tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34472324533940783502024-03-13T15:37:37.074-04:00Field NotesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-41555549818582925922017-10-03T14:01:00.001-04:002017-10-15T11:04:07.771-04:00California Condors in Grand Canyon<span style="font-size: large;">The California Condor is one of the most endangered species on earth. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Whilst attending a wedding in Grand Canyon last month, we had the opportunity to search out some of these unique birds.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We saw our first condor soaring below us in the canyon while we were hiking the South Kaibab trail, but it was a distant look. We had closer views of three birds at the Navajo Bridge in Lee's Ferry, Arizona.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1dOCFlD5Ek/WdO3veusHGI/AAAAAAAADuw/f6-Nv6cqkAo2pKvpa3V0y4EJBSVL96kVQCKgBGAs/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-s1dOCFlD5Ek/WdO3veusHGI/AAAAAAAADuw/f6-Nv6cqkAo2pKvpa3V0y4EJBSVL96kVQCKgBGAs/s400/084.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California Condor H9</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Condor H9 is a nine-year-old female that was raised in captivity in Portland, Oregon and released into the Grand Canyon in 2011.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fCDKYVbm45k/WdO32Hqd83I/AAAAAAAADu4/c_gzCH5acW42O8sYpoKg4OpfTzIzMjUewCKgBGAs/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fCDKYVbm45k/WdO32Hqd83I/AAAAAAAADu4/c_gzCH5acW42O8sYpoKg4OpfTzIzMjUewCKgBGAs/s400/056.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California Condor P5</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Condor P5 is a three-year-old male that was hatched in the Los Angeles Zoo and released into Grand Canyon in 2015.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAQMIOT3f88/WdO30Pp8iAI/AAAAAAAADu0/8f2lD88zsNoIWBZM76E8bGdYkkO-xyGdQCKgBGAs/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAQMIOT3f88/WdO30Pp8iAI/AAAAAAAADu0/8f2lD88zsNoIWBZM76E8bGdYkkO-xyGdQCKgBGAs/s400/052.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California Condor P6</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the most interesting specimen that we saw was Condor P6, a three-year-old bird of unknown sex that was hatched in the wild.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The conservation of California Condors reached its most critical moment in 1987 when the entire remaining population of 22 birds was taken into captivity. A reintroduction program was commenced and the first captive-bred birds were released in California in 1991. Condor releases in Grand Canyon began in 1996 and continue to this day. At last count, there were 276 California Condors known to exist in the wild.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yaQUNMPmzU/WdO341yNV6I/AAAAAAAADu8/QXn59zOboq8gHKkjfr0XGyJA_SkXZaUSwCKgBGAs/s1600/017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yaQUNMPmzU/WdO341yNV6I/AAAAAAAADu8/QXn59zOboq8gHKkjfr0XGyJA_SkXZaUSwCKgBGAs/s400/017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phainopepla (photo from Nevada)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-52752443093913174992017-09-01T21:20:00.000-04:002017-09-01T21:20:06.227-04:00Life Cycle of a Black Swallowtail<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yY8rpKElHU8/WaXOGWKRdQI/AAAAAAAADsc/2qHyjjCm4UgSjkkevI6GvSo038lrMjEjACKgBGAs/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yY8rpKElHU8/WaXOGWKRdQI/AAAAAAAADsc/2qHyjjCm4UgSjkkevI6GvSo038lrMjEjACKgBGAs/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larva</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0gGm7Wb3uEI/WaXOIY63GVI/AAAAAAAADsg/ASQGd3NV168gjcZZeIzU1oz021d6G6RcACKgBGAs/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0gGm7Wb3uEI/WaXOIY63GVI/AAAAAAAADsg/ASQGd3NV168gjcZZeIzU1oz021d6G6RcACKgBGAs/s400/061.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chrysalis</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Butterfly coming soon?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-74815262137215069732017-07-25T21:13:00.003-04:002017-07-25T21:45:56.345-04:00The Heart of Texas<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJio-zn2tPU/WXfFXMykrGI/AAAAAAAADqY/aKQZij9pPyUDbhWPzv6YrD36uUBNd3Z_QCKgBGAs/s1600/153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CJio-zn2tPU/WXfFXMykrGI/AAAAAAAADqY/aKQZij9pPyUDbhWPzv6YrD36uUBNd3Z_QCKgBGAs/s400/153.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mississippi Kite</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were recently in Abilene, Texas for a family wedding so of course we decided to squeeze in some birdwatching during our visit. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We flew into San Antonio and spent a few days in the "Hill Country" before heading deep into the heart of Texas for the remainder of the trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vfe-jG5qal8/WXfFd2g6k8I/AAAAAAAADqc/-IFFiF8LBA8aOox0ZLZAJ5fvM2IqgEOLQCKgBGAs/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vfe-jG5qal8/WXfFd2g6k8I/AAAAAAAADqc/-IFFiF8LBA8aOox0ZLZAJ5fvM2IqgEOLQCKgBGAs/s400/005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curve-billed Thrasher</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Texas is fantastic for birds, but trying to locate them in the heat of July when breeding activity is largely finished is not particularly easy. Spring would have been a more advantageous season, but unfortunately the engaged couple did not consider our birdwatching preferences when they selected their wedding date. The nerve!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rcgbkmV2jwE/WXfFgp1ieKI/AAAAAAAADqg/dutN7FhsFbgV1jmxw70W80XqFXTOx2K5QCKgBGAs/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rcgbkmV2jwE/WXfFgp1ieKI/AAAAAAAADqg/dutN7FhsFbgV1jmxw70W80XqFXTOx2K5QCKgBGAs/s400/020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scissor-tailed Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The two most sought-after species in the Hill Country region are Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. We were successful in finding the vireo, but could not locate the warbler despite a fairly intensive effort.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cGM1UU5T5Lw/WXfFoPTAVTI/AAAAAAAADqk/IWDUl1A7eoIXYEjpa_0QNU1iOTacNuDpACKgBGAs/s1600/262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cGM1UU5T5Lw/WXfFoPTAVTI/AAAAAAAADqk/IWDUl1A7eoIXYEjpa_0QNU1iOTacNuDpACKgBGAs/s400/262.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden-fronted Woodpecker</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cMMSdRTMxI/WXfFoKEs56I/AAAAAAAADqk/YWX98GbPEt4QYqPSMRK9IpMlwDhEN_WSQCKgBGAs/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1024" height="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--cMMSdRTMxI/WXfFoKEs56I/AAAAAAAADqk/YWX98GbPEt4QYqPSMRK9IpMlwDhEN_WSQCKgBGAs/s400/035.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladder-backed Woodpecker</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Texas has a great variety of birds, but we would have had to visit the Rio Grande Valley, coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico, the Piney Woods region and several key locations in West Texas in addition to the Hill Country to fully appreciate the richness of bird species represented within the state. The large geographical area of Texas makes a visit to all of these areas impractical in a single short visit.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqIvzwlVJHw/WXfFvTvpCnI/AAAAAAAADqo/IAykO9pNgzMZbT6elTbYep3H4Wb3o3ziQCKgBGAs/s1600/068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqIvzwlVJHw/WXfFvTvpCnI/AAAAAAAADqo/IAykO9pNgzMZbT6elTbYep3H4Wb3o3ziQCKgBGAs/s400/068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexican Ground Squirrel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sytcdpppQIA/WXfFvZRYPMI/AAAAAAAADqo/Dn1_0Za4iHghccLLxhevmYP4KkSlNLyHQCKgBGAs/s1600/206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sytcdpppQIA/WXfFvZRYPMI/AAAAAAAADqo/Dn1_0Za4iHghccLLxhevmYP4KkSlNLyHQCKgBGAs/s400/206.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-tailed Jackrabbit</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In addition to birds, Texas is an interesting destination for viewing reptiles and mammals. One highlight of the trip was the opportunity to witness approximately 10 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats as they emerged from their maternity colony at dusk.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwte8CfjW4iqvXwLBLKyQPoKScdjs0YRhknl9w78eYB_mjdRuApBtoYJZQDpIk3W4k0PMdjyzMapq3-7tuXbA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Texas is also well-known for its impressive variety of flying insects, particularly butterflies and dragonflies.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppXz9rVeS5w/WXfFy-24SHI/AAAAAAAADqs/mR_tY8zmqXwuOLIRRssrDR4UUlxrqTP2gCKgBGAs/s1600/253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="821" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ppXz9rVeS5w/WXfFy-24SHI/AAAAAAAADqs/mR_tY8zmqXwuOLIRRssrDR4UUlxrqTP2gCKgBGAs/s400/253.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halloween Pennant</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Below is a complete list of birds recorded during our trip:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Black-bellied Whistling-Duck</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Northern Bobwhite</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Least Grebe</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Pied-billed Grebe</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Neotropic Cormorant</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Anhinga</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">American White Pelican</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Great Blue Heron</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Great Egret</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Snowy Egret</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Little Blue Heron</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Tricolored Heron</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Cattle Egret</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Green Heron</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Yellow-crowned Night-Heron</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">White-faced Ibis</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Black Vulture</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Turkey Vulture</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Mississippi Kite</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Harris's Hawk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Red-shouldered Hawk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Swainson's Hawk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Red-tailed Hawk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Black-necked Stilt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Killdeer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Least Sandpiper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Spotted Sandpiper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser Yellowlegs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Rock Pigeon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Eurasian Collared-Dove</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Inca Dove</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Common Ground-Dove</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">White-winged Dove</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Mourning Dove</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Groove-billed Ani</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Yellow-billed Cuckoo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Common Nighthawk</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Chimney Swift</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Black-chinned Hummingbird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Belted Kingfisher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Golden-fronted Woodpecker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ladder-backed Woodpecker</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Crested Caracara</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Peregrine Falcon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Acadian Flycatcher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Eastern Phoebe</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Ash-throated Flycatcher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Couch's Kingbird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Western Kingbird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Scissor-tailed Flycatcher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Loggerhead Shrike</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Black-capped Vireo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">White-eyed Vireo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Hutton's Vireo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Red-eyed Vireo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Blue Jay</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Common Raven</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Purple Martin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Barn Swallow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Cliff Swallow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Cave Swallow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Carolina Chickadee</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Black-crested Titmouse</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Verdin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Canyon Wren</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Carolina Wren</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bewick's Wren</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Blue-gray Gnatcatcher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Eastern Bluebird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">American Robin</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Curve-billed Thrasher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Long-billed Thrasher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Northern Mockingbird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">European Starling</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Louisiana Waterthrush</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Black-and-white Warbler</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Yellow-throated Warbler</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Olive Sparrow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Chipping Sparrow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Lark Sparrow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Canyon Towhee</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Rufous-crowned Sparrow</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Summer Tanager</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Northern Cardinal</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Pyrrhuloxia</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Blue Grosbeak</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Indigo Bunting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Painted Bunting</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Red-winged Blackbird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Yellow-headed Blackbird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Common Grackle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Great-tailed Grackle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Brown-headed Cowbird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Scott's Oriole</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">House Finch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Lesser Goldfinch</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">House Sparrow</span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-15987309035973828612017-05-12T19:31:00.000-04:002017-05-12T19:52:32.479-04:00Greater White-fronted Goose<span style="font-size: large;">Greater White-fronted Goose spotted by Hannah today in Cambridge Riverside Park.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JixO_0UhlE/WRZDLODuqrI/AAAAAAAADm4/UjdS68RBVGEjFY_UCN0hIKMML6v0OvIyQCKgB/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_JixO_0UhlE/WRZDLODuqrI/AAAAAAAADm4/UjdS68RBVGEjFY_UCN0hIKMML6v0OvIyQCKgB/s400/028.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater White-fronted Goose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The exact location is shown as the blue dot on the map below.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrYLIXsXQ-0/WRZFYgNPtqI/AAAAAAAADnE/30rW9UPHbyAriMwNSVHNZB4fJN21Dtl_ACLcB/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrYLIXsXQ-0/WRZFYgNPtqI/AAAAAAAADnE/30rW9UPHbyAriMwNSVHNZB4fJN21Dtl_ACLcB/s640/unnamed.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Addendum: From looking at eBird I see that this is old news and there are dozens of sightings from April.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-75614596057596229872017-02-25T23:15:00.000-05:002017-02-25T23:18:59.360-05:00The Glades<span style="font-size: large;">On our annual visits to Florida we spend much of the time in the vicinity of Tampa Bay where my parents stay for the winter. Occasionally we travel further afield. This year we explored the Everglades of southern Florida.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pYM0d0qxQT4/WK48GpycnrI/AAAAAAAADlc/vHdPz46hcoI37EIoxXAjrLfx_eAIhJ-EgCPcB/s1600/2017-02-21%2B066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pYM0d0qxQT4/WK48GpycnrI/AAAAAAAADlc/vHdPz46hcoI37EIoxXAjrLfx_eAIhJ-EgCPcB/s400/2017-02-21%2B066.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My arrival to Everglades National Park was highly anticipated</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The term "Everglades" is somewhat confusing, because it is used differently by different sources. For example, the Everglades is sometimes used as an abbreviation for Everglades National Park. The park, however, only comprises the extreme southern portion of the much larger Everglades drainage basin. Another source of confusion may arise because the boundaries of the Everglades as a natural feature are imprecise. Unlike, say, the Grand Canyon that has an easily recognizable rim to mark its boundary, the Everglades is demarcated by hydrological conditions that are not as simple to observe and that are constantly changing. Further confusion may arise from the fact that significant portions of southeastern Florida that were once a part of the Everglades are now either heavily urbanized (in particular the area of the Atlantic coast from West Palm Beach south to Miami) or have been intensely modified for agricultural production.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vakd8eAASA/WK48IWmz6II/AAAAAAAADk8/9mVmRkRyZiYFTmtsRn3hAUkEL3stuo94gCPcB/s1600/2017-02-21%2B086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Vakd8eAASA/WK48IWmz6II/AAAAAAAADk8/9mVmRkRyZiYFTmtsRn3hAUkEL3stuo94gCPcB/s400/2017-02-21%2B086.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Gallinule</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">One final source of confusion is that the Everglades is often associated exclusively with one particular plant community: sawgrass marsh. Although sawgrass marsh is the habitat most characteristic of the region, and there are indeed vast areas of this particular community, Everglades is actually a complex and interdependent system that includes cypress swamps, hardwood hammocks, pine rockland, estuarine mangrove forests, and the marine environment of Florida Bay.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uSys-vVoAgM/WK48Qmxaj9I/AAAAAAAADlc/kbU7MTooqY0g-OveaKIfkybZto-rw-J3ACPcB/s1600/2017-02-21%2B170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uSys-vVoAgM/WK48Qmxaj9I/AAAAAAAADlc/kbU7MTooqY0g-OveaKIfkybZto-rw-J3ACPcB/s400/2017-02-21%2B170.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crested Caracara</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Approximately speaking, the Everglades is the area of southern Florida that includes the Kissimmee River watershed south to Lake Okeechobee, and the area south of the Caloosahatchee River and the St. Lucie Canal.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZft47_ojwY/WK48S2N8q3I/AAAAAAAADlc/MOIbvxMbtGIDewYeUB6SoRlhfZ54WYL5QCPcB/s1600/2017-02-21%2B189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RZft47_ojwY/WK48S2N8q3I/AAAAAAAADlc/MOIbvxMbtGIDewYeUB6SoRlhfZ54WYL5QCPcB/s400/2017-02-21%2B189.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snail Kite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Birdlife in the Everglades is weighted towards species with a lifestyle that is in some way aquatic (e.g. ducks, rails, herons, ibises), but there is a considerable abundance of passerine birds as well (e.g. tyrant flycatchers, swallows). Also well represented are birds of prey (e.g. vultures, osprey, hawks, kites and falcons) and pigeons & doves.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Akbgv4JdHQ4/WK48PIzYxwI/AAAAAAAADlc/dfKjDeW1-c4QGC4SFLNbsY2iJL_f6B9KgCPcB/s1600/2017-02-21%2B156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Akbgv4JdHQ4/WK48PIzYxwI/AAAAAAAADlc/dfKjDeW1-c4QGC4SFLNbsY2iJL_f6B9KgCPcB/s400/2017-02-21%2B156.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-winged Dove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Also present in the Everglades is a growing list of introduced exotic reptiles, the most destructive of which are probably the Burmese Python and the Argentine Black-and-white Tegu.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lzVIW_R5ScI/WK48KzztX1I/AAAAAAAADlc/sQbdcd8l2ugLDO05br7lqRea_1lxeTs8ACPcB/s1600/2017-02-21%2B130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lzVIW_R5ScI/WK48KzztX1I/AAAAAAAADlc/sQbdcd8l2ugLDO05br7lqRea_1lxeTs8ACPcB/s400/2017-02-21%2B130.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What, Me Worry?</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-18086065138395034952016-06-19T16:26:00.001-04:002016-06-19T16:26:35.829-04:00Food Goes Here<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--SPi8r560Ko/V2b31KU4PGI/AAAAAAAADgQ/AXmXEAoaZ_UOD56kcsOAN9AkPqoxHUkYACKgB/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--SPi8r560Ko/V2b31KU4PGI/AAAAAAAADgQ/AXmXEAoaZ_UOD56kcsOAN9AkPqoxHUkYACKgB/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-57833093405099333372016-02-27T22:26:00.001-05:002016-04-07T08:21:27.539-04:00Short-tailed Hawk<span style="font-size: large;">Every time I visit Florida I make an effort to see at least one new bird species. Lately this is becoming more difficult as the possibilities are diminishing. I was able to pull it off again this year, and although I saw only one new bird, it was a good one.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iAyCoS9v3kE/Vs39Ly-XkHI/AAAAAAAADfA/lBFIrjIUZHM/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iAyCoS9v3kE/Vs39Ly-XkHI/AAAAAAAADfA/lBFIrjIUZHM/s320/007.JPG" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-tailed Hawk</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TpxFLvoNOCM/Vs39MqKkUtI/AAAAAAAADfA/XQljPM8GPVc/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TpxFLvoNOCM/Vs39MqKkUtI/AAAAAAAADfA/XQljPM8GPVc/s320/019.JPG" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-tailed Hawk</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Short-tailed Hawk is a small <i>Buteo</i> known mainly from the neotropics (i.e. Central and South America). However, there is a small breeding population in south Florida. It comes in two colour "morphs": dark and light. The bird we saw was obviously a dark morph bird. The dark brown body feathers contrast nicely with the bright yellow legs and cere. </span><span style="font-size: large;">In Florida, it has been reported that dark morph birds outnumber the light morphs by a ratio of 3:1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While we were in Florida a Zenaida Dove was found at Long Key State Park; a rarity for North America. This location, being at the approximate mid-point of the Florida Keys, was too remote for us to drive to, so we didn't see it but this dove species holds special significance for me. On my first day of teaching in Jamaica, one of my second form (grade 7) students gave me a pair of live Zenaida Doves as a gift. In Jamaica they are locally known as "Barble Doves". Not knowing what else to do, I released them.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-90453322821749754652015-08-23T16:00:00.000-04:002015-08-23T16:00:04.189-04:00Colorado Canyonlands<span style="font-size: large;">I spent some time at the western edge of Colorado where the landscape is very dry and the canyons are very deep.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZq8KrBG4Gs/Vcdu5me9ECI/AAAAAAAADUM/ylG4IRZw568/s1600/356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OZq8KrBG4Gs/Vcdu5me9ECI/AAAAAAAADUM/ylG4IRZw568/s320/356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">MacGillivray's Warbler</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In addition to the scenery, there was an opportunity to search out some birds that are representative of the region, a few of which I hadn't seen before.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyn7Jq3w_9A/Vcdu151WkzI/AAAAAAAADTk/2ptagWZAC1w/s1600/161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyn7Jq3w_9A/Vcdu151WkzI/AAAAAAAADTk/2ptagWZAC1w/s320/161.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Wall, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park my target bird was Green-tailed Towhee. After hiking the southern rim of the canyon for about an hour I was successful, but in the heat of the day the bird remained mostly concealed in the shade of the junipers so I was unable to get a photograph.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGsYonIQVD4/Vcdu2STemMI/AAAAAAAADTw/vwo6KYb_50c/s1600/260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OGsYonIQVD4/Vcdu2STemMI/AAAAAAAADTw/vwo6KYb_50c/s320/260.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray Vireo</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In Colorado National Monument my target birds were Gray Vireo and Virginia's Warbler; two range-restricted songbirds that are more-or-less confined to the "four corners" region of the southwestern United States.</span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3dqcjmQCDo/Vcdu6JNKarI/AAAAAAAADUY/Cia3CSZ60R4/s1600/373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o3dqcjmQCDo/Vcdu6JNKarI/AAAAAAAADUY/Cia3CSZ60R4/s320/373.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia's Warbler</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rim Rock Drive, the main road that traverses Colorado National Monument, is an excellent vantage point from which to view Golden Eagles and Turkey Vultures as they soar along the canyon rim.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lOyD9CY028/Vcdu27itUvI/AAAAAAAADT8/Bo71UyRbsjE/s1600/283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lOyD9CY028/Vcdu27itUvI/AAAAAAAADT8/Bo71UyRbsjE/s320/283.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Eagle</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OpU2zezK6zw/Vcdu3u-3--I/AAAAAAAADT4/9qnrd3rZmjc/s1600/285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OpU2zezK6zw/Vcdu3u-3--I/AAAAAAAADT4/9qnrd3rZmjc/s320/285.JPG" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Independence Rock, Colorado National Monument</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On my return to Denver, I stopped at Vega State Park mid-way up the western slope of the Rockies where I was fortunate to observe a very obliging Dusky Flycatcher; a bird that I had somehow missed on previous trips out west.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FziboqwzMt4/Vcdu4259eLI/AAAAAAAADUc/keImV_-N9d0/s1600/314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FziboqwzMt4/Vcdu4259eLI/AAAAAAAADUc/keImV_-N9d0/s320/314.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky Flycatcher</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-77671693621135243572015-08-16T11:58:00.002-04:002015-08-16T13:11:53.761-04:00The Black Swifts of Box Canyon Falls<span style="font-size: large;">Nesting Black Swifts tend to be difficult to observe as they typically occupy nest sites behind inaccessible mountain waterfalls. An exception is the well established nesting site at Box Canyon Falls in Ouray, Colorado where I visited recently.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PQXsH8UwzHE/Vcdse6hbRAI/AAAAAAAADTE/IojJcAxm4Fo/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PQXsH8UwzHE/Vcdse6hbRAI/AAAAAAAADTE/IojJcAxm4Fo/s400/169.JPG" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Swift</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Box Canyon Falls is itself a natural wonder; over time the rushing waters of Canyon Creek have eroded a deep tunnel or "box canyon" through a layer of fault-weakened limestone. The resulting waterfalls, surrounded by canyon walls on all sides is ideal for nesting Black Swifts. The site is easily accessible by a short trail and the canyon walls can be directly accessed via a metal scaffold and suspension bridge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The State of Colorado is the stronghold of the breeding range of the North American race of Black Swift, and Colorado has been extensively censused for the breeding locations of these birds. Information about the life history as well as details about the efforts to record the nesting sites of these birds has been documented <a href="http://www.aba.org/thecoolestbird.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. North American Black Swifts are migratory, however there is a separate Caribbean race of Black Swift that is non-migratory. It is noteworthy that Black Swift was the final North American migratory bird to <span style="font-family: inherit;">have its wintering grounds confirmed; a discovery that was not made until 2010.*</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BAv3KfXbPsw/VcdshoDuVVI/AAAAAAAADTM/OG4PK9CyjqY/s1600/232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BAv3KfXbPsw/VcdshoDuVVI/AAAAAAAADTM/OG4PK9CyjqY/s400/232.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cordilleran Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Other birds in the vicinity included Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Cordilleran Flycatcher, American Dipper, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak and Cassin's Finch.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlj5X4-Gelo/VcdsiagkzQI/AAAAAAAADTU/Eol-bACWehM/s1600/237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tlj5X4-Gelo/VcdsiagkzQI/AAAAAAAADTU/Eol-bACWehM/s400/237.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warbler</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As a side note, Ouray is a mountain town that attracts various tourists and adventure seekers. The most prominent activity in the summertime is off-roading and there were abundant jeep rental agencies in the area.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lgZTCKrZ0HA/VcgDMEbLl3I/AAAAAAAADU4/EuAABAV3ecE/s1600/221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lgZTCKrZ0HA/VcgDMEbLl3I/AAAAAAAADU4/EuAABAV3ecE/s400/221.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ouray, CO</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;">*Beason, J.P., C. Gunn, K.M. Potter, R.A. Sparks, and J.W. Fox. 2012. The Northern Black Swift: Migration Path and Wintering Area Revealed. Wilson Journal of Ornithology 124:1-8.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-47740326656124839842015-08-09T13:51:00.000-04:002015-08-09T13:57:00.870-04:00BMW Birding on Mount Bierstadt<span style="font-size: large;">I visited my best friend in Colorado last week and we had a blast of a time. Although birding was not the main purpose of my visit, I was still able to get a few photographs of some great Colorado birds.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3s0Sbk7HxA/Vcdqh6MYOwI/AAAAAAAADS0/TEpc8T350PI/s1600/381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a3s0Sbk7HxA/Vcdqh6MYOwI/AAAAAAAADS0/TEpc8T350PI/s400/381.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BMW 1-Series Convertible</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Getting around together was made considerably more exciting in Matt's bimmer. Let's just say it gets a lot more attention than my Honda Civic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We decided we should hike a mountain, and Mount Bierstadt was a nearby choice. Mount Bierstadt is not far from Denver in the front range of the Rocky Mountains and is one of Colorado's 14ers (mountains that exceed 14,000' elevation). We huffed and puffed our way to the summit and were rewarded on the way back down by a sighting of a hen White-tailed Ptarmigan and her two chicks.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l8OK7r89H5I/VcdoP-8dlsI/AAAAAAAADSY/QShTf1Vjl3k/s1600/130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l8OK7r89H5I/VcdoP-8dlsI/AAAAAAAADSY/QShTf1Vjl3k/s400/130.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Ptarmigan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuLMDSM-iNE/VcdoPaoac1I/AAAAAAAADSQ/Zv4xN60_-M8/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuLMDSM-iNE/VcdoPaoac1I/AAAAAAAADSQ/Zv4xN60_-M8/s400/121.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hen & Chick</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1iSx9HFEOU/VcdoLHsGo9I/AAAAAAAADSI/k1TmS7RhT3Y/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T1iSx9HFEOU/VcdoLHsGo9I/AAAAAAAADSI/k1TmS7RhT3Y/s400/108.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicky</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">There is not a great variety of birds likely to be encountered at this elevation but we did see Clark's Nutcracker, Common Raven, White-crowned Sparrow and a recently fledged American Robin. It was odd to see the Robin at several thousand feet above the tree line, and I'm not exactly sure what it was doing there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were also fortunate to see a nice assortment of alpine mammals.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-msiYIQBmX5o/VcdoI8kxdKI/AAAAAAAADRw/_SajWs5nQTE/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-msiYIQBmX5o/VcdoI8kxdKI/AAAAAAAADRw/_SajWs5nQTE/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Goat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MbNMZbSw5dA/VcdoQ-OjppI/AAAAAAAADSg/KKtcKai4qTI/s1600/151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MbNMZbSw5dA/VcdoQ-OjppI/AAAAAAAADSg/KKtcKai4qTI/s400/151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bighorn Sheep</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PGmhHewlbeE/VcdoJrQOVgI/AAAAAAAADR4/rtiZZo8QQdI/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PGmhHewlbeE/VcdoJrQOVgI/AAAAAAAADR4/rtiZZo8QQdI/s400/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-bellied Marmot</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Fabulous.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-4380840654164889852015-03-07T19:34:00.001-05:002015-03-08T11:12:13.879-04:00Getting Out of Dodge<span style="font-size: large;">During our recent visit to Florida, we encountered a banded Piping Plover at Howard Park near Tarpon Springs. Hannah immediately recorded the colour band combination in her notebook, and later I was able to obtain a photograph.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LlPjSUbXEOU/VPpXsox2ChI/AAAAAAAADN8/g-Vo6NMFai8/s1600/399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LlPjSUbXEOU/VPpXsox2ChI/AAAAAAAADN8/g-Vo6NMFai8/s1600/399.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pimped-out Piping Plover</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The upper left leg has a metal USGS numbered band. The lower left leg has an orange auxiliary band over a black band. The lower right leg has two green bands, and the upper right leg has a light blue "flag".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The flag is</span><span style="font-size: large;"> important because no two regions where these birds are banded will use the same colour. In this case light blue denotes that the bird was banded in the vicinity of the Platte River by staff from the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission. More particularly, it was banded in Dodge County, Nebraska. If I was him I would want to get out of Dodge for the winter too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We submitted the information about our encounter to <a href="https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/" target="_blank">Patuxent Bird Banding Laboratory</a> and received a reply shortly thereafter with some additional details together with the standard "certificate of appreciation". This individual bird was banded as a hatchling on July 1, 2014. </span><span style="font-size: large;">It is interesting that a Piping Plover originating from the Great Plains population would spend the winter on the Florida Gulf coast. I would otherwise have assumed that birds from the prairie population spend the winter in Texas and that this was a bird from the Atlantic coast breeding population.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BNa91sgtYc/VPpaGsCnPiI/AAAAAAAADOM/25KVocX4754/s1600/CofA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BNa91sgtYc/VPpaGsCnPiI/AAAAAAAADOM/25KVocX4754/s1600/CofA.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-29325299786904491162015-02-15T14:48:00.000-05:002015-02-24T22:31:29.501-05:00Other Florida Specialties 2015<span style="font-size: large;">Here are some more feathered Floridians!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MwyjUffs98I/VNOqgNDPpDI/AAAAAAAADMo/HEQeQIGICkk/s1600/486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MwyjUffs98I/VNOqgNDPpDI/AAAAAAAADMo/HEQeQIGICkk/s1600/486.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Duck (rear) with feral Mallard (front)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To many, the Mottled Duck might appear boring, blending in with the now globally ubiquitous Mallard. Historically, the breeding range of the Mottled Duck was separated from that of Mallard and Black Duck without a zone of hybridization. Mallards have gradually encroached to the point that doubts have been raised about the future genetic integrity of Mottled Duck as a species.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">*Update: after reviewing the timely article on eBird found <a href="http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/201502mudu/" target="_blank">here</a>, the putative Mottled Duck above actually shows some indications of a mixed genealogy. In particular, the extensive streaking in the cheek together with the appearance of white edging in the tail feathers suggests some unknown degree of Mallard ancestry.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gSFAFUuDUgA/VNOqgoEPc7I/AAAAAAAADMo/6vuscot7OVQ/s1600/512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gSFAFUuDUgA/VNOqgoEPc7I/AAAAAAAADMo/6vuscot7OVQ/s1600/512.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Stork</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Wood Storks are not the baby-delivering kind of European fable, but rather an unrelated New World taxon. Genetic analysis confirms that Wood Storks have greatest affinity with the New World Vultures, Pelicans, Ibis and...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfeEJcuXFjE/VNOqt3PO0ZI/AAAAAAAADMo/u6r6iY3tpRA/s1600/831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hfeEJcuXFjE/VNOqt3PO0ZI/AAAAAAAADMo/u6r6iY3tpRA/s1600/831.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roseate Spoonbill</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">...Roseate Spoonbill whose pinkish colouration is thought to be derived from its diet, like that of the American Flamingo.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5X10rVhcGuQ/VNOq-G8TI3I/AAAAAAAADMo/Ya_PAbeW9to/s1600/602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5X10rVhcGuQ/VNOq-G8TI3I/AAAAAAAADMo/Ya_PAbeW9to/s1600/602.JPG" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limpkin</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Somewhat of an taxonomic anomaly, the Limpkin is not quite a rail, not quite a crane and not quite anything else! In fact it has been assigned to a taxonomic family all unto itself (<i>Aramidae</i>). The geographical range of the Limpkin includes most of the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Florida is the only place in North American where it occurs with regularity.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c8lULGvGbf0/VNOqn8BlBKI/AAAAAAAADMo/4GmtwAV4Kjw/s1600/721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c8lULGvGbf0/VNOqn8BlBKI/AAAAAAAADMo/4GmtwAV4Kjw/s1600/721.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reddish Egret</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To me, the Reddish Egret is the most charismatic of the North American herons. Unlike most herons that forage with precise and deliberate movements, the Reddish Egret "dances" frenetically with its wings open; a behaviour thought to flush its fish, frog & crustacean prey.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpvS8hZlnqU/VNOqacj7WRI/AAAAAAAADMo/fRcc-y91NZg/s1600/301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jpvS8hZlnqU/VNOqacj7WRI/AAAAAAAADMo/fRcc-y91NZg/s1600/301.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Skimmer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a bizarre one; in order to catch fish, the Black Skimmer drags its elongated lower mandible across the surface of the water while flying.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FRxiUj6pjEM/VNOqnv_EkKI/AAAAAAAADMo/ilAdJOrN5Q4/s1600/670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FRxiUj6pjEM/VNOqnv_EkKI/AAAAAAAADMo/ilAdJOrN5Q4/s1600/670.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandwich Tern</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sandwich Terns are such a nicely proportioned tern, and the yellow tipped, black bill is a distinct field mark.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-5082025548836637692015-02-08T11:27:00.003-05:002015-02-08T12:10:40.652-05:00Florida Shorebird Spectacular<span style="font-size: large;">We were in Florida again this winter and the shorebirding was particularly good. Here are some photo highlights...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had a sweep of the four regularly occurring North American "small belted plovers". Here are photos of three of them (quiz: what's the fourth?)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uOOj_S6UarU/VNOqo-h2enI/AAAAAAAADMo/KS1lp6DE-hY/s1600/778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uOOj_S6UarU/VNOqo-h2enI/AAAAAAAADMo/KS1lp6DE-hY/s1600/778.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wilson's Plover</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fp3bvUX1klA/VNOqfOFD2ZI/AAAAAAAADMo/LLK-RcBa7zY/s1600/420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fp3bvUX1klA/VNOqfOFD2ZI/AAAAAAAADMo/LLK-RcBa7zY/s1600/420.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy Plover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VpCq618SmKw/VNOqbMHymQI/AAAAAAAADMo/nOoiOdG8zEI/s1600/382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VpCq618SmKw/VNOqbMHymQI/AAAAAAAADMo/nOoiOdG8zEI/s1600/382.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piping Plover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Willets were plentiful along the coastline and posed nicely for the camera.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1XwTIkDcgdY/VNOqT-oGvoI/AAAAAAAADMo/4OjnHknByEw/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1XwTIkDcgdY/VNOqT-oGvoI/AAAAAAAADMo/4OjnHknByEw/s1600/079.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willet</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />We took a tourist boat to Anclote Key Preserve State Park; an offshore gulf coast barrier island only accessible by water. These barrier islands are important habitations for wintering shorebirds. While there, Hannah discovered a previously unreported Long-billed Curlew; North America's largest sandpiper which regularly but sparsely occurs in winter on the Florida Gulf Coast. We received some "eyebrows raised" emails from the local eBird police for submitting this one ("what you saw was almost certainly a Whimbrel"). Luckily I had the photo evidence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGE-K_RKv9o/VNOqftP8R9I/AAAAAAAADMo/39c9StzcfVk/s1600/437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jGE-K_RKv9o/VNOqftP8R9I/AAAAAAAADMo/39c9StzcfVk/s1600/437.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Curlew</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While roaming the beach at Howard Park in northern Pinellas County, we startled a pair of American Oystercatchers that were sleeping in the tidal wrack line.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z52vuZa06Es/VNOqZv0q57I/AAAAAAAADMo/zBILD7NJQjY/s1600/230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z52vuZa06Es/VNOqZv0q57I/AAAAAAAADMo/zBILD7NJQjY/s1600/230.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Oystercatcher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Notice the peculiar shape of the pupil in the bird above. The dark "fleck" which occurs in both American and Black Oystercatchers (and less prominently in other taxa) is thought by some researchers to be a sex-linked trait indicative of a female bird.*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">* Reference: <span style="background-color: white;">Guzzetti, B.M., Talbot, S.L., Tessler, D.F., Gill, V.A., and Murphy, E.C. 2008. Secrets in the eyes of Black Oystercatchers: a new sexing technique. Journal Of Field Ornithology 79 (2): 215-223</span>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-41906724890562229462014-09-21T14:35:00.000-04:002014-09-21T14:56:41.063-04:00Sanderling Sings the Blues<span style="font-size: large;">I have been hearing bits and pieces about a decline in the population of Sanderlings and decided to search the internet for some authority on the subject.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tLRj9dRYozE/VBdeFHIleZI/AAAAAAAADIA/RMmYRrveXBc/s1600/113%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tLRj9dRYozE/VBdeFHIleZI/AAAAAAAADIA/RMmYRrveXBc/s1600/113%2B-%2BCopy.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanderling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.whsrn.org/sites/default/files/file/Sanderling_Conservation_Plan_10_02-28_v1.1.pdf" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Here</span></a> is what I found. The report does indeed signal population declines. I kind of like this photo because it depicts a Sanderling in the process of molting from the warm, brown tones of its breeding plumage to the cool, grey tones of its non-breeding feathers. I took this photo last weekend at Turkey Point.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-34355878503587289632014-07-01T13:50:00.001-04:002014-07-01T14:03:30.708-04:00BBS 68-902<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AThVVD61A8I/U3AeTyIH3qI/AAAAAAAADBI/GEqIeXvBgYA/s1600/003.JPG" height="256" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bobolink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AThVVD61A8I/U3AeTyIH3qI/AAAAAAAADBI/GEqIeXvBgYA/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AThVVD61A8I/U3AeTyIH3qI/AAAAAAAADBI/GEqIeXvBgYA/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have been assigned to Breeding Bird Survey Route 68-902 for the past five years, so I thought I would post a brief synopsis of the results over that time period.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Date range<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">June 4 – June 27<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cumulative species total<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">79<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Average # of species<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td style="background: #92D050; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 219.7pt;" width="293"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">56.4<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maximum # of species<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 219.7pt;" width="293"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">62<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Minimum # of species<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td style="background: #92D050; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 219.7pt;" width="293"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">52<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"># of species recorded exactly once<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 219.7pt;" width="293"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">14<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"># of species recorded in all years<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<td style="background: #92D050; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 219.7pt;" width="293"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">34<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Noteworthy species unrecorded<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">SSHA, BAEA, AMKE, MAWR</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The 40 km route commences in south Cambridge and zigzags down the Grand River to Paris where it terminates. After five years, I have decided to retire from this route so it is available next year if anyone wants to take it over. For more information about the Breeding Bird Survey and its almost 50 year history check <a href="https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/about/" target="_blank">this link</a>. To search for vacant BBS routes <a href="https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/RouteMap/Map.cfm" target="_blank">check here</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-73206999905038730852014-06-14T21:00:00.001-04:002014-06-14T21:00:18.278-04:00The Wren House and a New Yard Herp<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tcLhJGKMj4g/U5zsSm2S3SI/AAAAAAAADCs/xLiN4asmn-U/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tcLhJGKMj4g/U5zsSm2S3SI/AAAAAAAADCs/xLiN4asmn-U/s1600/029.JPG" height="255" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House Wren</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I installed a bird house on our fence this spring, I thought it would be merely ornamental. To my surprize, a House Wren has occupied it and he appears to have a mate. Since House Wrens are known to build multiple dummy nests, I am not totally sure whether there is an actual nest inside, but the behaviour of the birds suggests that it might. I guess there is one easy way to find out (i.e. open up the box) but we don't want to disturb it if in fact there are eggs/nestlings inside. We will just have to pay attention and see what emerges.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n09izK-ncBE/U5zsTuYdOqI/AAAAAAAADCs/QkZ5AJx-eMs/s1600/IMG_4921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n09izK-ncBE/U5zsTuYdOqI/AAAAAAAADCs/QkZ5AJx-eMs/s1600/IMG_4921.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dekay's Brownsnake (Storia dekayi)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Hannah was seeing a Brownsnake in the garden a few mornings in a row, which is a new snake for our yard bringing the total number of snake species to two.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGi3QTgtfE0/U5zu2czZV4I/AAAAAAAADC8/H5tPipL2d3I/s1600/map_Dekay%2527s-Brownsnake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cGi3QTgtfE0/U5zu2czZV4I/AAAAAAAADC8/H5tPipL2d3I/s1600/map_Dekay%2527s-Brownsnake.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Above is a distribution map from the <a href="http://www.ontarionature.org/protect/species/reptiles_and_amphibians/dekays_brownsnake.php" target="_blank">Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas</a>, showing that Dekay's Brownsnake is unevenly distributed within southern Ontario.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-63467846099427894382014-06-14T20:38:00.001-04:002014-06-14T20:38:48.529-04:00A Jamaican Lep<span style="font-size: large;">I was only able to get one decent photo of a butterfly in Jamaica.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPbe6nvtw5g/U2113NyE-8I/AAAAAAAAC_U/eo-CDI08TfA/s1600/533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPbe6nvtw5g/U2113NyE-8I/AAAAAAAAC_U/eo-CDI08TfA/s1600/533.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malachite (<i>Siproeta stelenes</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I would have liked to get a photograph of the Jamaican Giant Swallowtail (the largest swallowtail butterfly in the Americas) but it is extremely rare. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-13811212451257497282014-05-17T19:56:00.000-04:002014-05-17T20:17:15.470-04:00A Pair of Jamaican Near-Endemics<span style="font-size: large;">Jamaica has 28 endemic bird species, but several more are range restricted to only one or a few other Caribbean islands.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WBm0Vfngvzk/U211-5EASXI/AAAAAAAAC_8/n7fVpEM0Zlk/s1600/705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WBm0Vfngvzk/U211-5EASXI/AAAAAAAAC_8/n7fVpEM0Zlk/s1600/705.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vervain Hummingbird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For example, Vervain Hummingbird (<i>Mellisuga minima</i></span><span style="font-size: large;">) is range restricted to Jamaica and the island of Hispaniola (Haiti & the Dominican Republic). Vervain Hummingbird has the distinction of being the second smallest bird in the world, being only slightly larger than its sister species the Bee Hummingbird (<i>Mellisuga helenae</i>)</span><span style="font-size: large;">, a Cuban endemic.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h2SiNBNP5JQ/U2__Mn21PEI/AAAAAAAADAo/dRUZkcpKpYE/s1600/vervain-hummingbird-mellisuga-minima-distribution-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h2SiNBNP5JQ/U2__Mn21PEI/AAAAAAAADAo/dRUZkcpKpYE/s1600/vervain-hummingbird-mellisuga-minima-distribution-map.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another Jamaican near-endemic is the Jamaican Oriole (<i>Icterus leucopteryx</i>).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtCMSeHh1Nk/U211nW0BbBI/AAAAAAAAC-c/pGhPYD2bDlU/s1600/375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QtCMSeHh1Nk/U211nW0BbBI/AAAAAAAAC-c/pGhPYD2bDlU/s1600/375.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamaican Oriole</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This one really ought to be considered a Jamaican endemic since the only other place it occurs is the island of <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">San Andrés, a small (57 km</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; vertical-align: super;">2</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 115%;">) Columbian possession 800 km southwest of Jamaica.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqswhiZPxqk/U2__SNu_JLI/AAAAAAAADAw/_0KQzUvG1mE/s1600/jamaican-oriole-icterus-leucopteryx-distribution-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqswhiZPxqk/U2__SNu_JLI/AAAAAAAADAw/_0KQzUvG1mE/s1600/jamaican-oriole-icterus-leucopteryx-distribution-map.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jamaican Oriole (a.k.a. "Baird's Banana-bird") also formerly occurred on the island of Grand Cayman; the last known individual was collected as a specimen by ornithologist James Bond on March 6, 1930.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-65878659432474941212014-05-10T12:55:00.001-04:002014-05-10T12:55:52.738-04:00Jamaica, West Indies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jamaica is not a major birding destination, but because of family connections as well as a life long involvement with visiting and at one point residing and working on the island, it is one of my personal favourites. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_NqzCS9hFFA/U211Ve9WnNI/AAAAAAAAC9s/3cvDMzc70oA/s1600/126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_NqzCS9hFFA/U211Ve9WnNI/AAAAAAAAC9s/3cvDMzc70oA/s1600/126.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streamertail (Jamaican endemic)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Studies of island biogeography have revealed that the</span><span style="font-size: large;"> more distant an island is away from its nearest neighbour, the fewer species will inhabit it and the greater will be its rate of endemism. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Jamaica illustrates this theory nicely: according to the Clements Checklist, a modest 327 bird species have been recorded in Jamaica of which 28 occur nowhere else in the world. That is an endemism rate of almost 10%.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b6vMOut53RE/U211QyR5PjI/AAAAAAAAC9U/n63w2wao7YI/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b6vMOut53RE/U211QyR5PjI/AAAAAAAAC9U/n63w2wao7YI/s1600/004.JPG" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamaican Woodpecker (Jamaican endemic)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With a land mass of a mere 11,000 km</span><sup style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">2</sup><span style="font-size: large;"> that is a high rate of endemism indeed. Consider that the Province of Ontario, which has a land mass of 100 times that of Jamaica has a bird endemism rate of 0%.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MdNlYtdgJcM/U2110bjsaeI/AAAAAAAAC_E/J4DnxCfW98Y/s1600/472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MdNlYtdgJcM/U2110bjsaeI/AAAAAAAAC_E/J4DnxCfW98Y/s1600/472.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad Flycatcher (Jamaican endemic)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The pattern is similar across the islands of the Caribbean; a modest number of bird species to be encountered, but with comparatively high precinctivity.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vDIyjKJEKY/U211S9dqMrI/AAAAAAAAC9c/NHjEe18XyXo/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6vDIyjKJEKY/U211S9dqMrI/AAAAAAAAC9c/NHjEe18XyXo/s1600/008.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamaican Crow (Jamaican endemic)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In addition to the large proportion of species that are unique to one particular island nation, there are a large number of regional endemics, native to only a few islands in the West Indies.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TKObUd_Ge7o/U211qdepviI/AAAAAAAAC-0/0d7qxH1niKI/s1600/446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TKObUd_Ge7o/U211qdepviI/AAAAAAAAC-0/0d7qxH1niKI/s1600/446.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrowhead Warbler (Jamaican endemic)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Given the amount of time I have spent in Jamaica, you might think I would have seen all of the endemics by now, but alas I have not; Crested Quail-Dove, Jamaican Lizard-Cuckoo, Jamaican Pauraque (likely extinct), Jamaican Elaenia, Jamaican Vireo, Blue Mountain Vireo and Jamaican Blackbird have all eluded me so far. All the more reason for a return visit!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3aKwSqBmDd4/U2119uasNgI/AAAAAAAAC_0/E-Me2n8byd4/s1600/698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3aKwSqBmDd4/U2119uasNgI/AAAAAAAAC_0/E-Me2n8byd4/s1600/698.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamaican Euphonia (Jamaican endemic)</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-65934825472289812622014-03-02T21:41:00.000-05:002014-03-02T21:41:09.171-05:00Peninsular Florida<span style="font-size: large;">Just got back from an 8 day trip to Florida. I have birded Florida a few times now, and it is always fun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Florida is perhaps most renowned for its wading birds, and it isn't hard to see why.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rVd4haIILd8/UxPRSSuWWnI/AAAAAAAAC4s/T_JyecbNT8E/s1600/063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rVd4haIILd8/UxPRSSuWWnI/AAAAAAAAC4s/T_JyecbNT8E/s1600/063.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Blue Heron</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0iPqL44Rnw/UxPRdFGeuDI/AAAAAAAAC5c/DbdEhugXmII/s1600/213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_0iPqL44Rnw/UxPRdFGeuDI/AAAAAAAAC5c/DbdEhugXmII/s1600/213.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tricolored Heron</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some of the largest concentrations of herons on the continent are to be found in the coastal mangroves and estuaries of peninsular Florida. One of the best known of such sites is the J.N. Ding Darling NWR on Sanibel Island. Unfortunately, I can't really recommend this site, since the island itself is overrun with tourists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps less well known about Florida is its population of Burrowing Owls.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bF8z-dsNL-8/UxPRNuaXIOI/AAAAAAAAC4k/7fih7XO5Uv8/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bF8z-dsNL-8/UxPRNuaXIOI/AAAAAAAAC4k/7fih7XO5Uv8/s1600/009.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burrowing Owl</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Most people (rightly) associate Burrowing Owls with the mid-west, but there is a disjunct population in Florida that persists despite intense development pressure on its preferred habitat. We observed this guy in the area of Cape Coral which boasts the highest density of Florida Burrowing Owls, though they can be found elsewhere such as Tiger Tail Beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Barred Owls are another bird that you might not associate with Florida despite the fact that they inhabit Cypress swamps in high densities. Florida Barred Owls seem especially cooperative for photographers!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NZnTacbES98/UxPRUYTZyPI/AAAAAAAAC40/2FApPk8qy2A/s1600/072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NZnTacbES98/UxPRUYTZyPI/AAAAAAAAC40/2FApPk8qy2A/s1600/072.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barred Owl</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />On this trip we visited the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary for the first time. This site has hosted the largest colony of Wood Storks in the past, and is also known as the site where visitors can observe the rare Ghost Orchid (though they bloom during summer). We didn't see too many birds here, though the sight of Painted Buntings was a highlight of the trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VqRQmTaN2wY/UxPRbn0A0bI/AAAAAAAAC5U/PryCR2QdVC4/s1600/147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VqRQmTaN2wY/UxPRbn0A0bI/AAAAAAAAC5U/PryCR2QdVC4/s1600/147.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Bunting</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Florida is also known to birders for its Psittaciformes (parrots). There are no longer any parrots native to Florida (Carolina Parakeet being extinct) however there are a wide assortment of exotics in the State, some of which have established themselves and are "countable" for your life list. Chiefly among these are Nanday Parakeet and Monk Parakeet.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3YzfQJqATg/UxPRg2HlWEI/AAAAAAAAC5k/R-mi6G3vOA4/s1600/259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3YzfQJqATg/UxPRg2HlWEI/AAAAAAAAC5k/R-mi6G3vOA4/s1600/259.JPG" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanday Parakeet</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Beach birds are, of course, one of the attractions here, particularly the wintering and resident larids and shorebirds.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJTOIQKAoRw/UxPRvSA5ZHI/AAAAAAAAC6E/TXcbg2jfF9w/s1600/223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wJTOIQKAoRw/UxPRvSA5ZHI/AAAAAAAAC6E/TXcbg2jfF9w/s1600/223.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Tern</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TdqkPqqL_gQ/UxPRjzVgAbI/AAAAAAAAC50/R7QZtDD-_Ls/s1600/314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TdqkPqqL_gQ/UxPRjzVgAbI/AAAAAAAAC50/R7QZtDD-_Ls/s1600/314.JPG" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruddy Turnstone</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What would Florida be without its gators! This is just a little guy.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXfQOxCjsGk/UxPRV5PjmiI/AAAAAAAAC48/yU31F_StmX8/s1600/090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXfQOxCjsGk/UxPRV5PjmiI/AAAAAAAAC48/yU31F_StmX8/s1600/090.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Alligator</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-78962071634975105892013-10-27T18:10:00.001-04:002013-11-09T09:19:10.295-05:00Caspian Tern Band Encounter<span style="font-size: large;">Back in August, I saw a banded Caspian Tern at Ellacott Lookout (a.k.a. Hespeler Mill Pond). This is the location where I discovered Great Egrets roosting a few years ago during their post-breeding dispersal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I snapped these two crumby phone camera shots of the bird through my scope. You can just barely make out the letter band combination on the bird's right leg ("AEA") in the cropped frame below.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WkiIet318g/Umsjqtp7k-I/AAAAAAAAC0o/x3S76FbeAZY/s1600/Band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--WkiIet318g/Umsjqtp7k-I/AAAAAAAAC0o/x3S76FbeAZY/s1600/Band.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I submitted it to the banding office and I just received a reply on Friday.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C7rmrCN4Ls8/UmshPNCxKoI/AAAAAAAAC0o/Ysi_mrBGxpg/s1600/AEA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C7rmrCN4Ls8/UmshPNCxKoI/AAAAAAAAC0o/Ysi_mrBGxpg/s400/AEA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The bird was banded as a nestling in 2008 at Gull Island (Presqu'ile Provincial Park). According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the longevity of a Caspian Tern on the Great Lakes is 12 years, and the longest lived Caspian Tern on record is 26 years. So this guy is still a youngster!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-47806855386725815172013-10-25T21:17:00.001-04:002013-10-25T21:17:11.532-04:00Confessions of a Recovering Chase-o-holic<span style="font-size: large;">Brown Booby in Fort Erie. I decided I wasn't going to chase this one.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-POLovwa-Jd4/UmsV9moDXQI/AAAAAAAACz0/RsgcpryPfss/s1600/San+Diego+201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-POLovwa-Jd4/UmsV9moDXQI/AAAAAAAACz0/RsgcpryPfss/s320/San+Diego+201.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Booby - Offshore Waters, San Diego, CA</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After almost two weeks of daily email updates about the bird my self-restraint was weakening. Voices began telling me that it would be easy to leave work a few hours early on a week night or postpone some of the housework. Almost unconsciously I started to dream up justifications and search for gaps in my calendar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ultimately, I caved in. We went last Sunday afternoon. We arrived in Fort Erie at 4:45 p.m. just in time for an email alert that the bird was standing on one of the footings of the railway bridge on the US side. Ten minutes after arriving, we watched as she took flight, soared over Canadian waters close to shore, and disappeared towards Lake Erie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm so ashamed of myself.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-49111460352130944562013-10-11T08:11:00.000-04:002013-10-11T08:12:33.303-04:00Sh*t Birders Say<span style="font-size: large;">I first watched this video when it appeared online a year or so ago. I thought it was pretty funny and accurate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NaX7i1Q7-Rw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What I didn't realize until I watched it again recently, was that it is actually part of a trilogy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bab39DsGudE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kbn3tdsasGk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I found them all to be insightful and entertaining.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-21445499460314516212013-10-09T09:36:00.000-04:002013-10-09T10:49:46.934-04:00Rattray Marsh Receives Restoration Funding<span style="font-size: large;">Great Lakes wetland habitat protection got a boost this week with the announcement that Rattray Marsh will receive <a href="http://www.creditvalleyca.ca/news/story/rattray-marsh-receives-federal-funds-for-restoration-effort/" target="_blank">federal restoration funding</a>. The announcement was made by Credit Valley Conservation, the authority responsible for management of the conservation area. In addition to the federal funds, Rattray Marsh has received funds from other sources for the restoration work (including funds from Peel Region - my employer).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rattray Marsh is one of a chain of important lake shore parks that provide migrating birds with important stopover habitat. For birders, Rattray Marsh is a migration hotspot, and in recent years there have been some rarities sighted here as well including Prothonotary Warbler and Yellow-throated Warbler.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The restoration work seems to relate mostly to marsh/fisheries, so perhaps this announcement is more significant for marsh birds and shorebirds than songbirds. Hopefully they don't damage the woodlands during the marsh restoration!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3447232453394078350.post-24633256284977705572013-10-08T12:46:00.001-04:002013-10-08T12:46:58.119-04:00Carden Alvar Trail Map<span style="font-size: large;">The Carden Alvar is becoming more accessible to birders. With a number of trails now open to the public, gone are the days of being restricted to the limits of the road right-of-way. Couchiching Conservancy has even produced trail guide for visitors which is reproduced below.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/173729768/SMSDesign-CardenTrails-finalREV" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View SMSDesign-CardenTrails-finalREV on Scribd">SMSDesign-CardenTrails-finalREV</a> by <a href="http://www.scribd.com/bunting1" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View bunting1's profile on Scribd">bunting1</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.73795761078998" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="600" id="doc_43429" scrolling="no" src="//www.scribd.com/embeds/173729768/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-2op7ykzygrqano74dpqp&show_recommendations=true" width="100%"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732166121407952053noreply@blogger.com0