Comments on Specific Birds

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Ken Nielsen — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 04:34:56 GMT

Wow, I lived 70mi west in Ventura over the winter and into spring but never saw one Red Winged Blackbird.

I'm planning a trip to California because of the responses here. I hope to add more to my photographic images of Red Winged Blackbirds this year. If I stay where I am the year is over; If I go to Sunny California, I'll get shots of birds and this will wind up being the best year for bird photography. I may even rent that 600mm lens with a 1.4 TX to make things even more exciting.

Thanks for the input to all here,

Ken

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Curlybird — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 12:42:09 GMT

I live and work in Orange County, Southern CA, and there is no shortage of Red-winged Blackbirds in Irvine!! I see them every day on my lunch hour!

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

luv2bird — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:31:41 GMT

My oh my. You've got to have you some Red-winged Blackbirds huh? I think you're a bird addict too! LOL. Well I'm fortunate to live in Central California. Well not exactly now that I think of it with 109 degree temperatures. I see RWBL colonies everywhere in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, and Kern Counties there are marshes. I see them in nesting in cattails, along roads. Even in Sierra Nat'l Forest near Dinkey Creek Meadows at the 7,000 ft. and near Shaver Lake in Madera County at 5,400 ft elevation. Usually I see them when I visit my birding friends who live in eastern Fresno County near flooded ag fields. It's pretty common to see them here year-round. We have Yellow-headed and Tri-colored Blckbirds at Producer's Dairy and Mendota Wildlife Area in western Fresno County. Sounds like you're a rambling man, maybe you'd better plan a trip south. Next weekend is an excellent opportunity to attend the Annual Hummingbird Festival at the Kern River Preserve. Click link http://kern.audubon.org/hummer_fest.htm

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Ken Nielsen — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:20:46 GMT

Okay, I see southeast actually, through Salt Lake and Denver to Tulsa OK, about 2,000 miles. I'm trying to track how these birds move. I don't think the one's from Portland Oregon flew to Tulsa, but I will note that in July that there is a thick population of Red Winged Blackbirds on hand. I imagine that they will be moving on from there after their families are nested and new birds are born and start flying. All of that happens rather quickly, as it did here this spring. It all happened within a two month time and then they were gone.

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Ken Nielsen — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:11:17 GMT

So, If I go south from where I am I will be where I just was and did not see Red winged Blackbirds. That was in the San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Barbara areas. Are you reporting that at this time there are Red Winged Blackbirds in a location that is south? Could you add more information please. The local Audubon Society only had references that at this time (July 22) they had indications from books on bird locations that they would be headed north. Please be more specific as to area and time please.

Thank You,

Ken

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

RadWoman — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:28:08 GMT

Oops my bad ~ I see Ken is in Oregon..... lol yeah South!

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

RadWoman — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:51:52 GMT

Howdy Ken from Oklahoma! In your case go north! Was out at the Flats this past weekend and the Red-Wings are abundant as are the Herons (Whites and Blues), Egrets (Cattle, Snowy and Great), saw a few Stiltsand several new birds i haven't been able to identify. Not sure how far you are from Frederick Oklahoma but there is a pretty impressive Wetland Preserve there many birds come thru during migration, have seen hundreds of Wilson's Philaropes, Dowitchers, Ibises, Sandpipers etc etc. Even saw a Snowy Plover last year ~ Here's an old link to Hackberry Flats link is still good even though the site is rather outdated ~ http://hackberryflat.home.mindspring.com/index.htm

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Jim Penny — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:07:03 GMT

You want Red-wings, then go South young man, go South.

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Ken Nielsen — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:14:24 GMT

I don't know if anyone here can help me with this, but for the past 3 or 4 weeks there have been no red winged blackbirds at the marsh in my area. I noticed that first, in June that they were appearing more by the Columbia River in bushes along the banks and then they were gone. I called the Audubon society and they said they had nothing specific for where they might be except one book that hinted that they might be going north. I am planning a road trip with my camera to follow if I only knew where they were being sighted right now. Has anyone here in Canada or north of where I live in Oregon, sighted any red winged blackbirds in their area?

TIA,

Ken

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Ken Nielsen — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:44:06 GMT

luv2bird, I go out at least every morning to take pictures, but lately the Red winged Blackbird is gone. First they thinned at the marsh, starting about mid-June, then they moved as I noticed the were not at the marsh anymore, but by the Columbia River channel banks, then, nothing. I have not seen a Red winged Blackbird for a full week now. It is very quiet at the marsh. The cat tails are depleted and torn up. All that are left are ducks and swallows. I did not even take my camera out this morning because all is quiet where for the past few months it has been a circus of activity. It's going to be quite an education to watch the ebb and flow as the seasons change. I can understand your enthusiasm for birds. I have it too. You are way far advanced from where I am, but I plan on staying with it and becoming better informed.

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

luv2bird — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:45:34 GMT

cwj2323:
Today one met an untimely demise. I read they can be carriers of the West Nile Virus, but due to the location of the bird, more than likely it tried flying through the window. This one had the brightest red that I have seen, thus far, but something was not right about taking a picture. It was a beautiful bird. We are new at watching and feeding the local birds, so we were sad.

West Nile Virus is mostly affecting the Corvidae and Thrush families in CA, but you can check the CA website that has lots of great public health information and links to outside agencies that screen for the virus in humans, birds, squirrels, horses, and domestics animals. http://www.westnile.ca.gov/

FYI, spreading feed like pieces of human food or bread, cracked corn, and seed on the ground or in your feeders will attract mostly House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Corvids, mice, rats and and squirrels. If you want excellent bird watching opportunities, and take pride in your habitat then simply toss the bread and other feed into the gutter for the "other" birds and squirrels, then fill your feeders with black oil sunflower seeds. Periodically during migration you can buy and hang up finch socks, and attach a suet cage against a raised-barked (not flat bark trees) tree trunk for woodpeckers which is more economical than buying than whole set up. You can also try placing feeders in prime watching locations near your windows so you can see them from inside your home during inclement weather too. Just remember to clean your feeders regularly, watch for ill or diseased birds and know how to take action when you see changes in seasons readying for new migrations of visitors. Click here for information from Cornell Lab for migration patterns that aren't listed on Whatbird, and good luck! Just my $0.02 worth which ain't much.

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

luv2bird — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:25:42 GMT

You are very welcome. I'm simply paying it forward. A few kinder souls help me. I figure even if I mistake birds all the time I still learn- right? It's just a matter or perspective. Study all the photos you can find of juvenile and adult blackbirds. Search out places where they live, breed, and nest in colonies and sit to watch them. Take a camera that has video capabilities to capture the them singing together. Replay it when you get home and listen, you'll be surprised how eerie the sounds are. My hardest lesson is learning eclipse and alternate plumages and the variances of some species where the juveniles and females are often mistaken by experts. I won't let it get me down so don't you either. I've been hitting the trails, zoos, sanctuaries, and national parks for years. Started attending birding trips, then joined Audubon, go on outings every chance I get at least weekly for the past for two years. I started birding w/o a field manual five years ago, so I'm a novice. I grew up in WA, and remember scouting as a kid to earn a badge. I was really interested in learning about birds as a child, too bad I didn't keep it up then I could be a real bird snob, huh? LOL

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Ken Nielsen — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:07:24 GMT

Thank You luv2bird,

I'll follow up on those links. I just posted what I think is a young female Red winged Blackbird in the Please help me identify this bird section. I saw her this morning, and you know, going out to the marsh each morning since spring has been an education in witnessing life go on with babies being born and growing, with the story of survival, the beauty of it all, it's just amazing. I am becoming a true nut.

Your links are most welcome. I am a real fan of the Red winged Blackbird and want to collect more information as I have a front-row seat to watch them go through the life cycle.

Ken

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

luv2bird — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:47:06 GMT

Hi Ken,

Your best bet is to hook up with your local Audubon club. Another way is to click on my link of the county bird list, then download it. These lists detail your specific county bird species complete with an account, the season which each bird would be seen in your area, if they are common, uncommon, rare, vagrant or accidental. You can try searching the Portland Audubon club web site to see if they have a species list and places to bird in Portland links to browse or download. Click on the link for The National Audubon Society publishes the Portland Audubon IBA (Important Birding Areas) for the best places to bird, and this is helpful for beginning birders and amateur photogs.

Re: Red-winged Blackbird

Seattle — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:24:55 GMT

I was watching a red-winged blackbird run on top of some lilypads the other day. As it ran accross one it would stop and look under another pad. I watched it run from one lily pad to another and then peak under the next for about 5 minutes. I've never seen one do this before. I don't know what it was looking for under a lily pad but it must have been successful!