Bird Notes
Bird Notes 3/6/08
Mar 6, 2008

Rosalind Kopfstein of Redding sends along this wonderful shot of a young Sharp-shinned Hawk, checking out the scene on her deck during a February snow storm.

What’s cackling?

“Your Backyard Bird Count list is only the second time I’ve seen referenced a ‘Cackling Goose’ (Connecticut’s least populous birds), and it’s not listed as such in either Sibley or Peterson’s,” writes Diana Gray of Wilton. “So — what is it? Is it recently split off from another goose?”

Exactly! The Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii, looks like a mini-Canada Goose. A Cackling is about 25 inches long while a true Canada is 45 inches.

Until 2004, the Cackling Goose was considered a race or subspecies of Canada Goose, but is now a species of its own. Consequently, bird guides older than 2004 or so will not have the species, but if you look closely at a Sibley Guide to Birds, even the 2000 edition, you will see that under Canada Goose, it shows the then-subspecies of Cackling Goose, along with the Dusky, Aleutian, Lesser, Richardsons, etc. In fact, it has three pictures of the Cackling Goose — so called because of its distinctive voice.

The Cackling Goose is native to the West Coast, not the East Coast, which is why seeing one here would be a real treat. And in fact, one has been spotted this winter on Mondo Pond, a short distance north of busy I-95, in the town of Milford, which may be the one noted in the Backyard Bird Count.

Curious happenings
“There are some curious happenings this winter at my feeders,” writes John McGinley of Wilton. “Never before have I seen Dark-eyed Juncos on the feeders. And this morning, I saw two White-throated Sparrows on a feeder, another first! Couldn’t believe my eyes as these are ground feeders, of course.

“One morning I had two crows on a small, covered platform feeder for the first time; they’ve been around, but not on the feeders.

“My main observation is how few birds there are here this winter. I have the same feeders, the same feed as in the past. In particular, I have not seen a single finch — other than goldfinches — since the fall. Have others had the same experience this year?”

Sightings
“In the middle of this past Saturday, the 23rd’s, snow storm, I had two Red-winged Blackbirds at my feeders, here in Weston,” writes Bob Karl Sr. of Old Georgetown Road. “I’ve never seen them at my feeders even when they are usually here, so I thought it worth noting. I got my camera to snap a shot, and they took off and never came back.”

“I just saw a few Fox Sparrows mixed in with the rest of the feeding birds,” reports Ron Tetelman of South Salem, noting a sure sign that spring is coming. “We also have had a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers eating the nutty butter suet cakes all winter. They seem to be fairly tame as they do not fly away when I walk past them.”

Ridgefield birders?
Ben Oko, a birder who is also chairman of Ridgefield’s Conservation Commission, was interested to see in last week’s column that Ridgefield was fourth highest in Connecticut in the number of reports turned in for the Great Backyard Bird Count in February. If there are so many active bird-watchers in Ridgefield, who are seeing interesting birds like redpolls, why not get together? he asks.

“I think it would be great fun if we could establish a birding group in Ridgefield to share sightings through the Internet,” he said. “Perhaps we could organize a Christmas and June bird count. We might even get involved in habitat improvement.”

No doubt, Ben wouldn’t mind if folks in neighboring towns were to want to join, too.

If anyone is interested in forming a birding group, based in Ridgefield, email benoko@comcast.net or call 203-894-8584.

“Also please let me know where you saw the redpolls,” he added.

Coming Up
Hammonasett Hike, looking for spring birds, Saturday, March 8, 8 to 11, free, Connecticut Audubon, pwood@ctaudubon.org, 860-767-0660.

Bluebird box building, for kids with adults, bring hammer and Phillips screwdriver, Saturday, March 8, 10:45 to 11:45, $15, Discovery Center, at Ridgefield Recreation Center, 438-1063 for reservations, ridgefielddiscovery.org.

Hudson River Eagle Trip, stops at various locations, Saturday, March 8, 2 to 6, Audubon Greenwich/Quaker Ridge Bird Club, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, 203-869-5272 x221, greenwich.audubon.org

Bald Eagle Survey at the Croton Dam, and visit to Black Rock Park, Croton-on-Hudson, to see ducks, Sunday, March 9, 3:30 5 p.m., Bedford Audubon, jebecker@bedfordaudubon.org  914-232-4806

Connecticut’s State of the Birds, talk by Milan Bull of Connecticut Audubon on latest conservation report, Wednesday, March 12, 7 to 8:30 p.m., $12/$10, New Pond Farm, 101 Marchant Road, West Redding, reservations required at 203-938-2117.

Wild Bird Nestbox Workshop, bluebirds, wrens, swallows, and owls Saturday, March 15,1:30 to 3 p.m., Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, 203-869-5272 x221, greenwich.audubon.org

Woodcock Courtship Watch, spring tradition, Saturday, March 15, 7 to 8 p.m., Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, 203-869-5272 x221, greenwich.audubon.org

Field Trip to Jones Beach, with Joan and Richard Becker, shore and migrating species, bring lunch, Saturday, March 15, leave by 7:30 a.m. from Katonah, Bedford Audubon, register with Joan Becker, jebecker@bedfordaudubon.org or 914- 232-4806.

Eagle Viewing Boats Tours, through March 16, Tuesdays/Thursdays, 10 a.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 9 and 11, Connecticut Audubon Society, 860-767-0660, pwood@ctaudubon.org

Beginning Birding, class, all ages, Saturday, March 22, 9:30 to noon, free, Audubon Greenwich, 613 Riversville Road, Greenwich, register 203-869-5272 x221, greenwich.audubon.org

Osprey Cruise on Connecticut River, Saturday, April 12, 10 to 11:30 a.m, $35, Connecticut Audubon, 860-767-0660, pwood@ctaudubon.org
 
Bird walks with Luke Tiller, Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. $5 each; to register, www.sunrisebirding.com/walks.htm; 203-981-9924, luke.tiller@gmail.com.

First Sundays, birding at Greenwich Point with Meredith Sampson of Wild Wings, and other guides, April 6, May 4, 9 a.m., meet at the second concession stand, 203-637-9822.

Bird walks, first Saturday at 7:30 a.m., free, meet at Wild Bird Center of Norwalk, 335 Westport Avenue (Route 1), www.wildbird.com/Norwalk, 203-846-BIRD.