Nov 13, 2014 | Birds, Dipper
This video shows an American Dipper searching for aquatic insects and fish underwater. Notice in the fairly shallow water how it uses both its legs and wings to propel itself. In the deeper water it uses its wings and basically “flies” underwater. In one...
Nov 12, 2014 | Birds, Terns
When Arctic tern chicks hatch the parents will protect them for a few days at the nest site. Eventually the chicks will leave the nest site and hide amongst the rocks or vegetation. They can recognize the calls of their parents and come forward to accept fish when the...
Nov 12, 2014 | Birds, Terns
When visiting Arctic Tern colonies I have noticed dead chicks laying beside fish that would be much too large for the chicks to swallow. Arctic tern parents typically do not break up fish or regurgitate food for the chicks. So the size of fish they bring for their...
Nov 12, 2014 | Birds, Songbirds
Another creature that can live off Sitka spruce seeds is the Red Crossbill. The male has a brick red body and the female is dull olive gray with a yellowish rump Red Crossbills feed mostly on cones attached to the trees, though fallen cones may be important sources of...
Nov 12, 2014 | Hummingbirds, Sapsuckers
Red-breasted Sapsucker Benefits Rufous Hummingbird from Bob Armstrong on Vimeo. This video is a good example of the relationship between Red-breasted Sapsuckers and Rufous Hummingbirds. Sapsuckers typically drill holes in trees which causes the tree to release some of...
Nov 12, 2014 | Birds, Corvids
Ravens Eating Blow Fly Maggots from Bob Armstrong on Vimeo. When bears drag salmon out of the stream blow flies usually lay their eggs on them. In a few days the eggs hatch and huge numbers of the larvae, called maggots, feed on the salmon carcass. These ravens are...