4.23.17  Birds Enrichment Class - Wixon Innovation Middle School
South Dennis, MA

Another enrichment class spent outside, is ALWAYS a bonus for me!  Today I wanted to focus on one of the specific methods of identifying bird species: field marks.  When we spotted the first bird, right on the edge of the parking lot... several of us spotted her/him at the same time, because s/he was making a racket at the top of a tree on the edge of the school parking lot!  

I asked what they noticed first about this bird.  The color of the feathers, and then... the beak was mentioned.  "That bird has a long beak!"  I was PROUD!  YES!  Beaks/Bills are one of the best field marks to take note of when differenciating among bird species.  The first bird we saw/heard was a European Starling (see others listed below) and eventually s/he flew off with two other birds...who looked to be other European Starlings.

Then we saw a pair of birds swoop into the low shrubs on the side of the driveway.  It was difficult creeping toward them, because there were those in the group who weren't exactly silent...
Patience & Quiet.  Two extremely important tips when wanting to get closer to wild birds.  

I brought out some of the learning materials that I have for a number of common & relatively well-known species of bird.  We discussed the field marks of those birds in the photos and whether or not they were migrants or native avian residents.  The Cape is such a unique habitat and how fortunate I get to share it with interested and enthusiastic students at Wixon! (double click photos to enlarge)
Our List:
European Starling
Song Sparrow
Pine Warbler
American Crow

European Starling

European Starling, offering a perfect opportunity for a silhouette lesson

Checking out the European Starling

American Crow

Song Sparrows are in these low shrubs and trees...

Comparing notes about European Starlings & Pine Warblers

Bird identification cards!

Happy Birding young Bird Nerds!

4.20.17 Birdwatching For Beginners - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster, MA

When it's April school vacation here in Massachusetts, I'm always hopeful and excited that some young Bird Nerds will show up for this presentation.  Turns out, I lucked out with an enthusiastic, eager to participate and wonderfully listening bunch!

I couldn't wait to get them outside and they were gung ho to head there as well.  Typically I do not have a notebook handy after the presentation to record the species we see, because our time is limited.  I will list the species I remember we all saw and/or heard while we spent the last 15 minutes of class together.  I hope I get to hear from some of these bird loving kiddos in the future as they add to their life lists of birds they've seen themselves!  (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
Black-capped Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Cardinal
American Crow
Herring Gull
Osprey
Mallard
Double-crested Cormorant
Northern Harrier (!!!)
American Goldfinch

Focusing on a Black-capped Chickadee, using birdoculars

Checking their "wing span"

ALWAYS a pleasure to meet young Bird Nerds!

Happy Birding!

Next Opportunity for Birdwatching For Beginners: 5.11.17 @ 10am
Members: FREE, Non-members: Included with price of admission to the museum

4.18.17 Tuesday Tweets - John Wing Trail - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster, MA

I feel it's always good to have a change of scenery, especially when you're traveling the same trails.  We always notice new things along our way during Tuesday Tweets and I've decided to loop in the other direction on the trail these past two weeks.  There was enough wind to keep us from the sands of Cape Cod Bay this morning, not to mention an extended Pine Warbler show!  Last week, we could hear him(the Pine Warbler), but we never got a peek at him.  I'm not crazy enough to be talking about the same bird, I just mean that it can be slightly frustrating hearing that beautiful lilt coming from the tree tops... without even a glimpse of the pretty bird it's coming from.  We do get a catchy natural soundtrack on our walks each time we take to these trails.

The Ospreys did not disappoint, and we were able to see and hear them as we crossed the marsh this morning.  As we approached Paines Creek, I did hear a Belted Kingfisher in the distance, though we never caught sight of one.  What I did hear over and over again, was the "WHEEP!" of what sounded somewhat like a Great-crested Flycatcher... though I kept saying as I was hearing it,"...but it's too early..." (in the season). Then I also said, "...it could be an Eastern Towhee.  My ears are sometimes fooled this time of year."  Then a few moments after I mentioned it...the Eastern Towhee male flew across the marsh and the creek.  First Towhee of 2017 for most of us! : )

I wanted to also check the meadow, so even though that meant a bit of back pedaling along the trail, it didn't matter.  We lucked out on the meadow as well, because both an Eastern Bluebird male, and an American Goldfinch male both popped up.  They even posed for an instant or three together in the distance.  Sorry... I didn't get a photo of that, it was too quick and far away.  The Bluebird photos I did get are far from perfect, but I feel they're about appreciating the blue, rust and white plumage of that happy little thrush, that made my photos worthwhile to post here.  (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
Northern Cardinal
Black-capped Chickadee
Osprey
Great Black-backed Gull
Song Sparrow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Tufted Titmouse
American Goldfinch
American Crow
Mallard
Belted Kingfisher
Herring Gull
Pine Warbler
Mourning Dove
Brown-headed Cowbird
Eastern Towhee
Laughing Gull
Eastern Bluebird
White-breasted Nuthatch

Song Sparrow & as Chuck noticed...s/he has a band on her/his right leg

Song Sparrow

Bird Nerds on the trail

Checking out Paines Creek

Paines Creek

Pine Warbler - male

Pine Warbler - male

Good silhouette lesson of  a Pine Warbler
note the size of his beak, how he is perching
and the shape of  the tip of his tail

Pine Warbler - male

Laughing Gulls

Eastern Bluebird - silhouette

Eastern Bluebird - male (not a great photo, but he was FAR away

Eastern Bluebird - male

Looks like someone's den...

Next Opportunity for Tuesday Tweets: 5.2.17 9:30am 
*Note* Price Change as of May 2017: $4Members/$6 Non-member 
Rain Cancels the walk
Happy Birding!

4.11.17 Tuesday Tweets - John Wing Trail - Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster, MA

It feels good to be able to not be concerned about chilly temperatures and ice on the ground... it's always a hesitant grace period in April here on the Cape though.  We still have our snow shovels right outside both the front and back door at home.  Habit.  We were out on the trails to check the habits of the locals and potential migrants though, and see and hear them...we DID!  I thoroughly enjoy pointing out the intriguing song of the Song Sparrow, and for Tuesday Tweet new-comers, it's a treat to share.  If only I could sing as they do!   I'm a nerd, but I'm not a bird... oh well.  We were welcomed on the trail by such a Song Sparrow, who seemed oh so comfortable singing along as we approached the marsh.

We noticed that the Osprey's nest had grown a bit and I noted that I'd seen them on the nest with fish the day before, arranging sticks this way and that... hoping for a better year than last. (If you're unfamiliar, last year's juvenile osprey chicks/eggs did NOT make it. The nest was raided - AWFUL!) Folks often ask me if the same pair returns to this nest each year. We really have no way of knowing.  These Osprey are not tracked or banded and so... maybe, is my best guess.   I once asked Sue Finnegan (Master Bird Bander) if she banded the Osprey. She is only permitted and trained for song birds, in fact she fashions her own bands for hummingbirds!  Banding raptors is an ENTIRELY different ball game.  I'm crazy enough to do it maybe someday...  who knows?!  My main concern would be the stress upon the birds themselves though.  I'm foolishly fearless enough to work with pretty much any species of animal (save arachnids...not my fave).  New future hobby, perhaps?

When we arrived on the sands of Cape Cod Bay, we had some excellent views of Brants...as they are still here.  The field guides who were also along the trails training new field guides had mentioned they'd seen Tree Swallows had returned and indeed... they had. We were able to catch some sweet  Tree Swallow views as we headed back toward the museum and they perched on the nest boxes standing in the meadow.  What an unusual sound they have and their plumage... SO beautiful!  The feathers on the top of their bodies are a brilliant aquamarine when the sunshine hits them just so.  It feels warm on the inside when we start spotting the spring time migrants... 

C'mon summer!  We're anxious for you! (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
American Crow
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Pine Warbler
Downy Woodpecker
Black-capped Chickadee
Osprey
Great Black-backed Gull
Laughing Gull
Northern Flicker
Tree Swallow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Wild Turkey
American Goldfinch
Brant
Herring Gull
Tree Swallow
Mourning Dove

Song Sparrow

Osprey

Bird Nerds on Tuesday Tweets

Black-capped Chickadee

Northern Flicker

One of Sue Finnegan's (Cape Cod Bird Bander) mist nets, wrapped up

Incredible view... never get tired of it

Brants

Brant

Brant flying over our heads on the beach

Spotting Brown-headed Cowbird in the tree along the trail

Brown-headed Cowbird - male

Tree Swallow on nest box in the meadow

Tree Swallow pair perched on top of nest box

SO GOOD to see Osprey back in force on the Cape!
Hope this is a better summer for this nest!

Sometimes photography in motion ends up looking more like a painting due to the blur...
I just love Brants.

Next Opportunity for Tuesday Tweets: 4.18.17 9:30am $2Members/$4Non-member
Happy Birding!
*Note* The price of Tuesday Tweets will be changing in May: ($4Members/$6Non-members)

4.10.17  Birds Enrichment Class - Wixon Innovation Middle School
South Dennis, MA

Yahoo!  It actually feels like Spring has finally sprung!  I keep hearing from folks that they're seeing Ospreys, and I'm seeing them everywhere I turn... hooray for the warmer season!  I decided to hike the trails behind the school to discover if there was a loop of sorts to bring the bird nerds to, so they could fit a nice woodsy walk into their Monday afternoon. Fortunately there is a perfect loop for the time we have, which is less than an hour, but I knew it meant we'd have to keep moving.  

They seemed excited that we were returning to the trails that I had just shown them last week!  There's something about a trail through the woods that has always drawn me in and I've written about that before.  I'm always interested in where it leads, what will I see and hear on the way, how will the habitat smell & what critters might I be lucky enough to encounter.  Woods are so perfect for exploring and the bird nerds had to agree.  I pointed out different trees & pine cones along the way.  Even though we didn't SEE a Pine Warbler, we sure heard him in the tree tops!  My first Pine Warbler of 2017 was just Saturday.

Happy to have sunshine in our favor, as we continued on our path, we eventually could see a pond in the distance through the trees.  "What does water mean...?" I asked.  "What are the four things that every living thing needs to survive?".  "How COOL is it that we get to see a pond on our walk today?!" 

Soon after spotting the water in the distance and discussing its importance, we heard an American Crow, and then a Northern Cardinal... there seemed to be a healthy habitat in and around that pond, which I believe to be Grassy Pond of Dennis.  We couldn't hike to the actual edge of the pond through the woods... there wasn't enough time (there never seems to be!) and our class size permits a lot of travel.  I need to make sure we're safely all together when we venture outside, on adventure after adventure.  (double click photos to enlarge)

Our List:
Herring Gull 
Pine Warbler
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Northern Cardinal
American Crow
Blue Jay
Northern Flicker
American Robin
Turkey Vulture

Tree split in two.  How?  Why?
The woods are full of questions.

Can you spot the White-breasted Nuthatch hanging upside down?

This nuthatch is providing an excellent lesson on silhouettes for bird ID

Walking the trails behind the school

We didn't have a lot of time and we had to keep MOVING!

If you look in the distance in the middle of the top of the photo...
you can see Grassy Pond.

Young Bird Nerds

Comparing White Pine (on the left) & Pitch Pine (on the right)

Pine cone comparison

One students who is VERY enthusiastic about birds (she has her own as pets!)
brought in a beautiful book about raptors

As we were crossing the field, the bird nerds
spotted a HUGE Turkey Vulture soaring over the trees

Guess who found the photos of a Turkey Vulture in her book! : )

Happy Birding young Bird Nerds!