Blog - Wild Birds Unlimited of GPW

Common Nighthawks: Aerial Marvels

Posted on July 9, 2018 by Rosann Kovalcik

For me, the sounds of summer include the sounds of Common Nighthawks. A pair of nighthawks has nested on top of Ferry Elementary School for as long as I can remember. First thing in the morning, and I mean before sunrise, I see him flying in his erratic pattern. I’m not sure of how to describe the call that accompanies the flight. I’ve seen it written as buzz BEEErzh and peent (click here to listen on Cornell’s All About Birds website). It is sharp and loud, a call to look up to the sky and wait for the wonderful sound to follow. The male nighthawk climbs higher and higher, then dives toward the ground, flexing his wings downward as he

Bird Spotlight: Green Heron

Posted on May 28, 2018 by Rosann Kovalcik

“They look like a kindergartner that dressed for school, choosing bright pants that didn’t match the multiple colors they put on,” said my niece after observing a Green Heron at the shoreline of an inland lake. Technically, they aren’t truly green; they have more of a greenish-blue cast to their backs like velvet draperies in an English Manor; a deep chestnut body, a darker, capped head and bright yellow legs. They also have white underneath the tail, most evident when the tail is flicked in agitation. Diet & Feeding Behavior Green Herons wait patiently for prey to cross their paths as they sit perched in every imaginable yoga pose along the water’s edge. Small fish, crustaceans, frogs – all are

Virginia Rail – A Successful Rescue!

Posted on April 18, 2018 by Rosann Kovalcik

Last weekend’s Bird Walk at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House was rescheduled due to rain, but a few people showed up anyway, so we decided to slog around for a while to check for birds. During that short time, we saw Cormorants, Scaup and Horned Grebes in the lagoon. Soon, the winds and rain picked up to the point where we had to call it a day and head indoors. An Urgent Call for Help No sooner had my wet clothes been shed and breakfast finished, did the phone ring. On the other line, the person said, “We received a call from the Grosse Pointe Dog Wash. They have a bird with blue and red plumage and a long

House Finches – A Beautiful Introduction

Posted on March 31, 2018 by Rosann Kovalcik

One of the most surprising facts about House Finches is that they are not native to the Eastern United States. They were originally found only in the western U.S. and Mexico. In the 1940’s, humans intervened, capturing a small group of these birds to sell on Long Island as pets. After the sellers got caught, the finches were released, leading to their eventual expansion. House Finches “Branch Out” Taking advantage of the friendly habitat, House Finches bred and have since become one of our most populous birds, with an estimated 267 million to 1.4 billion individuals. Their presence is always a welcome addition. Their songs are cheery and melodious and their colors warm and beautiful. Fun Facts The red coloration

Northern Cardinal – A Crimson Jewel in the Garden

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Rosann Kovalcik

One of the moments I like most about late winter is hearing the Northern Cardinal beginning to sing. Prompted by the length of day, the Northern Cardinal sings to mark its territory. If we’re lucky, we can hear two male Cardinals calling in tandem in a hormonal duel. Unlike many other songbirds, the females also sing. Often in response to the song the male initiates, the female will sing from the nest. Many times, her song is longer and more complex than the male’s! During nesting season, this is her way of asking her mate for food, as she is the sole incubator and does not leave the nest. Cardinals have an amazing physiology within their syrinx which allows for their complex

Bird Spotlight: Tufted Titmouse

Posted on January 26, 2018 by Rosann Kovalcik

Photo Courtesy of Toni Whitelock One of my favorite moments of winter is when I am outside, greeted by the song of a Tufted Titmouse. “Peter, peter, peter” is the description that is typically used to describe their clear song, which is quite loud for the size of the bird. Their alarm and communication call sounds like a buzzy version of their cousin, the Black-capped Chickadee. Travelling in pairs, they can commonly be found in the eastern United States, favoring deciduous and mixed woods, gardens and parks. In winter, they are part of mixed foraging flocks consisting of Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and perhaps Kinglets and Carolina Wrens. Tufted Titmice are overall gray on their upperparts and white on

It’s Going to be a Snowy (Owl) Winter

Posted on December 14, 2017 by Rosann Kovalcik

Who could not be amazed at a large, white owl with penetrating yellow eyes, prevalent during daylight hours for all to see? Prepare to be amazed. We have an exciting winter already in Michigan, with the appearance of so many Snowy Owls in our state. According to eBird reports (click here to learn more), the Great Lakes region has a higher influx of Snowy Owls than anywhere in the United States so far this winter. Locally, there has been a consistent sighting of this yellow-eyed marvel at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. The bird is usually seen at the farthest point of the property closest to the lake, surveying for potential prey. A Snowy Owl has also been seen

Wild About Turkeys

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Rosann Kovalcik

Strutting- this is the action turkeys are associated with most often. Picture those 18 tail feathers fanned out, the slightly iridescent chest and back feathers puffed up, wings spread away from the body and touching the ground. To make the display even more dramatic, the male turkey will place its head and neck down into an “S” shape and elongate the fleshy snood at the base of the beak. During the strut, the male becomes so excited, the skin on the head and neck, called wattles, become engorged with blood, turning bright red and sometimes obscuring the eyes and beak. All of this is an effort to impress a female so she will choose him and breed with him, carrying

Amazing Sandhill Cranes

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Rosann Kovalcik

Sandhill Cranes are a common summer resident in Michigan, also using the state as a migratory stopover habitat. Jackson County has one of the highest densities of nesting populations for Sandhill Cranes in North America. These cranes use a variety of habitats for nesting purposes including shallow marshes, openings in shrub swamps, bogs and wetlands. In the early 1900’s, the population of Sandhill Cranes in Michigan had dropped to just a few dozen pairs as a result of wetlands being drained and hunting pressures. Now, we have Crane Fest, a Michigan Audubon Signature Event, as well as a number of other festivals, to celebrate this bird’s abundance. Sandhill Cranes stand between 41 and 46 inches tall with a wingspan

Bird Spotlight: Northern Flickers

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Rosann Kovalcik

I love it in the spring when I hear the sound, “wicka, wicka, wicka”. I look to the treetops, especially exposed snags, hoping to find the pair of Northern Flickers engaging in courtship behavior, as tipped off by their calls. With beaks pointed to the sky, they move their heads side to side in unison while calling, tails fanned out. The Flicker Flamenco Dance is one of my favorite local treats to watch. Northern Flickers are a woodpecker, and one of the few that can be found feeding on the ground. Their specialty is ants! There was a study done of the stomach contents of 700 Northern Flickers which showed that 98% of them had eaten only ants, with one count