Bird Humor

Animated Bird Humor--"For the Birds" by Pixal

Creature Comforts--Being a Bird on You Tube from Aardman Animations.

Practical Jokes by Magpies in Windex Commerical

Seagull in Scotland stealing Doritos.

External Links

Bird Life International: Birding Humour Links





Wildbird.com--Bird Jokes







Julie Zickerfoose Blog



Julie's pretty funny and knows her birds. Listen to her on "All Things Considered" on NPR here.







Bird Chick



Birder Sharon and her husband Non-Birding Bill (NBB) are both a hoot.

American Robin--Turdus migratorius

Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife--Photographer Lee Karney


Like most thrushes, American Robins are a bit on the plump side. The back, wings, and tail of an American Robin are dark gray. The head is a slightly darker gray. The Robin's eyes are surrounded by thick, broken eye rings. The bill is large and yellow. The most well-known marking is the brick-red chest. Females are lighter. Less of a difference in color of head, back, wings, and tail. Juveniles are lighter than adults and spotted.

Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife--Photographer Lee Karney

American Robins eat fruit, invertebrates including the proverbial worm, and insects. They tend to eat more fruit in the fall and winter and more insects and invertebrates in the spring and summer.


Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife--Photographer Donna Dewhurst

In Spring and Summer, you will see American Robins with one or a few individuals on the lawns looking for invertebrates like worms. However, in Fall and Winter they get together in huge flocks and look for berries and other fruit just like the Cedar Waxwing. Winter and Spring difference in behaviors during winter and spring cause less sightings of American Robins even in areas where they occur year round. This is because while in one sighting, you may see a flock of American Robins, you will not see the individual American Robins you see on your lawn or in the park. The concentration of American Robins at fruit sources in the Winter reduces the number of places and the frequency of sightings. You may on occasion see a large flock, but you will not usually see an individual American Robin until Spring. Flocks can number in the hundreds of thousands. They migrate for the winter to the Pacific Coast from Southern Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and Mexico and Guatemala.

Juvenile American Robin--Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife--Photographer Sean Varner

American Robins like areas that combine grass, trees, and shrubs. They do well in Urban areas with lawns and parks as long as pesticides are not used. They are birds that are likely to show up in front and back yards as well as parks. They are seen in places like Peter's Canyon, Irvine Open Space Preserve, Mason Regional Park and even more including your own yard.




Photo Courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife--Photographer James Leupold

Other American Thrushes include the Eastern Bluebird, the Western Bluebird, the Mountain Bluebird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Wood Thrush, and the Varied Thrush. In Orange County, the list of thrushes is reduced to Swainson’s Thrush, and Hermit Thrush.

American Robin at Nest with nestlings from Birds and Blooms Magazine

American Robins have a breeding season that runs from April through July. They raise up to three broods. Oddly enough the same pair might pick very different places for its nests with each brood. The young are very dependent on the parents for food even after they leave the nest. American Robins mate for the season and raise young. Then they part. The average life span for American Robins live about 2 years, but the record for the longest lived American Robin in the wild is 14 years.


American Robins are well known during breeding season for fighting their own reflections in windows and buildings. At a job in LA, a Robin constantly attacked his own reflection in the window outside my supervisor's office. It was a little hard to concentrate during meetings in his office while the Robin challenged and fought himself in the window outside.



American Robin Courtesy of The National Biological Information Infrastructure Photographer--John J. Mosesso

This is an easy bird for any birder to add to their lifelist. Just look for this bird in the Spring at a park or yard near you.

Video by James Knott of Agile H Productions

OC Birder Girl Links

Birding Hot Spots in Orange County, California





Bird Walks and Nature Programs in Orange County





Orange County Bird Checklists





Irvine Open Space Preserve Nature Center






American Robin in Turtle Rock Nature Center aka Irvine Open Space Preserve Nature Center in Irvine.

External Links and Resources

All About Birds: American Robin

Detailed page of information about the American Robin from Cornell University's Ornithology Lab.

Animal Diversity Web: American Robin

Very thorough article from the University of Michigan.







ANNUAL DIET OF CEDAR WAXWINGS BASED ON U.S. BIOLOGICAL SURVEY RECORDS (1885-1950) COMPARED TO DIET OF AMERICAN ROBINS: CONTRASTS IN DIETARY PATTERNS AND NATURAL HISTORY

(Auk: Vol. 113, No. 2, April-June, 1996)




BioKids: American Robin

Species profile.

BirdWeb: American Robin

Great information from the Seattle Audubon Society.

Brown-Headed Cowbirds Fledged from Barn Swallow and American Robin Nests

(Wilson Bulletin: Vol. 106, No. 4, October-December, 1994)

Chipperwood Bird Observatory: American Robin

Great text and photographs from the Chipperwood Bird Observatory in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Effect of Research Activity on the Success of American Robin Nests

Research from Colorado State University on the effect of research on American Robins and the fledge rate of nests that are studied versus nests that are not. Interesting.

EPA: American Robin



Species profile from the Environmental Protection Agency.





Four Lakes Wildlife Center in Madison, Wisconsin



Nice article on the American Robin and its habits.







The Journey North: The American Robin


Curriculum for kids about the American Robin. Very thorough.




McGill Bird Observatory: American Robin


Canadian Bird Observatory which does lots of research on birds in North America. Good article on different colors morphs of American Robins.

Nature Works: American Robin

Good article on the American Robin from New Hampshire Public Television.






Ohio Division of Wildlife--Life History Notes: American Robin


Some good information.





SEASONAL FRUIT PREFERENCES FOR LIPIDS AND SUGARS BY AMERICAN ROBINS

(Auk: Vol. 117, No. 3, 2000)

USGS: American Robin

Short, but helpful.

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Barn Owl--Tyto alba

Barn Owl aka The Ghost Owl

My friend Gloria and I once walked under a Barn Owl Nest while bird watching at Turtle Rock Nature Center years ago. As we looked up, three downy owlets looked down at us. For quite a while we all gazed at each other. They were very cute and curious. For a birder, seeing an owl is always a wonderful treat. Especially during the daytime. With incredible eyesight and hearing, owls are very efficient nocturnal hunters. Out there in the dark night, they seem mysterious and fascinating.

Barn Owl profile. Such a beautiful bird. This is a female Barn Owl from a South Bay Wildlife Rehab show at Wildbirds Unlimited, Huntington Beach in October of 2008. Her name is Miss Luna.

Inhabiting all continents except Antarctica, Barn Owls are one of the most widespread owls in the World. They even inhabit large islands including Hawaii--although they were introduced there as rodent control. They are residents of Orange County. They are cavity nesters and adapt easily to buildings. Unconcerned about humans nearby, they have spread throughout the world nesting in barns and buildings. There have been reports of Barn Owls landing on ships offshore. They evidently will fly over the ocean to ships and islands.

Check out those long gams! Miss Luna has a moment with her handler with whom she lives.

Barn Owls have a heart-shaped white face rimmed with a brown ridge of feathers. Their unusual face has earned them the nicknames "Ghost Owl" and "Monkey-faced Owl." Its beautiful color is the reason for another nickname-- "The Golden Owl." They are brownish and white. Small brownish spots sprinkled all over the front and heavy metallic silver sprinkles on the back of the head, back, and wings. They do not hoot. They make hissing and screeching noise. It can be quite unnerving. Barn Owls have very long legs. Like other owls, they must turn their heads to look around. Their large eyes cannot move like ours do. The largest Barn Owl race is in the United States. Like many raptors, females are larger than the males.

Notice the brown and silver speckles. Not many birds have this silver color.


Owls are nocturnal. Barn Owls are one of the most nocturnal owls we have. They hunt at night using their excellent hearing and sight. They hunt low over the ground seeking out small mammals--mainly rodents. They also eat reptiles, small birds, and sometimes fish and insects. One study found crayfish in Barn Owl pellets. Like other owls, they regurgitate the inedible parts like the bones, fur, feathers, etc. in a pellet that falls to the ground under their perch. Lots of pellets will tell a birder that an owl's favorite perch is overhead. Usually, it is only during nesting season will you see a Barn Owl out in twilight, but in some areas the Barn Owl is seen more frequently during the day or crepuscular times of day. Its specialized feathers--similar to other owls--give it an almost silent flight.

Nap Time at the Orange County Zoo. A pair of Barn Owls sleeps the day away like good nocturnal animals. Birders can get a good idea of what Barn Owls are like by visiting the OC Zoo in Irvine Regional Park in the City of Orange .

During three months, a family of Barn Owls can eat 1,000 rodents. A single Barn Owl can eat 2,000 rodents a year. Most of these are rats, mice, and gophers. Rabbits are too large for Barn Owls to take. Barn Owls fly close to the ground looking for prey. This can cause fatalities when the owls flying low in search of prey cross a street. Because Barn Owls kill and eat many rodents every year--especially while they are raising young--farmers, land owners, and members of city and county government are beginning to install Barn Owl nesting boxes on their property in trees, on poles, and in barns. Encouraging Barn Owls on one's property can greatly reduce rodent problems with little cost or effort by merely installing Barn Owl nestboxes. It eliminates pesticides and is a nice natural way to keep down the rodent population. Sources for Barn Owl nest boxes or plans are listed in the links at the end of this post.

Silver back of a Barn Owl. Miss Luna.

Nesting season is from February through June with the most nesting occurring from March through May. Barn Owls may start house hunting as early as December or January, and so it is good to have your nestbox up and ready by then. Barn Owls mate for life. Life unfortunately for Barn Owls is short. Just about 2 years in the wild, but 18 or more years in captivity. Barn Owls are prolific and may nest two or more times a year.

Barn Owl Miss Luna with handler at South Bay Wildlife Rehab show at Wildbirds Unlimited, Huntington Beach in October of 2008.

Some populations in warm climates may mate year-round. The male brings the food to the female, and she prepares it and feeds it to the owlets. There are an average of 4-7 eggs laid in a nest. Owlets are covered with white down. The female makes the nest at the bottom of a cavity or nestbox by shredding regurgitated pellets and placing them on the floor of the nesting area. There are records of Barn Owls nesting in burrows in the absence of trees with cavities.

Notice the Heart-Shaped face and the well-defined facial disc.

The Great Horned Owl is a formidable predator of the Barn Owl. The Barn Owl is smaller than the Great Horned Owl. It is one of the biggest challenges when rehabilitators release birds into the wild. Rehabilitators have had some success with adding Barn Owlets to a nest and having a wild Barn Owl foster the owlets. There are some successful releases of Barn Owls. The dangers for rehabilitated Barn Owls is great and not all survive.



Stretching her wings. Miss Luna.

Barn Owls are considered by some to be spooky, but if you really look at them, they are incredibly beautiful and amazing creatures. From the carefully constructed white, facial disc with its beautiful brown border to the silver sprinkling over its feathers, it is hard to find a more beautiful owl. Wildlife rehabilitators and biologists testify to the sweet personality of this predator.

Barn Owl at the Orange County Zoo at Irvine Regional Park in the City of Orange.

Birders should consider going on either owl banding trips or night "Owl Prowls" Check out Sea and Sage's field trips or Starr Ranch Audubon for opportunities. Also check out listings of field trips and activities in Orange County Wild. You may get lucky. Maybe you will actually see a Barn Owl! Have fun birding in Orange County--even at night!

OC Birder Girl Links





Great Horned Owl--Bubo virginianus








Red-Shouldered Hawk








Red-Tailed Hawk--Buteo jamaicensis







Courtesy US Fish and Wildlife-- Barn Owl --Photographer CF Zeillemaker
External Links and Resources





All About Birds: Barn Owl

Detailed article about one of the most widely distributed birds in the world.





Animal Diversity Web: Barn Owls

Very thorough article on Barn Owls.





Backyard Barnyard Owls

About the benefits of Barn Owls.




Barn Owl Headquarters

Site encouraging and advocating the green method of rodent control: Barn Owls.








Barn owls all too happy to be your rat catchers--Birds a natural and chemical-free way to control pests

From the San Francisco Chronicle, an article about the use of Barn Owls in Rodent control.

Barn Owl Project

"A special program of the Lycoming Audubon Society in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission." Good advice about nestboxes and Barn Owls.

The Barn Owl Trust

From the UK, a great site on Barn Owls.












Burrow Digging by Barn Owls


(Journal of Field Ornithology: Vol. 44, No. 1, Winter, 1973)

Cape Romain: Barn Owl nest box project

Free plans and pictures of how to build a simple nest box for Barn Owls.

Common Barn-Owls From Captive Propagation Found Nesting in the Wild

(Journal of Raptor Research: Vol. 21, No. 2, 1987)

COMMON BARN-OWL POPULATION DECLINE IN OHIO AND THE RELATIONSHIP TO AGRICULTURAL TRENDS

(Journal of Field Ornithology: Vol. 56, No. 3, Summer, 1985)

COMPOSITION AND SEASONAL VARIATION OF THE BARN OWL "TYTO ALBA" DIET IN ARIZONA



(Journal of Raptor Research: Vol. 16, No. 2, 1982)









Continuous Nesting of Barn Owls in Illinois



(Wilson Bulletin: Vol. 111, No. 4, October-December, 1999)







Desert USA: The Common Barn Owl

Good article on the Barn Owl.












eHow: How to Build a Barn Owl Nesting Box


Step by step how to build a Barn Owl nesting box.










Farmers, Conservationists Seek Return of Barn Owls


The value of Barn Owls in pest reduction and reduced costs.










Food-niche Relationships Between Great Horned Owls and Common Barn-Owls in Eastern Washington



(Auk: Vol. 101, No. 1, January-March, 1984)









Growers find barn owls protect their crops


CCN article on how Barn Owls protect crops and save money.










Habitat for Hooters



Napa County Program.










The Hungry Owl Project

Good information from the Hungry Owl Project based in San Anselmo, CA.




The Internet Bird Collection: Common Barn Owl

High quality videos of Barn Owls.



National Geographic Barn Owl Coloring Page

For kids. Color a Barn Owl.





The Oregon Zoo: The Barn Owl

Detailed Article about Barn Owls from our neighbors up north.











Over-water Flights of Barn Owls



(Journal of Field Ornithology: Vol. 50, No. 1, Winter, 1979)







The Owl Cam: Frieda and Diego

Barn Owls Frieda and Diego's home is an online Barn Owl nestbox.






The Owl Pages: The Barn Owl

Article about the Barn Owl.









Owl Research Institute

Great organization located in Montana that does research on owls of all kinds. Great newsletter. Owl Id guide under construction.






Peregrine Fund: Barn Owls

Nice article.







The Progressive Farmer: Barn Owl Nesting Box Plan

Simple plan for making a Barn Owl Nesting Box. Plan only, you have to buy the wood. They charge for the plan. Interesting that the farmers are beginning to see the value in natural and cheap rodent control.











The Proof is in the Pellet

Audubon Magazine article on how Barn Owls can be used to reduce mice, rat, and other rodents and save money for homeowners, cities, farmers and more by providing free pest removal.











SUCCESSFUL RELEASES OF CAPTIVE BARN OWLS



(Journal of Raptor Research: Vol. 14, No. 2, 1980)












Summary of California studies analyzing the diet of barn owls.

Good diet info.









Wesley the Owl


Story of the relationship between a rescued baby Barn Owl and a biologist.








WildWathCams: The Barn Owl Cam Story



Owl Cam in Washington State.











USGS: Barn Owl


Good article on the Barn Owl.




















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