[cayugabirds-l] Bluebirds have fledged in NE Ithaca, Sat 6/11

[Mark Chao]

At 12:40  PM on Saturday, a yellow-gaped, gray-headed EASTERN BLUEBIRD
nestling appeared at the hole of our nest box in northeast Ithaca.  This
was the first time I had ever seen the face of any of these nestlings, so I
thought it was just taking a cool breath or impatiently looking for a
parent.  But then, to my delight and astonishment, I watched this bird
haltingly get its footing on the threshold, lean forward, and fly out of
the box on beautiful, long, new blue wings.



Over the next 40 minutes, my wife Miyoko and our son Tilden and I watched
the other nestlings gradually muster up resolve, hesitating and retreating
like little kids on a three-meter diving board.  The parents continually
voiced encouragement nearby, and still came to deliver food a couple of
times.  Finally, a nestling pushed off from the hole and spread its wings
to the air.  Another followed a few minutes later, and then another.  The
mother bluebird went to the box with a green caterpillar after the fourth
fledgling’s departure, but finding no recipient, flew away with her bill
still laden.  This would seem to confirm that we did see the last bird
fledge.  It also suggests to me that the mother could not or at least did
not count her fledglings.



Here are some mediocre but somewhat illustrative photos:
https://goo.gl/photos/F87v9R9WgvbTd4Y38.



And here is my best attempt at an estimated timeline recap:



Nest-building first observed on May 2, continuing through at least May 4

Completion of egg-laying around May 11

Hatching around May 25

Fledging on June 11



We think that this is the first time that any of us, even Miyoko the
ornithologist, has ever witnessed the very moment of a bird’s first flight
from the nest.   What a miracle!  We feel very lucky and fired up!!!



Other recent bird notes:



* On Friday, I witnessed copulation between a pair of House Wrens,
including our tailless yet dauntless male, for the second time in three
days, on the same favored hookup post on our deck.



* On the Woodleton Boardwalk in Sapsucker Woods on Saturday, I heard and
saw several VEERIES issuing many familiar vocalizations (descending song,
plus “veer,” “vurt,” and “jeewurt” calls), but also quite a lot of high,
thin, waxwing-like whistles.  This is the second strikingly different Veery
vocalization that I’ve learned in the last two weeks (along with the very
surprising parrot-like squawk that we saw a Veery making at the High Vista
Nature Preserve on May 28).



Mark Chao

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow male replaced

[John and Fritzie Blizzard]

This past Mon., 6th,  John realized the male tree swallow hadn't been 
"standing guard" on the weather vane on our clothesline post. Since the 
neighbor's long, strong, male Siamese type cat had gotten the first 
male, I have to feel the cat also got the 2nd male which had been very 
chatty with me as had been the female since he & she had set up 
housekeeping & accepted my white feathers for their nest.


On Tues., right on schedule, 5 babies hatched at 12 days. With rain & a 
nasty, chilly wind blowing, Mom seemingly was hard pressed to know 
whether to stay "inside" & keep babies warm or go out to try to find 
bugs. Same on Wed. while I kept praying a single female might be in the 
area as I reached in to pet mom & be certain babies were still there. 
Thurs. a.m. ~ ~~  an answer to prayer ~ ~ ~  I saw a 2nd swallow fly to 
the box & enter as the one inside exited. Since then the comings & 
goings have continued. Tomorrow I will check on the no. of babies & 
their growth.


While this is the 1st time I've had an obvious female replace a lost 
male it is not the 1st time I have seen a 2nd female help parents raise 
a brood.


Since the neighbor cat constantly lurks nearby, often let outside before 
daybreak, Wed. evening I took some 4 ft. high garden fencing & made a 
wide enclosure around the bottom of the clothesline pole. Thus far it 
has thwarted the cat & at the same time, encouraged the bluebirds to be 
more enthusiastic about checking out the birdbox on the opposite end of 
the clothesline arm. They also are defensive against the ever watchful, 
destructive male house sparrows.


Daughter, Becky, was working in the garden yesterday a.m. & spotted a 
pr. of brown thrashers feeding a youngster on the ground. We've been 
thrilled to have the thrashers coming to eat bird seed along our back 
sidewalk about 20' from the door. I laughed one day to see a thrasher 
grab hold of  the tail of a male house sparrow & pull as the sparrow 
tried to escape.


On Factory St. pond here in Union springs, NY, I saw no wood duck adults 
on Fri. but did see 2 ducklings swimming in the mung on the water. Hard 
to say whether the other 5 babies were caught by a turtle or a great 
blue heron. Most people, even birders, are unaware that GBHs find 
ducklings easy pickings.


A green heron was on the Mill pond last evening along with a GBH. Thurs. 
Becky & I found yet another new nest start for an osprey along Rte. 90 
south of Union Springs on a pole  almost across from Kings Corners Rd..


She was able to see the Garganey duck at Knox-Marcellus last evening but 
it swam out of view before I got to the scope. Mark Miller was there & 
also got to see the duck. Tomorrow is my 83rd BD so maybe I should try 
again for the Garganey. Belated BD wishes to Donna Scott who got to see 
it yesterday on her BD.


A (?) swan was on a muskrat mound at May's Pool with several cygnets. 
Also saw wood duck moms with babies. Didn't look for the red-headed 
woodpeckers as we ran out of light.


Fritzie



--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Whimbrel at Knox Marcelles

[France]

Seen from Towpath Rd

-France

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Audubon double-elephant exhibit today, 10:30-4?

[Sandy Wold]

Sorry for late posting.  I think today is the "open house" for the Cornell
Rare Manuscript Library's Audubon double-elephant prints, 10:30-4pm.


Sandy Wold
Conservation Educator, Self-Taught Artist
www.Sandy-Wold.com 
*www.sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap
.com*
*www.linkedin.com/pub/sandra-sandy-wold/a7/114/877
*


*To be astonished is one of the surest ways not to be old too quickly.* -
Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--