View Full Version : Berks County Nature Blog
Formerly Falcon Blog, Berks County Nature Blog (http://www.readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70) invites readers' observations and photographs of anything related to nature in Berks. Reading Eagle nature columnist Bill Uhrich will moderate the blog and contribute his thoughts about peregrine falcons and other Berks nature happenings. E-mail Bill at buhrich@readingeagle.com about birds outside your window, wildflowers along your favorite trail or any nature observation that strikes your fancy. Check back frequently for the latest Berks nature news.
Click on Bald eagle in Tilden Township (http://www.readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70&id=19872&t=Bald-eagle-in-Tilden-Township) for an image of a bald eagle seen not far from Cabela's.
Today I saw hepatica, bloodroot, trout lily, violet, rue anemone and spicebush flowers. When I had almost gotten back to my truck, I saw a pair of yellow-bellied sapsuckers.
Quite a few entries have been added to Berks County Nature Blog since I last looked including some good photos. The link may be found in post #1.
I recommend BOC's activities for locals who want to learn more about birds. It's a great way to meet birders of all skill levels. With many eyes and ears, it's easy to pick up a bunch of birds fast including those which might have been missed otherwise.
Click schedule (http://home.dejazzd.com/kgard/bcn/pagebaird.html#trips) to learn when and where club members and their guests will be birding next. Tomorrow, it's SGL 110. Many of the posts to Berks County Nature Blog are by BOC activity coordinators who are some of the county's top birders.
French Creek State Park
Saturday, June 13, 8:45 PM
A 1-hour program by the above name will be presented by Rich Bonnett, past president of Mengel Natural History Society.
Click on the DCNR links event (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Calendar/view_event.asp?CalendarID=9126&Location=List), contact (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/frenchcreek.aspx#contacts) and directions (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/frenchcreek/frenchcreek_directions.pdf) for more information.
Brief history of natural history studies at RPM (http://www.readingpublicmuseum.org/museum/galleries/first_floor/museum.php)
A number of new images have been added including some of Reading's peregrine falcons.
Click on Berks County Nature Blog (http://www.readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70&id=20939&t=Rufous-in-Robeson) to view an image of a rufous hummingbird recently observed and banded in Berks. To learn more about what may have brought this bird here and where it's likely headed, go to Eagles, post #60 (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showpost.php?p=896198&postcount=60) and click on the link there.
Emerald, Thanks for all the information. I'm a new birder in Bethlehem, and I will definitely hope to join some of the walks that BOC is sponsoring. Keep the news coming.
Dennis
Bluebirds (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Bluebird/id) are more plentiful than ever according to Bill Urich's post of November 13 (http://readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70&id=21096&t=Bluebirds-and-peregrines) thanks to people who maintain bluebird boxes and trails.
Bill's post makes me wonder if we might somehow do the same for red-headed woodpeckers (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-headed_Woodpecker/lifehistory), another species which has suffered from a loss of nesting cavities.
john gault
12-08-2009, 19:15
Some of the above mentioned plants could possibly be carnivorous http://www.livescience.com/animals/091208-killer-petunias-carnivore-plants.html
So if you're vegan does that mean you should not eat potatoes:D
So maybe being a stationary autotroph and producing flowers to attract pollinators is an even better strategy than we once thought.
Vegan or not, it's a good idea to be certain what you eat won't make you sick. There are several such plants which resemble wild leek also known as ramps and gathering them is not permitted or advisable in many locations.
Other more overtly carnivorous plants which might be seen on the A.T.'s wetter sites include pitcher plants and sundews.
John, did you know or notice in the article you linked honey from Rhododendrons can make a body sick? Don't believe I'd come across that fact before.
Full house for the joint meeting of Baird Ornithological Club and Mengel Natural History Society at McConnell Hall earlier tonight. Program presented by a master bird bander included a live saw-whet owl and barn owl.
There's talk of possible barn owl reintroductions to areas formerly occupied if adequate habitat can be secured.
Click on Hawk Mountain Sunrise (http://readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70&id=21190&t=Hawk-Mountain-in-the-snow) to see the sun rising over The Pinnacle and snow on Hawk Mountain's North Lookout which forms the Eck or corner of Kittitinny Ridge. Hemlock Heights and Owl's Head are the two prominent points in the foreground.
The AT and Dan's Pulpit (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=18641&catid=557) are upwind from Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's North Lookout and accessed by its Skyline Trail. For more information, refer to Hiking at Hawk Mountain (http://www.hawkmountain.org/Hiking.php). Call 610 756-6961 in the winter months to check on trail conditions and to verify trails are open for hiking.
http://home.dejazzd.com/kgard/bcn/index.html
http://readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70&id=21402&t=Kerry-Grims-SGL-110-Hit-List (http://readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70&id=21402&t=Kerry-Grims-SGL-110-Hit-List)
The A.T. passes through SGL 110 west (A.T. south) of Port Clinton. Kerry's the bird watcher who knows it best. Click on his most recent contribution to learn some of the better birds he's seen and what birds he's thinks he might still find.
He often leads a bird walk on SGL 110 in May for Baird Ornithological Club. Check their schedule above (post #4 or #16) for more information.
Last Monday, having read Bill Uhrich's Reading Eagle article about Carolina wrens earlier in the day, I heard one of the locals announce, as I entered my home, he's getting along fine.
See Carolina wrens live! (http://readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70&id=21481&t=Carolina-wrens-live) for more.
hal0ofwint3r
03-06-2010, 13:37
sorry if i'm getting "off the trail" a little, but i live in lancaster, and i've been seeing more birds of specific species that i haven't been seeing as many of for quite some time. use to see many of years ago, then they kind of just took off and went away, now they're back in larger numbers. the reason i'm bringing this up is only because i'm a county away, so i wanted to know your thoughts. i spend a lot of time outdoors, i hike and mountain bike all the time, but in lancaster, i'm seeing more eastern bluebirds, gold finch, and especially red wing blackbirds. it's like they went away for years, though i see some here and there, but they seem to be back in larger numbers over the past year.
i would also like to share - i had the best experience with a golden eagle. i went to hawk mountain and when i was going back home, i was on 143 south and as i was going around a corner there was a golden eagle right there on the road(eating something dead). i had my camera(EOS 3), but when do you ever get a chance to see one that close? it was right outside my window on the other side of the road. it just looked at me and i didn't even think of getting a picture of it because i was just amazed that i was that close to it and the fact that it didn't even fly away. he was probably thinking i'm staying right here, this is my food. well you don't have to believe it, but it happened, and it was like winning the lottery, you'll never get the chance of that happening. when i drove off, i thought to myself why didn't i get a picture? i didn't even go far, turned around, went back and he was gone. he probably didn't go too far only to come back and finish eating his food. but yes, let me know why the blue and yellow birds and red wing have been back in larger numbers in the past year. they seem to have went on vacation for a long time.
berkshirebirder
03-09-2010, 08:53
Emerald probably can contribute the best information about bird numbers in your location, but I'll offer some comments.
In general, keeping track of bird populations is like weather forecasting--there are MANY variables.
Bluebirds, goldfinches, and red-winged blackbirds are flock birds for much of the year. They have their own little territories during breeding season, but outside of that they're usually seen in small to large groups. These flock birds are seen so often, temporary absence seems very unusual.
Fluctuation in numbers of birds happens for different reasons.
First, birds are opportunistic--outside of breeding season, when they are tied to a particular spot, they go wherever they find suitable habitat and food. Those blue jays, for instance, may hang around your yard one year and be a few miles away the next.
A perceived change in bird numbers may result from habitat change (e.g., development; areas flooded by beaver activity; growth of shrubs and trees).
Random change in bird numbers can also result from weather patterns (e.g., a cold wet spring can ruin nesting attempts; infectious disease like West Nile Virus can kill a sizeable number of birds fairly quickly).
On the other hand, banding studies and Christmas Bird Counts indicate that some population changes have a cyclical pattern. In this case, a species population increases over a period of several years followed by a significant decrease, then a return to gradual increase. Cyclical food resources often are involved in this pattern.
So, it's complicated. Chances are, the birds you've missed seeing have been around--just elsewhere.
hal0ofwint3r
03-15-2010, 19:49
thanks for the info!
I attended the Mengel meeting on Friday where Ken Lebo and his family regaled us with an illustrated report on their recent Florida trip to Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Parks.
Some of his digital images from his presentation are posted to his website (http://www.pbase.com/kenlebo) I've linked before.
Meet at Kernsville Dam by the monument Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 700 AM. Call the trip leader for more information.
Click on Bill Uhrich (http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=209005) to read his recent Reading Eagle contribution. Baird made the list of Berks historical figures which appeared in Sunday's Reading Eagle.
There are a number of recent posts to BCNB (http://readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70) including Middle Creek waterfowl images.
Since I missed the Baird bird walk at Kernsville Dam, I'm hoping Matt will send a report to Bill.
Kerry Grim recorded recent porcupine activity on SGL 110.
May 9 SGL 110 led by Kerry Grim.
Since I missed the Baird bird walk at Kernsville Dam, I'm hoping Matt will send a report to Bill.
I see I got that for which I wished and must thank both Matt and Bill.
Doesn't anyone else have something similiar elsewhere on the A.T. to contribute? BMECC is working on something more for its members although I'm still thinking they might benefit more from a private Facebook group than what's been proposed.
Anyone local to the area who wants to participate in a big day should check out Baird Ornithlogical Club's website. The BIG DAY is May 15.
Someone in particular who posts here should make participation a priority. You have sought an invitation, requested reminders and asked me to provide both. In the event you hadn't realized it, you just received a reminder and an invitation. It's extended to everyone else too. Most BOC activities are open to the general public.
Don't all A.T. enthusiasts like pileated woodpeckers? Recent posts to BCNB indicate they enjoy the company of other pileated woodpeckers.
Friday, April 23, 730 PM McConnell Hall, Nolde Environmental Education Center.
Mark Swartz and Virginia Tilden have been scheduled to provide a program on the regal fritillary (http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/regalfritillary), a butterfly extirpated from much of its former range in the eastern U.S.
One of only two remaining populations occurs not far from the A.T. at Fort Indiantown Gap where a cooperative venture by Pennsylvania National Guard, Penn State and a growing number of state agencies, private organizations and individuals have increased suitable habitat to improve long-term prospects for this species. Their presentation will focus on these efforts and finding other sites that can support this unique butterfly.
Presentation followed by a wildflower exchange and giveaway. Had I known the topic a year ago, I would have planned to bring butterflyweed to distribute.
If you missed Mark and Virginia, they will be at Ned Smith Center (http://www.nedsmithcenter.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=37) next month.
Reading Eagle published an article today by Bruce R. Posten about Kerry Grim's research and his bird walk Sunday on SGL 110. I'll provide a URL sometime later today.
I just located the online version of Bruce's article sooner than I'd expected it to be available. It's a bit different from what I remember reading this morning, maybe more like it might be written with this audience in mind. Hope you enjoy it!
http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=217109 (http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=217109)
Spring bird walk results (http://readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70&id=21842&t=Spring-birdwalk-results-from-Northern-Be)
The BIG DAY is May 15.
When I headed for home, our count was just shy of 90 species with potential birds still to be sought. Our best bird was a Cerulean Warbler (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1013890&postcount=18) and a good time was had by everyone.
This thread mostly about a blog and a website now has in excess of 2000 views and 86 percent of its posts are mine.
People who want to read Bill's Berks County Nature Blog (http://readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=70) should add it to their Favorites and read it rather than this thread.
To experience Berks County Nature (http://home.dejazzd.com/kgard/bcn/index.html) first-hand or to view year-to-date bird or butterfly lists, visit Karl Gardner's website.
Having now linked both one more time, I will add nothing more.