Winter migrants return
November 2010 By Patti Muzny It’s finally fall and the lure of the garden has disappeared with the first frost. What does one do with … Read more
Year: 2010
November 2010
Greetings in gold Even though only two new species were added to the 2010 list this month, it was great to greet the returning winter … Read more
Pine Warbler
For a change of pace, this month I would like to talk about a nemesis bird—one that keeps getting away. Scattered records in central Oklahoma … Read more
Autumn in Byars
Chirpings, November 2010 by Patti Muzny It’s finally fall and the lure of the garden has disappeared with the first frost. What does one do … Read more
October 2010
Beginning the Fall Invasion Beginning October, flies, crickets and spiders were abundantly hanging out in the fields providing a good food supply for the hungry … Read more
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
A few weeks ago my wife Melissa had an immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) hit her office window (NW 63rd & Classen). The bird jumped … Read more
September 2010
Recorders Report – September 2010 Fall migration from shorebirds to sparrows After the long, hot, dry summer, welcome rain arrived at various times and locations … Read more
Blue-headed Vireo
By John Shackford The Solitary Vireo (Vireo solitarius) used to be considered to have several subspecies, including 3 that could be found in Oklahoma. Recently … Read more
Western Pygmy Rattler!
Our summer was hot and dry after the spring floods, but the birds in our yard managed to carry on and raise a brood or … Read more
Summer 2010
From a 500 year flood to moderate drought conditions the birds experienced a great change in the weather this summer while nurturing the next generation … Read more
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
A.C. Bent, in Life Histories of North American Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, and their Allies (reprint edition, 1963), speaking of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus), said … Read more
April 2010
Welcoming over 50 newcomers When April began, the beautiful purple flowering redbuds were highlighting by the gray winter forest, which suddenly turned various shades of … Read more
Chimney Swift
by John Shackford Until this year Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) have nested regularly in our chimney; we are feeling a bit guilty because we have … Read more
March 2010
When Spring Turned Into Winter March is the magical month when birds return and winter turns into spring, but this year was different. Several winter … Read more
Purple Finch
by John Shackford In its online write-up about the Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus), Cornell University states: “The Purple Finch is the bird that Roger Tory … Read more
Oklahoma Hummingbirds
by Mark Howery, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Three species of hummingbirds are regularly found in Oklahoma. Two species, the Ruby-throated and the Black-chinned, nest … Read more
February 2010
February Surprises National records were set in February regarding both snow and wind. For the first time in the national weather records on February 12th … Read more
Hairy Woodpecker
by John Shackford The Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) is told from the Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) by having a longer, heavier bill, and an extra … Read more
January 2010
A Cold Wet Month A new year, a new bird list, and a new weather pattern start the year 2010. In spite of a few … Read more
Spotted Towhee
by John Shackford Although the Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) and Eastern Towhee (P. erythrophthalmus) are closely related, they are currently classified as separate species. The … Read more
December 2009
Recorder’s Report by Esther Key In central Oklahoma the balmy fall weather continued for a very short time. During the morning of December 7th a … Read more
November 2009
Recorder’s Report by Esther Key The beautiful, warm fall weather persisted through the month of November. A Rufous Hummingbird continued to visit Terri Underhill’s feeder … Read more
Birds in a Blizzard
Chirpings January 2010 by Patti Muzny What a difference winter temperatures can make in feeder activity! Before the infamous Christmas Eve blizzard, our south Oklahoma … Read more
Ring-billed Gull
The Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) is one of our most common winter birds, at least by Christmas Bird Count standards. At a total of 10,936 … Read more