cwp@.nsc.com (Chuck Phillips) (03/16/91)
Here at NSC we have a good-sized recreation park for the employees. It includes a 1 mile running/health track, softball and soccer fields, a volleyball court, several picnic areas, a playground for kids, an amphitheater and a small percolator pond. It also has at least 12 species of trees (both coniferous and deciduous), 6 types of shrubs/bushes and several types of ground cover. Wednesday I saw two hummingbirds mating! Yesterday, I saw a small flock of Cedar Waxwings and a Cormorant. Today I saw 3 Cormorants. I could not tell what kind of Cormorant one of them was and being only an occasional watcher I did not know that the only one it could be was the Double-crested. (I was fascinated by the crested and thought in might be a Grebe.) So, I decided to get my binoc's from the car and have a look. Then I noticed an Egret. At this point I decided I would start keeping a list of all the birds I see at our park. I go walking for 1/2 hour each day between 11:00 and 1:00 (work load dictates when). I don't know how well I'll do but today I spotted the following: Double-crested Cormorant 1st yr & A breeding (almost - white just beginning) Cedar Waxwing A im Morning Dove Mallard M F House Sparrow M F Snowy Egret im Black-chinned Hummingbird Not bad, (or so I think) for 1/2 and not even trying. I have also decided to instigate a few rules like I can't go searching for them, they have to be fairly open - or I'd spend all day birding and never get in my walk or do any work! :) Anyway, I have a question. The hummers that I saw mating, I only got to see for a few seconds. (I know, I know... that's all it takes for them!) I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they could be any other species then the Black-chinned? I know we get others in this area from time to time but I don't know when they show up. Could it have been the Anna's for instance? Well enough rambling. Thanks to anyone who might be able to help. The magic feather was just a gimmick! You can fly, really you can...chuck