Monthly Archives: May 2017

Fluff In The Air

May 23, 2017Phenology, Plants & FungiKate St. John

Cottonwood fluff on the ground (photo by Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org)

23 May 2017

In late May, you’ll see white fluff in the air as you search the sky for birds. It’s not dandelion fluff. This is cottonwood season.

The eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) grows in open and riparian habitats from the Rockies to the southeastern coast. Western Pennsylvania is on the eastern edge of their range.

Range map of the eastern cottonwood (image from Wikimedia Commons)

Cottonwoods are one of the fastest growing and largest trees in North America. Reaching up to 130 feet tall the trunk can be more than five feet across. The trees require bare soil and full sun to germinate so you usually see them out in the open, sometimes alone.

Eastern cottonwood (photo by Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org)

Their species name, deltoides, describes the leaf shape that looks a lot like aspens. Both trees are in the willow family.

Cottonwood leaves (photo by T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org)

In early spring cottonwoods sprout male and female catkins. The females are fertilized by wind-blown pollen and become drooping strings of seed capsules. In May the capsules burst open to release thousands of tiny seeds, each one attached to a bit of “cotton” that carries it on the wind. (The brown spots in this photo are seed capsule covers, not the seeds.)

Eastern cottonwood seeds, still on the branch (photo by Troy Evans, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bugwood.org)

The fluff breaks off and blows away but each tree is so prolific that in windless conditions, when the fluff falls straight to the ground, it looks like snow.

Do you want to see a lot of cottonwood fluff? Drive north on Route 528 from the bridge over Moraine State Park‘s Lake Arthur. Eventually cottonwoods are on both sides of the road.

There’s fluff in the air there!

(photo credits:
fluff on the ground by Chris Evans, University of Illinois, Bugwood.org
range map from Wikimedia Commons; click on the image to see the original
clump of cottonwood trees by Steven Katovich, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org
cottonwood leaves by T. Davis Sydnor, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org
cottonwood seeds on the branch by Troy Evans, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bugwood.org)

Why He’s Called Orange Crowned

May 22, 2017SongbirdsKate St. John

Orange crown on orange-crowned warbler (photo by David Amamoto) — Orange-crowned warbler (photo by David Amamoto)

Have you seen an orange-crowned warbler? Have you ever seen his crown?

Orange-crowned warblers (Oreothlypis celata) are difficult to identify because they are so dull. They’re drab grayish-yellow or olive-yellow birds with no wing bars and no obvious field marks except for yellow undertail coverts, very pointy beaks (like so many other warblers) and faint gray eyelines.

Like ruby-crowned kinglets, orange-crowned warblers don’t raise their head feathers unless they’re excited. Kinglets are often excited but these warblers are calm. I’d never seen an orange crown … until now.

Thanks to David Amamoto we can finally see how the bird got his name. Great photo, David!

Click here and scroll down to see more orange-crowned warblers and the birds they resemble.

(photo by David Amamoto)

Today’s Outing in Schenley Park

May 21, 2017Books & Events, Schenley ParkKate St. John

Schenley park outing, 21 May 2017 (photo by Kate St.John)

Fifteen of us had a great time in Schenley Park this morning. We saw 33 species of birds including nesting Baltimore orioles and wood thrushes. The two youngest members of our group found frogs, turtles and an enormous goldfish in the lake. Wow!

We started off with a distant look at a peregrine falcon perched at the Cathedral of Learning. My guess is that we saw Hope watching over the chicks. If you were viewing the falconcam you wouldn’t have seen her but she was quite close.

Best Birds were scarlet tanagers, Baltimore orioles and wood thrushes, plus a first-of-year Acadian flycatcher. Here’s the complete checklist on eBird.

I was worried that storms would cancel the outing but we had bright sunny weather. As I write this, dark clouds are moving in. Now it can rain. 🙂

(photo by Kate St. John)

Jack In The Pulpit

May 21, 2017Phenology, Plants & FungiKate St. John

Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) has been blooming for about two weeks in western Pennsylvania. As the forest floor greens up you might not notice this unusual flower.

Click below for a whimsical look at Jack’s odd characteristics. Sometimes he is “Jill.”

Jack Explains Himself

Gulf Tower Fledge Watch, May 26-30

May 20, 2017Books & Events, PeregrinesKate St. John

Gulf Tower Fledge Watch, 31 May 2014 (photo by Kate St. John)

Three young peregrines are growing at the Gulf Tower and will fledge before you know it. It’s time for Fledge Watch, May 26-30, 2017.

This year the Downtown watch will be a purely social occasion. The Gulf Tower is so tall that we don’t have to worry that the young birds will land in the street. Instead we’ll have a falcon fans get-together and an opportunity to educate the public about peregrines.

With that in mind, on weekdays I’ll be at The Pennsylvanian entry — 1100 Liberty Avenue — where folks can stop by during lunch hour. On Memorial Day weekend John English and I will be up at Flag Plaza where there’s plenty of free parking and a good view of the Gulf Tower.

Here are the details.

When & Where on Business Days:

Fri May 26 and Tues May 30
11:30am to 1:30pm
On the sidewalk at The Pennsylvanian RR station area, 1100 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. See arrow below.

Gulf Tower Fledge Watch on weekdays (screenshot from Google maps with pin) — Gulf Tower Fledge Watch on weekdays (screenshot Google maps with pin)

The Pennsylvanian, 1100 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh,PA (photo from oncarrot.com) — Gulf Tower Fledge Watch on weekdays at The Pennsylvanian, 1100 Liberty Ave (photo from oncarrot.com)

When & Where on Memorial Day Weekend

Sat May 27, Sun May 28, Mon May 29
11:30am to 1:30pm. Hours may be extended. Check back as the weekend approaches!
At Flag Plaza (Boy Scouts building), 1275 Bedford Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Location of Flag Plaza (via John English on Pittsburgh Faclonuts Facebook page)

Come for as little or as long as you’d like. Bring binoculars if you have them.

Hope to see you there!

p.s. CHECK HERE or on the EVENTS PAGE for SCHEDULE UPDATES.
Fledge Watch is a fair weather event. It will be canceled if it’s raining or storming.

(photo credits: Fledge Watchers by Kate St. John. The Pennsylvanian from oncarrot.com, Location of Flag Plaza via John English on Pittsburgh Faclonuts Facebook page)

Apples in May

May 19, 2017Phenology, Plants & Fungi, Schenley ParkKate St. John

Mayapple flower turning into a May Apple (photo by Kate St. John) — Mayapple flower turning into an apple in May (photo by Kate St. John)

I’m taking a break from peregrines today. Here’s a plant. 🙂

In Schenley Park, mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum) bloom in April and fruit in May. The plants must have two leaves to produce a flower because the flower stalk grows from the Y between the leaves.

Here’s what they look like when they bloom.

Mayapple in flower with twin leaves (photo from Wikimedia Commons)

The fertilized flower transitions from flower to apple in May, as shown in the photo at top.

You can eat a mayapple when it’s ripe but Be Careful! The entire plant is poisonous and the apple is only edible when ripe! Find out more and see a mayapple sliced open in this vintage article from 2011: Eating Mayapples

(top photo by Kate St. John. Blooming photo from Wikimedia Commons; click on the image to see the original)

Peregrines at Two Bridges

May 18, 2017Nesting & Courtship, PeregrinesKate St. John

On Wednesday May 17, Dan Brauning and Tom Keller of the Pennsylvania Game Commission checked for peregrine nests at the McKees Rocks and Neville Island I-79 bridges.

McKees Rocks Bridge:

With PennDOT’s help and a bucket truck, Dan and Tom found four nestlings too young to band at the McKees Rocks Bridge. About 15 days old, they were so young that their sex could not be determined by weight. Their nest site didn’t have a place for the chicks to practice flapping before fledging so Dan and Tom relocated them to a safer location nearby. Their mother came close to defend them. Dan noticed that she’s unbanded.

Neville Island I-79 Bridge:

At the Neville Island I-79 Bridge, Dan, Tom and PennDOT staff walked the catwalk all the way to the Glenfield side before they found the nest. The nest was so far away that the five of us who came to observe the banding missed the entire show. All we saw was the adult male peregrine strafing the bridge in the distance.

Dan and Tom found and banded four chicks about 21 days old: three females and one male. The mother peregrine stayed near her chicks the whole time. Even in this small photo you can read her bands (black/red 62/H), confirming that she’s Magnum from Canton, Ohio in 2010. (*)

Magnum protects her chicks at the Neville Island Bridge, 17 May 2017 (photo by Tom Keller)

(bridge photos by Robert Strover via Wikimedia Commons. Peregrine photos by Tom Keller, PA Game Commission)

(*) p.s. Magnum has been at the Neville Island I-79 Bridge since 2013.

Schenley Park Outing, May 21, 8:30a

May 18, 2017Books & Events, Schenley ParkKate St. John

Buttercups blooming in May (photo by Kate St. John)

Join me on Sunday May 21 at 8:30am for a bird and nature walk in Schenley Park.

Meet at the Schenley Park Cafe and Visitor Center where Panther Hollow Road meets Schenley Drive for this 8:30am to 10:30am walk. We’ll see flowers and late migrating birds.

Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them.

NOTE ABOUT THUNDERSTORMS! As of this writing there’s a 60% chance of thunderstorms on Sunday. Weather forecasts can change so check back at this blog post or on the Events Page before you come to the outing in case I’ve had to cancel because of lightning.

(photo by Kate St. John)

Three Female Chicks Banded at Gulf Tower

May 17, 2017Nesting & Courtship, PeregrinesKate St. John

Female peregrine chick at the Gulf Tower banding, 16 May 2017 (photo by John English)

Yesterday afternoon three female peregrine chicks were banded at the Gulf Tower in Downtown Pittsburgh. It was quite a media event with videos from KDKA and the Post-Gazette, linked below.

Here’s the story in pictures.

Before the banding, Dori guarded her nestlings. This blind is always closed except on Banding Day. Dori knows something is up.

Dori and three chicks at the Gulf Tower nest. This window blind is closed during nestsing season, only opened on Banding Day (photo by Kate St. John) — Dori and three chicks at the Gulf Tower nest, 16 May 2017. This window blind is closed during nesting season. It is only opened on Banding Day (photo by Kate St. John)

As the banders came out on the ledge, Lori Maggio took photos from the ground. Here Dan Brauning, lead bander and Wildlife Diversity Chief at the PA Game Commission, holds up his hand so Dori can’t get too close.

Dan Brauning holds up his hand so that Dori won't his his back. Banding Day at the Gulf Tower, 16 May 2017 (photo by Lori Maggio) — Dan Brauning holds up his hand so that Dori won’t hit his back. Banding Day at the Gulf Tower, 16 May 2017 (photo by Lori Maggio)

This chick waits patiently though she wasn’t always quiet.

Female peregrine chick st Gulf Tower banding, 16 May 2017 (photo by John English) — Female peregrine chick at Gulf Tower banding, 16 May 2017 (photo by John English)

The process is set up like an assembly line to minimize the time the chicks are indoors.

Banding Day at Gulf Tower, 16 May 2017. Each chick awaits the next step (photo by John English)

Dan Brauning applied the bands …

Banding one of the three female chicks at the Gulf Tower, 16 May 2017 (photo by John English)

… then each chick got a health check from the National Aviary‘s Dr. Pilar Fish with assistance from Teri R.

Dr. Pilar Fish and Teri from the National Aviary check the health of each chick (photo by Kate St. John) — Dr. Pilar Fish and Teri R. from the National Aviary check the health of each chick (photo by Kate St. John)

You may recall that one unhatched egg remained at the nest. The PA Game Commission collected it for routine chemical tests to provide a data point in the decades-long recovery of peregrine falcons.

Dan Brauning collected the unhatched egg so it can undergo routine chemical tests (photo by Kate St. John)

As the chicks were returned to the nest, Dori and Louie dove and kakked.

Dori and Louie fly near the nest as the chicks are returned at th Gulf Tower (photo by Lori Maggio) — Dori and Louie fly nearby as their chicks are returned to the Gulf Tower nest (photo by Lori Maggio)

And then Dori resumed guard duty.

Dori guards the chicks from the perch above the nest (photo by John English) — Dori guards the chicks (photo by John English)

(photos by Kate St. John, John English and Lori Maggio)

Click on the links below for video coverage of the Gulf Tower banding on 16 May 2017.

From KDKA:

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2017/05/16/gulf-tower-peregrine-falcon-chicks/

From the Post-Gazette:

https://www.facebook.com/pittsburghpostgazette/videos/10155361012879826/

One Male, Two Females Banded at Pitt

May 17, 2017Nesting & Courtship, PeregrinesKate St. John

Female peregrine chick, C6, shouts during Banding Day (photo by Kate St. John) — Female peregrine chick, C7, shouts during Banding Day (photo by Kate St. John)

Yesterday one male and two female peregrine chicks were banded at the Cathedral of Learning. All three are in good health and very vocal. They were so loud they were nearly deafening!

Here’s their story in pictures.

Before the chicks were retrieved, Tammy Colt of the Pennsylvania Game Commission laid out the bands, one set for males’ small legs, the other set for females’ larger legs. The silver bands are unique 9-digit US Fish and Wildlife bands which cannot be read from afar. The black/green bands can be read through binoculars or in photos.

The bands that will be used for male and female peregrine chicks (photo by Kate St.John) — A view of the bands for male and female peregrine chicks (photo by Kate St.John)

Wildlife Diversity Chief Dan Brauning shows how the silver bands interlock.

Dan Brauning shows Tammy Colt how the bands interlock (photo by Kate St. John) — Dan Brauning shows Tammy Colt how the silver bands interlock (photo by Kate St. John)

Meanwhile the mother peregrine, Hope, knows something is going to happen. She guards and waits for the action to begin.

The mother peregrine, Hope, knows something is going to happen (photo by Kate St. John)

As Dan and Tammy approach the nest, Hope shouts to defend her chicks.

Hope shouts as Dan Brauning and Tammy Colt approach the nest (photo by Kate St. John)

From Schenley Plaza, Kim Getz saw Hope and Terzo strafe the area and dive on the banders.

Hope and Terzo circle and dive at the banders (photo by Kim Getz)

Each chick was collected in a drawstring bag. The chick is weighed while in the bag to determine its sex. Even at this age males weigh 1/3 less than females.