Hatless at Hawk Mountain

Against all odds, we made it to Hawk Mountain.  It was touch and go for a while.  In fact, we referred to each other as "Asthma" and "Cracked Rib".  How glad we were to have made the effort.  Neither of us had been there for several years.  So, anxious to get started, we arrived about 9:00 am.  It was a beautiful day.  The forecast was mostly sunny, in the low 80's, winds WSW at 10 mph. 

The trek to the South Lookout is a short one.  The trail is unobstructed and wide.  From the get go, however, we realized that even a slight gust of wind, at this time of year, would produce a barrage of falling acorns.  And while acorns probably weigh only about 1/2 an ounce, by the time they hit the ground they sounded more like falling baseballs!  Oh how we were wishing for hard hats!  Not having planned for this, each time the wind blew, at least one hand would be covering our heads.  Here is a picture of a little stash of acorns someone's been collecting for the winter. 

From the South Lookout there is a picturesque view of the valley known as the Kettle.  During the Broadwing season thermals develop above the River of Rocks carrying "kettles" of Broadwings high over the Sanctuary.  The River of Rocks is a boulder field resulting from indirect glacial activity.  Here's Ar at the South Lookout.

The trek to the North Lookout is an entirely different story.  While not far, (about 3/4 of a mile) the climb becomes steeper and rockier.  The Sanctuary has kindly incorporated some rocky staircases.  They even included some much appreciated handrails and a bench at the top to take a breather!  There goes San.

Since 1934, well over one million persons have climbed to the North Lookout, including many well-known naturalists including Robert Bateman and Roger Tory Peterson.  The view from the top is quite spectacular.  You can see North, East and South.  The view to the East is the Kittatinny Ridge.  This "endless mountain" of the Lenape Indians snakes its way south from the Delaware Water Gap, some 50 miles to the northeast.   The Kittatinny Ridge is part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range which begins in Nova Scotia and ends in Georgia.  Over 2,000 miles of mixed deciduous and coniferous forest.  The Ridge facilitates the locating of migrating birds.  The slight peaks, or knuckles are numbered 1 to 5 from right to left.  The Sanctuary personnel with the spotting scope, is the one doing the official counting.  He alerts the rest of the birders where to look.  For example, "Bald Eagle over 2 moving toward 3."  On days with northerly winds, look between 4 and the slope of 5, on days of south and east winds, birds can be spotted off #1. 

The picture with the ridge to the right is the Pinnacle.  The Pinnacle is a southern extension of the Kittatinny Ridge.  There are several parallel ridges.  Others are Owl's Head and Hemlock Heights.  These ridges are also useful in locating a bird sighting.  A new means of bird locating in the past few years is the power plant on the ridge to the north.  It can be clearly seen as can the windmills dotting the horizen.  The new wind farm was controversial due to the large corridor of migrating birds.

We staked our claim on a comfortable rock, away from the crowds.  It didn't take long to realize why no one was sitting out here.  It was oh so hot and bright!  Necessity called for hats but there was no reply.  We had forgotten them!  We will not make that mistake again!  The smart birders all found lodging in the shade of some trees. 

Once settled, we donned out binoculars to scan the ridges.  It wasn't long before the Broadwinged Hawks began riding the thermals.  The birds in each kettle ranged anywhere from 12 to 50 in number.  In our four hour stay, we saw at least 6 or 8 kettles.  We also saw a number of Sharp-Shinned Hawks, 3 Ospreys, 3 Bald Eagles, and Ar saw either the one Merlin spotted for the day or one of the two American Kestrels.

There were two other winged creatures that we saw in great number.  One rather large, the other rather small.  Although some migrate, Turkey Vultures can be seen year round in Pennsylvania.  They also ride the thermals, looking for a tasty, dead morsel.  The other winged creature was six-legged rather than two-legged.  Everyone referred to this annoying little creature as a Stink Bug.  Why?  Because apparently they stink if you crush them, which we did not.  We shooed them away while, at the same time, making sure that we did not fling our cameras or binoculars off the cliff!

We have included the final count for the day, which is posted everyday at sundown.  Birding is not an exact science.  On days when conditions are ideal, few birds may be seen.  You may see many on days when conditions are not optimal.

Any who...you may be wondering why we are blogging about Hawk Mountain at all, since our stated mission is to focus on the birds living year-round on Long Island.  Well, Hawk Mountain is,  for lack of a better word, a magical place.  It's a place to clear your head, view our beautiful planet, and enjoy some of Jehovah's majestic creations!  Our focus is still Long Island birds, but we enjoyed going out on this tangent.  Hope you enjoyed reading it.  Hawk Mountain is a great place to visit.  Check it out at www.hawkmountain.org.  Hopefully pictures added soon!

                                                     



 






































Preparing for Winter

This is the time of year that my American Goldfinches start preparing for the coming winter.  Nowadays we have to fill up our three thistle feeders every day.

This is my favorite time of year to watch the Goldfinches right outside my kitchen window.                              

The birds get very competitive, and the females now seem to out number the males.  Sometimes, even if there is a vacant perch they will push one another off a perch so they can sit there.  Not sure why they do this, but it is fun to watch them go at it.

American Goldfinches are the only finch that molts its body feathers twice a year, once in late winter and again in late summer. The brightening yellow of male goldfinches each spring is one welcome mark of approaching warm months.  Of course the opposite holds true for the darkening of the feathers is a sign that Autumn is here.

Goldfinches do move south in winter following a pattern that seems to coincide with regions where the minimum January temperature is no colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit on average.  Since we thankfully never get that cold on Long Island, we have our American Goldfinch all year round. The Goldfinches are very versatile, they will even feed upside if they have to.

Goldfinches eat seeds almost exclusively. Main types include seeds from composite plants such as sunflowers, thistle, asters, etc., grasses, and trees such as alder, birch, western red cedar, and elm. At feeders they prefer nyjer(thistle) and sunflower.  So we keep our thistle feeders far away from our other feeders, but the Goldfinch know where everything in our yard is situated.  We even added another feeder to our collection that is primarily for sunflower seeds (the yellow feeder). 



An interesting fact about Goldfinches, is that human activity has generally benefited the American Goldfinch. It is often found in residential areas, attracted to bird feeders put up by humans, which increases its survival rate in these areas.  And believe it or not but, deforestation by humans also creates open meadow areas which are the preferred habitat of the American Goldfinch.

These birds sing for me outside my window all day long.  What a privilege it is to be a part of their daily routine!

Osprey

Courtesy of Sandi

We have another contributing photo from our free-lance photographer Sandi.  While out on their boat she was able to capture these great shot's of an Osprey. 

Osprey are one of the largest birds of prey in North America, the Osprey eats almost exclusively fish. It is one of the most widespread birds in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica.  Osprey wingspan is between 4 1/2 - 7 feet, and they stand up to about 2 feet.  That is indeed a large bird.

The Osprey readily builds its nest on manmade structures, such as telephone poles, channel markers, duck blinds, and nest platforms designed especially for it. Such platforms have become an important tool in reestablishing Ospreys in areas where they had disappeared. In some areas nests are placed almost exclusively on artificial structures.

Typical Osprey Nest

Osprey eggs do not hatch all at once, but instead the first chick hatches out up to five days before the last one. The eggs are about the size of Chicken eggs.  When hatched the older chick dominates its younger siblings, and can monopolize the food brought by the parents. If food is abundant, little aggression is seen amongst the chicks, but if food is limited, the younger chicks often starve.

Courtesy of Sandi

The Osprey is a fish-eating specialist, with live fish accounting for about 99% of its diet. Barbed pads on the soles of its feet help it grip slippery fish. When an Osprey takes a large fish to its nest, it carries the fish headfirst to make it as aerodynamic as possible.

As always we appreciate our fellow birders sending us their pictures.  Since Ospreys are summer birds on Long Island, San and I can't add them to our list.  But they are beautiful birds.

Thanks Sandi for the great pictures.

Hawk Mountain countdown...

If all in the world were good, San and I would be planning our first Hawk Mountain excursion for next week.  But her schedule is in a state of flux for now.  

So I am not sure when or if we will make it there this migatory season.  This is a partial list of what has been seen so far.

2010 Autumn Hawk Count Daily Total for 9/9/2010
	0	Black Vulture
	0	Turkey Vulture
	0	Northern Goshawk
	39	Sharp-shinned Hawk
	1	Cooper's Hawk
	1	Unidentified Accipiter
	2	Red-tailed Hawk
	0	Red-shouldered Hawk
	17	Broad-winged Hawk
	0	Rough-legged Hawk
	1	Unidentified Buteo
	0	Golden Eagle
	10	Bald Eagle
	0	Unidentified Eagle
	0	Northern Harrier
	16	Osprey
	0	Peregrine Falcon
	3	Merlin
	16	American Kestrel

All birders should try and get to Hawk Mountain, it truly is a great experience.  I am listing below a few other upcoming events at Hawk Mountain.  Join in the activity or just sit and watch the Raptor's parade above.


2010 Autumn Hawkwatch

  



Daily, August 15-December 15 at North Lookout

Make an annual pilgrimage to Hawk Mountain and take part in the oldest and longest running migration watchsite on the planet. Counters and interns are stationed every day at North Lookout where they will help spot and identify birds. Like other migration watchsites, the number and type of birds will depend upon the temperature, the wind direction, and the time of year, which makes hawkwatching part sport, part fun, and part a little luck. But whether the birds fly or not, every day is a good day on Hawk Mountain, so come ready with snacks and water and settle back to take in the big views, and with any luck, some great looks at hawks, eagles and falcons.





Monarch Migration Celebration
Saturday, September 18 from 10 am-4 pm
Trail fee applies for Non-members

Visit Hawk Mountain for a full day devoted to the amazing migration of the Monarch Butterfly. Programs on this day will focus on this tiny non-raptor migrant and its long and dangerous journey to Mexico, the importance of native plants to the Monarch's survival, and how scientists study such tiny migrants.
Volunteer and Monarch Biologist John Drummond will be on hand to provide Monarch tagging demonstrations at the Visitor Center. Meanwhile at the Lookout, visitors will find this is a great time to look for monarchs fluttering past, enroute to Mexico, and we'll have educators on hand to provide information and point out passing butterflies.
In the Native Plant Garden, we're planning special programs on the importance of milkweed, and indoors, children may take part in some great activities that will connect them with other young people in Mexico.
Weather permitting, the highlight will come after an end-of-day program in the Amphitheater followed by an impressive en-masse release of all the Monarchs tagged throughout the day. This is a day you won't want to miss, and we look forward to helping you learn more about the migration of ALL creatures.
Note: To protect the butterflies, temperatures below 60 degrees must cancel the mass release
 
The Eagle Watchers
Saturday, September 18 at 5 pmVisitor Center
Join Drs. Ruth Tingay, President of the Raptor Research Foundation, and Todd Katzner, director of conservation science at The National Aviary, for an interesting and informative slideshow program on the new book, The Eagle Watchers. Both Ruth and Todd are two of the first Hawk Mountain leadership interns and together, co-authored this 256-page book about some of the most impressive raptors in the world. Eagle Watchers is a collection of essays written by people who have devoted their lives to studying, watching and enjoying eagles.
The great news about this book is that Ruth and Todd have generously offered to donate 100% of all their book royalties to the Hawk Mountain internship program and the National Birds of Prey Trust, which makes this one book you really feel good about reading. Todd and Ruth will be on hand to sign books after the program.

Children's Raptor ID WorkshopSunday, September 19 from 10 am-1:30 pm
$10 Members, $20 Non-Members
Limited to 10 children ages 8 to 12
A great program for the up-and-coming young birder! Using slides and video, Laurie Goodrich and Denise Peters will help children learn the basics of raptor identification with a special focus on buteos and eagles. The indoor lesson will be followed by a hike to the lookout to practice newly-learned skills. Children should bring a daypack with lunch, water and something soft to sit on, and should dress in warm layers. Binoculars will be provided along with a lesson on their proper use. Sorry parents, this program is designed for the kids, so you may follow along at a distance, or we'll meet you back at the Visitor Center at 1:30.
Advance registration is required: call 610-756-6961.


Mushroom ID Workshop with Joe Lankalis
Sunday, September 19 at 2 pm
The Common Room
$5 Members, $10 Non-Members
Limited to 15 participants
Join the Master of Mushrooms, Joe Lankalis, for a workshop on mushroom identification. Since weather is unpredictable, Joe asks that each participant collect mushrooms from his or her area on Saturday, then bring the samples to the workshop on Sunday. This provides a great variety of fungi to examine and identify. If weather happens to be ideal for mushroom growth, the program may end with a short walk to examine what's popping around the Common Room.
Advance registration required, call 610-756-6961


Hawk Mountain Art Show at CabelasSat & Sun, September 25-26
10 am-5 pm, Cabela's; Located in Deer Country exhibit

Meet award-winning artists and view a mix of wildlife and nature-inspired art at this exhibit and sale designed to introduce Cabela's customers to the Sanctuary. This event is organized by local volunteers and artists, so consider taking a moment to stop by and thank them for their participation.

AUTUMN LECTURE
Hawk Mountain: The World's First Raptor Sanctuary
Saturday, October 2
5 pm. Free Meet coffee-table book author Jim Wright and photographer Kevin Watson and enjoy a wonderful slideshow that consolidates the hundreds of images taken over two years during the creation of their photo essay book, "Hawk Mountain." Jim will share stores from the dozens of personal interviews and visits, providing his unique insight into the Mountain, its history and the people (and wildlife!) who make the Sanctuary special.

Meet the Fall ForestSaturday, October 2 from 1-2:30 pm
Limited to first 12 who sign up in the Visitor Center on day of event
Trail fee applies. Pay trail fee when you sign up.

Join seasoned botanist and Kutztown University Professor of Biology Dr. Chris Sacchi for a laid back introduction to the autumn forest during this guided walk around the Visitor Center, Native Plant Garden and some sections of the trail. Dr. Sacchi will show you how to identify trees, shrubs and herbs by their changing shades and will explains how the forest community prepares for winter to ensure survival next spring.

Did you know...

Did you know that originally the State bird of New York was the American Robin?  The Robin red breast or American robin was initially selected as the state bird of New York, but a campaign by Mrs. Charles Cyrus Marshall, President of the New York Federated Women's Clubs, in 1927 and 1928 determined that the bluebird was more popular.

It took over forty years however to adopt the bluebird as the official state bird of New York. The legislation adopting the bluebird as the official state bird was signed by Governor Nelson Rockefeller on May 18, 1970.

You can find Eastern Bluebirds in open country with patchy vegetation and large trees or nest boxes. Meadows, old fields, and golf courses are good places. Bluebirds typically sit in the open on power lines or along fences, with an alert, vertical posture. When they drop to the ground after an insect, they make a show of it, with fluttering wings and a fairly slow approach, followed by a quick return to the perch. 

Insects caught on the ground are a bluebird’s main food for much of the year. Major prey include caterpillars, beetles crickets, grasshoppers, and spiders. In fall and winter, bluebirds eat large amounts of fruit including mistletoe, sumac, blueberries, black cherry, tupelo, currants, wild holly, dogwood berries, hackberries, honeysuckle, bay, pokeweed, and juniper berries.

 

Eastern Bluebirds put their nests in natural cavities or in nest boxes or other artificial refuges. Among available natural cavities, bluebirds typically select old woodpecker holes in dead pine or oak trees, up to 50 feet off the ground. Older bluebirds are more likely than younger ones to nest in a nest box, although individual birds often switch their preferences between nesting attempts. When given the choice in one study, bluebirds seemed to prefer snugger nest boxes (4 inches square instead of 6 inches square on the bottom) with slightly larger entrance holes (1.75 inch rather than 1.4 inch diameter).  I will try next season to attract Bluebirds to my yard.  Hey, you never know.

Bluebird populations fell in the early twentieth century as aggressive introduced species such as European Starlings and House Sparrows made available nest holes increasingly difficult for bluebirds to hold on to. In the 1960s and 1970s establishment of bluebird trails and other nest box campaigns alleviated much of this competition, especially after people began using nest boxes designed to keep out the larger European Starling. Eastern Bluebird numbers have been recovering since.

This small, brightly colored thrush typically perches on wires and fence posts overlooking open fields. The birds forage by fluttering to the ground to grab an insect, or occasionally by catching an insect in midair. Bluebirds can sight their tiny prey items from 60 feet or more away. They fly fairly low to the ground, and with a fast but irregular pattern to their wingbeats. Males vying over territories chase each other at high speed, sometimes grappling with their feet, pulling at feathers with their beaks, and hitting with their wings. The boxes and tree cavities where bluebirds nest are a hot commodity among birds that require holes for nesting, and male bluebirds will attack other species they deem a threat, including House Sparrows, European Starlings, Tree Swallows, Great Crested Flycatchers, Carolina Chickadees, and Brown-headed Nuthatches, as well as non-cavity nesters such as robins, Blue Jays, mockingbirds, and cowbirds. Males attract females to the nest with a display in which he carries bits of nesting material into and out of the nest. Once a female enters the nest hole with him, the pair bond is typically established and often remains intact for several seasons.