Q & A
May 31st 2007
One of the best things about writing newspaper columns is hearing from my readers. Okay, it’s also one of the most scary things, because readers often have questions. Sometimes I can provide answers. Sometimes I can provide guesses. And Sometimes I just have to throw up my hands and say I don’t know!
But why should I keep all the fun to myself? I will use this page to post questions and my attempts at answers. Feel free to jump in with your own questions, and please join the fray if you’ve got some answers.
Here’s a Wren Question from Wandering Birder, Bill Hemeter
I put up a house at my mother’s for Carolina wrens, and it’s unoccupied. Should I leave it up over the winter to acclimate them to it?
Bill
Ron’s Answer,
Bill,
I would leave the birdhouse up. Birds and other critters use them for shelter during the winter and bad weather, but don’t expect Carolina Wrens to use it for nesting. They prefer an old shoe, a hanging fern basket, or an open toolbox. They are the most contrarian nesters I know. They will nest everywhere but where you want them. And since they can make several “decoy” nests, you can find yourself tiptoeing around your own workshop or potting shed trying not to disturb a wren’s nest that will never hold an egg. Meanwhile, the wrens will be busy building a nest in on a rung of your stepladder, your mailbox, or even your van—this happened to John Atkins. Commercial wren nest boxes are made to accommodate house wrens. House wrens are expanding their breeding territory southward, but I don’t think we have them in Southern Mississippi, yet. Of course, the very act of writing this will persuade some renegade Carolina Wren to set up house in your mother’s wren house. Like I say, Contrarians to the max.
Least Terns in Trouble?
From Keith RachubaRonnie, I have become a backyard birder and enjoy many hours watching, especially on my days off and drinking a cup of coffee and seeing the early birds getting their first meal. My reason for writing is the least tern nesting areas on the beach. I notice they are pumping the beach in and wondering how this will affect the nesting. I see some in their area just west of Broad Ave. in Gulfport but don’t see the area roped off like it use to, and also this area will probably be worked in soon by the pumping crews. Black Skimmers are also heavily congregated in this area. I don’t see no terns at all in the old Hewes Ave. colony, this use to be one of the largest. This area was just pumped in and maybe still can be used as a nest area if it’s not too late. Hurricane Katrina slowed down most of this and the groups who use to care for these areas haven’t done much since. I was wondering if they are going to be restored? The really big one was down in front of the Edgewater Goff Club. I miss reading Ms. Toups column, she is probably the one who got me started, but I’m glad you were there to take her place.
Thanks,
Keith
From Sun Herald Cols, 2008/04/19 at 7:18 AM
Ron’s Answer,
Keith,
The simple answer to how the beach pumping will affect the least terns is “I don’t know.”
I know several birders along the coast who are concerned about the further disruption in an ecosystem that has been knocked on its heels already, but I wouldn’t worry too much about the Least Terns. The terns are adaptable and can nest on the large gravel-topped roofs of the large military and industrial buildings along the coast. Many, perhaps a majority already do so. The terns don’t depend on the beach for nesting as much as they depend on the Mississippi Sound for for plentiful food. Will the pumping seriously compromise that supply? Again, I just don’t know. This summer will tell.
The Least Terns have proven tough and resilient time and time again. I’m betting that they will have a successful year. I hope that our more vulnerable critters along the coast fare as well.
Hattiesburg Birder, Josh Hodge adds
I heard from members of the Mississippi Coast Audubon Society that the Least Terns are nesting on the barrier islands since Hurrican Katrina. They are very happy to see this trend because the birds are safer from predation and human disturbance on the islands than they are on the mainland beach.
Red-Ringed Mystery Dove
From John:I’m looking for a little help identifying a bird I seen in my yard. Though I spend a great deal of time outdoors I have never seen this bird. The bird is medium built, brown with brown specks, it’s kind of shaped like a dove with a brillant red ring around its neck. Any help would be appreciated because it’s driving me crazy nobody can tell me what kind of bird this is. THANKS
Ron’s Answer:
John, you’ve got me stumped with this one. There is no native bird that is brown on brown with a brilliant red ring around its neck–normally. I do have a couple of possibilities though.
We have an uncommon dove in South Mississippi that is called the Common Ground Dove (must be common somewhere!). This dove does not have a red ring on its neck, but it is brown with darker spots of brown and it has a reddish color in its wings. When it flies, this reddish color flashes with each wing-beat and it might look like that color is actually on its neck. So if you bird was flying, maybe it was a common ground dove.
The second possibility is that your bird is a young male House Finch that is just coloring up and the red pigment that will eventually cover his breast, head and rump is coming in unevenly.
The third possibility which may be the most likely one is that your bird is an escaped exotic bird. I can’t think of one off-hand that fits the description, but there are hundreds of possibilities.
Sorry I could not be more helpful. If it shows up again, try to take his picture!
Thanks for reading.
Wanted: Web Guide to Gulf Coast Birds
From Mac Freeman:Do you have a link to pictures and names of commonly found birds along the MS Coast?
Ron’s Answer:
Mac,
I’ve searched high and low for an all in one web guide to the birds of the Mississippi Coast, or to birds of Mississippi for that matter. If it exists, it’s hiding from me.
There is however a great resource available that will get your started—The Mississippi Coast Audubon Society Website. From their home page you will find links to an excellent and printable Mississippi Coast Bird Checklist, a more detailed Annotated Checklist, and Bird Sightings.
Once you have a species name in hand, you can use a good search engine like Google or Yahoo to find an array of bird pictures. I also use the photo site Flickr to find bird pictures.
But the web cannot supply the portability and the clarity of a good Bird Field Guide. There are several to chose from in both painted and photographed formats. I’ll be writing about the current field guides soon, so stay tuned.
Robert responded on 07 May 2009 at 2:11 pm #
Can you recommend a book that details the feeding habits of birds? Only one of my bird books even mentions diet and that for only a couple of birds.
I am curious as to what they eat, when they eat, and where they eat.
Thanks.
Frank E. Lee responded on 17 May 2010 at 3:45 pm #
I am inquiring about doves. I just had a visit by a white winged dove. It first landed on top of my martin house and after a few minutes moved into a birch tree in my back yard where it is resting comfortably. When I checked the books it shows it as rare in this area.
I regularly have mourning doves and the Eurasian Collared doves but this was a first to see the white wing.
I may be reached by phone at 601-529-0414
Frank