As I’m heading to British Columbia, I though I’d post some photos of its denizens by reader Ed Kroc:
First is a Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) with a comical moustache-sized sheaf of pine needles collected for his/her nest. The curious expression is just visible in the low light.
Next, a pair of nesting Rock Doves (Columba livia). A few weeks ago it seemed like every pigeon I saw was hurriedly scrounging for nesting material. Babies can’t be far behind.
Speaking of babies, here’s a couple obligatory pictures of the resident dabbling ducks. First, a mother Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and chicks, resting at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. And second, a few Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) siblings, no more than a week old, exploring the banks of the lagoon.
Down at the Tsawwassen Jetty, by one of the main ferry terminals here, live four pairs of Black Oystercatchers (Haematopus bachmani). I still find the colouration of these birds perplexing and fascinating. They are in full nesting mode now, defending their territories and laying eggs that blend in perfectly on the rocky shore.
These photos are of a single pair. The first two show the female. Although usually quite flighty, during the nesting season these oystercatchers will approach and scold you if you get to close to their preferred nesting site. They will also lie down on the rocks feigning injury, trying to entice you away from their nests. The second portrait is of the male. Notice the eyes in both of the portrait shots. Why do they have pupils that appear to smear into the iris? I’ve noticed that all Black Oystercatchers share this trait, but I have no idea what the function could possibly be, if any.
And finally, a shot of a motley crew of teenage gulls, all about to celebrate another birthday. These juveniles stick together this time of year since their parents are off reestablishing their nesting territories and starting to raise new broods. From left to right, we have the following, all end of cycle: Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) 3rd year, GWGU 2nd year, California Gull (Larus californicus) 2nd year, CAGU 1st year, CAGU 1st year, CAGU 2nd year, and GWGU 1st year (in dark brown). It’s strange to think that pretty much every gull you see has a birthday within about a two month range, although the same can be said of many (most?) birds, I suppose.
Reader Garry Helzer sent photos of some cute lagomorphs and their environs:
Here are a couple of pika (Ochotona princeps) from the Columbia River Gorge. Columbia Gorge pikas are unusual since pikas are usually described as a high altitude species, living in talus slopes adjacent to alpine meadows, and under snow much of the year. However, Columbia Gorge pikas inhabit talus slopes in forests at essentially sea level and rarely see snow. Hikers sometimes mistake them for squirrels but they are lagomorphs and often called rock rabbits. In contrast to squirrels they have no visible tail and have distinctive white rimmed ears. They are territorial and perch motionless overlooking their patch and watching for intruders—which is what these two seem to be doing.
I have included the waterfall to help visitors locate pikas. The photo shows Multnomah Falls, a tourist destination 30 miles east of Portland on I-84. A paved path crosses the bridge and climbs to the top of the falls (elev. 660 ft). In less than half a mile from the bridge the trail cuts a bit into the first individual’s talus slope and that is where the photo was taken. (The second individual is on a different talus slope a few miles to the west on the Angels Rest trail).
Wish I were in the Gorge right now!
Nice photos, thanks!
As always, the photos are great. Thank you to the photographers.
I wonder if anyone has a good idea as to why the oystercatcher’s eye ring so closely matches the color of its bill?
Same carotenoids? Honest signalling, genetic aesthetics as a measure of diet and physiology in prospective mates. Of course, the same general phenomenon could explain clashing colours as well, so it’s presumebly historically contingent.
The oystercatchers reminded me almost instantly of an Edward Lear poem. Can you guess which one?
That’s delightful!
Perhaps the Junco is an example of a creature making use of camouflage? Certainly an impressive mustache like that would confuse, impress, and possibly frighten predators. It definitely give the bird an air of authority.
Nietzsche’s moustache is said to have been particularly frightening. To women rather than predators, but there you go.
Oystercatchers may develop flecks in the iris. Its pupil is a typical (round, in this case) shape – this is just an iris feature (and not a coloboma). The flecks are consistently located near the pupil, though, giving a “smudged” appearance. They are more common (and often more pronounced) in females but appear in both sexes.
The flecks could be either a patch of pigment, or a thin spot in the iris tissue.
Interesting! Is it known why this happens, and/or why it seems to be so common in oystercatchers (at least, it seems to be very common among Black Oystercatchers in BC)?
As far as I know, it’s just something that is fairly common in these birds (and some others). Flecking is often randomly distributed, but in oystercatchers it’s close to the pupil. It was proposed as a sexing technique some time ago (and is a good approximation), because females tend to have substantially more prominent flecks, so maybe their prominence is a by-product of some hormonal process.
Thanks for the great info, Caitlin!
Cool, thank you for the information!
Not that you asked, but in Norwegian, an oystercatcher is a tjeld. I learned this when on a field expedition an hour or so N of Bergen. I’d never seen one before, but there were plenty on the rocks outside the cottage/lab. The only ornithology book was in Norwegian, and we had no internet.
Picas are neat…as a kid we would camp a lot in the Sierra Nevada mountains and the talus slopes were filled with these little guys. Always a fun sight. Now I live in WA, so I’ve visited the Columbia River gorge in WA a few times. It flows through the Columbia Plateau and is very dry, not like the forested regions in Oregon. It’s still a beautiful place…haven’t seen any picas.
Very nice bird photos as well. Common birds where I live (except the Oystercatchers) but your photos make the birds resplendent.
The Gorge has two distinct climate zones. East of Hood River is the dry zone and west of Hood River is the forested zone. I believe the pikas are confined to the west. They are said to be heat intolerant.
Thanks for the added info Garry. I’ll have to head west of Hood River one of these days.
Reblogged this on UNICLICKS UNIPICS.
Cool photos all.
Oh, a great bunch of pictures from the beautiful Pacific NW!
Ed, that’s a wonderful junco capture! I hadn’t realized they made use of pine needles but it makes perfect sense.
Those ducks are so sharp, esp. the little pod of Wood Ducklings. First time I’ve ever noticed how fancy their bills are. The Oystercatchers always captivate me, but I’d never noticed the iris flecks. What are the odds a WEIT reader would have such great info about them? 🙂 What a group we have here!
I am most impressed by your facility with immature gulls. BTW, a few years ago the AOU went ahead and changed the “official common name” of the Rock Dove to the Rock Pigeon. Just so you know. 😀
Thanks Diane! I didn’t know Rock Doves are now officially labelled as Pigeons instead. I guess that matches a bit more with the vernacular.
Gulls are my specialty (well, at least my special interest)! It’s a small dream of mine to one day see all the world’s gulls. 🙂
What a neat goal to have!
Are you one of the people Amar Ayyash visits when he goes out west?
No, I don’t know him personally, but I am a fan of his excellent site. I’ve learned a lot from him.
Me too! (Not nearly as much as you have, though.)
Garry–all the times I’ve been to the Gorge (& up the M. Falls trail!) but never knew there were pikas! Darling shots, and thanks for the tip!