Wind Turbines and Bird Kills

On this morning's bird class, while standing at Cape Henlopen point and looking at the UD wind turbine, someone asked me what the latest studies showed about wind turbines and bird kills.

By chance, I received a recent report from Renewable Energy World about that topic. Agreed, they have a stake in playing down the impact, but they are also highly scrutinized, and in my review of their article, I feel they make a fair representation that the overall impact is actually quite low....much lower than tall buildings, especially those clad with reflective surfaces, and also much lower than from natural causes, like flying off course during migration and drowning in the N. Atlantic

For this article, see New Research Improves on Earlier Bird-killing Turbine Studies .....and note the comments and pics of the very old Altamont CA wind turbines with the unintended raptor perch cross bars which I mentioned this morning.

Sept 24 - This morning's Bird Walk

Rain is not forecast until after 1 pm today, but things can change, so a rain resistant jacket is recommended. The winds are presently 25 mph out of the east, and forecast to increase. While this not good for woodland birding, it can bring in some good seabirds, and we will be at a good overlook for observing any that may get blown in.

See you at 8 am at the Herring Point parking lot at Cape Henlopen State Park .

Wood Bark Suet Sandwich Woodpecker Feeder

Works like a charm, you saw it today, below is the link to buy one....AND I make no profit from any sales of it......AND yes, nuthatches also like it.

Birds Choice

"Safe Haven" Bird Feeder

This has been my "mainstay bird feeder" for 40+ years. It provides seed and suet for small birds, like Chickadees, Titmice, Wrens, Nuthatches, etc, AND excludes the big bullies like Starlings, Grackles and Blue Jays.

I have made many versions of this feeder, and believe the bigger the better, so I will describe my latest version, which is pictured below (pic from today, click to enlarge).

The overall INSIDE dimensions are height 16 inches, depth and width 22 inches. The wire is nominally 1 x 2 inch hardware cloth. I use pliers to squeeze every other opening to a clearance dimension of  approximately 1 1/4 inch wide. The vertical dimension remains constant at about 1 3/4 inches (less than 2 inches because of wire thickness).

The sides are 2 pieces of wire cloth. One is a single piece 66 inches long by 16 inches high, folded twice at 22 inches to make the left, back and right sides. The other piece is 22 inches wide by16 inches high, and attached to a back side by simple wire hinges (just wrap single pieces of wire to connect the front and sides in 2 places.......see left side of enlarged pic).

We usually put black oil sunflower seed and peanuts in the center floor of the feeder, and peanut butter suet (see prev. post) in the suet stick.

You will want to mount the feeder on a sturdy pole with a squirrel/raccoon baffle below it. They can't get in the feeder, but they can work it over pretty good (see gnawing on right side where a squirrel jumped over to it). Squirrels can jump horizontally 9 ft (yes I did my own measurements). So position any feeder at least 10 ft from a solid squirrel jumping point.

And then enjoy the little guys not being harassed by the big bullies.

No-melt Peanut Butter Suet

No Melt Peanut Butter Suet – by Sally Fintel

18 oz. crunchy peanut butter

2 cups (1 lb.) lard – no substitutions

4 cups quick oats

4 cups yellow corn meal

2 cups white flour

2/3 cup granulated sugar

Melt lard and peanut butter together over low heat. Remove from heat and thoroughly mix in remaining ingredients. Transfer to shallow Styrofoam veggie or meat containers. Cover & store in refridge or freeze. Slice and use to fill suet stick, as needed. Birds love this all year round.

September 10 Field Trip

Weather looks okay as of 4:30 pm Tue. We may get some light showers, and I will recheck at 5 am Wed in case there is a big change, and I will update before 6 am if a change in plans is required.

I scouted my "back roads route" this afternoon, and yes the habitat still looks great, BUT with strong east winds, the birding is NOT good. So I am working on a modified route which will enable us to see more birds. We will still meet here at 31395 Point Circle at 8 am. Backyard birds have been very good here, including White-breasted Nuthatch for 2+ years (unusual in east Sussex County).

Best,
Bill

OLLI Fall 2014 Birding Schedule

Osher Lifelong Learning Fall 2014 Birding Schedule

We will spend all our class time birding in the field. On any day when the weather does not permit a field trip, the class will be cancelled. For the latest information on class status see Bill’s blog at http://billfintel.blogspot.com/ . This will be updated by 6 am on any field trip day with questionable weather. Also more detailed directions  and trip info will be added as needed.

All classes will begin at 8:00 am at the meeting locations noted below. Also note that while some meeting locations are the same, the routes we take from them will be different, and will be based on what good birds are being found nearby. Be sure to bring binoculars. Also check the weather forecast and dress appropriately with a rain resistant windbreaker and footwear suitable for walking about one mile. Insect repellent, sunscreen, water and a snack are recommended. Classes will end by 11 am at the meeting location.

Sep 3 - Cape Henlopen Nature Center (park sticker required). Shorebirds and early raptors. Low tide 9:20 am.

Sep 10 - Fintel’s home, 31395 Point Circle, Mill Pond Acres, Lewes (see Google maps).

The Fintels have managed their yard to attract birds and will show you what they have done. From there we will bird the back roads, McCabe Preserve, Milton, etc. Hi tide 10:07 am.

Sep 17 - Prime Hook NWR Headquarters (HQ).  Shorebirds and woodland migrants.

Low tide 9:54 am.

Sep 24 - Cape Henlopen Herring Point parking lot. We will bird the new trail to Rehoboth. This will involve the most walking of any field trip, but we will have a shortened version.

Hi tide 8:45 am.

Oct 1 - Cape Henlopen Nature Center. This is prime time for migrating falcons, and also excellent for shorebirds, plus the bay beach should have just been opened to walk it. Low tide 7:57 am

Oct 8 - Fintel’s home (see above). From here we will travel new back roads, like Oyster Rocks, plus if conditions are right, we may revisit the Cape Henlopen Hawk Watch. Hi tide 8:57 am.

Oct 15 - Prime Hook HQ. Today we have low tide at 8:15 am, so we will focus on shorebirds, terns and waders.

Oct 22 - Prime Hook HQ. Time for early waterfowl and migrant sparrows. Hi tide 7:33 am.

Oct 29 - Cancelled.  

Nov 5 - Indian River Inlet south ocean front parking lot (park sticker required). Our targets will be Gannets, scoters, loons and marsh birds. Hi tide 6:51 am. Note that it can be cold and windy at the inlet, so dress warmly with a good winbreaker.