Birds of Cape Cod
Time to get up…the tea-kettle is whistling!
Civil twilight is now shortly before 5:00 AM, and for some reason this past week, the sound of the first robin and the soon to follow chorus of the other birds seemed much louder than normal. Perhaps that is because some of our migrants, like the orioles, have arrived and their added and different songs make the entire ensemble more symphonic in volume. What caught my ear on this morning was the incessant call or song of our resident Carolina Wrens. Known to be loud anyway, that “tea-kettle…tea-kettle …tea-kettle” call seemed to drown out all the others this day, and made me don my slippers and step outside to see what they were up to.
Read more: Time to get up…the tea-kettle is whistling!
Dazzle them with March dance steps and fancy flight!
The first days of spring on Cape Cod always seem to be more winter-like than not. There is the occasional teaser, a beautiful sunny day when temperatures rise into the upper 50s, but for the most part Cape springs are influenced by the surrounding cold water temperatures, which linger on after winter. However, the seasonal signs or events of spring are usually evident by the end of March and into early April. One of the most enjoyable of these experiences is the mating flight display of the male American Woodcock.
Read more: Dazzle them with March dance steps and fancy flight!
The Great Horned Owl
The cold, clear and crisp nights of early February on Cape Cod provide for some amazing star gazing, and for those who venture out, it is also a time when the hooting of the great horned owl can be heard at its best. This is the time of year when these owls are in the midst of their courtship. In fact, these owls are among the earliest of nesters and by the end of the month nests will likely be built, and eggs will be laid.
The great horned owl is found throughout North America. It is our largest owl having tufted ears, and stands about 18 to 25 inches tall with a wing span up to 55 inches in length. While coloration can vary somewhat, the owl is recognized by heavy barring of the feathers beneath and it has a conspicuous white throat bib. They appear to have no neck, and the feathers of its large facial disc may be orange in color with white feathers that form a V between its yellow eyes with large black pupils.
Contrary to popular belief, great horned owls cannot rotate their head completely around, but can rotate their head about 270°. This head movement compensates for there fixed eyes which cannot move up and down or side to side, yet their eyesight is very keen and they can see in almost dark conditions.
Read more: The Great Horned Owl
Hawks and Ospreys
Migratory Birds of Prey
Hawks and other raptors began their migration northward over the Cape back in March, and good flights will continue through this month. Birds I have sighted include Red-tailed, Broad-winged, Merlin, Turkey vulture, Sharp-shinned, Northern harrier, American kestrel, Cooper's hawk, and Ospreys. Hawk migrations can be viewed in many locations across Cape Cod this time of year. I have found there to be good success at the Marconi site in South Wellfleet, areas near Highland Light in Truro, out near the Race Point Visitors Center; but best known for its raptor numbers and counts is the Pilgrim Heights area in North Truro. This site is used by the Hawk Migration Association of North America as an official counting site. To see an up-to-date count as to sightings for this month go to the Hawk Migration Association Web Site and click on hawkcount.org in the left column...then scroll down to the site Pilgrim Heights...and hit select site. Data collected by the association here and at other sites throughout the continent allow for an assessment of raptor populations.
Check with MA Audubon and the Cape Cod Bird Club for special walks and outings that might include hawk migration viewing.
Welcomed Warblers
A Feathered Sign of Spring
As the trend in our daily temperatures continues to rise, I begin watching for the return of our spring warblers. These small and colorful birds are members of the genus Dendroica, and are considered neotropical birds, as they spend part of their life cycle (our winters) in the rain forests of South and Central America. Warblers, which migrate in the spring from these southern climates, are on their way to breeding grounds in Canada and northern New England this time of year. Cape Cod provides a vital resting place, and the birds begin to arrive in waves on the Cape during late April and into May.
