[va-richmond-general] Re: Fw: Brewer's Blackbird in Cumberland
- From: "Al & Linda Warfield" <warfield101@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 1 May 2005 20:57:16 -0400
Michael,
Yes your post did show up on the listserve before.
Al Warfield
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Shapiro" <sc.tanager@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Richmond listserv" <va-richmond-general@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2005 6:19 PM
Subject: [va-richmond-general] Fw: Brewer's Blackbird in Cumberland
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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