Wordless Wednesday...

Tags: Terns, Wordless Wednesday

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Danger Lurks on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge...

On this, "Throw Back Thursday."  I look back to April 2013, when I witnessed an incredible take down on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, in Queens New York.  I was counting birds on the South End of the East Pond, paying close attention to the number of Snowy Egrets, which was definitely going to trip the eBird filters, when suddenly I was alerted to the wariness of the birds in the southern most east corner of the pond.

The Snowy Egrets, Little Blues and Great Egrets that had congregated at that end, all seemed wary.  It wasn't my presence since I happened to be at an acceptable distance, but instead it was the lucking presence of a Great Black-backed Gull, that apparently had them worried.  Like those birds I sensed there was trouble brewing, but the lone Glossy Ibis feeding by itself did not seem too concerned.

As I watched the GBBG sidle up to the Glossy Ibis with intent in its eyes, I had this sinking feeling that this bird was going to get whacked! I had seen GBBG take out ducks before but never a bird as big as a Glossy Ibis. Maybe, I was too worried.  Wrong!! It happened very quickly, the GBBG once within striking distance, made a vicious jab at the Glossy Ibis and immediately the damage was done.  Even though it tried to pull away, the GBBG held on and began to drag it down all the while jabbing away.  I was stunned!!  Recovering from the initial onslaught, I managed a few digiscope shots of the bird as it was being eaten alive.

It was not a pretty sight but this take down was all part of the circle of life and this Great Black-backed Gull, proved what a beast it is, in terms of driving fear into the hearts of its peers. Murder on the East Pond, I hope I don't witness too much of that in the future.

Tags: Throw Back Thursday, Great Black-backed Gull, Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, East Pond, Queens

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Wordless Wednesday...

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Banded Semipalmated Sandpiper at Pikes Beach LI, NY...

This past weekend,I documented a few flagged birds at Pikes Beach on Long Island NY. This bird, a Semipalmated Sandpiper, was a tough one to read the band information and it took me well over 40 minutes before I got within range to able to read and then capture a decent photo. The band data along with my field observation notes will be submitted to the Bird Banding Laboratory for more information and as soon as I have the history, I will post an update.

Tags: Semipalmated Sandpiper, MNN, Pikes Beach

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History of Banded Ring-Billed Gull B1TU...

Readers may recall back in April, I posted to the blog, an image of a banded Ring-billed Gull, B1TU. I had reported the sighting along with the band details to the Bird Banding Lab. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Professor Jean Giroux who recommended that I also send the information to another website in Quebec Canada, which is a website being used to document the research of Ring-billed Gulls. The request was sent during the time I was in remote areas of China (no internet), so I could not get this done, but did so once I got back to NY. 

This morning, I received word from Professor Jean - Francois Giroux who sent me information showing that this bird, a juvenile, was banded on June 20th, 2013 in Quebec Canada. This banding program, is a joint effort conducted by researchers from the University of Quebec in Montreal CA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Massachusetts DCR as part of a study on the dynamics and movement of Ring-billed Gulls in NA.

My sighting of B1TU, is the 1st entry in the summarized history of this bird. Keep an eye out for B1TU, your observation could be the next entry and as always, look for others as well.  Our reports of banded birds such as this Ring-billed Gull are invaluable data to the researchers.

Tags: Ring-billed Gull, B1TU, Queens

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Wordless Wednesday...

Tags: shorebirds, Wordless Wednesday

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Obsessing Over Bird Bling...

That is what it probably looks like to the outsider as they observe those of us who are relentless when looking for banded/flagged birds. I love checking flocks of Gulls or Shorebirds or just any birds for tags, bands, transmitters, flags or anything indicating someone is interested in gathering data on the marked subject.

Sometimes, the task could be so daunting when presented with huge numbers that one could easy abandon ship. Take this flock of shorebirds for example, it is not large but you get the picture.

Crazy one might say but when you find one of those flagged birds, the feeling of success trumps everything and just like that the thirst is gone, the hours of standing and scanning birds is forgotten and the goal of getting the all important documentation just becomes the focus.  I think of it as contributing to the science of Ornithology in helping banders/ringers and anyone researching the movement of a given bird. Try it, you might like it but I warn you it could become an obsession...I should know.


Tags: Shorebirds, Ornithology, Science

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