Kingfishers

Yesterday, Kat and I took a trip to Summit Lake State Park for some birding. On the way there, after our customary stop at the home made donut shop in Pendleton, we talked about what we hoped to see there. Kat was hopeful to spot a kingfisher, as she had not seen one yet this year. Sure enough, on our drive around the lake we came across one sitting atop a branch over a drainage ditch. Of course, in our area we only have the belted kingfisher and so I wondered how many varieties of kingfisher there are in the world. From some internet research, I gathered that there are 93 different kingfishers in the world. BUT....in North America there are only three present and two of those seem to be specialists in the south. While in Texas last year, I got to see a Green Kingfisher, which was truly one of the more fun sightings I have had.

Some interesting facts...the belted kingfisher is one of the few species whose females are more colorful than the males. And, did you know that the image of the belted kingfisher is on the back of a Canada's five dollar bill? Their nest tunnels, built in the banks of waterways will be 3 to 7 feet long when completed and the eggs will be laid in total darkness.

One of the more enjoyable things to watch anytime out in the field, is when you come across a kingfisher actually fishing. They are highly skilled and the sight of them diving in the water is quite entertaining.

Pileated visit

One of the advantages of living adjacent to a wooded area is the constant variety of birds that actually live near you. Yesterday, I was graced by the presence of a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers. One was on a snag in the back yard, the other sat nearby on fencepost. So far, they haven't been brave enough to come to the feeders - at least not yet. I remember the first time I ever saw a Pileated up close. It was perched on the side of a tree in Atterbury near my home town. I was young and not an experienced birder at all. It kind of startled me when I realized how large it was.

Some interesting facts about this bird. Drumming on trees is done at 14.5-16.8 beats per second. Although monogamous, Pileateds sleep at night in nest cavities separately, each in its own roost. Their favorite food is carpenter ants. These birds are not migratory and they defend their territory year round, although they are somewhat tolerant of other species in the winter. The female lays 3-5 eggs that both adults incubate for 15-18 days, the male incubates at night and the female during the day.

Northern Mockingbird

This winter there has been a larger than normal number of mockingbirds seen in my area. Seems like you can always find some around but I see several almost every day in my travels to and from work. Also, the feeders have been visited by four individuals that hang out in our housing addition. This caused me to wonder about winter distribution of this species in central Indiana. Judging from this map, we are very near the northern edge of the winter range. Perhaps the milder winter temperatures have encouraged them to stick around instead of heading further south. Perhaps their range is expanding. Who knows!

I always find the mockingbirds interesting though. Every spring the office where I work is graced by the presence of a pair that nest in the tree lined barrier near the parking lot. As I walk in to the back entrance to the office, I am graced by their songs. They used to fool me. I would hear the songs and think another bird was around, but then I would look up and see them singing away on the top corner of the building in the early morning sun. Mockingbirds can sing up to 200 songs. Have you ever been fooled when birding by one of their mimics? I didn't know they also imitated songs of insects and amphibians as well. What a diverse little creature!