BIRDS Lady Mallards

Most ducks shed their body feathers twice each year. Nearly all drakes lose their bright plumage after mating, and for a few weeks resemble females. This hen-like appearance is called the eclipse plumage. The return to breeding coloration varies in species and individuals of each species

That means on this very hot day in July this summer, when Tom was getting the ducks into the boat, there may have been just as many males as females nipping at his sandwich.

That is why, only in the spring, in a marsh near the lake, have we seen the iridescent green head and the chestnut body of the male. The female does the nest building. Her mate may be off looking at his handsome coloring in still waters, who knows?

The mallard is a puddle duck. What?

Tomorrow we will talk about the difference.

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BIRDS Eagles

. In the 1960s the bald eagle population in the forest was only 12 nesting pairs of eagles. Since then the population has rebounded and the bald eagle population of the Chippewa National Forest is one of the highest density in the lower forty eight states at 150 nesting pairs.

The forest contains an area known as the "Lost Forty"; this area (actually 144 acres) was accidentally mapped as part of Coddington lake when the original maps of the region were laid out in 1882. As a result of this mapping error, the Lost Forty was never logged. This area has become some of the oldest forest in the state, with some trees over 350 years old. Less than two percent of Minnesota's forested land today is old growth, never logged forest.

It is exciting for Old Trunks to get close enough to photograph them in the natural and to see their nests high in the forks of tall trees. One can hear the scream of the eagles between the parents and the rapid chirps from the nest.

Although eagles do eat mostly fish, they do eat rabbits and carrion, as well. Often, we have seen them swoop down on the lake and pick up a fish that has been gut hooked and tossed back by a fisherman. The food is called, "EAGLE FOOD" by fisherman.

In Lawrence, KS, a outlet mall was built next to the Bowersock Dam with a wall of windows to the north. The eagles rested in trees and dried their wings after fishing in the Kaw (Kansas River) below. Shoppers stood by the glass and watched the birds. The mall became city hall, what happened to the eagles?

From the archives of the Lawrence Journal World:

Kansas River and eagles
It has been an incredible experience to observe two adult eagles building a nest and raising their young
It has been an incredible experience to observe two adult eagles building a nest and raising their young.

By Joanne Bergman
May 22, 2007

BALD EAGLES RETURN TO ROOST ON KANSAS RIVER THIS WINTER
Sightings from city hall and the Lawrence Riverfront Plaza confirm the return of bald eagles to the banks of the Kaw. Fred DeVictor, director of the city's parks and recreation department, said he spotted his first bald eagle of the season a week ago in trees on the north side of the river, about a quarter-mile below the Bowersock Dam. December 4, 1990.

And our mini continuing lesson?

V=Vulture

M=Osprey

---= Eagles

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BIRDS Turkey Vultures

Before we begin our thoughts about the vulture, I want to point something out for you to remember.

During soar, the Vulture holds its wings in a V

During soar, the Osprey holds its wings in a M

Try to remember that while seeing bird in flight. For me, I remember the vulture because it is a V and the others fall into place.

This necessary bird is everywhere in the continental United States. Yes, it does feed by scavenging on carrion whether it be fresh or decayed. They find food by smell and sight while soaring. And yes, we may cringe when we think of their bare red heads, they do serve a purpose on the food chain.

I have not seen them come or go from their communal nightly roosts. Yet, we have seen groups of them circling over head as they stay aloft using the warm air and updrafts to stay aloft. When thermals of warm air are no longer available, and they need to flap, they stop flying and land.

Although we normally see crows and ravens at road kill, there was a time in Lawrence, that Eldon, one of the technicians was coming back from a run and the vultures were sitting on the road having dinner. Eldon did not slow down and one of the buzzards did not light to fly and he hit it. Feathers in a dented grill was evidence enough for the owner to ask what happened. Eldon simple said, "Grandpa didn't get out of the way."

Who ate Grandpa?

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V=vulture

M=Osprey

BIRDS Pelicans

Old Trunks isn't certain why she admires this species so much, perhaps it is the way they feed in small groups and 'round up' the fish. Maybe it is because when they do scoop up the fish in their bill, it expands, drains out the water and leaves the nourishment for them to swallow. OR is it because when the soar on a sunny day with a pure blue sky, they are graceful.

Leech Lake has had a good amount of pelicans the last couple of years. They may be part of the group that left their young behind to die on another lake. Who would know just why that happens? No one seems to really have a true idea.

During breeding season the males get an out growth on their beak, called a Keel-like growth. We called it a nob and called all the males Bob. It takes a long time for the nob to disappear!

When groups come in to land, they are often in a line, landing one right after another as if they each know the space they will need. Some are solo later in the year and seem to float about without moving.

They lay their eggs on a mat or raft of weeds/reeds in shallow water. So shallow, in fact that we have never seen a baby pelican. I wonder if they are fuzzy and cute? Well, they are so ugly only a mother could love them!

We have been close enough to see juveniles hanging out on rocks with the adults, sea gulls, and cormorants. We have heard the young grunt. We don't know how old they are because they keep their gray bill and throat pouch for three or more years.

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BIRDS Osprey

Tom heard a Osprey at the lake a few years ago. We chased around with field glasses trying to get a closer look. They are so very quick in flight I never did get a good look at it. But when you live with someone who loves the out of doors and spent most of his life observing, you learn.

I learned that while soaring, their wings made an 'M', that helped me at least from a far, to recognize them. I knew they hovered over the water, then dive to catch fish, carrying them off head first.

Yet, it wasn't until this summer that I really got a chance to listen to them screech and watch the youth practice flying while still in the nest on a platform of twigs and sticks assembled within the electrical poles near Child Lake.

It had been a very windy day. On days such as this, we generally went 'adventuring' to check out new lakes. The awesome thing about this one is open to new sounds and images beyond the landings and how many rice or weed patches in the lake itself.

We were driving across the inlet when Tom spotted what he knew was an Osprey nest. I got out of the truck and walked toward it taking pictures every few steps. The mother Osprey left, screeching and making maneuvers to draw attention away from her chicks.

Although one is certain I wasn't the only person to ever walk down the road taking pictures at any given time, I knew it was a signal to let it be. I wonder if the nest will be in use next year?

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BIRDS Canada Goose

Perhaps one of the most well known water fowl is the Canada Goose. Yes, that is what they are called, although enlightened, they are still Canadian Geese to me!

Whether we hear the A-honk of the male or the hink of the female, we all recognize the V pattern over head when they move in mass to summer quarters in the spring or winter quarters in the fall.

In Minnesota, from early spring, the geese are seen in groups with their young. At a restaurant called Patrick's in Longville, the geese are outside the windows, bathing, eating, while a few take sentry duty. It is not known if they leave in the fall, what is known is where people feed them, they foul lawns, golf courses and public lands. In other words, they poop everywhere.

We only know the difference of the sex by their size. It is said the smallest of the species flies the farthest north. When we say north, we mean well into northern Canada.

The geese made a feed and rest stop between Lawrence and Eudora, KS each fall and spring. There was a pond for water and preening, and plenty of grain to energize them for their trip. It was worth the trip just to look at them with their black head and neck with the white chin strap. One of the wonders of nature is species, such as the Canada's are always marked the same.

One time we counted 25 chicks swimming in a row behind a parent with the other adult taking up the rear. Certainly they must be nieces and nephews, as it is well beyond the normal clutch of 4-7 eggs. Dick, who has a marvelous lawn at the lake, is certain all 27 pooped in his yard. We bought him a gallon of goose deterrent to spray on his yard.

We have seen them on the edge of the water eating the wild rice and swimming in schools as well as practice flights for the new fledglings. The sound makes us look, no matter how high up they might be.

Be assured if the dock and landing is covered with goose poop one has a very slippery and stinky launch. They are not toilet trained.

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BIRDS Wood Ducks

Male and female Wood Duck on pond filled with duck weed

Nailed to trees and posts near rivers and lakes, one often sees nesting boxes with a fair size hole cut near the top on the front. I was told in 1998 when I first saw them, the houses were for Wood Ducks. Old Trunks has lamented she had not seen a Wood Duck yet.....until the last Friday and Saturday in September.

Flash back to life in Lawrence, KS and a client who had durable medical equipment needing service. The gentleman's hobby was to carve water fowl including my then known favorite, Mallard males. I was so impressed with the perfection of the Mallard that I bought one for my son for $100. The gentleman also had Wood Ducks. Yet, in my ignorance, the carving and painting appeared to be an imaginary species. How could anything have so many colors?

We have fished Munson Lake near Detroit Lakes for the last several years and driven by the pond covered with duck weed. There have always been ducks of some sort there but this time was different. Tom, being a former water fowl hunter, knows the species by shape or how they swim, or something else that is admirable. On Friday, he slowed the truck with the boat in tow and stated, "Well, I'll be darned, those are Wood Ducks!" He pulled into the Lake Sally launch area, and out again to be lined up with the pond with a heavy cover of trees and brush to 'hide' us from the skittish birds in the water.

He had previously put my window down. Getting out of the truck would mean they would fly or move to the center too far away to photograph. It was going to be a tough assignment. They were not in clear water, rather in oatmeal like duck weed which is a very pale green. If I didn't wait for the camera to focus on the duck, all I would get were branches. The longer I waited the more skittish I WAS.

Any confidence I had to go on came from incredible luck I had during the summer with loons and herons, geese and swans. I drew from that. The problem is that what I got and what I thought I got were miles apart. This species has so many colors and are so distinct in their markings that, without that, one misses. I did not have a back ground to shoot against, nor was there open water to make the duck itself show. It didn't help that I was nearly at seizure stage with excitement at seeing these magnificently marked water fowl for the first time. They weren't imaginary after all!





Happy Birthday, Rachel!

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