tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32650283202903072362024-03-05T08:21:47.386-08:00JohnTheBirder.comJohn The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comBlogger186125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-54641909102417359832014-06-05T08:42:00.001-07:002014-06-05T08:42:44.812-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 191<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR2uv0QaupoaYnexEGmcZ9sThAnsW3wQbyclXLxOi5VSG375T4TKwJ6wrcWdTKzK6Rnwv8-V3gYX62tywN4x3CUwUaboZfw9VyAdUlCMZgKnsvIvXR7kUUxF4M-fhzwwHAYxGyjjt9o0/s1600/IMG_2619a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHR2uv0QaupoaYnexEGmcZ9sThAnsW3wQbyclXLxOi5VSG375T4TKwJ6wrcWdTKzK6Rnwv8-V3gYX62tywN4x3CUwUaboZfw9VyAdUlCMZgKnsvIvXR7kUUxF4M-fhzwwHAYxGyjjt9o0/s1600/IMG_2619a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8SGrylyBybDkSXtVzbIMC-2ojNVtRisNzUAoRExBSfUduhHTEfJ_6YjA_T38bEak99nhAg052gtCCkok-uuaM0d-KC71B4S1_DdDhq23EGHaoLFqYlqb_Rb2uHIDxeJjKQRlPGEwBOU/s1600/IMG_2620a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8SGrylyBybDkSXtVzbIMC-2ojNVtRisNzUAoRExBSfUduhHTEfJ_6YjA_T38bEak99nhAg052gtCCkok-uuaM0d-KC71B4S1_DdDhq23EGHaoLFqYlqb_Rb2uHIDxeJjKQRlPGEwBOU/s1600/IMG_2620a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 191</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This
article was supposed to feature a lengthy article about Robins but
circumstances delayed it to the point that it is too late for this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Robins are already nesting and some even have
young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps next spring. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As far as
nesting goes we have a good variety of nesting birds in our yard this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We definitely have Chipping
Sparrows, Purple Martins, Tree Swallows, House Sparrows and House Wrens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also appear to have Yellow Warblers,
Brewers Blackbirds and Robins nesting somewhere but I have not found the nests
yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also have a pair of brown Thrashers
and Catbirds regularly visiting our yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nesting?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The one big
surprise is that we have a pair of Chickadees nesting in one of our
birdhouses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although many magazine and
television articles state that Chickadees will readily nest in birdhouses they
seldom do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition Chickadees prefer
to nest away from man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These Chickadees
seem to have broken all the rules.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
fact this is the first instance of a Chickadee utilizing a birdhouse that I
know of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nesting process started
about three weeks ago with the Chickadees seemingly “testing” the suitability
of the birdhouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This evaluation period
was followed by a flurry of activity with the Chickadees carrying nesting
material, mostly feathers, into the birdhouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our yard work did not seem to bother them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter what, it is a pleasant surprise and
I hope that they are successful in raising a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing as cute as a family of
juvenile chickadees flitting in the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week’s
pictures are of a Chickadee flying out of the birdhouse and another of a Chickadee
sitting in the opening <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and looking out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-7387212138660930412014-04-20T15:05:00.000-07:002014-04-20T15:05:23.260-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 190<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqehEt8w8K6y4wvbX6v1sz3y8l1IJ5KIp-RJ82WgXoSmX18IWz6EBIkCikdX7K6hBW3PiclvurrH5wHuLP50MX0vq0rzLuXpM0gVKMex0JZIhoLYt__soTq3ZKYjNC94V7sAQPr0pKxg/s1600/9zc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqehEt8w8K6y4wvbX6v1sz3y8l1IJ5KIp-RJ82WgXoSmX18IWz6EBIkCikdX7K6hBW3PiclvurrH5wHuLP50MX0vq0rzLuXpM0gVKMex0JZIhoLYt__soTq3ZKYjNC94V7sAQPr0pKxg/s1600/9zc.jpg" height="206" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zqg7GqOdPN4S3VNjKOvQW4sBlBfLZPRJ6JL39NMXTbN4P8Ru8rDSw02jo2Fy7JsBa6Hlp7b8APCqGdKw9kD0b6w9eodE7a-7T_CnvDMLCrgKfMN1jbzlTR3gmecvVavi9Z66lfP21aM/s1600/9zca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zqg7GqOdPN4S3VNjKOvQW4sBlBfLZPRJ6JL39NMXTbN4P8Ru8rDSw02jo2Fy7JsBa6Hlp7b8APCqGdKw9kD0b6w9eodE7a-7T_CnvDMLCrgKfMN1jbzlTR3gmecvVavi9Z66lfP21aM/s1600/9zca.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 190</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wrens and
Tree Swallows notwithstanding The bird most sought after by residents of both
towns and farms alike is the Purple Martin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is one of the few birds that nests in colonies which endears it to
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See Article No. 9).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although
Purple Martins used to nest singly (in pairs) in abandoned woodpecker holes
they do like to nest in colonies if at all possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this respect they have been well aided by
man and man alone – a welcome change from the doom and gloom of the negative
effects of human activities on wildlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was first done by the native inhabitants of the southern USA and
Mexico by putting out groups of gourds suspended from a snag or on a pole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Modern man has substantially improvised on
the quality and quantity of housing available for the Purple Martin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most
common is the multiroom birdhouse ranging from fewer than six rooms to more
than fifty, although, twelve and sixteen are the most common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make one of these houses takes a good bit
of building skill and even more patience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately, there are many commercial ones available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Depending on the materials used and the
amount of ornateness, a 16 room birdhouse can be had for as little as $30.00 to
well over a $1000.00.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cheaper ones
are usually made of aluminum or plastic; the more expensive ones are made of
wood with fancy trim made of various coloured metals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
effective system is to hang several single room birdhouses in a group from a pole
fitted with several cross arms from which to hang the houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gourds (a type of pumpkin) can also be used
but they do not grow in Canada so are more or less restricted to the southern
USA and Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because these single
dwellings are hung on a short chain or wire they will swing a bit in a
wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Tree Swallows, Purple Martins
do not mind a moving birdhouse but House Sparrows and Starlings do not and
avoid them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another great advantage of
this system is that the number of houses can be increased or reduced as the
need arises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also easier to
replace or repair a one room house than a multiunit one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This system of many single houses suspended
in close proximity to one anther is gaining in popularity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
The size of the “living room” of
the house should be about 8in. by 8in. by 6in. high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entrance should be about 2in. in diameter
and positioned about one inch above the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perches are an option but not required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, a TV antenna type of perch mounted on top of the pole seems to
be greatly appreciated by the martins that do like to perch high up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact a discarded TV antenna would work
very well and can stand up to some very severe weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The houses should be out in the open away
from trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then,
one can only wait and hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
lucky as we had a colony move within days of putting up our 12 room house (this
week’s picture); others have waited for years and sometimes even then with no
results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such is the way of Purple
Martins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this is your first attempt,
good luck with your forays into the world of Purple Martins.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-51883174971736237392014-04-10T16:36:00.002-07:002014-04-10T16:36:20.662-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 189<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J1efNR6zPUP3bSl3UJp2ms-pWcMpCuMP5CPmV2HhR7BrzKl5Bbe0dIZXNF8m-LHhJUan17tnZ-iEfRANFSsmPkG9YrNcPQVc25Mzqv0R_ZDuz1aEYG58RkkFsh3VJQJJy7xeD4sHTRs/s1600/IMG_2583a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1J1efNR6zPUP3bSl3UJp2ms-pWcMpCuMP5CPmV2HhR7BrzKl5Bbe0dIZXNF8m-LHhJUan17tnZ-iEfRANFSsmPkG9YrNcPQVc25Mzqv0R_ZDuz1aEYG58RkkFsh3VJQJJy7xeD4sHTRs/s1600/IMG_2583a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSyd_u42zt59Lv3L13zgLBMQHrSddMXtz1OoHMxQZvlZI3IeNSG3LSez3l2-IeBGJv74FscvetBS2cGCRDxjBJG7eK2vTslyegGrFLUY92T2cagCUYSu9kwyCrY6ohrGHOa2g77tF_XQ/s1600/IMG_2396a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSyd_u42zt59Lv3L13zgLBMQHrSddMXtz1OoHMxQZvlZI3IeNSG3LSez3l2-IeBGJv74FscvetBS2cGCRDxjBJG7eK2vTslyegGrFLUY92T2cagCUYSu9kwyCrY6ohrGHOa2g77tF_XQ/s1600/IMG_2396a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 189</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The recent
pleasant weather would indicate that spring is finally here although not quite
barbeque weather the summer birds are definitely returning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have seen Ring Billed Gulls, Red Tailed
Hawks, Juncos and Pine Siskins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, I
am waiting for the robins and swallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week I
want to take a brief look at bird houses for Tree Swallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dimensions and materials used are the
same as for wrens except the hole has to be 1.5 inches (32 cm) in diameter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This allows the swallows to enter and exit
with ease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately it also allows early
nesting House Sparrows to utilize the house usually pre-empting the Tree
Swallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One way to
discourage House Sparrows is to hang the bird house instead of attaching it
with screws or nails to a tree, pole or building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my experience only Tree Swallows will
readily nest in a “swinging” bird house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To dampen the amount of swing on windy days I attach a suspended weight
to the bottom of the bird house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did
just that last year only to have a wren nest in it and rear a brood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tree Swallows chose another house that
was in our yard. Very unpredictable but there is nothing wrong with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Unlike
wrens Tree Swallows will occupy birdhouses that are set out in open spaces such
as pastures and crop lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also
discourages House Sparrows as they do not like to be far away from trees and
buildings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a bonus this placement also
attracts Blue Birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The disadvantage is
that the birds cannot be observed simply by looking out of a house window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steel (tin) cans cannot be used here as they
will overheat and kill the young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week’s
photos show two of our bird houses made specifically for Tree Swallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lean-to is one that I built and painted
by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I do say so myself it is a
very attractive and functional bird house but no bird has built a nest in it
since I put it up six years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile,
the bird house that our granddaughter built as a school project last year was
occupied with Tree Swallows within a week after it was put out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go figure!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The photo includes a picture of the aforementioned Tree Swallow sitting
on a peg just below the entrance. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
mentioned above the hanging house that I put out for the tree Swallows was
occupied by a House Wren.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, go
figure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-54102564616017533712014-04-08T15:52:00.001-07:002014-04-08T15:52:21.325-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 188<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhnVGAFtY4RhO62V3jKFobTE-A4BocclIAJUMyUogk6MB8GTeKVGzEbHQECpcioTk8P6GXPTCgSwCEqpndkAoCYLWjwY8-XhkYZm3cCSd3XyXBfDOf7-P-3n7KOVuLNL1f48gWeK8m6k/s1600/IMG_2608a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhnVGAFtY4RhO62V3jKFobTE-A4BocclIAJUMyUogk6MB8GTeKVGzEbHQECpcioTk8P6GXPTCgSwCEqpndkAoCYLWjwY8-XhkYZm3cCSd3XyXBfDOf7-P-3n7KOVuLNL1f48gWeK8m6k/s1600/IMG_2608a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7xmBuG4XXF1pe7K04DtSsoJRhWQsB4UunN5z6vBNknVH1tohubZfGq_UiheDrKxBbyn217vMxpCmPhPZs4xhJRuFygE4jFepopxakfFk7hB0G5fq4HRjYfpior9emvrDgKo-Tlid14c/s1600/IMG_2578a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7xmBuG4XXF1pe7K04DtSsoJRhWQsB4UunN5z6vBNknVH1tohubZfGq_UiheDrKxBbyn217vMxpCmPhPZs4xhJRuFygE4jFepopxakfFk7hB0G5fq4HRjYfpior9emvrDgKo-Tlid14c/s1600/IMG_2578a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenVRT_kYo_xpPpXE_-WeFkE2ZIp_Zyn5LA0JqskYfWVUjFNCHC4eWGdO0gONyE1sy1pHC5R-aHfOhZJRWSagU3yJyWwM-3Xtx-YLHO0qVv78-Dq7TCCsg_-hobiOTwx_3a2ZTqrcQfjo/s1600/IMG_2581a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenVRT_kYo_xpPpXE_-WeFkE2ZIp_Zyn5LA0JqskYfWVUjFNCHC4eWGdO0gONyE1sy1pHC5R-aHfOhZJRWSagU3yJyWwM-3Xtx-YLHO0qVv78-Dq7TCCsg_-hobiOTwx_3a2ZTqrcQfjo/s1600/IMG_2581a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-CA</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING </b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No 188</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally the
crows are back – winter or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, I
have seen several Rough Legged Hawks and, to my surprise, a lone Bald Eagle
perched in a tree along the highway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
date I have not seen any robins nor bluebirds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the juncos are not back yet. However, they all should be here
soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In any case
it is that time of year when bird fanciers should be thinking of putting out
birdhouses for the spring nesting season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is especially true if one has to build new houses for whatever
reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Existing bird houses require
much less time even if repairs are necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bird houses
that have been occupied in previous years require very little effort to make
them ready for the upcoming spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some
people feel that it is necessary to clean the bird houses every year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If bird lice are a concern one need not
worry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bird lice require a body
temperature of nearly 40C to stay alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even human body temperature (36C - 37C) is too cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our frigid winters completely sterilize the
nests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One always has to keep in mind
that all cavity nesters used to nest in abandoned woodpecker nests and nobody
went around cleaning out those nests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
cannot and perhaps should not apply human standards to birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not people with feathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all they drink out of mud puddles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>For new
bird house construction I will start out with the most common and easiest bird
house to build.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of all birds the House
Wrens are the least finicky about their bird houses and most easily satisfied
with anything that remotely resembles a bird house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dimensions can vary from 4” by 5” to 8”by 10”
and everything in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A one inch
hole is the perfect size as it allows the wren to get in and out of the house
but excludes all other birds – especially House Sparrows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most common material is wood – usually
scrap wood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wooden houses should be
painted to preserve them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many
commercially prepared bird houses are made of lightweight aluminum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aluminum is very good as it does not absorb
heat and remains cool throughout the hot summer days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even larger steel(tin) cans can be used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As kids my brothers and I would punch one
inch holes in tobacco cans and tie them to trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were always occupied by wrens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Steel cans will heat up to dangerously high
levels so care must be taken to mount them in good, day long shade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The houses can be as fancy or as plain as one
desires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way the wrens will be
perfectly happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It should
be noted that wrens spend a great deal of time on the ground and therefore need
good ground cover for protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A yard
without shrubs, flowers and so on will make it very difficult to attract
wrens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week’s
picture of a wren on a dwarf cedar was taken just outside our solarium
window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bird houses are of the three
we have in our yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dark (brown)
house (no photo) is in our front yard and has had wrens almost every year since
we put it up about 20 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
colourful one that we purchased last year stayed vacant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hanging house was set out two years ago in
our back yard for Tree Swallows but a wren beat them to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never got around to painting this house –
maybe this spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="skype_c2c_menu_container" id="skype_c2c_menu_container" onmouseout="SkypeClick2Call.MenuInjectionHandler.hideMenu(event)" onmouseover="SkypeClick2Call.MenuInjectionHandler.showMenu(this, event)" style="display: none;">
<div class="skype_c2c_menu_click2call">
<a class="skype_c2c_menu_click2call_action" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="skype_c2c_menu_click2call_action">Call</a></div>
<div class="skype_c2c_menu_click2sms">
<a class="skype_c2c_menu_click2sms_action" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="skype_c2c_menu_click2sms_action">Send SMS</a></div>
<div class="skype_c2c_menu_add2skype">
<a class="skype_c2c_menu_add2skype_text" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="skype_c2c_menu_add2skype_text">Add to Skype</a></div>
<div class="skype_c2c_menu_toll_info">
<span class="skype_c2c_menu_toll_callcredit">You'll need Skype Credit</span><span class="skype_c2c_menu_toll_free">Free via Skype</span></div>
</div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-22301762935366103652014-02-08T12:31:00.001-08:002014-02-08T12:31:42.030-08:00Foam Lake Birding No. 187<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCH1tHiMck4nTcGOS3c-jOgIQc2_3p2dX8965WD8o02XbDVHKOfQr00xIatUTD-70w_kMyyOhzXOiokcary66jy24dQ49id9ng1rwyuPK4PsO_azxiod2XoU9w2SsIT_PgfPjaqfzZqb4/s1600/IMG_2570a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCH1tHiMck4nTcGOS3c-jOgIQc2_3p2dX8965WD8o02XbDVHKOfQr00xIatUTD-70w_kMyyOhzXOiokcary66jy24dQ49id9ng1rwyuPK4PsO_azxiod2XoU9w2SsIT_PgfPjaqfzZqb4/s1600/IMG_2570a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPfOfOcJvSdC5HyP5gGY2kJAZbT0-V14pQjEblCkrTfJfBwGcPwPe1wsjUl1Oox7Gle-bHoLzpDxeX8YZ1ViRgxXwvrSviURi2lb6Ts5sIMcxkao5zumOeSHrMUX_VMIjqLF9gYuxZgg/s1600/IMG_2571_1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPfOfOcJvSdC5HyP5gGY2kJAZbT0-V14pQjEblCkrTfJfBwGcPwPe1wsjUl1Oox7Gle-bHoLzpDxeX8YZ1ViRgxXwvrSviURi2lb6Ts5sIMcxkao5zumOeSHrMUX_VMIjqLF9gYuxZgg/s1600/IMG_2571_1a.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 187</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After a
much longer hiatus than I had intended I am finally back at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However my articles will not be a regular as
in the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health issues will do that
to a fellow.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Compared to
last winter birding this year has been rather poor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, we do have the standard chickadees,
sparrows, woodpeckers and a few Bohemian Waxwings but noticeably absent are the
nuthatches, redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hopefully, things pick up soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although, I
have not seen one this year I have had several reports of the little Boreal Owl
present locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is nice to have this
bird back again this year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We went to Mexico for a
short vacation since my last article and I do not want to miss the opportunity
to write about a Mexican bird that we saw there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, this week's bird is the Yucatan
Jay which is exclusive to Mexico
especially the Yucatan
Peninsula.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Several years ago this jay wandered far north
of its normal range and wound up in the Rio Grande
Valley in Texas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It caused quite a stir in the birding community with birders swarming to
see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We passed on this sighting as
the trip was an hour and a half one way and we had seen the bird previously on
an earlier trip to Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Yucatan
Jay looks very similar to the very common Stellars Jay of the Rocky
Mountains with two differences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like the Stellars Jay the bird is a deep and even dark blue all over
including its head and neck but with a black breast as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crest is absent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a typical jay it likes to hang around
people where it is constantly looking for scraps of food left over from a lunch
or snack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I got these
pictures in early December of 2013 eating popcorn that we provided for them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">John Senkiw</i></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-3662226660281530402013-11-20T08:17:00.002-08:002013-11-20T08:17:39.877-08:00Foam Lake Birding No. 186<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZRiQ6gRUNkCNq8MbbaSW6WdYhv5PBNthwnuP9AYHOJ8Efd6XpUOKI07Y1uK4_24iIrXlEtLLTUVyRNbiRXT74QQuedh8WNh5G2LA6_YLzMxbxY8O8n-6YyhTvZ3CNmoeZavSIxzxzOU/s1600/IMG_2548a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZRiQ6gRUNkCNq8MbbaSW6WdYhv5PBNthwnuP9AYHOJ8Efd6XpUOKI07Y1uK4_24iIrXlEtLLTUVyRNbiRXT74QQuedh8WNh5G2LA6_YLzMxbxY8O8n-6YyhTvZ3CNmoeZavSIxzxzOU/s320/IMG_2548a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE
BIRDING </b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 186</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our feeders
are up and our winter birds are slowly showing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Permanent residents like the Downy and Hairy
Woodpeckers and Red Breasted Nuthatches are at our feeders almost daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still have two juncos that have not<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>yet migrated south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They appear to like it here so perhaps they
will stay over winter which they commonly do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even a magpie came in and checked things out but did not appear to like
what he saw and left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only truly
winter bird we have seen to date is the Northern Shrike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When the
shrike flew into our yard all the small birds scattered and vanished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, a lone Eurasian Collared Dove just
kept feeding on the ground completely ignoring the shrike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shrike was persistent and kept
"buzzing" the dove but the dove appeared unconcerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually, the dove seemed to get tired of
the harassment and flew off into the ash tree quickly followed by the shrike in
hot pursuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dove put up with a
little more harassment then flew off out of my sight, again with the shrike in
hot pursuit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since this incident a pair
of Eurasian Collared Doves has been in our yard daily so it appears that not
much damage was caused by the shrike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Other than
the Northern Shrike no other winter birds like the Pine Grosbeaks nor Redpolls
have arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So. there is still
something to look forward to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
picture is a bit of a repeat with a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves resting on
our arbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(In fact, they have just
flown past my window and landed on the power line in the back lane.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were actually sleeping on the arbour but
by the time I got my camera set up the female woke up and started
preening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A short time later the male
did the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to show the
doves again because they looked so cute and because the picture provided proof
that the shrike did not have dove for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-72314628410080383622013-11-12T15:03:00.003-08:002013-11-12T15:03:51.957-08:00Foam Lake Birding No. 185<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jwHDpSXnyTYo12HSNPj4N9v_G2a3GAduKTq1QBuSixC_jtbqXepFBrmYnJxyblgLEHaVt5EFH0cd1bpC-U2LIArJPb_IE2fIa6v57fquC0Ku6Wp-9sPM0bcDpFMwS3DBFhiwAptVgL0/s1600/IMG_1763a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jwHDpSXnyTYo12HSNPj4N9v_G2a3GAduKTq1QBuSixC_jtbqXepFBrmYnJxyblgLEHaVt5EFH0cd1bpC-U2LIArJPb_IE2fIa6v57fquC0Ku6Wp-9sPM0bcDpFMwS3DBFhiwAptVgL0/s320/IMG_1763a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvUkgrd2QiMwUE33tGgUjhtjrf7oTXPIRhtSYfbwkJikZFnMuVBJt9h0rOjFSGxV5V_upcgO7gNN-P0nf7hxgCAMTqoz9KjnhWL_vvG8o5W_fjRu9x2mtsemED-uYpP5xjohGHTFGFbU/s1600/IMG_1366a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvUkgrd2QiMwUE33tGgUjhtjrf7oTXPIRhtSYfbwkJikZFnMuVBJt9h0rOjFSGxV5V_upcgO7gNN-P0nf7hxgCAMTqoz9KjnhWL_vvG8o5W_fjRu9x2mtsemED-uYpP5xjohGHTFGFbU/s320/IMG_1366a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE
BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 185</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here it is,
Nov. 4th, and there is no snow on the ground, yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is trying though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this time of the year every day without
snow is a blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remembrance Day is
early enough for winter to set in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the
birding front things are slow but for one Hairy Woodpecker and one White
Breasted Nuthatch in our backyard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
pair of Eurasian Collared Doves still comes into our yard several times a
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to have them hang
around for the winter but I am not quite sure what to feed them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to try cracked wheat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the day
before Halloween we had a Robin scratching around on the ground and
feeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was nice to see something
"summery" at this time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was alone so it just might be one of those that decides to winter
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Time will tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the meantime it is back to watching House
Sparrows and Chickadees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Driving to
and from Foam Lake I have noticed more Rough Legged
Hawks than usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These Arctic hawks
breed on the Tundra but winter over on the Great Plains
mainly along the Missouri/Mississippi drainage system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are quite common here late in the fall
but are usually mistaken for the more common summer hawk, the Northern Harrier
(Marsh Hawk).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are slender gull-like
hawks that behave and look much like each other with both species even having
the large white rump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My next
task is to set out my winter feeders especially the ones with suet since the
weather is cold enough to prevent spoilage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Another feeder that I put out only in the winter is canola seed for the
reason that the only birds that seem to like it are the Redpolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Redpolls are not here yet but we will be
ready for them if and when they come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
pictures are of a Robin feeding in the same area where we saw the one mentioned
in this article and a White Breasted Nuthatch at one of our peanut feeders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-5877701712603065372013-11-01T13:46:00.002-07:002013-11-01T13:46:40.061-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 184<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou4DOP0_66V_gIuo7gzO7oRrGgMKDEeVVnU08pPkfzy3cw4cyVXuyIVs8PeweCYvQf1OD3kLNpEDq2EaUPctwMRXf9RRez8JcunTOObp-Hq_aqYVSDsfk2A3nSIw0npYoNPY7EncS9yc/s1600/IMG_2372a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhou4DOP0_66V_gIuo7gzO7oRrGgMKDEeVVnU08pPkfzy3cw4cyVXuyIVs8PeweCYvQf1OD3kLNpEDq2EaUPctwMRXf9RRez8JcunTOObp-Hq_aqYVSDsfk2A3nSIw0npYoNPY7EncS9yc/s320/IMG_2372a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6NGSBY2XJfw-jCRhtMqsNf-NuQlRvlr10UcUIDOrDi0OYnE7aHxppYuvGt-uFi6ncj6JPVTVv_avZthNInAW3fxibH1IrcszkfpiDGtzn71AAAmnC69gef2vTas6dxJOlxX_BdIYn_0/s1600/IMG_2375a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6NGSBY2XJfw-jCRhtMqsNf-NuQlRvlr10UcUIDOrDi0OYnE7aHxppYuvGt-uFi6ncj6JPVTVv_avZthNInAW3fxibH1IrcszkfpiDGtzn71AAAmnC69gef2vTas6dxJOlxX_BdIYn_0/s320/IMG_2375a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">No. 184</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We are in that time of year that I refer to as the
"doldrums of birding".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
summer residents and most of the transients are gone south; the winter birds
have not moved here yet; even permanent residents like woodpeckers and nuthatches
have not left the rural areas and moved into towns which they will soon
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for the time being, it is
Chickadees, House Sparrows, the odd Junco, a pair of Eurasian Collared Doves
and a very confused and very dead Ruffed Grouse. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Ruffed Grouse is our only woodland "wild chicken"
as it were (see Art. No. 96).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once in a
while in the fall they invade urban areas where they seem to pick up a bad case
of "stupid" for lack of a better term.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here they become very tame to the point they
have to be shooed away otherwise they just stand there and look at you with a
blank look in their eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Years back
when we lived in Wishart, one fall when there was snow on the ground, a Ruffed
Grouse stood in our doorstep and would not let our girls into the house when
they came home from school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to
chase the grouse away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It moved to the
backyard to our patio and spent the next three weeks or so sleeping right up
against the glass patio door every night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During this same period one of our neighbours had a grouse fly right
through her living room picture window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When the startled neighbour came to the living room to investigate there
was the dying grouse in the middle of the floor amid all kinds of glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almost the same thing happened to me several
weeks ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was working at the dining
room table and looked up just in time to see a very large bird come barrelling
straight at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hit the window with a
tremendous wallop startling everybody in the house especially me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, the window did not break but sadly
the grouse was killed instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Theories
abound as to why this happens but the most plausible is that when there is a
very successful hatch the young have to disperse and there is really no place
for them to go so they head for the towns. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being young and not very wise they end up in
places unfamiliar to them causing harm to themselves and town residents alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>A much more pleasant event is the daily visitation of a
pair of Eurasian Collared Doves (see Art. No. 50).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They started coming to our yard to the bird
baths for drinking water and have continued to do so even though the cold
weather has frozen the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is nice
to see them walking around in the yard looking for something to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Eurasian Collared Dove is an invasive species from
Europe that was successfully introduced into the West Indies from where it flew
across to Florida
and has spread throughout most of the continent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is now here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is quite similar to the native Mourning
Dove but can be quite easily distinguished from it by the thin black collar on
the back of the neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike the
Mourning Dove the Eurasian Collared Dove is not migratory and can be expected
here all year round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is some confusion as to where the Ringed Turtle
Dove fits in to all this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Older bird
books do list it as a distinct species but without much explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here is the whole scoop as I understand
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are only two species of
Collared Doves: the Eurasian and African.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They are closely related and very similar to one another with the
African being slightly smaller and much paler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Furthermore, when vocalizing the African has a two note song while the
Eurasian has a three note sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Ringed Turtle Dove is nothing more than the domestic version of the African
Collared Dove and escaped or released birds have not succeeded in the
wild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At present the name "Ringed
Turtle Dove" has been discontinued by ornithologists and replaced by the
original "African Collared Dove". </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's pictures of the Eurasian Collared Dove were
taken in our backyard this spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-42586021648823499442013-10-18T10:48:00.001-07:002013-10-18T10:48:08.029-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 183<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWVqw9AX7nukkqpgJ8MZhazrXHqJUMFCZY6xq_J6W079SBagG00DR_JI0TI2UrNl_0pdC1L2_DpiVBbKHCCnuyXqCatLI5FCd49nErmX0M_BuVYZZMBMphG-SCEQrgeDQ_x4UO0JY1Ek/s1600/IMG_2499a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBWVqw9AX7nukkqpgJ8MZhazrXHqJUMFCZY6xq_J6W079SBagG00DR_JI0TI2UrNl_0pdC1L2_DpiVBbKHCCnuyXqCatLI5FCd49nErmX0M_BuVYZZMBMphG-SCEQrgeDQ_x4UO0JY1Ek/s320/IMG_2499a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TGp-O6vjYZpEylx6K05X9ZvqD3l5X42fhmmSSlebQghyphenhyphenkyLdl03AyfsYC5jfgezi_jOUrfP4ZpDFkvNoIFCx6CBSSJVup6tq4ZemtQlPJgTTSqkKQW4Njxcb0vCPV00dnNGxXYVyvPg/s1600/IMG_2502a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TGp-O6vjYZpEylx6K05X9ZvqD3l5X42fhmmSSlebQghyphenhyphenkyLdl03AyfsYC5jfgezi_jOUrfP4ZpDFkvNoIFCx6CBSSJVup6tq4ZemtQlPJgTTSqkKQW4Njxcb0vCPV00dnNGxXYVyvPg/s320/IMG_2502a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">FO</span>AM
LAKE BIRDING </b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 183</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The warm
summerlike weather has cooled and to the chagrin of many the rains have
come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a late spring and now it
looks like we are getting a late fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As of this writing we finally have had our first frosts but most of the
leaves are still on the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover,
the skies around here seem to have a constant flow of waterfowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although
most waterfowl breed locally Sandhill Cranes do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They nest further north in bogs and
marshes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to the arrival of
Europeans Sandhill Cranes and Whooping Cranes apparently nested throughout the
prairies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps they will do so
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At present they are common here
only in the spring and fall during their migration to and from their wintering
grounds in the southern US and central Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Sand hill
Cranes were somewhat scarce until the 1950s when their numbers started to
expand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the late 1960s a short
hunting season (from September 1 to the second Saturday in September) was
opened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with new hunting pressure
the population has continued to grow and presently the hunting season is open
from September 1 to December 31 annually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In addition, Sandhill Cranes are hunted during the winter in places like
Arizona and New Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There are
all kinds of derogatory stories out there about the palatability of the
Sandhill Crane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having eaten a variety
of species of goose, duck and grouse and even coots I found that the Sandhill
Cranes are the most palatable of the bunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, perception is a powerful force and prejudices die hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Sandhill Crane is one of our tallest birds with a mature male standing over
four feet high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colour varies from a
whitish-grey to a dark grey with juveniles being quite brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adults have white chin straps much like
Canada Geese and naked red foreheads which has resulted in them being
incorrectly called <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"wild turkeys"
by some people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In flight the neck is
stretched straight out like a goose or duck but much longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When flying it flaps its wings with a quick
smart distinctive upstroke which could be described as flipped or snapped
upwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There are
two subspecies of Sandhill Cranes in Canada, the Lesser and
Greater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Lesser nests on the Tundra
while the Greater nests in bogs and marshes south of the Boreal Forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for size, the three foot Lesser and
four foot Greater are very similar in all respects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are territorial when breeding but band
together in large flocks for migration unlike their close relative the Whooping
Crane that is territorial all year round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I took this
week's photo several weeks ago just north of Foam Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way home while driving on highway 310
we had to stop for a doe refusing to move off the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While waiting for her to move we noticed some
movement in the ditch near the car and saw three fawns standing there looking
at us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to get a picture but they were
skittish and bounded away into the bush on stiff legs the way only a Mule Deer
does. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to get a picture of the
doe but all I got was her behind as she disappeared into the bush after her
young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, this week's photo also
includes a Mule Deer's backside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enjoy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-71698356091456411822013-10-18T10:42:00.002-07:002013-10-18T10:42:36.241-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 182<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrNfLBQXjWdBFmwtTUcbcHLgbbotOF3cHpw9FBUXuAzQmOM76rmLVZeYbEkStfDvuk9o0Fh_F6bdnhCGbFFQ7UXAwrChPGikJeK1jALsUOmJtRVa7Sx9ntxEEBtiKxCKg1zD-wWq1u9w/s1600/IMG_2832a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrNfLBQXjWdBFmwtTUcbcHLgbbotOF3cHpw9FBUXuAzQmOM76rmLVZeYbEkStfDvuk9o0Fh_F6bdnhCGbFFQ7UXAwrChPGikJeK1jALsUOmJtRVa7Sx9ntxEEBtiKxCKg1zD-wWq1u9w/s320/IMG_2832a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 182</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Several
days ago we got a call from a local birder who reported seeing a Great Egret
along the Yellowhead Highway
just north of Dafoe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now my wife and I
have seen many Great Egrets over the years that we have traveled the USA but have never seen one in Saskatchewan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One has a better chance of seeing a Whopping
Crane here than a Great Egret even though the egret is common and the crane is
endangered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway we decided to check
it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough as we approached the
Quill Lake overflow there were actually two
Great Egrets in the ditch right along the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, we were not able to get any pictures as the road was very
busy and stopping along the shoulder would have been unwise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did find an approach nearby but the egrets
flew to the far side of the slough so we observed them for several minutes with
binoculars and then went home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Canada the Great Egret is common only in the
extreme southern tip of Ontario
elsewhere it is a straggler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the USA and Mexico it is common in coastal and
marshy areas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Identifying
the Great Egret can be a bit of a problem especially in the southern USA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two other white egrets, the Snowy
and Cattle, as well as a white race of the Great Blue Heron and the all white juveniles
of the Little Blue Heron and Reddish Egret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One then has to look at other field marks such as the colour and size of
the bill, colour of the legs and feet and size of the bird itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Saskatchewan
things are a little easier as there are only two other white herons, the Cattle
Egret and Snowy Egret and like the Great Egret both are rare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing over three feet high the Great Egret
is the largest with <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a massive yellow
bill and black legs and feet; the two foot high Snowy has a more delicate and
slender all black bill and black legs with bright yellow feet; the Cattle Egret
is the smallest of the three with a stubby pinkish bill and light coloured legs
and feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with all herons the males
and females are the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The terms
"egret and heron" have no scientific rationale and are used in much
the same way that the terms "dove and pigeon" are used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herons that had feathers suitable for the
millinery industry were called egrets after the French word for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>feathers "aigrettes".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest were simply called herons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Presently, with a few exceptions, the term
"egrets" applies to the white herons and the rest are simply
"herons".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Over the
years there has been confusion as to whether a long necked bird is a crane or
heron because they look so much the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The easiest way to tell them apart is when they are in flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A heron/egret flies with its neck folded back
so that the head is tucked into the shoulders while a crane flies with its neck
stretched straight out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another
difference is that herons nest in trees (usually in colonies) while cranes nest
in marshes on beds of marsh grasses and cattails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
photo of a Great Egret was taken several years ago at the San Elijo Lagoon just
north of San Diego, CA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-22319694006681095222013-09-25T10:37:00.000-07:002013-09-25T10:37:41.272-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 181<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4laMd-yXl3AjBJdPEhaSCTrpSlpMj0-sQIEymXVDxqXWi0UJu4dZhf3M5xy_S9KO0_Hg9jaKkkyOGw1D2QGENBxVWGNQLlRDDXYJFgVETSbDI88A8pgr5x36IFVuoqZw1D0OH3PbY-k/s1600/IMG_2491a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4laMd-yXl3AjBJdPEhaSCTrpSlpMj0-sQIEymXVDxqXWi0UJu4dZhf3M5xy_S9KO0_Hg9jaKkkyOGw1D2QGENBxVWGNQLlRDDXYJFgVETSbDI88A8pgr5x36IFVuoqZw1D0OH3PbY-k/s320/IMG_2491a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuygyWdjPqN5OSKs1b8aeaw1iLkEwZNjSbUdZkqmEs2eXN_8rCxmIyu6ub9lNqdbcxL9VCJXFGqgyyY4UNNWTo9N2gYl30CzV4aEKLNPY-14WUs7yWXGR3ySU9KEpHl6q5to6PsdL2ZaE/s1600/IMG_2493a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuygyWdjPqN5OSKs1b8aeaw1iLkEwZNjSbUdZkqmEs2eXN_8rCxmIyu6ub9lNqdbcxL9VCJXFGqgyyY4UNNWTo9N2gYl30CzV4aEKLNPY-14WUs7yWXGR3ySU9KEpHl6q5to6PsdL2ZaE/s320/IMG_2493a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING
</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 181</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Fall
migratory bird hunting season opened on September 1 and at daybreak and sunset
gunfire is frequently heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although a
number of different birds may be legally hunted, including Coots, Sandhill
Cranes, Wilson's Snipe and about fifteen species of ducks, by far the most
popular is the goose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There are
only four species of geese that can be expected locally - Canada (now split into two species the Canada and
Cackling), Snow and White Fronted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
fifth specie, the uncommon Ross's Goose, is found in mixed flocks of Snow Geese
and is so similar to them that great care must b taken in identifying it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the Snow Goose the White Fronted is
circumpolar in distribution.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Historically,
the White Fronted used to be the most prized game bird of hunters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heavy hunting eventually forced governments
to impose and then reduce bag limits for hunters in order to keep populations
viable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, an unexpected turn of
events reversed the fortunes of the White Fronted Goose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The populations of both the Snow and Canada Geese
literally exploded causing governments to raise the bag limits on both species
beyond that of the White Fronted Goose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With hunting pressure diverted to the other very numerous species the
White Fronted has had time to recover and maintain its numbers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The White
Fronted is between the Snow and Canada Goose in size and is often referred to as
medium sized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In flight the White
Fronted makes a kind of musical laughing sound that, once heard, is quite
recognizable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oftentimes they will be
found with other geese when feeding or roosting for the night but unlike the
Ross's and Snow they do not mingle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
field might contain all three species but the Snows will be in one group, the Canadas
in another part and the White Fronted off to one side feeding by
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In such circumstances the
Snows and Canadas
are easy to identify and what is left over is the White Fronted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If observing a field of geese look for a
small group of dark grey-brown geese with no obvious field marks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With binoculars the white patch above the
bill, from where the goose gets its name, is clearly visible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another good field mark, if the goose is not
in a stubble field, is the orange feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is our only wild goose to have orange feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snow Geese have pink feet and the Canadas have
black feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like all geese males and
females are the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
pictures of the White Fronted Geese, sometimes called ”Speckled Bellies"
by hunters, were taken along the Margo grid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The field was filled with all three (possibly five) species but the
nearest to the road were the White Fronted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My wife was excited because seeing a White Fronted Goose was a lifer for
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The geese were a little wary of us
and kept walking away while keeping a watchful eye out for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did manage to get some decent shots and the
white nose patch is clearly visible but the feet are buried in stubble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada Geese are in the background.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-31183067217251244392013-09-18T10:00:00.000-07:002013-09-18T10:00:00.740-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 180<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsV2b1EpT4jsDBKvovrXQkmxFaT30qc7qml4gIomEN58Zv5YFuR8GSpLLP78ACLpcloUgnZGIyLKf5GQHpXiX3oZVRI_RRqsUxZkB92VPnZs162abheKGbKS-Mh1QrUkxDKNrHAmo-nk/s1600/IMG_2455ab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsV2b1EpT4jsDBKvovrXQkmxFaT30qc7qml4gIomEN58Zv5YFuR8GSpLLP78ACLpcloUgnZGIyLKf5GQHpXiX3oZVRI_RRqsUxZkB92VPnZs162abheKGbKS-Mh1QrUkxDKNrHAmo-nk/s320/IMG_2455ab.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 180</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The swarms
of warblers are considerably reduced but berry eating flickers have gone from
one male to at least three.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tree
Swallows and Purple Martins have been long gone but the Barn Swallows still
linger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An interesting note is that
there were actually two Barn Swallows' nest on our neighbour's house and not
one as previously reported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was
one on the north peak as well as the south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We also spotted Ruby Crowned Kinglets and Least Flycatchers in our
yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are local nesters but, like Downey and Hairy
Woodpeckers, tend not to show up in our yards during breeding season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike
the woodpeckers they do migrate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>While
driving down rural roads I noticed an influx of cormorants around various
deeper bodies of water especially dugouts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When stocked with fish dugouts were especially favoured by cormorants
for the easy pickings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even people in
cities with larger yards that had outdoor goldfish ponds were paid visits by
the cormorants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This did not endear them
to the people directly affected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As a group
cormorants have been reclassified at least three times and taxonomists still are
unsure where to place them and so the debate continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually DNA testing will probably resolve
the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since ancient times until the
seventeenth century it was believed they were related to the crow family and
several European countries referred to cormorants as "sea
ravens".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact the name cormorant
might be a contraction from the Latin "corvus marinus" which means
sea raven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any case a cormorant
especially in flight looks remarkably like a crow except for the longish neck
and faster wing beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Except for
the Double Crested all cormorants are coastal birds that feed strictly on fish
that they catch by diving from the shallows to more than 45 metres deep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past peoples in parts of Asia and the Mediterranean tamed and trained cormorants
to fish in much the same way falcons were utilized to catch birds and small
mammals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A ring was put around the
cormorant's neck restricting the size of the fish it could swallow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A small fish would be eaten but a large one
would get stuck in the throat and the cormorant would have to get its master to
help getting the fish out which the fisherman kept for himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was hoped that the cormorant would catch
enough fish for the fisherman before it was full itself and lost interest in
fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fishing with cormorants is
still practised in some parts of Asia
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The only
cormorant to be found on fresh water is the Double Crested so named because of
small tufts of feathers that appear on either side of the head during breeding
season which are seldom visible even during breeding season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Cormorants with long feathers on their heads
are often called 'shags").<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
characteristic of the cormorants shared with only one other bird, the Anhinga,
is its habit of drying itself out after a swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bird climbs onto a rock or snag near or
in the water, faces the sun, and spreads out its wings to expose a greater area
and to dry out and warm up more quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This pose reminded early Christians of the cross so the bird was given
special status and appeared on the coats of arms of several European
countries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
picture is of two Double Crested Cormorants perched on rocks at an abandoned
water filled gravel pit near Tuffnell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of the birds is in typical cormorant pose sunning itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-22083061443097843562013-09-18T09:51:00.000-07:002013-09-18T09:51:35.649-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 179<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvivDdNYtKNiKJb1WK-yoGOLA1SFbeIeMSWh8AXd3e6rZpVSWJ8YYbJFpfHtEYCTKw66MOnMulYpjTpPn00uk1VQekLFtHnUHWTBFKZ80fgZOGJ7eLPGMP__VMoGegqoMwhsEZ8JYj2gE/s1600/IMG_2967a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvivDdNYtKNiKJb1WK-yoGOLA1SFbeIeMSWh8AXd3e6rZpVSWJ8YYbJFpfHtEYCTKw66MOnMulYpjTpPn00uk1VQekLFtHnUHWTBFKZ80fgZOGJ7eLPGMP__VMoGegqoMwhsEZ8JYj2gE/s320/IMG_2967a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING
</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">No. 179</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>With a mild fall predicted by Environment Canada harvest
should be above average in all respects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No matter which road or highway one takes in rural Saskatchewan harvest machinery is in
operation everywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May it
continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The trees and shrubs in our yard are "crawling"
with migratory birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This list includes
all the birds mentioned in last week's article and the addition of Red Eyed
Vireos, Black and White Warblers and White Throated Sparrows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>White Throats are very common in the fall but
they tend to stay away from towns and spend most of their time in tall grasses
and shrubs along road sides and dried out sloughs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a youngster I always wondered what birds
were making those distinct insect-like chirps which were really noticeable in
the evening after the sun set and the winds had died down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not until many years later when I
started to do a lot of duck hunting in the late evenings did I finally learn
what they were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hunting usually involves
a lot of waiting with intermittent and brief action and, I probably spent more
time looking at various small birds feeding than I did for the ducks I was
supposed to be shooting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, it was
here that I actually observed the various sparrows feeding and communicating with
each other that I made my discovery of the mystery birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Both last week and this week I have mentioned vireos so,
perhaps, a little more discussion is in order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As a group vireos are drab greenish small birds that behave and look
like fall warblers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the field
marks used to distinguish species are quite subtle and even their songs are remarkably
similar save for the Warbling Vireo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
songs are rather husky and of a robin-like quality except with more abrupt
phrasing making them less musical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
are insect eaters but do like fruit which is probably why they are in the
chokecherry bushes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike warblers
where spring males are usually dramatically different from the females vireo
males and females are alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the
Wood Warblers they are strictly a new world group of birds unrelated to each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Wood Warblers are related to
the sparrows while the vireos are related to, of all things, the crow
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Four species of vireos occur locally-the Red Eyed,
Warbling, Blue Headed and Philadelphia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the four the first two listed also nest
locally but usually in rural areas rather than towns and cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other two nest further north in and near
the Boreal forest passing through here in the spring and fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Blue Headed Vireo has only recently been listed as a
distinct species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Prior to this it was
known as the Solitary Vireo and most bird books have it named as such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Solitary Vireo is now three species-the
Blue Headed, Cassins and Plumbeous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
three are very similar to one another and can be safely identified by
range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the Cassins and
Plumbeous do coexist on their wintering grounds in southern Arizona.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact we saw both the Cassins and Plumbeous on one guided field trip
there in 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually we had gone on
this excursion to see Trogons which we never did see but seeing the two vireos
was a fair trade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Blue Headed is the
only one of the three to be seen here and is relatively easy to identify by its
pronounced eye ring leading to the beak making it look as if it is wearing
spectacles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The name, Blue Headed, is a
bit of a misnomer as the head is essentially a dark gray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's picture was taken several years ago on its
wintering grounds in southern Texas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Latin the word vireo is a phrase meaning,
"I am green".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That folks just
about says it all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-47297111189523287312013-09-04T09:44:00.000-07:002013-09-04T09:44:11.635-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 178<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAtc2LcRrgGq6eRk1GuABU_b2NAHAM_We6cuDR9QrjrdT51GUy57pblv90jx5ujjuGxwz8sB2CNPB_rYfVmsnDdy6snjXRwuIWqGdRQ-TnefbBABkAiFTYH-HAs7WIlR8jAZi8o1Ip4I/s1600/IMG_2411a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAtc2LcRrgGq6eRk1GuABU_b2NAHAM_We6cuDR9QrjrdT51GUy57pblv90jx5ujjuGxwz8sB2CNPB_rYfVmsnDdy6snjXRwuIWqGdRQ-TnefbBABkAiFTYH-HAs7WIlR8jAZi8o1Ip4I/s320/IMG_2411a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE
BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 178</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although we
are experiencing our longest lasting heat wave this year there are sure signs
that fall is underway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some trees are
starting to shed their leaves and the goldenrod and fall asters are in full
bloom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always have mixed feelings at
this time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing crops being
swathed brings back memories of the feelings of excitement at the thought of
being rewarded for a hard summer's work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, with a new school year just around the corner the excitement
was somewhat muted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only did we have
to attend school each and every day but upon getting home we had to unload the
grain trucks and trailers that had been filled during the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As there were no hydraulics this meant a lot
of hard shoveling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, it was a fun
time and the closest I come to it now is the picking of cherries and apples in
our yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not quite the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On the
birding front geese are starting to flock and many of the fall warblers that
have nested in the Boreal Forest are in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As of this writing I have seen the Palm, Tennessee,
Orange Crowned, Yellow Rumped (Myrtle), Wilson's
and Blackpoll Warblers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the
males are quite distinct and easy to identify in the spring they moult into
very drab colours for the winter and look much like the females.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the differences between species is not
very significant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those birders who
like challenges identifying fall warblers will provide just that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Binoculars, bird books and sharp eyes are
essential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We did have
the pleasant surprise of seeing a Blue Headed Vireo in our chokecherries
picking at gnats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bird is not a
rarity by any means but it is uncommon especially in town and can be seen only
in the spring and fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day our
feeder was visited by a mother House Finch with her four youngsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now House Finches are common but evidence of
them nesting locally is a first for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
fall flowers have attracted juvenile Ruby Throated Hummingbirds that are
preparing themselves for their winter migration to Central
America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year they
seem to be more numerous than usual and frequently there are two or three birds
at the flowers at any one time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
photo is of an unexpected event - at least for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have one male Flicker that actually eats
chokecherries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I managed to get a good
shot of him feasting on said chokecherries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-12354841273181490342013-09-04T09:37:00.002-07:002013-09-04T09:37:52.858-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 177<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8CZ1RcAKbXGUSnJ5immxmAN8hSxif7pGucjPLSaTrqRGhyq22vq7Go4SmKeFslD171IijW_c73_zzFA2rlB-6bRYc7i7hqbdKbuU1mI3dhME5QOjCBetFe4iScBNhTi4j01-qqyUTlM/s1600/9r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8CZ1RcAKbXGUSnJ5immxmAN8hSxif7pGucjPLSaTrqRGhyq22vq7Go4SmKeFslD171IijW_c73_zzFA2rlB-6bRYc7i7hqbdKbuU1mI3dhME5QOjCBetFe4iScBNhTi4j01-qqyUTlM/s320/9r.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIZ2Jb-JPMbreIsMqlBVFo5kfsQ6b_NtN2StoZ411yr8b8nlT9ILSYrGTwUN2Kj3nGvH3vuM6a5W2iICBXsES3haGBvTuY4FRHub0eR2OtiTdV4NK35V5LtvV5jZ1NDKP7dzhyDtZzNU/s1600/4l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWIZ2Jb-JPMbreIsMqlBVFo5kfsQ6b_NtN2StoZ411yr8b8nlT9ILSYrGTwUN2Kj3nGvH3vuM6a5W2iICBXsES3haGBvTuY4FRHub0eR2OtiTdV4NK35V5LtvV5jZ1NDKP7dzhyDtZzNU/s320/4l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">FOAM LAKE
BIRDING</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">No. 177</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our flower beds are in full bloom
and with that an accompanying increase of flower loving wildlife like
butterflies, bees and of course one of nature's wonders, the hummingbirds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Different orders of birds differ
significantly from other orders of birds ("order" is the first
classification of birds into different groups).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, ducks and geese, although different, are similar enough to
belong to the same order. The same goes for the robin and raven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand, ducks and robins are in
different orders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when it comes
to being different the hummingbirds "take the cake" as it were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some of their unique
characteristics: </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>1). As a group they
are the smallest birds in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
smallest is the Bee Hummingbird of Cuba; the largest is the robin-sized Giant
Hummingbird of South America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>2). The wing
structure is modified allowing for much greater rotation at the shoulder giving
the hummer greater manoeuvrability in flight and the wrist joint is fused for
greater stability at high rpm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3). They have oversized breast muscles capable
of driving the wings up to 80 flaps per second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These last two characteristics allow the hummer to fly backwards,
sideways, straight up and down, hover and even fly upside down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No other bird can do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By comparison a crow flaps its wings about 4
times a second; a House Sparrow about 10 and all have to be moving forward to
stay aloft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rapid wing beat produces
a humming sound from which the birds get their name of "hummingbirds".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>4). Flying takes a
lot of energy and the hummers need it in spades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact most "normal" bird foods
would not provide sufficient energy quickly enough to keep a hummer going and the
only naturally ready source of such energy is the sugar in the nectar of
flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Yes, flower nectar has the
very same sugar that is found in your sugar bowl).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They consume at least their body weight in
sugar daily ("treats" would not be a health concern) and augment
their diets with small insects for protein. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This very high rate of energy consumption has
another serious drawback - the hummer has to feed constantly to survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, like all birds and animals it, also,
has to sleep which it does at night but to go that long without food the hummer
could starve by morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To avoid
starving the hummer goes into a kind of overnight hibernation called "torpor"
where the heartbeat drops from several hundred to about 30 resulting in very
little energy demand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the morning,
with its energy load intact, the hummer takes a few minutes to "wake"
up then carries on with its daily activities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span>5). Without getting
into too much scientific detail different colour is simply light with different
frequencies (red being the lowest frequency and violet the highest).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using voice as an analogy: red would be base
and violet would be soprano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the
colour that we see is caused by reflection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For example, a green tree absorbs all frequencies except green which it
reflects and we sense it with our eyes as green (assuming no colour
blindness).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This reflective material is
known as pigment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like most birds
hummers have pigment but they also have prismatic cells in some of their
feathers especially the throat area (referred to as gorgets) that break up
light (refract) into the various colours the same way that crystal chandeliers
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The effect is that the bird glows or
looks iridescent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus the gorget of the
male hummer usually looks all black because it does not carry any pigment and
therefore does not reflect any light but, when he decides to "impress the
ladies" he knows the exact angle to turn his head and body so as catch
good sunlight and refract whatever colour he has been endowed with (usually
red).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The females seem to approve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -27.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There are 320 different species of
hummingbirds in the world and all are in the Americas
with about 15 or so showing up in the US
(mostly in Arizona), 5 in Canada and 2 in Saskatchewan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The common one around here is the Ruby
Throated with the odd stray Rufous. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
male Rufous is almost all copper coloured and in good sunlight shines like a
newly minted copper penny. It is very common in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the Rocky Mountains<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In flight the wings make a high pitched
metallic whine and several males at a feeder is quite spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Male hummers are more brightly
coloured than the females which do not have prismatic gorgets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like egrets and swallows hummers were also
hunted for their feathers for the fashion industry just over a century
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the prismatic nature
of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a hummer's feathers they were
utilized more like jewellery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more
colourful the bird the greater the demand and the higher the price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt; text-indent: -54.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Most birds raise their young as a
couple with both parents actively involved in rearing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One notable exception is the duck family
where the hen has the sole responsibility to raise the young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, in that regard the female hummer is
like a hen duck - she raises the young all by herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The male joins other males in a kind of
bachelor group and spends the summer further north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is why males are seldom seen around town
much beyond mid summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: -27.0pt; margin-right: -9.0pt; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pictures were taken in our backyard a few
years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The male is at the feeder; the
female is at the Kent Bells.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The male's
gorget appears black but the back feathers are an iridescent green.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the one big advantage of the digital
camera - it captures the iridescence of the bird that a film camera never
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To really appreciate the
iridescence log on to my website www.johnthebirder.com.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -27.0pt;">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-34022410443435191992013-08-09T12:31:00.000-07:002013-08-09T12:31:40.113-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 176<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEr4LP1R0bxMa4SF1K9l4so2-D8K4Xo0NWnhsorpkx_Otn57MZyxMKcbU29jRmgnAdSHtLETJ7FCCwUhFFFGkBs92sP6htchpvYCxtJXJ03_Ttb_7qAyJFHEEwvY01kTqUGHL2D1nUy0A/s1600/IMG_2404a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEr4LP1R0bxMa4SF1K9l4so2-D8K4Xo0NWnhsorpkx_Otn57MZyxMKcbU29jRmgnAdSHtLETJ7FCCwUhFFFGkBs92sP6htchpvYCxtJXJ03_Ttb_7qAyJFHEEwvY01kTqUGHL2D1nUy0A/s320/IMG_2404a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Author>HP Authorized Customer</o:Author>
<o:Version>11.9999</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: -45.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">FOAM LAKE
BIRDING </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">No. 176</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After leaving home for good in the mid 1960s to start
my career in education I really missed the birds and birdsong that were ever
present on the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular I
missed the Barn Swallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As in most
farmsteads in our area there were many older buildings made of logs of which
one was usually a barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the summer
doors were left open to keep the buildings cool and to air them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation was ideal for Barn Swallows to
build nests in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since most farms had a
variety of livestock and pest control was non-existent there were all sorts of
flying insects for the swallows to feed on as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result every farm had at least one pair
of nesting Barn Swallows and often more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Prior to European settlement of the Americas Barn
Swallows built their nests in caves and overhanging rock - anyplace solid that
was protected from the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
settlers started to construct buildings, bridges and so on the swallows
abandoned the caves and cliffs and moved into the new man-made structures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result the swallow population expanded
its numbers and range dramatically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For
example, the Canadian Prairies which were essentially swallow-free now had
swallows everywhere (and still do).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Incidentally,
the only known site of Barn Swallows nesting regularly in caves today is on the
channel islands off the coast of California.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>During this period in the latter part of the
nineteenth century and the early twentieth century the millinery industry
relied heavily on wild birds to provide both feathers and the birds themselves
to adorn women's hats which were in high fashion then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Egrets were favoured for their feathers but
Barn Swallows were actually stuffed and mounted on the hats in various desirable
poses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The killing of Barn Swallows got so extreme
that groups of concerned people decided to petition the government to put some
sort of controls on the indiscriminate killing of all wildlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The governments of both the USA and Canada responded by passing various
acts protecting wildlife - acts that exist to this very day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to government intervention
concerned individuals formed societies especially to protect wildlife.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most famous of conservation groups
to emerge from this period was the Audubon Society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this day it carries out the work of
protecting wildlife particularly species at risk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the last fifty years or so things seem to have
gone in reverse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The small farms with
their numerous buildings and livestock have virtually disappeared from the landscape
resulting in much larger farms usually specializing in crop production
only.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Often this necessitates
controlling insects with powerful insecticides which are non-selective and kill
all insects both good and bad thus leaving birds like swallows with much less
to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This "double whammy"
of the loss of both nesting sites and feedstock has been very difficult for
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result has been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a dramatic decline in the Barn Swallow
population in the Americas
although they are still common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The province of Ontario has gone so far as to list them
as "threatened'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering that
the worldwide population is still estimated to be about 190 million birds this
designation might be just a little premature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There is hope though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Barn Swallows are very adaptable and seem to be moving into towns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here, buildings abound and many of them do
have suitable nesting sites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although
there is very little livestock in towns there is also very little use of
insecticides for "bug" control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All this bodes well for the swallows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Barn Swallows are very messy but are lovable enough that most people
tolerate them with good humour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
moment I am aware of three Barn Swallows nests in Foam Lake
one of which is on our neighbour's house just under the south peak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am sure there are more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week's picture is of a Barn Swallow
incubating eggs at our neighbour's place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Barn Swallows are one of the most widely distributed
birds in the world found on all continents except Antarctica.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are also one of the most common birds
that can usually be seen on one's travels around the world depending on the
season of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2007 when we were
in Ukraine
visiting relatives in one of the villages one of their buildings had a Barn
Swallow's nest with young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like
being home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only difference was that
the Eurasian subspecies is very pale, almost white, breasted whereas the
American version is tawny with the male actually being orange breasted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter where, they are one of our
friendliest and most confiding birds. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-56632152751270450312013-07-10T09:37:00.000-07:002013-07-10T09:37:16.834-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 175<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vY32aASgFhlrCSqbmW7cub4YIyAS9sAXohikEdgguWJdc8jPyQgpzaMsa2xmPuittTsh8ZCh_A5uUjodQjH7NYXGIkdyJX6vj3WUJXRqSIS4KkLQ-f5bzvyo4Z9EhnmL_aJ69p8H34c/s1600/IMG_2403a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6vY32aASgFhlrCSqbmW7cub4YIyAS9sAXohikEdgguWJdc8jPyQgpzaMsa2xmPuittTsh8ZCh_A5uUjodQjH7NYXGIkdyJX6vj3WUJXRqSIS4KkLQ-f5bzvyo4Z9EhnmL_aJ69p8H34c/s320/IMG_2403a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">No. 175</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My hiatus from writing these articles lasted a lot longer
than the couple of weeks that I had anticipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A combination of medical problems will do
that to a fellow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To top it all off I
have trouble reading my own handwriting at the best of times but after cataract
surgery it is a real challenge to say the least (My first copy is hand written).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, here goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the last week of June my wife and I took a five day
trip through the grasslands in southern Saskatchewan
starting in the east at Roche Perce and ending up in the west at the Cypress
Hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course visits to the east and
west blocs of the Grasslands National Parks were a must.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did not see any lifers but saw many birds
that are more or less endemic to that area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I did not have a good picture of a Swainson's Hawk but I got a very good
one this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hawks are skittish in
general but these two Swainson's were completely unconcerned as we stopped the
car, backed up a bit, rolled down the window, poked out the camera and took the
pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This week's picture clearly
shows the white chin, belly and breast with the rest being a dark brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The locals told us that there had been almost a foot of
rain this spring and it showed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything was a luxuriant green, all depressions were filled with water
and cattle grazed in belly high pasture grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Recently the federal government decided to get out of the
community pastures business and turn it all over to the provincial
governments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The provincial government
of Saskatchewan
does not want to manage the pastures and is developing<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>plans to sell/lease the pastures with
restrictions as to their use and development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A sizable group of conservationists wants the lands left in public
hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we have two opposing points
of view with strong support on both sides of the issue so a bit of a dust up is
sure to follow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the debate has
spilled over beyond Saskatchewan's
borders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we stopped for lunch at a
recommended restaurant in Val Marie we happened to bump into Margaret Atwood
and her long time partner and renown birder, Graeme Gibson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both were supporting the group that wants the
community pastures left in public hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It will be interesting to see how it all shakes down in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We left Val Marie for a bed and breakfast near
Eastend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a good night's sleep and
breakfast we headed for the T-Rex museum perched halfway up the bank of the Frenchman River
Valley overlooking the town of Eastend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Save for the front the whole building is
built into the side of the bank of the Frenchman River
Valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is really a cave with a fancy front and
well appointed interior that only a federal government could afford to build.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no fee only a silver collection but
the film and guided tour are informative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course what would any museum be if it did not sell souvenirs - in
this case fuzzy dinosaurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The last day we spent in the Cypress Hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hills are good for rarities like the
Bobcat (not Lynx) which is not found anyplace else in Canada. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are about a half dozen birds here that
cannot be found anywhere else in Saskatchewan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have been fortunate enough to have seen
three such species- the Dusky Flycatcher,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>the Macgillivray's Warbler and the Red Naped Sapsucker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All three are common in the Rockies
but are found only in the Cypress Hills east of there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although this article is short on birds I do hope some of
you who have never been to the southern part of our province make a point of
seeing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a whole different but
very interesting world out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-2948884042697980402013-04-12T14:28:00.002-07:002013-04-12T14:28:12.087-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 174<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw37_5Y-AtuhB-gM4iVF2qPfS7gynoUAod_Xcljmb1mCjXkIBUkM1x0nNtjmRV6TGZ7FK2hBmo1aP09dMxDSzLOjnhADZkuetydJPpNqBCMxu7ec7k5q3hQZEkX2nGzPJrHqh8hiH7LTU/s1600/IMG_2117a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw37_5Y-AtuhB-gM4iVF2qPfS7gynoUAod_Xcljmb1mCjXkIBUkM1x0nNtjmRV6TGZ7FK2hBmo1aP09dMxDSzLOjnhADZkuetydJPpNqBCMxu7ec7k5q3hQZEkX2nGzPJrHqh8hiH7LTU/s320/IMG_2117a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckmWhPkxjU7g7vTtdR_rXfo3CVVjH3k9J1x9Xp9-ZVkNfC3NzxQod1MEWACfsGEsw8EgVx6UpTCLmR8RmdjNFrlzt_8Hu0zWvF1RbuXLCAVc6-zo31-xec_akydHz93SJvPsCE87h91k/s1600/IMG_2122a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckmWhPkxjU7g7vTtdR_rXfo3CVVjH3k9J1x9Xp9-ZVkNfC3NzxQod1MEWACfsGEsw8EgVx6UpTCLmR8RmdjNFrlzt_8Hu0zWvF1RbuXLCAVc6-zo31-xec_akydHz93SJvPsCE87h91k/s1600/IMG_2122a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING
</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 174</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In February I was optimistic about spring
being just around the corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
Mother Nature has had other ideas giving us more snow and record breaking cold
temperatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even so there are signs of
the coming spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The large flocks of
redpolls have thinned out considerably and the Juncos are back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On April 9, in Saskatoon,
I looked out of the window and saw a gopher sunning itself on a sidewalk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About ten feet away a Robin was on the lawn
looking for earthworms and appeared to have found one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All this was occurring with temperatures well
below freezing although the day was sunny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Both seemed to have had enough of winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In my last article the location of the
bluebird birdhouses was omitted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
birdhouses are mounted randomly on fence posts on either side of the Yellowhead Highway
from Wolverine Siding to the village
of Plunkett.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are not as many bird houses as there
used to be as the deteriorated ones have not been replaced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be a good cause for somebody to
undertake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I got an email from Dr. Stuart Houston
from the University of Saskatchewan asking Saskatchewan residents to report Turkey Vulture
sightings to him if the birds carry wing tags or are nesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a tagged bird is spotted note on which
wing the tag is located and of course where the bird was seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If nesting vultures are seen (usually in abandoned
buildings) report the location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is
more convenient contact me and I will forward the information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's picture of a Robin weathering
a late spring snowstorm was taken several years ago but seemed very appropriate
this spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The White Throated Sparrow
was photographed during the same storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As of this writing neither bird is here yet but, I do expect both to be
here by the time this goes into print.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally, I will be taking a hiatus of
several weeks for surgery and some recovery time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully, the spring birds are here by then
and perhaps even some surprise visitors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckmWhPkxjU7g7vTtdR_rXfo3CVVjH3k9J1x9Xp9-ZVkNfC3NzxQod1MEWACfsGEsw8EgVx6UpTCLmR8RmdjNFrlzt_8Hu0zWvF1RbuXLCAVc6-zo31-xec_akydHz93SJvPsCE87h91k/s1600/IMG_2122a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckmWhPkxjU7g7vTtdR_rXfo3CVVjH3k9J1x9Xp9-ZVkNfC3NzxQod1MEWACfsGEsw8EgVx6UpTCLmR8RmdjNFrlzt_8Hu0zWvF1RbuXLCAVc6-zo31-xec_akydHz93SJvPsCE87h91k/s320/IMG_2122a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-41505915611129068702013-04-03T08:42:00.001-07:002013-04-03T08:42:26.190-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 173<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEU0lku0trbRbDZG5zCn7sQHA4SRWiiCWYUmVpPBWOB2MUjtvurkUurJD_IkCnf6G03o1dxo0RMgn5D5S0bao7wgftukntr_nu8tQcAFvzErwbDeH_U3NfPb2zE1sIgt_YsitGsx8ZQW8/s1600/IMG_0765a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEU0lku0trbRbDZG5zCn7sQHA4SRWiiCWYUmVpPBWOB2MUjtvurkUurJD_IkCnf6G03o1dxo0RMgn5D5S0bao7wgftukntr_nu8tQcAFvzErwbDeH_U3NfPb2zE1sIgt_YsitGsx8ZQW8/s320/IMG_0765a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRly5GnHtjKZlPqGaBgLsHPGp70_iKeGklGEuZrm2qDU9tSTsLKdk3LDHTTr7mieh0zThhpbJaLK0FgqgyBlpD6WD_WKt12gDKMQTF7GmEbs366kyBcnb3VEsHkUq1gR8GFocNzpO8aaA/s1600/IMG_0994a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRly5GnHtjKZlPqGaBgLsHPGp70_iKeGklGEuZrm2qDU9tSTsLKdk3LDHTTr7mieh0zThhpbJaLK0FgqgyBlpD6WD_WKt12gDKMQTF7GmEbs366kyBcnb3VEsHkUq1gR8GFocNzpO8aaA/s320/IMG_0994a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">No. 173</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On Easter Sunday, the last day of March, my wife and I
decided to go for a Sunday drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
weather was nice and I wanted to see some crows before April rolled
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw three of them feeding alongside
Highway 35 just north of the TransCanada (Yellowhead).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>We then drove east on the Yellowhead to the Margo Grid
where we turned north.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we drove
alongside the community pasture we came across a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>small flock of approximately eight Mountain
Bluebirds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bright sky blue bluebirds
against a backdrop of white snow is a pretty sight to say the least.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I had my camera with me I was not
able to get a picture of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In past articles I have been a little remiss in not
mentioning bluebirds as one of our earliest spring arrivals that get here about
the same time as the crows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because
bluebirds are more rural and less conspicuous than crows they are not seen as
often and, therefore, not associated with the approaching spring the same way
crows are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>There are three species of bluebirds in Canada: the
Eastern, Western and Mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Eastern and Western Bluebirds are very similar but, fortunately in Canada, their
ranges do not overlap so identification is not a big problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The males of both species are a bright blue
with rusty breasts and whitish bellies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
one distinctive field mark is that the rust on the Eastern Bluebird extends
upward to the throat and the chin; the rust on the Western Bluebird stops
abruptly at the top of the breast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
short the Western looks as if it had its entire head dipped in bright blue
paint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Canada
the Western is a bird of the western slope of the Rocky Mountains while the
Eastern ranges from the Atlantic roughly to
the Manitoba/Saskatchewan border and south along the American border to the
Cypress Hills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The male Mountain Bluebird is a bright sky blue with no
other colours at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The breast and
belly are a lighter shade of blue but still very blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the three species of bluebirds the
Mountain Bluebird is the one truly "blue" bird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The females of all three species are a pale
greyish brown with just a hint of blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In Canada
the Western and Eastern Bluebirds are separated geographically and the Mountain
is quite different from the other two so that identification is never a
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the winter the situation is
different as all three can be found in western Texas
and eastern New Mexico
so identification can be difficult - especially among the females.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The three have different songs and call notes
that can be used for identification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bluebirds are cavity nesters and this preference just
about brought about their demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before
Europeans arrived in the Americas woodpeckers created enough cavities for the
bluebirds and their competitors such as wrens, Tree Swallows and Purple
Martins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the introduction of the
very aggressive House Sparrows and Starlings the availability of cavities for
the bluebirds was reduced dramatically and the bluebird populations
plummeted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At this point some concerned
bird lovers decided to intervene by building and setting out thousands of
birdhouses along thousands of kilometres of roadways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was discovered that birdhouses that were
placed out in the open away from trees were avoided by both the House Sparrows
and Starlings but readily accepted by Tree Swallows and bluebirds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result was that the bluebird population
has rebounded but a constant supply of birdhouses is needed to replace the
older decaying ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anybody travelling
to Saskatoon <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on the Yellowhead can see
some of these birdhouses along the road by the Wolverine Siding and west toward
Plunkett.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's photos are of a male Western Bluebird and a
male Mountain Bluebird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The picture of
the Western was taken near San Diego, CA while the Mountain was taken along the Dunlop Road<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>east of Foam Lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I have seen Eastern Bluebirds I have
never gotten a picture of one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully
soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-76958299541504584072013-03-26T15:05:00.000-07:002013-03-26T15:05:47.907-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 172<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqBZ9wwDw7oWwJEKciq6EZ76eiU9Zh9VFSxZuhHKiN1B9pwaQws9BeQF_YLo4ddDy8y2akns7jNkOvYdWjYOeXAnND6CL7tlDpbHCpxsTT1IIQh8ZxgpP2ATsNF1PQU2yJyiGvEKWRwk/s1600/IMG_0894a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqBZ9wwDw7oWwJEKciq6EZ76eiU9Zh9VFSxZuhHKiN1B9pwaQws9BeQF_YLo4ddDy8y2akns7jNkOvYdWjYOeXAnND6CL7tlDpbHCpxsTT1IIQh8ZxgpP2ATsNF1PQU2yJyiGvEKWRwk/s320/IMG_0894a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE
BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 172</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Although it
seems that this winter will never end, it will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Soon, I hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before that happens
I want to cover one of our very long distance migratory birds, the Swainson's
Hawk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This hawk nests as far north as
our area and travels south all the way to central Argentina for the winter where it
spends about three weeks before starting the long journey back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As
mentioned last week the Swainson's Hawk is one of a trio of large hawks that
can be found in our area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike the Red
Tailed and Northern Harrier the Swainson's is more a hawk of the plains but not
exclusively as is the Ferruginous Hawk .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is quite similar to the Red Tailed and is often confused with it but
there are differences that can be quite easily utilized in the field.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, if seen from above or from behind the
Red Tailed has a rusty tail the Swainson's does not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second, The Red Tailed has a black chin while
the Swainson's has a white one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third, the
Red Tailed has a broad dark breast band while the Swainson's has a dark
chocolate upper breast but no band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fourth,
when in flight and viewed from below the Red Tailed has dark leading wing
feathers while the Swainson's has dark trailing wing feathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(see a good bird book for a better idea of
the differences).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When perched or in
flight to me the Red Tailed has a light breast with black chin while the
Swainson's looks as if it were dipped in chocolate head first up to its belly
leaving the front half of the bird dark except for the white chin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Swainson's is a relatively weak hawk feeding on small mammals and large insects
like grasshoppers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This food preference
for insects almost wiped the species out several decades ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What happened is that one of the agricultural
insecticides was banned in North America
because it did not break down after use but stayed intact on the insects that
it had killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The manufacturers
disposed of their stock by selling it at a deep discount to farmers in South America where it was used extensively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the Swainson's Hawks migrated south they
fed on the dead and dying poisoned insects thereby poisoning themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result was a massive kill-off of hawks
numbering in the tens of thousands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
number of wildlife organizations saved the hawks by having the poisons banned
world wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The good news is that the
Swainson's Hawk population , though severely decimated, is slowly making a
comeback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
picture was taken alongside a dirt road near Coronach, SK. in the Big Muddy
Valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not able to get a frontal view of the
hawk but the white chin is visible as is the dark breast - although
barely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-41995077121742944162013-03-20T08:11:00.000-07:002013-03-20T08:13:28.239-07:00Foam Lake Birding No. 171<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfc5JMT4apHuVHAjjmnAkPXufWbwvCexRBI0TypI_mQv9QqvxII64p_pIiSSA_6DqbDjLmmXpxQ5MqCL_SszJ4jawSKJ2ZenJQT1EORoCrQrELbcIhYxcCkwGVMuwlE1X8c4aR42qdwg/s1600/IMG_0963a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfc5JMT4apHuVHAjjmnAkPXufWbwvCexRBI0TypI_mQv9QqvxII64p_pIiSSA_6DqbDjLmmXpxQ5MqCL_SszJ4jawSKJ2ZenJQT1EORoCrQrELbcIhYxcCkwGVMuwlE1X8c4aR42qdwg/s320/IMG_0963a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE
BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 171</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After being
in Calgary for
a week I had hoped to return home to nicer spring-like weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, on<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>our way home we took
a break in Medicine Hat
and the temperature there was 16C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just east of there that
we saw our first Red Tailed Hawk of the season but with the amount of snow that
we have here it will still be awhile before one is seen locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Red
Tailed is the most common and widespread hawk in all of North America including
much of Mexico.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Canada it is found everywhere as a
summer resident except on the Tundra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is not highly migratory leaving most of Canada for the central US in the
winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In most of the US and Mexico
it is a year round resident migrating south from the north central states and a
north from southern Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Red
Tailed Hawk is a powerful bird that can take prey the size of a half grown
skunk or rabbit but prefers the ubiquitous Richardson's Ground Squirrel
(gopher).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have actually seen them take
both rabbits and gophers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is quite an
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once a hawk zeroes in on a
small animal caught out in the open lunch quickly follows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Escape is difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Save for
the eagles the Red Tailed along with the Swainson's and Northern Harrier (formerly,
Marsh Hawk) is one of the largest hawks in our area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the Red Tailed is spread out over
such a large area it is only natural that there would be considerable colour
variations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact the Red Tailed
varies from very light to very dark and with everything in between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Formerly the pale race was known as a
distinct species called Krider's Hawk and the dark race was known as Harlan's
Hawk and the two races are still referred to as such.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the most common form is a brownish bird with
light under parts sporting a dark spotted breast band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for the Kriders and Harlans forms (and
juveniles) all Red Tailed Hawks have rusty red tails when viewed from the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Males and females are the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It should be noted that the Swainson's Hawk
also has light and commonly dark colour phases so care must be exercised when
identifying dark and light hawks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Locally,
a large hawk sitting on a power pole is probably the Red Tailed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Red Tails
nest in trees and preferably in tall mature Aspens near water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nest is a large ungainly affair made of
sticks built at least five metres high<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>and is usually reused from year to year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Occasionally Great Horned Owls will take a nest for themselves forcing
the hawks to build a new one elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Between
one to three young are usually reared annually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
picture was taken two years ago near Coronach,
SK. where there were plenty of
gophers and a corresponding number of hawks to prey on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dark breast band is clearly visible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Finally, I
have had two further reports of Boreal Owls in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One apparently spent most of the winter in
one particular yard right in town; the other was found dead in a garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not know if this represents three
different birds or only one very friendly bird flying around visiting different
yards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope it is the former because I
hate to think that the dead one was the only one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-1669072279102863312013-02-27T07:14:00.000-08:002013-02-27T07:14:37.945-08:00Foam Lake Birding No. 170<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgDq2ZYsWRc9eqJAOaalDeLNQinTGiLSxwRAFqSGaLHjyJlA478tu5hi2n2lghaiQKp4ISTUzWa5Ag9zu495acudu-7ylBHDO20HDAVnEdDkUc-C-xEo-zsYGlY6gC7Jq0Rd_ZG4kSIY/s1600/IMG_1180a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgDq2ZYsWRc9eqJAOaalDeLNQinTGiLSxwRAFqSGaLHjyJlA478tu5hi2n2lghaiQKp4ISTUzWa5Ag9zu495acudu-7ylBHDO20HDAVnEdDkUc-C-xEo-zsYGlY6gC7Jq0Rd_ZG4kSIY/s320/IMG_1180a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Dxlul4efNosgrPw5TbXc1zXDmlwI1Dl4zDmTByb3MjtX5KyxNALr0ZCE-km_JO37yYB8B1eEw8RKXLmPo-p2toh6ENj5FuSnVBQTzh3laC7RNADAQRoXbDKNA0rsB0W83nAK6DzS42k/s1600/IMG_2345aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Dxlul4efNosgrPw5TbXc1zXDmlwI1Dl4zDmTByb3MjtX5KyxNALr0ZCE-km_JO37yYB8B1eEw8RKXLmPo-p2toh6ENj5FuSnVBQTzh3laC7RNADAQRoXbDKNA0rsB0W83nAK6DzS42k/s320/IMG_2345aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 170</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As February
is coming to an end winter is still with us despite improving weather
conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I have seen Horned
Larks it is still a good month or so before more migrants arrive so, I will be
sticking with winter birds for the next little while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To that end I have spent quite a bit of time photographing
the Redpolls in our yard especially the Hoary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the
group of birds that I have not covered as of yet are the crossbills. There are
four species in Europe but only two in North America,
the Red Crossbill and White Winged Crossbill,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>both of which occur locally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both species are sparrow-sized reddish birds
with black wings and unique sharply pointed bills whose tips cross over each
other when the bill is closed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bills
are especially designed to pry the seeds out of the cones of conifers like pine
and spruce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Red Crossbill is
slightly larger of the two with a heavier and more powerful bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result the Red Crossbill tends to feed
on larger and tougher cones such as pine while the White Winged prefers spruce
but neither is overly picky and any cone will do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Red
Crossbill is much more widespread covering all of North America including parts
of Mexico.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are about nine different and distinct subspecies
that some taxonomists feel just might be nine different species
altogether.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that proves to be the
case then there will be ten different species of crossbills in North America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
the other hand, the White Winged shows no variation in different regions and
therefore will in all probability remain as one species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also its distribution is much more limited
being confined to Canada and
Alaska except in the winter when some
migration takes place to the North Central and Eastern US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the crossbills are not really
migratory they are wanderers constantly on the move searching for food, except
during nesting season, making their appearance in any one place highly unpredictable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Locally, both species can only be expected
during the winter or spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The males
of both species are similar but with close examination can be easily
distinguished<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Red Crossbill's body is a deep dull red
with pure black wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some subspecies,
however, do have faint white wing bars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
White Winged is more of a pink or rosy colour with two very pronounced white
bars on its black wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Males and
females are different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have seen both
species in our yard but the Red is the more common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of my
earliest experiences with crossbills was in the Black Hills of South
Dakota.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were at the Mt. Rushmore
monument standing in the shade of some pine trees hiding from the midday sun
when we noticed that we were being repeatedly sprinkled with scales from pine
cones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could also hear faint but constant
crackling sounds coming from the trees above.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The mystery was solved when we looked up and saw a small flock of Red
Crossbills overhead feeding on the seeds of pine cones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week I
am including two pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is of two
male and one female Red Crossbills sitting on a cedar just outside our window
hiding from the spring storm in April of 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(The storm had forced a number of birds to land in our yard including a
flock of Red Crossbills.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other
photo is of the Hoary Redpoll feeding on the ground on spilled black oil seeds
along with House Sparrows and Common Redpolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is shown all fluffed out like a little fur ball trying to get some
warmth in the morning sun as it fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-83357986599328203802013-02-20T08:37:00.000-08:002013-02-20T08:37:47.528-08:00Foam Lake Birding No. 169<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBOf9DjR3_gM_2z3sTK5ou4iAZwSdO3Hp_Zm717HKonag4iFCBscEIzxRgLcl3ZDybosmJzG5kMd4hyphenhyphendC5ZOAxsIlQnCzb812PscwT8xPkxXtLMQaLUddOtQj2vi29w_rYjCzJnhK8t0/s1600/IMG_2320aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBOf9DjR3_gM_2z3sTK5ou4iAZwSdO3Hp_Zm717HKonag4iFCBscEIzxRgLcl3ZDybosmJzG5kMd4hyphenhyphendC5ZOAxsIlQnCzb812PscwT8xPkxXtLMQaLUddOtQj2vi29w_rYjCzJnhK8t0/s320/IMG_2320aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGdrlIhAzMKXNSx2jyz-ktSQWVmacHk80Rr3d33RNA5x-5e5C9MzdHHsH82Alch2yCWz5XlFR8AhfFEnttEdPv2Ncu6_7dtoHOukZHGoDaQ3Cw4xFTKS_Ckp2ha4pIKeXk1f6g_kYclg/s1600/IMG_2323aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGdrlIhAzMKXNSx2jyz-ktSQWVmacHk80Rr3d33RNA5x-5e5C9MzdHHsH82Alch2yCWz5XlFR8AhfFEnttEdPv2Ncu6_7dtoHOukZHGoDaQ3Cw4xFTKS_Ckp2ha4pIKeXk1f6g_kYclg/s320/IMG_2323aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_TxStTzyw-ln_kg4Uw0QTMnE4Pi5JA5Zk1tVQjqvW71w3Ee3YiEH3TftdM3fr9e5l7RCslyhVQV9I8EsrR6H2TH7YjWYz4k76tgf_8XeM9rhd-xF4o2KiCH3en6EkJPECsqnmQjGhB0/s1600/IMG_2334a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_TxStTzyw-ln_kg4Uw0QTMnE4Pi5JA5Zk1tVQjqvW71w3Ee3YiEH3TftdM3fr9e5l7RCslyhVQV9I8EsrR6H2TH7YjWYz4k76tgf_8XeM9rhd-xF4o2KiCH3en6EkJPECsqnmQjGhB0/s320/IMG_2334a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 169</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the same
sense that Remembrance Day, to me, is the unofficial start of winter
Valentine's Day is the unofficial end of winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, there will be more frigid temperatures
to come and probably some more significant snowfall but the worst is over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Days are noticeably longer; cold spells are
shorter; warm spells more frequent; temperatures are rising overall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, our first spring birds, the Horned
Larks, are back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the
meantime it is back to our winter birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I have mentioned previously we have had a Hoary Redpoll in our yard
this year mixed in with the hordes of Common Redpolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Hoary Redpoll, like the Common, is
circumpolar in distribution but, unlike the Common, it tends to stay in the Arctic all year round (hence its European name - the
Arctic Redpoll).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it is
essentially non-migratory some individuals do fly to our area with flocks of
Common Redpolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Hoary
is a washed out or frosty version of the Common Redpoll and sometimes is hard
to differentiate from a pale Common Redpoll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even experts will, at times, hesitate to positively identify one in a
mixed flock of Redpolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For this reason
the two species were, for awhile, lumped into one species - the Redpoll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some older bird books will list the two as
one species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are several field
marks that can be used to separate the two species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will refer to only three and all three
should be seen before safely identifying the bird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, the bill is stubbier with a straight
culmen (top edge of the bill).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
field mark is subtle to say the least and photos of both species for comparison
is a good way to go about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Second,
The flanks of the Hoary are only faintly striped, if at all, while the flanks
of the Common are boldly striped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Third,
The rump and under tail coverts of the Hoary are not striped and almost a pure
white while the same areas in the Common are striped and look much darker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With good binoculars, a sharp eye and a lot
of patience these last two field marks are very useful in identifying the Hoary
Redpoll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Until this
morning I was unable to get a photo of the Hoary Redpoll because it was
constantly moving and "disappearing" among the Common Redpolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This morning it was cooperative and I was
able to get several good shots of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two
of the photos show full body profiles of a Common and Hoary Redpoll
highlighting the differences in the striping on the flanks and to a lesser
extent the shape of the bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third
photo is a rear view of a Hoary Redpoll sunning itself early in the
morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all fluffed out thus
clearly exposing the rump and to a lesser extent the under tail coverts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this photo the "frostiness" of
the bird is emphasized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, this
particular bird was treated rather harshly by the other Redpolls and was
constantly chased away from the feeders by them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result it was isolated and fed a
respectable distance away from the Common Redpolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This interaction convinced us that it was
indeed a different species - the Hoary Redpoll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-27060741971862456642013-02-10T09:57:00.000-08:002013-02-10T09:57:24.611-08:00Foam Lake Birding No. 168<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX8Dic_kg7RlvwMrTsDht6N4-_XHKhEXm2LeERAIckVMnu-dMsaYg4g0u6d29FRVKPDlcZUpcHic6L9O3GYZW_w6bvXPj708GMaTHj1Ev5urQyv_iS3jMjllvQy5eVl4oG3oem3BTKSE/s1600/IMG_0994a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLX8Dic_kg7RlvwMrTsDht6N4-_XHKhEXm2LeERAIckVMnu-dMsaYg4g0u6d29FRVKPDlcZUpcHic6L9O3GYZW_w6bvXPj708GMaTHj1Ev5urQyv_iS3jMjllvQy5eVl4oG3oem3BTKSE/s320/IMG_0994a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUGgTnFB6QteO_40PXfyNSHw97jlwUQOfjsS3jbL-ijyhM4FItzujNNlHxt59Hu_-PC3QDdndq6PQpFcobzeBXXsJuI-SJ5wGw0zeeGAX0xt2ewPgDC8jdEFSQwk3znDnsepz-WamNtk/s1600/IMG_0994aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUGgTnFB6QteO_40PXfyNSHw97jlwUQOfjsS3jbL-ijyhM4FItzujNNlHxt59Hu_-PC3QDdndq6PQpFcobzeBXXsJuI-SJ5wGw0zeeGAX0xt2ewPgDC8jdEFSQwk3znDnsepz-WamNtk/s320/IMG_0994aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE
BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 168</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our feeders
continue to be very busy with swarms of Redpolls in our backyard that outnumber
all other birds even the House Sparrows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although nothing as exciting as a Boreal Owl has come to our yard
recently, we were pleasantly surprised by a Pine Siskin at our nyjer (thistle
seed) feeder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our area Pine Siskins
are migratory but are year round residents in the southern part of our province
so, seeing one at our feeders in the winter is uncommon but not rare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long this particular bird has been in our
yard is anybody's guess as Siskins are quite similar to Redpolls and are easily
overlooked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The middle
of February brings with it our very first summer resident, the Horned Lark, a
member of the lark family that includes the pipits and the famed European
Skylark among others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This early arrival
of the Horned Larks precedes the arrival of the rest of the summer birds like
crows and bluebirds by a month or so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To
me there is something reassuring about Horned Larks twittering on a warm and
sunny February day as they fly overhead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Furthermore, seeing pairs of Horned Larks feeding on the shoulders of
our roads while there still is lots of snow in the fields tells me that spring
must be on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of March,
regardless of the snow on the ground, nesting is well on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In my mind the arrival of the Horned Lark
beats the groundhog thing on February 2 hands down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Horned
Larks are circumpolar in distribution with birds from different areas having
slightly different field marks resulting in at least seven different recognizable
subspecies in North America alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Canada all are birds of wide open
spaces nesting on either side of the Boreal Forest on the plains and Tundra and
migrating a little bit to the south in the winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the rest of the continent they live year
round in all of the United States
and most of Mexico
where there is suitable habitat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Locally, they are found in undisturbed grassy areas like pastures and
roadside ditches but are absent in cultivated fields.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the decrease in mixed farming and
subsequent increase in crop farming the Horned Lark population has declined in
the parkland area, however, in the southern grasslands the populations are
healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The Horned
Lark gets its name from the small feathery tufts on either side of its head
that vaguely resemble little horns although many of the subspecies do not have
any "horns" at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the
birds do have broad black "sideburns" or masks that extend from the
eye downward to the lower chin and a prominent black breast band much like that
of a Killdeer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the subspecies,
including the local ones, have yellow throats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has a weak but pleasant tinkling song that it often produces while
circling in a slow fluttering flight (larking) although it also sings from a
perch such as a fencepost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once heard
the song is easily remembered and recognized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Males and females are more or less the same with the females being a bit
more drab and not sporting any "horns".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>This week's
pictures, one of a male and another of a female, were taken two years ago near Coronach, Saskatchewan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Except for the "horns" on the male which
are barely visible the field marks are very clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Obviously, the yellow throat markings will
not be visible in black and white.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, which is the female and which is the
male?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3265028320290307236.post-40263583123280051582013-01-25T12:21:00.000-08:002013-01-25T12:21:54.269-08:00Foam Lake Birding No. 167<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXau81TLQGg_kUwpHk3hZyjRaoGApWikHYn2QeGcDNEdvgHj9P95JOjSzMC0GV-lP1-P9ydx3qIGFNPGaVWWHQab_wQ8ZLzhbfhOMvjUDG-aLjtR1GFgotjLIxF5iAhsGyJTgyz1F6iA/s1600/IMG_2280a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXau81TLQGg_kUwpHk3hZyjRaoGApWikHYn2QeGcDNEdvgHj9P95JOjSzMC0GV-lP1-P9ydx3qIGFNPGaVWWHQab_wQ8ZLzhbfhOMvjUDG-aLjtR1GFgotjLIxF5iAhsGyJTgyz1F6iA/s320/IMG_2280a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqvfOnOghyphenhyphenvFH0OvlsKdUzCT-VH2MRiDueYOAfQ6HtlHBZe_S9yTcb4i9tAmLpzpJ9BMuTCWSk_AAgYVFVkEB3iae_aMD396GADJeYMrLamTZ-C5JuOMtnB7wir4RZWxk0eB1kP7-f1E/s1600/IMG_2288a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqvfOnOghyphenhyphenvFH0OvlsKdUzCT-VH2MRiDueYOAfQ6HtlHBZe_S9yTcb4i9tAmLpzpJ9BMuTCWSk_AAgYVFVkEB3iae_aMD396GADJeYMrLamTZ-C5JuOMtnB7wir4RZWxk0eB1kP7-f1E/s320/IMG_2288a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttxcAuyOd34PD9yT1MKh3Pn6QARfBZePPH0ksMpYcfUMEtmQXJCYO2JqCmtPa6nh_vrNVIYqGTbGMkQldCBFZtFC2tHh8aNKfYmcn1i1EGbAij08nifUdOoXfO6o-pcpXfD3yfgwnPVU/s1600/IMG_2289a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttxcAuyOd34PD9yT1MKh3Pn6QARfBZePPH0ksMpYcfUMEtmQXJCYO2JqCmtPa6nh_vrNVIYqGTbGMkQldCBFZtFC2tHh8aNKfYmcn1i1EGbAij08nifUdOoXfO6o-pcpXfD3yfgwnPVU/s320/IMG_2289a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="//img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" />
<style>
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FOAM LAKE BIRDING</b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">No. 167</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As I have
mentioned previously in several articles it is often difficult to decide on
what to write about and, often as not, some birding event occurs that conveniently
provides me with a topic for the week.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So it happened for this article.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My wife and
I had gone to Saskatoon
one day and upon our return in the late afternoon of the following day I
glanced out the window to check on the bird life in our backyard when I noticed
a rather large bird sitting on the rail of our arbour partially obscured by a
feeder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One look through binoculars and
we quickly realized that it was an owl, but what kind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
frantically took a series of pictures which turned out quite sharp considering
the time of day and the heavily overcast skies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got out several field guides and compared the pictures in the book to
the ones in my camera but, even so confusion reigned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could not decide whether it was a Short
Eared Owl or a Hawk Owl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, by
examining all physical, migratory and habitat details we determined that it was
neither one of the two, rather, it was a Boreal Owl which was a lifer for the
two of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The ten
inch long Boreal Owl is our second smallest owl next in size to our smallest
owl, the eight inch long Saw Whet Owl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(See
article No. 132).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In terms of field
marks the Boreal is a larger and greyer version of its smaller and browner
cousin the Saw Whet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are very tame
and can be approached closely before taking flight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one big difference is that the Saw Whet
is migratory and flies south for the winter whereas the Boreal is a year round
resident of the Boreal Forest occasionally irrupting a little south during
severe winters as this one had done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The much larger and better known Snowy Owl
does much the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>One of the
reasons we had so much trouble identifying this owl is that it appeared to be
too large for a Boreal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting on the
rail it looked crow-sized which is way oversized for a Boreal Owl but, after
studying it for awhile and comparing its size to that of a nearby feeder we
realized that it was not so big after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Its short tail, very large head and fluffy body distorted its size
giving it the impression of a much larger bird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>After I had
taken a sufficient number of pictures my wife went out to fill the feeders at
which point we expected the owl to fly away as soon as the door opened but the
owl stayed put until my wife was about five feet away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was somewhat comical is that my wife was
talking to the owl as she approached it and the owl seemed to be
listening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was even more unusual is
that a short time later, after the sun had set, my wife and I were having a hot
tea in our solarium when the owl flew up near the window, landed on a snow
covered cedar and proceeded to observe us with apparent interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did not sit for very long but long enough
for us to get a good view of it from a different angle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time the owl looked much smaller than it
did before thus confirming our <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>identification
of it as a Boreal Owl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the lights
on inside and the darkness outside getting a picture of it was impossible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I am
including three different poses of the owl as it sat on the railing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in <br />
black and white it can be identified with the help of a bird book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
John The Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17945260340164646015noreply@blogger.com