Is It Thunder? Deck Fox, Swans, Geese, Mystery Duck, The M Red-tail Nest or Is It Nests?

IS IT THUNDER?
Is this proof she survived the winter?
HERE ARE TWO PHOTOS OF A RECENT SIGHTING OF A MYSTERY IMMATURE RED-TAIL IN TULSA

Photo by Russell Mills of KJRH TV Tulsa
http://www.kjrh.com/content/news/hawks/default.aspx

Photo by Russell Mills of KJRH TV Tulsa
IS IT THUNDER?

Jackie Dover's map of Tulsa Hawk sightings. See red arrow. Confirmed sightings of Thunder. Also the location of a recent sighting of the mystery hawk.

Photograph by Cheryl Cavert of the Tulsa Hawk Forum
11-18-08 --Confirmed photo of Thunder.

Photo by Cheryl Cavert of the Tulsa Hawk Forum
12/25/08 Confirmed photo of Thunder

Photograph by Cheryl Cavert of the Tulsa Hawk Forum
http://www.kjrh.com/content/news/hawks/default.aspx
1-6-08 This one is from a different location from the other three, Zink Park. It is a possible Thunder. I just included it as another photo to compare. --Jackie

Photograph by Karen Anne Kolling
The Fox on the deck has become a regular at Karen Anne Kolling's seed bowl!

The fox is showing up once every 2-3 days, and, besides some birdseed, he eats some peanuts in their shells, so since he is eating here anyway, I have put out some unshelled (unsalted) peanuts. He does not eat a lot, so I don't know if he is not hungry, or if he just doesn't like seeds and nuts that much,

Karen

Photograph by Karen Anne KollingI only see swans once every few months, and they usually come right up to the seawall for bread, but these guys were only interested in napping -

Photograph by Karen Anne Kolling

Photograph by Karen Anne Kolling

Photograph by Karen Anne Kolling

Photo by Pat GonzalezCanada Goose, Bronx River

Photo by Pat Gonzalez-- Mystery Duck?
Donegal,
Since January, I've seen this duck at the NY Botanical Garden swimming in the Bronx River, usually surrounded by male and female mallards. For the life of me, I don't know who I'm looking at. I've searched all my guide books and online and can't find any pics or illustrations of a white duck or goose with this shape and size bill. Any ideas?
pat

Well, I'm thinking that perhaps your mystery duck is a hybrid. A mix of domestic farm duck and Mallard. After all your white duck hangs out with Mallards and the bill looks a little mallardish so that's a thought. Another thought is that it could be a mostly albinoistic Mallard.Do any readers have any thoughts or comments on mystery duck?

NOW THE KAY AND JAY CARTOON PAGE

A collaboration of Bob McCargar and Jackie Dover of the Tulsa Forum
(Courtesy)

From Carol Vinzant our favorite squirrel rehabber--
Project squirrel' needs your help
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Tracking animal population --who can help? 'Anyone willing to look outside'

March 13, 2009
BY KARA SPAK Staff Reporter/kspak@suntimes.com
They live among us in the city or suburbs, charming nut hoarders scampering underfoot and overhead. But the humble squirrel is much more than an ever-present rodent with more charisma than a rat. The little guy is a powerful indicator of the health of the local ecosystem, said Steve Sullivan, curator of urban ecology at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum . More---http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/1475088,CST-NWS-squirrel13.article
THE M NEST, N1, COMPLETE WITH A SITTER. She's there.

See her? Tail left, head right.
And further back just outside the mid-oak tree nest field is the second nest, N2, that I mentioned in a previous blog. As it is what I would consider close to the other nest, a rural Red-tail territory often thought to be about 2 square miles, give or take a bit depending on the food supply, my first thought was that N2 was built as a possible choice for this season but the hawks chose N1 to actually use. But the first time I looked at it, I thought I saw some movement. Imagination? Squirrel? So each day I've been taking another look just in case.

Where is it exactly?

We're standing on the edge of the field, with N1 to the left. Start at N1 and move your eyes to the back edge of this field. Do you see three clumps of trees slightly left of center photo? Then there is sort of a blank area with some things further back and then a black blob of tree and vegetation where the back of the field meets the side of the field.

Here is the view from the front. Starting left, some short trees, then a 3 tree -ish line of trees, then a tree that is further back. That tree is the N2 tree. Look carefully and you'll see the nest near the top of the tree.
And today when I looked at N2, guess what I saw?

Wonders never cease. There is another sitting hawk up there!
Seems awfully close to the other but then how many country hawk nests have I watched?

Though it did enter my mind that this might be the N1 tiercel using N2 as a blind. That is a tad far fetched, I admit, but this is the bird that lured me into looking directly into the sun.

OHIO RED-TAIL EXPERT JOHN BLAKEMAN'S TAKE ON THE TWO NESTS, N1 AND N2.

Donna,

Red-tails will occasionally nest somewhat close to each other. They maintain separate territories, but happen to have nests near the mutual edges of the two territories. If there is enough food, they tolerate this arrangement.

But you won't see three of them hunting together in nesting season. Sometimes in winter, but not now.

John Blakeman

Once I read the information from John, it confirmed a thought I had had about a possible territorial line. I have never seen either of the N1 hawks fly beyond the RR tracks. I now assume that is a boundary line.

Back to N1, and she's still up there in the unseasonable 71 degree weather.

Then I hear the honking of Geese, they seem to communicate quite a bit. With each other, geese on the ground call to them, it's grand being a Canada Goose.

Well they fly in, in a typical loose V, and then decide to turn south, I presume because there is a lake in that direction.

So far so good. Banking together when...

...something happened. Most likely the very stiff wind currents of today caught them off guard as they banked to turn, and they started bashing into each other. I wonder if they ever knock each other out of the sky?

7 seconds later, everybody is back with the program if a trifle close to their fellows in a couple of places.

The House Finches are coming out of their winter Spruce shelter, pairing up, and singing, singing, singing.

The male Robins have arrived in mass, are battling over territory, and singing their wares Just in case the females appear.

Donegal Browne