August, birds are preparing to migrate! 8-13-24

August 13, 2024  •  Leave a Comment

August, a time of frenzied feeding.

Birds must put on weight to be ready for their long migratory flights.

 

8-8-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Salvia Black-and-blue8-8-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Salvia Black-and-blue

Salvia 'Black-and-blue' is a perennial that blooms from mid-May into mid-October in our garden. It is one of my favorite non-native plants because it feeds so many Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Its nectar has about 30% higher sugar content, which the birds and bees love. 

 

8-8-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Salvia Black-and-blue by perching8-8-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird at Salvia Black-and-blue by perching

This young hummingbird is using a bare stem as a perch to reach the blossom. As it does, pollen is being deposited on its forehead, which the bird will carry to the next blossom.

 

8-8-24 Two native bees in Salvia Black-and-blue8-8-24 Two native bees in Salvia Black-and-blue
 

I noticed some tiny bee activity around this bloom while I was waiting for the hummingbirds. Look closely, not just one bee but next to the metallic green bee is an even tinier native bee inside the bloom. Another benefit is revealed!

 

8-8-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird8-8-24 Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will be moving through with each cool front now through October. They drink nectar and sugar water to fuel their need to catch insect food. I had a question from my friend, Jan Conant who enjoyed the photo with the hummingbird's tongue in the last post. She wondered how do hummingbirds really drink? In 2011, researchers published the results of studying their amazing tongues. This is very specialized behavior!

How the hummingbird's tongue really works

 

Now, on to a different species of bird entirely. I have been seeing an adult Mississippi Kite soaring over our yard and around the neighborhood. One day, I heard a second bird answering with its "Phee-phew" call, but I only got a glimpse of it. I started checking early in the morning and last Thursday, 8-8-24, I found a juvenile bird perched, obscured in a nearby oak. 

 

8-8-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile8-8-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile 8-8-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile takes off8-8-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile takes off

I watched it for some time before it decided to glide away and I lost sight of it.

 

8-9-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile calling, "phee-phew"8-9-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile calling, "phee-phew" 8-9-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile with insect from adult8-9-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile with insect from adult

8-10-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile calling, "phee-phew"8-10-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile calling, "phee-phew" 8-10-24 Adult Mississippi Kite brings food to juvenile8-10-24 Adult Mississippi Kite brings food to juvenile 8-10-24 Adult Mississippi Kite brings food to juvenile8-10-24 Adult Mississippi Kite brings food to juvenile

The next two mornings, I was able to observe it calling, preening, stretching its wings and finally an adult called to it and brought in some insect food. Handoffs were very quick! Sometimes, the bird was facing away, "mantling" or hiding its prey. Studying the photos, the insects looked to be large grasshoppers and annual cicadas. 

 

8-11-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile calling, "phee-phew"8-11-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile calling, "phee-phew" 8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile spreads wings8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile spreads wings 8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile listens for adult8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile listens for adult

As you can see, the young bird looks very different from the gray and white adult, to help it blend in with the trees for protection.

 

8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile is brought insect food by adult8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile is brought insect food by adult 8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile is brought insect food by adult8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile is brought insect food by adult 8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile is brought insect food by adult8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile is brought insect food by adult

8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile eating insect from adult8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile eating insect from adult 8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile eating insect from adult8-12-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile eating insect from adult

As soon as I'd open the front door, I could hear it begging. Back inside, get the camera and try again to capture this feeding behavior. Here is a four minute video with some of the clips. I've slowed down some of the action so we can really see what's happening! 

 

8-12-24 Mississippi Kites

8-13-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile preening8-13-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile preening 8-13-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile stretches8-13-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile stretches 8-13-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile calling8-13-24 Mississippi Kite juvenile calling

It rained most of the day yesterday after I got some initial images. I couldn't find the birds in the afternoon and wondered if they had moved on. But by 8:10 a.m. this morning, the juvenile was back on its open perch, preening, stretching its wings and calling. Didn't hear the adult, but after about 20 minutes, the juvie took off to the east, over and around to another part of the neighborhood. Perhaps it has several perches like this one where the adult will come with food. This bird must practice its flight maneuvers, too.

It won't be too long before these birds begin their journey south. After rearing their chicks, they fly all the way to central South America for the winter! Read all about this fascinating bird:

Mississippi Kite

 

 

 

 

 


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