If you haven't tried your hand (brain? memory? open book?) at the Warbler Quiz, go to the preceding post. Don't ruin your fun.
Okay, here are some possible answers. Let me know if you disagree or have others.
1. Warblers without that word: Ovenbird, Northern/Louisiana Waterthrush, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Parula.
2. Adult males changing completely in plumage between Spring and Fall: Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll, Bay-breasted. Most "confusing Fall warblers" are juvenile females.
3. False -- warbler migration starts in mid- to late July, and peaks in September.
4. False! but note the much-later start-time for Friday September 3rd...
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Warbler quiz
1. Name four WI warbler species that do not have the word "warbler" in their names.
2. There are four WI warbler species in which adult males undergo a near-complete change in plumage from Spring to Fall. What are they?
3. True or false: there is essentially no southward migration until mid-September.
4. True or false: 6:30 is too damn early to be on a bicycle, looking for warblers.
Send your answers to dfallow@yahoo.com, or just check back here in a couple days for the putative answers.
2. There are four WI warbler species in which adult males undergo a near-complete change in plumage from Spring to Fall. What are they?
3. True or false: there is essentially no southward migration until mid-September.
4. True or false: 6:30 is too damn early to be on a bicycle, looking for warblers.
Send your answers to dfallow@yahoo.com, or just check back here in a couple days for the putative answers.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Spider out the window
Maybe the last thing a Flesh Fly sees would be a lovely emerald green:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/427046
Jumping Spiders are very cool (unless the dewpoint is above 70). I saw one this week just outside the kitchen window. It was jet black except for three or four white spots on the abdomen. Looking closer, what struck me was the beautiful color on the "fangs" or chelicerae. Perhaps it was Phidippus audax.
The spiders that, in a way, help people get very close looks at butterflies tend to be Crab Spiders. They lay in wait on flowers to grab unwary insects...as do Ambush Bugs (check out an action-packed photo). An immobile butterfly on a flowerhead could prove to be in the clutches of one of the above critters. Queen Anne's Lace, a.k.a. Wild Carrot, is in full bloom right now. A small brownish butterfly "nectaring" on it could well be one of the Hairstreaks -- usually a Banded, but in the past I've noticed Hickory and even Juniper (Olive) Hairstreaks utilizing this flower. It's definitely Butterfly Season right now, and I'll be leading several butterflying-by-bike trips over the next couple weeks -- let me know if you're interested!
http://bugguide.net/node/view/427046
Jumping Spiders are very cool (unless the dewpoint is above 70). I saw one this week just outside the kitchen window. It was jet black except for three or four white spots on the abdomen. Looking closer, what struck me was the beautiful color on the "fangs" or chelicerae. Perhaps it was Phidippus audax.
The spiders that, in a way, help people get very close looks at butterflies tend to be Crab Spiders. They lay in wait on flowers to grab unwary insects...as do Ambush Bugs (check out an action-packed photo). An immobile butterfly on a flowerhead could prove to be in the clutches of one of the above critters. Queen Anne's Lace, a.k.a. Wild Carrot, is in full bloom right now. A small brownish butterfly "nectaring" on it could well be one of the Hairstreaks -- usually a Banded, but in the past I've noticed Hickory and even Juniper (Olive) Hairstreaks utilizing this flower. It's definitely Butterfly Season right now, and I'll be leading several butterflying-by-bike trips over the next couple weeks -- let me know if you're interested!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Welcome to Birding the Green Way!
The "green way" is birding by bike and bus, not private vehicle.
I'm Dave Fallow. I've been leading bird-watching field trips in and around Madison since the 1980's, and in the last several years solely by bicycle and/or by Metro Transit bus for environmental reasons. You may have heard me pontificating on WORT radio (89.9 FM) Tuesday mornings at 11:00 on John Fabke's popular folk music show "Pastures of Plenty".
We're now in the thick of the May bird migration, and you can experience it on my guided field trips, reasonably priced at $10. If you know the song of the American Robin but are unfamiliar with the pretzel-like vocalization of the WARBLING VIREO...if you instantly recognize a Scarlet Tanager but may not know a NIGHTHAWK or GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH...then these trips are for you!
All trips require that you bicycle (or bike-bus) to the meeting place, and from there we proceed on foot. Most trips will be at Picnic Point and the UW Arboretum, at various times of day on both weekdays and weekends. You will learn how to identify many species of migrating birds by both sight and sound...and have fun in the process!
I'm Dave Fallow. I've been leading bird-watching field trips in and around Madison since the 1980's, and in the last several years solely by bicycle and/or by Metro Transit bus for environmental reasons. You may have heard me pontificating on WORT radio (89.9 FM) Tuesday mornings at 11:00 on John Fabke's popular folk music show "Pastures of Plenty".
We're now in the thick of the May bird migration, and you can experience it on my guided field trips, reasonably priced at $10. If you know the song of the American Robin but are unfamiliar with the pretzel-like vocalization of the WARBLING VIREO...if you instantly recognize a Scarlet Tanager but may not know a NIGHTHAWK or GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH...then these trips are for you!
All trips require that you bicycle (or bike-bus) to the meeting place, and from there we proceed on foot. Most trips will be at Picnic Point and the UW Arboretum, at various times of day on both weekdays and weekends. You will learn how to identify many species of migrating birds by both sight and sound...and have fun in the process!
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