Big Birds At Our Feeder - Wild Turkeys

                                                                        Wild Turkey

 The following story is written by guest writer, Marc Schneider, about our experience recently (Feb. 20-25, 2021) with Wild Turkeys.

One day recently a neighbour called to say he had seen 12 turkeys in our north fields. We live on a farm that is split by a busy highway. It has fields and mixed forest on the north of the highway and a field on the south, between the highway and the St. John River with hardwood trees lining the river. Turkeys had been seen within 5 km for the past few months but not here.

Given our habitat and location I did not expect to see turkeys here on the south side where we live. But the turkeys fooled me.  We had never known the turkeys to cross the highway and so have never been seen on the south side before.   I thought the habitat was inhospitable for them and the area too small to support them.

One morning a few days after the neighbour’s report, I went out to fill the bird feeders and noticed large bird tracks in the snow near the feeder. They were much too large for crows or ravens, normal regular visitors. And they certainly weren’t Great Blue Heron tracks which they looked like.  So what was I looking at? When I told my birder wife about it, she asked if I had thought of turkeys.

Early the next morning, I looked out the window and there was a flock of turkeys under the feeder, pecking away! We counted 13 birds. We were amazed and pleased. The turkeys were eating mixed grain I had spread on the ground and sunflower seeds that had fallen from the hanging feeders.  I put more seeds out, morning and evening in subsequent days, and the turkeys showed up twice each day. We enjoyed watching them peck the ground, scratch, make runs at one another, flap their wings and mill around. The original 13 became 15, and not because we counted wrongly. A couple more had joined the flock. Some of the birds have small beards, indicating they are young toms.

                                                            Wild Turkeys Feeding Under Trellis

One time I watched the flock for a bit, and then went to do something else. When I came back, there was a flock of redpolls on the ground where the turkeys had been. The turkeys had really shrunk! The largest birds we have ever had at our feeders were replaced by one of the smallest.

                            Wild Turkeys Feeding on Scattered Seed - Note the Spur on the Leg

At various times over the next five days, we would see the turkeys walking along near the edge of the river, going up and down and feeding on fruit still on the wild grape vines. Then one day, they appeared as usual in the late afternoon to feed.  Afterwards, they loitered around, preening, snoozing and gradually walking towards the oak and ash trees on the riverbank. Soon one turkey flew into one of these hardwood trees. As we watched over the next 20 minutes, all the turkeys flew up into the trees and looked like they were trying to get as comfortable as they could.   As the turkeys settled, they did lots of wriggling, flopping and preening. Eventually, they were quiet, each bird roosting a few metres from its nearest neighbour. 

                                            Wild Turkeys Roosting in Ash and Oak Trees

The night had good moonlight, so I checked with binoculars a few times during the night and could see the turkeys were in the trees. At breakfast time, with the sun up, they were still there.   Around 8 AM, the turkeys began to fly down from their roosts. Very shortly, they were at the feeders, eating the seeds I had put out the night before. They had spent a full day with us and answered a question we had about what turkeys do at night or in a storm. I’ve been in a crow roost in the softwoods and have seen ruffed grouse roosting but the whereabouts of turkey roosts remained a mystery.  These turkeys gave us a rare insight into what they do when roosting for the night. We feel privileged to have had the experience.

If this flock spends too much time with us, there might be a problem.  Their droppings are much like goose droppings and they produce a lot of them!  After a 5-day visit, the turkeys appear to have moved on.  We do not know where they have gone  but are pretty sure they will be back.

Great Backyard Bird Count 2021

                                                    Barrow's Goldeneye Female and Male

The Great Backyard Bird Count ( GBBC) for 2021 took place on February 12-15.  During each of those 4 days people were encouraged to stay in one place, for example their home, and record the species and numbers of birds seen in a period of 15 minutes or more.  The results are then sent into a central tallying location and compiled.  This takes place all over the world and is sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.  Please see a previous post, 'Great Backyard Bird Count' from February 19, 2016 for more information.  One change should be noted; in that post it says to send your results to gbbc.birdcount.org.  That has now been changed to ebird.org.  

One of the counts we did this year was at the Mactaquac Dam Site.  We checked the fields above the dam where we found no birds and then the dam area proper as well as the area below the dam where access was possible.  That being one of the few areas here where there is open water at this time of year, we found that a lot of waterfowl had gathered there to feed.

                                                    Common Goldeneye Male and Female

Following is the list of the birds counted in a 1-hour period beginning at 10:30am.  

Black Duck 4, Common Goldeneye 32, Barrow's Goldeneye 7, Hooded Merganser 1, Common Merganser 24, Bald Eagle 5, Rock Pigeon 5, American Crow 5.

                                            Common Mergansers - 2 Males, 1 Female

The conditions were cold and snowy, with about 15 cm of snow cover.  In many years we see Snow Buntings along the road leading to the dam but there were none this year.  The numbers of goldeneyes and mergansers was about normal but the number of Barrow's Goldeneyes was the most I have ever seen at that site.  Usually there might be 1 or 2 and often none.  Seven was exciting.  It was nice to have both female Common and Barrow's Goldeneyes present for comparison studies.  They are very similar in appearance.  I was also surprised that there were no gulls present and very few pigeons.  I believe there are more pigeons in the area and they were just not there at that time.  The gulls have remained absent since that date so it is valid.  It was nice to see 5 Bald Eagles and that is about normal for that area.  

                                                                       Bald Eagle

                                                                     

                                                                               Black Duck

The GBBC is a wonderful example of citizen science.  Anyone can participate.  It does not take a lot of time or expertise.  Normally you are tallying familiar birds.  The compiled results are huge and represent a great resource for research and management.  Please consider participating next year and get your children and grandchildren involved.  

Although the entry of results is far from finished at this point, so far there have been 314,400 checklists submitted representing 6351 species from around the world.  There are 253 sub-regions from Columbia to India and beyond.  These data are very exciting and represent a wonderful tool for further work with our avian species and the environment.  This is one of the wonderful applications of our modern technology and environmentally-conscious world citizens.  Bravo!

Merlin - Killer of Feeder Birds

                                                                                   Merlin

The Merlin (Falco columbarius) is a fierce predator of birds coming to feeders in winter.  Feeders tend to be places where birds congregate.  This makes easy feeding grounds for hawks that kill and feed on small birds.

At a feeder in my area this winter the owner has been enjoying the presence of three Northern Cardinals, one male and two females.  Cardinals are relatively new to this area and the recent invasion has brought them to many feeders.  This feeder area was particularly good for cardinals because there are several well-stocked feeders and heavy cover nearby.  Many birds of various species are enjoying this as a wintering ground.  Unfortunately a Merlin has discovered the bird concentration there.

                                                                Northern Cardinal Male

I am sad to report that the Merlin has remained in the area for about a month and has been brutal to this feeder yard.  It has killed all three of the Northern Cardinals!  The first casualty was the male which it was chasing, causing the male to hit the door and break its neck.  See photo below.  I apologize if this photo offends anyone.  Over the next three weeks the Merlin has killed both of the remaining females.

                                                Northern Cardinal Male Killed by Merlin

Why does this happen?  The Merlin species usually migrates from this area in winter.  For some reason a few have remained this year.  It is probably because the early part of this winter has been reasonably mild.  It may be because of global warming.  It may be that the Merlin population is high.  For whatever reason the Merlin has staked this area out as a good food source in winter, a season when food is not normally readily available.  

                                    Northern Cardinal Female   [Julie Sproul Photo]

How can the Merlin be so successful at catching these birds?  These cardinals had learned to come and feed just before dark and the Merlin learned that and was watching for them.  There was cover very close and they would feed only near the cover.  Even that did not outsmart the Merlin. 

The Merlin is a swift predator that can outfly and outmanoeuvre most birds it pursues.  It is built with a trim body and long, pointed wings for extreme speed.  Besides that, it is skillful at dodging obstacles and it uses flight tricks to confuse its prey.  One trick it uses is to fly close to the ground and when the prey thinks it is safe the Merlin bounds straight up.  This and other tricks make it relatively easy for them to catch prey.  They are also notoriously bold and fearless.  They would come into a feeder area and take a bird with a human standing in the midst.  They can easily use various situations to their advantage.  Merlins are so fearless that they will attack a much larger bird, a gull, for example.  

What can one do when a Merlin has staked out your feeders?  It is inevitable that the Merlin will take a bird somewhere.  It needs to feed and is an integral part of the ecosystem.  If the Merlin stays in your area, you can stop putting feed in your feeders until the Merlin leaves.  Or, you can move the feeders in under foliage or in tight areas with heavy cover, places the Merlin would have trouble flying into.  You could put your feeders inside a heavy wire enclosure which would prevent the Merlin from entering.  This should be inside or immediately beside thick cover so that the birds can be hidden as they leave the wire enclosure.  

Why did the Merlin take the Northern Cardinals?  Simply, they are a good target.  The cardinals are larger birds and would be a more valuable prey for the Merlin than a chickadee, for example.  A chickadee would be harder to catch and would provide less of a meal.  The cardinals are not well camouflaged and would be easier to target.  Why did the Merlin not take a Blue Jay which are numerous around those feeders?  It could just be chance but the Blue Jays are probably more experienced with the Merlin and have a good warning system.  Now that the cardinals are gone the Merlin may take a Blue Jay.  The Northern Cardinals that were there were probably young birds and less experienced.  

The loss of 3 beautiful new birds to your feeders to such a violent means is disheartening.  It is difficult to accept.  However, we need to learn from the experience and try to find ways to prevent it in the future.

Orange-crowned Warbler - Over-wintering

 

                                                             Orange-crowned Warbler - Female

This winter, like many winters, has brought some rare and uncommon winter birds to our feeders and popular feeding areas.  That is true of the Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata).  Every winter we have a few reports of over-wintering Orange-crowned Warblers, this year being no exception.  For detailed information on this species please see a previous post dated November 23, 2017 and titled, 'Orange-crowned Warbler'.

As stated in the above-mentioned post, 'The Orange-crowned Warbler is a small warbler, 12 cm (4.75-5 in) long.  It is yellowish/grayish with a small sharp bill.  It has faint streaks on its underparts, a broken white eyering, a line through its eye, and yellow under tail coverts.  It is named for its least conspicuous field mark, the orange crown which is rarely seen.  Females and juveniles are grayer than the more yellowish males.  The yellow under tail coverts are an important field mark.  That helps distinguish it from the very similar Tennessee Warbler which has white under tail coverts.'

A feeder at a home near here has had wonderful birds due to its location, lots of cover nearby, and the diligent care of the feeders by the home owner.  This winter she has had two different warblers which did not migrate (at least at the normal time).  In the late fall she had a Pine Warbler coming regularly to feed.  Around Christmas Bird Count time she had an Orange-crowned Warbler coming regularly.  This bird we saw and photographed on Bird Count day.  The bird's size, sharp fine bill, colouration, lack of wing bars and yellow vent (area under the tail) made the identification.  The photo above shows the bird and because it shows a lot of gray I would guess it is a female.  

                                        Orange-crowned Warbler on Ground Near Feeders

The photo above shows the same bird but it looks more yellow because of the lighting.  Note the broken eyering and lack of wing bars.  You can see the yellow vent on this photo but  the photo below shows it more clearly.

                                            Orange-crowned Warbler Showing Yellow Vent

During summer the Orange-crowned Warbler eats mainly insects but also berries, invertebrates, sap and nectar.  It will pierce the side of a flower in order to get the nectar.  Here in winter they feed on suet, peanut butter, and whatever spiders they can find.  They prefer low thick bushes so that is where this individual is spending its time when not at the feeders.  There are many thick evergreens around this house.

Orange-crowned Warblers are late fall migrants.  They leave their breeding grounds in Quebec and Labrador late so arrive here normally in late fall.  This individual has chosen to stay on and will likely spend the winter here.  Normally it would have left now for its wintering area in the southern US and the tropics.  Hopefully it will find enough protection from winter storms to make it through to spring.  There is good opportunity where it is to soak up the southern-exposure sunshine.  Good luck, Little One!