[cayugabirds-l] Feeding time

Late this afternoon I watched the Taughannock Peregrine female take delivery of an unrecognizable catch from the male, fly to the nest with it, then tear it up to carefully and patiently feed her four little eyases (nestlings). The Raven female above the great falls was also feeding her three

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Blue Jay migration

Yesterday noon my feeders were briefly mobbed by about 15 Blue Jays, which I took to be migrants, as the local Jays are already carrying nest material. -Geo > On Apr 28, 2023, at 2:38 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Yesterday in the late afternoon I saw a small quiet flock of 8 Blue Jays >

[cayugabirds-l] Bernie’s Bridge, etc

For a third time this month I really enjoyed the new deck on Bernie’s Bridge, which no longer threatens to tilt users into the creek at the north end of the Montour Falls Marina. (Last week I sent a note of thanks to the mayor for his part in the repairs.) Later this afternoon, and a bit

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Nyger seed

Make sure to keep it cool and dry after you buy it too, so it doesn’t get “old” prematurely in your own cupboard. I like to transfer the contents of a newly-opened bag into a jug with an air-tight screw cap. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME

[cayugabirds-l] Broad-winged Hawks

Two Broad-winged Hawks are soaring low over my West Danby hillside in the mid-day sunshine. The Ravens, who have gone quiet and seem to have nestlings now, are not pleased with these new arrivals, and one of them is attempting to drive the hawks away. He has the size advantage, and he’s very

[cayugabirds-l] Vocal Cooper’s Hawk

A bit chilly above West Danby this morning (34° F), but when the sun rose over the distant pinnacles and lit our spruce plantation, the female Cooper’s Hawk began calling from within: “whaaa… whaaa…. whaaa”. The Crows must have been aware, but they ignored it. She went on giving these tripled

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Goose

My guess (nothing more) is that this may be the same Snow Goose that was walking about on the grass at Taughannock Point on the afternoon of March 16th. That goose was pretty clearly unwilling to fly - it held one wing slightly raised as if injured, and when it became wary of the attention it

[cayugabirds-l] Early migrants

A small flock of 10-12 Grackles went over my house at dawn, headed north. Yesterday I had an Eastern Bluebird feeding on the grassy bank below my house. This morning I‘m hearing their “turalee” calls as they pass overhead, and even full songs from several scouts checking out the nest boxes.

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Any sites of large snow geese numbers?

>From Long Point State Park last Thursday afternoon I saw a distant raft of >Snow Geese near Dean’s Cove on the west shore. The distance and low viewing >angle made it look like just a line, but when all the geese re-shuffled in >their typical rolling-snowsquall manner it was clear that there

[cayugabirds-l] Not a bird, but traveling in the sky

Last night I went to bed with a sore throat. It woke me up at 3:00, so I got up to make a soothing hot drink. That was lucky, as it turned out. A little later, and a little colder, I was writing this: 3:45 AM 13°F The moon has gone behind the hill. There are some light clouds, but the region

[cayugabirds-l] Turkey Vulture egg(s)

In late April I found a Turkey Vulture scraping around in the domestic debris on the floor of one of our abandoned shacks deep in the woods. I coded it as NB (nest building). Over the next few weeks I observed several comings and goings that I interpreted hopefully as shift-changes. She’s

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Turkey Vulture egg(s)

Thanks Donna, that gives me a lot to look forward to! I had undertaken a bit of slow, desultory salvage work at the abandoned shack in the woods, but after discovering the Turkey Vulture scraping in the debris on the floor there on April 29-30, I avoided the place for weeks. It does seem like a

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Turkey Vulture egg(s)

The nest site is not giving off any noticeable odor now. Hal Harrison wrote that careful concealment of the nest from predators was imperative, because of the strong odor that results from feeding carrion to the young. Perhaps “careful concealment” includes eating and defecating off-site

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Peregrines?

The little Peregrine chicks are fine - their dense down is just the same color as the splattered ledge, so if they’re sleeping in a pile you might miss them. The adults are around too. -Geo > On May 4, 2023, at 5:41 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Yesterday afternoon (3 May) about 5:15pm, Ann

[cayugabirds-l] Hummingbird, bats

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird visited my feeder earlier this evening, and just now the big brown bats have emerged from my roof. -Geo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Lots O birds

Yup, lots around my place in West Danby too: Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Warbling Vireo, American Redstart, Gray Catbird, Wood Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ovenbird, Canada Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-headed Vireo… -Geo > On May 7, 2023, at 7:15 AM, Laura Stenzler wrote: >

Re: [cayugabirds-l] More birds

…Baltimore Oriole, Black-throated Green Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Chestnut sided Warbler -Geo > On May 7, 2023, at 8:15 AM, Laura Stenzler wrote: > > FOY Red-eyed vireo and scarlet tanager added to yard list! > > Laura > > Laura Stenzler >

Re: [cayugabirds-l] More birds

… also Veery, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler -Geo > On May 7, 2023, at 8:40 AM, Geo Kloppel wrote: > > …Baltimore Oriole, Black-throated Green Warbler, Nashville Warbler, > Black-and-white Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Chestnut sided Warbler > > -Geo >

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Peregrines?

I’d guess the chicks are going on two weeks old, so four more weeks to go on the ledge…? Mom is on her favorite perch about twenty feet away, waiting for a food delivery. Oh, here comes dad… -Geo > On May 4, 2023, at 5:41 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > Yesterday afternoon (3 May) about 5:15pm,

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Count Week!!!

Given the open streams and the forecast, the Great Blue Heron I‘m looking at just now is not going to be needed as a “count week” addition. Confluence of Buttermilk Creek and Cayuga Inlet. -Geo > On Dec 29, 2023, at 6:12 PM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote: > > It’s actually frustrating to see

Re: [cayugabirds-l] River otters at Jennings Pond, Danby

Their home range must be at least a few square miles, so the otters at Jennings Pond may be the same ones that hang out in the big Michigan Hollow sedge marsh, about a mile south of the pond. Incidentally, beaver have recently repaired the old dam that controls the mile-long marsh, and the

Re: [cayugabirds-l] our birds are picky, only Sunflower seeds for them

Black oil sunflower seed in the big hopper, sure, but I offer Nyjer all by itself in a dedicated finch feeder, and the Goldfinches are very happy with that. I buy 5# bags at Agway; Lizzie Mae’s Birdseed and Dry Goods Company. The bags are zip-lock, but I transfer the Nyjer to 1-qt plastic jugs

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Blue jay question

I know quite a few humans who do what strikes me as much the same kind of thing: their dining tables and kitchen windowsills are decorated with trinkets and natural objects like polished stones, pine cones, crystals, snake skins, and dried flowers. On mine there are currently several bits of

[cayugabirds-l] Peregrine hatch begins

When I arrived after 11 this morning the incubating Peregrine was casting her eyes down upon her own breast, with her head cocked to one side as if listening. Sure enough, when she stood up her first hatchling was revealed. -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Falls light show?

Below is the press release for the evening light shows at the great falls in Taughannock Falls State Park later this week, which have potential to disturb the Peregrine Falcons and Ravens that are currently on nests there).Note that the event is jointly hosted by NYS Parks, Visit Ithaca, and also

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Falls light show?

 Being listed as endangered or threatened isn’t really the criterion for legal protection. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) already protects these birds and their nests, eggs, and nestlings. -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Falls light show?

the reaction of  the incubating females.-GeoOn Apr 14, 2024, at 1:16 PM, Deb Grantham wrote: So what do we do?   Deb     From: bounce-128145578-83565...@list.cornell.edu On Behalf Of Geo Kloppel Sent: Sunday, April 14, 2024 12:07 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Falls

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Falls light show?

The Peregrines’ nest is just below the Visitor’s Center building at the falls overlook, so not likely to be lighted directly, unless the technicians are planning something really extravagant! The Ravens' nest is above and  slightly north of the lip of the falls itself. It's well within the reach

[cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Peregrines

The Taughannock gorge Peregrines should see their eggs hatching soon. She has been lying on her nest ledge since March 14th. She has four brown eggs beneath her. He has been making food deliveries… twice while I watched today. Those are very excited, talkative events, though I guess all the

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Peregrines

Yes, a few reports of LA Waterthrush around Ithaca and elsewhere in the FingerlakesOn Apr 12, 2024, at 7:13 PM, Peter Saracino wrote:Thanks Geo.Are any Louisiana waterthrush back?SarOn Fri, Apr 12, 2024, 5:35 PM Geo Kloppel <geoklop...@gmail.com> wrote:The Taughannock gorge Peregrines shou

[cayugabirds-l] Siskins

Lots of welcome arrivals, including Great Crested Flycatcher today, but I’m still feeding nyjer seed to a couple of Pine Siskins. The Ravens at Taughannock Falls have four nestlings. They are quite late compared to the big and noisy youngsters in my spruce plantation, seeming to support the

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Re Grape Jelly for orioles/catbirds

For purely incidental (i.e. not experimental) reasons, one of the two identical hummingbird feeders that I’m running side-by-side is loaded with the usual colorless 1:4 solution of “pure cane sugar” (Domino), and the other is loaded with a 1:4 solution of “certified organic pure cane sugar”,

[cayugabirds-l] Ravens fledging

The remarkably noisy young Ravens in the spruces just across the road from my house have gotten out of their nest tree and are moving around quite a bit in the plantation. I’m looking forward to hearing their raucous importunations from greater and greater distances as they get their wings!

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Siskins still

West Danby - still have a few Siskins coming to my nyjer feeder -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm

[cayugabirds-l] More Ravens building

>From the sound of things, the Tupper Rd Ravens are nest-building in my spruce >plantation again. Kevin, Jay and Anne may remember this location as the first >stop in a day of Raven-banding on the 30th of April, 2003. (No, I don’t >actually have elephant memory, but I do have the photos that

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezeuma

My count was 26 Cranes at the MNWR visitors’ center yesterday about 3:00 PM. Mostly standing around, or strutting a bit, lightly tooting their horns. Made me think of a brass band just gathering in the assembly area before the start of a parade. Indeed at 3:15 they all went walking north

[cayugabirds-l] Fox Sparrows

Two Fox Sparrows are rummaging under my feeders at the moment. We’re expecting 4” of “Wintry Mix” here in West Danby. -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm

[cayugabirds-l] Taughannock Ravens

The Ravens are nesting again in the same location as last year, a ledge on the north wall close to and higher than the great falls, easily viewed from a nearby lookout on the South Rim trail. -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Varna mystery bird song

In addition to their familiar trills, delivered all at one pace and pitch, Dark-eyed Juncos do have a two part song that can suggest Song Sparrow. You can find examples in some of the field guide apps. -Geo > On Apr 1, 2024, at 5:30 PM, Laura Stenzler wrote: > >  Pretty sure it’s a junco.

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Birds/eclipse

> Ithaca, New York (where the skies are very rarely clear during celestial > events.) The evening _before_ the eclipse the skies were quite clear. I went up to the top of my hill in West Danby with a couple of my neighbors, and we enjoyed viewing Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks through binoculars and

[cayugabirds-l] Harrier courtship

A pair of Northern Harriers was keeping close company at the traditional nest site in Michigan Hollow this morning. Observing from a considerable distance, I watched the male drop into the sedges in the area of previous years’ nest(s). He immediately took flight again, and moments later the

[cayugabirds-l] Siskins

A couple of Pine Siskins have joined the Goldfinches at my feeders this morning. Encouraged, I’ve put out a second Nyjer feeder. -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm

[cayugabirds-l] Saw-whet

21 days here! -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm

[cayugabirds-l] Saw-whet Owl

5:30 AM: still tooting, 25 days now -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm

[cayugabirds-l] Influx of Purple Finches

The number of Purple Finches at my feeders has jumped quite suddenly from ten to about thirty. -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm

[cayugabirds-l] Saw-whet

Started tooting at 6:20 PM. Today I put up a nest box, and I will do another one tomorrow. -Geo -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm

Re:[cayugabirds-l] Saw-whet

…and still at it an hour later. Pretty determined! My neighbor throws two quarts of bird seed on the ground every day, which must be a real boon for voles and deer mice. Maybe that is what’s keeping the Saw-whets around… Les campagnols et les souris sylvestres S’occupent de ses affaires

Re:[cayugabirds-l] Ravens fledging

…and now the young Ravens have come out of the spruces and into the wider world, taking flights of 100 yards or more. > On May 15, 2024, at 7:41 AM, Geo Kloppel wrote: > > The remarkably noisy young Ravens in the spruces just across the road from > my house have gotten out of the

[cayugabirds-l] Hendershot Gulf Acadians

I walked down through Hendershot Gulf this morning with a microphone, encountering multiple singing Acadian Flycatchers, Canada Warblers, Winter Wrens, Louisiana Waterthrushes, etc... the same suite of birds one encounters in the Cayuta Outlet gorge. >From the DEC kiosk on Swan Hill Road

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