Winter Robins Bring a Smile

With temperatures in the upper 20s and yet another weekly winter storm set to cause havoc in the Lower New York Bay watershed region, I received a warm treat today with the sight of about 20 American Robins in my backyard. For a few moments, the sight of so robins reminded me of the warmer days of spring.  

Don’t get me wrong, I love the winter, but this particular winter season has been problematic and frustrating. Ever since the after Christmas storm that dumped over two feet of snow it seems there has been one major winter storm after another.  There is no longer any room in my driveway to put the snow!

So the sight of these speedy birds with their warm, orange breast looking for insects on scattered areas uncovered by snow under my deck reminded me of a warmer season to come, which is still many weeks away.   

Although robins are considered harbingers of spring, many American Robins spend the winter in southern New York and New Jersey. The population of winter robins can become extremely large, sometimes into the thousands. The number of robins seen varies each year. 

During the winter the robins will roost among evergreens, such as cedars. They will feed on winter berries such as sumac, bittersweet, and juniper berries. Sometimes on sunny, warm winter days the robins can be seen searching on the ground for insects by looking under leaf litter on under topsoil.

 

The robins were certainly everywhere today looking for food! Who knows, maybe spring is closer than we think. If so, this would bring a huge smile to my face.

A Lazy Sunday for Harbor Seals

It was the last Sunday of January. It was unlike most days of the month. The day was beautiful and calm. There was sunshine and the high temperature climbed up all the way  to 40 degrees, which was actually slightly above normal. Go figure! 

A group of Harbor Seals resting and sleeping under the warm sun in Sandy Hook Bay

Yet, the weather wasn't even the best part of the day. It was being rewarded with the sight of around 45 Harbor Seals basking and resting under the noon sun along a beach in Sandy Hook Bay. It was good to see the seals again after several weeks of bitter cold and widespread pack ice in the bay. 

Harbor Seals are the typical winter visitor to Lower New York Bay and the most abundant seal and perhaps the most abundant marine mammal in the estuary too. The seals are most visible when they haul out to rest, relax and bask under the sun on sand bars, rocks, or remote beaches during low tide. Yet, the seals are still just rare enough to make the sight of them a very special occasion.

I never get tired of seeing seals in the bay. There is just something special about knowing there are marine mammals out in the bay. It is a wonderful reminder of the bay's connection to the Atlantic Ocean, even during the winter.

February is the height of seal season in Lower New York Bay. Last year, up to 90 seals were counted basking in one place throughout the month. Let's see how many seals can be spotted this season.

Please keep in mind, though, when watching seals, stay back at least 150 feet in order to prevent unnecessary stress and abandonment of their basking sites. Approaching seals can cause them to feel threatened and they may bite. If a seal appears injured, sick, or in need of help, keep your distance and report it to the NJ Marine Mammal Stranding Center at (609) 266-0538 or the NY Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation at (631) 369-9829.

Is It Too Cold for Backyard Wildlife?

Sunrise came over Lower New York Bay around 7am the other day. The window thermometer read 24 degrees Fahrenheit. It looked to be a clear winter's day. The snow and ice along the front walkway cracked and compressed under the weight of my boots as I went out to locate the morning newspaper. Icicles hung from the roof and at least two feet of snow surrounded the house.  There was no doubt that we were in the firm grip of old man winter. 

Yet, despite the bitter wintry weather of the last several weeks, there was a Northern Cardinal singing by bedroom window. I am not sure why. Perhaps the bird was getting tired of winter and was asserting its nesting territory already in hope of an early spring? I trust the cardinal knows something the weather forecasters do not. 

The sight and sound of that cardinal made me mull over in my mind the troubles common backyard animals might have to go through to survive winter, especially an exceptionally extreme and historic winter season like this one. How do small birds like cardinals and chickadees, and long-established mammals like deer and squirrels survive during a season of deep snow and sparse food. 

A bird that has its feathers puffed-out to keep warm

Here I am in a nice climate controlled house with plenty of warm food and drinks. When I want to venture outside I can bundle myself up in layers and I when I get too cold I can simply return inside. This is not the case for wildlife. They are out in the elements 24/7. How do they do it?

Another bird that has its feathers puffed -out to keep arm on a cold day

According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology and The Birdwatcher's Companion to North American Birdlife by Christopher Leahy, backyard birds have more than a few strategies to survive the rough treatment of winter. To begin with, birds are warm-blooded animals. Not only that but they have a much higher body temperature than humans. While the exact body temperature varies for each bird species, the average body temperature for a bird is 105 degrees Fahrenheit. So add this higher body temperature with a thick layer of warm down or feathers and birds can survive a good number of cold days.

Still, when temperatures get really cold, many northern birds have evolved over time to combat cold. Birds will often fluff up their plumage to trap body heat and create an insulating layer of warmth when wind chills are below freezing. Moreover, birds can shiver to produce more body heat if needed. Another strategy to beat back the cold is for birds to roost or sleep closely together to share body heat.  Some birds like Black-capped Chickadees can even reduce their body temperature at night to enter into a deep sleep to save considerable amounts of energy. 

What keeps deer and squirrels warm in the winter? Instead of feathers, they have a  hollow hair coat that helps to transfer heat from UV sunlight to the animal's skin to keep them warm. Also the hair is waterproof to keep them snug in cold water or in wet snow. They  also have a layer of fat between the muscle and skin to help to serve as insulation and energy. Moreover, deer tend to travel to areas with evergreen trees or shrubs, since evergreens tend to have dark leaves that absorb energy from the sun. This makes spots with evergreens a place for deer to herd up in the winter since an area of forest with evergreens is slightly warmer than trees that shed their leaves.  

This brings me to the most important tool for helping to keep these animals warm - food! All active animals need food in cold weather to keep warm. 

Small birds need relatively more food than larger birds, since they generally eat smaller items such as seeds. This means they have to spend more  energy  trying to find food. So smaller birds are more likely to be affected by a cold snap. This is why many birds try to store food and have exceptional memories to relocate it, even weeks or a month or two later.

Gray squirrels try to store food too. They will gather food in the fall and stash it in hidden locations close to their nest to be eaten later. When winter comes, they keep warm in their nest made from leaves and twigs, and mostly rely on their hidden stash of food for nourishment. 

For deer, all winter long the search for food goes on. Every day, except in intense storms, whitetails hunt for food. The problem is the sacristy of food. Gone are the grasses, mushrooms, and plants. Fortunately, deer store most of their fat reserves during the summer months because the twigs they eat in the winter lack the nutritional value of green vegetation. By the end of a  harsh winter, deer may turn to eating just tree bark to survive.

As winter winds rattle through the bare branches of our backyard trees and falling snow piles up by the foot, it is interesting to know that this arctic weather is not without life. Best of all, we do not need to go far to see splendid sights of winter wildlife. The animals are as close as a backyard bird-feeder or a row of evergreens.

Update on Banded Canada Goose

Below is an email message I received from Linda Mack of NJ Audubon. It's regarding the Canada Goose I spotted at Sandy Hook over the weekend with the bright orange neck collar.  She saw the same goose too.

It seems the goose is really from Canada!! Good day, eh!

Thanks Linda for the good information.

--------------------------

Joe,

Report banded/collared birds to:
www.reportband.gov

I reported the same Canada Goose seen at Sandy Hook and it is a male, banded in Quebec on 7/14/09.  If you submit the data, you will receive a Certificate of Appreciation listing the particulars of the species (takes a few days,sometimes a bit longer).  

Regards,
Linda Mack

The Snowiest January in NYC's History

A snowy, icy Wednesday & Thursday was punctuated by the news of record-setting snow. Mayor Bloomberg announced on Thursday that the 19 inches of snow dumped on Central Park by the latest winter storm made this the snowiest January in New York City's history. 

A graphic from the New York Daily News

The latest storm pushed the month's snow total to 36.0 inches in New York City. That makes this January 2011 the snowiest on record, bypassing January 1925 and its 27.4 inches.The total snow received for the city so far this winter season has been a whopping 56.1 inches. 

This winter season is now on course to be the snowiest winter season of all time for New York City. Currently the record is held by the 95-96 winter season when the city was hit by a wild 75.6 inches of snow.

This is one record I am hoping will not be broken. 

Closer to home and across the bay, in Atlantic Highlands we received around 12 inches of snow, combining Wednesday morning and Thursday morning totals. Mother Nature hit us with everything she had including snow, sleet, ice, rain and even a few claps of thunder. 

By early Thursday morning the massive system had moved north to New England. In its wake was the sight of the usual backyard birds: jays, cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, and of course crows. While clearing away the snow from the driveway, overhead I saw several waves of Canada Geese flying westward. 

The last week of the first month of 2011 is quickly concluding the way it began, with ice, snow, and the warm comfort of seeing winter birds.  

Another Snowy Winters Day

Yet another weekly episode of snow and wind was hammering Lower New York Bay today. Since late December, there has been a weekly occurrence of storms, sometime twice a week. 

A snow-covered road in Port Monmouth, NJ

This storm, however, might take the prize for being the most annoying.  By noon close to two inches of fresh snow had been added to a foot of long-standing snow. Then there was sleet and rain. By 4pm the first part of the storm had departed, but the wait was on. Another larger storm is expected to arrive sometime after dark and possible dump up to a 8 or more inches of snow. 

The good news - only 8 more weeks before the Ospreys arrive! 

The Bayshore Waterfront Park along Sandy Hook Bay

During the snowstorm today, I was over in Port Monmouth, near the Bayshore Waterfront Park along Sandy Hook Bay.  As I was driving along a snow-covered Port Monmouth Road, a quick moving bird with a long wing-span and large head flew right past my car and into the woods. It was an adult Coopers Hawk. If there hadn't been a car traveling behind me I would have stopped and tried to take a picture.

A pair of Red-Wing Blackbirds

Later on, through the driving snow, a small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds visited the feeders. Blackbirds have always been one of our first returning birds in February, but I've never seen them in January before, especially during a snowstorm. Similar to Robins, I am starting to believe there is a population of male Red-winged Blackbirds that hangs about year-round. Come spring, these birds will have the first pick of the best nesting sites in the bay before the migratory Red-winged Blackbirds pull in. That is if they can survive the winter. 

For a brief moment during the storm it seemed like I was the only car on Highway 36

With cold, snow, and ice all around the bay, there was no denying that winter is far from over.

Snow-covered cars in the Atlantic Highlands marina. The cars are from people who took the ferry to Manhattan earlier in the day.

Nearly 2 inches of fresh snow today. Perhaps more later tonight.

Into the Icebox

It was frigid at first light. I woke up to a temperature of 7°F.

High temperatures only increased to 19 degrees. Fortunately, the light winds made the cold temperatures tolerable for at least a little bit while outside. 

A nearly frozen Sandy Hook Bay with the sight of NYC in the background

The record low on this day for the northern Jersey Shore region was set in 1963 when it was just 4 degrees. In Central Park the record low for today happened in 1936 when it was only -3°. The coldest January on record in New Jersey occurred  in 1918 with a statewide average temperature of only 20.2 degrees. That must have been a popular month for long underwear and cuddling!! I wonder how many babies were born the following autumn??

Although today did not provide a record setting low temperature, it did provide the sight of more ice in Sandy Hook Bay. It was a cold, clear day with lots of floating ice on the bay.

Another reason why January is a prime winter month in Lower New York Bay.

Who Put the Neck Collar on the Goose?

It was a cold winter's day. High temperatures were well below freezing, barely getting to 27 degrees. 

A Canada Goose seen recently at Sandy Hook with a bright orange neck collar.

Still, the sun was bright and the sky was blue so I decided to head out to Sandy Hook around mid-day. Despite the cold temperatures and brisk north winds off the bay, I was able to spot the usual birds: Buffleheads, Brant, Black Ducks, mergansers, and mallards, to name just a few. 

 The highlight of the day, however, was seeing an ordinary Canada Goose with a bright orange band around its neck with white letters and numbers written on it. I wonder when and where did that band come from and who put it on? The band said H9W2. Fortunately the print on the band was large enough to see from a safe distance. 

Keep in mind, Canada Geese aren't endangered species. They are so widespread and common that many people consider them pests. Even so, this was the first time I saw a neck band around a goose, or any bird for that matter. This was special. 

Although I did see a shiny silver metal band on its right leg, the print was way too small to get any information. The neck band was big and long. The numbers were easy to read. It also looked so tight and uncomfortable. I felt sorry for the poor bird. It was clear that this goose was being used as an object for a specific scientific study. But for what? 

Looking around, I couldn't find anyone or any other birds with bands around their necks, legs, or any other body parts. Yet, the bird was not alone. There were about 30 other Canada Geese resting, feeding on grass from open patches of snow melt, and drinking water from a puddle in a parking lot. They looked exhausted and didn't honk at all. The birds didn't even attempt to fly. They just seemed to waddle slowly around to rest and feed. 

Back at home, I checked the internet in hopes of finding out some information about the banded goose. I went to one website that told me I shoudl report my findings to federal government. So I went to http://www.reportband.gov/, but this website was just for reporting leg bands, not neck bands. Nevertheless, I did manage to send an email to explain what I discovered in hopes of finding some answers. 

After surfing the web and searching for answers on Google I kept coming up empty. Can someone please tell me why this poor Canada goose has a bright orange band around its neck?!?!

I went to a USGS website and found that neck bands are put on Canada Geese in the United States and Canada by wildlife scientists to investigate and track routes. The neck bands are called "goose collars." 

In general, goose collars are used to study goose populations or track geese as part of a research project. Collars can be easily read from a distance with binoculars or a telescope. This allows researchers to identify an individual bird.

Collars with a combinations of 2 letters and 2 numbers, like the one I found,  are assigned by the Bird Banding Laboratory in Laurel, MD. Orange and Blue collars are widely used in the Mississippi Flyway. These collars were part of an extensive effort to track the populations and movements of Canada Geese. Orange collars were used in the Canadian portion of the Mississippi Flyway, and Blue collars were used in the US portion of the Mississippi Flyway.

Wow, it seems you never know what will turn up in or near the shores of Sandy Hook Bay. On a cold winter's day I found a flock of Canada Geese that somewhere and at sometime called the Mississippi River Valley its home. The geese might have flown more than 500 miles to reach the northern Jersey Shore.

Of course, this answer brings to mind more questions like why did the birds take flight away from the Mississippi River Valley to turn up in New Jersey. This was at least a 500 mile journey, why do it in the middle of winter?

Perhaps food and freshwater were scarce. It's possible that due to the serve ice and winter storms out west, the geese flew to coastal waters to find areas with open grass, open water, and slightly warmer temperatures. Then again maybe the reason is something totally different.

Whomever said bird-watching was boring never met a Canada Goose with an orange neck collar before.

Swans & Sunsets

It was a bitter cold morning, 10°F at dawn, with a windchill of -2°F from northwest winds blowing 5-10 mph. High temperatures today weren't all that high either, reaching up to only 20 degrees. It was the coldest air mass of the season so far to hit Lower New York Bay. 

A long straight line of Mute Swans in the Navesink River

 Though I never kept records, for the past several years a bevy of swans have called the lower reaches of the Navesink River home during the winter, near the Oceanic Bridge. In some years, there have been up to 30 or 40 Mute Swans. This year, however, the count is down into the teens. I am not sure why, but I am inclined to blame the frigid air temperatures and forbidding winter weather. I think some swans decided to migrate farther south than normal to escape the cold.

The Mute Swans we normally see in the Navesink River by and large originate from inland lakes around the area. As interior lakes freeze up, the swans will fly to nearby coastal waters to feed with other swans. There is strength in numbers, and the larger the group, the less time the birds have to worry about looking out for predators.

Mute swans are not really mute. They will hiss and grunt if annoyed.

Mute Swans are also not native birds. They were brought over from Europe as ornamental additions to local parks and estates during the 1800s. Today, the swans have become so common in the northeast that in some places they are considered pests, because they tend to crowd out nesting sites along a shoreline for native waterfowl and they can also consume great amounts of aquatic vegetation.

Nevertheless, there is something magical and graceful I find in seeing a swan swim by, especially on a bitter cold winter day. It is a charming sight. Around mid-day, I was enjoying seeing about 16 swans dabble and dip their long white necks into the water to look for some aquatic plants to feed on while at the same time upending their rear and tail-feathers for all to see. What can I say, I am a simple guy with simple pleasures. 

Sunset over the City of Red Bank, NJ

 Later in the day, I was caught unaware of just how scenic the sunset would be over the city of Red Bank, along the banks of the Navesink River. The sky was golden with a bright crimson glow and lines of pink and cherry. The fading sun had turned a few of the cumulus clouds along the horizon on fire. 

Another view of the sunset over Red Bank and the frozen Navesink River

I sometimes forget just how delightful a sunset can be during the winter in the backdrop of the urban/suburban environment.