Re: [cayugabirds-l] Weird birds
When I first saw one of these lists I thought someone was playing games, and I got annoyed. But after seeing several lists from different observers listing birds from various parts of the world but nominally all observed in Stewart Park, it is clear to me that all these lists are mislabeled due to the same innocent error which more likely due to some glitch in the system than to something the observer has done. Until the folks at eBird figure out why this happens and fix the problem, I see no point in getting mad. Instead, it’s fun to try to figure out where in the world the list was actually made, based on the ranges of the different species. I recognized several bird names from Costa Rica on one list, and by going back to the list after the location was corrected, I found out I was correct. We should get prizes for how close our guesses are. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 4, 2020, at 2:06 PM, Candace E. Cornell wrote: > > sBird lists the New Zealand bird reports as originating from Stewart Park! > There were also erroneous Osprey sightings a few weeks ago. > Candace > >> On Sat, Jan 4, 2020 at 1:50 PM Carol Keeler wrote: >> >> Why are we getting these weird e bird reports from Tompkins county that have >> birds that aren’t found here? It makes a mockery of e bird reports. >> Sent from my iPad >> >> -- >> >> 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 > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to 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] A Goldfinch w white patches
This afternoon on the railing of my back deck, I briefly saw and was able to photograph with iPhone thru window this American Goldfinch with a white patch on its head and a lot of white markings on its folded wings and a white line down its tail feathers. In the right-hand lousy photo (cropped to make bird larger) the little yellow thing standing out from bird's head is a leaf on the lawn down behind the bird, not a feather on the bird. The wooden railing is 1.5" high and 5.5" wide (a "2 inch x 6 inch" piece of lumber). The bird flew out to a big tree in my back yard and was not seen again during daylight. - Donna Scott, Lansing Station Rd. by Cayuga Lake [cid:image002.jpg@01D5C32E.6DD5FCB0][cid:image004.jpg@01D5C32E.6DD5FCB0] -- 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] Cayuga Bird Club January Meeting - Member Photo Night!
Just a reminder that the deadline for sending in photos is approaching. Follow the instructions below...ll Monday, January 13, 2020 Title: Share Your Photos Night! Host: Kevin McGowan, Cornell Lab of Ornithology Kevin McGowan will once again host the Cayuga Bird Club’s annual “Share Your Photos Night.” Club members can share a maximum of five photos during the 3 minutes you will have to take the stage. Send them by January 10 to Kevin at k...@cornell.edu. The Subject Line on the email MUST BE “Bird club photo submission Jan2020.” Kevin will send an acknowledgement when he receives them. IF you do not get an acknowledgement, contact Kevin again WELL before the meeting date. Remember, you must attend the meeting to show your photos. Don’t be shy! Share! Although submission is limited to club members, the meeting is open to all! NOTE: We would like your permission to use a selection of the photos in the Cayuga Bird Club newsletter (scaled down to 400px) and on our monthly rotating Facebook banner (scaled to 820px). Your permission for these purposes is entirely optional - you can share photos at the meeting without then having them appear online. PLEASE LET KEVIN KNOW with your photo submission if it is okay for your photos to appear in the club's newsletter or Facebook page. Photos would include a simple credit watermark. The meeting at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, as always, is open to the public! Photo submissions, however, are limited to members only. Doors open at 7 pm, refreshments at 7:15 and the meeting goes from 7:30 - 9 pm. Laura Stenzler l...@cornell.edu www.cayugabirdclub.org -- 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: 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] Kestrels & Merlins on the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count
On Sat, Jan 4, 2020 at 12:02 PM Dave Nutter wrote: > Hi All, > > Those of you who are Cayuga Bird Club members may have seen an article in > January’s newsletter that was based on my quick report (below) about the > Ithaca Christmas Bird Count compilation on the evening of January first. I > gave the editor permission to use my report, with which he rapidly > completed and sent out the newsletter later that same evening after a long > day of birding. My name was on the article, but I did not write the > paragraph which incorrectly stated that there were no Kestrels reported. > However, I did hear some comments from the audience about the numbers of > small falcons, as was mentioned in that paragraph. > > As with many species this year, there was a low count of 2 American > Kestrels. Then the next species on the list, the closely related Merlin, > had one of the very few record high counts, a total of 5 birds. Lab > Director John Fitzpatrick recalled when Kestrels were common and Merlins > were a rarity. > My sincerest apologies to Dave for the mistake. Even though the accompanying list clearly shows the kestrel count at 2, somehow I was under the impression that it was one of the big misses of the day, and thought it worth mentioning. Thanks for the clarification. I likely confused it with peregrines, which we missed, though that miss isn't too surprising, I think. FWIW, my personal impression is that the high merlin count is noteworthy and likely accurate, given the relative frequency of merlin reports elsewhere in the area. The single-day kestrel low count on its own is probably not enough to draw conclusions. Suan -- 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] Weird birds
sBird lists the New Zealand bird reports as originating from Stewart Park! There were also erroneous Osprey sightings a few weeks ago. Candace On Sat, Jan 4, 2020 at 1:50 PM Carol Keeler wrote: > > Why are we getting these weird e bird reports from Tompkins county that > have birds that aren’t found here? It makes a mockery of e bird reports. > Sent from my iPad > > -- > > 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: 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] Weird birds
Why are we getting these weird e bird reports from Tompkins county that have birds that aren’t found here? It makes a mockery of e bird reports. Sent from my iPad -- 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] Kestrels & Merlins on the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count
Hi All, Those of you who are Cayuga Bird Club members may have seen an article in January’s newsletter that was based on my quick report (below) about the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count compilation on the evening of January first. I gave the editor permission to use my report, with which he rapidly completed and sent out the newsletter later that same evening after a long day of birding. My name was on the article, but I did not write the paragraph which incorrectly stated that there were no Kestrels reported. However, I did hear some comments from the audience about the numbers of small falcons, as was mentioned in that paragraph. As with many species this year, there was a low count of 2 American Kestrels. Then the next species on the list, the closely related Merlin, had one of the very few record high counts, a total of 5 birds. Lab Director John Fitzpatrick recalled when Kestrels were common and Merlins were a rarity. It was at least ironic to see this contrast. Were we seeing two population trend lines crossing as Kestrels decline and Merlins increase? If so, what is the relationship? Here’s my thoughts: First, it’s hard to draw firm conclusions from such small numbers. But Ithaca’s trends may well show up on other counts. Second, perhaps even those numbers need scrutiny. There were 2 Kestrels reported, 1 from Area 4 and 1 from Area 5. I think I heard Area 5 Leader Sandy Podulka say that their Kestrel was from Boiceville. I take that to mean Boiceville Rd, which extends less than a mile south from Slaterville Rd. The border between Areas 4 & 5 is Slaterville Rd. I don’t know the location for the Kestrel from Area 4, but my guess is that a winter territory for a single Kestrel might extend from the farm fields and hedges along Boiceville Rd north into the southeast corner of Area 4 where there is similar habitat along Midline, Slaterville, and Ellis Hollow Roads, allowing a single Kestrel to get counted in Area 4 & Area 5. The Merlin reports were: 1 from Area 5, 1 from area 7, 2 from area 8, and 1 from area 9. The only Merlin sighting location I know is Allan Treman State Marine Park for Area 7, where a Merlin might easily have its next stop or previous stop be across the Inlet in Area 8 or farther north along East Shore in Area 9. I suspect that the daily movements of a Merlin might cover a larger area than those of a Kestrel. Again, I wonder if 5 Merlins is an overcount. I am curious where all the Kestrels and Merlins were reported, so I welcome that information. Even if the numbers get adjusted, I would not be surprised if the local Kestrel population is decreasing while the Merlin population is increasing, but I don’t see how they would be directly related. Kestrels are birds of open countryside. Kestrels scan fields and weedy roadsides by perching on a wire or snag or hovering against the wind, then drop to the ground upon prey such as invertebrates or small mammals. I think the trends are for farms to convert hayfields to corn, for hedgerows and snags to be torn out, and for farms to be converted to suburbs, which would all be less suitable for Kestrels. Kestrels need a tree cavity or a nest box for nesting, and suburbanites are more apt to cut down a tree with a hole in it than to erect a nest box. I have also noticed that Kestrels are quite wary of people. You can drive past one on a wire, but they will flee if you try to take a photo. So, it would not surprise me that Kestrels are getting harder to find in the Ithaca area, where residential development is booming, and I suspect this is a widespread trend. Merlins used to be only a rare migrant here. They were birds that bred across Canada and wintered along the south and east coasts of the US. We see these Merlins accompanying (and trying to eat) the southbound shorebird migration at Montezuma NWR. But a few years ago Merlins branched out into a new habitat for them across NYS: residential areas. Merlins chase small birds for a living, and House Sparrows are a good food source, although other songbirds are fine, too. Falcons don’t actually build nests, but Merlins will wait for Crows to build a nest high in a tree, then chase off the crows and use the nest to raise their own young. And in my experience these Merlins are very tolerant of people watching them. Quite a few nests have been documented in the county, so it’s not a surprise that we are regularly finding multiple Merlins on the Christmas Bird Count. Kestrels, like other grassland birds, are in decline. Merlins, adapting to human residential areas, have increased and may continue to do so. But I don’t think the Merlins are directly competing with and supplanting the Kestrels, other than taking advantage of the way people change the habitat. That’s my take. I welcome comments from others as well as news about the locations of Merlins and Kestrels found on the count. Thanks. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 1,
