Ho-Hum... Another Sunrise

Sunrise in Jones County, South Dakota
January 31, 2012

During the winter I leave home most mornings before dawn for a commute that takes me across the grasslands of central South Dakota. I sometimes grumble about this dark and lonely drive. However, there is one enormous benefit to getting up in darkness and driving until the sun comes up. That benefit, of course, is that you get to see the sunrise! In December I was absolutely enraptured by the gorgeous yellow, pink, orange and blue skies I could see out my car window every morning. In the last few weeks, though, I have become somewhat immune to their beauty. It was as if I would glance to the east and say, "Ho-hum... another sunrise." Well, this morning's dawn colors were so intense and so breathtaking that I could not ignore them. So, I stopped at two different locations and took some photographs. Sunrise on the South Dakota prairie... what a beautiful part of God's creation. Come on out and see one for yourself sometime.



Sunrise in Mellette County, South Dakota
January 31, 2012

3 Years in the Books!



Eastern Kingbird,
Third Anniversary, Spokes-Bird of the Day



"Yippee! It's time to celebrate. Ask the Birds and They Will Tell You has now been in existence for three whole years! So... how about it? I'm the spokes-bird of the day. Ask me some questions. I'll be glad to tell you. Or just go over to the search box on the right side of the page and type in a word or two. Maybe one of my friends answered your question already."



Big Hawk, Big Beak, Big Feet



Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo Regalis

This evening I found a Ferruginous Hawk out on the grasslands, and managed to get a few photos before it flew off. Ferruginous Hawks hunt rather large prey, mostly jackrabbits and prairie dogs, and for that reason they need large tools. As you can see in the photo, this bird's feet are so large they do not fit atop a normal sized wooden fence post. Large talons like these are necessary if the bird is going to capture and kill prairie dogs and jackrabbits. And look at the hawk's head. You can see that the yellow line at the gape of the mouth goes all the way to the back of the eye. This indicates that the hawk can open its mouth wide enough to handle its large prey. Ferruginous Hawks... big birds with big weapons. It makes me feel sorry for the prairie dogs.

My Semi-Big Year

Song Sparrow, my 32nd bird of the year

After the movie, The Big Year, was released in October, several people suggested that I do a Big Year myself sometime. I know I will never have the right combination of wealth, time and energy to do a North American Big Year like those depicted in the movie. However, there is nothing to prevent me from doing a Big Year on a smaller scale. So, I am doing what I refer to as a slow-paced, take-it-easy, South Dakota Semi-Big Year. All that really amounts to is that I am keeping track of all the bird species I see in South Dakota during 2012. If you want to follow along with me, just go to the page link over on the right side of this blog. There you will see the list of all my 2012 South Dakota birds to date. Right now the list stands at 64. Wish me luck, there are a lot of birds still out there! 



Purple Finch, my 44th bird of the year

Grass Owl, Mouse Owl, or Short-horned Hootlet?

Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus

I consider myself fortunate to live near the Fort Pierre National Grasslands. In fact, I get to drive through this wonderful prairie habitat almost every evening at dusk. This time of year that means I get to see good numbers of Short-eared Owls. I usually see between three and five of these little prairie hunters every evening. These owls are one of our most abundant and widespread bird species, being found in nearly every corner of the world. Because they are familiar to people all over the planet, they have picked up a wide variety of names. Here are a few of the names by which these birds are known:

Grass Owl

Prairie Owl

Meadow Owl

Marsh Owl 

Moor Owl

Bog Owl

Swamp Owl

Day Owl

Evening Owl

Mouse Owl

Mouse Hawk

Short-horned Hootlet

Flat-faced Owl

Cataface

I like that combination of names. You get a good sense of the habitat, diet, and general appearance of the Short-eared Owl just by reading that list of names. If I had to choose, I would say I like Grass Owl the best because that is where I always find them... in prairie grasses. What do you think? Is there a good alternative to Short-eared Owl on that list?  



Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus



A Turkey Goes to the Library

Wild Turkey

A Wild Turkey had a wild experience out in Deadwood, South Dakota on Sunday morning. For some reason the turkey broke through a window of the Deadwood Public Library. It created a bit of excitement for the local library director and law enforcement authorities, but all turned out well. The turkey was unharmed, and there was minimal damage to the library. You can read all about it here at the Black Hills Pioneer.

Prairie Peacock

Ring-necked Pheasant roosters
Prairie Peacocks?

My wife has decorated our upstairs bathroom in a colorful peacock theme. We have peacock feathers and peacock artwork along with other items in shades of blue and green. The other day she was up there putting away some towels and happened to glance out the window. She hollered to me, "Bill, there's a peacock out in the backyard!" I was in another part of the house, but I ran to a window in time to see a male Ring-necked Pheasant feeding on the ground under one of the backyard bird feeders. Now, she knows perfectly well the difference between a pheasant and a peacock, but in the excitement, and standing in a room filled with peacock imagery... well it was an honest mistake. However, I have been giving it some thought, and perhaps she's onto something. Prairie Peacock would make a pretty good nickname for South Dakota's State Bird. Don't you think? 



Peacock figurine and peacock feathers



Tympanuchus Twins

Greater Prairie-Chicken
January 21, 2012

Prairie Grouse is a term used to describe the three North American birds in the genus, Tympanuchus: Lesser Prairie-Chicken, Greater Prairie-Chicken, and Sharp-tailed Grouse. The latter two species are found in central South Dakota, and I saw both of them yesterday in a field north of Fort Pierre.

Sharp-tailed Grouse
January 21, 2012

When I first saw the group of seven or eight prairie grouse, I thought they were all Sharp-tailed Grouse. However, when I looked closely at them I could see that one of them was darker. It was a Greater Prairie-Chicken.

Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido

Though they are very similar in appearance, there are two key differences between the Sharp-tailed Grouse and the Greater Prairie-Chicken. First, prairie chickens are darker, and have dark bars on the undersides. Sharp tails have chevron-shaped spots on their undersides, and appear much lighter in color.

Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus

The other difference is the shape and color of the tail. Greater Prairie-Chickens have dark, squared-off tails. Sharp-tailed Grouse have lighter colored tails that come to a point.

So, they're not exactly identical twins, but Tympanuchus cupido and Tympanuchus phasianellus are two very similar and amazing birds of the Great Plains. 

My Favorite Limerick

There once was a man with a beard, 

 

 

Who said, "It is just as I feared:

Two owls

and a hen,

Four larks

and a wren,

Have all built their nests in my beard."

No Hawk Hunting

Rough-legged Hawk

This evening I saw a Rough-legged Hawk perched on a metal fence post alongside the road. I stopped my car next to the post and rolled down my window so I could take a photo. As happens nearly all the time, the hawk flew off before I could take its picture. However, I watched as the hawk flew down the road a ways and landed where you see it as pictured above. I am starting to amass a little collection of birds perched on No Hunting signs. Sometime I will write a blog post incorporating all of those photos.

Crows Have Fun

American Crow

"We crows are a real fun-loving bunch. We'll do just about anything for laughs or thrills. Even our European cousins, the Hooded Crows, take advantage of any opportunity to have a good time. Take a look at this Russian crow snowboarding down a roof on a jar lid.http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/crow-rides-snow-on-russian-roof-15388416?tab=9482931&section=1206839&playlist=2737498 Yeah, you heard right, SNOWBOARDING DOWN A ROOF ON A JAR LID! I've gotta find me some snow and a jar lid. It sounds like a blast!"

"Spend the Winter"

American Robin in the snow

"Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter,

so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go."

1 Corinthians 16:6

Most people think of American Robins as summer birds, hopping around on lush green lawns searching for earthworms. However, robins are present throughout most of the United States even in the dead of winter. I found a large flock of robins out on Farm Island near Pierre last week. Winter robins do not eat worms and insects. Instead they survive on a diet of fruit and berries. In my part of the country their primary winter food is juniper berries.

As I was considering the above quote from the Apostle Paul, I thought of how similar was his situation to that of migratory birds. Paul proposed to the Christians of Corinth that he might spend the winter with them. He suggested that they might even help him along on the remainder of his journey. That is exactly what we humans can do regarding our avian friends. We can encourage them to spend the winter by planting trees and shrubs that provide safe places to rest, and fruit and seeds to sustain them on their journeys.

It is good to reach out beyond ourselves, whether that is to other humans or to our fellow creatures. Be a blessing to others and you yourself will be blessed.

"Eat Your Fill"

Cedar Waxwing

"Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety."

Leviticus 25:19

Cedar Waxwings are my favorite bird. This morning I went for a walk in the woods on Farm Island and found a flock of Cedar Waxwings foraging for fruit. Farm Island is fairly well devasted from the Great Missouri River Flood of 2011, but there is still fruit on some of the trees. As I watched the waxwings eating their fill of juniper berries and other fruit, I thought of the promise of God in Leviticus 25, "Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety." Matthew 6:26 certainly is correct, "Your Heavenly Father feeds them." If God takes care of the birds, He will certainly take care of us.   

"Snow Come Down From Heaven"

Snowy Owl

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11

While driving around in the country and observing Snowy Owls this winter, I really have thought they were like, "snow come down from heaven." The phenomenon of seeing so many of these unexpected winter visitors is a wondrous gift to those of us who get to witness these owls. In the Bible, Isaiah compared the gifts of rain and snow to God's Word. Just as rain and snow have a purpose: "watering the earth and making it bud and flourish," the sending of God's Word into the world will also "acheive the purpose for which I sent it." 

In the Gospel of John, we read that "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" John 1:14. The Word that became flesh is Jesus. According to the Bible, God had a specific purpose in sending His Son to dwell among us: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" John 3:17.

I cannot be certain of the reason so many Snowy Owls have "come down from heaven" this winter. I am just glad they came. I can, however, be certain of the reason that Jesus came down from heaven and "made His dwelling among us." God sent His Son to "save the world through Him." He came to bring salvation and eternal life to me and to you. What a wonderful gift! 

"Whiter Than Snow"

Snow Bunting

"Wash me and I will be whiter than snow."

Psalm 51:7

When David prayed the prayer, "Wash me and I will be whiter than snow," he was repenting from a series of sins which included adultery and murder. When we, like David, are faced with the awful reality of our sinful nature, we may think we will never be clean. However, God assured David that not only would he be forgiven, and not only would he be clean, but he would be "whiter than snow." What a wonderful gift. What wonderful love!

"Even the Stork"

White Stork
Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, Nebraska

"Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons,

and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.

But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord."

Jeremiah 8:7

The White Stork is a common bird in northern and eastern Europe where they often nest on roof tops. Storks spend the winter in southern Africa, and migrate to Europe to breed. Unwilling to cross over the Mediterranean Sea, storks fly through Israel on their way to and from their breeding grounds. The prophet Jeremiah apparently observed storks during their migration through Israel. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he drew a contrast between the inherent wisdom of birds and the lack of wisdom exhibited by God's people. I don't know how this makes you feel, but it makes me sad. As much as I love birds, reading something like this makes me want to go to my knees and ask God's forgiveness. We can learn a lot from the birds.

  

Rough Legs

Rough-legged Hawk showing its rough legs

Have you ever wondered how the Rough-legged Hawk got its name? Well, just take a look at the above photo. A Rough-legged Hawk's legs are covered in feathers, and thus have a rough-looking appearance. The only other North American hawk with feathered legs is the Ferruginous Hawk. All the other hawks have bare legs. You learn something every day, huh?



Rough-legged Hawk

Snowy Owl Meteorologist

Snowy Owl on a weather vane

My wife and I saw a building with a weather vane yesterday while we were out for a drive in the country. As we got closer to the building, I said, "Is that a decorative owl up there on top of that weather vane, or is it the real deal?" My wife responded, "I've never heard of putting an owl on top of a weather vane!" Well, it turns out it really was the real deal. Here you see a picture of the Snowy Owl perched on the weather vane. I have been trying to think of a good caption or title for this photo. The best I could come up with is Snowy Owl Meteorologist. Do you have any better ideas?

Snowy Owl For Sale?

Snowy Owl near Pierre, South Dakota
January 7, 2012

My wife and I took a drive out in the country this afternoon and found two Snowy Owls. This one was perched on a For Sale sign. I love to take pictures of birds on signs, and this one is my new favorite. The Snowy Owl invasion this winter is incredible! Get out and look for some yourself. The owls are out there waiting for you.

Owl in the Twilight

Short-eared Owl in the South Dakota twilight

I drive through the Fort Pierre National Grasslands nearly every evening at twilight. This winter I have been seeing Short-eared Owls hunting on the grasslands almost every night. Sometimes I see an owl perched on a fencepost, but most of the time the owl will fly from its post when I stop my car. Every once in a while, however, I get lucky and the owl will stay put while I snap its picture. I found this cooperative Short-eared Owl earlier this week.

Mr. Ross's Goose

Ross's Goose, Chen rossii

Last month I took some pictures of a Ross's Goose on Capitol Lake here in Pierre. I got to wondering about the identity of the Mr. Ross who was fortunate enough to have a goose named after him. This particular Mr. Ross was Bernard Rogan Ross (1827-1874), an employee of the Hudson Bay Company who sent bird specimens to ornithologist John Cassin for study. When Cassin got a small, white goose from Mr. Ross, he named the bird in Ross's honor. After a little more research I discovered that the Ross's Gull was named for a different Ross altogether. Ah, bird names! Don't you find them interesting?

National Bird Day

Common Ravens

"Say! We just heard that today is National Bird Day! What do you think about that? Now we've got our own day! That's almost as good as the Baltimore Ravens winning the Super Bowl."



Common Grackle



"Yeah, you stupid  ravens finally have something right. If ravens could read, you guys could learn all about National Bird Day at this web site. Wow! A day just for us birds! I'm going to go out and celebrate!"  

Old Bill, the Whooping Crane

"Cranes know when it's time to move south for the winter.

And robins, warblers, and bluebirds know when it's time to come back again. But my people? My people know nothing,

not the first thing about God and His rule."

Jeremiah 8:7 (The Message)

Old Bill, the Whooping Crane

For Christmas, my sister gave me an old, out-of-print book, Old Bill, the Whooping Crane by Joseph Wharton Lippincott. The book tells the story of Old Bill, one of the 24 Whooping Cranes that comprised the entire world population of that species in the 1940s. I don't know if my sister gave me the book because my name is Bill, because I like Whooping Cranes, or because I am old. Maybe it was a combination of all three. It's a good book. It reveals just how close we came to losing these birds entirely. Seventy years after the darkest days of the Whooping Crane there is reason to be hopeful. The world population is now over 400. That includes the original Canada to Texas migratory flock, several experimental wild flocks in Wisconsin and Florida, and birds in captive breeding programs. Two years ago I saw a flock of eleven Whooping Cranes that stopped in South Dakota on their trip north to their breeding grounds. When I stare at this photo of those eleven Whooping Cranes, it is just mind boggling to think that 70 years ago this would have been nearly half of the world population of these birds. Whooping Cranes! An amazing story of survival.



Eleven Whooping Cranes near Geddes, South Dakota
April 6, 2010

Counting Birds in Pine Ridge

The distant Black Hills, Paha Sapa, as seen from Pine Ridge

Dark-eyed Junco

On January 2nd I journeyed out to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation to participate in the inaugural Pine Ridge Christmas Bird Count. I had an absolutely wonderful time! The weather was as good as one could hope to have in South Dakota in the winter. The day started off at 9 degrees, but climbed into the 40s by mid-afternoon. However, the warm sunshine and lack of wind made even the early morning hours quite bearable. Four of us spent 10 hours counting birds, but also checking out the area in preparation for the first official Christmas Bird Count next year. 



Townsend's Solitaire



The Pine Ridge Reservation in southwestern South Dakota is named for one of its dominant geographic features. A series of Ponderosa Pine-covered ridges rises above the valley of the White River that passes through the reservation from south to north. These forested ridges form a sort of transition from the treeless grasslands to the east and the Black Hills that rise about sixty miles west of Pine Ridge. Our 15 mile diameter count circle contained a good portion of Pine Ridge habitat, but also river valleys, wetlands and prairie.

We counted a total of 30 species of birds including Red Crossbill, Common Redpoll, Song Sparrow, Northern Shrike, Townsend's Solitaire, American Coot, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Wild Turkey, and Black-billed Magpie. The most commonly seen bird of the day, surprisingly, was American Goldfinch. We are excited about the possibilities that Pine Ridge offers for winter birding, and for increased participation in the Christmas Bird Count next year. Come on out in 12 months and join us!



Black-billed Magpie

 

Lady Harlequin



Harlequin Duck female

On New Year's Day I took a drive out to Rapid City to see the female Harlequin Duck that had been reported there for the past two weeks. Sure enough, I found the little duck almost immediately. Harlequin Ducks nest near turbulent waters in fast-moving mountain streams, and spend the winter along the seacoast. This little lady got sidetracked somehow and is wintering with a little group of Buffleheads in the swift flowing waters where Rapid Creek enters Canyon Lake. Harlequin Duck was life bird number 376, and number 304 on my South Dakota list.