Bird Call

Bird Police

I was standing on the beach the other day minding my own business when a young bird plopped down in the sand close by. 

I was near the National Wildlife Refuge so there were signs everywhere. Don’t disturb this bird: $500 fine. 6 month’s Imprisonment. All of the above.  

I moved.

But a few minutes later—plop. There he was again. The little twerp had followed me.

And this time some adults came straight at me squawking like a flock of parrots. They started diving at my head, screeching and creating a commotion around me.

What is it? Hover to find out.

This wasn’t good.  So I left.

 Then a ways down the beach some guy comes up and starts quizzing me about the birds. Things like: did I know they were protected? And did I know they were sensitive to any disturbance?

“Oh-oh.”  Bird police.

Well it turned out OK. But I admit I was nervous. All the time he was talking I just kept wondering if I was in trouble. What was this guy going to do?  What should I say? What could I say?

“They started it?” :)

 

Boring Fact: While endangered in California, this bird is not considered threatened nationally. One of their biggest problems (besides our big feet) is the Gull-billed Tern.

A Bird-nerd-word: Pelagic [puh-LAJ-ik]

An adjective having to do with animals, in our case birds, that live near the surface of the ocean far from land. Fine. But I can't help wondering. What's the noun? Nearest I can find is Pelage: "hairy covering of mammals." Obviously different roots. :)

Snowy Plover

Snowy Plovers have it rough everywhere but especially in Southern California. They like the beach.  So do the 22 million people that live here.  

We don’t leave much room for birds. No one wants to harm them, but there is only so much beach. And we have big towels. At least we don’t have our babies on the beach. Most of us anyway. But they do. They lay their eggs right on the sand. Just walking on the beach is enough to cause them problems. Then you add in dogs, lifeguard trucks and a beach paddle ball game.  Like I said they have it rough.

And yes there are signs posted near protected sites. Trouble is, birds don’t pay any attention to them. They come right out on the beach where people are.

I want to help. And you can help too. I’m starting a campaign to circulate a more effective sign. One that everyone can understand. I think it will help. So pitch in. Download it and post it on your local beaches.

Download Sign

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Black Skimmer

Black Skimmer

The sharp lower beak skims through the water until it hits something (with any luck a fish). When it does its head is pulled down.  This triggers a reflex that rolls a special vertebrae in its neck forcefully slamming the upper beak down on the lower. It looks like this.

 And now by request (honest) the second stanza of:

The Marvelous Black Skimmer :)

His slicing through water at dawn

Attracts fish to see what’s going on.

Then his beak is the trap that comes down with a snap,

But the fish never seem to catch on. :)

And that my friends will have to stand as my lone contribution to Birdish Literature. :)

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The Well Built Bird

Water. Everywhere. And an Oversized Wading Bird at the Salt Marsh.

Running for their lives

But it’s not necessarily their life they’re running for. It’s this life:

If you approach an adult with fledglings it runs. But only a few feet. Then it stops to see if you’re following. That’s what it wants of course. It’s offering itself as bait to lead you away from its baby.

Meanwhile the chick hunkers down in the sand and tries to be invisible. It usually succeeds

All this makes sense when you realize this sweet little bird has a famous actor for a cousin: the Killdeer--well known for feigning a broken wing to lure stalkers from the nest.

It seems remarkable to me that this bird deliberately puts itself in harm’s way to help its baby survive. Instinct? I guess.

Though I’ve witnessed my wife doing somewhat the same thing. Putting herself in uncomfortable positions for the well being of the kids. Of course no predators were involved.  Just the  PTA. :)

 

 

By the way. Results are in on my poetry blog. They were positive.  Nearly everyone was positive it was a mistake. I can take constructive criticism. : )

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