Chickadees, Juncos, and Jays Oh My!

Funky Nests in Funky Places Contest – May 1-June 15

californiabirdwatching — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:16:53 +0000

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Celebrate Urban Birds is having their annual Funky Nests in Funky Places Contest!

Have you noticed any bird nests in your neighborhood? Peek in a hanging flower basket, a street light, a store sign, your barbecue grill, an old boot, or under a bridge! Birds build nests in the strangest places!

Be creative! Take a photo, create some artwork, shoot video, write a story or a poem, or create a sculpture. Just show a bird’s nest built in some out-of-the-way or out-of-this-world place.

Contest details at http://celebrateurbanbirds.org/community/challenges/funky-nests-2013

YouTube video here

Backyard Nesting Birds

californiabirdwatching — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 05:07:55 +0000

We have four birdhouses, also known as nestboxes, in our backyard. Two of them are occupied this spring.

One nest box that has been the home of an Oak Titmouse family in past years is occupied by Chestnut-backed Chickadees this year. The other nestbox appears to provide a home for Wrens. The Chickadees are very active flying in and out of the nest box several times a day. I’ve seen the Wrens occasionally.

Red-tailed Hawk Live Bird Cam – April 2013

californiabirdwatching — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:02:19 +0000

This live bird cam of Red-tailed Hawks is located in Ithaca, New York and is hosted by Cornell Lab.

Three fuzzy chicks have hatched. Viewers of the Cornell Hawks cam can tune in to see Big Red and Ezra feeding three bobbly headed, downy-white chicks. The first two hatched early morning on Monday, Earth Day, as thousands of people watched. The third youngster entered the world two days later. Big Red and Ezra have been busily provisioning them with chipmunks, starlings, snakes, and other prey, which they carefully tear into small pieces before giving to the nestlings (watch a video). The first nestling’s official hatch time was 6:06 a.m. on Monday, April 22, and we have contacted the winner in the Guess the Hatch contest. Watch the nestlings live.

http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/16/Red-tailed_Hawks/?utm_source=Cornell+Lab+eNews&utm_campaign=9d49d6f8b1-eNews-BirdCamsBigDay-4.26.2013&utm_medium=email

April 24, 2013 – The photo above shows Ezra (male Red-tailed hawk) Sheltering Family From the Rain

“We’ve seen the hawks brave all sorts of weather conditions over the last several weeks while sitting on their eggs. We have never seen them stay on the nest together during these events. Yesterday there was a downpour that lasted over 30 minutes and for the first time both parents stayed on the nest together. Ezra stood over Big Red, sheltering their nestlings from the rain.” – Cornell Lab

Great Blue Heron Live Bird Cam – April 2013

californiabirdwatching — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 22:17:42 +0000

On Sunday April 14, 2013, at approximately 13:40, the female heron laid her first egg. Great Blue Herons usually lay an egg every two or three days until the clutch is complete. It’s been two days since the first egg was laid. Will she lay another tonight? Tomorrow? Keep watching!

The live camera of a Great Blue Heron nest is hosted each year by Cornell Lab in Ithaca, New York. Check back often to see how many eggs are laid and then watch as the eggs hatch!

http://cams.allaboutbirds.org/channel/8/Great_Blue_Herons

Hummingbirds – Audubon Hummingbirds at Home – Collecting Data

californiabirdwatching — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 18:27:07 +0000

Together, we can help hummingbirds. Watch this video http://vimeo.com/60849211

Be a part of Audubon’s first all-digital, mobile citizen science network. The Hummingbirds at Home website and smart phone app make it easy and fun to keep track o fthe hummingbirds you see while collecting valuable data that helps us understand how to protect them.

To live such high energy lifestyles hummingbirds must sync their migration and nesting times with the flowering of nectar-bearing plants. Climate change threatens to throw off this delicate balance, with unknown repercussions for hummingbirds. We know that scientific research will be essential for helping us understand how climate change is affecting hummingbirds and for learning what we can do about it. But it’s not that simple. Collecting the necessary scientific data across large areas is difficult and costly.

With your help we can begin the research necessary to answer important questions related to hummingbirds and climate change.

Join today at http://www.hummingbirdsathome.org

The FeederWatch Live Bird Cam is back online!

californiabirdwatching — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:50:55 +0000

The FeederWatch Live Bird Cam now boasts HD quality viewing and a new, interactive website. The cam is still hosted by Tammie and Ben Hache in Manitouwadge, Ontario. The Haches invite you to look in on their rotating ensemble of winter birds, including redpolls, grosbeaks, nuthatches, jays, and even the occasional Ruffed Grouse. Each week the cam host posts her Project FeederWatch counts for the week and you can see whether she’s spotted something you missed. The cam is offline during the night (generally 7:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M.)

Cedar Waxwings Came and Went!

californiabirdwatching — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 03:42:44 +0000

Wednesday morning I was looking out the window at the privet tree in the backyard and telling my husband that the Cedar Waxwings should be arriving soon to eat the ripe berries from the tree. They usually arrive between December and February for their winter treat. Late in the afternoon I looked out the window again and the Cedar Waxwings had come and gone! How did I know? The tree was completely stripped of berries! There were just little stems where the berries had been. I’d been waiting all year for the birds. I can’t believe they devoured all the berries and I missed them completely.

These are pictures from a couple of years ago.

Great Blue Heron On My Neighbor’s Chimney

californiabirdwatching — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:50:46 +0000

A few days ago I was looking out my kitchen window and I was very surprised to see this bird standing statuesquelly on my neighbor’s chimney! I wasn’t sure what kind of bird it was so I ran to get my bird identification guide. It’s a Great Blue Heron! Turns out they are year-round inhabitants although I’ve never seen one near our yard or in our area before. We are about 45 miles from the coast.

Here are some photos I took before the bird spread its wide wings and flew away.

Great Blue Heron in Northern California

Live Bird Cams of Puffins on Maine’s Seal Island

californiabirdwatching — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:53:46 +0000

Passionate for puffins? Now you can see Maine’s delightful seabirds up close in live high-def action.

Thanks to Audubon and Explore.org, anyone with a computer or smart phone can watch live streaming video of these charismatic birds as they court, preen and strut about on Maine’s remote Seal Island.

Once hunted off the island completely, the puffins are back and thriving after a nearly 40-year-long restoration program pioneered by Audubon.

Watch the puffins. Then follow the team on Tumblr to learn more about these “sea parrots” and the dedicated scientists and interns who are helping them thrive.

Puffin Loafing Ledge Cam http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/puffin-loafing-ledge-cam

Puffin Burrow Cam http://explore.org/#!/live-cams/player/puffin-burrow-cam

BirdCam of an American Kestrel Nest

californiabirdwatching — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:04:59 +0000

See Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s newest live bird cam at The Peregrine Fund in Boise, Idaho of the American Kestrel. It features two views: one inside the nest box and another from the outside so you can see adults arrive and admire the western skyline. The eggs have hatched and there are five tiny baby birds! http://www.allaboutbirds.org/kestrels