Matt,
Sandhill Cranes fly in formation with necks extended....? Mikeal
Mikeal Jones
826 SE Brockway Ave
Roseburg OR 97470
(541) 673-1859
mikealjones@xxxxxxxxxxx
Sent from our iPad 2
On Mar 8, 2017, at 10:20 AM, Matthew G Hunter <matthewghunter@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Hi Folks,
Yesterday it was interesting to watch a Turkey Vulture coming in to locate
some carrion out toward our back woods. As it got below tree level the nearby
nesting Red-shouldered Hawks were not happy, and one of them, with a loud
audible hiss, dove multiple times at the dodging and now wildly flapping
vulture. The vulture found a nearby tree in which to take refuge and rest.
Not long later -- I presume after taking some time to assess the comings and
goings of the hawks -- the vulture safely made its way down to the carrion
and feasted for 15-20 minutes before sneaking off for some digestion.
Early in the morning I was coming home from dropping off my boys with their
ride. As I drove in the driveway in front of the house I was taken aback by 5
large birds flying ... mostly gliding ... very rapidly, over the top of the
house and nearby trees and me; going west to east and across the county road.
I'm pretty used to identifying birds in flight overhead, but in the immediate
seconds after first noticing the birds, I was stumped. And these were big
birds! How many options can there be?! My first impression was Canada Geese.
They were that large, dark, with somewhat long necks and big wings, but the
wings were broader, not as pointed, and the tail seemed longer. Finally, the
head was smaller, not bulbous as on a goose. Probably at about second 3 or 4
it dawned on me what they were....
Any guesses??? :-)
Lots of birds singing this morning....
Matt Hunter
Melrose
