Amazing Bird Songs
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Watch this youtube video to hear the amazing lyre bird, which mimics the calls of other birds - and chainsaws, car alarms and camera shutters...
Egg Mass Surveying
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Surveying has been great. We've found long-toed eggs (AMMA) at the Mint Farm in Longview, and red-legged frog (RAAU) egg masses west of Longview up Spruce Creek, at Germany Creek and Nelson Creek and in a cow pasture in Kalama. Northwestern Salamanders are laying in Germany Creek and South Nemah. From Corkran and Thoms's Amphibians of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia: WINTER (Some periods of freezing weather; often December to mid February.) During periods of warm rain:
- Long-toed Salamanders gather at breeding sites and lay their eggs. Sudden, prolonged, sub-freezing weather can kill both adults and eggs.
- The first Red-legged Frogs lay their eggs.
- The low croaking of Pacific Treefrogs can be heard away from the ponds, but they are not yet breeding.
Early Spring (Frost some nights, some sun, some late snows; often late February and March) During periods of warm rain:
- The first Northwestern Salamanders lay their eggs.
- The last Long-toed Salamanders lay their eggs, and many of the earlier eggs hatch.
- The last Red-legged frogs lay their eggs.
- Pacific Treefrogs begin chorusing and may begin to lay eggs.
It looks like we may be in early spring. This sure describes what we're seeing out there in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties. Looks like chorus frog eggs have been found in Clark County.
A Fascinating Hunting Behavior
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Andrew Emlen of Skomokawa observed a fascinating behavior last December. Here are the details as described by Andrew: A female Northern Harrier landed on a duck (possibly a wigeon, of which there were others nearby) in the pond opposite Hornstra Beach in the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge. The Harrier was belly-deep in the water as the duck struggled.
Learn about the most promiscuous bird
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Recent studies have revealed a special survival mechanism for a bird living on the east coast of the US. Now it's called the world's most promiscuous bird. The saltmarsh sparrow, that lives in the marshes of Connecticut, was found to have high levels of multiple mating. The scientists found that 95% of females mated with more than one male during each nesting period. They assume that this unusual behaviour could be a survival mechanism due to coastal flooding. Using DNA analysis and studying the birds mating behaviour in the marsh habitat, the researchers revealed the highly promiscuous activities of the bird. The results were published in the journal The Auk.
Check out this BBC website for more information.
2009 Christmas Bird Count Results from Leadbetter Point
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For the Leadbetter Point Christmas Bird Count (CBC), on December 19, 2009, we noted 91 species, including one species new and another species with the highest number during our 35+ years of doing the Count.
Number of individuals: 29,508. Temps: low 38F, high 54F. Winds: 0 to 10 mph. Cloud cover 90% to 100%, light rain or mist at nearly all times, 95% of day, 0.5 inches total. Low fog hampered views of water birds, and shortened visibility significantly. At least the wind wasn't blowing! Many very low counts or groups of species missing which are noted nearly every year: scoters, loons, grebes, cormorants, finches.
Our number of participants, 37, was the highest ever for our count. Our CBC circle
Read more: 2009 Christmas Bird Count Results from Leadbetter Point
2009 Christmas Bird Count Results from Wahkiakum County
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On December 29, 2009, 21 volunteers participated in the twelfth annual Wahkiakum Christmas Bird Count.
Though the temperature rose into the low 40's from the morning's freezing temperatures, a cold east wind blowing over 20 mph in many parts of the circle made it hard to find birds. Some afternoon rain and snow didn't help either.
The count of 104 species is three below our average. Two species were new to the Wahkiakum CBC. Eurasian Collared-Doves are now well- established on Puget Island, where 10 were found on count day. An Empidonax sp. flycatcher was found near the east end of East Birnie Slough Road, Puget Island. I attempted to relocate it, but did not succeed.
Other uncommon finds for our circle included an Eared Grebe,
Read more: 2009 Christmas Bird Count Results from Wahkiakum County
Christmas Bird Count discussed on NPR's Science Friday
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Listen to an interview with the Christmas Bird Count and Feeder Watch coordinators on NPR's Science Friday from 2009 here and from 2008 here and continuing here with a discussion of the benefits of shade grown coffee. The 2009 interview in particular talks about the northward movement of birds as documented by the counts.
January - February 2010 Whistler is online
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The January - February 2010 Whistler is available now.
Some of its content:
- Amphibian Survey and Program
- Presidents Message
- Member Form and WHAS News
- Birding Bits; Poem: Wounded Bird…
- How to Save Energy – a Conversation with B. Fisher
- Nelson Creek / Recent Fieldtrip report
- Lake Sacajawea Signs are up / Local Events
- Book Review, Officer Nomination Form
- WHAS Programs and Field Trips
Deery Memorial Signage
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The Avian Interpretive Sign project is now complete. The signs were installed at Lake Sacajawea Park in Longview on 12/7/09 and are already being recognized as a beautiful enhancement to the park.
New 'Palouse to Pines' Birding Trail Map
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State Sen. Lisa Brown and Audubon Washington cordially invite you to the unveiling of the newest map of the Great Washington State Birding Trail, the Palouse to Pines Loop, and featuring LIVE BIRDS like those seen on this route:
- a Great Horned Owl and a
- Red-tailed Hawk.
Time and Location:
Jan. 26, 2010 -- 12:45-1:00p.m
Rooms ABC Cherberg Building
State Capitol Campus, Olympia, WA
Please join us in the presentation of the latest area of the state to offer the Birding Trail’s successful combination of outdoor recreation, conservation and rural economic development.
Please click
- Environmental Lobby Day 2010
- WHAS received the GOLDEN LOPPER AWARD
- November - December 2009 Whistler is online
- Nelson Creek Update
- Acidification of Willapa Bay
- September - October Whistler is online
- Aesop's fable not so far fetched
- Inside Birding by Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
- Snake Meets Its Match
- July - August Whistler is online