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Cap Sante Marina Waterfowl

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On March 25, 2021, I noticed a Common loon in full breeding plumage cruising through the Cap Sante Marina. I hurried home, retrieved my camera and returned to the marina but the loon had moved on. The next morning (March 26) I again passed by the marina and again saw a loon. I again rushed home, retrieved my camera and returned to the marina. Same story… the loon had moved on! A search of the waterways revealed the loon a couple of hundred yards away, and moving even further away. I took a photo just for my records. The bird then flew out of sight, but I found it again out from the Seafarers’ Memorial.

I continued watching as the loon took a few minutes for preening, rolling over on its side to access the feathers on its belly.

It finally began moving closer while fishing. While some other waterfowl peer under water while on the surface, it’s a practice that loons seem to utilize consistently. Here’s a photo of the loon looking for prey under water.

The loon finally came within a distance that would allow a decent photograph and I took the opportunity to take several before it swam away again. This loon is in full breeding plumage which differs considerably from its more drab winter plumage.

Meanwhile, next to the fuel dock, a female Hooded merganser surfaced. The photographic conditions were great… the sun was shining on the merganser and there were some interesting reflections on the water. I usually like to get photos of birds in natural conditions but I felt these photos were very artistic.

And while I’m on the subject of waterfowl, here is a photo I took of a female Common goldeneye at the Cap Sante Marina on March 24, in a light rain…

Mid-March Yard Birds

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We’ve already seen several spring migrant arrivals… Rufous hummingbirds, Turkey vultures and an American goldfinch but we are still waiting for our first warbler. I’ve been spending a lot of time in the yard, mainly attempting to obtain photos of Red crossbills and Rufous hummingbirds. After logging our earliest-ever arrival of Rufous hummingbirds in early March the male and female apparently moved on, and it wasn’t until March 19 (about two weeks later) that a male again appeared in the yard. But I digress…

The following photos were all taken on March 16, 2021. Our day started with a female Varied thrush visiting our stone birdbath. We usually have a few Varied thrushes around the yard all winter, but this winter they have, for whatever reason, been very rare despite record snows in the Cascades. The snow usually drives the thrushes down to lower elevations but we just haven’t benefitted from the snow in that regard. I felt fortunate to be able to obtain a couple of photos before the thrush left.

For the past couple of weeks or more we have had Red Crossbills, extremely rare visitors to the yard, make almost daily visits to our bird baths. My suspicion is that our visitors constitute a single family, but I have no way of confirming that. But crossbills seem to be extremely family-oriented, so despite the number of visitors varying (1-7) I believe they constitute a single family group. We’ve seen as many as two mature males at one time and two mature females at one time but they are usually accompanied by some birds that are apparently first-year birds whose sex is more difficult to determine.

Male Red Crossbill
Female Red Crossbill

We have another interesting phenomenon in the yard this spring. For the past couple of years we have hosted a male Downy woodpecker that is apparently blind in one eye. When I first noticed its handicap I figured that it wouldn’t be long for this world. It seems like it would be an easy target for one of the Cooper’s hawks that are occasionally in the neighborhood, but it has somehow survived. The bird seems to have no difficulty with flying or landing and it’s obviously been eating, so I consider it an unusual success story!

We currently have seven species of sparrows in the yard… Spotted towhees (2-4), Dark-eyed juncos (Oregon race (15-20) including a leucistic), House sparrows (8-12), Golden-crowned sparrows (8-12), Song sparrows (2), Fox sparrow (1), and White-crowned sparrow (1). Here are photos of some of the less common sparrows we have…

Song sparrow
Fox sparrow
White-crowned sparrow

And just for good measure, I’ll include a Golden-crowned sparrow since they’ll be leaving before too long…

Golden-crowned sparrow

Spring’s Arrival

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Beginning in late February Red-winged blackbirds (male and female) began showing up at feeders in the yard. This is an annual spring event. The blackbirds are coming from the wetland near the wastewater treatment plant and making a quick trip up the hill for food. My theory is that they visit our feeders because they can acquire feed quickly without leaving their nest or territory too long to hunt for food. This is one of the females that has been visiting the yard.

On March 2, 2021, (Texas Independence Day!), we had our first Rufous hummingbird (a male) arrival. It immediately began defending one of our feeders. This is the earliest sighting I have in my records… the hummingbirds seem to be arriving earlier the past few years. I might mention that the Rufous hummingbirds arrival seems to be timed with the first blooms on the Red currant, an easy way to anticipate their arrival.

This is a photo of one of the male Anna’s hummingbirds that spent the winter with us. Some of the Anna’s are with us year round, including during colder temperatures and even snow. Several years ago, when we realized that the Anna’s hummingbirds were going to overwinter with or without our help, we began putting out hummingbird feeders year round, shuttling the feeders in and out of the house on freezing days.

Another spring arrival was this male American goldfinch (not in breeding plumage) which arrived March 3, 2021. While we have goldfinches in Skagit County all winter long, we seldom have them show up in the yard before spring when they quickly become one of the most numerous birds in the yard.

This White-crowned sparrow also appeared in the yard on March 3. It’s another bird that can be found in the county all winter but is rare in our yard during the winter. We usually only have one, or at most two pairs in the yard during the breeding season. The sparrows usually attempt to raise a family in the vicinity but in past years their breeding efforts have sometimes been parasitized by Brown-headed cowbirds. After the bird left the yard I heard it vocalize!

Bird Feeding Recommendations

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I’ve lost track of the number of friends who have called me concerning advice on the current problem of an apparent salmonella outbreak among Pine siskins, so I’ve decided to post my advice on my blog.  This advice should apply to year-round feeding and not just for the current situation.  I offer these suggestions with no background or particular expertise in ornithology or infectious diseases… only 30 years as a birder and creator of backyard habitat.  Over the past 20 years I’ve taught birding classes and addressed many different community groups.  The advice I offer here is a relatively brief (!) summary of past presentations.  

In the winter of 2020-21 we are experiencing an eruption of Pine siskins, large numbers of which have migrated south from Canada.  In the month of December I estimated that we had as many as 30 in the yard at one time.  The number of the birds, combined with their gregariousness, can mingle large numbers at water and food sources.  The crowding can lead to increased transmission of disease.  So as stewards of the bird population, we should do what we can to mitigate the impact to bird populations.  

This is not a factor that is unique to this year.  It’s unusual for me to go through a year without seeing at least a couple of sick Pine siskins. This winter I have seen two siskins that were probably sick, but I have neighbors who report more.  Some of this may be attributable to window strikes from newly arrived birds.  I attribute our relative lack of sick birds in our yard to how we maintain our yard habitat.  

Over the past month or so I’ve read two articles in major news publications that I found frustrating.  My frustration also extends to advice from major wildlife organizations.  In my opinion these sources didn’t fully address the problem or offer all the possible, practical  solutions.  

My observations indicate that sick birds are the most dependent on easy access to food and water sources. The first birds back to feeders and water each day are those that are sick, because they don’t have the strength or energy to hunt for food and water sources.  So I don’t regard cleaning feeders each day (or even less often) as a practical solution.  Removing feeders for an indeterminate length of time is at least a possible solution but at the expense of other birds.  And I have yet to see any species of sick birds in the yard other than the occasional Pine siskin (and House finch susceptible to another disease), despite many other species commingling with siskins at feeders and water sources.  I must surmise that siskins are susceptible to salmonella and that it is probably endemic in the population.  (I’m not trying to absolve those who provide habitat for birds from the problem of disease transmission.)  


WATER/BIRD BATHS
My first reaction to the salmonella problem is that it is probably caused more by water rather than by feeders, although I do acknowledge that feeders are probably part of the problem. (More about feeders later.)  

One of the biggest mysteries to me in the bird world… why birds often defecate in the same water in which they drink and bathe!  I can’t help but think that this adds greatly to the transmission of disease problem.  Unfortunately, it’s often impossible to disinfect a bird bath or, as in our situation, an entire watercourse!  I try to use the jet nozzle on our hose to wash the bird baths at least daily, and sometimes more often, depending on observations as to how fouled they get.  


FEEDERS  
I prefer feeders that discriminate against non-clinging birds.  What does this mean?  This means utilizing feeders that birds must cling to as opposed to those a bird can perch on for an extended length of time.  This serves several purposes.  It saves seed by requiring that birds spend a limited time in contact with the feeder.  It requires some effort for the bird to remain on the feeder, and it’s my observation that the birds don’t defecate while spending efforts to cling to the feeder.  This has the effect of somewhat reducing fecal matter from accumulating on or under the feeder.  It also discourages birds like sparrows and finches from monopolizing the feeder at the expense of perhaps more desirable species such as woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches,  and Bushtits.  


Avoiding use of platform feeders and seed trays (attached below tube feeders) also limits the amount of fecal matter intermingled with seed.  If you must use a platform feeder use the smallest one you can find.  Some of the birds will tend to feed from the railing instead of wallowing in the seed.  (In general I only use a small platform feeder in the spring and summer to attract Black-headed grosbeaks, which aren’t great clinging birds.) 


We live in a climate with frequent wind and moisture, so I recommend using a dome to protect ALL of your feeders.  Wet seed invariably grows mold, and mold isn’t palatable to or healthy for birds.  Unfortunately, a dome can often cost as much as the feeder itself.  And depending on your situation, you may also need a baffle to keep squirrels and other rodents from accessing your feeders from below. 

I don’t expect anyone to go out and replace all of their feeders based on my advice, but if you make the decision to replace or add feeders here are my recommendations… 

Droll Yankee Big Top Feeder  
My highest recommendation for a bird feeder is the Droll Yankee Big Top Feeder.  This feeder, while expensive ($80 or more), comes with its own dome and holds about 3 quarts of seed, meaning you don’t have to fill it as often.  It is also virtually impervious to the weather because, when hung and adjusted properly, the seed is protected from moisture.  (If you purchase one of these feeders contact me and I’ll recommend a small, inexpensive part that will enhance use of the feeder.)

Perky Pet 395 (Peanut Feeder)  
Another excellent feeder is the Perky Pet 395 feeder, advertised for sunflower seeds (which I don’t recommend for this feeder) and (shelled) peanuts.  This feeder is priced around $20 and is all metal.  I refer to it as ‘bullet-proof’ but I did have to replace one… it blew down in a storm and the newspaper carrier ran over it!  If you purchase one of these feeders rotate the peanuts when you fill it… new seed on the bottom and old seed on the top.  This helps keep the peanuts from mildewing.  


Droll Yankees CUTE Chickadee Feeder (6″size) 
This is a very popular feeder with smaller birds (chickadees and titmice) that I usually have to fill twice a day.  This feeder comes with its own dome but the dome probably isn’t adequate to protect the seed from moisture and certainly not squirrels.  (If you purchase one of these feeders contact me and I’ll recommend a small, inexpensive part that will enhance use of the feeder.) 

Duncraft Erva Upside Down Disk Suet Feeder  
This feeder, available for less than $25, is available in various materials but I use the metal one due to its lighter weight and durability. This is a very popular feeder among woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, Bushtits (and unfortunately, starlings)… and occasional surprises such as an Orange-crowned warbler and Bewick’s wren.  In order for birds to access the suet they must cling upside down, something at which clinging birds are very adept but other birds are not.  

You can also scatter seed on the ground for those birds that are ground-feeders.  This includes sparrows (we’ve had seven different species in our yard) and quail.  


WHAT TO FEED  
The best seeds from a nutrition standpoint (protein and fat content) are hulled sunflower seeds.  Feeding sunflower seeds in the hull results in the ground under the feeder being littered with sunflower seeds and hulls which will attract rodents!  

I recommend against feeding thistle/niger seed (advertised for attracting finches) for several reasons.  
The seed is among the most expensive of bird seeds.  
It has a relatively short shelf life and if not used promptly will dry out, losing much of its nutrition.  
The tiny size of the seed requires a special feeder with very small openings.  No matter what the feeder, much of the seed ends up on the ground where it can attract rodents.  
Finally, although a favorite of goldfinches, you can attract just as many finches and a wider variety of species with sunflower seed.  

Suet is an attracter for a wide variety of bird species and requires a special feeder.  When selecting suet, pay no attention to the large print on the suet package.  There is a huge problem with labeling on suet products.  What you want to look for is the list of ingredients.  Select suet whose first ingredient is suet (often ‘rendered beef suet’) and whose second ingredient is peanuts.  This is the most nutritious suet… it avoids cheap, less nutritious filler ingredients such as corn, millet, etc. 

If you have any questions or comments you can either leave them on this website or email me.  (I don’t post my email address on this web site but most local birders know it.)  I will try to answer any questions with my non-professional opinion.  

2021 SNOW!

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It should come as no surprise to most of the country that we have experienced snow here in Anacortes in mid-February. It has snowed here almost continuously from the night of Feb 12-13 until late in the afternoon of February 14. I always relish the opportunity to photograph birds in the snow because it makes for a different environment and the birds behave differently. I have been feeding birds during this time, mostly on the ground (snow) but also from a suet feeder and a chickadee feeder. I had hoped for visits from a rarer bird or two (a neighbor has had a Varied thrush and Red-breasted sapsucker) but my yard is filled with the same birds. So here are some of our residents… in the snow!

This first photo is, of course, of a male Dark-eyed junco of the Oregon race.

This photo is of the same species and sex, but is the leucistic bird that has been with us for a couple of months now. He comes with camouflage that is suddenly appropriate for the weather!

Continuing with the sparrow family, Spotted towhees… this first image is a male and the second image probably a female. (It’s sometimes a subtle difference between the sexes!)

A Golden-crowned sparrow. I used to think I could tell the difference between the sexes of this species in the winter but I’ve given up the idea that I ever had that skill! If I had to guess, I would say that this first bird is probably a male and the second bird either a female or a first-year bird.

This is a Song sparrow. These birds aren’t very gregarious and I’ve only ever counted two in the yard at one time, but most of the time I can spot only one.

When I first moved to the Pacific Northwest (20 years ago from Texas) I had a very difficult time telling the Song and Fox species apart. That is no longer the case. This is a Fox sparrow…

This final image is of a female Bushtit. It’s been a while since I last obtained a decent Bushtit photo and this one isn’t great, but since these birds can be difficult to photograph and this photo clearly reveals the sex of the bird, I decided to post it.

From a photography standpoint, the snow can offer special challenges. If it’s actively snowing the whiteness of the flakes can appear to be aberrations in the bird’s plumage or obscure details such as eyes or beaks. But the snow often offers opportunities to get closer to the birds and to obtain a different background for photos. The white dot above the Bushtit is probably a falling snowflake (which I could remove using Lightroom software) but you can imagine the effort if there was a lot of snow falling!