On behalf of Dr. Jed Burtt, please join the DCBC meeting tomorrow evening
Monday Nov. 26 (social 7pm, meeting starts at 7:30pm). Ohio Wesleyan
University Science Center in room 163 and parking is available in the
parking lot beside the Science Center or in the Selby Field lot on Henry Rd.
across the street from the Science Center. As always there will be
refreshments, a specimen quiz, news of local birds, and a program. Members
and guests welcome!
Delaware County Bird Club Newsletter
Vol. 22 No. 7 Delaware County
Bird Club Newsletter November 2007
In search of the Quetzal
The Resplendent Quetzal with its emerald green back and crest, scarlet
breast, and long white and black barred tail feathers symbolizes the mists
and mystery of the cloud forests of Central America. It was the sacred bird
of the Mayas. To cause the death of a quetzal was a crime punishable by
death of the miscreant. Yet the Mayan chiefs and priests wore robes of
feathers plucked from nesting quetzals by "professional" feather collectors.
This is only one of many legends that have come down to us through the mists
of time and the cloud forests.
Join Michael Packer of Columbus Audubon on November 26, for a photographic
journey in search of native Costa Rican birds and winter migrants from Ohio.
In 10 days, he and his colleagues traveled both coasts and 11,000 feet from
sea level to the paramo of the Talamancas to log over 300 unique species of
tropical birds and over 100 species of jungle creatures.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Date Topic/speaker
Nov 26 In search of the Quetzal
Dec 10 Goals (Hopes?) for Christmas Count 2007
(Note the date of this meeting!)
This will be our 20th Christmas Bird Count. Join us on December 10 for a
visit by the spirits of Christmas Counts Past and Future. In how many
counts have you participated? In what year did you join the Delaware
count? Do you participate in other counts? If so, how many? What is your
favorite memory of the counts? Please send your answers to these questions
or to questions I have not thought of to Jed Burtt ( [log in to unmask] or
Department of Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH 43015-2390 or
call 740-368-3886). I will compile our collective recollections for an
anniversary retrospective of the Delaware Reservoir Christmas Bird Count.
If you have never participated in the Delaware Christmas Bird Count,
consider doing so this year. When better to start than in a year of
celebration? Contact Jed Burtt (740-368-3886) to reserve a place among
those who traditionally spend a cold, often wet Sunday near Christmas
roaming the north-central portion of Delaware County to count all the birds
we can find. Look for further information in the next Newsletter. But
plan now for:
Dec 16, 2007
20th Delaware Reservoir Christmas Bird Count
As you think ahead to 2008 (Can it be!) reserve the following dates on your
Calendar for our monthly meetings:
January 28
February 25
March 24 Tom Sheley, Birding Trails in Texas,
April 28 Charlie Bombaci, Prothonotary
Warbler update for the Hoover Nature Preserve
In addition our first field trip will be to Lake Erie along the Cleveland
waterfront on 20 January 2008. Join us a day of wintering ducks and gulls,
but plan to dress warmly.
Winter on the Wilds
Al Parker
For those now facing the reality of winter and wondering what to do, wonder
no longer. The list of upcoming activities at The WILDS follows and is
posted on the new WILDS website.
Dec 1 Wildcats 10:00-16:00
Dec 8 Forest Exploration Day 10:00-16:00
Dec 15 Wild, Winter Tour 10:00-16:00
Jan 5 Raptor Field ID Day 10:00-16:00
Jan 12 Eagle Survey Day 08:00-14:00
Feb 9 Raptor Field ID Day 10:00-16:00
Feb 23 to be announced
Mar 8 Prairie Exploration Day 10:00-16:00
Mar 22 Cabin Fever Tour 10:00-16:00
BIRDING BY EAR WEEKEND
May 30-June 1, 2008
Put this one on your calendar!!! There will be:
Some Great Birding Speakers
Focus on Warbler ID
Off-site trips to other nearby bird hotspots
Fun and learning with other birders
DON'T FORGET TO SIGN YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS UP FOR WILDECAMP SUMMER CAMPS
ON THE WILDS!
For information or reservations contact The WILDS ([log in to unmask]
or 740-638-5030 x 2286).
OSPREY?
Jim Martin
Friday, 26 October, the satellite transmitter of our male osprey stopped
transmitting. Dick Tuttle was the person who called it to my attention
after he visited the ODNR website. In response to his worried, but hopeful
email, Jim Martin responded:
"I recall when the telemetry was placed on the male Osprey's back (June
2005) asking Dave Sherman what the life-span of the device was. He said
that it was about three years. With that in mind, there is a possibility
that the "suspenders" that hold the transmitter on has simply rotted and
fallen off in the jungles of the Amazon and TM is just fine. A bit of
wishful thinking but still a possibility. I remain hopeful." We all remain
hopeful and will be watching the north end of Alum Creek next March for his
return.
Functions of Colored Feathers
On Monday evening the 22nd Lauren Smith described her recent work on
the antibacterial properties of brightly colored parrot feathers.
Apparently the scarlet feathers of Scarlet Macaws are not only a brilliant
signal, but are also resistant to bacterial degradation. Blue, green and
black also resist degradation by bacteria and fungi. Yellow is not as good
at resisting destruction, but is better than white. Lauren then speculated
on the distribution of differently colored parrots, but hopes to be able to
visit their habitats to check on the presence of bacterial and fungi that
degrade feathers and the presence of parrots. This could take her to
habitats in Central and South America, Australia, and Africa. Tough field
work, but somebody has to do it. Inquiring minds want to know.
Jack Stenger provided the second talk in a double bill. He is looking
at the positioning of pale signal patches on the wings, body and
particularly the tail. How do birds position these feathers to provide for
effective signals and protect the pale, easily worn feathers? Jack (and
Jed) hope to determine what caused the damage we observe in worn tail
feathers. Was it caused by bacteria, lice, abrasion by airborne particles,
friction with other feathers, or by collision with a twig or some largish
object? How does the effectiveness of the signal change as the pale
feathers become worn away. Jack lead an interesting discussion of
possibilities, but the research is only beginning. Stay tuned.
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