Birding at The Woodlands: Attracting Birds in the Snow

Snow is hopefully right around the corner! When snow seems to blanket everything in sight, ground-foraging birds can have some trouble finding food. So with wintery weather predicted this week, I invite you to try a neat new way of attracting birds to your yard. Read on to see how you can use something as simple as a tarp to create a winter songbird buffet!

Dark-eyed Juncos are cute winter sparrows, and colloquially known as Snowbirds. Photo taken at The Woodlands by Toribird.

Just before the flakes begin to fall, spread a tarp across an open patch of ground in your yard. If you can, set it up in a place where seeds may have fallen, such as under bird feeders or near tall native grasses. If that's not possible for you, no worries - just toss a couple cups of birdseed across the area. When the snowstorm is over, lift up the tarp to uncover the bare ground underneath. This patch becomes a sort of oasis in the snowy landscape, and can funnel in birds who are looking for a meal. It's a good way to try to get a species to visit that you've never seen in your yard before!

A bright male cardinal like this one may visit your yard, and bring a welcome splash of color! Photo taken at The Woodlands by Toribird.

There are also natural places that provide food for birds when it snows. Wide, dense bushes, particularly evergreens, can keep ground bare and have an effect similar to that of the tarp, as well as provide some shelter from the cold. Check out some of the Yew bushes near Center Circle to see this phenomenon in action. Also, taller plants such as goldenrod or purpletop grass have seeds that are high enough to remain uncovered and accessible to birds. The small meadow near the mansion at The Woodlands is chock-full of these sorts of plants and thus very popular with birds on a snowy day!

The most frequent visitors to a snow-day cafe, whether natural or man-made, are likely to be sparrows. From the handsome slate-and-white Dark-eyed Junco, to the White-throated Sparrow sporting racing stripes on the head, these active little birds keep the scene full of lively flutter and chatter. If you live in a particularly urban area, the non-native House Sparrow from the Old World may dominate the scene. Other species, such as the classic Northern Cardinal and portly yet elegant Mourning Dove may also come. And you never know what additional surprises might drop in!

If we get snow this week, we will be setting up a tarp of our own at The Woodlands! It will be by the meadow, to the west of the mansion. I hope you get a chance to swing by and check out the songbirds stopping by to dine!

A video of White-throated Sparrows and cardinals enjoying an exposed and well-seeded patch at The Woodlands on the evening of December 21. Video by Toribird.

Written by:
Toribird

Birding at The Woodlands: Migration and a Call to Action

There truly is no other event on the birding calendar quite like migration! The southward movement of birds is in full swing, and there are lots of fascinating feathered friends taking a pit stop here in Philly. Some of my favorite avian travelers are the diminutive warblers. Like many other birds, they migrate at night and pause to feed and rest when dawn comes. To spot warblers, search out trees lit by the soft fall morning sunlight, and you will likely be rewarded with the royal pattern of a male Black-throated Blue Warbler, or the flickering color in an American Redstart's tail. 

This male American Redstart shows off his striking coal-and-fire plumage. Photo by Toribird.

Several Ospreys, presumably migrants, were seen flying over the Woodlands at the Bird Calls morning concert in late August. Photo by Toribird.

Birds much larger than warblers are also on the move. On a brisk day with winds out of the northwest (optimal for migration), you may see gulls, raptors, herons, and nighthawks pass by overhead. If you are lucky, you may even catch large flocks (called kettles) with double-digit numbers of Broad-winged Hawks circling high above! If you are interested in finding out when the most migrants will be coming through, check out BirdCast. It's a website that analyzes various factors, including wind direction and radar, to predict how strong bird flight will be over the next three days. It now even lets you easily look at migration alerts for your local area!  

And, on top of all the birds already mentioned, Red-breasted Nuthatches are already moving in! Like many boreal seedeaters, these nuthatches are an irruptive species (to read more about irruptive birds, I invite you to look at this previous blog post). Since the food source of these birds can fluctuate substantially, they must be able to adjust from year to year. Luckily for us Pennsylvania birders, this adjustment sometimes means that the birds come down to our area for the colder months of the year. 

Illustration of a Carolina Parakeet by Alexander Wilson, a prominent early American ornithologist. The other three birds in the picture are (from left to right) Wilson's Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Hooded Warbler. The warblers have escaped extinction, at least for now - a haunting echo of the one in four birds lost. Picture from Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.

On a more solemn note, we just recently hit the one-year anniversary of the staggering finding that North America has lost three billion birds in the last 50 years. That's the equivalent of having lost 1 in 4 birds since 1970. Perhaps the most worrisome part of this finding is that it's not only endangered species that are declining, but even common birds like Chimney Swifts and Herring Gulls are having a hard time as well. 

I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the species that we have already lost. Last winter saw the premier of a remarkable choral piece focused on four extinct North American birds. Here, you can hear the movements dedicated to the Passenger Pigeon and the Carolina Parakeet. Both of these birds graced the Pennsylvania landscape in the time of William Hamilton. 

Luckily, there are things we can all do to prevent the birds that are still with us from meeting the same dark fate as the Passenger Pigeon and Carolina Parakeet.

Here are seven simple actions to help birds: 

1. Make windows safer - up to one billion birds die each year from colliding with windows. Applying decals, tempera paint, or stripe patterns spaced four inches apart horizontally to the outside surface of windows greatly reduces bird strikes. 

2. Keep cats indoors or on a leash - cats make wonderful pets, but pose a significant threat to wildlife when left to their own devices, and kill about 2 and a half billion birds a year. Having cats as indoor pets or trained to walk on leashes is more humane for both cats and birds.

3. Use native plants - native plants are an essential source of food for birds, both directly and by providing a food source for the insects that birds rely on. As increasingly large swaths of habitat are destroyed, it is all the more important that we give birds the resources they need. 

4. Avoid pesticides - these toxic chemicals can have deadly impact on birds if they are ingested, and have taken a severe toll on the insect population, which in turn also affects birds. Staying away from pesticides is much healthier for both people and birds. 

5. Drink shade-grown coffee - the majority of coffee is grown on sun plantations that offer about as many ecological resources as a parking lot. Shade-grown coffee, as the name implies, is grown under tall trees and largely preserves the habitat. 

6. Use less plastic - many birds, particularly those that live in or near the ocean, will frequently mistake plastic items for food. Stay away from single-use plastic as much as possible. 

7. Watch birds and share what you see - citizen science is a vital part of tracking bird population trends. With increased knowledge, it becomes easier to identify how to best help at-risk species. Consider submitting your bird observations to eBird, a global database.

Written by:
Toribird

Studying Breeding Birds at The Woodlands

It's Toribird here, and I am excited to say that on June 14th, I surveyed The Woodlands for my part of the Philadelphia Breeding Bird Census! The census is pretty much what it sounds like - birders visit all sorts of places in Philadelphia County, and look for evidence of birds breeding. It takes place every four years, the last one was in 2016. I have wanted to get a better understanding of the kind of breeding bird activity that we have at The Woodlands for a while now, so this was a great way to get to learn a bit more about that. 

You can see how the American Robin who built this nest used mud and ribbon as well as straw and twigs. Photo taken by Toribird.

Though the mention of breeding evidence may bring to mind searching for nests, there are a myriad of additional things that also show that birds are raising families. These other clues are often quite useful, since birds usually hide their nests quite well to make it harder for predators - and in turn birders - to find them. An example of something good to look for is a bird carrying food, which is confirming proof that the carrier is busy catering to a nest full of hungry young. It is also good to pay attention to birds with nesting material, which could be branches, fibers, mud, or any number of other things depending on the species. Also, there are many courtship rituals that birds must go through before they reach the point of having offspring. Singing is a way for birds to both defend territories and attract potential mates, as is, often, some sort of display, which can take many forms. So, these are also important and interesting behaviors to keep an eye out for.  

I enjoyed doing my census of The Woodlands. I started at 7am, near the huge Evans obelisk. To cover as much area as possible, I walked in a spiraling fashion, starting by walking along the perimeter, working my way inward to eventually end at Center Circle. I found confirmed breeding evidence for nine species, though since the time for spring migration has passed, we can assume all of the 26 species I came across are attempting to nest in the area. I was surprised that I didn't see certain species such as orioles and kingbirds, and I saw only one flicker; all these birds usually seem to be much more abundant. I also feel as though I had more of the invasive starlings and House Sparrows than normal; I wonder what caused these differences. 

A young Brown-headed Cowbird getting fed by their foster parent Chipping Sparrow. Yes, the baby cowbird is the bigger one! Photo taken at The Woodlands by Toribird.

There were several highlights throughout the day, and my favorite is probably the very cute and fuzzy Downy Woodpecker baby which was getting fed by its dad. It was also neat to see a young Brown-headed Cowbird attended by a parent Chipping Sparrow. Cowbirds are rather infamous brood parasites that leave their eggs in other species nests, and so it was a nice chance to see this "textbook" bird behavior. 

Of course, the recap of the trip would not be complete without highlighting our Cooper's Hawk nest, which is high in an oak tree on the VA Hospital side of The Woodlands. I always enjoy checking in on that family! I took a look at them on June 4th, and when I returned on the 14th it was incredible to see how much the babies had changed! On the 4th, they were little more than a nestful of white fuzzballs, and lacked any longer feathers, but just ten days later they were much larger and already sporting flight feathers in the wings and the brown striping on the chest that is distinctive of young Coopers. The hawks will soon be fledging, and so I encourage you to visit them and watch as they explore the world beyond their nest for the first time in their life!

Below is a video I took of a parent feeding the little guys. 

Though summer lacks the wonderful diversity of migration, it is arguably the most important season in a bird's life, since it is now that birds reproduce, and without the new generations, the species would not survive. It is also fascinating to watch the displays, fights, and, of course, lovely songs that are a key part of birds' courtship. So, I hope you get a chance to get outside and take in the wonderful intricacies of the avian summer! 

Written by:
Toribird

Enjoying and Discovering Birds From Home

Our resident birding expert, Toribird is writing about ways to enjoy Spring Migration from home this week, just in time for the Philadelphia City Nature Challenge. Normally an international competition, this year’s City Nature Challenge is a collaborative world wide effort to document as many unique species as possible in your city or town using the iNaturalist App. Between April 24th and April 27th participants in Philadelphia and neighboring counties (Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware, Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington) can document the wildlife of their basements and back yards, and, to the extent possible (based on recommendations from the city and health officials), you can head off into their neighborhoods and green spaces like The Woodlands on your own or with family. Remember while at The Woodlands to wear a mask, and DO NOT touch any headstones, climb any trees, or cut any flowers. We hope you’ll use the City Nature Challenge as an opportunity to experience The Woodlands in new and exciting ways. Happy birding!

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As our community tackles the Covid-19 pandemic, life is turned upside down for us all. You might be lonely, or missing an activity that used to be a staple of your week. Or maybe you're anxious, unsure what the future will bring. Whether you are looking for a new hobby to fill the time, or need to take a moment to gather your thoughts and ease your worries, nature is a good solution to turn to. And this is a good time to begin paying more attention to the birds that share our neighborhoods - it's migration season, and the birds are coming, just as they have every year. From regal hawks to colorful warblers, the travelers are winging their way north towards us, and indeed several have already arrived. Read on to explore ways to enjoy these feathered beauties from your own home. 

A male American Goldfinch enjoys a coneflower seed snack in West Philadelphia. Photo by Toribird.

If you’re finding yourself using the extra time at home to tend to your garden, why not add to the beauty by attracting cheerful songbirds? To make your yard more appealing to birds, you’ll want to add dense shrubs or hedges that can provide good shelter, limit use of chemicals, and of course plant lots of native plants! A water feature, particularly moving water, is also a magnet for birds - and it can attract birds that don’t usually come to feeders, like warblers. Keeping dead trees around is also a good thing to do; they are a very important source of food and habitat for woodpeckers, and you might even get an owl in your tree cavity! Some plants that are particularly good at attracting birds include coneflowers (Echinacea spp.), bayberry (Myrica ssp.), and trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Goldfinches love to feast on the coneflower seeds, and Tree Swallows and Yellow-rumped Warblers have the rare ability to digest bayberry fruit; this plant also provides good cover for other species. Honeysuckle attracts hummingbirds and other pollinators, and provides welcome shelter for birds, particularly in the winter. 

Another way to put this time to good use is by starting or expanding your yard-list. The idea of a yard-list is quite simple - a record of the bird species seen or heard from anywhere in your home or yard. You can choose to count only the birds interacting with your area (like a sparrow coming to your feeder), or expand it to birds flying over or seen across the street (like a crow flying elsewhere but seen from your porch). This is a good time to start paying more attention to birds in your area since it's migration season, and almost anything could fly overhead or stop in your garden to feed and rest! Looking in the sky, you could see Broad-winged Hawks and other raptors, gulls, or other birds passing by. I even had a migrant loon fly over my house on April 12th! Songbirds like warblers and thrushes may also drop by for a visit, particularly if you provide them with water and shelter.

This Hermit Thrush dropped by my backyard and was a nice surprise on a spring morning! Photo by Toribird.

If local birds just aren't cutting it for you, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's bird cams. There, you can watch birds from icy Ontario to tropical Panama real-time, as well as delve into the lives of more familiar birds like Red-tailed Hawks and Ospreys. 

This is also a great time to brush up on your bird identification skills. As the breeding season advances, birds will begin singing more, to stake claims to territory and attract a mate. Learning to recognize them by ear can be very handy, as they can be tough to see among foliage. In some cases, like with flycatchers, the birds' song is actually more distinctive than their looks! To become familiar with bird sounds, I recommend the free app, Chirp!, which lets you create fun custom quizzes and slideshows. Unfortunately, it's only available on Apple devices. You can also check out the Macaulay Library's wealth of recordings, or Larkwire, a game-based resource for learning bird sounds.  

I recently did this sketch of a male Hairy Woodpecker. Photo by Toribird.

Of course, it's also good to identify birds by sight. I find that drawing a bird is an excellent way to become more familiar with it. It really helps me be aware of and learn the bird's markings and proportions - both keys to ID. It is totally alright to draw from pictures, but for a bit of a challenge you could also try drawing a live bird outside your window. Another great way to expand your knowledge is by sitting and reading your bird field guide, rather than just using when you are struggling to ID an unfamiliar bird.  If you are a techy person who prefers screens to paper, there are many bird identification apps that you can download. One of my favorites is Merlin Bird ID, which can give you a targeted list of possible birds based on a picture or information like location and color. It is free and available for both Apple and Android devices. 

I hope that I've helped you come up with ways to cope with this difficult time, and to take a moment to appreciate the birds, whose sweet serenades and beautiful plumes are for all to appreciate!

Written by:
Toribird

Owls: Silent Creatures of the Night

Barred Owl in Cape May. These birds are often detected by their loud, deep "who-cooks-for-you?" call. Photo by Toribird.

Owls seem to inspire a sense of wonder and awe with their silent flight, needle-sharp talons, and nocturnal habits. A moonlit Barn Owl is like a gossamer ghost, the haunting trill of the pint-size Eastern Screech Owl captures the imagination, a Snowy Owl with its gorgeous moon-face is an instant celebrity. But these are normal birds, somehow related to the commonplace Turkey Vulture and Mallard. Isn’t it incredible what nature can do? 

One of an owl’s most unique and supernatural features is the ability to fly on silent wings through a dark forest to capture unsuspecting prey. This silent flight is vital to an owl’s survival in two ways: it allows for the element of surprise since the animal it pursues will not be able to hear the hunter approach; and since most species of owls hunt by ear, fewer distracting flapping sounds makes it easier to zero in on prey.

So how do these birds do it? Owl wing feathers have small comb-like serrations on the leading edge, which breaks up noisy turbulence. Also, owls generally have large wings, which allows them to flap less - less flapping means less sound. Finally, their feathers are soft and velvety, which further dampens sound - think about how much noisier it is to rub two pieces of paper together than two pieces of velvet or flannel. This all has trade-offs, however, since owls cannot fly as fast as daytime speed hunters like falcons. 

The feather serrations (circled in brown) on the wing of a Northern Saw-whet Owl. Photo by Toribird.

Check out this BBC video for an awesome demo on the silent flight on an owl! 

Another awesome ability that these birds have is their senses. Many owls have superb night vision, aided by their huge eyes. In fact, their eyes are so large that they can’t move in their sockets the way ours can. To get around this, they can turn their head more than 180 degrees to look in any direction! Owls also have incredible hearing. Have you ever noticed that an owl’s face looks different from the face of a hawk, eagle or any other bird? Well, that’s a good observation! The feathers on an owl’s face are acoustically transparent (like the mesh of a speaker), and funnel sounds right to the bird’s ears - ears that are asymmetrical (one is higher that the other), further helping the hunter pinpoint its prey. 

Snowy Owl in Kensington, photo by Toribird.

As incredible and secretive as these birds are, it can be astonishing that we do in fact have owls right here in the city. Tiny screech owls can hang out in any park with enough trees, even backyards, and Great-horned Owls have nested near the Philly airport. Perhaps most amazingly, Snowy Owls will show up from time to time! Last year I enjoyed seeing one on top of a school near Kensington. They also like airports since the flat landscape is familiar to a bird that has spent its life on the arctic tundra - consider that a tree is likely as foreign to a Snowy Owls as a highway! 

It is very exciting to have these enthralling birds around, but we must all be sure to behave responsibly around them. If you are lucky enough to encounter an owl, keep your distance and make sure to watch the bird for signs of anxiety, backing off if it becomes fearful. If you take pictures, do not use flash; it can temporally affect these nocturnal birds’ eyesight. For the sake of all wildlife, please stay only on designated trails to avoid trampling habitat. Use careful judgement when sharing the location of owls; they are shy birds and don't like crowds ogling them. You may also want to play taped owl sounds to get them to call in response, but please use it sparingly, and avoid it during important points in the breeding season. 

An Eastern Screech Owl, a species I hope to hear on the owl prowl. This picture was taken in Texas, the screech-owls there are a bit different from ours. Photo by Toribird.

I am exited to say that we will have the Woodlands’ first ever owl prowl on Thursday February 20th! We’ll meet at the stable at 5:30pm, then spend about an hour after dark listening for owls throughout the cemetery. I suggest you wear layers of warm clothes and bring a flashlight. Since this is our first time, I can’t guarantee that we have any nocturnal friends residing at The Woodlands, but I hope you’ll join me in finding out! 

Written by: Toribird