Fourth Rock Cut Christmas Bird Count – Initial Report
January 2, 2012
Article in: Bird Conservation
For the fourth year now the Birdfreak Team has run the Rock Cut Christmas Bird Count. We started the count in 2008 and each year we have attempted to refine where we send counting parties.
Downy Woodpecker
The Birdfreak Team took a couple good-sized preserves and also checked Rock Cut State Park briefly (to assist a team there). Here are some of our findings. We will have a full report once all the data is collected from the other teams.
Northern Shrike
The weather was chilly but no precipitation and absolutely no snow cover (a first for the count). We hiked for several hours and drove only a short while (to the other locations).
Our team recorded 30 species and 469 individual birds. Diversity was definitely up but numbers down.
Cedar Waxwing
Our areas didn’t really have water like some other parts of the circle so waterfowl numbers (geese and ducks) should increase our species and total birds.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
The best bird for our group was one of the first ones we saw: a Northern Shrike!
Later in the day we were informed of a wonderful sighting of a Golden Eagle from a party not “officially” on the count but in our circle. This is a great find for this still young count.
Eddie and Stacia
CNP Update: Downy Downies
June 12, 2008
Article in: Birding
Sometimes, you don’t have to do much to get kids excited about birdwatching (or adults for that matter). The “common” birds are a great way to show off how awesome birds are to anyone. Caring for these commoners helps build a lasting desire to protect the creatures you care about, creating future and lasting conservationists.
As luck would have it, the Callaway Nature Preserve was blessed with a pair of Downy Woodpeckers attempting to nest in our birch tree. Over the last two weeks we have observed at least two young woodpeckers (a male and female) peering out of their hole in eager anticipation for their parents to arrive with food. The variety of insects brought to them has been astounding – from green caterpillars to spiders to things with more legs than we’d like to count.
Sammie and Dakota, two of the young Birdfreaks, have come home from school all last week, eager to run out to the “Downy Chairs” we set up for them to watch the action. They have noted that the Downies will “clean up their house” and that the young Downies get loud and excited when food arrives.
Cleaning the nest hole
Downy Woodpeckers might be common, but they are one of the most common species of backyard birds that may be encountered. They are easily observed and relatively fearless (our Doberman would sprint by on his invisible race track while a feeding would be taking place). Even if you aren’t a birder yet, it doesn’t take long to be impressed with the actions of these wonderful woodpeckers.
Female Downy Woodpecker
Male Downy Woodpecker
With many eyes watching the past few days, it was Dakota who alone witnessed the young male Downy fledge. The woodpecker made his way high up in one of our maples before sallying to the giant elm where he could be heard but not seen well. The family has since quieted down and become nearly impossible to see, but from our viewpoint, they were successful and provided us a great learning tool for the kids (and us too!).
Video Wednesday – Cleanup on Aisle Downy Hole
June 11, 2008
Article in: Videos
Our backyard Downy Woodpeckers have been busy the last few weeks feeding and taking care of their young. Here the male does a little cleanup. Includes slow motion!
Downy Woodpecker Cleaning Up from birdfreak on Vimeo.
CNP Update: Sparrows, Sapsuckers, and More
April 10, 2008
Article in: Birding
Spring finally hit this past week with warm temperatures and lots of bird song. Unfortunately, the warmth comes and goes..there is even a possibility for snow this weekend. But nonetheless, spring has come. Each day seems to bring in new birds to our Callaway Nature Preserve, so we plan to update each Thursday.
Fox Sparrows have arrived! They have such a beautiful sound. Our high count is three at one time.
Fox Sparrow
The Dark-eyed Juncos are still flitting around and one Song Sparrow has joined the Fox Sparrows. They are finding a lot of food, but there is quite a bit of standing water due to heavy rain on Tuesday. More rain is scheduled to dump 1-3 inches today (Thursday). Spring has soggily sprung!
The other big highlight this week was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that drilled a few sap holes in our birch tree. In this same tree a Downy Woodpecker pair has been working on a hole.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
We’ve also had several Northern Cardinals, American Robins, and a Common Grackle (which aren’t that common in our yard, but are in the area). The American Goldfinches are molting into their fine gold plumage. Each passing day brings the excitement for new birds and a larger mix of wonderful avian music.
Okay, Crocuses (or Croci) aren’t native…but they’re still pretty and are the only flowers blooming so far.
