p.s. The photo above is by Wendy Miller@geococcyxcal, Creative Commons license on Flickr. I don’t know if her photos were part of the competition but they oughta be!
(*) Because the contest is in the UK the prize is in British pounds: £500
Earth will be a different sort of place — soon, in just five or six human generations. My label for that place, that time, that apparently unavoidable prospect, is the Planet of Weeds.
The plants pictured here are some of those weeds, all of them non-native invasives that happen to provide food for birds and small mammals.
Last week in Frick Park large flocks of American robins gobbled up oriental bittersweet, honeysuckle and porcelain berry fruits. As they continue their migration they’ll deposit the seeds along the way.
(Amur) honeysuckle fruit, NMR Trail, 27 Oct 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)Porcelain berry fruit, NMR Trail, 27 Oct 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
Animals that aren’t afraid of thorns eat the fruits of Japanese barberry.
Japanese barberry in October (photo by Kate St. John)
After the frost softens the Callery pears robins and starlings strip the fruit from these invasive trees.
Callery pear fruits in November 2012 (photo by Kate St. John)
Even though the fruits are “weeds” they can be beautiful.
The Monongahela River at Duck Hollow, 25 Oct 2019 (photo by Kate St. John)
24 October 2022
Right now our weather is in Second Summer but by next weekend Pittsburgh should be back in Jacket Weather. It’s a lovely time to be outdoors so join me next Sunday 30 October 2022, 8:30am to 10:30am, for a bird and nature walk at Duck Hollow.
We’ll walk nearby paths looking for birds, interesting plants, and lingering insects. Mallard behavior may attract our attention because mallards are courting right now.
Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring binoculars, field guides and a birding scope if you have them.
Visit the Events page before you come in case of changes or cancellations.
Goldenrod gall shaped like a green rose, Schenley Park, October 2014 (photo by Kate St. John)
26 September 2022
UPDATE 1 OCTOBER, 5:51PM: THIS OUTING IS CANCELLED BECAUSE I DON’T FEEL WELL
In early October the weather’s fine and there’s plenty to see outdoors. Birds are migrating, fruits are maturing, and insects have their final fling.
Join me on a bird and nature walk in Schenley Park on Sunday 2 October 2022 — 8:30am – 10:30am(*). Meet me at Schenley Park Cafe and Visitor Center near Phipps Conservatory where Panther Hollow Road meets Schenley Drive.
We’ll look and listen for signs of fall, yellow leaves and chirping crickets. We many find a goldenrod “rose” like the gall at top. Or a million blue jays and chipmunks.
Blue Jay and chipmunk (photos by Chuck Tague)
Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them.
Before you come, visit the Events page in case there are changes or cancellations. The outing will be canceled if there’s lightning (unlikely this coming Sunday but you never know).
From experience I can say … there will be lots of blue jays and chipmunks.
(*) If the birding is suddenly good at 10:30am we’ll have the option to continue to 11a.
Red-eyed vireo, held by bander Nick Liadis, 31 Aug 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
8 September 2022
Yesterday Charity Kheshgi and I visited Nick Liadis’ bird banding project — Birdlab — at Hays Woods, the City of Pittsburgh’s newest, most remote, and least developed park.
Nick runs Birdlab at three sites: Hays Woods plus at two private properties, Upper St. Clair and Twin Stupas in Butler County. During migration Nick is out banding six days a week unless it’s raining or windy.
Hays Woods is unique for its size and habitat so close to densely populated Downtown and Oakland. Like an oasis it’s an appealing stop for migratory birds. We were there to see Nick band five birds on a slow day compared to the day before when he banded 60!
Hays Woods, The Forest in the City (image courtesy Friends of Hays Woods)
Oakland is visible from the Hays Woods powerline cut.
Oakland in the distance, view from Hays Woods, 31 Aug 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
Nick has placed the mist nets in a variety of habitats. They are intentionally hard to see. When birds see the nets they avoid them.
Bird banding mist net at Hays Woods, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
Every 30 minutes the banders walk the nets to check for birds. Lisa Kaufman assists at Hays Woods on Wednesdays. Here she is walking the powerline cut.
Walking to check the nets, 31 Aug 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
Each netted bird is gently placed in its own cloth bag and brought back to the banding table. Here Nick tells Lisa what time to record.
Nick Liadis and Lisa Kaufman, bird banding at Hays Woods, 7 Sept 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
It’s an ovenbird.
Ovenbird to be banded, held by Nick Liadis, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
To age the birds Nick checks their wings, tail and body feathers for molt stage. Below he points out the very faint fault bars on the tail feathers that indicate feather growth. If all the bars line up, then these tail feathers grew in at the same time, which means the bird is still wearing his very first tail feathers and thus hatched this year.
Examine the feathers for molt stage and age, ovenbird at Hays Woods, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
Nick blows on the belly of a Nashville warbler to check the lump of fat that is fuel for migration. This Nashville warbler had a high fat score so he may be ready to leave tonight for his wintering grounds in Mexico.
Checking the fat score on a Nashville warbler, Hays Woods, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
Nashville warblers are one of the smallest birds but it’s not noticeable until they are in the hand. Nick prepares to apply the band.
Applying the band to a Nashville warbler, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
Nick holds an ovenbird after banding.
Bander Nick Liadis holds an ovenbird, Hays Woods, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
Each of us got to release a banded warbler.
Kate St. John holds an American restart before releasing it, Hays Woods, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)Charity Kheshgi holds an ovenbird before releasing it, Hays Woods, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
And we learned how much northern cardinals hate to be captured. Cardinals of all ages screech and bite! We were grateful not to hold one.
Female northern cardinal awaits her bands, Hays Woods, 7 Sep 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
To learn more about Nick’s banding project and schedule a visit, see his website at birdlab.org.
Pokeweed fruits, Schenley Park, 13 August 2018 (photo by Kate St. John)
23 August 2022
Late August fruits, flowers, and insects put on a show while songbirds gather to migrate south.
Join me for a bird and nature walk in Schenley Park next Sunday, August 28, 8:30am to 10:30am.
Meet at Bartlett Shelter on Bartlett Street near Panther Hollow Road to see birds, fall flowers, fruits, and seeds. Fingers crossed that we get to see a confusing fall warbler.
Dress for the weather — including sun hat + water — and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them.
Before you come, visit the Events page in case of changes or cancellations. The outing will be canceled if there’s lightning.
Hope to see you there!
(photo by Kate St. John)
p.s. If you’ve read yesterday’s blog — Eradicated by Deer — this is an opportunity to see what I mean.
Twelve of us met in Schenley Park yesterday morning and walked East Circuit Road in search of birds. As expected in late July the birds were quiet, though we did manage to see or hear 27 species. Our checklist is here and listed at the end.
Best Bird was a pileated woodpecker hammering on a fallen log in the darkest woods. The photo above is not from our walk. Chad+Chris Saladin had better light for their photo in May 2020.
I forgot to take a picture of the group. 🙁 Here is my one photo from the walk: Yellow hawkweed (Pilosella caespitosa) blooming in the grass.
Hawkweed blooming at Schenley Park, 31 July 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
eBird checklist: Schenley Park, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Jul 31, 2022 8:30A – 10:30A Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 2 Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 8 Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) 4 Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) 1 Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) 2 Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1 Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) 5 Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) 1 Heard Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 1 Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 4 American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) 7 Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) 6 Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) 1 White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) 1 House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 3 Young with obvious gape-beak Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) 1 European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 2 Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 1 Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 1 Heard one making agitated call American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 15 House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 2 American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) 3 Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 1 Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2 Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) 1 Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) 5
(pileated woodpecker photo by Chad+Chris Saladin; hawkweed photo by Kate St. John)
In late July, songbirds are wrapping up the breeding season and it’s summer flower time.
Join me for a bird & nature walk in Schenley Park on Sunday, July 31, 8:30a – 10:30a.
Meet at the Westinghouse Memorial to walk Circuit Drive near the Falloon Trail. We’ll see pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata) at the fountain and goldfinches and chipping sparrows at the golf course.
Dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water, a sun hat, binoculars and field guides if you have them.
Before you come, visit my Events page in case of changes or cancellations. The outing will be canceled if there’s lightning.
Once again it’s time to count wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Pennsylvania.
Every year the PA Game Commission conducts a statewide Wild Turkey Sighting Survey, July 1 to August 31, to collect data on the size and makeup of our wild turkey population.
They ask for the public’s help to report what we see on the Turkey Brood Survey website. It’s pretty easy to do.
