tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585Fri, 01 Nov 2024 10:11:31 +0000speciesaprilsigns of spring - spring birds of New EnglandZenSpring Bird Song Crash Coursebird listeningUrbanmarlocations locations locationsMayconservationdecoctMarchFebbinocularsnovsepjanbird feedersbookswinter bird feedingeducationjulyaugjunea seasonal site for watchers of New England birdshttp://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)Blogger169125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-8810113978627588422Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:00:00 +00002017-08-08T15:23:32.181-04:00 I started The Daily Bird New England over three years ago with the goal to acquaint beginner bird watchers to the fluxing, familiar and rhythmic changes of bird life in New England. I set out to create a post for each day of the year and while I have not yet reached this goal I am moving onto the next chapter of this project (more to come on that soon).&nbsp;I am leaving the site in http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2015/01/i-started-daily-bird-new-england-over.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-2493472369920634984Wed, 26 Jul 2017 23:23:00 +00002017-07-27T12:58:33.283-04:00 Hello old friends and readers of the Daily Bird New England. I have been on long hiatus from the Daily Bird project as I refocus my energy on a book. The book deals with many of the same topics of bird watching, nature, education, culture and science that I first started writing about on this site. While the book is still in draft infancy (I will get word out when that changes) I am currently http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2017/07/chasing-totality-eclipse-adventure.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-3442214334838482928Sat, 03 Jan 2015 02:20:00 +00002015-01-02T21:20:12.713-05:00Winter Birding at Plum Island Sponsored by Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Sun, Jan 11, 2015 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Location: Worcester to Plum Island Instructors: Alex Dunn - Birder and Natural History Guide; Martha Gach - Conservation Coordinator Search for winter ducks and raptors along the coast. &nbsp;We'll head for Salisbury Beach, then Joppa Flats for lunch, and Parker River National http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2015/01/join-me-for-winter-birding-at-plum.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-7072012159585017966Thu, 20 Nov 2014 20:30:00 +00002015-01-07T00:06:15.386-05:00jannov The Eastern Bluebird is more an icon than a native New England bird. Immortalized on sweatshirts and as porcelain figurines as well popularized by a widely followed conservation movement the Eastern Bluebird remains a fan favorite. Known as a partial migrant the bluebird sometimes stay on their breeding grounds in unseasonably warm winters or during bumper fruit crop years and can be found in http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/11/eastern-bluebird-winters-blue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-1964741188892194061Sat, 11 Oct 2014 09:30:00 +00002015-01-07T00:05:34.560-05:00octspecies Most bird watchers learn to identify the Blue jay as a child, the stuff of early readers “blue is for Blue jay” and the smiling, more recently frowning mascot for the Toronto baseball team, Blue jays are one of those birds “that everyone knows.” However, jays are more complicated than we may give them credit for. Members of the corvid or crow family, jays are intelligent socialites that stashhttp://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/10/the-ubiquitous-blue-jay-stealer-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-6826542702072532439Thu, 10 Apr 2014 13:25:00 +00002014-04-09T10:53:10.996-04:00aprilsigns of spring - spring birds of New Englandspecies photo by Anne Greene The tree swallow is a dart of a bird that winters as far south as Central America, Florida, and Baja and returns to New England meadows and marshes in April on a path of weaving bobs and streaming wires of iridescence. On the wing and in bad light Tree swallows can appear black on the back with a white belly, but when perched on a nesting box or dead branch the true http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/04/tree-swallows-spring-arrives-on-flash.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-775976788468860397Wed, 09 Apr 2014 14:52:00 +00002014-04-09T10:52:04.549-04:00 A recent article on&nbsp;American Association For The Advancement Of Science's website outlined the important role insectivores like warblers can play keeping coffee plantations healthy.&nbsp; Would you like a tree with your coffee? That may not sound like a good idea, but a new study suggests that mixing trees with coffee bushes could boost bird populations while improving crop yields. Among http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/04/protect-spring-warblers-one-sip-at-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-6761141431219400184Mon, 24 Mar 2014 12:00:00 +00002015-01-07T00:14:23.674-05:00bird listeningmarsigns of spring - spring birds of New Englandspecies Beginning in late February and going straight through the summer one of the most curious evening sounds by the most curious of New England birds occurs. The American woodcock is a grapefruit shaped shorebird (think sandpiper) that lives far from open water or sandy dunes. Compact, long billed, and wide-eyed these ground nesting shorebirds put on one of the early spring’s great aerial displayshttp://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/03/timberdoodle-bogsucker-labrador-twister.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-7874133168283782502Fri, 21 Mar 2014 20:31:00 +00002015-01-07T00:14:23.682-05:00marMany people are familiar with the State Bird Program (along with trees, flowers, food, and songs) that has passed into some type of state&nbsp;legislative&nbsp;gavel drop a single&nbsp;specie&nbsp;of bird that they&nbsp;(the gavel droppers) deem representative. The problem is the States bird list reads like a list generated by an angst ridden 8th grader; on one hand fearful of showing real http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-birdist-on-state-birds-what-they.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-4594953455457324539Fri, 14 Mar 2014 09:30:00 +00002015-01-07T00:14:23.663-05:00mar A wonderful blog post on the American Birding Association (ABA) blog recounting some of the weirder places Snowy owls have shown up this year.&nbsp; If you're not familiar with the ABA they are member driven organization that promotes the ethical and educational pursuit of viewing birds. If you're interested in becoming a member click here.&nbsp;http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/03/and-more-snowy-owls.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-7006118819564154754Tue, 11 Mar 2014 21:21:00 +00002015-01-07T00:14:23.678-05:00marSnowy owls made news again today with this&nbsp;incredible&nbsp;(data made public) website called Project Snow Storm. It was featured this morning on National Public Radio as well as being exhibited at the 2014 Annual Birders Meeting (last Saturday, March 8th).&nbsp; The project plots real GIS data from radio tagged snowy owls and overlays their movement on Google Maps. If instant world http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/03/more-snowy-owlsthe-snow-storm-project.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-8618924602554761860Thu, 06 Mar 2014 18:58:00 +00002014-03-12T11:56:01.203-04:00 The Stories Birds Tell: From Bird Language to Migration Alex Dunn, Education/Development, EcoTarium AlexanderJosephDunn@gmail.com http://TheDailyBirdNewEngland.blogspot.com/ http://www.ecotarium.org/ Birds are an accessible and familiar entryway to the natural world. This session will demonstrate how classroom teachers and educators can unlock the stories birds tell http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/03/notes-from-mees-conference-2014-stories.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-462794390153031271Tue, 25 Feb 2014 13:00:00 +00002014-02-25T08:00:02.933-05:00Febsigns of spring - spring birds of New Englandspecies photo by Anne Greene The gregarious champion of Massachusetts birds, the Black-capped chickadee is not only the state bird, a feeder favorite, and friendly charmer but its gentle song is a kind reminder that spring is near. The Black-capped chickadee is a “name sayer” or bird named after its own call or song. Like the Whip-poor-will, Bobwhite, and Crow the chickadee also tells the birder who http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/02/signs-of-spring-chickadee-spring-call.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-8145770993491036220Thu, 20 Feb 2014 21:38:00 +00002014-02-20T16:38:51.355-05:00 Winter Ducks at Sachuest Point Sponsored by Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary Sun, Feb 23, 2014 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Location: Sachuest Point NWR Instructors: Alex Dunn - Birder and Natural History Guide; Dan Berard - Birder Audience: Adult Members: Adult $35.00 Nonmembers: Adult $42.00 Join us as we once again make a trip to the fantastic coast of Rhode Island to explore http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2014/02/join-me-sunday-feb-23-for-trip-to-rhode.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-7876092930880378926Wed, 18 Dec 2013 11:00:00 +00002015-01-07T00:08:41.114-05:00bird feedersdecjanwinter bird feeding Winter is the time to feed the birds. Dependent on reliable food sources like cherry trees, winter berries, and open fields - feeders also provide winter birds with an important food store. Suet in particular can make for good fodder. Most often purchased as a&nbsp;store bought “cake” it is possible to get fresh suet from your butcher. If dealing with a cow’s kidney fat doesn’t sound like a fun http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/12/suet.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-2340043194917520242Wed, 11 Dec 2013 18:53:00 +00002015-01-07T00:08:41.088-05:00decSnowy owls show up each winter in varying amounts, from tons to none. Depending on some elegant curve of lemming populations, mean temperatures, and good luck these owls "irrupt" from the great white north&nbsp;downwards&nbsp;into the lower 48. In 2011 we saw many of them across the&nbsp;country but not a lot here in New England. 2012 was a quiet year for the "ermine owl," with only scattered http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/12/snow-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-7317958637092520010Fri, 06 Dec 2013 11:00:00 +00002015-01-07T00:08:41.106-05:00decspecies Like the dark-eyed junco&nbsp;and white-throated sparrow&nbsp;the american tree sparrow&nbsp;appears in New England with the first frost and replaces a similar looking summer resident, the chipping sparrow.&nbsp;The tree sparrow is a tight packed bird, with handsome slate gray and cinnamon stripes on the face. With a dull grey chest marked by a single dark spot this sparrow can often&nbsp;be http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/12/tree-sparrow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-7192088713204148972Thu, 21 Nov 2013 12:00:00 +00002015-01-07T00:06:15.390-05:00Febnov Boreal Songbird Initiative With an earlier dusk and longer nights winter lends itself to sky gazing, even if from the car on the commute home. The moon and Orion seems to be always visible though come spring we may forget to look for Cygnus the swan. In the reverse late fall brings a dying of the light, withering plants, and departure of the summer songbirds. Most school children can tell you http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/11/winter-migrants-unseen-migration.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-3080355804595587391Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:00:00 +00002015-01-07T00:05:34.570-05:00octspecies These small, arctic-breeding&nbsp;sparrows have arrived in New England for the winter. Juncos are like a slate grey Easter egg half dipped&nbsp;in white and sprigged with a longish tail that's&nbsp;grey in the center&nbsp;and framed by white. Watch for these winter charmers picking seeds from under&nbsp;the evergreens and beneath the bird feeder. Juncos forage in loose, mixed flocks&nbsp;with http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/10/dark-eyed-junco.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-7729187088321758747Fri, 11 Oct 2013 12:00:00 +00002013-10-11T08:00:05.217-04:00 From 2008 – 2011 I volunteered with the Massachusetts Breeding Bird Atlas II. This four year project surveyed Massachusetts for evidence of breeding bird species on 1055 individual blocks of land. The entire state was “atlassed” and the outcome has created several very important documents including the Breeding Bird Atlas 2&nbsp;eBook and&nbsp;the State of the Birds 2013.&nbsp; Mass Audubonhttp://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/10/sponsorship-for-nancy-claflin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-6518877850507767797Wed, 09 Oct 2013 16:00:00 +00002015-01-07T00:05:34.584-05:00oct Julieta Leon The male White-throated sparrow has a surprisingly striped head, with lines of white and brown running from its beak to the back of its neck, tinged with yellow in the front. The bird gets its name from a small flash of white feathers just under its beak. This sparrow is best known as a winter arrival to New England, moving in loose flocks from underneath bird feeders to http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2012/11/white-throated-sparrow-boreal-ambassador.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-3011702721733041975Wed, 10 Jul 2013 15:00:00 +00002015-01-07T00:03:29.727-05:00julyspecies If vacation this year takes you to Cape Cod, the Rhode Island Shore, Coastal Maine or New Hampshire you have a good chance of catching site of New England’s “aquatic hawk”. No typo here, the Osprey is a fish hunting raptor the size of a large Red-tailed hawk. It is common to the salt marshes, inlets, and broken coast line of the entire eastern U.S. and can even be found inland nesting around http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-beaches-and-aquatic-hawks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-2033311896787051636Tue, 07 May 2013 14:39:00 +00002015-01-31T15:08:03.072-05:00Despite abysmal migration conditions the next wave of warblers has&nbsp;trickled&nbsp;into Southern New England. Listen for four new voices in the woods and marshes. Black-throated Green Warbler: typically in stands of&nbsp;conifers&nbsp;or deep woods singing a&nbsp;repetitive&nbsp;"ZEE-ZEE-ZEE-zoo-ZEE" or "trees-TREES-murmuring-TREES" in which the ALL CAPS&nbsp;represent&nbsp;a higher pitch http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/05/second-wave-of-warblers-descends.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-3525486929389671449Sun, 05 May 2013 09:30:00 +00002015-01-31T15:08:03.086-05:00 <!--[if gte vml 1]> <![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->New England has received a long streak of steady, high pressure with north-east winds, seasonably warm temperatures and almost no precipitation. In short blue skies and cool breezes prefect weather for some spring bird watching… or is it? For these few weeks in May New&nbsp;England http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/05/good-weather-bad-birding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-599837085467625585.post-3285888392475954544Sat, 04 May 2013 20:46:00 +00002015-01-31T15:08:03.082-05:00The first group of warblers to be watching for appear as early as late March and will hang around well into May (and even breed in parts of the region). Perhaps it's fitting that this first group is a drab little bunch as if holding out the&nbsp;vermilion, blaze orange, and hot yellow for the full burst of gregarious spring. The first band of &nbsp;cool weather warblers to look for are: Palm http://thedailybirdnewengland.blogspot.com/2013/05/first-wave-of-warblers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Alexander Dunn)0