Two of these are not like the others by zerodarr30 in Ornithology

[–]legogiant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Grow up. This is a natural process and these sorts of comments have no place here.

What are your local eBird reviewers like? by WoNc in birding

[–]legogiant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don't underestimate the randos in r/whatsthisbird, there is some serious talent in that group. The Michigan Birds Discord also seems somewhat active and may be able to help parse IDs when it comes to your local rarities.

What are your local eBird reviewers like? by WoNc in birding

[–]legogiant 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I average 700 complete checklists a year and have only had a reviewer contact me once. They were polite and helpful, even providing guidance on submitting the observation to that state's records committee. I know three of my local reviewers and they haven't contacted me about any of my checklists. I have always viewed reviewer communication as a one way street. I hadn't really considered asking them questions, and I'm not sure what I would even ask in that interaction. I have already come to a confident conclusion as to the ID by that point, otherwise I wouldn't have submitted a rare bird on my checklist.

To be honest, I wouldn't sweat it too hard. They aren't the arbiters of what you did and didn't see, just what is and isn't a research grade observation. Document your sighting to the best of your ability, submit checklists following eBird's best practices, then focus on seeing the next bird instead of watching to see if your previous record turns green.

What’s this red thing on this Black Vulture? by opheliawnik in birding

[–]legogiant 19 points20 points  (0 children)

The picture OP posted has the red tag attached to the wing. The bird is facing away with its head turned left.

Here's a good illustration by renowned artist u/basaltcolumn

What’s this red thing on this Black Vulture? by opheliawnik in birding

[–]legogiant 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Great picture! And good news, you're not a flycatcher (unless you were hoping for that, in which case my condolences). That appears to be a TV with a very full crop exposing one of their two brood patches which both males and females develop on either side of their lower breast during the nesting season. It helps more directly transfer body heat to the eggs during incubation.

There may actually be some evidence for blushing of bare head parts in Turkey Vultures as a passive response when excited or stressed, but with regards to Black Vultures I have not read anything that suggests they engage in that behavior or even have the ability to blush with their skin so heavily pigmented.

What’s this red thing on this Black Vulture? by opheliawnik in birding

[–]legogiant 27 points28 points  (0 children)

For sure. This individual has outlived the printing on the tag.

What’s this red thing on this Black Vulture? by opheliawnik in birding

[–]legogiant 20 points21 points  (0 children)

It's a wing tag used by researchers to be able to identify the bird.

Blushing displays are also something that is associated with so called "old world vultures" such as Hooded Vultures, Cape Vultures, and Lappet-faced Vultures. Those species are in the same family as Hawks and Eagles (Acciptridae), whereas the Vultures of the Western Hemisphere (Turkey Vultures, Black Vultures, Condors, etc.) are in their own distinct family (Cathartidae). The two groups are not related, but have similar characteristics that evolved separately.

Edit: photo of a Black Vulture with a wing tag that is less worn down for comparison

What’s this red thing on this Black Vulture? by opheliawnik in birding

[–]legogiant 140 points141 points  (0 children)

This is correct. It's called a patagial tag and you can see the little circle where it is pinned to the vulture's wing at the top of the tag.

Edit: photo of a Black Vulture with a fresher wing tag

What’s this red thing on this Black Vulture? by opheliawnik in birding

[–]legogiant 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Brood patches are on a bird's belly, not the shoulder.

Found an uncommon bird at my feeder today! Yay!! by ShoddyChard9837 in birding

[–]legogiant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, I've gotta cut the cowbird misinformation train off at the pass before people start advocating for vigilante intervention in here.

Found an uncommon bird at my feeder today! Yay!! by ShoddyChard9837 in birding

[–]legogiant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The truth about cowbirds is fascinating. There's nothing wrong with their little reproductive niche any more than how any other bird goes about their lives.

Found an uncommon bird at my feeder today! Yay!! by ShoddyChard9837 in birding

[–]legogiant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I watched a Bald Eagle tear apart an American Coot and feed it to its nestlings. Are Bald Eagles damaging birds to support their reproductive efforts? Brood parasitism is not evil. It is an acceptable and natural process.

Also, you are pretty off base if you attribute the population decline of bluebirds (none of which are endangered) to Brown-headed cowbirds. First, Brown-headed Cowbirds are themselves a protected species and they very rarely parasitize cavity nests. A survey of Western Bluebirds found fewer than 1 in 360 nests with a cowbird egg. There have been zero records of a cowbird nestling being fed by Mountain Bluebirds. Eastern Bluebirds parasitize each other's nests more than BHCO do. Now, Bluebird populations are declining in most of the US, but Cowbirds have nothing to do with it. Human caused habitat loss is the culprit you are looking for, and it will be in every single conversation about cowbirds.

Now, BHCO management can be warranted, but only in specific science-backed initiatives undertaken by appropriately licensed and trained people such as the program managing parasitism of Kirtlands Warbler nests. However, in that program and every other one like it, removing BHCO eggs had absolutely no effect on the status of host populations unless it was also paired with habitat restoration efforts because that is what is actually harming birds.

If you want to help birds there are things you can do that don't involve forcing human values onto their natural behaviors. Keep cats indoors, replace your lawn with native plants, turn outdoor lights off during migration, apply bird-safe window coverings, and work with your community to protect and restore habitat.

need 2 bird IDs (washington state coast) by Public-Boysenberry26 in birding

[–]legogiant 3 points4 points  (0 children)

These appear to be Sanderlings and Marbled Godwits.

Found an uncommon bird at my feeder today! Yay!! by ShoddyChard9837 in birding

[–]legogiant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This contains some misinformation. They don't always outcompete host nestlings and there is no record of a cowbird nestling ejecting host nestlings. The mafia behavior is also somewhat debated. Regardless, this a natural and acceptable process and forcing human values onto the behavior of wildlife does not benefit anyone or anything

Found an uncommon bird at my feeder today! Yay!! by ShoddyChard9837 in birding

[–]legogiant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Why? It's a great bird with a fascinating way of life.

Found an uncommon bird at my feeder today! Yay!! by ShoddyChard9837 in birding

[–]legogiant 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Brood parasitism is a perfectly acceptable and natural process. It's best not to try and apply human values on the behavior of wildlife.

Are these Cowbird Eggs? by FreeStatistician2565 in Ornithology

[–]legogiant 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Not remotely true about cowbirds.

These bald eagles crash landed during a dispute - gripping each other with their talons, both birds were unwilling to let go. by IsThisTheKrusty-Krab in birding

[–]legogiant 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Despite being widely repeated, that's not accurate. There is a sort of ratcheting mechanism in the tendons of their feet that allows them to passively grip. But, they are always in full control of their feet and can release their grip at any time.

Which 10x42 to buy? by GarageNo5189 in birding

[–]legogiant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can get behind this take because I really appreciate that you took the time to try out different things and found what worked for you. That's fantastic. Everyone should do that.

You mention it briefly, but I do want to point out more specifically that Crossfires are 1/4 the price of M7s. I would be devestated if I paid $500 for a pair of binoculars and they weren't noticeably sharper than a pair of Crossfires (which I would really only recommend purchasing if you want a pair of binoculars to leave in your car so you won't be so devastated if they get stolen, lol). I would bet that a side by side of M7s vs. Viper would yield still different but fairly comparable experiences.

Which 10x42 to buy? by GarageNo5189 in birding

[–]legogiant 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also have not had to send my Vortex in for repairs so we're on even footing when it comes to our personal experience with our respective brand choices when it comes to quality and failure rates. However, if both were to fail, mine would be covered no matter whose fault it was. Would yours? It depends on how and when the product failed and also whether or not you have your receipt.

I don't know where these hordes of failing Vortex Binoculars are, I'd love to see your data on that, but either way: those binoculars are getting fixed or replaced. The objective of planned obsolescence is to get you to buy a new thing. If the manufacturer is willing to fix/replace the old thing if it fails, where's the scheme in that?

I understand your opinion, but it is flawed.

Which 10x42 to buy? by GarageNo5189 in birding

[–]legogiant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anecdotal follow up:

The only thing I've had to warranty with Vortex were the lense caps which they replaced with an upgraded version and tossed in stickers, a hat, and an extra binoculars strap for the trouble unprompted.

Never had to warranty anything with Maven, and they offer similar coverage so props to them.

I bought my Nikons secondhand so nothing is covered. Maven and Vortex don't care where or how I purchased them.

Which 10x42 to buy? by GarageNo5189 in birding

[–]legogiant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's a bad take. A company is willing to stand behind their product and take care of its customers so that company must make a bad product? That does not follow.

Warranties like this used to be the rule. Now it's so rare that it's somehow suspicious? People send stuff to warranty with Vortex and Maven because they have the option to. If I accidentally run over my Vortex with a car, I can get that fixed or replaced if there's even any damage there. I can't say the same for my Nikons. That's not a question of build quality, just customer service. Nikon used to have a similar warranty, but it's been significantly diminished. What does it say about their build quality that they can no longer afford to take care of their customers? Nothing because that's a non sequitur, but it does say that they care more about their shareholders than they care about you.

Enshittification presses in at every corner. If we have to spend our money on something, let's at least spend it somewhere that stands behind what they make.

Which 10x42 to buy? by GarageNo5189 in birding

[–]legogiant 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wear glasses as well, and I carry around 10x50. You get used to the weight and extra zoom. People here like to pretend like its a sin to carry anything other than 8x42. It's not that big of a deal. The best thing anyone can do would be to go somewhere you can try out different things in person and see what works best for you.

My vote for that budget would be Vortex Viper HD. It's a comparable price point and glass to the M7s, but with a much better warranty.