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.