04-22-14 Bird Field Note

04-22-14 Bird Field Note

April 22, 2014

Debbie Leick, and Eric Rassmussen share an acoustic monitoring update and the latest raptor migration count.

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Bird Field Note 4/20/14 Debbie Leick

Kate found a banded Spotted Towhee in the north fork of Sheep Camp.

A quiet, female American Kestrel perched near a nest box in the north fork of Sheep Camp.

Whenever Tree Swallows approached this nest box, a pair of vigilant Western Bluebirds swooped in and drove them away.

away. Avian Acoustic Monitoring The microphone mast at the floodplain monitoring site provided a popular perch for birds to sing and engage in other activities.

Western Bluebird

Mating Great Horned Owls

Drumming Northern Flicker

In Upper Woodchuck Meadow, the acoustic monitor recorded vocalizations from four species of owls including Great Horned Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Pygmy-Qwl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. It also picked up the Wild Turkey, Varied Thrush and Golden Eagle shown here.

Wild Turkey

Varied Thrush

Golden Eagle

After a winter of no bat activity, the pump slough monitor detected a few bats from mid to late March. Activity increased in April with spikes on the 10th , 11th and 14th. These large pulses may indicate migrants passing through the area.