Friday, April 22, 2011

April 2011 Bald Eagles

Two notes on bald eagles:
1. Nesting on Fish Creek Island on the Ohio River near the AEP power plant and in Jefferson County OH on the ohio river.
2. Eagle cams becoming very popular in many of our schools. Kids journaling and classroom discussion is great.

Spring 2011 April Notes

April 22, 2011 I walked Grandvue. Of the 5 bluebird boxes I now have three nests. One nest holds 4 eggs and the others have no eggs as of this date. Of the other three smaller boxes I have one house wren nest.
This mornings walk yielded mostly typical birds. Brown Thrasher, Cowbirds, Pileated, Red-bellied, many Towhees, chipping, field and song sparrows, cardinals, jays, etc. were all observed.
I did hear what I thought was a coo-coo (black billed). As is often the case this bird was elusive....... he sounded close by but I did not get a visual. I am investigating if other birds sound similar. I'm sure it was a coo-coo.

The flicker is nesting in her usual cavity. This bird flushes from the nest as I walk the bend on the trail. I can usually get a glimpse of her exit as I get within 20-30 yards. Seldom does she allow me to get closer than that before she flushes. The nest site is an old tree with fungae acting as a "porch roof" above a perfectly circular hole.

two or three weeks ago I saw two phoebes in an opening at Grandvue. It was a great chance to see their behavior for 15 minutes or so. Constant tail "bops" as they fed in the clearing. I hope they nest.