The top 20 ‘at-risk conservation indicator’ birds

Written by Sally Sanders
Thursday, 29 January 2009 11:52

About one-half of all bird species “native” to Connecticut — 130 kinds — are considered “at risk” under either the Federal or state Endangered Species Acts or by one of four key bird conservation organizations.

The breeding birds of New York: Gains and losses

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 22 January 2009 14:09

A new atlas on the birds of New York reports that during the past two decades, more than half of that state’s bird populations have seen dramatic changes in their distributions — mostly for the better.

Birds in Winter: How do they survive?

Written by Sally Sanders
Thursday, 15 January 2009 13:31

When the weather gets cold and snowy, many people wonder — even worry — about how the birds will survive.

A good year for seeing siskins

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 08 January 2009 13:02

From all over Connecticut and southeastern New York come reports that Pine Siskins are descending on the area. Some winters these birds of the northlands appear only occasionally and other times, they show up in vast numbers — as far south as northern Florida. It appears that this may be a good year for seeing siskins.

The fate of the errant calliope

Written by Sally Sanders
Wednesday, 31 December 2008 11:11

Recently we mentioned the Calliope Hummingbird that showed up in Simsbury, Conn., after having traveled 3,000 miles to the east instead of to the south. It apparently was a fatal mistake.

Eagle-watching time arrives

Written by Jack Sanders
Wednesday, 24 December 2008 10:48

Eagle-watching season at the Shepaug dam is about to begin.

Reservations are being taken for The Shepaug Bald Eagle Observation Area in Southbury, which opens for its 24th season Dec. 27.

How to attract birds to a new feeder

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 18 December 2008 14:46

How long should it take to attract birds to a new feeder?

As the Realtors say, it depends on “location, location, location.”

And, as many Realtors are now also saying, “patience, patience, patience.”

Project FeederWatch is fun and valuable

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 11 December 2008 16:17

The Christmas Bird Count, the oldest “citizen science” program in the bird world is taking place the next few weekends (dates below in “Coming Up”). However, Project FeederWatch is a newer method of helping ornithologists is easier to participate in, and may appeal to many readers, especially those with children.

Meet our smallest owl: The Northern Saw-whet

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 04 December 2008 11:54

Tiny owl

Not all our owls are large, and Vi Patek of Lewisboro, N.Y., recently came across our smallest.

“Yesterday, for the first time in my life, I saw what was probably a Northern Saw-whet Owl, on our own property. What drew my attention was a massive uproar by crows, blue jays, titmice, every chickadee in town, and nuthatches too. They were all focusing on a low branch in a thick hemlock. I spent a long time looking for the cause of their upset, and finally saw a very, very small owl, only about seven inches long! He was as still as a Christmas tree ornament — hence my difficulty in finding him.  

“I sent this news to a very knowledgeable person in Bedford Audubon Society who said it was most likely a Northern Saw-whet Owl. I played its song on the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology site — I have never heard that tooting sound before. Interestingly, alarms have been raised regularly by birds at sunset in this spot in our woods next to an old owl house, which has been languishing under the residency of squirrels for the past 15 years. Maybe the tiny owl took the house??”

The Northern Saw-whet Owl is the Northeast’s smallest owl, only eight inches long, though the common Screech Owl is only a tad larger at 8.5 inches. (For a comparison, a cardinal is bigger than both, about 8.75 inches.) It eats small rodents, insects, birds, and even bats.

The unusual name comes from one of its calls, described as sch-whet, sch-whet or shweeee (a more common call is a series of toots). One authority says “saw-whet” was inspired by the call’s resembling the sound of a saw being sharpened or whetted.

While it is tiny by usual owl norms, the Northern Saw-whet is hardly North America’s smallest. That honor is held by the Elf Owl, found in the Southwest, which measures only five or so inches in length.

The irruption of the owls: A seasonal treat

Written by Jack Sanders
Wednesday, 26 November 2008 11:11

While most folks are thinking of turkeys at this time of year, many Connecticut birders have had owls and hummingbirds on their mind.

At least two Snowy Owls have been hanging around the Fairfield County coastline for the past month or so. John McGinley of Wilton got the accompanying shot at Sherwood Island State Park on Nov. 9. The same day, one was reported a few miles to the west at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk. Perhaps they were the same bird. Sightings are also being reported in Orange and Stratford, and experts believe there are at least two being seen on the Connecticut coast.

Early in the month, observations and photographs of the Snowy Owl in Norwalk showed a wire, probably an antenna from a tracking device, trailing from the bird, said the Connecticut Bird Digest, a daily report on activity in the state. “Apparently this was not seen [later] by any of the various observers. The obvious choices are that whatever it was, fell off, or that [the later] Snowy Owl is a different bird.”

Scores of bird-watchers headed to various points in Norwalk, Westport and Stratford to see the owls, which normally hang out in northern Canada. Probably because of their large size and ghostly appearance, Snowy Owls are one of the most famous of our “irruptive species.”