January 28, 2009
In memoriam
A rather more sombre entry than normal. I was extremely saddened to hear of the death of my former boss, and good friend, Mike Majerus, following a mercifully brief struggle against aggressive mesothelioma. Mike was a giant in the world of evolutionary ecology, with a giant personality to match. A staunch defender of Darwinian evolution, he worked extensively with the Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), the celebrated example of natural selection for industrial melanism. In recent years, his work has focused on the arrival of the invasive Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis) in the UK. This subject proved popular with the British public, and thanks to numerous media appearances by Mike, thousands of records of the distribution of Harlequins (and native British ladybirds) were sent in from around the country, resulting in a dataset of unprecedented quality for the early establishment of an introduced species. He worked tirelessly and passionately on the public dissemination of science, which was recognized in 2006 when he received the Sir Peter Scott award for contributions to British natural history.
The nine months I spent working with Mike were perhaps the most fulfilling of my career so far; never have I worked in a group with such enthusiasm for all aspects of the collective work of the lab, from ladybird surveying to events for schoolchildren and individually replying to the thousands of letters we received from the general public. As a group we got along uncommonly well, testament to Mike's ability to select hardworking, inquisitive and caring people to work on his team. Mike was always more than happy to answer my endless questions about odd-looking insects I'd seen out in the field, and the hospitality that he and his wife Tina extended to me made me feel more like extended family than an employee. He will be sorely missed, and never forgotten.
A photo from happier times (Mike's on the far right):
A tribute from the Cambridge University Genetics Department can be seen here:
January 26, 2009
Tales from the bird feeder
Since last week I have been the proud owner of a black sunflower seed-dispensing bird feeder. The feeder was practically ignored for the first three days, so I tried sprinkling some seeds around the base. It wasn't long before the first Cardinals found it, and there are now regularly 4-5 birds present each morning.
Next came the Tufted Titmice...
... and the Carolinas (Wren and Chickadee).
Occasionally White-throated and Song Sparrows brave the balcony for fallen seed.
Finches were the last to arrive, though House Finch is now among the most abundant visitors.
So far, I've only seen one American Goldfinch, possibly the same individual, at the feeder. I'm still crossing my fingers for a Siskin.
Evidence that there's no such thing as a squirrel-proof feeder.
Elsewhere in the garden, the blue berries along the back fence have been attracting the attention of Robins and Cedar Waxwings.
Blue Jays are often up in the trees...
... along with the continuing Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
January 22, 2009
MLK weekend birding
Memorial Park is a short walk from my house. While it suffers much disturbance from dog-walkers and joggers (myself included), there are some decent wooded trails, a creek and a duckpond which make for a reasonable pre-work birding walk. On my last visit I was pleased to come across a ground-feeding flock of American Goldfinch, with smaller numbers of Dark-eyed Junco and Pine Siskins. It's an irruption year for the latter species around here.
I rustled up 6 species of woodpeckers, and managed photos of Pileated, Red-bellied and Downy.
A couple of Brown Creepers were also in evidence.
On campus, I came across my first sizeable flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers.
A Pine Warbler was feeding among them.
The wet flush that held last week's Fox Sparrow had a Hermit Thrush feeding out in the open.
By the end of the week the temperature had really dropped (-11C/13F on my cycle ride into work felt very cold!). On Saturday I tried the state botanical garden at dawn for displaying American Woodcock. I heard a couple of buzz notes from the far side of the river, but no visuals. Given the chilly temperatures, I tried to stayed in the sunlight in the power line cut. Over a couple of hours I noted several species including a Winter Wren, and had great looks at a couple of Field Sparrows...
... as well as flyovers by Pileated Woodpecker and Red-shouldered Hawk.
The open grassland near the garden's entrance held a Red-winged Blackbird flock, Eastern Meadowlark, a few Killdeer and the local race of Savannah Sparrow.
I returned here on Sunday at dusk, and was thrilled to witness 4 Woodcocks in their twittering, bat-like display flight. They are much smaller and dumpier than their European counterparts. Just prior to the woodcock show, several hundred Common Grackles flew in to roost.
On MLK Monday I cycled up the Greenway to bird Cook's Trail as far as Oxbow Lake. Along the way I got much better views of a flock of about 12 Rusty Blackbirds.
Also encountered were small flocks of Eastern Bluebirds and Purple Finches.
I came across this Black Vulture among a group of roosting Turkey Vultures.
Note its small size compared to the latter...
... and the extremely short tail in flight.
At the Oxbow Lake I saw a flock of 30 Pine Siskins. All the regular waterfowl were present, and I was able to add Great Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe and a surprise Common Yellowthroat to my BIGBY yearlist, taking it up to 66.
January 12, 2009
Weekend bicycle birding
At the weekend I had the chance to go a little further afield, cycling out to the State Botanical Garden to join some local birders on Saturday. Purple Finches were coming to feed on berries adjacent to the river.
A single Brown Creeper was another new bird for the Georgia list. The wetland held a good-sized sparrow flock, including several Chipping and a couple of Swamp. Pine Warblers were singing; their song sounded remarkably like that of the Old World Bonelli's Warbler.
On Sunday I biked up the greenway to the Sandy Creek Nature Center. Just before arriving I ran into a single Rusty Blackbird in a treetop, only my second ever.
White-throated Sparrows were abundant - this dull, super stripy individual must be one of last year's young.
I walked the Cook's Trail as far as Oxbow Lake, encountering several pockets of bird activity along the way. It was a good day for woodpeckers, with a visual on Pileated Woodpecker and 4 different Yellow-shafted Flickers.
Sparrows seen included a lone Field Sparrow just south of the road junction, 2 Fox Sparrows on the Pine Crest Trail and this gorgeous Swamp Sparrow.
Several duck species were playing hide-and-seek among the clumps of vegetation at the Oxbow Lake - Ring-necked Ducks, Green-winged Teal, a pair of Wood Duck and 3 American Black Ducks were the most interesting.
A quick count-up reveals I've seen 54 species by bike or foot in the county this year - hopefully the pace will pick up once the Spring migration gets into full swing!
First week's birding
Much of my birding during the week has been limited to watching the backyard and spots on the UGA campus close to the office. I'm still very much in the 'honeymoon phase', where the common Eastern US birds are still a novelty - I hope it continues! A wet flush on campus always holds a vocal pair of Eastern Phoebe.
The area has also proved particularly good for sparrows - mostly White-throated (a tan-striped individual pictured below) and Song...
... and a pleasant surprise was this Red Fox Sparrow, the first time I've seen this striking eastern race.
The low scrub often holds Mockingbird and Eastern Towhee.
Conehead Cardinal.
Myrtle Warblers and American Goldfinch forage in the upper canopy.
Eyeball to eyeball with a MoDo.
The biggest bird on the yard list has to be this Turkey Vulture, trying in vain to scavenge a roadkill Possum.
Talk about taking your work home with you - this rather hairy Harlequin is one of a handful overwintering in the new house.
Backyard Sapsucker
I couldn't resist posting some more shots of the beautiful Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the backyard. It works the same tree for several hours of the day.
The lack of a red throat means this isn't an adult male; the faintness of the facial stripes makes me wonder whether this is a bird moulting out of juvenal plumage rather than an adult female.
Here it can be seen drinking from a sap-hole (note the neat line of holes it has excavated).
Evidently a messy eater, a droplet of sap can be seen at the base of the bill.
January 8, 2009
Cedar Waxwings
OK, so they may be the poor relation to their Bohemian cousins, but they're still pretty smart, and easy to run into on the UGA campus at the moment.
I hadn't appreciated just how yellow their bellies were until I saw one in direct sunlight.
This group alighted in a tree right in front of me in the last of the daylight.
