Bird Feathers #5

The fifth in a series of occassional rundowns of what’s happening in the world of birds, birding and bird blogging.

An eye for the Maine chance | Maine Audubon has completed the initial stage of its Important Bird Areas (IBA) program, identifying 22 areas in Maine as critical to state and global bird populations.

Birds Migrate Earlier, But Some May Be Left Behind As The Climate Warms Rapidly | Many birds are arriving earlier each spring as temperatures warm along the East Coast of the United States. However, the farther those birds journey, the less likely they are to keep pace with the rapidly changing climate.

Birds Communicate Reproductive Success In Song | Some migratory songbirds figure out the best place to live by eavesdropping on the singing of others that successfully have had baby birds — a communication and behavioral trait so strong that researchers playing recorded songs induced them to nest in places they otherwise would have avoided.

Birds and bats need protection from wind turbines | If we’re going to have wind turbines to produce electricity — and, sadly, it looks like we may — then why not equip them with safety devices to warn off birds and bats?

How Birds Can Capture a Kid’s Imagination | If you’re trying to pry your kid away from an iPod, a Hannah Montana video or Webkinz, why not go outside and find birds? That’s what veteran bird-watcher Bill Thompson III, who wrote The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, suggests.

Bill of the Birds | Bill Thompson, III blogs about the time he is spending on Hog Island Audubon Camp in here in Maine.

I will leave you with a few photos taken last weekend at Goose Rocks Beach. Included are photos of a Piping plover chick, a male Dunlin and photos of lupine in bloom. Enjoy!

 

For those of you with a broadband connection, under the dropdown “Video” tab in the menu at the top of the page, there is a “Featured Video” tab. These videos are at an even higher resolution. The file size averages 6 to 7 mb. The current video is a Tufted Titmouse bathing in a bird bath.

Happy birding!

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Hi-Def Birding Videos

Streaming video has come to Birding In Maine! After many, many hours of finding a way to bring our visitors birding videos, I have found a solution. Great resolution, small file size and birds in all their glory!

After making a video with our Sony High Definition camcorder, I convert the movie to Windows HD WMV format. I then use the SoThink Video Encoder for Adobe Flash to further convert the clip, without degrading the end result.

You must have a flash enabled browser to view the videos. (most browsers are flash enabled) If you see a link to get Adobe Flash, then your browser is not flash enabled. Simply click the link to go to Adobe’s site to get the player. It is completely safe.

The videos can be seen by selecting “Videos” in the menu bar at the top of any page on this site. Once on the page, you will see the player. Simply click the black area of the player to begin the video. Immediately below the player, you will see the play list. Select a clip to play by clicking the title. There is a small scroll bar to the right of the play list to scroll through the available videos.

As of the time this post was written, I have five videos available. From a Gray Catbird enjoying some suet, to a Snowy Egret feeding on fish. I even have a clip of female Common Eiders watching over chicks learning how to dive for food. More birding videos will be forthcoming!

Your feedback on this new feature will be greatly appreciated.

Happy birding!

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Maine Audubon Rare Bird Alert: June 6

Name: Maine Audubon Bird Alert
Date: 6 June 2008
Area: State of Maine
Compilers: Eric Hynes, Luke Seitz, Kay Gammons

 

Of Special Note

A very compelling report was received of a KIRTLAND’S WARBLER at the Kennebunk Plains on June 2.  Efforts to relocate the bird have been unsuccessful; however, birders are urged to keep an ear and eye out for this extremely rare species.

 

Other unusual sightings this week included: RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD,
SUMMER TANAGER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, DICKCISSEL, RED-HEADED
WOODPECKER, LITTLE GULL, and SANDHILL CRANE.

Late migrants continue to move through the area, with OLIVE-SIDED and
YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, GRAY-CHEEKED and SWAINSON’S THRUSH, and
MOURNING WARBLER being particularly noteworthy.

York County

A KIRTLAND’S WARBLER was reported from Kennebunk Plains the morning of
June 2.  A single observer had a prolonged, close observation of a
singing male in a pitch pine stand near the pond north of McGuire Road.
Photographs accompanying the good description were limited but
compelling.  Despite efforts, the bird has not been relocated.  Six
UPLAND SANDPIPERS and two GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were at the Kennebunk
Plains on May 30. 

Greater Portland

Five RED KNOTS continue at Pine Point in Scarborough along with a single
LITTLE GULL on June 3, while two PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were in the salt
pannes off Eastern Road Trail in Scarborough Marsh.  Also in Scarborough
Marsh, A WINGS tour group discovered what appeared to be a hybrid GLOSSY
X WHITE-FACED IBIS, observed in the pannes on the west side of the north
end of Eastern Road.

A SOOTY SHEARWATER was seen off Stratton Island in Saco Bay on June 3.

A MOURNING WARBLER was singing in Evergreen Cemetery on June 1, along
with an OLIVE-SIDED and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, SWAINSON’S THRUSH,
FISH CROW, and COMMON NIGHTHAWK.

The powerline cut that runs from Hurricane Road to Blackstrap Road in
Falmouth continues to be productive, this week producing 1 OLIVE-SIDED,
5 YELLOW-BELLIED, and 20+ ALDER FLYCATCHERS, 2-3 MOURNING WARBLERS, a
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, and
breeding YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS.

Two WILLOW FLYCATCHERS were noted at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth on June
5.

A pair of AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS was seen at Scarborough Beach State
Park on June 2.

Midcoast

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen on private property in the
Georgetown area.

An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen on Old County Road in Sedgwick.

Monhegan Island

Monhegan Island continues to be active, this week hosting SUMMER
TANAGER, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, DICKCISSEL,
TENNESSEE WARBLER, and three MOURNING WARBLERS.

Kennebec Valley (Augusta-Waterville)

A YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was seen in Richmond on June 1.

SANDHILL CRANES continue in Belgrade, along with OLIVE-SIDED, WILLOW,
and ALDER FLYCATCHERS.

Northern Maine- Aroostook

A newly arrived SWAINSON’S THRUSH was in Fort Kent on June 3.

Gulf of Maine

A RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD was reported from Matinicus Rock last Tuesday.
This is likely the same individual that has summered in those waters for
several years now.

 

Eric Hynes
Staff Naturalist / Gilsland Farm Center Manager
Maine Audubon
20 Gilsland Farm Road
Falmouth, ME 04105
ehynes@maineaudubon.org
www.maineaudubon.org

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