This Week at Hilton Pond

Bill Hilton Jr.
Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
York , South Carolina 29745 USA


The Natural Calendar (1-7 January 2007)

When the new year rolls around, we don't usually make resolutions, but we DO refresh our "natural calendar"--one that correlates human holidays with things we need to deal with around Hilton Pond Center. To see how our "natural calendar" works, please visit the 1-7 January 2007 installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek070101.html . Included are lots of photos of organisms and habitats.

Figure 1. If you want ducklings, it's best to follow a “natural calendar” and have your wood duck nest boxes cleaned and ready at the right time of year. Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.

“Your Head Bone Connected To Your Neck Bone . . . ” (8-14 January 2007)

After finding a dead bird in a surprising location this week, we decided to put together a photo essay about the amazing differences and similarities between the skulls of birds. Thus, if you've ever wanted a comparative look at bird skulls, the current installment of "This Week at Hilton Pond" provides an opportunity. To view the edition for 8-14 January 2007, please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek070108.html . As always we include some miscellaneous nature notes and a tally of all birds banded, but the most interesting list enumerates ten old American goldfinches that returned this week to our traps.

Figure 2. Often when we clean out Wood Duck boxes in preparation for the upcoming nesting season we find old, unhatched eggs. This year, we found something we hadn't expected--the skull of an adult woodie. Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.

The Natural Calendar (15-21 January 2007)

After our discussion last week about bird skulls, we got e-mails and calls asking why we hadn't included a hummingbird. For installment #345 of "This Week at Hilton Pond" we do just that, concentrating on the remarkable attributes of the skull and skeleton of a ruby-throated hummingbird. To view the photo essay for 15-21 January 2007, please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek070115.html . As always, we include a tally of birds banded and a list of significant recaptures (we caught a white-throated sparrow that's closing in on the known longevity record for its species), plus a few miscellaneous nature notes.

Figure 3. The skeleton of a rby-throated hummingbird exhibits many typical avian features, and some--including a relatively large and elongated keel--that are peculiar to hummingbirds. Photograph copyright Bill Hilton Jr.

To help support the education, research, and conservation work of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History, please see http://www.hiltonpond.org/FundingMain.html . Editor.