Stormy Autumn Days

I’m writing this on Saturday afternoon and the Peninsula is getting hosed.  We got the bird feeders in just in time~ the seed gets soaked and the feeders usually end up in the ditch across the road in a storm like this.   I wonder where the birds hunker down during a washout like this.   What I read is that land birds get as close to a tree trunk as possible, on the lee side and just wait it out.  Small birds like chickadees will group together for warmth. Water birds find the protected side of the lake or river, face into the wind, and ride the waves.  Healthy birds are waterproof, so by facing into the wind, they keep the water out of their feathers.  Unlike horses and cattle who you usually see tail-ends to the storm.  Not waterproof either way, I guess.

This is an early storm and it’s hitting during the peak of Fall migration.  Not a good thing.   The high, wet winds will be a hindrance to southerly flight and cause birds to use up much more energy than on a dry, windless journey.  They have been stoking up on seed and insects just for this trip, and hopefully will have adequate food stores to get where they need to.  The flocks will make stops along the way to refuel, once they’ve left the storm behind.   A kind request:  if you run your dog on the beach and see a big flock of sandpipers this time of year, they’re doing the refueling thing.  If they are chased off their feeding ground, it causes them to waste valuable energy.  Let your pooch chase a stick this time around and give the birds a break.

Birds are definitely on the move south.  The little cinnamon-green hummers - Rufous, by name, are now few and far between at our feeders.  I have a feeder just outside my office window where the cat and I can watch these little guys duke it out with the pugnacious Anna’s hummers.   Only the Anna’s  are here now, and they will stay the winter.   Our Anna’s perches in the ell of the house, on the lee side out of the rain by the chimney and makes forays to the nearest feeder.  These are greener feathered hummers, and the males'  gorgets, or throat plates, are a vivid maroon when they catch the light.  Stunning. 

As I type, an immature Anna's just briefly checked out the feeder.  His, or her, color is still undefined, lots of gray mixed in with white and brown/green.   So tiny, and their feet- delicate perfect black toes, almost hairlike.  I love the way most birds neatly tuck feet and legs back when flying, then extend them just perfectly when landing.  A small thing, but a gift to observe, I think. 

As the days shorten and the rains continue, I'll watch for the Anna's at the feeder.    I'll look forward to their buzzing-around-my-head demands when I go out in the cold to refresh their feeder.   Even if it's raining, there are wild things to bring joy.

A Grebe Experience

When you see Western Grebes floating serenely in the bays and inlets near us, it’s easy to think, “wow, what a regal and peaceful looking bird.  So beautiful...”   And they are, most of the time.   When captive and in a strange place, not so much!

Western Grebes are stately  black and white water birds that winter along our coast and in protected bays.  You may have seen a photo of their mating dance, where two grebes ‘run’ across the water, side by side.   Looks impossible but they do it.

A very bad winter storm at sea a few years ago brought a bumper crop of Western Grebes to the Wildlife Center.  For some reason, these particular birds were heavily impacted.   When they washed onto our shores, they were wet to the bone, hypothermic, weak and hungry.  And really challenging to capture. 

 Western Grebes have  long, snake-like necks, a small head and a thin, very sharp beak.   In order to protect themselves, they strike out with this beak at whatever – read whoever – is  perceived as a threat.  They are quick and accurate too.   Add to this  that the usually sleek black feathers on the top of their heads stand straight up when they’re antagonized, that their eyes are fiery red and that they can screech like banshees.  Not a bird for a novice bird rehabber to handle!   They’re just trying to protect themselves, and it’s a pretty effective effort.

This storm brought us probably over seventy Western Grebes within a 2-3 day period.  They were everywhere at the Center: in boxes, in wire pens, in big dog crates, anywhere they would fit.   Luckily they’re pretty sociable birds, so more than one could go into a container.  But looking down into a pen full of Grebes was like looking at a bunch of screeching cobras.   You just had to pick one out visually and gently but firmly hold it by the neck near the head – just to immobilize that bill.   Then get your other hand around the bird and lift quickly, keeping it’s rear away from you, as a big squirt was usually the next thing that happened.

We washed, dried and fed nothing but Grebes for days on end.  We waterproofed till we ran out of dish soap.  Hairdryers running on wet birds blended with the unearthly screeching- ear plugs were a must. 

Keeping that much fish thawed was a challenge too.  The Center has freezers full of frozen fish of all kinds, since every sea bird likes a different kind of fish.  And,  some like it diced up, some cut in half, some whole.   This is a sophisticated bird restaurant.   So boxes of the right fish were thawed, cut and placed in communal feeding pans.   Once the Grebes were healthy they made short work of the fish on offer.   A daily swim was in order for each bird, so they were carried  one by one by gloved volunteers to the bathing area and placed with other Grebes for a nice bath.   More screeching, but happier now:  water is their element.

Once the birds were healthy and waterproof,  on a calm day off they would go for release in  the Bay.  Volunteers love this part.  Sassy birds dash for freedom, fluff, dive and resurface, then do it all again.  Pure joy and the same for us, as we helped this happen.