[cayugabirds-l] New Osprey platform and Killdeer
I just wanted to let everyone know that a new Osprey nesting platform has gone up at Salt Point, in Lansing. This is close enough to the Portland Point platform that I'm hopeful it will attract one of the offspring from that pair's previous attempts. I also saw 5 Killdeer yesterday. A single 'deer in the parking lot of the Cayuga radio group, and 2 pairs out in the fields across from the SPCA on Hanshaw Road. There were also 4 turkeys in the same field. It may not feel like the first day of spring, but the killdeer say otherwise. Robyn Bailey Lansing -- 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] woodcock encounter
I had a theory that woodcocks didn't dance when it was too cold or snowy, so last evening when I took the dog out around 7:40 I was surprised to hear them as we stepped from the lawn to the edge of a brushy field. There was one woodcock just landing (and warbling) to my right, and one peenting very nearby on my left, so close that I was frustrated not to see it against the snow. Suddenly the one to my right made a sound I'd never heard, a gruff alarm like hehehehehehehehehe and with that it flew right past me towards the other bird. Then they both rose together in a twittering flight, silhouetted against the sky. The dog began to bark, and the birds vanished. But it seemed that they were competing over the territory? And maybe in fact the moonlit snow gives them a good dancefloor, as long as it isn't too deep. Nancy Dickinson Mecklenburg Make a little birdhouse in your soul. -- 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] Fwd: Twin Sheds Draft Plan: Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn Forests.
FYI. The Canaan Institute, which Mike Ludgate runs, is on Canaan Road, the south entrance to Hammond Hill SF.--Dave NutterBegin forwarded message:From: Michael Ludgate michael.ludg...@gmail.comDate: March 20, 2013 10:32:05 AMTo: Natural History Network natural-histor...@list.cornell.eduSubject: Twin Sheds Draft Plan: Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn Forests.Is the natural history community talking about this? See my blog and comments from me and also my neighbor Ann Leonard. DEC needs to hear from other user groups. Right now it seems to be anti-frackers and mt bikers who are sending in comments. The mountain biking issue is only one minor point of course. But it would be great for them to hear from folks who like to hike and bird-watch and so forth. Thanks -Mike PROTECT OUR FOREST - Twin Sheds Draft Plan: Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn Forests. Written comments are accepted until Apr 7th. Public comments needed. NYS DEC has done a nice job pulling this all together. They need your support and constructive critical suggestions. There is some language in this draft plan for Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn Forests that is upsetting some of the mountain bikers. I am a cyclist, but I am in favor of this language limiting cycling to the multi-use trails. It is really important that DEC hear written support from the other hundreds or perhaps thousands of responsible forest users. Right now I am guessing they are getting form letter responses only from a very select group. Please protect our public forest and show your support to DEC. Please send written comments to DEC now, supporting their protection of the forest with a "yes" on Action 2.2.12. by mail to: NYSDEC, Division of Lands and Forests, Attn: John Clancy, 1285 Fisher Avenue, Cortland, New York, 13045- 1090, or by email to: jmcla...@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Written or emailed comments will be accepted until April 7, 2013 FULL STORY HERE along with some of my COMMENTS and THOUGHTS http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/?p=1190 NEW this morning: ADDITIONAL COMMENTS from my neighbor Ann Leonard about the illicit trails also on the blog http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/?p=1190cpage=1#comment-10631 What is probably not known to the general (non-mountain biking) public is that mountain bikes are currently permitted anywhere in this type of forest. This is where the problem arises: There are a number of people building unauthorized new trails at Hammond Hill (this is illegal) and then mountain bikers are riding on them (bicycles are currently permitted anywhere). This is not exclusive to mountain bikes of course; some of this trail building activity is potentially from hikers and xc-skiers. But it appears to be mostly bicyclists using the unauthorized trails and some of the traffic is quite heavy. Parts of the new trails even cross onto private lands. This language below (Action 2.2.12) is intended to help curb that problem: It is nearly impossible for law enforcement to catch the trail builders (and probably always will be). Currently, once the new unauthorized trails are in place, it is perfectly legal to use the trails over and over and over again. That is happening now.Cheers,-Mike :-)Michael Ludgate www.canaaninstitute.org 607.227.0090 (c) 607.539.6153 (h) -- 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] A long comment on Draft Plan for Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn State Forests
The Unit Management Plan (UMP) proposes forest regeneration cuts in areas with moderate density of aspens to create habitat for shrubland species such as field sparrows, chestnut-sided warblers, blue-winged and golden-winged warblers, yellow warblers, etc. I have seen dozens of other locations where the propose forest regeneration cuts do not produce shrubland habitat. They actually produce dense thickets of saplings, particularly because of the growth of aspens from root stalks. If you want shrublands with herbs and shrub patches that are used by a variety of shrubland birds, then you need some other kind of management. I have urged the DEC to implement brush-hogging and herbicide spraying after the clear cuts. If anyone is interested in my 4 pages of text (already submitted) that critiques the details of the management that is presented as if it would enhance shrublands and shrubland birds in the two state forests, please email me directly, and I'll be glad to forward a copy. Cheers,John -- 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/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] New Osprey platform and Killdeer
Thank you to the people responsible for the Osprey platform.Robyn, was your husband involved along with NYSEG as at Portland Point?To add to the Killdeer reports yesterday, in the late afternoon I saw a pair along Snyder Road north of the airport, sometimes on the gravel shoulder, sometimes in the field just inside the fence. There was also a light Rough-legged Hawk on a post in the middle of the airport grounds, so the bird signs are ambiguous as to the season.--Dave NutterOn Mar 20, 2013, at 09:08 AM, Robyn Bailey rb...@cornell.edu wrote:I just wanted to let everyone know that a new Osprey nesting platform has gone up at Salt Point, in Lansing. This is close enough to the Portland Point platform that I’m hopeful it will attract one of the offspring from that pair’s previous attempts.I also saw 5 Killdeer yesterday. A single ‘deer in the parking lot of the Cayuga radio group, and 2 pairs out in the fields across from the SPCA on Hanshaw Road. There were also 4 turkeys in the same field. It may not feel like the first day of spring, but the killdeer say otherwise.Robyn BaileyLansing--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and BasicsRules and InformationSubscribe, Configuration and LeaveArchives:The Mail ArchiveSurfbirdsBirdingOnThe.NetPlease submit your observations to 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] Fox Sparrow
Snow all over everything again, but a Fox Sparrow was singing under the bushes here this morning Geo Kloppel West Danby -- 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] Woodcock arrival
At dusk this evening I happened to glance out a window just in time to see a Woodcock descending for a landing in our front field. It hasn't been above freezing for ages, we still have a snow cover and ponds and puddles are still iced in. As far as average arrival date goes, it's two days late, but I was very surprised to see it. Went out to listen, but nothing heard. Probably not a very happy bird right now. Sue -- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Road Burdett,NY 14818-9626 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ Conserve and Create Habitat -- 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] OT: Comet visible in western sky now
Hi, In case I'm not the only one who has searched fruitlessly for Comet PanSTARRS, it is visible right now, significantly north of west, and higher in the sky than I expected - maybe ~6 full moon diameters (?) above the horizon - I'm even worse at astronomical descriptions than bird descriptions! But it is the lowest object I can see in the western sky with the naked eye: a very faint dot from my backyard, but thru 10 power binoculars, it is far more impressive with a fairly wide filmy tail pointing straight up. And to make this marginally bird relevant, for the first time in several nights there is not a mass of snow geese barking in the middle of Seneca Lake tonight. They don't make as much noise as when they fly, but there is a constant murmuring all night long many nights this time of year. Alicia in Ovid -- 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] OT: Comet visible in western sky now
On the evening of 17 March I was birding in the Montezuma area. The clearing sky inspired me to stay and look for the comet. I chose Olmstead Road, which is the first right turn off Armitage Road when you go west from where NYS-89 turns. Olmstead is on the crest of a drumlin with no trees, so there's an unobstructed view over thinly populated lands to a distant western horizon. plus there's a good distance before the first house on the road. I never saw the comet naked-eye, but did find it in binoculars slightly north of west at 8:17pm and watched it until 8:46 when it became too dim in the low sky. It was a fuzzy dot with a triangle of tail projecting vertically, which made it pretty satisfying compared to Halley, which, 'though visible naked-eye, was only a fuzzy dot.While awaiting the comet to appear I saw many silhouetted flocks of geese commuting south toward the lakes.--Dave NutterOn Mar 20, 2013, at 08:56 PM, Alicia Plotkin t...@zoom-dsl.com wrote:Hi, In case I'm not the only one who has searched fruitlessly for Comet PanSTARRS, it is visible right now, significantly north of west, and higher in the sky than I expected - maybe ~6 full moon diameters (?) above the horizon - I'm even worse at astronomical descriptions than bird descriptions! But it is the lowest object I can see in the western sky with the naked eye: a very faint dot from my backyard, but thru 10 power binoculars, it is far more impressive with a fairly wide filmy tail pointing straight up. And to make this marginally bird relevant, for the first time in several nights there is not a mass of snow geese barking in the middle of Seneca Lake tonight. They don't make as much noise as when they fly, but there is a constant murmuring all night long many nights this time of year. Alicia in Ovid -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html'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! --
