[nysbirds-l] on Bicknell's Thrush & etc.
Dear Gabriel Willow, & all, The remarks regarding use of playback in a setting as heavily and densely used by migratory birds (and by observers of them) as is Central Park in Manhattan, were not in any way aimed to the many fine leaders who are in the employ of, or volunteer for, any Audubon chapter or offices, including the NYC Audubon chapter. There is essentially one repeat (& repeat & repeat ad nauseum) offender who is doing this, and is doing so with intent. (the difference of intent clear to any with the most basic understanding of legal principles). One efficient way of dealing with this individual is to video-audio- record the situation, including any verbal exchanges, and perhaps post to a media-sharing site such as you-tube, or much more specifically to a page observed by birders locally, regionally, &/or nationally, and to notify your local birding club or organization that the individual is a repeat offender in harassing birds. This is not about very occasional use of a playback device, but of near-constant attempts to distract & harass birds on a yearly basis over a period of many many years. The limited and unfortunate situation is a bane of virtually all the other bird observers and naturalists who use and enjoy Central Park in a self-restrained and ethical way. On Bicknell's Thrush in migration, and more specifically in a place like Central Park, notes posted to the CT (Connecticut) Birds list- serve from / via several veteran birders are highly relevant, given that the speaker quoted is as experienced as anyone living with the species. The post was in response to comments on a possible sighting of a Bicknell's, or at least a Catharus [genus] thrush of the Gray- cheeked / Bicknell's type, which was mentioned at a site on coastal Conn. & with comments first posted by David Provencher. To add to Dave P's post on the problematic nature of this ID, Chris Rimmer of the Vermont Center of Ecostudies (VCE), spoke on Bicknell's Thrush at the COA* Annual Meeting this year. Chris's organization is involved in a large and wide-ranging study of this species, and he is one of (if not THE) top authorities, having studied Bicknell's for years in the field and in the hand on the breeding grounds and at wintering areas in Hispaniola. His succinct opinion was that Bicknell's cannot by reliably separated from Gray-cheeked visually in the field. Greg Hanisek, Waterbury << (* Connecticut Ornithological Association. & n.b., Roy Harvey is moderator of the CT-Birds list-serve and compiles the CT-Daily bird report summaries.) The complete "thread's" content can be read here: http://digest.sialia.com/?rm=message;id=870649 and it is helpful to read David Sibley's comments - http://www.sibleyguides.com/bird-info/bicknells-thrush/ good observations to all, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Blackburnian - one of the best !
Today's birding was limited to a few hours in the AM, spent at the Rocky Point DEC Property. I again met Richard Kaskan on the trail, birding together (quiet) until he had to leave for work. We both, at different times, checked yesterday's "*Oporornis"* (sp ?) location without success. I did, however, finally catch up with a glorious, male Blackburnian Warbler...nothing more needs to be said ! Cheers, Bob -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/13
Thanks as always for the thorough recap Tom, and for bringing up the touchy subject of amplified call/song playback. It is incumbent on all of us as birders, and especially tour guides and professionals, to demonstrate and model ethical and considerate behavior. I appreciate the reminder. On my two tours in Central Park today, I found a couple of Lincoln's Sparrows by the Triplets Bridge, and had lovely close views, but the Clay-coloreds continued to evade me (maybe I should have tried to lure them in with playback?). Another bird that was of interest but unfortunately silent was a probable Bicknell's Thrush I spotted next to the chip path by the Upper Lobe (alongside a Veery and a Swainson's in a veritable field guide tableau vivant!). It appeared slightly smaller than its brethren, and had a warmer tail than back and extensive yellow on the lower mandible. However, I am hesitant to ID this bird in the field without hearing its song. I spent two Summers studying this species with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, and know from first-hand experience it can be exceedingly difficult to safely ID, even in the hand! I was lucky enough to have one singing on a May morning in my Brooklyn backyard several years ago, so I know they do pass through NYC in migration. I imagine this bird will continue northward tonight, but I'm curious if anyone else spotted it today, or has heard Bicknell's singing in the city before? Cheers, Gabriel Willow NYC Audubon, etc. On Wednesday, May 14, 2014 12:06 AM, Thomas Fiore wrote: Tuesday, 13 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City By virtually all accounts and observations, a less-active day than the previous 12 - twelve days in a row of tremendous migration in terms of both numbers of individual birds, and species diversity. Today, Tues., had a lower diversity and overall numbers, yet there were still many birds, and still at least 100 or more species in total were observed, by all observers combined. The more rarely-seen species of the day before were not reported. A very good flight of (Atlantic) Brant took place, with one flock moving N-NW in early morning totaling more than 500 birds; other flocks were also noticed thru early morning, by multiple observers from various vantage points; all of these birds seen going in a northerly direction. The reservoir did not seem to harbor any drop-ins of these species. In the last several days, more Empidonax [genus] flycatchers have been reported with species designations, and a relatively few observers have reported hearing confirming call notes or even songs from some. Willow Flyctacher, and (ongoing) Least Flycatcher were among these, with a much smaller number of reports of the other 3 species that migrate through each year. Eastern Wood-Pewees have been a bit more vocal as they begin to get to anticipated numbers, with certainly far more yet to pass through. Olive-sided Flycatcher has been seen and, by a lucky relative few, heard as well, although not today (to my knowledge). E. Kingbird numbers have been fine with some diurnal flight also seen, mainly in a.m. hours. Some extremely late-moving migrants have been noted in Central (and generally in a lot of places in the city &/or region), including a rather tardy Louisiana Waterthrush today in the Ramble. In the last few days, sightings of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco and a few others are all notable. Not quite as unusual are some late-ish Palm Warblers still being found, even to today in the park's north end, this of the "eastern" type. It is clear by this day that most of the Hermit Thrush have moved on, and so have the vast majority of White-throated Sparrows. It will be interesting to see how many of these 2 species might show up again in the next push of migrants thru the area. Also greatly diminished now in Central are Blue-headed Vireos, although a few non-vocal individuals were still around. In general many more female birds of many migrant species have been passing through & they may give call notes but are not belting out songs, lessening the early morning chorus just a bit now. Female Blackpoll Warblers have been seen over the last few days, although not in any great numbers! Gulls were massed at the reservoir today, and a few Laughing Gulls wandered in for a while. Of shorebirds, the two most-common May migrant spp. were again seen: Spotted, & Solitary, Sandpiper[s]. Both species of Cuckoo were reported again, although most observers continue to see Yellow-billed, certainly the species more often found in migration, and a shy local breeder in some parts of the city as well. Common Nighthawks are still sure to pass through as May goes along, the showing so far has been fairly impressive for the date, still not mid-May, not quite. Warblers were in good supply but the number of their species today may have dropped to 20 or perhaps slightly more. It
[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/13
Tuesday, 13 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City By virtually all accounts and observations, a less-active day than the previous 12 - twelve days in a row of tremendous migration in terms of both numbers of individual birds, and species diversity. Today, Tues., had a lower diversity and overall numbers, yet there were still many birds, and still at least 100 or more species in total were observed, by all observers combined. The more rarely-seen species of the day before were not reported. A very good flight of (Atlantic) Brant took place, with one flock moving N-NW in early morning totaling more than 500 birds; other flocks were also noticed thru early morning, by multiple observers from various vantage points; all of these birds seen going in a northerly direction. The reservoir did not seem to harbor any drop-ins of these species. In the last several days, more Empidonax [genus] flycatchers have been reported with species designations, and a relatively few observers have reported hearing confirming call notes or even songs from some. Willow Flyctacher, and (ongoing) Least Flycatcher were among these, with a much smaller number of reports of the other 3 species that migrate through each year. Eastern Wood-Pewees have been a bit more vocal as they begin to get to anticipated numbers, with certainly far more yet to pass through. Olive-sided Flycatcher has been seen and, by a lucky relative few, heard as well, although not today (to my knowledge). E. Kingbird numbers have been fine with some diurnal flight also seen, mainly in a.m. hours. Some extremely late-moving migrants have been noted in Central (and generally in a lot of places in the city &/or region), including a rather tardy Louisiana Waterthrush today in the Ramble. In the last few days, sightings of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Dark- eyed Junco and a few others are all notable. Not quite as unusual are some late-ish Palm Warblers still being found, even to today in the park's north end, this of the "eastern" type. It is clear by this day that most of the Hermit Thrush have moved on, and so have the vast majority of White-throated Sparrows. It will be interesting to see how many of these 2 species might show up again in the next push of migrants thru the area. Also greatly diminished now in Central are Blue-headed Vireos, although a few non-vocal individuals were still around. In general many more female birds of many migrant species have been passing through & they may give call notes but are not belting out songs, lessening the early morning chorus just a bit now. Female Blackpoll Warblers have been seen over the last few days, although not in any great numbers! Gulls were massed at the reservoir today, and a few Laughing Gulls wandered in for a while. Of shorebirds, the two most-common May migrant spp. were again seen: Spotted, & Solitary, Sandpiper[s]. Both species of Cuckoo were reported again, although most observers continue to see Yellow-billed, certainly the species more often found in migration, and a shy local breeder in some parts of the city as well. Common Nighthawks are still sure to pass through as May goes along, the showing so far has been fairly impressive for the date, still not mid-May, not quite. Warblers were in good supply but the number of their species today may have dropped to 20 or perhaps slightly more. It will be harder to find some of the earliest-moving of them, such as Pine, 'Louisiana', & Palm, but a few real stragglers are possible into late spring, as with almost any species. For sparrows about all of the typical migrant species of spring were still around, but in much lower numbers. Lincoln's Sparrows have been in good supply and multiples were seen by a number of observers, the same being so for White-crowned. Of rare- in-spring species, the Clay-colored Sparrows reported from at least 3 separate locations in Central Park on Monday are almost certainly a "first" for the number on a single spring day, of course it's possible one or more were the same individual[s] but that would be rather hard (as in - "impossible") to prove, after the fact; the breeding range of Clay-colored Sparrow has been observed to have expanded dramatically east, through all of northern NY & New England, and that species is almost certain to become more & more regular on migraton, including modestly so for spring. The distinctive song of Clay-colored might be studied and learned. As always in Central Park, best to attempt visual confirmation of "heard" birds... for all the use of devices which can be overdone, and is by a very few, with one offender regularly using play-back & worse to intentionally harass, thus with no sense of ethics whatsoever in caring at all for the welfare of the birds. The American Birding Association has a Code of Ethics and gives some guidelines
[nysbirds-l] Doodletown Road, May 13
Two friends and I had a great day at Doodletown today. We saw 60+ species. Many birds are on territory, including Hooded and Cerulean Warblers, Louisiana Waterthushes and Indigo Buntings. We observed both Cerulean Warblers and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers on nests. There were lots of migrants as well, including at least a dozen Tennessee Warblers, Canadas, Chestnut-sided and more. Another highlight was watching 4 male Indigo Buntings chasing each other endlessly. I definitely recommend a visit! Dawn Hannay Sent from my iPhone -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Bryant Lincoln
Sparrow Still in NW flower bed bordering lawn at 1pm Sent from my iPhone -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Marine Nature Study Area, Oceanside
Marine Nature Study Area, Oceanside 13 May There were 3 singing sparrows in the marsh around the pond, 1 SEASIDE SPARROW and 2 SALTMARSH SPARROWS. All popped up briefly before disappearing. Other birds included 2 CLAPPER RAILS, also briefly seen, FORSTER'S TERNS, a pair of LEAST TERNS and a GREEN HERON. Sy Schiff -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] late report from yesterday: Jones Beach, Nickerson Beach, Muttontown, Massapequa etc
Hi Everyone, I figured I should send this out late instead of not at all - went to a number of places - will just include the highlights: Green Island, Wantagh - semi-palmated plovers all over the place Jones Beach West End - Red Knots on the Coast Guard sandbar (stopped, ate, flew off), 9 Glossy Ibis overhead flying west, Scarlet Tanager pair, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Great Scaup female and Common Loon still present, took a photo of a sparrow that I can't yet ID - could be a Savannah Sparrow with lots of yellow on the head - will work on the ID Nickerson Beach - Common Terns and Black Skimmers Point Lookout - raft of ~75 Black Scoters Muttontown Preserve - Turkey Vulture over the large field Massapequa Preserve - 2 Great Crested Flycatchers, Wood Thrush singing Good birding, Rob in Massapequa http://longislandbirding.blogspot.com/ This email is confidential and subject to important disclaimers and conditions including on offers for the purchase or sale of securities, accuracy and completeness of information, viruses, confidentiality, legal privilege, and legal entity disclaimers, available at http://www.jpmorgan.com/pages/disclosures/email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Mourning warbler @kissena park queens.
While spishing fir otherwarblers up popped a mourning warbler, mature male. On wood chipped path behind the velodrome ny baseball field 3. Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] late report from yesterday: Jones Beach, Nickerson Beach, Muttontown, Massapequa etc
Hi Everyone, I figured I should send this out late instead of not at all - went to a number of places - will just include the highlights: Green Island, Wantagh - semi-palmated plovers all over the place Jones Beach West End - Red Knots on the Coast Guard sandbar (stopped, ate, flew off), 9 Glossy Ibis overhead flying west, Scarlet Tanager pair, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, Great Scaup female and Common Loon still present, took a photo of a sparrow that I can't yet ID - could be a Savannah Sparrow with lots of yellow on the head - will work on the ID Nickerson Beach - Common Terns and Black Skimmers Point Lookout - raft of ~75 Black Scoters Muttontown Preserve - Turkey Vulture over the large field Massapequa Preserve - 2 Great Crested Flycatchers, Wood Thrush singing Good birding, Rob in Massapequa http://longislandbirding.blogspot.com/ This email is confidential and subject to important disclaimers and conditions including on offers for the purchase or sale of securities, accuracy and completeness of information, viruses, confidentiality, legal privilege, and legal entity disclaimers, available at http://www.jpmorgan.com/pages/disclosures/email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] Marine Nature Study Area, Oceanside
Marine Nature Study Area, Oceanside 13 May There were 3 singing sparrows in the marsh around the pond, 1 SEASIDE SPARROW and 2 SALTMARSH SPARROWS. All popped up briefly before disappearing. Other birds included 2 CLAPPER RAILS, also briefly seen, FORSTER'S TERNS, a pair of LEAST TERNS and a GREEN HERON. Sy Schiff -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC 5/13
Thanks as always for the thorough recap Tom, and for bringing up the touchy subject of amplified call/song playback. It is incumbent on all of us as birders, and especially tour guides and professionals, to demonstrate and model ethical and considerate behavior. I appreciate the reminder. On my two tours in Central Park today, I found a couple of Lincoln's Sparrows by the Triplets Bridge, and had lovely close views, but the Clay-coloreds continued to evade me (maybe I should have tried to lure them in with playback?). Another bird that was of interest but unfortunately silent was a probable Bicknell's Thrush I spotted next to the chip path by the Upper Lobe (alongside a Veery and a Swainson's in a veritable field guide tableau vivant!). It appeared slightly smaller than its brethren, and had a warmer tail than back and extensive yellow on the lower mandible. However, I am hesitant to ID this bird in the field without hearing its song. I spent two Summers studying this species with the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, and know from first-hand experience it can be exceedingly difficult to safely ID, even in the hand! I was lucky enough to have one singing on a May morning in my Brooklyn backyard several years ago, so I know they do pass through NYC in migration. I imagine this bird will continue northward tonight, but I'm curious if anyone else spotted it today, or has heard Bicknell's singing in the city before? Cheers, Gabriel Willow NYC Audubon, etc. On Wednesday, May 14, 2014 12:06 AM, Thomas Fiore tom...@earthlink.net wrote: Tuesday, 13 May, 2014 - Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. City By virtually all accounts and observations, a less-active day than the previous 12 - twelve days in a row of tremendous migration in terms of both numbers of individual birds, and species diversity. Today, Tues., had a lower diversity and overall numbers, yet there were still many birds, and still at least 100 or more species in total were observed, by all observers combined. The more rarely-seen species of the day before were not reported. A very good flight of (Atlantic) Brant took place, with one flock moving N-NW in early morning totaling more than 500 birds; other flocks were also noticed thru early morning, by multiple observers from various vantage points; all of these birds seen going in a northerly direction. The reservoir did not seem to harbor any drop-ins of these species. In the last several days, more Empidonax [genus] flycatchers have been reported with species designations, and a relatively few observers have reported hearing confirming call notes or even songs from some. Willow Flyctacher, and (ongoing) Least Flycatcher were among these, with a much smaller number of reports of the other 3 species that migrate through each year. Eastern Wood-Pewees have been a bit more vocal as they begin to get to anticipated numbers, with certainly far more yet to pass through. Olive-sided Flycatcher has been seen and, by a lucky relative few, heard as well, although not today (to my knowledge). E. Kingbird numbers have been fine with some diurnal flight also seen, mainly in a.m. hours. Some extremely late-moving migrants have been noted in Central (and generally in a lot of places in the city /or region), including a rather tardy Louisiana Waterthrush today in the Ramble. In the last few days, sightings of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco and a few others are all notable. Not quite as unusual are some late-ish Palm Warblers still being found, even to today in the park's north end, this of the eastern type. It is clear by this day that most of the Hermit Thrush have moved on, and so have the vast majority of White-throated Sparrows. It will be interesting to see how many of these 2 species might show up again in the next push of migrants thru the area. Also greatly diminished now in Central are Blue-headed Vireos, although a few non-vocal individuals were still around. In general many more female birds of many migrant species have been passing through they may give call notes but are not belting out songs, lessening the early morning chorus just a bit now. Female Blackpoll Warblers have been seen over the last few days, although not in any great numbers! Gulls were massed at the reservoir today, and a few Laughing Gulls wandered in for a while. Of shorebirds, the two most-common May migrant spp. were again seen: Spotted, Solitary, Sandpiper[s]. Both species of Cuckoo were reported again, although most observers continue to see Yellow-billed, certainly the species more often found in migration, and a shy local breeder in some parts of the city as well. Common Nighthawks are still sure to pass through as May goes along, the showing so far has been fairly impressive for the date, still not mid-May, not quite. Warblers were in good supply but the number of their species today may have dropped to 20 or perhaps
[nysbirds-l] Blackburnian - one of the best !
Today's birding was limited to a few hours in the AM, spent at the Rocky Point DEC Property. I again met Richard Kaskan on the trail, birding together (quiet) until he had to leave for work. We both, at different times, checked yesterday's *Oporornis* (sp ?) location without success. I did, however, finally catch up with a glorious, male Blackburnian Warbler...nothing more needs to be said ! Cheers, Bob -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[nysbirds-l] on Bicknell's Thrush etc.
Dear Gabriel Willow, all, The remarks regarding use of playback in a setting as heavily and densely used by migratory birds (and by observers of them) as is Central Park in Manhattan, were not in any way aimed to the many fine leaders who are in the employ of, or volunteer for, any Audubon chapter or offices, including the NYC Audubon chapter. There is essentially one repeat ( repeat repeat ad nauseum) offender who is doing this, and is doing so with intent. (the difference of intent clear to any with the most basic understanding of legal principles). One efficient way of dealing with this individual is to video-audio- record the situation, including any verbal exchanges, and perhaps post to a media-sharing site such as you-tube, or much more specifically to a page observed by birders locally, regionally, /or nationally, and to notify your local birding club or organization that the individual is a repeat offender in harassing birds. This is not about very occasional use of a playback device, but of near-constant attempts to distract harass birds on a yearly basis over a period of many many years. The limited and unfortunate situation is a bane of virtually all the other bird observers and naturalists who use and enjoy Central Park in a self-restrained and ethical way. On Bicknell's Thrush in migration, and more specifically in a place like Central Park, notes posted to the CT (Connecticut) Birds list- serve from / via several veteran birders are highly relevant, given that the speaker quoted is as experienced as anyone living with the species. The post was in response to comments on a possible sighting of a Bicknell's, or at least a Catharus [genus] thrush of the Gray- cheeked / Bicknell's type, which was mentioned at a site on coastal Conn. with comments first posted by David Provencher. To add to Dave P's post on the problematic nature of this ID, Chris Rimmer of the Vermont Center of Ecostudies (VCE), spoke on Bicknell's Thrush at the COA* Annual Meeting this year. Chris's organization is involved in a large and wide-ranging study of this species, and he is one of (if not THE) top authorities, having studied Bicknell's for years in the field and in the hand on the breeding grounds and at wintering areas in Hispaniola. His succinct opinion was that Bicknell's cannot by reliably separated from Gray-cheeked visually in the field. Greg Hanisek, Waterbury (* Connecticut Ornithological Association. n.b., Roy Harvey is moderator of the CT-Birds list-serve and compiles the CT-Daily bird report summaries.) The complete thread's content can be read here: http://digest.sialia.com/?rm=message;id=870649 and it is helpful to read David Sibley's comments - http://www.sibleyguides.com/bird-info/bicknells-thrush/ good observations to all, Tom Fiore Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
