Showing posts with label Critters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Critters. Show all posts

The American Woodcock in Neighborhood - Critter 70

Friday, March 8, 2024
We never seen this bird before, this was just a grab shot with an iPhone. We have no idea what the bird schedule is, but it didn’t seem rushed.


Image - The American Woodcock.

Since it just "easy going," the bird gave me enough time to remember I had my phone in my pocket. Then, I got one shot.

The GoogleID identified the bird as the American Woodcock with scientific name Scolopax minor. The bird is a migratory bird to stay in Southern states during Fall and Winter seasons, and to migrate to Canada in the Spring and Summer times. 

It was lucky to see this bird during daytime, because it active at dawn and dusk times. The times when the American Woodcocks to do mating and searching foods in their habitats, mostly in the woodland areas.

Have you seen the American Woodcocks in nature?

# Previous postings:

A White Dove without a Band on its Ankle - Critter 69

Friday, March 1, 2024
 We saw doves in the city garden or our neighborhood during Spring seasons sometimes, but very rare to see white doves. 


Fig 01 - A white dove on the fence.

As far as we know, there are two familiar species of wild doves, they are not completely white in our areas:
1) White-wing doves
- the doves have brown body, but their wings have white patches. We may see these dove in the city parks.

2) Eurasian collared dove
- These doves are a quite common in our areas. They are found in many places include yards and feeders The doves have more white patches. 


Fig 02 - A white dove on the lawn.

# Important postings:


Fig 03 - A parking lot, just illustration.

If we see white doves in a neighborhood, it is usually domesticated doves. They are bred for their color (white color). 


Fig 04 - One of corners in our city.

Domesticated doves are own either by pet owners or companies. There are companies to provide service for white doves' in our area.  


Fig 05 - Morning glory flowers, illustration.

Domesticated white doves are released for special events such as student graduations, weddings and funerals. 


Fig 06 - Tall buildings at a bay, illustration.

In our case (Fig 01 and Fig 07), appears to be a white dove do not see a band on its ankle if it has a band, it’s probably belonging to someone’s aviary otherwise it could be wild.



Fig 07 - A white dove in our area. 

Have you seen white doves in nature?

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A Hummingbird in the Flight - Critter 68

Tuesday, February 20, 2024
 We have 3 migration seasons of Hummingbirds in our areas, they are Spring, Fall and Winter migrations.


Fig 01 - Hummingbird flight close by wall.

If we have observed the Hummingbirds in Baton Rouge, Louisiana between middle of November to early March, then these Hummingbirds are considered as Winter migration of Hummingbirds.

There are several locations which well known for winter migration of this tiny birds. Some of them are:
- Baton Rouge
- Lafayette
- New Orleans


Fig 02 - A Hummingbird on the feeder.

# Important postings:


Fig 03 - A rural area, illustration

We recognize at least 5 (five) species of Hummingbirds as winter "special" visitors in our city, Baton Rouge, LA.


Fig 04 - A corner of the city, LA

The winter Hummingbirds in our areas are:
- Black-chinned Hummingbirds
- Broad-tailed Hummingbirds
- Calliope Hummingbirds.
- Buff-bellied Hummingbirds.
- Rufous Hummingbirds.


Fig 05 - Immature male Rufous.

We love to observe Rufous Hummingbirds since these tiny birds most frequently seen in this season.


Fig 06 - A hummingbird is flying.

What species of Hummingbirds in your areas?

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The Cooper's Hawk Perching on the Myrtle Branch - Critter 67

Thursday, February 8, 2024
We saw a bird hiding between branches of Myrtle tree in the neighborhood, and we believe the bird is a Cooper's hawk. 


Fig 01 - A predator hiding between branches.

Yes, helping by GoogleID and BingID, the bird is identified as a Cooper's hawk with scientific name, Accipiter cooperiiThe bird is a slender bird with a long tail and rounded, broad wings. 

This kind of Hawk is medium size hawk with about 45 cm (17.7 inches) length, and wingspan 80 cm (32 inches).

The range of this species distribution is quite wide, spreading from North America to South America. We may observe Cooper hawk in several places around city, and even in our neighborhood sometimes. 



Fig 02 - The bird hiding. 

# Important postings:


Fig 03 - Myrtle trees during cold season.

In our state, Louisiana, Cooper's hawk can be observed in many habitats include woodlands, forest and urban areas.


Fig 04 - The Hawk is perching.

The Cooper's hawk is a predator, it mainly consumes small birds and mammals. The predator eats reptiles and insect as well.


Fig 05 - Myrtle tree, during Spring season.

The favorite birds as Hawks diets are woodpeckers, robins, jays, flickers, doves, quails and songbirds.


Fig 06 - Hawk is still there.

Hawks hunting small mammals such as squirrels (tree and ground), chipmunks, mice and bats.


Fig 07 - Myrtle with pink flowers.

Some reptiles such as snakes and lizards are kind of supplements for Cooper's hawks.



Fig 08 - A lonely Cooper's hawk.

Have you ever seen Cooper's hawk in your areas?

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We Have Observed a House Finch at Neighborhood - Critter 66

Friday, January 26, 2024
After "freezing" temperature for a while, we start to see several kinds of birds visit feeders of our neighborhood.  


Fig 01 - A house finch on the top of feeder. 

One of birds is a house finch with scientific name, Haemorhous mexicanus. Then, the bird is identified by helping of GoogleID app. It is a common bird in America, especially in North America. 

The bird is a cheerful songbird. The sound like whistles and twitters. The rapid melody makes more cheerful of the day. Surprisingly, this bird can sing around 2,000 (two thousand) songs per day.

In our city, Baton Rouge, LA, we may observe the house finch in small flocks, since they are social birds. 


Fig 02 - Golden leaves, just illustration

# Postings about birds:


Fig 03 - The bird eating on the feeder.

The house finch lives in the variety areas such as:
- parks
- woodlands
- open areas
- and even backyards


Fig 04 - Golden leaves, taken from other positions.

This bird comes to feeder to finds seeds. Sunflowers and millet are favorite seeds for house finches.


Fig 05 - Candlesticks plant with flowers

In respect to seeds, unbelievable that a house finch could consume 1,000 (one thousand) sunflower seeds per day.


Fig 06 - A house finch on the feeder.

Do you recognize a house finch?

## Previous postings:

The Blue Jay in the City Park - Critter 65

Saturday, January 20, 2024
We may spot the Blue Jay year-round in our areas, sure, they are abundant during Spring and Summer seasons.


Fig 01 - A Blue Jay on the top of tree.

We have posted the Blue Jay babies previously:

The birds, actually, common birds, since we may spot them everywhere in our areas or city such as:
- city parks and gardens
- our neighborhood or backyards.
- woodland and swamp areas.
- and even in the open areas.


Fig 02 - A bridge, just for illustration.

Surprisingly, there is one species only of Blue Jay in our city, Baton Rouge LA with scientific name is Cyanocitta cristata. 


Fig 03 - A Blue Jay as visitor at backyard. 

# Important postings:


Fig 04 - Plants, just for illustration. 

Seeds could attract the Blue Jay to come to birdfeeder, since the seeds are its primary food source. 


Fig 05 - Peanuts, illustration only

The birds love to consume wide variety of seeds, some of them are sunflowers seed, peanut (shelled and unshelled) and pecans.


Fig 06 - A nest of bird, illustration only.

in addition to seeds, the birds also eat fruit and insects. Some reports say, Blue Jay even consume small vertebrates. 


Fig 07 - A lonely Blue Jay.

Do you recognize Blue Jay in the nature?

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The Black-bellied Whistling Duck on the Roof - Critter 64

Friday, January 5, 2024
We heard it whistling on the roof recently. We have never heard the sound or seen the physical critter or anything like that before.


Fig 01 - The duck on the roof

The size of this critter a larger than birds which visited our neighborhood frequently. Its size about 19 inches (48.3 cm) long.

We believed that it is a kind of wild duck or wild goose. Then, the GoogleID suggested the critter is the Black-bellied whistling duck. Some of our neighbors called it as a Mexican Whistler Duck or the Squealers.

This duck has scientific name as Dendrocygna autumnalis. The duck is native to Americas (North and Latin America). In the USA, we may find this duck in the states such as Florida, Louisiana and Texas.


Fig 02 - Neighborhood, illustration only.

In the Latin America, this duck lives in the countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Paraguay, Honduras and Argentina.


Fig 03 - The black-bellied whistling duck.

In recent years, we saw the ducks have become more and more prevalent in our state, Louisiana. They might migrate from other states or countries.


Fig 04 - Sky at night, illustration.

They raid nests in trees, and we may observe the Black-bellied whistling ducks in the areas such as grassland, savannah and wetlands.


Fig 05 - Whistling from roof top.

Have you seen this kind of duck in nature?

# Previous postings:

A Baby Squirrel on the Neighborhood Yard – Critter 63

Saturday, December 30, 2023

We posted about squirrels at our neighborhood previously.  The first post was decreasing of squirrel population and the second was about blonde squirrel. 


Fig 01 - Just a newborn baby squirrel, found on the yard

You may read two previous posts:

Each house in our neighborhood has yards with some trees, big and small, old and new trees. Several species include oak, magnolia, cypress, crape myrtles, sugar maple, hollies and pine trees.

These yards and trees attract a lot of wildlife, both dangerous (intimidating) and friendly (adorable) critters. 


Fig 02 - Neighborhood, just illustration

# Some previous postings:


Fig 03 - One of favorite trees for squirrels.

Few of wild critters are:
- squirrels
- turtles
- snakes
- otters
- raccoon
- rabbit- coyotes
- birds (permanent and immigrant birds)



Fig 04 - Another baby squirrel, just for illustration

We found a newborn squirrel on a yard recently. We guessed about several days old. She looks very weak.


Fig 05 - A tree, just illustration

It is said that Pedialyte milk or puppy milk is good for baby squirrels. After a while (several weeks), squirrels can feed their own natural foods:
- fruits
- nuts
- seeds


Fig 06 - A few days old squirrel