Re: [nysbirds-l] Why does eBird allow reports of domestic/captive birds?

[John Kent]

https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000948757-ebird-faqs#anchordonotreport


On Thu, Feb 3, 2022, at 4:19 PM, Andrew Block wrote:
> Question.  Why does eBird allow reports of captive/domestic birds to be 
> reported?  I don't get that.  I was shown by a friend a report of a dozen or 
> so Barnacle Geese seen at the Bronx Zoo which are obviously not wild birds.  
> Why would someone report that in the first place and why would eBird allow 
> it?  Doesn't seem right.
> 
> Andrew
> 
> *Andrew v. F. Block*
> *Consulting Naturalist*
> 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
> Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
> **www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums**
> --
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Why does eBird allow reports of domestic/captive birds?

[John Kent]

https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000948757-ebird-faqs#anchordonotreport


On Thu, Feb 3, 2022, at 4:19 PM, Andrew Block wrote:
> Question.  Why does eBird allow reports of captive/domestic birds to be 
> reported?  I don't get that.  I was shown by a friend a report of a dozen or 
> so Barnacle Geese seen at the Bronx Zoo which are obviously not wild birds.  
> Why would someone report that in the first place and why would eBird allow 
> it?  Doesn't seem right.
> 
> Andrew
> 
> *Andrew v. F. Block*
> *Consulting Naturalist*
> 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
> Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
> **www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums**
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave 
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive 
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* 
> *!*
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Long Island's rare geese

[John Kent]

DEC police dispatch is 844.332.3267, or 844-DEC-ECOS.

John Kent
Selkirk

> On Jan 14, 2022, at 6:04 PM, Patricia Lindsay  wrote:
> 
> 
> Thanks to everyone for your support and understanding of this sensitive issue.
> 
> Ronnie, Thank you for pointing this out, absolutely, in fact I neglected to 
> mention this in my original email and was intending to send a second email 
> asking anyone who agrees and is willing, to cross-post to the various other 
> social media outlets (none of which I belong to).
> 
> Elliot, As far as the eBird control is concerned, this is out of my purview, 
> but I would ask the eBird folks reading this whether this is something they 
> consider important enough to consider. 
> 
> Darlene, YES, I believe keeping the lists hidden from public will work.
> 
> All, I encourage everyone to call DEC if they see anything illegal going on. 
> Long Island is DEC Region 1. The general number is 631-444-0200. They can at 
> least direct you to the enforcement number, which I seem to have misplaced 
> after calling them a previous year when we saw hunters gunning down dozens of 
> Canada Geese coming in to their decoys from their perch in a field. Turned 
> out it was legal at that time. The hunters just piled them all up and left 
> them there, not sure what happened to the carcasses later.
> 
> Patricia Lindsay
> 
>> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 10:02 AM Ronnie Almonte  
>> wrote:
>> Thank you Pat, can I post a version of this on social media, in order to 
>> spread the word?
>> 
>>> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 8:12 AM Patricia Lindsay  
>>> wrote:
>>> With the hunting season now upon us, and the Waterfowl Count starting on 
>>> Saturday, we would like to make a serious plea that birders and 
>>> photographers not post reports of rare geese from Riverhead and the East 
>>> End of Long Island on eBird, Facebook, this listserv, or any other social 
>>> media platform until the end of the season.
>>> 
>>> It has become very clear here on LI that hunters have caught on to eBird, 
>>> the listservs, and social media, and are targeting the rare geese (and 
>>> ducks also) using information obtained from birders. One of the only 
>>> Pink-footed Geese in the Riverhead area last winter was shot this way, and 
>>> we personally know of other cases involving Ross's and Barnacle Geese (and 
>>> King Eiders, etc.). A Greylag Goose, very likely of wild origins and if so, 
>>> extremely rare, was also shot in this area a few years ago. 
>>> 
>>> The problem is most acute in the Riverhead area and on the South Fork, from 
>>> November to the end of hunting season (9 Feb for Canada Goose, 6 Mar for 
>>> Snow Goose). We understand that the birding community does not want war 
>>> with the hunters, but the situation here is very sensitive--everybody knows 
>>> the very limited number of specific fields used by the geese, and it seems 
>>> a shame that the rarer species are being exposed to this level of danger. 
>>> 
>>> We would suggest Cackling, Ross's, Barnacle, Pink-footed, and Greater 
>>> White-fronted Geese, and of course any mega rare species, seen in these 
>>> areas not be reported until hunting season ends or at least until the geese 
>>> seem to have moved on. 
>>> 
>>> Cackling and Greater White-fronted Goose may be taken legally as part of 
>>> the Canada Goose bag limits. Snow and Ross's Geese may be taken as part of 
>>> the Snow Goose bag limits. The others are not listed as game species on the 
>>> DEC website so apparently were taken illegally. 
>>> 
>>> By making this one small sacrifice, we might just be able to save a few 
>>> birds and get to enjoy them longer.
>>> 
>>> Thanks for your consideration.
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> 
>>> Shai Mitra and Pat Lindsay
>>> Bay Shore
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> NYSbirds-L List Info:
>>> Welcome and Basics
>>> Rules and Information
>>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>>> Archives:
>>> The Mail Archive
>>> Surfbirds
>>> ABA
>>> Please submit your observations to eBird!
>>> --
> 
> --
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> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
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> The Mail Archive
> Surfbirds
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Long Island's rare geese

[John Kent]

DEC police dispatch is 844.332.3267, or 844-DEC-ECOS.

John Kent
Selkirk

> On Jan 14, 2022, at 6:04 PM, Patricia Lindsay  wrote:
> 
> 
> Thanks to everyone for your support and understanding of this sensitive issue.
> 
> Ronnie, Thank you for pointing this out, absolutely, in fact I neglected to 
> mention this in my original email and was intending to send a second email 
> asking anyone who agrees and is willing, to cross-post to the various other 
> social media outlets (none of which I belong to).
> 
> Elliot, As far as the eBird control is concerned, this is out of my purview, 
> but I would ask the eBird folks reading this whether this is something they 
> consider important enough to consider. 
> 
> Darlene, YES, I believe keeping the lists hidden from public will work.
> 
> All, I encourage everyone to call DEC if they see anything illegal going on. 
> Long Island is DEC Region 1. The general number is 631-444-0200. They can at 
> least direct you to the enforcement number, which I seem to have misplaced 
> after calling them a previous year when we saw hunters gunning down dozens of 
> Canada Geese coming in to their decoys from their perch in a field. Turned 
> out it was legal at that time. The hunters just piled them all up and left 
> them there, not sure what happened to the carcasses later.
> 
> Patricia Lindsay
> 
>> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 10:02 AM Ronnie Almonte  
>> wrote:
>> Thank you Pat, can I post a version of this on social media, in order to 
>> spread the word?
>> 
>>> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 8:12 AM Patricia Lindsay  
>>> wrote:
>>> With the hunting season now upon us, and the Waterfowl Count starting on 
>>> Saturday, we would like to make a serious plea that birders and 
>>> photographers not post reports of rare geese from Riverhead and the East 
>>> End of Long Island on eBird, Facebook, this listserv, or any other social 
>>> media platform until the end of the season.
>>> 
>>> It has become very clear here on LI that hunters have caught on to eBird, 
>>> the listservs, and social media, and are targeting the rare geese (and 
>>> ducks also) using information obtained from birders. One of the only 
>>> Pink-footed Geese in the Riverhead area last winter was shot this way, and 
>>> we personally know of other cases involving Ross's and Barnacle Geese (and 
>>> King Eiders, etc.). A Greylag Goose, very likely of wild origins and if so, 
>>> extremely rare, was also shot in this area a few years ago. 
>>> 
>>> The problem is most acute in the Riverhead area and on the South Fork, from 
>>> November to the end of hunting season (9 Feb for Canada Goose, 6 Mar for 
>>> Snow Goose). We understand that the birding community does not want war 
>>> with the hunters, but the situation here is very sensitive--everybody knows 
>>> the very limited number of specific fields used by the geese, and it seems 
>>> a shame that the rarer species are being exposed to this level of danger. 
>>> 
>>> We would suggest Cackling, Ross's, Barnacle, Pink-footed, and Greater 
>>> White-fronted Geese, and of course any mega rare species, seen in these 
>>> areas not be reported until hunting season ends or at least until the geese 
>>> seem to have moved on. 
>>> 
>>> Cackling and Greater White-fronted Goose may be taken legally as part of 
>>> the Canada Goose bag limits. Snow and Ross's Geese may be taken as part of 
>>> the Snow Goose bag limits. The others are not listed as game species on the 
>>> DEC website so apparently were taken illegally. 
>>> 
>>> By making this one small sacrifice, we might just be able to save a few 
>>> birds and get to enjoy them longer.
>>> 
>>> Thanks for your consideration.
>>> 
>>> Best,
>>> 
>>> Shai Mitra and Pat Lindsay
>>> Bay Shore
>>> 
>>> 
>>> --
>>> NYSbirds-L List Info:
>>> Welcome and Basics
>>> Rules and Information
>>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>>> Archives:
>>> The Mail Archive
>>> Surfbirds
>>> ABA
>>> Please submit your observations to eBird!
>>> --
> 
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Welcome and Basics
> Rules and Information
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
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> Surfbirds
> ABA
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Cold Spring Harbor Spoonbill Stuff

[John Kent]

Another question that occurred to me -- what about birds that people photograph 
but don't notice until they are reviewing photos later? That's fine for eBird, 
assuming the photo is unambiguous, but for ABA listing?

John Kent

On Thu, Jul 29, 2021, at 10:40 AM, Richard Guthrie wrote:
> Remote birding
> 
> If the bird is there, there it is. No matter how it is detected. 
> 
> How that knowledge is used is a different matter.
> 
> eBird even has a category for accepting records derived from night calls 
> monitored by digital recording devices and introduced by later downloads into 
> the database. 
> 
> But a bird viewed at a feeder cam isn't acceptable.
> 
> I can understand that we don't want several hundred reports of the same 
> vagrant at a feeder entered into the data. But at least one entry ought to be 
> acceptable. All the other duplicates (except perhaps for subsequent dates ) 
> could be disregarded. But, wait. Don't we accept dozens of reports of the 
> same rarity reported by many observers at a stakeout? This is how programmers 
> earn their keep. 
> 
> Rich Guthrie
> New Baltimore,
> The Greene County,
> New York
> 
> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 11:10 PM  wrote:
>> Steve Walter’s spoonbill post got me thinking.
>> __ __
>> Occasionally, when I’m bored at work, I’ll turn on the live East Hampton 
>> Beach Cam just to see what I can see. Surf, weather, birds, etc.
>> __ __
>> I’ve been able to identify things like Barn Swallow, Sanderling, even LBB 
>> Gull. Would these count for Suffolk?
>> __ __
>> With binoculars, light is bent through the lens arrangement to focus on your 
>> retinas.
>> __ __
>> With the webcam, light is focused onto a CMOS chip, converted to zeros and 
>> ones, beamed to a satellite, beamed back to my computer, and then focused on 
>> my retinas.
>> Same thing, right? The time difference between the two is negligible.
>> __ __
>> I know, I know, it’s not the same. But it is “live” in the sense of time, 
>> and very real. (Not like that great Tom Brady video this week of him playing 
>> catch with a football passing machine).
>> __ __
>> What if I happen to see a Yellow-nosed Albatross cruise across my monitor 
>> one day? Can I count it and, better yet, should I even report it…..
>> __ __
>> The problems of the modern age.
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm>
>> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm>
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>> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
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>> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01>
>> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* 
>> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
>> --
> 
> 
> -- 
> Richard Guthrie
> 
> --
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Cold Spring Harbor Spoonbill Stuff

[John Kent]

Another question that occurred to me -- what about birds that people photograph 
but don't notice until they are reviewing photos later? That's fine for eBird, 
assuming the photo is unambiguous, but for ABA listing?

John Kent

On Thu, Jul 29, 2021, at 10:40 AM, Richard Guthrie wrote:
> Remote birding
> 
> If the bird is there, there it is. No matter how it is detected. 
> 
> How that knowledge is used is a different matter.
> 
> eBird even has a category for accepting records derived from night calls 
> monitored by digital recording devices and introduced by later downloads into 
> the database. 
> 
> But a bird viewed at a feeder cam isn't acceptable.
> 
> I can understand that we don't want several hundred reports of the same 
> vagrant at a feeder entered into the data. But at least one entry ought to be 
> acceptable. All the other duplicates (except perhaps for subsequent dates ) 
> could be disregarded. But, wait. Don't we accept dozens of reports of the 
> same rarity reported by many observers at a stakeout? This is how programmers 
> earn their keep. 
> 
> Rich Guthrie
> New Baltimore,
> The Greene County,
> New York
> 
> On Wed, Jul 28, 2021 at 11:10 PM  wrote:
>> Steve Walter’s spoonbill post got me thinking.
>> __ __
>> Occasionally, when I’m bored at work, I’ll turn on the live East Hampton 
>> Beach Cam just to see what I can see. Surf, weather, birds, etc.
>> __ __
>> I’ve been able to identify things like Barn Swallow, Sanderling, even LBB 
>> Gull. Would these count for Suffolk?
>> __ __
>> With binoculars, light is bent through the lens arrangement to focus on your 
>> retinas.
>> __ __
>> With the webcam, light is focused onto a CMOS chip, converted to zeros and 
>> ones, beamed to a satellite, beamed back to my computer, and then focused on 
>> my retinas.
>> Same thing, right? The time difference between the two is negligible.
>> __ __
>> I know, I know, it’s not the same. But it is “live” in the sense of time, 
>> and very real. (Not like that great Tom Brady video this week of him playing 
>> catch with a football passing machine).
>> __ __
>> What if I happen to see a Yellow-nosed Albatross cruise across my monitor 
>> one day? Can I count it and, better yet, should I even report it…..
>> __ __
>> The problems of the modern age.
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> __ __
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm>
>> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm>
>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave 
>> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
>> *Archives:*
>> The Mail Archive 
>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>
>> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L>
>> ABA <http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01>
>> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* 
>> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
>> --
> 
> 
> -- 
> Richard Guthrie
> 
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
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> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* 
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!*
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Apparent GPS lag on eBird app on smartphone and checklist in wrong block

[John Kent]

On a related note, I found that if I set my phone to only allow the 
eBird app to access location data while the app is in use, it didn't 
behave as expected. I thought that if I had it set that way, it would 
continue to access the location as long as the app was running, even if 
the phone screen was turned off. But as it turned out, it was only 
getting GPS updates when I took out the phone to record a species. If I 
walked half a mile between two sightings, it would show as a straight 
line between the two locations. Allowing the eBird app to access 
location data at all times solved the issue.


John Kent
Selkirk NY

On 8/25/2020 11:57 AM, AJIT ANTONY wrote:

GPS Lag at times can cause you to locate your checklist in the wrong breeding 
block or even the wrong state!

I have noticed that this happens in an area without good internet access.There 
is a lag between my looking at GPS location and where I really am.
Some months ago while birding at the Port Jervis Watershed Park in the 
northwest corner of Orange County New York, I noticed that when I noted where a 
block border was, and ended my checklist within it using Google Earth for my 
location in relation to the block borders, when I looked at the eBird app track 
later I found that I had overshot and gone beyond the block border and I had to 
add a note stating that I had not seen any birds in the “wrong block.” (This 
was before we had block borders on the eBird app or the ability to edit the 
track on the eBird app). This happened a few times and I wondered whether the 
GPS was taking a finite amount of time to register my location, so that when I 
ended the checklist at the block border using Google Earth it was showing me my 
location sometime ago, so that my final eBird track was beyond the block when 
GPS finally caught up with my actual location.

I kept checking this on various Atlasing walks and found out that there is 
about a two minute delay on the GPS. I found this specifically when I set out 
to place ribbon markers on either side of each block crossing for myself and 
our club members at the Port Jervis Watershed Park where there are four 
different borders meeting, and where on one bird Atlasing walk I took I had to 
cross 5 block borders and use 6 checklists!

Knowing of a roughly 2 minute delay, I would initially open a new eBird mobile 
app checklist when I crossed into a different block (only to be able to find 
the precise block border) and even though I was stationary I could see my track 
moving over the two minutes. I waited till it was no further movement and that 
I wasn’t in the wrong block before putting my ribbon markers on trees. I would 
then delete that checklist. This was very tedious doing this for the 5 block 
borders I crossed over a distance of 7.5 miles.

The practical importance of this is that when I begin a eBird app checklist 
where I think the block border is, that I have mapped out earlier using Google 
Earth, I am actually two minutes behind and can be in the wrong block, call it 
block A. If I then choose the location of the beginning of my track as the 
Location, and my observations are all in block B, the final checklist will be 
for block A if I use the recommended eBird location closest. I have seen that 
happening to myself and had to correct/change my location.
If one doesn’t know this is possible, the checklist would be shown for the 
wrong BBA block.

Knowing what I know now, when I start a checklist I wait at least 2 minutes on 
the other side of a block border. As soon as I start the checklist I look at 
the distance icon which brings up my location on relation to the nearest block 
border. If it still shows me in the wrong block, I delete that checklist. I 
haven't had to do that at all since I had the epiphany.

I described all this to eBird more than a month ago, without any response.

To maybe mitigate the problem, try Solution 6.
https://www.technobezz.com/fix-android-gps-issues/

Ajit I Antony MD
Cornwall on Hudson, NY
E A Mearns Bird Club

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Apparent GPS lag on eBird app on smartphone and checklist in wrong block

[John Kent]

On a related note, I found that if I set my phone to only allow the 
eBird app to access location data while the app is in use, it didn't 
behave as expected. I thought that if I had it set that way, it would 
continue to access the location as long as the app was running, even if 
the phone screen was turned off. But as it turned out, it was only 
getting GPS updates when I took out the phone to record a species. If I 
walked half a mile between two sightings, it would show as a straight 
line between the two locations. Allowing the eBird app to access 
location data at all times solved the issue.


John Kent
Selkirk NY

On 8/25/2020 11:57 AM, AJIT ANTONY wrote:

GPS Lag at times can cause you to locate your checklist in the wrong breeding 
block or even the wrong state!

I have noticed that this happens in an area without good internet access.There 
is a lag between my looking at GPS location and where I really am.
Some months ago while birding at the Port Jervis Watershed Park in the 
northwest corner of Orange County New York, I noticed that when I noted where a 
block border was, and ended my checklist within it using Google Earth for my 
location in relation to the block borders, when I looked at the eBird app track 
later I found that I had overshot and gone beyond the block border and I had to 
add a note stating that I had not seen any birds in the “wrong block.” (This 
was before we had block borders on the eBird app or the ability to edit the 
track on the eBird app). This happened a few times and I wondered whether the 
GPS was taking a finite amount of time to register my location, so that when I 
ended the checklist at the block border using Google Earth it was showing me my 
location sometime ago, so that my final eBird track was beyond the block when 
GPS finally caught up with my actual location.

I kept checking this on various Atlasing walks and found out that there is 
about a two minute delay on the GPS. I found this specifically when I set out 
to place ribbon markers on either side of each block crossing for myself and 
our club members at the Port Jervis Watershed Park where there are four 
different borders meeting, and where on one bird Atlasing walk I took I had to 
cross 5 block borders and use 6 checklists!

Knowing of a roughly 2 minute delay, I would initially open a new eBird mobile 
app checklist when I crossed into a different block (only to be able to find 
the precise block border) and even though I was stationary I could see my track 
moving over the two minutes. I waited till it was no further movement and that 
I wasn’t in the wrong block before putting my ribbon markers on trees. I would 
then delete that checklist. This was very tedious doing this for the 5 block 
borders I crossed over a distance of 7.5 miles.

The practical importance of this is that when I begin a eBird app checklist 
where I think the block border is, that I have mapped out earlier using Google 
Earth, I am actually two minutes behind and can be in the wrong block, call it 
block A. If I then choose the location of the beginning of my track as the 
Location, and my observations are all in block B, the final checklist will be 
for block A if I use the recommended eBird location closest. I have seen that 
happening to myself and had to correct/change my location.
If one doesn’t know this is possible, the checklist would be shown for the 
wrong BBA block.

Knowing what I know now, when I start a checklist I wait at least 2 minutes on 
the other side of a block border. As soon as I start the checklist I look at 
the distance icon which brings up my location on relation to the nearest block 
border. If it still shows me in the wrong block, I delete that checklist. I 
haven't had to do that at all since I had the epiphany.

I described all this to eBird more than a month ago, without any response.

To maybe mitigate the problem, try Solution 6.
https://www.technobezz.com/fix-android-gps-issues/

Ajit I Antony MD
Cornwall on Hudson, NY
E A Mearns Bird Club

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Probable Trumpeter Swan at Partridge Run WMA

[John Kent]

Partridge Run WMA is in Rensselaerville, Albany County. The swan has been seen 
on two different ponds there, and the original finder reported two.

John Kent
Selkirk NY

On Sat, May 16, 2020, at 7:25 PM, Andrew Block wrote:
> Just saw a post on Facebook with a ok photo of what looked like an adult 
> Trumpeter Swan at Partridge Run WMA in Middleburgh in Schoharie Co. A very 
> nice bird for that area. My old stomping grounds.
> 
> Andrew
> 
> *Andrew v. F. Block*
> *Consulting Naturalist*
> 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
> Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
> **www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums**
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Probable Trumpeter Swan at Partridge Run WMA

[John Kent]

Partridge Run WMA is in Rensselaerville, Albany County. The swan has been seen 
on two different ponds there, and the original finder reported two.

John Kent
Selkirk NY

On Sat, May 16, 2020, at 7:25 PM, Andrew Block wrote:
> Just saw a post on Facebook with a ok photo of what looked like an adult 
> Trumpeter Swan at Partridge Run WMA in Middleburgh in Schoharie Co. A very 
> nice bird for that area. My old stomping grounds.
> 
> Andrew
> 
> *Andrew v. F. Block*
> *Consulting Naturalist*
> 20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
> Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
> **www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums**
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Re: [nysbirds-l] RBA's

[John Kent]

I don't know, but there's another one at http://digest.sialia.comJohn KentSelkirkOn Jan 19, 2019 9:08 AM, Andrew Block  wrote:Hi all,Does anyone know what happened to the ABA page on their site that had all the RBAs?  I've been using that for years and now all of a sudden the page isn't there.  I tried contacting therm but of course haven't heard anything.  Thanks,Andrew Andrew v. F. BlockConsulting Naturalist20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629 www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums

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Re: [nysbirds-l] RBA's

[John Kent]

I don't know, but there's another one at http://digest.sialia.comJohn KentSelkirkOn Jan 19, 2019 9:08 AM, Andrew Block  wrote:Hi all,Does anyone know what happened to the ABA page on their site that had all the RBAs?  I've been using that for years and now all of a sudden the page isn't there.  I tried contacting therm but of course haven't heard anything.  Thanks,Andrew Andrew v. F. BlockConsulting Naturalist20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4629 www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums

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[nysbirds-l] Short-eared Owls, Albany County

[John Kent]

At least five Short-eared Owls were present all day yesterday in large 
agricultural fields along the Hudson River in Albany County, one to two 
miles north of the bridge that carries the NY Thruway Berkshire Spur 
over the Hudson. It's an area that looks like suitable habitat, but it's 
very close to my home and I have never seen them there before. I first 
saw them at sunrise yesterday while looking south from Henry Hudson Park 
in Selkirk. They were circling over the Hudson after being flushed from 
a tree by a Bald Eagle. They were seen again at dusk yesterday. Also 
present in the area yesterday were Snow Buntings, Rough-legged Hawk, and 
three Northern Harriers. The fields are private property, and the area 
where the owls apparently roosted is not accessible. It seems that the 
best view of the fields (with a scope) is from the waterfront of 
Castleton, on the other side of the Hudson (and almost a 30 minute drive 
away).

John Kent
Selkirk




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[nysbirds-l] Short-eared Owls, Albany County

[John Kent]

At least five Short-eared Owls were present all day yesterday in large 
agricultural fields along the Hudson River in Albany County, one to two 
miles north of the bridge that carries the NY Thruway Berkshire Spur 
over the Hudson. It's an area that looks like suitable habitat, but it's 
very close to my home and I have never seen them there before. I first 
saw them at sunrise yesterday while looking south from Henry Hudson Park 
in Selkirk. They were circling over the Hudson after being flushed from 
a tree by a Bald Eagle. They were seen again at dusk yesterday. Also 
present in the area yesterday were Snow Buntings, Rough-legged Hawk, and 
three Northern Harriers. The fields are private property, and the area 
where the owls apparently roosted is not accessible. It seems that the 
best view of the fields (with a scope) is from the waterfront of 
Castleton, on the other side of the Hudson (and almost a 30 minute drive 
away).

John Kent
Selkirk




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[nysbirds-l] Clark's Grebe - yes

[John Kent]

The Clark's Grebe in Oswego is present as of 9:35 AM, about halfway between the 
museum and the lighthouse.

John Kent
Selkirk, NY
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[nysbirds-l] Clark's Grebe - yes

[John Kent]

The Clark's Grebe in Oswego is present as of 9:35 AM, about halfway between the 
museum and the lighthouse.

John Kent
Selkirk, NY
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[nysbirds-l] Lido Ash-throated Flycatcher

[John Kent]

The Ash-throated Flycatcher at Lido West Town Park in Nassau County is 
currently being viewed near the west end of the park, near the pink condo 
building. It is on the north side of the gravel turnaround.

John Kent
Selkirk NY
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[nysbirds-l] Lido Ash-throated Flycatcher

[John Kent]

The Ash-throated Flycatcher at Lido West Town Park in Nassau County is 
currently being viewed near the west end of the park, near the pink condo 
building. It is on the north side of the gravel turnaround.

John Kent
Selkirk NY
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[nysbirds-l] Barnacle Geese - Yes

[John Kent]

Two Barnacle Geese are present at the pond on Cedarville Road in Herkimer 
County, between Litchfield and Cedarville. So far no Greater White-fronted or 
Cackling seen.

John Kent
Selkirk NY
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[nysbirds-l] Barnacle Geese - Yes

[John Kent]

Two Barnacle Geese are present at the pond on Cedarville Road in Herkimer 
County, between Litchfield and Cedarville. So far no Greater White-fronted or 
Cackling seen.

John Kent
Selkirk NY
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[nysbirds-l] Garganey - Yes

[John Kent]

In southwest corner of Knox-Marsellus, from East Road now.

John Kent
Selkirk
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[nysbirds-l] Garganey - Yes

[John Kent]

In southwest corner of Knox-Marsellus, from East Road now.

John Kent
Selkirk
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[nysbirds-l] Golden Eagles, Dutchess County

[John Kent]

Tristan Lowery and I visited Dover Plains this morning to look for the two 
Golden Eagles that have been reported there. We found them right away, at the 
entrance to the Ten Mile River Preserve, off Limekiln Road. They were perched 
in a tree where the road comes to a T. One flew off and gave good flight views. 
There was also a melanistic Ring-necked Pheasant, with iridescent purple 
plumage.

John Kent
Selkirk, NY
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[nysbirds-l] Golden Eagles, Dutchess County

[John Kent]

Tristan Lowery and I visited Dover Plains this morning to look for the two 
Golden Eagles that have been reported there. We found them right away, at the 
entrance to the Ten Mile River Preserve, off Limekiln Road. They were perched 
in a tree where the road comes to a T. One flew off and gave good flight views. 
There was also a melanistic Ring-necked Pheasant, with iridescent purple 
plumage.

John Kent
Selkirk, NY
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Interesting Bird?? Take Off on Radar this morning

[John Kent]

That is geese you're seeing. Large numbers of them roost in farm fields there 
at this time of year, and I have seen the same thing on radar in December 
before. It's probably mostly Canadas, but sometimes there are also lots of Snow 
Geese there.

John Kent
Selkirk, NY

> On Dec 25, 2015, at 8:12 AM, David Nicosia  wrote:
> 
> All, 
> 
> I noticed on the Albany National Weather Service radar between 617 am and 654 
> am Christmas morning a circular pattern on radar like swallow morning take 
> off patterns we see in the late summer. This pattern was seen originating 
> from Valtie, NY... 42.41N and 73.68W (roughly). Below are 5 radar images that 
> I grabbed which show this. 
> 
>  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157662199366610
> 
> The question is...are these radar echoes even birds or maybe insects?? And, 
> if so, what specie of bird (if they are birds)? I would say probably 
> starlings???  They couldn't be tree swallows since they should be long gone.  
> Anyway, I have never seen this in the winter before.  Any thoughts on this 
> please share. 
> 
> Merry Christmas to all 
> 
> David Nicosia 
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Interesting Bird?? Take Off on Radar this morning

[John Kent]

That is geese you're seeing. Large numbers of them roost in farm fields there 
at this time of year, and I have seen the same thing on radar in December 
before. It's probably mostly Canadas, but sometimes there are also lots of Snow 
Geese there.

John Kent
Selkirk, NY

> On Dec 25, 2015, at 8:12 AM, David Nicosia <daven102...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> All, 
> 
> I noticed on the Albany National Weather Service radar between 617 am and 654 
> am Christmas morning a circular pattern on radar like swallow morning take 
> off patterns we see in the late summer. This pattern was seen originating 
> from Valtie, NY... 42.41N and 73.68W (roughly). Below are 5 radar images that 
> I grabbed which show this. 
> 
>  https://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/albums/72157662199366610
> 
> The question is...are these radar echoes even birds or maybe insects?? And, 
> if so, what specie of bird (if they are birds)? I would say probably 
> starlings???  They couldn't be tree swallows since they should be long gone.  
> Anyway, I have never seen this in the winter before.  Any thoughts on this 
> please share. 
> 
> Merry Christmas to all 
> 
> David Nicosia 
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[nysbirds-l] Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Dutchess County

[John Kent]

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper which was found by members of the John Burroughs 
Natural History Society this morning is still present. It is on the soccer 
fields on Rockefeller Lane in Red Hook. It is presently near the northeast 
corner of the fields. It appears to have an injured wing, but was seen flying 
earlier today.

John Kent
Selkirk NY


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[nysbirds-l] Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Dutchess County

[John Kent]

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper which was found by members of the John Burroughs 
Natural History Society this morning is still present. It is on the soccer 
fields on Rockefeller Lane in Red Hook. It is presently near the northeast 
corner of the fields. It appears to have an injured wing, but was seen flying 
earlier today.

John Kent
Selkirk NY


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[nysbirds-l] Yellow-breasted Chat, Dutchess County

[John Kent]

At least one Yellow-breasted Chat is present this morning at Hopeland Sanctuary 
in Staatsburg. At least one, and maybe two, have been reported over the past 
two days. From the parking area on Old Post Road, cross the bridge, turn right 
on the trail into the field, and look along the trail to the right. It has been 
near bluebird boxes #50 & 53.

John Kent
Selkirk, NY

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[nysbirds-l] Wallkill Gyrfalcon - NO

[John Kent]

In case people are wondering whether anyone has been looking for the 
Wallkill (Ulster County) Gyrfalcon, I thought I would post. Four birders 
from the Albany area spent a few hours looking this morning, and we saw 
several other groups of birders. Everyone we spoke with said there have 
been no sightings of the Gyrfalcon since March 1.


We first checked in on the Weston Road Swamp in New Paltz and quickly 
found a couple of Red-headed Woodpeckers. Over downtown New Paltz, we 
saw a Northern Harrier circling in a kettle of 6 Black Vultures and 2 
Turkey Vultures. There was some open water on the Wallkill River along 
Farmer's Turnpike, one of the sites where the Gyr was previously seen. 
There were Canada Geese, a few Common Goldeneyes, American Black Ducks, 
and a Mallard there, as well as a Red-tailed Hawk. At Shawangunk 
Grasslands NWR, we saw one Rough-legged Hawk, one adult Bald Eagle, one 
American Kestrel, and a few Cedar Waxwings. We were told that there have 
not been any Short-eared Owl sightings there for at least a few days, 
despite people looking for them at dusk. There was another kestrel at 
Blue Chip Farms. In other small areas of open water on the Wallkill 
River, we saw a few more Common Goldeneyes and a couple of Common 
Mergansers.


John Kent
Selkirk, NY

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[nysbirds-l] Wallkill Gyrfalcon - NO

[John Kent]

In case people are wondering whether anyone has been looking for the 
Wallkill (Ulster County) Gyrfalcon, I thought I would post. Four birders 
from the Albany area spent a few hours looking this morning, and we saw 
several other groups of birders. Everyone we spoke with said there have 
been no sightings of the Gyrfalcon since March 1.


We first checked in on the Weston Road Swamp in New Paltz and quickly 
found a couple of Red-headed Woodpeckers. Over downtown New Paltz, we 
saw a Northern Harrier circling in a kettle of 6 Black Vultures and 2 
Turkey Vultures. There was some open water on the Wallkill River along 
Farmer's Turnpike, one of the sites where the Gyr was previously seen. 
There were Canada Geese, a few Common Goldeneyes, American Black Ducks, 
and a Mallard there, as well as a Red-tailed Hawk. At Shawangunk 
Grasslands NWR, we saw one Rough-legged Hawk, one adult Bald Eagle, one 
American Kestrel, and a few Cedar Waxwings. We were told that there have 
not been any Short-eared Owl sightings there for at least a few days, 
despite people looking for them at dusk. There was another kestrel at 
Blue Chip Farms. In other small areas of open water on the Wallkill 
River, we saw a few more Common Goldeneyes and a couple of Common 
Mergansers.


John Kent
Selkirk, NY

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