BIRDS:
Bluebirds and a rare California Gull
January
13, 2005
By
E. Vernon Laux
|
Red footed falcon. Photo by Julian K. Robinson
|
Just
like that, the middle of January arrives, the month is already half
over, and it is a whole new ballgame, a brand spanking new year
in the birding world. The future for birds, birders, and life always
holds unknown change and surprises that seem to renew each January.
Birding and life (are they the same?) always keep things fresh.
With their amazing physical adaptations, feathers, mastery of the
air, and stunning migrations, birds hold a certain allure for birders
and are at once fascinating and mysterious.
Last summer’s red-footed falcon continues to garner a tremendous
amount of attention and press. Perhaps the best birding magazine
available, “Birder’s World,” a bi-monthly publication,
has a 12-page piece on the falcon that is being called the rarest
bird of the 21st century. The magazine includes a number of excellent
photos and maps as well as the story of the falcon’s discovery.
The article portrays the Vineyard, the chamber of commerce, Islanders,
and even local taxi drivers in a favorable light.
The aftershock from the holidays and the horrific Boxing Day tsunami
in the Indian Ocean — a natural disaster on a scale not seen
in modern times, that cared little for human-kind, national boundaries,
and governments — has rallied people and disparate cultures
to help and provide aid. The disaster response is a blending of
many ethnicities, cultures, organizations, and governments, displaying
their shared humanity.
Much good is emerging from this epic display of shifting tectonic
plates “floating” on a molten core. The working together
of so many to help the afflicted can only make the planet a better
place. More important is to figure out how to avoid a repeat. A
warning system will be put in place, and local governments will
have to make changes. Certainly, survivors will think differently
about living on the coast and take steps to change.
Phew! I thought this was a bird column. I digress and find that
this time of year lends itself to waxing philosophical as the natural
world is resting and all its inhabitants are just trying to survive.
It is a good time to read all those things — a pile of books,
papers, magazines — which have been put aside to be read later.
It is a time to catch up on the many volumes being produced about
birds, bird life, and many other topics.
Bluebirds a welcome sight
Winter on the Vineyard is better for birders than most people appreciate.
The bird line this week received 10 phone calls. The most common
theme was the sighting of small flocks of eastern bluebirds.
These birds are amazing, stunning actually, in many different lights.
No matter how many times one gazes at them, from the unforgettable
first glimpse to prolonged forays following a mixed flock with other
birds (including American robins, cedar waxwings, American goldfinches,
yellow-rumped and occasionally pine warblers), bluebirds are shockingly
colored. Add to this their pleasing melodious notes and it is hard
to find a more attractive species.
The frugivores — robins, waxwings, bluebirds — are being
widely seen and reported. Flocks, often mixed with all three species,
forage together as there is safety in numbers. There are more eyes
to keep a watch for fast-flying avian predators, primarily in the
form of Cooper’s hawks but also the occasional merlin or sharp-shinned
hawk. The birds find a source of food, a berry-laden American holly,
a grove of red cedar loaded with berries, etc. and continue to feed
in this area until the food is all gone.
Then they move. The mixed flock composition allows them to find
and exploit a wide variety of food sources. The group wanders, flying
about, winged vagabonds, making use of the Vineyard’s bounty
of fruits and berries. To encounter these flocks on a winter day
is something special.
Rare gull on Nantucket
Lastly comes a story about an immature California Gull that was
found on our sister island Nantucket on Jan. 3. This gull is only
the second of its kind to ever be found in Massachusetts, and the
first to be seen by more than one observer. And it was not only
seen but also photographed.
Immature gulls are notoriously difficult to identify. Indeed many
new birders (and some not so new) throw their hands up in frustration
at attempting to sort them out. There are not a lot of birders who
would or could identify such a first winter gull. Fortuitously,
because they were on Nantucket for the New Year’s Day Christmas
Bird Count and were still birding on Jan. 3, the team of Frank Gallo
and Patrick Dugan from Connecticut spotted this bird and figured
out what it was. Edie Ray of Nantucket was driving them and they
managed to get some wonderful photos of this bird. For a look at
some pictures go to the website Massbird.org and click on bird sightings.
Then look at latest pictures, which include a variety of shots of
this rather non-descript bird. A good start to 2005.
Until next week — keep your eyes to the sky!
To contribute news
about your birding activities or sightings, call The Times Birdline,
508-693-6100, extension 33; or e-mail birds@mvtimes.com.
|
