Hello Everyone! Here is Part Three in the series, "The Meaning of Bird Names"
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Gambel’s Quail, (
Callipepla gambelii), are a small ground-bird in the Odontophoridae Family, also known as New World Quails. The genus “Callipepla” is from the Greek word “kallipeplos” meaning "beautifully adorned" which combines the words “kalos” meaning "beautiful" and “peplos” refers to "a ceremonial robe”. The word “quail' (as a verb) means to feel or show fear or apprehension, “to wince”, or to “draw back in pain”: Quail are very shy birds. Pictured is a female on the left and a male on the right, the sexes are dimorphic in color and shape. Gambel’s Quail prefer the arid habitat of the American Southwest. The average length is 11 inches (28 cm) and they feed primarily on plants and seeds. The female typically lays 10–12 eggs in a simple scrape on the ground. The birds are named after William Gambel (1823 – 1849), who was an American naturalist and physician from Philadelphia. At age 15 Gambel became an apprentice for Thomas Nuttall, an English zoologist working at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. At age 18 Gambel began a four-year journey, during which he visited Mexico, Hawaii, Tahiti, the Marquesas Islands, Peru, and Chile. At age 22 Gambel entered medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1849, after receiving his medical degree, Gambel set off for California during the Gold Rush, to set up a new practice. Shortly after crossing into California, William stopped at a mining camp, where typhoid was circulating and while he was treating others, William contracted typhoid and died at age 26. A genus of lizards, “Gambelia”, is named in his honor.
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Franklin’s Gull, (
Leucophaeus pipixcan) is a small gull that migrates long distances. Franklin’s Gulls breed in central Canada and winter along the west coast of South America. The birds are 12 - 14 inches in length (32–36 cm). Male and females are identical (monomorphic). The genus name “Leucophaeus” is from the Ancient Greek “leukos” meaning “white”, and “phaios” meaning "dusky". The Gull Family is also known as the Laridae Family, which includes gulls, terns, and skimmers. The birds are named after Sir John Franklin (1786 – 1847), a British Royal Navy officer and explorer of the Arctic who is known for the tragic 1845 Northwest Passage Expedition, also known as Franklin's Lost Expedition. The expedition had two boats, the
Erebus and
Terror, which were well fitted for Arctic winter conditions. Shortly after reaching Canada in 1845, both ships became icebound in the Victoria Strait near King William Island, with 134 souls aboard. It is presumed that many men survived for at least two years after that, with some even living up to three years, but no survivors were ever found. In 1850, with the help of local Inuits, the first evidence of the ship’s approximate location was determined. During the subsequent 170 years of numerous search expeditions, artifacts and gravesites were found on nearby islands. A note found on one of the islands, stated that John Franklin survived for two-years and died in 1847 at age 61. Search expeditions from 2014 - 2016, were able to locate both ships sitting on the ocean floor. The area is now a Canadian National Heritage Site for ongoing research.
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Cassin’s Auklet, (
Ptychoramphus aleuticus) is a small seabird of the northern Pacific Ocean. Auklets, also known as Auks or Alcids are in the Alcidae Family, which includes murres, guillemots, auklets, puffins, and murrelets. The word “auk” is from the Icelandic and Old Norse word “álka”, meaning a type of seabird. Although not closely related to Penguins, auks are notable for their similar ability to "fly" underwater. Cassin’s Auklets feed on large zooplankton, especially krill. The birds are 9 inches in length (22 cm). Male and females are identical (monomorphic) and nest in burrows on small islands by either digging a hole or using natural crevices, both parents care for the single chick. The birds are named for John Cassin, (1813 – 1869), an American ornithologist and businessman from Pennsylvania. Cassin was a talented taxonomist and described 198 birds not mentioned in the works of his predecessors Alexander Wilson and John James Audubon. His collection of 4,300 birds was purchased by John Jenks for Brown University's Museum of Natural History, which opened in 1871. Unfortunately, due to a fire in 1906 and low attendance, the museum closed in 1915 and most of the collection was eventually lost. John died in 1869 at age 56, most likely from long term exposure to arsenic, which he used in the preservation of bird skins. He is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia. Birds and one insect are named for John: Cassin's Auklet, Cassin's Kingbird, Cassin's Vireo, Cassin's Sparrow, Cassin's Finch, and the 17-year Cicada, (Magicicada Cassini).
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Baird’s Sandpiper
, (
Calidris bairdii
): Sandpipers, collectively called “peeps”, are in the Scolopacidae Family of waders and shorebirds. The genus “Calidris” is from the Ancient Greek “kalidris” or “skalidris”, which was used by Aristotle to describe grey-colored shore birds. Baird’s Sandpipers are 7–7.6 inches in length (18–19 cm). Male and females are identical (monomorphic). They eat insects and small crustaceans by foraging mudflats and picking up food by sight. Baird's sandpipers breed in the northern tundra from eastern Siberia to western Greenland and winter in South America. They are a long-distance migrant; most individuals travel at least 3,700 miles between their breeding and winter grounds. Some travel as far as Tierra del Fuego, a 9,700 journey, which they can complete in less than 5-weeks. The birds are named after Spencer Baird (1823 – 1887), an American self-taught naturalist from Reading, Pennsylvania. Baird was the first curator at the Smithsonian Institution, where he worked from 1850 – 1887 in various lead roles during his career. In 1871, Ulysses S. Grant appointed Spencer as the first Commissioner of the United States Fish Commission, which in 1940 became the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Spencer Baird died at age 64 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Washington, D.C. John Wesley Powell spoke at his funeral. Spencer named Lucy's Warbler (
Leiothlypis luciae
), after his daughter. Lucy's Warbler is closely related to Virginia's Warbler (named after the state of Virginia). Spencer named Grace's Warbler (
Setophaga graciae
) after one of his friend’s daughter. Baird's Sparrow, (
Ammodramus bairdii
), is named after Spencer.
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Anna’s Hummingbird, (
Calypte anna), “Calypte” is a genus of hummingbirds which contains two birds, Anna’s and Costa’s. Both birds are in the Trochilinae Family (meaning "typical" hummingbirds), which contains 294 species. All hummingbirds belong to the order “Apodiformes”, meaning, "unfooted” or “footless” in Greek: their legs are small and have limited function aside from perching. There are three families in this order: Trochilidae (typical hummingbirds and hermits), Hemiprocnidae (tree swifts), and Apodidae (swifts). Anna’s Hummingbirds range from British Columbia to Mexico. They are 4 inches in length (10 cm). Anna's Hummingbird is the official bird of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where it is a year-round resident. Many hummingbird species do not migrate and of those that do, the Rufous Hummingbird can travel up to 3,900 miles each way. Most hummingbird species are polygynous (males mate with more than one female). Males are almost always extremely colorful, while the females are better camouflaged. Pictured is a female above and a male below. The female makes the nest and raises the chicks without helped from the male. The smallest of all bird species is the Bee Hummingbird, 2 inches long (5 cm). Hummingbirds are native only to the western hemisphere. Many banded hummingbirds have recorded life spans up to 11 years, but the average lifespan for a hummingbird is probably closer to 5 – 7 years. Speeds of 34 mph (54 km/h) have been recorded in wind tunnels and some species can dive at speeds up to 49 mph (79 km/h). Anna’s Hummingbird is named after Anna Masséna (1802 - 1887), who was a French courtier and Duchess of Rivoli. She was married to Francois Masséna, who was a friend of Ornithologist René Lesson, who named the bird.
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Olympic National Park Fun, Fun, Fun!
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Backpacking
Backpacking season starts early in Olympic National Park. There will be snow at higher elevations through early summer, but at sea-level the temperatures stay moderate and starting in March there are many great locations available for over-night trips. Check our website for a list of camping locations for any season:
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Nature Tours
We have great birding and wildlife viewing year-round on the Olympic Peninsula; with over 300 different species of birds identified on the peninsula and over 500 in Washington state. We have both northern and southern migratory birds. Come visit anytime!
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Hiking
Olympic National Park has over 600 miles of maintained trails and nearly 70 miles of stunning Pacific Coastline. Choose your hike and habitat; rainforest, mountains or coastal routes.
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Fly-Fishing
Whether you enjoy an afternoon of fishing along the river, a day on Lake Crescent or including fly-fishing with your over-night backpacking trip to an alpine lake, we will have a tour for you. Check our website for more info:
Fly-Fishing Tours Link
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Family Reunions and Corporate Retreats:
Plan your group getaway and stay at beautiful houses and hotels on the beach. Great activities including river kayaking (float trips, no rapids) and biking on easy trails or challenging trails, biking on the beach, hiking in Olympic National Park and depending on the season, surfing and surf lessons:
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Come join a Car-Camping trip or Cabin Tour with Ed and Kaiyote!
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You can find out more and see all our great photos on social media
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International Travel Tours
New Tours
- Panama, Birding the Darien for Harpy Eagles
- Sri Lanka: The best and most relaxing bird tour you will ever experience
- Nepal: Birding the fantastic Himalayas and a great cultural experience
- India: Birding for vegetarians, great culture and great food
- Mongolia: Birding the high steppes and staying in traditional "Gers" for lodging
- Sarawak and Northern Borneo: Birding and wildlife viewing, including orangutans
- Korea: Winter birding to view cranes and migrants
- Japan: Birding the Kyoto and Osaka areas
- Tallinn, Estonia for Winter Birding and New Year's Eve
Still on the Schedule
- Iceland: Great tours in May, the best New Year's Eve trip ever, and a special winter tour
- Sweden: Christmas tour, Southwest Sweden and the Åland Islands for mid-summers'
- Nicaragua: Our all time favorite place for birding and traveling anytime of year
- El Salvador: Birding the best National Parks and Pacific Coast
- Taiwan: A very special place for birding and one of our favorites
- Colombia: Birding the Andes and Amazon, and having a lot of fun
- Argentina: Birds and butterflies, more than you can count
- Brittany, France: Birding the coast, great food and culture
In the United States
- Santa Fe Birding and Opera Festival
- Chicago Fun and Urban Birding
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Check our website for dates, details and pricing
Call us at 970-556-6103
email: KaiyoteTours@gmail.com
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Your Travel and Adventure Guides: Kaiyote & Ed
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Photo: Here we are in Sarawak, Borneo during our visit to the Asian Bird Fair in the fall of 2019. We look forward to showing you all the great birds, wildlife and adventures that can be found around the world, the United States and in Washington state. Call us anytime! See you soon!
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