Lehigh Valley bird sightings for January 30

Snow Bunting

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended January 30. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County
Barrow's Goldeneye, 1 on January 25 (a female), along River Road at Shawnee Drive.
Dark-eyed "Oregon" Junco, 1 on January 25 along Sandy Shore Road.

Martins Creek Power Plant, Northampton County
(at the boat launch area)
Spotted Sandpiper, 1 from January 5 to at least January 29.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County
(at the Grand Central landfill)
Thayer's Gull, 2 on January 26 (1 a first-winter gull, the other a second-winter gull); 1 on January 27 (a first-winter gull).
Iceland Gull, 4 on January 26 (2 first winter, 1 second winter, 1 adult); 2 on January 27 (1 first winter, 1 second winter); 1 on January 28 (first winter); and 1 on January 29 (adult).
Glaucous Gull, 1 on January 26 (adult).
Lesser Black-backed Gull, approximately 100 on January 26.

Lapland Longspur (breeding male)

Plainfield Township, Northampton County
(along Pen Argyl Road)
American Pipit, 2 on January 24.
Lapland Longspur, 2 on January 24 and January 26; 1 on January 28.
Snow Bunting, 4 on January 24; 1 on January 26.

East Allen Township, Northampton County
(along Arrowhead Road)
Lapland Longspur, 1 on January 25 and January 26.

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Long-tailed Duck, 1 on January 28.

Leaser Lake, Lehigh County
Ruffed Grouse, 2 on January 22.
Lapland Longspur, 1 on January 29.

Adult Thayer's Gull in winter plumage

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Redhead, 1 from January 20 and January 21.

Mertztown, Berks County
(along Barclay Street)
American Pipit, 2 on January 25.
Lapland Longspur, 1 on January 25 (seen among approximately 1,000 Horned Larks).
Snow Bunting, 2 on January 25.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
(along Knight Road)
Golden Eagle, 1 on January 27 (immature bird).

Tinicum Township, Bucks County
(along Tory Road, just east of Wormansville Road)
Mountain Bluebird, 1 from December 20 to at least January 28. A male was seen on private property. You must see the bird from the road.

American Robins are being noted in huge numbers throughout the area.

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

Housing development at Green Pond Marsh advances

A proposal to build a housing project adjacent to Green Pond Marsh has moved ever so slightly toward a final decision.

The Bethlehem Township Planning Commission has approved six relatively minor waivers and deferrals from township regulations for the housing plan proposed by Traditions of America, a developer of housing communities for people age 55 and older.

TOA has a way to go before it can gain final approval for the development, which would affect bird life in and around the marsh.

The National Audubon Society has designated Green Pond Marsh as an Important Bird Area. More than 180 birds have been sighted at the wetlands, including eight that are identified as endangered or threatened in Pennsylvania. Many of the birds that visit the marsh are species that depend on the site for food, water and shelter during migration.

Last Monday, TOA presented revised plans that would reduce the number of houses to 229 from 261 and would expand the amount of open space within the project, according to blogger Bernie O'Hare, who reported on the planning commission's meeting for his Lehigh Valley Ramblings blog.

According to O'Hare's report, the township planning commission was given a sweetener and a warning.

On the one hand, a partner in TOA emphasized that the development would reap $843,500 in recreation and real estate transfer fees for the township and another $250,000 in annual property taxes. The Bethlehem Area School District would receive $1.9 million in property taxes.

On the other hand, an attorney for Green Pond Country Club warned that the golf club might consider selling its land for residential development if the TOA project is not approved.

The country club owns the land on which the TOA project would be built. By selling the land to TOA, the club's shareholders would profit. The TOA project is being billed as a golf course community. The TOA site is across Farmersville Road from the golf course. The shareholders also would benefit by getting new customers.

A full report from O'Hare's blog appears here.

In a separate report, O'Hare said at least six stockholders in the golf club are from the Lehigh Valley. The remainder live outside the area. That information appears here.

Great Backyard Bird Count

It is that time again for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Join in for the count February 12 - 15.

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the GBBC was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds. Since then, more than 100,000
people of all ages have joined in the four-day count to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.

You are invited to participate! All that you do is tally the numbers and kinds of birds you see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count.

It is easy to get started:

1. Go to the website to register: gbbc.birdcount.org. Create a new account or login using your existing user name and password.
2. Count the birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days during the count on February 12-15. Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like. Submit (online) a separate checklist for each time you count.
3. Enter your results on the Bird Count website. It is that easy!

For more information, registration and results to go gbbc.birdcount.org.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for week of January 22

Male Mountain Bluebird (file photo)

Mountain Bluebirds are common in the West's wide-open spaces, where prairie grasses and sagebrush spread across the landscape. You'll see them hoving above the ground, looking for insects and then pouncing on their prey.

You're not supposed to see them in the Lehigh Valley. As a rule, they don't venture east of the Mississippi River. However, one hardy Mountain Bluebird has now spent a full month on private lands in Bucks County's Tinicum Township, not far from High Rocks State Park at Point Pleasant.

Fortunately the Mountain Bluebird eats some of the same wintertime foods that are often found in its normal range: cedar berries, elderberries and the seeds of sumac, mistletoe and hackberry. It will savor any insects it finds during occasional mild spells in winter.

Mountain Bluebirds breed in the Rockies and high plains from Colorado to British Columbia. They migrate relatively late in the fall and early in the spring. Their winter range varies depending on food supply. They could migrate as far south as Mexico. Others remain yearlong in the eastern foothills of the Sierra Mountains or in northern Arizona and northern New Mexico. Occasionally they stray from their normal winter range.

Mountain Bluebirds are sleeker and longer-winged than the Eastern Bluebirds that inhabit the fields of Pennsylvania. The males lack the orange breast and flanks of the Eastern Bluebird. Female Mountain Bluebirds are a dusky gray.

Female Mountain Bluebird; Jackson, Wyoming

As with Eastern Bluebirds, they nest in cavities of trees that grow along the edges of open fields. They also will use nesting boxes.

A male Mountain Bluebird has been seen in Tinicum Township along Tory Road, just east of Wormansville Road, from December 20 through at least January 21, according to Dave DeReamus, who compiles a listing of bird sightings in the Lehigh Valley region for the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Because the bluebird stays on private property, you can view it only from the road. Do not enter private land.

Here are other Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended January 22.

Bangor, Northampton County
Blue Jay (a leucistic bird), 1 on January 15.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County
(at the Grand Central landfill)
Iceland Gull, 2 on January 16 (1 adult, 1 first-winter bird).

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Bonaparte's Gull, 2 on January 17.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Redhead, 1 on January 20.

Green Lane Reservoir, Montgomery County
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on January 17.
Also seen: Common Goldeneye.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
Redhead, 1 on January 20 and January 21.
Greater Scaup, 3 on January 15.
Common Merganser, approximately 525 on January 16.
Also seen: Brown Thrasher.

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

Odd Blue Jay reported in Bangor last week

Leucism chiefly affects this jay's crest (file photo)

A Blue Jay that was seen in Bangor this past week was not quite as blue as it should be.

The jay had an unusual condition called leucism, which is an abnormal plumage disorder caused by a genetic mutation. Pigmentation cells in the feathers fail to develop properly. 

Birds with this mutation may have white patches where there shouldn't be any. Or, the plumage overall may be pale, making the feathers seem faint or bleached. In rare cases, the feathers are entirely white, with no discernible color.

The sighting of the leucistic Blue Jay was reported to Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. The bird was seen on January 15.

It's important to note that a leucistic bird is not an albino bird. There is a difference between the two genetic conditions, says birding writer Melissa Mayntz. Leucism affects only the bird's feathers. The bird may show some bright colors while other areas are pale. Only in extreme cases will all the pigment be lost, giving the bird a white appearance.

Edges of wing bars indicate this jay is not an albino

An albino bird has no pigment whatsoever in its feathers. Moreover, the genetic mutation extends to other parts of the bird. For instance, albino birds show pale pink or reddish eyes. The legs, feet and bill are pale. Leucistic birds have normally colored eyes, legs, feet and bills.

Leucism is most visible among brown and black birds. They lack melanin, which is deposited in the growing feathers by color cells. It's especially startling to see a leucistic crow with patches of white or plumage that is entirely pale!

Leucism has been seen among Bald Eagles, Hairy Woodpeckers, sparrows, starlings and Northern Cardinals. The condition even extends to animals with hair such as squirrels and giraffes. Aquatic mammals such as whales and dolphins may be affected too.

Pale crest and head on leucistic Blue Jay

Leucistic birds are rare not only because genetic misfirings are infrequent in general. These birds also face an uphill struggle in life. The fainter plumage robs them of protective camouflage. Hawks and feral cats have an easier time spotting them. Male leucistic birds may fail in courtship rituals because they lack the vivid coloration that females prefer.

Between 2000 and 2007, just 1,605 unusual-looking species were reported to ProjectFeederWatch, a program sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. That's a tiny minority compared to the 5.5 million birds reported during each winter's bird count.

What to do when snow storms strike

Birds have an uncanny ability to copy with bad weather but you can help make their lives easier when snow storms and frigid weather is arrives.

Avian biologists say birds can detect on oncoming storm. Unlike humans, they don't need a meteorologist to send them to the grocery store for bread, milk and eggs. Birds sense changes in air pressure that signal the arrival of a storm, which usually gives them advance notice to prepare for adversity, according to Andrew Farnsworth, a scientist with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. How they manage this is unknown but the evidence is clear that this behavior exists, Farnsworth said.

(This doesn't mean that birds can conquer the weather. Storms sometimes blow migrating birds off course by hundreds of miles.)

Once non-migratory birds sense a storm is coming, their first strategy is to load up on calories and fat. The more fat the better. You may see many more birds at your feeders just in advance of a storm--and that the birds are staying longer and eating ravenously. They will need that nutrition to keep them alive once the snow covers the ground, preventing them from finding natural sources of food.



Black-capped Chickadee

As snow begins to fall, feeding stops. Birds then retreat to safe locations. They seek refuge in dense evergreens that offer the best protection from the elements. Junipers, arborvitae, spruce, hemlock, pine and rhododendron are among their favorites. Juniper shrubs are especially welcome for two reasons: The plants may still have edible berries and cones, and the dense, prickly foliage deters outdoor cats or feral cats.
By nature birds have several methods of coping with cold. Birds that normally are solitary during warmer seasons often congregate in roosts where they huddle to keep warm. They fluff up their feathers, creating a downy mass similar to the thick comforter that you may use for sleeping.

Birds also may seek out bird houses that have been cleaned of debris. (That's why it's so important to clean houses in the autumn.) If you have deciduous trees in your backyard, consider hanging a roosting pocket from a branch. Small birds such as chickadees or wrens may find that a welcome refuge.

You can make birds' lives easier during this time of extreme weather:

• Make sure your feeders are full. If there is snow on the ground, they may be the only dependable source of food. Keeping their dinner plate full minimizes the amount of time that they must spend pecking around shrubbery for food.
• Offer only fresh seed. There is nothing worse than offering birds spoiled or rancid seed that has been kept in a garage or shed since the summer. Birds could become sick from bad seed.
• Clean the snow off the feeders. You can use a soft brush such as a clean paint brush to remove the snow. The brush for cleaning your car's windshield also works. Ground-level feeders deserve special attention. They can become buried under a deep snow.

  

  Birds suddenly become the best dinner buddies when it snows

• Once the snow has fallen, shovel around the feeder or stomp the snow beneath the feeder. If seed falls from the feeder, it will land an open space where birds can find it. This is especially important for ground-feeding birds such as Dark-eyed Juncos (commonly known as "snow birds"), Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves and White-throated Sparrows.
• Don't forget suet. This high-energy food contains nutritious fat. Suet that is blended with peanut butter, nuts, berries or insects provides much-needed sugars and protein. Woodpeckers will feast on special cakes that contain peanut and almond chips, sunflower seeds and cracked corn.
• If you run out of seed, never use bread crumbs as a substitute. Bread has very little nutritious value or fat content. Birds will fill up on the crumbs but the bread won't provide the high-energy food they need to maintain their metabolism during frigid weather. Likewise, don't feed birds table scraps. You're more likely to attract rodents.
• Instead go to your garage or storage shed to see if you have any grass seed left over from last year. As anyone who has tried to plant a lawn will attest, birds love grass seed. You can't plant the seed now anyway, so why not offer it to the birds? You'll be treated to Dark-eyed Juncos, Mourning Doves, House Finches, Song Sparrow and House Sparrows, among other species.
• Birds welcome fruit. Sliced oranges or apples work best. You can serve the slices in an empty suet cage.

Closed Saturday, January 23rd

Due to the impending snow storm, The Bird House will be closed on Saturday, January 23rd. The Bird House will be open regular hours on Friday until 5:30 PM.

We have plenty of seed to keep the birds well fed to help them survive the storm. Besides keeping your feeders filled, you can also put some food under pine trees or other protected spots to give them some alternative feeding sites.

Be safe!

Green Pond development scheduled for January 25

Special to The Bird House

It's been six months since there was a public airing of the proposed housing development near Green Pond Marsh, but that will change on Monday, January 25.

The Bethlehem Township Planning Commission is scheduled to review a scaled-back plan for a retirement community adjoining an Important Birding Site identified by the National Audubon Society.

Traditions of America plans to reduce the number of townhouses to 229 from 261. According to a report from blogger Bernie O'Hare, a larger buffer space has been created around the wetlands, which is located in the northwest corner of the site.

The designation "Important Bird Area" means a site should be protected as a special habitat for birds. Over the years, 182 different bird species have been sighted at the marsh. Many of them are migrants that use the wetlands as a stopping-off point during their long-distance journeys. Eight of the species are either endangered or threatened in Pennsylvania.

Traditions of America is asking the township planning commission to ratify all waivers and deferrals, which would bring the project substantially closer to construction.

It has been 18 months since Traditions of America came before township officials for permission to build high-end housing for people aged 55 and older. Engineers and planners have been evaluating aspects of the project, including traffic problems, residential flooding and environmental impacts. Apparently the project has undergone several modifications since the original unveiling.

In his blog, Lehigh Valley Ramblings, O'Hare says the main entrance to the housing development has been changed from Farmersville Road to Green Pond Road. The clubhouse has been relocated to the northern part of the development. The blog did not identify how much additional acres would be allocated to open space.

The group Save Green Pond has been trying to gain public support for protecting the marsh as an undisturbed wetland. Even relatively minor changes to the landscape, such has the resurfacing of Green Pond Road, has modified the bird and aquatic environment, the group points out.

Critics of the project worry that building a housing development so close to the marsh will create even greater damage to the sensitive environmental area.

The planning commission is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at the township building, which is located at 4225 Easton Avenue. The meeting is open to the public, including those who don't live in the township.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of January 15

Common Redpoll

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended January 15. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Martins Creek PPL Power Plant, Northampton County
(at the boat launch area)
Spotted Sandpiper, 1 from January 5 to at least January 9.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County
(at the Grand Central landfill)
Iceland Gull, 1 on January 14 (an adult).

Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County
(at the Gremar Road retention ponds)
Common Yellowthroat, 1 on January 10.

Williams Township, Northampton County
Common Redpoll, 1 on January 10.

Tinicum Township, Bucks County
(along Tory Road, just east of Wormansville Road)
Mountain Bluebird, 1 from December 20 to at least January 15).
(The bird was seen on private property. You must view the bird from the road.)

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

New Product: Legacy seed feeder

The newest addition to Brome Bird Care's popular line of squirrel-proof bird feeders is the Legacy, a weight-activated tube feeder that shuts access to seed the moment a hungry squirrel hops abroad.

The Legacy is made of stainless steel hardware, four chew-proof metal perches, a UV-protected seed silo and a metal mesh guard. The feeder is ideal for perching and clinging birds such as chickadees, finches, sparrows, nuthatches and titmice.

The feeder is designed to be easy to fill and clean. The spring-loaded mechanism can be adjusted to keep out just squirrels or also grackles and other large birds.

The name Legacy reflects Brome's "Legacy Commitment"—the company's long-standing guidelines for its product line. The feeders are simple enough to maintain and repair. They're built to last a long time because they use materials that are tailored to their environment and are not easily damaged or worn out. Should a part wear out or break, the customer has a lifetime, no-hassle warranty.

Visit The Bird House to see our selection of Brome Squirrel Buster products and find one that is suitable for your pocketbook and backyard birding requirements.

Winter Wren

The Winter Wren is small in stature and incomparably energetic in voice and song. The secretive bird lives in moist dense forests in eastern North America. The best time to look for the bird in the Lehigh Valley is October through mid-March. It is not often seen here at warmer months of the year.

The Winter Wren is identifiable by its short tail, usually cocked upward. The plumage is dark brown overall and the bill is thin and pointed.

The bird often creeps among fallen logs and dense tangles, behaving like a mouse, as it searches for tiny prey. The Winter Wren stays out of sight, but gives an occasional kimp-kimp call note. Per unit weight, the Winter Wren delivers its song with 10 times more power than a crowing rooster!

In the summer the bird's habitat extends from Newfoundland to Manitoba. It also is found in the woodlands and underbrush of the upland Appalachians in the northern United States. During the winter, Winter Wrens are found in very dense woods, especially along stream beds and among fallen logs. Their winter range extends from the United States side of the Great Lakes deep into the southern states.

Winter Wrens feed mostly on insects including beetles, caterpillars, ants, small wasps, and some spiders, millipedes and snails. They usually search for prey among foliage, on twigs and tree trunks, and on the ground. When feeding low along stream banks, they may even pluck bugs from the water's surface.

An insectivore, the Winter Wren can remain in moderately cold—and even snowy—climates by foraging for insects on logs and in bark. Sometimes they will take large pupae or seeds.

In spring the male Winter Wren will ascend to high perches in conifers where they will sing a beautiful song of long-running musical trills. When courting, the male perches near the female with his wings half-opened and fluttering. His tail is spread and he moves it from side to side while he sings.

Nests are built in low cavities among upturned and downed trees, in rotten stumps or old woodpecker cavities, and in holes along stream banks. Both the male and female build a domed structure of grass, weeds, roots and moss, and they line it with animal hair and feathers. The female lays five or six eggs and incubates them for 14 to 16 days. Both parents feed the nestlings. After about 19 days, the chicks fledge.

A few years ago one April, we saw a Winter Wren along a creek in the Katellan State Gamelands near Wind Gap. It was a cute little bird!

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for week of January 8

Mountain Bluebird

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of January 8. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

Martins Creek PPL Power Plant, Northampton County
(at the boat launch)
Spotted Sandpiper, 1 on January 5 and January 6.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County
(at the Grand Central landfill)
Iceland Gull, 1 on January 5 (a first-year bird).

Nazareth Quarry, Northampton County
Ross's Goose, 1 on January 7.

Peace Valley Park, Bucks County
(at Sailor's Point)
"Black" Brandt, 1 from January 1 to at least January 4.
Greater Scaup, 6 on January 5.
Red-breasted Merganser, 1 on January 7 (among approximately 500 Common Mergansers).

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
(at the marina)
Red-throated Loon,1 on January 6.

Tinicum Township, Bucks County
Mountain Bluebird, 1 from December 20 to at least January 7 (Male bluebird; sighted along Tory Road, just east of Wormansville Road. The bird is being seen in private property. Look for the bird from the road. Do not enter private property.)
Cape May Warbler, 1 on January 4.

Lake Warren, Bucks County
Eastern Phoebe, 1 on January 3.

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

Audubon program on January 8 on Winter Waterfowl

Winter brings a great variety of migratory waterfowl to our area. It's an ideal time to expand your knowledge of bird activity. The species can be identified by color, shape and behavior—if you know what to look for.

Join Scott Burnett on Friday, January 8, for a Lehigh Valley Audubon Society program on the techniques of identifying winter waterfowl. The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Wildlands Conservancy Eduction Center Building at 3701 Orchard Place in Emmaus.

Then join him on Saturday as he searches some local lakes so you can test your newly acquired identification skills.

The program is free and open to the public. You can make reservations through the Audubon Society's meet-up site.

Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week of January 3

Snow Goose

Here are the Lehigh Valley bird sightings for the week ended January 3, 2016. The list was compiled by Dave DeReamus, of the Eastern PA Birdline, which is sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society.

PPL Martins Creek Power Plant area, Northampton County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on December 26.

Martins Creek Quarry, Northampton County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 on January 1.

Plainfield Township, Northampton County
(at the Grand Central landfill)
Iceland Gull, 1 on January 1 (first-year bird)

Nazareth Quarry, Northampton County
Ross's Goose, 4 on January 2 (among approximately 25,000 Snow Geese).
Cackling Geese, 10 on January 2.
Peregrine Falcon, 1 on January 2.
Iceland Gull, 1 on January 2 (first-year bird)
Also seen: Bald Eagle

Beltzville State Park, Carbon County
Black Scoters, 2 on December 28.

White-winged Scoter

Penn Forest Reservoir, Carbon County
Red-throated Loon, 1 on December 28.

Coplay, Lehigh County
(at the Sheetz Quarry)
Ross's Goose, 1 on January 1.

Fogelsville Quarry, Lehigh County
Greater White-fronted Goose, 1 from December 25 to at least January 1.

Lake Nockamixon, Bucks County
(from the fishing pier)
White-winged Scoter, 1 on December 26.

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