American Robin in Winter
I photographed this American Robin (Turdus migratorius) this week as it and a few friends fed on various types of berries in my neighborhood. At this time of year we get emails and calls about American Robin sightings because yes, you will still find them here in the Northeast despite the snow and frigid temperatures. Some certainly fly south for the winter and many here and there will form large flocks, thus the frequency of our overall sightings of the species go down for multiple reasons. They’ll feed on wild berries but will not be interested in what we put out at feeding stations...
Read MoreCommon Goldeneye X Hooded Merganser Hybrid Duck
Our good friend, birder and veterinarian, Dr. William Seleen found a remarkable and fascinating bird during our local Jamestown, New York Christmas Bird Count on December 14. Take a look at the photo below and see if you can find the duck that is out of place in this group on Chautauqua Lake. Yep, the bird in the middle at the back is the one. Do you know the identity of the other waterfowl? Those are Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and this flock held approximately 75 individuals. Once I saw the photo of this individual I was able to identify it almost instantly. Any more thoughts on...
Read MoreRed Knots Federally Threatened
Last week the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service announced that the rufa subspecies of Red Knot was officially added to the United States Endangered Species Act, designated as “threatened”. In this photo by Twan we have a group of Red Knots in front of some Black-bellied Plovers on a beach in Stratford, Connecticut in September 2011. They are an uncommon shorebird in the state but there can be pockets of them found, especially in the fall. Many times one records a handful of birds occasionally mixed in with larger congregations of other shorebird species, like in the shot. We have...
Read MoreSnow Goose (Chen caerulescens)
I recently spotted this odd-looking periscope coming out of the…grass of a golf course. As it came out of the green it revealed itself as a blue/dark morph, or “Blue Goose” Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens). The Snow Goose has rapidly increased in abundance in the last few decades in part due to their ability to use farm fields and other agricultural areas. This is another case of how easy it is for the species, along with the Canada Goose, to find a place to hang out thanks to the intensely manicured golf course. These are the same reasons why it seems silly to me to keep...
Read MoreMourning Dove flocks
Is it just me or have you observed large flocks of Mourning Doves in unexpected or insignificant areas this autumn, too? Certainly a bird feeder in a yard can be a good place to find even dozens of individuals but it felt like we have had a lot more than usual around to me. Don’t forget to examine those flocks, if you have them. There can be anything from the Eurasian Collared-Dove, a White-winged Dove or a Common Ground-Dove mixed in, if you’re very lucky. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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