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A Bird With a Funny Name – Remember Your First Timberdoodle ?

Jack Kidd` — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:06:27 +0000

The American Woodcock

This title comes from the South Jetty the weekly paper at Port Aransas, Texas. which often has an articles for birders. Many thought “what is a timberdoodle”. Because of where it lives and it odd appearance it has other names such as, a big eye, a night partridge, a bog sucker and a mudbat but its real common name is American woodcock. It is a very impressive bird: a grand, round, plump, golden-orange,delight of a bird – an absolute jewel. It is a bird that is on many’s life time list. It was seen on December 16, while a pair of birders were working the Guadalupe River delta while participating in the annual Christmas count. The American woodcock is a heavy chunky, short legged bird with a huge prominent eyes. They are usually solitary and difficult to find with its orange-buff color with smooth dark camouflaged markings, muffed with cool, pale grays. It appears to have no neck because of dark bars that lie across its head.

Its large eyes are located high allowing it to see 360 degrees allowing it to see 360 degree in the horizontal plane and 180 degrees in the vertical plane. Its bill is very long with a prehensile tip which is flexible and adept at finding and eating earthworms its favorite and primary source of food. It may eat it’s it weight in earthworms and other insects.in a single day.

They breed in the moist young woodlands in eastern North America from the Atlantic Canada to the Great Lakes, then winters along the southern and Gulf Coastal states. The woodcock is a game bird and considered a prize for birders. The male woodcock is noted for its aerial mating display. Rival male birds will gather at twilight at a clear area surrounded by brushy shrubs They produce an aerial display by flying high in a wide spiral motion emitting a musical sound produced by three modified outer primary wing feathers. After reaching heights of 100 to 300 feet, they hover in a wild fluttering circle for 39 seconds and then see-saw back back to earth singing a warbling love song. If a male is lucky, he is joined by consenting female. This display may be as long as 30 minutes or longer through out the spring and on bright moon lighted nights may continue all night.

The female may visit four or more singing grounds and will build a modest nest within 150 yards of where she mated. The males are promiscuous and take no part in rearing their offspring.
written by Jack Kidd.

Kiwi Bird Some Facts

Jack Kidd` — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:26:27 +0000

The Kiwi Bird

The worlds oddest and most un-birdlike bird is the Kiwi bird of which there are 5 separate species. They are native to New Zealand. This flightless, hen sized nocturnal bird is so bizarre that has been called an “honorary mammal”. Their feathers are more akin to mammalian hair because their feathers lack stiff shafts and barbs typical of most birds. Their flight is out of the question since their wings and tail are small and hidden deep in their shaggy plumage. Since their feet are stout for walking and digging burrows their bones are heavy. It has a amazing sense of smell causing it to lift its head frequently to sniff the air to of its surroundings. Its nostrils are located on the tip of its long bill. It uses the long bill to locate worms, slugs and insects which make up its diet. Before becoming near extension it has been protected since 1896. Written by Jack Kidd.

The Kiwi Bird

Bird Account – the Christmas – Starts December 20th Starts in Port Aransas, Texas

Jack Kidd` — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 20:41:46 +0000

A Wild Turkey Gobbler

The Audubon Society’s 111th annual Christmas Bird Count which will be the 34th for Port Aransas, Texas CBC along the gulf coast. The way it works is that local teams will count all the birds seen of heard in a 15 mile radius of an area that includes, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass, Ingleside and parts of the Gulf of Mexico, Redfish Bay and Aransas Bay. The CBC begins just before sunrise and ends at sunset. People who choose not to go on an watch with a group may call the counts coordinator and report birds they may see in their backyard bird feeder or telephone wires. These usually include certain birds such as hummingbirds,barn owls,Turkeys, thrashers, woodpeckers and bob white quail.
The Christmas Bird Count is the longest running volunteer-based bird census spanning three human generations. It has more that 55,000 volunteers from all 50 states, far exceeding the 27 participants in the first CBC in 1900. Today, in addition to the 50 U.S. states, every Canadian province, parts of
Central America and South America, Bermuda, the West Indies and Pacific islands count and record every bird they see during the CBC. All this valuable scientific data to the National Audubon Society. Written by Jack Kidd.

Bob White Quail

The Snowy Egret

Whooping Cranes Returning to Winter Home on The Texas Coast

Jack Kidd` — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 21:06:56 +0000

2 Adult Wooping Cranes

Austwell, Texas: The near-by Aransas National Refuge, the winter home of the endangered Whooping Crane, at least 237 of the cranes have arrived in Texas from their breeding grounds in the Buffalo National Park in
Canada last week. The Corpus Christi Caller Times reported in its Monday edition that biologists last week counted 199 adult and 38 juvenile whooping cranes The specialists say that food for the cranes is plentiful, with crabs and wolf berries which is their choice of food. In addition there is a plentiful supply of fresh water. The migration which began in October is near completion. Experts say that 263 birds in the flock migrated north last spring and expect 285 to finally reach Texas this season. This is good news for the endangered species because several years ago following a severe drought along the Gulf of Mexico, they had a poor winter season because of the lack of fresh water, which diminished the number of blue crabs and wolf berries. This in turn made them weaker for their annual flight to Canada for the breeding season. All seems well for now and hope for a successful winter stay will mean a good breeding season when they return to Canada. Written by Jack Kidd.

Flock Of Whooping Cranes

Adult Whooping Crane

Crested Caracara Named “Pegleg” Reappears to Birders In Port Aransas, Texas

Jack Kidd` — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:14:57 +0000

Adult Male Crested Caracara

Peg Leg is a male crested caracara that has bird enthusiasts happy that he and his mate have reappeared this fall in Port Aransas. Peg is the crested caracara that lost a foot and part of his leg, has survived for 18 months. He and his mate arrived suddenly and flew over the area he and his mate feel as their territory. They acted like king and queen over the wide area that they rule. Their area includes the land south, west and north of the tower in the lagoon surrounding the birding center. Lately they have been expanding their territory to the northeastern part of the island. Soon after arrival, they had fights with another pair of caracaras trying to enter their territory and but were victorious sending the beaten pair away. Peg and his mate are champions.
Written by Jack Kidd.

Flying Adult Crested Caracara

A Pair of Crested Caracaras

Bird That is Very Powerful: The Great Horned Owl

Jack Kidd` — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:40:45 +0000

Great Horned Owl

The great horned owl, the most common owl in the Americas and has adapted to many various habitats. Because of the ear-like tufts of feathers it is easy to identify. These are called “plumicorns” that look like horns or catlike ears. This owl is so adaptable that it thrives from the Arctic all the way to South America. Those that nest in the northern part of North America will migrate in the winter to warmer climates but those in temperate areas tend to remain. They like to live around people in town and the suburbs as well as farmland and woods. They are monogamous pairs and build their nest in stumps, tree cavities,caves and abandoned nests of larger birds. One to five eggs are laid and both incubate. While the female incubates, her mate will hunt for food which includes rats, mice, squirrels, opossums, skunks and small cats or dogs. They fiercely defend their territory, especially their nest. They are very powerful owls and extremely protective of their surroundings. Man is not immune from attacks if they venture too close to their nests. They are nocturnal birds and fly without sound to capture their unsuspected prey. Written by Jack Kidd with information from the “Birder’s World” magazine.

Great Horned Owl

Great Horned Owl Setting in Nest

The Sandhill Cranes on the Nebraska’s Platte River a Must See For Birders

Jack Kidd` — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 03:20:18 +0000

Adult Sandhill Crane

Bird book writer, Roger Troy Peterson told a fellow birder, that all birdwatchers should experience the sandhill cranes on the Platte River in Nebraska (in your bucket list). To do this one must have a guide or biologist at take you there to see this amazing sight. One drives in the darkness of predawn to an area of the Platte River then proceed quietly to a hidden blind. On the way there you can hear the soft scattered songs of the sandhill cranes coming what seemed like in all directions. Then in the predawn light shapes appeared and the amazing density if the birds became apparent. As sunlight broke over the horizon, the cranes in small groups raised their voices and lifted off the shallow water, followed by larger groups of 20-50. As they rose in flight their bugling rattling calls were incredibly loud. Some groups of 2-3 birds in clusters probably represented paired adult couples and their family. What happened next was astounding. Tens of thousands of the cranes lifted off together. The sound of swirling masses of cranes taking flight was spectacular and almost unreal. The Platte River in Nebraska is a major resting and feeding area for about 500,000 sandhills that stop here before migrating south for the winter in late February to mid April and surprisingly they come all at the same time. Written by: Jack Kidd from an article in “Birders World” magazine December 2010 by Eldon Greij.

Adult Sandhill Crane

The Cooper’s Hawk : a Backyard Dinosaur

Jack Kidd` — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 20:34:15 +0000

Cooper's Hawk in the Attack Position

When one sees a Cooper’s Hawk appear in your backyard, it is reminiscent of the T.rex that are seen in all those dinosaur movies. As you may know that birds are direct descendants of dinosaurs. In many important senses they may be dinosaurs. Although when you see a flock of gold finches descend on your seed filled finch feeder or a small delicate hummingbird taking nectar from a tubular bright colored flower in your garden, it is difficult to think of them as a T. rex. But when a Cooper’s Hawk arrives on the scene all “hell” breaks out. All the small birds screech an alarm and seek cover immediately. It is easier to get the bird-dinosaur connection. Those movies a that include the terror of the T. rex appearing on the scene and every living being fleeing but usually seizes some creature not fast enough avoid being eaten by the monster. The same with the Cooper’s hawk during their rapid descent in to your yard they may come up with lunch. One has two feelings, one to see the marvel of the rapid explosion obtaining a meal and secondly you may cheer for the little guys that save themselves by seeking cover. This is high drama in the birding world. Written by Jack Kidd.

Adult Cooper's Hawk

The Cooper's Hawk

Snow Geese Arrival is Harbingers of Winter at Port Aransas, TX

Jack Kidd` — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 05:52:24 +0000

Hundreds of Snow Geese

Report from the “South Jetty” newspaper at the beginning of November report, that winter is not too far because the snow geese have arrived in mass. One can hear the loud and wild honking from high above before they circle around as if to get their bearings as to where they are and finally braking hard and circling before heading for a place to land feed and rest. Other migrants are also arriving, the sandhill cranes which you can hear before seen. Circling over north Port Aransas they bugle to announce their arrival, then trumpeted before heading to San Joseph Island where they will rest and feed. Fall migration has been slow this year probably there has not a real “cold front ” pass though Texas so far. But some of the usual migrants are here. Seen so far Wilson’s, palm, Nashville and a Tennessee warblers have been sited at the Leonabell Turnbull Birding Center along with a northern parula. There was a “cool front” that passed through a couple weeks ago and several birds not seen in P.A. on a regular basis were the red-breasted nuthatch and brown creeper. Others were the golden-crowned kinglets and the Louisiana water thrush. More ducks will arrive in great numbers with the sound of hundreds of pairs of beating at the L.T. birding center. Enjoy bird watching and embrace nature. Written by Jack Kidd

Snow Goose in Flight

Pair of Snow Geese

Birds Wandered Two Continents and An Ocean Away From Its Normal Range

Jack Kidd` — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 21:58:45 +0000

Northern Wheater

According to an article in “Birders Digest” an ornithologist visiting Louisiana giving a program to the Louisiana Ornithologist Society, his hosts took him out birding. This particular birding event was memorable because of seeing a northern wheateater. What was unusual was that this migrant is extremely rare in the U.S. The wheateaters are small thrushes that live on the ground in open country. Europe , Asia and Africa is where about two dozen species of these thrushes live in the warmer climates of these continents. Moat are non-migratory but the northern wheateater is one of the more remarkable migrants in the world. The northern wheateater usually ranges further north than is any other of the thrushes. They will live in the Arctic regions of the new and old world. While migrating, most retrace their paths to through Europe and Asia to winter sub Sahara Africa. So to find a wheateater in Louisiana is really lost since it is two continents and an ocean away from its normal range for this time of the year. Written by Jack Kidd.

Northern Wheateater