Jay watch at Hickey Creek

In my never ending interest in learning and exploring, I enlisted to participate in a Jay watch citizen Science training session. 

We met up at Hickey Creek in Alva for a field session which was followed by classroom session during lunch. In the process we learned the cooperative behavior of Florida Scrub-jay groups,and how to identify adults versus juvenile. Come and take a look.

Along Bateman Rd - a bull watched us as we slowly drove by.

We met up with a group and set out on the trail.

This is prime Scrub Jay habitat - we are hoping to spot a few of them.

One curious fellow came in and he was soon

joined by another.

Notice how they choose a prime spot to look at us while we squint trying to see them.

Did you know that Florida scrub-jays are the only avian species occurring only in Florida? They are also one of the most sedentary and habitat-restricted birds in North America. Although they may live up to 15 years, most never travel more than a few Kilometers from their birthplace. Optimal habitat consists of 60% trees and shrub of one and two meters in height, 20% open ground and no more than 20% pines and canopied trees over three meters in height.

To maintain optimal habitat for jays, historically fire-maintained scrub needs to be burned every 10 to 15 years.

The Jays are omnivores. For most of the year, jays eat mostly grasshoppers, crickets and caterpillars but they will also take spiders, tree frogs, lizards, small snakes, mice, eggs and berries. During the fall and winter their diet consists mainly of acorns. A scrub-jay will bury between 6,500 & 8,000 acorns each year. They recover and consume about 75% of these acorns.

One tidbit of info that I learn is that "peanuts and other foods" that people use to lure scrub-jays are really bad for their digestive system and it is also illegal since the bird is federally protected. Also, Jays can become dependent on humans for food, lose any fear they may have of humans and change the timing of reproduction in a negative way.

The field standardized Jay Watch survey will take place from mid June to mid July, stay tuned.

After our training session and early lunch, we took the back roads and pulled along the side to observe some of the farm animals.

Llamas, Sheeps, Rams and Cows are not my usual vista and I enjoy watching them.

What's not to love? Any day spent outdoors and surrounded with nature makes for a very fine day indeed.

Birding Alva with the Caloosa Bird Club

On this chilly morning, we met up with the group by the Franklin's Lock and enjoyed a beautiful sunrise - filled with promises of a great day - and it was.

A Limpkin came and greeted us - I believe it might just be the same Limpkin as last year and I bet this is his regular spot.

Some houses were set up for the Purple Martins - always a joy to see them.

A Loggerhead Shrike seeking his next morsel.

Those Oak Trees are mighty tall and gave us a good neck warm-up. Soon after we left to gather at the White's feeders.

Mr & Mrs White have been members of the Caloosa Club for many years and have graciously opened their house/yard to share the multitude of birds that come to their feeders....here an Indigo Bunting is waiting for a spot by the bird feeder.

In their neighborhood - a singing Carolina Wren was spotted.

An American Goldfinch was soon joined by

the Painted Bunting - wow - I never tire of looking at this bird and it was hard to say good bye...but alas we need to move on.

We drove for a bit along N.River Rd and then reached Parkinson Road where we saw this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker as well as the Red-headed Woodpecker.

Also, a pair of Swallow-tailed Kites were seen perched in a tree before wooing us with their acrobatic flight.

Several Cattle Egrets were resting and cleaning while we walked by - soon after we saw the Wood Ducks.... in flight....they quickly retreated to the back, giving us a brief flight/silhouette view.

A quick pit stop at Franklin Lock Campground provided us views of a Limpkin, a Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Killdeers, an Eagle and several Purple Martins.

Soon after we headed to North River Road - a family of Sandhill Cranes was observed...

the pond has just about dried up and there isn't much left there - we did see a Greater Yellowleg and heard the Meadowlark....

our group enjoyed the view through the barb wire

and watched as the two colts walked far away from their parents - having fun and enjoying the fleeting freedom.

My E-Bird List for Alva.

Across Alva

Yes, you guessed it, today is Monday - my birding day with the Caloosa Bird Club.

Today we traveled to H.P. Franklin Lock to meet the rest of the group and to carpool for our next destination(s).

What a nice way to start the day!

A Limpkin greeted the day too. Then off we went to Alva's Restaurant to see....

A Great-horned Owl in its downy feathers. And after enjoying watching those two eaglets for a while and after being watched by people going by....we carpooled to our next spot...a Chipping Sparrow waiting for us at

The White's House in Alva - generous members of the Caloosa Birding Club who provide their hospitality and share their awesome view of the....

Indigo Buntings

And Painted Buntings too

After a while it was time to say goodbye to those gorgeous friends and move on to the next spot....

Parkinson Road to visit the.....

Red-headed Woodpeckers - this one has a huge grub in his bill

This one is checking us up.

This one couldn't care less....then we crossed the street and checked a little pond - there we saw....

A Snail Kite!

We made a stop at the Caloosahatchee Regional Park for a bit,

And a stop  on the north side of the W.P. Franklin Campground

Saw the Purple Martins

And a Logerhead Shrike

And a Forster's Tern getting in shape and practicing for the Extreme Challenge Games with the Cormorant as a spectator.

Then we drove to N. River Rd to visit Ken's Pond - there we were watched with interest.

The cows were easily photographed, the others not so much - we did see quite a few species, such as a Sandhill Crane family, a Spoonbill, a Greater Yellowlegs, some Coyotes in the distance and more.

Another great birding trip with the Caloosa Club. We tallied 70 birds across Alva today - not a bad day at all. My E-Bird List http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17683980