Birding Shanghai in January 2024

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In German colloquial language, there may be the jokingly derogative time period “Warmduscher”, indicating an individual who prefers heat to chilly showers (the effectivity of the German language in utilizing such a brief time period to explain what requires a complete sentence in English just isn’t fairly matched by the German document in successful world wars). If the birds had been Germans, Siberian Rubythroats wintering in Xishuangbanna (the place I noticed them a number of years in the past) would definitely be described as “Warmduscher” by their fellow species members seen in Shanghai this month.

Word the good shiny colour of the birds (certainly, there have been three male Siberian Rubythroats on the identical spot) even in winter.

And significantly in comparison with this juvenile Larger Flamingo.

Shouldn’t or not it’s pink, you ask? Apparently, the intense pink colour of flamingos comes from beta-carotene, a red-orange pigment that’s present in excessive quantities inside the algae, brine fly larvae, and brine shrimp that flamingos eat of their wetland setting (supply). So, no beta-carotene, no pink colour.

Additionally as a video, through which it appears to stroll with loads of goal – solely to cease a bit later and resume its roosting place.

Some Frequent Rosefinches winter in Shanghai yearly – and the colour of the male birds compensates for the dearth of pink within the flamingo.

Apparently, in case you are a youthful male Frequent Rosefinch, your plumage betrays you as a youthful and thus presumably much less fascinating mate (says the creator of this submit, who whereas considering of himself as middle-aged is already positively on the flawed facet of the age 50).

So, what to do? One resolution is to sing quicker and take shorter breaks, which younger male Frequent Rosefinches apparently do. As the supply explains: “The upper singing fee of yearling males might be a type of compensation for decrease age (male high quality), which can be vital to find a mate or avoiding aggression from older males.”

Not an issue for the feminine, I assume. Then, folks would in all probability not wish to watch movies of females.

Plainly like me, Oriental Storks are usually not that keen on people. A research discovered that in areas with intense human exercise, their nests had been greater, whereas in safer environments, the nests had been decrease and nearer to meals assets, permitting guardian storks to take a position extra within the nestlings.

One other research additionally discovered that human disturbance was the primary detrimental issue affecting the Oriental Stork’s choice of nests.

That issues as a result of Oriental Storks – as soon as pretty widespread – are actually listed as Endangered, with Birdlife Worldwide estimating the world inhabitants at 1000–2499 mature people (which means the three people I noticed characterize 0.1% to 0.3% of the overall, a sobering thought).

For some cause, Merlins are a uncommon sight in Shanghai – these are the very best images I’ve of the species thus far.

Discovering scientific analysis associated to the species on-line is troublesome because the phrase Merlin is used for thus many different issues as nicely – a fowl ID app, a wizard (e.g., “A typical depiction of Merlin tends to be of an previous, cloaked wizard with a protracted white beard.”), and many others. …

Like most people, Merlins are “seasonally monogamous” (supply) – for some cause, I’ve at all times been vaguely fascinated by the almost-self-contradictory time period of “serial monogamy”, and it appears it’s a time period that applies to the Merlin as nicely. A video is right here.

Whereas the Speckled Piculet is described as being unusual in China, it appears to have a reasonably established presence at Tianmashan, Shanghai – presumably because of the intensive bamboo there (and possibly as a result of the fowl has gotten considerably tolerant of noisy Chinese language vacationers).

I don’t know why the species’ title is innominatus (“unnamed”) although – it appears virtually like one among these logical puzzles (for those who title one thing as “unnamed”, is it actually nonetheless unnamed? All Cretans are liars, says the Cretan?)

The Eurasian Bittern is superb at pretending to be a dull piece of wooden – a high quality that’s helpful for the species however didn’t do a lot for me on the event of my first few job interviews some a long time in the past.

Any Eurasian Bitterns following this weblog (as I believe they need to) may be to study profitable nest-building places: “nests constructed over deep water and in dense vegetation had the very best probabilities of survival” (supply is this, slightly than the extra well-liked “7 Habits of Extremely Profitable Eurasian Bitterns”).

One other supply advises Eurasian Bitterns in opposition to having too many chicks: “Nestlings in broods of two and three grew quicker than these from broods of 4 and 5”. US mother and father saving for the school schooling of a number of children absolutely will be capable of relate.

eBird calls the Eurasian Woodcock a “weird and cumbersome-looking relative of the snipes”, which is a fairly good description, I believe.

eBird goes on to note the Eurasian Woodcock‘s “fats physique” – a bit extra respect for the species would have been appreciated …

I cannot touch upon the variations between the American and the Eurasian Woodcock, as my earlier comparability between sunbirds and hummingbirds (“Sunbirds are mainly hummingbirds with none hazard of Trumpism or MAGA ideology”) already led to 10,000 Birds shedding one esteemed reader, Dave R, who commented “Might’ve been an attention-grabbing article is ruined by the dumb, drained, hacky anti-American intro. You should know that there aren’t many Trump supporters within the American birding neighborhood, but when that is what you suppose I assume I’m now not a reader.” Can’t afford to lose any extra readers.

For many who wish to see a video of the fast-paced lifetime of Eurasian Woodcocks, please see right here.

Plainly Eurasian Spoonbills are very particular in regards to the water depth through which to forage. One research discovered that that they had greater foraging success charges in areas with a water depth of 28.1-36.6 cm in comparison with different areas and most well-liked to forage in these areas.

After all, this can be a issue that makes the particular state of affairs at a given lake (like Poyang Lake in China) so related to them.

Science proving the apparent once more, half 78: Eurasian Spoonbills most well-liked departing from one among their stopover websites when tailwind circumstances had been good.

One Black-faced Spoonbill sneaked in as nicely (additionally in one of many images above). No apparent racism there. Properly, they’re birds, not people. Movies right here and right here.

Some skilled conspiracy theorists declare that there are not any birds anymore and that they’ve all been changed by authorities drones. One of many alleged proofs is that these drones typically land on energy traces to recharge their batteries. After all, this isn’t true. I personally spoke to this Frequent Kestrel and the fowl assured me it was not a drone however slightly wanted electrical energy to recharge its cell phone.

As widespread when the author is just too drained and/or has nothing new to say about some nonetheless engaging or attention-grabbing species seen this month, here’s a little picture gallery to finish the submit.

White’s Thrush