Friday, December 4, 2009

Oooh--a useful app for us little birds!


Tufted Titmouse
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Hey, guys--want some advance notice when a hawk or shrike is in the neighborhood? Check this out! http://itunes.com/app/birdseye

Now THIS looks like a useful app!


Peregrine Falcon
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Hey, guys--listen up! Now we can keep track of where the tastiest teal, the most scrumptious shorebirds, the most delectable doves, and the most palatable pigeons are with this great new app!!! http://itunes.com/app/birdseye

An achingly sad announcement


Whooping Crane
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Liz Condie of Operation Migration posted the following news yesterday:
FIRST FAMILY MATRIARCH DEAD Location: Cumberland Co. IL
217*, mate of 211, the pair whose offspring is W601*, is dead. Because W601* was the first Whooping crane to be hatched in the wild in the U.S. in more than a century (in 2006), the threesome was dubbed the First Family. (A second chick was also hatched - W602, but was predated on the Necedah NWR in late summer of 2006.)

In a report received late yesterday, Dr. Richard Urbanek advised that the mortality was discovered on Tuesday by WCEP Tracker and ICF Tracking Field Manager, Eva Szyskoski during an aerial flight over Vermillion County, IN, a traditional migration stop for this pair.

Richard reported, that while the male was was spotted 217* was not visible. Her transmitter signal was tracked to a location a few miles away where her carcass was found by Tracking Intern Jess Thompson. Richard noted that the recovery site was not the mortality site. The carcass has gone for necropsy to the National Wildlife Heath Center in Madison, WI.

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Green Jay
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Everyone knows that the moon is made of green cheese, so in my opinion every day should be Green Jay Awareness Day.

(And yes, I'm in a cage at the Audubon Zoo. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.)

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Eastern Bluebird
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Come on! We were lobbying for a National Bluebird Awareness Day, but those friggin' House Sparrows sabotaged us.

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


I'll celebrate by changing my tune from "What cheer" to "What jeer."

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Operation Migration!
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
We're hope hope hoping we'll make it to Florida well before the blue moon.

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Gray Jay
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
It's not fair. They get a whole month just because some yokel decided to call a second full moon in a calendar month a "blue moon"? How about every one of those gray days???

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Snow Goose
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
We'll wave to them as we pass by.

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Resplendent Quetzal
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
I think I'll celebrate by looking resplendent.

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?

Blue Jay? What's a Blue Jay?

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Barred Owl
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Who cares about Blue Jays? I celebrate blue moons because of the extra illumination those full moons give for finding mice.

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?

Honey, I don't care if it's National Predator Awareness Month! I celebrate every day!

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?

Celebrate? Forget it! I migrated a couple of thousand miles to get the heck away from those noisy jerks!

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Florida Scrub-Jay
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Ain't I a blue jay?

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Loggerhead Shrike
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
Blue Jay? Where??? I'm very hungry!

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?

I'm keeping the heck out of their way. Those Blue Jay beaks pack a wallop!

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Merlin
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
I'm hoping to have one for breakfast every single day. You know what we say about Blue Jays. Once in the morning does it!

How are you celebrating National Blue Jay Awareness Month?


Great Blue Heron
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
I'm not. I think Laura Erickson should have declared months with blue moons "National Great Blue Heron Awareness Month." Blue Jays? Blech. Who needs em?

Monday, November 30, 2009

Heads up! National Blue Jay Awareness Month starts TOMORROW!


Blue Jay
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
This December has a blue moon--that means there are going to be two full moons during the calendar month! And back in 1987, Laura Erickson pronounced any month with a blue moon "National Blue Jay Awareness Month"! She'll be focusing on us all month on her radio program, and trying to take photos (but even during NBJAM, we Blue Jays don't like to be too cooperative about photos). She'll also be setting out special treats at her bird feeder, like peanuts, just for us! Now that's the kind of celebration I like! National Blue Jay Awareness Month happens just once in a blue moon, so let's party!

Monday, November 16, 2009

Deer mice! Yum yum!!!


Red-tailed Hawk
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
I eat you with one bite. Mm-mmmmm good.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!

Toronto is now requiring all new construction to be made with bird safe windows!!! Check it out!

Think I should make an appearance at the Sax-Zim BIrding Festival?


Northern Hawk Owl
Originally uploaded by Laura Erickson
I don't know what I'll be doing on Valentine's Day, but I bet a lot of my friends will be at the Sax-Zim Birding Festival. We love birder-watching. It's fun to grab a mole or vole or any ol' thing and eat it in front of a gawking crowd. February 12-14, 2010.