Click on the month in the Table of Contents to scroll down to that section
Sunday Morning Birdwalk ListClick HERE to go to the most recent list of birds seen on the Sunday Morning Birdwalk. Birdwalk is led by members of the Amos Butler Audubon Society, and meets every Sunday morning at the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center. November 2012Common Goldeneye: It is very clear why this medium-sized duck is named Goldeneye. The white patch at the base of the bill is an identifying feature of a male. These birds dive for aquatic insects, crustaceans, and pond vegetation. Immature Bald Eagle: Bald eagles attain adult plumage at around five years of age. The golden eagle has a smaller bill than the bald eagle. White mottling on the wings is another distinguishing feature of an immature bald eagle. October 2012Flight of the Pelicans: The Pelicans have been at the Eagle Creek park for about 11 days. Today, they spent a few minutes flying around in circles, possibly getting ready for the remainder of the migration flight. With such a large wingspan, these birds are very graceful in their flight. September 2012Bald Eagle: With a wingspan of nearly 6-7 feet, this majestic bird, the Bald Eagle, was designated national bird of the United States in 1782. Eagles can spot their food, (fish, small mammals, waterfowl), up to two miles away, and can dive at mind-boggling speeds of up to 100 miles-per-hour. Bald Eagles, like this one can be found on trees near large bodies of water. Red Shouldered Hawk:  Red Shouldered Hawks can be found in indiana year-round. These birds feed on small mammals, small reptiles (snakes), and large insects. Females (about 54" in length) are larger than males (about 48"). Striped tail and spotted wings are among its identifying features. American White Pelicans:   Photo by Manjit Trehan, 9/24/2012, all rights reserved, Where was this picture taken? American White Pelicans have been known to have a wingspan of 120 inches, (yes, 10 feet across). Weighing in at about 18 pounds, these birds consume about 4 pounds of fish a day. They arrive on breeding grounds in March-April and head back south during September-October months. Great Blue Heron:  Great Blue Herons are found along freshwater shorelines. They feed mostly on fish, but also on small birds and mammals. Blue Herons swallow their catch whole. Adult birds can be as tall as 55 inches (head-to-tail) and their wingspan can exceed 6 feet. This picture was taken from a kayak, but it is fairly easy to spot these birds along the shorelines of Eagle Creek reservoir. Northern Harrier:  Northern Harrier, a medium-sized raptor roughly 20 inches long with a wing-span of about 4-feet, mainly hunts small mammals though sometimes preys on birds. Some Harriers have been known to drown their catch. Northern Harrier is currently listed as "State Endangered" species on the Indiana Species of greatest conservation need. Greater Yellowlegs:
 Greater Yellowlegs are shore birds roughly 12 inches in length. Their diet consists of small fish and insects. With bills longer than their heads, Yellowlegs dig along the shore-line for food. August 2012Mallard in eclipse plumage:  The Mallard in distance (with green bill) is a male in eclipse plumage. After breeding, the male Mallard has a complete molt, producing a dull-colored basic plumage, aptly termed the eclipse plumage. Male Mallards in eclipse plumage look remarkably like females, but their bills are light olive green, while females' are orange marked with black. The timing of this molt is related to courtship, which begins in the fall. Green Heron:
 The Green Heron is a small wading bird (roughly 17 inches long) that often sits motionless waiting for small fish to swim by. Generally, this bird keeps its neck pulled-in close to the body, though while catching fish may extend it 6-8 inches. It mostly feeds on small fish, though may also eat insects, small reptiles and amphibians. Great Blue Heron:  In the early morning hours, Great Blue Herons seem to be praying standing motionless facing the sun. The Blue Herons avoid humans, so you need a good set of binoculars or a camera with a telephoto lens to get a clear view of their beautiful form. These birds feed on fish and swallow their catch whole. Cooper's Hawk:  Cooper's Hawks are crow-sized. One of the distinguishing features from a Sharp-shinned Hawk is that Cooper's Hawk has a rounded tail. These hawks generally prey on feeder birds and small mammals. July 2012Great Egret:
 Standing nearly 1 meter tall and weighing roughly 3 pounds, the Great Egret feeds on fish, frogs, and small mammals. While in flight, the Great Egert retracts its neck, as opposed to storks, spoonbills, and cranes, which extend their necks. These birds are partially migratory, moving south for the winter.
Double-crested Cormorant:
 The Double-crested Cormorant looks like a cross between a goose and a loon, however these birds are related to frigate birds. These heavy bodied birds float low on the water, and they dive to catch small fish. Adult cormorants can grow to roughly 35 inches in length and weigh as much as 5.5 pounds. A large flock can generally be seen sitting in the trees where this picture was taken.
June 2012American Goldfinch:
 The best way to identify the male American Goldfinch is the yellow body with a black cap and black wings. With a 12 centimeter body and 20 centimeter wingspan, this is a migratory bird. The female of the species is a brown color. The American Goldfinch undergoes a molt with dull colors during winter and bright colors during spring.
Red Shouldered Hawk:  Red Shouldered Hawks can be found in indiana year-round. These birds feed on small mammals, small reptiles (snakes), and large insects. Females (about 54" in length) are larger than males (about 48"). Striped tail and spotted wings are among its identifying features.
Great Blue Heron:
 Photo by Manjit Trehan, 6/9/2012, all rights reserved, Where was this picture taken?
Pileated Woodpecker:
Video by Manjit Trehan, 5/15/2012, all rights reserved, Where was this video recorded? Pileated Woodpeckers are large compared to other woodpeckers. These birds can be 16 to 19 inches long and feed on insects, berries and nuts. The sound made by this woodpecker is called drumming and the intention is to declare its territory.
May 2012Tree Swallows have tiny bills, a forked tail, and pointed wings. These 5-inch long birds feed on flying insects and berries.
Video by Manjit Trehan, 5/15/2012, all rights reserved, Where was this video recorded?
Upon human approach, the Blue Herons sound an alarm to warn others of the possible danger. Listen to the alarm call in the video clip.
2011 Henslow's Sparrow StudyThe Henslow's Sparrow at Eagle Creek Park: Habitat Preferences, Breeding Biology, and Management Recommendations. Prepared by Harrison Jones, Summer Intern at the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center.
Excerpt: "The Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii), an obligate grassland specialist and Midwest specialty, remains a rare and declining bird throughout its range, both at the national and state level....This study found a small population of Henslow's Sparrows residing within Eagle Creek Park, with successful breeding observed but not quantified. Future management should focus on the Eagle's Crest prairie complex, the exclusive site in which a breeding population is established. The focus of management regimes should be placed on increasing the distance from wooded edge, eradicating invasive species, and implementing a rotational disturbance regime. Future research efforts should concentrate on rate of nest success, site fidelity, and comparison of insect abundance and diversity between prairies."
Click here to download a pdf of the full report (18 pages)
Click here to view photos of Henslow's Sparrow and hear its song at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Website October 2011 - Long-tailed JaegerBirders were thrilled by the sight of this tundra-breeding bird visiting the reservoir - a rare sight, and a life bird for many! The Jaeger has been present since October 1, and as of the 5th is still hanging around. April 2011Janet Creamer, park naturalist at Southeastway Park, recently got to see the rare juvenile Northern Goshawk that has been hanging around Eagle Creek. Janet describes her encounter at the Indy Parks Nature Blog (I recommend poking around and reading some of the other entries if you're interested in Indiana nature - Janet's posts are always both educational and very entertaining!) http://indyparks.blogspot.com/2011/04/northern-goshawk-at-eagle-creek-blue.html 2010 Breeding Bird SurveyClick HERE to download a pdf file (7.36 MB) of the 2010 Breeding Bird Survey of Eagle Creek Park, prepared by Ross Brittain, Indiana Director of Bird Conservation, National Audubon Society.
Excerpt:
"Our goals with the 2010 version of the project were to provide scientific insight for Indianapolis Parks Department officials on avian habitat management at Eagle Creek Park within the context of Marion County and the Central Till Plain. In particular, we wanted to re-establish the breeding bird surveys that had previously been conducted to look for population trends. We also established two MAPS banding stations to begin research on local population dynamics in order to gain insight into the breeding success rates of forest-associated species on the property." April 2010 A pile of feathers by the Ice Skating Ponds marks the spot where a Barred Owl met his or her end. My guess is that the owl was nabbed by a Peregrine Falcon or Great-horned Owl, and the rest of the remains were later dragged away by a fox, raccoon, or other predator.
You can tell these are owl feathers because the edges of the flight feathers are fringed, and they feel soft and furry. This is an adaptation that allows the owl to fly almost silently. Even though owl feathers are beautiful and very enticing, it is illegal to possess them without State and Federal Migratory Bird Salvage Permits, even if you just find the feathers on the ground. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 went into effect when some bird species were being hunted into extinction for the sake of their feathers to adorn hats and clothing. It applies to almost all bird species except for house sparrows, starlings, rock doves, and game and domestic species (the feathers you can buy in craft stores are fine too).
 Photo by Dawn Van Deman, 4/2/10, copy at will February 2010 Photo by Dawn Van Deman, 2/21/10, copy at will
Two Mute Swans have been regulars in the Bird Sanctuary area of the reservoir for several weeks. They are usually easily viewable from the observation window of the Ornithology Center. Mute Swans are considered exotic species, introduced from Europe in the 1800's. Mute swans can be aggressive towards humans during breeding season and can outcompete native waterfowl and damage wetland habitat, so they are not always welcomed with open arms.
The United States has two native swan species: the Tundra Swan, and the Trumpeter Swan. Both of these species have dark bills compared to the Mute Swan's orange bill, and hold their necks straight rather than in the characteristic curved shape of the Mute Swan.
Since heavy snow has covered the ground for several weeks, Pileated Woodpeckers have become regular visitors to the suet feeders at the Ornithology Center and Earth Discovery Center. These large, crow-sized woodpeckers are residents in Indiana year round. This particular Pileated is a female - the male would have red continuing from the crest all the way to the base of the beak rather than partway, and a red "moustache" extending along the side of the face.
January 2010 Photo by Robert Magnuson, all rights reserved
Two mature bald eagles sitting on some trees near the reservoir. The reservoir was mostly iced over in early January, but there were still a few pockets of thawed water where geese and ducks and coots were gathered, providing the eagles with a place to grab a few snacks.
 Photo by Robert Magnuson, all rights reserved
Barred Owl nestled in the crook of a hollow sycamore tree. Winter is a wonderful time to look for owls in the park - once the trees leaf out in spring they become much harder to find.
video by Dawn Van Deman
On January 8th we were surprised to hear the unmistakable calls of sandhill cranes overhead at the EDC. Sure enough a small flock was flying over the park - we managed to get a snatch of video before they disappeared into the distance. The bulk of sandhill crane migration takes place in November and December, so this is rather late in the year, but the flock was definitely headed south. Sandhill cranes gather by the thousands at Jasper Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area up in northern Indiana. It is definitely a sight not to be missed! For more information on the cranes at Jasper Pulaski, visit the IDNR website: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/3109.htm |
