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Show Page THE 12 OGDEN VALLEY NEWS December 1, 2005 While Ogden Valley has a large and varied bird and wildlife population year round, within the last month it has been absolutely stunning! 2 ove oo Did You Know? © wingspan. Chest: Tail: Feet: Bill: e Face: Size: White with brown belly band. Rusty red. Sharply curved talons for catching prey. ooked for tearing flesh from prey. — Dark vit dark eyes. 19”- 23” Combined text by: Stephen Ormsbee, Jacob Hillstrom, Jonathon Holley, Katie Creager, Lucas Piccolo, and Josh Naumu. © ° ° ° ‘ half later by a huge flock of snow geese. Many snow geese are primarily white but some may be a dark grey brown. They have a distinctive, harsh descending “whouk” or higher “heenk” sound. In fact, the calling of the flock is what first alerted residents to their arrival. For all who witnessed the nearly one hundred snow geese whirling and calling against the backdrop of a cold November sky, it was a thrilling reminder of what a special place this valley is. Also a rare sight to look for this winter is the arrival of Point Barrow goldeneye ducks that have been seen on Pinview Reservoir during previous winters. These birds are an uncommon sight in Weber County. They are most abundant in areas around Canada and Iceland. Last year, the goldeneye was seen later on into the winter season. Remember, it is against the law to shoot songbirds or water fowl without a hunting permit. Please encourage family members to use binoculars and spotting scopes, not bullets or pellets, went encountering these amazing creatures; thus, we can all enjoy the comings and goings of the incredible wildlife that shares this amazing community. The Bold and the Cold Buteo jamaicensis Dark above, white below with dark patch on leading edge in middle of wing; broad and rounded; 48"-58" SS birds travelPoint Barrow goldeneye. ing south. The wildlife biologist who first spotted some of these migratory birds believes they were very likely en route from the Arctic National Wilderness area where many of them summer. One of the first unusual sightings this year was the arrival of tundra swans. These are the smallest swans in the swan family with a black beak and yellow spot on the lores—the area between the bill and the eyes of a bird. Their voices provide a clear hooting “klooo” or “kwooo” call. A distant flock sounds like baying hounds. The tundra swans were followed a week and Red-tailed Hawk Wings: Issue IV Winter Water Fowl in Ogden Valley Along the Way... A Guide to Nature along Ogden Valley Pathways. Drawing iy "Delanie Volume XIII By Bill Fenimore Western red-tailed hawks vary greatly in color from very dark to very light. Ifa red-tailed hawk has dark plumage, the dark coloration hides the belly band and the shoulder patches. Juvenile hawks are similar to adults but lack the red tail Look for red-tailed hawks soaring above open fields, searching for prey, or perched in trees, on highway light posts, on telephone poles, and on fences. Red-tailed hawks are seen year-round in Utah. They are one of the most common of the large, soaring birds. Their habitat is variable, including Open fields and pastures interspersed with woods, bluffs, and trees. Their diet is varied and includes mice, snakes, and small mammals ig question among both novice and experienced naturalists is how do birds survive during freezing weather? Of course, some birds are better equipped than others, but all possess numerous adaptations for surviving the cold. What are these adaptations? How do they work? weather, birds increase their food consumption. The black-capped chickadee, for instance, may consume its own weight in food each day, doubling or tripling its heat and energy production. Some species of birds use a type of controlled hypothermia to survive cold nights. They lower their body temperatures by as much as 20°. This tice them to make it through the night on far fewer calories Feathers: At the end of each summer, many of our songbirds molt and grow a new set of feathers. They enter winter with the best insulation nature can provide. Many species actually have 25% to 30% more feathers in winter than in midsummer. Smaller birds also have more feathers relative to their body size than larger birds. To protect its inner layer of feathers from the cold, wet, and wind, a bird will spread fresh oil with its beak from a gland at the base of its tail to its outer layer of feathers. Body Parts: Many people ask, “What about the ‘JF GN EN GY EN GY GS EN ES GN GY GN GN G! EY EN ONE 4N GY GS GS Ye GN GN GS GY GS GN ES GY DODD PV? VAD ? GS GN A pair of northern flickers feeding in winter. Photo by Ted Stei baat 4. Migration: For many binds, tf tion is migration. Many of our insect-eating birds migrate south by mid-October. Migration allows PED where they can find food. DD > = od zs > BD VDD DD DD VED VD DD Let us clear the snow from your driveway and walks. After all, we have been plowing the Valley for over 14 years. Just call us for local, reasonable rates. We are a licensed, bonded, and insured local family owned landscaper. 4 a. [a ED zs «i tes snow plowing you meed) sm, PVP BOE BV BPE DD VD BD ee BV ee ees BD > BRD CS GS GS EY GS EN GS EN EY GN GY BY GY GN EY EN GS GT GN GS ES EN EY GN GY GY EN ES GN GY GS GS GY ES ES Spectacular Huntsville estate. Incredible attention to details. 5 BD, 3.5.BA, Mother- in-law apt. 5.68 AC Horse property $675,000 EN OY GN G Just Listed! Gorgeous 1 acre building lot in Heritage Knoll. to lot Owner/Agent Utilities stubbed $499,000! (Some insect-eating ith us during the winter and adapt toa diet of seeds, nuts, and suet.) As these migrants leave us, our winter birds: juncos, white-crowned sparrows, and towhee’s, to name a few, arrive. Snuggling: Another adaptation to the cold is a favorite of animals (including humans) all over the world—snuggling. The body heat from several birds roosting together can warm them through the coldest winter nights. Three birds snuggling reduces heat loss by one-third. So the more the merrier! Additionally, you can offer birds roosting boxes to escape the cold winds of winter. Food: Converting nutrients and fats from food into energy helps birds survive the winter. In cold cold?” The eyes aren’t at great risk because they are sunken almost completely inside the head, which maintains the most constant heat in a bird’s body. TIThe bill i but it is a type of horn rather than skin. In extremely cold weather, a bird will tuck its bill under its feathers so it can breathe air that has been warmed by its body. Similarly, birds’ feet are considered fleshless and contain no moisture, thereby preventing them from sticking to perches. What can humans do to help? Providing the birds with food, water, and habitat (cover) will go a long way ower helping them to survive the long, cold win Note: This article was contributed by Bill Fenimore, owner of the Layton, Wild Bird Center. Fenimore is a volunteer naturalists with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) at Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area and an At Large Representative for the Northern Region DWR Regional Advisory Council. The Wild Bird Center holds free nature/bird walks on Saturday. For more information, call 801-525-8400. Subscriptions available for out of area residents $18.00 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS PO BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 Gorgeous home on almost 1 acre. Custom interior. 40’x40’ heated shop 47, Just Listed! Beautiful craftman style 3 bedroom home on acre horse property. 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