Cooper's Hawk

Our desert neighborhood is full of bird activity right now. Every morning we wake to a cacophony of sound and see darting motion at every window as birds zip past, frantically carrying out their spring time business.  It is not uncommon to see small and mid-sized birds searching the ground for nesting materials and tasty morsels to eat.

What is uncommon is waking up to see a large hawk perched on our small copper reflection pool, surveying the world with beady, yellow eyes. It's also unusual for any bird to hang around for several hours while so much activity is swirling around it, but that is exactly what happened this morning. After capturing some images and admiring this striking visitor, I grabbed my bird book and began the identification process. Mercifully, it stayed long enough for me to take a good, long look.

Judging from the hooked beak and powerful build, this bird is obviously a bird of prey.  It is actually one of the fastest flying birds in the world, known for its great skill in navigating tree tops at high speeds while chasing other birds. It was my first close up look at a Cooper's Hawk, and in this case, a juvenile with mottled brown streaks and prominent yellow eyes. This species of hawk experiences a change of eye color as they mature, from pale yellow and even grey, to orange and blood red.  I am still researching to understand the benefits of eye color changes.

Cooper's Hawks are not compassionate hunters.  They prey on other birds and finish them off by repeatedly squeezing them with their talons.  They have also been known to drown their prey by holding them under water until they stop struggling. During nesting season the smaller male is responsible for meal delivery and is perfectly designed for swift flight and tight maneuvering to accomplish the task.  His smaller, lighter body coupled with long tail feathers allow this stealthy hunter to glide through an obstacle course of tree limbs with great agility.

Nictitating Membrane or Third Eyelid

Like most other birds, Cooper's Hawks have a third eyelid called a Nictitating Membrane.  This semi- transparent membrane slides across the eye horizontally or diagonally and not only helps to lubricate the eyes, but provides protection from wind, dust and rain when the hawk is on the wing... amazing design for sure.

As you track birds this spring, notice the unique design features that make them each successful desert dwellers. If you were a bird of prey, what physical and ability traits would you want to possess?

References and Resources
All About Birds - Cooper's Hawk
All About Birds - Silent Alert
Hawks Aloft Blog
AskAnNaturalist - Sharp Shinned or Cooper's Hawk
eBird - Identifying Cooper's Hawks
Avian Recon - Cooper Hawk Eye Color

Images: Sharon Pegany

Nesting Season

Cactus Wren nest built in an ideal location - among the prickly arms of a healthy Saguaro

Ahhh, nesting season in the Sonoran Desert. From darting Hummingbirds to mysterious Great Horned Owls, the bird world is frantically preparing to welcome the next generation. It is not uncommon to see birds of all types picking at the ground or flying to and fro with a mouthful of building materials. Most birds only build nests for brooding and raising their young, and abandon them once the little ones have learned to fly, although some species build a breeding nest and separate roosting nests.

Birds are very resourceful when it comes to nest building.  Some make elaborate luxury dwellings
complete with roof and welcoming entrance. Others move in to old nests abandoned by others.  Still others find refuge in the holes of cactus, trees or even burrows in the ground. Some are notorious nest stealers and others seem to slop their nests together as though the thought of where to put the eggs hadn't occurred to them. Hummingbirds use spider web to weave a tiny sticky nest, then cover it with leaves or lichen. Some birds even go through the extra work of building dummy nests to give the female options or discourage other birds from nesting in the area. The ingenious nest designs of each species suit them perfectly and serve their purpose.

Look for nests in unlikely places.

This time of year, take time to watch the birds.  What are they doing? Where are they going? Do you see patterns of behavior? Follow a bird's movements and you may discover a nest. Remain at a safe distance or the birds may become spooked and move on.  It you notice that they seem to be aware of your presence or abandon their activity, you know you have moved too close. If you find an abandoned nest, study it without touching it as birds are notorious for carrying disease. Try to imagine how a handless bird constructed it.

No matter where you live, nesting birds are not far. Enjoy tracking them and savoring a unique peek into the most wondrous and mysterious of designs...  new, perfectly formed and functioning life!

References and Resources
NestWatch

Images: Sharon Pegany

Cultivate Wonder... Track Design

Western Screech Owl

This week, we had the pleasure of tracking wonder with British Columbia's wildlife photographer Anthony Bucci. Anthony has an amazing talent for tracking and photographing North America's owls and was recently in the southwest to enjoy some of our local birds and owls.  One owl common to our area is the Western Screech-Owl. True to form, Anthony was able to find this nesting owl and create some amazing photos, giving us a glimpse of the little owl you have probably heard without knowing it.

Western Screech-Owls are small, about the size of a football.  Their feathers are brownish-grey, with lots of variation, which help them blend into their woodland or desert environment. They are nocturnal, coming out to hunt small rodents and insects later in the day and evening.

Adult Western Screech-Owls nest almost exclusively in tree and cactus cavities. They tend to remain in their nesting area year round, so there is a chance to see them even after the spring nesting season. This owl is quite common in the desert so several owls may be living in the same area, defending small nesting territories, but sharing a broader home territory.

Get in the habit of glancing at the holes in saguaro cactus plants.  The holes usually appear dark, but when you notice a lighter colored or blocked hole, take a closer look.  It just might be one of our small owls watching you move past their hangout. Listen for the "bouncing ball" call in which the sounds become closer together like the sound of a ball as it bounces closer and closer to the ground before coming to a stop.  Learn to engage all your senses, letting them pick up on the subtleties that will lead you to pure wonder.

References and Resources
Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
The Owl Pages
Anthony Bucci Facebook
Anthony Bucci Flickr
Anthony Bucci National Geographic

Image: Sharon Pegany

As a side note, the Western Screech-Owl looks just like the Whiskered Screech-Owl, except for the color of their beaks.  The Western Screech-Owl has a black beak with a tiny bit of ivory on the very tip, whereas the Whiskered Screech-Owl's beak is completely ivory colored. Both can be found in Arizona, although the Whiskered Screech-Owl is not as common.

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

March Desert Wonder Meet Up #1

Calling all Curious Desert Wonder Trackers!

What: Trek to Tom's Thumb through a beautiful area of huge boulders and healthy saguaro cactus stands over a fairly smooth trail. This trail makes a steep elevation climb of about 1,000 feet, but promises wonderful views along the way. We will stop as needed along the way with Sharon leading and Paul following to allow each trekker to set his/her own pace. The trail is nearly 5 miles round trip.

When: Monday, March 5 - 3:30 to Sunset

Where: Tom's Thumb Trailhead 
There are restrooms but NO WATER at the trailhead.
Directions: From Scottsdale Rd or Pima Rd, turn East onto Happy Valley Rd. Proceed about 2 miles past Alma School and turn right (East) onto Ranch Gate. Proceed to the end of Ranch Gate and then turn right (South) onto 128 St and you’ll arrive at the trailhead in less than a mile.

What to Bring: We will be traveling over steep terrain with loose soil, so good shoes with good tread are a must. This trail is a good one for a walking stick or poles to help with stability. Bring plenty of water and snacks. I encourage trekkers to carry a backpack or fanny pack so that hands are free. I have an extra backpack and we can also pack for each other as needed. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, etc.

What to Expect: The hike starts out gradually climbing toward a canyon where the trail climbs steeply up a series of switchbacks.  There are places to stop and catch your breath while taking in the view. Switchbacks continue on to a section where the trail is fairly level before starting a second series of switchbacks. We will keep a steady pace to reach the monolith (Tom's Thumb) where we can rest and look for Prairie Falcons or Swifts who nest on the area's lofty cliffs and crevices.  

So that we know to wait for you, please let me know if you plan to join us for either trek. See you on the trail!  speganydesign@gmail.com

Resources 
McDowell Sonoran Conservancy - Tom's Thumb
McDowell Mountain Preserve - North Area Map

Poop Tales

It all began with an afternoon walk in the desert.  For some reason, I kept noticing animal poop. Rabbit poop, coyote poop, bird poop and even insect poop. All different in shape, size, color and even content. As much as I tried to resist it, I could feel the unmistakable stream of wonder begin to trickle through my mind. Sometimes, controlling wonder is a tricky proposition.

As I trekked through an area with lots of wild rabbits, I noticed two kinds of droppings, one light and one dark. It seems that rabbits do indeed excrete two varieties of droppings. The lighter colored one is simply waste, but the darker dropping is actually a nutrition-packed pellet that rabbits eat to remain healthy.  In fact, both wild and domesticated rabbits deprived of them will suffer from malnutrition.

Many of the granite boulders in the area  have the white-stained streaks of bird droppings, triggering another wonder response... why is bird poop typically white and not dark like most animals?  Birds do not urinate.  Instead, their bodies go through a similar process of gathering waste, but when it comes time to get rid of it, the waste is released from just one place instead of two.  This all-purpose passageway is also where eggs exit the bird's body. Like mammals, bird's kidneys filter blood to extract waste. Since birds do not urinate, the extracted uric acid waste combines with solid waste, dissolving much of the solid mass and turning it white. The final "product" is one white blob with specks of darker solids here and there. This no frills design may help birds retain water, as well as keep their bodies lighter for flight.

The orb web spider, Cyclosa Ginnaga actually builds a spot in their web that resembles a splat of bird poop.  The spider itself sits in the center to add to the illusion. This ingenious trick helps protect the spider from would-be predators, such as wasps, who are not much interested in a bird poop lunch.

Animal scat or droppings are not fun to look at, but if you can get passed the gross-out factor, scat can tell us a story about who is in the area, how healthy they are and what they are eating, among other things. Trackers look for bird droppings on rocks and cliffs to find perches and nesting sites. Small mammal scat can tell us about predator/prey relationships. Large mammal scat from bear and cougar can serve as a warning.

When you are trekking and tracking wonder, be aware of animal scat and see if you can "read" the tales it tells. Help children develop a healthy curiosity about all aspects of nature. Learning to understand every process, no matter how unpleasant it may be, is just part of cultivating wonder and discovering design.

Questions for Young Trackers:

• Who does this scat belong to? Bird, Mammal, Retile, Insect? How can you tell?
• Did the scat come from an herbivore, carnivore or omnivore? How do you know?
• Do you see evidence of bird perches in the area?
• How many different kinds of scat can you find?
• What can you learn about an animal by studying its droppings?

References and Resources
mentalfloss.com- Why is Bird Poop White?
The Mystery of Rabbit Poop
peta.com - Living in Harmony with Wild Rabbits
thedodo.com - 9 Quirky Animals with Very Special Ways of Pooping
nbcnews.com - Spiders Pose as Bird Poop to Evade Predators

Images: Sharon Pegany

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

e-Bird

Stop what you are doing and go outside.  Close your eyes and concentrate on listening to individual sounds. My guess is that you will hear at least one bird voice in the cacophony of sound. Birds are a part of our everyday auditory experience. The world would be a strangely quiet place without their calls, chirps, whistles and screeches.

Birds amaze us and delight us, but did you know that they play a significant role in understanding ecosystems and environmental health? Birds are critical to the process of pollination, as well as insect and rodent control. Scientists have learned about environmental dangers by observing the changes in bird populations.  For instance, declining populations of bald eagles and peregrine falcons revealed the problem of DDT and heavy metals in the environment.  Coal miners once carried small cages containing canaries to detect the presence of carbon monoxide and other gases.

If you or your child/grandchild have an interest in birds, you may consider starting a free account with ebird.org.  This amazing site/app enables bird trackers world-wide to create sighting lists as well as upload images and sound recordings into a personal account.  The information you provide becomes a part of an enormous database of information that helps scientists and other birders track birds and understand their impact. It is easy and fun to have a place to record your own experiences while also watching your data become a part of something so useful to others.

Using eBird also builds many important life skills. Information provided by bird trackers merges to create interesting charts and maps that can be studied and analyzed to answer your questions.  Challenge children to organize a bird tracking expedition by identifying species, where they are in each season and how to navigate to each location. Critical reading comprehension, data analysis, map and navigational aptitude are just a few of the skills used to plan a trip.  Observation, photography, data collection and report writing are skills used to gather and upload information to the site.

Bird tracking can become a life-long passion and enjoyed no matter where life takes us. Tracking birds often leads to other interests and connects us with a vast community of people all over the globe. If nothing else, it triggers a delicious sense of wonder on a daily basis and keeps us gazing heavenward.

Cultivate Wonder... Discover Design

Resources and References
ebird.org
The Institute for Bird Populations
Desert Birding in Arizona Lessons

Image- Pixabay

Valentine Birds

It's almost spring here in the southern deserts... earlier sunrises, later sunsets, and a slight warmth wafting through the air are all signs of a change.  Another unmistakable mark of spring is the boisterous sound that fill the mornings.  Birds, seen or unseen, become very chatty and seem to be trying out new songs for a new mating season.

Bird watching has long been associated with groups of senior citizens tip-toeing through marshes and woodlands, but the practice can be a natural skill builder for both adults and children, especially when they are exposed to it early.  Consider just some of the benefits of bird tracking.

Birds can be found everywhere, from open farmland to crowded inner cities.  Their ability to thrive in such diverse settings is in itself an incredible design feat.  From a messy nest high in a sprawling tree to a lone metal perch outside an urban high rise window, birds are present near all our homes. The natural world can sometimes seem stagnant and slow to change, but birds offer us a constantly shifting view of life in the animal world.

There are so many different kinds of birds. The American Museum of Natural History estimate there to be as many as 18,000 species of birds worldwide. Learning to identify size, shape, plumage designs, calls, movement, behavior, nest building habits and migration patterns offer endless ways to hone precise observation skills. Wild birds must be quickly analyzed from a distance before they vanish from sight and earshot. Children can be taught to pay attention to main features, as well as subtle details as they sharpen their observation skills.

Bird tracking builds vocabulary. Think of all the comparative adjectives even young children can learn in the process of describing their feathered friends. Is it large or small, slender or compact, spotted, striped, plain or mottled? What are their beaks and tails like? Is their flight smooth or choppy?

Tracking birds teaches us about design.  Books and online resources can help children understand the unique design of birds; light-weight bones, feather and beak design according to function, hunting and defensive behaviors.  There is no end to the weird and wonderful design features found in the world of birds.

People learn from birds. Why did it take people so long to figure out how to copy flight? What design features did people duplicate in order to create flying machines? We are still learning about the navigational skills of birds.  How can some fly for hours without stopping over thousands of miles to land at a specific destination?

Birds are generally harmless to humans.  We can enjoy these feathered wonders without fear of being attacked, gored, bit or sprayed. Some birds will warn us to back off with loud calls or gutsy swoops, but for the vast majority, birds would rather take to the air than interact with humans. Do practice caution when handling anything that belongs to a wild bird due to the parasites, bacteria and viruses that can be carried.

Can you think of more benefits to bird tracking? This week try to be aware of the birds around you. Turn off artificial sound makers and tune into the sounds of birds. Scan your surroundings for bird activity. This time of year, you will catch birds collecting nesting material or acting strangely as they carry out their mating rituals. Some will delight you with what looks like joy. The joy of riding the breeze as only a bird can.

Happy Valentine's Day!

References and Resources
American Museum of Natural History - Estimate of Bird Species
How Birds Makes Us Sick

Image: Public Domain Pictures

Hummingbird Power Nap

The December desert offers a few winter blooming surprises and two of them are in our back yard. This year, our agave filifera plant sent up an eight foot stalk and is now showing off row after row of magnificent blossoms. Where there are fresh blossoms, there are often hummingbirds slurping up the nectar through their grooved tongues. Our blooms quickly attracted a feisty Anna's Hummingbird, a year round resident of our area.

Hummingbirds are packed with mind blowing design. They are the only birds known to have the ability to fly forward, backward and hover. These tiny birds zip to and fro, finding food to feed their voracious appetites or courageously chasing off territorial intruders. Their little hearts beat 1,260 times per minute and their wings flap an astounding 40-50 times per second! They burn through so much energy that they are literally hours from death at any given moment. They need almost constant access to high energy nectar or insects to survive.

Many species of hummingbirds can live and feed in warm or cold weather, but even they need a well-earned time-out from their feeding frenzies. That's precisely when a tricky design stunt known as torpor comes in handy. Torpor is a short period of very deep sleep or "mini" hibernation. Unlike animals that hibernate for weeks or months, a hummingbird with a limited food supply can enjoy a period of deep sleep every day. The hummingbird can temporarily enter a state of torpor, a time in which the heart slows dramatically, and the bird can appear dead. Body temperature drops and only a fraction of its awake time energy is needed. 

Although it is fairly unusual, if you ever come across a lifeless hummingbird, be careful not to disturb it. It may just be in a state of torpor. You may want to research some of the hummingbird's other design features by setting up a feeder near a window where you can watch these amazing birds zip through the air, hover, perch and feed. Learn how to make Hummingbird food and keep the feeder clean and full. Another way to help the hummingbirds and enjoy watching them is to cultivate plants with nectar-rich blossoms in your yard. Arizona Sonora Museum offers a list of plants, as well as information about how to attract hummingbirds to your yard.

References and Resources

Cornell Lab or Ornithology - Anna's Hummingbirds

World of Hummingbirds - Hummingbird Sleep

Images - Public Domain Pictures and Sharon Pegany

Migrations

The desert is cooling off and with the coming of a mild winter, creatures are stirring and shifting once again.  This is a time of mass movement in the animal world.  All over the planet, animals are on the move, migrating to areas that are more suitable for survival or preparing for the next generation. Each species is designed in such a way that they have the necessary physical and mental "equipment" to embark on such journeys.

For instance, you have probably watched a flock of geese overhead as they line up in a perfect V formation.  Aside from the beautiful symmetry we see from below, how does this design serve the geese? As a bird flaps, rotating air currents swirl off the end of its wing.  That circular movement causes the air directly behind the bird to push down and the air behind and to the sides to lift up. The other birds in a flock are really good at finding the pockets of air that lift up.  It makes flying long distances easier.

The Sonoran Desert is a thoroughfare for many species of animal travelers, particularly birds.  Southeastern Arizona is a unique area because four diverse biomes intersect there.  Birds from all four biomes can be seen in this one little corner of the state.  Around Christmas time, the Audubon Society conducts its annual Christmas Bird Count.  Bird Trackers can participate to help document the bird species moving through a given area.

This year, celebrate bird design by starting a December family tradition.  Take a walk into a natural area and see how many birds you can count.  If you are able, determine how many different kinds of birds and if they are alone or in a flock.

Resources and References
Adventure Birding
The Great Backyard Bird Count - February 16-19, 2018
National Geographic - Birds in a V

Image - Public Domain Pictures

Silent Owl Wings

These beautiful birds move on silent wings. Try as we may, it is nearly impossible to hear the sound of an owl coming or going, so they often take us by surprise.

The secret to their stealthy movement lies in the design of their feathers. When air flows over a typical bird wing, turbulence is created, causing a rushing sound. Most bird feathers are stiff and rigid with almost pointy edges.  When air hits them, turbulence is created, causing sound.

Owl wing feathers have several ingenious designs that greatly reduce sound, especially when the wing tilts as the owl nears its prey. The leading edge of the owl's wing is covered with tiny comb-like structures that break up the incoming air into many micro pockets of turbulence. Those smaller gusts of air then flow over the owl's wing to the trailing edge which is made up of a soft fringe and separates or muffles sound even further.  Any remaining sound is absorbed by the downy feathers on the owl's legs and wings.

Owl wings are also larger and wider than the wings of most birds of prey, which gives them more lift so they don't have to flap as often.  Their large wings make them slower, but the combination of size and unique feather features create the perfect design for the nocturnal owl.

Check out these amazing videos which demonstrate the silence of owl flight when compared to other birds.
BBC - Super Powered Owls
KQED - See What Makes Owls So Quiet and So Deadly

Reference and Resources
Ask Nature

Nature

Image - Public Domain Pictures

Harris Hawk

Tonight was a beauty.  The sky was streaked with pastel pinks, purples and sapphire blues.  As I made my way out to owl rock, I noticed the movement of a large bird lifting dramatically over an area of granite boulders. I was able to catch the flash of a white stripe on the tail and quickened my pace, hoping to get closer look.  To my amazement, I not only met the bird, but also his handlers, as well as another bird. They were traveling in a small group and had harnesses and poles on which the birds could perch.

These two Harris Hawks have damaged wings and can't be returned to the wild.  I thought of the sight of a free hawk, soaring high in the sky, and I felt a pang of sadness. Of all animals, birds seem to have the most freedom, so when that freedom is lost, it is even more tragic.

Harris hawks are common in the southwest deserts, but engage in an uncommon practice called "back-standing." Three or four birds can be seen stacked up on one another like circus performers trying to impress a crowd.  By standing on top of one another, the bird at the top may be able to see farther and spot prey.  It could also provide shade. Only the hawks know the purpose, leaving us to speculate and wonder... another design mystery.

Spotting harris hawks in the Sonoran Desert is relatively easy.  Unlike most hawks, they are social birds, so they can be seen in small groups, protecting nesting areas or hunting together.  They are dark brown with rusty red and white markings.  Their long legs are yellow and they also have yellow on their faces.  You may hear their loud, harsh call before you see them, but follow the sound and you may be treated to a back-standing session or a playful game of leapfrog as they fly from rock to rock.

References and Resources
Desert Museum 
All About Birds
Bird Sounds - Harris Hawk

Image: Public Domain Pictures and Sharon Pegany

The Owls Are Back

The great horned owl is the largest owl in the Sonoran Desert,
reaching a height of 2 feet and a tip to tip wingspan of 4-5 feet.

In the Sonoran Desert, our November evenings are nearly perfect for enjoying the night air and observing some of our nocturnal neighbors.  For several nights, we have heard the unmistakable scratch of talons on our chimney, followed by the throaty hoot of the Great Horned Owl. One loud series of hoots is usually followed by a distant call of another owl answering back. We sneak out our back door to catch a glimpse of these magnificent raptors and to listen to their cryptic conversations filling the night air.

November is the time when male great horned owls begin setting up territories in preparation for breeding and nesting. Their calls may be warnings to other owls that they may be in claimed territory. Most great horned owls mate for life, and starting in October, the pair begin their rituals of courtship which include passionate calls back and forth. Adults also make other sounds including whistles, shrieks, barks, coos, hisses and can loudly snap their bills if defending young.

Tonight, open your windows and tune your ears to hear this distinctly autumn sound.  If you live on the edges of wilderness, the owls are probably there.

To hear recorded sounds of the great horned owl:
All About Birds - Owl Sounds

References and Resources
Desert Museum
Nature Blog

Image: Public Domain Pictures