[Leica] IMG: Yellow-billed Magpie

[al.crouch at earthlink.net (al crouch)]

Thanks for an outstanding image and a great back story.



-----Original Message-----
>From: Doug Herr <wildlightphoto at earthlink.net>
>Sent: Nov 13, 2017 7:48 AM
>To: lug at leica-users.org
>Subject: [Leica] IMG: Yellow-billed Magpie
>
>The Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nutalli) is a large member of the crow 
>family that is endemic to California.  Other magpies are found elsewhere 
>and the very similar Black-billed Magpie is widespread in North America... 
>I'll bet you can deduce what the primary difference between these two 
>species is.  The Yellow-billed Magpie prefers the open oak woodlands in 
>sheltered valleys of California's Central Valley and adjacent foothills but 
>can also be found on lawns and in parks in the Central Valley's cities and 
>towns.
>
>This species is particularly susceptible to the West Nile virus and a 2005 
>outbreak of this disease reduced the Yellow-billed Magpie population by 
>50%.  For a number of years following the outbreak there were no magpies 
>near my home but in the last few years the populations appear to have 
>recovered; my theory which I must emphasize has not been tested is that 
>among the birds present in 2005 there were varying degrees of resistance to 
>the virus and the more resistant individuals survived and re-populated the 
>Central Valley.  Yellow-billed Magpies are again regular visitors to my 
>yard.
>
>For many years I've wanted to showcase the iridescence of its tail and wing 
>feathers.  What do you think?
>
>http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/pica/ybmagp05.html
>
>Doug Herr
>Birdman of Sacramento
>http://www.wildlightphoto.com
>http://doug-herr.fineartamerica.com
>
>_______________________________________________
>Leica Users Group.
>See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information