tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80569929317852046982024-03-13T17:06:00.294-07:00TWA | The Wild AirportAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-45036348712316268922017-01-28T18:48:00.000-08:002018-07-10T18:38:56.748-07:00Gophers to Rave AboutI've talked about it over on the Facebook side of, "The Wild Airport" but I don't think I've touched on it over here -- it being the simple fact that whenever the airfield sees heavy rains many gophers are flooded from their burrows. <br />
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We in Operations end up removing a good number of these drowned lil' critters and with good reason. Flooded out, dead gophers attract predators, and the longer they sit out the more predators they bring in. I remember one year after a really heavy rain we started seeing a whole lot of hawks, crows, ravens, and vultures near the approach end of main runway. This influx of bird activity presented a huge threat to the safety of aircraft using our airport and as such I finally just walked the infields with a bucket to collect them up. I ended removing nearly six five-gallon buckets full of dead gophers, which did greatly reduce the interest of the birds.<br />
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Here a Common Raven (<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Corvus corax) circles me as if to show off it's catch.</span><br />
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-28146203596255657182016-05-30T21:47:00.000-07:002016-05-30T21:47:04.442-07:00No Lesser To Me...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZkzcToKzZ0jU06qzzvMOq0s1BVYEzo8bLxrJpw0NFVA9UjsC30xSIQ6Z8giNxhfRq4dkPNFZKR_3jzoch27qZavE6P41aYyvwoMfjD0uiqPXiMfdPlVKeZ-ucnWuqLiinI0fyACKM0o/s1600/DSC_0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZkzcToKzZ0jU06qzzvMOq0s1BVYEzo8bLxrJpw0NFVA9UjsC30xSIQ6Z8giNxhfRq4dkPNFZKR_3jzoch27qZavE6P41aYyvwoMfjD0uiqPXiMfdPlVKeZ-ucnWuqLiinI0fyACKM0o/s400/DSC_0204.JPG" width="296" /></a>They may indeed be Lesser Goldfinch (<i>Spinus psaltria</i>) but they are still plenty fascinating to me. This certainly isn't the first time I've seen them working the downy seeds of flowering plants on the airfield, but this was the closest!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-41304943826234282832016-05-22T23:06:00.000-07:002016-05-22T23:07:33.393-07:00Cassin Quite a Ruckus <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So the first thing I notice other than the vocalizations of kingbirds in the area, is this Red-tailed Hawk being harassed by some smaller bird. I thought maybe it was a Northern Mockingbird, however after review of the photos I see that it is indeed not a mockingbird. It is instead being tormented by kingbird -- quite a bit of pluck for bird that's considerably smaller than the hawk! What would motivate such a persistent attack? A near-by nest? Probably.<br />
I went on about my business until the chatter from these kingbirds piqued my curiosity. It was then that I noticed the parental activity -- back and forth, to and from and light pole on the ramp next to me. I cruised over to investigate further and guess what I discover? Sure enough two adult Cassin's Kingbirds (<i>Tyrannus vociferans</i>) are feeding one, possibly two chicks.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-62974114610673411982016-02-01T22:26:00.000-08:002016-02-01T22:26:46.760-08:00A Red-tailed close upI tried something a little different today. Something which I've only done once so far; I got out of my work vehicle and attempted to get as close as I could to my subject. I managed to get pretty close -- granted this is a juvenile.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-65087815026379480192016-01-02T07:14:00.001-08:002016-04-20T20:53:32.770-07:00The Bluebird Bar<br />
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Western Bluebird <i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Sialia mexicana</span></i><br />
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">This little fella surprised me the other day. I thought I had simply gotten lucky and discovered him atop a bollard next to where I park my work truck, but there was more to it than merely a simply encounter. I crept up to him as close as I could while he was perched atop the bollard and then he flew off. I had some things to unload from the back of the truck, so I started in on that. As I unloaded I noticed that he had returned, however this time he was atop one our building services' Rubbermaid wheeled trash carts that was upside down. So I grabbed my camera, stood still, waited, and observed. Well, guess what he was up to? </span><br />
<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">He flew down from the wheel to the ground, then flew over to edge of the cart's upside down lip and began to drink. See we had had a decent rain a few days back and because the overturned trash cart had stayed in shade all that time the rain water it had collected had not evaporated and our bluebird had discovered this along with a few of his friends! </span><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><br /></span></i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-2574536826309022972015-12-22T18:23:00.000-08:002015-12-22T18:23:11.335-08:00Heron lies the truth!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x3LuNHIGZtF3GnbzhXia5_clRVuNnoSv8ujTQnnz6wdSZZCVG66TIOHCBVNvGBh_YQKm0a4ZyUZ9C8eAVtmKkfm8TlNuBIxfRqGM6MPN_56eUaR_4BOZDeQeT0n8xK4yvaqdx3ybyzo/s1600/DSC_0179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x3LuNHIGZtF3GnbzhXia5_clRVuNnoSv8ujTQnnz6wdSZZCVG66TIOHCBVNvGBh_YQKm0a4ZyUZ9C8eAVtmKkfm8TlNuBIxfRqGM6MPN_56eUaR_4BOZDeQeT0n8xK4yvaqdx3ybyzo/s400/DSC_0179.JPG" width="305" /></a>About what, I'm not sure but I am certain that today was the closest I've ever got to a Great Blue Heron (<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><i>Ardea herodias</i>) </span>while on foot!<br />
Most of the time I photograph from my work truck but this time I figured why not go on foot and see just how close I can get; besides if I spook him then it's a win as well because I still need to scoot him off the airfield. I probably got within about ten feet before he bugged out. Pretty cool! <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-25056003349203708262015-12-14T22:13:00.000-08:002015-12-14T22:13:03.033-08:00A Savannah Bath Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had rain the night before, which is rare in Southern California -- although they say we're going to see much more as an El Nino cycle hits us this winter. The birds don't know about forecast models, but they do know a good place to take a dip when they see one! These Savannah Sparrows (<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><i>Passerculus sandwichensis</i>) wasted no time, despite my presence. </span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-20218931310064035222015-12-14T21:54:00.001-08:002015-12-14T21:54:48.716-08:00Of Ravens and Pipits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This Common Raven (<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><i>Corvus corax</i>) was actually my guide the other day. He had been picking at something out in one of the infields, and had his presence not piqued my curiosity I would not have investigated was ended up being a wildlife strike by an aircraft. What was left of the Barn Owl (</span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><i>Tyto alba</i>) </span>after predation were legs, vertebrae with some of the occipital skull, wings from humerus, some primaries, and body feathers all over the place. </span><br />
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">This American Pipit (</span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Anthus rubescens</span></i>) happened to stay on the fence long enough after I came to a stop in my work truck to get a few pictures. The second shot made me think of "Grumpy Cat" when I was finally to home and editing! </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-50249022030518683742015-11-06T00:39:00.002-08:002015-11-06T00:39:10.568-08:00Red-tailed Ramblings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It certainly has been a while since I've posted anything here. I'll be honest, it's been busy with work, family, and school. I've found it easier to quickly throw something up over on the CTWA (Call of The Wild Airport) Facebook page. So I've kind of decided to keep this for more a "quality" versus "quantity" over on the Facebook side, not to say that there's not good stuff over there. Pop by and you be the judge. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-13372966287096697252015-09-28T21:45:00.003-07:002015-09-28T22:04:46.502-07:00Three Amigos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJZu-FrOu0qODmBUdSBTaYpJvo07cxajCb9bkyFMVZb_u3dJIZfPZvQeQsZIEhXERAUvogWrkQRxeiXXkVlfSQieHQX7xfsDmF3zAXRuXsfUsLIieXUmO3pE4yeBkhWkaaVJ6AZYt2RM/s1600/DSC_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWJZu-FrOu0qODmBUdSBTaYpJvo07cxajCb9bkyFMVZb_u3dJIZfPZvQeQsZIEhXERAUvogWrkQRxeiXXkVlfSQieHQX7xfsDmF3zAXRuXsfUsLIieXUmO3pE4yeBkhWkaaVJ6AZYt2RM/s400/DSC_0076.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
So just what are these three juvenile European Starlings <i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">(Sturnus vulgaris) </span></i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">up to? Are they newest thing in non-destructive airframe inspection? Are they conducting a pre-flight inspection before they take her up, or just simply trying to figure out this mechanical contraption does what they do naturally? Well it actually something a little more basic than any of that. See if you can figure it out. I'll give you a hint these photos were taken in the morning not long after some light fog had burned off.</span><br />
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Focus in on what I just told you about the weather. It had been foggy.</span><br />
<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Visible moisture had been present in the air.
What happens to metal while sits out overnight in the open air? What
does your own vehicle look like on foggy morning?</span><br />
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"> Next, I want you to look a little closer at the surface of the stabilator -- that's the horizontal surface upon which the "inquisitive" bird is standing on. (I did tell you that I have pilot's license right?) You will notice that the stabilator is not perfectly smooth, it has grooves which run front to back. And now guess what these grooves have collected? </span><br />
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Yup, that's right! Condensation has formed and has pooled enough in the grooves of the stabilators to provide a drink for our three thirsty starlings! If you look close enough you can actually see a droplet of water is this bird's beak. </span><br />
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-79664046196484693142015-09-10T12:38:00.004-07:002015-09-10T12:38:58.642-07:00Stand by to stand by<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So my camera has been in the shop since my trip home to Montana, three weeks ago. In the mean time I've returned to school and I've decided to and a Facebook [page] presence to this blog. So now you can also go to the "Call of The Wild Airport" on Facebook and see more. Available <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Call-of-The-Wild-Airport-494655094036413/timeline/" target="_blank">here</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-21544325294495415782015-08-06T19:29:00.001-07:002015-08-06T19:47:51.807-07:00Oh it's just another one of Bill's birds<br />
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William that is, William J. Swainson.<br />
Swainson, a British naturalist and illustrator best known for the quality of his art and being the first of his contemporaries to use lithography. According to Cornell University our friend here, the Swainson's Hawk (<i>Buteo swainsoni</i>) was originally identified in 1872 by Mr. Swainson as a Common Buzzard (<i>Buteo buteo</i>) until five years later when French biologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte classified it as it's own species and named it after Swainson.<br />
I've only seen a Swainson's Hawk one other time and it was so far away from that it was only through close examination of the photos I had taken of it that I was able to deduce an identification. So this was Marty Stouffer, <i>Wild America</i> moment!<i> </i><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-58834681995243397342015-07-12T19:50:00.003-07:002015-07-12T19:50:55.914-07:00Something more to peregrine about<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOq4oonJptybu_rZxS01A_Vnxl2XUs0U7o0sz3BHrv32-14fi5ap0KF28kjeHN5cyN0med4w1YertFcdHwIN6w_acy4rUunFODx3f7KKN_zNyMFVWToQkbSmw2p92Y5Ib-AuI51vJGWMA/s1600/DSC_5650l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOq4oonJptybu_rZxS01A_Vnxl2XUs0U7o0sz3BHrv32-14fi5ap0KF28kjeHN5cyN0med4w1YertFcdHwIN6w_acy4rUunFODx3f7KKN_zNyMFVWToQkbSmw2p92Y5Ib-AuI51vJGWMA/s320/DSC_5650l.jpg" width="253" /></a>During this morning's airfield inspection, while on the runway, I glanced across at something which I thought was maybe a raven across the infield along the edge of the taxiway. Later on as I cruised up the previously mentioned taxiway who do I see but yet another Peregrine Falcon. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-29752663987285077532015-07-09T08:46:00.000-07:002015-08-06T20:05:55.936-07:00Raven about peregrines <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgKfXXkRJzJCbGnM8kU_-UD8Rhx_RzTpOGahv83CywlWZ4umz4cwPp_oM6o-Os6WJ8iGWbx4xwGlFYYYG2VzfHKQKiNCPOBHaifYYKUqrvFtc48_1ejs6xMdlb_QO8T9BpPKGkaRLqaU/s1600/DSC_5561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgKfXXkRJzJCbGnM8kU_-UD8Rhx_RzTpOGahv83CywlWZ4umz4cwPp_oM6o-Os6WJ8iGWbx4xwGlFYYYG2VzfHKQKiNCPOBHaifYYKUqrvFtc48_1ejs6xMdlb_QO8T9BpPKGkaRLqaU/s320/DSC_5561.JPG" width="257" /></a><br />
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This raven caught me off guard, I was not expecting him to get as close to my truck as he did but he just keep walking closer and closer, until he was probably a good ten to fifteen feet away. It was only after I had stopped taking photos, got the abatement pistol out, and fired a couple of blank starter caps that he and the adult with him (in the distance) took off. Later on, while reviewing the photos after work, I realized he must have been a young adolescent bird due to "patchwork" feathers and his atypically unwary behavior -- none the less it was a rather cool encounter!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Common Raven (</span><i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Corvus corax</span></i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_rpr0ZgZxr2Xwd6wZZIfro7lFyjpGg3GiBlQhNQvoD5M2-e0P-pLUHLxotA3Zo1ZAbCf8gXYFPUqb9pIaFc5FOwVP2cjngYQV7gAhRmf3y3y-zPiEUvLGUnoq7gcZRF-Pbiavaiqt-M/s1600/DSC_5616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_rpr0ZgZxr2Xwd6wZZIfro7lFyjpGg3GiBlQhNQvoD5M2-e0P-pLUHLxotA3Zo1ZAbCf8gXYFPUqb9pIaFc5FOwVP2cjngYQV7gAhRmf3y3y-zPiEUvLGUnoq7gcZRF-Pbiavaiqt-M/s200/DSC_5616.JPG" width="138" /></a>The next unexpectedly awesome encounter was not just one Peregrine Falcon, but two! I had stopped to check on the progress of an L.A. County Public Works crew that was cleaning out basin of a flood control channel that runs adjacent to airport property and when not cleaned out often enough has provided attractive habitat -- that's a story for another post. Anyways I had stopped to see the progress and as I was glancing over to them something darts past my peripheral field of view -- a Peregrine Falcon! So I quick reached down, grabbed the camera, and snapped off a quick few shots as it passed. Then I heard something -- something like a repeated cry of a raptor. So scanned the area and saw bird sitting on a light pole near the UPS ramp, but even with binos I couldn't be certain of what it was so drove over to investigate. So as in many case I start snapping photos as I approach, figuring the bird will scoot before I can get decently close, but this time I was able to get close -- in fact I got called away on business before I could fully push the limit. All that aside it was super awesome to be able witness and get photos of not just one, but two truly amazing birds! If you look close enough you'll see it's got bands on both legs; I am still examining the photos to try and figure out who's banded it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkd994jDmgvr7pzHz323JHd98LqV1tRtSsTOHxbotBqLC1wcBy-H0dmxYwIgnUkwRnvE3PzDt5qSV3fmT6Xb7G3yB3CHm9I6CPndc9lJE8CiOcUgjy9EX50b3q8eG05Yitlb4p_BAolM/s1600/DSC_5629l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkd994jDmgvr7pzHz323JHd98LqV1tRtSsTOHxbotBqLC1wcBy-H0dmxYwIgnUkwRnvE3PzDt5qSV3fmT6Xb7G3yB3CHm9I6CPndc9lJE8CiOcUgjy9EX50b3q8eG05Yitlb4p_BAolM/s640/DSC_5629l.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peregrine Falcon (<i>Falco </i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><i>peregrinus</i>)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBIMtbWRR52mnwaJZx87J2DvzYXbumpscdIG72LqM_erRGpqda_7dxDg2Izxij0ap3AeGkayjcTUNejjWgNAHBLFm1L94-QJSB2GgjF7y9EX7IkuGJwOHnc21Eafg93QheECok5ZkNlg/s1600/DSC_5624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBIMtbWRR52mnwaJZx87J2DvzYXbumpscdIG72LqM_erRGpqda_7dxDg2Izxij0ap3AeGkayjcTUNejjWgNAHBLFm1L94-QJSB2GgjF7y9EX7IkuGJwOHnc21Eafg93QheECok5ZkNlg/s640/DSC_5624.JPG" width="427" /></a><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-63531061525192793762015-07-07T21:17:00.000-07:002015-07-12T19:51:35.331-07:00Kestrels gone wild<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJFUP3vMZ3M99i71OYIpiLmRwQHc2apRZGZBtbM_4JQ9W4OnoeIaXZE9bd1wlSbudfykcsCj949UkPiimFDlFI3c7eH8DlitWqruovFNXVqRmRxMBg6s6jiyUtvIn-J10oNcjbe9W85Q/s1600/DSC_5411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJFUP3vMZ3M99i71OYIpiLmRwQHc2apRZGZBtbM_4JQ9W4OnoeIaXZE9bd1wlSbudfykcsCj949UkPiimFDlFI3c7eH8DlitWqruovFNXVqRmRxMBg6s6jiyUtvIn-J10oNcjbe9W85Q/s400/DSC_5411.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">female <i>Falco sparverius</i></td></tr>
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In the last month or so we've seen a increase in the number of American Kestrels on the airfield as fledglings take to the skies. They're every where!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the sky,</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTqAt5qc4HAmA6IfduuJTMzRhsriXQgVc2mbfD9Qj56PopkXzulnPJbJ1PC6jGX2-RcsOEMrtwRQRLL_TvUdM904jQ5ks2Om_v2JoZZudIBGL2uaPpOV5aNaacEorbxYYK-UT0hxTka4/s1600/DSC_5431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTqAt5qc4HAmA6IfduuJTMzRhsriXQgVc2mbfD9Qj56PopkXzulnPJbJ1PC6jGX2-RcsOEMrtwRQRLL_TvUdM904jQ5ks2Om_v2JoZZudIBGL2uaPpOV5aNaacEorbxYYK-UT0hxTka4/s400/DSC_5431.JPG" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another female</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">on signs,</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtj25n5BCWt7s50zyMzVVfGpebKwTtDOI6z2fS9mCMOFzkfhPNjpqyHYzK1_BQbQBSUH-2kGdGTwNHhibdWg6qC60HCHLYf7jH4xe3OUxAzUcPZFIdnGlyxeuUiGFpTClw7zxbFxrg7g/s1600/DSC_4469a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtj25n5BCWt7s50zyMzVVfGpebKwTtDOI6z2fS9mCMOFzkfhPNjpqyHYzK1_BQbQBSUH-2kGdGTwNHhibdWg6qC60HCHLYf7jH4xe3OUxAzUcPZFIdnGlyxeuUiGFpTClw7zxbFxrg7g/s400/DSC_4469a.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two males</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">they're on guard rail posts,</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfkQ0WnZWd1CR9qwDv7fPHFzR4nkH5me7xKDu5xoudewEsZMveu5145G-r3UqUO3V0yig1PlDyi0IjUM40WQFO0YydbRbeIebObapfJF1uCMEH3tMwtQtJwXQyBHELLXMPIBvLYI5GAU/s1600/DSC_5669a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWfkQ0WnZWd1CR9qwDv7fPHFzR4nkH5me7xKDu5xoudewEsZMveu5145G-r3UqUO3V0yig1PlDyi0IjUM40WQFO0YydbRbeIebObapfJF1uCMEH3tMwtQtJwXQyBHELLXMPIBvLYI5GAU/s400/DSC_5669a.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">they're even on above-ground runway guard lights!</span><br />
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Kestrels are one of the more trickier birds to photograph, as they are real skittish. It's hard to get close-ups, at least with my lens, because most of time if I do get close enough by the time I get the camera up they're gone. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-58529234814154536782015-06-24T22:24:00.002-07:002015-08-06T20:04:26.437-07:00The finch's dodder<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4b-D513Q3e8GinkR82aNmFK-OKDGHgXjc1ONF9cqsdIBdKHVmOaeM3da4KCfvgXPqRzgqxNIHAepbEXKIhXuTGh14rs8SfApQJ3dXmLkbJGVpeAi4lpSFmOUT-Fnou30XVleLEI-uWo/s1600/DSC_3969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4b-D513Q3e8GinkR82aNmFK-OKDGHgXjc1ONF9cqsdIBdKHVmOaeM3da4KCfvgXPqRzgqxNIHAepbEXKIhXuTGh14rs8SfApQJ3dXmLkbJGVpeAi4lpSFmOUT-Fnou30XVleLEI-uWo/s320/DSC_3969.JPG" width="216" /></a>This morning, once again, I was at construction sitting there waiting to escort another construction vehicle when I heard the song of a House Finch <i>(<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Haemorhous mexicanus)</span></i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv"> only very close. I looked around and didn't see him. He sang. I looked. Nothing; until I looked over top of my truck's passenger mirror then I saw right there less than five feet from the truck singing away! It's nice to have company.</span><br />
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Another odd thing you'll see growing on the ground in various spots on the airfield is what looks like someone let loose with a can of orange silly string. It's actually a parasitic plant of the species</span><i> Cuscuta, </i>also known as Dodder or Witch's Hair<i>.</i> Here's some more information from UC Davis's integrated pest management program: <a href="http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7496.html" target="_blank">Dodder Management Guidelines</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRwfxAEACA-tChZctT-QWogPbKMLPxYfwcPKLiVKa36aDS2BtY8CsuiYG9OhIJETLO8EBAn0cTWsWdgDR_VL8GAx5D1V30bHIW11Sr6UzwBK5aAv3HxLWvQ8eAGulnMz94wqZx_wxqbs/s1600/DSC_3936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRwfxAEACA-tChZctT-QWogPbKMLPxYfwcPKLiVKa36aDS2BtY8CsuiYG9OhIJETLO8EBAn0cTWsWdgDR_VL8GAx5D1V30bHIW11Sr6UzwBK5aAv3HxLWvQ8eAGulnMz94wqZx_wxqbs/s320/DSC_3936.JPG" width="286" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTyKfKL9JnACCTCK8v0WVL_mgJGHS1gzBBvrfQsLsyqJnJ8GFts14972mVrK8j56hfcxTF1B_aYB2Tg8Cr-_nLeMnsiSkqemeRTIpdS7Q8OkP-ZFSyaKzRLQkvFSRsXPx8qsnBhh8Xcs/s1600/DSC_3914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTyKfKL9JnACCTCK8v0WVL_mgJGHS1gzBBvrfQsLsyqJnJ8GFts14972mVrK8j56hfcxTF1B_aYB2Tg8Cr-_nLeMnsiSkqemeRTIpdS7Q8OkP-ZFSyaKzRLQkvFSRsXPx8qsnBhh8Xcs/s400/DSC_3914.JPG" width="318" /></a></div>
<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-12757512699824539152015-06-21T21:06:00.000-07:002015-06-21T21:06:40.175-07:00No Hola...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGLIlbbAwH1FRYJs9L2Aag7XAVXqnZ2y87ag11YdCRI4JGtETCiZklAgIxiB8H570oNSl6kvDfH8gkSi3utw0aFGlrAPajrrqV57Jo2etrMa1EKXEQsHQjBID7VBQ71cUlNDCtpFJ380/s1600/DSC_3675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGLIlbbAwH1FRYJs9L2Aag7XAVXqnZ2y87ag11YdCRI4JGtETCiZklAgIxiB8H570oNSl6kvDfH8gkSi3utw0aFGlrAPajrrqV57Jo2etrMa1EKXEQsHQjBID7VBQ71cUlNDCtpFJ380/s320/DSC_3675.JPG" width="320" /></a>There's typically no work in the construction site on Sundays, but today I had to escort a water truck for a couple of hours. So naturally what am I going to do while out there? That's right, I'm going to check-up on my little Horned Lark family! I looked around and didn't see the parents. I figured that I had probably caught them while they were both out -- not the first time. However, as I got closer to the nest I saw nothing. All four nestlings were gone and they hadn't all grown up that quickly! Somebody had got to them. The list of potential suspects is fairly long; a luck coyote that happens on to the nest, ravens which are frequently around (I saw two in the vicinity of the nest on Wednesday), there's our red-tails, gopher snakes, and heck I wouldn't put it past a kestrel either. The fact is the nest is empty.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluzVQGlbfUEW38MVo-T7Lj2PSC4UJuN4cfTe-XuKWjXjtvmS7SitmmF_k5if0SBEUeBzsyI3N0qfzzG1o_B_tN_aEf1iY6mnL4w-_IeJh66dFYxFrnvWFl2IsLW-d86e_jGReL0zhknA/s1600/DSC_3736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluzVQGlbfUEW38MVo-T7Lj2PSC4UJuN4cfTe-XuKWjXjtvmS7SitmmF_k5if0SBEUeBzsyI3N0qfzzG1o_B_tN_aEf1iY6mnL4w-_IeJh66dFYxFrnvWFl2IsLW-d86e_jGReL0zhknA/s320/DSC_3736.JPG" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">juvenile Horned Lark</td></tr>
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I am reminded that this is the nature of things, even here on this airport, animals will fall prey to predators. But don't you fret because I saw several juvenile Horned-Larks flying about with their parents.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46XBfWaNJBCU2n4kmGKl2Aipk0P-krcAJH4U8kMK21gRC9fpjzjZkCjnK0WkOJ_ZtfI2shkAQAtA-2vgd6LHGfzwXl7EaObYHyUaVmZnNVvx7dKwm7V8XGB2PsNuZpIGH5XgDkbw8Ams/s1600/DSC_3755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46XBfWaNJBCU2n4kmGKl2Aipk0P-krcAJH4U8kMK21gRC9fpjzjZkCjnK0WkOJ_ZtfI2shkAQAtA-2vgd6LHGfzwXl7EaObYHyUaVmZnNVvx7dKwm7V8XGB2PsNuZpIGH5XgDkbw8Ams/s320/DSC_3755.JPG" width="262" /></a><br />
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Another fascinating thing to witness was a male lark jumping to reach grass seeds above him! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibehyphenhyphenPJpSu-AM60tqUo09MmSVa32FDMvSnwv6SfMJkN3fx-slobnQpYVuALRCvlsrOM4_GCmNziZYMNEyldIB3FRWwdw6ixjjwDHv6CT02SaJlOg8kK7knS6gzvtgLMoB5dmms3D_SHZo/s1600/DSC_3756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibehyphenhyphenPJpSu-AM60tqUo09MmSVa32FDMvSnwv6SfMJkN3fx-slobnQpYVuALRCvlsrOM4_GCmNziZYMNEyldIB3FRWwdw6ixjjwDHv6CT02SaJlOg8kK7knS6gzvtgLMoB5dmms3D_SHZo/s320/DSC_3756.JPG" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmmm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs2gFBWMEZ05JnNfH1iS_1UsAUrRw7yUz-C6Mc4_p36kUyyO_i8zy2-uHxZi09meGdb06erJ9V4AQRgpR75hCr1lfQGc5FsUdP6n8XxOFan0pd_WMA0qmjoXJkIaLnb2g2ZsVtgASAow/s1600/DSC_3757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMs2gFBWMEZ05JnNfH1iS_1UsAUrRw7yUz-C6Mc4_p36kUyyO_i8zy2-uHxZi09meGdb06erJ9V4AQRgpR75hCr1lfQGc5FsUdP6n8XxOFan0pd_WMA0qmjoXJkIaLnb2g2ZsVtgASAow/s320/DSC_3757.JPG" width="254" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got it!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-42127545817190224912015-06-18T12:15:00.001-07:002015-08-06T19:58:46.263-07:00Hola little nestlingsFrom one egg to three, to four, and now there are four little nestlings in our Horned Lark nest! If you look closely you will notice that one is even trying to open it's eyes! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWxUVLVzPyXTGgLOcZMRVGs1SwCcwJAGaoP9hi2z1jUipjm8czJSicEAJZMNZTHaGvU8pHLTURGfdMVIN9NRskfqdPh9lJAwlEtd8fOcwuYpBuF0VJoCvBypUBjNyro8ZKhRQOpJWdD0/s1600/DSC_3630a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWxUVLVzPyXTGgLOcZMRVGs1SwCcwJAGaoP9hi2z1jUipjm8czJSicEAJZMNZTHaGvU8pHLTURGfdMVIN9NRskfqdPh9lJAwlEtd8fOcwuYpBuF0VJoCvBypUBjNyro8ZKhRQOpJWdD0/s400/DSC_3630a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Now the mother and father are busy flying back and forth with bugs to feed their young, they also take turns sitting on the nest -- although it's the mother who spends most of the time. They also seem to disturbed by the presence of my truck parking less than twelve feet from the nest, nor my occasional visits.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw9PYyAXog3hl0LlPsuaF76O_vbwvC9sMfRGllHI6937TIrw7o2NycYJ3u6hgrjS-tSniyQfwOfAdAgOXcv_2rM32CgRVX-spSSIiVexhbIOmaKlSxVUQP9T8qRmron9U00x9ZufEnQs/s1600/DSC_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw9PYyAXog3hl0LlPsuaF76O_vbwvC9sMfRGllHI6937TIrw7o2NycYJ3u6hgrjS-tSniyQfwOfAdAgOXcv_2rM32CgRVX-spSSIiVexhbIOmaKlSxVUQP9T8qRmron9U00x9ZufEnQs/s400/DSC_3460.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">female on the left, male on the right</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQP53j-N-wJaUG_pV6_yapdG-hbFNeXFs5kMesDWEdkD62jt0yg0wiNsgBznaCdRZFU70jnXbpBIjm2DDVhlV4Vfe5geiI6OiuIxNQ_no9KXGCt2cZV9heIMIobf00meQ_jNb_B3E0F0/s1600/DSC_3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQP53j-N-wJaUG_pV6_yapdG-hbFNeXFs5kMesDWEdkD62jt0yg0wiNsgBznaCdRZFU70jnXbpBIjm2DDVhlV4Vfe5geiI6OiuIxNQ_no9KXGCt2cZV9heIMIobf00meQ_jNb_B3E0F0/s320/DSC_3383.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad checking up on the kids</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-4563214957082215112015-06-03T22:00:00.000-07:002015-06-04T23:52:29.432-07:00HOLA part deux<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPerys46HQpREicqygS-BBA0VKl8EAModeQSnz14kyft5nrgpefLiK3DGf77LUjUTsdOALfSOweNwODcuF05MAmWIAl9_aY0Eyk60HsqSHBdCcN3YHq7_TMjC3r4G5C33Cap5A3vppQA/s1600/DSC_2894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPerys46HQpREicqygS-BBA0VKl8EAModeQSnz14kyft5nrgpefLiK3DGf77LUjUTsdOALfSOweNwODcuF05MAmWIAl9_aY0Eyk60HsqSHBdCcN3YHq7_TMjC3r4G5C33Cap5A3vppQA/s320/DSC_2894.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you see the nest?</td></tr>
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Going out the construction site today I was a little curious to see what had happened to the nest, but not to fret it was still there with mom sitting on it. When she left I hopped out of the truck to check up on the condition of the nest and low and behold there was a single egg! After looking it up on the Cornell site I learned that their clutch size is typically two - five eggs per brood. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QDXvM9a6iqD_3_PJ8H3Xg_2B8ZvJw6ZlnKOike9AlZNnOIXtPbwSanbMqXnQV7p5m3UtmjBroRk9b3zJujwUfv68rAPjLN4e9efGVJ0SkydC30TayewW03abRGOOsR6En-Nh3mnvL2A/s1600/DSC_2839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4QDXvM9a6iqD_3_PJ8H3Xg_2B8ZvJw6ZlnKOike9AlZNnOIXtPbwSanbMqXnQV7p5m3UtmjBroRk9b3zJujwUfv68rAPjLN4e9efGVJ0SkydC30TayewW03abRGOOsR6En-Nh3mnvL2A/s320/DSC_2839.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Additionally while I was sitting waiting to escort water trucks back and forth I got a couple of lucky once in a lifetime shots of the male almost hovering not far from my truck.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaZXsLltjKpcOd5Lccajimenj88NDxBmMch9G82yavnjkEdrc0VKs8KJXYbvo9TXDJn0waowMCxD_6dGphUbln1z32zA7Ng-0fctKivTP8rsX2urqPffwS-1wTDFEhYGsKd9Ts5BWou4/s1600/DSC_2883a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUaZXsLltjKpcOd5Lccajimenj88NDxBmMch9G82yavnjkEdrc0VKs8KJXYbvo9TXDJn0waowMCxD_6dGphUbln1z32zA7Ng-0fctKivTP8rsX2urqPffwS-1wTDFEhYGsKd9Ts5BWou4/s400/DSC_2883a.jpg" width="321" /></a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-64204934191334838342015-06-02T23:04:00.004-07:002015-08-06T19:58:55.478-07:00Hola Senor y Senora HOLAConstruction escorts are arguably about as exciting as watching cheese mold, but today I had some company -- a pair of Horned Lark <i>(<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Eremophila alpestris)</span></i><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">. The male stood watch and occasionally helped as the female scurried about collect material for their nest. On a couple of occasions the female walked right up to my truck!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh3ik1_CkXa7-1WbwoxmLcYkuA1AdE8zgz0ljFUltERusFGlJHPYew5mgLFRIFjz5u4rELEKiBxbUxR1b8z3pukU-DzxA2A4_lsb-DEUDsZnwSOe1G__MFJP_Eo6CZNW-APDHSTLt8lY/s1600/DSC_2727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXh3ik1_CkXa7-1WbwoxmLcYkuA1AdE8zgz0ljFUltERusFGlJHPYew5mgLFRIFjz5u4rELEKiBxbUxR1b8z3pukU-DzxA2A4_lsb-DEUDsZnwSOe1G__MFJP_Eo6CZNW-APDHSTLt8lY/s400/DSC_2727.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><br /></span>
<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">A little explanation about the term "HOLA". This is the four letter alpha code given by bird banders to identify the species HOrned LArk, it's also what the biologist and I use for short-hand.</span><br />
<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">If you're curious to learn more of these codes you can go here: </span><br />
<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><a href="https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/manual/speclist.cfm" target="_blank">USGS Bird Banding Laboratory</a> </span><br />
<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">you may find this one a little more user friendly <a href="http://www.birdpop.org/docs/misc/Alpha_codes_eng.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FdwjkDEpEpb3pF-BF-imVG4TD-fDY59vp59-PNBFj26zweEYTo2lNxCK_p0Dh7XsarEm_7a9SqrXLfv-535UlZMNl3ekLW-O9ehRrfTdZTfKbyb4m53aWHzADRYK93ERoRO5DypVYzY/s1600/DSC_2776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FdwjkDEpEpb3pF-BF-imVG4TD-fDY59vp59-PNBFj26zweEYTo2lNxCK_p0Dh7XsarEm_7a9SqrXLfv-535UlZMNl3ekLW-O9ehRrfTdZTfKbyb4m53aWHzADRYK93ERoRO5DypVYzY/s400/DSC_2776.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz76a3EgLBcWuaLnnD0gMFiJkB-bKALbKOQGNbdsieKgkgxPDuqfxZIYPwRbNAtshQLuSPEHl_te1HN6nGmy5nX2QKF2KowgJaqZ9lgS67a81_WC1JtOACQhtefQVpHCDUgwvSGshgg4/s1600/DSC_2790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz76a3EgLBcWuaLnnD0gMFiJkB-bKALbKOQGNbdsieKgkgxPDuqfxZIYPwRbNAtshQLuSPEHl_te1HN6nGmy5nX2QKF2KowgJaqZ9lgS67a81_WC1JtOACQhtefQVpHCDUgwvSGshgg4/s400/DSC_2790.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">female Horned Lark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneHyUqsF65NVC4hDROldzRJggzn_HonMVzCDLQVdPkCnuE2ZUHA-zMbzWFdJgljTElPj4g3PabygEw0rLGEpU-YPlmhxtlLj-y0oLrn4FDKEmSQih-EXgBJ6JCov2ZgA0Ms-GZXjpSNE/s1600/DSC_2811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhneHyUqsF65NVC4hDROldzRJggzn_HonMVzCDLQVdPkCnuE2ZUHA-zMbzWFdJgljTElPj4g3PabygEw0rLGEpU-YPlmhxtlLj-y0oLrn4FDKEmSQih-EXgBJ6JCov2ZgA0Ms-GZXjpSNE/s400/DSC_2811.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">male Horned Lark</td></tr>
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<span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-83424061803875761422015-05-25T21:27:00.002-07:002016-04-20T21:08:34.624-07:00You're killin' me...Maybe you know this one. Maybe you don't. But even if you do, have you ever actually seen it? Seen what you say. How a Killdeer protect its nest? Do you know what it does to protect its nest?<br />
First of all do you see her on her nest?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2uMCP7h7N_fIxiVSfVGk03TyuN-ek941CDoLxM_h69nwY6u5m2Qm5R1HrWq4ZP8yooOC_tpScjYuG5yv1F6hY9n_Sc0N72qU6bh07gkFao2w7wM7GVd5ybfgMUt0j_7T_n6LDNWdbdk/s1600/DSC_2324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2uMCP7h7N_fIxiVSfVGk03TyuN-ek941CDoLxM_h69nwY6u5m2Qm5R1HrWq4ZP8yooOC_tpScjYuG5yv1F6hY9n_Sc0N72qU6bh07gkFao2w7wM7GVd5ybfgMUt0j_7T_n6LDNWdbdk/s400/DSC_2324.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="_xdb"></span><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Killdeer <i>(Charadrius vociferus)</i> on nest</span></td></tr>
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Hints:<br />
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<li>her back is to you</li>
<li>she's looking over her left while sitting on the nest</li>
<li>she's near the center of the frame</li>
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Alright, so now we're going to approach and get too close to see what she'll do.<br />
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There it is! The famous broken-wing distraction technique. When a predator, or in this case me in my work truck, gets too close the Killdeer flies off the nest and begins its performance. It cries out making as much noise as it can and begins to flutter around as if its wings are broken. Of course it's all a ploy to get you follow it away from its nest and just when you get too close it flies away.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-53501257200576450022015-05-25T20:04:00.003-07:002015-05-25T20:04:47.719-07:00I'm not skylarkin' <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Honest!<br />
To the contrary I've been quite busy and also a little bummed, enough to where I've not felt inclined to post much of anything here. I'm bummed because we lost all four of the little sparrow chicks. When we lost the first and even to a slight degree when we lost the second one I chalked it up to natural selection, as they were both on the small side despite our attention; but the last two came as a shock. I had checked on them that morning before going to work -- they were fine. A few hours later my daughter called frantically exclaiming that both birds were dead. I asked her to put my wife on and she confirmed it. My heart sank and I've been analyzing their short little lives every private moment my mind has gotten since. In the end I tell myself that "we did the best we could", "that my wife, daughter, and I aren't professional rescuers." My wife especially shouldered much of the effort, in fact she had invested so much and had seen how attached the kids had gotten to them -- my Autistic son even exclaims "baby birds" to this day when he sees pictures of them, that she asked me not to do that again. I know... I know... Nobody can say that those little birds weren't loved.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0oy-xan99-iEKrXRLqE4-X_bneOe76g5QROYt1gbleWBBvPYuL5y1dIeWo_-pfGQWTEXgPw_UlrT8nxrTp-2T_ftHb7vwxfizcGIkBhxAP5U3ciBI1RyMR9ZGseGdtR0NYlzhsOlKiA/s1600/10842292_10152822636213671_5390161365246252972_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0oy-xan99-iEKrXRLqE4-X_bneOe76g5QROYt1gbleWBBvPYuL5y1dIeWo_-pfGQWTEXgPw_UlrT8nxrTp-2T_ftHb7vwxfizcGIkBhxAP5U3ciBI1RyMR9ZGseGdtR0NYlzhsOlKiA/s320/10842292_10152822636213671_5390161365246252972_o.jpg" width="320" /></a>I've been busy, that too is true. We've been busy at work -- construction escorts every weekday eight hours or better. I've been busy with Scouts, CSMR, and of course family is always busy. And I continue to press on through school, in fact my first semester back is almost at an end. I am overjoyed to announce after having recently met with a counselor that all the past credits that I've earned over the years at the community college I attend still count! This means that I am closer to transfer to state college and finishing a degree in organismal biology. I did say closer. I have a lot of math to finish and specific lower division courses to do, but 75% of general education classes are done and when I do transfer I'm leaving with a double associates of science in both biological sciences and fire science. Oh, and I guess I haven't mentioned this yet -- the reason for going back to school. I <strike>have</strike> have had a goal since before I started this blog of becoming an airport wildlife biologist and working for either USDA or directly for an airport with biologist on staff like Portland. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-64160530378772378402015-04-22T21:06:00.002-07:002015-08-06T20:02:56.107-07:00Four hot chicks<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Nestling House Sparrows (<i>Passer domesticus</i>)</span></td></tr>
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They're too cute!!! I know right? That's why I couldn't just get rid of them. Sure as adults they out compete native songbirds; sure they're enemy number one in my airport's concourse where they poop on everything in sight and more; but look at them! Awe... Yeah I had a moment of "weakness" and as they are not protected by any list or law in the country, these four lil' tikes are now being "protected" and cared for by my family. My daughter has said that she wants to be "wildlife rescuer" when she grows up, so I'm giving her her first experience now. (She's already gone and named them: Peep, Flap, Crusty, and Clinton Jr. -- go figure!<br />
There is a pretty good deal of information out there on the internet about what to do. One of the better sources that I have found is this: <a href="http://www.wildlifehotline.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/NonNative-Birds-How-To.pdf" target="_blank">Raising Baby Sparrows and Starlings</a><br />
Now if you're contemplating doing this yourself please be advised that only House Sparrows, European Starlings, and Rock Pigeons are not covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. All other birds which are covered by the MBTA you would need a permit to rehab. So know your species. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-17004909249195669462015-04-22T20:32:00.000-07:002016-04-20T20:52:48.435-07:00Well owl be...Today I wanted to enlighten you about another little enclave of biodiversity -- owls. During my time on the airport I've had the great joy of observing four species of owl! Now some of them we have trapped and relocated, while others I've merely seen from afar.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYwspe_qTUEwt1PuW_8wN-4bqnBS8dZK0MwUveKsFge7mT-54972A3jd2aSQhTuve0KsN6szhTi6CGV9evFFg7FYXgAqTY-MQ81hn-RsAcML_116wvIzzXVu9TIwMrBphWvoWyjVMZIc/s1600/barnowl020415+016_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYwspe_qTUEwt1PuW_8wN-4bqnBS8dZK0MwUveKsFge7mT-54972A3jd2aSQhTuve0KsN6szhTi6CGV9evFFg7FYXgAqTY-MQ81hn-RsAcML_116wvIzzXVu9TIwMrBphWvoWyjVMZIc/s1600/barnowl020415+016_a.jpg" width="308" /></a>First the ones we've successfully trapped and had relocated far away from the airport: Barn Owls <i>(<span class="_Xbe kno-fv">Tyto alba</span>) </i>and Great Horned Owls <i>(Bubo virginiaus)</i>;<i> </i>Barn Owls are year-round residents to area and hunt by night for rodents; in our case here at the airport that means pocket gophers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barn Owl on a runway sign at night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Horned Owl in a Swedish Goshawk trap.</td></tr>
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Great Horned Owls are also year-round residents to the area, which I was initially surprised to learn as the last time I saw one was on our apartment balcony in Wyoming. GHOW's, as birders identify them, hunt rodents and rabbits, and just about everything else under the moon!<br />
<i>"Great Horned Owls have the most diverse diet of all North American raptors. Their prey
range in size from tiny rodents and scorpions to hares, skunks, geese,
and raptors. They eat mostly mammals and birds—especially rabbits,
hares, mice, and American Coots, but also many other species including
voles, moles, shrews, rats, gophers, chipmunks, squirrels, woodchucks,
marmots, prairie dogs, bats, skunks, house cats, porcupines, ducks,
loons, mergansers, grebes, rails, owls, hawks, crows, ravens, doves, and
starlings. They supplement their diet with reptiles, insects, fish,
invertebrates, and sometimes carrion." -- The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you see his nictitating membranes?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burrowing Owl</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56fIVaChJqPhDkgXgZFbjJFNbrw9MAl-cMoWnpopd5fd4o5jfieCgyadbeh-ubvJ89TgxGPbrYzYRy6N5bFzJtHHwsI2c2t3dd4hKjGRW9ipfPdldat9pie-B0g-XjqoB7YrjFaCel7s/s1600/IMG_1921_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg56fIVaChJqPhDkgXgZFbjJFNbrw9MAl-cMoWnpopd5fd4o5jfieCgyadbeh-ubvJ89TgxGPbrYzYRy6N5bFzJtHHwsI2c2t3dd4hKjGRW9ipfPdldat9pie-B0g-XjqoB7YrjFaCel7s/s1600/IMG_1921_small.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Short-eared Owl</td></tr>
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Now I've also seen Burrowing Owls (<i>Athene cunicularia</i>) which pause at the airport while migrating, as I've never seen them here for much longer than a few weeks at a time even though guidebooks show them as "year-round residents" throughout the southwestern boarder states. An interesting thing about Burrowing Owls: they exhibit no sexual dimorphism unlike most of their cousins where the females are larger. And the ones that stop by the airport mainly feast on beetle, which we have a pretty good supply of. One more cool thing about Burrowing Owls is that they are diurnal, means active during the day. <br />
A Burrowing Owl pellet to the right. That's a lot of beetle shells!<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">The other owl which I got only a fleeing glimpse and subsequent photo of is a Short-eared Owl (</span><i style="text-align: center;">Asio flammeus</i><span style="text-align: center;">) -- at the time I honestly didn't know what I had gotten a photo of until I reviewed it and perused my field guide, which also told me that unlike all of the previously mentioned owls, Short-eared Owl are only in the region during winter. Like Great Horned Owls they do hunt when ever it suits them -- day or night.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949967952402501292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8056992931785204698.post-51485463040299748632015-03-23T22:03:00.001-07:002015-03-23T22:11:47.383-07:00Volcabulary word of the day...<div class="vk_ans" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-weight: lighter !important; margin-bottom: 0px;">
<span style="font-weight: lighter;"><span style="font-size: large;">cere</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
<div class="lr_dct_ent_ph">
<span class="lr_dct_ph">seer</span></div>
<div style="font-size: small;">
<div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="padding-top: 10px;">
<i>noun</i><br />
<div style="display: inline-block;">
<span class="lr_dct_lbl_inl lr_dct_lbl_box" style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #777777; display: inline-block; font-size: xx-small; margin-left: 6px; margin-top: -1px; padding: 4px 6px; text-transform: uppercase;">ornithology</span></div>
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<ol class="lr_dct_sf_sens" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;">
<li style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.2; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="lr_dct_sf_sen vk_txt" style="font-weight: lighter !important; padding-top: 10px;">
<div style="margin-left: 20px;">
<div style="margin-left: -20px;">
<div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">
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<span class="oneClick-link">a</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">fleshy,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">membranous</span> <span class="oneClick-link">covering</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link">the</span> <span class="oneClick-link">base</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link">the</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">upper</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">mandible</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link">a</span> <span class="oneClick-link">bird,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">especially</span> <span class="oneClick-link">a</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">bird</span> <span class="oneClick-link">of</span> <span class="oneClick-link">prey</span> <span class="oneClick-link">or</span> <span class="oneClick-link">a</span> <span class="oneClick-link">parrot,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">through</span> <span class="oneClick-link">which</span> <span class="oneClick-link">the</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">nostrils</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">open.</span> </div>
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<i>Origin, <span class="dbox-roman"><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Medieval</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">Latin</span> </span> <span class="dbox-italic"><span class="oneClick-link">cēra</span> </span><span class="oneClick-link">literally,</span> <span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">wax</span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBJQa3eCdlPy2-nPiW-fi_HGqevT_MQbNdzQ7J6mn7ItExV1LKfSExDmQ8PphstbKGj81BtQkHOK0OES0JOnuYUA9GJbtqcmiMMUuEf1CPG4Tvj8Gx_lQH46EyBN_PIXEX6h0i_76J3I/s1600/DSC_8472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyBJQa3eCdlPy2-nPiW-fi_HGqevT_MQbNdzQ7J6mn7ItExV1LKfSExDmQ8PphstbKGj81BtQkHOK0OES0JOnuYUA9GJbtqcmiMMUuEf1CPG4Tvj8Gx_lQH46EyBN_PIXEX6h0i_76J3I/s1600/DSC_8472.JPG" height="400" width="366" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cere of this 1st year adult Red-tailed Hawk is a bit raw.</td></tr>
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From time to time you'll see birds with bloodied ceres. This happens because despite how "soft" we attempt to make the linings of our traps the very act of the bird thrashing around makes them susceptible injuring their ceres. Some species like Cooper's Hawks are particularly agitated when in a trap and thrash around quite a bit, which is why we like to get them out of the traps as soon as possible and placed in a transport kennel where <i>a.</i>) they're less likely injure themselves, and <i>b.</i>) they can calm down a bit. Angry birds are only fun in the game! </div>
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