Bird of the Month
March 2021
Bird Irruptions by Michael Creedon
This month we will visit one of many birding phenomenon’s, Bird Irruptions. This particular phenomenon occurs following a boom or bust cycle of food supplies. The most common cause is a phenomenon called masting, which occurs when a single tree species produces a large number of seeds across thousands of miles of forest in the same year. The true cause of masting is unknown, but it typically occurs one to two years after a warm, dry spring. Often a masting year is followed by a poor seed production year.
When the conifers in the boreal forests of Canada and the northern United States experience a masting year, the abundance of seeds gives some species of boreal songbirds a boost. The birds can begin breeding and produce more offspring, resulting in a bird population boom. When fall arrives, the bird population has doubled or even tripled, but the available habitat hasn’t. Many birds move south, and young birds, in particular, may be pushed farther and farther, so people outside the boreal forests may start seeing unusual winter visitors at their feeders. Each year ornithologists make predictions about which species may wander south during the upcoming winter.
Last fall, people who study the forests and predict irruptions, predicted this winter would see an explosive irruption of Purple Finches. Folks who feed the birds and know who’s who, including me, have rarely if ever seen a Purple Finch in their backyard in Eastern NC. Not in the 20 years we have lived here. Since mid October we and anyone around who has a bird feeder out has witnessed flocks of Purple Finches daily. The males look like they are fresh from a dipping at a raspberry factory. We have as many as several hundred on any given day. They will empty a bird feeder as quick as you can refill it.
While the experts were very confident in their Finch prediction, they hedged their bets on a few other species, suggesting a good possibility of irruptions. One of these probable irruptive species was the Evening Grosbeak.
If you look at their migratory range, the closest we are is 400+ miles south of that range. On February first, 2 males and 6 female Evening Grosbeaks arrived at my feeders. I was flabbergasted. I posted it to my bird club, and uniformly heard how no one had seen an Evening Grosbeak in Eastern NC in at least 50 years. Over the next week or so they all came to actually see this bird, which for nearly all was a “Lifer”. As the week progressed, and word got out, we began to see dozens every morning.
It is a beautiful bird, a member of the Finch family. They are bulky, heavily built finches with large bills and short tails. The adult has a short black tail, black wings and a large pale bill. The adult male has a bright yellow forehead and body; its head is brown and there is a large white patch in the wing. The adult female is mainly olive-brown, greyer on the underparts and with white patches in the wings. The breeding habitat is coniferous and mixed forest across Canada and the western mountainous areas of the United States.The Finch “Irruptions” of this pandemic winter have been a welcome sight.
February 2021 Bird of the Month
Baltimore Oriole by Michael Creedon
Choosing this months bird was not difficult, as I have been observing a family of Baltimore Orioles in my backyard. These are striking birds, being the only orange bird you will see in your backyard at this time of year. One of the most brilliantly colored songbirds in the east, flaming orange and black. And no, they are not from Baltimore. They share the heraldic colors of the coat of arms of 17th-century Lord Baltimore, from where their name originates. Adult males are flame-orange and black, with a solid-black head and one white bar on their black wings. Females and immature males are yellow-orange on the breast, grayish on the head and back, with two bold white wing bars. Look for their long, thick-based, pointed bills, a hallmark of the blackbird family they belong to.
Baltimore Orioles eat insects, fruit, and nectar. The proportion of each food varies by season: in summer, while breeding and feeding their young, much of the diet consists of insects, which are rich in the proteins needed for growth. In spring and fall, nectar and ripe fruits compose more of the diet; these sugary foods are readily converted into fat, which supplies energy for migration.
While they are quite common in much of the USA, around here they are only seen during migration. However, a few do choose to winter in these parts, as New Bern is at the northern edge of their winter migration territory. We know of several that have wintered in friends yards, but this family is our first. We have seen them many years as they pass through, for a day or two at most. So look for that brilliant orange, and if you spy it, get your jelly feeder out. You may be rewarded!
Bird of the Month
January 2021
Tundra Swans by Michael Creedon
Even as you lay in your warm beds tonight, approximately 50 miles north in the Pungo Lake, 30,000+ Tundra Swans mill about, waiting for the sunrise. Most locals are unaware of the great wildlife spectacle that unfolds every morning throughout the winter. As the sun begins to break above the eastern woodlands, a magical experience begins to unfold. Wave after wave of many hundreds of swans begin their take offs into the breeze, flying out to the fields surrounding this lake. Watching these ivory birds “walk” across the water, then with powerful wing beats soar into the Carolina Blue skies is an amazing sight.
Lewis and Clark provided the first written description of the Tundra Swan during their expedition to the West, where the birds’ whistle-like calls prompted Meriwether Lewis to dub them “Whistling Swans.” The Tundra Swan, as its name implies, nest and breed in the remote Arctic tundra of North America, flying south to winter. Pungo Lake is just about the furthest point south in their migration.
Pungo Lake is in and an integral part of the Pocosin Lakes NWR. It is 110,000 acres of pristine wilderness, established in the early 60’s to provide wintering habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds. They lease out thousands of acres to local farmers who grow corn and other grains. At harvest, the farmers leave 50% of the crop standing, which refuge staff cut down to provide supplemental feed to the birds. Week by week, they cut down a few rows in one field, next week a different field.
Adult birds have entirely white plumage, black feet, and a black bill with a thin salmon pink streak running along the mouthline, and a yellow spot near the eye. Pens (females) are slightly smaller than the cobs (males). Males average 16 pounds, females 14. On wingspans greater than 5’, they depart the coastal plains of Canada in October, arriving at their winter quarters in November to December. When migrating, these majestic birds fly as high as 5 miles. They are “dippers” in the summer, feeding on aquatic vegetation. In winters, they feed on leftover grains and other crops, ie, potatoes, picked up in fields after harvest.
They have few predators, even standing up to Arctic foxes. Brown bears are another story, and do regularly cause nest failure. Golden Eagles occasionally are successful at capturing and killing an adult. Average life span is 10 years, the oldest recorded at 24 years old.They are monogamous until one partner dies. The surviving partner will wait years, sometimes its entire life before mating again. Nests built on the ground hold 3 – 5 eggs, taking 30 days to hatch, and 60 – 75 days to fledge. Whistling Swans are the most abundant swan of North America, estimated at over 170,000 individuals. The primary cause of adult mortality is hunting, with about 4,000 official kills, and another 10,000 lost to poaching.
If you are Pandemic bored, a visit to Pungo Lake will brighten your day. Maybe your whole week
Bird of the Month December 2020
Brown Thrasher by Michael Creedon
The Brown Thrasher gets no respect. Birders in the field, spotting some activity on the forest floor, eyes glued to binoculars focused on the tangled mess, finally spot their prey, only to say “ It’s just a Thrasher”. In my eyes, the Brown Thrasher is a beautiful bird. Both long billed and long tailed, these shy birds are quite hardy.
Quite common in backyards, particularly those friendly to birds, with feeders, baths and lots of trees and shrubbery for nests. When you notice leaves being tossed around on the ground, and take a good look, you will probably spot a Thrasher. Boldly and beautifully patterned, predominantly a lovely red-brown, staring yellow eyes, with a severe expression due to their down curved bill. They are in the family of the Mockingbird and Catbirds. They are not sexually dimorphic, both sexes appearing identical.
Thrashers as a rule don’t visit feeders, however, absent any other birds there, and no visible threats, ie, us, they will occasionally visit to eye the offerings. They are omnivores, preferring to forage on the ground for fallen seed and berries, using their bill to dig in the soil for insects. They will also use their bill to crack open acorns. I have watched one many times using its bill to break a kernel of corn into tiny bites, until the entire kernel is gone.
They are accomplished vocalists, with a repertoire of over 1,000 different songs, the largest of any bird, imitating many other bird songs. Of eight thrasher species in the USA, they are the only Thrasher east of Texas. Generally monogamous, both mom and dad incubate the eggs, usually 4, and feed the young, and are very aggressive defenders of the nest, having been known to strike both people and dogs hard enough to draw blood. Chicks can leave the nest in as little as 9 days, fully feathered. Usually nesting in shrubby habitat, a popular hideout for nest predators. Predominant nest predators include snakes, birds of prey and cats. They are the largest common host of the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird, many times rejecting the cowbird eggs laid in their nest. They, like many birds, will have at least two broods per season, sometimes three. The oldest recorded individual was 12 years.
In our area, they are year round neighbors, with berries, nuts and small fruits an important component of their winter diet.
These Brown Thrasher photos were taken in my back yard in River Bend. I have included photos of the Long Billed Thrasher, photo from Texas, and the Curve-billed Thrasher, photo from New Mexico
Hooded Merganser by Michael Creedon
In North Carolina, we are blessed to have a minimum of 35 different species of ducks either residing or wintering here. Each has its own particular beauty, however one of the most striking species is the Hooded Merganser. It is one of 6 Merganser species, and the only one found only in North America.
All ducks are divided into 2 categories, Dippers or Divers. Dippers rotate 90 degrees, tails sticking skyward while they munch on bottom grasses. Divers do as the name implies, diving to various depths in search of food. The hooded Merganser is a small diving duck with a slender bill and a flamboyant head. “Hooded” is a bit of a misnomer, as both sexes have extravagant crests that can be raised or lowered, with the males black and white patterned crest in breeding plumage being unmistakable. The female displays her own elegant cinnamon crest.
This species is monogamous, and sexually dimorphic, each sporting differing plumage. They winter here, and should be arriving directly. They prefer small bodies of water, such as ponds, and small estuaries, however may be seen in larger rivers and impoundments. Preferring fresh water, they are also seen in brackish environments.
They nest in tree cavities, laying 7 to 15 eggs. Incubation begins after the last egg is laid, resulting in synchronous hatching. All hatchlings being the same size, they leave the nest after 24 hours, capable of diving and foraging on their own. They will stay with mom for a short while for warmth and protection. They will sometimes lay eggs in other hooded Merganser nests, with some nests having been found with up to 44 eggs in them. When ready, mom will check the ground, then call to the chicks. One by one they look out of the nest hole, and jump, sometimes up to 50’, fluttering to the ground. They then walk through the forest, up to miles before arriving at the nearest body of water.
Mergansers are our only duck that specializes in eating fish, giving their flesh a distinctive and generally accepted as “unpalatable” flavor. The result is that the greatest danger they face as a species is deforestation. No mature trees to nest in, no nests. The oldest recorded Hooded Merganser was 14 years old.
These photos were taken at the retention pond behind the mall.
October 2020
Red-tailed Hawk by Michael Creedon
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey that breeds throughout most of North America. Red-tails acclimate to almost any biome, excepting the Arctic. They can be tricky to identify, with 14 recognized subspecies, and are particularly polymorphic, ranging from almost white to nearly all black. Color variations are described as Morphs, such as a Dark Morph. While there are indeed many variations in colors, they are the only hawk with the distinctive rufous tail. Most morphs have a light-colored breast with a dark band across their bellies.
They are opportunist feeders, however, most often are predators of small rodents. Birds are also on the menu and can even be a primary food. Ever looked out in your back yard and could not find a single bird, not even a cardinal? Look up into the trees, and often you will see a hawk perched, looking hungry. They have even been known to attack small domestic animals, such as a small cat or dog. They always attack from behind, using the element of surprise, and usually around dawn or dusk. They are also known to hunt in pairs, each blocking escape paths from opposite sides. As a raptor, Red-tails are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and cannot be hunted or harassed in any way without a permit.
The majority of hawks captured for falconry are Red-tails, because they are capable hunters, easily trained. The Red-tail is the most common hawk in North America. On a long car ride, if you are looking, you will probably see at least several, anywhere in the USA. The oldest known wild red-tail was over 30 years old. They are monogamous, only seeking a new partner when one dies.
All photos taken around River Bend
Bird of the Month September 2020
Cormorants by Michael Creedon
Cormorants are comprised of a group of aquatic birds numbering approximately 40 varieties around the world. In the UK, they are divided into Cormorants and Shags, but both are cormorants. The bill is long and hooked, as long as the head, mostly black to dark feathers, with webbing between all 4 toes.
All species are fish eaters, floating low in the water and diving as deep as 150′. They use their wings to assist their diving, and as a result have developed relatively short wings for their size. After feeding, they will be seen on the shore, perched on a rock or tree stump, wings fully extended. This behavior is to dry their feathers, to make flying, already a chore due to the short wings, easier.
They nest in colonies on trees, islets or cliffs, being primarily coastal birds as opposed to oceanic. Usually 3 – 4 eggs, incubating by both parents for 4 weeks. First flight after about 5 – 6 weeks, independent after 10 weeks.
The species most widespread in North America, and particularly in Eastern N.C. is the Double-crested Cormorant. They can easily be seen on the Trent River, the Neuse, and I have photographed one in the drainage pond behind the mall.
Interestingly, the Galapagos cormorant has evolved into a flightless bird, with small stubby remnants of wings. With no predators, they had no need to fly.
by Michael Creedon
Still down at the coast this August, today we will look at the Oystercatcher. Oystercatchers are stunning birds and unmistakable, waders that are large, obvious and noisy, with more than a dozen species found around the world. The name was coined in 1731 by a birder who observed them eating oysters.
Bill shapes vary with diet, with male and female plumage identical. Their diet consists largely of bivalves, gastropods (snails), fish and crabs. Nearly all species are monogamous, with nests scrapes in the beach or ground, usually in a spot with good visibility. They will defend the same site year after year, with one record of a pair defending a specific site for 20 years. One nest per breeding season, one to four eggs.
Coastal areas of Eastern N.C. have extensive breeding sites, with many marked off with fence posts and tape by our Wildlife department. The department is always looking for volunteers to put up the posts and tape, and if you are interested in spending a morning or two helping, you will be treated to a wonderful helping of observing breeding birds “Down the Shore”.
Plovers. Cute tiny shore birds with relatively short bills that work the tide line, hunting by sight rather than probing, looking for worms and insects. They are specialists in the Run and Pause technique. Plovers are found throughout the world with over 50 species. Here in Eastern NC we commonly see at least 4. With one imposter.
1. Semipalpmated Plover: The most common, running with mixed flocks of small shore birds. This is the most slender and darkest Plover.
2. Piping Plover: A stocky small plover, usually foraging on dry clean sand, and usually alone.
3. Wilson’s Plover: Larger than most Plovers, with a larger bill. Broad white forehead with large black bill.
4. Black-bellied Plover: Our largest Plover with a stout black bill. Breeding plumage has an all black belly.
5. The Imposter, Killdeer: This bird, also a Plover, is not found at the shore usually. He can be found on the open short grasses of parks and gravel parking lots. This is a tall slender Plover, with an unusually long tail. The red eye is a dead giveaway.
White-breasted Nuthatch 
white-breasted Nuthatch 
Brown-headed Nuthatch 
Brown-headed Nuthatch 
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Nuthatches by Mike Creedon
Nuthatches are one of the smallest birds we see here in Eastern NC. They are sometimes called the “Upside down Bird”, as that is how they prefer to feed. They are also one of the few birds to use “tools”. They will often take a piece of bark and use it as a pry bar on another piece of bark, that is hiding an insect. They’re name is derived from the fact that they will take a nut, tuck it into a crevice on a tree, then hack (hatch) away at it to get to the tasty morsel inside.
Most species are non-migratory living in their habitat year round. The Red-breasted Nuthatch does migrate to warmer regions during the winter. They are omnivorous, eating mostly insects, nuts and seeds. They have long, sturdy, pointed bills and strong toes with long claws. They all nest in cavities, usually tree holes left by woodpeckers. They are monogamous, with both parents feeding the young for up to 4 weeks until they fledge. Lifespan is about 3 years in the wild.
North Carolina, including Eastern N.C is home to 3 species, out of approximately 30 throughout the world. The smallest is the Brown-headed Nuthatch. These birds are monomorphic, males and females looking alike.
(Picture) This busy bird is removing a poop sac from one of the chicks in this pine tree nest.
Next is the White-breasted Nuthatch. Slightly larger and very prolific in our area.
(Picture) A decidedly male White-breasted Nuthatch, with a dark black cap. Females cap is gray. Note his upside down position. This is how he is most often seen, with his head craned upward. They will often visit a feeder repeatedly, storing seeds in the bark of trees for winter.
Our last is the Red-breasted Nuthatch, they look very similar to a White-breasted Nuthatch but have a distinctive black eye stripe. He is a winter visitor in our area, heading to the north country in the spring to breed
If you ask a birder on the street what they like about warblers, you will not get answers about sweet songs or fantastic behaviors. What you will hear is an overwhelming response about diversity and color. Warblers are the birder’s version of a box of chocolates. Each one is different, about the same size, some you like more than others, but, really, would you refuse any of the chocolates in the box? Unlikely! A perfect spring morning and a tree lit up with 10 or so warbler species, some yellow, others orange or even black and gray or green and black is what we imagine when we contemplate warblers. May is the prime warbler month.
The most common warbler, seen in our area until spring, is the Yellow-rumped Warbler, commonly referred to as a “Butter Butt”. If you have suet feeders out, you will see this bird. There are 2 subspecies, the Myrtle seen in our area, and the Audubon seen elsewhere.
My favorite is the Prothonotary Warbler. The Prothonotary Warbler got its name from the bright yellow robes worn by papal clerks, known as prothonotaries, in the Roman Catholic church. Prothonotaries are one of the few warblers that nest in cavities instead of trees and bushes. They will even nest in bird houses properly placed near water. They feed on insects on the thickets that grow near water. When you hear one singing, it will get your attention. Listen in the next few weeks, and you may get lucky.
Bird of the Month April 2020
Osprey by Michael Creedon photos by Michael Creedon
Anyone who looked up in the skies last month couldn’t miss the return of our Ospreys. Mom and dad arrive independently, both arriving at
their nest from last year. They are monogamous, pairing for life. First is some modest rehabbing of the old nest, located on anything high and sturdy on the water. Around here, every dead cypress tree hosts an Osprey nest. Within 5 miles of Trent Woods there are a minimum of several hundred nests. Florence devastated not only our homes, but theirs as well. Most had to be rebuilt from scratch, always in the same place, if the tree was still standing. Both gather branches, mom does the arranging.
Ospreys live for 30 years in the wild, laying usually 3 eggs, staggered a few days apart. They are one of the most widely distributed hawks in the world, residing on every continent except Antarctica. Both mom and dad feed the hatchlings who arrive 40 days after being laid. Once the birds fledge, mom leaves, returning south, anywhere from Texas to Ecuador. Dad is left to teach the fledglings to fly and hunt. Ospreys are the only hawk that exclusively eats live fish. Unlike most birds, their eyes face forward, affording them excellent depth perception. Osprey’s get most of their water from this flesh. They cannot dive deep, usually snatching a fish near the surface. Once caught, the fish is positioned head forward in
line with the flight direction to minimize resistance. Once the talons are in a fish; it is almost impossible to remove them. Ospreys have been observed drowning by catching a fish that was to large to lift.
In the U.K., Ospreys went virtually extinct, with the country down to one nesting pair in Scotland. In 1996 they were reintroduced, and now
they have nearly 300 breeding pairs. Almost every nest is under watch from a live video cam, with the people of the U.K. watching their every move. It is the bird most birders and non birders in the U.K. wish to see.
Ospreys are strong flyers, a 3-month-old female was tracked from Martha’s Vineyard to French Guiana, a distance of 2,700 miles in 13 days.
We are very lucky to be able to watch these birds for almost 6 months every year.
Bird of the Month February 2020
