October 03, 2007
Visiting Birds
As I mentioned on the Osprey Cam page, we've updated the Gallery with many new photos. Much thanks to everyone who sent in their image captures over the last few weeks.
Among the more interesting shots are photos of our visiting Great blue heron, and also our visiting turkey vultures. Something worth noting is that the vulture that you see with the gray head and black-tipped beak is in fact an immature turkey vulture. The adults he sometimes hangs out with might be relatives.
Also, we've seen occasional photos of an American kestrel, which is a small hawk that sometimes likes to perch on the platform. And we just recently saw a flock of black birds descend on the platform for a bit -- they made quite an impressive sight.
As for eagles, we've been seeing single birds and couples. We also had a wonderful episode where an immature bald eagle was on the platform with an adult, and they seemed rather chummy.
As for ospreys, it's been a while since we've seen one on the platform, and it's possible we won't see another one again this year.
Osprey Camera Position
Several cam watchers have written in to ask if we could raise the camera the next time we visit the platform. As our regular cam watchers remember, in previous seasons the camera used to show the field and sky behind the platform. We installed a new camera back in March, and the new cam's field of view is such that it shows mostly the platform and not the background view.
In order to return the view to its former self, our cam technician will have to redesign the camera arm and then rent a bucket truck from a local company to go up and install it. Obviously this will be a big project, so our cam technician has not been anxious to do it before the winter. However, he has said we will definitely do it before the next osprey season. So we ask for your patience while we make plans for a new arm that will allow us to get the old view -- or something close to it -- back for our loyal cam watchers who enjoyed seeing the sky.
In the meantime, we have noticed that the new setup does give us one advantage -- it lets us see shots of the birds sitting on the camera arm. In fact, even the Great blue heron managed to sit on the arm, despite its tall body.
Migrating Ospreys
Rob Bierregaard, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has posted some recent news on the migrating ospreys that he is tracking this year. According to Rob's latest maps, the adult osprey named Homer is currently resting somewhere just north of Blackwater Refuge. And as we mentioned last week, Felix -- the wonder osprey -- recently crossed 1000 miles of open ocean, after which he provided even more surprises by dipping his young talons into the Pacific Ocean, something that is rare for East Coast ospreys. I should note at this point that Rob has said they are not 100% sure Felix is a male. Rob reported that it was hard to ID the gender of the bird, so they won't know the gender for sure until the bird returns for nesting season.
Although we were all impressed with Felix's stamina, the fact is it would be best if Felix didn't cross long sections of open water too many times because the longer an osprey is out over the ocean, the better the chances that weather could prove to be deadly. And speaking of the deadly effects of open-water travel, we were sad to see that the immature osprey named Patience apparently perished only 40 miles from shore. What a shame that she made it so far only to run out of steam at the very end.
Eagle News
I also wanted to pass along some recent eagle news. Our photographer friend Bob Quinn alerted me to an excellent online eagle gallery by nature photographer E.J. Peiker. Be sure to check out his fantastic eagle photos -- some of the best I've ever seen.
Speaking of Bob Quinn, we wanted to remind everyone that Bob will have a table at our Open House on October 6. This will be the first time Bob has displayed his photos at one of our events, so be sure to come to our Open House, where you can check out Bob's work and offer him your thanks for sharing so many of his wonderful photos with us on the website. You might even want to purchase one of his beautiful Blackwater photos.
And back on the topic of eagles: One of our cam watchers -- Susan Feldhuhn (or Suzi) -- is a volunteer at Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research, which is an excellent local organization that helps injured birds. Suzi recently helped transport an immature bald eagle that had become trapped in a silt basin. After Tri-State rehabilitated the bird, Suzi was also the one who released the eagle back into the wild. You can read more about the event, and see the photos, on the Tri-State website. Much thanks to Suzi, as well as all the other wonderful folks at Tri-State.
If you live in Delaware; Salem County New Jersey; or eastern Maryland, please consider volunteering with Tri-State, as they are always in need of bird transporters and other types of volunteers. You can read more on their Volunteer page.
Open House News
We've just learned that Richard Clifton, the 2007 Duck Stamp Artist, will be at the Blackwater Refuge Open House on Saturday, October 6 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Richard Clifton is a 45-year-old Delaware native. He lives and works on a historic family farm that adjoins a national wildlife refuge. Richard’s win in the Federal Duck Stamp Competition in October of 2006 was the culmination of more than twenty years of work in the wildlife art field. His depiction of two swimming ring-necked ducks will grace the 2007-2008 Federal Migratory Bird Stamp.
Join us on Saturday, October 6 for the many activities we have scheduled throughout the day, and while you're at the Open House you can view the Maryland Junior Duck Stamp display, as well as buy a 2007 Federal Duck Stamp and have it signed by Richard Clifton. And remember that possessing a current Duck Stamp gives you free entry to any national wildlife refuge open to the public, and it also means that the Refuge System will have more money available to protect habitat. Read more about the importance of Duck Stamps on our Duck Stamps page.
Until next time,
Lisa - webmaster
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