Special Visited from a Red Cardinal - Critter 93

We have a special visit from red Cardinal. From several resources in internet, it could be at least two meanings. 

Fig 01 - A red cardinal. 

First, the sick birds might not act as usual, hence, the birds perching on hand could be infected, their diseases can be passed to humans.

In fact, somebody in our state passed from bird flu from exposure to chickens. Moreover, there is a report on current spread of bird flu among wild birds, even in lower cases in our state (Louisiana). Other states include:

- Texas.

- Indiana

- Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

Fig 02 - Spiritual meaning (Source: Internet).

Second, Cardinals come to human could have spiritual meanings. From Googling, "a cardinal can represent love, hope, and a reminder of bonds with loved ones who have passed away. A cardinal can be a sign of God's love or the presence of an angel!"

Fig 03 - A cardinal in the winter

What do you know about Cardinal birds?

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A flock of Robins at our Birdbath - Critter 92

We believed number of birds coming to our neighborhood tend to decrease than few years ago. 

Fig - A flock of Robins 

We have increased our bird feeding. But fewer birds come. Moreover, our own observations show that when we moved 20 years ago, our bird count was about 25 different species at our backyard. Now, 2025, the number was down to about 10 species only.

Decreasing of bird population might relate to:

- Less flyover territory because of urbanization.

- Loss of trees and wild areas where birds can feed and nest.

- Some problems still with pesticides.

- Loss of insect diversity is a huge problem for birds and many other animals

Did you see decreasing number of bird population in your areas?

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A Cooper Hawk at Neighborhood - Critter 91

We believe the bird is a cooper hawk. The bird looks beautiful but make other birds such as cardinals and bluebirds scattered. 

Fig 01 - A cooper hawk at neighborhood

It is a circle of life in the nature, sad to know about this matter. However, the predators need to eat. 

What we can do that Keep small pets out of their way, even though the cooper hawks will not attack pets if not hungry.

The cooper hawk has several distinct characters:

- biggish head

- lighter nape of neck

- and rounded tail

Do you know about a Cooper hawk?

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A Blue Heron with Plastic Cup Stuck on Beak - Critter 90

We saw a Blue Heron with bottle or cup stuck on its beak at the Green Trails Lake, one of lakes in our city.

Fig 01 - A heron with plastic cap

Another day, we drove by the lake multiple times, then just a few hours ago in recently. We did not see the bird.

We have no idea what other lakes it might go to, though we have checked at least at five other lakes in around our city areas.

We have spoken to several people and institutions. Wildlife and fisheries will not help, they say let nature take its course or contact a wildlife rehabilitation group or person.

The same with LSU (University), rehab people told us that if we bring to them, they will take it, but they will not come help with anything.

Fig 02 - A confuse heron.

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Fig 03 - The bird walks around

We hope maybe someone else saw it and was able to help

Fig 04 - Still with a plastic cup

Do you have any suggestions?

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The Eastern Phoebe Hummingbird - Critter 89

We saw the Eastern Phoebe Hummingbird quite early; the bird should migrate to our neighborhood around as soon as the end of February. 

Fig 01 - Perching, The Eastern Phoebee.

The best time to observe the Eastern Phoebe is about March, when peak migration from South (central) America to Southern Canada (North America), and stop by at our city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

They may stay in our areas until late spring or summer, but very rare to be seen. The early migration for this year might be relate to severe weather at wintering grounds or lack of food sources.

The bird sounds like fee-bee. With “bee” slightly lower in tone. You can listen on the Merlin bird id app or the Audubon app. Probably available online as well.

Fig 02 - Cute little bird.

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Fig 03 - Seeds for wild birds, illustration only.

The bird might be attracted by our foods in the feeder. Our main food that is dried mealworms.

Moreover, in addition to the mealworms, we have both white and golden safflower, black oil sunflower seed, sunflower seeds with no shell, white millet, shelled peanuts, and suet nuggets.

Fig 04 - The Eastern Phoebe, calm

Have you heard the Eastern Phoebe Hummingbird sounds in nature?

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A Lonely White Parakeet - Critter 88

Parakeets are not native bird of our state, Louisiana. They come from other countries about hundred years ago. 

Image - A white parakeet

We saw a lonely white parakeet close by our neighborhood area. We believe it is a pet belongs to a neighbor.

This bird is one of popular pets in our city. People love this pet, based on internet resources, it is because of some reasons that are: 

- social bird

- colorful 

- small size

- could bring happiness 

Who interests with Parakeet may find it in the pet shops for adoption with reasonable price in the city.

Do you familiar with a White Parakeet?

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The Virginia Rail - Critter 87

With all the chaos going on in the world today, we thought we would share something a little brighter and wonderful.

Figure - A Virginia rail

Look at who came to visit us. We passed right by this little visitor as We went to put some things in the recycle bin to be picked up.

We never saw it when we went out. It was when we went to close the door, and our eyes had gazed to the corner. The little bird lows and beholds just sitting there being unbothered and bothering no one.

There it is sitting on top of the flower. As I searched the bottom of my phone on the pics for what kind of bird it is, it is said it’s a Virginia Rail.

Strangely, this bird should be found in the areas such as wet meadows and freshwater marshes. So, lucky to have this bird, a Virginia rail as our visitor.

Have you seen this bird in your areas?

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The Young Redtail Hawk at Backyard - Critter 86

We saw a hawk in the pine trees at our neighborhood this morning. We believe it was a young Redtail hawk.

Fig - The Young Redtail Hawk.

Our neighbors' chickens heard it call and scrambled to get undercover, while the mockingbirds mobbed the hawk.

The young hawk flew off right after we took this picture. The chickens will probably hide for a while.

This bird is a familiar sight in our state, including our city, Baton Rouge. Young Red-tails can be identified by their brown plumage and the distinctive streaked pattern on their undersides.

Juvenile red-tailed hawks are meat-eaters (carnivores), mainly feasting on small birds and mammals.

Did you see Redtail Hawk around your areas?

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The Great Blue Heron in the Pond - Critter 85

If we are lucky enough, we may see the Great Blue Heron in the ponds or wetland areas in our state, Louisiana.

Fig 01 - The Great Blue Heron catching fish.

The majestic wading bird, the Great Blue Heron has some following distinction characters which are :

- the largest heron in North America

- blue gray plumage

- long legs

- bill like dagger and sharp

In addition to the ponds or wetlands, we could find the Great Blue Heron in several other habitats such as lakes, swamps, saltwater and freshwater marshes.

Fig 02 - A vase, illustration

The Great Blue Heron main food sources are wide range, include variety of fish species. We believe, the bird consumes small minnows in the pond.

Fig 03 - Bird walking on the shallow part of pond. 

Have you seen this giant bird in nature?

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The Wren's Eggs and Two Babies - Critter 84

At previous post, we talked about female Wren which visited our yard. The fact that the bird was nesting. 

Fig 01 - Eggs of Wren.

You may read the previous posting:

- A Female Wren Visited Our Yards - Critter 79 | Tanza Erlambang Update

We saw at least two eggs in the nest, the number of eggs laying by Wrens depend on their species:

- Caroline Wren, 3 - 7 eggs

- House Wren, 4 to 8 eggs 

The female Wren broods her eggs for 12 to16 days, tenderly guarded, while the male provides nourishment. 

Fig 02 - Wren's babies in the nest.

Finally, after approximately two weeks, the little babies start learning to fly, then they leave the nest.

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A Male Downy Woodpecker - Critter 83

In our city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Downy Woodpecker is a frequent visitor in any seasons. 

Figure - A Downy Woodpecker

This small, black and white bird is commonly spotted darting around trees (usually dead and dying trees), and shrubs, on the hunt for insects in the city parks, gardens and even in our neighbor backyards.

Both male and female a black and white striped facial pattern and wield a short, sharp bill for pecking into wood to find insects.

The different that male has the bright red patch on the back of its head. 

The Woodpeckers play a crucial role in the local ecosystem by controlling insect populations and creating tree cavities used by other birds and animals for nesting. 

Many people, especially Birdwatchers also enjoy spotting them due to their unique look and agile movements.

Do you know about a Downy Woodpecker?

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The Roseate Spoonbill in the Pond - Critter 82

We are just lucky to see the Roseate Spoonbill in one of several ponds around our neighborhood today. 

Figure - The lonely Roseate Spoonbill

The bird is a master to search its food in the shallow water, since it has a unique spoon-shaped bill.

Roseate Spoonbill primary diets are small aquatic creatures such as:

- fish, like small minnows

- aquatic insects, include dragonfly and beetles.

- some small crustaceans, they are crabs, crayfish and shrimp.

Interestingly, diet of this bird contains both higher nutritious and pigments called carotenoids (contributes to its vibrant pink coloration).

Do you know about bird called Roseate Spoonbill?

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A Hawk Perched on the Cable - Critter 81

Some of us might be familiar to see a hawk or birds perching on the trees, rocks and electric cables. 

Fig - A hawk perching and looking surround. 

For me, catching sight of a hawk perched on the electric wire is a wonderful and magical moment. It is a kind of reminder of how all living things are connected and the incredible diversity of nature.

Moreover, there are several purposes of hawk perching on cable:

1) Resting point:

- cable could be secure place for resting

2) Hunting point:

- Hawk able to view surrounding areas to spot preys such as bunny, rodents and other small animals.

3) Spotting other source of foods

- A hawk may interest on garbage or discarded foods near neighborhood.

What do you think?

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The Goose Poop on the Walking Path - Critter 80

There is a family of geese lives permanently around our neighborhood retention pond. Others come and go.

Fig 01- Wild Geese.

Unfortunately, these geese will only do "their business" on the sidewalk close to the retention pond.

It requires an excellent hop- scotched to not come home with "something extra" (goose poop) on your shoes.

Sort of an analogy for life troubles - sometimes you hop over it, sometimes steps smack into it!

There might be a natural product that could be sprayed on the walkway monthly which would deter them from using it.

Fig 02 - Goose poop on the walking path. 

We saw Goose Stopper, liquid repellent sold in Home Depot with reasonable price, but we don't know the effective of liquid for keeping geese off the walking path.

Fig 03 - Goose Stopper, liquid repellent 

What do you think?

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A Female Wren Visited Our Yards - Critter 79

We saw a young female wren visited our backyard last season. A delightful little bird. Look like a lively and energetic bird.  

Fig 01 - A female wren was seen at backyard

Three possibilities a female wren might visit our backyard:

1) Searching for foods:

- she attracts to insect as one of her main sources of food

2) Water

- we have a bird bath, so wrens or other birds visit for drinking and bathing regularly, especially during hot Summer. 

3) Nesting

- Backyards is one of suitable locations to build nesting site.  

Fig 02 - She is sitting on the twig. 

Two common species visit our city:

- Bewick Wren 

- Carolina Wren

Fig 03 - Lonely female wren

Have you seen Wren in your areas?

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