Month: January 2024

Birds of a Feather

/ TheNextHalfInOhio / Leave a comment

I’m not a “birder” not in any real sense anyway. But I enjoy birds…seeing them…hearing them…learning about them. Especially birds I don’t normally see. Perhaps that’s why I so enjoy spending some time in Florida during the winter. Well, that and the warm weather and sunshine too!

Shorebirds come to mind first. Like this Black-necked stilt. A beautiful little thing that looks like it could have been hand painted; its coloration is exquisite. You’ll find them wading along the shallow edges of lakes and ponds, marshes and other wetlands in search of food such as a variety of insects, crayfish, tadpoles, frogs and fish. With long pink legs, a thin relatively long bill, and black and white coloring, it’s quite distinguishable – even from a distance.

Another common shorebird that is seen quite often is the Greater yellowlegs (although I could be wrong about this ID and this may be the Lesser yellowlegs). It’s always been hard for me to distinguish the two if they aren’t in closer proximity to compare sizes. They also prefer wetland areas. You will often see them striding along in the water and sometimes even running after a small fish.

These two white beauties also love the lakes, ponds and wetland areas. The Great egret (larger bird) and the Snowy egret. Different in size? Definitely. But there’s also other differences in these two. The Great egret has a yellow bill and black feet. The Snowy egret has a black bill and yellow feet though they don’t show in this photo.

And here’s what those yellow feet look like!

But that’s not the only white shorebird you may see. This photo is of an immature Little Blue heron. I read something interesting on the Audubon website which suggested nature helps protect the immature Little Blue because it allows them to feed with flocks of Snowy egrets which stir up prey. Another distinguishing feature of this bird is it’s rather pale greenish legs.

And for comparison, this is an adult Little Blue heron. Quite different with its gray-blue coloring and tinges of maroon on the head and neck.

Did I mention that Florida has a LOT of white birds? This is a White ibis. Very distinctive with its long curbed bill and mesmerizing pale blue eyes. They’re very large wading birds with a body shaped almost like a football. You will see them quite often as they are numerous there. You will often see them in large flocks. One of the interesting things about the White ibis is that they’re not all white. They have black wing tips which you only see when in flight.

A somewhat similar sized bird is the Limpkin, with it’s “siren-like” call of alarm when they feel the need to warn of humans in the area. Limpkins tend to walk with a halting high-stepping gait, and I’ve read that may be why they were named as they were (limp-kin).

Limpkins are one of the few birds whose numbers are actually increasing over the last few years in Florida. It is believed this may be due to the increase of an invasive island apple snail there. Apple snails make up a large portion of the Limpkins diet. With the increase in food, the birds may be thriving.

This Roseate spoonbill was almost as curious about me as I was about her (or him). Roseate spoonbills are a medium to large bird – larger than a White Ibis but smaller than a Great Blue heron. They are white and pink, with rather vivid pink shoulders and rears (although this photo doesn’t show that). Juveniles are similarly colored but are paler, and they sport a feathered head for three years before they obtain their vivid breeding plumage. It’s quite possible that this could be a juvenile based upon what I’ve read.

According to Wikipedia, their vivid pink coloring comes from pigments (canthaxanthin carotenoid) in the food they eat.

Here’s a better shot of that spoonbill which is used quite well when foraging in shallow water for food. They swing their head back and forth in the water with their bill partially open to catch invertebrates. These spoonbills are quite social. They eat, nest and roost in groups.

Here’s an example of the socialization. There are many different birds in this photo that may not be readily identifiable, but some are Great egrets, Wood storks, White ibis, Glossy ibis and Roseate spoonbills.

This is a Glossy ibis. Similar long curved bill as the White ibis but the Glossy’s bill is a blue/black color. Most of it’s feathers appear nearly black except when the sun hits it just right and you see the glorious maroon and blue colored feathers along its back. The Glossy ibis is another medium sized wading bird. It’s breeding plumage can be much more vividly colored. They forage in shallow marshy areas and lower their bill into the muddy, silty water to feel for prey. They eat worms, insects, crabs, shrimp, frogs, toads and snakes, among other things.

They too spend their time socializing in flocks and nest in colonies of Ibis as well as other types of nesting birds such as egrets and herons. They lay three or four eggs in a nest of sticks which can be in trees, bushes or even on the ground. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks though the female does more than her share.

The Glossy ibis is very widespread throughout the world living in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia as well as here in states from Maine to Texas (in the warm months). They winter from the Carolinas south to Florida and the Gulf Coast to Texas.

This small stocky bird is a Green heron. It has short legs, with maroon coloring about its neck and breast. The rest of this heron can appear to be black, dark blue, gray and/or green, as its back feathers are iridescent so it requires good lighting to really see its coloring properly.

Here’s a better look at the maroon coloring.

The Green heron is crow sized and sticks to an aquatic habitat of fresh water on wooded ponds, marshes and along rivers. It is not considered a wading bird, as it prefers to perch on logs or even the ground close by water. It’s very patient when foraging, stalking its prey very slowly. They are also known as intelligent “tool using” species. They have been known to drop a twig into the water to attract fish.

Green herons are primarily solitary birds, though they may nest in pairs but rarely in a large colony of birds. Their nests are composed of a platform of sticks that are in shrubs or trees that can be 5 to 30 feet above the ground, though there are times when they nest on the ground, but almost always close to water.

This rather mottled looking thing is a Ruddy turnstone, yes, another shorebird. It’s actually considered a sandpiper, with its short stocky features and slightly upturned bill (though this photo doesn’t show that well). This bird is common and widespread. They migrate from Canada south to the coastline. They’re known for flipping over stones and shells in search of food. They eat flies, spiders, beetles, wasps and bees, among other things. Their nests are nothing more than a shallow scrape with perhaps some leaf lining on rocky ground or vegetation. They lay 2 to 5 eggs which are incubated by the female. The Ruddy turnstone is fun to watch as it sprints along the shoreline, flipping a pebble and rushing onward to the next one.

Well, that’s a look at some of the shorebirds you might see should you visit the Florida waterways. These beautiful birds are well worth getting to know.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Nature Views blog, and I hope you might have picked up some interesting little tidbit that perhaps you didn’t know. There’s a lot more information on the Internet about these birds, just waiting for you to explore.

Until next time, keep exploring nature up close!

Things with Wings

/ TheNextHalfInOhio / 2 Comments

It’s just about this time of year after the holidays are over when I start getting antsy. When I’m restless and longing for sunshine and warm temperatures. Yet still knowing those may be a while longer yet – sometimes way too long.

So this is when I start looking through nature photos I’ve taken. In this case, photos from Florida last winter. Cause that’s one place – even in winter – where the sun still shines and things still bloom. I thought perhaps you might want to see some of that sunshine as it lights up things with wings.

Our first winged wonder is the Monarch butterfly. It has an amazing migration that most people find fascinating. That such a tiny, delicate little thing can fly from the northern U.S. and Canada all the way south to the mountain tops of Mexico in search of the oyamel fir forests is quite unbelievable.

We all know the value of planting milkweeds to help support the Monarch as this is their host plant – the plant their larvae need to begin life. But it’s also equally importance to have a variety of blooming plants from April through October to supply these beautiful creatures with nectar and pollen. This is the food they need to survive.

The story of the Monarch makes one realize how miraculous nature truly is. Especially when you look beyond the surface of their beautiful colors.

This Zebra Swallowtail blends very well into its environment, as in the photo above. It is the only native kite swallowtail in the U.S. In this case, “kite” refers to it’s long tails.

You’ll typically find these beautiful butterflies in southeastern states, although they can be found as far north as Ohio and some parts of New England. Their host plant is the pawpaw tree. Zebra Swallowtails lay single green eggs on the underside of their leaves. So next time you see a pawpaw tree, lift those leaves to check for eggs; you never know what you might find.

The Common Buckeye is a magnificent creature with its warm brown/orange tones and vivid eye spots. Very recognizable, even from a distance. You’ll see them flitting around low areas quite often, as they are (excuse the pun) quite common throughout the U.S. Their eggs remind me of gooseberries, with tiny white vertical stripes on a green berry. This butterfly is a generalist with quite a few host plants.

Another butterfly that most people love to see is the Eastern Black Swallowtail. This female sports vivid black wings and yellow and blue spots. And if this one’s wings were open a bit wider, you would see a couple of orange spots as well.

The profile of the male and female Black Swallowtail are close to being identical and hard to differentiate. It is the opened wings which help one identify male from female. Females tend to have more vivid blue spots while the male has less prominent blue spots and more vivid yellow.

You’ll find the larvae of these beauties are attracted by plants in the Apiaceae or celery family, which also includes dill, parsley and carrots. These plants have chemicals that repel other predator insects but Black Swallowtail larvae are not detrimentally affected by them. As a result of the larvae eating these plants, Black Swallowtail butterflies taste bad to birds and they avoid them. That’s a very desirable protection of nature.

Want to see Black Swallowtails at your house? Plant a pot of dill or parsley for your patio, put it in a sunny place and watch for those cute little caterpillars to appear.

The Red Admiral is another rather vivid butterfly that is also regularly seen in North America. This is one of just a few butterflies that overwinter as adults in Ohio, typically in hollow logs, bark or leaf litter. The undersides of their wings look wood-like with brown, tan, black and even a bit of orange. It’s nature’s way of protection. Their host plant are those in the nettle family. While nettles aren’t a desirable plant for many people (especially when you brush against them), it is desirable for the Red Admiral.

There are only four butterflies that hibernate as adults in Ohio during the winter. They are (clockwise from top left): Eastern Comma, Question Mark, Red Admiral and Mourning Cloak. So please rethink when you decide to mulch or get rid of your leaves in the fall. Perhaps retain a small corner of the yard that could be home in the winter to these butterflies.

Here’s an often overlooked butterfly – the Red-banded Hairstreak – with it’s happy little face and black and white striped legs and antenna. Blends in pretty well with its surroundings, don’t you think? According to Wikipedia, the Hairstreak’s name comes from those “tiny tails” or hairs from their hindwings and “streak” for their stripes. This is another butterfly you will quite readily see, though they tend to be a bit hard to get a photo of. They’re pretty small, with a wing span of about an inch or so.

Here’s a better picture of those hindwings. They have something similar to eye spots along the back edge. These spots and the tails can attract a predator. But the little “tails” can be ripped off and allow the butterfly to get away and live another day. Nature’s protection at work once again!

And for the final things with wings, I’d like to share with you this photo of the female Diana fritillary. It’s rare, or at least it is considered to be in West Virginia near the New River Gorge (where this photo was taken). The Diana fritillary’s range in the southeastern U.S. begins in West Virginia and moves southwest down to Alabama. But even within these areas, this butterfly can be local and very rare.

The male is dramatically different in coloring, with the interior of it’s wings black and the outer edges orange. This is a large butterfly with about a 4 to 4.5 inch wing span. Females are typically larger than males.

The Diana fritillary is forest dependent, preferring the rich moist edges of forests and neighboring meadows. This butterfly is threatened across portions of its environment. Environmental threats include spraying for pests (such as the gypsy moth), as well as invasive garlic mustard and deer which could reduce the abundance of violets – their host plants. At one point, spraying resulted in a moderate risk of extinction in some locations in a southern state.

This butterfly’s life cycle is a fascinating one. Their flight is from June to September. Females lay their eggs primarily in the month of August. They crawl around on the ground and attach their eggs onto twigs and broken sticks that are near the base of violets. Interestingly enough, they do not lay their eggs ON the violet plants but scatter them about the ground. The larvae hatch and, without eating, they burrow into the ground to hibernate. In Spring they emerge and feed on the violet leaves and flowers. They will then pupate and emerge as the adult Diana fritillary butterfly. We can only hope that they will find a way to survive into the future.

There is a multitude of information readily available about butterflies. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has an excellent brochure called Backyards for Butterflies which can help you determine which plants might be appropriate for your yard or patio should you live in this area.

I hope you’ve enjoyed Things with Wings, and perhaps learned something new. I know I did.

And now…I would like to leave you with a sunny, warm Florida photo that might bring a smile to the face and has absolutely NOTHING to do with wings. But then again, perhaps it can make your spirit soar like YOU have wings!

Until next time, keep exploring nature up close.