Thursday's Bird Watch!

 

This bird is a Pine Siskin at a feeder box put up by Kirk Wagner in his Garden Home backyard here in Dallas Retirement Community Village. Pine Siskins have just arrived in large numbers last month from their breeding grounds in northern Canada. They can be seen here at DRV in our barren winter trees in flocks of 15 to 30 birds. It could be just a coincidence, but I'm thinking that there is a strong possibility that their arrival and the arrival of the Merlinn, which was featured in last week's post, has a connection.  That connection is that the Merlin has followed its food source south for the winter.

Fish Stocking Day

Jeanette and I went out to Sheridan South Side Park and Fishing Pond this morning to look for an unusual Black-crowned Night Heron that had been reported yesterday.  We didn't find it, but while scanning the pond for ducks an Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife truck arrived.  We guessed right away that it was a fish stocking truck from our years of volunteering at Roaring River Fish Hatchery. Sure enough it backed up and unloaded some fish.  For you fishing type people, this was a load of large brooder trout. I talked to the driver and his next stop was Huddleston Pond in Willamina. Grab your gear and get going, there was no one fishing there yet. (click on the image for a closer look)
 

Thursday's Bird Watch!

We were thrilled to see out first Merlin of the season on Monday, November 23.  Merlin are winter birds, coming south for the winter from Canada.  Don't let the dull coloring fool you, this is an exciting bird.  A member of the Falcon Family, they are slightly larger than their cousins, the American Kestrel.   Merlins are fast and unique in their preference to take their prey, other birds, in midair.  We found this one here in Dallas Retirement Village at the top of the large fir tree next to the Maintenance Building.  This is their preference, to perch high at the top of a tree to be able to spot their next victim.  I expect to see this bird again through the winter before it leaves sometime in March to head north for the summer.