Cornell Lab of Ornithology

To Migrate or Not? That is the Question.

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

The classic image of bird migration at the approach of winter is the sight of Canada Geese flying high above our lakes, parks, towns and cities in V-shaped flocks. As winter fades, local television newscasters sometimes bubble with excitement at an alleged sign of spring’s return, robins on a snow speckled lawn. They salute the American Robin as the first returning bird of spring when robins are reported stalking about sunny suburban lawns searching for worms between patches of melting snow. These romanticized images of bird behavior and migration are less than accurate. Continue reading →

Snowy Owls: Visitors from the Arctic Wilderness

Oakland County, MI Government 2 Comments

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Snowy Owls are charismatic, majestic and mysterious. They are the heaviest of all North American owls with some weighing almost six pounds. Their yellow eyes, massive talons, feathered feet, eye-catching white plumage and diurnal hunting behavior appeal to almost everyone, even people who normally would rather shop in a crowded mall than walk in the silence of a woodland. Naturalists and birders are smitten by their unpredictable movement patterns, and the spirit of the remote arctic wilderness these amazing raptors represent. However, unless you plan on visiting the high Arctic tundra of North America or Eurasia, the chances of seeing Snowy Owls in the wild is usually nearly zero. But maybe not this December.

Photo Credit: John Buckelew
Photo Credit: John Buckelew

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Turkey Tales and Tidbits from the Wilder Side

Oakland County, MI Government 3 Comments

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

No one seems to think about turkeys very much until the turkey’s internal temperature soars to 180 degrees Fahrenheit and it’s surrounded by sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, cooked greens and a pumpkin pie. Invite me to your Thanksgiving table and I won’t ask about the wishbone; I will try to engage the gathering in a lively conversation of snoods, wattles, caruncles, dewlaps, spurs and beards. Continue reading →

The Wonderful World of Winter Woodpeckers

Oakland County, MI Government 7 Comments
WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

The feeder frenzy of November is about to begin. Shortly after the crimson and gold colors of autumn disappear, and the first snowflakes swirl about beneath a panoramic sky of gray, an ever-changing menagerie of Eastern Bluebirds, Blue Jays, House Finches, Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees will appear at feeders, almost as if by magic. Hang some suet and add extra sunflower seeds to the mix and the woodpeckers of winter may quickly join the feast. The one-ounce Downy Woodpecker, North America’s smallest woodpecker, and our red-crested forest giant, the Pileated Woodpecker, the largest woodpecker of North America, are among the mix of local species that frequent the feeders on the wilder side of Oakland County. Continue reading →

Barred Owls: Songsters of the Swamps

Oakland County, MI Government 12 Comments

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

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The swamps and wetlands of Oakland County fell silent after heavy frost laced the landscape. Green frogs and bullfrogs are now lying on top of the muddy bottoms of shallow wetlands. No more ker-plunks of turtles attempting to discreetly slide off sunning logs. Except for the occasional warning crack of the tail of a beaver slamming forcefully against water, there are few surprise noises to be heard near the near magical world of the bog and the swamp. There is however one notable exception: the melodious and rich baritone hooting of our beautiful Barred Owls, an owl that some refer to as the “swamp owl”. Barred Owls (Strix varia) are breaking the silence of the swamps. Continue reading →