Author: Richard

Reduce bird window strikes

Every so often, we’ll hear a thunk as a bird hits one of our windows and while they usually fly off to the woods (perhaps to die), it is an awful feeling. We keep the drapes closed and have tried bird decals but still it happens. Here’s more on bird strikes.
Now, a new product – window tape – is available from the American Bird Conservancy (ABC).

Developed from research on window strikes, the tape is translucent (birds can see it but light comes through), not expensive ($10.95 to $14.95 per roll), easy to use, easily removed, re-usable and can last up to 4 years!
“ABC has tested a number of different materials and patterns for their ability to deter birds from colliding with glass. The results prompted ABC to produce and make available under its own name, a new consumer product to help concerned people prevent this significant source of bird mortality,” said ABC President George Fenwick.
Here’s where to order although your local bird supply store should have it soon.

Photo by ABC

Life bird – Black-chinned Hummingbird

Last week, on a bird walk at Goose Island State Park, we saw a hummer at a feeder which some thought to be a Costa’s – which is rather rare in Texas. For about a week, a quiet debate has transpired with finally the group leaders agreeing that it was a young Costa’s. So having seen the bird and photographing it, I put it into my eBird records. And it was picked up as a rare bird and a reviewer queried me about more photos, etc. This is a routine process with any unusual sighting and I have been through it before.
As it turns out, the bird was at the site when I returned today and I got some better photos.

Upon seeing the new photos, Eric Carpenter, the eBird reviewer wrote: “Dick,
I think this is likely a female Black-chinned. I don’t see any white
above the eye, the bill looks a bit longer than it did in the other
photos and there does seem to be a good amount of white in the tail
feathers.”

So, no Costa’s but still, for me a new life bird. I like the scrutiny that goes into official sightings and the help that the experts give birders trying to record the right species. I guess I’ll have to head to Arizona for a Costa’s. Perhaps next year.

Location:Circle Lake Dr,Rockport,United States

Penny’s Operation

I dropped Penny off this morning for the operation to remove the lump from her hind leg. Going there, I mentioned to Mary as we traversed a school zone in busy Rockport, “Boy, these sneak up on you – and people really adhere to the speed limit – must be tough enforcement.”
I dropped Mary at the Laundromat and returned to leave off Penny when, “Oh, crap, the school zone” and I hit the brakes just as I saw the two cop cars moving. I pulled over, had my paperwork out, and as the young officer came up, Penny greeted him with a lick. After a long wait as he ran the computer check, he came back with a written warning. So, the day started out ok after all.
We got a call at lunch from the vet’s office saying that Penny was resting fine and I could pick her up at four, which I did. After lifting the groggy 55 pound Vizsla into the truck, we traveled back to Goose Island where I carried her into the trailer.



The biopsy will take a week or so but we’ll see the vet Saturday to change the bandage and check things out. Stitches come out in two weeks and right now, we don’t have a slot here after next week. Weekends fill up and all reservations are taken but we’ll figure out something.
Penny is sleeping beside me on the couch as I write and is quite tuckered out. The trick will be as she heals because she can walk but can’t run for two weeks. We are glad to have her home.

A Life Bird – Rufous Hummingbird

On a breezy Saturday morning, we took a birding walk in the shrubby woods here at Goose Island State Park starting off with a Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a tree right over our meeting spot. During the walk, We saw Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers, seven or eight types of sparrows, four species of doves, and other winter birds. For me, the highlight was a young Rufous Hummingbird at one of the feeders.


Yesterday, I saw a Buff-bellied hummer (which I had on my life list) and today we also saw a hummer that some are trying to call a Costa’s – which would be quite a rarity. Some of us think it’s a young Ruby-throated but the bird walk leaders are taking our photos to a local hummer expert for an answer.

In any case, it’s wonderful to see hummers in early February. I love their flying, their colors, and their feistiness.

Shooting Birds – with a camera

One of the many photographic challenges, particularly when you have a Vizsla on leash in one hand, binoculars in the other, and a camera hanging from your neck, is to get a decent shot of flying birds. Here at Goose Island State Park, it’s sometimes easier since the vistas open up and many of the birds are larger and easier to find in the view finder. If there’s a stiff wind and you can catch them fighting it, they slow down for you.
So, with Penny “helping,” I have been shooting some of the birds we see on our outings, with varying success. It’s very much a work in progress and a $5k telephoto lens would help – but that’s not going to happen.

As a pilot, I like Brown Pelicans as much as any bird. Wonderful fliers, big targets, and they always look like they are having fun.

Not a good shot of a Northern Harrier but it does show the white body marking that, along with their low-flying hunting, makes them easy to ID.


An Osprey who got away while I grabbed for the camera


A couple of Roseate Spoonbills we saw yesterday. Their breeding plumage will start soon but they pretty neat right now.


The ubiquitous Turkey Vulture with its pronounced dihedral. They are everywhere in Texas.


White Ibis with the black wingtips – hard to miss.

So, tomorrow the sun should be out with better lighting possibilities. We’ll see how it goes – good thing it’s easy to trash digital prints. Practice does help.

Shooting Birds

One of the many photographic challenges, particularly when you have a Vizsla on leash in one hand, binoculars in the other, and a camera hanging from your neck, is to get a decent shot of flying birds. Here at Goose Island State Park, it’s sometimes easier since the vistas open up and many of the birds are larger and easier to find in the view finder. If there’s a stiff wind and you can catch them fighting it, they slow down for you.
So, with Penny “helping,” I have been shooting some of the birds we see on our outings, with varying success. It’s very much a work in progress and a $5k telephoto lens would help – but that’s not going to happen.

As a pilot, I like Brown Pelicans as much as any bird. Wonderful fliers, big targets, and they always look like they are having fun.

Not a good shot of a Northern Harrier but it does show the white body marking that, along with their low-flying hunting, makes them easy to ID.



An Osprey who got away while I grabbed for the camera



A couple of Roseate Spoonbills we saw yesterday. Their breeding plumage will start soon but they pretty neat right now.



The ubiquitous Turkey Vulture with its pronounced dihedral. They are everywhere in Texas.



White Ibis with the black wingtips – hard to miss.

So, tomorrow the sun should be out with better lighting possibilities. We’ll see how it goes – good thing it’s easy to trash digital prints. Practice does help.

A Pause For Penny Repairs

I’ve been pecking away at Airstream fixes the last week, just finishing the repair of the rock screen that we nearly lost in Houston (after ordering a couple of small parts from Out-of-Doors Mart, a wonderful Airstream outfit in North Carolina which handles $10 orders as fast as major purchases). I’ve got a new plug for the electrical system and need to wait for a dry day to install it.

Meanwhile, a lump on our dog’s left hind leg is getting pretty ugly, as she “works” it. We noticed it last Fall during an annual exam and did bloodwork at the time – and when the results were OK, decided to wait and see. But, things have gotten worse and while she doesn’t favor it while running, it needs attention.


And we are 2,000 miles from our vet. So, I did a search and started calling. The first clinic was not accepting new patients but the next was, and I took her into Rockport to the Bay Breeze Animal Clinic where Dr. Kim Harrell and staff checked her out. I was pleased with their professionalism and care – and Penny is on antibiotics in preparation for surgery next Tuesday.

Of course, we were planning to leave next Wednesday but I jumped on line before the appointment and snagged the last camping spot available. So we won’t have to move and will stay another week to see how things go. Not the worst place to be stranded in February. We are getting some more needed rain but forecasts for next week look in the 70’s.

I look forward to dealing with this. I don’t look forward to living in a 25′ tin can with a Vizsla who can’t run for two weeks. Of course, some might say that she’s a little too much like me. Moi?

Birds of Goose Island State Park

Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas is a great birding spot – even in a drought year like the present one. Between shorebirds and woods birds, there’s a great diversity of species and some years (although not this one) a rarity or two. Here are some captures of a few of the interesting feathered friends I’ve encountered in the last week.


A Buff-bellied Hummingbird


Laughing Gulls


Orange-crowned Warbler


Ruddy Turnstone


Spotted Towhee


Turkey Vultures


White-crowned Sparrow


Willet

Birds of Goose Island

Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas is a great birding spot – even in a drought year like the present one. Between shorebirds and woods birds, there’s a great diversity of species and some years (although not this one) a rarity or two. Here are some captures of a few of the interesting feathered friends I’ve encountered in the last week.

A Buff-bellied Hummingbird

Laughing Gulls

Orange-crowned Warbler

Ruddy Turnstone

Spotted Towhee

Turkey Vultures

White-crowned Sparrow

Willet

Rain – finally

Listening to the rain patter on our aluminum roof is comforting, even after a sleep-depriving series of thunderstorms last night. Ever since we got here at Goose Island State Park, the impact of the long drought has been very evident. Little wetland areas along the trails are bone-dry and the soil is dusty. Yesterday, we saw six cardinals gathering near our water hose connection, taking drinks from a small leak.

One of the biggest concerns is about the Whooping Cranes that migrate here from Wisconsin. An AP release last month noted:

“The lack of rain has made estuaries and marshlands too salty for blue crabs to thrive and destroyed a usually plentiful supply of wolf berries. In addition, a long-lasting “red tide” — a toxic algae that blooms in salty water — has made it dangerous for the birds to eat clams, which retain the algae’s toxin and can pass it along the food chain.”

The refuge folks and local ranches are feeding the cranes to help them avoid starvation. Normally, there are a few in a field just north of the park where the owners provide feed. It is a popular spot for photographers and birders. This year, we counted 13 Whoopers and several Sand Hill Cranes.

Some have noticed more of a survival mentality as well. Usually, crane families are territorial – in fact, we have seen newcomers driven off by the host birds. This year, they all hang together – sort of a “times are tough” community. They’ve got a long road ahead of them to build up strength for the long haul north.

Of course, the diversion of fresh water by oil interests, a subject of a law suit by environmental groups, has exascerbated the salinity situation. The lawsuit was filed last year by The Aransas Project, a nonprofit group of local governments, advocacy groups and tourism-dependent businesses in the Coastal Bend, claiming the state mismanaged water in the Guadalupe River watershed, contributing to the record die-off in 2008-09 of 23 endangered whooping cranes.

This rain, while welcome, is just the proverbial drop in the bucket. I suspect that the drought will continue for some time and that the cranes will have to survive on handouts.

Photo of Whooping Cranes at Aransas NWR by Fish & Wldlife Service