News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 73
The Pileated Woodpecker (dryocopus pileatus) is home in a mature forest with dead snags that become large drums for the majestic woody. Whether for proclaiming territory, communicating, or chipping out a nest, decaying trees are essential for a healthy population of the largest species of woodpecker in North America. With a body length of 15 to 19 inches and a 29-inch wingspan, they have a home territory of 320 to 600 acres. Both parents excavate the 10-to-24-inch-deep nest, w... Full story
Walking through central Oregon’s ponderosa forests, the twittering and chirping one is most likely to hear is the Pygmy Nuthatch, feeding on insects while climbing all over the ponderosa and lodgepole pines. The Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea), chatters its high-pitch staccato call year-round, gleaning insects and seeds as it forages the entire tree from trunk to needles. This tiny bird, 3.75 to 4.5 inches, is monogamous, bonding year-round with its mate. Both male and f... Full story
When the Spotted Towhee [Piplio Maculatus] is seen, often on low branches or on the ground, its colors are a stunning contrast to all the surroundings. It is a common bird of the thickets and blackberry brambles, seen under bird feeders eating seeds off the ground but never far from cover. They feed mostly on insects, berries, and seeds scratched from leaf litter. In April the female builds the nest using soft grasses, twigs, and animal hair. While she finishes the nest, the... Full story
The American Dipper [Cinclus mexicanus] or Water Ouzel is found singing and bobbing on fast- moving streams throughout the western U.S. Searching for aquatic insects and small fish, the Dipper dives and sometimes swims under water while overturning rocks to find their food. They have white upper eyelids that protect their eyes and that also may help in blinking communication while on the loud rushing rivers. The female chooses a nest site that is above flood stage and then, wi... Full story
If you want a unique challenge, venture into the Cascades and attempt to find and listen to the brilliant Nashville Warbler [Leiothlypis ruficapilla]. Nashville Warblers are so called because the first one was discovered along the Cumberland River at Nashville, Tennessee, by Alexander Wilson in 1811, during this warbler’s migration. Although they do not nest in Tennessee, the name has remained. Nashville Warblers are one of the few warblers that nest on the ground, building a... Full story
Raucous, boisterous, annoying, disagreeable are just a few terms used to describe the Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). Granted, much of their behavior can be described as loutish, and appreciating these forest birds can be challenging, however the mixed blues of their feathers are nothing but stunning and observing their creative ways is intriguing. The Steller’s Jay is a master mimic; crying babies, red-tailed hawks, cats, dogs, and other birds are just a few calls hea... Full story
The Western Bluebirds (sialia mexicana) will soon be returning to Oregon after wintering in California and Mexico. Dropping from a perch to feed on ground insects or consuming many berries including poison oak, elderberry, and mistletoe, our Western Bluebirds will build their nests in tree cavities or birdhouses. As members of the thrush family the male will begin singing before dawn to mark his breeding territory. The female gathers fine grasses, needles, feathers, and... Full story
The Mountain Bluebird [Sialia currucoides] seeks out open areas with a mix of grasses, shrubs and trees, in mountainous areas up to 12,500 feet. Clearcuts, meadows, and sagebrush/juniper habitat provide large insect populations for the feeding of fledglings. They require tree cavities or nest boxes for brooding. The female chooses her mate by the quality of the nest cavity that the male offers. She builds the nest as the male Mountain Bluebird brings insects to her while she... Full story
Frequently seen in fall on lawns, roads, suet feeders, and trees, the Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) are large, black-spotted woodpeckers with a sparkling red slash [male] on their faces, that feed mainly on ants and beetles. They are gathering now in loose groups of 5-10 birds and can be identified by a white tail as they fly away. Raucous sounds are heard in the forest as flickers play while circling around the trunks of trees. The Northern Flicker occurs in either... Full story
The American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) are gathering in fields and farms and bird feeders, as thistles and grasses are reaching maturity. The bright warbles and twitters are heard as they feed or fly overhead. This small finch eats only seeds and waits til June and July to nest because the harvest of seeds will feed their nestlings in August and September. They complete a yearly second feather molt which is unique within their species. The female builds the nest with... Full story
Gliding up- and downstream on the Metolius or Deschutes rivers, the American Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) searches for available fish, which is 99 percent of its diet. When its prey is spotted, the Osprey dives in the water and uses the barbed pads on the bottom of its talons to grip the slippery fish, and carries it headfirst to make it as aerodynamic as possible. An outer toe is reversible to enable it to grasp the fish with two toes forward and two back, which provides a... Full story
Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus Rufus) is a fiery and often quarrelsome hummingbird that is the most common visitor to our nectar feeders. The brilliant orange gorget and rufous back flash in the sunlight as they move from blossom to blossom gleaning nectar. The Rufous is an important pollinator within the plant communities, pollinating a number of plants that bees are unable to reach. Weighing in at a little over a penny, the Rufous Hummingbird feeds frequently, for it can... Full story
The red-naped sapsucker [Sphyrapicus nuchalis] feeds on the sap and insects drawn to the sap after drilling small holes in mostly deciduous trees: birch, willow, and especially aspen. Hummingbirds may follow these sapsuckers and feed by actually sipping on the sweet sap. Nests are excavated within diseased trees and three to seven white eggs are laid directly on the nest bottom, resting on wood chips with no soft nesting material used. Both parents incubate the eggs for 10-13... Full story
The white-crowned sparrow in the accompanying photograph is busy building a nest in the middle of Oregon grape leaves here in my yard in Camp Sherman. The females choose the nest site and handle the nest construction. As spring begins, the bulky five-inch nest is constructed on the ground with grasses, twigs, hairs and feathers. Three to seven pale blue or green-black spotted eggs are laid and hatched in 11 to 15 days. In ten days the nestlings are feeding on their own. Their... Full story
The northern shrike (Lanius borealis) is a predatory songbird, who perches quietly, often in the top of a tree, before swooping down after insects, mice, and small birds. It kills more than it can eat, impaling the prey on a thorn or wedging it in a forked twig. Like other northern birds that depend on rodent populations, the northern shrike’s movements are cyclical, becoming more abundant when northern rodent populations are low. They hunt from an open perch, where they s... Full story
Evening grosbeaks (Coccothraustes vespertinus) are returning to Central Oregon now in search of seeds and possible nesting sights. They were erroneously named by Midwest settlers in the 1800s, because they thought the birds only came out in the evening to sing. Nomadic by nature, the French Americans named them wandering grosbeaks. They travel in flocks, gracing the air with clear ringing chirps, descending to treetops or bird feeders to enjoy seeds and nuts or tree buds. The... Full story
Northern flickers (Colaptes auratus) are large, black-spotted woodpeckers that feed mainly on ants and beetles. They are often seen on lawns and sidewalks gleaning insects and may be seen in loose groups of five to 10 in late summer and fall. The northern flicker occurs in either red-shafted- west of the Rocky Mountains, or yellow-shafted in the eastern U.S., and will hybridize to yield various shaft color and head pattern combinations. Gaffer, hairy-wicket, heigh-ho, gawker,... Full story
In early spring the symphonious melodies of the male American robin [Turdus Migratorius] are heard over the entire U.S. They begin mating in April and can produce up to three broods by the end of July. The female builds the cup-shaped nest with grass, twigs, and feathers and a coating of mud for stability. Occasionally the male will assist in the gathering of materials. The nest is built in many places including drainpipes, in wreaths on doors, window ledges, and, of course,... Full story
Williamson’s Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) are generally found in the mountains of the western U.S. where they prefer forests of older coniferous trees. Sapsuckers are a specialized group of woodpeckers that do not actually suck sap. After pecking neat rows in trees to cause sugary sap to flow, sappys lick it up with tongues tipped with stiff hairs. This also brings insects, which are gleaned by hummingbirds and warblers. The radically different plumages between the male... Full story
Ah the common Song Sparrow, (Melospiza melodia) — our winter companion, chirping their way through cold soggy weather. Unnoticed by many, loved by a few, the Song Sparrow is a bright light if you are enjoying the small things. It sings from a high perch to claim territory and flicks its tail to the sparrow rhythm, as it tells a story of weeds and grasses and seeds. Look closely, they possess ornamental patterns of russet and gray and white stripes. Songs enable the... Full story
The Marsh Hawk or Northern Harrier [circus hudsonius] is a member of a global group of raptors that are equipped with special tools for silent hunting. Its long, broad wings allow it to glide easily over grasslands, with minimal flapping, moving at a slower pace than other hawks. They use their acute hearing and have a circular arrangement of stiff feathers on their face that collects the sounds of rodents, insects and snakes rustling amongst the foliage. These facial discs... Full story
The Common Yellowthroat [Geothlypis trichas] is a warbler that inhabits many environs, from low swamps to 6,000-foot-elevation streams. Its “witchity, witchity, witchity” call can be heard all along Central Oregon rivers. One of the first warblers to arrive in spring, it behaves in a wren-like fashion as it flits about through low vegetation. The male displays to the female during courtship by flicking wings and tail, following her closely, and performing a flight dis... Full story
The smallest falcon, the Merlin (Falco columbarius), primarily hunts smaller birds while flying — flushing birds from thickets and chasing them using their amazing speed and maneuverability to catch their prey on the wing. During their breeding season the Merlin inhabits open upland and lowland prairies. Merlins do not build their own nests; instead they use old stick nests built by hawks, magpies or crows. Occasionally they nest on ledges or tree cavities. The nest... Full story
Quickly moving rivers and streams are home to the Common Merganser (Mergus merganser). Cruising jet-like up and down waterways, only a few inches above the ripples, landing and then diving for fish and crustaceans with their serrated bills, this Merganser sports either a vivid rust-colored crest (female) or a iridescent green head (male) that is a joy to behold. The Common Merganser nests in hollowed-out trees, on cliffs or on the ground, normally on the banks of rivers.... Full story
As one walks around meadows and open backyards, you are likely to hear a blurry sound “pee-wee, pee-wee,” often followed by a “pip, pip”. This is the call of a Western Wood Pee-wee (contopus sordidulus). This gray nondescript flycatcher will perch on the end of a branch and quickly dart out and catch insects in the air and a small clap-clap sound is made when capturing the bugs or when protecting the nest area. In late spring a nest is built by the female in the fork of an a... Full story
