Calling Partner

Calling Partner, originally uploaded by Sachin N Saraf.

Yawn.....Juvi Night Heron - JBWR NY

Yawn.....Juvi Night Heron - JBWR NY, originally uploaded by Sachin N Saraf.

Male Cardinal

Male Cardinal, originally uploaded by Sachin N Saraf.

This male Cardinal was shot at Shepaug Dam on 17-Jan-2011 near Eagle observation area. The Cardinals are the attractions of the winter. The vibrant Red color stands out of the white background and makes it look beautiful.

Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco, originally uploaded by Sachin N Saraf.

During our Visit to Shepaug Dam in Southbury, Ct to observe the Bald eagles we realized it is difficult to capture the good images of Bald eagles from the distance and so we decided to just observe the Eagles and capture the images of some other interesting birds in the surrounding area.

The Dark Eyed Juncos were especially all over the place and this one posed nicely for me.

Black Capped Chickadees' Survival during Winter

The Black Capped Chickadees are very interesting tiny birds.But as the winter is here I was wondering with little food available around how do they survive the long and cold winter nights.In general the greatest obstacle animals and birds face during the winter is staying warm. Like a little ball, small birds have a high surface area to volume ratio. As a result, they have a large surface area through which they can lose heat. In order to maintain their body temperatures, Chickadees must take in a large number of food calories which will be metabolized for body heat. So they must eat continuously during short daylight hours to stoke their metabolic fires. If they do not, they will not reserve enough energy to see them through the long night.
With an increased need for food comes a decrease in the types of food which are available. Chickadees have a diet that consists primarily of insects, fruit, and seeds. During the winter months, fruit and some insects become scarce. In order to assist with winter foraging, Chickadees (like all birds) have evolved a beak which is suited for the harshest conditions faced by the bird. Because Chickadees depend heavily on the seeds of coniferous trees during the winter, they have evolved beaks which are well adapted for cracking small nuts. There are two reasons why Chickadees are so reliant on coniferous tree seeds: 1) the seeds are high in fat and oil content and 2) the seeds are available year round.
In addition to increasing their food intake, Black-capped Chickadees have another trick for surviving the winter: they can lower their body temperatures by up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit at night to save energy. This drop in body temperature is a result of the birds' ability to decrease their metabolic rates. The fewer calories that are burned, the less energy that is created. Less energy means a lower body temperature. Black-capped Chickadees do not drop their body temperatures every night, though. This survival technique is usually saved for the most extreme cold weather fronts.With amazing adaptability instinct I hope to see the Chickadees around during winter.

Deserted Abode

"During spring birds build nests for the young ones..with the advent of winter they desert the nests on the bald branches of trees...But after the birds have gone to sunnier climes and the empty nests are the only mementos we have of them, then we may study these habitations carefully and learn how to appreciate properly the small architects which made them. I think that every one of us who carefully examines the way that a nest is made must have a feeling of respect for its clever little builder."

Chestnut Warbler at Milford Pt

Chestnut Warbler at Milford Pt, originally uploaded by Sachin N Saraf.