Re: [cayugabirds-l] question of the day
While I agree with Pete, some of us... me, at this stage of life and my now-deceased and dear friend Caissa Wilmer... have physical limitations but don't want to give up the joy of birding. About vehicles... I used to have a Subaru Legacy which had good-sized windows, a hatchback for carrying stuff and four-wheel drive. Had to let that car go, but it was a good choice... for me. (I know, not a hybrid. Shame on me.) Kathleen On 3/12/15 10:37 AM, Pete M. Marchetto wrote: One's own two legs, and a backpack. A bike with panniers is good, but not as good. Sent from my iPhone On Mar 12, 2015, at 10:33 AM, Marc Devokaitis mdevokai...@gmail.com mailto:mdevokai...@gmail.com wrote: OK folks-- hoping to crowd-source the answer to this question. Of course i will include the requisite warning against birding WHILE driving... But maybe someone has an answer they are passionate about. I'm thinking a hybrid hybrid would have great appeal. Or a self-driving Google car! / / /Dear Cornell Lab,/ / / /What is the best vehicle by which to bird in your opinion? What vehicle is considered to be best to enjoy birding? Convenience, space, space to put stuff and yet be handy, price, and of course view from all locations in vehicle!/ Thanks for any thoughts! Marc Devokaitis Cornell Lab of Ornithology -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] OT: Fox in my yard
As someone who rarely sends messages on the cayugabirds listserv, I apologize if I'm so far off topic as to be breaking rules. I just wanted to share something my husband, Jack, and I watched from our 2nd story living room yesterday. A red fox with a full and healthy-looking coat came from the side of our house to the front yard. He/she trotted between our two cars parked side-by-side in front of the house, then moved to the snow-covered expanse of the front yard. (We live outside Newfield and have more snow than some in the area.) The fox trotted to the middle of the yard, intently listening (I think) and watching the snow in front of her. Suddenly, she jumped into the air and came down head-first, burying her head in the snow. Up she came, and pounced again, head-first into the snow. She did this 3 times and the last time, she came up with her lunch: a mouse, I think. She ate it quickly in about 3 bites, then squatted, pooped, and trotted off, seemingly quite satisfied with herself. I've seen videos of this hunting behavior before, but never had the privilege of seeing it first-hand. What a treat. Kathy Kramer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Hummingbird Moth
Although this posting isn't about a bird, it's close! On Monday, my husband and I noticed what we thought was a very large bee visiting the pink petunias planted near our garage. Looking closer, we saw it wasn't a bee, and now seemed to resemble a small hummingbird. We knew it was neither, especially because its wings were transparent and the feather-like covering on its body was not feathers. It was a Hummingbird Moth, of course, and a first-time sighting for us. A beautiful little creature. Are they common? Kathy Kramer Newfield -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Robin ferocity- Salt Point
I attended the Seminar on Crows at the Lab of O and enjoyed it very much. When Kevin related the information about the chipmunk eating baby birds, I was reminded of an incident I witnessed in PA a few years ago. (I think I posted it to the Cayugabirds list.) From my dad's kitchen window, I saw a chipmunk attack and kill a female cardinal who was nearby, pecking at seeds fallen from the feeder. The chipmunk grabbed the cardinal and in the struggle, her neck was broken. We should have just watched, I guess, but we rushed outside and the chipmunk raced off, scolding. We put the dead cardinal on a nearby stump and went out on an errand for a short time. When we returned, the cardinal was gone. Don't know if the chipmunk came back and dragged her away or if a neighborhood cat had come by. In any case, we learned that chipmunks are tough! Kathleen Kramer Newfield On 5/29/14 10:54 AM, Donna Scott wrote: Thanks for reporting this interesting sighting, John. When Kevin McGowan gave part of the recent Lab of O. Seminar on Crows, he remarked on some reasons some people do not like crows. One reason was they eat baby birds from the nest. To which he replied (paraphrased here), Well you want to know what else eats baby birds?! - Cute little chipmunks! Then he showed a photograph of the 'cute little chipmunk' with his face in a bird's nest eating a nestling. That Salt Pt. Robin knew what it was doing when it attacked the chipmunk! Donna Scott Lansing - Original Message - *From:* John Greenly mailto:j...@cornell.edu *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu *Sent:* Monday, May 26, 2014 1:06 PM *Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] Robin ferocity- Salt Point I was at Salt Point taking bad photos when I saw a chipmunk crossing the dirt road near its dead end at the concrete blocks on the North side. The chippy was heading toward the base of the big scrubby juniper on the east side of the road, and suddenly out of the tree a Robin came streaking down, hit the chippy so hard it tumbled head over heels. The bird chased it back into the brush across the road, with continuing scuffling sounds. The Robin came back to the tree; the scene was repeated twice more in the next 5 min or so. Finally the Robin began marching back and forth on the road like an armed guard in front of a palace, and thereafter no more sign of the chipmunk. The attacks happened so fast that I failed to get a decent photo. I think of chipmunks as pretty quick on their feet, but this one was no match for the Robin, it got nailed every time. Needless to say, the Robin does have nestlings in that tree. Other birds to mention- at least two singing Willow Flycatchers; E. Kingbird seems to have moved in- I see one regularly; Mourning Warbler heard as Jay reported in the ravine across the tracks from the north end; Green Heron on the creek; at least two singing Yellow-throated Vireos- one seen near the RR bridge; fly-over Wood Duck, heading for the creek upstream of the RR bridge. --John Greenly -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese - Huge numbers (Sunday evening, Montezuma)
Last evening, at about 7:15, my husband and I were in the neighborhood of Montezuma and thought we'd swing by and take a look just in case something was going on. Well, it was! As we watched for 20-30 minutes, wave after wave of Snow Geese passed over without a break. We're not experienced birders, so won't attempt a count except to say that we estimate between 50,000 and 100,000 flew over in great, wavering Vs, overlapping, separating, overlapping again. The resemblance to ocean waves approaching the shore was striking. It was quite cloudy last evening so, because of the trees, we weren't aware that, near the horizon, there was a strip of clear sky and a vibrant sunset was taking place. We discovered it when we noticed that the overhead geese had sunset-colored bellies. They were high enough to catch the reflection and they positively glowed! A glorious sight! What a gift! (Please excuse my amateur enthusiasm!) Kathleen Kramer Newfield -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Fox's Refrigerator - OT?
As a loyal reader of (but not a poster to) Cayugabirds-L, I hope you'll excuse me if I'm 'way off topic, I but thought you folks might be interested in (or have seen) what we saw yesterday morning. Watching from our front windows, we saw a beautiful red fox trotting up our driveway. (There's a den not far down the road from our house.) It had something in its mouth and as it came closer, we could see it was probably a mouse. A skinny tail was protruding from the fox's jaws. The fox trotted casually between our two cars, parked side-by-side in the driveway, then around the yard, in one direction, then another. Finally the fox trotted to a spot near our garage and began to dig in the snow with its front paws. After it had a hole about 6 inches deep, it placed the mouse in the hole and pushed snow over it, patting the snow down with its nose. Then it trotted to the edge of the yard where there are a lot of dried weeds and stood listening for a long time. Finally, though, it went back down the driveway, its fluffy tail waving jauntily behind. We've left the mouse-sicle undisturbed, of course. Kathy Kramer Newfield -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
