 | | Chapala Birders Newsletter June 2, 2020 |
85 Species sighted around the Lake in May
|
The list of species seen is at the end of this newsletter.
This is the time of year when many trees are growing their leaves. Soon it will be quite difficult to see birds in the trees because of the leaves.
Most of our common birds have already nested once, others are nesting for the first time, some are starting to nest for a second time. The range of nesting periods is extraordinary. Owls nest early in the year, like in January and February. We have seen Orange-billed Nightingale Thrushes sitting eggs in August. Hummingbirds are known to nest almost year-round.
Interesting observations last month:
- Carlo Cuevas saw five Brown Pelicans at the Jocotepec malecon
- Rachel McMillen reports the Great-horned Owl at Tlachichilco.
- Ed Jones saw Sparkling-tailed Hummingbirds at his feeders.
- John Keeling observed Elegant Euphonia at the Allen Lloyd trail.
|
Featured Bird: Bronzed Cowbird
|
Male Bronzed Cowbird as seen at Lake Chapala.
|
Bronzed Cowbirds pick out their breeding patches in Ajijic in April. The male instinctively prances in front of unconcerned females with hopping, quivering of the wings and raising of the neck feathers.
- They range from Panama through Mexico to the southern parts of Arizona, Texas and Florida.
- The red eyes and very thick bill are good diagnostics.
- Females and young are plain, brownish-black in color.
- They are altitude migrants, seeking lower elevations in the winter, when they move in flocks with other species.
- Because of their minor presence in the US they have not been studied as much as the more common Brown-headed Cowbird.
- Both species are well-known as 'brood parasites', placing their eggs in the nests of others. The most common hosts for the Bronzed Cowbird are the various Oriole species. However, almost 100 species have been observed as unwilling hosts.
- Baby chicks of Bronzed Cowbirds are not overly aggressive and host parents seem OK feeding the bigger chick. Bigger hosts such as Northern Mockingbirds are able to feed their own chicks at the same time, but smaller species like House Finches may ignore their own.
- They are omnivorus, eating seeds, snails and insects.
|
What is "Brood Parasitism"?
|
Brood parasitism is an evolutionary develpment of certain species to off-load the incubating of the eggs and the feeding of the young to another species.
There are about a hundred species of Cuckoos, Cowbirds and Honeyguides around the world that practice brood parasitism. There is a wide variety of host responses, some will attack the potential foreign egg-layer, some species peck holes in the foreign eggs, others heave foreign eggs out, others stop feeding fledgelings that can't sing the right notes, while others go ahead and hatch and feed the enlarged family of youngsters until all are full-grown.
Some parasitic species have developed sophisticated responses to overcome rejection by the hosts, such as laying eggs very similar in appearance, having chick mouths imitate the color patters of host chick, and exaggerated begging calls.
|
| Upcoming Trips and Bird Walks
|
| Unfortunately, we will not have any announced bird walks or bird trips this month, as we cannot predict the stages of reopening of the local econonomy.
|
| Bird Walk and Trip Reports
|
| There were no birdwalks last month. We are looking forward to a loosening of the 'Stay-at-Home' order in the near future.
|
| Here are the 85 species sighted around Lake Chapala in May:
Ani, groove-billed
Avocet, American (Ca)
Becard, rose-throated (Sa)
Bushtit
Caracara, crested
Coot, American
Cormorant, neotropic
Cowbird, bronzed
Cuckoo, squirrel
Dove, Eurasian collared
Dove, Inca
Dove, white-tipped
Dove, white-winged
Duck, black-bellied whistling (Ca)
Duck, fulvous whistling (Ca)
Duck, Mexican
Egret, cattle
Egret, great
Egret, snowy
Euphonia, elegant (Sa)
Finch, house
Flycatcher, ash-throated
Flycatcher, dusky-capped
Flycatcher, social
Flycatcher, vermillion
Gallinule, common
Goldfinch, lesser
Grackle, great-tailed
Grebe, pied-billed (Jo)
Grosbeak, black-headed
Hawk, red-tailed
Heron, black-crowned night
Heron, great blue
Hummingbird, berylline
Hummingbird, broad-billed
Hummingbird, sparkling-tailed (Ac)
Hummingbird, violet-crowned
Ibis, white-faced
Jacana, northern
Killdeer
Kingbird, Cassin's
Kingbird, thick-billed
Kingbird, tropical
Kiskadee, great
Kite, white-tailed (Ca)
Mockingbird, blue
Mockingbird, northern
Motmot, russet-crowned
Nightjar, buff-collared (Av)
Oriole, black-backed
Oriole, black-vented
Oriole, streak-backed
Owl, great-horned (Sn)
Owl, mountain pygmy
Parakeet, monk
Pelican, American white
Pelican, brown (Jo)
Pewee, western wood
Pigeon, rock
Raven, common
Robin, rufous-backed
Seedeater, cinnamon-rumped
Sparrow, house
Sparrow, rusty-crowned ground
Sparrow, stripe-headed
Stilt, black-necked (Ca)
Swallow, barn
Swallow, cliff (Jo)
Swallow, northern rough-winged
Tanager, western
Tern, Caspian
Thrasher, curve-billed
Thrush, orange-billed nightingale
Towhee, canyon
Vireo, golden (Sa)
Vireo, warbling (Sa)
Vulture, black
Vulture, turkey
Warbler, rufous-capped (Sc)
Woodpecker, golden-fronted
Woodpecker, ladder-backed
Wren, Bewick's
Wren, canyon
Wren, happy (At,Sc)
Wren, marsh (Jo)
Location codes:
Ac - Ajijic: La Cristina/El Bajio
At - Trails above Ajijic
Av - Ajijic village
Ca - Lake Cajititlan & marsh
Ch - Chapala
Cu - Cuitzeo/Ocotlan
Dm - Dike: Jamay to Malteraña
Dp - Dike: Maltaraña to La Palma
Hv - Hidden Valley oak forest
Ja - Jamay
La - La Cañada-Hidden Valley
Jo - Jocotepec
Ld - Lerma & Duero rivers
Pe - Petatan area
Ps - Pumping Station/Santa Cruz
Pt - San Pedro Tesistan area
Pz - San Pedro Itzican area
Ra - Rosa Amarilla loop
Rc - Santa Rosa/Carnero dam
Rp - Riberas del Pilar & canyon
Sa - San Antonio/Allen Lloyd Trail
Sc - San Juan Cosala
Sn - San Nicholas/Golf Club
Tz - Tizapan canyon
Te - San Juan Tecomatlan/Mezcala
Tr - Las Trojes/oak forest
Tu - Tuxcueca/San Luis Soyatlan
Xt - Ixtlahuacan/Las Campanillas
|
| Lake Chapala Birders is an informal group of bird observers led by John and Rosemary Keeling. Don't hesitate to contact us if you are seeking information about birding in the area. We also like to hear about sightings of birds or nests at: chapalabirders@yahoo.com or 376.766.1801. Check out the website: chapalabirders.org.
A laminated folder "Quick Guide to the Birds of Lake Chapala" illustrating 150 local species can be purchased for $150 pesos at Diane Pearl Collecciones, Colon #1, in the center of Ajijic. This is especially useful to newcomers - it is produced by "Defenders of Wildlife" which works to protect imperiled species throughout North America. NOTE: THIS FOLDER IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT.
|
| | | | |
