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

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 cooperii. The 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:

- Do you Consume Raw Radish? - Food Variety 10 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why Canadian Geese Honking Mournfully? - Gardening and Hobby 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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?

# Previous postings:

- Have you Tried Rainbow Baby Carrot? - Food Variety 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- My Neighbor Small “Paradise” at Backyard – Gardening and Hobby 7 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Are Yellow Elder Blooming in the Fall? - Gardening and hobby 6 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Does Intermittent Fasting Affect on Insulin Resistance? - Part 1 - Diabetes 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What is the Meaning of Cardiovascular Disease? - Heart 3 | Tanza Erlambang Update

We Have Observed a House Finch at Neighborhood - Critter 66

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:

- The Female Kinglet at the Backyard – Critter 34 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Mockingbird’s Eggs Near my House – Critter 36 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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:

- Roaming Guinea Fowls in Neighborhood - Part 2 - Critter 52 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Beauty of Budgerigar Bird - Critter 55 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Bank Robber out of Bullet$ - Sign 53 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why Sugary Drinks Cause of Heart Diseases? – Heart 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What Indexes should be Considered to Find Retirement Countries? - part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Blue Jay in the City Park - Critter 65

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 Blue Jay Babies in the Nature - Critter 59 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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:

- A Colorful Love Bird - Critter 54 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Barred Owl just Visit our Fence - Critter 51 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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?

## Previous postings:

- Are Cage Free Eggs Healthier than Regular Ones? - Part 2 – Food Variety 32 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Don’t Give Money to People in the Roadway - Sign 50 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Reasons Your Dogs have Eaten Grass – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why Ancient Egyptian Mummified Million Birds? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why We are not be Rich Persons? | Tanza Erlambang Update

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

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:

- What Effect of Diversity Patrons on the Arts in the 15th-18th centuries? - part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What is the Meaning of Cheaper Cities in the USA? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Some American Customs are not Apply in Other Countries – part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Can Blood Sugar Hold at Normal Level Without Medication? - Diabetes 12 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Are Micro plastics in the Tea Bags Dangerous for Our Health? | Tanza Erlambang Update

A Baby Squirrel on the Neighborhood Yard – Critter 63

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:

- Squirrels Population in our Neighborhood – Critters 3 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Blonde Squirrel at Our Backyard – Critter 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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:

- Have you Tasted Red Pear? - Food Variety 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do You Like to Grill Fish? - Food Variety 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Late Harvest of Satsuma Orange in the Yard - Food Variety 7 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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

Have you ever seen a baby squirrel? How old? 

# Previous postings:

- Can Diabetic Ketone-acidosis Lead to Death? - Diabetes 9 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How to Keep our Memory to Work until Age 90? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Is there Relationship between Coffee and Type 2 Diabetes? - Diabetes 10 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Is it Norm to Hire Underage Workers in Developing Countries? - part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How to Keep our Memory to Work until 90 Years old? - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

A Great Blue Heron in Wetland Areas - Critter 62

  When we travel to countryside. wetland near the Mississippi river, we saw a heron. We thought it was a Louisiana heron.

Fig 01- A heron, nearby Mississippi river.

However, the GoogleID identified it is a great blue heron with scientific name, Ardea herodias. While the Louisiana heron has different scientific names that is Egretta tricolor. Both species are native to the Louisiana state.

We may observe the great blue herons in their natural habitats such as lakes, rivers, swamps and marshes areas.

The bird is a predator with diverse food sources, but dominant diet is fish, from catfish to eel to minnow. Other diets include reptiles (lizards), amphibians (frogs), invertebrates, small mammals and small birds.

Fig 02- We may find a heron in this area

Interestingly, great blue herons are patient predators, they may stand still for long time to wait for fish swimming by.

Fig 03 - The trees, illustration only

The great blue heron may consume quite big quantity, could be several kg of fish per day. 

Fig 04- The lonely blue heron

Do you know about great blue herons?

# Previous postings:

- Would You Like to Try Uber Helicopter? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What is Hypoxia and How Its Relates to Diabetes? - Diabetes 7 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do You Know these by Catching Fish Species? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why Puffin Birds Population are Decreasing? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How Important Credit Score to Mortgage Rate? | Tanza Erlambang Update

Juvenile of Black-Crowned Night Heron - Critter 61

We observed a juvenile bird in our areas, close to the small lake, when we are doing exercise. We guess a juvenile heron.

Fig 01 - A juvenile heron, first guessed.

GoogleID suggested that the bird is a juvenile of Black-Crowned night heron with scientific name Nyctanassa violacea. The juvenile size is medium compared to other herons, and the bird is common in our areas.

This heron is a nocturnal bird, which means that its active is at night. Even thought we might see this bird, during breeding season is foraging at daylight, but black-crowned heron main activity is at nighttime.

It might be related to heron's food sources: invertebrates, fish, frogs, reptiles, small mammals and birds which are active at night.

Fig 02 - A river, a good place to see herons.

From some sources, the blacked-crowned herons have good vision to identify their prey in the dark of night.

Fig 03 - A juvenile of Black-Crowned night heron.

The Black-Crowned night herons are skillful in terms of adapting to find their prey both in the daytime and night. 

Fig 04 - Flooding, just illustration.

Sure, they are master of hunting strategies to be one of excellent predators at night of darkness.

Fig 05 - The juvenile, standing well.

Do you recognize Juvenile of Black-Crowned Night Heron?

# Previous postings:

- Why Consuming Trash Fish could Help Environmental Protection? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The oldest human Ancestor is Discovered | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Effect of Metabolic on Beta Cells in the Pancreas - Diabetes 5 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why Income Annuity is Getting Favorite? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why 3 billion Birds Have Lost in North America? | Tanza Erlambang Update

Roaming Guinea Fowls in Neighborhood - Part 2 - Critter 52

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Roaming Guinea Fowls in Neighborhood - Part 1 - Critter 52 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Two Guinea fowls, roaming around.

We might wonder: why do people raise this kind of bird?

The flocks could attack snakes entering backyard or garden. The birds are good to control insects, include:
- deer ticks
- flies
- grasshoppers
- crickets
- Asian lady beetles

Fig 02- Flowers for illustration

Some people raise guinea fowls for meat and eggs. They can produce eggs about 100 eggs per season.

Fig 03- Another corner of neighborhood

The seasons depend on areas, could be between:

- March to September

- April to October

Fig 04 – A Guinea fowl, searching insects

Do you know about guinea fowls?

What do you think?

# Previous postings:
- Wildflowers in the Walking Trail - Gardening and Hobby 47 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why Pancreas of Type 2 Diabetic Persons Produce Less Insulin? - Diabetes 3 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Will Electric Cars Take Over Gasoline Car in Near Future? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why the Moon Has Thousands of Small Aliens? | Tanza Erlambang Update