Every Time I Turn Aound, I Fall In Love

[lovezebs]

It seems that everytime I turn around , I fall in love with another species...
The latest, is the Blackburnian Warbler.

Just came across this little cutie on line, and decided to share.

[w.l.]

Well, it's a softbill.
Plenty of beauties among them.
But most insectivores are hard to keep healthy.

[Chihuahua]

Why is that?

[lovezebs]

Chihuahua

Because you have to feed them all live foods, along with only a few fruits .

[lovezebs]

w.l.

I know, I know...
But one can dream, sigh....

These beauties actually do live in Canada, but further South East from where I'm at. Wouldn't it be lovely to have a flock of these darlings in my backyard, along with my small herd of tiny Chickadees?

Speaking of Chickadees, I came upon an article, which I found quite interesting. Thought you might enjoy it as well.


http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/edmo ... -1.3391635

Also:


""Chickadee with deformed bill the first spotted in Alberta
Cause of beak deformity is unknown

Radio Active • The Homestretch • CBC News
November 30, 2015
Deformed Chickadee
This chickadee, spotted in Cochrane, Alta., has a deformed beak - a quality never before spotted in the province. (Ray McKay)
310 shares 36 comments
A rare chickadee with a deformed bill has been spotted in southern Alberta.

The bird, whose upper bill curves down and crosses over its lower bill, is believed to be the first of its type seen in Alberta, says naturalist Brian Keating.

The chickadee was spotted in Ray McKay's backyard in Cochrane, where it sat underneath the bird feeder waiting for crumbs to land at its feet, Keating said. Then the bird used its foot to brush the food into its mouth.

Noticing the chickadee was having trouble feeding itself, McKay shelled some sunflower seeds for it to feed on.

Keating said the cause of the deformity is still under investigation, but may be related to a number of factors including injury, disease, parasites, nutritional deficiencies, a genetic defect or exposure to some kind of contaminant.

Similar birds studied in Alaska

In Alaska, biologist Colleen Handel has been examining the causes behind beak deformations for more than 20 years. In that time, she has identified 28 different species of birds, both year-round residents and migratory animals, with a similar abnormality to that spotted in the Cochrane chickadee.

Of the birds surveyed, more than 1,400 were identified to be chickadees with deformed bills.

What's interesting, Keating said, is that all of the migratory birds found with bent beaks in that study were juveniles, implying they had not yet left Alaska.

Handel's team also captured and banded more than 2,000 chickadees, allowing the scientists to monitor them over a longer period of time.

When recaptured, some of the chickadees that had been born with normal bills were found to have developed deformities later in life. In one case, a chickadee's bill became deformed before it was six months old.

Looking for answers

While no clear cause for the change in bill shape is known, Keating said scientists are investigating the cause of the abnormality in several ways, including monitoring nesting chickadees and testing blood and DNA samples for possible contaminants, and monitoring nests where one or both of the adults have a deformed bill to determine whether the trait is passed on to offspring.

So far, no evidence has been found that the chicks of deformed bill parents carry the same trait. However, since chickadees are known to tend the eggs laid by other individuals, a genetic influence cannot be fully ruled out, Keating added.

Scientists are also looking into the possibility that the abnormal beaks are the result of DNA damage following exposure to a contaminant, or are caused by a deficiency in calcium or vitamin D. However, no clear correlations have yet been found.

Hoping to study a larger sample of the deformed birds, Handel has launched Project Feeder Watch, which asks citizens to report any birds they see with crossed bills or deformed beaks.""

*** Plus if you follow some of the links in the actual article, there's some interesting articles about Gyrfalcons and Nutcrackers, and also a rare White Pileated Woodpecker.

[DamonIRB]

I've always had an eye for the Masked Finch. Not sure why... just a gorgeous little bird to me...

http://www.cliftonfinchaviaries.org/fsa/mask/mask.htm

[lovezebs]

DamonIRB

Just read the information on the site you provided.

I have never actually seen any of these guys around here, although I have seen the Parsons, and I have two male Shaft tails (who hate each other's guts).

They are pretty birds.

Where you thinking of getting a pair at some point?

[Shannylee]

lovezebs, beautiful little guy!

Bird Mart in Orlando tomorrow! My birthday gift from hubs is that I can go to Bird Mart and bring home whatever I want. hmmm....

[w.l.]

Shannylee

So do you have a shopping list?
And if so, what's on it?

[lovezebs]

Shannylee

WHAT EVER YOU WANT???

Oh boy!!!

[Shannylee]

w.l., canaries and whydahs. Just kidding. My wish list:

Orange cheek waxbills
Common waxbills
Lavenders
Blue capped cordon bleus

Just depends on the condition of the birds tomorrow. I have 2 quarantine cages, which will leave me with one hospital cage. Eh...there's a bird store across the street if I need another cage.

[Shannylee]

lovezebs, I KNOW!!

[lovezebs]

Shannylee

By the way Happy Birthday!

And I say again..... Oh Boyyyyy!
Does the poor man know what he's doing? I mean honestly, would you send an alcoholic to a Liquor store with your credit card? A foodaholic, to a Food Fest with a signed blank cheque?

I mean offering a birdaholic carte blanche, when she's headed to a bird mart, is just plain dangerous.

Is he going with you, or is he going to stay home, and ???

If he's staying home, you should phone him a couple of hours into your trip, and ask him if he knows how much it costs to rent a U-Haul truck (?)

[isobea]

Shannylee - Happy birthday from me as well!
Oh yes, I would also have a list: one female blue capped cordon bleu, one female grey singer, chestnut breasted mannikins (preferably two pairs), one pair of javas. I think that might be enough for one day.
Iso

[lovezebs]

Ohhhh, and then there is this beauty, and I don't even know what he is.....
Any ideas?