![]() I used ‘R’ numbers instead of ‘T’ numbers for Zooey’s tailfeathers because the In-Hand Guide to Diurnal North American Raptors uses R (for retrix).This is another excellent guide! It doesn’t have many photos, but has excellent information on plumages, field guides, the use of molt as a tool in ageing, and the use of behavior in field identification. Raptor Identification, Ageing, and Sexing.It is not a ‘read’ in the usual sense of the word, but has invaluable information about identifying, aging, sexing, and properly documenting raptors. Hawkwatch International published this guide for banding station staff. In-Hand Guide to Diurnal North American Raptors. ![]() Understanding when and in what order falcons, eagles, and hawks replace feathers can teach us a lot about molt, even at a distance! If you’d like to learn more, check out these resources: How do Zooey’s feathers compare with mate Newman’s? We get a very nice look at them in this video! Note that she still has the pale ‘eyebrows’ we sometimes see in younger birds. No particular order is given beyond that, but Zooey is clearly molting from her head on down. Molt starts at their heads and proceeds down through their bodies. Raptor Identification, Ageing, and Sexing tells us that raptors begin molting 7 to 10 months after fledging. Zooey’s S1 feather is still brown, which isn’t surprising: S1 is often the last secondary feather that falcons replace. Falcons also replace their secondary feathers in two directions: inwards from S5 to S13, and outwards from S5 to S1. They are numbered inward from S1 to S13, the wing feather closest to her body. These feathers overlap, giving her the lift she needs to stay aloft during flight. That interest can start at any point, and it often begins with enjoy the natural spectacles, all around us if we stop and look for a moment.Like all falcons, Zooey has 13 rounded, symmetrical secondary feathers. Hopefully, that interest also leads to support of conservation, as many bird species face declines and uncertain futures. There are many ways to enjoy bird watching, from putting up a backyard feeder to chasing “big year” world records. And of course, freshwater habitats are great for other interesting species, from belted kingfishers to great blue herons, from snowy egrets to American bitterns. I always enjoy watching a family of mergansers hunting as they float down a river. When will they reemerge? Where? Questions engage young naturalists and keep them engaged in what’s happening around them. Mergansers dive beneath the surface for a long time. Mergansers are my favorite, because you can often see (big) fish hanging out their beaks. Really, this could be any bird that dives, like loons, various ducks or grebes. If I hear of an exotic pheasant sighted at a local park, you can bet I’ll be there with binocs. Yes, I know they’re not native in the US or the UK. (She went on to be the youngest birder to see more than 5,000 species). It was one of her spark birds and one of her introductions to the world of serious life listing. I smiled when ultra-birder Mya Rose-Craig, in her engaging memoir Birdgirl, devoted a chapter to see feral golden pheasants in the United Kingdom. The thought of tracking down some of these free-roaming pheasants always appealed to me, a bit of a safari close to home. They’re native to Asia, but some of these aviary and game farm birds escape. I was taken with these spectacular birds. It would be a while before I got to go see those places for myself, but sometimes I’d catch a glimpse of those unusual critters.Ī local animal attraction kept a collection of exotic pheasants like the Lady Amherst, golden, silver and Reeves pheasants. ![]() I was one of those kids who dreamed of far-off places and the cool animals found there. Photo © OnceAndFutureLaura/Flickr through a Creative Commons license. I chose some obvious “fan favorites” as well as some overlooked species that are pretty cool.Īnd how about you? What birds captured your imagination as a kid? Leave your picks in the comments section. Here are 8 North American species that I’ve found regularly delight children and new-to-birding adults. Some birds just naturally attract more attention. In my experience, kids like to see birds doing interesting things. Let’s face it: the joys of hard-core listing, the finer points of warbler identification and cold, early mornings are joys that escape many youngers (and adults, too, for that matter).īut many bird species are easy to not only see, but to observe going about their daily routine. I’ve also noticed that birds can spark a general interest in nature and nature observation in kids. Sometimes it is watching a common bird in a city park. Sometimes it’s a single sighting of a particularly beautiful species. ![]() Birders are fond of the concept of “spark birds” – the birds that inspire a lifetime interest in birding. ![]()
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