TWGC is a charitable organization focused on sharing gardening and natural beauty thru education and civic programs in New Bern, NC.
Bird of the Month
Bird of the Month
Tundra Swans by Michael Creedon
Even as you lay in your warm beds tonight, approximately 50 miles north in the Pungo Lake, 30,000+ Tundra Swans mill about, waiting for the sunrise. Most locals are unaware of the great wildlife spectacle that unfolds every morning throughout the winter. As the sun begins to break above the eastern woodlands, a magical experience begins to unfold. Wave after wave of many hundreds of swans begin their take offs into the breeze, flying out to the fields surrounding this lake. Watching these ivory birds “walk” across the water, then with powerful wing beats soar into the Carolina Blue skies is an amazing sight.
Lewis and Clark provided the first written description of the Tundra Swan during their expedition to the West, where the birds’ whistle-like calls prompted Meriwether Lewis to dub them “Whistling Swans.” The Tundra Swan, as its name implies, nest and breed in the remote Arctic tundra of North America, flying south to winter. Pungo Lake is just about the furthest point south in their migration.
Pungo Lake is in and an integral part of the Pocosin Lakes NWR. It is 110,000 acres of pristine wilderness, established in the early 60’s to provide wintering habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. They lease out thousands of acres to local farmers who grow corn and other grains. At harvest, the farmers leave 50% of the crop standing, which refuge staff cut down to provide supplemental feed to the birds. Week by week, they cut down a few rows in one field, next week a different field.
Adult birds have entirely white plumage, black feet, and a black bill with a thin salmon pink streak running along the mouthline, and a yellow spot near the eye. Pens (females) are slightly smaller than the cobs (males). Males average 16 pounds, females 14. On wingspans greater than 5’, they depart the coastal plains of Canada in October, arriving at their winter quarters in November to December. When migrating, these majestic birds fly as high as 5 miles. They are “dippers” in the summer, feeding on aquatic vegetation. In winters, they feed on leftover grains and other crops, ie, potatoes, picked up in fields after harvest.
They have few predators, even standing up to Arctic foxes. Brown bears are another story, and do regularly cause nest failure. Golden Eagles occasionally are successful at capturing and killing an adult. Average life span is 10 years, the oldest recorded at 24 years old.They are monogamous until one partner dies. The surviving partner will wait years, sometimes its entire life before mating again. Nests built on the ground hold 3 – 5 eggs, taking 30 days to hatch, and 60 – 75 days to fledge. Whistling Swans are the most abundant swan of North America, estimated at over 170,000 individuals. The primary cause of adult mortality is hunting, with about 4,000 official kills, and another 10,000 lost to poaching.
If you are Pandemic bored, a visit to Pungo Lake will brighten your day. Maybe your whole week
Bird of the Month December 2020
Brown Thrasher by Michael Creedon
The Brown Thrasher gets no respect. Birders in the field, spotting some activity on the forest floor, eyes glued to binoculars focused on the tangled mess, finally spot their prey, only to say “ It’s just a Thrasher”. In my eyes, the Brown Thrasher is a beautiful bird. Both long billed and long tailed, these shy birds are quite hardy.
Quite common in backyards, particularly those friendly to birds, with feeders, baths and lots of trees and shrubbery for nests. When you notice leaves being tossed around on the ground, and take a good look, you will probably spot a Thrasher. Boldly and beautifully patterned, predominantly a lovely red-brown, staring yellow eyes, with a severe expression due to their down curved bill. They are in the family of the Mockingbird and Catbirds. They are not sexually dimorphic, both sexes appearing identical.
Thrashers as a rule don’t visit feeders, however, absent any other birds there, and no visible threats, ie, us, they will occasionally visit to eye the offerings. They are omnivores, preferring to forage on the ground for fallen seed and berries, using their bill to dig in the soil for insects. They will also use their bill to crack open acorns. I have watched one many times using its bill to break a kernel of corn into tiny bites, until the entire kernel is gone.
They are accomplished vocalists, with a repertoire of over 1,000 different songs, the largest of any bird, imitating many other bird songs. Of eight thrasher species in the USA, they are the only Thrasher east of Texas. Generally monogamous, both mom and dad incubate the eggs, usually 4, and feed the young, and are very aggressive defenders of the nest, having been known to strike both people and dogs hard enough to draw blood. Chicks can leave the nest in as little as 9 days, fully feathered. Usually nesting in shrubby habitat, a popular hideout for nest predators. Predominant nest predators include snakes, birds of prey and cats. They are the largest common host of the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird, many times rejecting the cowbird eggs laid in their nest. They, like many birds, will have at least two broods per season, sometimes three. The oldest recorded individual was 12 years.
In our area, they are year round neighbors, with berries, nuts and small fruits an important component of their winter diet.
These Brown Thrasher photos were taken in my back yard in River Bend. I have included photos of the Long Billed Thrasher, photo from Texas, and the Curve-billed Thrasher, photo from New Mexico
Bird of the Month September 2020
Cormorants by Michael Creedon
Cormorants are comprised of a group of aquatic birds numbering approximately 40 varieties around the world. In the UK, they are divided into Cormorants and Shags, but both are cormorants. The bill is long and hooked, as long as the head, mostly black to dark feathers, with webbing between all 4 toes.
All species are fish eaters, floating low in the water and diving as deep as 150′. They use their wings to assist their diving, and as a result have developed relatively short wings for their size. After feeding, they will be seen on the shore, perched on a rock or tree stump, wings fully extended. This behavior is to dry their feathers, to make flying, already a chore due to the short wings, easier.
They nest in colonies on trees, islets or cliffs, being primarily coastal birds as opposed to oceanic. Usually 3 – 4 eggs, incubating by both parents for 4 weeks. First flight after about 5 – 6 weeks, independent after 10 weeks.
The species most widespread in North America, and particularly in Eastern N.C. is the Double-crested Cormorant. They can easily be seen on the Trent River, the Neuse, and I have photographed one in the drainage pond behind the mall.
Interestingly, the Galapagos cormorant has evolved into a flightless bird, with small stubby remnants of wings. With no predators, they had no need to fly.