Flapping and Fun: October 16, Part 2

The Queen of the Log pelican decided that she was willing to share her log with another worthy bird. Unfortunately, that did not reflect well on the pelican snoozing nearby.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and American coot (Fulica americana) stand together on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Meet Rebecca and Svetlana, the stars of TV’s newest blockbuster comedy about a very strange couple that just moved into the neighborhood: Pelican and Coot.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) and American coot (Fulica americana) stand together on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Further out in the bay, two geese had just finished taking turns dipping their heads in the water for foreplay and were ready to get down to business.

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hey, what are you doing? I’m supposed to be the one biting you!

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Wait, now I’m confused. I thought I was supposed to bite you; you’re not supposed to bite me!

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

OW! Goddammit, forget this. I’m outta here.

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Okay, I’m trying to be outta here.

Geese attempt to mate at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The male was happy to terminate the mating attempt when he realized he could get a free ride around the bay by letting the female drag him.

The Queen of the Log got bored with her position and decided to move on.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) steps off a log to swim at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) steps off a log to swim at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) steps off a log to swim at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I abdicate my position in order to be with my one true love . . . FISHIE!

Two pelicans had been swimming together around the bay, occasionally plunging their heads underwater to hunt for fish. They came across a piece of trash and squabbled over who got to play with it.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) try to pick up a piece of trash to play with it at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) try to pick up a piece of trash to play with it at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The pelican who was unable to get to the trash slowly moved on, and her partner abandoned the trash in order to keep up.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plunge their heads underwater as they hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Then the pelican who had tried playing with the trash discovered an even better toy.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Oooh! Look what I found!

A brief note about play: Justice Stewart’s aphorism about pornography also works when trying to describe what appears to be object-oriented play among the pelicans. Some instances of play are very obvious, but some are not. Repetition is a good indicator that the pelican is playing, but what about when there is only one incident? In this case, the pelican appeared as though she were purposefully engaging with a useless object, and she had done the same thing with the orange piece of trash just a few minutes before finding the stick. I’ve seen some pelicans, when they are in a playful mood, pick up object after object after object to drop and toss around.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I am Donatello of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Pellies! Check out the awesome moves I can do with my bo!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I WILL SAVE YOU, APRIL O’NEIL!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

What, Michelangelo? You think you should be the one to rescue April O’Neil? Fuck you! I will fucking beat you with my bo!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Yeah, you’re scared. That’s right. I know you’re scared.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

“Oh no, it’s Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Pellies! I’ve heard she can take out five Foot Soldiers with one swing!”

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hmmm. This is much more difficult to swing than I thought it would be.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

So, Shredder. We meet at last.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Take THAT, fucker! Oh yeah! You’re scared; I know it!

She swam over to where the stick had landed. I thought she was going to look for it, but when her companion started swimming toward her, she abandoned what might have been her search and decided to crown herself Queen of the Log.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Weeeeeeee!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Perhaps inspired by the Queen of the Log’s play behavior, a different pelican picked up a stick, although she didn’t seem very interested in it. That is not atypical for play behavior: nearby pelicans watching the play can get interested enough that they try to pick up nearby objects and manipulate them. Most of the time, like with this bird, they lose interest quickly. But not always.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) picks up a stick at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I went to the shore to see what was going on over there. Several pelicans were trying to figure out a way onto the prime loafing areas without encountering too much resistance.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Three American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Four American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Room for two more? Okay, fine; fuck that other pelican. Room for one more?

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) jumps onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Three American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stand on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

All right, there, partner: you can stay this time. But next time . . .

I went back to the dock, where a pelican was splashing up a storm as she bathed.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A pelican played with the same bit of trash that a different pelican had found a couple of days earlier.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with trash at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with trash at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with trash at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Another pelican made a mighty leap onto a high-up section of log, got attacked, panicked, and jumped forward off the log into the water. They would have been lovely pictures except I had the exposure set way too dark. Oh well.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims away after jumping off a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

But now that exposure level works okay, doesn’t it, pelicansrulegullsdrool?

A pelican that had been swimming suddenly stopped, stood up, and flapped mightily.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flapping at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

After a stirring performance Tamara was awarded first prize in the “air hula-hoop” contest.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flapping at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Perhaps she was flapping to psych herself up for a confrontation, because after she sank back into the water she steamed toward the Queen of the Log log.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims at White Rock lake in Dallas, TX

Out past the Queen of the Log log, Dread Pirate Roberts was bathing vigorously.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) bathes in the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Sure enough, the swimming pelican reached the Queen of the Log log, paused, and launched herself into the air.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Holy shit! She just drop-kicked that pelican!

The pelican who was kicked managed to stay on the log.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

You drop-kicked the mighty Donatello, then you stepped on her foot? YOU SHALL PAY.

When both of the birds were balanced together on the log, I thought they might settle down and share. I underestimated the original pelican’s dedication to keep the log to herself.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

WATCH THIS, APRIL O’NEIL!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I may no longer have my bo, but I am a mighty warrior with the BEAK!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Watching them fight was like watching an arm wrestler slowly but steadily force an opponent’s arm down.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I’m losing? This isn’t right!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight for access to a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The pelican who lost looks like a cranky infant who was just put down into her crib when she still wants to be out playing.

The pelican who lost suddenly decided that she was going to fly somewhere far, far away. Then the pelicans of White Rock Lake would be sorry.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes off from the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Part 3 will include more flapping, another fight, and much more Dread Pirate Roberts action.

Flapping and Fun: October 16, Part 1

Last fall, Q and I had the good luck to be at Sunset Bay at several different times when waves of pelicans would land. A large group would suddenly appear very high above the bay, and the birds would slowly spiral down on the thermals. When the group got low enough, individual birds would begin raining down into the water. Sometimes all of the birds in a group would land, but usually only some of the group landed while the rest flew back up on the thermals and moved on. Sometimes birds on the ground would fly up on the thermals and move on with the other pelicans.

When new birds land, there is great potential for excitement: birds bathing, exploring their new environment, fighting with other birds for the best loafing locations, etc.

I was still seeing scissor-tailed flycatchers in the area, and when I arrived at the lake on the 16th, I saw one hanging out in a tree near a small field.

Scissor-tailed flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) in a tree at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Several pelicans were swimming around the bay, exploring. Almost immediately a pelican forced another pelican off a slightly elevated loafing area, then stole her position.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) leaps onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I didn’t want it, anyway. HARUMPH!

The usurping pelican beat her wings in triumph.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings after jumping onto a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

MINE!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beats her wings after jumping on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beats her wings after jumping on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beats her wings after jumping on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) beats her wings after jumping on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Whew! That felt good!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

What are you looking at, human?

The pelican stood there for less than two minutes before deciding that the area just wasn’t good enough for her.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) slides into the water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims with her wings raised at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I thought she would swim around until she found a better log to jump up onto, but I was in for a surprise. She took off right there from the water!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

The pelican she had initially kicked off the log also got in on the action.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

The pelican who had taken off first didn’t fly very far, and I tracked her as she went by.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) takes flight from Sunset Bay in Dallas, TX

I looked around to see what else was going on around the bay.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swimming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Don’t mind me.

Then I noticed some familiar activity out on a log.

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Yes, I definitely knew what was going to happen next!

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight while standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I AM GOING TO EAT YOUR FACE!

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight while standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

GAH! What the fuck is wrong with you?

American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) fight while standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

How do you like it, asshole?!

The attacked pelican was able to hold her ground and go back to preening. Sometimes when pelicans are hanging out, one bird will attack another for seemingly no reason.

A different bird engaged in a good flapping fit nearby. I love seeing the way they move their wings and what their wings look like in different positions.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Right as Lulu stepped on stage to begin her audition, she realized that she had wet herself.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

MAYBE IF I FLAP REALLY HARD, I CAN DRY OUT AND NO ONE WILL NOTICE.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A sleepy pelican drifted by the Queen of the Log. She looked like a big floating marshmallow.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims by a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

And a juvenile was stretched out, scratching.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) scratching at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I looked up and noticed a flock of pelicans overhead. Yes! This was the action I’d been hoping for! There were at least twenty birds in the flock, and all of them landed. Unfortunately, they landed out past the far-away logs, but they did eventually start swimming in to interact with the existing birds.

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Flock of American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flying over White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A new bird waddled up to the Queen of the Log pelican. I waited for her to jump on or for the pelican on the log to snap at her. Instead, the intruding pelican began to preen. Nooooo!

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A juvenile attempted to explore and conquer the log that a different juvenile had experienced difficulty with the day before.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

And everyone said this log is so difficult to loaf on! You just need to step carefully . . .

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

. . . and get the other foot up on there.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I’ve got it!

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Uh-oh.

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

No; this can’t be happening! I told EVERYONE how easy it was going to be to stay on the log!

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I got it, everyone! Nothing to worry about! Go on back to hunting! Nothing to see here!

Juvenile American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tries to keep her balance on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

GODDAMMIT, THEY’RE ALL STILL WATCHING ME.

The juvenile’s brave attempts to conquer the log ultimately ended in a SPLASH. She swam over to the Stump and seemed to be debating whether she wanted to jump on when she decided to move along.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) relax at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

OH MY GOD, JUVENILE, HOW ARE YOU MISSING PART OF YOUR BODY?

Another pelican posed on the Shore Log.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) loafing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Do you find me mysterious? I am trying to pose mysteriously.

Part 2 will be up soon, with more flapping and another fight.

Good News and Bad News

The good news is that today, the 25th, about thirty new pelicans landed at the lake, and a few of them began to play in the late afternoon. At one point four separate birds were exhibiting play behavior, which made me frazzled when I kept having to watch each one of them and decide who to photograph. An embarrassment of riches!

The bad news is, that’s even MORE pics that I will eventually have to go through, and I haven’t even started posting pics from the play sessions last month. I am not at all disciplined in my picture-taking, and almost every day I go out my backlog of pics grows by at least several hundred. In the next couple of days I will start posting pics from the mid-October migration madness.

The pelicans found, among many other objects, a child’s ball and an old, sodden tennis ball and had a grand time playing with them.

Another bit of good news: a bird that is rare for this area made an appearance! I was out on the dock at Sunset Bay late in the afternoon when Ben, another Dallas-based photographer and blogger whom I’ve mentioned before, showed up. He was watching ducks fly in as we were talking, and he noticed a white-faced ibis flying near them. He was able to track where she landed and take pics. I also got some pics of her grooming. The ibis was there for maybe ten minutes before she took off, circled a small area of the bay a few times—Ben thought she was looking for a better place to settle down for the night—and eventually landed behind a line of tall grasses.

I’m not sure what she was doing so far north at this time of year, but I was very, very glad to see her!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) tosses a ball in its beak in play at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I’m glad I found this ball!

Juvenile Bird Day! Starring: Ibis! Heron! Egret! And Last But Not Least . . . Vulture!

It was July 6, a Sunday. Q and I were visiting the rookery at UT Southwestern. It was getting near the end of the season, and most of the birds had already left. We first had to check on the Thothlings, our collective name for the three juvenile American white ibises that had hatched that spring.

Juvenile American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) perched in a tree at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

PINK EYE IS PRESENT AND ACCOUNTED FOR!

We loved watching those ibises. I liked them best when they were getting just big enough to squirm out from underneath their parent in the nest, and I liked watching the parent’s desperate attempts to keep them tucked under her/his body. They were so cute, with their black heads and small, black-and-pink–striped, curved beaks. Once the Thothlings were distinctive enough that I could tell them apart, I named them. At first I was worried that I might not be able to keep them straight because their coloration would continue to change, but I realized that they would be long gone from the rookery before that became a problem. Watching them explore their nest tree was always fun. Eventually that exploration changed to short flights to other trees, then flights above the rookery. Then they left.

Juvenile American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) perched in a tree at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

I AM CUDDLE MONSTER, AND I AM HERE ON JULY 6!

Juvenile American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) perched in a tree at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

Pink Eye stands proudly in her nest tree.

We could see Pink Eye and Cuddle Monster, but where was Zebra?

Juvenile American white ibis (Eudocimus albus) perched in a tree at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

I’M BACK HERE, SILLY HUMANS!

There were still a few large black-crowned night heron juveniles hanging around the rookery.

Juvenile black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) stands in a tree at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

Juvenile black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) stands in a tree at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

Juvenile black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) stands in a tree at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

And some not-so-large black-crowned night heron juveniles.

Two baby black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) sit in a nest at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

They look like tiny dinosaurs.

Throughout the spring several tricolored heron couples tried to nest at the rookery, but only three couples were able to make it to egg hatching. The most successful couple made a nest that, while visible, was far back in the foliage. The female in that couple was the first to lay eggs, and all three of the chicks survived to adolescence. The second couple had a much more visible nest near the ibis nest. The female laid at least two eggs. A few days after the first chick hatched and was able to move, I stopped seeing movement in the nest. By that time the second chick should have hatched. I hoped the babies were just asleep. The next day the heron couple had vanished, and a cattle egret was steadily pilfering sticks from the abandoned nest.

One day the adolescent tricolored birds disappeared. It happened right after a storm. I was sure they were dead, and although I never saw a corpse, I always kept watch for one. Q thought that the birds had simply grown too old for the nest and dispersed to other locations.

Q was right.

Juvenile tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor) stands in a tree at the UT Southwestern rookery in Dallas

I’M ALIVE!

After the reappearance, I only saw the tricolored juveniles when I was with Q. Maybe that was because we visited the rookery at different times when we were together than when I was alone. Or maybe they liked him better than they liked me. Once we even saw two of the juveniles flying to their old nest. That was nice.

As we were finishing our circuit around the rookery, Q and I saw a great egret juvenile wandering around near the Memorial Garden. Rescue time! The first time I rescued a great egret juvenile, I was concerned about the baby I saw staggering on the lawn in the hot sun, but I knew some types of juvenile birds would explore on the ground while their parent watched from a safe distance away. I didn’t want to interfere with that. I called up Rogers and explained my worry. “Do great egrets do that?” I asked.

“No. If a great egret is on the ground, the parents have forgotten it. It needs help.”

After that day, I started carrying a cardboard box in my car and plenty of towels in case I needed to make a rescue at the rookery.

Great egrets are shitty-ass parents. Really awful. If a bird falls out or is pushed out of the nest and can’t make its way back, it’s fucked. No one will help it. To make matters worse, like baby American white pelicans, baby great egrets often commit siblicide. Smaller/younger siblings who aren’t outright killed but who are still harassed may end up falling out of or intentionally leaving the nest to escape from their murder-inclined siblings.

By this time I had started carrying not only towels with me but a large bag I dubbed the “Birdie Bag.” If I found a bird too young to be on the ground outside the rookery, I would catch it, wrap it up in a large towel, and place it in the Birdie Bag to keep it secure until I got to Rogers. Using the Birdie Bag worked better than just holding a wrapped-up baby to my chest, and I hoped it made the experience less traumatic for the bird.

Abandoned juvenile great egret (Ardea alba) rescued and put in a bag for transport to Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

The wandering egret juvenile secured in the Birdie Bag, awaiting transport to Rogers.

When Q and I got to Rogers, we went to look at their birds after dropping off the egret. A few great blue herons live there and have the run of the place. The first time I saw them, I was very nervous. They were so close! I felt strange walking by them: “Uh, excuse me? Wild bird that is just standing there? Don’t you need to move? Run away? May I please get by?”

I almost always get a kick out of seeing a “wild” bird chilling next to human-made objects. This was no exception.

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) lounges next to an air conditioning unit at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center south of Dallas

The heron looks like she’s just skipped class to go smoke near the back of the high school.

One of the baby vultures was hanging out by herself in the shade.

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) lounges in the grass at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center south of Dallas

Greetings, humans!

THE STORY OF THE ROGERS VULTURES

Kathy Rogers told Q and me the story of the vulture family when we were at Rogers at the end of May. I’ve forgotten some of the details, but hopefully I can remember enough to do justice to the story.

Black vultures nest on the ground, in places with lots of cover. Ms. Rogers had noticed a pair of black vultures hanging around Rogers, and one day discovered that they had made a nest in a large cage that had been empty. Ms. Rogers said she was extremely excited to see the nest—because the birds nest on the ground, one cannot easily observe adult breeding behavior and juvenile behavior. She was looking forward to learning more about the vultures. She kept the cage empty for the vultures to continue using and observed them.

The black vulture couple laid two eggs. While they were incubating the eggs, Ms. Rogers received two abandoned black vulture eggs. She wondered if she could get the black vulture couple to care for the abandoned eggs/chicks along with the couple’s own offspring. Unlike great egrets, black vultures are excellent parents.

All four of the eggs hatched within the same week. Ms. Rogers introduced the extra chicks to the parents and supplied the parents with supplemental food to feed the new additions. The strategy worked: the parents accepted all four babies as their own and cared for them. Ms. Rogers said this news was especially excellent because the birds from the abandoned nest will have a pretty good chance of surviving in the wild due to the socialization and teaching they will learn from their adopted parents—black vultures are highly social and gregarious birds. For a while the babies had open access, but after they wound up in the woods, Ms. Rogers put them in a large pen with access outside to a “porch” where the parents could hop in and check on them. Once the babies got older, they had more access to the grounds. The last time I was at Rogers, they were old enough and strong enough to roost in trees and on roofs. They are heart-meltingly ADORABLE.

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) stands in shade at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

You can still see little threads of yellow down around her neck.

We left that juvenile and saw another hanging out by herself under a bench, although four more juveniles were lounging under another bench near her.

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) lies in the shade at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

Four juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) lies in the shade at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

An adult had been sitting near the foursome, but she got up and walked out into the sunlight.

A black vulture (Coragyps atratus) walks on the grounds at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

Walter M. Miller, Jr was right: I do lovingly feed my young.

A black vulture (Coragyps atratus) walks on the grounds at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

She is walking past a cage that has a black vulture in it. I always wondered how the caged black vultures felt about the vulture family. Glad to see conspecifics? Sad that they couldn’t move freely, while the other birds could?

A black vulture (Coragyps atratus) stands in the sun at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

The juvenile who had been lying by herself near the foursome got up and looked adorable.

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) standing in the shade at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

Then I realized something. The vulture family had four juveniles. When Q and I had first arrived, we’d seen a juvenile vulture. Then we saw the juvenile who had been lying down by herself. Next to her were the four juveniles resting together. The adult had joined another adult elsewhere on the property. That’s six juveniles and two adults.

I returned to all of the locations to see if any of the birds had moved—maybe I had mistakenly counted the same bird twice. Nope. Six juveniles. Four of them were obviously the Rogers birds, but who were the other two? Perhaps the count was four Rogers juveniles, one Rogers adult, and a different adult with its two juveniles who had come to visit the Rogers vultures. Do vultures even do that?! The next time I went to Rogers, there were only the four juveniles there.

UPDATE: I ran into a woman who works at Rogers (she was the person who taught me, after I had a near-miss experience, that egrets go for the eyes and I should wear safety glasses), and when I asked about the vulture family, she was able to make sense of what I’d seen. Not only had the vulture parents taken in the two newly hatched birds along with their own chicks, but later on in the season two more vulture chicks that had been abandoned were brought to Rogers, and the vulture parents adopted those birds as well. So there were six juveniles, total. The next time I was at Rogers and had only seen four, the two others might have been somewhere else on the property.

She also said that the vulture couple has been spotted visiting Rogers again with a couple of their offspring. She suspects that the parents might be looking to scope out the area for a possible nesting site. She said this year, they are only making one specific cage available to the parents to use, not the one the birds chose last year. It would be adorable if the vulture pair chose to raise young there again this coming year!

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) standing at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

All right you humans, listen up. My name is Fluffy, and I’m here to instruct you in the fine art of being a vulture.

Back where the majority of the juveniles were hanging out, the vulture who had stood up decided to hop onto the bench.

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) standing on a bench at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) standing on a bench at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) standing on a bench at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

The other vultures were still lounging on the ground.

Two black vultures lying on the ground at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

The vulture on the bench hopped down and went out to strut her stuff in the sun.

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) standing at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

I WILL BE SO SEXY WHEN I AM A GROWN-UP.

Juvenile black vulture (Coragyps atratus) holds wings out at Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, south of Dallas

WHY IS NO ONE PAYING ATTENTION TO ME? NOW I AM ANGRY! GRRRR!

Q and I went back home, where I saw a pretty black bee hanging out on my gaillardia blooms. Does anyone know what kind of bee it might be? It was small, much closer to the size of a honey bee than a carpenter bee.

Black bee on a gaillardia flower in Dallas

One last thing: I hope that anyone reading this will strongly consider donating to Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. They do excellent work rehabilitating and caring for birds.

A Fish Fight and a Much More Vicious Fight: October 15

When I first went out to watch the pelicans, they were pretty chill. Several pelicans were sitting and standing on the Shore Log. Some were grooming; some were trying to sleep. None of them looked like they wanted to start a fight or go exploring.

(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

Four American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) loaf on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Can someone order out for sushi?

I went to the dock to see if there was any action there.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) loaf on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

What is this “action” of which you speak?

A juvenile was out in the water playing with a feather. She bounced it in her pouch before dropping it and picking it up a few times.

An American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) plays with a feather at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

No pelicans were loitering around the Queen of the Log log, and the Queen who was there was busy grooming.

An American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) grooms at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I watched a pelican swimming by, hoping that she might try to jump on a log or do something interesting. She didn’t.

An American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) swims at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

At least the pigeon that landed on the dock was pretty.

A pigeon perches on a dock at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I noticed a commotion out past the Queen of the Log log. Four pelicans had suddenly drawn together. At first I thought they were playing—a few of them seemed to duck down as though they were trying to pick something up out of the water—but they didn’t seem to be moving in such a way that I associate with object play. Then I saw a flash of green. A fish!

Four American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) hunting for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

FISHIE IS MINE!

Four American while pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Uhhh, pelican, you’re supposed to swallow the fish head first.

I wasn’t sure whether the pelican who initially had the fish managed to retain it or if another pelican snatched it away.

Four American while pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Four American while pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) hunt for fish at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

The chase is finished . . . or has it just begun?

I did not get the next pic in focus, but I wanted to post it to show the outline of the fish inside the pelican’s pouch.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) with a fish in her pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Slosh, slosh, slosh your fish, gently in your pouch . . .

Just as I had seen when a pelican ate a dead fish, the bird swam off on her own, away from where the other groups of pelicans were congregating, and tilted her head back as she drifted away.

American white pelican swims with a fish in its pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

She looks like she has a horrible tumor growing in her pouch.

American white pelican swims with a fish in its pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

American white pelican swims with a fish in its pouch at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

That’s not an angle you often see on a pelican!

Closer to the dock, a group of coots were milling about. One cute little coot was hanging around with her wing held out jauntily.

American coot (Fulica americana) holding another coot underwater at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Don’t mind me!

Except that cute little coot with the jaunty wing was a red-hot killing machine. She was in that posture for a purpose: TO DROWN ANOTHER COOT.

American coot (Fulica americana) holding another coot underwater at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Goddammit, why are we coots so fucking buoyant?

I starting noticing aggressive behavior among coots starting a few weeks before this incident. Some coots would swim with their necks held out stiffly and as close to the water as possible, as though they were pissed-off geese, and as they swam they would hold their hindquarters and wings slightly elevated so one could easily see the white feathers on their rumps. Occasionally the aggressive coots would charge toward another coot, who would quickly swim away, and a few times I briefly saw an aggressive coot fighting an opponent by kicking at them. Attempted drowning was new for me.

American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Doo da doo . . .

American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Why does my maniacal laugh sound so much like a cute little chirp?

American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Hey guys, what are you doing? OH SHIT OH SHIT OH SHIT PLEASE DON’T LOOK AT ME PLEASE DON’T FOLLOW ME.

An American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Jesus, coots are hardcore!

An American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Swim for it, little one!

An American coot (Fulica americana) tries to drown another coot at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Next, on “Coots Who Kill,” hear serial killer Anna the Coot describe how her last victim almost escaped from her evil clutches.

The aggressive coot easily subdued the fleeing coot and held her underwater. Again the coot escaped and was recaptured and forced back underwater. Finally the victimized coot was able to get free and stay free.

The pelicans were still very chill.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) stands on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Back at the Shore Log, the birds were still grooming.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) preen while standing on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Dread Pirate Roberts and another pelican preen together. Perhaps the pelican on the left closed her eye to make Pirate feel more welcome.

Then I saw a familiar pelican: the bird with the hurt foot from October 11. I last saw her on November 8th, and although she is still limping quite a bit, she seems to be getting around much better than she did at this time. I can’t believe both she and Copper Woman have been here for a month.

I have decided to name the bird with the hurt foot Philoctetes.

American white pelican grooming on a log at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Before I left, I went out on the dock one last time. A juvenile jumped up on an oddly shaped log and was having a great deal of difficulty keeping her balance.

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) flaps her wings as she tries to keep her balance at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

I can do it!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sinks into water after losing her balance at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

No, I can’t!

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) sinks into water after losing her balance at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Fuck this log!

A dozing pelican briefly opened her eyes, then closed them again. Much more action would occur in the next few days, and perhaps she knew she would need her energy.

American white pelican standing at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

 

My Goose Friend, Mister Mary Mack

The pelicans at the lake have been dealing with the colder weather by huddling together near where the Log of Status used to be, which isn’t very interesting to watch. But I still go to Sunset Bay to check on my goose friend, Mister Mary Mack.

Greylag goose swimming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Mister Mary Mack swimming on October 30.

Greylag goose (Anser anser) standing in water at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Mister Mary Mack coming to visit me as I sit on the dock on November 9.

Mister Mary Mack is also known as Tiny, but I named him before I learned that he already had a name. He and I used to spend a lot of time in the summer just sitting together. While we were hanging out, he would amuse himself by chewing the hell out of anything of mine that he could get his beak on. Sometimes that would make taking pics very difficult: how can you get an in-focus pic of a wood duck near the shore or a snowy egret hunting nearby while a goose is yanking on your camera strap? Mister Mary Mack got so much enjoyment out of chewing that I couldn’t take things away from him unless they started to fray or snap. Or if it were my hair.

Unfortunately, a lot of people who have seen Mister Mary Mack and me together seem to think that we are performing for their entertainment. Although some people have been very nice and respectful, most have not. Now that the weather is getting colder and there are fewer people at the lake, there is much less bad behavior, which relieves me and makes me feel more comfortable.

Shadow of a human and a goose at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Shadows of Mister Mary Mack and me as we hang out together on November 11. Mister Mary Mack’s shadow looks like a sock puppet: “Hello, pelicansrulegullsdrool! How are you today?”

Mister Mary Mack is a good goose friend. We went through a long period of learning some of each other’s likes and dislikes. If he would startle when I did something, I made sure not to do it again; if I would yell or jerk away when he bit me, he would bite me more gently. Now he mostly just caresses my face with his beak or bites my face very gently when we greet each other. Of course, he is a feral goose, and he could chomp me at any time, but I’m not too worried. I just wish that I understood what some of his calls and gestures meant so I could respond to him better.

Because I should add Q’s perspective, I must emphasize that Mister Mary Mack is a good goose friend to me. Mister Mary Mack is extremely jealous of Q. He won’t let Q get very close to me when he is around and always makes sure that he is physically between Q and me. He has attacked Q twice. The first time, Q said it felt like being attacked by a pair of pliers. He had bruises for weeks.

I have two big fears about the birds at the lake. The first is that people will start trying to feed the pelicans fish and cause the birds to lose their fear of humans. The second is that Mister Mary Mack will be hurt or killed. He has low status among the other geese and is often physically on the edge of the flock. He is a huge bird—a birder once called him a “gentle giant,” which is extremely apt—and I am especially afraid that with the holidays coming, someone will kidnap him and serve him as a main course.

People of Dallas: DO NOT EAT MY FRIEND.

I wonder what Mister Mary Mack’s life was like before he was dumped at the lake. He likes women much more than men—was there a woman who treated him well, wherever he used to be? Or a man who did not? Regardless, I’m glad he’s my goose friend.

A Locust on a Fence

Tomorrow night Dallas should have its first freeze of the season. That means I’ve had a lot of work to do, including spraying and bringing in tender potted plants and digging up plants I planted in the spring and stuffing them in pots to be brought inside.

I did go out briefly to the lake today. Before I left, I noticed this female locust in my backyard.

Brown katydid resting on a chain-link fence in Dallas, TX

Yo.

She had been hanging out near a Brazilian rock rose but leaped onto the fence when I came too near. At first I thought she was a grasshopper. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a brown katydid before, although they are probably common. I’d like to see a red katydid, but without the devastation they can cause to oaks!

The Beginnings of Pelican Mayhem: October 14

The title isn’t entirely true; the mayhem started the day before, on October 13, when pelicans began to fight each other for access to colonize the nearby loafing areas. It was windy outside and the water was choppy, which made the pelicans’ abilities to encroach upon and defend new areas more difficult than usual.

On the fourteenth, the pelicans were still quite feisty. A large group kept circling the bay, hunting. Small groups splintered off to hunt on their own and later rejoined the main group. Other birds bathed and loafed, and birds who finished bathing or who wanted a break from hunting tried to steal log space away from loafing pelicans.

Because there are so many pictures in this post, there will be a cut near the beginning of the narrative.

American white pelican ((Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) preens her feathers at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Such a peaceful beginning.

Some of the swimming birds found trash to bounce around in their pouches in play.

Two American white peliacns (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), one of which is catching a tossed piece of trash in its beak while swimming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

A few days later a different pelican would find the same bit of trash and toss it around as well.

The Queen of the Log log was an important location in the day’s events (and in general in the lives of the pelicans at White Rock Lake). It is a small log that is maybe fifty feet away from the edge of the dock. Two pelicans can share it if they both cooperate. IF.

Two American white pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Oh, please. Do you really think I’m budging for the likes of you?

The juvenile was easily intimidated and moseyed away, but an adult thought she would try her luck.

fight1

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Two Random Pics: A Pelican Landing and a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron Preening

Recently there was a photo contest calling for submissions of pictures representing activities and wildlife at White Rock Lake. Neither Q nor I had ever entered a photo contest before, so we decided to do so for fun, not expecting anything would come of it (and we were right!). I was trying to choose between several pelican pics that I really liked, but when Q saw one of them, he became very emphatic.

“This one. Choose this one. You have a great deal of action and excitement with the diagonal pelican slicing through the frame.”

American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) descending to land at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

OH SHIT, WHERE DO I LAND?

In early July I’d seen quite a bit of a yellow-crowned night heron who kept preening, sunbathing, hunting crawdads, bathing, and preening again on and near a concrete chunk in the lower section of the spillway. I chose one of my favorite pics of her.

Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) grooming at White Rock Lake in Dallas, TX

Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.

A Dallas birder, photographer, and blogger, Ben, did get an honorable mention, so I was glad to see that.

UPDATE: The winning pics are up, and . . . uhhhhhhh . . .

Some birder/photographers who have much more experience regarding this contest than I told me that the contest was unprofessional (in the context of real photography contests with real judges). The “judges,” who were not named or described (if I am remembering correctly), tended to choose extremely boring and/or clichéd pics. The photographers joked to each other that there HAD to be a pic of a dock as a winner!

Except they weren’t joking. Three dock-related pics were winners/honorable mentions! There were some pics that I liked, but in general . . . man . . .

If Q or I enter this contest again, we have a much better idea of what wins. Or, as Q said, “We can take a break while riding around the lake and snap a shitty picture of some boats or the landscape and win!”