the CNP Life List, a bird that is difficult to photograph. We have since past the 100 mark and also had an amazing influx of new birds on Memorial Day after a storm passed through.
Black-billed Cuckoo – A new CNP Lifer!
The storm arrived some time Sunday night and we received almost 1.5 inches of rain. Apparently, it also rained birds! We were alerted early in the morning by a Scarlet Tanager singing his heart out and within a few minutes of sitting outside, we heard the distinct call of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw the cuckoo perched near a power pole. If that shock wasn’t enough, later in the afternoon a Black-billed Cuckoo arrived. We had dreamed of cuckoos in the backyard but never really thought it would happen (unless you count neighbors 
)
New Monday Arrivals
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Veery
- Great-crested Flycatcher
- Gray-cheeked Thrush
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Tufted Titmouse (we don’t get these guys often!)
Also New Monday and New for the CNP Life List
- Blue-headed Vireo (101)
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo (102)
- Canada Warbler (103)
- Black-billed Cuckoo (104)
- Tree Swallow (105)
- Bald Eagle (106)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – A new CNP Lifer!
This has been an amazing year at the Callaway Nature Preserve so far! We just never know what might show up during migration.
