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This time of year we never know what will come to our center. The first chimney swifts were admitted that I've seen in my 5 1/2 years at the Miami Science Museum. These strange birds behave a lot like bats rather than birds, even clinging to the towel as seen in the above photo before they were transferred to Pelican Harbor Seabird station. These birds are appropriately named because they have adapted over the years to nest in chimneys because of the loss of habitat with the destruction of forests. They are seasonal migrants and only seen in most of North America during the spring/summer months.
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This close up of the baby swift shows how birds develop. These birds are normally hatched naked but the feathers develop as little pin like growths all over their bodies. They are appropriately called "pin feathers" and indicate that the baby is unable to care for itself. I highly encourage you to read more at this great website I found at
www.chimneyswifts.org
Likewise, this little bird pictured here is a loggerhead shrike. Although it may look very much like a
blue jay or mockingbird, it behaves a lot like a raptor minus the talons. You can see the slight curve to the beak which is used for severing the spinal cord of its prey. It is mostly an insect eater, but will hunt mice, small birds, and lizards. Perhaps the most distinctive trait of this bird is the habit of wedging the prey on a thorn, or spike in a
medieval fashion while ripping it apart. For more reading go to
http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/logshrike.htm You never know what unusual patient may be around the corner next!
.jpg)
This time of year we never know what will come to our center. The first chimney swifts were admitted that I've seen in my 5 1/2 years at the Miami Science Museum. These strange birds behave a lot like bats rather than birds, even clinging to the towel as seen in the above photo before they were transferred to Pelican Harbor Seabird station. These birds are appropriately named because they have adapted over the years to nest in chimneys because of the loss of habitat with the destruction of forests. They are seasonal migrants and only seen in most of North America during the spring/summer months..jpg)
This close up of the baby swift shows how birds develop. These birds are normally hatched naked but the feathers develop as little pin like growths all over their bodies. They are appropriately called "pin feathers" and indicate that the baby is unable to care for itself. I highly encourage you to read more at this great website I found at www.chimneyswifts.org
Likewise, this little bird pictured here is a loggerhead shrike. Although it may look very much like a blue jay or mockingbird, it behaves a lot like a raptor minus the talons. You can see the slight curve to the beak which is used for severing the spinal cord of its prey. It is mostly an insect eater, but will hunt mice, small birds, and lizards. Perhaps the most distinctive trait of this bird is the habit of wedging the prey on a thorn, or spike in a medieval fashion while ripping it apart. For more reading go to http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/logshrike.htm You never know what unusual patient may be around the corner next!
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