[texbirds] Pictures, my first Egyptian goose, fish crows, painted bunting experiment etc

From: Joseph Kennedy <josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx>
To: 4 Texbirds Maillist <texbirds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 13:14:19 -0500
The road going into the Trinity River Wildlife Refuge property north of
Cove has painted buntings all the way. Many of the males have territories
next to each other and spend most of mornings singing at each other. One
pair of males has a territory that intersects and the birds use the same
song perch without much fighting. When one bird goes off to the east to
sing, the other comes from the west and uses the common perch.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311696
I did a short experiment to see if the birds were cueing on song or sight
to know when to come to the perch. Put my phone out and before I could back
up the current singer was sitting on the phone singing. No search for a
singer or anything, it cued instantly to where the song was
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311691

Note that both knew which end of the phone has the speaker.

It flew to the east and the other male flew from the west where it could
not have seen the first bird perch and also found the phone and perched
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311694

Once upon a time long ago, 2 varied buntings did the same thing in the
middle of an Arizona highway when tape players were 2 feet square with the
really large open reels of tape on top. The two birds insisted on perching
on the moving reels to the detriment of the player but again they instantly
knew where the sound was coming from. I do not use the phone much unless
doing a census but buntings are certainly more aware of the player than
other birds I have played at.

A Mississippi kite was sleeping when I went into the area
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311687

But awake when I came out
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311688

A young of the year fish crow was calling from a light pole at Deussen park
to other birds near the lake. As you can clearly say, it is saying caar and
not caaw.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311697

Another crow came over carrying food followed by begging youngsters and the
light sitter flew off and joined them
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311706

There were good numbers of fish crows around the Summerwood lakes too
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311702

Not finding any kites along the trinity or in Newport, I did a search for
crows, and all birds seen in those areas were common crows with the largest
group at the donut store in Dayton.

I was able to get a new bird for my list with the Egyptian geese in
Summerwood.
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311887

They are interesting creatures and sort of act like the Muscovy ducks
scattered around the lake. Having forgotten to take bread, I was able to
watch them feed on grass growing in the water
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311850

Which they pull and glean much like Canada geese in a park
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311847

I have not researched yet to find out which are males, females, young, etc.
but some have much more chestnut on the back
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311839

They were lethargic late in the morning but several feeding off under the
trees near the kiddy playground had a real knockdown dragout fight
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/image/151311836

Always a great day to get a new bird and will have to get back to see how
they are doing. The pictures can be browsed at and other geese etc at
http://www.pbase.com/joseph_kennedy_36/inbox




-- 
Joseph C. Kennedy
on Buffalo Bayou in West Houston
Josephkennedy36@xxxxxxxxx


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[texbirds] Pictures, my first Egyptian goose, fish crows, painted bunting experiment etc

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