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It’s a Killdeer, Not a Piping Plover – Trust Me

Posted by Gary on July 24, 2012 in Shore Birds

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“Gary, you have to come right away to the golf course,” a Bethpage State Park superintendent demanded. “There is a piping plover nesting near the ninth hole.” He was concerned because this species of plover is a federally threatened species and if he was correct, the area would have to be closed off to afford protection for the nesting bird.

I knew that the likelihood of a piping plover nesting on a golf course is as likely as me winning the lottery because it nests on beaches along the shore and the golf course was miles from any shoreline. However, its relative, the killdeer looks the piping plover and will nest far from the water in the most unusual places – on flat rooftops, in railroad yards, on athletic fields and in parking lots.

Recently, I saw the killdeer eating snails, small shrimp-like creatures and aquatic insects along the edge and in the mudflats of Lake Tsala Apopka. I have also observed this bird in the empty lots in our neighborhood eating beetles, crickets and grasshoppers from the wild grasses and plants that grow there.

How in the world did it get its name? I have not found the origin of who named this bird, but I suspect it was some hunter many years ago who thought the bird was telling him to kill the deer. Do not accept this as fact though; it is merely a conjecture on my part. The bird actually it sounds more like “killdee, killdee, dee, dee, dee” to me.

I tried to convince the superintendent that what he had was a killdeer and not the federally listed piping plover, but he insisted that I come to the golf course to confirm it. So I got into my jeep and drove the half hour to the park and he took me out to the ninth hole where he had cordoned off an area around the nest. I said, “Dave, that is a killdeer, not a piping plover, trust me.” We had a good laugh and he kept the fence up around the nest. I do not recall if the nest was successful, but I was happy that a park manager went out of his way to protect the bird even though it impacted the recreational sport. It certainly was a pleasure to work with such wonderful park employees and that is what I miss most about being retired.

NOTE: I have had several people ask me to put them on a list for updates to this blog and for that I am honored. If you click on the “Follow” button on the lower right part of the blog you can enter your email address and the site will send you an email when i post a new story. Also you can share this blog on Facebook by clicking on it on the bottom of the story. If you don’t see it, click the word “Permalink” and it will open the Facebook button for you. Thanks for all your encouragement. Best, Gary

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Are You My Mommy?

Posted by Gary on July 13, 2012 in Birds of the Field and Forest

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“Oh look Gary,” Anne says to me from the back door, “It’s a baby bird!” I jump off the couch and grab my camera. Anne steps back into the house so she doesn’t scare it away and I ease over and look down to see that it is a juvenile mourning dove.

I can tell it is a youngster because of its small stature, not fully formed feathers and the feint buff around its eyes. As I snap a few photographs, the small dove tilts its head and looks at me, but seems to sense that I am not a threat. It doesn’t move. “Hello there little one; where’s your family?” I ask as if it will answer me back. I look around, but don’t see any adult doves nearby. She (I’m not sure of its sex, but will call it a girl for now) stands up and walks over to some seeds that spilled from the feeder and begins to eat.

We check on her the rest of the day and she stays in our small yard, sometimes resting on the ground, sometimes eating seeds off the ground and occasionally she flies up onto the bird bath to drink water. I worry about her as the evening comes upon us, that a raccoon will eat her for dinner. But the next morning she is still there and I breathe a sigh of relief.

I wonder what brought her here. Did she get separated from her family? Did her mom and dad tell her to stay here we’ll be right back and abandoned her? Or is she just old enough to be on her own? Then I see an adult mourning dove land on the feeder to eat and the little one starts to flutter its wings and open its mouth as if to say, “Mom, I’m right here! Feed me!” But the adult ignores her. She flies onto the edge of the bird bath and the adult flies to the bird bath, but it looks like the adult pecks the little one. Was she harassing the adult and it didn’t like it? The adult returns to the feeder and the baby is right behind it, but yet again the adult rejects it. I guess this adult dove was not her mommy.

Eventually, the adult flies off with the baby right on its tail, and we don’t see either until that evening when the juvenile returns. “That wasn’t your mommy, huh little one?” I ask it. For several days, she hung out with me in the yard as I barbecued in the evening and pulled weeds in our small garden. I looked forward to seeing her each morning. Then, as suddenly as she appeared, she was gone. I hoped that she would return later that day, but she didn’t. I hope that she is fine, raises a family and returns to our backyard with her little ones so we can enjoy watching them grow up. Good luck to you my little squab!

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Little Miracles in Arbor Lakes

Posted by Gary on July 9, 2012 in Insects

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Hanging from backyard plants and sometimes the house windowsills are small jade green sacs where Monarch butterfly caterpillars are transforming into adult butterflies.

Each caterpillar’s stomach, intestines and other internal organs disintegrate into embryonic soup that will give rise to wings, legs, head, thorax and abdomen and new internal organs. This process uses so much energy that the green chrysalis loses nearly half its weight in the first three days.

There is a hint of butterfly formation when you look at a chrysalis; you can see a feint outline of the wings just under the outer skin of it. Also prominent are the gold spots the form a ring near the top of the chrysalis and on the body. It is not fully understood what the function of these spots are although the spots are thought to influence the normal development of the butterfly within.

This biological miracle takes place in eight to fourteen days when beautiful Monarch butterflies emerge to begin the life cycle of egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult all over again.

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Announcing New Members of the Arbor Lakes Community

Posted by Gary on July 6, 2012 in Wading Birds

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Congratulations to the proud Sandhill Crane parents on their two babies recently born here along Lake Tsala Apopka. We welcome you little babies, we’re so glad you’re here. You’ve brought a whole new level of cute in the world.

In case you think it’s odd these baby cranes were born so late in the season, chances are mom and dad’s first attempt to nest failed for some reason. Probably predators ate the eggs or even worse the babies. It is not unusual for birds to attempt a second brood, but they must do it before it is too late in the season.

Let’s hope these two little ones survive until adulthood! We wish you well!

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So You Think You Gained Weight!

Posted by Gary on July 3, 2012 in Insects

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The small milkweed jungle in our backyard is alive with Monarch caterpillars of all ages. Some caterpillars busily chew leaves and others crawl up or down milkweed stems to find fresh foliage to eat. One caterpillar is fully grown and sneaks away from the jungle to look for a quiet safe place to form its pupa. To some people this scene is creepy, but to Anne and I there is something peaceful about watching this natural setting.

Monarch caterpillars grow 2,000 – 3,000 times their weight from the time they hatch to the time they pupate in just nine to fourteen days. That would comparable to six pound human baby growing to 12,000 – 18,000 pounds. Imagine the amount of baby formula you would need! The caterpillars grow so fast that they outgrow their skin and shed it five times during this short life cycle.

To grow this fast, they are voracious eaters and devour just about every milkweed leaf until the milkweed jungle is nothing but a forest of sticks. But this will cause the milkweeds to grow new leaves that will enable them to become hosts to more Monarch butterfly larvae.

Another caterpillar ripples from the milkweed patch across the grass and climbs up the side of the house to suspend itself over the door.  In a previous post you can see how caterpillars change from larvae to pupa. Anne and I are amazed at all the hazards faced by these pupae and we’ll share that experience with you soon.

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