Christmas Bird Count

December 18th was the Wichita Falls area Christmas Bird Count. This is an annual national event sponsored by the Audubon Society. The North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club host the local event. I joined Penny Miller's Lake Wichita Count.

We met at the spillway at 7:30am for a foggy and chilly start to the day. After we documented the birds we saw there we walked over to the old pier and then over to the chat trail and barrow pit. Penny did all the documentation but I do remember a large number of the species we observed.

The list includes Killdeer, Ringed-billed Gulls, Mallards, White Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, a Franklin Gull (we think), Blue-winged Teal, Canvasback ducks, Pintails, American Coots, Pied-billed Grebes, a Common Snipe, Bewick's Wren, Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Great-tailed Grackles, Mourning Doves, White-winged Doves, Eurasian Collard Doves, House Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Cardinals, Greater Yellow-legs, Harris' Sparrow, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Harrier, Shoveler, Meadowlark (they don't sing this time of year so it is difficult to tell if Western or Eastern), Great Blue Heron, Common Egret (rare for this time of year), Ruddy Ducks, Canada Geese, American Goldfinches, Northern Flicker, four deer and a coyote. OK, we can't count the deer and coyote for the bird count - but they were there also.

Interesting note; we saw a white goose among a flock of Canada Geese. Sometimes Snow Geese will migrate with Canada's. However, they were too far away for a positive I.D. on the white goose. I know I probably left off a species, or two. This is the first year I have participated and I really enjoyed the experience. I look forward to next year's event.

Memorial Dedication

Saturday we dedicated two structures in memory of two young ladies who left us too early in life. Our chimney swift tower is dedicated in Memory of Janiece Vitek. Janiece was killed while attending college in San Marcos. She loved birds and had a deep concern for all wildlife. The picture on top shows her mom, Glenda, holding the bow after the ribbon cutting, good family friend John Hirschi who assisted me in holding the ribbon, and her father John. Missi's Mew is dedicated in Memory of Britani Maye Gossett. Britani was killed in a tragic plane crash two years ago. The ribbon is held by Lila Arnold on the left, our Assitant Director and a former teacher of Britani's, and Board Vice-President Terry McKee. Her Grandmother, Melanie Gossett is cutting the ribbon and her grandparents, Roby & Renee Christie, are behind Melanie along with other family members. The Chimney Swift tower was funded in part by the Vitek family and the general community. Construction was by WBR volunteer Brian Miller. Landscaping by Rehabber Penny Miller. Missi's Mew was funded by the Gossett family, Christie family, Barwise Student Council, students at Jefferson Elementary and the general community. The concrete footing was built by Kynan Franke for his Boy Scout Eagle Award and the enclosure was constructed by the Navy Seabees at Sheppard AFB. Landscaping by Rehabber Steve Pruitt. We wish to thank all who assisted and all those who participated in Saturday's event.

Memorial Dedication Ceremonies

You are invited:

Dedication of the Chimney Swift Tower

In Memory of Janiece Vitek

History

Bob Lindsay

Ribbon

Glenda and John Vitek

John Hirschi, Treasurer

Decication of Missi's Mew

In Memory of Brittani Maye Gossett

History

Lila Arnol, Assistand Director, and Missi, Avian Ambassador

Ribbon

Melanie Gossett

Renee and Roby Christie

TOWER

Constructed by Brian Miller, Landscaping by Penny Miller with plants from the Wichita Falls

Master Gardeners and theRolling Plains Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, Sign and Poster by Bob Lindsay, Donations by the Vitek familyand the Community of Wichita Falls.

MEW

Foundation built by Kynan Franke, Boy Scout Troop 600, Structure built by the Navy Seabees Sheppard Air Force Base, Landscaping by Steve Pruitt, Sign by Bob Lindsay, Donations by the Gossett family, the Christie family, Barwise Student Council, WFISD, and the Community of Wichita Falls.

Refreshments by Steve Pruitt, Rehabilitator

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

Two o'clock

4611 Lake Shore Drive

Wichita Falls, Texas

Winter Sightings & More

This week has been a good birding week right here at the Rescue Center. I saw my first White-crowned sparrows of this year and my first Chipping sparrows of this year.

Other sightings this week; Eurasian Collored Dove, Inca Doves, White-winged Doves, House Sparrows, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Carolina Wren, Bewick's Wren, Robins, Mockingbirds, Ring-billed Gulls, Double-crested Cormorants, White Pelicans, Belted Kingfisher (heard - not seen) and Sandhill Cranes.

My wife brought me lunch and as I walked her to her car we heard Sandhill Cranes and finally spotted a flock of about two dozen South of us. After lunch I made a trip to the mail box and heard another flock. Never saw them this time. I was thinking it is a little late for them so I looked them up in the North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club's book and sightings this time of year due occur, but are not common.

Great birding week!

Visitor

A squirrel barking his alarm call drew my attention to the cove in front of the rescue center. Up the boat ramp walks a bobcat. She turned east across the open lot and disappeared into the willow trees.

Don't forget we will have a booth at the West Wichita Falls VFD's Arts & Craft Show this weekend. Hours are 10am - 6pm Saturday and Noon - 5pm Sunday. Location is the MPEC J.S. Bridwell Ag Center. Admission is free. We will be in booth E6 - come by and see us.

Altitude Adjustment

Our brother-in-law called Saturday evening to see if we wanted to go to the Wichita Mountains on Sunday. My wife's sister always calls it "an altitude adjustment". As always we really enjoyed the trip. It is fun and relaxing no matter who you get to see, or not see.

On the way there we saw Red-tailed Hawks, a Great Blue Heron, Cooper's Hawk, Meadowlarks, Red-winged Blackbirds and a Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk). While driving through the mountains we saw Canada Geese, Grebes, Mallards, Meadowlarks, sparrow (too far for positive I.D.), and another Northern Harrier.

We also spotted the occasional buffalo, saw plenty of long horn cattle and wondered about the deer and elk. At 5:30pm, as we were leaving, we spotted a herd of 9 buffalo. We pulled over to the shoulder of the road and as we were watching the buffalo we saw 5 White-tailed deer. One was a very large buck and was obviously interested in a doe. He did a sudden turn around and we saw a smaller buck approaching the same doe. That is, until he spotted the larger buck. He lowered his head and made a very wide detour around the big guy. While watching him, we spotted some brown spots higher up the hill. Binoculars brought a herd of 16 Elk into view. They were all does and yearlings.

A great day in the Wichita's made even better by the wildlife!

P.E.T.S. PANTRY

Wild Bird Rescue will be at P.E.T.S. Pantry 1st Annual Community Pet Food Drive tomorrow. This event is being sponsored by Purina Rally to Rescue. P.E.T.S. (Prevent Euthanasia Through Sterilization" is answering the need for those individuals that are having a difficult time buying food for their families and their pets. Due to the economy, job loses, etc. some people have found they can no longer afford to support their beloved pets. There are senior citizens NOT buying the medications they need so they can afford to feed their furry children. PETS Pantry will assist these people in their time of need.

The event is tomorrow from 10am - 2pm at PETS LOW COST SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC, BERENDS LANDING, 500 WICHITA STREET. Wild Bird Rescue has been invited to be a part of this and we will have a booth with our gift shop items available for sale. You can bring dog and/or cat food to support the pantry and swing by WBR's booth for some Christmas shopping and support WBR. Missi, our Avian Ambassador will be at our booth to great you.

Other organizations scheduled to be there are; Miss Fannie, Healing Hearts, WF Humane Society, American Brittany Rescue, Chihuahua Rescue & Transport, 3B Rescue, Animal Control, Curly Canines and the Wichita Falls Obedience Club. There will be baked goods and refreshments available.

COME SEE US - ADMISSION IS FREE!

Sandhill Cranes

I have watched four small flocks of Sandhill Cranes flying over the Rescue Center today. We had word they were at Hackberry Flats. There was a spotting at Hackberry of a flock of Sandhill Cranes that had a Whooping Crane with them. That would be so neat to see a Whooper. They are the most endangered bird in North America. Maybe one of these days.....

Burrowing Owl Saga

The saga of our Burrowing Owl has come to an end. One of our supporters has a ranch with a prairie dog village. The village has numerous Burrowing Owls living there. We were allowed to take our owl there and release him. This is the first Burrowing Owl in the five years I have been with Wild Bird Rescue and only the second in our history. He is now free and residing with prairie dog and other Burrowing Owl friends.

2010 Big Sit

The Rolling Plains Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists hosted this year's "Big Sit". This is about the easiest way to watch birds. Every one stays within a 17 foot radius and I.D. birds as they come to you. Needed equipment is your chair, binnoculars, and bird book. If a bird is heard or spotted, you can leave the circle for a better I.D. But, it only counts if you first spot the bird from the circle.

This is the fourth year Phyllis & I attended and the first year we did not freeze sitting on the shore line of Lake Wichita. The bad part was the lower number of birds we saw in the warmer weather. Species seen were; Mallards, Killdeer, Great-tailed Grackle, Common Grackle, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Red-winged Blackbird, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Rock Pigeon, Blue Jay, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Northern Mockingbird, White-winged Dove, Chimney Swift, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Eurasian Collard Dove, Double-crested Cormorant, American Robin, Red-tailed Hawk and Turkey Vulter. The photo shows us in a quandry, do we ID the Mallard, or is the Mallard trying to ID us? She waddled up the path as we were leaving and walked right into the middle of the group.

Burrowing Owl Came in Today

A Burrowing Owl apparently flew into some windows chasing insects. He has head trauma and is a "wait and see" patient. He's eating well, though, so hopefully we should release him soon.

Ideas for Christmas Gifts

Plush birds.
$6.00.









Bird houses crafted by our co-founder, Marty Maxwell.
$10.00

















Note cards designed by students from the Wichita Falls Independent School District
$10.00










NEW! 2011 calendar featuring birds raised, saved, and released from Wild Bird Rescue.
Photography by the Red River Photography Club and rehabbers such as Lila Arnold, pictured at right with Missi, Avian Ambassador.
$10.00
















The 2011 calendar shows Texas State Representative David Farabee releasing a Red-tailed Hawk from Wild Bird Rescue.









WE GIVE A HOOT t-shirt designed by Lila Arnold, Wild Bird Rescue's rehabber and educational director.
$10.00.











Please email me, Bob, at bob.wildbirdrescue@yahoo.com, or phone me at (940)691-0828.

Your purchase helps us continue to save wild birds. Your further contribution is tax deductible.

Good Birding on Vacation

Hey, all. Phyllis and I just got back from San Antonio visiting our daughter and grand-daughter. We had a fantastic time. On the way back home, we spent the night in Marble Falls in a hotel that overlooked Lake Marble Falls. WOW!

Although our primary reason for the visit was to see our girls, I did manage some good birding. While in San Antonio, I spotted Blue Jays, Scrub Jays, Mockingbirds, White-winged Doves, Eurasian Collared Doves, House Sparrows, a female Oriole, Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures, Ravens, Common Grackles, Great-tailed Grackles, Cardinals, and a Bewick's Wren. I heard (dut did not see) a small woodpecker. While in Marble Falls, we saw Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures, Cliff Swallows, Mockingbirds, Blue Jays, House Sparrows, Common Grackles, Rock Doves, White-winged Doves. All the birds in Marble Falls were spotted while relaxing on the balcony of our hotel room.

The thing we found amazing, and somewhat disturbing, was that we had no spottings of ANY hawks. Not one single hawk seen on the drive down, while we were there, or on the drive back to Wichita Falls.

A great vacation made better with good birding.

First Ever Wood Duck Released

Every year seems to bring someone new to Wild Bird Rescue. I believe I have already commented on us receiving our first ever baby Wood Duck. Well, today was release day. As he is our first, I wanted to take a picture of the release. I caught him and an mallard who was also ready for release and proceeded down to the cove. I had my camera in one hand, and the carrier with the two ducks in the other hand. I walked down the boat ramp and stopped about three feet from the water. My intent was to take pictures as the Wood Duck walked into the water and swam away. I made ready the camera, bent over, and opened the door to the carrier. The Wood Duck made three running steps out of the carrier, spread his wings, and flew over the cove and across the peninsula, heading south over Lake Wichita. I was still bent over the carrier, the camera still in my hand, and the picture not taken.

The GOOD news is that it's our first ever baby Wood Duck, and it was released. :-) ! The BAD news is that I don't have a picture to share with you. :-(

Blue Jays Hang Around

Every year we have at least one blue jay that hangs around and flies from window to window begging.

Cooper's Hawk on Aviary

The thing about outside aviaries is that the songbirds will attract predators. This morning a Cooper's hawk tried to figure out how to get inside the aviary. Fortunately, it's not possible and the songbirds are protected.

August Statistics

Hard to believe we are already into the month of September. August was a busy month. In fact, we received more birds in August than we did in July.

Birds received in August: 154
Birds received in 2010: 943
Released: 62.18%
Pending release: 6.96%

We released six more kites last Friday, and numerous Blue Jays, robins, mockingbirds, White-winged doves, and on Monday we released the Mourning doves. We moved five more kites to their outside aviary. Robins, Blue Jays, grackles, and doves all went to their outside aviaries. The last mallard and Wood ducks have about one more week with us prior to their release.
We still have several other birds inside the main building: two kites, six mockingbirds, one Great-tailed grackle, three Barn swallows, two Collared doves, five Mourning doves, and there are four White-winged doves in the nestling room. That is it. Birds should be all gone by the middle of September.
I always look forward to the start of the baby season, and yet, I am always very happy when the season is over. I am glad this one is behind us.

Penny and the Warbler

I just read Penny Miller's blog, Charm of Finches. She reports seeing a Yellow Warbler at her klutzie bird outing at Lake Wichita. My spotting was easier and safer. Sunday morning while enjoying a cup of coffee on my front porch, I watched a Yellow Warbler in our Elm tree. Then, Monday morning, I saw a Yellow Warbler in the Mulberry tree at the rescue center. At left is a picture taken by Michael J. Hopiak for Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Fundraiser for PETS Pantry

From Joanna and Leslie, please pass this invitation to everyone.

Marsala's Italian Restaurant has agreed to help PETS Pantry raise money for the PETS pantry opening soon.

Come to Marsala's on Wednesday, September 8th, 5 - 9pm. Marsala's is donating 30% of the profits to PETS Pantry during those hours.

The new PETS Pantry will help provide food for needy pets all year long, working with Meals on Wheels and other organizations. It will be a life saver for many pets. Here is an easy way to help get the project off the ground.

PETS Pantry is trying to raise $2100.00 for the shipping container to store dog and cat food. Plan to eat out that night at Marsala's, and bring your friends.

Baby Ducks?

I received a call today from a lady who said there were ten mallard babies hatched in her front yard yesterday. She was concerned because of predators and busy streets. I assured her that tehy were doing what was natural and the best thing for her to do is nothing.

However, baby mallards in August? They are normally the first babies we see in April. Why are they still having babies so late in the season? We do still have one mallard and one Wood Duck (we think) that won't be ready for release for another two weeks. But in August? If you have an answer (other than weird happenings) I would like to hear it.

Busy, Busy Week

Sorry it has been so long since I wrote an update. We saw bird number 900 come in on the 14th. Monday, the 16th, we released nine kites. Thursday we released four grackles, four Blue Jays, six Robins, and over twenty doves.

Today we moved seven more kites to the outside aviary. We also moved four Blue Jays, four Robins, one Red-bellied Woodpecker, and ten doves to the aviaries.

The only migratory birds we have now are nine kites and four Barn Swallows. We should have plenty of time to get them ready and back into nature before they are due to migrate.

Today we received a fledgling Chimney Swift. He is all but ready for release. Will keep him for a couple of days to rehydrate, and then put him in our Swift Tower for release.

Chimney Swifts

Chimney Swifts are one of the most unique birds. They are migratory and are normally in the Wichita Falls area from early April to the end of September. Once the swifts leave their roost in they morning, they are constantly in flight until they return in the evening. Their roosts are known to house hundreds of swifts. Their numbers are slow to climb due to the reproduction habits of the species. Out of those hundreds of birds in the colony, only one pair will mate and raise young. Three to five babies a year per colony. Chimney Swifts learn from other members of their colony. Therefore, when we release babies we must release them to an established colony.

Over the years we have had to search for a colony to release the babies we raised. Three years ago, Wild Bird Rescue volunteers completed the construction of a Chimney Swift tower. Since then, there has been a mating pair every year. There is a door on the bottom of the tower that is lowered and we simply place the babies up inside and they climb or fly up to join the flock.

That's one more project that WBR has accomplished to ensure the success of our mission. This year we just released four more Chimney Swifts to join our colony.

Purple Martins

Every year we see baby migratory birds. We have to have them ready to be on their own by the times they migrate for the winter. This year we raised three baby Purple Martins. I wasn't too worried for two reasons. Number one, they normally do not leave our area until the first week of September. Number two, in years past the Purple Martins have gathered in large numbers here at the rescue center before they leave.
I worry now because this year is different. The Purple Martins left the rescue center as soon as their young fledged. I have not seen a Purple Martin in over two weeks. I checked with Penny Miller and she commented that she had not seen one for well over a week. Panic time.
Volunteers Ann Brandt and June McKee were at the center yesterday and saw two things happen. One, June volunteered, along with her daughter Terry, to drive our three Purple Martins to Austin. The Purple Martins are still in Austin. Two, Ann stated that she thought she saw Purple Martins on the way to the center that morning. I asked her to check on her way home and to call me. She called me and told me about a house on Hwy 287 that has numerous Purple Martin houses and she felt pretty sure that she saw them flying overhead.
I loaded up our three and drove to the location. Sure enough, there were three on perches above the martin houses and a few more circling overhead. I pulled off onto the shoulder and released our to join the flock.
Another success story thanks to some very dedicated Wild Bird Rescue volunteers!

Released a Killdeer

New Fence

We finished building the fence around the Wild Bird Rescue property, adding security to the mews and birds.

Killdeer and Woodduck (We Think)

Killdeer are hard to raise from hatchlings.

This little guy might grow up to become a Wood Duck. He's still too young for us to be sure.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

A worm! Yum!

Mississippi Kites

Missi in her mew.

Kites growing up at Wild Bird Rescue.

Nighthawks

A bird in flight is a joy. We encourage Nighthawks to fly around the nursery for exercise.

800 Birds

Birds numbers 788, 789, and 800 came to stay with us today. Three Chimney Swifts. Their nest fell down into the fireplace. The nice people scooped them up and brought them in. For those of you who have never heard chimney swifts, let me tell you the place just got a whole lot noisier than it has been!

Aflatoxins in Bird Seed

I would love to take credit for this posting, but the truth be known, I stole the idea from Penny Miller's blog, "A Charm of Finches." (Click on her link at right.) It is very good information and I wanted to pass it on.
Many, many of us enjoy feeding birds in our backyards. it may be for the opportunities to see a new species, the sheer relaxation of kicking back and just watching their antics, or just providing a little something extra to help them out. Some people only feed during the winter, some just during the spring when nest building takes place and many, like my wife and I, feed year round.
It is just as important to keep your feeders clean in the summer as it is in the winter. Wild Bird Rescue has been receiving doves (especially White-winged Doves) coming to us extremely emaciated. We have checked for trich, but there is no sign. The best guess from symptoms is aflatoxin from a fungus that grows in seed when it is hot and humid -- the perfect description of our weather over the past month. Although the humidity is starting to drop, it is still unusually humid in our area.
Store your seed in a clean, dry place, if possible. Clean and disinfect your feeders weekly. this will help prevent aflatoxins and other diseases that pass from bird to bird.
Also, many of you are trying to attract hummingbirds. The sugar water mixtures we feed are very prone to breeding harmful bacteria, expecially in the heat. Replace your nectar every three days, preferably before it develops a cloudy appearance. Clean and disinfect at least once a week. If you feel you are throwing away a lot of sugar water, mix only half as much at a time.
In addition to the information Penny provided in her blog, many of the people who have brought us the sick birds have commented that they observed them down in their yard 3 to 5 days before they realized something was wrong. If a wild bird does not fly away when you approach, there is something wrong. Please don't wait so long before you bring them to us. Aflatoxin is treatable with supportive care. The sooner we start that care, the better chance we have of sending them back into the wild.
We all enjoy watching birds in our yard. In return, we should do our best to keep them healthy.

Baby Mississippi Kites

Baby Mississippi Kites have started arriving at Wild Bird Rescue. The photo shows Assistant Director and Educational Coordinator Lila with the first 4 of this season. We have cared for as many as 75 at one time in past years. Hope we don't go that far this year! But we will be here if they need us.

Kestrel's Release

700

Bird number 700 came to us today. This late in the year and we are still seeing nestling doves. A nestling White-winged and a nestling Eurasian Collard Dove made numbers 699 and 700.

We have been very lucky so far this year. Lots and lots of rain, but no storms and no wind.

Scissortails, Kingbirds, and Others

Can't tell one from the other, but here are a Killdeer and a White-winged Dove keeping each other company in their food dish.

We think this little guy is a Brown-headed Cowbird.

Purple Martins.

We are still raising baby birds, and I'm still elbow-deep in cages. Wouldn't trade it for the world.

Kingbirds.

This is what we see when we get up close to the birds to feed them.

Here is a group of Scissortail Flycathers "hanging out" with Kingbirds.

Scissortail Flycatchers are the last babies to arrive in the spring, and the last to leave in the fall. At this point, they are big enough to want to catch their food in the air. Alicia is very good about dangling worms for them to eat.

Here's Alicia feeding a hatchling that we think is a Kestrel. Time will tell as he grows his distinctive feathers.

June and 296 Babies

June has now passed. It is amazing we are this late into the summer and still have not seen one single day of 100 degrees. As of June 30th we have received 637 birds for the year (23 less than this time last year). 296 birds came to us in the month of June. Our current release rate (those already released plus those pending release) is 68.56%. We are still seeing baby Blue Jays, Mockingbirds, Robins, Sparrows, and Grackles. In addition, we have received Wrens, Scissor-tailed Flycatchers and Western Kingbird babies. So far no baby Kites, but I bet they are just around the next corner.

Time to feed babies.

Milestones

Baby season is marked in milestones. Milestones as in number of birds, numbers released, new species, etc. This week has been busy. Bird number 600 came to us today. Monday we released the two Canada Geese we raised from babies (our first ever Canada Geese babies), the Yellow-crowned Night Heron was released on Wednesday (The first we have raised and released. Before Wednesday, we transferred them to SPWRC in Lubbock.) Wednesday we also released 20 doves and today we released over 25songbirds. Big week at Wild Bird Rescue!

American Kestrel

This fledgling American Kestrel was found cornered by dogs by an employee at the Sonic in Iowa Park. Good thing he was not injured. We will release him in two weeks.

Yellow-crested Heron

We are about to release this Yellow-crested Heron. So far, we have received almost six hundred birds. I like release days for more reasons that one: First, it is our job to raise or cure birds, and second, release days are our goal.