BirdWalk Newsletter 12.03.2017 Walks Conducted by Perry Nugent Newsletter Written by Jayne J. Matney A bird seems to be at the top of the scale, so vehement and intense his life The beautiful vagabonds, endowed with every grace, masters of all climes, and knowing no bounds how many human aspirations are realized in their free, holiday-lives and how many suggestions to the poet in their flight and song! John Burroughs, Birds and Poets, 1887 Photo by Chuck Fuhrman Even if you are not particularly confident at identifying birds, you could first become adept at sighting and then hypothesizing the birds lifestyles by taking note of their beaks and feet. Knowledge in this area can help you understand the natural history/daily activities of the birds you are viewing. Different types of birds hold key roles in their environment according to what they eat and how they behave. By observing just the beak shape and feet type, you will be able to place them in their perspective roles. Not only that, but as you will notice upon learning these shapes of beaks and types of feet, the two body parts go hand-in-hand. Soon, you may only need to see the beak and know what type of feet that corresponds to it. Let s take a look at how this usually plays out. The dabblers are going to be the birds that eat aquatic plants along the surface of bodies of slow moving water such as in ponds or swamps. Their bills are wide, flat, and long. They use this wide, flat beak to gain higher surface area making contact with the water Dabblers: Blue-winged Teal pair Photo by Chuck Fuhrman
in order to better collect, chew, and sieve algae and plants along the way. Because that is their mode of eating, they are going to need feet which scoot them along the water s surface easily and efficiently. Therefore, the best feet for this would be a webbed type of feet. Ducks, such as Wood Ducks, Teals, and Gadwall, will fit the bill (I know I am a bit corny). Top photos by Guenter Weber The spearers are going to be the birds with large, pointed bills used to spear fish and other prey. They have thick bills which can stand up to being used in this manner. Birds with this type of bill are usually going to be the wading birds such as herons and egrets. They slowly walk along the water s edge watching for fish, or they stand in the grasses along the edge and wait for an unsuspecting prey. Because they are wading along the shoreline which can be rocky, shelled, or muddy, they will need relatively long legs to stay high above the Photo above by Jo Frkovich Anhinga Photo above by Marina Coppedge water s surface and light weight feet that can spread out along the surface to prevent from sinking down in mud banks. Finger-like toes are an advantage as to bend with the stones and shells for balance as they walk. An exception to this is the Anhinga, which demonstrates spearing of its prey but does this while swimming underwater rather than wading. Because this bird must swim to spear fish, it has feet that are webbed.
The probers are those birds which use their beak to probe down into mud seeking crayfish, crabs, worms, crustaceans, and other mud dwellers. These birds will have long slender beaks with a gradual curve downward. They stroll along in mudflats or pastures and fields checking the soft soils for prey. Therefore, their feet will be similar to the other rails who are spearers. Examples of this type of bird in this area are the White and Glossy Ibis. Photo left by Marina Coppedge Photo by Cary McDonald Probers of another sort, the nectar eater, is the bird which has a distinctly long, slender probing beak which is perfect for gathering nectar from flowers. These beaks are so thin that the bird can extract nectar from delicate flowers without harming the flower parts. Eventually, these birds will need to land and rest on limbs. Therefore, their feet tend to be perching feet. These feet are fingered with 3 toes in front and 1 toe in back which can grasp around small limbs easily. Hummingbirds are a favorite of this sort. Another prober of sorts is the insect probing bird. Some birds will walk the tree trunks while banging holes or pulling away bark in search for bugs beneath. These birds tend to have tough, but long, narrow beaks with pointed ends. Those that bang and probe along the trunk of tree have more chisel-like beaks. Flickers and woodpeckers fall into this category. Because they must grip along the tree truck surfaces to do their foraging, the feet are going to be similar to the normal perching birds but with 2 toes forward and 2 toes Pileated Woodpecker Photo by Chuck Fuhrman backward.
Insect eaters, like the insect probers, will tend to have tough, but long, narrow beaks with pointed ends. These long, narrow beaks will give the bird a gaming chance at nabbing an insect- whether it be located in the air, on the ground, or on another type surface. Examples of this type of bird would be the nuthatches, vireos, kingfisher, and cuckoos. Sometimes birds that are insect eaters also diversify into berries, seeds, and nuts. If so, the beaks will compromise into a beak that is not quite as long and thin. These birds are very active in the air and amongst the trees and brush. Therefore, they will need perching type feet. Above: Prothonotary Warbler with caterpillar Left: Red-winged Blackbird female with dragonfly Photos by Guenter Weber The berry, seed, and nut eaters will have beaks that lean favorably toward vises that can crack the seeds and nuts. Beaks must be very strong in order to do this. These beaks will look shorter and thicker than the usual beak to prevent cracking or chipping. Because these birds find the berries and seeds in plant-life in the habitat, they will need to flutter through the branches and land next to the food source. Therefore, their feet will be perching type feet. Left: Northern Cardinal female with seed Below: Northern Mockingbird with berry Both Photos by Guenter Weber
American Robin with berry Photo by Guenter Weber Yellow-billed Cuckoo with caterpillar Photo by Marc Regnier
Lastly, but certainly not least, are the prey birds. They will have beaks that are thick, sharp, curved, and pointed. Many people describe them to have a hooked bill. This bill is specially designed to grasp prey and tear into flesh. Vultures and Cormorants fall into this category of bill type even though they are not actually prey birds. Most birds that need to capture prey usually have large, strong feet with sharp talons, or claws, to aid the birds for clutching their prey and holding on tightly as they fly or tear with their beaks. Examples of these birds are the eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons. The bird is powered by its own life and by its motivation. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Left top: Black Vultures (photo by Marina Coppedge) Left middle: Bald Eagle (photo by Angie Bridges) Left bottom: Barred Owl (photo by Marina Coppedge) Above right: Osprey (photo by Cathy Padgett)
It s December already! Sunday, December 3 rd was a cool, overcast day as Chris Smith leading the walk. 42 species were noted. As far as numbers go, the Gadwall counted out to be 100 strong, while the Common Moorhen and American Coot both counted out to 200! The plantation grounds are exuding in numbers for Yellow-rumped Warbler as well with 100 estimated to be seen. The numbers for Swamp Warblers has also gained momentum with 12 being seen. Putting the numbers aside, the other viewing highlights include a Ruddy Duck at the Ravenswood Pond, a Wilson s Snipe out by the large impoundment, and a Purple Finch. The woodpecker family showed up this Sunday with 4 Red-bellied Woodpecker sightings, 1 Downy Woodpecker, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, and 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The regulars of the season included Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, Double Crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Great Blue Heron (which are being observed gathering sticks in preliminary nesting and partnering behavior), Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tri-colored Heron, White Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk (mobbed by crows), Ringed-billed Gull, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Rubycrowned Kinglet, Northern Mockingbird, Common Yellowthroat, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, and Common Grackle.