WINDSOR HAS THE FRANKENSQUIRREL, LEAMINGTON HAS A TWO-HEADED COWBIRD (not really!)

Warning: this post contains icky forensic birding info and is not for the squeamish or those having a late breakfast...













The same day last week that I talked to the Point Pelee Ranger about the weird molting squirrel in Windsor, I also asked about a strange-looking female brown-headed cowbird who had obligingly hung around my yard long enough for me to get these photos. They aren't the greatest shots, and don't enlarge because they're so cropped, but I think you still can see the odd large bump on the back of her head. My first thought was that it might be a tick, but after checking with Google images for pictures of ticks on birds (gross - not recommended!) I looked through binoculars and decided it probably wasn't a tick. Ticks usually go for the path of least resistance, and attach to the featherless areas around a bird's eye and beak. And even a fully engorged tick is nowhere near the size of the bump on the cowbird, which was almost like it had another head. Hmmm. Anyway, the Ranger said the bird may have been attacked by a predator, and gotten away with a scratch or peck injury, it could even have been a tick that the bird was able to remove most, but not all, of (shudder!) She said it could be anything that broke the skin and then led to infection. Very infected indeed, I'd say. I saw the bird two days in a row, but haven't seen her lately.



Whatever was the cause, it didn't seem to deter suitors. While I watched, two males came up and did their wing-bow display to her. Of course, males also do an aggression display to each other that looks identical, to my human eye at least, so I can't be sure if the males were saying to Ms. Big Head, "Hey baby" or "Get out of my face, you pimple-headed freak!" Wherever she is, I hope she's doing well. And if the birds around here don't treat her right, I know a fuzzy squirrel in Windsor who will give her lots of sympathy and understanding.

To leave you on a more cheery and appealing note, here's a video my friend Nancy in High Country forwarded to me. Very cute!

UPDATE on the FRANKENSQUIRREL, and MOVE OVER LUCY

Remember a couple of posts ago when I posted photos my friend Elaine took of an odd-looking squirrel? We had some speculation on what might be going on, including some info from blogger Squirrelmama, who said the unusual coat was probably due to molting. Well, that seemed like a reasonable explanation to me, but… here is a new photo of the same squirrel (whom I think we may now safely refer to as ‘she’) taken approximately two weeks after the first ones. While the mystery of her gender has been solved, we I’m wondering if we can say the same about her strange coat, at least not the complete mystery.

My next step was to print out Elaine’s photos and take them to the Point Pelee Nature Center to see if anyone had seen something like this in the area before (they hadn't). The Ranger was very knowledgeable, and she, too, thought it was probably a molt. She also said squirrels usually molt over the period of about one month. Well, in that case, our squirrel should be moving right along but she's still wearing those wooly chaps, and doesn’t look like she’s shed a single hair more! Anyway, Elaine’s going to keep an eye out for her, and I’ll post any further developments. Even considering this is a a molt, you have to admit, you don’t see one like it everyday in the park—I still think genetics must be having a bit of fun at her expense as well. (normal gray squirrel molt photo for comparison)



On a related note, the news wires were abuzz this week with the report that the missing archaeological link between humans and apes has at long last been found. Or, as one article put it, it’s more accurate to call it a missing link than the missing link. We likely won’t find that neat a single-line progression of descent, but still, it’s a hugely important find, and more than enough reason to stand Charles Darwin a posthumous drink. The new fossil, named Ida, is stunningly well preserved, right down to her last meal of a fruit cup and side salad. She’s described as being capable of walking upright, having opposable thumbs, and otherwise being rather cat-like. That is my worst nightmare, you know—cats with opposable thumbs. I rarely get a moment’s peace around here as it is. But let’s get back to our little squirrel. I’m envisioning a time in the unimaginably distant future, when scientists (all in silver lamé jumpsuits no doubt) are excavating the fossil remains of Elaine’s backyard, and discover well-preserved fossil bones (you can even see the imprint of two kinds of fur!!) that will rewrite everything they thought they knew about molting squirrels.


Photos, top to bottom:
1-The newest shot of the Frankensquirrel (thanks again, Elaine!)
2-A gray squirrel in molt from Google images, for comparison
3-Newly discovered Ida
4-The famous Lucy
5-Sweeney, contemplating a life where she can work the can opener herself...


Happy Memorial Day long weekend to those in the US. I'm taking a bit of a break here myself, and won't post anything new here till Monday. Ciao!