MadBirders

Gib and Sue Geiger of Mountain Valley Farm got this shot of a Barred Owl clutching a Red Squirrel in Waitsfield this week.  Sue reported that Gib had saved the squirrel for just this reason and concluded “See it pays to keep dead frozen rodents around when there is a lot of snow on the ground and the owls need help hunting.”

Warren Mad Birder Bill Martin demonstrates conclusively that a Tufted Titmouse will come to a suet cake, especially on a sunny day.

Twice in the past two weeks, I’ve had an opportunity to spend quality time with one of our most fascinating birds – the Northern Shrike. It’s fairly rare that this bird spends much time where it can be observed “up close and personal”.  Most of us see it in a treetop at a distance.  Or, read in a birding net report about a Shrike that just swiped a Chickadee off someone’s feeder.  And, since Northern Shrikes only visit us when they come south to spend the winter in our balmy climes, it’s easy to understand why they are often missed.

Chris Leahy of Mass Audubon says in his book, Birdwatcher’s Companion to North American Birds,  “The Shrikes are the only songbirds that prey habitually on vertebrate animals.”  (That means mice, moles, voles and other little birdies)  They are birds of open country and forest edge and tend to seek prominent perches where they can scan for their prey, which also includes large insects and crustaceans. Both of our species (the Northern that we see in Vermont, and the Loggerhead seen in southern states) of “butcher birds” practice the famous shrike habit of hanging (impaling) “meat” on thorns or in narrow crotches, sometimes returning to the mummified remains as long as months afterwards.Recent research indicates that the male shrike may make a display of many impaled victims to exhibit his prowess to females – kind of a “Vlad the Impaler” version of the Bower Bird’s “jungle room” seductive decorating. Shrikes wait in ambush like accipiters, or sometimes actively chase prey.  They don’t have large strong talons (they’re songbirds, not raptors), but they do have an ominous sharp hook on the end of the beaks they use to stun prey, and in eating.Overall, this is a cute little songbird with a highly adapted “attitude”.

 Two weeks ago, I looked out of our back porch window, and saw a gray bird hopping across the snow covered lawn toward our feeders.  My first thought was Blue Jay with his crest down.  But gray.  Gray Jay?  Not likely.  Shrike?  Can it really be a Shrike hopping around like a Robin?  Then I saw the black “raccoon mask” eye stripe and knew that was what it was. The bird hopped over to the feeders, looked around, and took up a perch atop one of the feeder crooks.  All the Chickadees, Nuthatches and Titmouses had left. It sat for quite a while, and then flew low and into the bottom of a Beauty Bush at the corner of the house.  I was a bit surprised to see him skulking about in the bottom of a bush, when I was used to seeing Shrikes in the very tops of trees. 

As if on cue, it flew to the top of a Crab Apple in the front yard and sat perched on the smallest of branches at the very tip-top of the tree.  This seemed more normal to me.  It surveyed the property for a bit, and obviously figured out where the feeders (and birds) were in the front yard.  The little guys had not ceded this ground yet, and several were actively feeding.  The Shrike swooped down, sent them all packing, and landed in the Lilac bush next to the feedrs.  It snooped about in the bottom of the bush for quite some time – perhaps waiting for mice to appear, or for a little black-capped job to come back to the feeders.  Then, It returned to the Crab and sang.  I stepped outside to listen.  It was a lovely chortling song – Leahy describes it as being “Mockingbird-like”.  Although not repetitious like a Mockingbird, there was a clear melodic character to the tune.  (Check out http://birdnote.org/show/northern-shrike-butcherbird) 

I went inside to listen to it on my iphone, just to make sure I was getting it.  When I went back out to the porch, Whoosh, a little bird (didn’t really see what it was) went darting past, flying inside the porch and out the far end trying to elude Spikey, who hard on its tail.  Up and over the roof they darted and disappeared toward the back yard.  I ran out back and found the Shrike sitting on a Cherry sapling.  I don’t think it connected with its target.  Eventually it flew off. I thought that was really great – an extended close-up session with the butcher-bird. But, it turned out that a return visit was to be offered.

 A couple days ago, I was putting the Labs up on “dog hill” for some exercise.  Chickadees and Titmouses were singing.  And there was another song.  Seemed like I had heard it before.  Was it one of those wacky mimicking songs of the blue jays?  Nope – it sounded like the Shrike!  I ran to the car, grabbed my bins, and spied Spike sitting in the top of the big maple in the back yard.  It was back, and singing for all the world to hear.  What kind of way was that for an ambusher to hunt?  Maybe it wasn’t hunting I thought.  I recalled that others had told me they had heard a Shrike’s song and thought it resembled many of the sounds we make when “pishing” to attract birds.  Perhaps the Shrike’s song is a natural “Pish” that raises curiosity in other birds – thus revealing its prey.I went inside to watch unobserved.  The Shrike stayed in the tree for 10 or 15 minutes and sang.  Several Chickadees went about their business twenty feet or so down the tree from him.  I’m sure they saw him, but they didn’t leave.  Were they attracted to the song?  Were they keeping an eye on the Shrike?  Did they just not recognize the threat?  Don’t know.

 After a bit, it flew down and took up its position on one of the feeder crooks. Some of the Chickadees stayed around – on a witch hazel bush nearby.  They didn’t come to the feeders.  And, it was interesting to watch how their demeanor changed.  Usually, when they are feeding and going about their business, they flit and pop in jerky little motions that often involve moving their tails and heads up and down.  With the Shrike around, their attitude and movement changed.  They became much more animated, and the movements were decidedly and regularly side to side sweeping their tails back and forth.  It was more like they were wind vanes pivoting in a shifting breeze.  They were vocalizing too, but I could not hear them through the window.  Clearly, this was the Chickadee alarm posture – interesting to see in and of itself.The Shrike dropped to the ground, and walked about, looking down.  Beneath our feeders are a number of little holes where mice and moles surface from their subway system to nab a seed or two.  This bird had seen or heard something that alerted him of to their presence.  It was after them and not the local birds. 

 It tip-toed about on top of the tunnels, and watched and listened.  Then it hopped onto the lowest branch of the Witch Hazel and hid in the branches and watched.  It never sat really still like a heron.  It looked this way and that, tipping its head from side to side.  It stayed in the bottom of the bush for about 10 minutes, and then slowly worked his way up to the top – seeming to give up on the rodents. I blinked, and it was gone.  I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye and suspected that it had streaked back to the Beauty Bush it had visited the week before.  Sure enough, when I walked through the house and into a room where I could see the bush, there it was.  I didn’t see any prey.  It sat in the low branches for a few minutes and then hopped down on to the snow along a row of Cedars that is next to the bush.  Now it marched up and down, looking into the bottom of the Cedars.  I wondered if maybe it had wounded a bird and was looking for it.

Next thing, and unseen by the Shrike, a Chickadee flew out of the upper backside of the Cedars and landed in the Beauty Bush.  It sat on the edge closest to the Shrike and began the agitated motion and vocalizing I saw earlier.  I was very surprised that this little fellow – who apparently had experienced a close shave with the butcher – didn’t just fly away.  Instead, it sat defiantly, motioning and sounding the alarm for others.  It did this for almost 20 minutes. The Shrike paid no attention – perhaps not realizing that this was the bird it had chased.  Or, perhaps it was after something else.  It paced back and forth under the Cedars for some time, and then dove into one of gaps between the bases of the trees.  The Chickadee kept up his alarm.  Eventually the Shrike flew out and landed in a large rose bush.  I couldn’t really see him very well from my vantage point, but it occurred to me that the rose bush was just where a successful impaler might go with prey.  I relocated, and could see the bird, but no evidence of a catch. Soon, it flew back toward the Beauty Bush – in the area where the Chickadee was protesting.  The little bird quickly relocated to the back of the bush and kept up his vigil.  

I thought it was after the Black-Cap.  But, the Shrike took a position on a low branch in near the base of the bush.  And as I was watching, I caught a bit of movement in the snow, below.  I wasn’t sure if it was real or not.  But, after a few moments, a small mouse or mole head peeked out of the snow.  The Shrike – just a foot or so above the rodent – prepared to strike.  But, the fur-ball, popped its head back in, and the Shrike – unlike an owl – didn’t appear to understand that if it attacked just behind the hole, it’d get lunch.  The mousey guy appeared and disappeared again.  Same reaction – ready to strike, but again, no launch.  

That was it for the rodent.  It didn’t reappear.  And – with the little Chickadee still bravely sounding the warning – the Shrike soon retreated to a far off tree — probably to survey the surroundings from there, and start the hunt again. I was thrilled that I had the opportunity for such a lengthy observation of Spike.  I learned much about how Shrikes hunt, how likely they are to succeed, how the high vantage point observation may be a pre-cursor to on-the-ground hunting, how lovely their songs are, and how brave-hearted Chickadees respond to serious threats.  I hope it comes back so I can learn more.

Scott Sainsbury – Moretown, Vermont

The Mad River Valley is blessed with a variety of habitats, each attracting various species of birds.  Habitats include:  Deciduous Woods (hardwoods), Coniferous Woods (softwoods), Mixed Woods, Wetlands, Grasslands and Agricultural Lands, Residential, Riparian, Alpine (mountaintops).  Learning which species prefer which habitats is part of the fun of birding the Valley.

 Time of day – Most birds are active early in the morning and late afternoon.  Often there is a burst of activity as the sun hits treetops.  Get out there and see what’s feeding and flying.  Sometimes rarities show up – Either birds that are supposed to live somewhere else, are here in larger numbers than expected, or are here in the wrong season.  Keep your eyes open for these and report any to the website.

This monthly guide and arrival bird schedule is based on the 2002 VT Field Card and/or observations of Mad Birders.  It includes bird species typically seen in the Mad River Valley.  Many bird species arrive later in our valley than the 2013 VT Field Card indicates.

 January

Check out year round residents at your feeders or on walks.  It’s a good idea to have binoculars with you wherever you go!  Year round residents include:  Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Barred Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Golden-crowned Kinglet, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Purple Finch, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Evening Grosbeak, Carolina Wren, American Robin, Eastern Bluebird (rare in winter).

Watch for winter visitors and irruptives (wanderers, not here every year) – Snowy Owl, Pine Siskin, Snow Bunting, Northern Shrike, Pine Grosbeak, Common and Hoary Redpolls, Bohemian Waxwing, Horned Lark, White-winged Crossbill.  Red-bellied Woodpecker, American Tree Sparrow

 February

Week 1 –  Owls start nesting.  Listen for Barred Owl calls, usually at dusk, evening.

Week 2 – Great Backyard Bird Count  (Check out http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ for complete information.

Week 3 – Listen for Woodpeckers drumming, Chickadees and Nuthatches singing spring songs.

 Week 4 – Spring migration begins –  (m) – bird species seen in migration only.    Arrival schedule follows:

Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird

 March

Week 1– American Kestrel, Killdeer, American Robin, Common Grackle

Week 2 – Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Northern Flicker, Eastern Bluebird, Song Sparrow

Week 3 – Pied-billed Grebe (m), Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Black Duck, Wood Duck, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Belted Kingfisher, Tree Swallow, American Woodcock

Week 4 –Canada Goose, Snow Goose (m), Broad-winged Hawk, Wilson’s Snipe, Eastern Phoebe, Fox Sparrow (m)

 April –

Week 1– Osprey, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Winter Wren, Savannah Sparrow

Week 2 – American Bittern, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (m), Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow

Week 3 – Barn Swallow, Blue-headed Vireo, Chipping Sparrow

Week 4 – Long-tailed Duck (m), Solitary Sandpiper (m), Spotted Sandpiper, Chimney Swift, Eastern Kingbird, Cliff Swallow, House Wren, Marsh Wren, Brown Thrasher, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Common Yellowthroat.

 May- Mad Birder walks and bird migration kick into high gear.

Week 1– Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Least Flycatcher, Great-crested Flycatcher, Veery, Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Warbling Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, White-crowned Sparrow (m), Bobolink, Baltimore Oriole

Week 2 – Swainson’s Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Tennessee Warbler (m), Philadelphia Vireo (m), Cape May Warbler (m), Bay-breasted Warbler (m), Mourning Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler (m), Canada Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Lincoln’s Sparrow (m)

Week 3 – Black-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Wood-Peewee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Bicknell’s Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Blackpoll Warbler

June and July –

Spring migration ends.  Most birds are nesting in appropriate habitats.  Many birds do not sing as much, being very quiet around the nest.  Using good observation skills is key to see birds at this time.

Baby birds are fledging – Look/listen for begging babies being fed by parents.  Some post-breeding birds start to wander, shorebird migration begins.

 August

Shorebird migration increases, warbler and hawk migration begins.  Team Pipit begins monitoring Ward Hill daily.  Watch for mixed flocks of songbirds feeding and moving quickly.  Chickadees are often present in these flocks.

 September

Biggest fall migration month, led by waves of warblers and hawks.  Shorebird migration slows.  Team Pipit continues monitoring Ward Hill.  Keep your binos handy, especially when north winds blow and birds ride the winds south.

 October

Waterfowl migration shifts into high gear, also geese, sparrows, and kinglet movement.

– White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Bufflehead –  Sometimes seen at Blueberry Lake.  Snow Goose show at Dead  Creek in Addison.

 November

Woods may be quiet, check for winter irruptives (occasional wandering visitors) to start arriving – See January for list

 December

Fall migration ends.  Check for those winter irruptives listed in January. They have all been seen in the Valley in recent years.  Other possibilities include Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Northern Hawk Owl, Great Gray Owl, Lapland Longspur, Red Crossbill.

 Valley/Northfield Christmas Bird Count – First Friday between December 14 and January 4.

Bird in Hand – Pat Folsom holds a pair of Common Redpolls

One of the highlights of Mad River Valley birding this winter is the presence of a small energetic bird named the Common Redpoll.  A member of the Finch family, this bird spends the summer breeding season in Canada but occasionally appears in Vermont in large numbers during the winter, especially when food sources further north become scarce.  As this winter has progressed, Mad Birders have been seeing Common Redpolls in flocks as large as 200 birds.  Redpolls eat sunflower and niger seed and happily congregate at backyard feeders making a chorus of delightful buzzy Zreee calls.  Mad Birder Pat Folsom managed to get this pair of redpolls eating out of her hand.  Pat noted that the only thing you need besides the sunflower seeds…is patience.

Ten teams of birders had a very successful day of birding in the Mad River Valley and Northfield/Roxbury area. The weather was perfect, and we had almost twice the number of birds last year. I know some of us were hoping for more species, we have just about the same number we usually have. We had 38 species reported by teams, 2 more added by feeder watchers (Purple Finch and Pine Siskins) and 2 more species (so far) added for Count Week birds ( Coopers Hawk and Barred Owl). We ended the day with a great potluck held at CrossHaven Farm, generously hosted by Scott and Pat Sainsbury.

Thanks to everyone who participated by being on a team, feeder watching, filling feeders for us.

Here’s the list:

• American Black Duck
• Mallard
• Canada Goose
• Ring-necked Duck
• Lesser Scaup
• Common Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser
• Common Merganser
• Ruffed Grouse
• Wild Turkey
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Mourning Dove
• Rock Pigeon
• Downy Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Northern Shrike
• American Crow
• Common Raven
• Blue Jay
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• Brown Creeper
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Golden-crowned Kinglet
• Eastern Bluebird
• European Starling
• Bohemian Waxing
• Northern Cardinal
• American Tree Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• House Sparrow
• Evening Grosbeak
• American Goldfinch
• Hoary Redpoll
• Common Redpoll
• House Finch
• Pine Grosbeak
• White-wnged Crossbill

The Mad Birders are preparing to participate in the 113th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count!  Join us in the fun starting with a planning pot luck supper at 6PM on November 29th in Waitsfield.  Our count will be held on Friday December 14th from 8am until 4pm in Waitsfield, Fayston, Moretown, Warren, Duxbury and Northfield; followed of course by another pot luck supper!  We will count birds no matter what the weather!  Mad as we are, we have counted them during snowstorms and in temperatures as low as 5 below zero, but then again it might be 50 degrees and sunny.  This autumn has already been a great one for birding with numerous sightings of Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls.  You never know what species might turn up for the Christmas Bird Count.  For details call 496-4730 or email info@madbirders.org.

The fence at Ward Hill

Ali and Pipit compare their lists for eBird.

Thirteen Mad Birders celebrated September and the joys of autumn songbird migration by birding where the birds always are, on WARD HILL in Duxbury.  Thanks go to Chris and Fred “Pipit” Pratt for hosting the walk.  A beautiful late summer morning with blue skies greeted the Mad Birders as did seven different species of warblers and three separate species of vireos.  The Philadelphia Vireo was very cooperative and was a life bird for one of the birders.

Mourning Dove  4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird  2
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee  1
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Philadelphia Vireo  1
Red-eyed Vireo  3
Blue Jay  3
Black-capped Chickadee  11
Red-breasted Nuthatch  1
White-breasted Nuthatch  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  4
Nashville Warbler  2
Common Yellowthroat  8
Magnolia Warbler  5
Blackburnian Warbler  2
Chestnut-sided Warbler  3
Black-throated Blue Warbler  4
Black-throated Green Warbler  3
Chipping Sparrow  2
White-throated Sparrow  2
American Goldfinch  1

Bird migration is not an exact science of course, but years of observation have given birders the ability to get pretty close to assigning a precise ETA for each bird’s Spring arrival date in Vermont. For a week by week ‘schedule’ of what birds you can expect to see download a pdf of the Vermont Bird Arrival Schedule. Know what to look for when, and maybe you’ll be the lucky one to see the first Blackburnian Warbler.

Bohemian Waxwings in Waitsfield - Photo by John Reilly

Bohemians at Mountain Valley Farm  Waitsfield – Photo by Gib Geiger

Beginning about a week ago Mad Birders began reporting Bohemian Waxwing sightings in the valley.  Flocks of between 30 and 70 have been reported in Fayston and Waitsfield and also at various locations throughout the State of Vermont.  These fruit and berry loving birds are winter migrants, usually seen in Vermont from late November until late April.  Wonderfully gregarious and sociable, Bohemians are known to appear in large flocks.  The distinctive and exotic appearance along with the sweet high pitched song of the Bohemian Waxwing is a real treat for the winter birder.