<em>Birds Living II</em> by Richard Stade

Front Cover Birds Living II 160 pages 13” x 11” Format 85 full page photographs plus 9 less than full page photographs. Hardback with dust cover Published by Blurb and avaialable at http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1195368 $105 plus postage

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American Robin chicks Turdus migratorius May – Texas L=10"......WS=17".....WT=2.7oz......(mature) Order: Passeriformes (Passerine birds) Family:Turdidae (Thrushes) The American Robin is the largest, most abundant, and most widespread North American thrush. The presence of this rather tame songster in the backyard setting, together with its loud and musical voice, makes it one of the most easily recognizable birds in North America. Most people know the robin as a breeding bird of suburbs and farmland, where it forages in moist grass, often tugging at worms on garden lawns, and nests in shade trees. This nest was photographed in an urban backyard.

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus September - Nova Scotia L=31"......WS=80"......WT=9.5 lb Order: Falconiformes (Diurnal birds of prey) Family: Accipitridae (Hawks and allies) The Bald Eagle was made the national emblem of the United States by and act of Congress in 1782. Throughout the 1800’s the Bald Eagle was abundant in the United States and there was even a bounty on the bird in the first half of the 1900’s. During the second half of the 1900’s populations were greatly reduced as pesticides, especially DDT, caused reduced reproduction. In 1940 the Bald Eagle was afforded protection under the Bald Eagle Protection Act, in 1966 the southern subspecies was listed as Endangered under the Endangered Species Protection Act, and in 1978 the entire population in the lower forty eight states was listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Since 1980 populations have increased dramatically as DDT use stopped. In 2007 the Bald Eagle was removed from the endangered list. This is one of the great conservation success stories. The Eagle He clasps the crag with crooked hands; Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ring’d with the azure world, he stands. The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls; He watches from his mountain walls, And like a thunderbolt he falls. Lord Alfred Tennyson 1851

Glossy Ibis – With Breeding Plumage ForagingPledgadis falcinellus April – Texas L=23” ...... WS=36” ...... WT=1.2 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) The wisest of the Egyptian gods was Thoth, the patron of writing, astronomy, mathematics, law, magic, and healing. Thoth was usually depicted as an ibis headed man or as a full ibis. The ibis was relatively common throughout Egypt until the 19th Century, but now has almost disappeared. In North America during the 20th century the Glossy Ibis has gone from a rare species found predominately in Florida to a common breeder as far north as Maine This remarkable range expansion compares to the related White-faced Ibis which suffered greatly in the 1960's and 70's due to pesticides, draught, and drainage of mesting areas. See next photo relating to Egyptian god Thoth and the ibis.

Egyptian Ibis Bronze and Wood 26-30th Dynasties 664-332 BCE Museum of Fine Art Houston

Forster's Tern – Diving for fishSterna forsteri January – Texas L=13” ...... WS=31” ...... WT=6 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Allies) Forster’s Terns forage by flying over water and then either plunging directly into the water or hovering briefly before plunging. Typically only their bill and head goes into the water but sometimes their entire body will be submerged. So long as the fish caught is small it will be eaten as soon as the bird regains foraging height, about 25 feet above the water. See next photo.

Forster's Tern – Diving for fishSterna forsteri January – Texas

Ring-billed Gull – Ring-billed Gull (left) chasing Forster's Tern for fishLarus delawarensis November – Texas L=17.5”...... WS=48”...... WT=1.1 lb Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, Allies) Some birds, such as jaegers, regularly practice kleptoparasitism, a foraging strategy that consists of stealing food from other birds. Typically the aggressor will chase the victim until the victim drops the prey. In this case a Ring-billed Gull (left) was chasing a Forster’s Tern. The chase lasted 1 to 2 minutes at which time the Ring-billed Gull gave up and let the Forster’s Tern eat its catch.

Blue-winged Teal foraging (male) Anas discors February – Texas L=15.5”...... WS=23”...... WT=13 oz Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese Swans) Family:Anatidae (Ducks, Geese Swans) Blue-winged Teals are very small dabbling ducks weighing in at 13 oz. versus, for example, 2.4 lb for the common Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). They are amongst the first migrants reaching Texas, their northernmost wintering spot in August. Equally, they are slow to return to their breeding grounds in the northern U.S. and Canada until the waters are relatively warm which means they will stay in their wintering grounds until late April or early May. Since they have a truncated nesting season the young must mature rapidly. Populations of Blue-winged Teals vary considerably based on the wetland conditions on their prairie breeding grounds. After several dry years in the late 1980’s populations dropped to a 40 year low in 1990. In the next decade their numbers doubled as the rains returned.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – Drinking DewPolioptila caerulea June – Texas L=4.5” ...... WS=6” ...... WT=0.2 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Sylviidae (Old World Warblers and Gnatcatchers) Blue-gray Gnatcatchers have the broadest range of their genus in North America. Compared to other gnatcatchers (Polioptila) their range extends farther north into cold temperate areas. They prefer moist areas with broadleafed trees.

Steller's Jay – At a picnic siteCyanocitta stelleri January – Colorado L=11.5”....... WS=19” ....... WT= 3.7 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Covidae (Crows and Jays) Steller’s Jays are loud, conspicuous regulars where humans are present such as campsites, picnic areas and bird feeders. Besides human generated foods such as cookies, crackers, meat, cheese, bread and chips they eat a wide range of naturally occuring arthropods and seeds.

Red-bellied Woodpecker – Male probing for foodMelanerpes carolinus December – Texas L=9.25” ...... WS=16” ....... WT=2.2 oz Order: Piciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies) Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and Allies) Red-bellied Woodpeckers are a common and familiar bird in the Eastern U.S. They seldom excavate wood for insects but, rather, forage for arthropods, seeds, berries and small fruit. Also, they will visit bird feeders. While foraging this bird may perch upright, hang upside-down or hover briefly. The Red-bellied Woodpecker has a particularly long tongue, even for a woodpecker, that aids in capturing prey without excavating. Additionally, its tongue is highly modified being cylindrical, pointed, and with a barbed sticky tip to aid in extracting food from crevices.

American Bittern– Examing threats in"Bittern Stance" Botaurus lentiginosus February – Texas L=28” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Stealth and camouflage are principal strategies of the American Bittern for hunting and avoiding danger, respectively. They will stand motionless in the weedy fringes of marshes for long periods waiting for prey. Their eyes point downward to aid them in spotting the prey. When frightened they enter what is termed the “bittern stance” stretching their neck and head skyward. This has two advantages – it makes spotting them difficult as their marking blend almost imperceptibly with the weedy areas they frequent and it positions their eyes to see forward and thus see their enemy. Because American Bitterns are very secretive and stay in inaccessible habitats little is known about their behavioral characteristics. But they do not go unnoticed as they make a loud, eerie booming sound that carries for miles. Thus, they are more frequently heard than seen.

American Bittern– foraging Botaurus lentiginosus February – Texas L=28” ...... WS=26” ....... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica August – Texas L=5.5”...... WS=8” ...... WT=0.35 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Parulidae (Wood-Warblers) Yellow-throated Warblers occupy two habitats - (i) mixed pine-hardwood forests and (ii) heavily wooded river/stream bottomlands and nest and feed mostly in the high canopy of these woodlands. Much of its foraging occurs in pine trees where it inserts its long bill into pine needles and pine cones in search of insects. Where sympatric (inhabiting the same geography) with the Pine Warbler there is little competition between these two birds since they employ differing foraging techniques due to the dissimilar length of their bills See next photo for photograph of Pine Warbler.

Pine Warbler – Foraging in a Pine TreeDendroica pinus February – Texas L=5.5” ...... WS=8.75”...... WT=0.4 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Parulidae (Wood-warblers) Pine Warblers highly prefer pine trees and are almost always found nesting and foraging in them. These birds are rather unique among wood-warblers in that they eat a substantial amount of seed, including pine seeds, in addition to insects.

Yellow-rumped WarblerDendroica coronata September – Nova Scotia L=5.5” ...... WS=9.25 ...... WT=0.45 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Parulidae (Wood Warblers) Yellow-rumped Warblers have two sub-species – the “myrtle” in the eastern U.S. and Canada and the “Audubon’s” in the west. The name “myrtle” derives from the birds ability to eat wax myrtle berries. This ability to digest waxes gives the Yellow-rumped Warbler an largely uncontested food source as other birds do not have the enzymes necessary to gain energy from the wax. In Texas they also appear to scrape wax from the seeds of the alien and invasive Chinese Tallow..

American Coot – ForagingFulica americana December – Texas L=15.5” ...... WS=24”...... WT=1.4 lb......m>f Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots) American Coots are one of the most common water birds in North America and can be found essentially anywhere in the region. The habits are those of a duck but the bird has a chicken like beak and lobed toes like a grebe. Its lineage is that of the rails and gallinules. American Coots are excellent swimmers and divers but awkward walking and flying. To take off from water they “run” for an extended period before gaining flight. When confronted with a threat they put a cacophony of squawks, grunts and other sounds and skitter across the water with wings flapping. With these characteristic behaviors and their unusual appearance American Coots are usually entertaining and sometimes comical.

American Coot – foragingFulica americana March – Texas L=15.5” ...... WS=24”...... WT=1.4 lb......m>f Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots)

American Coot – walking on water (frozen) Fulica americana January – New Mexico L=15.5” ...... WS=24”...... WT=1.4 lb......m>f Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, and Allies) Family: Rallifae (Rails, Gallinules and Coots)

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks – LoafingDendrocygna autumnalis December – Texas L=21”...... WS=30” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese Swans) Family: Aatidae (Ducks, Geese Swans) Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are more arboreal than most ducks and will frequently be seen loafing in trees and even on barbed wire or telephone lines. Prior to being renamed “whistling-ducks” this species was called the Black-bellied Tree Duck. Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks are gregarious and are found in large flocks. When loafing or foraging it is common for sentries to watch for threats. Individuals form lifelong pairs and will separate from a flock in breeding season. Usually they nest in tree cavities. Their young are precocial (i.e. born with open eyes, downy feathers, and are capable of locomotion within a few hours of hatching) and will jump from the nest within 24 hours of hatching. To soften the fall from the 8-30 foot height parents will find or create a landing area that has thick herbaceous matter.

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – landingDendrocygna autumnalis December – Texas L=21”...... WS=30” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese Swans) Family: Aatidae (Ducks, Geese Swans)

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck –adults and juvenilesDendrocygna autumnalis January – Texas L=21”...... WS=30” ...... WT=1.8 lb Order: Anseriformes (Ducks, Geese Swans) Family: Aatidae (Ducks, Geese Swans)

White Ibis – foragingEudocimus albus March – Texas L=25” ...... WS=38” ...... WT=2 lb Order:Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills) White Ibises are in the same order as herons, storks, spoonbills, and New World vultures. They inhabit any area with shallow water or soft substrate. Their decurved bill is used to probe water or mud and they will, like spoonbills, sometimes swish their bill sideways and grasp prey that comes in contact with it.

White Ibis – foragingEudocimus albus February – Texas L=25” ...... WS=38” ...... WT=2 lb Order:Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

White Ibis – juvenile foragingEudocimus albus February – Texas L=25” ...... WS=38” ...... WT=2 lb Order:Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)

Ruddy Turnstone – foragingArenaria interpres September – Nova Scotia L=9.5” ...... WS=21” ...... WT=4 oz Order: Charadriiformes (Shorebirds, Gulls, Auks, Allies) Family:Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies) Ruddy Turnstones get their name from their foraging technique of flipping over stones, pebbles, seaweed, shells and other items with their chisel shaped beak. They will eat almost anything including insects, small fish, carrion, human trash, and bird eggs. They have stout legs, no webbing between the toes, and a small hind toe which enables them to be skilled at walking, running, climbing on rocks, and digging. As they forage they will run from place to place making behavior observation rewarding and entertaining.

Eastern Phoebe – LandingSayornis phoebe February – Texas L=7”...... WS=10.5” ....... WT=0.7 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Tyannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) Eastern Phoebes are flycatchers with dull coloration and unobtrusive behavior. Their breeding range is expanding apparently because of their willingness to nest on human dwellings and under bridges. Even so, Eastern Phoebes have a strong site attachment – a fact first observed by James Audubon in 1804. Eastern Phoebes move from place to place almost exclusively by flying - they rarely walk, hop or even pivot when on a perch. They are also loners who usually fail to even acknowledge other species, except predators.

Eastern Phoebe – restingSayornis phoebe December – Texas L=7”...... WS=10.5” ....... WT=0.7 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Tyannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)

Brown Pelican – LandingPelecanus occidentalis October – Texas L=51”......WS=79”......WT=8.2lb Order: Pelecaniformes (Totipalmate Birds) Family: Pelecanidae (Pelicans) Brown Pelicans nearly disappeared in North America from the late 1950’s through the early 1970’s due to the man made pesticide endrin entering the marine food chain. By 1963 the Brown Pelican disappeared completely in Louisiana, the “Pelican State”, and in 1970 it was declared an Endangered Species. In 1972 legislation banning or reducing the use of several pesticides was enacted and the population began to increase. In 1985 the Brown Pelican was removed from the Endangered Species list in the southeastern U.S. and by the late the 1990’s populations returned to pre-pesticide levels. Now the Brown Pelican is considered one of the great success stories in wildlife conservation. Brown Pelicans are found almost exclusively in marine habitats although this particular bird was found about 100 miles inland on a freshwater lake about one month after Hurricane Ike landed. They catch their prey not by swimming and dipping their bill in the water like all other pelicans, but rather by plunging from flight or perches into the water and catching the unsuspecting prey.

Chukar – MaleAlectoris chukar August – Utah L=14” ...... WS=20” ...... WT=1.3 lb......m>f Order: Galliformes (Gallinaceous Birds) Family: Phasiandae (Grouse, Turkeys, and Allies) Chukars were introduced to the United States from northern India (now Pakistan) in the 1890’s. Subsequent introductions on a large scale occurred in the 20th century in an effort to establish a new game bird. The preferred habitat of the Chukar is steep, rocky, mountainous terrain and it feeds on seeds and leaves. The bird has become established in the Great Basin in Utah and Nevada and north through parts of Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. It is a favorite game bird of western hunters who consider it a particular challenge as they have to track the bird over great distances. Generally, the Chukar prefers to run instead of fly and can outdistance humans on difficult rocky terrain. If forced to fly the bird will explode upward and then glide downhill.

Chukar – MaleAlectoris chukar August – Utah L=14” ...... WS=20” ...... WT=1.3 lb......m>f Order: Galliformes (Gallinaceous Birds) Family: Phasiandae (Grouse, Turkeys, and Allies)

Great Crested Flycathcher – with Tawny Emperor larva Myiarchus crinitus June – Texas L=8.75”...... WS=13” ....... WT=1.2 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Tyannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers) The Great Crested Flycatcher prefers open deciduous or mixed woodlands, especially at the edge of clearings. They are seldom found deep in a forest but rather occupy wooded corridors, wooded swamps and urban areas with large trees and adjacent open areas. These preferences have allowed this species to prosper in human habitats as more edge habitats are created. This particular picture was taken at an urban park where native grasses had recently been transplanted. The nesting pair found the Tawny Emperor larvae and butterflies and other insects very good for feeding their young.

Savannah Sparrow – ForagingPasserculus sandwichensis April – Texas L=5.5” ...... WS=6.75”....... WT=0.7 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Emberizidae (New World Sparrows) Savannah Sparrows, like many sparrows, forage on the ground in grassy areas. Because of this and their skulking behavior, they can be hard to observe closely. Like most sparrows, they can be hard to identify due to their small size, tendency to flush rapidly, and very similar appearance to other sparrows. One behavior that aids in identifying Savannah Sparrows is their tendency to flush when humans are relatively far away and fly to nearby trees, shrubs or other elevated objects before continuing to forage. Most other sparrows wait until almost stepped on to flush and then fly a long distance and resume foraging.

Least GrebeTachybaptus dominicus October – Texas L=9.5” ...... WS=11” ...... WT=4 oz Order: Podicipediformes (Grebes) Family: Podicipedidae (Grebes) The Least Grebe is the smallest New World grebe and, while widely distributed throughout Central and South America to northern Argentina, its presence in the U.S. is limited to the Rio Grande valley and Gulf Coast of Texas to Houston. This grebe has a particularly rapid reproductive cycle which enables the use of newly created or temporary bodies of water for breeding.

Pied-billed Grebe – Communicating between dives Podilymbus podiceps March – Texas L=13” ...... WS=16” ...... WT=1 lb Order: Podicipediformes (Grebes) Family: Podicipedidae (Grebes) The Pied-billed Grebe is a secretive bird with a loud and reaching call that is frequently heard before the bird is spotted. They are seldom seen in flight during the day since they prefer to avoid danger by diving or sinking from view. The sinking is accomplished by expelling air from the area between the feathers and body and from air sacs. Grebes are strong swimmers due to the unusual ability of their feet to rotate 90 degrees between the power stroke and the recovery stroke. This is different from all other families of living birds. In this picture the two grebes were diving for food and every 3-4 minutes they would swim to each other, chatter for about 20 seconds and then dive again.

Pied-billed Grebe – foraging Podilymbus podiceps October – Texas L=13” ...... WS=16” ...... WT=1 lb Order: Podicipediformes (Grebes) Family: Podicipedidae (Grebes)

Lewis’s Woodpecker – guarding cache Melanerpes lewis January – Colorado L=9” ...... WS=10.75” ...... WT=3 oz Order: Piciformes (Woodpeckers and Allies) Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and Allies) Lewis’s Woodpecker is named in honor of Meriwether Lewis who observed and recorded his sighting in 1805 while on the famous Lewis and Clark expedition. This woodpecker has long slow wing beats similar to a crow in flight. It feeds mainly on insects in the spring and summer which it catches on the wing using its exceptionally acrobatic flying skills. In fall and winter Lewis’s Woodpeckers switch to acorns and seeds which it will store in the bark cavities of trees. Once stored the bird will guard the area and the cache scrupulously. In this picture the Lewis’s Woodpecker has finished storing seeds in a nearby tree and is now resting and guarding the stores.

Western Scrub-Jay – Interior or "Woodhouse's" subspecies Aphelocoma californica January – Colorado L=11.5”....... WS=15” ....... WT= 3 oz Order: Passeriformes (Passerine Birds) Family: Covidae (Crows and Jays) The Western Scrub-Jay has three well differentiated subspecies that reside (1) along the Pacific Ocean of California and Oregon, (2) in the non-coastal area of California and east to Texas but remaining south of Montana, and (3) in southern Mexico. There is very little overlap in their ranges. The two North American subspecies are called the “coastal” or “California” and the “interior” or “Woodhouse’s”. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these two North American birds are distinct. The coastal subspecies is thicker billed, darker and richer in color overall. They are bold, conspicuous and adapt well to human neighborhoods. Thus they are easily spotted. The interior subspecies is drabber, secretive, and more frequently heard than seen. Given the lack of range overlap and the associated lack of inter-breeding, differences in physical appearance, and differences in behavior separating these subspecies ornithologists continue to study the evolutionary history of these birds and may create three species where one now exists.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – restingNyctanassa violacea July – Texas L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) This species most often inhabits forested wetlands, swamps, and bayous of the deep south where poor lighting seems to be the most reliable characteristic of its breeding sites. Because Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are dark bodied and nest under canopy in forested areas, aerial surveys are ineffective in determining population status and because colonies are small and scattered, ground surveys are economically unfeasible. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are frequently not listed at all in results of broad surveys for wading birds. Numerous species of birds sun and adopt quite varied positions in doing so. There is little experimental data to establish the function of sunning but some suggested purposes include keeping the feathers supple through limited heating, harming or repositioning parasites, saving energy by taking up solar heat and simply doing it because it feels good. A number of large water birds stand for many minutes with their wings extended in a pose known as “spead-wing posture”. This type of sunning is most certainly done to help dry the feathers and to increase body heat.

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – sunningNyctanassa violacea July – Texas L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron – in flightNyctanassa violacea April – Texas L=24” ...... WS=42” ....... WT=1.5 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns)

Sandhill Crane – Flying out in early morningGrus canadensis January – New Mexico L=41-46” ...... WS=73-77” ...... WT=7.3-10.6 lb ....... m>f Order: Gruiformes (Rails, Cranes, Allies) Family: Gruidae (Cranes) Sandhill Cranes are one of two types of crane commonly found in North America, the other being the endangered Whooping Crane (Grus americana). They are among the oldest living birds and are long lived, with some individuals surviving for 20 or more years. Prior to migration large numbers of Sandhill Cranes gather on the Platte River in Nebraska and then migrate en masse. At their wintering grounds large flocks remain together roosting at night and flying out to feeding grounds during the day. One favored place for wintering is Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico.