Eurasian Collared-Dove

Eurasian Collared-Dove, Streptopelia decaocto

The newest immigrant to North America is the Eurasian Collared-Dove. Originally native to only the subcontinent of India, these birds spread westward into Turkey in the 1500s. Then in the early twentieth century they engaged in a range expansion throughout Europe, and in 1954 were first reported in England. The story may have ended there were it not for another nasty "caged-bird dealer incident" (see my earlier post about Hollywood Finches). There is a different form of dove called Ringed Turtle-Dove, Streptopelia risoria, that is very similar in appearance to the Eurasian Collared-Dove. The slightly smaller and daintier Ringed Turtle-Doves are popular as cage birds throughout the world. In 1970 a bird supplier could not fill an order from the Bahamas for Ringed Turtle-Doves, so he sent Eurasian Collared-Doves instead. Fifty of these birds escaped in 1974. By the mid 1980s the population had reached over 10,000 and spread to neighboring areas, including the Florida mainland. In the quarter century since then, Eurasian Collared-Doves have established themselves throughout most of the country.

The long-term effect of Eurasian Collared-Doves on native North American birds is still unknown. Most scientists believe these birds occupy an ecological niche between the Mourning Dove and the Rock Pigeon, and may have little impact on either species. Other experts theorize that the Eurasian Collared-Dove may take over the niche left vacant with the extinction a hundred years ago of the Passenger Pigeon. All this, of course, is mere speculation at this point. Nobody really knows what will happen in future years, but it will be exciting to sit back and watch. My own experience with Eurasian Collared-Doves matches the birds' rapid range expansion. I first saw one in 2004, and for a year or two it was always a novelty to find one. After that I began to see some of the birds in every little town through which I drove, especially around the local grain elevators. Now I see them in the trees throughout many urban neighborhoods, including my own backyard in Pierre. In fact, the bird pictured above is perched on the rail of our deck, waiting his turn at the bird feeder.

So, like I said, the jury is still deliberating on this one. The one thing that could be a variable in the equation is this: Eurasian Collared-Doves are included in dove hunting seasons in most states that allow dove hunting. One local hunter observed that he would sure like to shoot some collared-doves, "but the darn things don't ever go out into the country, and you can't shoot them inside the city limits." So, how do they taste? Hmmm...that is a very good question. I have some sitting out on my deck right now. Perhaps you should check back after dinner and I may have an answer for you!

Ring-necked Pheasant

The Ring-necked Pheasant was imported from Asia to the United States in 1881 by Judge Owen Nickerson Denny, who was at that time serving as U.S. Consul to China. He saw the wild pheasants of China and thought they would be a great addition to the wildlife in his native Willamette Valley of Oregon. Judge Denny arranged for 30 birds to be brought back to the United States. Twenty six of those birds survived the journey and were released into the lush Oregon countryside. The hunters of Oregon watched and waited. Eleven years later, in 1892, the Oregon wildlife folks determined there were enough pheasants for a pheasant hunting season. Fifty thousand birds were killed by hunters that first year. Other states began pheasant introduction programs, and within a few years there were large pheasant populations throughout the country.

The introduction of the pheasant has been largely without damage to native bird populations. In the Great Plains, where pheasants now live in the same areas as Sharp-tailed Grouse and Greater and Lesser Prairie-Chickens, the main threat to all species is habitat destruction and not competition from each other. Pheasants do sometimes engage in brood parasitism. That is, they will lay eggs in nests of other birds. This usually happens in prairie-chicken nests. However, studies have shown that such occurrences are rare and have little impact on overall population trends.

One reason we think so highly of pheasants is economics. In the State of South Dakota the "tourist season" has three segments. First, there is an influx of fishermen for the spring walleye fishing in April. Then there is the endless stream of travelers heading to the Black Hills, culminated by the thousands of motorcyclists attending the Sturgis rally in August. After that comes pheasant hunting season. People come from all over the world to hunt pheasants in South Dakota and spend LOTS of money in the state. Guide services, outfitters, gas stations, hotels and restaurants all do great business with out-of-state hunters.

So what do we learn from the story of the introduction of the pheasant? I think it's this: if you are going to have a successful introduction of a foreign bird, it really helps if the bird is exotic, beautiful, and tastes good. Tomorrow Invasive Species Week concludes with the story of the most recent bird to invade our country. Come back to see what it is.

Whooping Cranes

Whooping Cranes by Paul O. Roisen

We will take a break from invasive species week and have a quick look at a bird we humans almost caused to become extinct. In 1940 only 21 of these birds remained in the entire world. Since then they have made a slow, steady recovery. There was an informative article in the New York Times earlier this week. Read it here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/22/magazine/22cranes-t.html

An invasive species will invade this blog again tomorrow.

House Sparrow

House Sparrows, Passer domesticus

House Sparrows were brought to the United States from Europe in the middle of the nineteenth century, a few decades before the introduction of the starling. The House Sparrow managed to do well in North America because of its great adaptability to life around humans. They are found almost anywhere there is some sort of human impact: cities, small towns, farms, industrial complexes and livestock facilities. I have even seen House Sparrows living inside large discount stores, especially those that sell bird food. The only place House Sparrows do not live is in remote wilderness areas.

Why do we dislike House Sparrows? It is mostly because of the manner in which they interfere with the way we want to live our lives. Think of the employees who have to chase them out of those discount stores. I'm sure they don't care much for the birds! I grew up with the idea that House Sparrows were just plain bad. I remember a pair of House Sparrows that tried to build a nest atop the awning at my dad's clothing store. It was one of those canvas awnings that could be put up or down by means of a hand crank. The sparrows would start to build their nest in the morning after Dad had cranked the awning down. Then in the evening when he rolled it back up, the messy nest would spill out onto the sidewalk. This was repeated day after day until the sparrows decided to grace some other store with their presence. Needless to say, my father and countless others in similar situations did not have much appreciation for little Passer domesticus.

But are House Sparrows really bad? In Europe, where they are native, they were never considered the pest they are here. In recent decades the population of House Sparrows in Britain, France, The Netherlands and other European countries, has suffered steep declines. Ornithologists are currently seeking ways to protect the House Sparrow in Europe. We could only dream of such a "problem" in the U.S. It would appear the lesson of the House Sparrow is that when humans start tinkering with animals and carting them around the world to new places, the results are seldom beneficial. Will we never learn?

Hollywood Finches

Male House Finch

The House Finch is native to Mexico and the American Southwest. A hundred years ago that was the only place you would find them. Then in the early 1900s, pet dealers in the eastern U.S. started selling House Finches by giving them the sexier name, "Hollywood Finches." Trading in House Finches was illegal, but the laws were only sporadically enforced. In the 1940s, when enforcement efforts relating to songbird regulations were increased, pet stores in New York released the birds to avoid prosecution. Within a few years, people noticed House Finches breeding on Long Island. By the 1960s, they were common all along the East Coast. From there they spread rapidly, and by the 1990s, the eastern population had rejoined the western birds.

Even though House Finches are native to North America, they are still an introduced species for the eastern half of the continent. They are not really a "bad bird." It's just that there are so many of them! They are now so common at bird feeders that I have seen a special type of thistle feeder advertised as "House Finch-proof." One of the problems I see with House Finches is their name. It is so boring! It's easy to imagine pet store owners quadrupling their sales when they renamed them "Hollywood Finches." Glamour sells.

Female House Finch and Male House Finch

My own suggestion for improving the image of the House Finch is this: We change the name again! This time, however, we don't choose the glitz of Hollywood, but we go back to the birds' roots. We simply take the House Finch's Latin name, Carpodacus mexicanus, and call the bird Mexican Finch. Tell me...what would you rather have coming to your bird feeders: House Finches or Mexican Finches? I rest my case.

European Starling

European Starlings

This is going to be Invasive Species Week here at Ask the Birds. We are going to have a look at birds that were introduced by humans into new places. In the 19th century there was a movement called acclimatization, that had as its main purpose the introduction of new species of plants and animals into various parts of the world. Many of the most harmful examples of bird introductions were a result of this movement. At the heart of acclimatization was the belief that indigenous flora and fauna in places like the Americas and Australia, were inferior to those of Europe. Acclimatization is closely linked to the philosophies of colonialism and imperialism.

One of the leading adherents of acclimatization was Eugene Schieffelin, a wealthy New York businessman. In addition to acclimatization, Eugene Schieffelin was also a lover of the works of William Shakespeare. These two passions collided disastrously when he decided to introduce into the United States all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. He first tried releasing bullfinches, chaffinches, skylarks and nightingales, but none of them survived in New York’s climate. Looking back now we could only wish that Schieffelin had not read King Henry IV, Part I, Act I, Scene 3 – Shakespeare’s only mention of the starling. There the Bard tells us that Edmund Mortimer is being held in Wales by nefarious persons. A character named Hotspur wants King Henry to ransom Mortimer. The king responds, “Let me not hear you speak of Mortimer.” Later, out of the king’s presence, Hotspur declares, “Speak of Mortimer? Zounds! I will speak of him.” Hotspur ponders sneaking into the king’s bed chamber and hollering “Mortimer!” but instead thinks of starlings. He knows that starlings are mimics, and can be trained to repeat almost any sound. So Hotspur finally utters these fateful words:

“I’ll have a starling shall be taught to speak nothing but ‘Mortimer,’ and give it him.”

On Sunday March 16, 1890, Schieffelin released 60 starlings into New York’s Central Park. The starlings adjusted quite well to life in North America, and within fifty years they were established from coast to coast. It is hard to exaggerate the harm done by starlings to native American birds. The aggressive starlings, being cavity nesters, usurped the nest sites of nuthatches, woodpeckers, chickadees and bluebirds. Eastern Bluebirds in particular suffered dramatic declines in the first half of the 20th century. Only through campaigns to erect suitable artificial nest boxes have bluebirds made a recovery in recent decades.

So, can the starlings teach us a lesson? Well, I think the lesson is obvious: Selfishness, arrogance and short-sightedness can lead to disastrous results. The question is…are we listening?

Bird Devotional 4

Common Raven, Corvus corax

“Who provides food for the raven?” Job 38:41

Bird feeding is a big industry in the United States. Millions of people spend millions of dollars to feed millions of birds in backyards all across the country. Almost every supermarket, discount store, home center and hardware store sells bird seed and the feeders to put it in. We put out food to attract many different species of birds, but who would purposely set out to feed ravens? Therefore, to the question in today's verse, “Who provides food for the raven?” we can add another question, “Who would want to?” Ravens are not exactly cuddly little creatures. Yet, the author of the Book of Job asks the question, and of course we know the answer. Matthew 6:26 records Jesus’ words, “Your Heavenly Father feeds them.”

The Common Raven is found in Canada and in the western mountains and extreme northern parts of the United States. The raven is all black and quite large, about six inches longer than its cousin, the American Crow. Ravens have a diverse and opportunistic diet of shellfish, rodents, insects, seeds, fruit, food scraps, carrion, bird eggs and nestlings. Differentiating between a crow and a raven can be difficult at first unless you are lucky enough to see both at the same time. I have discovered that if I see a large black bird and wonder whether it is a crow or a raven, it is almost always a crow. When you see a raven, the larger size, massive bill and somewhat shaggy appearance usually make the identification easy.

Jesus told the people, “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:24). And in Luke 12:31, Jesus said that God knows our need for food and clothing and that we should, “Seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” We are indeed more valuable than ravens; God will feed us.

Dear God, as you provide food for the birds of the air, even the Common Raven, we know you will provide for us as well. Amen.

Black As a Raven

Common Raven in Rocky Mountain National Park

There are a number of similes with the word black: black as coal, black as midnight, black as a sinner's heart, black as the inside of a black cat. The simile for the day is taken from the biblical book, Song of Solomon, chapter 5, verse 11: "His head is like gold, his hair is wavy and black as a raven."

Ravens are large, black birds, and relatives of crows, magpies and jays. The Common Raven is found throughout Canada, Alaska and the western mountains. They are also increasingly seen in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern U.S. The Chihuahuan Raven is a smaller cousin of the Common Raven, and is a resident of dry grasslands in the arid southwest.

Ravens are prominent in literature and popular culture. The Bible mentions ravens many times. Edgar Allan Poe made the raven so famous that 200 years after his birth, his home town named their NFL team The Ravens. Ravens are among the most intelligent birds. Some researchers rank them as more intelligent than dogs and cats. Here is a wonderful video that shows a raven doing a very intelligent thing--horsing around just for the fun of it!

Capitol Lake

On the State Capitol grounds in Pierre is a small man made lake that is fed by a warm water artesian spring. With open water even during the coldest weather, Capitol Lake is home to many kinds of waterfowl. Because the birds all want to take advantage of the warmth provided by Capitol Lake, they have of necessity developed a tolerance for each other and for the human observers. This provides the opportunity to get some unusual photos of various species in much closer proximity to each other than would normally be possible. Here are a few examples:

Wood Ducks, Mallards and an American Coot

Seven Wood Ducks on the Rocks

Drake Green-winged Teal and Drake Mallard

Common Goldeneye Females

Drake Hooded Merganser and Canada Goose

Canada Goose and Drake Common Goldeneye

Wood Duck Surrounded by Mallards

Crazy As a Loon

Common Loon (Photo by Paul O. Roisen)

The word loon means crazy, similar to the word lunatic. However, the two words have totally different roots. Loon, the bird, comes from an old Norse word. Lunatic comes from the word lunar, referring to the moon. It was once thought that people became crazy because of too much exposure to moonlight. Loons have haunting, maniacal calls that sound like a crazy person's laughter. Perhaps that is why the word loony is spelled l-o-o-n-y instead of l-u-n-y. There are many literary references to "crazy as a loon." I have chosen one by Bob Dylan, from "The 115th Dream."

Just then the cop comes down the street

Crazy as a loon.

He throws us all in jail

For carryin' harpoons.

Crazy as a loon? Just ask Bob Dylan!

Anniversary Devotional

Today is my wedding anniversary. Daria and I have been married 72 years (36 years for her and 36 years for me). In honor of this day I am going to share a devotional I wrote about a bird we saw together on a magical evening a few years ago. The month was June; the place was Grand Lake, Colorado. The bird was a Western Tanager, but ever since that day we have given it the nickname, "Feathered Sunset."

Western Tanager (Photo by Paul Roisen)

Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana

“West…toward the setting sun, near the great trees.”
Deuteronomy 11:30

We were waiting for the restaurant to open, and were sitting on the grand, covered porch looking out at the beautiful Colorado scenery. There were several bird feeders hanging from the porch roof, and my wife and I were entertained by a typically bold Clark’s Nutcracker. We both looked away for a moment, and when we glanced back at the feeder, there nibbling suet was a bird that looked like a feathered sunset. Its head was a bright orange-red; its underside was bold yellow; and its back was black mixed with yellow and white. Though I had never before seen one, I knew instantly that it was a Western Tanager, the “cover bird” of one of my favorite bird books.

The Western Tanager is one of a large group of birds that gets its family name from tanagra, the name given these birds by the Tupi tribe of the Amazon basin. The Western Tanager is one of four tanager species that migrates as far north as the United States. They are found west of the Great Plains, or as today's verse says, "West...toward the setting sun, near the great trees." That verse is part of a larger passage that contains instructions for receiving God’s promises. “You are about to…take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today” (Deuteronomy 11:31-32). We have been given many promises in God’s Word. Sometimes the fulfillment of these promises may seem far off—as far away as the “west…toward the setting sun.” However, God has told us in Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.’” Our job, according to today’s passage, is to obey God. God’s job is to fulfill His promises. Trust Him to do just that. Along the way you might even get to see a few Feathered Sunsets.

Heavenly Father, as we observe the sun rise and set each day, help us to remember that as we obey your Word, you will honor your promises. Amen.

Swift As the Eagle

Bald Eagle

Eagles are fast. Their normal flight speed is 30-35 MPH, but they reach much greater speeds when diving on prey. This is a passage from the Old Testament that uses the speed of eagles to illustrate the swiftness with which judgment can befall a nation:

"The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand." Deuteronomy 28:49

Bald Eagle Coming in for a Landing

Dainty As a Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

I had many good responses to Bird Homonyms last week. So this week I am going to present some Bird Similes together with artistic or literary references.

Today's simile is taken from the song "Honey Bun," from the musical South Pacific, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, II. Nellie sings:

My doll is as dainty as a sparrow.
Her figure is something to applaud.
Where she's narrow, she's narrow as an arrow.
And she's broad where a broad should be broad.

So what do you think? Is the White-crowned Sparrow dainty or not?

Come back later this week for more Bird Similes!

Bird Devotional 3

Pine Siskin, Carduelis pinus

“Give us seed so that we may live and not die.” Genesis 47:19

“If you feed them, they will come,” could be the motto for those of us who enjoy feeding birds. In most parts of the country, winter means finches at the bird feeders, and that means purchasing seeds, lots of seeds. The most common finches in the eastern United States are American Goldfinches, House Finches, Purple Finches, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins. They come in large groups to feast upon thistle and sunflower seeds. The Pine Siskin is not brightly colored and is not as showy or noticeable as most of the others. It is, however, an energetic, acrobatic little bird that is small, trim and fun to watch.

Pine Siskins spend the summer in the southern half of Canada, extreme northern United States, and in the western mountains. In the winter they will wander throughout most of the United States. Like other winter finches they are “irruptive”, that is they are found in large numbers some winters and may be entirely absent the next. Pine Siskins are active foragers and climb about nimbly when foraging in forest canopies and hedgerows, often hanging upside-down. They also occasionally scour for food on larger branches, much like a nuthatch.

In today’s Bible verse, the people of Egypt were faced with death because of severe famine. They had lost all their money and livestock already. Ultimately they sold both their land and themselves to Pharaoh in return for seed. With that seed they were able to plant crops in order to survive. Seed meant life to those ancient Egyptians just as it means life to Pine Siskins. Without it they will die. Seed is like hope. When planted, it offers the prospect of life continuing into the future. Ask God for that seed. Without it you will die.

Heavenly Father, we ask you for the seed of hope. We want to live and not die. We thank you for providing that hope to us through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Special Valentine Devotional

Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis

“Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” Psalm 103:4

The flashy Northern Cardinal is a common and beloved bird in the eastern United States. In earlier times the cardinal was considered a southern bird and was rarely seen north of the Ohio River. Cardinals now live quite happily in the northern tier of states and parts of southern Canada. Two factors, both involving food availability, have been responsible for the northern and western expansion of this bird in the past 150 years. The first factor is the change in the landscape of the continent. The cardinal thrives in “edge habitat,” areas which are full of tangles and thickets, but will not inhabit dense forests or open grasslands. The settlement of North America created prime cardinal habitat through the clearing of forests and through the ornamental plantings in towns and suburbs. The second factor is the proliferation of backyard bird feeders. With plenty of available food, twenty-first century cardinals will happily live far north of the range of their eighteenth and nineteenth century ancestors.

The bird we know as the Northern Cardinal has had many names through the years. It was formerly known as the Virginia cardinal or Kentucky cardinal, or simply as cardinal bird. In the early nineteenth century it was sometimes called Virginia nightingale, a name used by Lewis and Clark when referring to the bird in their journals. The term cardinal refers to the colorful crimson robes worn by the Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. Our familiar red bird is called Northern Cardinal to differentiate it from two other members of its genus, the Pyrrhuloxia of the southwestern United States, and the Vermilion Cardinal of South America.

If you ask anyone to describe the Northern Cardinal, the two words most commonly used would undoubtedly be red and crest. The cardinal’s distinctive crest is its crowning glory. Because of their crests, both male and female cardinals can be easily identified in poor light simply by their shape. The crest is a common feature of many birds throughout the world. It is composed of a few longer feathers on the top of the head. Crests may be useful in making the bird look larger or fiercer in the eyes of a potential predator, or more appealing to the opposite sex. Most birds can raise their crests slightly when they are excited or alarmed, or displaying for a potential mate.

Psalm 103 contains a passage that describes the blessings available to anyone who trusts in God: “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion” (Psalm 103:2-5). “Crowning” is a wonderful metaphor that brings to mind the ceremonial installation of a monarch or the selection of a beauty queen. Crowning symbolizes the bestowing of a new status upon the one being crowned, whether that is becoming the Queen of England, Miss America, or a child of God. To be redeemed from the pit and crowned with love and compassion is an amazing gift, one that is available to all who believe and trust in Him. God wants to crown us with His love, and to bestow upon us a new status as His children. We can identify a bird as a cardinal simply by seeing its crest. We can identify a person as a child of God by the love exhibited in his life because, “whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8). Just as God has bestowed upon the Northern Cardinal a marvelous crest to crown its head, allow Him to redeem you from the pit and to bestow His crown of love upon you.

Greater White-fronted Geese

The spring migration has begun. Yesterday I saw a group of Greater White-fronted Geese like those pictured above. They were traveling with a large group of Canada Geese that I found in a place where I have not seen Canada Geese all winter. There were also a few Cackling Geese mixed in with the flock. Clearly the Greater White-fronted Geese were spring migrants as they spend the cold weather months in the southeastern United States. Greater White-fronted Geese are my favorite of all the geese. Look at their feet and legs in the above photo. They look like those orange highway warning cones. If you see a large group of Canada Geese, just look for some orange legs. If there are "white-fronts" present, you'll see the legs first. And by the way...the "front" of a bird is what we would call the forehead. The white area around the bill is how these geese got their name. So, the birds are on the move. Never mind the weather forecast, spring is coming!

Not Canadian

This is a group of Canada Geese, Branta canadensis. They are NOT Canadian Geese. The only time you should ever say Canadian goose is if you were looking at a goose in Toronto. Then you could point and say, "Look, there's a Canadian goose." In the same way, if you were in London, you could say, "Look, there's an English goose," or if you were in Moscow, you could say, "Look, there's a Russian goose." The species name is Canada Goose. Stick with that. That's it, my second Bill's bird name pet peeve. I promise, no more pet peeves for a long, long time!

Not a Seagull

This bird is a gull. Specifically, it is a Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis. But never, never never call it a seagull! For most of my life I happily referred to these birds as seagulls. Something happens, however, when you become a birder. You start getting picky about bird names. Other people say robin; you say American Robin. They say mockingbird; you say Northern Mockingbird. Seagull is different, though. It is not a shortened form of a longer name, and it just grates on the nerves of most birders. Don't say it. If you are not certain of the species, just say gull. It's an easy word. Try it: "Gull." Thank you. Come back tomorrow for Part II of Bill's bird name pet peeves.

Snowy Owl!

Yesterday I saw my first-ever Snowy Owl! The owl was in a water-logged farm field about 150 yards out from the road. It was hunkered down on one of the few dry spots available, trying to stay out of the force of the strong winds. The dark barring on the sides and the top of the head indicate it is a juvenile. I managed to get the grainy photo on the left. My picture does not do justice to the magnificent bird, but it does serve to illustrate how well camouflaged these owls are in their native tundra habitat. Just imagine what it would look like if this field were covered with a blanket of white snow. Could you even see the owl?

So that you can really appreciate the beauty of this Snowy Owl, here is a wonderful photograph of this same bird, taken a few days earlier by Paul Roisen.

Finch Vs. Finch

House Finch and Purple Finch

Which finch is which? House Finches and Purple Finches sometimes cause confusion. Pictured here are two males. A House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus, is on the left and a Purple Finch, Carpodacus Purpureus, is on the right. The main difference is the color. If you have been to a paint store recently, you know that colors can be named all kinds of things -- but try these two: The House Finch, in honor of its scientific name, we'll call Mexican Fiesta Red. The Purple Finch we will call Raspberry Red. Does that help any? In addition to the color difference, look at the brown streaks on the sides and belly of the House Finch. The Purple Finch lacks those. Also, the Purple Finch looks to me as though he were actually dipped in his Raspberry Red color, while the House Finch looks like his Mexican Fiesta Red was painted on. Are those differences subtle? Maybe. But try them out the next time you see a reddish finch at your bird feeder.

Bird Devotional 2

Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis

“He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’” Job 37:6

Snow Buntings love the snow so much they are often observed taking baths in it. These birds are aptly named since they are seldom seen anywhere that is not covered with a blanket of white. They spend the winter feeding in harvested farm fields and other open areas. During very cold weather, when temperatures are 20 to 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, the birds burrow into loose snow to stay warm. They form large flocks, sometimes with a few Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs mixed in. The flocking birds stay close together and fly near the ground. They take refuge in plowed fields near tufts of grass, stones, or clods of dirt, where wind and sun have blown or melted away some of the snow.

In its breeding plumage the male Snow Bunting is mostly white with black on the back, wings and tail. The females have less white, and the winter birds have brown streaking on the sides and back. The summer diet is mainly composed of insects, while the winter diet is mainly seeds. They feed and roost on the ground and along roadsides, but seldom perch in trees. Snow Buntings nest farther north than any other land bird. Each autumn they leave their homes in the far north and migrate south to winter in southern Canada and the northern United States.

In today’s passage from the Book of Job, we have a glimpse of God’s awesome power of creation. “He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth.’” Some of us who live in northern climates complain about snow and wish that God didn’t say, “Fall on the earth” quite so frequently. We may not like the cold weather that accompanies snow, the dangers it can represent or the hard work involved in getting rid of the stuff. God sends the snow and the cold to cleanse the earth and renew it. Maybe we do not all enjoy the snow as much as the Snow Buntings, but let us all try to appreciate the changing seasons as God has created them for us.

Father, we thank you for the wonderfully diverse world you created for us. Amen.

Farm Island Sunrise

I arrived at Farm Island this morning while it was still dark. I heard Great Horned Owls calling from all directions while I was walking the trails. There probably were only two or three birds, but it sounded like there were dozens! That was it for the owls, but I got to see this beautiful sunrise over the Missouri River. Can you find the Canada Geese, both in the water and in the sky?

There were lots of birds busily going about their business in the early morning stillness. American Robins were the most numerous, followed by Black-capped Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches. I also saw American Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, House Finches and Common Redpolls. There were four woodpecker species: Northern Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, and the very cooperative Downy Woodpecker pictured here.

It was a terrific morning on Farm Island. Forty one degrees on February 7th in Pierre. It doesn't get any better than that.

Bill

Dreaming of Owls

Short-eared Owl

It's 4:30 A.M. and I can't sleep. I was lying in bed dreaming of owls. There are only 2 owls on my 2009 list so far. I have seen several groups of Short-eared Owls on the Fort Pierre National Grasslands, and there was one Great-Horned Owl hooting from the woods on Farm Island last week. I need more owls! I know there are Northern Saw-whet Owls, Eastern Screech-Owls and Long-Eared Owls out on Farm Island this very minute. Weather.com says it is a balmy 41 degrees here in Pierre right now. So...I'm going to make a run out to Farm Island to see what I can find. I will let you know how it turns out.

Bill

Birds in Your Pocket

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, the State Bird of Oklahoma

Did you know there are birds in your pocket? Well, there are! Go get all the loose change you have around the house -- from the nightstand, that old fruit jar, and the dark recesses of your purse. Separate out all the quarters and take a look at them. For several years the government has been honoring each of the fifty states with a special quarter. Eight of those coins have birds on them. Here they are.






California's quarter has a California Condor, a bird that has recently been brought back from the brink of extinction.

Idaho chose to honor its State Raptor, the Peregrine Falcon.

South Dakota proudly displays its State Bird, the Ring-necked Pheasant. Like many of us South Dakotans, this bird is an immigrant from another part of the world.

The Minnesota coin has its State Bird, the Common Loon.

The beautiful Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is Oklahoma's State Bird.

The Arkansas quarter uses a flying Mallard to illustrate the natural resources of the state.

In addition to a jazz trumpet, Louisiana displays its State Bird, the Brown Pelican

South Carolina is proud of its State Bird, the Carolina Wren.

Bird Homonyms

When my wife and I first moved to Pierre, South Dakota last year, I joked that it should be called, "Homonym City." The words pier and peer immediately came to mind as great homonyms for a capital city located on a major river. Pierre-ites seem to embrace their homonym-ity. There is a coffee shop downtown at 347 Pierre Street called Pier 347. And back in 1890, during the State Capital election, (yes, cities had to face election for state capital back then!) Pierre won by using the campaign slogan, "Peerless Pierre."

Well, I love homonyms, so this is a great place to live. Since I love birds even more than I love homonyms, I put together five bird homonyms -- believe me, I could have come up with many more! Here they are, first the bird, and then its homonym used in a sentence.

Wood Ducks

You'd better duck. That merganser is flying right toward your head.

Sharp-tailed Grouse

I don't want to hear you grouse and complain when I awaken you at 6:00 A.M. to go see the prairie-chickens.










Swainson's Hawk




I'm traveling to that owl festival to see if I can hawk some of my bird photographs.











Whooping Cranes
by Paul O. Roisen





I had to really crane my neck in order to see the egret nest.










Lark Bunting



I was quite surprised to see the Orioles bunting six times in their game against the Blue Jays.







And you didn't think bird was a verb!