Top Birding Moment of 2009

BROWN PELICAN!

On May 27th I spotted a Brown Pelican below Big Bend Dam. Finding this bird, only the fifth of its species ever recorded in South Dakota, was my top birding moment of 2009.

The Brown Pelican resting

I spotted a large, dark bird swimming in the waters below the dam, but at first I dismissed it as a Canada Goose. I was concentrating on a Common Loon that was swimming close to shore. After examining the loon through my binoculars, I finally turned them on the "goose." That's when the "goose" turned into a pelican--a grayish-brown pelican. There were some American White Pelicans also visible in the area for a quick comparison. There was no question. This one was indeed an immature Brown Pelican.

The Brown Pelican taking off

I immediately sent out a rare bird alert message, and then I started blogging. Before the week was out, I had sent out these three blog posts about the bird.

The Brown Pelican flying

Well, that's it for the Top Ten Birding Moments of 2009. I wish you a Blessed New Year!

Top 10 Birding Moments of 2009: 2-4

Today we look back at my 2nd, 3rd and 4th most thrilling birding moments of 2009.

Sabine's Gull

4. The number four birding moment of 2009 was Septmber 28th when I saw my 350th life bird. I had heard Sabine's Gulls were hanging around Big Bend Dam. So first thing in the morning, I went there and saw four of the beautiful gulls flying over the tailrace below the dam. I immediately wrote this blog post.

Clark's Nutcracker

3. The number three birding moment of 2009 happened on Elk Mountain in extreme southwest South Dakota on May 16th. Elk Mountain is so far west you actually have to drive through Wyoming in order to get there. We were looking for Lewis's Woodpeckers, a new life bird for me. We saw several of those, but what made the moment unforgettable was that we also saw a Clark's Nutcracker at the same time. Yes, that's right: both Lewis AND Clark! Here is my writing on the subject.

Snowy Owl

2. My lifer Snowy Owl is my second most memorable birding moment of 2009. This bird had been seen near Owego Wetlands south of Sioux City, Iowa for several days. Paul Roisen took me to see it on February 9th. The next day I wrote a blog entry about the beautiful bird.

Tomorrow I will reveal my top birding moment of 2009.

Top 10 Birding Moments of 2009: 5-7

Today we continue with my Top Ten Birding Moments of 2009. Here are numbers five, six and seven.

Blue Jay

7. On March 21st Daria and I accompanied our pastor on a visit to some members of our congregation who live out in the country north of Pierre. Pastor Urbach promised there would be Blue Jays. Boy, was he right. On my mother's birthday I wrote about that Blue Jay experience.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

6. After work on September 11th I read on the internet that Lesser Black-backed Gulls had been seen that afternoon at Oahe Dam near Pierre. I told my wife that supper would just have to wait, and I quickly drove the eight miles up to the dam. I was thrilled to be able to see this rare gull just sitting in the parking lot waiting for me to arrive. Here are two posts I wrote about it.

Clay-colored Sparrow

5. On September 24th the sparrow migration came right through my back yard. Luckily, I had neglected to cut down the overgrown weeds and flower stalks in my garden. That afternoon I saw dozens and dozens of sparrows: Lincoln's Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Vesper Sparrows and Clay-colored Sparrows. They had all stopped to feast in my weed patch on their way south. Here is what I wrote about it the next day.

Top 10 Birding Moments of 2009: 8-10

To close out the year, I'm going to present my Top Ten Birding Moments of 2009. Today we will look at numbers 8-10.

Common Redpoll

10. Number ten happened on March 5th in my own dining room. I looked out the window at my bird feeders and saw a pair of Common Redpolls. Here is the blog entry I wrote about it the next day.

Barn Owl

9. The number nine bird moment occurred on August 21st along the Missouri River north of Pierre. Paul Roisen and I found four Barn Owls in natural cavities in the sandy banks above the river. This is what I wrote about the trip.

American Dippers

8. Birding moment number 8 was a visit to Rough Lock Falls in South Dakota's Black Hills on May 14th. I saw two American Dippers feeding, flying and just resting on rocks. The next day I posted about the experience.

Bird Devotional 47

House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

“Look at the birds…your Heavenly Father feeds them.” Matthew 6:26

It was an unusually cold, damp morning in Dallas, Texas. Rain had been falling all night, and as the first period class was set to begin it was showing no sign of letting up. Our New Testament Survey instructor was late coming to the podium and there was some restlessness among the students. “Brother Autry,” as the beloved Baptist minister was known, finally strode to the center of the stage, quite damp but ready to begin. In his deep southern preacher’s voice he said, “Another 39 days and nights of this and we will need a really big boat.” He let our laughter die down a bit and then began to tell a story. “I pulled into my parking place about 20 minutes ago. I kept thinking the rain would let up, so I sat there and waited. After a little while I noticed something moving underneath the car up ahead of me. There, out of the rain, a little sparrow was pecking at a paper bag from the McDonald’s up the street. It had found some French fries or something, and there in one of the few dry spots in all of Dallas, it was having breakfast.” Brother Autry continued, “I realized that mine were the only human eyes watching that sparrow, but I knew that our Heavenly Father and Creator was looking down, and there under a car in a parking lot, He had provided for that sparrow’s needs.”

Brother Autry’s sparrow was the ubiquitous House sparrow. A native of Europe, the house sparrow is not a true sparrow, but is a member of the weaver-finch family of birds. Primarily a seed eater, the House Sparrow has adapted quite well to life in modern North America. It will eat a wide variety of foods and is a frequent, though not always welcome, visitor to backyard bird feeders. Like the sparrow, we can rely upon God’s promise to provide for our needs even in the storms of life.

Heavenly Father, when I feel separated from you and feel that no one is there, help me to remember that you are always with me. Thank you for speaking to me and showing me your love even in the most ordinary or unlikely places. Amen.

Merry Christmas!

Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis

Merry Christmas to all my loyal readers.

Here is a link to my favorite Christmas story as told by the late Paul Harvey. You will have to go to the link and then click on the arrow to start the recording.

Snow

Snow Bunting

What the weatherman is calling South Dakota's worst storm of the decade is raging outside at this moment. All I can do is sit here at home and watch the birds at the feeders. Maybe the blizzard will bring in a few exotic birds from the north like these Snow Buntings.

Snow Bunting in the snow

Porcupine

Porcupine

On Saturday's Pierre Christmas Bird Count, I saw much more than just birds. This porcupine put in a surprise appearance near the Bad River. Tell me. If you didn't know better, those quills really don't look that dangerous, do they?

The Count

Northern Shrike on Farm Island 12-19-09

The Pierre Christmas Bird Count was quite successful. Saturday we tallied a total of 77 species. That is just shy of the record 79 species in 2003. Of course there are always some disappointing near-misses. Three relatively unusual birds were seen earlier in the week: Hermit Thrush, Ross's Goose and Red-headed Woodpecker. However, all of them were gone by count day. The best bird I found was a Northern Shrike on the Farm Island Causeway about 4:30 in the afternoon. A Christmas Bird Count is a great way to spend a winter Saturday. If nothing else, it keeps you away from the crowded stores.

Bird Devotional 46

Horned Lark (Photo by Paul O. Roisen)

Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris

"They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.” Isaiah 49:9

Horned Larks are found widely throughout the northern hemisphere, including most of North America. These birds are not fussy about the area in which they live as long as it meets one requirement: they must have bare ground. They are found in the arctic tundra of northern Canada, in alpine meadows above the tree line in the western mountains, in barren prairies, plowed fields, airports, golf courses and roadsides -- nearly anywhere there are no trees or bushes. Some of their favorite places are suitable for their needs only at certain times of the year, and so they travel extensively in order to find bare ground.

Horned Larks eat primarily weed seeds and waste grain, but do consume some insects and spiders during the summer months. They walk or run along the ground while feeding, and are almost always found in flocks. They have distinctive black facial markings, a black bib and black ear tufts that look like little horns. These namesake ear tufts are often impossible to see. Their throats and face are marked with yellow, their backs are mostly brown, and the undersides are white. Horned Larks do not build nests, but lay their eggs directly on the ground in a sheltered location.

Today’s Bible verse is part of Isaiah’s prophecy concerning the restoration of Israel. There are promises of freedom for the captives, and freedom from hunger and thirst. The people are told they will be led beside springs of water, and that “they will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.” These promises would sound like paradise to Horned Larks because roadsides and barren hills are their natural habitats. For humans, those do not sound like ideal places to live. Yet God has promised that even in such inhospitable circumstances, he will take care of us. "And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).

Father, I thank you for your promises to restore me and to redeem me from captivity. I thank you for providing for me no matter what my natural circumstances may be. Amen.

Still Dark

The Bad River Road in the middle of the night

I started my Christmas Bird Count route this morning down the Bad River Road south of Fort Pierre while it was still dark. I was trying to find some owls. I managed to locate two Great Horned Owls. There were also large groups of Wild Turkeys and Ring-necked Pheasants. There is still a lot of time left, so I had better get back out there and look for birds!

CBC

Green-winged Teal and Mallard

Pierre Christmas Bird Count, 1-20-08

It is Christmas Bird Count Season! Every year for 110 years there have been systematic counts of birds conducted in North America. Counts are conducted by ordinary private citizens during the period from December 14 through January 5. There are now CBCs throughout the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Bermuda, the Pacific islands, and even Antarctica. Each count circle has a diameter of fifteen miles, and has an official count coordinator. Volunteers are assigned to designated areas of the count circle. The Pierre Christmas Bird Count is coming up this Saturday. I already have the map of my assigned area, and I am getting excited about what I might find. I will let you know Saturday what birds I see. In the mean time, here are pictures of four birds I found on last year's Pierre CBC.

Hooded Merganser and Canada Goose

I'm Watching!

Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus

I read about the Great Horned Owl that dropped its supper over in Davenport, Iowa the other night. I can't believe everybody is so happy that the stupid, little dog got away! We owls have to eat, too, you know. I tell you what...that dog had better not get anywhere close to my tree, or I'll grab him myself.

Bird Dog Story

Here is a link to an incredible story about a small dog that survived being captured and carried for two miles by a Great Horned Owl. It's quite a story.

Hoo-Hoo-HOO-Hoo-Hoo

Great Horned Owl (Photo by Paul O. Roisen)

I was awakened early this morning by a soft hoo-hoo-HOO-hoo-hoo coming through the bedroom window. I have heard Great Horned Owls in the yard before, but never from inside the house. I lay there wondering if I could work up the energy to step outside and try to find the owl. But then I remembered the snow on the ground and the near-zero temperature. The owl would just have to wait. It continued to hoot for a while longer. Then I heard a train whistle in the distance and I knew it would soon drown out the owl. Maybe tomorrow morning I can talk myself into going outside to look for the owl. I'll let you know.

Red Lipstick

Female Northern Cardinal eating a sunflower seed

and showing off her "red lipstick"

I was in Iowa over the weekend, and I got to see some cardinals at my sister's birdfeeders. I have always thought that female cardinals look as if they are wearing bright red lipstick. Do you agree? Or do you think I'm nuts?

Bird Devotional 45

Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus

“They would give me a bad name to discredit me.” Nehemiah 6:13

Most American birders are of the opinion that the Red-bellied Woodpecker has been given a “bad name.” The name just does not fit the bird. Most birds have appropriate names: Long-tailed Ducks have long tails. Red-winged Blackbirds have red wings. Yellow-rumped Warblers have…well you get the idea. Do not, however, look for a red belly on a Red-bellied Woodpecker. You won’t find it. The bird was named in the nineteenth century when ornithological studies were made using dead birds. On a dead bird a faint reddish wash is visible on the lower belly. However, on a live bird the red belly can be seen only in the imagination. Red-bellied Woodpeckers do have extensive red on the head and are sometimes confused with Red-headed Woodpeckers.

In the Old Testament book of Nehemiah we read of a man who was leading the efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. This building project was upsetting to the leaders of neighboring countries. Those leaders attempted to trick Nehemiah into committing a sin against God, but Nehemiah had the discernment to decline all their offers. Summing up his enemies’ efforts, Nehemiah said, “They would give me a bad name to discredit me.” We all treasure our good names and sometimes go to great lengths to see that they remain intact. The Bible expresses the great value of a good name in this way: “A good name is more desirable than great riches” (Proverbs 22:1), “A good name is better than fine perfume” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). How do you attain and keep a good name? The answer, according to the Bible, is through living a life marked by faithfulness and love. “Let love and faithfulness never leave you…Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man” (Proverbs 3:3-4). Let love and faithfulness be at the center of your life, and you will have a good name—not only in the eyes of men, but also in the eyes of God.

Lord, keep me faithful to you in all I do in my life so that I will have a good name in your sight. Amen.

Merganser

Common Merganser

mer-gan-ser (mer-gan'-ser), n, [Mod.L. <>mergus, diver + anser, goose], a large, fish-eating, diving duck with a long, slender, toothed beak.

Because central South Dakota has areas of open water throughout the winter, Common Mergansers are frequent winter visitors here.

Cold, Cold Cormorant

Very cold Double-crested Cormorant at Big Bend Dam

At noon yesterday I drove around Big Bend Dam to see what birds I could find with the temperature a frigid 5 degrees above zero. In addition to groups of geese and diving ducks, I found one Double-crested Cormorant with snow on its head and breast and icicles hanging from its throat! December is fairly late for cormorants, though a few do sometimes show up even in the dead of winter. This bird eventually jumped off its rock and into the river. Later I saw it flying upstream toward the power house, so it appeared to be in good health. The one thing it has in its favor is the large number of fish coming through the dam. It should be able to feed to its heart's content with only a few Common Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers as competition.

South for the Winter

Harris's Sparrow in Oklahoma

Earlier this fall I posted photos of Harris's Sparrows I saw near Big Bend Dam and here in Pierre during the fall migration. I believe I mentioned at the time that those birds were headed south to spend the winter. Well, in November I went south myself for a few days, and I saw this Harris's Sparrow that had made it down to Oklahoma. The bird found a beautiful nature preserve with bird feeders--a pretty nice winter gig if you ask me. In March I will start seeing Harris's Sparrows in South Dakota when they are on the way north again. Maybe this bird will stop and say, "Hi" on its way through.

Little Bird

Tufted Titmouse

tit-mouse (tit'mous'), n. [pl. -MICE], [ME. titemose; prob. < tit-, little + AS. mase, bird], any of various small birds with dull-colored feathers.

So, titmouse simply means little bird. Which would you prefer, Tufted Little Bird or Tufted Titmouse?

Birds on Quarters

In February of this year I posted Birds in Your Pocket about the state quarters that depict birds. Recently, in the new series of territorial quarters, two new coins have been minted depicting birds. The U.S. Virgin Islands quarter shows its official bird, the Bananaquit. The coin of the Northern Mariana Islands has two Fairy Terns. Start looking for them in your pocket!

Bird Devotional 44

Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido

“You will speak from the ground; your speech will mumble out of the dust. Your voice will come ghostlike from the earth; out of the dust your speech will whisper.” Isaiah 29:4

My friend had promised we would find prairie-chickens, and after driving a few miles of eastern Nebraska country roads, we came to a likely looking spot. We scanned the top of a ridge more than a quarter mile away, and finally spotted five Greater Prairie-Chickens strutting in courtship display. I was so intent on studying the visual aspects of this “chicken dance” through my binoculars that it was several minutes before I thought about listening. When I paused and concentrated, I began to hear the deep “ooh-loo-ooh” mating call that has been likened to the sound made by blowing across the top of an empty bottle. These mating calls are referred to as “booming.” As we continued to watch the courting males, the booming sound would rise in a crescendo and then fall to a mere whisper before rising back up again. Though I knew the sound was coming from the direction of the prairie-chickens, it really seemed to be coming out of the ground, and from no particular direction whatsoever.

When I discovered today’s Bible verse from Isaiah, I was amazed at how descriptive it is of the mating calls of the male Greater Prairie-Chicken. The birds’ voices really do “come ghostlike from the earth” and like a whisper “out of the dust.” The Prophet Isaiah used those phrases to describe people who had been brought low by the judgment of God. However, Isaiah goes on to relate a future time when, “Once more the humble will rejoice in the Lord; those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction” (Isaiah 29: 19, 24). Do you ever feel that you are merely mumbling or whispering out of the dust as Isaiah described the people of Israel? The Bible tells us that if we are humble, if we will rejoice in the Lord and if we are willing to accept instruction, then we will gain understanding. Let God lift you out of the dust!

Lord, I sometimes feel so low I can almost taste the dust. Lift me up so that I may rejoice in you, gain understanding, and live again. Amen.

Egg on My Face

Dark morph Ferruginous Hawk

Back in September I posted a blog entry called Sub-species Confusion. Two months later a reader added a comment that led me to believe I had misidentified a dark morph Ferruginous Hawk as a Harlan's Red-tailed Hawk. I presented this problem to a number of birding friends, and the verdict was unanimous: I MADE A MISTAKE! The hawk was indeed a dark morph Ferruginous Hawk. In my defense, Ferruginous Hawks are much less common than Red-tailed Hawks, and the dark morph represents only about 10 per cent of the total Ferruginous Hawk population. So, dark morph Ferruginous Hawks are very rarely seen here in central South Dakota. Nevertheless, I should have seen several key field marks that indicate this bird is a Ferruginous Hawk. First, the legs are feathered. Only Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks have feathered legs. Second, this bird has a very slight rust-colored sheen to its feathers. This would indicate a young Ferruginous Hawk. Third, and perhaps the most visible indication of a Ferruginous Hawk, is the long gape. The gape of a bird is the line of its closed mouth. You can see that this bird's gape is a bright yellow, and extends well underneath the eye. On other species of hawks, the gape does not extend this far. So...there you have it. That is how I should have identified this bird as a Ferruginous Hawk in the first place. Well, as I said in that original post, the only way to learn hawk identification is to "practice, practice, practice." Indeed, that's what I have been doing, but now with egg on my face!

Dark morph Ferruginous Hawk

Showing its feathered legs, long gape and rusty coloration

Not THAT Bonaparte

Bonaparte's Gulls

There are currently large numbers of Bonaparte's Gulls feeding below Big Bend Dam in central South Dakota. The gulls pictured here are in their winter plumage, and are identified by a black spot behind the eye, black bill, red-orange feet and a narrow white patch on the leading edge of the upper wing. The delicate, little Bonaparte's Gull was named for Charles Lucien Jules Laurent Bonaparte, Napoleon's nephew. This Bonaparte was a nineteenth century French zoologist who studied American birds.

Left for the Birds

Harvested sunflower field with a little left for the birds

A sunflower field I have observed all year was finally harvested this week. I was pleased to see that here and there a few sunflower heads remained to provide food for birds this winter. Here is a reminder of what this field looked like in the middle of summer.

Ikes' Food

American Goldfinches at an Isaac Walton League feeder in Pierre

Yesterday I drove past the new feeders at the Isaac Walton League in Pierre. The American Goldfinches had discovered the food and were there in full force. You will note that in the winter these birds are not nearly as flashy as they are in the summertime. The best identification key is to look for the black and white pattern of the tail and folded wings.

Be Aware

It's National Blue Jay Awareness Month!

Grab some peanuts and come celebrate!

A special month begins today. Author, Laura Erickson, has proclaimed December to be National Blue Jay Awareness Month. Ms. Erickson once proclaimed the Blue Jay to be her favorite bird. (It's fourth on my list.) So she has decided the bird needs its own special month. Here is the full story of this "official" designation.