Seward, Alaska
Sunrise 6:47 am, sunset 9:11
pm for a total day length of 14 hours and 24 minutes. Tomorrow will be 5
minutes and 26 seconds longer.
After several days of cool,
cloudy weather with occasional spittles of precip, the sun reigned with gusto,
high in a brilliant blue sky. Temps soared from 35 this morning to a balmy 53ยบ.
Crocuses are in full bloom and the overwintering bumblebees are feasting on
their gleaming yellow pollen. Mostly sunny is in the forecast for the next two
days, then back to cloudy and rain with a chance for snow by next Friday.
More NORTHERN PINTAILS and
GADWALL have arrived to feed in almost thawed ponds. Six ROBINS are likely
newly arrived migrants. The First-of-season GREATER YELLOWLEGS arrived on April
12, as they did in Kenai and Homer. The migration has finally begun!
Meanwhile, overwintering
raptors are focusing closely on feeders, mostly abandoned due to all the unwanted
attention. A MERLIN apparently decided to move in to Ava’s Place for the
convenient dining opportunities. I watched one fly over my neighborhood,
clocking at least 12 miles an hour as I followed in my car. It finally landed
at the top of a spruce tree to take a look around, then flew back, possibly
heading back to Ava’s.
The NORTHERN GOSHAWK and a
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK are also patrolling the ‘hood; both were reported on April
9. The Goshawk struck a pigeon and the feathers went flying unaccompanied down
the street. The fate of the pigeon is not known, but the Goshawk was back on
April 12 looking for more.
It’s been fun watching the
TRUMPETER SWANS at the Lagoon. As the ice melts at each end and the open water
expands, the family of two adults and two cygnets seems to alternate with the
family of one adult and two cygnets. It’s hard to tell who is who and which is
what as sometimes the one adult is napping.
On April 12, I happened to
get some close photos from the car of one cygnet and one parent of the family
of four. While they preened together, the other cygnet fed a short distance
away, and the other adult napped at the edge of the water. I am concerned about
this napping swan; it doesn’t seem normal for it to not be active like the
others. I wonder if it was the swan that hit the power lines but survived, yet
is still recovering from internal injuries?
Today, I found only one adult
and two cygnets feeding at the Lagoon, farther away. I watched more closely
after a report late yesterday of a swan with a fishhook in its bill. Sure
enough, the adult had a wad of fishing line tangled with vegetation hanging
down. It seemed to be embedded on both sides at the base of the bill; somewhat
hard to tell.
While the swan seemed able to
feed, the hook(s) and line also got in the way. I’ve never seen a swan’s pink
tongue before; possibly it was trying to maneuver around the nasty hook and
line. I also noted a reddish area, maybe blood, around the wound. Compared to
the sleek black bill of yesterday’s adult, this other swan’s beak was very different.
The Alaska Sealife Center
Wildlife Rescue team is aware of this injured swan, but for now can only
monitor the sad situation. If you see the swans, please give them plenty of
room during this stressful time.
On a happier note, it’s time
to find and wash the hummingbird feeders! Bring 4 cups of water to a boil then
remove from heat. Add 1 cup of table sugar and stir until dissolved. Let cool
and do not add any red food coloring. Unused mixture can be stored in a clean jar
in the ‘frig for a week. Be sure to clean the feeder every time you refill it
to prevent harmful mold and black fungus. A red feeder that easily comes apart
so all parts can be cleaned is the best design.
If you haven’t cleaned out
the old nests and debris from your swallow boxes, it’s time to do that too. A
little bar soap rubbed on the ceiling will help prevent paper wasps from taking
up residence. If there is a cute little perch by the entrance, please remove
that as it only enables Magpies and Steller Jays to dine on the babies.
Get ready! They could be here
any day!
Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Seward Sporadic Bird Report
Reporter
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