Migrant drama, frolicking flickers, sweet-toothed squirrels

Written by Jack Sanders
Friday, 06 November 2009 14:06

Claire Gladstone writes a couple weeks ago, “Sitting here at my desk, looking out the window, there has been an amazing show! It is the fall migration being performed in several acts...

“Act 1, Tufted Titmouse, first juncos of the season, Phoebes and, I think, a few kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

“Act 2, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Flickers! Where is the Pileated?

“Act 3, A chorus of Robins, Cedar Waxwings, purple House Finches, and bluebirds!

“The Grand Finale was the Belted Kingfisher flying across the pond!

“Fall and spring migration are always so amazing!”

Flicker frolic

John McGinley of Wilton read about Bruno Santini’s trunk-frolicking Pileated Woodpeckers last week and offers his own experience.

“I was reminded of what I called my ‘flicker tree’ in the woods out back of my house. Tall, dead and pockmarked with woodpecker holes, it had many woodpeckers as residents, judging by the holes.

“One spring as I searched the back woods with my binoculars, I happened to catch a glimpse of a flicker on the tree trunk going round and round, up and down. Then there was another one. They were playing tag, round about, up and down. I watched, fascinated, for 10 or more minutes. Could not tell the sex of the birds, but they were having a time!

“Sad ending though: one day a year or so later, I found the tree fallen, a home no more for these beautiful birds and their friends.”

On the ground, though, John’s tree will continue to be a home for food, such as ants and various larvae, that birds — including Pileated Woodpeckers and flickers — savor.

Sweet squirrel

Two columns ago, we reported that Gail Jaroff of Chappaqua, N.Y., “was surprised to look out my window one late August day to see a squirrel hanging from his toes, tipping our disc hummer feeder and sipping the nectar. Is this unusual?” We have since learned that just about all mammals have sweet “tooths” — or, rather, tongues. Mammalian tongues have receptors that detect sweetness and, consequently, they enjoy the taste. There is an exception: One of wild birds’ greatest enemies, the cat.

According to an article a couple of years ago in Scientific American, cats may be the only mammals hereabouts that lack the ability to taste sweetness. “Sweetness is a sign of rich carbohydrates — an important food source for plant-eaters and the nondiscriminating, like humans,” the magazine said. Cats, being almost solely carnivores, are not equipped to detect this plant-eaters’ delight. That would include Bobcats and Mountain Lions, the former a certain resident of our area and the latter, a reported visitor.

Helping songbirds

Bedford Audubon has an interesting talk coming up in Katonah: Supporting Migratory Songbirds through Rehabilitation, Reduction of Negative Impacts, and Birdscaping.

In this illustrated lecture Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at the Katonah Memorial House, 71 Bedford Road, Jayne Amico will cover all aspects of bird rehabilitation, explaining the process of rehabilitation right up to release. She will tell why the birds required rehabilitation, and what types of injuries/conditions occur. Ms. Amico will also provide tips on how we can reduce negative impacts around our homes and town such as keeping cats indoors, how to prevent window strikes and car hits, etc.

The presentation will include ways to attract certain species of birds by planting specific trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Ms. Amico is a state and federally licensed rehabilitator and president and founder of The Recovery Wing, Inc. in Southington, Conn., a private, non-profit center for the rehabilitation of migratory songbirds. She cares for several hundred songbirds each year with her expertise focusing on warblers, flycatchers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, Chimney Swifts, swallows, and Killdeer. For more information, visit bedfordaudubon.org.

Coming Up

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, trip, Saturday, Nov. 7, 9 to 3, Audubon Greenwich, RSVP Ted 203-869-5272 at x230.

Field Trip to Franklin Mountain Hawkwatch, Delaware-Otsego Audubon Society Sanctuary, Oneonta, N.Y. with Arthur Green Wednesday, Nov. 11, 10 a.m. (Carpool from Bylane Farm, 35 Todd Road, Goldens Bridge at 6:30 a.m.) Estimated return: 6 p.m., Bedford Audubon, Register This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (914) 232-4806 bedfordaudubon.org

Winter Birds and Project Feederwatch, how to participate in Cornell Lab’s “citizen science” program, Saturday, Nov. 14, 1:30 to 3, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, RSVP 203-869-5272 at x221.

Copyright (c) 2009 by Jack Sanders. Send sightings or comments to: jackfsanders [at sign] yahoo.com, or to Bird Notes, Box 1019, Ridgefield, CT 06877; or call 203-438-1183, extension BIRD (2473), and leave a message with your report, spelling your first and last names and telling us your town. If you need help identifying a bird, try your local nature center. If you find an injured bird, call wildlife rehabilitator Darlene Wimbrow of Redding, 203-438-0618, Wildlife in Crisis of Weston, 203-544-9913, or Wild Wings of Greenwich, 203-637-9822. The columnist’s website is www. sandersbooks. com.

---

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites