20-Apr-23, 08:06:48 AM
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Member Activities / Pets / 2nd try on Bucca
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on: 03-Mar-10, 10:22:28 AM
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Sorry, the first time I posted, the pic was way to big. I resized it. This is Bucca, my chunk cat. He's huge but so was his daddy.
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23357
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Other Nature Related Information / General Nature Discussion / Pileated takes a nap
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on: 03-Mar-10, 07:08:41 AM
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One Pileated Woodpecker stands out from the four known to visit our suet feeder. It began standing out yesterday when, after a few pecks at the suet, it hitched itself up the tree trunk and went to sleep. I assume it was napping, its eyes shut, neck scrunched between its shoulders, feathers fluffed against the cold. I can watch (and photograph) these birds from our bedroom windows. The woodpecker stayed in place for about 20 minutes, raising its head and opening its eyes only when other woodpeckers feeding on the suet (Hairy, Downy) disturbed it. Have you ever wondered what birds do when they’re not eating, eating being the thing they do? Well, this woodpecker naps, at least some of the time. He did it again this morning, same time (around 8:30), same place, same 20 minutes. I appreciate his napping, it being a choice of mine, too, but 20 minutes is a bit short for me. Our feeders are busy much of the day, except for mid-afternoon, when things become very quiet. I assume some naps are taking place.
I wish I knew how old this woodpecker is. Pileateds can live for as long as nine years. A dog year for age comparison with us is what, seven human years? So a Pileated year would be nine or so (figuring us living 80 years), although the sample used to determine this figure was small. Scientists figure potential longevity for this species is in double figures. You determine age by banding a recent hatchling, then recovering it years later, slim odds on that. Or, you can time a captive bird. Radio-tagged birds have demonstrated mortality in their first year of about 60 percent. Getting to nine Pileated years is harder for them than for us. But naps might help. Below, our sleeping beauty.
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23358
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Other Nature Related Information / General Nature Discussion / Northern aplomado falcon ruffles feathers at Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park
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on: 03-Mar-10, 06:59:18 AM
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LAS CRUCES - A rare winged visitor is causing a stir at the Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park.
The endangered bird, a Northern Aplomado Falcon, was first sighted last week by a park employee and has been drawing attention ever since, said Mesilla Valley Audubon Society President David Griffin.
"There are some guys coming down from Santa Fe to see it if it's still here; people are coming up from El Paso," he said. "There's a guy from Tucson. Even someone from California was supposedly flying in to look for it."
The falcon is noteworthy because it lacks a leg band, meaning it likely didn't come from any of several breeding programs aimed at restoring the species. It would be the first such sighting locally since 1999, Griffin said.
The falcons were once widespread in the Southwest, but disappeared, likely because of human activity, sometime in the middle of the 20th century, according to the Peregrine Fund, a conservation organization working to restore the bird.
At the park, the Aplomado Falcon was first spotted around noon Friday by state employee C.J. Goin, who has an interest in birdwatching.
"It's a significant bird to have in our park; we've had people call our park asking about it," said Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park ranger Ken Abalos. "It's caused quite a commotion in the birding community here."
Abalos said he saw the bird, perched on a power line pole, as recently as Tuesday morning.
The falcon has been moving between the east and west sides of the Rio Grande from the Mesilla Bridge, south to the park's visitors center.
An Aplomado Falcon is characterized by "a steel-grey back, red breast, black 'sash' on its belly" and "striking black markings on the top of its head, around its eyes, and extending down its face," according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Web site. They're found in grassland areas.
While the falcon's presence is significant, Griffin said, hardcore birdwatchers who like to add new species to their lifelong lists of sighted birds are not flocking to the state park. That's because the falcon doesn't specifically meet all the conditions so-called "listers" follow in deciding whether to count a species.
Still, Griffin said, at least one of his fellow Audubon Society members threw the rules out the window and visited the park Saturday, saying it might be his only chance ever to see an Aplomado Falcon.
"It's a beautiful bird," Griffin said.
A Las Cruces office of the Peregrine Fund last year released captive-bred Aplomado Falcons in the Deming area as part of an ongoing restoration project.
Griffin said the recent sighting also is noteworthy because the bosque park is geared toward wetlands conservation and is meant to be a refuge for birds. That the falcon has gained attention is an indication of the area's potential in the area of ecotourism, he said.
Abalos said the public is welcome to visit the park to try to see the falcon. Visitors will have to pay the $5-per-vehicle entrance fee. He advised birdwatchers to take water, sunscreen, sturdy walking shoes and binoculars.
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23367
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Other Nature Related Information / Raptor Web Cams / 5 tops choices for NC eaglet: Names
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on: 02-Mar-10, 12:58:52 PM
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http://www.wcnc.com/community/contests/85817537.htmlSavannah, a bald eagle in captivity at Carolina Raptor Center due to injuries, has a baby eaglet and we need you to help name it! The eaglet was born on Friday, February 12, which is also Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Savannah and her mate Derek will care for the eaglet for six weeks. Then Carolina Raptor Center Staff will carefully remove the eaglet from the nest and perform a DNA test to see if it’s male or female. The eaglet will then be to taken to an undisclosed location to learn to live on its own. It will later be released into the wild. 1.More than 800 names were submitted in our Name the Eaglet contest. Carolina Raptor Center has narrowed the list down to five. Out of these five names, please type the name of your favorite below: 1) Noah for Lance Corporal Noah M. Pier, the most recent area marine to die in service to his country. 2) Lincoln for the eaglet born on Abraham Lincoln's birthday 3) Olympus or Olympia in honor of the US Olympic team that dominated the medal count in the 2010 Olympics 4) Colbert for Stephen Colbert, comedian and lover of eagles of all kinds 5) Wohali/Awahili for "eagle" in Cherokee These are the top 5 choices for the little eaglet. if you want to vote, go to the link on top of this page.
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23369
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Other Nature Related Information / General Nature Discussion / White blackbird lands in Hereford garden (UK)
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on: 02-Mar-10, 06:33:41 AM
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THIS little chap seems to have drawn the short straw in life – as a blackbird who was born mostly white.
The feathery creature, an albino of the animal world, was immediately recognised as a rarity by keen bird watcher Eileen Hackley when he stopped by her Hereford garden.
The albinistic male, as they are known, was snapped in Holmer on a few separate occasions by the Salvation Army Photography Club member before she contacted Tim Town at Herefordshire RSPB. Ms Hackley said: “They still mate apparently but the baby ones won’t have the white feathers.
“I rang Tim and he said to come round straight away with the photographs.”
Albinism is caused by a defective gene inherited from both parents and makes birds more conspicious to predators and sometimes causes difficulty in finding a mate.
The blackbird is among the most susceptible of British species but on the whole only a minute proportion of wild birds anywhere are albinistic.
Mr Town said: “There are different degress of albinism, ranging from all white to only a few white feathers on an otherwise normal coloured bird.
“Progressive albinism can also occur as a bird gets older, in the same way as people go grey.
“This had been recorded particularly in blackbirds.”
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present....his arrival! I miss him. 
Just wait for the ad to stop then the video will come up.
I'm definitely proud of that!
