July 14, 2025

Last weekend Melissa called me into the kitchen to watch the large bird that had been battling two squirrels over “rights” to what was left in my soot feeder.  I grabbed my camera and by the time I arrived the squirrels had been driven off, but the bird was still there.  Melissa said she had watched the bird attack the two eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) for about 20 minutes.  The bird alternately flew at both squirrels keeping them at bay.  This was a new species identification for Melissa, and the bright red head led her to believe this was a red headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus).  I occasionally see one of these birds at my feeders and had even identified one early in January (although without a photo).  At first, I also thought it might be a red-headed woodpecker.  My apps instead identified this as a red-bellied woodpecker.

When I went online, I found the red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) is a medium-sized woodpecker of the family Picidae.  While the species breeds mainly in the eastern US, it ranges as far south as Florida and as far north as Canada.  The most prominent feature is a vivid orange-red crown and nape, but this is not to be confused with a separate species in the same genus, the red-headed woodpecker.  The red-headed woodpecker has an entirely red head and neck, a solid black back, and white belly.  Red-bellied woodpeckers are 9 to 10.5 inches (22.85 to 26.7 cm) long, have a wingspan of 15 to 18 inches (38 to 46 cm), and weigh 2 to 3 ounces (57 to 91 g).  The red-bellied earns its name from the pale reddish tint on its lower underside.  Adults are mainly light gray on their face and underparts and have black and white barred patterns on their back, wings, and tail.  Adult males have a red cap going from the bill to the nape while females have a red patch on the nape and another above the bill.  White patches become visible on the wings in flight.  The reddish tinge on the belly is difficult to see in field identification.

I have never noticed the red spot on a red-bellied woodpecker and have instead identified them by the black and white barred pattern on their backs.  I always wondered why they were called red-bellied, and now I know.  Predators of adult, red-bellied woodpeckers include birds of prey such as sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus), Cooper’s hawks (Astur cooperii), black rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), and house cats (Felis catus).  Known predators of nestlings and eggs include red-headed woodpeckers, owls (Order, Strigiformes), pileated woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus), black rat snakes, and eastern gray squirrels.  When approached by a predator, the birds either hide from or harass the threat with alarm calls.  They will defend their nests and young aggressively and may directly attack predators that come near.  While this bird did not have a nest, it was aggressively defending its food supply.

THOUGHTS: By driving off the gray squirrels the red-bellied woodpecker was it was exerting its territorial rights.  A defended territory is typical of songbirds but is also found in many other orders of birds.  Territory may be held by one bird, a pair, or a flock and can be held for all or only part of a year.  It may be very large (eagles) and provide all the resources the bird needs or be very small such as nesting territories.  It may be vigorously defended or loosely guarded.  Typically, territories are defended against others of the same species but may also be defended against other species.  Humans also claim both small and large areas we define as ours and actively defend.  These are also shared, but generally only with those we define as “us”.  Globalization is forcing humans to make new choices on us and them.  Cooperation and sharing resources may provide for all.  Hoarding resources has and will always lead to conflict.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

June 12, 2025

As I looked out my back window this afternoon, I saw a flash of copper as a bird flew from our window feeders to the pool deck.   At first, I thought it was one of the elusive mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) I see and hear frequently around our property (but not at our feeders or been able to get a picture).  The problem was that it seemed a little smaller than a mourning dove, and then there was that copper flash as the bird landed on the deck.  I enjoy watching the small passerines that flock to our feeders in the morning and evening.  I will even tolerate the common grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) that drive the other birds off and eat the entire feeder in short order.  That is as long as they do not arrive en masse.  I have watched them strip all eight feeders along the fence in less than 10 minutes.  Now I have taken to occasionally send Loki out to scare them away.  While he does not do anything except run into the yard, the grackles seem to be afraid of his size.  The bird on the deck seemed to be a species I was unfamiliar with.  I was able to get a photo of the bird before it flew off and I checked it against the google identification app.  It turns out it was a new bird, an Inca dove.

When I went online, I found the Inca dove (Columbina inca), also called the Mexican dove, is a small New World dove first described by French surgeon and naturalist René Lesson in 1847.  The Inca reaches 6.5 to 9.1 inches (16.5 to 23 cm) in length, weighs 1.1 to 2.0 ounces (30 to 58 g) and has an average wingspan of 11.2 inches (28.5 cm) and a max wingspan of 12.6 inches (32 cm).  The Inca is a slender species, with a gray-brown body covered in feathers that resemble a scaled pattern.  The tail is long and square and edged with white feathers that may flare out in flight.  The underwings are reddish (hence the copper I saw) and on takeoff produce a distinctive, quiet rattling noise.  The species ranges from Costa Rica in the south to the American Southwest in the north and is often common to abundant in suitable habitat.  This terrestrial species forms flocks in desert, scrubland, and cultivated areas and may also be found in urban settings where they feed on grass seeds and take advantage of the availability of water from agricultural and suburban irrigation.  During winter, Inca doves roost in communal huddles of 10 or more birds by making a pyramid formation that aids them retain body heat.  They often flock outside of their territories, with flocks growing up to 100 birds.  Its range has been expanding northward and southward in the past few decades. 

Despite being named after the Inca Empire, the species does not occur in any of the lands where the Inca empire existed.  When I looked at the range map for the Inca dove, I noticed it did not include Arkansas.  The closest it came was toward the top of Texas, or several 100 miles (320 km) to the south and west.  The Inca has in the past escaped or been deliberately released in the state of Florida in the US, but there is no evidence that the population is breeding.  It may only persist due to more releases or escapes.  The single bird I saw may have been blown off course by the current round of storms which have been coming up from Texas.  Or perhaps it just wanted to be a tourist in the Natural State (i.e., Arkansas).  Regardless, this qualifies as a rare bird sighting.  A rare bird sighting is observance of bird species that are uncommon in a particular region or that are considered at risk of extinction.  These sightings can include birds that are not typically found in a specific area due to changes in migration patterns, unusual weather conditions, or simply because they are very rare.

THOUGHTS: When I identified the Inca dove it became my first rare bird sighting.  I was a little skeptical being a newbie birder, but my daily rare bird notification listed another Arkansas sighting as well.  I posted the picture and have already gotten a Like.  Being an amateur and posting on a site of experts made me nervous.  Perhaps more of us should follow the advice of Eleanor Roosevelt – “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

May 17, 2025

Last May I blogged about the nest an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) had made on top of the curve in the downspout on the side of our house.  While this stuck me as amusing, it prompted an exploration into what I could (and could not) do with the nest.  I was not too keen about having a bird nest attached to my house (neighbors: how unsightly!).  The nest was just above my raised vegetable beds, so I wondered about being attacked every time I came out to water or pick new fruit.  The birds were not overly territorial but would always make a scene of flying to the fence along the yard in an apparent effort to divert my attention from the nest.  Since I did not want this to become a permanent nesting site, I checked Arkansas law and found the nest was protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918) if the nest was active (eggs or chicks present).  If the nest has been abandoned or has no eggs it can be removed.  I waited until late September before I removed the nest.  This year another pair of robins built a nest in the exact same location.  That got me wondering if the pair returned or if this was just a great place to build a nest and raise a family.

When I looked online, I found the American robin has an extremely high rate of return to the same breeding site each season (nest fidelity).  Why birds returned to nest was not really understood until the early part of the last century when Oliver Austin, with the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Massachusetts, started banding the Common tern (Sterna hirundo) which nested there.  Austin found that the same terns returned to Wellfleet each spring and often laid their eggs in the exact spot on the ground as they did the year before.  While robins return to old nesting sites, they typically do not reuse nests.  They might repair or build on top of an old nest, but they generally build a new nest for each brood they raise.  Old nests can harbor parasites and diseases, so building a new nest helps keep the nestlings healthy.  Robins return to a previous nesting site if they had a successful hatch.  They may instead prefer a new nest site, especially if they have found a more protected location or have discovered a potential predator eyeing their old nest.

A bird building a nest in your house is often seen as a positive omen, symbolizing new beginnings, a safe and peaceful environment, and a connection to higher powers.  The nest can also represent the presence of loved ones (living or dead), and a message of love and care.  Birds are often seen as messengers of hope and faith, and their presence can be a reminder of your spiritual connection to the universe.  Birds are drawn to places with positive vibrations and a sense of peace so the nest in your home suggests your house is a harmonious and safe space.  The act of building a nest symbolizes new beginnings and a sense of starting anew.  A nest in your home can be seen as a message from loved ones who recently died and a reminder of their continued presence and love.  The nest itself is a symbol of home and the importance of creating a safe and nurturing environment.  Finally, in Buddhist traditions the bird’s nest symbolizes a nurturing environment and the importance of caring for new life.  I guess that means when they return you have been doubly blessed.

THOUGHTS: Last year’s arrival of the robins met with concern over what the nest said about me as a homeowner.  When they returned to the down spout it was met with a sense of joy at the wonder of life on display (including the two chicks in the photo).  I work hard to keep the feeders full and water on hand.  The nesting pair acknowledges our yard is a safe haven.  Safe havens need to be available for both birds and humans.  These places usually take hard work to ensure they are not lost.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

May 06, 2025

When I let the kids out into the side yard yesterday afternoon for a constitutional Loki immediately ran to the fence.  That was not a real surprise as he usually runs to the fence to see if the next-door dogs were outside.  This time he instead started scrambling after something he found on the ground.  Although I did not know what he had found, I was certain it was not something he needed to have in his mouth.  I shooed him away and saw a fledgling bird lying on the ground.  The frightened bird started scittering around as I tried to trap it in my hands.  I finally grabbed the small bird.  The bird was obviously frightened and distressed, but other than being wet from being in Loki’s mouth it appeared to be unharmed.  I placed the bird on the top of the 6-foot (1.8 m) fence to keep it out of harms way and to give it a chance to gain some air before it hit the ground again trying to fly away.  This was a fledgling blue jay that must have fallen from its nest trying to learn to fly.

When I went online, I found the blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), or the jaybird, is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae that is native to eastern North America.  The blue jay lives in most of the eastern and central states of the US.  Some US populations are migratory.  Resident populations are also found in Newfoundland, Canada, while breeding populations are found across southern Canada.  The blue jay measures 9 to 12 inches (22 to 30 cm) from bill to tail and weighs 2.5 to 3.5 ounces (70 to 100 g), with a wingspan of 13 to 17 inches (34 to 43 cm).  The color is predominantly blue, with a white chest and underparts, a blue crest, and a black, U-shaped collar around its neck and a black border behind the crest.  Males and females are similar in size and plumage.  The blue jay feeds mainly on seeds and nuts, soft fruits, arthropods, and an occasional small vertebrate.  It typically gleans food from trees, shrubs, and the ground, and will “hawk” insects from the air.  Blue jays can be very aggressive to other birds and have been seen to raid nests and have even to kill other birds.  The nest is an open cup in the branches of a tree built by both sexes.  The clutch has from two to seven eggs, which are blueish or light brown with darker brown spots.  Young are underdeveloped at birth (altricial) and are brooded by the female for 8 to 12 days after hatching.  The fledgling will leave the nest between 17 to 21 days old

Blue jays are monogamous during nesting and do not typically abandon their young.  Even after the fledgling leaves the nest the parents will care for and feed them for at least a month, and sometimes for up to two months.  If a young jay wanders far from the nest, parents may still feed it if it can be restored to or near the nest.  The rare cases where the young are abandoned are due to some disturbance or other unforeseen circumstances.  If you find a young blue jay, it is best to leave it alone unless it is in immediate danger.  It is likely the parents are likely to be nearby and will continue to care for the fledgling bird. 

THOUGHTS: The fledgling blue jay I found appeared to be in imminent danger when I put it on the fence.  Fledgling is a dangerous time of life, with an average mortality rate of 42% over a week or two, with most mortality just after they leave the nest.  Humans are born altricial and take even longer to learn to be self-sufficient, typically around 30 years to become fully self-sufficient.  This lengthy process is due to factors like the large human brain taking time to develop, premature birth, and the need to learn complex skills from caregivers.  Self-sufficiency is a gradual progression and not an event and involves developing practical skills and emotional independence.  Being labeled an adult at 18 has little to do with being self-sufficient.  Care networks need to be extended rather than cut off when a child comes of age or decides to become a fledgling.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

May 05, 2025

My MSN browser carried an article about the annual reintroduction of a snake into Florida’s forests.  The 41 snakes were released on April 30 at Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve (ABRP).  The 21 males and 20 females are part of a long-term effort to restore a once-common species.  This is the eighth year that The Nature Conservancy and its partners have conducted the release.  “The snakes are native, non-venomous, and critical to this ecosystem,” said Catherine Ricketts, preserve manager at ABRP.  This latest release brings the total number of snakes returned to the site to 167.  In 2023, conservationists spotted two hatchlings born in the wild, the first natural offspring of previously released snakes.  Each snake hatches at the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation (OCIC) and at one year are moved to the Welaka National Fish Hatchery.  The Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve is the only site in Florida where Eastern Indigo snake reintroduction is happening.

When I went online, I found the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi), also called the indigo snake, blue indigo snake, black snake, blue gopher snake, and blue bull snake, is a species of large, non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae.  The species is native to the southeastern US.  The Eastern Indigo was first described by John Edwards Holbrook in 1842.  Until the early 1990’s the genus Drymarchon was considered monotypic with one species (Drymarchon corais) and 12 subspecies.  Drymarchon corais couperi was then elevated to full species status according to the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles.  The generic name (Drymarchon) is from the Greek words drymos (“forest”) and archon (“lord” or “ruler”), roughly translating to “lord of the forest”.  The eastern indigo has uniform blue-black dorsal scales, with some specimens having a reddish orange to tan color on the throat, cheeks, and chin.  This smooth-scaled snake is considered e the longest native snake species in the US.  The longest recorded specimen measured 9.2 feet (2.8 m) long and the mature male are slightly larger than females.  A typical mature male measures 3.0 to 7.7 feet (1.2 to 2.36 m) and weighs 1.6 to 9.9 pounds (0.72 to 4.5 kg).  Specimens over 8,5 feet (2.6 m) can weigh up to 11pounds (5 kg).

The eastern indigo snake is listed as a federally threatened species in Georgia and Florida due to habitat loss.  In 2012 the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources had listed the species as possibly extirpated within the state, but a reintroduction program has shown signs of success.  The eastern indigo was largely eliminated from northern Florida due to habitat loss and fragmentation. A restoration program is currently underway at Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve (ABRP) in northern Florida. The eastern indigo snake was last observed at ABRP in 1982, until 2017 when 12 snakes were released as part of the program. Twenty more snakes were released in 2018, and another 15 (10 female and 5 male) in 2019.  The 10-year program is a collaborative effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and private partners.  The snakes are also dealing with infections due to the snake fungal disease (Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola) which infects the dermal layer of skin, causing a variety of lesions that commonly manifest on the head and near the vent.  NatureServe considers the species to be Vulnerable.

THOUGHTS: The docile nature and appearance can make the eastern indigo snake to be a desirable pet but owning one may be illegal without a permit.  While only a few states require permits, a federal permit is required to buy one from out of state anywhere in the US.  Most states allow unrestricted in-state sales.  The snake requires a larger enclosure than most species and preferably with something to climb on.  As a vulnerable species, it is perhaps best to leave them to the Nature Conservancy.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 27, 2025

The intense cold (highs below freezing) that has stricken most of the south began to lessen over the weekend and Melissa thought it a good time to get out of the house with the kids for a drive.  While the motivation was to “just go”, we also wanted to see a birding site.  The Sequoya Wildlife Refuge is only about 90 minutes west, but we have not had much luck finding birds in the winter.  Lake Fort Smith is an hour north and has good fishing in the cove, but we have never caught much from the shore.  I put in a little work while Melissa searched for a new birding site.  What she found was about 2 hours away near where she spent her college years.  This sounded like a possibility (and promised a trip to her favorite burger joint).  We packed up the kids, got gas and aired up the tires that had been deflated by the cold, and took off for Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge.

When I looked online, I found Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge is a 7,055-acre (28.6 km²) site located 5 miles (8 km) south-east of Dardanelle, Arkansas.  The refuge is bounded on one side by the Arkansas River and on its others by an oxbow lake that was formed in 1954 by the Army Corps of Engineers during efforts to straighten the river navigation channel.  The resulting island was transferred to the US Department of the Interior in 1957 for a wildlife refuge.  The refuge provides habitat for migratory waterfowl, indigenous endangered species, other resident wildlife, and offers interpretation and recreation to the public.  The area is a year-round sanctuary for the 236 species of birds, tree frogs, and the American alligator.  Migratory fowl following the Central and Mississippi flyways stay in the refuge during the winter months, including 14 species of ducks and 4 kinds of geese, with as many as 100,000 there at once.  Winter migratory neotropical songbirds use the refuge as a rest stop during their long journey to and from Central and South America and during the spring and summer migratory birds use the refuge for breeding and nesting.  I anticipated birds.

Last year I purchased an Interagency Lifetime Pass from the US National Park Service so we cruised past the Holla Bend information center without stopping.  We turned around realizing we did not know where we were going without a flyer.  As we got into the refuge, we saw large flocks of American Robin (Turdus migratorius) on the road between the trees and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) passing among the harvested grain fields.  Along the oxbow we found a flock of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and a flock of ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) along the river.  The best find however, was totally unexpected.  We stopped to admire a herd of 20 does and fawns racing across the far end of a harvested field.  Then I noticed what I thought was a group of black vultures (Coragyps atratus) about 300 yards (274 m) out.  When I focused my camera, I realized this was a flock of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) feeding in the field.  It turned out to be a great day.  And we topped it with a great burger.

Thoughts: When we stopped at the Holla Bend information office a sign listed the daily hours along with the caveat of “Closed when we are not here”.  They were not there.  The Wildlife Refuge System is the US’s largest network of lands and waters dedicated to wildlife conservation, but it is facing a staffing crisis.  The Refuge System has lost over 800 permanent positions since fiscal year 2011, resulting in a 27% loss in capacity.  No national wildlife refuge is fully staffed, and more than half have zero staff on-site.  Much of the system is unprotected due to the lack of law enforcement officers.  This shortage impacts critical volunteers by a lack of staff supervision or infrastructure.  We need to invest in this system and prioritize staffing to ensure the future of this network and the wildlife it protects.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.

January 04, 2025

I am a little later than usual, but it is again time to recap my annual birder list. Once more I saw a number of red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) on the power lines going to and from town but this year I was unable to actually get a picture, so they were not added to my count. I was unable to take my usual trip to the wildlife area this year and so missed out on any of the birds I might have seen there. The end of year presence on my feeders was good as the cold weather brought the small Passerines (sparrows and finches), although the larger birds (cardinals and jays) were mostly absent. I cleaned out the bluebird (Sialia sialis) house last week. One of the squirrels who frequent the feeders has taken to gnawing on the entrance, so I opened it to check if everything was ok. It was fine but I cleaned the nest and debris in preparation for the next nesting season. BTW: for those who read last week’s blog (Gaggle) a group of squirrels is called a “dray” or a “scurry”.

All that said leads up to the “great reveal” concerning my birder totals for 2024. You may recall I recorded 26 species in my first year (2020). I got off to a great start in 2021 with 29 species by the end of January and a total of 52 species for the year. During 2022 the sightings were slower, with 44 different species, not counting the six European sightings (50 total?). During 2023 I recorded my lowest number of sightings since my first year, with only 30 species. During 2024 the numbers rose slightly to 39 documented species. Building a fence in the side yard helped as the kids no longer play near the feeders and the birds feel free to come and go more frequently. Still, early morning and early evening are the best times to watch. We also added three new feeders that attach to the glass on the bay window next to where Melissa works. This allows her to watch as the American gold finch (Spinus tristis) and Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) as they battle for feeding rights.

As I pulled onto the entrance road to the lake to take the kids for a walk yesterday, I caught sight of a large bird perched in the trees. I drove by as the bird turned and flashed the unmistakable white head of a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). I slowed and then pulled over as soon as I (no shoulders). I walked back the 1/4 mile (400m) scanning the trees and hoping to be able to get a photo for my birding list. Unfortunately, the eagle had moved on and was now out of sight. When we began our walk out onto the first spit of land, I heard the call of a red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). I scanned the trees along the road and caught sight of the bird high among the branches. I pulled out my phone to take a photo but again, by that time the bird was gone. That made two birds I usually only see a couple of times a year and I had missed documenting them both. These were part of the many birds I have seen but not photographed over my last five years of birding. The official Cornell Lab of Ornithology bird list guide does not require documentation with a photo to count as a sighting, although that has been my criteria. Perhaps I should rethink.

THOUGHTS: I acquired several new feeders (now 13, plus 9 hummingbird feeders) during 2024. Melissa asked about the cost as she watched me buying seeds and filling the feeders on a daily basis. I tend to buy seeds in bulk, and I only have to restock two or three times a year. Watching the birds (and squirrels) gives us both pleasure. Like my garden and Melissa’s succulents, the expense to feed the birds is well spent. Be sure to mark your calendars for the Great Backyard Bird Count 2025 (February 14 to February 17, 2025). As I mentioned last year, birds are the (literal) canary in the mine shaft (earth) when it comes to gauging the health of our ecosystems. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.