Life at Boomer Lake with Deb, Thursday June 12, 2014

Walking the Bird

All I know is that this bird is walking with this man, and evidently creating a good deal of interest. There’s a good chance that this bird may just have a good idea on who butters its bread.

A study in Germany shows that crows have an excellent short term memory, which went a step further. They were able to choose photographs of objects that they had just seen. Even though their minds are not the same as ours, corvids do have remarkable mental processes that have been proved in the past.

Here’s something to ponder: How did flightless birds end up on the other side of the world? There appears to be a very easy answer, but it has to do with evolution. Don’t believe in evolution? What is your theory on how birds’ movement occurred?

There was close to a week of rain in Oklahoma, so my chances for getting out to observe events on the lake was almost nil. As a matter of fact, I was even rained on twice, so those chances didn’t stop my attempts. However, it was all worthwhile for some of the interesting photos that I managed to get. Had it not rained so much, there are just some things that I never would have encountered. As far as the animal kingdom is concerned, never say that it won’t happen, because they will manage to prove you wrong.

The lake is at very healthy levels. About a month ago, I was in Tulsa, and observed that the Arkansas River was nearly dry. A river is nearly without water! Drought is a serious problem when it comes to global warming or climate change, and it causes a number of strange events. Birds end up in places where they have never been before for food. Other birds have stopped breeding in places where they did for hundreds of years. Other birds are dying from the lack of fish that no longer live where they are. These problems are very real, and are caused by greenhouse gases, but hope is upon the horizon. Our government is working toward combating global warming with the passage of new laws. Yes!

This morning, I had to look twice when I saw a red eared slider walking past me, as this turtle loves the water. There is so much water on the ground that it made no difference to this turtle, who was on his way to the main part of the lake. That’s how I managed to capture this wonderful photo. See the red on the side of his face? That’s the easy way to see what kind of turtle this is. Don’t pick him up, though, as some of them will bite.

Our vigilant Red-winged Blackbirds are guarding their territory and making life safer for you and me. Wrong! They have even been after the Great Blue Heron in the Southern Cove, who doesn’t bother anybody. I saw that poor heron driven from his favorite watering hole, but he managed to get back there today. He was very hungry, too.

Someone asked me that on the lake yesterday, and from prior knowledge, I was able to answer that question. For the past two years, I have been keeping abreast of this and have learned a few things. American Robins will sometimes use nests of another robin. Great Horned Owls don’t build nests, but will use the nest of a hawk from the previous year. The Bald Eagle will repair and add to its old nest, and European Starlings take over the nests of other birds. However, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher will sometimes use a former nest. I also have an abandoned Baltimore Oriole’s nest.

This is the nesting year for Brown Thrashers on Boomer Lake. I have at least five nesting pairs on the east side of the lake, which is a big jump from last year. Chances are very good that some of them are first year adults from last year’s clutches. There are plenty of bugs for them due to the abundance of water this season, so Boomer Lake has some prime real estate going for it.

I made it to the Northern Reaches, which is still full of life. Several Great Blue Herons were fishing, mother Mallards and their young were enjoying the solitude, and numerous woodpeckers reside there, especially the Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers. Numerous songbirds are hiding in the leafy branches, and the entire area is filled with song. There are plenty of fish, including some of the larger catfish, and there are cascades of trumpet vines on the trees. This is such a beautiful area and is well populated with life this year. I’m hoping to be able to hit it just right this fall, before migration occurs and see if I can get some good shots of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and all those other wonderful shy birds that won’t come to the lake proper, like the little White-breasted Nuthatch.

A couple of Double-crested Cormorants were on the main part of the lake, as were several nesting Eastern Kingbirds. We also have plenty of Purple Martins as we have several additional houses, Northern Cardinals, Brewer’s Blackbird, the Great-tailed and Common Grackles, the Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, American Goldfinches, House Finches and Sparrows, and the Brown Headed Cowbird. There will soon be other surprises, but I shall not make mention, as I am waiting to see if you might see these birds before I do.

All good things must come to an end, so I’ll talk to you next week. Keep your eyes to the ground and your head in the clouds. Happy birding!