Those who protect birds

Oklahoma Mesonet recorded 0.01 inches of rainfall over the past seven-day period.

Payne County rare bird discovered at Teal Ridge Wetlands over the same timeframe with its classic call in an appropriate habitat was Least Bittern.

Nationwide rarities/ vagrants include ongoing Newfoundland and Labrador’s Steller’s Sea-Eagle, Florida’s Shiny Cowbird and Arizona’s Berylline Hummingbird.

Michigan added Curlew Sandpiper, as Wisconsin shared Kelp Gull.

Arizona tagged Buff-collared Nightjar, White-eared Hummingbird and Flamecolored Tanager.

Washington State flagged Terek Sandpiper, while Alaska counted Short-tailed Albatross.

Back in writer’s old stomping grounds in Downeast Maine wild raspberries are ripening on the edges of forests, as are wild blueberries on the quiet barrens. We used to wear long sleeves to keep from getting scars with raspberry vines, and I can still hear the winnowing machines and smell the warm blueberries in the sun. Nothing like fresh blueberry pie for dessert after dinner on those hard days.

Then we turn our attention to The Seabird Islands where tern chicks fledge, shopping for fish right beside their watchful parents.

The apples are still hard, green and sour on the trees, and pufflings and eider chicks are looking like teens with those long, skinny legs that don’t quite fit the bodies. The more we see, the more we want.

The endangered Roseate Terns, will be watched again this year while the subspecies of the greatest concern nest off the New England coast, migrating through the Caribbean coast to South America, which is generally Brazil. We know that the overheating weather, pollution, urbanization and more threaten their well-being, so scientists identify these threats on those long journeys and work to ensure that recovery continues. The public is notified, and we, in turn, that watch our birds do the best that we can to try to mitigate issues just as much as the professionals.

There is also understanding being researched for where these birds go outside of breeding season, which is very intense, taking just as much skill as luck in the process. Birds of concern are trapped, their eggs temporarily replaced with wooden ones to mitigate their risk during research. It takes about 10 minutes to tag the adults with locator tags, so information gets passed to those

See HIRT on C2

LIFE AT BOOMER LAKE

Deb Hirt

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individuals at the breeding colonies, as well as roost sites, nesting colonies, and to field researchers in the area where those birds will be out of season to learn how they spend their lives and the risks that they encounter. Some data even passes along cell phone data channels and other birds must be recaptured to download their collected data. It all depends on the technology used, as well as the situation.

Exploration and discovery abound at Bremen, Maine’s research facility, The Seabird Institute, where researchers teach the public about what they do, showing them on site.

It is a rewarding experience that can open career doors for those interested in helping birds. If you haven’t done so, attend classes and experience the joy first hand.

Boomer Lake counted Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Yellowbilled Cuckoo, Chimney Swift, Spotted Sandpiper, Green Heron, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Mississippi Kite, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Warbling Vireo, Blue Jay, Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Purple Martin, Barn and Cliff Swallows, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Carolina Wren, European Starling, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, House and Lark Sparrows, House Finch, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Painted Bunting, Dickcissel, White-winged Dove, Great Crested Flycatcher, domestic Mallard, Western Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Brown-headed Cowbird, Yellow-throated Warbler, Forster’s Tern, American Crow, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Yellow Warbler, Pine Warbler and Indigo Bunting.

Lake Carl Blackwell checked Northern Bobwhite, Eurasian Collared- Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Killdeer, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Tufted Titmouse, Whitebreasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Grasshopper and Chipping Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Pine Warbler, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, Cooper’s Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Red-headed Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo and Great-tailed Grackle.

When a Green Heron displays its crest, it is either deeply interested in something or feeling disturbed, much like we would raise an eyebrow.

Paul Danese I Wikimedia Commons