Lehigh Valley bird sightings for November 28

White-crowned Sparrow, Gambel's subspecies

Another wintertime sparrow has arrived in the Lehigh Valley. A White-crowned Sparrow was seen on November 22 in a backyard in Williams Township, Northampton County. That is the same backyard where a Harris's Sparrow was reported one week ago.

Specifically the White-crowned Sparrow was a Gambel's subspecies, which breeds from Alaska to Hudson Bay, so far north that in summer the sun almost always shines. As with any of the five variants of the White-crowned Sparrow, the Gambel's migrates south for the winter. The Gambel's subspecies is not often seen locally.

The handsome White-crowned Sparrow is similar is size to the White-throated Sparrow, another winter migrant, but the former's crown has bold black and white stripes. Its throat, neck and underparts are gray. Its bill is orange. It's also more slender.

White-crowned Sparrows can be found scurrying through brushy borders between woods and fields or through overgrown fields. They can be seen at backyard feeders. You may see them intermingling with Fox Sparrows but they'll chase away Dark-eyed Juncos. White-crowned Sparrows mostly eat seeds of weeds and grasses, including wheat and corn. In the summer they consume caterpillars and other insects. They're also fond of elderberries and blackberries.

They nest on bare ground or small shrubs using grasses using twigs, grasses, mosses, lichens and hairs. The female lays three to seven eggs, which she incubates for 10 to 14 days. The youngsters remain in the nest for another eight to 10 days. One to three broods are raised each summer.

White-crowned Sparrows are ambitious migrants. One bird was tracked for 300 miles in a single night. Their numbers have declined by 33 percent between 1966 and 2010 but a breeding population of 60 million remain.

The White-crowned was among several birds reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, during the period ended November 28. The reporting project is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Martins Creek Environmental Center, Northampton County
(Tekening area)
Bonaparte's Gull, 2 on November 23.

Nazareth Quarry, Northampton County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on November 20.

Williams Township, Northampton County
Harris's Sparrow, 1 from November 17 through at least November 27.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, 2 on November 22.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Forster's Tern, 1 on November 23 (late date for the season).

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 5 on November 21, 6 on November 24 and 5 on November 27.
Northern Goshawk, 2 on November 21.
Golden Eagle, 9 on November 21.
Also seen: Pine Siskin, several fly-bys.

Green Lake Reservoir, Montgomery County
(Church Road area)
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on November 25.
Cackling Goose, 1 on November 25.
Northern Shovelers, 55 on November 25.

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
(at the marina)
Trumpeter Swan, 1 on November 21.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Redheads, 2 on November 20 and November 21.
Greater Scaup, 3 on November 22
Also seen: Double-crested Cormorant and Bald Eagle.

Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey
(Scotts Mountain Hawk Watch)
Bald Eagle, 5 on November 21.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 24.
Golden Eagle, 1 on November 24.

The Common Raven was seen at several sites from many sites.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Any feeder on sale on Small Business Saturday

Wild Turkey

Male Wild Turkey

With Thanksgiving coming soon, this is a good time to take a look at the Wild Turkey, the popular holiday bird that once provided sustenance to both Native Americans and early American settlers.

While the Wild Turkey is not found in most of our backyards, it is a familiar bird. When learning about Pilgrims and Thanksgiving in grade school, how many of us drew the turkey with vividly colored tails? Depending on where you live, you may indeed have turkeys coming onto your property looking for food or nesting areas.

Wild Turkeys are large, dark colored ground-dwelling birds with long powerful legs, large fan-shaped tails and bare heads and necks. The male has breast feathers tipped with black. Its head and neck are a blue-gray and its wattles are pink. During spring display, the forehead is white, face bright blue and the neck scarlet. The female's breast feathers are tipped with brown, gray or white, the head tipped with brown, gray or white. The head has small feathers and, if present, the beard is small.

The Wild Turkey was a very important food to Native Americans, but overhunting for the dinner table eliminated it from much of its range by the early 1900s. Introduction programs have successfully established it in most of its original range, and introduced it in areas where the bird never lived before.

Female, at left, and male Wild Turkey

A native to North America, the Wild Turkey is one of only two domesticated birds originating in the New World. (The Muscovy Duck is the other.) In the wild, the turkeys are found in hardwood forests with open areas, as well as swamps, grasslands, ponderosa pine areas and chaparral.

The male with "gobble" to attract a female. He then struts around her with his tail fanned and held up vertically. He lowers his wings, raises the feathers on his back, throws his head back and inflates his crop. He will make occasional deep sounds followed by a "humm," all of which is accompanied by rapid vibration of his tail feathers.

Only the female is involved with raising the chicks. A small depression in dead leaves or vegetation on the ground is the "nest." Four to 17 eggs are laid and incubated for about 28 days. Poults are down-covered when hatched and are able to follow their mother. In a few days they are eating on their own. Turkeys feed on acorns, nuts, seeds, insects, fern fronds and salamanders.

Turkeys are strong fliers and can fly straight up and then away. During the night, they roost in trees. Their eyesight is three times better than a human's. Their hearing is excellent; they are able to hear another turkey a mile away.

Holiday gift-giving ideas

The holidays are finally here. Are you ready? Find gifts for every bird-lover on your list at The Bird House. You can find something that's personal and thoughtful—something that will be enjoyed for a long time to come. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Birds need water during every season of the year. Winter's cold temperatures can make it difficult for them to find fresh water.

The solution? A heated baths or the addition of a heating unit to an existing bath. We have many styles of heated baths to choose from. They can be mounted on a pole, such as the one at the right. Others can be attached to a deck railing or placed on the ground.








The holidays are a perfect time to get a new feeder or bird house. They make great gifts. 

There are new tube feeders made specifically to be easily cleaned. The "Clever Cleaner" feeder has no perches that go through the tube and the bottom twists out so it can be thoroughly cleaned. Droll Yankees has a "Ring Pull" system that releases the perches and bottom of the feeder so it can be completely cleaned.

We carry a line of Droll Yankees feeders and accessories.

We have recycled hopper-style feeders from Wisconsin that have either red or blue roofs. They're functional and add a splash of color to your backyard. They're also made of the same kind of polylumber used as decking material. These feeders do not warp, twist, crack or fade. And of course the popular "Going Green" recycled feeders remain available.

We have a variety of squirrel-proof feeders that really do work. 

We've received positive feedback from customers who bought any of the Brome Squirrel Buster line of feeders. Shown here is the Squirrel Buster Plus. Birds can alight on the ringed perch to feed but the heavier weight of the squirrel causes the all-metal seed ports to shut, leaving one unhappy squirrel.

We offer Droll Yankees' Flipper, which spins the squirrel off the perch when it tries to feed. Great fun to watch! We also have the Whipper and the Dipper whose perches collapse from the weight of the squirrel but most birds can easily sit and feed.






Mailbox covers are back! Spruce up your roadside mailbox. The covers are magnetic and attach to any standard-size metal box. We have an assortment of holiday or winter designs.

Two favorite sunflower seed feeders are back: Mr. Snowman and Mrs. Snowman. Birds cling to them and pluck out the black oil sunflower seeds. It is fun to watch their antics.

Bird houses always are a good choice. There are plenty from which to select. 

We have houses for bluebirds, wrens, chickadees, titmice and other species.

We have a variety of bird houses made right here in Bethlehem and in Nazareth. They are unique, beautiful and functional. Some of the houses are made from wooden barns that had stood locally for 150 years.

We also have bird house kits so everyone can get involved in helping backyard birds.

During these cold and blustery days and nights, birds benefit from shelter. We have "Roosting Pockets" that are ideal. Small birds can snuggle into one of these pockets to keep themselves warm when the weather turns frigid.

Don't forget that we have great stocking stuffers—including designer socks! These socks are comfy, warm and good looking. Most of the designs are bird-related but we have some squirrels and chipmunks, too.

There are handcrafted aprons and placements made in Hellertown specifically for The Bird House.

The Lehigh Valley Audubon Society's updated Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity is a must-have guidebook packed with information on where to see birds in our area. The book contains excellent photos of birds you'll see locally.

Birdie Wreaths have become a holiday tradition at The Bird House. They are made completely of sunflower, safflower, peanut chips and other seed, and held together with glycerin. Many species of birds will peck at them.

What a great way for a family to pass the time together! Jigsaw puzzles are a great holiday gift. For many of us, it brings back memories of sharing good times and stories with our parents and grandparents. We have several designs.

These beautiful winter garden flags are made of an exclusive polyester blend for great durability yet they have a soft, silky feel for better drape and movement. They also are fade- and mildew-resistant.

They come in two different sizes. They're a great focal point during those drab days of winter.







The Bird House is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

We have special hours on Sundays, too. Between December 7 and December 24, you can shop Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. For those last-minute shoppers, we'll be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on December 24.

Products at The Bird House may sell quickly during the holidays, so be sure to hurry in!

Two rare winter birds appear in the Lehigh Valley

Harris's Sparrow in Missouri

Two more wintertime visitors have arrived in the Lehigh Valley—and both are unusual ones. A Harris's Sparrow was seen from November 17 through at least November 21 in Williams Township, Northampton County. A Lapland Longspur was seen through November 14 on Smith Lane, near Alburtis in Lehigh County.

Both species breed in Canada and winter in the United States but the Harris's Sparrow is a special case. Usually it favors the prairies from the Dakotas to Texas for the winter; it rarely is seen east of the Mississippi River.

Sightings of Harris's Sparrows have been recorded only four times in the Lehigh Valley since 2001. The locations included Seemsville, Moorestown and Upper Mount Bethel, all in Northampton County, according to Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity, the guidebook of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. This is now the fifth reported sighting.

Harris's Sparrow in Arkansas in February 2011

A single Harris's Sparrow was seen on Monday as it ate millet seed that had been spread on a residential driveway. Sightings occurred each day during the week, including one in which the bird bathed in a creek on the homeowner's property. By Friday it was eating at bird feeders along with other sparrows.

During the summer, Harris's Sparrows breed in the scrub forests and mossy bogs of northern Canada, ranging from the western shores of Hudson Bay to the entire Northwest Territories. So remote is this territory that no ornithologist had seen a nest until 1931.

In Canada, the sparrow scratches through leaves and soil for insects, spiders and snails, and eats weed seeds, berries, and flower buds and blossoms. In its winter range, it is a seed-eater. 

The strikingly handsome bird is easily distinguished from our commonest sparrow, the House Sparrow. The adult Harris's Sparrow is about 7½ inches tall, a full inch taller than the male House Sparrow. 

Lapland Larkspur

The Harris's Sparrow a black throat, crown and chest. Its bill is pink; its face is gray. The white abdomen has spotted or streaked sides. Immature birds have buff faces and lack the solid black crown, throat and breast. House Sparrows are chunkier, their chests fuller and their tails shorter. The black on the male House Sparrow is confined to its bib. The males have a chestnut-colored neck. Females are streaked brown above and dingy white below.

The Lapland Longspur is a medium-sized sparrow-like bird that breeds in windswept wet meadows, grassy areas and scrub in the Arctic tundra from northern Newfoundland to the Alaskan Aleutians. It's also common to Arctic regions of Europe and Asia. Its winter range stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The bird has a short, thick, pointed bill with a black face and crown, a chestnut-colored nape, white outer tail feathers, a chestnut-colored patch on the wings, streaked sides and smudges on the whitish breast. The wintering male, as well as the female and immature male, are a bit duller. Their size is 6 to 7 inches.

The bird is rarely seen in our region, according to Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity. They may seen one year and then none for several years in a row.

Lapland Longspur

The bird is a forager, walking (rather than hopping) across the ground in search of seeds. They supplement their diet with insects in the breeding season. The Longspur is common and widespread, largely unthreatened by changes in the climate.

The Lapland Longspur breeds in wet areas with birch and willow or on bare mountains. The nest consists of a grass-lined hollow on the ground, concealed under a clump of grass or a scrubby birch. The female lays two to four eggs. The nestlings are fed only insects until they fledge.

During migration, Lapland Longspurs congregate in huge flocks, sometimes of 4 million birds. During snowstorms they can collide with lighted structures such as radio towers, killing thousands in a single night, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for November 21

In addition to the Harris's Sparrow and the the Lapland Longspur, here are other bird sightings for the period ended November 21. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Bethlehem, Northampton County
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on November 18 and 1 on November 20.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 8 on November 14.
Golden Eagle, 8 on November 14.
Also seen: Pine Siskin, severe fly-bys.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Brant, 1 through November 14.
White-winged Scoter, 1 on November 14.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
Bonaparte's Gull, 5 on November 16.
Also seen: Osprey.
At the Church Road area
Rusty Blackbird, 1 on November 16.

Lake Towhee, Bucks County
Trumpeter Swan, 1 through at least November 16.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Seen: Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin and Gray Catbird.

Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey
At Scott's Mountain Hawkwatch
Bald Eagle, 11 on November 18.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 20.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

The Snow Bird

The Dark-eyed Junco is a flashy little sparrow that you'll often see pecking for seeds on the ground during winter. Poetically these "snow birds" remind us of winter. Their gray backs look like the dark skies of winter while their bellies mimic the snow on the ground.

During breeding season they are found flitting on forest floors of Canada and in the mountains of the western United States. In winter they can be seen in all states of the continental United States and in northern Mexico. Some juncos remain year-round in the eastern United States, breeding in the higher elevations of the northern Appalachians.

At this time of year, you can see Dark-eyed Juncos during your walks in parks or the woodlands. You'll often see them hopping across lawns looking for fallen seeds, or pushing aside leaf litter and pecking for seeds. Keep your eyes on the ground and listen for their high "chip" note, given almost absent-mindedly as they forage. Their song is a twittering or trilling sound.

Perhaps the easiest way to see juncos is by offering them seed in your backyard. More about that later.

The color of the Dark-eyed Junco varies a bit across the country. In the eastern United States, juncos have slate-gray upper parts and a white belly. The underside of its tail feathers is white, which creates a flash when the bird suddenly flies off. The color is brightened by a pinkish bill. As the name implies, its eyes are dark, almost black. The males tend to have darker, more conspicuous markings than the females.

During breeding season the female uses her bill to weave a cup-like nest on the ground, well hidden by vegetation. Sometimes she will build her nest in the lower branches of a shrub or tree. The nest consists of grass, pine needles, ferns, rootlets or moss. She will lay three to six eggs. They could be white, gray, bluish white or pale greenish white. They could be speckled with brown, gray or green, or unmarked.

Incubation lasts 12 to 13 days. Hatched chicks are born naked and clumsy with eyes closed. Nestlings fledge in about 10 to 13 days. There may be one to three broods per season.

The Dark-eyed Junco is one of the most common birds of North America. Recent estimates set the junco's population at about 630 million individuals! Because they are so numerous, widespread and adaptable, the species is likely to thrive for a long time to come. However, as with many other bird species, their numbers are in decline. The North American Breeding Bird Survey found that the population of Dark-eyed Juncos has fallen 41 percent since 1966, with a loss of about 1.2 percent per year.

Juncos spend entire winter months in flocks ranging from six to 30 individuals. There is a definitive hierarchy, with mature males at the top, followed by juvenile males, mature females and finally juvenile females. Early arrivals tend to rank higher in the group than later arrivals. You may see challenges in the form of aggressive tail flicking and lunges. Juncos often forage alongside other sparrows.

Juncos are primarily seed-eaters. During the breeding season, seed accounts for 75 percent of their diet, with the rest being beetles, caterpillars, moths, butterflies, ants, wasps and flies. In the colder months they depend almost entirely on seed.

Attract juncos to your backyard with a ground feeder (one with legs that raise the feeder off the ground by a few inches). Place the feeder 10 to 15 feet away from bushes or brush piles to give the birds a chance to take flight if a cat lunges at them. Juncos feed on the ground, a behavior that exposes them to feline predators.

Juncos seem to prefer white millet seed but also enjoy Nyjer (thistle), shelled sunflower seed and cracked corn. They'll even peck at peanuts. Use a mixture of seed high in white millet and you'll probably see juncos soon enough. 

There is some debate in the backyard birding community about the advisability of scattering seed directly on the ground for juncos. Some people believe that it is the natural way that birds such as juncos locate seed. Others say moisture from the ground or from precipitation could cause the seed to rot, making it unappealing to the birds. One option would be to scatter seed on pavement, where it is less likely to spoil. 

The best solution is a ground feeder. It keeps the seed off the ground and has a mesh screen in the bottom, allowing rain to pass through. Even so, don't fill the feeder to the brim. Place out only as much seed as the juncos will eat in one or two days. Keep the feeder clean by shaking out seed hulls into a garbage bag.

Because juncos are seen only during the winter, take advantage now of watching them in your backyard. 

New Product: Birdsong Caboose

Birds enter from the round hole at the end

All aboard for this handcrafted bird house made to look like an old-fashioned railroad caboose!

Those who love both birds and railroads will be delighted to have a Birdsong Caboose, which is handcrafted in Hellertown for The Bird House.

The entry hole can accommodate chickadees, nuthatches, Tufted Titmice and House Finches. 

The entire caboose is made of wood, finished with high-gloss paint that will protect the bird house from the elements. The opening for the birds is on one end of the caboose; the other end plus the sides and cupola are adorned with extrusions to represent the windows. Included are handrails at the platforms of the caboose, a chimney and running lights. Wheels are attached to the black undercarriage.

One nice feature is that optional railroad logos can be attached to the sides of the caboose. Choose from among these railroads: Lehigh Valley, Reading, Pennsylvania, Conrail, Union Pacific, Great Northern, Seaboard Air Line or Milwaukee Road. Railfans who want to precisely simulate their particular railroad's paint scheme can repaint the caboose before applying the logos. 

Enclosed with the caboose is a screw that is threaded at one end for affixing to the pre-drilled undercarriage. The pointed end, also threaded, is meant for screwing into a wooden pole. Two-by-two-inch pressure-treated lumber would make an ideal pole. It's best to pre-drill the pole for the mounting screw. Instructions are included for mounting and for cleaning once the birds leave the nest for the season.

The Birdsong Caboose is an ideal Christmas gift. It can be used as indoor decor until it's time to place the bird house outdoors in the spring!

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for November 14

Brant

During the past few weeks, sightings of Brants have been reported at several locations in the Lehigh Valley and nearby, the most recent being lakes and reservoirs in Carbon and Bucks counties.

These medium-size geese breed in the high Arctic tundra. During winter they head south, spending their time along the Atlantic Coast from Cape Cod to North Carolina. They usually inhabit the tidal estuaries, where they feed on eel-grass, seaweed and sea lettuce. In recent decades, though, pressure on food resources has been forcing them inland to feed on agricultural fields.

The Atlantic variant of the Brant has a black head, light belly and white collar. The undertail is white. Brants differ from Canada Geese in that the latter are bigger and have a large white cheek patch and a pale tan breast.

In our area, Brants have been seen in October and November in several locations. The sightings include 28 in Merrill Creek Reservoir in western New Jersey on October 2; one in Lake Towhee, Bucks County, through November 3; one in Carbon County's Beltzville State Park through November 5; and one in Bucks County's Peace Valley Park on November 7.

The sightings were reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, a project of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. Also seen during the week ended November 14 were the following species:

Palm Warbler

Williams Township, Northampton County
Palm Warbler, 1 on November 12 (late for its migration south).
Pine Siskin, a small flock on November 12.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 6 on November 7.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 7.
Golden Eagle, 20 on November 7.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Cackling Goose, 2 on November 7.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Snow Bunting, 37 on November 6.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Cackling Goose, 1 on November 7.
Bonaparte's Gull, 2 on November 6 and November 7.

Lake Towhee, Bucks County
Trumpeter Swan, 1 to at least November 13.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at Church Road)
Rusty Blackbird, 1 on November 10.

Unami Creek Valley, Montgomery County
Blue-headed Vireo, 1 on November 11 (late for the migration).

Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey
(at Scotts Mountain Hawkwatch)
Bald Eagle, 8 on November 7 and November 9.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 11.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on November 7.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.

Squirrel wars

Squirrel baffle

While most of us love nature, squirrels can try our patience. These furry gluttons shove their way to the front of the bird feeder. Here are a few strategies for thwarting them:

Distract them. Squirrels love peanuts, sunflower seeds and corn. They'll take the most accessible food, so place these tantalizing treats closer to their home and farther away from your bird feeders. Another option is a Squirrel Log, which is made of compressed corn. The squirrel must gnaw and gnaw just to obtain a morsel of food—and none of it meant for the birds.

Baffle them. Place baffles on your poles or shepherd's hooks. The baffle should be 5 feet above the surface of the ground to prevent the squirrels from leaping onto the feeder from the ground. If the feeder hangs from a tree limb, use a baffle specially designed to block them as they climb or jump down. But be sure they can't leap sideways from the trunk or another limb to reach the food.

Put them on a diet. Avoid offering squirrels their favorite foods to discourage them from visiting your yard. Safflower seed, for instance, is prized by cardinals, chickadees, House Finches and other songbirds. Squirrels don't like the taste, however.

Deter them. Force them to perform a tightrope act. Hang the feeder from a clothes line and add obstacles such as cans, tubes or spools. This may slow them down. You also can use strong fishing line instead of thicker wires or ropes. They'll have trouble grasping the fishing line.

Seed ports close under the
squirrel's weight, blocking
access to the seed

Spice it up. Try mixing hot pepper in the seed or suet. Songbirds won't mind the heat but the squirrels have a more delicate palate. We offer sunflower chips pre-coated with cayenne pepper. Use that in place of your plain sunflower chips. We also have "Flaming Squirrel Seed Sauce," a liquid that you can blend or shake into any seed or seed mix. It contains habanero pepper sauce.

Invest in a squirrel-proof feeder. We have some that really work! We've gotten a lot of positive customer response to the Squirrel Buster line of feeders. I've been told that the seed saved is worth the price. Droll Yankees has several top-of-the-line feeders which excel also. The Droll Yankees Flipper, for example, does exactly what its name implies: It flips the squirrel off the perch, letting only songbirds land. Another option is a tube-style feeder that has a metal cage around it. Songbirds can get in but adult squirrels cannot.

New Product: Suet balls and feeder

If you use suet cakes for bird-feeding, sometimes you may have to force the odd cake into a standard-sized feeder. That shouldn't happen with this new tubelike feeder. The suet has been formed into balls. All you have to do is drop the balls into the feeder and let the birds peck away!

The feeder consists of a powder-coated metal mesh and base and a poly lid with a safety snap to keep the assembly in place. A wire hoop completes the assembly. You can hang the feeder from a shepherd's hook or a tree limb. (A shepherd's hook with a squirrel baffle is probably the best method; that thwarts ravenous squirrels.)

The suet balls come in a pack of four, which is plenty to fill the feeder. We're offering them in two flavors: peanut and hot pepper. The former contains small pieces of peanut; the latter is blended with chili pepper oil. Backyard songbirds don't mind the taste of hot pepper suet; similar products are used successfully against squirrels, which find chili oil or cayenne pepper too hot for their palates.

The feeder is ideal for finches, titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers. The birds easily reach through the mesh to gobble up the suet.

Products sold at The Bird House may be available for a limited time, so hurry in!

Programs on 'Bats of Pennsylvania' on November 14

Howard 'Sandy' Whidden

Dr. Howard "Sandy" Whidden, professor of biology at East Stroudsburg University, will discuss the natural history of the bats of Pennsylvania and the current threats to their survival. The program is scheduled for Friday, November 14, at 7 p.m. at the Wildlands Conservancy Education Center Building in Emmaus.


Bats in Pennsylvania face two challenges: the emergence of White-nose Syndrome, a disease of hibernating bats, and bat mortality from the whirling blades of wind turbines used for electric generation.

Since 2007, millions of insect-eating bats in 25 states and five Canadian provinces have died of White-nose Syndrome, which is caused by a cold-loving fungus. The fungus infects the skin of the muzzle, ears and wings of hibernating bats. Bats infected with the disease deplete their fat reserves during winter and starve to death during hibernation.

The National Wildlife Health Center estimates that about 80 percent of the bat population in the northeastern United States has declined since the emergence of the disease. Farmers probably feel the affect worst. Bats are the primary consumers of insects. They serve farmers as an insect-control measure worth $4 billion to $50 billion per year, the center says.

In addition, about 600,000 bats are being killed each year in the United States from contact with wind turbines, which are becoming more numerous across North America. The cause of the fatalities is not completely understood, according to federal researchers. 

Pennsylvania's Big Brown Bat,
known as 'the Farmer's Friend' because it devours insects

Theories abound about the cause of fatalities from wind turbines. 

Some scientists suggest that bats are simply flying in the wrong place at the wrong time; others say that bats may be attracted to the motion of the blades themselves. Still others say the bats mistake the turbines for trees and think that the structures are opportunities for food. Yet another theory holds that bats suffer bends-like symptoms from air pressure changes generated by the whirling turbines, resulting in fatal harm to the delicate creatures' internal organs. Bats are able to dodge most human-made structures while being seemingly oblivious to the turbines.

A mammologist at ESU's Department of Biological Sciences, Dr. Whidden has studied the appearance of White-nose Syndrome among bats in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Corridor. He also has assessed bat activity at the Bear Creek and Penobscot Mountain wind farms in Luzerne County.

His lecture is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society, and it coincides with the group's monthly meeting. The meeting is free and open to the public.

The Wildlands Conservancy is located at 3701 Orchard Place in Emmaus. For directions, contact www.wildlandspa.org or call 610-965-4397.

More migrants are settling in for the winter

Male Snow Bunting in winter

Juncos have arrived. So have White-throated Sparrows. And Pine Siskins. And Great White-fronted Geese. If those weren't enough signs that winter is at our doorstep, add one more to the list: the Snow Bunting.

The Snow Bunting breeds in the high Arctic, where its mostly white plumage resembles the landscape. If you lived anywhere in the swath of land from Alaska to Labrador, you'd see them in the summer hopping through the stunted grass looking for seeds or insects. They breed farther north than almost any other land bird in North America.

These sparrow-sized birds winter as far south as Pennsylvania and coastal Maryland. They are uncommon in the Lehigh Valley area, which is why the report last week of a Snow Bunting at the marina at Lake Nockamixon in Bucks County is such a treat.

Many years will go by without anyone seeing a Snow Bunting in our area. Flocks sometimes will congregate one year, with no birds being seen at all for the next several years running. The last major flock in the Lehigh Valley, consisting of about 410 birds, was reported in December 1998 at Point Phillips in Northampton County, according to Birds of the Lehigh Valley and Vicinity, a must-have reference book published by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. 

Snow Buntings favor open fields, especially farm fields where manure has been spread. They also seek seed along roadsides and will even peck in the crevices of parking lots to locate stray grass seeds.

Male Snow Bunting in breeding plumage

During the breeding season in the Arctic, Snow Buntings nest deep in cracks or cavities in the rock. The sites are secure from predators, but they are stone-cold. A thick lining of fur, moss, rootlets and feathers provides some insulation for the eggs and nestlings, but the female must remain with them constantly to provide sufficient warmth. The male brings food. The female typically lays four to six white eggs in a clutch.

The male Snow Bunting uses color to attract a female. Most of the year, the male is brownish with a brown-and-black striped back. The feathers underneath the body are white and the back feathers are pure black. Before breeding season the male will actively rub his feathers against the snow until he becomes immaculately white and jet black.

Currently the Snow Bunting is considered to be common and widespread, with a global population estimated in excess of 30 million. However, their numbers are in steep decline in North America, according to the 2014 State of the Birds Report. Winter flocks are getting smaller. Their nesting populations have decreased by 64 percent over the past four decades, according to the National Audubon Society.

Because Snow Buntings need snow and cold, the increasingly warmer winters are believed to be the species' primary long-term threat. The birds are now getting serious study, with research focusing on the specific reasons behind the population decline. 

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for November 7

Male Ruddy Duck during breeding season

There is no mistaking a male Ruddy Duck during breeding season. The comical-looking waterfowl has an oversized tail that he holds upright. He has a rust-red body, a sky-blue bill and brilliant white cheek patches.

This time of year, though, the male has lost its flamboyance. It now resembles the female's year-long color: a subdued gray-brown. The male's beak has turned to gray though its white cheek patches remain. The female's bill is grayish as well.

Ruddy Ducks breed primarily in the prairies of south-central Canada and the Dakotas and winter along coastlines from southern New Jersey to Texas. 

It's uncommon to see a Ruddy Duck in the Lehigh Valley area, but last week 287 Ruddy Ducks were spotted at the Green Lane Reservoir in nearby Montgomery County. The ducks had congregated along the Walt Road area on November 6.

The Ruddy Duck was among several noteworthy species reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. The bird sightings cover the week ended November 7. 

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Brant, 1 on November 5.

Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh County
Bald Eagle, 11 on November 2.
Northern Goshawk, 2 on November 2 and November 3.
Red-tailed Hawk, 214 on November 2.
Golden Eagle, 23 on November 2 and 9 on November 3.
Peregrine Falcon, 2 on November 3.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Cackling Goose, 1 on November 2.

Allentown, Lehigh County
(at Trexler Pond)
Cackling Goose, 2 to at least November 2.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(at the Church Road area)
Cackling Goose, 1 on November 4.
Black Scoter, 1 on November 1.
(at the Walt Road area)
Boneparte's Gull, 7 on November 6.

State Game Lands 157, Bucks County
Orange-crowned Warbler, 1 on November 5.

Lake Towhee, Bucks County
Trumpeter Swan, 1 through at least November 3.
Brant, 1 through at least November 3.

Merrill Creek Reservoir, New Jersey
(at Scotts Mountain Hawkwatch)
Bald Eagle, 7 on November 2.
Northern Goshawk, 1 on November 3.
Red-tailed Hawk, 161 on November 2.
Golden Eagle, 1 on November 2.

Pine Siskins and Purple Finches were reported at several sites during the week.

To report bird sightings to Dave DeReamus, send an e-mail to becard@rcn.com with the word "Birdline" in the subject heading.