Buchanan County Bird Club Newsletter
Editors Roger & Lynda Mayhorn
American Kestrels Nesting in Buchanan County
American Kestrels are sometimes observed in Buchanan County, and there was speculation that they probably nested here, but until June 5th 2010 we had no proof. The evening before I received a call from a young man who had been riding his ATV on a ridge between Belcher's Fork and Convict Hollow which lies a few miles west of Grundy. The young man said he had a bird that he thought he may have injured with his ATV. He wasn't sure what it was, but he thought it was an owl or a hawk.
The next day I picked up the bird and it was a young kestrel that evidently, for whatever reason, had left the nest too early. I brought the bird home and made some phone calls (left photo). The young bird wasn't injured as previously believed. I contacted a rehab site in order to get the kestrel to those who could help it. The bird grew and flourished. My wife Lynda and I were there the day the bird was released back to the wild in Buchanan County in late June (right photo).
Roger Mayhorn
The Thornhills' Texas Trip
Jerry Thornhill presented a great program for the BCBC June 14th meeting. Jerry did a PowerPoint presentation of his and Jane's 2009 birding trip from Louisiana westward to Texas. He showed photos of the many species they got to see on the trip, like the Lark Sparrow in this photo. The program proved to be very interesting as Jerry described the many places they visited and their search for species they needed for their life lists.
An Unusual Find
On June 11th Tom Hunter was scouting for birds in The Cove in Russell County for an upcoming birding trip when he found this Great Crested Flycatcher carrying food to its young inside a tree cavity. These larger flycatchers are cavity nesters, though it seems a bit strange to think of a flycatcher going inside a cavity to nest. Great-Crested Flycatchers are a common species in the area during the breeding season.
Up Close With Extinct Birds
On a recent trip to Washington DC Jerry and Jane Thornhill had a behind-the-scenes tour of the ornithology section of the National Museum of Natural History. In this photo taken by Jane, Jerry is holding a preserved Ivory- billed Woodpecker and a Carolina Parakeet. The Ivory-billed is thought to be extinct, though there have been reported sightings in the recent past. There is hope that it still exists in small pockets within old growth forest along river bottoms, which the bird requires for nesting.
The Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot found in North America north of Mexico. It nested in tree cavities and ate fruits and seeds, but because it gathered in large flocks and ate farmers' crops including apples and corn it was considered a pest and was slaughtered by farmers in the 1800s. It was also killed for its colorful feathers used for decorating hats. By the 1920's it was considered extinct.
Tree Swallow - A New Fledgling
Arriving home after some errands on June 13th Lynda and I found this young Tree Swallow that had just fledged from a nearby nest box. Like most young birds it had not yet developed a fear of people. I was able to get fairly close for some photos. The parents were flying overhead. They soon let me know how they felt about me being that close to their young one. They dived from high up and zipped past my head at a dizzying speed, all the while clicking their bills just as they zoomed past my ear.
This young bird was well cared for by its parents, and within a couple of days it was part of the several Tree Swallows that could be seen in a flock in the sky. The birds spent hours circling and diving as they fed on insects in the air.
Roger Mayhorn
Gray Foxes Raise Young Again This Year
The pair of Gray Foxes that raised young near our yard last year were back again this year. In fact they didn't leave at all. They could be seen all during the winter coming into our yard. One day in early June I was picking raspberries near the groundhog den near the backyard when I heard baby animals growling underground. The sound was coming from the groundhog den. On June 13th. I accidentally came upon these young pups (left photo) at the edge of our backyard near the den. Evidently the parent foxes had taken over the groundhog den for their little ones. There were at least 4 of them. Since they were busy wrestling and playing I was able to sneak back into the house for my camera and take several photos. Shortly after that the adult male disappeared. Since he had been a regular at our place for a couple of years we can only assume that something tragic happened to him. The female then took over the raising of her young by herself. She would often come into the yard looking very tired and lie down for awhile, and we would give her a handout. The female has not yet brought the whole group out into the yard as she did her little pack last year, but one little fellow followed her into the yard a couple of days ago, so it probably won't be long before we see the whole gang.
Roger Mayhorn
Birding in the Breaks
BCBC members met early in the Breaks Park for a Breeding Bird Survey on June 18th. Lynda and I were met by Marie Miller and Mike Sanders. Mike came in spite of his recent ankle operation. Now that is a dedicated birder. We birded the park in the morning, then by invitation dropped in at the Raines house in the Breaks community where the hospitality is always top notch. We were served lemonade, sausage balls and some homemade chocolate chip cookies and were made to feel very welcome, as is everyone who visits their home. Since the day was hot and humid the lemonade was just the ticket. While there we birded around the raines home and brought the total number of species for the day to 71.
Roger Mayhorn
Flying the Flag?
I'm not sure what point this female Eastern Towhee was trying to make with one tail feather sticking up at a right angle to the others, but it made for an interesting sight when I looked out and saw her under one of our feeders. Evidently something had "ruffled her feathers". One tail feather had somehow been pushed upward and remained that way for some time. That was the first time I had ever seen a feather standing "just so". It didn't distract her from her feeding at all.
Roger Mayhorn
Early Grosbeak in Russell County
A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak made an appearance in Jerry and Jane Thornhill's yard near Lebanon VA on June 24th. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, which are high elevation nesters, nest on nearby Beartown Mountain, and it would be a short flight for one to drop down into the valley to check out the feeders in the area. It's always nice to find something unexpected at your feeders, unless it's a bear, right Jerry?
Cerulean Warbler Pays a Visit
A male Cerulean Warbler was found singing in our backyard here on Compton Mountain on June 24th. We see them occasionally, and a couple of years have had them nest near the yard.
On the same day the Cerulean was in the yard a Blue-winged Warbler came down to the yard stream.
Hiking in the Breaks Park
BCBC members David Raines and his 89 year old father, Ernest, often go walking in the Breaks Park not far from their homes. They did so on June 26th and were able to enjoy the lush vegetation made even more lush this year with all the extra rain. As they walked the Laurel Branch trail they encountered several bird species including Hooded Warbler (photo), Ovenbird, Black-and-White Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Black-throated Green Warbler, American Robin, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker and Swainson's Warbler. What better way to spend a June day.
Rock Pigeon Visits Thornhills
or did it really?
On June 26th Jerry Thornhill reported a Rock Pigeon (similar to bird in photo) in his yard. Of course we only have Jerry's word for that. Even though he said that he and Jane had a new yard bird that day, he didn't really say that she was present to verify his story. Jerry stated that he knew there would be many who would doubt the sighting, and of course the bird conveniently left before he could get a photo. Really Jerry, if you were going to make up story you could have used a more common bird, like a Cardinal or Goldfinch perhaps. What will you be reporting next, a House Sparrow or even a Starling? With an unverifiable report like this all of Jerry's future "sightings" will be suspect. :)