Lee's questions make me wonder if perhaps others have missed the wealth of information available from the recently completed second Breeding Bird Atlas. The committee is now synthesizing all this information, combined with data from the long running Breeding Bird Surveys, for publication later this year. In the meantime everyone can learn a lot from looking at some of the data presented at http://bba.iowabirds.org/. I just looked at the species account for Northern Mockingbird and was a bit surprised comparing the results from 20 years ago to now. Less scientific but also interesting is the mapping of reports to our seasonal field reports - http://iowabirds.org/Birds/SpeciesMapping.aspx.
I am also interested in the increase in reports of both southern and western birds. Neotropic Cormorant has gone from a first state record not so long ago to now breeding in the state. Reports of Lazuli and Painted Buntings have increased in recent years. My gut feeling is that after the big influx of Great-tailed Grackles they are now harder to find, at least here in south central Iowa. We are doing some mapping of vagrant birds so this is a good time to remind folks that the end of the spring season is rapidly approaching and we can only analyze what you report through seasonal field reports and the records committee documentation form for casual and accidental species. Ann Johnson Norwalk, IA -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Leland Searles Sent: Friday, May 17, 2013 10:41 PM To: IA-BIRD Subject: [ia-bird] Mockingbird, Des Moines A Northern Mockingbird came to the oriole feeder this morning. It fed on grape jelly briefly, then stayed around as Baltimores came by. Finally, after quite a few photos, it flew into the yard. I've been curious to know if there are any studies that show changes in the population centers of our breeding birds. These would parallel the analyses by National Audubon, using 40 or so years of winter bird count data. The winter data show sometimes marked shifts in winter populations, often to the north (about two thirds of the 300 plus species) or in other directions (about one third). The movements generally conform to what one would expect from climate change. The presence of the mockingbird has me wondering about this species, "specifically." As a youth, I knew it to expand its range a little north during winter, into southern Iowa. Occasional mockers would show up on winter counts, often near large red cedars with a good berry crop. Those birds returned to Missouri in the summer. Other birds with known northward expansion include Great-Tailed Grackles, and it's my impression each spring that a wider array of southern and western species get blown off course into Iowa, on the way elsewhere. Recall that a Mountain Bluebird, a Lazuli Bunting, Bewick's Wrens, and several others have been seen just this year and reported here. Anyhow, if there are studies on breeding bird populations, or if any BBS participants have stories or conclusions to share, I'm curious. Thanks, Lee Searles Des Moines --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
