September 29, 2010

Lila and Bob tried their hands at coping my beak and talons.  For those of you that have not been following my blog, coping is the filing off of the extra growth.  Since I am not in the wild, there is no natural way for me to wear them down.  Plus there is no need for really sharp talons because my food is handed to me on a silver platter.  Well...not really a silver platter, but you get the gist of what I mean.  As my beak grows, it loses its natural shape. Now I look and feel more like a Mississippi Kite again.   If you look at my picture at the top, you will see a groove before the downward curve at the tip of my beak.  In the wild, I would use that sharp tip to help me catch insects in flight.  I guess you could say I'm "groovy."  Phee Phew!

September 27, 2010

The Hike and Bike Trail around Lake Wichita is quite lovely this time of year.  I wouldn't know of course because I neither hike nor bike. However Lila was nice enough to share her experiences with me.  If you have not done this trail, it is highly recommended.  From the monarch butterflies which hang as orange curtains from the tree tops at dusk to the waterfowl that have chosen this lake as their winter vacation homes, the Hike and Bike Trail is one of the hidden gems of Wichita Falls.  An abundance of insects, migratory birds, and native plant life can be viewed from the easily traveled trail.  For those less active or weary travelers, the occasional bench serves as a respite.  Both Lila and I, your highly intelligent, one-eyed Mississippi Kite, give it two thumbs up...hummmph...I mean two talons up! Phee Phew! 

September 25, 2010

"Autumn begins with a subtle change in the light, with skies a deeper blue, and nights that become suddenly clear and chilled. The season comes full with the first frost, the disappearance of migrant birds, and the harvesting of the season's last crops."  Phee Phew!
                                                                                     

September 14, 2010

This leucistic (piebald) common grackle was photographed at the Wichita Valley Airport by John McMurray.    Although unusual, it does occur in all animals.  Most notable in horses, crows, and ball pythons but is also found in many other species. In contrast to leucism is albinism, which always affects the entire animal.  A further difference between albinism and leucism is in eye color. Due to the lack of melanin production in both the retinal pigmented epithelium and iris, true albinos typically have red eyes due to the underlying blood vessels showing through.  Leucistic animals have normally colored eyes.  That’s all today from your local one-eyed reporter!  Phee Phew!

September 13, 2010

Local TPWD biologists identified a Brown Pelican in with a flock of White Pelicans on Lake Wichita last week. It is theorized this bird was blown inland with Hurricane Hermine. I decided to use Lila’s laptop to do a little research myself. Here is what I found.  “Unique among the world's seven species of pelicans, the Brown Pelican is found along the ocean shores and not on inland lakes. There are seven or eight species of pelican in the world but the brown pelican is the only dark one. Brown Pelicans feed on mid-sized fish that they capture by diving from above and then scooping or dipping the fish into their pouch, which acts as a flexible dip net. They are the only species of pelican that hunts with such dramatic plunging dives.”  Boy are my talons sore…that’s a lot of typing for a one-eyed bird. Phee Phew!

September 10, 2010

Say...it sure is quiet now that the ducks have moved out.  I've posted a room for rent sign next door.

"Looking for a new roommate.   Must be a small bird of prey.   Preferably a screech owl.   Apply next door with the one-eyed Mississippi Kite.  References required."   Phee Phew!

September 9, 2010

A Cooper’s Hawk visited the Song Bird Aviary last week looking for a tasty morsel or should I say a tasty song bird to eat. Luckily for the song birds, the hawk couldn’t penetrate the hardware cloth. Cooper’s Hawks mainly eat birds such as doves, pigeons, starlings and robins. Did you know…The Cooper’s Hawk was first described in 1828 by Charles Bonaparte, a French naturalist and ornithologist who was the nephew of Napoleon. It was named after William Cooper, who collected the first specimen. Elizabeth Hawley, our board president, took the picture below. Phee Phew!

September 8, 2010

Can't a bird get an umbrella out here! I don't know who or what Hermine is but I don't like it one bit. I want my sunny days back so I can bask in the warmth of the afternoon. Say...whose idea was it to drill those holes for ventilation anyway?  It was Steve's idea?  Wait 'til I get my talons on him!   Phee Phew!

September 6, 2010

As the days get shorter, I know my kind will soon be migrating back to Argentina for winter.  I'll miss my friends when they're gone.  I know with only one eye, I can't make the journey with them, but my heart will be soaring with the thousands of Mississippi Kites as the mount to the sky on their Southern journey back home.  You will be missed.  Fly safe my friends...fly safe!  Phee Phew!

September 4, 2010

What a difference a day makes!  All the kites are now out in the flight aviary.  Most of the babies have moved to the fledgling room.  Where have all the babies gone?  Lila said she always looks forward to this time of year when things slow down at Wild Bird Rescue. I'm glad because now I'll be the center of attention once again!  Phee Phew!