Pacific Bird

Even though it doesn’t officially begin until Saturday, let me be the first to wish you a Happy International Migratory Bird Day! On account of this glorious occasion, coupled with Danielle and my trip to Cape May, New Jersey last week (arguably the birdiest spot in the country) what better bird to feature than the Cape May Warbler!

Common Name: Cape May Warbler

Latin Name: Setophaga tigrina

Range:  Breeds in southern Canada, the northeastern U.S., and the Great Lakes region. Winters in the Caribbean.

Habitat: Found in coniferous and spruce forests and gardens.

Diet: Primarily insects, especially budworms, during breeding season. Nectar and insects during migration.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

The “Cape May” Warbler is a bit of a misnomer. Though the species occurs in the area of Cape May, NJ, it was only named so because that is where it was first identified by Alexander Wilson in 1811. In fact, the species can be widely found throughout Cananda and the East Coast.

Happy Birding!

Michelle

On Saturday, Cinco de Mayo celebrations will occur with friends, feasts and fiestas!

Originally observed regionally in Mexico to commemorate the victory of Mexican forces over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862, the holiday is now widely celebrated in the U.S., too, to honor Mexican heritage and culture.

Common Name: Elegant Trogon; Formerly Coppery-tailed Trogon

Latin Name: Trogon elegans

Range:  Southern Arizona to northwestern Costa Rica. Most birds are non-migratory in their range. Approximately fifty mating pairs migrate to southern Arizona for breeding season.

Habitat: Sycamore or Pine-oak canyons and mountain forests.

Diet: Mostly insects and fruits.

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Fun Fact: With such a small number of the species in the U.S. during breeding season, the Elegant Trogon is often considered the most rare of wild bird species in the United States!

Happy Cinco de Mayo and Happy Birding!

Michelle

The ability to fly will always remain one of the most fascinating things about birds—especially when you examine that of a Greater Flamingo!

Even though the bird requires a running start in order to become airborne, it is miraculous how such a seemingly disproportionate body glides though the air with such grace and ease. In addition to being breathtakingly beautiful, wearing hues of a color I can only describe as “Flamingo Pink,” this incredible bird is great fun to watch, too!

Common Name: Greater Flamingo

Latin Name: Phoenicopterus roseus or Phoenicopterus ruber roseus  

Range: Africa, southern Europe and southern Asia.

Habitat: Estuaries, saltwater and alkaline lakes, mudflats, coastlines and lagoons

Diet: Small mollusks, shrimp, plankton, insects and small fish

Conservation Status: Least Concern

Flamingos here, flamingos there, flamingos everywhere!

• The Greater Flamingo is the largest, palest, and most widespread of all the flamingo species.

• A flock of flamingos is called a “stand” or ”flamboyance.”

• The gorgeous hues of the Greater Flamingo are obtained by consuming a diet high in alpha and beta carotenoid pigments.

•  The backward bending ‘knees” of a flamingo’s long and stilt-like legs are actually the ankles. The actual knee is closer to the bird’s body and is hidden by its plumage.

The Flamingo in history…

The plastic, pink flamingo has become one of the most popular lawn decorations in the United States since its creation in 1957. An icon of pop culture, its creator, Don Featherstone, even won an IG Nobel Prize for his creation…

If you’d like to read more about our birding adventures and flamingo sightings, take a look at our Flamingoes Over Tuscany post!

Happy Birding!

While many avid bird feeders may find this hard to believe, it is true; the ubiquitous House Sparrow is declining in number.  For the many Americans who consider this species a lowly pest…think again.  The adaptable House Sparrow is declining in its native lands, and this is something about which we should all be concerned. Why?  Well, usually, a decline in the number of what we consider a “common” species of “least concern” can signify more encompassing environmental threats.  You see, the birds we sometimes take for granted aren’t guaranteed to be around forever….

Whenever World Sparrow Day comes around, I am always reminded of the Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratoriu), a species that went from being one of the most abundant birds in the world during the 19^th century to extinction early in the 20^th century.  Makes you think, right?

How can you help spread the word? It’s simple…

This year’s WSD theme is called ‘Chirp for the sparrow! Tweet for the sparrow!’ It was designed as a call to action – a call to sparrow lovers, nature supporters and conservationists everywhere to spread the word to save the sparrow and other common species. Use any means of communication available to you (text, email or phone) to encourage family and friends to learn about WSD and the importance of common bird species by directing them to www.worldsparrowday.org. Or, you can engage in social media by blogging, sharing your thoughts on websites and spreading the word on social networking sites like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.

I hope that the next time you see a House Sparrow, you take a moment to appreciate the species and feel fortunate to see these birds as often as we do here in North America.

Happy Birding!

Danielle

Since February’s Beak of the Weeks celebrated some amazing backyard feeder birds in honor of National Bird Feeding Month, I thought I would highlight a foreign feathered friend this week.  However, as luck would have it, within three days, I experienced a relatively local bird in two distinct, but very much related communities. It is with great excitement that I share my happenings with you, as I introduce the California Condor…

As some of you may know, the California Condor was on the verge of extinction by the 1980s on account of lead poisoning, habitat loss, and poaching.  In fact, by 1982 only 22 birds remained alive and intervention was necessary for the survival of the species. Fortunately, with successful conservation programs, almost four hundred birds are alive today…

On Tuesday morning, at approximately 4:30am, Danielle and I woke up, put on our birding gear and headed to Frazier National Park in Maricopa County.  There, despite taking directions involving “a tree and a port-a-potty” from a hilarious, displaced Englishman, we met up with Richard Crossley (An revolutionary field guide writer and author of The Crossley ID Guide)  and Wes Fritz (Excellent Birding Guide specializing in Central and Southern California) and went in search of several birds, with a particular interest in the California Condor!

As almost all birding outings go, sound positioning, perfect timing and a whole-lot-of luck are necessary to catch a glimpse of these large vultures. We were told that, under the right conditions, we would be able to see the Condor’s fly at approximately 9:00am by the “second sign on the long and windy road.” Hmmmm… another reliable set of reliable directions? We shall see.  Luckily, with Wes’ familiarity with the region and expertise, he guided us to success. Though still quite distant from view, even with an amazing pair of bins, it is not difficult to be in awe of these birds. Not only is their nine-foot wingspan unbelievable, but their survival story is one to be celebrated…

On Thursday, my morning began quite similarly. I woke up at 4:30 am, packed the car and headed south on a two-hour journey to San Diego for the Avicultural Society of America conference. In addition to meeting several passionate bird lovers, I had the opportunity to connect with a longtime family friend, Frank Todd. In addition to being a published author, an enthusiastic behaviorist, and as close to a walking encyclopedia about birds as one can get, Frank also happened to work as the curator for the Los Angeles Zoo when TopaTopa arrived—the first California Condor in captivity and the father of the new generation of Condors…

At this moment, my experience came full circle. The very birds we, as birders, were admiring, photographing, and documenting on Tuesday were triumphs of understanding, practice, time, and energy by conservation teams. Though such different fields of study, these two worlds are highly dependent on one another.  Birding is much greater than seeing birds. It’s about understanding them, observing them, appreciating them and ultimately acquiring insight about our own interaction with them and with nature.

Common Name: California Condor

Latin Name: Gymnogyps californianus

Range:  Today, the range of the California Condor is limited to parts of Arizona, California, and Utah.

Habitat: Mountainous regions, Coniferous forests, and Savannahs. Often found by cliff sides.

Diet: Carrion of mostly large animals, including cattle and deer.

Conservation Status: Critically Endangered.

Visit http://cacondorconservation.org/ for more information about California Condors and conservation efforts.

Happy Birding!

Michelle

P.S. Many thanks to Richard and Wes for an AMAZING day!  And, Richard, we hope your trip to California means that we’re one step closer to enjoying The Western Crossley ID Guide, because Danielle and I (and SO many others) cannot wait!!!