Book Review - The Birds of Cuba - BOC Checklist Series: 26

 

     I count myself among the most fortunate of men to have been afforded the opportunity to go birding in Cuba on three different occasions. Indeed, I hope to do it again.

     Upon being notified that a new Annotated Checklist was in the works, I anxiously awaited its completion. Now I have it in front of me on my desk.

Tree Swallow (Hirondelle bicolore)

       As March winds down, and April approaches, our thoughts turn to Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), soon to return to southern Ontario to dazzle us with their brilliance.

     These entertaining hirundines exhibit enough varied behaviour, with both predictability and the possibility of the unusual, to keep us occupied and entertained all day. 

     There are many aspects of Tree Swallow behaviour that defy immediate explanation, one of which is the preference for white feathers for the nest.

     In a fascinating book, (White Feathers, The Nesting Lives of Tree Swallows) by that most consummate of naturalists and authors, Bernd Heinrich, an interesting hypothesis is advanced.

     It is an established fact that some level of egg dumping occurs with Tree Swallows, meaning that a female not having a nest of her own, or for some other reason, will lay her egg in the nest of another pair. This action can only be successful if the resident female has already started to lay eggs, otherwise a strange egg suddenly appearing would be instantly apparent, and rejected. Furthermore, once the rightful occupant of the nest has laid even one egg, she would no longer be able to differentiate her own egg from the parasite egg since they are identical. It is postulated that a canopy of white feathers camouflages eggs in the nest, so the would-be dumper looking in would be unable to see the existing clutch.

     Francine Gilbert took several pictures of a swallow carrying a white feather, finally angling it to get it into the nest.

     In contrast with the male's fabulous gleaming plumage the female is quite drab, shown here peering from a nest box.

     This nest is amply lined with feathers, but not all are white, or even pale-coloured.

     One must conclude that white feathers are gathered preferentially, but other feathers are used when nothing else is available. Heinrich found that white feathers were so desirable, especially those in the 8 - 10 cm range, that the male swallow would take them right from his hand.

     The base of the nest is always made of dried grass as is shown below.

     The feathers are added at the end, with the point facing downwards and anchored into the substrate forming a canopy over the eggs.

     In addition to functioning as camouflage the covering of feathers probably also has a thermo-regulatory function.

     Here is a female at the lip of the nest hole, with a male flying by.

     It is an accepted fact that cavities are in short supply, with many species competing for them, so it has always been a puzzle to me that every year at SpruceHaven, perfectly good nest boxes remain unused, while others, identical in every way, become home to Tree Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds (Silia sialis), House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon) and Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus).

     Heinrich makes the interesting observation, "I now had the hunch that the swallows were protecting sky space rather than one nest box or another." Why this would deter other species, however, remains unclear.

     Males are not usually tolerant of each other during the breeding season, but here is an interesting example of two males seemingly interested in the same nest box, without antagonism - at least none that we observed.

     A mated pair is more to be expected.

     Here are a few more pictures of this delightful bird, the first of a male and the second and third of females.

     The goal of all species is to pass on their genes and here is the result of a successful Tree Swallow season, as recent fledglings gather to practice their flight and food-gathering skills.

     They have a long and arduous journey ahead of them, with many dangers along the way, to winter in Central America, primarily in Honduras, with some birds even going as far as northern South America. 

     Many will not make it, but those who do will set out to return to their place of birth the following spring.

     As always, we will be here to welcome them and provide a snug nest box they can call home. It's the least we can do.  

Let's Go and Find a Bald Eagle's Nest, Miriam.....

 20 March, 2022

World Sparrow Day

     I had no idea that a day had been set aside to honour House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) and in fact 20 March, 2022 was the tenth anniversary of this auspicious marker.

     In commemoration, I give you a handsome male from our backyard.

A Raptor-ous Day

     Our goal in setting out was to find a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest reported to Miriam by her niece, Julie. As it turned out the day turned into a raptor bonanza.

     It was not long before we detected a very cooperative Merlin(Falco columbarius) perched at the  top of a tree.

     Rarely does one have the opportunity to enjoy this spectacular little falcon for ten minutes, but this was one of those days.

     Miriam moved stealthily towards it without causing it concern, and was at one point almost underneath the bird.

     We still had the Bald Eagle in mind, but we were already filled with elation.

     We are familiar with the general location of the eagle's nest as described by Julie, and had little trouble finding it. In fact a couple of old birding friends were already there when we arrived. 

     We were advised that the eggs have now been incubated for twenty-one days. Normal incubation period for a Bald Eagle is 34 - 35 days so hatching is not too far off.

     The recovery of the Bald Eagle across the continent is a sign of hope for raptorial species that are no longer persecuted by humans. Left to their own devices they have the ability to thrive. In the process they provide incredible joy to gob-smacked humans. A Bald Eagle's nest may no longer be rare; it is no less special though.

     Rough-legged Buzzards (Buteo lagopus) have for the most part left our area by now, but this individual patrolled the sky above us.

     There were of course other birds to be enjoyed. American Robins (Turdus migratorius) seem to be everywhere, feeding together and starting to pair off in anticipation of breeding.

     Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) were not hard to find either.

     Areas that mere days ago were still snow-covered are now bare, soon to green up as the magical transformation to spring occurs.

     Rapidly flowing streams and rivers, swollen by snow melt, carried Common Mergansers (Mergus mergansers) on the current.

Common Merganser ♂

Common Merganser ♀

     And there were more Horned Larks.

     We circled back to take another look at the eagle's nest and this shot will give you an idea of how distant the nest is from the only convenient vantage point to see it.

     The bird on the nest had turned to face the other way. 

      Both sexes share incubation duties but the female does most of the daytime shift.

      Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), that most delightful of plovers, scurried around sodden fields and ploughed land.

     In continuation of our good fortune with raptors we thought ourselves exalted when this handsome Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) did not immediately fly off, not exhibiting the usual healthy caution hawks have for humans who throughout history have signalled death from the barrel of a gun.

     Our final raptor of the day was an American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) in an area where we have seen a pair in the past. I suspect they breed there, but I can't confirm it. This is one species that is very difficult to photograph. Almost as soon as you stop the car they fly off. 

Fairy Blogmother

     As you know, I recently had a makeover on my blog, and I am delighted with its new, clean look and greatly improved functionality. I was ably assisted in this endeavour by Linda Primmer, the Fairy Blogmother.

     Linda is kind, considerate, patient, competent, unflappable, charming, friendly and reasonable in every way. I have no hesitation in saying that if you too need a new look, don't hesitate to contact Linda with complete confidence.

www.myfairyblogmother.com

www.lifeandlinda.com

A Great Way to End the Day

     A little while after arriving home, right after dinner in fact, we watched a You Tube video of a Berlin Philharmonic performance of Beethoven's Violin Concerto with Daniel Barenboim conducting and  Yitzhak Perlman as the featured soloist. Surely this kind of music is one of the hallmarks of western civilization; a civilization one had reason to question  not so many years ago, and given what is happening in Ukraine, one cannot help but think that the veneer of civilization is precariously thin.

     There is clear irony that two unbelievably talented Jewish musicians were performing with Germany's finest orchestra, one of the greatest orchestras in the word in fact, when mere years ago they would have been dispatched to the gas chambers, or perhaps have fallen victim to the Einzatzgruppen. 

     And now, we have another Jew, desperate to save his country from the aggression of another psychopath, calling on the world for help, and watching as his cities are destroyed and people are being slaughtered or forced to flee. We have been here before. We never learn, do we?

     Better I focus on the birds and the music, on the joy they bring. It's hard not to despair for the future of humanity, however.

Birdwatching

 "And what," people sometimes ask, "is the real attraction of bird watching? Why does it collect so many followers?" Well, for me its charm is that it's difficult, it's out of doors, it requires patience and an enquiring mind, and the objects of the study are not only interesting but beautiful.

Peter Scott

     Years ago I was fortunate to visit the The Wildlife Trust in Slimbridge, Glos., England, and it was there that I very quickly developed an enormous admiration for Peter Scott. Not only a conservationist and artist of great renown, he was an accomplished wordsmith, and I think his few words above encapsulate so beautifully what those of us who are mad about birds feel every day.

     The weather might be gloomy, the clouds threatening, the wind chill, and the path muddy, but surely all of that pales into insignificance when set against the sighting of a Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus).

     The elation of finding an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) quietly watching the world go by is indescribable. 

      It is often said that an American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is common, but it's only common in the sense that it is frequently seen.

     It is by any other measure anything but. It is possessed of uncommon beauty, a cheerful musical song, a confiding nature, a joy at bathing and is a hardworking, dedicated parent. Whose sombre mood could fail to be improved upon meeting up with a robin?

     A Mallard (Anas platyrynchos) is familiar to all, and loved by adult and child alike.

     People seem to have an inner compulsion to strew seed for these friendly, approachable ducks, and to see them peacefully feeding alongside a squirrel is in stark contrast to the barbarism humans all too frequently inflict on each other. 

     It is said that "Music has charms to sooth a savage breast" (William Congreve [1697]), and so it does. The soothing power of nature is not to be overlooked, however.

     Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) pair for life and exhibit qualities humans would benefit from emulating. I am very fond of geese and so was Peter Scott, so I know I am in good company.

     A Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) patrols the skies with such grace, and mastery of its environment, that one cannot fail to be awestruck at each encounter.

     Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) is a tiny bird that exudes beauty and charm, and enlivens our spirits on even the coldest winter day.

     What did Peter say? - "Interesting and beautiful."

     Indeed! And loved by all who take the time to know it.

     You could be forgiven for thinking that we had embarked on a long outing, beating a path through woods, meadows and swamps to get these pictures, but you would be wrong. They are the result of a couple of recent walks over the past few days, through local parks. There were casual walkers, dogs and their human companions, cyclists and even people on those motorized scooter contraptions. 

     Even in human-modified landscapes, birds are there to be enjoyed. I would never want to live without them. And I am sure I never will.

Book Review - How Birds Live Together - Princeton University Press

 

     It has become a universally accepted practice that the names of birds are shown as proper names to ensure clarity. In other words, did we see a common nighthawk or a Common Nighthawk? Was that a little egret that flew past or a Little Egret? I have checked the last six bird books that I have acquired and without exception this practice is followed - and in scores of books, over many years, before that. Why Marianne Taylor continues to defy what has become established style, is beyond logic. It is also somewhat puzzling to me that Princeton University Press does not adopt a uniform practice in its published works; sadly this is not the case.

     Furthermore, it seems inexcusable, that in a book aimed at an audience with at least a minimal level of sophistication, that scientific names are not provided. Actually in the few cases where they are, on page 165, for example, the practice of italicizing scientific names, in use since the time of Linnaeus, is not used here, so instead of Dolichon urbicum we see Dolichon urbicum. Similarly on page 192 Aerodramus fuciphagus becomes Aerodramus fuciphagus. Shoddy and inexcusable. I know of biology professors who would rain terror on their students for such a gross misstep.

     Another issue I have is that nowhere in the book does Taylor provide any link to sources. Where did she get her information? How do we validate it? Perhaps we could check the bibliography for further reading material, except there is no bibliography. Not a single reference for further study is listed. 

      I would take issue with some of her facts. Permit me to mention a couple. She states that "most hirundines use mud as a nest-building material." In fact 56% of hirundines use cavities or tunnels, eschewing mud entirely. Think of familiar New World species such as Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Violet-green Swallow and so on. On page 32 Taylor states, "Cliff Swallows.....feed on flying insects, especially swarming kinds such as midges and mosquitoes." The literature is clear, (in numerous texts) that a Cliff Swallow's diet is comprised of around 27% beetles, 27% Hemipteran bugs, 14% Dipteran flies with Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera making up most of the balance.

     I find it off-putting that some of Taylor's descriptions get to be downright anthropomorphic. She states that Black-necked Stilts have "ludicrously long" legs. Ludicrously? Really? How about "adaptive", or "commensurate with its lifestyle"?

     On page 126 she states that Banded Stilts in Australia will fly up to 2,000 km to take advantage of lakes formed by unpredictable and sporadic storms. It would really enhance the text if she gave at least a few clues as to how the birds detect the presence of these ephemeral water sources at such great distance.

     On page 133, speaking of creches, the claim is made that parents leave "once the chicks have grown too big to be eaten by any and all opportunistic hunters" (emphasis mine). What utter nonsense. In fact Taylor goes on in the next paragraph to postulate that "more chicks in a creche reduces the odds of each individual being the unlucky victim of a predator."

     There appears to be some serious deficiencies in editing this book. 

     On page 89, "see page (**) should have had the asterisks replaced with the page number. Chapter 10 is entitled "Mobile Homes". I had a hard time coming to grips with what a mobile home implied, or whether it referred to different breeding and wintering quarters, rather than a nest. Unless I have missed something very obvious (and I have read the chapter three times) the entire text fails to elucidate it at all. I am left having no idea what was intended.

     Furthermore, the picture opposite the title page of chapter 10 is of a murmuration of starlings, clearly unrelated, and I assume misplaced from the final chapter on Common Starling where murmurations are discussed. The chapter entitled "Fission and Fusion" speaks of wandering Bohemian Waxwings, unaccompanied by an illustration, yet a picture of a Bohemian Waxwing with an appropriate caption is stranded on the second page of the index (page 222), totally out of context and irrelevant in that location. I am quite sure it has been misplaced.

     Does no one check these things before the book goes to print?

     Let me finish with a word of praise! The pictures are very good and in a couple of cases excellent. 

     Sadly this is the best endorsement I can give to a book which I found in most other respects sorely lacking.

How Birds Live Together, Colonies and Communities in the Avian World - Princeton University Press

Marianne Taylor

Hardcover - US$29.95 - ISBN 9780691231907

224 pages - richly illustrated - 7 1/2 x 9 7/8 inches (18.75 x 24.69 cm)

Publication date: 10 May, 2022

WRN Outing to Long Point, Norfolk County, ON

12 March, 2022

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members:  Miriam Bauman, Jim Bowman, Betty Brechen, Doug Brunton, Lisa Den Besten, Tina Den Besten, Brigitte Gawtrey, Ross Getsinger, Fraser Gibson, Victoria Ho, Jen Leat, Bev McBride, Greg Michalenko, Peter Rasberry, Mark Seifert, Wendy Shaw, Julie Stork, Roger Suffling, Selwyn Tomkun, Mary Ann Vanden Elzen, Kathy Waybrant, Jamie Werner, Kath Werner. (23)

Guests: Caroline Cudmore

Doug, Jen, Betty, Mary Ann, Ross, Brigitte, Greg, David, Rog, Selwyn, Victoria, ?, Fraser, Peter, Jim, ?, Wendy Bev, Caroline

At the front: Lisa, Kathy

     There were several people on this outing that I had not previously met, and I apologize for not recalling the name of two people above (and a few did not join us for the group picture). Please give me your name and I will insert it and modify this comment accordingly.

     When we all gathered at Port Rowan Harbour it was a cold March day with a keen wind blowing.

     An immature Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) took it all in stride.

     There were many ducks and swans out on the water, but mostly quite far out and photography was not easy. An American Wigeon (Mareca americana), however, came within decent range.

     There was a constant burst of song from male Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus), recently returned to the wetlands and establishing dominance over others, staking out territory, and preparing for the arrival of females. 

     Kathy Waybrant, who wields a camera the way an artist uses a brush, captured this remarkable picture.

     Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) never fail to elicit admiration from all who see them.

     Hardy Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) often appear in southern Ontario long before the snow has disappeared for the season, and two individuals landed in front of us.

     Our photographers are tough folks and get right down to the task.

     The meteorological calendar may say it's spring, but you could be forgiven for thinking that winter has not said goodbye quite yet.

     The Long Point area has many locations to search for birds. The Big Creek National Wildlife Area will soon resound to the booming calls of American Bitterns (Botaurus lentiginosus).

     The causeway, with the wide expanse of Lake Erie on one side and fertile marshes on the other is a magnet for birds, and we made several stops.

     Most of the Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) have already migrated north from Long Point, but we did find a few for Victoria and Mary Ann who especially wanted to see them. The Waybrant camera wizardry was once again at play.

     You can judge from the expressions of our group walking up to one of the observation towers that the wind was a vicious judge of character and fortitude - but everyone met the challenge. This is, after all, March in Ontario, and one never knows how the weather might turn.

     Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) seemed to be everywhere, and some came agreeably close.

     Many kept company with Redheads (Aythya americana).

     The bay that looked so foreboding to us, with the sure knowledge that a few minutes of immersion would be fatal, seemed like a winter playground for so many diving ducks.

     Jen Leat captured a great shot of Redheads off in the distance.

     I am always delighted when Greg Michalenko and Roger Suffling join my outings. These are people for whom my admiration and respect is boundless.

Rog, Greg

     Both are retired from the University of Waterloo, Roger being Professor Emeritus in the School of Planning, and Greg being Assistant Professor Emeritus in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability.

     One could certainly not fault them if they chose to rest on their laurels and retire to a comfortable life. Both of them have instead become fierce and determined warriors in the fight for environmental sustainability, ecological and social justice, and the enhancement of the area we live in, for flora, fauna and people alike.

     I salute them both.

     The Old Cut woodlot presented a wintry scene.

     Fraser Gibson, another highly distinguished member of our club, provided an impromptu discussion about Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), providing us with information I am quite sure few, if any of us knew.

     American Tree Sparrows (Spizelloides arborea) were, as always, delightful to see. 

     Soon, they will be leaving us for their breeding grounds among birch and willow at the limited of the tree line. No such journey is in store for Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) who will remain here to bring us joy.

     We wended our way back along the causeway, looking out over the bay at immense concentrations of waterfowl.

     A few Gadwall (Mareca strepera) swam close to shore.

     It was often hard to keep a camera still in the high winds that made standing still difficult, but imparted the kind of chill to stiffen cold fingers fiddling with camera focus and shutters.

     Tundra Swans (Cygnus columbianus) were moving through Long Point in large numbers but most remained very far out.

     If I am not mistaken Canvasback (Aythya valsinaria) was a lifer for Jen and she managed a decent shot of distant birds.

     We had spotted a couple of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) on the way in and Kathy took a great shot en route for home.

     The drive home was a bit of a challenge with blowing snow and whiteout conditions in a couple of spots. All in a day's birding, I say.

     Let's do it again next year!