April 2, 2021: Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

They are on their way!  A frequent question – When should I put out my hummingbird feeder?

Our only breeding hummingbird is leaving Central America and heading North for the upcoming nesting season.  The males arrive first to establish mating territory and defend feeders.  Our feeders should go out around the middle of April.  An easy mix of 1 cup sugar, 4 cups water will do!  Make sure you boil the water, then add the sugar, as boiling keeps the mixture from spoiling.  There is no need to use food coloring or store-bought feeder food.  The glass Perky Pet feeder is one of my favorites.

Hummingbirds will enjoy the nectar of flowers that may include rhododendrons, petunias, and bee balm among others.  Later in the season, we will see the hummers over in the garden area and around our flower plantings.

Dr. Bill Hilton Jr has been the Director of “Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project” and its website at http://www.rubythroat.org.  Lots of interesting information can be found there.

Happy Birding!!

March 14, 2021: Wood Ducks

It’s late winter/early spring and already a few of our Wood Ducks can be seen in the ponds and our wooded, swampy areas. They’re usually in small groups, but unlike other waterfowl, they are one of the few duck species equipped with strong claws that can grip bark, so it’s not unusual to see them perched in trees.

The Wood Duck is one of the most stunningly pretty of all waterfowl. Males are iridescent chestnut and green, with ornate patterns on nearly every feather. The elegant females have a distinctive profile and delicate white pattern around the eye.

The Wood ducklings, covered with dull brown feathers, leave the nest shortly after birth as they are raised in water instead of in the nest. Later in the season, we will see moms with their young trailing behind. Always a sight that many of us enjoy!

Happy Birding!

March 1, 2021: Juncos and Sparrows

Winter is about to lose its icy, cold grip. Most of our walking paths are
visible again, and yes–you can hear birds singing. A subtle sign that spring is just around the corner.

Two of our visitors from the north can be seen busily rummaging through the shrubs and on the ground. The Dark-Eyed Junco–a small grey and white bird–darts off, giving a sharp twittering call as it flashes the white outer feathers of its tail. Often referred to as snow birds, watch for their disappearance from your feeder areas as they make their trip north for breeding season.

Frequently seen in the company of Juncos is the White-Throated Sparrow—a large plump bird. As its name implies, it has a white throat and white- and black-striped head with visible yellow dots located over each eye. One of its most distinguishing characteristics is its call. Listen for a distinctive whistling sound from the tops of the trees……..“Old Sam Peabody-Peabody” or I think I hear…….“Oh Canada – Oh Canada -Oh Canada”.

Happy Birding!!

February 16, 2021: Pileated Woodpecker

Walking about has been tough with our trails still covered in snow and ice. However, the path around the lagoon has been plowed, and my birding buddy and I have been out walking every day. We were able to observe two Pileated Woodpeckers in the trees on the south side of the lagoon.

Nearly the size of a crow, the Pileated Woodpecker is black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Excavating deep into rotten wood to get at the nests of carpenter ants, it leaves characteristic rectangular holes in dead trees. Males and females are similar except the male has a red stripe on his cheek.

The male begins excavating a nest cavity and does most of the work, but the female contributes, particularly as the hole nears completion. The entrance hole is oblong rather than the circular shape of most woodpecker holes. For the finishing touches, the bird climbs all the way into the hole and chips away at it from the inside, periodically picking up several chips at a time and tossing them from the cavity entrance.

Now the Pileated has its own claim to fame: it’s been named Bird of the Year for 2021 by the American Birding Association.

Happy Birding!

February 2021: Cedar Waxwings

Winter has finally settled in on Hershey’s Mill and the Northeast. Our ponds have frozen over, our wintering ducks have moved to a better feeding area with running water in Ridley Creek. Now, it’s time to turn our binoculars to the shrubs, bushes, and trees……

One of the birds you may encounter is the Cedar Waxwing. A very colorful medium-sized bird, it is tan in color with a crest, a black mask, red-tipped wing feathers that look like they have been dipped in wax, and a striking bright yellow band on their tail.

They may be seen in small flocks, on the edge of our wooded areas. They forage in the cedar cones, eating berries and then fruit and insects during summer months.

The tail of a Cedar Waxwing usually has a yellow band at the end but in the 1960s, birds with orange bands started to show up in the northeastern United States. The orange color results from red pigment found in non-native honeysuckle fruits introduced into their diet. Maybe you will be lucky enough to find one!

Happy Birding.

January 2021: More Wintering Ducks – Mergansers

With the winter seasonal closing of the Hershey’s Mill Golf Course, we have a great opportunity to check out the ducks on the rather large pond between the lagoon and Franklin Village. Two species of Mergansers can be found there. (Check out our map for more location info.)

The more striking of the two species is the Hooded Merganser. A small duck with a slender pointed bill, the male has a white, fan-shaped, black-bordered crest, blackish body with dull rusty flanks, and white breast with two black stripes down the side. Females are a dull gray brown, with a warmer brown head and crest. Both sexes show white wing patches in flight.

The other–the larger of the two, is a Common Merganser The males are striking with clean white bodies, dark green heads, and a slender, serrated red bill. The gray-bodied females have rich, cinnamon heads with a short crest.

Their primary food source is fish followed by aquatic insects. You will see both species popping up and down as they forage. An occasional Bald Eagle can be seen perched in the trees, waiting for a chance to steal a fish or two.

Happy Birding!!

December 2020: Another Winter Duck Visitor – Ruddy Duck

I hope some of you have had a chance to walk around our lagoon and to observe our wintering ducks.

Another one of my favorites is the Ruddy Duck. They gather in small flocks (rafts). The males are brown with a very white half-moon shape on their cheeks. The females not as bright, but if you look closely you can see that half-moon design. Both males and females have a very pronounced tail that looks rather like a sail. Many sleep during the day as they feed on aquatic insects during the night.

In the spring, males molt into a very rich rusty brown and interestingly enough, their bills turn blue–a very pretty baby blue. All of this color change occurs before they head north for the mating season. They nest in marshes, and apparently their nests are built only a few inches over the water.

Happy Birding!

November 2020:  Wintering Duck Sighting – Bufflehead

If you walk around the lagoon these lovely warm fall days, you might get a chance to see one of our wintering species of ducks.   The male Bufflehead has a very white body with some dark coloring. The female is mostly dark with a small white patch on her cheek.  They are diving ducks, searching for aquatic insects.

The English name is a combination of buffalo and head, referring to the oddly bulbous head shape of the species. This is most noticeable when the male puffs out the feathers on his head, thus greatly increasing its apparent size.  Gathering in small groups, one individual stands guard to alert the rest to potential danger.  When startled, they scoot across the water surface to a safer location.

Buffleheads find safe refuge here until ice forms on the lagoon, then they are off to another location to feed.  They are usually the first to arrive from their breeding grounds in Canada and then first to leave in the spring.  Speaking of breeding grounds, Buffleheads nest in trees, in nest holes that have been carved out by the Northern Flicker.

Happy Birding!!!!