|
Post by eaglewoman on May 10, 2004 10:20:01 GMT -5
This morning while driving from Phoenix to Flagstaff I saw lots of cool birds. Two black capped night herons flew over the 101 freeway. They were pretty close, but I didn't get to see their cool red eyes. Also, a great ble heron flew about a half a mile from my folks place. That was pretty cool. I also saw an unidentifiable hawk on the hover. Probably looking for breakfast!
|
|
|
Post by Whiskey Jack on May 10, 2004 13:04:34 GMT -5
Nice sightings, eaglewoman!
This week I have been out at my folks place helping them to clean up around their land, and to cut down the bark beetle infested trees that are here and there. They live way out fo town in the middle of as crater (I may have mentioned it before in the forum, I don't remember), and its the last place you'd expect to be an oasis for wildlife, but it is. I have seen more birds there than I have have ever seen, and they aren't shy of the camera either. This week I have seen Western and Hepatic Tanagers, Black-headed Grosebeaks, Juniper Titmice, Bushtits, a flock of Pinyon Jays (and every other Corvid we have in Norther Arizona, except a Clark's Nutcracker), Broad-tailed and Blackchinned Hummers, Western Kingbirds, Western and Mountain Bluebirds, Spotted Towhees, and all the other usual suspects that inhabit the Ponderosa forests too.
Also found a large nest, possibly raptor or Common Raven, and though nobody was home in it when I first noticed it, I'll keep my eyes out and maybe see who it belongs too by the end of the week.
Stinger, hope your seeing a ton of birds at the Lake, man.
|
|
|
Post by eaglewoman on May 17, 2004 10:48:44 GMT -5
Yesterday, I found myself out at Whitehorse Lake. It's funny how you just end up in places. Anyway, the Osprey were a'fishin' while the spotted sandpipers inconspicously creeped alongside the water and the double crested cormorants swam out to gobble their dinner whole!
While busting my butt Tonto creekside this week, I spotted Hutton's vireos, Evening Grosbeaks, Acorn woodpeckers, Brown-headed cowbirds, Stellar's Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos, and a whole host of others I am forgetting. The best sighting for me was the Black hawk that roosts in a tree about 40 yards away from camp. At about 4am one morning I was dreaming about a Sharp-shinned hawk, and I woke up because the Black hawk gave off it's beautiful call. I think his call must have invoked my awesome dream.
|
|
|
Post by eaglewoman on May 17, 2004 10:49:56 GMT -5
Hey, does any one know why my use of inconspicous is censored above?
|
|
|
Post by Whiskey Jack on May 17, 2004 10:55:11 GMT -5
Yep, think of an ethnic slang that is in the middle of that word.... When I set this up, the only thing I censored out were racist terms because I can't stand them. Some how the stupid computer thought that one was being used when it wasn't......Sorry Eaglewoman, damn computers just arn't as smart as we are . I'll fix it right away.
|
|
|
Post by Whiskey Jack on May 17, 2004 11:29:33 GMT -5
Man, dreams are powerful, no doubt about that. Hows that quote go...."Dreams are answers to questions we haven't yet figured out how to ask." Thats pretty cool Eaglewoman. I had a dream about raptors once when I was in Madera Canyon. I'll never forget it because of what happened that same day, but anyway, the dream had all these raptors swooping down around me, kind of making me feel disorientated and I was trying to make it towards this big tree in the distance. THen all the raptors turned to feathers and were falling like snow and the ground was getting covered in them. I think I eventually laid down in the feathers and began to be buried by them or something, either way though I never made it to that tree. So that same day a Sharp-shinned Hawk flew into a window of the house I was staying in. Sadly it died. I took it out to the woods to leave it, and stuck one of its tail feathers up in the bark of the tree that I laid it beneath. Oh, what the heck, one more sleep quote for the road...
|
|
|
Post by Chromiusdomius on May 17, 2004 22:58:40 GMT -5
The comic is funny Crow! ;D ;D ;D I give it 3 moose. I have a question for my almighty bird friends. I have been seeing an abundant amount of turkey vultures over the last few weeks. Is there some reason for their frequent appearances or am I just noticing them more? Ever since I have started hanging out with you wildlifers, which so many of you are bird people, I have begun to notice all of the different birds in the wild. I don't know what most of them are, but I am slowly learning. I catch myself looking at them more closely and with an much more interest. Thanks for all the knowledge that youse guys share. This is the best group that I have ever been envolved with! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Youse guys get 5 moose on a scale of 1 to 5 moose! Hey, I am almost at 50 mosts! I will be said to leave behind the Abert's Squirrel, as it is my favorite. Can't I just have my own special status? Something like, " The King of Abert's" ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by Whiskey Jack on May 19, 2004 12:48:36 GMT -5
To the King of Abert's: Yeah, there are a ton of Turkey Vultures in Arizona. They say if you see a lot at once though, you better check yourself to see if your dieing or not. . The most I have ever seen at once was 33, and they were all roosting on this old windmill down by Florida Canyon in SE Arizona. It was pretty neat and I found a couple of large primary feathers laying around. I know a couple of cool things about them that I've heard along the way. It turns out that Natural Gas pipeline inspectors rely on them pretty heavily. There is something in the gas that is the same chemical make-up as a gas produced by the carrion they feed on. So in order to find a leak in a pipeline the gas inspectors would just look for the vultures circling over the pipeline. Some convesation starters in regards to Turkey Vultures could be: Did you know they defecate on their own legs to stay cool since they are on the ground a lot. Also, if you ever corner a Turkey Vulture you can except a couple of things to happen, either they will fall over and play dead (seriously!), or they will vomit on you to try and scare you off. Defenitly cool birds.
|
|
|
Post by eaglewoman on May 21, 2004 10:36:32 GMT -5
That is totally the coolest dream, Crow. You are most definately connected. And I know you know what I am talking about.
Thanks for the cool info on Turkey Vultures. They sure are neat!
I was thinking that since it is getting warmer, that more wildlife is moving and (to be blunt) dieing. I just figured Turkey Vultures were out and about a little more because they have more to eat.
|
|
Stinger
Mexican Grey Wolf Member
Cowboy Up!!
Posts: 183
|
Post by Stinger on May 23, 2004 9:58:29 GMT -5
OK, I dont like posting here because y'all kill me with you bird knowledge but since I am now birding intern I guess I better start but forgive me for not knowing them all. Down at Teddy's lake I have seen many many birds so far, far too many for me to ID and remember so here are just a few that I know. Ravens, Turkey Vultures (which are becoming my favorites), Bald Eagles, Osprey, Great-Blue Heron, Bell's Vireo, Vermillion Fly-catchers, Yellow Warbler, oh yeah and I think I may have seen a WIFL or 2! ;D
|
|
|
Post by Whiskey Jack on May 25, 2004 12:45:27 GMT -5
I was thinking that since it is getting warmer, that more wildlife is moving and (to be blunt) dieing. I just figured Turkey Vultures were out and about a little more because they have more to eat. I agree completley. Its a tough world out there latley, with the drought and all. I guess I wouldn't mind being comsumed by a Turkey Vulture if I had to die out in the desert, actually I'd prefer it. Might as well help something live I suppose. Have any of you heard of the old sky burials that used to take place. I think some cultures still do it but I'm not sure. Yesterday evening Sparrowhawk and I saw a Bullock's Oriole landing on our hummingbird feeder on the porch to take a drink. I think some bats must be drinking out of it too at night because man that sucker gets drained often!
|
|
|
Post by Shapeshifter on May 28, 2004 15:18:30 GMT -5
Hey guys, I'm new here. Anyway, I was going for a research field trip yesterday around Stehr Lake and I saw a yellow small bird during the break. I recognized the sound of the small bird, it's no doubt a hummingbird. However, this is somehow unusual, unless I made a mistake. According to my search, the yellow bird I saw only matches one of the species on the website I found, it was the Starthroat hummingbird which is extremely rare and only shows up at the Arizona and Mexico boulder. Too bad, it flew away before I grapped my camera. Although, I heard them from time to time when I was collecting samples. Since I couldn't locate them and digital camera can't do any good with that, so I gave up. Perhaps this can be my mistake.
|
|
|
Post by Whiskey Jack on May 28, 2004 17:03:30 GMT -5
Hey Shapeshifter! Welcome to the forum! Wow! That is indeed a rare sight. The Plain-capped Starthroat usually does not come up this far North, and normally can be seen only as an accidental species down n Southeastern Arizona. I have seen it once in Madera Canyon and it was quite beautiful. But, with current conditions and changing climate I guess we'll never know what we are going to see anymore! Things are definetly changing and bird ranges are increasing due to lack of habitat and extreme conditions. But are you sure it was yellow? Starthroats are mostly drab green, with striking facial markings. IN the Stehr lake area (which is a beautiful place to be at!) the most likely yellow bird to be seen is the Yellow Warbler. Which can make some interesting sounds when it wants too. What do you think? Either way Shapeshifter it is great that you joined! Thanks for the great sighting and hope to hear about more of them!
|
|
|
Post by shapeshifter on May 29, 2004 12:53:10 GMT -5
Hi, crow. It's definitely my mistake! Because the size and the sound of the bird I saw, I guess I was "obssessed" with hummingbird, haha... Anyway, thanks for clarifying my mistake. Oh, I thought the Starthroat was golden yellowish or something, as I saw in one of the website. Well, thanks! That's a great picture too.
|
|
|
Post by Whiskey Jack on May 30, 2004 22:49:29 GMT -5
Even the best birders still make mistakes (especially me! ). And there are so many birds out there its hard to keep track of which one is which. But you are defenitly in the right state to enjoy the birds, Arizona is truly a unique place. Are you from here? Well everyone, I am heading out into the field for a few days, so hopefully I'll have something to post on when I return. Hoipe you are all doing well, and Shapeshifter, I hope to hear more about what your seeing out there. Take care.
|
|