The Coolidge Effect .....?

Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl Gallus lafayetti 

Just into a good read “Why did the CHICKEN cross the world?” by Andrew Lawler ….it is so strange that we who are interested in birds seem to have just forgotten the most closely associated bird in our everyday life…..

There are 20 Billion chickens living in our planet at any given time. The closest competitor in the wild being the African Finch numbering a mere 2 billion or so……..

And most of us did not know that the domestic chicken is a descendant of the Jungle Fowl…Charles Darwin in 1855 researching on his theory of “Natural Selection” set aside his barnacles and turned to collecting and examining poultry…he had a lot to learn and he says …” I was so ignorant I did not know there were three varieties of Dorking Fowl nor how do they differ,”………he opened his correspondence to all researching on avian fauna and it was Edward Blyth the British ornithological researcher in Calcutta having researched in the four species of Jungle fowl cleared that it cannot be a descendant of the Sri Lanka Jungle Fowl Gallus lafayetti first cataloged in  1830…..not of the Javan species the Green Jungle Fowl Gallus varius   for it lacks a single comb and not from the Gray Jungle Fowl Gallus sonnerati in a restricted area to the south in the Indian peninsular ……it is related to the Red Jungle Fowl Gallus Gallus  of the Himalayan foot hills…..

Initially a sacred and venerated bird used in godly sacrifices but later turned to poultry.

Now for the interesting part…..the male bird is called the Cock bird but did you know that the “Cock has no Cock?”......a casual spectator may be of the opinion that when the rooster mounts the hen there is penetration as when the mammals mate. The act is over in lesser time than a Pilipino cock fight lasts…A healthy rooster can produce more than 8 billion sperm in every ejaculation…which takes a few seconds but the sperm installed in the hen’s single ovary can fertilize eggs up to a month it is said……………

However Biology can’t explain why our favored slang word for the male organ refers to a bird that lacks one? The American blush at the word bandied about shamelessly by the Canadians, Australians, British and other English speakers who still uses it without hesitation to describe the male chicken………..to the American he is the Rooster derived from its favored perch overnight from where it crows…to the American the haycocks became the hay stacks, weathercocks became weathervanes and the water cocks became the faucets while the cockroach became plain roach.

However to the British Doctor from the Victorian era….. Cock is the preferred descriptor of the human organ over the more contemporary term penis, adopted from the French but which originated in Latin….

It is most likely it acquired this “indelicate anatomical significance” due to the extreme randy behavior of the rooster---- research demonstrates the male chicken [rooster] prefers new partners to its familiar ones…..Scientist call this salacious behavior...the "Coolidge effect"……after the 30^th US President Calvin Coolidge…………

During separate visits to a chicken farm in 1920 Mrs. Coolidge remarked on a rooster busy mating and she was told by the farmer that this behavior took place dozens of time daily……..”Tell that to the President when he comes by” she said coolly……when the message was relayed to the President he asked if the rooster mated with the same hen. He was told no, that the male preferred a variety of partners……”Tell that to Mrs. Coolidge” he responded….   

Now isn't that interesting?     
     

A Bridge to nowhere…but to Watch Cranes

Bridges generally span waterways providing pass-over links to roadways. But this particular bridge in Fort Kearney in Nebraska built over the river Platte River is to nowhere, but to watch cranes.  

The Sandhill Crane stopover here on its back migration from Mexico and Texas to Canada and Alaska.

Central American Flyway

The arrival of the Sandhill cranes and millions of other migratory birds in the Platte river valley is one of the greatest spectacles in the continent. Each year during the months of March to early April this spectacle takes place. More then 80 percent of the world's Sandhill Crane populations converge around Kearney in Nebraska where the central American bird flyway becomes narrowest. They converge with multitudes of other migrant birds at a staging-post where they find safe roosting in the Platte River valley. The fields around here are harvested by then and the waste grain scattered in the fields provide supplementary  energy needed for their last nonstop flight from here to Alaska, Canada and for some even to far away Siberia………..

Sandhill Cranes foraging in harvested fields

A bird is generally named in its birth habitat; but in this case it is different and the Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis is thus named for its association in such large numbers in a single locality in the Sand Hills  region of the American plains in Nebraska. However its scientific name is derived with its breeding grounds in Canada, thereby giving prominence to its Canadian birth origin.

Adults Sandhill Cranes are generally of a grey plumage during the breeding season while in  migration the plumage is usually worn and stained, and looks nearly ochre. They have red foreheads, white cheeks, and long, dark, pointed bills and in flight, their long, dark legs trail behind, and their long necks keep straight. Immature birds have reddish-brown upper parts and gray under parts. Their sexes look alike.

The crane migrates southwards in winter, all the way down to specific locations across North America. The Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico is famous with other  localities in the state of Texas. In New Mexico an annual Sandhill Crane Festival is held in November to celebrate their arrival annually.

The migration of the crane has been taking place from time immemorial and science have now reviled this through fossil records from Nebraska accounting to a period of over 2.5 million years.

They are generally herbivorous but would adapt differently to availability of food. They usually live in pairs during breeding and only flock together during migration. The female would lay a single egg and would raise one brood per year and the juvenile would be fed rigorously by the parent birds up to a month after hatching. The young become independent within 9 to 10 months.  

Every year a large number of birders come over to Kearney Bridge and surrounding areas to watch this spectacular event during the month of March. 

From around 4:00 p. m. they start circulating 

I was fortunate to have been there in March 2017 and the gathering of the cranes was definitely a breathtaking experience. Interested birders and photographers start to converge on the bridge for the event every evening from early as 2:00 p. m. for the climax which takes place around 6:00 p. m..

One could hear the trumpeting of the cranes with the elongated “R” syllable ……….and they start circling overhead from about 4:00 p. m. when they keep passing over the bridge from time to time. Its only when the time is about 6:30 p. m. and the sun setting in the west of the bridge and the sky goes in to a riot of indigo that the calls intensify an the birds start to congregate low silhouetting the colorful sky and the landing commence in the far eastern side of the bridge on the sand islands formed within the Platte River……..

This particular day we were eagerly waiting for a special event that we may witness while on the bridge. A solitary Bald Eagle was also eagerly waiting in the water in close proximity to the crane roosting area possibly to predate on them.

A Bald Eagle also waits patiently for the Cranes

The cranes seeing the eagle, they would not land for a long time and the frustrated eagle having waited all this while took off in the fading light to its nightly roost….no sooner the Sandhill Cranes descended to settle in the sands with darkness blanketing all around….

The spectacle lasted for over an hour and the racket they made while in the air is now dying down. And by 7:30 p. m. it was all over... silence took over from here and the people started moving out. Far away beyond the Sandhill Cranes it was the White-tail Deer coming stealthily into the river for its evening  drink  before venturing  into their nightly foraging grounds……. 

Birdwatching in Armchair Comfort

It was just after the Spring break in 2017 and we are invited by Linda; my daughter’s friend to spend a weekend with them in Panora in Iowa. The weather was still in a more wintery spring with heavy overcast skies but a rain free weekend is predicted.

We arrive late Friday evening in remote rural Panora in the state of Iowa to be greeted by Linda and Jeffrey who are with Bonnie in her large and comfortable country home which is more suited for a guest house. Everything is arranged and taken care of, we only had to bring  the thirst quenchers to keep our spirits high.

The house located on a hill overlooking a water front far below which was not visible in the dark night; but the lights of the abodes on the opposite bank was an indication what an exciting weekend is to dawn tomorrow. Linda had cautioned us of  the roaming deer that we might encounter on the last stretch of the dirt road about 5 miles. She was very correct when we saw them against the headlights…. some were crossing  our way while some were grazing the shoulder.

Exchanging pleasantries and  pranking with their two pet dogs and ours who also went along we retire for a an exciting morning to come. 

Up following morning out on the timber deck extending from the bedroom into a large water-body the vista was just breathtaking………..the sun was barred behind the clouds and it was a cool dry morning, gloomy and overcast. Excepting for a few Canada Geese honking aloud from the lake below it was pin drop silence. A very unusual feeling, away from the general  urban habitat encountered all this while.

Down stairs we walk into a country style breakfast done by Linda…..waffles topped over with maple syrup and black berry sauce to be had with steaming coffee.

Bonnie tells me that since I’m a bird fan she has put up the bird feeders and if I’m lucky they would come up as she does not have them up regularly, as the nightly visits of vessels and raccoons that make a mess of the seeds and the feeders as well…... There was a North American bird guide by National Geographic Society and another illustrated guide and two small binoculars sitting on the coffee table over looking the feeders…this is going to be a pampered session of bird-watching .

I go down the hillside to the boatyard that is still not functioning being just after the winter freeze. The water is still icy cold. I wonder into the woods while the sky is still favorable for ambling in the open. Plenty of bird-life around was heard in the thickets. The clear  sound of a couple of woodpeckers that kept on drumming on the hollow trees  carried their melody far into the otherwise quiet woods.

Black Capped Chickadee, White breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Blue Jay,Song Sparrow & Dark-eyed Junco

I had to keep away from the waterline to avoid getting bogged down when I startled a rabbit that vanished in a swift before I could make my mind of what it was. Far into the thicket I cloud just make out the profile of a lonely young buck nibbling the fist blades of grass that has just sprung  after the first rains in spring.

Wondering further I would be startling the buck as well….when I decide to leave the habitat for them and its time to get back when the chill and the breeze has built-up and the signs of a shower was on its way.

Back on the deck everybody are wrapped up sitting around a modern day out door heater run by a portable gas container and sipping into cold beer. I too join them with a pint, jacketed in-order to comfort the palm in the cold weather. 

Everyone are eager to see the birds coming on to the feeders installed a few feet away from us……….with no birds yet and the beer running down smooth we turn to the indoors to avoid a heavy drizzle that has now turned to a moderate rain.

Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker

All hopes of seeing anymore birds other than what was seen in the woods it would be like, when all of a sudden a chickadee came over to the feeder while we were indoors. Now with the rains ceased and a continuing drizzle the visitors became numerous  and their frequency of the visits increasing.

Gold Finch, Red Cardinal and White breasted Nuthatch 

The White-breasted Nuthatch was a selective bird opting its favoured seeds and was in the habit of throwing the other seeds all-around attracting other birds that picked them off the floor.

Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker 

The highlight was when the Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker the largest bird to visit the feeders overshadowed the other birds .  By early evening now with the rain gone the dogs napping within the house get excited and are eager to go out on the deck when we see five deer just below the bird feeders nibbling on the seeds dropped by the birds. We quieten the dogs and watch the deer go pass into the woods. 

White-tailed Deer

With light fading the activity at the feeders also came to an end. It was our turn on the deck now. The BBQ spit on the far end is sizzling and the outdoor heater set on full glow… we toasted for a memorable weekend with a round of Margarita done to a home recipe laced down with crystal clear Mexican Tequila…..  

Birdwatcher, Birder, or Ornithologist?

If there is any hobby, a pastime that has been attracting people in a big way other than for competitive sport…... it is said to be for birdwatching. 

While this stands true in most countries, it is also sad to note that many personalities who have been in to big time birdwatching and account for a large list of birds seen, tend to go into a self–deception of his achievement leading to snobbery…………

As such I was curious in exploring to find the true definition of the types of people who mingle about with birds. There had been others in my path before …………...

The best description that I came across was that of Dale Forbes ……

 

“Birdwatching could be described as a division of entertainment where one is out to see birds in their common living spaces aided with or without equipment such as binoculars, spotting scopes or field guides. The expression "Birding" is more centered on finding and study than just general viewing. Ornithology is portrayed as the logical life-investigation of birds.”

Elaborating further on the personalities, he goes on to imagine the various divisions occupying a lonely forest bench opening out to a beautiful forest vista….

The Birdwatcher

The birdwatcher sits at the bench, and hopes that the most exciting bird is to come up to him providing the glory of observation at the ease and comfort being on the bench. He is of the notion that running about looking for them will only scare them off. He is the bench sitter type.

The Birder

The birder seeing the bench will enjoy the beautiful forest and the occasional bird that would come over but would decide the best birds are else ware and would scurry off to find them. He is the bench appreciator type.

The Twitcher

The twitcher would account the bench only as a landmark to a very rare bird sighting in this location. He would after many years of chasing behind rare birds end up as a bench sitter

The Bird ringer

For the bird ringer the bench would be a field station where he will install his nets in close proximity so that he could make a net-check every 30 minutes; extract the birds and carry them to the seat to ring them and release them.

The Ornithologist

The field ornithologist will demarcate his sampling sites so that as many point sample sites coincide with these bench sites in the forests. That way he can count the birds while he also has a cool spot to sit and relax.

The academic ornithologist on the other hand would wish to be sitting on the bench and playing with the theories….. rather than sit at an office computer hidden behind stacks of books and tall racks filled with journals and literature.

I would add another type to the list

The Bird Guide

The bird guide would bring his clients over to the bench to show the birds that had been seen by others while sitting here. If he is not lucky with the birds he would then describe the type of people who had seen them while sitting here in order to please his clients. He is the bench seller type.

So it is up to you to choose to the class that you best suit when among the BIRDS