Bird Blog

Welcome to my Bird Blog: Stories from a Lifelong Birder

Welcome to my Bird Blog: Stories from a Lifelong Birder

My Bird Blog is a series of “then and now” stories that combine my experiences as a juvenile birdwatcher in Britain during the 1950s and 1960s with my knowledge of the same species in California today. Each month I publish the details of a bird 

Etiquette at Bird Feeders

Etiquette at Bird Feeders

Lesser Goldfinch at my Tube Feeder Photo Credit – Author     It has been a fascinating two years living in northern California, close to the Pacific Coast, observing the etiquette of birds that visit my bird feeders. Each specific species has a distinct bird 

Phoebe Birds of America

Phoebe Birds of America

Black Phoebe

Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

 

Phoebes are smallish (6 inches/16 cm), insect-eating, perching songbirds native to the Americas.

  • Black Phoebe – United States, Mexico, Central America, parts of South America
  • Eastern Phoebe – Eastern North America
  • Say’s Phoebe – Western United States and Canada

Phoebes belong to the flycatcher family, which includes several hundred species, including distinct Old World and New World varieties. The etymological origin of Phoebe is likely the Eastern Phoebe’s chirpy song “Whee-bee.” However, due to its spelling, some suggest it is named after the Greek goddess Phoebe or the Roman goddess Diana, alternatively known as Phoebe. The origin of Say’s Phoebe is more obvious. Napoleon’s nephew, an ornithologist who moved to New Jersey as the Napoleonic Empire collapsed, named the bird after the American naturalist Thomas Say 20 years after Mr. Say’s death from typhoid.

 

   

Phoebe’s Greek Family
Phoebe’s Greek Family

Photo Credit Haicko Deck

 

 

I often see Black Phoebes as I walk my dog along a northern California creek. I see them perched in the open on low railings, rocks or the tops of bushes, pumping their tails and fluttering towards the ground to catch insects in flight (bees, wasps, flies, beetles, mosquitoes, crickets, moths, termites and ticks). Occasionally, they take insects from the ground, and they may also catch small fish. Their habitat is usually close to water since they use mud to build their nests, and water attracts insects.  Adult plumage for both sexes is sooty black upperparts and breasts and a white belly and undertail. Their bill, legs and feet are black, and the head is often darker than the rest of their upper parts. You may also hear their thin, shrill whistle.

 

  

Black Phoebe Range Map
Black Phoebe Range Map

Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

 

Black Phoebe Nesting
Black Phoebe Nesting

Photo Credit – Shasta Birding Society

 

 

Black Phoebes in California are present year-round, and the species has expanded into Oregon. Birds that breed in the north tend to migrate short distances, whereas most Black Phoebes are residents. The estimated breeding population is five million, and there has been a steady increase since the 1960s. The bird has benefited from human development, creating new nesting sites under roof eaves, irrigation ditches and culverts, near artificial ponds, and abandoned wells.

 

 

Say’s Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe

Photo Credit- Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

 

Say’s Phoebe Range Map
Say’s Phoebe Range Map

Photo Credit – South Dakota Birds and Birding

 

 

The other species in southwest and southern California is the Say’s Phoebe. It has cinnamon-brown underparts, grey-brown feathers above, and a black tail. It is common across western North America and breeds in Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States. Its preference is for dry and desolate areas. Northern birds migrate south to the southwestern States and Mexico for winter; otherwise, the species is resident. Its population is around four million, and it is stable to expand. Like other phoebes, birds appear unafraid of people.

The third and most numerous North American species is the Eastern Phoebe, found east of the Rockies.  An estimated 16 million to 32 million occupy territory from Canada to eastern Mexico. It is a somewhat drab bird identified by its grey-brown upperparts, white throat, and dirty grey breast. It punches its tail while perching. Their preferred habitat is woodland, farmland, and urban areas, and birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico for winter.  Although monogamous with the same mate for several years, each bird enjoys its independence. Pairs spend very little time is together, and the female typically chases away the male during roosting.

 

 

Spotted Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher

Photo Credit – The Wildlife Fund

 

 

Spotted Flycatcher Range Map
Orange: breeding; blue: non-breeding

Spotted Flycatcher Range Map

Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

 

Spotting phoebes in Britain during my early birdwatching in the 1960s was impossible. Only the Eastern Phoebe is recorded in the UK as a mega-rare vagrant.  Therefore, my favorite flycatcher family representative was the Spotted Flycatcher, a bird common around my home near York, England. It was a summer visitor, arriving late and had disappeared by late September. Its plumage is a streaky grey-brown bird recognized most easily by its behavior as it sits on a high perch, flicks its tail, and pounces on insects in midair.  It is a long-distance migrant, spending its winters in southern Africa.

Regrettably, the UK population of Spotted Flycatchers has crashed to approximately 40,000 breeding pairs since the mid-1960s, an estimated reduction of around 90 per cent. In Europe, the overall decrease is about 60 per cent. The reasons are unclear. Suggestions include reduced fledgling survival rates, predators, reduction in flying insects and loss of grassland. There is also a need to investigate what happens to them in their wintering grounds. Here is an example of how environmental changes can affect wildlife differently. Changes in North America have allowed North American flycatcher species to flourish, whereas the opposite seems to occur in Europe with the Spotted Flycatcher.

 

 

The Three Phoebes that catch insects flying in midair
The Three Phoebes that catch insects flying in midair

Photo Credit: The Maine Monitor

Mistle Thrush and Other Turdidae Family Members

Mistle Thrush and Other Turdidae Family Members

Mistle Thrush Photo Credit – British Trust for Ornithology   This month, I am focusing on a bird I observed during my childhood in northern England: the Mistle Thrush. In the late 1950s, my ornithological colleagues at Bootham School reported that the Mistle Thrush was 

Migrant Birds, Featuring the Barn Swallow

Migrant Birds, Featuring the Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow Photo Credit – Birds and Blooms Magazine     My local Barn Swallows have arrived and have been constructing mud nests and feeding their offspring under the roof eaves of houses along the Corte Madera Creek near San Francisco. These avians make an 

Cory’s Shearwater and Birds of the Portuguese Azores and Madeira

Cory’s Shearwater and Birds of the Portuguese Azores and Madeira

Cory’s Shearwater off the coast of Madeira, Portugal

Photo Credit – Author

 

Cory’s Shearwater is a large, heavy bird and a member of the seabird family Procelleridae. It breeds primarily in the Portuguese islands of the Azores and Madeira and the Canary Islands, Spain.  During May this year, I had occasions to observe these birds on the ocean near the islands of Terceira and São Miguel in the Azores and the island of Madeira. Thank you, Overseas Adventure Tours, for giving me these opportunities.

 

Cory’s Shearwater in Flight
Cory’s Shearwater in Flight

Photo Credit – Brian Sullivan, eBird

 

Cory’s Shearwaters, with their distinctive size, brownish-grey upper parts, white underparts, and yellowish bill with a dark, hooked tip, are a sight to behold. They silently glide over the water with long wing beats, and wings bowed and angled slightly back. Their unique behavior of being either at sea or hidden in burrows, crevices, or caves, incubating their eggs, adds to their mystique. As we heard on Terceira Island, breeding birds will return to the land at night and call together in their burrows, creating a symphony of high-pitched sounds from the male, like a baby crying, and deeper rasping calls from the female, like a chain-smoker with a hangover. In folklore, shearwaters are associated with death. Legend is that their sound comes from a ghost or devil, with a woman’s face and torso and a bird’s body that fatally attracts sailors at sea.

 

Terceira Island, Azores
Terceira Island, Azores

Photo Credit – Author

 

São Miguel Island, Azores
São Miguel Island, Azores

Photo Credit – Author

 

Madeira Island inland
Madeira Island inland

Photo Credit – Author

 

About 75 percent of the world’s Cory’s Shearwaters breed in the Azores – approximately 200,000 breeding pairs. They mate with the same partner at the same breeding site every year. Females lay a single egg in late May, and the chick fledges in October. After breeding, the birds winter across the open ocean, mainly off southern Africa, although their range includes North America’s east coast, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Young birds reach maturity at ages 5 to 7, before which their time is spent at sea. The birds’ life span is around 20 years, with the oldest on record reaching 40. Their main prey is small pelagic fish and squid caught on or near the water’s surface. I was fortunate to spot them on the ocean near Terceira and São Miguel and off the coast of Funchal in Madeira.

These observations emphasize the importance of conservation efforts to protect the birds’ habitats and to ensure their survival. Threats include nest predation by cats, rats, etc., and habitat degradation. Light pollution interferes with the birds’ navigation using the moon, and plastic pollution kills them at sea.  

 

Manx Shearwater
Manx Shearwater

Photo Credit – Kirk Zufelt, eBird

 

Sooty Shearwater
Sooty Shearwater

Photo Credit – National Audubon Society

 

My first encounter with the Shearwater family occurred in the early 1960s at Spurn Point in England. Here, I had the privilege of spotting both Manx and Sooty Shearwaters. In northern California, Sooty Shearwaters are seen off the Pacific coast. My experiences have created an appreciation for these magnificent birds and fueled my passion for their conservation. 

 

Atlantic Canary

Atlantic Canary

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

 

Spectacled Warbler
Spectacled Warbler

Photo Credit – Observation.org

 

During the visit to the Azores and Madeira, my bird spotting was not limited to shearwaters. I recorded several common species, such as Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Blackcaps, Wood and Feral Pigeons, European Robins, Yellow-legged Gulls, Common Tern, and Chaffinches. The more unusual species included petrels in Madeira, Atlantic Canaries on all islands, and possibly a Spectacled Warbler on Madeira.

 

 

Azores BullfinchAzores Bullfinch

Photo Credit – Rare Bird Alert

 

The one species I hoped to see on São Miguel Island was the Azores Bullfinch. Its range is currently restricted to a small, forested area on the island’s eastern end, and its population is estimated to be less than 1000. Numbers have declined as forests have been converted to grazing and agriculture, and afforestation has shifted to using introduced plants. It’s a shy bird and remained hidden from view during my visit. 

 

Chaffinch
Chaffinch

Photo Credit – Author

 

The same could not be said for its cousin, the chaffinch. They were everywhere and were almost tame on Madeira. The memories of watching this pretty bird take seeds from my hand will distinguish my visit to the islands of Portugal from other vacations. As tourism continues to expand across all the islands, I hope those in charge prioritize the survival of all present bird species, especially those native to the Azores and Madeira.  

To See a Mockingbird

To See a Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird Photo Credit – the Author    Amidst a cacophony of mid-morning birdsong, a medium-sized bird, approximately 10 inches (25 cm) in length, caught my eye. Its tail, as long as its body, was a striking feature. The bird’s plumage was a mix of 

Scaup, A Confusion of Ducks and Geese

Scaup, A Confusion of Ducks and Geese

Greater Scaup (male with the white plumage) Photo Credit – Cornell Lab: All About Birds   California winter visitors, the Greater Scaup, have recently left the coastal creek near my home and returned to their breeding grounds along the West Coast up to Alaska. Previously, 

American Kestrel, Small Falcon with a Large Appetite

American Kestrel, Small Falcon with a Large Appetite

Eurasian or Common Kestrel:

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

 

American Kestrel


American Kestrel

Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

Thank you, Sonoma Land Trust, for connecting me with the beautiful American Kestrel, the smallest raptor in North America, during a recent visit to the Sonoma Creek Baylands. Its larger and less attractive cousin, the Eurasian Kestrel, featured throughout my early days of birdwatching in England. I saw them pass through Spurn Point in 1961, and they were common around York in the late 1950s. My earliest sighting was a pair that nested in an abandoned farmhouse near my home, but unlike Billy, in the novel A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines, I never climbed the chimney to inspect the nest. The American Kestrel and Eurasian Kestrel remain common today, although their populations have declined for unclear reasons.

If you wonder about the origins of the word kestrel, no one seems to know with certainty. Maybe it is an Old French or Middle English word used since the 15th century and is most likely related to the bird’s cry.

 

 

Eurasian Kestrel Range Map
Eurasian Kestrel Range Map

Photo Credit – CCNAB
Blue: year-round; Red: summer

 

American Kestrel Range Map
American Kestrel Range Map

Photo Credit – Wikipedia
Purple: year-round; Orange – summer breeding; Blue – winter, non-breeding

 

The American Kestrel was known as a Sparrow Hawk until the 1960s, and its name officially changed in 1983. It is not a hawk; it does not particularly like sparrows, and looks like and is related to the Eurasian Kestrel. Its life span in the wild is short, frequently less than two years. Its preferred habitat is open grassland, desert, scrub, and enough isolated tall perches to hunt. They are also known for their hovering, preparing to catch their prey. American Kestrels are both residents and long-distance migrants. Those breeding in the north are more likely to migrate, sometimes as far as Central America, but most spend winter in the southern United States. There are records of the Eurasian kestrel in northeast North America, Alaska, and British Columbia, so distinguish the two species carefully if you are in those places.

Their calls are distinctive and often heard as an excited series (three to six) cry of klee or killy.

 

 

American Kestrel male and female
American Kestrel male and female

Photo Credit – inaturalist

 

The American Kestrel is about the size of an American Robin and smaller than another North American bird of prey called a Merlin. Their estimated global population is four million, with 2.5 million in the US and Canada. Its Eurasian cousin is larger, closer to the size of a Crow, and bigger than a Merlin. It is less colorful, with male plumage consisting of a chestnut-brown back with darkish spots, a grey head, and a grey tail with a black band near its tip. A population estimate is around five million worldwide and one million in Europe. The current British population is about 65,000.

As seen above, the male possesses slate-blue plumage near the top of its wings, a rufous orange back with black barring, and its tail is the same color with a large black band towards its end. Since you often only see this bird from a distance, be sure in its identification it has pointed wings and a long tail. It will be fast in flight, pumping its tail up and down while perched, and can be noisy. 

 

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American Kestrel DietPhoto Credit – avianreport.com

 

The species’ diet is diverse and changes depending on the time of year. Small mammals comprise a more significant part of the kestrel’s diet in winter, with fewer insects. However, when insects are bountiful, the bird can consume 10 to 20 percent of its body weight daily. Its success in capturing its prey is estimated to be very high for invertebrates, less for rodents, and under 50 per cent for birds. It hunts only in daylight but deters potential attackers using the back of its head. It has two black spots called ocelli (false eyes). They deter would-be attackers and possibly attract a mobbing response from songbirds, allowing the kestrel to catch some of them. It also sees ultraviolet light, permitting it to find food hidden in grass and undergrowth. This includes spotting the bright blue-green glow of mouse urine. 

  

American Kestrel Nesting
American Kestrels Nesting

Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

American Kestrels rely on natural or man-made cavities for successful nesting and will not breed if a suitable cavity is unavailable. This includes migrating kestrels returning to the same cavity each year. Bird boxes are welcome. However, it should be near the birds’ preferred habitat, away from outdoor pets, and a distance away from busy roads that cause a high rate of nest abandonment. Typically, the female will lay four to five eggs, and incubation becomes her full-time job, while the male brings her food.

 

Merlin
Merlin

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

 

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk

Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

Above are two other species of raptor that you might confuse with kestrels. 

Merlin: the distinctions are its slate grey back (not rusty); short, dark tail (not long and narrow); it rarely hovers; it flies fast with sudden changes in direction (versus the shallow, deliberate wing beats of the kestrel); and chases its prey (rather than hovers or perches before diving on the victim).

Sharp-shinned Hawk, or Sharpies as they are nicknamed: are roughly the size of an American Kestrel but have rounded wings and longer tails; there are heavy markings on their front, and they lack the kestrel’s red-brown on the back; their hunting style is very different; they hunt fast and furious, flying stealthily at low altitudes and aggressively then accelerating to catch their prey. It is also the raptor you might see waiting at the side of your backyard bird feeder. It has occurred in my backyard, but its presence seems more likely to be as an observer than as an assailant. 

So, again, I thank Sonoma Land Trust for my most recent experience with kestrels. It was a successful day in the wetlands. As well as the American Kestrel, we had sightings of Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers, White-tailed Kites, Sharp-shinned hawks, Peregrine Falcon, and a Merlin. 

 


Photo Credit – The Author
Hummingbirds That Live In California

Hummingbirds That Live In California

Humming-bird Hawk-moth Photo Credit – Graeham Mounteney, Butterfly Conservation   Hummingbirds are small, often migratory birds that inhabit the Americas. They have compact bodies, long, narrow beaks, and relatively long blade-like wings. The latter allows them to fly in every direction and to hover. Typically, 

Belted Kingfisher: What You Need To Know

Belted Kingfisher: What You Need To Know

Belted Kingfisher Photo Credit – I-naturalist (Birds of San Diego County)   I usually hear the Belted Kingfisher rather than see one when walking alongside the Corte Madera Creek near San Francisco. Occasionally, you might observe one perched above the water or hovering on rapidly 

Eurasian Collared Doves – Invaders or Colonizers?

Eurasian Collared Doves – Invaders or Colonizers?

Eurasian Collared Doves

Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

Recently, I was walking alongside my local creek-side in Northern California when I heard the purring sound of goo-Goo-goo, and strove to find out what it was. I discovered a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves sitting in a tree. Later, they descended to the ground, presumably to consume their diet of seeds and invertebrates. Looking back at my bird-spotting in the early 1960s in the north of England, I registered sighting a Eurasian Collared Dove, but I don’t know where. At the time, I was much more interested in the smaller Turtle Doves that nested among the woodlands on the moor where I grew up. 

 

 

Turtle DoveTurtle Dove

Photo Credit – The Guardian

 

The turtle dove is a beautiful bird, not seen in the United States, and migrates between Africa and parts of Europe. Unfortunately, since 1996, it has been on the British red list of birds most at risk of extinction, and today, only about 2,100 pair breed in the U.K., down an estimated 98 percent since the 1970s. This species is described in more detail in Chapter 17 of my novel She Wore a Yellow Dress. 

 

 

Eurasian-Collared-Dove-Range MapEurasian Collared Dove Range Map

Photo Credit – Birdwatching HQ

 

But let us return to the Eurasian Collared Dove. The species occupies a territory that has dramatically increased over the centuries, giving it a reputation for being one of the great avian colonizers. The bird probably originated in the Bay of Bengal region, but by the 1600s it had expanded its range to include European Turkey and the Balkans. From there, it spread rapidly north and west throughout Europe during the 1930s and 40s. The species first nested in Britain in 1955, and by the mid1960s, about 3000 were nesting. Today, the British population of Eurasian Collared Doves is around 250,000 pairs. There is no clear explanation for this colonialism. Possibly it is genetic; it has dominantly been westwards, and climate – such as cold and the amount of rainfall – appears to affect it. 

 

 

Mourning DoveMourning Dove

Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 

The Eurasian Collared Dove is medium-sized, a little larger than a Mourning Dove, pale, pinky-brown/gray, has a distinctive black half-neck collar edged in white, and its eyes are deep red. The two sexes are virtually indistinguishable. In the United States, a similar population explosion has occurred.

The species was first resident in the Americas during the mid1970s after about 50 birds escaped from a pet shop in the Bahamas, and presumably made its way to Florida. A burglary freed the first group, and the shop owner released the remainder. A few more may have found their freedom in 1976 when 72,000 inhabitants of Guadeloupe Island had to evacuate because of seismic activity. Today, in the United States, the Eurasian Collared Dove is broadly distributed across western, central, and southern states but not across the northeast. It is strongly dispersive, meaning it will move long distances from its birthplace but does not migrate. It is a chronic breeder and spreads prolifically. Studies in the United States indicate an annual population growth of 13 percent.

But despite arriving here by its own means, it is still considered invasive and a non-native species that possibly competes for food with native species. However, studies do not yet show a negative impact on populations of native birds. People hunt it for food and sport. I wonder about the fairness of this treatment, but then consider other introduced species, such as the House Sparrow, Starling, Rock Pigeon, and Mute Swan, and the damage they have caused.

 

  

Invasive Birds of CaliforniaNine Invasive Birds of California

Photo Credit – A-Z Animals
Western Bluebirds, an Example of Natal Philopatry

Western Bluebirds, an Example of Natal Philopatry

Western Bluebirds Male & Female Photo Credit – National Geographic   The number of Western Bluebirds fluttering and dropping to the ground in search of insects appears to have dramatically increased this fall around the golf course I use here in northern California. What is 

Backyard Tales of a Black-headed Grosbeak and a Western Tanager

Backyard Tales of a Black-headed Grosbeak and a Western Tanager

Black-Headed Grosbeak Photo Credit – Author   The fall migration is underway. There are birds appearing in my Northern California backyard which I have not identified before. First there was the Black-Headed Grosbeak, a member of the Cardinal family, inspecting my bird feeder, probably looking 

The Success of the Bald Eagle

The Success of the Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle in Marin County

(Photo Credit – Elyse Omernick, Marin Living Magazine)

 

A friend of mine recently sighted a Bald Eagle near Fairfax, CA. an event that was inconceivable a few years ago. The Bald Eagle returned to Marin County, CA. in 2008 after 100 years absence, and its numbers have increased ever since. The trend is consistent with nationwide numbers that show there were only an estimated 450 breeding pairs of Bald Eagles in the continental United States during the 1960s, whereas today the number has increased to over 10,000. 

So what is going on? Global warming theoretically should push birds further north, beyond the lower 48 states. Clearly, this is not happening. The end of persecution and the banning of certain pesticides appear to explain the contrary trend.

 

Bald Eagle in FlightBald Eagle in flight

(Photo Credit – AP)

 

In the past, Bald Eagles were hunted for sport, slain because they were believed to be a menace to livestock and fisheries, and destroyed for money by bounty hunters. During the period 1917-52, bounty hunters in Alaska killed more than 100,000 Bald Eagles. The United States Bald Eagle Protection Act, enacted in 1940, made the killing of Bald Eagles illegal, but Alaska was exempt until it accepted statehood in 1959.

The population decline continued after this legal intervention because of the arrival of the pesticide DDT that made the shells of the eagles’ eggs thin and easily broken. It was banned by the United States in 1972, but still the population declined. In 1978 the species was declared endangered by the US government, and as a result of interventions, by the mid1990s, the population in the lower 48 states had increased to 4,500 pairs, and to 6,300 pairs by 2000. Today, lead poising still poses a threat to Bald Eagles. Hunters and anglers leave tons of lead behind each year, and an amount the size of a grain of rice can kill a Bald Eagle within 72 hours. Habitat loss also remains an issue, as do lethal collisions with powerlines and wind turbines.

 

Bald Eagle Range MapBald Eagle Range Map

(Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

 

Bald Eagles mostly eat fish, up to 90 percent of their diet. They will also take the occasional waterfowl, seabirds, live animals, such as rabbits and squirrels, and eat carrion. Consequently, their preference is to live close to bodies of water containing fish, and also to have access to stands of tall, old-growth trees for perching, roosting, and nesting. Primary locations are coastal regions and inland where there are large lakes, rivers, or reservoirs. The species is native to North America, and ranges from Alaska through Canada, and as far south as northern Mexico. Southern and west coast birds often remain in their breeding territory all year, whereas northern birds migrate for winter. The best time to see Bald Eagles in California is during winter, mainly from December to March, when hundreds of migrating birds arrive from the north. 

I have been fortunate enough to observe Bald Eagles in Alaska and Wyoming, but never during my childhood days in England, as evidenced in my novel She Wore a Yellow Dress. The species fails to appear in Europe except for very rare reports of vagrants in Ireland.  

 

Bald Eagle chasing OspreyBald Eagle chasing an Osprey

(Photo Credit – Phil Lanoue Photograhy)

 

The arrival of the Bald Eagle brings with it its own risks and consequences. Rather than carrying out their own fishing, Bald Eagles will choose to chase after birds that have already caught fish, and especially Ospreys. They harass the Osprey until it drops its prey in mid-air, and the eagle swoops down to collect it. Bald Eagles have excellent eyesight and can hunt from as high as 10,000 feet (3km). They see three times as far as humans, and have a 340 degree field of vision. Marin County has already experienced declines in its Osprey population. In the area of Kent Lake (reservoir created in 1958), there once were 50 or so Osprey nests; that number is now down to about 10. 

 

Great Seal of AmericaGreat Seal of America

(Photo Credit – American Heritage Education Foundation)

 

In spite of these behaviors, the Bald Eagle was chosen as the national bird of the United States around 1789, attracting disparagement from the then President Benjamin Franklin who wrote that “the Bald Eagle is a bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly…. (he) is too lazy to fish for himself. Besides, he is a rank Coward”. 

In 1782, when the design of the Great Seal was approved, the Bald Eagle was adopted because of its fierce beauty, proud independence, and powerful strength. 

Adult Bald Eagles are readily recognizable. They are the largest birds of prey in the United States. Their white head and tail with an evenly brown body are distinctive, they soar high in the sky on their long, broad, slightly-rounded wings, their tail is wedge-shaped, and their bill is a bright yellow. The name “Bald” has nothing to do with the absence of feathers on their head. The name derives from the Old English word “piebald”, meaning “white patch”, and is reference to their bright white heads. Males and females look the same, although the female may be up to 25 percent larger than the male.

 

Bald Eagle - JuvenileBald Eagle Juvenile

(Photo Credit – Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

 

Recognizing juvenile Bald Eagles is not so easy. They do not exhibit the characteristic white head and tail until they are about five years old, and instead display dark heads and tails, with brown wings and bodies mottled white. For the first four years of their life they live a nomadic exploration existence. 

 

Bald Eagle NestBald Eagle Nest

(Photo Credit – American Eagle Foundation)

 

Once Bald Eagles mate, it is for a lifetime relationship, and the typical life span is around 25 years. Their nest is a large platform of sticks, typically built high in a tree, and used repeatedly over many years. The clutch size is one to three eggs, and they are laid relatively early during February.

The question for the future is whether communities will continue to welcome the return of the Bald Eagle, without reservations, or will decide to impose limitations because of the species’ behavior, or to safeguard human interests. For example, 30 year kill permits are now being issued to wind turbine energy developers to allow them to take or incidentally kill Bald Eagles, even though camera systems can be used to spot eagles and trigger shutdown of nearby turbines. 

The species is no longer classified as endangered but the requirements of the Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle Protection Act still apply. The 1940 original Act was amended in 1962 to include the Golden Eagle. Criminal penalties may be imposed on any person who “takes, possesses, sells, barters, or offers to sell a Bald Eagle, alive or dead”, and penalties for violations were increased in 1972.

Global warming also threatens the birds’ future by impacting bodies of water and river systems that the Bald Eagle uses as its source of food.

 

Owls of Marin

Owls of Marin

Barn Owls Photo Credit – Birds and Blooms   Someone from San Anselmo recently asked me about Owls in Marin, and expressed interest in installing an Owl Box. I believe Owl Boxes are available as part of the Hungry Owls Project sponsored by the WildCare