Groups ponder fate of bird with a fowl reputation

By Andrew Marra

The purple swamphen looks positively chicken-esque as it stalks through the marsh: feathered, feckless and full of wide-eyed chicken innocence.But is it fowl or foe?

Maybe both, experts say. The exotic bird, which is quickly gaining prominence in Palm Beach County wetlands, has some environmentalists worrying about its international reputation for eating bird eggs and ducklings.

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Ridgefield is one of my favorite places to go birding. Several years ago, a friend took me there early in the morning. Edi was my birding mentor if you will. It was early spring and cool. I was beginning to get a little bored - I wanted to see something new!

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something stir…and then it was gone…but was it? I stood looking at the stand of reeds for the longest time…and then I saw it…an American Bittern. Normally they stay well hidden amoung the cattails and bullrush, so I was delighted to see one.

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge | American Bittern

Every year I’m delighted to watch the hummingbirds that visit our feeders. This year, we have one on the deck where we can watch them while we too are having our breakfast.

I have birdhouses and birdfeeders all over the property. However, for some reason I seemed to have missed the idea of a hummingbird house! Here’s more information….

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The Joys And Benefits Of Hummingbird Houses
by Keith Londrie

These days bird-watching has escalated as “baby boomers” and other groups are aging and taking to the quiet life. This includes not only reading, contemplation, and thoughtful conversation, but also bird watching. Bird watching is a fastly growing form of entertainment that used to be reserved for a special breed of person.

One of the most curious, fascinating birds to be seen are hummingbirds, and for this, a bird house specifically designed to their species is a perfect way to attract this rare, exceptional creature to one’s yard. Hummingbird houses attract these wonderous creatures for your viewing and listening pleasure.

Hummingbirds are the world’s smallest birds. For this reason, along with some of their habits and unique flying abilities, they have garnered much attention through the years. It is the dream of many bird watchers to have a small showing of these creatures on a regular basis. The best way to do this is to have some hummingbird houses on site. A well kept hummingbird house will bring much satisfaction to not only the birds themselves, but to the people watching these wonderous creatures.

Hummingbird houses, like their occupants, are small. They can be so small, in fact, that their houses are relatively hidden from view. This is fine for many people as it is the bird itself that they wish to view, and so such houses are sometimes placed at the inner part of a branch, close to the tree trunk.

Of course, one need not place the houses only on a tree as hummingbird houses also go well hanging from the overhangs and gutters of houses, along with off of shrubs, poles, and other such free-standing plants and structures that are tall enough to preclude an incursion by cats.

By their size, hummingbird houses can be made from almost anything that is much larger than an adult human’s hand. This includes small boxes, gourds, tin cans, and milk cartons. The basics of such homes are simply an enclosure with a small hole that will allow access for these tiny birds. On that note, the homes can be specific to this species by making the hole only large enough for hummingbirds (though some other small species might be able to also finagle their way in too, such as finches).

To add to the attractive nature of such a home, place the structure near to flowers that are frequented by hummingbirds. Further, by offering a feeder, hummingbirds will be predisposed to make a visit. A word of warning is offered about this, however. The drink that hummingbirds consume is not mere sugar water, and to offer sugar water only can be harmful to hummingbirds as they can acquire a fungus in their beaks that can be a mere nuisance or even deadly. To avoid this problem it is best to purchase hummingbird nectar.

Keith Londrie II is a well known author and bird expert as well as the owner of http://www.about-bird-houses.info/ - a unique collection of information about our fine feathered friends.

I love the area I live in…especially this time of year. We are on the Pacific Flyway…and each year at this time we get tens of thousands of shorebirds migrating through. It’s spectacular to watch.

While the birds are already hear, the official Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival begins next week. Read more about my neck of the words and this magnificent event!

Have you ever thought about having birds as pets? I once worked in a place where there was a large cage of small birds. I was told they were finches. I loved listening to them. Well they had some babies, and one day I arrived at work and was gifted with these birds.

So I went out and purchased a large cage. I learned lots about finches during that time, but was missing a vital piece of information. These little birds like to stay busy! That means they reproduce…it seemed as quick as rabbits! Every week there seemed to be new eggs present in the nests I provided.

It was quite a lesson!
And I still loved hearing them wake in the morning…
Read more about Finches and Canaries.

Yes…now you can be a part of the scientific team! If you live in Georgia (though check with your local extension office to see if they need help as well.

“If you see a bird with a fat tick stuck to its face, you may be able to help in a research project. What the scientists want you to do is send them the ticks.”

Read more about this….Scientists Asking for Favor: Send Ticks

What a splendid article on birding in Uganda. One can feel the excitement, the awe of seeing new and unique (and rare) birds. Here is an excerpt:

Slowly, an enormous bird circled above. It had long, broad wings, an extended neck, long legs trailing behind, and an outsized bill that looked like the shoe part of an L.L. Bean boot. The bird spiraled down and landed in the marsh, and we got good looks at this rare bird.

Read more: Adventures in East Africa