Hello everyone!
Thanks for reading the January 14 EwA Highlights.
📸 I find observing birds in the winter to be so fascinating, especially because of the complexities of their migration and survival strategies. One such complexity is evident in the presence of this great blue heron (Ardea herodias), observed by Laura K. Most great blues migrate south for the winter, traveling as far as the north coast of Venezuela. Some of them stick out the winter here, though, getting by on what scarce food they can find in our unfrozen waters, marshes, and even fields.
EwA iNaturalist Record (© Laura Kiesel · Medford, MA · Jan. 9, 2023)
Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) have an even more complex migration story. Some of these birds migrate amazingly long distances, traveling between the subarctic and South America every year. Others, perhaps such as this one photographed by Kate E., are year-round residents of more temperate areas. The range map of this bird is entertainingly chaotic - give it a look!
EwA iNaturalist Record (© Kate Estrop · Somerville, MA · Jan. 9, 2022)
As I’ve mentioned before in these highlights, water birds can be interesting to observe in the winter as well. Bodies of water like Cambridge's Fresh Pond, which can stay partially unfrozen for significant portions of the winter, attract a wide variety of these birds, such as this horned grebe (Podiceps auritus) observed by Heather.
EwA iNaturalist Record (© Aussies2 · Cambridge, MA · Jan. 8, 2022)
📊 Thanks to everyone for your great biodiversity records this past week, totaling 137 observations of 102 distinct species. If you’re curious about the records from this week that have been validated by the iNat community so far, you can find them » here.
🏆 Running tally: To date, we have recorded 133,841 observations of 9,030 distinct species! Check out our EwA umbrella project, see the details per site/observer, and more » here.
📅 EwA Upcoming Public Events
Ewa Field Events » Check the EwA Winter [ Event details and registration » ] Don’t miss some great opportunities to follow the rhythm of the season in our local habitats and in the local wildlife! Space is limited for all our field events. Wildlife ethics is important to us and we seek to avoid putting the pressure on natural habitats which large gatherings unavoidably do. We are asking our audience to register-and-commit (or cancel when you know you can’t come) to avoid no-shows.
EwA Fieldwork (and Resources)
Peak schedule: Winter is still a great time to join our monitoring programs. Check EwA’s Volunteer Program Calendar 📅 to know when things happen. And if a session is of interest to you, don’t hesitate to reach out to get the rendezvous location.
📅 EwA Sites Map | 🌱 Site Protocols and Guides · Field Rosters · Field Notes » All here! | ℹ️ More about EwA’s Citizen Science Program » Here
❓ Do you have any questions? Don’t be shy. Just email me or reply to this thread.
That’s all for this week—hope you have a good one!
-Mike
