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There’s so much to learn about birds! We gathered on a Saturday at the Ashland Nature Center after a week of snow and school closures. The Great Backyard Bird Count(GBBC) was in full swing and we were eager to count birds at the feeders.

Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, and many other birds swarmed the feeders, happy to take a handout with the ground still covered in two feet of snow.

Mr. Bill gave a great presentation on the birds of Delaware through the seasons, and Miss Kim gave everyone a handy booklet guide to birdwatching. Mr. Derek and Miss Judy guided our group of 16 youth and 8 adults around the room to stations representing the four seasons, learning about migration, nesting, habitat, and the birds’ own “calendars.”

A special guest appearance by Buddy the Mallard made for an exciting wrap-up to our morning. He put on a show by preening, swimming, eating crickets and then flying around the room!

Our walk outside gave us great views of local birds like American Robin, Red-tailed Hawk, Hairy Woodpecker, and others. We tallied 29 species for the morning, and entered our data into the GBBC database.

To see the final results for the Great Backyard Bird Count, visit:
http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/
Click on “Explore the Results and then “State Tallies.” Select a state and read the list of the all the species and numbers of birds reported during this nation-wide citizen science effort!

Top three images by Kim Steininger. Bottom two by Derek Stoner.

To kick off our special visit to Two Eagles Farm in Smyrna, a great spectacle greeted our eager group of birders.

Bright yellow-chested birds with black “V’s” and lemon-faced birds with black horns flew around a barren soybean field, settling to the ground and vanishing before our eyes!

We had found a large mixed flock of “field birds”, those species that like to hang out in open spaces and feed on seeds. The incredible camouflage coloration of these birds helps them blend into their surroundings.

With eyes to the fine Leica spotting scopes, we scanned carefully and picked out these birds scattered across the field: Eastern Meadowlarks that glowed bright yellow when facing us, and the amazing Horned Larks(photo above) with their black masks on a yellow face.

The very dull brown and gray American Pipits were the toughest to spot, until a few landed along the edge of a puddle right in front of us. This species used to be called “Water Pipit” so they were in the right habitat!

We explored an area alongside the cattle pasture, where a small flock of sparrrows flushed from the short grass. Another bird in its preferred habitat, these Savannah Sparrows(photo above) snuck throught the grass like little brown mice. They prefer to run and hide rather than fly. One sparrow perched on the wire fence and let us take its photo, showing off its big pink beak and yellow stripe above the eye. Notice the long toenail that this bird uses to scratch for seeds on the ground.

As we walked around the cattle pasture, we checked on the nest boxes that are placed for cavity-nesting species like Eastern Bluebirds and Tree Swallows. In our survey of eight boxes, we discovered that four had been used last season by House Wrens, and four used by House Sparrows. The wrens jam the box full of small twigs and the House Sparrows make a messy nest of dried grass and loose feathers.

We also discovered that Woolly Bear caterpillars, Ladybugs, and Stink Bugs all like to spend the winter inside the comfort of a bird box!

The Belgian horses came out to check out our group of birders, and we also enjoyed seeing the cattle and sheep that live on this working farm. Can you spot the two mules?

One goal of this field trip was to take a survey of wintering birds on the farm, and we saw neat sights like Red-bellied Woodpeckers snatching corn from the corn crib, Northern Mockingbirds chasing other birds around, and a large flock of Mallards that swirled over the cornfield. We observed birds in the fields, pastures, forests, and sky as we enjoyed a slow walk around the center of the farm.

We also discovered the nests of Chipping Sparrow, American Robin, and Orchard Oriole from last nesting season. Soon enough, these birds will return again to nest this spring!

As our list reached 39 and we wanted to wrap up with one more species to hit the 40 mark, a flock of beautiful Tundra Swans(photo above) flew over our heads as we stood near the marsh. A great way to end our day on the farm!

We thank the Armstrong family for generously allowing us to visit and explore their farm, and for doing such a great job of welcoming wildlife to their land.

Recently, our group of eleven youth birders and their parents gathered to participate in a a great tradition in birding: the Christmas Bird Count!

There are actually more than 2,000 Christmas Bird Counts(CBC’s) conducted each year across the Western Hemisphere, and all of the data collected helps scientists better understand trends in bird populations. For 110 years, this survey effort has contributed greatly to the understanding of North American bird life.

We took part in the Bombay Hook CBC, in its 69th year of running. We made stops at Raymond Pool, Shearness Pool, and Bear Swamp, counting all the birds we saw at each location. Waterfowl like Ruddy Ducks, raptors like Bald Eagles, and songbirds like Eastern Bluebird all made it onto our list.

In our short three-hour tour of the refuge, we observed a total of
6,529 birds of 37 species. Our effort helped add to the overall count effort of dozens of observers spread across the 15-mile circle. The overall count total will be more than 100 species of birds when all tallied!

One of our best birds was a juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk perched low in a tree, that then flew from tree to tree as it hunted along the edge of a forest. These woodland raptors are not that common in winter, and we were excited to be able to add this bird to our list.

To learn more about the Christmas Bird Counts and their history, visit the National Audobon Society’s website:
http://web1.audubon.org/news/pressRelease.php?id=1980

If you can imagine a perfect place for Bald Eagles to gather, that place would look like Conowingo Dam in Maryland. Every fall, Bald Eagles from all over the East coast take a break from their migration to enjoy an all-they-can-eat buffet of fish served up at Conowingo.

On a sunny and cold Sunday afternoon, our group of 45 bird enthusiasts gathered along the Susquehanna River at Conowingo to watch the eagle spectacle. From the brand-new viewing platform we scanned the rocks, trees, and towers for eagles. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty– how many eagles were there?! We counted over 100 total! For many participants, these were the first eagles they’d ever seen.

Many of the eagles at Conowingo are juveniles that lack the distinctive full white head and tail of the adult eagles. Bald Eagles take four years to reach maturity, and we identified lots of eagles in the first, second, and third year age classes. We all took part in an eagle quiz session hosted by Arun, our club’s 4 year-old bird expert.

We saw dozens of Great Blue Herons and a variety of gulls enjoying the fish frenzy. At least two hundred Black Vultures perched on the towers on top of the dam, and seemed to enjoy soaring overhead with the larger eagles.

As a special treat, we took an in-depth tour inside the dam, where massive turbines help produce electric power as the water rushes through the dam. Power company employee Doug Appleton showed us all around the power plant, and we got to stand on the face of the dam and see all of the eagles perched on the rocks!

While wearing our hard hats, safety goggles, and ear plugs, we got to see a 150-ton crane, feel the warmth produced by the spinning turbines, and see the incredible command center where all of the machinery is controlled and monitored. Millions of gallons of water pass through the dam every minute! Next time you turn on a light, just think: that electricity may have been made at Conowingo, where the Bald Eagles come to play!

Our good friend Kim Steininger gave all of the youth birders one of her amazing eagle photos to take home. A great memento from a wonderful afternoon of eagle watching!

Eagle photos by Kim Steininger. Other photos by Derek Stoner.

One of the great sights of fall is the huge flocks of waterfowl arriving along the Delaware Bay. One of the best places to greet these birds is Bombay Hook, one of the favorite places of the Delaware Dunlins!

At Raymond Pool, newly-arrived Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Ducks swam about amidst the larger numbers of Canada Geese and Northern Pintail. A vocal Marsh Wren chattered away at us, but did not show his face!

Green-winged Teal swirled about, and distant flocks of Dunlins(yes!) winged by. A pair of adult Bald Eagles perched side-by-side, while Northern Harriers skimmed their sweeping routes above the marsh grass. Northern Shovelers sifted seeds from the water with their giant beaks!

We found a flock of 53 beautiful Tundra Swans in the southern end of Shearness Pool. An American Wigeon and Blue-winged Teal gave us brief looks, while the funny-looking American Coots allowed us plenty of time to study their chicken-like forms.

At the traditional night-heron roost in Bear Swamp, a Peregrine Falcon zoomed into view, and circled five times directly overhead before rocketing away. As the falcon left, a juvenile Black-crowned Night-heron flushed from the salt marsh.

The last big treat of the day was the field on the south side of Bear Swamp, where 21 Killdeer, a few Horned Larks, and American Pipits patrolled the expanse. The pipits provided outstanding scope views as they walked in puddles, living up to their former name of Water Pipit.

Our fun morning afield netted 14 species of waterfowl and a whole bunch of life birds for Kathleen, Sarah, Dominic, Andy, Charlie, and Arun. Parents, grandparents, and guides alike enjoyed the contagious excitement of the outing, and we look forward to our next trip together!

- Trip led by Derek Stoner, Judy Montgomery, Bill Stewart, Kim Steininger, and Maurice Barnhill. Peregrine photo by Derek Stoner and all others by Kim Steininger

Our friend Kim Steininger will be displaying her photography during at a special show at Bombay Hook on November 27, 28 and 29. Visit to see some of her amazing bird images!
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/bombayhook/events.html

Birding is, and always will be, a fun activity. One of the most fun types of birding is the Big Day, where you count as many birds as possible in 24-hours.

To take that challenge even further, some folks decided to invent the Big Sit, which is a Big Day conducted form a 17-foot diameter circle. You pick one place and see how many bird species can be observed from that location during a 24-hour time period.

On Sunday, October 11, birders gathered atop Hawk Watch Hill at the Ashland Nature Center to take part in the Big sit event for the third year in a row.

We started at 3:45am, listening for birds of the night. Great-horned Owls and Screech Owls made territorial calls, while migrating Snow Geese, Great Blue Herons and many songbirds called as they flew overhead. Great conditions for bird migration made the day very exciting, and our species total added up quickly. By 8:00am, we had observed 50 species!

Throughout the day, families and Delaware Dunlins members visited the hill and helped to spot birds. Great birds like Blue-headed Vireo, Merlin, Wood Ducks, and Hermit Thrush made for memorable sightings.

A total of 140 people, including at least 40 youth birders, visited and took part in the Big Sit during our 17 hours of observation. We finished with a total of 82 species, which placed us 10th out 200 teams participating worldwide.

For the official results, check out the Big Sit site(team name is Twitching Talons in Hockessin, DE):
http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/bigsit/userconsole.php?action=results_2009&id=statistics

Check out our special Big Sit video, with highlights from the day!
http://animoto.com/play/00gclntORqsGWd2KJBXFNw?autostart=true

On Saturday , September 25, the club visited Tri-State Bird Rescue in Newark, Delaware. Sixteen youth birders and fourteen adults experienced a wonderful tour given by Jill Constantine, a Tri-State volunteer who is a great educator.

Tri-State’s mission is to rehabilitate and release orphaned and injured wildlife, as well as educating the public about the importance of protecting our wild birds.

Jill showed us the special kitchen where the bird’s meals are prepared. Containers of various dried seeds and fruits line the shelves, while mealworms and other insects are be found in the fridge. The freezer holds special treats for the raptors: frozen rodents and fish! We learned that the Bald Eagle dines on a large rat and a whole fish each day!

Tri-State also specializes in caring for birds that get caught in oil spills. We saw the special tubs and trays where oiled birds are scrubbed with water and Dawn dish detergent(!), which slowly removes the layers of black slime from their feathers.

Outside the building, we saw the large flight cages that allow rehabilitated birds to regain strength and exercise their flight muscles. We also met a special bird that is used for education: Ishta Tanka, a beautiful Peregrine Falcon that cannot be released. This amazing raptor is still powerful and impressive inside a flight cage. His eyes are outlined in bright yellow!

After the great tour, we headed out for a bird walk on the birding trail through Middle Run Natural Area, a park that surrounds Tri-State. In the fields, the skies were full of high-flying Tree Swallows migrating south. A Cedar Waxwing perched nicely so we could look at it through the scope. We saw a Cooper’s Hawk, a flock of Blue Jays, Gray Catbird, and a pretty Eastern Phoebe.

We look forward to visiting Tri-State and Middle Run again!

Fall is here and the birds are on the move! Join the Delaware Dunlins for exciting field trips in the coming months as we head afield to watch birds.

Here is the slate of Field Trips by month:

Saturday, September 26: Tri-State Bird Rescue and Middle Run 2:00 to 5:00pm
Enjoy an exclusive tour of Tri-State Bird Rescue and see how they help out injured and orphaned birds. Meet a Peregrine Falcon and see how birds are helped to recover. Then hike the new birding trail at the adjoining Middle Natural Area to search for songbirds. Help install a special Delaware Dunlins nest box! Meet at Tri-State Bird Rescue in Newark, DE.

Sunday, October 11: Big Sit Competition! 8:00am to dusk
Come join the most fun birding event of the year in Delaware, as we circle together(literally) to count birds from the top of Hawk Watch Hill at Ashland Nature Center! Watch raptors, waterfowl, and songbirds as they migrate past. Can we beat the record of 82 species seen in one day? Meet at Hawk Watch Hill at 8:00am or any time you can drop by during the day. Plenty of good food and drink will be served. We will bird dawn to dusk!

Saturday, November 7: Waterfowl Watching 9:00am to noon
When November rolls around, the ducks, geese, and swans are filling up the wetlands in Delaware! Shovelers, teal, and buffleheads are in the water, while Bald Eagles and Northern Harriers are in the air. We will work on our waterfowl ID skills while touring one of the most famous refuges in America. Meet at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center at 9:00am and bring a bag lunch.

Sunday, December 6: Eagles at Conowingo 1:00 to 4:00pm
Each fall and winter, dozens(sometimes hundreds!) of eagles gather at this hydroelectric facility on the Susquehanna River to feast upon fish. Learn how to “age” eagles and observe how they catch their food. How many eagles will we see? Watch gulls, ducks, herons, and other waterbirds too! For Conowingo birding info visit: www.harfordbirdclub.org/conowingo.html

December and early January 2010: Christmas Bird Counts! Dates announced in October

To register for field trips, please contact: Derek Stoner at 302-893-8426 or derekstoner@hotmail.com if attending.

To kick off the Third Annual Delaware Bird-A-Thon, a group of 8 youth birders and 16 adults gathered at White Clay Creek State Park on May 2, eager to count migrant birds. The skies were gray and the rain a constant companion, but the birds still were active!

A very vocal White-eyed Vireo checked us out, wondering why such a noisy group of people were in his territory. The loud Louisiana Waterthrush along the creek gave us a show, and a beautiful male Kentucky Warbler sang his “churry-churry-churry” song. Colorful Baltimore Orioles and Scarlet Tanagers brightened up the gray skies as we scanned the treetops.

We observed total of 70 species of birds during the rainy morning! The Bird-A-Thon week got off to a great start with our White Clay walk. What would next Saturday hold?
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On May 9, the Delaware Dunlins took part in a great tradition in Delaware birding, the Spring Roundup! We helped survey an area of the state that has a great diversity of birds. Starting at Milford Neck Wildlife Area, we came across gorgeous birds like Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, and Blue Grosbeak(pictured). At Big Stone Beach, we helped stranded Horseshoe Crabs back into the bay so they wouldn’t die on the dry sand.

At the incredible DuPont Nature Center, we watched large flocks of shorebirds– Ruddy Turnstones, Semi-palmated Sandpipers, a few Red Knots, and yes, lots of Dunlins! All around us, the shrieking Willets(pictured) cried their name: wee-willet, wee-willet!

One of the coolest sights of our day is the red-phase Screech-Owl that peeked out of his roost in a hollow tree at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. He even called to us in a low trill!
We thank Sharon Lynn for the tip on this bird’s location.

Mike, Emily, Micah and Maria from the Friends of Red Knot(FoRK) group came up from Baltimore to take part in the Spring Roundup as their “Big Day” for the Delaware Bird-A-Thon. At Fowler Beach(above), they visited the land that Bird-A-Thon funds have helped purchase and protected for shorebirds like the Red Knot. In 12 hours, they birded hard and observed an outstanding 116 species of birds!

Last year, the FoRK team won the Youth Team category of the Delaware Bird-A-Thon. If you’d like to make a contribution to their team or on behalf of the Delaware Dunlins Youth Birders Club, please visit the Bird-A-Thon webpage:
www.dosbirds.org/Bird-A-Thon

Let’s band together to help protect habitat for migratory birds on the Delaware Bay!

One of the best locations to bird in Spring is the Delaware City area. The wetlands and forests along the Delaware River attract a wide variety of migrants, and nearby Pea Patch Island draws thousands of herons and egrets to its nest in its rookery. Dragon Run Marsh and Thousand-Acre Marsh are all close by, and the variety of birds can be astounding.

On Saturday, April 25, our group converged on the viewing platform at the edge of Dragon Run Marsh. Colorful Wood Ducks whizzed by, Common Yellowthroats and Yellow Warblers sang loudly, and Tree Swallows zipped along as they chased insects.

On the far side of the marsh, Mr. Ernst spotted an adult Bald Eagle perched high in a tree. Through the scope we watched the eagle eat a fish! Glossy Ibis, Gadwall, Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, and other waterbirds flew back and forth in search of food.

At Fort DuPont State Park, we looked across the river to Pea Patch Island and saw the trees draped in white! Snowy Egrets and Great Egrets are nesting side-by-side in colonies, and they look like white candles on a Christmas tree. The songbirds in the park were quiet(except for the White-eyed Vireo that hid very well), but we managed to see nice birds like Eastern Phoebe, Northern Cardinal, and Eastern Towhee.

During our lunch break, a young Bald Eagle perched in a tree right not far from the picnic tables!

For dessert, we enjoyed the real treat of the day: Peregrine Falcons! We patiently waited under the Reedy Point Bridge until the male Peregrine brought back a bird he’d killed(a Robin?), and then shrieked loudly to let his mate know that he’d brought home food.. The parents probably have babies by now, so they are feeding a family of feisty falcons.