Friday, July 20, 2012

Belted Kingfisher

Belted Kingfisher
 So what do belted kingfishers have in common with bank swallows and burrowing owls?  The belted kingfisher, like the other two for-mentioned species, nests underground. They dig a burrow in the bank of a river or creek. At first they use their strong beak to chip away at the dirt and mud of the bank. Once they have a burrow started they will flying into it and kick out the loose soil with their feet. The tunnel is usually from 3 to 8 feet long and slopes up so that the burrow is less likely to get flooded. Human activity, such as road construction and gravel pits, has actually helped to increase the amount of available nesting habitat for these birds.


6 comments:

Kate said...

I've never seen a kingfisher, but your photo gives me that chance! I do, however, know lots of kingfisher poems. Here's one for you and your photo:

Kingfisher

That kingfisher jewelling upstream
seems to leave a streak of itself
in the bright air. The trees
are all the better for its passing.

It's not a mineral eater, though it looks it.
It doesn't nip nicks out of the edges
of rainbows. - It dives
into the burly water, then, perched
on a Japanese bough, gulps
into its own incandescence
a wisp of minnow, a warrior stickleback.
- Or it vanishes into its burrow, resplendent
Samurai, returning home
to his stinking slum.

Norman MacCaig

joanne said...

gorgeous bird shot....and thanx for teaching me something new...always appreciated....

Pat said...

Wonderful shot! Such an interesting bird.

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