June 5th, 2008 , 1 Comment »
The American Bird Conservancy has started the American Birds Campaign. It’s a 40 Million US $ campaign over the next five years to advance bird conservation across the Americas.
It’s aims to save the rarest species in the Americas and to protect important habitat for birds. Some of the flagship birds of the campaign are Long-billed Curlew, Laysan Albatross, Santa Marta Parakeet, Lear’s Macaw or the magnificent Marvelous Spatuletail from Peru.
I think this is a very ambitious program that can really make a difference.
To learn more about the campaign, click here:
href=”http://www.abcbirds.org/aboutabc/campaignintro.html
April 19th, 2008 , 1 Comment »
The Eurasian Bittern is one of the most endangered species in most parts of Europe. A member of the heron family, it needs wetlands with large reedbeds.
The Bittern has a very strange sound. Visit the RSPB Site about the Bittern to listen to its call.
On my trip to Neusiedler See Nationalpark (Eastern Austria) last week I was finally able to see one of those amazing birds. For 3 days we were only able to hear them (even from the hotel during the night). But on the fourth day we finally were lucky. We saw four of them. That one on the photograph came pretty close to our car after we waited silently. It was perfect to get a shot with the my 500mm telephoto lens (and 1.4x converter).
I hope you enjoy the picture. More pictures from that trip will follow once I have worked myself through the more than 2.000 pictures I took during that trip.
January 27th, 2008 , No Comments »
The last week’s bird was the Eurasian Robin. This week I will cover the American Robin. Judging by it’s name, one might think that the American Robin is a close North American relative of the Eurasian Robin. They both share the orange breast. And that is the reason why Europeans, who first came to North America named the bird Robin, because it reminded them of the well known bird from their homes. But the North American Robin is a much bigger bird than the Eurasian species. It’s about the size of a Eurasian Blackbird (or just Blackbird in Europe). Those two species are in fact much more closely related than the American and the Eurasian Robin. Both American Robin and Eurasian Blackbird belonging in the Genus Turdus (Thrushes).
The American Robin is one of the most common birds in North America. It has adapted very well to human settlement, now being a familiar sight on most gardens over North America. But they also continue to live in forests. I saw the species in the city of Bozeman (Montana) but also in the remote wilderness of Yellowstone National Park.
The size of the Robin is about 23-28cm, a typical size for many of the bigger thrush species. Their weight is on average about 80 gramms, with more northern birds on average being slightly heavier. Their wingspan is between 35 and 40cm.
Similar to the Eurasian Blackbird, the American Robin feeds mostly on invertebrates, especially earth worms but also caterpillars or grasshoppers. Beside invertebrates, fruits are very important, especially outside of the breeding seasons. The young in the nest are mostly fed on worms and similar animals.
American Robins built their nest in bushes, between 1 and 5 meters above ground in which the female lays between 2 and 5 (normally 3-4) blue eggs. After an incubation period of about two weeks, the young spent another two weeks in the nest before leaving the nest. Outside the nest, the young follow their parents and continue begging for food. Immediately after leaving the nest, the young are not yet capable of flying like the adults. This will take another two weeks. American Robins breed between two and three times a week.
Enemies of the Robins are cats and other smaller mammals, but also snakes and raptors like the Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk or Northern Goshawk. Young Robins are often eaten by snakes, squirrels, crows or Blue Jays.
Over the northern part of it’s range, the American Robin is a migratory species (hence it’s scientific name migratorius, or it’s German name Wanderdrossel - Wandering thrush), spending the winter further south in the USA or Mexico.
The population of the American Robin is stable or increasing over most of it’s range. Some sources say that there are over 300 million individuals. As with most bird species, pesticides can have a negative effect on individuals or local populations.
The species sometimes crosses the Atlantic and reaches Europe. Those vagrants often attract huge “flocks” of birders, especially in Britain. But sometimes the birders arrive too late. There is at least one story about a American Robin being eaten by a Eurasian Sparrowhawk before many birders could see the bird.
January 22nd, 2008 , No Comments »
I just came across this post by bird blogger Sharon Stiteler. It’s about the Red-capped Manakin, a small but amazing bird from Central America. It most famous for it’s courtship display which looks a lot like Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk Dance. This is why the bird is also known as the Moonwalking Bird. I hope that I can make the Red-capped Manakin one of my future “Bird of the week” birds. Then you will learn more about that little fellow. Until then, check out Sharon’s post to see some amazing videos.
January 20th, 2008 , 1 Comment »
The Eurasian Robin Erithacus rubecula is one of the most popular birds in Europe and also one of the most common ones. The European Population is more than 40 Million breeding pairs, maybe even more than 80 Million. The Robin can be seen all around Europe in forests, scrubs, hedges and gardens. Adult birds have a bright orange breast which is a signal for other Robins to stay out of a bird’s territory. Juvenile birds lack the orange breast.
Robins weigh between 10 and 21 grams and have a wingspan of about 20cm. Their size is about 14cm. During the breeding season they feed on small insects and other invertebrates like caterpillars, bugs, woodlice, aphids and others. During autumn and winter they have a more vegetarian diet, mostly composed of berries. They also come to bird feeders.
When hunting for small insects the birds search the ground or sit on a perch and fly down on their prey once they have spotted it.
Non migrating Robins often already occupy a territory during autumn. In early spring, Robins (normally the female) seek a place to build a nest. A place on the ground or near the ground is favored. They also nest on crevices and tree holes, preferable near the ground. Artificial nest boxes are also accepted sometimes.
Robins normally breed two times a year, rarely three times. The female lays between 4 and 6 eggs (sometimes more) and is breeding them for about two weeks. Breeding attempts often fail because of predators (foxes, squirrels, magpies, etc). If successful, the young Robins fledge after two weeks.
Many will not survive until the next years. Strong winters kill many Robins. Others are killed by predators like Eurasian Sparrowhawks.
Unlike many other songbirds, Eurasian Robins also sing during autumn and winter, also not as often as in spring. Only during summer (July and August), when they are molting do they keep more quiet.
For many people, the Robin is a very cute bird. But those little fellows can become very aggressive when defending their territories. When there is dispute over territories, the birds will first try to defend it singing and showing the orange breasts. Most of the time, this is enough to scare off an intruder. But sometimes the intruder won’t go that easily. Then Robins are able to start a violent fight, trying to hit the opponents eyes and head with their bills. Sometimes, this can lead to the death of one of the fighters.
The destruction of hedges or the removal of scrubs and under story in forests can reduce Robin population in some areas. For birds depending on invertebrates during the breeding season, pesticides can affect birds themselves or reduce breeding success, because the adults cannot find enough food.
But because of the high number of breeding pairs and the adaptability of the Eurasian Robin to humans, the species is currently not threatened.
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