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Backyard bird feeding is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding hobbies on earth. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk all about bird feeding in the desert Southwest area of the United States. They talk birds, seed, feeders, and dealing with those pesky unwanted visitors!
Episodes
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Monday Nov 28, 2022
Summary: Ever wonder about those Canada Geese that hang out in Arizona all year long? Join Cheryl and Kiersten to find out some pretty amazing things about these waterfowl!
For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.
Show Notes:
www.Allaboutbirds/guide/Canada_Goose
www.birdnote.org
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com
Transcript
Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)
Cheryl:
Welcome to the Feathered Desert! Today Kiersten and I are going to totlak about the Canada Goose.
It is what I wait for when fall is just around the corner, to look up and see these large, bodied birds in their v-formation flying over my head. Sometimes, so low I can hear their wings flapping as they propel themselves through the air to their nighttime resting spot along a water’s edge.
I decided to find out a little more about these geese that to me represent a change in the seasons.
Kiersten: Description:
I love this idea because the Canada Goose always mean Fall is coming!
There are at least 11 subspecies of Canada Goose. In general, the geese get smaller as you move northward, and darker as you go westward. The 4 smallest forms are now considered a different species: the Cackling Goose. I love that name! (laughs)
These big water birds with a long black neck, large tan breast and, or large gray/brown body, with a large, webbed feet, and a wide flat bill. They have a white cheek and a white chinstrap. This is the more prominent identification Canada Geese have a smoothly sloping transition between bill and forehead.
Very statuesque birds!
Cheryl: Habitat and food sources
Canada Geese in habitat many habitats near water, grassy fields, and grain fields. These large waterfowl are particularly drawn to lawns for two reasons: they can digest grass and when they are feeding with their young, manicured lawns give them a wide unobstructed view of any approaching predators.
Thank you very much golf courses!
So, they are especially abundant in parks, airports, golf courses and other areas with expansive lawns. Two subspecies have adapted to urban environments and graze on domesticated grasses year-round.
Kiersten: That’s smart!
Cheryl: Birds are always one-step ahead!
In spring and Summer, geese concentrate their feeding on grasses and sedges, including skunk cabbage leaves and eel grass. During fall and winter, they rely more on berries and seeds including agricultural grains, and seem especially fond of blueberries. This fascinates me that scientists know they like blueberries.
Kiersten: I know I like blueberries, so I don’t blame them at all.
Cheryl: They are efficient at removing kernels from dry corn cobs.
Kiersten: That fascinates me! They have a lot more strength in those beaks than you might think!
Cheryl: Yes! You don’t want to be nipped by one of those.
Kiersten: Social behavior
Canada Geese mate for life with a very low divorce rate (we could learn a lesson there!), and pairs remain together throughout the year.
Canada geese are known to be very devoted to each other. These geese mate “assertively”- larger birds choosing larger mates and smaller geese choosing smaller mates. Canada geese do not breed until their fourth year of life. That’s which too! You need to know who you are before you get involved.
Baby Geese or goslings (I love that name!) are quick learners. These impressionable young birds use their mimicking skills to mimic the adult birds. Which is smart! You are on the ground and need to get your stuff together quick! Goslings learn how to swim just 24 hours after hatching. Parents teach their young ones how to fly when the goslings are 2-3 months old. That’s when their flight feathers have grown in. It’s kind of hard to fly when you’re covered in downy feathers.
Cheryl: It’s fascinating that they teach their young how to fly, I thought they just instinctively knew what to do.
Kiersten: They do have to figure out what to do with their arms, or wings.
Migrating flocks generally include family groups and individuals. Young geese often remain with their parents for their entire first year, especially in the larger species.
Cheryl: Territorial behavior
Although usually very social during breeding season Canada Geese are highly territorial. Don’t approach those gosling! Territorial threat displayed by these geese may involve head pumping, bill opened with tongue raised, hissing, honking, and vibrating neck feathers. If the interloper does not retreat geese may grab each other and hit each other with their wings.
You don’t want to get nipped by one of these geese. When I was young, my mom had to flee to the top of our station wagon when we accidentally got in between him and his goslings and mate! He went after my mom and she climbed on top of the car but he was still able to bite her and she got a big bruise!
Kiersten: Oh yes! My husband walked to school as a child and they had to walk by a pond. During breeding season, they knew to steer clear of the lake and avoid the geese. They’d walk almost a mile out of their way to make sure they didn’t get bit!
Kiersten: V-Formation
That’s what everyone thinks about when we think of geese. The v-formation is a kind of synchronized aerial tailgating and marks the flight of flocks of larger birds, like geese. Observers believe that each bird behind the leader is taking advantage of the lift of a corkscrew of air coming off the wingtips of the bird in front. Each bird flies a little higher than the bird in front of it. This corkscrew updraft is called a tip vortex, and it enables the geese to save considerable energy during long flights. This formation also helps the weaker of the flyers to have support through the migration flights. The V-formation may also enhance birds’ ability to see and hear each other, thus avoiding mid-air collisions. That is super smart!
Smaller birds probably do not create enough of an updraft to help others in the flock and don’t fly in vees.
It’s a bit controversial, but there does seem to be a lot of research supporting it. The older birds will switch places from the front giving the leaders a break during flight. The smaller, younger birds will not because of their size and that they are still earning the route.
Cheryl: This is all learned, as well! And they work well together as a team.
Kiersten: Yes! We could learn another lesson here!
Cheryl: Whiffling in for a landing.
When a flock of Canada Geese comes in for a landing at a lake and you might be surprised by their appearance of laissez faire attitude toward landing on the waters surface. But that is only the perception of you as an observer, if the flock comes in too fast or too high above the water, geese have a little trick to slow themselves down for a safe landing. The geese stop flapping and then quickly roll their bodies upside down, while twisting their long necks the right way up.
That sounds like a yoga pose I could not do!
Finally, they rotate again to right themselves just in time to gently splash down. This maneuver is called whiffling and it seems to help these birds to slow down quickly-but it might just be for fun.
Kiersten: It does sound like fun! Maybe it is both!
Cheryl: Yes! Fun and useful!
Kiersten: Migratory or not?
If Canada geese are supposedly migratory than why do we see them here all year round? Good question.
Up until the early 1900’s Canada Geese were almost hunted to extinction. Yes, that’s right this large bodied bird that is so abundant was very close to being not.
In the early 1900’s non-migratory geese were brought in by the hundreds to populate wildlife refuges. Many of the geese that stay year-round are the descendants of birds introduced by game management authorities in an effort to revive some of the original wild populations that had been decimated by hunting. I say that Canada Geese re-wilding was a success!
Cheryl:
When you hear that very familiar honking and look up to see these amazing birds flying in their V-formation hopefully this information helps to feel more awe inspired.
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Monday Nov 21, 2022
Summary: Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they continue their discussion of the owls found in Arizona.
For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.
Show Notes:
www.avibirds.com/owls-of-arizona/
www.a-z-animals.com/blog/true-owls-vs-barn-owls-what-are-the-diffrences/
Owling: Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night, by Mark Wilson
Liberty Wildlife:
(480)998-5550
2600 E Elmwood St. Phoenix, AZ 85040
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com
Transcript
Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)
Cheryl: Intro-Welcome to Owls of Arizona part two. So, it does bears repeating that Arizona with it diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife is home to 13 different species of owl. In part one we covered only four owls, and we are going to cover the other nine in this podcast, and Kiersten has our first one.
Kiersten: Western Screech Owl
A well camouflaged owl with large ear tufts and streaked plumage in a variety of brown or gray. They are about 7-10 inches in height. These owls weigh about 3.5-10.8 ounces and have a wingspan 21-25 inches across. Western Screech Owls occur all across the western states in U.S., and their range extends down into Central America.
They live in forests, open woodlands, deserts, shrublands, and open fields in the countryside. You may find them in your local park. They nest in tree holes and in cacti in desert regions. These non-migratory owls will often reuse nest sites for years. Western Screech Owls are active from dusk, through the night, into the dawn. They are opportunistic predators; if they can catch it- they will eat it, but their prey is mainly rodents, birds, and insects.
Deforestation and development are threatening the habitats for these owls. These owls have a whistling call and a high-pitched screech. The song of the Western Screech Owl is a series of descending hoots.
Cheryl: Northern Saw-Whet Owl
The Northern Saw-Whet owl is one of the smallest and most adorable owls on the continent. It has a large round head and a compact body. Its plumage is a rich brown with small white spots on the upper parts and blotchy white streaks below. The facial disc is paler brown, and it has a white Y-shape from the brows to the bill, between its huge yellow eyes. This owl is 7-9 inches in height. It weighs 2.2-5.4 ounces and the wingspan is 17-22 inches across.
They inhabit coniferous forests. During the winter, they also take to deciduous or mixed woodlands. They nest in tree holes excavated by woodpeckers or in the old nests of other birds. They are nocturnal owls with exceptional hearing, and can detect prey purely by sound. Their diet consists mainly of rodents, but will prey on small birds, bats, amphibians, and insects. May cache mice for the winter.
Although, fairly common these owls are hard to spot. In Arizona, they are more numerous in the winter months as northern populations migrate south. Listen for their call it is a whistly repetitive toots.
Kiersten: Long -Eared owl
The Long-eared owl is named for its prominent ear tufts. It has a dark, patterned plumage which is a mix of brown, gray and buff. The underparts are buff with dark brown streaks. Its facial disc is buff with white in the middle. It has orange-yellow eyes and a grayish-black bill.
Long-eared owls have a wide distribution across the continent. Arizona lies within their breeding range. These owls inhabit forests and woodlands near densely vegetated open areas such as grasslands and shrublands. They have adapted to semi desert environments where they hunt across dry, open landscapes. Prey animals for these owls includes cottontail rabbits, red squirrels, bats, small birds, and snakes.
In Arizona, you may see these owls nesting in forks or cavities of Saguaro cacti. This is a shy elusive owl and is not easy to spot. It is often misidentified as a Great Horned Owl due to the ear tufts. The National Audubon Society believes this owl is undercounted in its national Christmas bird counts. Populations of this species of owl are in decline due to habitat loss.
Long-eared owls have a wide range of vocalizations that vary by region. The long-eared owl is silent during the winter but often roost communally, making them easier to spot despite their excellent camouflage. These owls will also roost on the ground.
In Arizona, Long-eared owls may show-up in mass when there are irruptions of mice.
Cheryl: Short-eared Owl
Now I put this owl back-to-back with the Long-eared owl because they are often misidentified as each other. So, the short-eared owl is a medium-size owl about 15-17 inches in height. It weighs approx. a 1.5 lb. and the wingspan is 38-44 inches across. It has a rounded head with small ear tufts, hence the name. Its feathers are mottled brown, buff, and white above and buff below with dark streaks on the breast. The face is white in the center, with a brown facial disc edged with a pale rim. It’s piercing yellow eyes are encircled by dark eye patches. (Long-eared owls have rusty-orange feathering round the eyes.)
These owls occur all across North America, with the majority of the population breeding in the north and migrating south for the winter. So, in Arizona it would be the winter months that we would have an opportunity to see them.
Short-eared owls inhabit large, sparsely vegetated open areas. They nest on the ground, partially concealed amidst low vegetation. Unlike other owls, short-eared owls build their own nests. The female constructs a bowl-shaped nest using grasses, weeds and feathers. These owls sometimes roost in groups, and on occasion will roost in trees with Long-eared owls.
Short-eared owls eat mostly rodents, especially voles, rats and mice. They also take birds and nestlings. These owls breed up in the arctic so the birds they prey on are shorebirds and gulls with the occasional crow thrown in.
These owls are on the decline mainly due to habitat loss. Look for them in open fields and grasslands around dawn and dusk in the winter. Unlike the Long-eared owl, the short-eared owl hunts during the day on the ground or flying low to the ground. They have a floppy bat-like flight. The short-eared owl is mostly silent in the winter. Their common call is a raspy bark.
Kiersten: Northern Pygmy owl
The Northern pygmy owl Is a small, plump owl with a large, round head and a fairly long tail. It is brown above with white spots and white below with dark brown streaks. As with other pygmy owls, it has eye-spots on the back of the neck which may function to deter predators attacking from behind. This owl has feathered legs down to the toes. It is 6-7 inches in height. It weighs 2.1-2.5 ounces and has a wingspan of 12-15 inches across. This owl has one of the shortest life spans of just 3 years whether in captivity or not.
They are found all across north America and inhabit forest and woodlands. They nest in tree holes, often excavated by woodpeckers. Pygmy owls are diurnal, but also hunt at dawn and dusk. They eat small birds, mammals and insects. Northern Pygmy Owl is a fierce hunter known to often kill birds and rodents larger than themselves.
These owls are prevalent in the eastern part of Arizona, and since they are active during the day that makes them easier to spot then most owls. Still these owls largely go unnoticed. Northern Pygmy Owl migrates in some regions from the higher to the lower elevations in the winter.
The call of the Northern Pygmy Owl is a high-pitched trill or a one note toot.
Cheryl: Elf Owl
This tiny raptor is the smallest member of its family in the world. It is a small sparrow-sized owl. The plumage of the elf owl is patterned gray-brown and white. It has a buff-colored face and large, yellow eyes. Females are more rusty-red in color, and the males are grayer.
Elf Owls are nocturnal and mainly insectivorous, feeding on insects and other invertebrates. Their prey includes moths, beetles, crickets, and arachnids like scorpions. They may occasionally take a lizard or a small vertebrate animal.
Many Elf Owls breed in the southwestern U.S. then migrate south to Mexico for the winter where sedentary populations reside. Elf owls is comfortable in diverse habitats, including mesquite and paloverde trees along desert washes, mountain pine-oak forests, oak forests, and forests along river and canyon bottoms. They nest in tree holes of hardwoods and often in the Saguaro cacti. Look for them in our desert around dusk. Their voice is loud, and their call a high-pitched whiny or throaty chuckle, or a variety of barks, squeaks and whistles.
Kiersten: Burrowing Owl
The Burrowing Owl is an owl we have talked about before in an earlier podcast titled” Burrowing Owls”. The Burrowing Owl is a small, spotted owl with long gray legs. Its feathers are brown above and pale below with brown streaks. It has large yellow eyes, hooded by thick, pale brows. The height of this owl is 7-11 inches, its weight is 4.8-8.5 ounces. It has a wingspan of 20-24 inches across. Burrowing Owls are different from other raptors because males and females are the same size. Although, they have a wide, variable diet, they mainly prey on insects and rodents.
These owls hunt at night and during the day. Females mostly hunt insects during the day whereas males hunt more at night and catch small animals.
Most Burrowing Owls are sedentary, in their range but those owls that breed in the northern parts of their regions will migrate south during the winter. They inhabit open grasslands, prairie, and other open areas of golf courses, farm fields, airports, and housing developments. These owls’ nest and roost in burrows usually made by prairie dogs or ground squirrels, or other burrowing mammals.
This owl has a defensive strategy to mimic the behavior of rattlesnake’s rattling tail. Burrowing Owls make a rattling or hissing noise to ward off potential threats.
These owls are endangered due to habitat loss and decline of burrowing mammals. They are often killed by cars and people’s pet-cats and dogs. Burrowing Owls are often active during the day and are fairly tolerant of human presence. This owl has a large range of smooth-sounding musical notes.
Cheryl: Spotted owl
The Mexican spotted Owl is medium-size forest owl. Its height is 18-19 inches and its weight is 1.1-1.7 lbs. Its wingspan is 42-45inches across. This medium-size owl has dark eyes set in a large rounded head with no ear tufts. It has dark brown feathers with white spots. The spots on the underparts are oblong, giving it a Barred owl appearance. It has a prominent white x-shape on the face against the brown facial disc. That being stated there are three subspecies of the Spotted owl: the Northwest Spotted Owl, the California Spotted Owl, and the Mexican Spotted Owl. The Mexican Spotted Owl is the palest of the three in color. It is also the one only that calls Arizona home.
It must be noted that although the Mexican Spotted owls looks like the Barred owl in appearance the Spotted owl will not be found in any area near barred owls. Barred owls are highly competitive with Spotted owls. Barred owls will hunt the Spotted Owl.
In Arizona, the Mexican Spotted Owl may be found in Pinyon Pine woodlands and canyons. They nest in tree holes, abandoned nests of other birds, cliffs and ledges. These owls hunt mostly at night and occasionally during the day. They are essentially ambush predators, and typically hunt from a perch, where they wait for prey to draw close enough to launch a surprise attack. Their prey is mainly woodrats, squirrels, bats, birds, reptiles, insects and amphibians. Populations of Mexican spotted Owls are in decline due to destruction of habitat due to drought, development and wildfires. These owls don’t dissipate body heat very well so they prefer the cooler temps of southeastern mountain ranges in Arizona. These owls are classified as threatened. The Mexican Spotted owl may be tricky to find visually. Listen for its three-part hoot.
Kiersten: Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
The Ferruginous Pygmy owl is critically endangered in the United States and is protected under the Endangered Species Act. This owl is threatened by habitat loss of Saguaro Cacti. The eradication of Arizona’s cottonwood groves and contiguous Saguaro stands, plus wildfires, drought, and the wall at the state border with Mexico.
A small, round-headed owl with a streaked crown. It has the false eye spots that all pygmy owls display. The owl has yellow eyes with black pupils. The tail is banded with rusty-red bars. It stands about 6-7 inches in height and weighs 1.6-5.6 ounces. It has a wingspan of 12 inches across.
These little owls nest almost exclusively in Saguaro cacti cavities. They can be found in the Sonoran Desert region among their favorite cacti. They have a woodpecker -like undulating flight pattern and can be spotted during the day as well as at dawn and dusk.
Their prey consists of mice, small birds, scorpions, moths, crickets and grasshoppers.
In 2006 researchers documented only 26 individual owls in the wild in the state of Arizona. Wild at Heart a non-profit group, began a reintroduction program in 2016.
Their vocalizing is kept to a minimum to not draw attention to their location. So, others small birds won’t mob them and drive them away. Their call is a quick series of whistled toots.
Cheryl: Spotting Owls
Spotting owls can be tricky since most species are not active during the day. Owls by nature are shy and elusive creatures. Here ae some tips:
The best time to see an owl is during the day. The best time to hear an owl is at night.
Learn about the species of owls in the area you are looking.
Listen -familiarize yourself with the vocalizations of the different owls in your area. Actively listen when you are out at night. You will most likely hear an owl before you see it.
Look for signs of owls like their pellets or white washing on trees.
Be respectful- Be still and silent and refrain from using bright lights, so as not to disturb or frighten them away.
Who knew Owls were so Cool? Who, who the owls knew.
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Thursday Nov 17, 2022
Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest
Show Notes:
Bird song provided by Kiersten Gibizov
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Monday Nov 14, 2022
Summary: Did you know that birds use tools? They do! Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they discuss all the ways bird use tools.
For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.
Show Notes:
https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/news/science/various-ways-that-birds-around-the-world-use-tools/
“Bait-fishing by Birds: A Fascinating Example of Tool Use” by William E. Davis and Julie Zickefoose - https://sora.unm.edu/
https://web.stanford.edu/group/stanfordbirds/text/essays/Tool_Using.html
“Tool Use in Birds: An Overview of Reported Cases, Ontogeny, and Underlying Cognitive Abilities” Thesis by Yvonne Christina Roelofs, University of Groningen
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com
Transcript
Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)
Tool Use in Birds
Kiersten: Welcome to the Feathered Desert this episode will open your mind to the amazing abilities of birds. Cheryl and I are going to talk about tool use in birds! As humans one of the abilities that we thought separated us from the rest of the animal kingdom was our use of tools, but as researchers continue to study the natural world, we have discovered that we are not the only ones capable of using tools.
To research this controversial topic, scientists first started off with an accepted definition of true tool use. The definition states that true tool use is “the exertion of control over a freely manipulable external object (the tool) with the goal of (1) altering the physical properties of another object, substance, surface, or medium (the target) via a dynamic mechanical interaction, or (2) mediating the flow of information between the tool user and the environment or other organisms in the environment.”
Cheryl: We’re going to start this conversation off with baiting. Baiting is the deliberate use of an item to lure prey to a predator, like when humans go fishing. We use a lure to attract fish to our hook and catch them. This is a pretty advanced form of fore-thought that many scientists didn’t think birds were capable of performing, but we have two examples of baiting in birds.
- The first example is herons using various items to attract fish to their fishing spot. The Striated heron uses bits of bread, insects, twigs, or other vegetation to lure fish close to the branches that hang over the water that they use as hunting spots. Green herons have been seen using bread crumbs to lure fish close enough to easily catch them and chasing away coots that tried to eat their bread lure indicating the heron’s understanding that the bread was helping lure fish. Use of luring has also been reported In the Great Egret, Black-crowned Night-heron, Great Blue Heron, Black Kite, Sun Bittern, and the Pied Kingfisher.
- Another bird that is one of our favorite Valley birds is also on our tool use list. The Burrowing Owl will line the entrance of its burrow with dung to attract one of its favorite insects to eat, the Dung Beetle. Scientists did a few experiments and discovered that owls using the dung as a lure ate 10 times more dung beetles as owls not using the lure. It’s cheaper than using UberEats!
Kiersten: Anting is another example of true tool use but it involves other live animals such as insects. Anting is when a bird rubs an ant, caterpillar, centipede, snail, or other insect all over its body. It happens most often in passerines, aka songbirds, but no one really knows why they do it. One guess is that they use the chemicals in the insect as bug repellent. Another guess is that it could be a way to prepare the insect before eating, since most often the bird eats the insect after the rubbing activity.
Cheryl: Egyptian vultures love to eat ostrich eggs, but the shell is so thick they cannot crack it open with their own beaks. So, they fly up to 50 yards away to find the perfect rock to help them crack open the ostrich egg. When they find just the right rock, they hold it in their beak, stand next to the egg, and throw the stone at the egg. They only hit the target 40-60% of the time but they persist until they crack it open. The perfect rock is often an egg-shaped rock and this leads scientists to hypothesis that this behavior evolved from a time when the vultures threw eggs to crack them open instead of the other way around.
Kiersten: An example closer to home is the Brown-headed Nuthatch. And this is a regional example of tool use. The Brown-headed nuthatches from a specific longleaf pine forest of Louisiana use bits of bark to pry off other pieces of bark in search of hidden treasures. They are looking for insects and cached pine nuts. They do this most often when the hunger quotient is high and resources are low.
Cheryl: Our next example for true tool use is drumming. Palm cockatoo males will remove twigs from trees to drum on tree trunks. They chose specific twigs that must be between 10-12 cm and they will remove any leaves or offshoots on those twigs until it’s just the way they want it. Then they will beat it against the tree truck and each male has a different rhythm. We’re not one hundred percent sure why they do it but it seems likely that they do it to advertise their territory and to attract a mate. The twig is often added to the nest after a successful pairing. I guess it really is true that the drummer always gets the girl!
Kiersten: Drumming actually takes us up a notch to creating tools out of available items. This is one of the most remarkable behaviors we’ve discovered in the bird world. The Woodpecker finch of the Galapagos Islands is an insect eating bird that loves to eat grubs. These grubs burrow into the bark of trees to protect themselves from predators, but the woodpecker finch has designed a way to outsmart them. They use a cactus spine to dig the grubs out of their hiding space and they are particular about which spine they use. They will look for just the right spine or twig and if that fails, they will snap one down to the right size. Once they have fashioned the perfect tool they will keep it with them, flying from place to place holding it in their beak.
Cheryl: One of the most amazing examples of tool making is the New Caledonia crow. This crow can make a tool out of almost anything! They break down twigs to the right size and even fashion wire into the perfect tool by bending the ends into the perfect curve. The leaf tools they develop have diversified over time on the island of New Caledonia, which is an unexpected accomplishment. A quote from Ornithology by Frank B. Gill states “The crow has developed the cultural capacity to evolve its tools in ways that resemble the feats of the early ancestors of modern humans.”
These birds are also sequential tool users which means they use multiple tools in a row to reach their objective. This is seen in captive experiments where the crow is presented with a puzzle with the reward being food. To solve the puzzle the birds must use different tools to solve each step to finally open the portion with the food. It’s a behavior rarely seen in animals outside of primates.
Kiersten: I saved my favorite for last. It’s not as complicated at the New Caledonia crow but it is pretty mind-blowing. The Black Kite of Australia, a type of raptor, has been seen by Aborigines for generations picking up burning sticks on the edges of wild fires and then dropping them further afield to make small prey items, such a mice, run in the direction they want them to go to catch them. This is an amazing example of tool use, but even more incredible it’s the only other example of an animal using fire besides humans!
We both hope that this episode of the Feathered Desert stays with you and next time you are watching your favorite birds at your feeder you remember these examples of bird intelligence and how similar birds really are to us.
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Summary: Laws protecting birds can be confusing but Cheryl and Kiersten take a moment to make it all clear. Join your Feathered Desert co-hosts as they talk federal, state, and city laws that protect our birds.
For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes.
Show Notes:
https://www.fws.gov/law/migratory-bird-treaty-act-1918
https://www.audubon.org/news/migratory-bird-treaty-act
https://www.fws.gov/media/list-birds-protected-migratory-bird-treaty-act-2020
https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/wildlifelegalstatus.html
https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/arizona/az-laws/arizona_laws_17-236
https://azdot.gov/adot-blog/nesting-birds-are-protected-during-construction
https://phoenix.municipal.codes/CC/8-7.02
https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-law-bans-feeding-ducks-in-arizona-city
https://www.mesaazpolice.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/43871
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com
Transcript
Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)
Kiersten – Intro – Today we’re talking about laws that protect birds. We’ll look at federal laws and state regulations and then we’ll discuss some controversial bird feeding bans that affect our local Valley area. Cheryl is going to start us off with one of the most important bird laws!
Cheryl – Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
Most people don’t even know that there are federal laws protecting birds in this country. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act is such a law and it applies to the entire United States, every state must abide by this law. You go Migratory Bird Treay Act!
Kiersten – Yes!
Cheryl - I know that seems redundant to say but it never hurts to repeat something important.
What exactly is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act?
This Act implements four international treaties that the US entered into with Canada in 1916, Mexico in 1936, Japan in 1972, and with Russia in 1976. It ensures the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory bird species. What this means is that it prohibits the taking of migratory bird species without proper and prior authorization from the Department of Interior U.S Fish and Wildlife service. It sounds sooo important!
Kiersten – It does.
Cheryl - A quote from the US Fish and Wildlife Service “The MBTA provides that it is unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, possess, sell, purchase, barter, import, export, or transport any migratory bird, OR any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, unless authorized under a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior. Take is defined as: pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or, collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect.” I think that covers everything!
Kiersten – Yes! (laughs)
Cheryl - Who does the law protect?
There is a list of bird species generally based on bird families and individual species that are protected. There are three criteria that a species must meet to be included.
- It must occur in the United States or U.S Territories by natural biological or ecological processes. That means that it is native to the country or territory or that its natural migratory path brings it through the US or its territories.
- It must be in a family that is currently or previous included in a treaty or revised taxonomy rolls it into a protected family.
Kiersten – They are constanstyl revising taxonomy. That means the family and genera that they are in.
Cheryl- I was just going to clarify that. Thanks!
3.New evidence has arisen that proves the bird species or family is native to the US and US territories. Like Kiersten said they are always clarifying and revising.
In a nutshell, it protects any bird that is or was found here without the help of human transport. For example, the Inca dove is native to the SW United States so they are protected; whereas, the rock dove, AKA pigeons, are not native to this country and are not protected by this law.
Kiersten did I cover everything?
Kiersten – I think you go it!
Over the years the Treaty has been updated and expanded and the government is required to release a list of all species protected under the law. The last revision was in 2020 and that is the most current list of protected animals.
Some of you may be thinking that this is just a law, what has it really done to help birds in reality. Since its inception it has actually saved many species from extinction at the hands of humans. Some examples include the Snowy Egret, that was being hunted for its pretty feathers the Wood Duck, that was being hunted for sport and the Sandhill Crane, that was also being hunted for feathers and spot. An example right here in our own backyard is the Burrowing Owl. Without its designation of a protected species the city of Phoenix would not have had to take all the extensive steps to protect them from the sprawl of housing construction.
One last thing I want to reiterate about this law is that it also makes it illegal to own feathers, bones, beaks, claws, nests, and eggs from these birds, as well. That does apply to any of these items being found on the ground in your front yard or on a hike or anywhere. You cannot legally own them.
“But I didn’t kill the bird to get it, I just found it on the ground!” I have heard that argument a lot, but you have no way of proving it to USFWS and people who are not honest can go out and kill the bird for those things and they’ll use the same argument. So, this law applies to everyone.
Now there are some exceptions, but these are only valid with permitting. People who help birds to recover from injuries or illness are licensed rehabilitators. Liberty Wildlife, East Valley Wildlife, Wild at Heart are all licensed rehabbers. They get permitting through the state and federal agencies after taking hours and hours of classes and working as an apprentice. You cannot take a bird into you home with the intention of nursing them back to health and re-releasing them without these permits.
Falconers, people who hunt with a bird of prey, are also licensed to do so. You cannot house raptors without permission from USFWS and only after working with a licensed falconer for years. Generally five years. You will also have to have visits from inspectors to determine if the housing you are providing meets regulations. And those regulations are strict. Then there are all the rules you must follow such as catching males versus females and how long you are allowed to keep them and hunt with them. All of this is to protect the sustainability of the species.
Cheryl – I find is so interesting that falconers have a limited time to work with them and then release them.
Kiersten – Yes! That’s why you have to work with a Master falconer for so many years. These birds have to know how to hunt on their own and beable to teach their young.
For a bit more on how the Migratory Bird Treaty Act came to be, please listen to our first episode of Groundbreaking Women of Ornithology and learn how a few fashion forward women influenced the creation of this life saving law.
Cheryl – State Laws
I got state laws! Our state laws follow the federal laws and can be found under Arizona Laws Title 17, Chapter 2, Article 3, 17-236.
These laws do take it a step further in saying that you cannot intentionally harass a protected bird or intentionally destroy a nest of a protected bird. Which includes woodpecker!
Kiersten – Yes! It does include a lot of birds that people are annoyed with. (laughs) I forgot to put this one in here. ADOT, Arizona Department of Transportation had a question from a jogger near the 101 that asked about the cliff swallow nests. ADOT takes care to not disturb the nests while the birds are nesting but, once the birds have fledged they knock down the nests to encourage them to nest elsewhere. They only do it when the nests are no longer is use or before the nests are complete. ADOT has a Biologist that inspects projects before they get started for nests. It’s okay to do that before a nest is in use.
The other state laws involving birds are mainly based around hunting. There is a specific hunting season for birds that are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and you must have a hunting license to hunt during this season.
Arizona Game and Fish is in charge of distributing these permits. The regulations for each year can change because they are always assessing the population size of a species approved for hunting. Each season has a maximum bag number for how many individuals you can kill and they have strict regulations about hunting outside of specified seasons. I know we have Dove hunting and quail hunting.
Kiersten – Our next topic is one that Cheryl and I have kind of avoided talking about for some time. I mean we’re doing a podcast about bird feeding, so this one is a bit counter-intuitive to what we talk about each episode. It’s important but it’s also a bit controversial. I think the time has come and we’re going to have to just rip the band-aid off and get to it.
And that is City Bans on bird feeding.
The main cities in the Phoenix Valley we’ll discuss today are Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, and Phoenix. These are the ones that have officially passed bans at the recording of this podcast, but other cities out there may be considering them.
Let’s look at Mesa first. In 2019, the Mesa city council approved an amendment to the city’s nuisance code prohibiting feeding wild birds. Many customers of the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Mesa that sells products specifically to feed wild birds were pretty concerned, but you need to dig a little deeper into the code to get the whole story.
This change was certainly inspired by people feeding wild birds and attracting too many pigeons and doves. I am now quoting from a Code Compliance brochure from the Mesa police website that states “It is a violation in the City of Mesa to feed pigeons and doves on private or public property. An exemption is provided for feeding of other species of birds from a feeder intended to prevent pigeons and doves from feeding.” End quote.
The key here is that you can still feed the birds as long as you are doing it with a feeder that prevents large bird from taking over. You can get just the right feeder and the correct food that will cut down on the number of larger birds, such as pigeons and doves, that you attract. This is essentially what we preach with the podcast as well. Responsible bird feeding.
Tempe. In 2018, the city of Tempe did essentially the same thing. Their ordinance was aimed at reining in people who were putting out large amounts of bird seed and attracting flocks of pigeons and doves. Some feared they wouldn’t be able to put out bird feeders anymore but Councilman Kolby Granville was quoted by the AZCentral as saying “We’re not talking about a bird feeder, we’re talking about a bag of food a week.” End quote.
Cheryl – Let’s talk about Phoenix. In the Phoenix City Code Section 8-7.02 it states that feeding pigeons is prohibited. It states “It is unlawful for any person to feed pigeons within the City. The prohibition does not prohibit the feeding of other birds using practices or devices designed to prevent pigeons from obtaining food.”
Once again, this city is trying to cut down on larger birds like pigeons and doves coming in droves to food but is not opposed to smaller birds coming to appropriate feeders.
Scottsdale - Now Scottsdale’s ban is a bit different. In 2014, the city of Scottsdale banned the feeding of ducks and other birds at public parks. It seems that people were bringing whole loaves of bread, sometimes garbage bags full of stale bread, to the park and dumping them on the pathways or in ponds. I think Kiersten and I are both onboard with this ban since bread is terrible food for ducks, birds, and any wildlife. It has no nutrition in it and is not a natural food for them to eat.
When you break it down like this it’s not scary and it’s what we want our bird feeding enthusiasts to do anyway! Feed responsibly.
Kiersten – I have to admit I’m kinda on board with all of these bans, really. They all help protect our birds by limiting the amount if food available, which cuts down on the number of birds in one place at one time, which decreases the likely hood of spreading diseases. It also encourages people to use hanging feeders and not ground feed which is another way to cut down on spreading diseases.
Laws are not scary and are here to help protect our birds and ourselves.
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Monday Oct 31, 2022
Summary: Did you know that Arizona is home to 13 different species of owls? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they talk about these amazing feathered residents.
For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes.
Show Notes:
www.avibirds.com/owls-of-arizona/
www.a-z-animals.com/blog/true-owls-vs-barn-owls-what-are-the-diffrences/
Owling: Enter the World of the Mysterious Birds of the Night, by Mark Wilson
Liberty Wildlife:
(480)998-5550
2600 E Elmwood St. Phoenix, AZ 85040
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com
Transcript
Host Voice: Welcome to The Feathered Desert a podcast all about desert bird feeding in the Southwest region of the United States. (Various bird calls play)
Cheryl-Intro: Welcome to The Feathered Desert! Arizona is a haven for birdlife. It is a state with a multitude of diverse landscapes that range from deserts to conifer forests, to incredibly very different types of landscaped mountain ranges. It has breathtaking canyons, riparian areas with cottonwoods and willows very much untouched by man. This landscape diversity supports a very diverse selection of birdlife including (are you ready) thirteen different owls. I was floored! I thought maybe six species but no it’s thirteen. That’s why it’s in two parts.
Kiersten: Few general facts:
Owls live in a variety of habitats. For every type of bird habitat there is an owl that fits into it.
Owls are nocturnal raptors, specialized for hunting in the dark, and are equipped with excellent night vision; but there are a few owls that are active during the day. There is always an exception to the rule!
To be more specific:
Diurnal-by definition diurnal means happening or active during the daytime. Animals that are diurnal are usually awake and active during the daytime. Burrowing Owls, Short-eared Owls, Snowy Owls
Crepuscular-cre-pus-cu-lar: means relating to twilight, referring to animals that are active in the twilight—active at dawn and dusk. A few of our owls that do that are Northern Pygmy Owl and Ferrugious Pygmy Owl
Nocturnal-done, occurring, or active at night. Northern Saw-whet Owl, Barn Owl, Boreal Owl
One of my favorite things about owl is that they all have specialized feathers for silent flight. That mean you will not hear them ehThat being said: the tiny Elf owl is the nosiest when in flight. That is saying quite a lot. You’ll probably just barely hear him as he flies overhead. Which is interesting because it hunts insects, and some insects can hear. It begs the question of why this owl evolved to be a little bit louder than other owls but is so small.
Cheryl: I don’t know but I thought it was interesting!
Kiersten: Like most birds, owls have 4 toes on each foot. 2 toes point forward and 2 toes point backward. However, owls have a special ability -they can swing one of their back toes to the front. Helps it to grip wiggling prey. Ospreys, woodpeckers, and parrots can do this as well.
Owls have good spatial memory, probably better than us, for sure better than me!
(Cheryl and Kiersten both laugh)
Kiersten: Owls carry detailed mental maps of their surroundings. This helps an owl remember where things are and where they left things. Which is super important!
Cheryl: It is because they store food! Who knew?
Kiersten: Yeah! There are 19 species of owls that breed and nest in the United States and Canada. 13 of these species may be found in Arizona!
Cheryl: So, Owls are split into two family groups. Every time I do research for a podcast I learn so much that I didn’t know! The first group is Strigidae-which are true owls and the Tytonidae-the Barn Owls.
True Owls VS Barn Owls some of the differences are
Physical Appearance: Many true owl species have ear tufts on their heads covered in feathers. They have large heads, round facial discs around their eyes. They have yellow or orange eyes.
Barn Owls have a great heart-shaped facial disc. Presence of long strong legs with powerful talons.
Dark eyes and the absence of ear tufts. They have ears but not tufts.
Calls: True owls make hooting calls. Barn owls don’t hoot, rather they make eerie-sounding screams.
Habitats: True owls are found worldwide except in Antarctica.
Barn Owls occur everywhere except in the cold temperate, and Arctic regions. They prefer open places and live away from humans.
Kiersten: They are found on every continent!
Cheryl: Behavior: True owls exhibit nocturnal behaviors and have specialized morphology for their wings. Barn Owls are nocturnal birds.
Color: they have brown or gray vertical markings, and their underbellies are usually white. Barn owls are usually an orange-black color. Their breasts are white.
Hunting Styles: True Owls are mostly seen by people as tame since they show no movement unless you
are very close to them. They are ambush predators. Although they are elusive they are relatively not shy towards people.
Kiersten: Yes, but were not saying for you to go up to one because they are not tame! They are just good at their jobs which is to be calm and still and ambush prey or fly away.
Cheryl: Right!
Barn Owls are opportunistic hunters. They fly in open areas gliding across the low grasses locating prey
by sound.
Lifespan: Ture Owls lifespans very depending on the species, on average these owls have longer lifespans than Barn Owls. Barn Owls live 5-10 years and that is being generous. They can live longer in captivity.
Kiersten: The Great Horned Owl-
Great Horned Owl is Arizona’s largest and most widespread owl. Known as the “Tiger of the Sky”, the Great Horned Owl is probably the most familiar to our listeners of all the Arizona owls. We both have them in our yards. This owl has mottled grayish-brown feathers on its wings, head, and body. It has pale cream to white underneath with brown barring, and it has a reddish-brown to gray facial feathers, and a white throat patch. This will all be hard to see in the dark but if you catch them in a flashlight or see them in a tree during the day you might get to see the colors better. Great Horned Owls have long feathers covering their legs and feet. Great horned owls are 17-25 inches in height. Average weight of an adult is 2.6 – 3.5 lbs. The females will be larger and heavier. The wingspan of this raptor is on average 3-5 feet across. That’s a nice wingspan!
Cheryl: That’s also pretty heavy for an owl!
Kiersten: Yep! Great Horned Owls are highly adaptable birds with an incredibly diverse diet comprising of over 200 species of mammals, and 300 species of birds, invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Why pick just one thing when you have all this stuff to eat? Why not just eat it all
Cheryl: (laughs) I don’t think we missed anything on that list!
Kiersten: The favorite meal of these birds are skunks. I mean…yeah?
(Both co-hosts laugh)
Cheryl: Well skunks are cute.
Kiersten: They are cute! And the owls keep their population in check. The Great Horned Owl is the only owl to regularly eat skunk. I think they may not have to best sense of smell, if they don’t mind eating skunk!
Cheryl: (laughs)
Kiersten: Great Horned Owls do migrate. They live in their territory their whole lives. Historically, they were once intensively hunted. Their feathers a really beautiful and there is always the myth that they eat your sheep, which is completely false. They are not s bog enough bird to do that. But now the biggest threat is indirect poisoning by harmful rodenticides. Which is a terrible shame! For more information on that, please, reference our Rodenticide: A Deadly Decision podcast.
Fun Fact: Great Horned Owls will defend their nests fiercely by hooting, hissing, grunting, and screaming. It is quite terrifying to see! You don’t want to encounter this!
Cheryl: They really do impress me. Every time I encounter one or watch them on a webcam.
Kiersten: They really are impressive. These are the ones that have that wise look on theor faces. The one that the phrase wise old owl comes from but…they are not wise. They’re great at being owls bt not great problem solvers!
Cheryl: (laughs)
Kiersten: One other thing about the Great Horned Owl. They are definitely one of the owl that have ear tufts. We are not exactly sure why they have ear tufts. Some scientists say it’s for checking the changing wind, or they are used to make decisions on the wing but we not entirely sure what they are for. But the tufts are just feathers not ears. They have ears but the feathers that stick up are not their ears.
Cheryl: Sometime I think it’s for communication between owls because they can flatten them or hold them up straight. They do things with them if you ever have the opportunity to watch them.
Kiersten: That’s a good thought! Owls are solitary hunters, so they could potentially hurt another owl. I don’t necessary want to cozy up to my neighbor that might kill me! So maybe they are used to communicate from a distance.
Cheryl : And with eye color. All 19 different owl species have a different eye color and scientist don’t know why! Mabe it’s for communication as well.
Kiersten: Maybe!
Cheryl: Barn Owl
The Barn Owl is an unusual beauty. It is a medium sized owl with a heart-shaped face and a characteristic pale speckled plumage. The upperparts are rusty brown with dark patches. The face and underparts range from cream to white. It has slender, feathered legs and long broad wings that enable sharp, agile movements. This owl is 13-15 inches in height. It weighs about 1 -1.5 lbs.
Kiersten: The female is definitely a bit bigger. The females need more weight to incubate eggs and more skeletal width to lay eggs, but of all the raptors they have the least difference between male and female.
Cheryl: Barn Owls wingspan is 31-37 inches across.
Barn Owls occur in the open grasslands, farmlands, open meadows in woodlands and woodland edges. They are nocturnal. Barn Owls roost or nest in old buildings, barns, silos, steeples, sheds, mine and well shafts, tree cavities, caves and stacks of baled hay. It is an unmissable bird. Look out for a flash of white in the open country at night. Barn Owls has an undulating flight pattern. They hunt by gliding low above the ground using sight and sound to locate prey. Barn Owls have asymmetric ears which means one ear is a little higher than the eyes while the opposite one sits a little lower than the eyes. This helps Barn owls to quickly and accurately locate faint sounds. The sounds strike each ear at slightly different times.
One Barn Owl will eat 8 mice/voles a night. That’s 2,920 rodents a year.
Kiersten: That’s good rodent control, right there!
Cheryl: Barn owls have been known to stockpile prey animals, especially, during nesting season. Barn Owls are typically solitary birds but will live in pairs. Barn owls are non-violent, altruistic and family-oriented birds. Barn Owl siblings care for one another while they are together.
Barn owls often are the victims of vehicle collisions, but their greatest threat is indirect poisoning by harmful rodenticides.
Kiersten: This is the Flammulated Owl
Cheryl: I’m gla you said that word!
Kiersten: It’s not a pretty word. (laughs)
Cheryl: I don’t know who names these birds!
Kiersten: they could have picked a prettier word, for sure!
This little owl has flame-like markings on its wings, for which it is named. However, grayer variants lack this feature. Its plumage is a mix of dark brown, gray, buff, and white providing the perfect camouflage. It has large, dark eyes, and small ear tufts that are often held flat against the head. It is 6-7 inches in height. Weighs about 1.5-2 ounces and has a wingspan of 14-16 inches across.
Flammulated Owls are migratory. Wintering here in Arizona from September-March. Flammulated Owls can be found in Arizona’s old Ponderosa Pine forests, Douglas Fir, and mixed conifer forests, and in amongst the Aspen trees at higher elevations. Flammulated owls are considered the most abundant of the forest dwelling owls in Arizona. These owls are heavily dependent on mature forests. Habitat loss and rodenticides are the greatest threats to these owls.it vocalizes with twittery noises, mews, and in hoots. Smaller than the Western Screech Owl this little owl often roosts in old woodpecker or sapsucker holes. Flammulated owl eats insect like grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, spiders, ants I can’t believe they eat ants, that seems like a lot of work for such a small reward, dragonflies, and moths. Probably one of their favorite is those big, fat moths in the silk moth family. That would tide you or for days.
Cheryl: I was surprised at what insects they eat because they are nocturnal. The dragonflies.
Kiersten: Dragonflies might be easier to catch at night though because they’ll be stationary.
Cheryl: I don’t know how they do it!
Kiersten: Me neither but they always seem to know what they are doing!
Cheryl: Whiskered Screech Owl
I think this one is so cute. I remember watching a video of one and thinking how cute he was and then it snatched a hummingbird! Then I thought he’s not so cute anyone!
Kiersten: (laughs) Predators always do that to us!
Cheryl: (laughs) The Whiskered Screech Owl is named for the wispy bristles at the base of their beak. It is a small owl with streaked plumage and a rounded head with short ear tufts. There is a gray morph and rufous colored morph. It has golden- yellow eyes and a yellow-green bill. I also found it interesting that owl beaks can be different colors! Its height is 6-8 inches, and it weighs 2.4-4.2 ounces. This owl’s wingspan is 16-20 inches across.
These owls inhabit southeastern Arizona in the dense oak woodlands and mountains forests of the Madrean Sky Island Mountain Range. The very southeastern tip of Arizona. They are active from dusk through the night. They mainly prey on arthropods, including locusts, grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, moths, caterpillars, centipedes, spiders and scorpions. I always like a bird that can catch a scorpion! They occasionally hunt small mammals and small birds. Your best chance to look for Whiskered Screech owl is in the Sycamore groves alongside canyons in the popular birding area of Madera Canyon. Listen for the evenly spaced boo-hoots of the small owls.
That’s just four of the thirteen owls we have in Arizona. Part two is coming soon! Please I would just like to remind everyone that the Phoenix Valley is home to a great raptor rehab facility. Liberty Wildlife offers rehabilitation to injured raptors such as the owls here in Arizona. So, if you would like a close -up with an owl you may visit their education center for a tour. If you find an injured owl please keep visual contact with the injured bird, and call Liberty Wildlife. A volunteer will come out and rescue the bird. We will include Liberty Wildlife’s contact information in our show notes.
Stay tuned for part two coming in the near future!
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Monday Oct 24, 2022
Summary: Arizona has so many beautiful regions with various bird species. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they venture into Northern Arizona and talk about what birds you can see and the best times of year to visit!
Show Notes:
Cheryl's personal experience
www.nationalparks.org/explore/parks/grand-canyon-national-park
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Thursday Oct 20, 2022
Summary:A three-minute podcast from the hosts of The Feathered Desert about individual bird species found in the desert Southwest
Show Notes:
Bird song provided by Macaulay Library at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, recorded by Micheal O'Brien
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Monday Oct 17, 2022
Summary: Have you ever wondered if it is okay to use red dye in hummer food? Organic sugar versus refined sugar in hummer nectar? Should I clean my bird bath? Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they tell you the truth about some of these persistent bird feeding myths.
Show Notes:
www.audubon.org
Background bird song: Naturescapes Backyard Birds www.naturescapes.com
Our email address, please reach out with comments, questions, or suggestions: thefeathereddesert@gmail.com
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Monday Oct 03, 2022
It's the beginning of Fall planting season so we thought we'd revisit one of last seasons episodes about building a bird friendly garden! We'll be back next week with a brand new episode.
Summary: Creating a wildlife habitat is easier than you think. Wild Birds Unlimited and National Wildlife Federation are pairing up to promote neighborhood wildlife habitats. Join Cheryl and Kiersten as they walk you through the five simple steps to help you help our feathered friends.
Show Notes:
NWF Native Plant finder nwf.org/nativeplantfinder
Certify your yard as a wildlife habitat: wbu.com/certify-your-yard
Native Plant Nursery Directory: plantnative.org
Audubon Native Plant Database: audubon.org/native-plants
National Wildlife Federation website:nwf.org/WBUgarden
We are no longer sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited, Mesa but through personal experience we highly recommend their products.