Turkey Vulture

Turkey Vulture, Newport, Oregon on 12 September 2008 by Greg Gillson.

 

The Turkey Vulture is familiar to all as it rocks unsteadily over the summer landscape of North America searching for carrion.

These birds have two-toned black wings and the head is bald. Adults have red head skin, while the skin on the head of younger birds is black. They really do look rather like turkeys when on the ground.

Some vultures winter in the southern parts of the Pacific Northwest, though most depart in September and October. They arrive again from February to April.

As common as these birds are, it is quite hard to actually find a nest. Eggs are laid on the bare floor of caves or hollow logs or in similar situations.

So how did the term "buzzard" come to be applied to the Turkey Vulture? Buzzard is the European term for the Buteos, the soaring raptors such as our Red-tailed Hawk. Early European settlers of the New World called all the unfamiliar soaring raptors buzzards, including the Black and Turkey vultures. With the passage of time the name buzzard stuck to the vulture but, incomprehensibly, not to the Buteo hawks in North America.

Jackson Bottom birds: May 21-27, 2010

Lazuli Bunting, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on May 24, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

The final new expected migrant bird species of spring arrived this week at Jackson bottom Wetlands Preserve with sightings of LAZULI BUNTINGS on May 24 and WILLOW FLYCATCHER on May 25. Both will spend the summer and breed locally.

A rather unusual migrant species showed up May 24 and May 26; a single OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER on these days. These larger flycatchers are uncommon but regular in higher forests, and are infrequently spotted in the lowlands during migration.

SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and WESTERN-WOOD-PEWEES arrvied in larger numbers this week. The bird feeders are supporting good numbers of LESSER and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS.

Fledgling EUROPEAN STARLINGS, WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, and SONGS SPARROWS were noted this week, confirming breeding on the Preserve. These are not a surprise, but breeding birds have not been tracked specifically before this spring season.

Here is the list of birds detected this week...

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Red-necked Phalarope
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

Gadwall

Gadwall, Fernhill Wetlands, Forest Grove, Oregon on 20 February 2006 by Greg Gillson.

 

Historically, Gadwalls wintered on open water in the Pacific NW, primarily west of the Cascades to the coast, and bred east of the Cascades in the larger tule lakes there.

Numbers of breeding birds west of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon have been quite low and infrequent. That is, until quite recently. In the Washington state breeding analysis the habitat preference for western Washington is described as "urban wetlands." Likewise, Gadwalls began breeding west of Portland, Oregon about 2002, and are now widespread, but not numerous, breeders throughout wetlands there, including Fernhill Wetlands in Forest Grove, Jackson Bottom Wetlands in Hillsboro, and Tualatin River NWR at Sherwood, to name only a few breeding sites.

This increase in abundance is part of a continent-wide increase in numbers and expansion in range since the 1950's. Another peak in numbers occured in the 1990's.

Gadwall are a bit smaller than Mallard, and the females look quite similar at first glance. Male Gadwall may look like female of some other ducks, but the black bill and black rear end are quite distinctive, as is the small white wing patch in both sexes.

Though not colorful, the drake Gadwall at close range is quite handsome. Though looking gray at a distance, the breast and sides are vermiculated with fine black and white patterned lines. The scapulars are rusty-colored.

Gadwalls nest later than Mallards. While Mallard chicks may be seen most commonly in May and June, Gadwall chicks are noted with hens most frequently during July and August.

After nesting, adult ducks molt all flight feathers at once and are flightless 6-8 weeks. You may note the ponds are covered with duck feathers in summer. The drakes undergo a molt into an "eclipse" plumage where they look similar to the females, but can be identified with close observation. I suggest spending a bit more time this summer looking at those duck families in the pond. You just may find that some are Gadwall, and not Mallard as you presumed.

Jackson Bottom birds: May 14-20, 2010

Female Black-headed Grosbeak, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on May 19, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Spring migration seem to be waning at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon. Fewer migrant birds than summer residents were detected this week. Of note was a rare FORSTER'S TERN that passed through on May 14. New migrant arrivals this week included SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES. High numbers of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS continue to pass through (including the female photographed during a shower on May 19).

During calm mornings the soft lisping songs of YELLOW WARBLERS are heard in the willows. These birds are generally quite uncommon in western Oregon. On the free Wednesday morning bird walk this week we heard 5 singing male YELLOW WARBLERS on the Blue Heron Trail and 2 additional birds on the Kingfisher Marsh Trail. The Wednesday morning bird walks are from 8:30 to 11:00 am. No pre-registration is necessary, just meet on the back deck of the education center for a leisurely 3 miles stroll.

The week ended with cold, windy, rainy weather, thus the total number of birds detected this week is perhaps lower with fewer birders reporting sightings.

An AMERICAN ROBIN is setting on a nest in the viewing shelter. BARN SWALLOWS are nesting under the footbridge. A fledgling RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was noted, as well as a used nest of that species. A brood of MALLARD chicks was noted, along with CANADA GOOSE families. Several fledgling LESSER GOLDFINCHES have been noted.

Here is this week's list of birds sighted.

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Hooded Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Great Blue Heron
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Sora
American Coot
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird, Rimrock Springs, Madras, Oregon on 14 June 2008 by Greg Gillson.

 

The state bird of Idaho and Nevada, these birds range from the higher portions of the Cascades eastward across the Pacific NW. In winter they depart from much of the Pacific NW, but can be found in mild winters in lesser numbers in southern Idaho, south-central Oregon, and southward.

The lovely sky-blue plumage of the male provides a bit of color to the duller greens, grays, and browns of the sage desert of the Great Basin, where they are often found in conjunction with juniper and aspen trees for nesting habitat. In the mountains they prefer meadows and open ponderosa forests.

They eat a variety of insects (especially grasshoppers) and berries. Often they sit on fence wires and sally out to grab insects and return. Or, they may hover along the ground chasing insects.

They are readily attracted to nest boxes. Bluebird nest boxes are 5 x 5 inches and at least 8 inches in height. The hole should be 7 inches above the floor and 1-9/16 inches in diameter, which will block starlings. The nest box should be placed 3-6 feet above the ground.

The call is a soft few note. The song is a whistled tru-lee.

You may also like to visit the web site of the North American Bluebird Society.

Birding report: Hagg Lake, Washington County, Oregon

Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hagg Lake, Washington Co., Oregon on 15 May 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Next weekend I am leading a birding trip to Hagg Lake in the Coast Range west of Portland, Oregon. Today I did some scouting to make sure trails were open and passable. There are still spaces left on the trip next Saturday, May 22. We'll take a van from Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon. If you wish to join, select trip #24783 and call 503-681-5397 to sign up with Hillsboro Parks & Rec. Dept. Other birding field trips are listed on the Jackson Bottom Wetlands web site.

There are 12 miles of trails around the lake and lots of birds. The most common bird today was EVENING GROSBEAK. The second most common bird was ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Other warblers were quite conspicuous, too--at least in song. WILSON'S WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS, and COMMON YELLOWTHROATS sang from many areas around the lake. I heard, but did not see, 2 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS. They should become more common next week.

A few flycatchers were in. I heard one WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and heard many PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, though seeing them was difficult. Equally shy, several SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were heard, but not seen.

At Scoggins Creek about 35 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were drinking from the spring there. Several SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were bobbing on the rocks. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER allowed photos.

All in all, a good morning of bird watching.

Here is the list of birds seen...

Mallard 2
Osprey 1
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Band-tailed Pigeon 35
Mourning Dove 2
Rufous Hummingbird 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Western Wood-Pewee 1
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 7
Hutton's Vireo 3
Warbling Vireo 3
Steller's Jay 5
Western Scrub-Jay 7
American Crow 8
Violet-green Swallow 12
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 10
Red-breasted Nuthatch 3
Brown Creeper 2
Bewick's Wren 4
House Wren 8
Winter Wren 3
Golden-crowned Kinglet 2
Swainson's Thrush 4
American Robin 8
European Starling 6
Orange-crowned Warbler 40
Black-throated Gray Warbler 7
MacGillivray's Warbler 6
Common Yellowthroat 8
Wilson's Warbler 10
Yellow-breasted Chat 2
Western Tanager 7
Spotted Towhee 8
Song Sparrow 6
Dark-eyed Junco 8
Black-headed Grosbeak 20
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Brown-headed Cowbird 15
Purple Finch 2
Red Crossbill 2
Pine Siskin 3
American Goldfinch 5
Evening Grosbeak 85

Jackson Bottom birds: May 7-13, 2010

 

After last week's frenetic pace, migrations slowed and high-pressure built, bringing warm and sunny weather to Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon.

A CASSIN'S VIREO was reported on May 12, the first local report from spring. A pair of PURPLE MARTINS was spotted again during the week.

By week's end migrant LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS remain, but most other migrant shorebirds are gone now for their Arctic or boreal summer homes. Summer breeding shorebirds include KILLDEER, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and WILSON'S SNIPE.

We are left with summering waterfowl now. CANADA GOOSE, MALLARD, and CINNAMON TEAL are common. A few NORTHERN SHOVELER, GADWALL, and perhaps GREEN-WINGED TEAL remain and will breed. WOOD DUCK and HOODED MERGANSERS have already fledged young; they nest earlier in nest boxes along the river.

AMERICAN ROBINS are sitting on eggs. BUSHTITS and BEWICK'S WRENS were noted carrying food to their nests. BARN SWALLOWS are building their mud nests under the footbridge.

COMMON YELLOWTHROATS and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS are two conspicuous singers this week.

This week's birds...

Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Green-winged Teal
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Cassin's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak

Wilson's Amazing Green Black-capped Flycatching-Warbler

Wilson's Warbler, Timber, Washington Co., Oregon on 17 May 2009 by Greg Gillson.

 

The Wilson's Warbler is a rather common migrant throughout the Pacific NW. It also breeds in dense riparian edges. These birds are especially common near the ground in dense wet Coast Range understory edges, and regenerating red alder clear-cuts, of the Pacific NW.

Birds arrive in spring in early May and remain into mid September.

It is a bright yellow bird, greener above, especially on the tail. Males have black caps, females often show a trace. The beady black eye really stands out in the middle of the yellow face. Birds west of the Cascades are more golden yellow (as photographed above).

The song is a rapid trill that drops in pitch at the end: chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chi-chet-chet. The call note is similar to a Winter Wren call, a sharp chip.

The naming of this bird has an interesting history. Peter Simon Pallas, in Russia, described a new species of bird brought back by Joseph Billings from Kodiak Island, Alaska in 1790, then a Russian territory. Pallas named it "pileolata," meaning a skullcap. From this root we have pileolated or pileated, meaning a cap or crest, and referring specifically to the pileum, the top of a bird's head from bill to nape. The description was published in September 1811, after Pallas' death. The bird became known as the Pileolated Warbler.

However, earlier in February of that same year, 1811, Alexander Wilson published a record of a "new" species found in New Jersey. He named it the "Green Black-capped Flycatcher." Even though the record from Alaska was 17 years earlier, Wilson published a few months earlier than Pallas. Thus we have today Wilson's Warbler and not Pileolated Warbler. [Read The Pileolated Warbler in the Spring 1992 American Birds article by John Ferrand, Jr.]

The name has been changed several times, apparently in about this order: Green Black-capped Flycatcher, Wilson's Black-capped Flycatching-Warbler, Wilson's Black-capped Warbler, Wilson's Warbler.

The yellower birds of the West have long gone by the name Pileolated Warbler, but subspecies names were dropped in the 1950's. If you were to look in the 1940 book Birds of Oregon by Gabrielson and Jewett, or the 1953 book Birds of Washington State by Jewett, Taylor, Shaw, and Alrich, you would find that the bird I photographed above is called the Golden Pileolated Warbler.

After doing this research I'll never look at a Wilson's Warbler the same way again....

What bird is that?... Questions and answers

Question: (May 8) "My husband and I walk on the beach quite often and see bald eagles all the time. We came upon this eagle two days ago. Luckily we had our camera. Can you give me some info? What kind of eagle is it. We have never seen it in the area before. It was huge! Thanks so much,"

Laurell on Whidbey Island, Washington

Answer: Nice photo! Your bird is a 3rd year immature Bald Eagle. They get this Osprey-like whitish head with dark line through the eye at this age. This bird will be more adult-like next year, though it might not breed for another year or two. Female eagles are larger than males by 10-15%. There is variation anyway, with smaller birds and larger ones.

---

Question: (March 10) "Hi there,
I’m new to the PNW and am enjoying discovering my new bird neighbors. I’m not a “birder” per se, just enjoy trying (albeit mostly unsuccessfully) to identify who shows up in my backyard.

I understand that there are some regional variations to some pretty common birds that we have in the Northeast, which tends to result in me getting very excited about a “new” bird only to find it’s a PNW variety. Yesterday I noted a “new” bird hanging out with some juncos in a small tree. It looked almost like a robin, with a slightly more subdued reddish underbelly, but it was smaller and had a black beak. Is this another variation on junco? Or something different.

I know it’s difficult for real birders to answer non-birder questions…especially with the limited knowledge and skill at explaining what we see."

Allison, location not given

Answer: It sounds like Spotted Towhee, Allison.

---

Question: (May 3) "Hello,
I love your blog and the fabulous photos. Every year about this time I get a very brief "passing through" visit of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Maybe they're here longer and I just don't see them, but I don't think so. Clearly they are in breeding plumage. Do you know where they breed?
Thanks."

Suzanne, Vancouver, Washington

Answer: Briefly, Suzanne, here's the scoop. There are two forms of Yellow-rumped Warblers. Both are found in the Pacific Northwest. Huge numbers move north in spring. In early April the majority are the white-throated form, Myrtle Warbler, heading to their northern British Columbia and Alaska breeding grounds. By early May most of the birds moving through are the yellow-throated form, the Audubon's Warbler, which breed locally in the higher mountains of the Pacific NW.

The Myrtle Warbler is widespread across North America. The Audubon's Warbler is restricted to the West. The two forms freely breed together where their ranges overlap, primarily in Alberta. These were considered separate species until the "great lumping of 1973," when flickers, juncos, and orioles were lumped (some subsequently re-split). Read more on Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Jackson Bottom birds: April 30 - May 6, 2010: One-hundred species!

(Back to front) Long-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Hillsboro, Oregon on May 4, 2010 by Greg Gillson.

 

Wow! This first week of May has certainly been filled with birds! Each showery day with southerly winds brought in more neotropical migrants and shorebirds. This is the peak of spring migration. The 7 days from Friday, April 30 to Thursday, May 6 recorded over 100 species at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve in Hillsboro, Oregon!

The first local BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and WESTERN TANAGERS of spring arrived. The first local GREEN HERONS of spring were spotted on May 2.

This week has seen an increase of migrant shorebirds. Especially noteworthy were the lone SOLITARY SANDPIPERS seen a couple of days. These have a very narrow migration window, approximately April 20 - May 8. They are also not common and hide themselves in the grassy fringes of the marsh in shallow water. Total numbers of shorebirds are low at Jackson Bottom, as mudflats are not extensive. However, the variety has been good. Single LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (5/5) joined some of the more numerous species.

Warblers were conspicuous migrants this week, with NASHVILLE WARBLER (4/30), MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (up to 4 birds on 5/6; photo above, left), and YELLOW WARBLERS among the normally less-frequently reported warblers of Jackson Bottom that were seen this week. Many migrant WILSON'S WARBLERS (photo above, right) were along the Tualatin River this week. Hundreds of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS continue to be found.

Nearly 1,000 VAUX'S SWIFTS were over the wetlands amid the showers of May 3. CLIFF SWALLOW numbers were in the several hundreds on a couple of days. A rather locally rare pair of PURPLE MARTINS (photo, right) were present most of the week. They could remain to nest, or move on--we'll have to wait and see. A HERMIT THRUSH showed itself on 5/6 (photo, left).

A first record for the Preserve, and only the 7th record for Washington County, a DUSKY FLYCATCHER was present on May 5.

Here is the list of the bird species seen this week.

Greater White-fronted Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Mallard
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Ring-necked Duck
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Vaux's Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Dusky Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Nashville Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

Migratory Songbird Festival, Sherwood, Oregon, May 15, 2010

 

Come to Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge at 19255 SW Pacific Hwy in Sherwood. All ages are invited, rain or shine, for a day of outdoor activities, guided nature walks, live bird education show, native plant sale, hands-on educational crafts for kids, exhibits, presentations, entertainment, food, fun and more. The event and parking are free.

Schedule of events (downloadable pdf).

More info on the Migratory Songbird Festival.

In the backyard... Barn Swallow

Barn Swallow, Malheur NWR, Harney Co., Oregon on 24 May 2009 by Greg Gillson.

 

One swallow does not make a spring.
- Aristotle, 384-322 B.C.

A harbinger of spring, the Barn Swallow is a familiar backyard bird to most people throughout the world. It nests in North America, Europe, and Asia. It spends winter from southern Mexico south through South America, most of sub-Sahara Africa, and from India and SE Asia to northern Australia.

With its metallic blue coloration, long forked tail, and orange breast and belly (white in Europe and Asia), it is immediately recognized by all. It constantly calls as it dives and twists after flying insects, a pleasant twittering kvik-kvik or wit-wit.

The cup-shaped mud nest is placed on a rafter in barn, porch eaves, bridges, or other man-made structure. They lay 4-5 eggs. When the young fledge, the parents immediately begin to nest again. It is not unusual for these birds to raise 3 broods in a season.

Arriving in the Pacific Northwest about the first of April, Barn Swallows remain through the summer. In September they build into huge flocks as they migrate south, often roosting at night in corn fields, where up to one-half a million birds have been estimated such as near Dayton, Oregon. Flocks continue into the first week of October. Individual Barn Swallows have been detected occasionally in winter in recent years, west of the Cascades.