August birding was enjoyable if a little on the slow side just because it was birding. I got out camping and got some great photos and sightings just from being a little out of the city. Juveniles were hanging out with their parents and some birds have already started their migration journey. Lights Out, the collision monitoring initiative already started up. So I’m up even earlier than usual on Mondays walking the streets of downtown Columbus looking for birds who have struck windows. Last week, we brought in a live Song or Chipping Sparrow and as I always tell people that’s what gets me out of bed and into my car. That little bird has a much better chance of surviving now that we got it out of downtown than if it had stayed at the Capitol buidling.
Eastern Wood Peewees are birds you likely hear more than you see. They have a distinctive whistle call that is fairly common in summertime in Ohio. But they are small and can hide well in branches and leaves.
Black Vulture (left) and Turkey Vulture hang out at a state park. I learned several fun facts about them, such as they often hang out together. Turkey Vultures have a better sense of smell and Black Vultures sometimes follow them to food. We sometimes see them circling this time of year, which may be groups gathering to migrate together in flocks or “kettles”.
Downy Woodpeckers hang out together. Seems my post is starting to have a theme. I am not sure why these two were hanging out. They were doing some flapping before this photo was taken which makes me think the juvenile was hoping a parent would feed it.
A stunning male Baltimore Oriole was whistling and getting breakfast during this time. The theory I’ve read about orioles calling in the fall is they are keeping their family groups together as they are migrating. Very cool stuff to me.