Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Update 2/12/2013, check out this close up video of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, taken at Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area, Punta Gorda FL, on 2/10/2013 at dusk.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6c9Oa99vlQ&feature=youtu.be   

Today's featured feathered friend is the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.  They can only be found in the southern United States and their conservation status is listed as "vulnerable".  It is estimated that only 12,500 individual birds remain, or about 1 percent of their original population.

     There are many locations along the Great Florida Birding Trail where the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker is known to exist.  Biologists at these locations mark trees with wide white paint rings that are easily spotted.  The "ringed" trees indicate active or potential nesting sites.  We have visited several of these Birding Trail locations with no successful sighting.
     Last week we traveled to Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area, south of Punta Gorda.  We were hoping to add this species to our life list, we were finally successful.  Just before sunset on Thursday, we heard and then spotted the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.  We returned to Babcock-Webb on Friday, spending the entire day taking photos of birds, butterflies and nature.  At dusk, we revisited the location of the Red-Cockaded sighting.  Once again, we heard the bird's call, then spotted him.  Just as we had anticipated, he came back to the same tree, where we were able to get a photo along with a few nice videos.  

     Click on the links below to learn more about the trees that Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers select for nesting sites.  Learn how humans help this species survive by inserting artificial nesting boxes directly into trees.  Enjoy these photos of our outing.....tweet.....tweet!!

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
(Taken 1/25/13, Babcock-Webb WMA, Punta Gorda FL)

Long Leaf Pine with artificial nesting box inserted.
(Taken 1/25/13, Babcock-Webb WMA, Punta Gorda FL)

Ringed tree indicating a nesting site.
(Taken 1/25/13, Babcock-Webb WMA, Punta Gorda FL)

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-cockaded_Woodpecker/id

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-cockaded_Woodpecker

http://floridabirdingtrail.com/index.php/trip/trail/Fred_C._BabcockCecil_M._Webb_Wildlife_Management_Area/

Great Horned Owl - Master Predator

     Today's featured feathered friend is the Great Horned Owl.  They have the largest range of any North American Owl.  They can be found year round from the Arctic to the southern most parts of South America.  They are the third largest Owl of the Americas, behind the Great Gray and Snowy, and the second heaviest behind the Snowy.
     The Great Horned is a very large Owl, with a rectangular head, large body and widely spaced ear tufts (Note: the ear tufts are simply tufts of feathers on their crowns, they are NOT ears).  Adults have yellow eyes, broad reddish-brown to gray facial disk, dark barring on belly with feathered legs and feet.  Females are larger than males, otherwise they are similar in appearance.  The chicks are covered with fluffy white down.  Juveniles are like adults but lack ear tufts and maintain much of the down on their heads.  There are many subspecies of Great Horned Owls, so their coloration and size differs by  region.  Generally, they are 22 inches in length, weigh just over three pounds with a wingspan of 49 inches.
     The Great Horned Owl is the only bird that hunts and consumes skunks.  Check out the links provided below for the vast listing of it's potential prey, and much more fascinating information about this interesting species.  Enjoy these photo of a master predator, the Great Horned Owl.....tweet.....tweet!!

Adult Great Horned Owls at the nest.
(Taken 1/22/13, Punta Gorda FL)
(Chick is visable on the nest)

Great Horned Owl chicks
(Taken 1/22/13, Punta Gorda FL)

Great Horned Owl
(Taken 2/16/12, Our neighbor's backyard)

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/id

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Horned_Owl

Limpkin

     Today's featured feathered friend is the Limpkin.  Found throughout Central and South America, the Limpkin reaches it's northernmost range in Florida and the swamps of southern Georgia.

     A large bird with a heron like appearance, it is dark brown overall with white triangular marks over most of it's body.  The markings are more dense on it's head and neck.  It has a long, slightly downcurved bill.  Limpkins are 25 to 29 inches in length with a 40 to 42 inch wingspan and weigh about 2 1/2 pounds.  Males and females are similar in appearance, juveniles are similar to adults, but paler brown.

     Roughly 70 percent of the Limpkins diet is made up of Apple Snails.  Using their long bill the snails are easily and quickly extracted usually without breaking the shell. 

     Limpkins were nearly eradicated from Florida by human hunting.  Over the last 20 years they've made a pretty good come back.  We have little trouble spotting them on an outing to their preferred habitat.  Click on the links below for more information and listen to the Limpkin's call.  Enjoy these photos of the Limpkin.....tweet.....tweet!! 

    

This Limpkin is planning it's next move.
(Taken 1/6/13, Celery Fields, Sarasota FL)

Limpkin
(Taken 11/8/12, northern tip of Lake Okeechobee FL)

Limpkin
(Taken 12/10/12, Lettuce Lake Park, Tampa FL)

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Limpkin/id

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limpkin

First Birds of 2013

     Our first sightings of 2013 came in the early morning hours of New Year's Day.  We were driving north to the Orlando area for a 3-day birding trip.  As the sun was rising, we decided to stop by the Celery Fields in Sarasota.  The first bird we spotted was a Red-Shouldered Hawk, sitting on the railing of the south cell boardwalk.  Looking north, we spotted a Bald Eagle perched atop a tall platform.  Next we spotted an American Bittern out in the open.  What a New Year's blessing, as Bitterns are usually well hidden and rarely seen.

     We spent nearly three hours here and took lots of photos.  We also spotted:  Green Herons, Great Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, Little Blue Herons, Northern Harrier (hovering over it's prey), Ospreys, several more Red-Shouldered Hawks, Great Egrets, Double-Crested Cormorants, Limpkins, American Coots, Common Gallinules, Boat-Tailed Grackles, Red-Winged Blackbirds, a Marsh Wren, Savannah Sparrows, Palm Warblers, Soras (heard, not seen) and hundreds, perhaps thousands of Tree Swallows.

     The Celery Fields are a great stop for any birder, beginner or advanced.  The habitat is diverse, made up of freshwater marshes, wetlands, mudflats, fields, pastures, streams, canals and several impoundment ponds and lakes.  The bird list for the Celery Fields includes over 200 species.  Enjoy today's photos and good birding in 2013.....tweet.....tweet!!  

Red-Shouldered Hawk

Bald-Eagle

American Bittern

Northern Harrier

 http://www.sarasotaaudubon.org/capital-campaign/the-celery-fields/