Yesterday from 7-9pm, I saw two or possibly more INDIGO BUNTINGS (immature? moulting?) in the cypress trees and cottonwoods along the main road going left and right as you hit the T-of that road. COMMON YELLOW THROATS at Jetty Woods, tons of vicious mosquitoes. CHIPPING SPARROWS hopping around the grass and cypress tree trunks and EASTERN KINGBIRDS perching on tree tops making sudden dashes for an insect. They seemed to be everywhere calling on the Newman Golf Course (heard and seen) all the way to the Swan Pond. I did not see or hear the Green Herons this time. The pond had become pea soup since a few days ago; perhaps that affected their hunting? Also did not see or hear or the Cedar Waxwings this time. I saw a Great Blue Heron doing what appeared to be trick maneuvers in the air over the Fall Creek inlet. It was flying horizontally toward me, then suddenly turn 90 degrees perpendicular, returned to level, then 90 the other way, then made a quick U-turn and flew upstream up the creek, all of this under 15 seconds and looking like it knew what it was doing (little or no wobble coming out of the turns). WOOD THRUSH heard for the first time ever (by me) coming from Fuertes Bird Sanctuary, nearer to Route 13 and the creek shore side.
I bumped into a birder who told me he had seen in past winters: Peregrine Falcons hunting over the inlet, a coyote out on the lighthouse strip eyeing the waterfowl, and an osprey diving at a GBH multiple times...I am going to start mapping the inlet area and welcome input or unique stories or patterns birders have noticed in this area over time. I love this area of the lake so much, and would love to see the Cascadilla Boat House restored and used for educational purposes to further the mission of local education institutions. Perhaps having a detailed map of the area might illuminate its (obvious) unique properties but maybe it might show something unseen yet valuable for educational purposes. Perhaps people who don't make it up to the Laboratory of Ornithology or the Cayuga Nature Center might be reached by having a lake habitat location? I'd love to see that building completely restored with original wrap-around porch and scopes on all four sides with "sit spots" for people to sit and watch for hours!!! I'd love for there to be an emphasis on art as tool for educating/learning about natural history and seasonal cycles...offering sustainability workshops/events... Anyone else agree? Other ideas for use for the upstairs part of the building (assuming the rowing group is staying)? Does this project appeal to anyone? Does anyone know how to find out the current status of the boat house? I actually looked into a similar idea back in 1996, but the idea was not well received. Now that the rent has been raised, maybe sharing the space is a more viable idea. (I plan to call the City and find out more.) Any thoughts about whether the Lab of O or other organizations (e.g. Cayuga Nature Center, New Roots, Sustainable Tompkins, Cayuga Watershed Network, senior citizens,...) might be interested in exploring how this building could serve the greatest number of people and give them access to all the lake has to offer, which is so much!!! We have a great quality of life here in Ithaca, and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail is such a great gift. Wouldn't having the boat house restored be icing on the cake! Sandy * * * * * * * * * *"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come ALIVE, for what the world needs is people who have come ALIVE." - Dr. Howard Thurman, American Theologian, Clergyman and Activist (1900-1981) * Sandra (Sandy) Wold Cayuga Basin Bioregion Map, Author/Originator/Designer/Publisher, www.sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/ <https://sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/> Sustainability Educator/Artist, www.linkedin.com/pub/sandra-sandy-wold/a7/114/877 Math/Science Tutor, www.sites.google.com/site/fallcreektutoringservices/home -- 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/ --
