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Tag: Birding by Ear

  • Why, Wood Ducks Don’t Quack!

    by

    Dan Burke

    Top row: Blanca, Chaz and CC looking at skulls, Center row: Eagle skull, Allie and Tyler playing bird sounds on the computer, Raven skull, Bottom row: Cardinal skull, Northern Flicker skull, Turkey skull and Blue Jay skull

    Birding by Ear Skulls Montage
    What were we thinking? Well, we encountered wood ducks this week in our Birding by Ear class when we strolled over to the pond at Sterne Park. Sure, there were the standard mallards with their easily recognizable quacking, but that other sound – that rising note – was that really a duck?

    yes, it’s a wood duck, and there were several on the pod that day – a whole new bird sound for the group

    Before going out, the class examined a number of casts of bird skulls, the discussion focusing on the different kinds of beaks that various birds have, and thus, the different things they feed on- predators with sharp, curved beaks, nut and seed feeders with powerful beaks to crack things open, and small pointed beaks for catching small insects for lunch.… Read the rest “Why, Wood Ducks Don’t Quack!”

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  • Belted Kingfisher, Orange Belts and Yoga’s Doggie Down: A Typical Tuesday at CCB

    by

    Dan Burke

    Allie Blanca C.G Dan andMike walkingaround the pond at Sterne Park during Birding Class

    So this is how Tuesday goes at CCB sometimes.

    First thing this morning Alie Mays came for our “Birdying by Ear” class. Seven of us reviewed recordings of local bird songs, then walked over to Sterne Park, where we heard mallards, doves, goldfinches and of course Canada geese. Today’s mascot was the belted kingfisher, an unexpected find. He just kept calling and calling as he circled over the pond.

    Allie Blanca C.G Dan and Mike walking around the pond at Sterne Park during Birding Class
    A Mallard drake and two hens swim in the pond at Sterne Park
    Alie quizzes the class on local bird sounds

    In the Senior Resource Room something was happening called sugar scrub. Jenny Callahan led Seniors in making sugar scrub, using sugar (surprise) and oil and scents like lavender and almond. Whatever it is, it sure sounded fun to make, judging by the giggles and cackles.… Read the rest “Belted Kingfisher, Orange Belts and Yoga’s Doggie Down: A Typical Tuesday at CCB”

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  • Birding by Ear at CCB

    by

    Dan Burke

    Group shot - The class listens to bird sounds while CG looks at a mount of a Great Horned Owl

    Group shot - The class listens to bird sounds while CG looks at a mount of a Great Horned Owl
    It was feathers and bird calls Tuesday morning in our first Birding by Ear class with Alie Mayes, Outreach Coordinator at Bird Conservancy of the Rockies in Brighton. Alie brought casts of bird skulls as well as mounts, giving everyone a sense of various differences in bird anatomy, size and aerodynamics. Then we got down to identifying a couple of dozen bird calls we might hear in the Littleton area this time of year, such as canada geese, crows and chickadees, as well as others that come and go around the calendar.

    Suzi looks at a mount of a Great Horned Owl
    Lynn looks at the skull of a flicker
    Mike looks at an Owl wing

    Next time, we’ll take our newly practiced ears outside to find some of our neighbors.… Read the rest “Birding by Ear at CCB”

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