FreeLists / va-richmond-general / [va-richmond-general] Fw: Brewer's Blackbird in Cumberland

["Michael Shapiro" <sc.tanager@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I apologize if you all have already seen this post, but I've been having e-mail 
trouble and I have no idea if this ever posted or not. We also saw a mob of 
crows harassing and dive bombing a hawk. Couldn't tell the species but I'm 
guessing Red-tailed.
Michael

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Michael Shapiro 
To: Richmond listserv 
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 10:03 PM
Subject: Brewer's Blackbird in Cumberland


Hello, all-
    While leading the kids on our last nature walk of the class, we briefly 
spotted what I identified as a Brewer's Blackbird. There was a Common Grackle 
near-by to see a size difference, but it was overcast and the bird was in a 
tree, so I didn't get to see its eyes. However, Sibley describes the Brewer's 
Blackbird as being more of an agricultural and suburban bird than the Rusty, 
which prefers swampy marshlands. The bird flew from a solitary cedar tree in an 
open area next to the playground and back parking lot, then flew across an open 
area to a deciduous tree (wasn't focusing on the tree to tell what kind). 
Behind the area where the bird was is a farm. 
    I heard the bird call and sing, so I listened to recordings of Brewer's, 
Rusty, and Red-winged when I got home. I'm positive that it was a Brewer's. The 
"song" wasn't the least bit bubbly. It was definitely harsh - like a creaky, 
rusty fence gate opening. A lifer for me (and bird # 33 for the year for the 
school)!!
    I have an odd question, now, for an odd finding. One of the kids found this 
strange thing growing on one of the trees. It was brown, about three inches 
long, slightly curled, soft, with some "appendages" (growths? I'm not sure how 
to describe them - they were like spines, but they were soft, not sharp) on it, 
about and inch or so long. I thought it might be some sort of weird cocoon, but 
I honestly haven't a clue. I've never seen anything like it before. At first, I 
thought it was some toy or something, but it seems "organic." Unfortunately, I 
don't have it as the kid who found it took it home with him. ANY IDEAS???
    Other observations included several Yellow-rumps still hanging around, as 
well as an Ovenbird, a Fence Lizard, and hundreds of Tent Caterpillars (the 
kids are obsessed with them). The beat-up Bluebird nest box I previously 
reported does, in fact, have a nesting Easting Bluebird in it. I opened the box 
briefly and saw mom on her eggs. I didn't know that Eastern Bluebird's eggs are 
also a turquoise color similar to an American Robin's. I doubt anyone has ever 
cleaned the nestbox (it wouldn't be in such bad shape otherwise), so it's 
probably an old nest being used again.

Michael Shapiro
Short Pump
sc.tanager@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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