Baby Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Yesterday was kind of an interesting day for me. My brother that morning went out with my aunt for a while while doing a Pokemon GO community day event to catch a Squirtle or something to that effect. Anyway they came across a Scissor-tailed flycatcher in a tree in a church parking lot. My aunt was the one who saw it and reported it back to me and later took me to the area it was found. I thought it was just a stand alone. I just knew it was going to be gone by the time we got there; boy was I wrong! My aunt came and picked us up and we headed to the area where she had said she found it. As we came up and circled around we saw a tree the adult had been spotted in but little did we know that we were looking at a nesting site. This was the first time I had ever seen a flycatcher nest but little did I realize I would get more than I bargained for. My aunt parked the car and I got out. I was very careful when I approached the nest. I was back a few feet to better my safety. I have been around these birds long enough to know that Tyrannical flycatchers mean business when it comes to defending their territory and especially their nesting sites. I stayed back as I took my photos and kept my distance. I moved a tad bit closer and discovered a chick with it's head totally exposed out of the nest. If you carefully at the photo you can see part of the wing at the shoulder. I think he might have been using either brother or sister or brother and sister as a stepping stool. Normally these birds can have 3-6 eggs in a clutch. This nest almost seem too little for this chick. What was even funnier was the way the nest was made. It had some kind of cloth which I read on the All About Birds Cornell Lab of Ornithology site to be pretty normal for this bird. The adults thought a dash of fluff from what we think might have come from the donations bin. It had been lined with the fluff and then it had some string and at one end it had a plastic grocery bag. I have seen birds make nests out of crazy things on videos and on wildlife tapes but gosh I never would have guessed that these birds would make hash out of something to line their nests. I guess they wanted what was best for junior. They say a picture is worth a thousand words but there are more that can be said about this one. The chick was even more interesting for when I listened it was making a soft whistle like chirp. I have been around Wrens while they are nesting and their young stay pretty silent when they parents are not feeding them when they go and make a bug run. I know for fact that the parent wrens tell their kids to SHUT UP! so that way predators don't hear them. This Scissor-tail chick apparently didn't get the memo on your out in the open just button that beak! It was kind of a fun photo and I am glad I was able to get about three good shots before cheesing it myself. I didn't know how long it would before another feeding. I have been watching NatGeo wild in recent days and I watch a show called Animals Gone Wild and they tell of some birds actually aiming their beaks at the back of peoples heads. I do not want to be on the receiving end of that assault. I have been pooped on once by a bird and that is not as bad a possibly being bludgeoned or bloodied up by a bird beak. That would not be a good way to spend the day. When getting photos like that don't get too close just keep your distance and make the encounter short, don't try to touch the bird at all. Just leave it alone and make your get away as soon as you can. I remember one day when I was at TCC South Campus a couple of semesters ago I saw two Scissor-tails fighting and they were really going at it. That kind of put some healthy fear into me. Don't tick off a bird or it can get pretty ugly. I may love wildlife but you have to know the playing field and you have to know when to give up. I am saying this to the people who are just starting out with this iNaturalist game who might be inexperienced with it. Learn the animal's behavior before you step out. Remember this is real science and to learn the behavior of your targets is part of the battle before embarking on your mission. Never get too close. I was close enough to where I could see the bird and though I may not be an expert and still a little green I trained myself to look for possible danger. Never let an animal feel uncomfortable that can lead to even bigger danger. Knowing your target's behaviors in any given situation is always key to sucessfully watching them in the wild. I am not say that mistakes don't happen anything can happen but being prepared for what to expect is a good way to go on a hike. It will better you and your abilities to be an iNatter and a good hiker. Babies are fun too look at but some mothers can be pretty defensive never approach a baby animal too closely. If the adults think their young are in danger the results can be pretty dramatic if your not careful. This is just a public service announcement for the younger iNaturalist users not necessarily the adults of course some can benefit from this portion of information. I may not be an expert. No offense intended. Pass this message on if you know someone who is just starting out as a young naturalist or if you are beginning to do iNaturalist. I thought that I could use this photo as a cautionary tale about what could have happened if I hadn't kept my wits about me and cut my observation short. The photo told me all I needed to know that is how I described it so well in detail was from the analysis of the photo. Until next time I am Zachary Chapman.

Posted on 09 July, 2018 11:10 by galactic_bug_man