Vern Laux, resident bird expert and naturalist took the class out birding yesterday to various sites around Nantucket Island. We encounter a northern mocking bird, which can mimic calls from other birds as well as horns, sirens, or other human made noises. Sifting through a field of Canada geese, we attempted to sneak up on the three Northern Lapwings, some of the rarest birds here in North America, which blew over the Atlantic during the unusual weather events of Hurricane Sandy.

Moving onwards to some of the ponds, we saw American Coots, Ring-Necked Ducks, Wigeons (both American and Eurasian) as well as several types of Gulls and shore birds like the Black Bellied Plover.

Eurasian Wigeon

Ring-Neck Duck

Over head we noted Red Tailed Hawks among the fleet of Crows and other common birds.

Later that day, Vern took me out to the Nantucket Conservation Foundation’s Cranberry Bogs in search of a more uncommon Raptor, although it is found on every continent except Antarctica. There we came across a Peregrine Falcon, full on some recent meal, she lazily sat along the road not far from a flock of small shorebirds called Dunlin. We were able to get nearly 10 meters away and snap some good photos. Through the binoculars I was able to observe the faster animal on earth, full, and lackadaisically perched on a cranberry bog road. Cool Video on Peregrines.

As for my independent project – I have been designing new “self guided nature trail posts” for the 11 posts along the UMB Field Station’s Nature trail. Check here for the Current Posts Virtual Tour. I will be focusing on several different topics, including some birds that may be spotted during the off season months. If other students are interested, it would be great to collaborate on some of these posts in order to bring the research and study on specific topics such as salt marshes, coastal change, or hydrological systems into the field posts.

All for now

Peregrine Falcon, Hunting

Dunlin, a small shore bird

Its time to speak up against the Key Stone XL pipeline to support serious response to climate change. If you want your voice to be heard just click Here to send a message to Obama and get more info.

Here is NASA’s Hansen’s view from: http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20110826/james-hansen-nasa-climate-change-scientist-keystone-xl-oil-sands-pipeline-protests-mckibben-white-house

Now 70, Hansen heads the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City. In June he joined an effort spearheaded by Bill McKibben, the Vermont author, professor and founder of the advocacy organization 350.org, to coordinate a two-week protest against Keystone XL. They want the Obama administration to reject a Canadian company’s application to construct the $7 billion, 1,702-mile pipeline, which would carry heavy crude from the oil sands mines of Alberta to refineries along the Gulf Coast.

On Friday, State Department officials released their final environmental analysis of TransCanada’s proposed pipeline, saying the project will have “limited adverse environmental impacts.” The administration is expected to approve or reject Keystone XL by the end of the year.

Take a second to voice your opinion and help our government realize that people care about the environment.

As you all may know, last Sunday thousands gathered around the white house in the biggest protest regarding climate change ever. Advocates like Bill McKibben (350.org)  and Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune where there speaking up for serious response to a serious global problem. They were arrested for “failure to disperse” as they stood their ground in a peaceful protest of the Keystone XL pipe Line, but not in vain.

From Michael Brune’s Blog: Sierra Club

Last night, the president stood before Congress to say this:

… if [you] won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.

Took a morning walk with Nemo, Travis, Sophia, Llewin, Richard, Nicole and Amelia. Compiled some photos here into a short clip.

Take a look here: Nemo on Nantucket

Check it out in HD.

Jeremy

Nantucket has some seriously awesome birds at all different times of the year. Although I have never been birding before I borrowed a Mass Audubon Bird book from the Umass Field station as well as a pair of binoculars in order to explore more observantly. While out and about near the harbor and on the open fields of Sanford Farm, I identified a few ducks and gulls.  I spent time with a truly gorgeous and plump American Robin who persistently pecked away at soft ground near Folgers Marsh. Black Bufflehead ducks with their white crowns swam peacefully on Head of Hummock Pond and floated about with the green and brown Mallards and a pair of geese.