Archive | Birds

New Bluebird Trail Goes Up In Redding

By Larry Jordan on March 21, 2018 in Birds, Conservation, In the News

Girl Scout Troop 70173

March 6th we were contacted by Heather McNeal, the leader of local Girl Scout Troop 71073, to help with creation of a new Western Bluebird Trail in the Redding area. Heather had already done the groundwork for the project and simply needed some help with the specifics of how to construct the nest boxes and where to place them. We were happy to help!

Girl Scouts Installing Bluebird Boxes

There are fifteen enthusiastic girls in troop 71073 and each girl, with a little help from some handy adults, put together fifteen quality nest boxes that were ready to install on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17th.

When these girls found out that cavity nesting birds needed help, they were all in on putting up birdhouses on the Sacramento River Trail.

Girl Scouts Installing Bluebird Boxes

The troop did a great job installing the fifteen new nest boxes and will now begin monitoring the trail for nesting birds. We are excited about the addition of these birdhouses and the variety of species they will help. These nest boxes can be used by:

Western Bluebird
Oak Titmouse
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ash-throated Flycatcher
House Wren

Stay tuned for updates!

Several Blue-winged Teal Were Seen at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area

By Larry Jordan on March 13, 2018 in Birds, Wildlife Areas

The Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) is not that common in California except along the coast, so we were pretty excited to discover several pair at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area on Saturday. Click on photos for full sized images.

Of course the drakes get all of the glory in the duck world but I think the females are just as beautiful in their own way with their heavily patterned feathers. This is the female Blue-winged Teal. Note the blue on the top of the beak.

Blue-winged Teal breed over a large portion of North America but occur irregularly or at low densities in many portions of their range. The highest breeding densities occur in mixed-grass prairie and parklands of north-central U.S. and the prairie provinces of Canada, where the species is often the most abundant breeding duck¹.

Blue-winged Teal Range Map

It was a gorgeous day at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area, even though it was pretty windy and fairly cold, the sun was out.

And just so you know…

these photos were all taken at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge…

from one of the photo blinds there…

not at Gray Lodge Wildlife Area.

Once every feather is clean and in place, it’s time to relax and enjoy a little shut eye.

I was able to shoot some video of the Blue-winged Teal pair preening and foraging at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. A couple of Green-winged Teal drakes shared in the activity. You will also hear several Marsh Wrens in the background. They were seen and heard all over the refuge wherever bulrush was found.

This short video shows the head shaking behavior Blue-winged Teal exhibit just before they take flight when they feel uneasy or threatened. It also includes Black-necked Stilts, Green-winged Teal, and American Coots. You can also hear Red-winged Blackbirds, Western Meadowlark and more Marsh Wrens singing.

References:¹Birds of North America Online

First Snow Bunting Sighting for Shasta County

By Larry Jordan on November 5, 2017 in Birds

Snow Bunting in Shasta County

The Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) is a widespread breeder in rocky habitats on high arctic tundra across northern North America. In addition to their breeding grounds in North America (see map below), they also breed in rocky regions of the Palearctic:¹ Iceland, higher mountains of northern Scotland, Svalbard (Norway), and most Russian arctic islands; on the mainland they breed in tundra regions of Norway east through northern Finland to Kola Peninsula (Russia), then east through Siberia to Chukchi and Kamchatka peninsulas and Komandorskiye (Commander) Islands.

Snow Bunting Range Map

The Snow Bunting’s winter diet is mainly weed seeds of ragweed, goosefoot, aster, goldenrod, grasses and grains like wheat, oats and barley. They forage on the ground, pecking at food. Again, according to Birds of North America Online, they winter in open weedy and grassy fields, grain stubbles, and shores; after heavy snowfall, they are conspicuous on roadsides and in farmyards. “They are also attracted to winter fields where farm manure has been recently spread; they appear to feed on undigested seeds in manure.”

Snow Bunting with Seed

Like most birds this lone Bunting stopped briefly for a little stretch, showing its outstretched wing.

Snow Bunting Stretch

Following a bit more foraging, I finally saw the bird fly. It flew up to roost on a nearby pile of old wooden posts. As is the habit of many birds after foraging and/or bathing, this Snow Bunting did some preening and posing for yet more photos.

Snow Bunting Perched

What a treat to see this first Snow Bunting on record in Shasta County and a lifer for me! Thanks to conscientious birders and our local list serve, Shasta Birders! Here is a Google Map to the location: https://goo.gl/9fqaPA

Snow Bunting Perched