The 510 acre peninsula that encompasses the center consists of six distinct birding habitats. All of the migrating waterfowl, herons and most shorebird species can be seen from many of our bird blinds and observation towers. Birders who keep a “life list of species” will find excellent birding throughout the year. The site boasts 210 species sighted throughout the property. From bald eagles to brown headed nuthatches from surf scoters to yellowlegs CBEC offers an experience for all birding levels.  

Bird sightings the week of 12-14-09

Marshy Creek is loaded with waterfowl.  A few rafts of ducks ranging from 100-1000 per raft.  Tundra Swans best seen in Marshy Creek.  Most predominant ducks are Scaup, Ruddy, Bufflehead and Canvasback.

Cabin Creek/Prospect Bay is the best spot for viewing the diving ducks.  Bald Eagles are seen resting on the artificial reefs at low tide.  Ducks in this area include Scoter, Oldsquaw, Merganser and Goldeneye.

Shovelers starting to arrive on Lake Knapp.

The marsh on the roadway to the center is seeing an increase in Northern Harriers.

Winging It

This will be an informal update of bird activities on the property.  Although I keep more extensive/technical notes for future use, I want to keep this as an easy read.  Sometimes I will follow birds from nest to departure, and other times list one or two entries on a particular bird.  If you have any questions and/or suggestions, please contact me.

If you have sightings on the property (CBEC) that you would like to post, please send them to me.  We will post a one-pager with sightings, and update every two weeks.

If you have bird questions, please ask, and I will attempt to provide an answer. 

Judy Wink

jwink@bayrestoration.org  

Summer Osprey Nest Hunt

July 08, 2009

The end of the day found a wealth of nesting ospreys!!!  We visited a number of osprey nests throughout Kent Narrows, Eastern Bay and Prospect Bay by boat.  The nestlings ranged from fledged,  ready-to-fledge through younger birds.  Some of the nestlings that had already fledged were returning to nest platforms and channel markers to rendezvous with parents in hopes of a fish dinner.  The newly fledged birds are in the process of mastering the “catch” and are supplemented with food via parents.

A good sighting this year when checking the nests-of-the-year…no dead young in the nests.  Monofilament line and other entangling debris brought back to the nest by the parents often tangle the feet and wings of the nestlings and they die before fledging.  We did not witness any mortality of young on nests.

Out of the ten (10) nests observed – we were able to account for 24 juvenal birds, so it was a “bumper crop” this year for ospreys around the Kent Narrows/CBEC area.

Fall Birding

Early October (2007) notes:

During the first two weeks of October some sightings indicate…fall is here.

Observed pintails, two canvasbacks and ruddy ducks in Marshy Creek.  Early arrivals are happening now.

Resident eagles have returned from “ranging out” to an area closer to the core territory (nest site.)  See the pair on a daily basis.

Many Carolina Wrens and Mockingbirds are around the buildings.  They are vocal throughout the year and provide “nice” bird sounds during fall and winter.

Several ospreys are still hunting the tidal areas, but soon will be on their migratory route.

Most of the neotropical species have migrated by now, but a few late-moving catbirds, eastern kingbirds and brown thrashers may be found along Marshy Creek Trail.

Many, many bluebirds are observed by the tree islands along the main driveway.  It was  a “bumper crop” for bluebirds this year.  They stick around all year long…a pleasant burst of color in a drab winter landscape.

The visitor’s center pond that is in the process of restoration is a daily stop over site for Green Herons, Belted Kingfishers, and at present some common and snowy egrets.  These birds can deal with the duckweed that covers the pond.  They do find frogs and small fish!

This is what is found on site as of October 12th…more species available…stop by and see.

Notes on the Resident Eagles

In the early part of the week on February 12-14, 2007 the resident eagles were busy with refurbishing their nest in the hammock near Marshy Creek.  By the 17th the female was in the incubating mode.

Observations were conducted for one hour a day each day since February 17th.  The nest is observed from a good vantage point on Marshy Creek Road through use of a spotting scope.

Throughout February it was observed that although a bird is incubating constantly, occasionally, the bird will rearrange nest material and change position.  Incubation duties are being shared by both male and female.  On two occasions when one bird flew to the nest to take over incubation, it was observed bringing a new “stick” to add to the nest.

March 20, 2007

Hatching day for the eaglets.  The female did most of the brooding today, and was industrious in keeping the ‘newly hatched’ warm and in a comfortable position.  She was observed sitting is the brooding versus the incubating position.

April 2, 2007

This was the first day a ‘fuzzy round head’ was observed stretching to meet the food being doled out by the female.  The feeding occurred at 2:50 pm. The female was standing in the nest, tearing small morsels of fish, and bending to feed.  An over zealous nestling would periodically extend the head to meet the food.  Observation period was approximately one hour.

April 4, 2007

Observation involved: 1) female feeding young, 2) male returning to the nest with a fish, 3) male resuming feeding young while the female left the nest, 4) male also left the nest after approximately 10 minutes of patient feeding.  This is the first day it was noticed that the nestlings were left unattended.  Temperature today at 3:30 pm was 58 degrees.  The male was perched in a nearby tree approximately 20 yards from the nest.

April 06, 2007 

Adult observed feeding young between 2:30 pm and 3:00 pm.  Young are small enough to be concealed in the cup of the nest, but the female’s behavior indicated she was in the feeding mode.  After ½ hr she left the nest, and was flying around in the area with the male.  Another adult eagle, an “intruder” was in the core territory, and both parents posed the flight pursuit to keep the intruder moving out of the territory.  When the third eagle left the area, the female returned to the nest to continue the feeding of the young.

April 07, 2007 

Observed the eagles today from 3:00 to 4:15.  Not a lot of activity.  The temperature was 41 degrees, and I would have suspected some brooding action on the part of the female.  The eaglets were unattended during that time.  Although they should be of an age where they are homeothermic (maintain their body temperature), I thought the parents would be in attendance.  No sign of adults during the observation time.

April 09, 2007

Eagles absent from the nest from 4:00-5:00 pm.  Temperature 46.  I am going to change observation time, as it appears that the adults are spending more time away from the nest.  They attend the young in morning and evening with a feeding regime.

April 10, 2007 

It is 6:30 am, temperature 43, no wind.  Saw the female alight on the nest with a muskrat.  Breakfast is served.  Observed the female change the muskrat’s position in her talons for approximately 5 minutes.  When she was satisfied she was in position to tear small food morsels and feed the eaglets in one fell swoop (no wasted movement), the feeding began.  Feeding behavior=40 minutes.

When the nestlings are this young the parent does not feed “hard parts” to the nestling.  Actually the production of pellets by the nestlings comes later when they are starting to pick at food left on the nest.  At this point the parent feeds soft tissue to the young for the most nutrition and rapid growth.  The parent feeding the nestlings will not eat until the young are satiated.  That happens when “belly if full, lean forward, lay down, and rest/sleep”.  These are typical nestling behaviors.  Eat, sleep and excrete!

April 16, 2007

Both male and female eagles are increasing their time away from the nest.  I was hoping after the weekend rain and gusty winds that all was intact at the avian homesite.  It was.  Birds still in the area, nest intact, and saw the female alight to “check on the kids.”  I noticed the feeding time is between 6:15 am and 6:45 am and approximately the same time in the evening.  Through use of the scope I was able to observe a muskrat on the nest perimeter.  Still not seeing the young on the perimeter.  They probably “hunker down” deep in the cup with the windy conditions.

April 23-26, 2007

Varying times of the day during the four days.  Weather was cool 50-55 degrees.  Saw adult eagles near the nest, but not alighting on the nest.  It is not a normal circumstance, as the adults should be periodically checking on the young.

April 27, 2007

Craig, US Fish and Wildlife biologist called about fostering an eaglet in the existing nest on site.  Came to the site and climbed to the nest to check on the age of the chicks to see if they were compatible with the eaglet he wanted to foster-out.

News…not good.  The eaglets were predated.  Craig, knowledgeable about the birds and predators, stated that he located part of an egg shell with teeth-marks of a raccoon, and signs that the eaglets were victims of raccoon-predation.  So ends the nesting season for the adult birds.

May 3, 2007

The adult eagles are observed throughout the property often flying together.  They have moved out of the nest area, and moved into the Cabin Creek area where they can be observed hunting and perching.  On occasion I have observed them in the Marshy Creek area, as well.  They are free of parental obligations for this season, but I will watch for their pair-bonding, courtship and ‘new nesting cycle’ in the early months of 2008.

Notes on nesting Brown-Headed Nuthatches

April 2, 2007

It was a circumstance of “being at the right place at the right time.”  I found a Brown-headed Nuthatch nest!

Heard tapping in the Marshy Creek woods.  Knew it wasn’t a woodpecker, because it was too rhythmic.  Couldn’t locate the source of the sound until I was standing next to the tree, and realized the bird was tapping inside the tree.  It was a Brown-headed Nuthatch excavating a nest.  Confirmed when the bird surfaced at the opening, and cast chips outside.

Watched the procedure for about 20 minutes, and saw both birds taking turns with the excavation.  While one was inside the cavity the other bird was perched on a nearby snag.  It was quite cool and breezy, but the birds worked until 4:00 pm on the cavity refinement.

April 4, 2007

Visited the “potential nest site” at approximately 3:45 pm.  No activity.  The birds were not located in the area.

April 6, 2007

At 3:00 pm….a stop at the nest site.  Tapping inside the snag.  Only one bird present on site.  Called for the camera to get some shots, as the excavator was busy in and out of the hole.  A second bird arrived, and the excavation in tandem resumed.  Photo documentation.

Did a lot of research on the Brown-headed Nuthatch since first discovering the nest.  Found out some interesting facts: 1)  usually as soon as the nest is excavated, egg-laying and incubation begin, 2)  4-9 eggs –clutch-size range, 3)  incubation period- 14 days, 4) nestlings are usually attended by the parents and a third bird, usually an unmated male, and 5) nest is lined with feathers and soft materials, such as, sheaths of pine seeds/needles.

Plan to follow these birds through the nesting activity.

April 8, 2007

No birds in the area.  Checked at 7:00 am and 4:00 pm.

April 9, 2007

No birds in the area.  Checked at 7:00 am and 2:30 pm.  Wondering if the excavation is complete, and the birds are already nesting.

April 11, 2007

Heard some intermittent taps within the cavity.  Observing with my intern at 3:15 pm.  The tapping wasn’t as urgent as previously heard, but rather fine-tuning.  Observed birds tossing wood chips from the opening.  Both birds were in the cavity at the same time, busy with the preparations of the nest.  One bird was observed carrying pine needles in the nest.

April 14, 2007

Today there was a bird hike for the general public, and we walked along Marshy Creek road looking for the nuthatches.  On our way down the path we did not hear or see evidence of the birds, but on the way back (40 minutes later) the birds were busy with the housekeeping chores.  Still not nesting.  Time observed approximately 9:20 a.m.  Temperature 52 and overcast.  We also observed on a bird hike a chickadee nest site (cavity nester) on the same trail.  Great area for birding.

April 16, 2007

Not sure the dead snag harboring the nest was still standing.  The snag is shaky, and I thought with gusty winds the dead tree may be down.  It was standing, and the birds were still excavating.  They should be finalizing the cavity soon.  Checked 3:30 pm.  Temperature 52 and winds our of the NE @ 30 mph.