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Brooker Creek Bird Walk & "
Vulture Culture"
Saturday January 5, 2008
Participants 8
Species 22
Guide Jim McGinity
It is always an enjoyable
experience to spend the morning at Brooker Creek. The Preserve, known as
Pinellas County's "Wildest" place, encompasses 8,300 acres and consists of
various habitats which are managed for wildlife. While most of the preserve is not
open to the public, there are 4 miles of
walking trails, a wonderful education center, exhibits, and a nature store. Our walk was only about one mile.
With the exception of Black
Vultures, Sandhill Cranes, Mourning Doves and woodpeckers, all of our sightings
were of passarine/perching birds. We encountered at least three mixed flocks
along the route which is a typical way that birds of several species forage
together. It's a challenge to identify as many as you can before they move on.
We saw abundant numbers of Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Yellow-rumped
Warblers, and American Goldfinches. The trick is to find the less numerous
individuals in the group or "mob". We found Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-headed
Vireo and Downy Woodpeckers. At the blind, we pished up Swamp Sparrows and a
Common Yellowthroat. Returning to the center, we had a good look at a
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Jim McGinity talked about the skill and importance of
birding "by ear" and also gave tips for identifying birds by field marks, flight
pattern, behavior and other characteristics.
Jim also presented the program
"Vulture Culture". It is part of the preparation for a new vulture exhibit
which will be ready this spring. After a quick overview of the 15 species of
Old World Vultures, he concentrated on the 7 species found in North and South
America. Unlike the Old World species which are related to raptors, "our"
Vultures are now known to be more closely related to Wood Storks.
The niche that Vultures fill as
sanitation engineers requires that they have specialized adaptations. They have
keen senses of sight and smell for finding carrion. Their soaring flight
requires about the same amount of energy as just standing. They are in contact
with many kinds of disease causing organisms and bacteria of many types without
getting sick themselves. Urohydrosis and sunning are two ways they kill
bacteria. The talk was interesting, informative and amusing. Our thanks to Jim
McGinity and Brooker Creek Preserve.
Aggie Condon |