RSS FeedDecember 23, 2007
Identify That Raptor - And the Answer!
Photo taken by Nancy Sims
Photo taken by Nancy Sims
Photo taken by Nancy Sims
Occasionally people send me photos of birds and ask me to identify the species for them. The images above were sent to me by my Son-in-Law Chad Stallings. The photos were taken by his boss' wife, Nancy Sims. Nancy was at home and saw the bird perched on her neighbor's car and took the above photos. Thanks Nancy!
Hint: While this photo could have been taken here in the southeast, it wasn't. It was taken in Colorado.
What do you think it is? And more importantly, why did you select the species for your guess? What are the field marks that give you clues?
Please post your guesses in the comment box below. I'll identify the species in a few day,
Good luck!
UPDATE: Congratulations to Andrea, who got the answer correct! This is an immature Cooper's Hawk. Note the long barred tail. That's the best clue to identifying the bird.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:25 AM | Comments (2)
November 28, 2007
MORE THAN ONE-QUARTER OF UNITED STATES BIRDS NEED URGENT CONSERVATION ACTION
WatchList 2007 Identifies Species at Greatest Risk
WASHINGTON, D.C. NOVEMBER 28, 2007 - One hundred seventy-eight species in the continental U.S. and 39 in Hawaii have the dubious distinction of landing on the newest and most scientifically sound list of America’s most imperiled birds. WatchList 2007, a joint effort of Audubon and American Bird Conservancy, reflects a comprehensive analysis of population size and trends, distribution, and threats for 700 bird species in the U.S. It reveals those in greatest need of immediate conservation help simply to survive amid a convergence of environmental challenges, including habitat loss, invasive species and global warming.
“We call this a ‘WatchList’ but it is really a call to action, because the alternative is to watch these species slip ever closer to oblivion,” said Audubon Bird Conservation Director and co-author of the new list, Greg Butcher. “Agreeing on which species are at the greatest risk is the first step in building the public policies, funding support, innovative conservation initiatives and public commitment needed to save them.”
The new Audubon/American Bird Conservancy WatchList identifies 59 continental and 39 Hawaiian “red list” species of greatest concern, and 119 more in the “yellow” category of seriously declining or rare species. It is based on the latest available research and assessment from the bird conservation community along with data from the Christmas Bird Count and the annual Breeding Bird Survey. The data were analyzed and weighted according to methods developed through extensive peer review and revision, yielding an improved assessment of actual peril that can be used to determine bird conservation priorities and funding.
“Adoption of this list as the ‘industry standard’ will help to ensure that conservation resources are allocated to the most important conservation needs,” said David Pashley, American Bird Conservancy’s Director of Conservation Programs and co-author of the new list. “How quickly and effectively we act to protect and support the species on this list will determine their future; where we’ve taken aggressive action, we’ve seen improvement.”
Despite ongoing challenges and their continued place on the list, the status of some WatchList species is improving, according to the new data, as broader awareness of their plight has spawned effective conservation action. Several species have benefited from federal protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and now show stabilizing, or even increasing populations. Lacking an ESA designation or the political support needed to secure strong protective measures, others continue to decline.
“Habitat loss due to development, energy exploration and extraction, and the impact of global warming remain serious threats for the most imperiled species, along with others on both the red and yellow lists,” said Pashley. “Concerted action will be needed to address these threats.”
Listed species may seem unfamiliar to many Americans. Unlike those on Audubon’s recent survey of Common Birds in Decline, the species on WatchList are often rare and limited in range. In combination with population declines and new threats, these factors make many of them acutely vulnerable to extinction.
Among the most imperiled species on the list that regularly breed in the continental U.S. are:
Gunnison Sage-Grouse (not on the ESA list)
This species is restricted to Southwest Colorado and adjacent Utah. Drought, which is predicted to get worse with increased global warming, is among the factors that have reduced the Gunnison Sage-Grouse population to fewer than 5,000; habitat loss and fragmentation and excessive grazing are other threats. Protection and restoration of contiguous tracts of good habitat is critical.
Lesser Prairie-Chicken (not on the ESA list)
Habitat loss and degradation have restricted this species to a number of isolated populations, many of which are on private lands in Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Small population size, changing habitat resulting from drought, and climate change threaten continued survival.
California Condor (protected by the ESA)
Once reduced to nine individual wild birds, this raptor is slowly recovering, thanks to captive breeding and the release of individuals in California and Arizona. There are now 305 individuals, including 148 free-flying birds. Lead bullets are a critical threat to long-term survival, as fragments poison wild condors that eat the remains of hunters’ kills. Audubon California and American Bird Conservancy have spearheaded recent passage of legislation eliminating lead bullets in the range of the condor in that state.
Whooping Crane (protected by the ESA)
Unregulated shooting and loss of habitat reduced this species to fewer than 20 individuals around the turn of the 20th Century. Implementation of a recovery plan developed under the Endangered Species Act has resulted in more than a 1000% increase in population to over 200 individuals, and has spawned efforts to establish additional wild breeding populations.
Piping Plover (protected by the ESA)
Protection of this shorebird’s beachfront nesting grounds is helping to improve the outlook for this species. Human development along beaches, increased beach recreation, disturbance by pets, and increased predation require constant vigilance. Intensive conservation efforts supported by the Endangered Species Act have helped stabilize populations and allowed populations to increase in some regions of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Black-capped Vireo (protected by the ESA)
Suburban development, agricultural conversion, and fire suppression in Texas and Oklahoma have decreased available breeding habitat, reducing both the range and population size of this species. Increased predation near human development has further decreased populations, as has parasitism from Brown-headed Cowbirds, which lay their eggs in Black-capped Vireo nests, out-competing the vireo chicks. Innovative conservation efforts on public and private lands seem to be helping some populations recover.
Florida Scrub-Jay (protected by the ESA)
Suburban-exurban sprawl and agricultural development have reduced habitat dramatically and isolated many populations. Maintaining natural wildfire regimes will be critical. Although ESA status has increased conservation efforts for this species, it has not been enough to stop loss of habitat.
Golden-cheeked Warbler (protected by the ESA)
Breeding is restricted to the Edwards Plateau in Texas, where suburban sprawl and habitat destruction has greatly reduced population size. Winter habitat loss in southern Mexico and Central America may also be affecting populations. Innovative conservation strategies that protect and restore habitat in both the breeding and wintering grounds are underway and needed.
Kirtland’s Warbler (protected by the ESA)
Dependent on jack pine habitat in northern Michigan, this warbler species has increased more than 600% since the mid-1980s because of management plans implemented under the Endangered Species Act. Singing male counts in the spring have increased from 200 to almost 1,400 (and some singing males are now found in Wisconsin and Ontario). Wild land fire management, control of the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird, and protection of wintering habitat in the Bahamas remain essential to long-term survival.
Ashy Storm-Petrel (not on the ESA list)
Breeding populations are restricted to islands off the west coast of North America. Non-native nest predators and increased gull populations threaten breeding birds, and ocean pollution and overfishing threaten feeding birds.
Kittlitz’s Murrelet (not on the ESA list)
Breeding and feeding habitat seems to be linked to Alaska’s tidewater glaciers, making this species very susceptible to climate change. Oil spills, coastal pollution, and increased disturbance also threaten this species.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker (protected by ESA)
Habitat loss from logging in the Southeast’s long-leaf pine forests and suburban and agricultural development have isolated populations and greatly reduced overall population size. Protection strategies developed through the Endangered Species Act are helping populations in many places, but restoration of open long-leaf pine forest is desperately needed.
Spectacled Eider (protected by ESA)
Ingestion of lead shot is believed to be a major problem for this species, along with an increase in nest predation by foxes, mink, gulls, and jaegers in a warming Arctic. In addition, changing sea conditions in winter are affecting the distribution of clams - a preferred winter food. Proposed oil development poses an additional and very significant threat.
Reddish Egret (not on the ESA list)
This species forages along the Gulf Coast and is subject to human disturbance at beaches and at nesting sites. It is dependent on high quality coastal habitat for its food. Human coastal development and decreasing water quality are serious threats.
Black Rail (not on the ESA list)
This species makes its home in shallow, grassy wetlands along the Atlantic Coast, San Francisco Bay, southern Great Plains and the Lower Colorado River, habitat that is vulnerable to human conversion to other uses, including agriculture or other development. A secretive bird, it needs further study to increase understanding of its natural history, ecological role and conservation needs.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper (not on the ESA list)
Traveling each fall from Alaska to Argentina, this species is one of our champion long-distance migrants. Along the way, it faces a great variety of threats, from oil development on its Arctic breeding grounds to grassland conversion to soybean fields on its Argentinean wintering grounds. It needs protected grassy stopover sites all along its migration route.
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow (not on the ESA list)
This tiny bird is restricted to a narrow band of saltmarsh along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. It is threatened on one side by human coastal developments and on the other by rising sea levels. With even one foot of sea-level rise from global warming, this species will need a lot of help to maintain sufficient habitat for its survival.
Tricolored Blackbird (not on the ESA list)
A highly social species, this bird is found in freshwater wetlands in the Pacific states, mainly California. With loss of this habitat, this species increasingly relies on agricultural fields for nesting, leaving chicks vulnerable to the harvest of hay and other crops. Audubon California and other conservationists are working with farmers to maintain agricultural nesting habitat long enough each season to allow the blackbirds to successfully raise their young – potentially spelling the difference between survival and extinction for this highly specialized bird.
Yellow Rail (not on the ESA list)
Rails are small, secretive birds that winter in wetlands along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. This species prefers to breed in wet grasslands across Canada and the northern tier of states from Minnesota to Maine. These grasslands are easily converted to other uses, so protection of high-quality habitat will be essential for this migratory bird’s survival.
Xantus's Murrelet (not on the ESA list)
This tiny seabird nests on islands off southern California. Conservationists are tackling the major threat on the nesting grounds – non-native predators like rats and mice. Global warming seems to wreak havoc with the water circulation and availability of food sources in the ocean, causing shortages for this and other coastal seabirds.
Conservation action is also needed beyond the mainland. Hawaii has the highest proportion of native species in peril, primarily because of the state’s small land area and wide variety of introduced invasive animal and plant species. In addition, the Hawaiian Islands are particularly vulnerable to global warming. Hawaiian species facing the greatest threats are highlighted in a special section of WatchList.
The combined WatchLists show that imperiled birds – whether on the U.S. mainland or in Hawaii – are vulnerable to many of the same environmental threats, including global warming, habitat loss, pollution, and non-native invasive species. Aggressive conservation action to address these challenges is essential to their survival.
“Everyone, from conservation groups to policy-makers and birdwatchers, needs to take a hard look at these lists and use them to inform and hone our conservation approaches and funding priorities while there’s still time,” says Butcher. “It’s astounding that several are so close to the edge but haven’t even received Endangered Species Act protection—this list is a reminder that we need to act and act now.”
“The WatchList sounds a real warning, but fortunately, when we put our minds and laws to it, as we did with the Bald Eagle, Whooping Crane and California Condor, we can make a difference,” said Pashley.
For the complete 2007 WatchList, and information on how to help imperiled birds, visit www.audubon.org or www.abcbirds.org.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2007
The last Wood Thrush of the season?
Finally, fall has arrived in Chattanooga! On Monday I was in Memphis where it was a record high 95 degrees. Crazy! Today the skies were blue, the air was nearly crisp, and the expected low tonight is 45. As the sun was sinking low, I put on a hooded sweatshirt and headed outside to do a little evening birding at Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden.
American Robins were everywhere. In the air. In the trees. In the grass. I also caught sight of a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We have been inundated with them lately, and that's a nice situation to have. The males are not quite as gaudy in their alternate plumage, and I actually find the females more striking. Though drab at first appearance, I caught sight of a female Grosbeak preening under her wing. Beautiful shades of yellow were revealed as she primped and preened for me. Wow!
As I walked along the gravel roads, squirrels were scurrying everywhere, looking for and storing food. Eastern Bluebirds were in the fields and on the fence posts, and an Eastern Wood PeWee sallied forth from a barbed wire fence catching gnats in the soft evening light.
At about the mid-point of my hike I encountered a lone Swainson's Thrush in the woods. Sitting quiet and still, I was able to ID this beautiful migrant in the low light of the forest understory. Just a few weeks ago, the area was "covered up" in Swainson's Thrushes. This was the first one I've seen recently. Most of them have already pushed through Chattanooga on their way to the tropics.
I stepped out of the woods onto a gravel road and found myself surrounded by Robins. A pair of Northern Flickers flushed from the grass, and as I watched them fly, my eyes locked onto a bird on the gravel road about 50' in front of me. It was a Wood Thrush. With the light fading, the Thrush would soon be taking off for it's evening migration. By morning it would probably be somewhere in Alabama. Within a few weeks, the bird will find itself in Costa Rica or somewhere in the tropics where it will remain until April. It's a perilous journey, and there's a good chance the bird won't make it back to breed here next year. Would this be the last Wood Thrush for me in 2007? I hope not. They are one of my favorite birds. Especially when the males are singing during the spring & summer.
I moved slowly off the road into a meadow and flushed a group of sparrows. Sparrows and fall Warblers confuse the heck out of me, and I couldn't identify any of the small birds flitting around in the meadow in the low light.
I worked my way over to Lookout Creek. There' across the creek stood a pair of White-tailed Deer silently watching me. Does, both of them. As I raised my binoculars for a closer look, they ran off into the dense undergrowth.
Continuing along, I encountered a Muskrat gliding quietly along in the creek, only to disappear underwater. A hundred feet downstream stood a Great Blue Heron on a log. Stock still and awaiting a meal, the large bird paid me no attention.
With the sun slipping away I headed home to feed the cats and dog and myself. It was a nice day to be outside. Thank goodness fall is finally here.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:12 PM
June 07, 2007
Photo of the Day
Four day-old Killdeer babies huddled together on the nest.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 02:22 PM
June 06, 2007
Photo of the Day
An hours old Killdeer baby - born in front of my office in Chattanooga
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:19 PM
April 19, 2007
Spring has Sprung! Wood Thrushes arrive in Chattanooga!
Wood Thrush - Photo provided by USF&WS
Yesterday I spent the morning at Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden performing a walk through of the Profile Trail, which we're bringing back to life after it had fallen into bad shape over the past few years. We hope to have the trail reopened for National Trails Day on Saturday June 2. During my visit to Reflection Riding, I saw a number of migratory bird species that had arrived on their breeding grounds. The gourds were alive with the flutter of Purple Martins, an Indigo Bunting flashed it's brilliant blue colors at it flew over a meadow, and the familiar raspy song of the Scarlet Tanager could be heard from high atop the canopy.
This morning, as I walked outside to leave for work, I heard one of the sweetest sounds of the Southern Appalachians; the Wood Thrush has arrived in Chattanooga! This is perhaps my favorite sound to hear in the woods, only rivaled by the song of the Veery, or the call of the Barred Owl.
I hope you enjoy these springtime images that I took at Reflection Riding yesterday. If you find yourself in Chattanooga, be sure to stop by for a visit!
Eastern Box Turtle
Lookout Creek from the Profile Trail
Pink Ladyslipper Orchids - Cypripedium acaule
Large Flowered Trillium - Trillium Grandiflorum
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:22 AM
April 13, 2007
April 13 - Killdeer Update
Our Killdeer has been sitting on her second clutch of eggs since March 27. Her first nest was accidently destroyed by the lawn care guy, so I have since staked out the nest so that it won't be trampled. Since Killdeer eggs take between 24-28 days to hatch, they probably have another 7-10 days to go before we have babies.
Last week I ran off a feral cat that was snooping around the nest, and today, about 15 minutes before I shot the video below, a Coopers Hawk flew menacingly close to the nest. The Killdeer sitting on the nest flew off moments before the hawk swooped 3' over the nest!
After spotting 4 eggs in the nest on March 28, we're down to three eggs. I'm not sure what happened to the fourth egg. Perhaps it wasn't viable.
I'll continue to provide updates through the time that the eggs hatch. Since baby Killdeer are precotial (pre-COE-shul), they will be running around the lawn within 24 hours of hatching. It should make for some fun video.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:48 AM
March 28, 2007
Chickadee at my window
Outside view of my office window. Notice the reflection!
Well, spring has arrived in Chattanooga. The past few days, there's been a repeated tap, tap, tapping at my window, as a Carolina Chickadee flys into the window in my office to attack it's own reflection. Or could the bird be aware of my story entitled "The Thru-Hiker and the Chickadee - A True Appalachian Trail Story"? Maybe he just wants to say hello and thank me for helpin his Black Capped cousin. (wink-wink, nod-nod)
Take a look at this short video below. This window is approximately 4' behind my desk.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 05:33 PM
March 27, 2007
Killdeer Update
I've been watching the pair of Killdeer at my office all week, and today I noticed that one of the birds was hanging around in one place. At one point I walked out onto the lawn and the Killdeer feigned a broken wing. Sure enough, I found two eggs in a new nest 10' away from the nest that was destroyed last weekend.
After discovering the eggs, I placed a couple of surveyor stakes around the nest so that the man who cuts the grass at my office knows where it is. A few hours later I went back outside and discovered a third egg in the nest!
Here's a video I shot of the new nest. I'll keep an eye on it and provide occasional updates.
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 08:58 PM
March 22, 2007
Killdeer Update
Last week I added a blog entry about a pair of Killdeer that were nesting here at my office for the fourth year in a row. On Tuesday evening I returned from Florida to find that the grass had been mowed here at the office. The nest has clearly been disturbed and contained only shell fragments.
As of this morning, the pair of Killdeer are still hanging around. I suspect that the female will lay eggs again within the next 7-10 days. If & when she does, I'll mark the nest with a survey stake or two to avoid a reoccurrence of the nest getting disturbed. I've already spoken to the fellow who cuts the grass, so he now knows to watch for a survey stake to indicate the location of a nest.
Check back here for more updates in the coming weeks...
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 01:10 PM
March 13, 2007
A Killdeer in Chattanooga
A Killdeer in the parking lot of the American Hiking Society office
from 2004. They are nesting here again for the 4th year in a row.
Although lots of folks think my job is glamorous, and that I spend lots of time out on trails, I actually spend the vast majority of my time behind a desk. Thankfully, there is usually some wildlife around the office to entertain me.
For example, for the fourth year in a row, Killdeer are nesting here at my office. A Killdeer is a small ground nesting bird. They are not rare, but their habit of nesting in parking lots (that happened here in 2004) or in school athletic fields draws a lot of curiosity from people.
This morning I video taped a Killdeer flying off the nest and trying to distract me by feigning a broken wing. This one time filming the bird will have no impact on nesting success. I certainly wouldn't do that regularly, nor would I do it in the heat of the day as the eggs would be exposed to the sunlight and heat.
What's the point? Lots of birds here in the southeast are ground nesters. In the woods we have the Ovenbird, Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse, and the Whip-poor-will to name just a few. All of these birds nest on the ground. So please, when you're out hiking in the woods, stay on the trail! If you stray off the trail, you could cause erosion, trample native plants (including poison ivy!), or unknowingly destroy a bird nest.
Checkout the video below to see our resident Killdeer and her nest containing 4 eggs. Enjoy!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 09:03 AM
January 10, 2007
Answer to Bird Identification Contest
Last week I posted a 19 second video on this site and asked folks to try and identify the bird in the video. I promised an answer today, so here it is! Here's the video again to refresh your memory;
Here was your list of choices;
- Fish Crow
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Merlin
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Northern Harrier
- American Crow
- Mississippi Kite
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Peregrine Falcon
- Cooper's Hawk
- American Kestrel
First of all, the bird is a raptor, so we can rule out those birds on the list that are NOT raptors. That rules out the Pileated Woodpecker, Fish Crow, and the American Crow.
Since July is the breeding season, we can rule out birds that don't breed in SE Tennessee. That eliminates the Northern Harrier, and the Mississippi Kite.
If you look at the video, you'll notice that the bird does not have the swept back wings that are characteristic of a Falcon, so we can rule out the Peregrine Falcon, the American Kestrel, and the Merlin.
Now, if we look closely at the video, you'll see that the bird has a long tail. That identifies the bird as belonging to the genus Accipiter. So that would rule out two additional species that belong to the genus Buteo. Now we can scratch off the Red-tailed Hawk, and the beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk.
That leaves two remaining choices;
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Cooper's Hawk
Now these two species can be very difficult to tell apart, but there are several hints that betray what the bird is. First of all, a close look indicates that the bird has a rounded tail. You'll also notice that the bird's head protrudes beyond the leading edge of the wing, which is commonly referred to as the wrist. Lastly, the bird has a very characteristic flap towards the end of the video. The flap is not quite as rapid as that of the Sharp-shinned Hawk. That's right! The bird is a Coopers Hawk.
Now, I asked if you could identify a second bird in the video. If you listen carefully, there is an American Crow that calls briefly. The videographer - Dick Schier - reported that the Cooper's Hawk was "dog-fighting" with the crow a few minutes before the video was taken.
Finally, there was a trick question asking if you could identify the sex of the bird. The answer is - you can not. The reason being, Cooper's Hawks do not exhibit sexual dimorphism - meaning, you can not differentiate between the male and female of the species based upon the plumage. Two birds on the list above do exhibit sexual dimorphism however. Those two species would be the American Kestrel and the Northern Harrier.
Now, if we had a mated pair of Cooper's Hawks, and they were sitting side by side, the larger of the two birds would be the female. But with only one bird in the video, it is not possible to sex the bird.
Thanks for playing along. And thank you to Dick Schier for sharing the video!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 12:34 AM
January 04, 2007
Bird Identification Contest
Can you identify the bird in the video below?
This video was taken on July 26, 2006 at the southern terminus of the Cumberland Trail at a place called Signal Point. This is just north of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and inside the boundary of Chickamauga - Chattanooga National Military Park.
Here are your choices;
- Fish Crow
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Merlin
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Northern Harrier
- American Crow
- Mississippi Kite
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Peregrine Falcon
- Cooper's Hawk
- American Kestrel
Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to identify the bird in flight. If possible, tell us why you think the bird is the particular species that you have selected from the list above. Can you also identify a second bird by watching and listening to this video?
The bonus question is, can you identify the sex of this bird? (Beware the bonus question!)
There are no prizes. Just the satisfaction and honor of being recognized for your superior bird identification skills. All those submitting correct answers will be recognized here in the Southern Appalachians Initiative blog.
The answer will appear here on the afternoon of Wednesday January 10, 2007. You can either email your answer to Jeffrey Hunter, or post your reply in the comment form below.
Good luck, and have fun!
Posted by Jeffrey Hunter at 10:46 AM