I haven't been blogging recently because the speed on our computer went down so far that I couldn't get anything posted before it would cut out.
Yesterday morning I went out to cut mulberry leaves for the silkworms and a Pileated woodpecker landed in the same tree and ate mulberries with me for quite a while. It was very exciting! I didn't have my camera with me.
Monday, June 13, 2016
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Morning Observations
Wednesday, 7:55 am
I am walking into the sun to get to the nest for a change.
I'm hearing bird song, tufted titmouse, field sparrow, Northern cardinal, Eastern towhee, American robin.
There is a grackle flying into the nest at the top of the barn. They are the messiest birds. There are several nests where I can't reach them and they drop small sticks and poop all over. Then the babies fall out and get eaten by the cats. They have lice too!
Here is Hermione, one of the barn cats. She is stepping on my feet and when I move, she attacks. Thank goodness I have boots on. In this photo, she looks like she's thinking about those little grackle snacks in the barn.
Goldfinches are chasing each other overhead.
I am walking into the sun to get to the nest for a change.
I'm hearing bird song, tufted titmouse, field sparrow, Northern cardinal, Eastern towhee, American robin.
There is a grackle flying into the nest at the top of the barn. They are the messiest birds. There are several nests where I can't reach them and they drop small sticks and poop all over. Then the babies fall out and get eaten by the cats. They have lice too!
The sun is behind me as I watch the nest this morning. It's so much more comfortable than in the evening when the sun is right behind the trees. No motion or sound from the nest.
Here is Hermione, one of the barn cats. She is stepping on my feet and when I move, she attacks. Thank goodness I have boots on. In this photo, she looks like she's thinking about those little grackle snacks in the barn.Goldfinches are chasing each other overhead.
Here is an early morning visitor that I haven't observed before, squirrel with nut. It's jumping from tree to little branch, to tree. All of a sudden, the male flicker pops his head up so I can see him in the nest hole. Did he hear the squirrel approaching his tree?
This photo is an attempt to show how close the squirrel got to the nest hole before it settled down to eat the walnut. The nest is in the dark spot on the lower right. The flicker pulled his head down and disappeared again.
Squirrel is done with that part of breakfast.
More observers on this bright and beautiful morning.
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Evening Observations
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
5:00 pm: I observed the nesting hole for about 15 minutes. There was no motion or sound from the hole. I watched the clouds build up and get darker before I headed for the house. The bird song seemed subdued.
On the way back to the house, I stopped at the propane tank to look under the hood. On Sunday, Barry found the beginning of a nest and cleaned it out. Today, there is more debris. It's tempting to leave it and see if we get eggs, but not a good idea for our heating system.
8:10 pm: I came back to check on the nest hole. Again, there was no movement in the hole, but a tiny piece of gray fluff was stuck on the edge of the hole. While I had my binoculars trained on the nest hole, the female flicker stuck her head out!! That's the first time I've seen her for sure. Then she flew out and didn't come back while I was there. It started raining and I went in.
Good night, sweet birds!!
5:00 pm: I observed the nesting hole for about 15 minutes. There was no motion or sound from the hole. I watched the clouds build up and get darker before I headed for the house. The bird song seemed subdued.
On the way back to the house, I stopped at the propane tank to look under the hood. On Sunday, Barry found the beginning of a nest and cleaned it out. Today, there is more debris. It's tempting to leave it and see if we get eggs, but not a good idea for our heating system.
8:10 pm: I came back to check on the nest hole. Again, there was no movement in the hole, but a tiny piece of gray fluff was stuck on the edge of the hole. While I had my binoculars trained on the nest hole, the female flicker stuck her head out!! That's the first time I've seen her for sure. Then she flew out and didn't come back while I was there. It started raining and I went in.
Good night, sweet birds!!
The Developmental Process of the Northern Flicker
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Information on the nestlings gained from research, not personal observation.
Developmental Process of the Northern flicker:
How long do they remain in the nest before they fledge?
According to www.audubon.org, about 4 weeks. I'm assuming this means they are altricial.
The adults will feed the the fledglings at first when they are out of the nest, then the fledglings follow the adults as they forage.
Northern flickers are mature by the age of one year.
Sources: retrieved on May 15, 2016
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-flicker
http://traderscreek.com/wildlife/northern-flicker-colaptes-auratus/
Life Cycle Information:
Northern flickers do migrate. Most woodpeckers do not. They will leave in September or October and may go as far as Cuba or Nicaragua.
They do not have specialized breeding plumage. The males do have noticeable "mustache" markings that are different from the female plumage (no "mustache").
They molt into the adult plumage from June to October, but I can't find when they molt after that. I bet Peter Pyle knows!!
They can live 9 years in the wild. They love to eat ants, as well as other insects. They also eat berries, seeds and nuts.
They like to feed on the ground.
Its preferred habitat is forest with dead trees. "They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995).They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995).They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995).They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995)."
"They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995)."
Sources: retrieved on May 17, 2016
http://traderscreek.com/wildlife/northern-flicker-colaptes-auratus/
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Colaptes_auratus/
Winkler, H., D. Christie, D. Nurney. 1995. Woodpeckers: A guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets and Wrynecks of the World. Sussex: Pica Press.
Winkler, H., D. Christie, D. Nurney. 1995. Woodpeckers: A guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets and Wrynecks of the World. Sussex: Pica Press.
Information on the nestlings gained from research, not personal observation.
Developmental Process of the Northern flicker:
How long do they remain in the nest before they fledge?
According to www.audubon.org, about 4 weeks. I'm assuming this means they are altricial.
The adults will feed the the fledglings at first when they are out of the nest, then the fledglings follow the adults as they forage.
Northern flickers are mature by the age of one year.
Sources: retrieved on May 15, 2016
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/northern-flicker
http://traderscreek.com/wildlife/northern-flicker-colaptes-auratus/
Life Cycle Information:
Northern flickers do migrate. Most woodpeckers do not. They will leave in September or October and may go as far as Cuba or Nicaragua.
They do not have specialized breeding plumage. The males do have noticeable "mustache" markings that are different from the female plumage (no "mustache").
They molt into the adult plumage from June to October, but I can't find when they molt after that. I bet Peter Pyle knows!!
They can live 9 years in the wild. They love to eat ants, as well as other insects. They also eat berries, seeds and nuts.
They like to feed on the ground.
Its preferred habitat is forest with dead trees. "They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995).They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995).They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995).They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands, and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995)."
"They are also found in open areas, forest edges, clear-cut areas, burnt areas, agricultural lands and residential areas (Winkler et al. 1995)."
Sources: retrieved on May 17, 2016
http://traderscreek.com/wildlife/northern-flicker-colaptes-auratus/
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Colaptes_auratus/
Winkler, H., D. Christie, D. Nurney. 1995. Woodpeckers: A guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets and Wrynecks of the World. Sussex: Pica Press.
Winkler, H., D. Christie, D. Nurney. 1995. Woodpeckers: A guide to the Woodpeckers, Piculets and Wrynecks of the World. Sussex: Pica Press.
Monday, May 16, 2016; Nesting Observation
5:30 pm: Approaching the nest from the west as usual, I am listening for activity at the flicker nest site. I don't hear anything.
5:40 pm: A Northern Flicker is approaching the nest from a nearby cherry tree. It didn't go into the nest hole and there didn't seem to be any bird inside of the hole. Maybe I startled it.
Kyeer calls from nearby!! I backed up a little farther away from the nest tree. I see the flicker flying from tree to tree.
I am imagining that the eggs are nice and warm in there, with the residual body heat from the adult.
5:51 pm: The flicker popped into the nest hole. It went so fast that I almost missed seeing it. It did cling to the side of the tree for a moment before it went in head first.
I hear a cardinal calling. I see a blue jay. It's quite quiet now. The sky is very cloudy.
The robins are "calling for rain" in the distance. That's what my parents always called that song. I can't distinguish a difference really between this and the regular song. It just is a song when the day is gloomy and overcast with possible rain in the forecast. It's probably akin to all of the cows lying down when it's going to rain. Myth or fact?
The brown-headed cowbird is on the fencepost. I heard it before I saw it. I think I am learning that song.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Friday, May 13, 2016 Observation #4B
4:20pm, A pair of brown-headed cowbirds are near the nest. The male is singing. The female is following him.
The male flicker is still in the nest. I can see his head.
A catbird is calling close by. The little green cherries are getting bigger on the tree. I think I can see the difference since Wednesday.
A field sparrow is calling. The goats are eating nearby. This is a peaceful spot to hang out and watch the flicker who is, hopefully, incubating eggs.
Earlier today I saw a small piece of gray fluff (downy feather) on the edge of the nest hole. I guess he snagged it on the way out or in, so he's not in the nest all of the time.
4:36 pm, He just took off!!! I wish I had had my camera up at the time. He poked his head out several times, I wondered if I should try to take his photo again, but before I could decide to take a photo, he pulled his whole body out and flew away. I watched for a total of 13 minutes and he didn't go back into the hole. I didn't see him again, but I heard the "kyeer" call (see: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/sounds) 5 times.
I saw a song sparrow in the bushes. Robins are calling.
It's time to feed the chickens and ducks.
Ended: 4:49 pm.
Addendum: about 5:40 pm after I fed the poultry, I walked by the nest hole and surprised an adult flicker from it.
4:20pm, A pair of brown-headed cowbirds are near the nest. The male is singing. The female is following him.
The male flicker is still in the nest. I can see his head.
A catbird is calling close by. The little green cherries are getting bigger on the tree. I think I can see the difference since Wednesday.
A field sparrow is calling. The goats are eating nearby. This is a peaceful spot to hang out and watch the flicker who is, hopefully, incubating eggs.Earlier today I saw a small piece of gray fluff (downy feather) on the edge of the nest hole. I guess he snagged it on the way out or in, so he's not in the nest all of the time.
4:36 pm, He just took off!!! I wish I had had my camera up at the time. He poked his head out several times, I wondered if I should try to take his photo again, but before I could decide to take a photo, he pulled his whole body out and flew away. I watched for a total of 13 minutes and he didn't go back into the hole. I didn't see him again, but I heard the "kyeer" call (see: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/sounds) 5 times.
I saw a song sparrow in the bushes. Robins are calling.
It's time to feed the chickens and ducks.
Ended: 4:49 pm.
Addendum: about 5:40 pm after I fed the poultry, I walked by the nest hole and surprised an adult flicker from it.
Weds. May 11, 2016 Observation #4A
Activity Log:
8 pm, I made a "pish"ing noise. The male flicker's head popped up immediately and went back down.
There is definitely more birdsong now than there was yesterday at 2pm.
The cherries are still green. There are insects in the air.
8:10 pm, I can see the top of the flicker's head at the bottom of the hole, but now for long.
Something is making a steady "tsk"ing sound. I hear cardinals, robins, catbirds and see a blue jay.
8:18 pm, I can see the flicker again, just hanging out in there. The barn cat thinks if I stand still still, she can use my feet and legs for a scratching post. This is painful. I got bit by a mosquito.
8:30 pm, the flicker did not leave the nest cavity at all while I was there. Good night!
Activity Log:
8 pm, I made a "pish"ing noise. The male flicker's head popped up immediately and went back down.
There is definitely more birdsong now than there was yesterday at 2pm.
The cherries are still green. There are insects in the air.
8:10 pm, I can see the top of the flicker's head at the bottom of the hole, but now for long.
Something is making a steady "tsk"ing sound. I hear cardinals, robins, catbirds and see a blue jay.
8:18 pm, I can see the flicker again, just hanging out in there. The barn cat thinks if I stand still still, she can use my feet and legs for a scratching post. This is painful. I got bit by a mosquito.
8:30 pm, the flicker did not leave the nest cavity at all while I was there. Good night!
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