American Kestrel Fledglings

A few years ago, I mentored an Eagle Scout candidate in his project of building and erecting 15 nest boxes for American Kestrels at the foothills community north of Boise where I work. Every year since, Kestrels have successfully fledged young in one or more of these boxes. This morning, I found four young kestrels. One, as seen below, was still in the box with its head barely peeking out. Based on the color pattern, it looks like two young females and one male. I don't know the gender of the one in the box.

I was a little concerned about the little guy laying down on the top of the box. I wondered if he was ill or disabled.

Or maybe he was just hanging out...chillin' while his sisters hog the bathroom preening. ;-) Here's another angle...and even a bug captured in the frame.

Ma and Pa Kestrels were nearby hunting and calling killy-killy-killy-killy-killy, while the young kestrels' heads swiveled following every move of their parents.

Dude, your sisters are pretty hot!

Oh good. Little brother is healthy and can stand up on his own.

I don't know about you, but I still have a tender spot in my heart for the 2011 ABA Bird of the Year the American Kestrel. I feel fortunate to enjoy American Kestrels almost daily and can't help but feel for our ABA friends in areas where they seem to be struggling. I'll do my part to help them over-produce here in Idaho with the hope that they'll disperse to suitable habitat across the continent.

I found the feather-wear on the tail feathers interesting. I suppose that's what happens when you're stuffed in a box with four siblings pooping on each other.

Gray Catbird Photo Study

Gray Catbirds are found across much of North America, but kind of thin out heading west through the Rocky Mountains. In the southwestern states, they are still on review species lists. My patch is the most consistent and hosts the greatest numbers of Gray Catbirds that I know of in Idaho, but there's not a lot of public catbird talk to help me gauge this. 

I've been on a quest to get some decent photos of Gray Catbirds. With the help of a Swarovski ATX 85mm spotting scope, I found it much easier this year. Knowing where a couple catbirds like to perch and sing, I arrived right at sunrise and concealed myself in camo netting obtained in the Walmart toy section. I didn't have to wait for more than a minute when the singing and meowing began. I got so many images in ten minutes that I've turned this post into a photo study and observation to learn more about the subtle beauty of the Gray Catbird.

Wren-like striping on the underside of tail feathers (I've never noticed that before!) Gotta love that rust-colored vent.

Lighter gray throat feathers with darker underlying feathers or feather bases. (I hadn't known that before either.)

Slick-backed black cap. Toupe-like.

There was such a rapid lower bill movement when it was singing that very few of my photos were not blurred.

Dark gape (inside mouth) and big beady black eye-ball. Some images reveal rictal bristles like those of a flycatcher. (I had never noticed those whiskers before either.)

Then there was some preening...a couple of seconds of vigorous dog-like spinning and shaking. Is that a brood patch feather opening at the belly?

 If you look close you can see a bit of down at the tip of the bill. What a gorgeous bird!

Closer Looks

From 2-13

I have recently had some close looks at birds I have not seen very well or from afar. I have at least 3 Wood Thrush around the house calling in the mornings and eventings, and a trio at least of White Crowned Sparrows frequenting my feeders.

From 2-13

From 2-13

From 2-13

From 2-13

Beyond Blue: The OTHER Colors of Utah's Grosbeaks

I thought I'd follow up to my recent post about Blue Grosbeaks by sharing some of the other colors of Utah's Grosbeaks. Click here if interested in seeing my previous post on Blue Grosbeaks. All of Utah's Grosbeaks have unique color patterns.

I'll say right up front that I still need to capture images of a Pine Grosbeak. I won't be able to include that one in the post. However, I do have a variety of images of Black-headed, Evening, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks to share.

I'll start with the Black-headed Grosbeak. It is the most commonly seen of all the Grosbeaks who visit or reside in the state of Utah.

Male Black-headed Grosbeak Highland Glen Park Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Black-headed Grosbeak Highland Glen Park Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Black-headed Grosbeak on Yard Feeder in Pleasant Grove, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Female Black-headed Grosbeak Tabiona, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Female Black-headed Grosbeak Tabiona, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Black-headed Grosbeak Highland Glen Park Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

The image below is not as sharp as I like, but it does show a bit of the wing and tail pattern for the male Black-headed Grosbeak.

Male Black-headed Grosbeak Highland Glen Park Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Evening Grosbeaks are probably second to the Black-headed when it comes to how often they are seen by birders in Utah. While the Black-headed are abundant during the spring and summer breeding months the Evening is more commonly seen during the winter months when they come down from the mountains and visit yard feeders and parks loaded with Russian Olive Trees.  People who have them visiting yard feeders will quickly share how these birds will eat you out of house and home when it comes to the amount of seeds they will eat. Below are images of males and females.

The yellow uni-brow of the male is pretty cool. These first two images were captured near Sundance Ski Resort.

Male Evening Grosbeak at Sundance Ski Resort Utah County, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Evening Grosbeak at Sundance Ski Resort Utah County, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

The following Evening Grosbeak images were captured as a small flock devoured olive berries from the Russian Olive Trees at Creekside Park in Holladay, Utah. The soft light caused by a gray, overcast sky helped create some interesting images.

Male Evening Grosbeak at Creekside Park Holladay, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Female Evening Grosbeak at Creekside Park Holladay, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Evening Grosbeak at Creekside Park Holladay, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Female Evening Grosbeak at Creekside Park Holladay, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Evening Grosbeak at Creekside Park Holladay, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Male Evening Grosbeak at Creekside Park Holladay, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Female Evening Grosbeak at Creekside Park Holladay, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

The Rose-breasted Grosbeak is a rare visitor to Utah. Several are reported each year by local birders. They are most likely to be seen near Black-headed Grosbeaks during the spring and summer months. The male has a unique look and stands out from other Grosbeaks. The females, however, appear very similar to female Black-headed Grosbeaks. Reports of female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks might happen more if birders were more discerning in their observations of females.

Male Rose-breasted Grosbeak Highland Glen Park Highland, UT (Photo by Jeff Cooper)

Burrower's Row

The Phoenix Metropolitan area is a curious concoction. Phoenix itself is a large city, both in terms of area and population. Surrounding the state capital are ten more small cities: Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Tempe, Avondale, Goodyear, Sun City, Gilbert, Surprise, and Peoria. Stretching out from these locales, neighborhoods and master-planned communities seem to stretch on in all directions. One of the favorite birding sites, Tres Rios Wetlands in Tolleson, sits near the border between west Phoenix and Avondale. While driving to Tres Rios, you'll pass through the cookie-cutter houses of the master-planned communities, neighborhoods where the pursuit of maximized square-footage was once the highest good (priorities and fashions have since changed). You'll also pass through lots of open, odiferous farmland. If you turn and head west just before you reach the Tres Rios site, and follow a dirt road along the farmland canal, you'll find another little planned community. Between the northern borders of the Tres Rios preserve and Farmington Glen sits Burrower's Row.

There are no signs announcing that, "You have now entered Burrower's Row," but there are still markers, of sorts, so you know when you're in the right spot:

Despite the somewhat slovenly appearance of this particular Owl, the residents of Burrower's Row are a very strict bunch. There is always a sentinel at the eastern-most point of entry, perched high on the telephone lines and supervising the little town's security.

The houses (burrows) are arranged in neat rows along the farmland. At the moment, there appears to be no more than 2 Owls living in each Burrow, though there are at least 4 different pairs of Owls. They have a strict home-owner's association, and they keep their domiciles very tidy. It's a pretty homogenous group. Crime rates and taxes are all very low, but sometimes they react to outsiders with astonishment and suspicion, even from afar.

In the morning and during the day, the residents of Burrower's Row like to stay down in the fields, away from the elevated dirt road and its dusty heat. During the evening, the descending sun holds everything in a warm embrace, saying goodbye with its last rays of yellow light, and promising to rise again soon. The Owls like to perch along the frontage road during this time. They preen, gossip, and replay the day in their heads--much like the rest of us. It is best to visit Burrower's Row during these quiet, well-lit moments.

The owl shown below may well be the sheriff of Burrower's Row. While all the other Burrowers were enjoying the fading light, he seemed determined to maintain his stern and serious face. I would vote to re-elect this Owl for sheriff if it were up to me, but alas I wouldn't even qualify for citizenship in Burrower's Row (which is probably a good thing for all parties involved).

These next three pictures were taken by Maria, and the last one is my favorite. Burrowing Owls are very expressive and, as you have previously endured, I like to personify and fit captions to every Burrowing Owl photo I see.

:: :sniff: :: "Hmm, what's that smell?"

"Drat! I knew I stepped in something..."

Is the Owl solemnly swearing revenge? Is it doing some sort of fist pump celebration? Is it seeing if it's possible to walk with one's eyes closed? You tell me, and try to stop by and visit the wonderful residents of Burrower's Run some time soon.