|
Resources
Tivoli Bays Trail map (excerpt of map produced by the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve)
Enjoy the birds on campus this winter with these words from Bard staff member and forme Audubon Professional, Fred Baumgarten -
Intimations of Spring: Cardinal Sings at Campus Center!
Amidst the roller coaster of wintry weather that has dogged us over the past few weeks – if there were “dog days” of winter, they would be in the month of February – it is possible to hear the unmistakable “what-cheer, what-cheer, what-cheer” of the northern cardinal, reminding us that you simply can’t hold back the changing seasons.
 The “redbird” is arguably America’s favorite songbird, and surely the most familiar to even the most casual observer. It is the state bird in seven states, more than any other species. The brilliant red male is instantly recognized. The female is variably brownish-buff with red highlights. Both sexes have a prominent crest and a bright reddish-orange bill.
Cardinals begin their courtship and mating activities around now, with the males staking out a territory and singing to attract a mate. In cardinals, both the male and female sing, and it is the female who often initiates the singing, which may then instigate “counter-singing” by the male; in this way, a bond is established.
Birds also sing to demarcate their territory and even as an aggressive signal to potential rivals. Cardinals – like some other related species, such as buntings – have regional song dialects, and it is possible to hear differences between individuals in one area and those in a more distant place.
Nest-building will commence by mid-March. The female takes the lead, building a loose cup nest in shrubbery in which she lays three or four eggs on average. Cardinals may have several broods a year in our region. Many of the eggs and young, however, are victimized by predators such as crows and raccoons, and by the brown-headed cowbird, a brood parasite that discards its host’s eggs and lays its own in the host’s nest.
The cardinal has a varied diet. In winter, seeds and fruits are favored, and cardinals regularly patronize feeders, to the delight of bird-watchers. During the summer, many insects get eaten, and the young are fed almost exclusively insects.
It’s hard to imagine now, but 60 or 70 years ago the northern cardinal was not present in our area. Milder winters and the availability of feeders have been the likely causes of the cardinal’s rapid expansion northward, and the cardinal has also proven to be a remarkably adaptable, not to mention welcome, year-round resident of the Bard campus.
Winter Delights
The frosty weather of this early winter may give us some reprieve from thoughts of global warming, though unfortunately it can’t really absolve us of that reality. But it has brought us another gift in the form of an “invasion” of winter birds, many of which come from north of us in search of food. Here are a few interesting species to look for this time of year:
Pine Grosbeak: A robin-sized finch with a short, stubby bill. The male is  rosy pink, the female gray and buff. Experts are calling this the biggest invasion of these handsome birds in many years. Look for these birds in pine trees and sometimes at feeders.
Common Redpoll: This small finch is closely related to the more common American goldfinch and similar in size, habits, and voice. Redpolls are white underneath but heavily streaked with brown, and have a rosy red chin and cap. Redpolls visit feeders or hang out on stalks in weedy fields.
Snow Bunting: This songbird is smaller than a robin, white underneath and light brown on top, with conspicuous white wing patches. It is found in flocks in open areas, on snowy and fallow fields and on the ground along the edges of roads. Buntings often associate with horned larks, another winter bird that likes pastures and freshly manured fields. The farms surrounding Bard are good places to look for this bird.
Northern Shrike: Known as “butcher birds,” shrikes are the only “songbirds of prey.” They feed on large insects, small rodents, and small birds. After catching and killing their prey, they impale them on thorns or barbed wire to save them for future eating. This cache or “larder” also serves to mark territory and attract a mate (yum!). The northern shrike is similar in size and plumage to a northern mockingbird, with which it can be confused. However, it has a longer, more rounded tail with a conspicuous white border, a striking black mask, and a strongly hooked beak (just like any good bird of prey). It is found at the borders of open fields.
These are some of the more unusual and interesting birds of winter, a nice accompaniment to the more common species around campus. All are making a big incursion into our area this winter, so it’s worth keeping an eagle eye out for them.
|
