Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Why are Northern Cardinals red?

By Sally Siko

The state bird of N.C. is the Northern Cardinal, a familiar backyard feathered gem boldly colored with a cheerful song.
Have you ever wondered what gives their plumage that bright red color?

The coloration in these birds comes from three naturally occurring chemical compounds: melanin, porphyrins, and carotenoids.
Melanin is present in humans, giving us our skin, hair and eye colors — and it’s what gives cardinals black, brown, and buff hues.
Porphyrin is responsible for reddish and brownish shades.
But it’s the carotenoids, which create yellow, orange, and red colors, that are perhaps the most important to the male cardinal’s striking red coloring.



These carotenoids are found in plants. Cardinals that are especially bright red, are most likely dining on a healthy diet of carotenoid-rich fruits and berries.
You can aid these gorgeous birds in their development of rich coloration by planting native berry bushes like raspberries and mulberries in your yard. Another excellent food source is the Dogwood tree as their berries are particularly favored by Cardinals.
In addition to offering black oil sunflower seeds, you can also mix in some safflower seeds into your feeder which will add a bit of extra carotenoids into their high protein diets.
Such a gorgeous bird!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

By the way, I’ve added more than 80 new birding tour dates to my Best Life Birding trip schedule.
Check out the calendar below and book your next birding adventure with me today!

The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Loggerhead Shrikes in the Sandhills of North Carolina

By Sally Siko

A couple of weeks ago, I set out on a soggy Saturday morning to go birding at the Sandhills Gamelands in central NC.
Although it poured rain for the first two hours of the day, seeing these Loggerhead Shrikes made venturing into deluge worth it!
Normally Shrikes are difficult to approach (especially in open areas) but I think the birds were less inclined move due to the stormy weather.
It was neat to get a look at them from such a close range.


Aa predatory songbirds the Northern Shrikes diet consists primarily of mice, voles, grasshoppers and other insects. Like their cousin the Northern Shrike, they’ll occasionally eat other songbirds as well when the opportunity presents itself.
It gets crazier than that though!
Because they lack strong talons or claws, shrikes often impale food on branches, thorns or barbed wire fences to help them tear their prey into bite-sized pieces.
For this grisly meat hanging characteristic, shrikes have earned the moniker of “butcher birds”.
Though it’s indeed an unsettling means to a meal, it behavioral adaptations like these which ensure the Shrikes survival.


Their favored habitats include wide open, tall grassy fields, overgrown hedge rows and agricultural areas where their prey is found.
Usually they are spotted sitting on dead tree snags, on fence lines and power lines overlooking the fields, constantly scanning the ground below for a snack.

Interestingly, this is the third year in a row that I’ve encountered the pair of Shrikes at this location during early March.
I’ve since visited the Gamelands a few times during the summertime to see if they around but with no luck.
This makes sense because although
Loggerhead Shrikes may generally be found throughout the central and eastern regions of Tarheel State year round, the highest amount of recorded sightings annually occur just a bit further south closer to the SC border during the summer months.
It really was nice to catch an early glimpse of this tiny predator once again!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

By the way, I’ve added more than 80 new birding tour dates to my Best Life Birding trip schedule.
Check out the calendar below and book your next birding adventure with me today!

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Spending time with Eastern wild Turkeys in western North Carolina

By Sally Siko

I’m looking forward to later this spring when I’ll visit western NC to go photograph turkeys again.
They are so entertaining to watch as the Toms strut their stuff during the breeding season!
A year round resident, the Eastern wild Turkey is found in nearly every county here in North Carolina. As a flock, they’re skittish birds which in my experience, are best photographed from belly down in the grass perspective as not to spook them off.
These guys are constantly on the move, always on the lookout for a new snack (nuts, seeds, grains, insects and small fruits) to gobble down.
They’re most frequently observed foraging in the early morning hours around sunrise, and will also feed actively in the evening before darkness sets in.



Turkeys are interesting birds.
Did you know that Wild Turkeys are ground nesters and will lay around a dozen eggs per clutch?
That’s a lot of eggs and the hen doesn’t lay them all at once. Instead she’ll lay one egg per day but will not begin incubating them all until the last egg is laid.
Although the first laid eggs will get cold (exposed to the elements) during the first few weeks, the fascinating thing is that the embryos in the eggs will not start to develop until the hen starts warming her clutch by sitting on the nest after all the eggs have been laid.
This ensures that even though there was a two week difference between the first egg & last egg being laid, the entire clutch will hatch at the same time!


The Eastern Wild Turkey is a year round resident of North Carolina. They are found in all 100 of our counties and unlike other species of birds, thanks to conservation efforts (and the decline of large predators) their population is actually on the increase!
Look for them in open, tree lined fields in the morning and evenings throughout the Tarheel state.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

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Warbler Spring migration bird watching trips in North Carolina, South Carolina and New Jersey

By Sally Siko

The grass is greening up and the flowers are starting to bloom. Spring is on the way and with it, new species of warblers will soon be arriving in the eastern United States.
Soon the woods and fields will be filled with chirps, buzzes, trills and tweets as the birds sing in search of a mate and to establish nesting territories.

Warbler vocalizations fall into two categories – songs and calls. In general, we define bird song as a structured, usually complex vocalization serving either or both of two purposes – to defend territories and to attract mates.
Most of the songs are sung by the males, though females do also sing territorially or for pair bonding, especially in the tropics.
Generally their calls are usually shorter and structurally simpler, serving a wider range of functions, including courtship, signaling alarm, or communicating a change in location.



Interestingly, almost no songbirds know their songs by instinct. Rather, most need to learn to sing.
Warblers begin learning songs as nestlings by hearing the songs of adults nearby. In this way, song traditions (known to biologists as “memes”) are passed down in songbird neighborhoods from year to year.
In fact many warbler species have area-specific dialects.
Makes me wonder if our warblers have a southern accent lol!



I can’t wait for spring migration to kick off! It’s so much fun to lead my birding tours, showing off these beautiful feathered gems to my guests.
I’ve got 80 new tour dates available for booking in the Carolina’s as well as in eastern New Jersey and coastal Maine.
If you’d like to join me to go birding this spring, check out the calendar shown below for location and date information.


Feel free to send me an email if ya have any questions about upcoming trips too!
Happy birding-
Sally

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina, Birdwatching News

Spring bird watching tours in North Carolina

By Sally Siko

The first signs of spring are showing up here in NC. The grass is turning greener, the days are trending warmer and the daffodils will soon be in bloom.
This means that migration is right around the corner and with that, tons of new birds flying in to spend a few weeks or months on the Atlantic coast.



I want to see ALL the birds and can’t wait to share these birding experiences with my guests which is why I’m excited to offer a greatly expanded bird tour schedule in 2024.
80+ dates are now open for you to book a birding trip with me this year in North Carolina, South Carolina, Maine and New Jersey from now through late summer.



For details please check out the link below and if ya have any questions feel free to send me an email anytime!

Go Birding With Me: Best Life Birding Trips, Guided Group Birding Tours & Bird Photography Workshops


Happy birding,
Sally

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

Tundra Swans in eastern NC

By Sally Siko

One of my favorite winter residents of NC is the Tundra Swan. Each November, thousands of them arrive in to spend the cooler months in our eastern counties.
They quickly fill up the impoundments and farm fields, hooting, honking and whistling, their calls can be heard from a mile away.



Tundra Swans nest in northern Alaska and in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northeastern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and northwestern Quebec.
Interestingly, Tundra Swans break off into 2 distinct groups of eastern and western migrating populations when traveling between breeding and wintering grounds.
 Swans that nest east of Point Hope in northern Alaska winter on the Atlantic coast, while birds breeding from Point Hope south & west winter along the Pacific.


It seems odd for the swans in the Coleville River region of Alaska to make such a long trip east which spans the United States when a flight due south/west to California is quite a bit closer.
 Whatever the reason, I’m glad they are here!

These impressive birds will stick around eastern North Carolina for a couple more weeks before heading north so you’ve still got time to enjoy them if ya get out there soon.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birdwatching News, Field Notes

How to Use the eBird App- a Tutorial

By Sally Siko

Introduction:

eBird is a popular citizen science project developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It allows birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts to record their bird sightings, contribute to scientific research, and explore birding hotspots worldwide. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use the eBird app to make the most of your birdwatching experience:

Step 1: Download and Install the eBird App

– Visit the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play Store (for Android devices).

– Search for “eBird” and download the app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

– Install the app on your device.

Step 2: Create an Account

– Open the eBird app on your device.

– Tap on “Sign Up” or “Create Account” to register for a new account.

– Follow the on-screen prompts to enter your email address, create a password, and provide some basic information about yourself.

– Once you’ve completed the registration process, log in to your newly created eBird account.

Step 3: Explore Birding Hotspots

– Upon logging in, click on the magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen to bring up a map displaying birding hotspots in your area.

– Use the search bar to find specific locations or browse through the map to discover nearby birding sites.

– Tap on a hotspot to view more information, including recent sightings, species lists, and comments from other birders.

Step 4: Report Your Bird Sightings

– To report a bird sighting, tap on the “Submit” button located at the bottom of the screen.

– Select the date and location of your birding outing using the calendar and map interface.

– Enter the species you observed by typing the name or using the app’s built-in bird identification tool.

– Indicate the number of individuals observed and any additional comments or observations.

– Rare & previously unreported birds (indicated by red dot shown next to the bird’s name) will require checklist comments with species observations. Use descriptions like plumage color, behavior, size and song type.

– Review your checklist and tap “Submit” to upload your sighting to eBird’s database.

Step 5: Explore Your Personal Data

– Navigate to the “My eBird” section of the app to access your personal birding data.

– View your lifetime, year, month, or day lists to track your birding progress over time.

– Explore your personal statistics, including the number of species observed and your birding activity by location.

Step 6: Contribute to Science

– By reporting your bird sightings to eBird, you’re contributing valuable data to scientific research and conservation efforts.

– Your observations help researchers better understand bird populations, distributions, and migration patterns.

– Participate in eBird challenges and special projects to further contribute to ornithological science.

Step 7: Customize Your Settings

– Click on the three little dots in the bottom righthand corner of the screen to explore the app’s settings to customize your eBird experience.

– Adjust notification preferences, download regional species packs, map layers, and display options to suit your preferences.

– Keep the app updated to access the latest features and improvements.

Conclusion:

The eBird app is a powerful tool for birdwatchers of all skill levels, providing a platform to record, share, and explore bird sightings around the world. By following this tutorial, you can make the most of your birding adventures and contribute to the global community of citizen scientists working to conserve avian biodiversity. 

Happy birding!

Birdwatching News, Gifts for Birders and Bird watchers

Original painted North Carolina bird art by Best Life Birding guide Sally Siko is now availible

To purchase prints of my artwork check this link to visit my online gallery https://SallySiko.zenfolio.com/bestlifebirdingartbysallysiko

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC, Birding Trips in SC, Birdwatching News, Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

Birding tours in South Carolina

By Sally Siko

Really looking forward to leading more birding trips in South Carolina this year!
I love seeing the huge variety of long legged, pointed (and spoon) billed, fish slayers (both feathered and otherwise lol!) that are found along the coast.
The cool thing about spending time Herons, Spoonbills, Woodstorks, Gallinules and Egrets is that generally, these are active birds which makes them entertaining to watch.
I love trying to freeze the quick action sequences as the birds squabble for a catch.


Though it can be challenging to capture the action, photographing wading birds is an opportunity to learn something new about capturing good images.
Between adjusting ISO numbers for the light, tweaking shutter speed for action and figuring out aperture values, there’s a lot to think about before I’ve even pressed the shutter.


Luckily the birds, gators and minks tend to stick around for a long while which means there’s plenty of time to really dial in those settings.
When the day is done, I always leave SC feeling like a stronger photographer than when I arrived.
Plus I’ll have a memory card filled with beautiful birds and great memories too.
That’s the kind of experience I enjoy sharing with my guests on every trip!

Check out the links below to book your bird watching tour in South Carolina today!

Birding Tours at Huntington Beach State Park
Birding Tours at Pinckney Island NWR



Photos by Sally Siko of @bestlife_birding captured on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

Enjoying the Boat-tailed Grackle in eastern NC

By Sally Siko

Though they are a common sight along North Carolina’s beaches, I love taking photos of the Boat-tailed Grackles.
I spotted this handsome fella snacking on some sort of crustacean while birding in the OBX this past weekend.
It was neat to watch him pick his way through the seaweed that had washed up on the cove. The waves crashing just inches away, the grackle remained unbothered as it finally found a meal and gulped it down.



Boat-tailed Grackles are a permanent resident of North Carolina boasting a wide range that stretches from the coastline of New York, down into Florida and into east Texas.
They are found almost always near sources of water such as wetlands and coastal marshes, waterfowl impoundments, lakes, rivers, both the Atlantic and Gulf beaches, ponds and mudflats.



These sharp looking members of the blackbird family are omnivorous with a diet of coastal fare that consists of mussels, shrimp, frogs, aquatic insects, snails, crayfish, and even crabs.
 When grabbing a meal away from the water, they will feed on grasshoppers, caterpillars, and the eggs of other birds.
 During the winter months, they will supplement their diet with different kinds of seeds and grain to make up for the protein loss that may occur when their favorite prey becomes scarce in cold weather. This is why you’re likely to see more of them at your feeders in the wintertime if you live on the east coast.
When this happens large flocks can quickly inundate a backyard and go through all the available bird seed in a flash.
For that reason some people consider them pests but I think they are beautiful!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5