The Networked Bird Observatory Blog

So far we’ve definitely seen Inca Doves in the game, and a few Mourning Doves. These shots from yesterday around 10:50 a.m. show what I’m thinking might a third species: the White-tipped Dove. These were taken by idbirds, rafa, and jamesflowers, respectively:

The checklist of Welder birds forwarded to me by Dr. Selma Glasscock doesn’t list White-tipped Dove at all, though the Sibley range map shows them as being at least close to Welder, and the articles I’ve read on John Rappole’s work refer to them as one of the species suspected of expanding their breeding range into this part of Texas. I’m curious what the rest of you think. In the meantime, check those doves! They aren’t all Incas.

Update: Dr. Selma Glasscock chimes in in the comments: This isn’t a White-tipped (she thinks Mourning Dove, probably), but White-tipped are at the refuge. So keep checking those doves.

Later update: Based on some later images (see More shots of the ‘mystery dove’), Dr. Glasscock has changed her mind, and says she now thinks these shots do show a White-tipped Dove. Yay!

John Rappole, the scientist whose work on shifting bird breeding ranges forms the basis for the scientific goals of the CONE Welder installation, sent a few comments to an email thread with Ken Goldberg (the robotics researcher who is one of the main people behind the CONE project). I was lucky enough to be included on that thread, and John Rappole said it would be okay if I reposted his comments to the blog, so here they are:

Ken,

I checked out the blog. They got just the kind of shots that we had hoped for the Green Jay. Silver left, Green right and Silver left, Black right were both part of a group of six birds that were captured on 30 April at 0700h near the feeders. All six are probably non-breeders (unknown sex and age with no brood patch or cloacal protuberance), probably young of the year from last year. Time will tell. I am hoping that Solon Morse, who is on-site working on rapid range change documentation at Welder for me, will be able to catch one or more of the breeding jays in the vicinity.

It looks like the bloggers are having fun on their own, and their guesses are on target so far - Baltimore Oriole, Painted Bunting, Louisiana Waterthrush, Barn Swallow, Golden-fronted Woodpecker, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Indigo Bunting, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, and European Starling are all correct. The only one I would question is the photo shown above the Indigo Bunting entry, which I think is probably a robin rather than a starling - but it doesn’t really matter. I think I will just keep out of the blog, and let them do what they want to do. Responding to their questions could become a full time job!

Best,

John

So there you go. It sounds like what we’re doing is definitely proving useful, especially with the identification of banded birds. With that in mind, here are a few banded-bird shots from the last few days.

First is this shot that txbird took on May 5, showing a rain-soaked Green Jay with a silver band on each leg:

And here’s what I believe is probably a female Brown-headed Cowbird photographed by txbird on May 6, showing a silver band on the right leg (left leg not visible):

Keep those banded-bird shots coming!

I got a couple of good shots of two different Green Jays this morning, showing their leg bands. Both jays have a silver band on the left leg. One of them has a black band on the right leg, while the other has a green band on the right leg:

I assume it’s worth our keeping track of the banded birds we see, especially for species of interest in the shifting-breeding-range study (like the Green Jay).

I was really blown away when I saw the quality of the hummingbird shots people were getting today. Especially when the feeders are moving around in the wind, it can be really challenging to get a zoomed-in shot that is in sharp focus.

Here’s a shot of a male that vireo got:

Here’s a female by avatar99:

And another shot of a female by rafa:

I entered an ID of Ruby-throated Hummingbird on these, though I’m not very confident of that ID; going just by the images these could easily be Black-chinned. I’m really curious if we can get more information about when and in what numbers the two species occur at Welder.

No problems on IDing these next two shots, both by vireo: They’re Buff-bellied all the way. Gorgeous!

The CONE Welder birdcam isn’t live yet, but it’s never to soon to start obsessing, right? Here are some interesting items I’ve come across lately:

• Birds’ patterns changing in face of global warming - This is a really interesting article from MySanAntonio.com that profiles the work of research scientist John Rappole. Rappole has wondered if certain bird species have been shifting their breeding ranges north in southern Texas in response to climate change. As the CONE Welder info page explains, the new birdcam is intended to help answer that question.
• Cimate change hits home - A short video that follows John Rappole as he observes birds at the Welder Wildlife Refuge.
• Out of bounds - Click the “birds” link on this page for a multimedia feature from MySanAntonio.com that shows eight different bird species suspected of shifting their breeding ranges northward: Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Cave Swallow, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Couch’s Kingbird, Audubon’s Oriole, and White-tipped Dove. If you hover your mouse over the bird images, or click on them, you can play audio clips of the birds’ vocalizations. You probably won’t be surprised to know that the first thing this made me think was: Oh please, let there be a microphone included with the new installation. (Hey, a guy can dream, right?)
• Tailoring Rangelands to Enhance Wildlife Habitat: The Welder Wildlife Refuge Experience - An article from 1997 describing the history of brush management at Welder.
• Welder Wildlife Foundation Celebrates 50th Anniversary - A 2004 article from Texas Parks and Wildlife describing the history of the refuge itself.
• Welder Wildlife Foundation - The refuge’s official web site.
• Effects of Landscape Pattern on the Distribution of Feral Honey Bee Colonies in South Texas - A study of wild honeybee colonies’ distribution at Welder. (I said I was obsessing.)
• Google Maps aerial view of Welder - I’m pretty sure this shows the main complex at Welder, which I’m guessing (without any real evidence) might be near where the birdcam is being set up.

Okay. I’m ready. I’m more than ready.