No Vacancy ©

The European Starling was brought to North America by Shakespeare enthusiasts in the nineteenth century--he is now considered a pest. There were a hundred birds originally released in New York and  a century later, the population of the European Starling in North America is believed to exceed 200 million.

The starling is an aggresive bird that competes with native species for food and nesting sights.

(Copyright 2013)

Where are the Babies? ©

The Gila Woodpeckers--

are permanent Sonoran Desert dwellers and are found in all of its habitats.  They will build nest in holes made in the saguaro cacti or mesquite trees.

The woodpeckers excavate cavities, called a boot, in the saguaro which are later used by variety of other species, including the Elf Owl.  They are a nuisance with the loud banging they do on metal chimneys and pipes to declare their territories and to attract mates.

Both the male and female have brown faces, black and white zebra striped backs with white wing patches that are visible during flight.  Adult males have a red cap of feathers on the top of their head.

The Gila Woodpeckers eat mainly insects, but they also eat cactus fruits, mistletoe berries and other seasonal fruits.

They have adapted to the human populations and have learned to hang onto backyard hummingbird feeders to lick up the sugary water.

(Copyright 2013)

Whooo ©

There are two of us now!

(Copyright 2013)

No Empty Nest! ©

The Great Horned Owl is mostly known for the the large tuft of feathers on its head that look like horns and its big yellow cat-like eyes.  In late fall and early winter the low muffled hooting of the Great Horned Owl may carry for great distances.  The males are signaling that they are begining to occupy breeding territories.

The males and females sometimes sing duets, the male calling the well-known pattern of four to five, "whoo, whoo-hoo, whoo, whoo".   The females respond with a higher pitched two-syllable call or six to eight lower pitched hoots, "whoo, whoo-hoo, whoo-hoo, whoo-hoo".  Males hoot throughout the year, but females hoot only during mating season.  Mates find each other through hooting rituals, which increase as the mating season approaches.

Young owls ( an owlet, or more than one are a "clutch", and a group of owls are called a "Parliament") still in the care of their parents make loud, persistent hissing or screeching sounds that are often confused with those of a barn owl.  There are usually 2 eggs per nest depending on the environmental situation. The incubation period is from 27 to 33 days.  The female does all the incubation while the male owl hunts for food and brings it to her.  Young owls leave the nest and move into nearby branches at six weeks and start flying about a week later.  

But they are not competent fliers until they are ten to twelve weeks old.

(Copyright 2013)

Cardinal--©

also called redbird.  

The bright red bird is easily identified by even the casual bird watcher and is often seen frequenting backyards and bird feeders--sunflower seeds are preferred!  The males all have at least some bright red plumage with a black mask and orange beak.

Females are tan/gray with an orange lipstick beak!   Both males and females whistle and sing year-round having a variety of melodies.  A pair may raise up to four broods a year.

Cardinals live up to 15 years.

Males are very territorial and defend their territories vigorously, sometimes attacking their own reflections or other objects reflected in a glass surface, mistaking themselves for another male.

(Copyright 2013)