Also, study the tail as the bird flies overhead. At a solid waste transfer station, gulls and crows eye the intake, arguing over who gets what before it gets hauled off to a major landfill. The tens of thousands of shorebirds that converged near the coast in late April are part of a highly synchronized migration.
Although many other vertebrates avoid ants because of their stings or noxious chemical deterrents, the Northern Flicker is known to have ingested over five thousand ants in one sitting. Subdued colors help camouflage the male ducks, protecting them from predators. Natural disasters sometimes take a terrible toll on birds and other wildlife. Ever wonder how birds were named?
In Veracruz, Mexico, the flow of migrating raptors contains birds from all over eastern North America. Where can you see this? This Laysan Albatross, with a wing span of about seven feet, is completely at home in the vastness of the open ocean. In late July, the Great Horned Owls chicks are four and a half months old, and must fend for themselves much of the time. Imagine watering your garden on a hot August day, when a small yellow and gray warbler flutters into the spray and begins taking a shower. In late September, Turkey Vultures funnel south to the tip of Vancouver Island.
Remember when you were a young Saturday morning birdwatcher, learning the intricate lessons of predator-prey relationships? The flight call of the Common Nighthawk vividly evokes a warm summer evening. At the crack of the bat, a Blue Jay flies toward first and glides around the base.
Other birds help, too, including this Western Bluebird. The young birds continue to learn valuable lessons by watching the adults hunt, and will stay with them a few more weeks. Welcome back to the Night Owl Diner, Ducky! Its glaciers and snowmelt nourish some of our richest natural habitats, including the Nisqually Delta.