The Feather Atlas

The US Fish and Wildlife Service's Forensics Laboratory has created a Feather Atlas of North American Birds that dovetails (!) nicely with the Winter Term reading of Of a Feather by Scott Weidensaul. I foresee many of my hours spent simply admiring the singular beauty that is typically hidden in the whole of a bird.

Rice Farmers and Birdwatchers

The American Bird Conservancy posted this story on their Facebook page today and I thought it was a really intriguing idea. What if Oregon birders did "ride-alongs" at harvest time, working in collaboration with foresters and farmers to educate both sides about the impact on the land, and learn to understand each other better?

"The focus — weather permitting — is rice fields where farmers have agreed to let birdwatchers ride combines during the harvest and watch from harvested areas. Experienced birders help point out birds and answer questions."

Lapland Longspur photos (among others)

Andy Frank has some nice photos of Lapland Longspurs on his blog today. They were seen yesterday at the South Jetty of the Columbia River. His blog has lots of really beautiful photos.

Last ditch effort to save the Spoon-billed Sandpiper

I have a special fondness for the Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Its beautifully shaped bill and lovely plumage make it one of the prettiest of the sandpipers, and its uniqueness reminds me of the platypus. Without a great deal of effort, however, it will soon remind all of us of the Dodo.

"One thing is sure, if these efforts do not succeed, the bird will soon join the dodo, great auk and passenger pigeon in the roll of infamy; those once living, breathing creatures we have driven to oblivion. In the words of Deborah Pain, WWT's director of conservation: "This tiny wader is a flagship species for millions of waterbirds that travel the same migratory route, and are equally threatened. If we fail, our descendants will inherit a vastly impoverished world. We simply can't afford to lose any species – let alone one so special as the spoon-billed sandpiper."

2011 October 15 - Northern Oregon Coast

All I can say is Wow. The weather at the Northern Oregon Coast was absolutely stunning and the sunlight seemed to always be in the perfect direction to see the birds. We caught the tide right at several locations, giving us long and clear views of the peeps. But the highlight of the day was the Lapland Longspurs! We saw over 20 of them in a flock that circled in front of us, with a few alighting on a patch of ground that gave most of us a close-up look through the scopes. In all I believe our count was 63 species on this trip. What a great day!

Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos.

Harlequin Duck. Histrionicus histrionicus.

Surf Scoter. Melanitta perspicillata.

White-winged Scoter. Melanitta fusca.

Red-throated Loon. Gavia stellata.

Common Loon. Gavia immer.

Red-necked Grebe. Podiceps grisegena.

Eared Grebe. Podiceps nigricollis.

Western Grebe. Aechmophorus occidentalis.

Double-crested Cormorant. Phalacrocorax auritus.

Pelagic Cormorant. Phalacrocorax pelagicus.

Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis.

Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias.

Northern Harrier. Circus cyaneus.

Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis.

American Kestrel. Falco sparverius.

Black-bellied Plover. Pluvialis squatarola.

Semipalmated Plover. Charadrius semipalmatus.

Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus.

Black Turnstone. Arenaria melanocephala.

Surfbird. Aphriza virgata.

Sanderling. Calidris alba.

Semipalmated Sandpiper. Calidris pusilla.

Western Sandpiper. Calidris mauri.

Least Sandpiper. Calidris minutilla.

Baird's Sandpiper. Calidris bairdii.

Dunlin. Calidris alpina.

Heermann’s Gull. Larus heermanni.

Mew Gull. Larus canus.

Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis.

Western Gull. Larus occidentalis.

California Gull. Larus californicus.

Glaucous-winged Gull. Larus glaucescens.

Common Murre. Uria aalge.

Rock Pigeon. Columba livia.

Mourning Dove. Zenaida macroura.

Belted Kingfisher. Megaceryle alcyon.

Hairy Woodpecker. Picoides villosus.

Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus.

Steller's Jay. Cyanocitta stelleri.

Western Scrub-Jay. Aphelocoma californica.

American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Common Raven. Corvus corax.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Poecile rufescens.

Bushtit. Psaltriparus minimus.

White-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis.

Bewick's Wren. Thryomanes bewickii.

Pacific Wren. Troglodytes pacificus.

Marsh Wren. Cistothorus palustris.

Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa.

Wrentit. Chamaea fasciata.

American Robin. Turdus migratorius.

European Starling. Sturnus vulgaris.

Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum.

Lapland Longspur. Calcarius lapponicus.

Yellow-rumped Warbler. Dendroica coronata.

Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis.

Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca.

Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia.

Golden-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia atricapilla.

Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius phoeniceus.

Brewer's Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus.

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.

2011 October 8 - Ankeny and Baskett Slough

In addition to having fabulous weather for this time of year, a highlight of the day at the Ankeny and Baskett Slough refuges was Dan spotting a noteworthy Clay-colored Sparrow standing on the road next to a Chipping Sparrow, making comparison of the two closely related species easier. I listed 68 species for the day, on our penultimate field trip for the Fall term.

Greater White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons.

Cackling Goose. Branta hutchinsii

Canada Goose. Branta canadensis.

American Wigeon. Anas americana.

Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos.

Northern Shoveler. Anas clypeata.

Northern Pintail. Anas acuta.

Green-winged Teal. Anas crecca.

Ring-necked Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus.

Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymbus podiceps.

Horned Grebe. Podiceps auritus.

Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias.

Great Egret. Ardea alba.

Green Heron. Butorides virescens.

Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura.

Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus.

Northern Harrier. Circus cyaneus.

Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter striatus.

Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis.

American Kestrel. Falco sparverius.

American Coot. Fulica americana.

Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus.

Greater Yellowlegs. Tringa melanoleuca.

Long-billed Dowitcher. Limnodromus scolopaceus.

Rock Pigeon. Columba livia.

Eurasian Collared-Dove. Streptopelia decaocto

Mourning Dove. Zenaida macroura.

Acorn Woodpecker. Melanerpes formicivorus.

Downy Woodpecker. Picoides pubescens.

Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus.

Black Phoebe. Sayornis nigricans.

Western Scrub-Jay. Aphelocoma californica.

American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Common Raven. Corvus corax.

Tree Swallow. Tachycineta bicolor.

Violet-green Swallow. Tachycineta thalassina.

Barn Swallow. Hirundo rustica.

Black-capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus.

Bushtit. Psaltriparus minimus.

White-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis.

Bewick's Wren. Thryomanes bewickii.

Marsh Wren. Cistothorus palustris.

Hermit Thrush. Catharus guttatus.

American Robin. Turdus migratorius.

Varied Thrush. Ixoreus naevius.

European Starling. Sturnus vulgaris.

American Pipit. Anthus rubescens.

Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum.

Yellow-rumped Warbler. Dendroica coronata.

Common Yellowthroat. Geothlypis trichas.

Spotted Towhee. Pipilo maculatus.

Chipping Sparrow. Spizella passerina.

Clay-colored Sparrow. Spizella pallida.

Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis.

Fox Sparrow. Passerella iliaca.

Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia.

Lincoln's Sparrow. Melospiza lincolnii.

White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys.

Golden-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia atricapilla.

Dark-eyed Junco. Junco hyemalis.

Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius phoeniceus.

Western Meadowlark. Sturnella neglecta.

Brewer's Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus.

Purple Finch. Carpodacus purpureus.

House Finch. Carpodacus mexicanus.

Lesser Goldfinch. Spinus psaltria.

American Goldfinch. Spinus tristis.

Evening Grosbeak. Coccothraustes vespertinus.

Tule Geese seen on the recent field trip!

The class saw not just any Greater White-fronted Geese on last weekend's field trip: We saw Tule Geese! Mike Patterson has an October 4th post (with photos) about these rare and poorly studied geese.

Reflections on 'The Spotted Owl's New Nemesis' (Smithsonian 2009)

Hey School of Birders. I found this 2009 Smithsonian article about Northern Spotted and Barn Owls to be fascinating. I recommend you check out 'The Spotted Owl's New Nemesis' by Craig Welch. Check out the accompanying video and pictures by Gary Braasch. (Use the link to read the article and see the pix/video. I also appended the article text below).

I've been thinking about Northern Spotted Owls (SPOW) and Barred Owls. Yesterday, when Jonathan (my husband), was driving to Seaside, he saw and photographed a dead Barred Owl (BADO) which had been struck and was laying just off the road on HWY 26 in the Coast Range. He sent me a photo and I identified the poor bird as a BADO by the size, a bright yellow/orange beak and the striking vertical brown streaks on the breast.

In the Smithsonian article, Craig Welch revisits the status of the SPOW and travels with biologist Eric Forsman through old growth south of Corvallis. Eric Forsman was among the very first to document a SPOW nest and his research findings on the owl fueled the battle over logging of Ancient Forests on federal lands in the PNW. This is a good read, with great photos. We meet a few birds Eric has long studied. Eric's reflections on his past work and the NSOWs current condition are poignant.

The article is interesting on another level too, because it points to a bigger, hard truth: Climate change is changing landscapes and biological communities very quickly. Conserving imperiled species is increasingly complex and more challenging than ever.

"As climate chaos disrupts migration patterns, wind, weather, vegetation and river flows, unexpected conflicts will arise between species, confounding efforts to halt or slow extinctions. If the spotted owl is any guide, such conflicts could come on quickly, upend the way we save rare plants and animals, and create pressure to act before the science is clear."

One wonders, what if we hadn't reduced our Ancient Forests to a mere five percent of their former extent, would the BADO would be pushing the SPOW to the brink? Perhaps we'll never know. In any case, protecting ALL remaining Ancient Forests as SPOW habitat is fast becoming the SPOW's last, best hope. And, in the bigger picture, protecting the biggest and the best of remaining native habitats and processes is where the action will be for imperiled wildlife. Read more

Meg Ruby

2011 October 1 - Oregon Coast

Sixty-eight species of birds were seen on this trip to the Oregon Coast. The Wrentits were a highlight!

Greater White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons.

Cackling Goose. Branta hutchinsii.

Canada Goose. Branta canadensis.

American Wigeon. Anas americana.

Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos.

Northern Pintail. Anas acuta.

Green-winged Teal. Anas crecca.

Greater Scaup. Aythya marila.

Surf Scoter. Melanitta perspicillata.

White-winged Scoter. Melanitta fusca.

Common Loon. Gavia immer.

Pied-billed Grebe. Podilymbus podiceps.

Horned Grebe. Podiceps auritus.

Western Grebe. Aechmophorus occidentalis.

Sooty Shearwater. Puffinus griseus.

Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis.

Pelagic Cormorant. Phalacrocorax pelagicus.

Brandt's Cormorant. Phalocrocorax penicillatus.

Double-crested Cormorant. Phalacrocorax auritus.

Great Egret. Ardea alba.

Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias.

Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura.

Cooper's Hawk. Accipiter cooperii.

Northern Harrier. Circus cyaneus.

Red-shouldered Hawk. Buteo lineatus.

Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis.

Black-bellied Plover. Pluvialis squatarola.

Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus.

Lesser Yellowlegs. Tringa flavipes.

Greater Yellowlegs. Tringa melanoleuca.

Marbled Godwit. Limosa fedoa.

Western Sandpiper. Calidris mauri.

Least Sandpiper. Calidris minutella.

Pectoral Sandpiper. Calidris melanotos.

Wilson’s Snipe. Gallinago delicata.

Short-billed Dowitcher. Limnodromus griseus.

Ring-billed Gull. Larus delawarensis.

California Gull. Larus californicus.

Western Gull. Larus occidentalis.

Common Murre. Uria aalge.

Band-tailed Pigeon. Patagioenas fasciata.

Eurasian Collared-Dove. Streptopelia decaocto.

Anna's Hummingbird. Calypte anna.

Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle alcyon.

Downy Woodpecker. Picoides pubescens.

Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus.

Steller's Jay. \Cyanocitta stelleri.

American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos.

Common Raven. Corvus corax.

Wrentit. Chamaea fasciata.

Black-capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Poecile rufescens.

American Dipper. Cinclus mexicanus.

Bewick's Wren. Troglodytes bewickii.

Pacific Wren. Troglodytes troglodytes.

Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa.

American Robin. Turdus migratorius.

European Starling. Sturnus vulgaris.

American Pipit. Anthus rubescens.

Savannah Sparrow. Passerculus sandwichensis.

Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia.

White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys.

Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius phoeniceus.

Brewer's Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus.

Brown-headed Cowbird. Molothrus ater.

House Finch. Carpodacus mexicanus.

American Goldfinch. Carduelis tristis

House Sparrow. Passer domesticus.