Spring NAMC at Green Cay

The results for Green Cay's spring North American Migration Count are below. It was a great day spent with some of my favorite birders. Thanks guys for joining me again!

Species	Count
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	3
Mottled Duck	24
Pied-billed Grebe	2
Wood Stork	5
Double-crested Cormorant	7
Anhinga	19
Least Bittern	8
Great Blue Heron	4
Great Egret	6
Snowy Egret	1
Little Blue Heron	2
Tricolored Heron	14
Cattle Egret	1
Green Heron	7
Black-crowned Night-Heron	2
White Ibis	12
Glossy Ibis	7
Roseate Spoonbill	20
Black Vulture	3
Turkey Vulture	3
Red-shouldered Hawk	1
Purple Gallinule	2
Common Gallinule	48
American Coot	9
Limpkin	2
Killdeer	1
Least Tern	1
Rock Pigeon	2
Eurasian Collared-Dove	1
White-winged Dove	10
Mourning Dove	9
Chimney Swift	4
Red-bellied Woodpecker	4
Blue Jay	13
Fish Crow	5
Purple Martin	62
Northern Mockingbird	9
Brown Thrasher	2
European Starling	20
Northern Waterthrush	3
American Redstart	7
Northern Cardinal	24
Red-winged Blackbird	83
Common Grackle	34
Boat-tailed Grackle	62

Species Total: 45

Date and Effort: Sat May 12, 2012 7:00 AM

Protocol: Traveling

Party Size:4
Duration:3 hour(s), 15 minute(s)
Distance:3.0 mile(s)
Observers:Eva Matthews, Emily Chase-Jacobsen, Andy Lantz, Holly Krahe
Comments:NAMC

List generated by eBird.

Herps in Key West

While at Fort Zachary State Park, Emily and I witnessed more than just bird life.  We were treated to the mating rituals of a pair of Six-lined Racerunners (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus).  They chased each other and there was even some biting before consent was given. 

Racerunners weren't the only herps around the park.  We found a pretty large iguana basking by the fort.  It showed no fear like most of the iguanas around Palm Beach and allowed close inspection.

As we made one more loop through the nature trail we found a very obliging Black Racer that posed for photos.  It was three feet long and slinked off after we walked away.  Our time at the state park was short but full of wildlife.  We celebrated the birds and herps with one of the best meals I've had in Florida at The Cafe in Key West.  I can't recommend this place enough.

This past weekend I was supposed to be birding the Keys again but due to some complications the trip was cancelled.  I'm hoping in a few weeks I'll make the trek down and look for summer specialties like Mangrove Cuckoo, Antillean Nighthawk, and Roseate Tern.

Book Review: How to Be a Better Birder

How To Be A Better Birder by Derek Lovitch is a fascinating read for any birder but especially for the beginner to intermediate birder.  Lovitch covers chapters that include Birding by Habitat, Birding and Weather, and Vagrants to name a few.  His philosophy is that of other bird experts that the best way to confirm ID is to use the "Whole Bird Approach." 



The chapters on weather and birding at night will help beginners with the inside knowledge on bird migration. I especially like Lovitch's easy approach to technical information. His voice is always that of a friendly birder that you may find in the field, giving wisdom on how to find rarities and where to go birding by looking at maps and not just relying on birding hotspots.



This easy to read tome is one that all beginner and intermediate birders should read.  Lovitch dispenses useful information and allows the reader to take the examples given and apply them on their home turf. Plus, the in-depth resource list will allow the reader a quick way to access more information than provided.  I think this book is a great addition to any birders library.
 
This review copy was provided by Princeton University Press.

FL Keys Birding

I've shared the story of the Bobolinks EmilyLark and I found in the Keys but I almost forgot to show you the rest of the migrants that we happened upon at Founder's Park and then later at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park in Key West. The Keys were full of American Redstarts everywhere we went.  But some less seen migrants were also found like the Blue Grosbeak below. 

Blackpoll Warblers were also found in high numbers.  We found them literally everywhere.  The one above was dangling from the prop roots of a Strangler Fig. After birding Founder's Park in the lower Keys we decided we would head down U.S. 1 and eat lunch in Key West.  

Before a delicious lunch at The Cafe, a block off of Duval St., we went to Fort Zachary for a few more migrants. We were rewarded with plenty of birds including the Dickcissel above and the Prothonotary Warbler below, both seen in one sweep of the binoculars.  We also found a Swainson's Thrush under the nearby brush.  In a large tree by the bathroom we found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and we heard a nearby Gray Kingbird calling from the wires.  In just a couple of days, a mini-fallout occurred at Fort Zachary that we would miss but I wasn't complaining, the birding in the Keys seems always to be good.

If you haven't birded the Keys in spring then you're missing out.  I highly suggest a little trip south in April, it will be one you won't forget!

Young Bobcats

Our young Bobcats are growing up. By mid summer I expect the mom will kick them out her territory and off they will venture to find their own space. It's been fun watching them play in the wetland. Good luck little kitties.

12th Floor View

My leadership pod met County Commissioner Abrams today. Likeable guy and his office has a nice view of downtown West Palm Beach. I wonder what kind of bird list I could get from this vantage point?


I also learned a little more about the new wind farm that's going into the Glades. Supposedly there are detectors that trigger the blades to stop if large bird flocks move through.  I'll be curious to hear how much bird fatality occurs.  Unfortunately, I don't think this venture will be bringing lots of jobs to the area but if the energy production is high and the mortality low, this could be a good project.  Time will tell.

Bobolinks in the FL Keys

EmilyLark and I went birding in the Keys recently.  We went to chase a Black-billed Cuckoo which would be a lifer for both of us but alas we didn't find it.  Instead we found many warblers, orioles, Indigo Buntings, and a Blue Grosbeak which I will share photos of soon.  The highlight of little Founder's Park was seeing not one but multiple Bobolinks.  This may not be super interesting to everyone but down here in South Florida we don't see many Bobolinks so it was pretty special to show Emily her first.  

In the first baseball field adjacent to Founder's Park was one lone male Bobolink.  It flew away when I approached closer so I gave it some distance and told a nearby birder of our find.

The birder came back later to say he found more in the next field over so we checked it out and found a male and female feeding in the outfield grass.  I took photos through the fence and the bird couple didn't seem to notice.  They moved all around feeding here and there and eventually moved to the middle of the field where we left the two alone.  It was a great experience and made the day even better.  You never know what you're going to find in the FL Keys during migration. 

Here's our little pair feeding in the baseball outfield.  I liked how they crossed paths over and over, eventually making it across the field.  I hope they bulked up and made a safe migration. 

North American Migration Count Coming Up!

Andy and I on last year's count.

If you're free this weekend then you should get outdoors and participate in the North American Migration Count.  The count starts Saturday and people across the continent will be counting birds for citizen science.  I have been doing this count at Green Cay since May 2007.  I'm hoping this year will be a big one and we hit 50 species for the day.  Anything is possible!

If you're at the wetlands on Saturday and see a good bird let us know, we may need it for the count!

Green Cay's Photo Contest Winners

Best of Show by Linda Fell "God's Creation"

This year we had a small turn-out for our photography contest, down by 40% or so.  I'm not sure why that is but I still thought the entries that were submitted captured some great parts of our lovely park.  The photo above by Linda took the Grand Prize.  I really liked that a non-traditional photo won this year, not a bird.  To see all the winners visit our webpage and don't forget to enter next year.

Bobcat Interrupted

My volunteer Paul Cummings sent me this photo recently.  Our Bobcat kittens have been delighting visitors all this year.  I couldn't believe that Paul interrupted this little one to snap a photo during a private moment.  Though I am glad that the visitors are getting some up-close and personal time with the wildlife.  In case you're wondering this was shot from above off of the boardwalk.  The animals at Green Cay are very use to the physical barrier of the boardwalk protecting them from humans.  I am amazed at how acclimated they are to the walkers, children, and photographers that run by everyday.