Haw River

Tag

By Oh! Ouch! But, Good News!

Jordan Lake: On June 5, 2020, Captain Doug and I, while out on Jordan Lake, came across a great blue heron.  He had somehow peeled his face from the corner of his beak to just in front of his eye.  We both wondered if he would be able to heal.  Captain Doug kept an eye out for the heron as the weeks went by, but didn’t see him.  Then on September 16, 15 weeks later, we found the great blue heron.  Eye still bright.  Skin scarred around the eye and pulling it into an oval, but the bird looked just fine.  Does have a very distinct look.  Whew!!!

By Feathered Kinetic Energy

Jordan Lake, Haw River: Feathered Kinetic Energy smoothly surges from the toes through to the sharp beak as this great blue heron launches and displays that energy that is possessed by a body because of its motion. The physics of kinetic energy explained by a single bird.

By Neat Hummingbird Fact!

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River.  Hold On!!! Neat fact coming up!!! Guess what: Hummingbirds do NOT suck up nectar.  Nope.  They lap/lick up the nectar. I have simplified the process explanation:  The hummingbird flicks his long tongue out and into the nectar.  The tongue flattens and grooves down its length become immersed in the fluid.  The tongue then rolls it sides up and the rolling action puts pressure on the nectar and down it goes into the bird’s tummy.  In effect, the tongue is an elastic pump.  Ok.  So, I have given you 2 photos from this morning at the lake so you can see the very long thin tongue on this ruby-throated hummingbird.  The black and white photo helps delineate the tongue.  Link to take you to a wonderful page with great explanations https://www.livescience.com/51904-hummingbird-tongue-pump.html

By Alert Bald Eagle

Jordan Lake, Haw River: Alert Bald Eagle. Oft times as a photographer I am pulled in two different directions. Do I continue to concentrate on the bird on the perch, in this case obviously watching something to his right? Or, do I track to my left with my lens to see what has the eagle’s attention? The alert concentration on the eagle’s face kept my focus and appreciation. I don’t know what he was watching, but I know what you and I are seeing and sensing. Do enjoy!

By Contamination of Bald Eagles, Ospreys at Jordan Lake

The BALD EAGLES and OSPREYS of Jordan Lake need your HELP! There have been sightings this spring and summer of bald eagles and ospreys with some kind of dark fluids staining their feathers. We are asking for your help in reporting any birds that you observe that are coated or if you see any unusual substances on or in the water of the lake or shoreline. Please contact NC Wildlife Resources Commission at 1 (800) 662-7137 if you sight an injured‬ bird or a dead bald eagle or osprey. Please leave the injured bird alone and do not try to capture it. Any remains must stay in-place. You may also share your concerns with the Army Corps of Engineers at (919-542-4501 x2428) or Doc Ellen via FB messenger or Instagram message. Please include with your notice a location, date, time of day, species of bird and what the bird looked like. Thank you for your help!