Re: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin reports

[Wee Hao Ng]

Hi John,

There were a pair of Merlins along Wyckoff Avenue (near Bridges Cornell
Heights) this morning, one of whom may have returned as early as two weeks
ago since I also heard a Merlin call in the same area on the 12th, and
again on the 20th. Might be the same breeding pair from last year.

Regards,
Wee Hao

On Fri, Mar 26, 2021 at 3:31 PM jimnorwalk  wrote:

> A pair has been vocalizing the last few mornings up the block. Activity
> focused on a grove of tall Norway Spruce at Washington and Nursery.  Also a
> roost for a couple dozen Turkey Vultures and consistent crow nesting
> activity both American and Fish Crows heard regularly.
>
>
>
> Sent from my Galaxy
>
>
>  Original message 
> From: "Johnson, Alyssa" 
> Date: 3/26/21 10:14 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: "Kenneth V. Rosenberg" , Karen <
> confergoldw...@aol.com>
> Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin reports
>
> Last spring, I was working from home so had ample time to walk around my
> neighborhood midday, and discovered a Merlin nest site in the Washington
> Street Cemetery on Washington Street in Geneva. Their NOISE is what
> attracted my attention first. Then I found where I thought the nest was
> (30+ feet up in a huge spruce), I couldn’t see it but saw the parents
> coming and going, and watched it get mobbed with crows too, once the young
> fledged. Once the young fledged, the noise was doubled at least (2 parents,
> 2 chicks maybe 3) as they tested their wings for a few days and flapped
> around the huge old oaks and spruces in that cemetery. I hadn’t thought of
> them again until 2 days ago, I heard the male alarm call and saw him zip
> between houses and disappear. It’s good spot to watch for them!
>
>
>
> --
>
> *Alyssa Johnson*
>
> Environmental Educator
>
> 315.365.3588
>
>
>
> *Montezuma Audubon Center*
>
> PO Box 187
>
> 2295 State Route 89
>
> Savannah, NY 13146
>
> Montezuma.audubon.org
>
> *Pronouns: She, Her, Hers*
>
>
>
> *From:* bounce-125494974-79436...@list.cornell.edu <
> bounce-125494974-79436...@list.cornell.edu> *On Behalf Of *Kenneth V.
> Rosenberg
> *Sent:* Thursday, March 25, 2021 6:42 PM
> *To:* Karen 
> *Cc:* CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> *Subject:* Re: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin reports
>
>
>
> Hi John
>
>
>
> At least one Merlin has returned to the Northeast Ithaca  neighborhood. I
> say “at least” one because there is a male perching regularly on the large
> sycamore at the north end of Muriel St. (and calling in that area) and one
> seen regularly (by Brad) flying around and calling on Birchwood Dr.  I live
> about halfway between these areas on Tareyton and also see/hear one
> regularly flying over— so we don’t know if this represents 1 or 2 birds.
>
>
>
> Interestingly there was a pair of Merlins (one noticeably larger) perched
> and calling in the Muriel sycamore on a warm day in February— so they may
> have been winteri g locally.
>
>
>
> KEN
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> On Mar 25, 2021, at 6:18 PM, Karen  wrote:
>
> 
>
> I love Merlins and Merlin reports and people who send in Merlin reports[image:
> Heart Eyes]. I check them all out. . Thanks to such reports, I have
> observed an increasing number of incubated nests in Tompkins County as
> follows: 2 (2014), 6 (2015), 6 (2016), 5 (2017), 3 (2018), 6 (2019), 9
> (2020).  These include pairs in Trumansburg, Lansing, Dryden, Freeville,
> Etna, and Ithaca (plus hints of a pair in Groton). Local observers provided
> guidance to almost all of these. I have written one paper on this, and am
> trying to write a more complete paper including habitat choice.
> Interestingly, all nests have been in urban/suburban areas. None in forests
> nor edge of forest nor edge of lake.
>
>
>
> Merlins start egg-laying in early May. Observations in late March are
> helpful by providing a hint about where they may finally nest. For
> instance, the pair observed by so many at Myer's Pint never nested there.
> Weeks after being seen at Myer's Point, there was a pair about 800 m east
> closer to the Catholic church.
>
>
>
> I would love to have individuals provide me with their observations at 
> *confergoldw...@aol.com
> *
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
>
> John
>
> --
>
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[cayugabirds-l] A last hurrah for my little feeder - five Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks!

[Wee Hao Ng]

At least FIVE different Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks had visited my window sill
feeder over the past three days. Two females were feeding together on
Friday, occasionally interrupted by a pugnacious male, and the same pattern
played out yesterday. Only this afternoon (Sunday), watching the feeder
from the outside, did I realise there were three different males! Unlike
the females, the males didn't seem willing to share the feeder, and each
waited for his turn as though there was a pecking order.

What a last hurrah for my humble little feeder, right before I finally move
out of my apartment! I doubt I'll be allowed one at my new place. While
only three years old, this window sill feeder has brought me so much
memories and stirred so much emotions:
- The excitement of having my very first visitor, a blue jay.
- The sense of "achievement" at having more and more visiting species.
- Being amused by juncos scolding anyone remotely nearby, and by nuthatches
clinging upside down on the window mesh.
- Annoyance at seeing poop; I like my feeder fastidiously clean so that
meant immediate chores.
- The sinking feeling when witnessing the all-too-often mourning dove
fights; I thought doves were peaceful.
- The horror of seeing dried blood on the feeder one winter morning,
probably from a particularly vicious fight.
- Sense of poetic justice when a mourning dove finally fended off the
perpetual feeder bully, a female red-bellied woodpecker.
- Guilt at shooing off the squirming mass of mourning doves (you'll be
surprised how many of them can pack on a window sill) on harsh winter
mornings, so that the small ones can grab a few much-needed seeds before
the doves return.
- The surprise at seeing a stray redpoll, just days after I saw my
first-ever redpolls at Mount Pleasant.
- The joy of watching courtship feeding, and later parents feeding
juveniles, right on my window sill!

I'll miss you, my neighbourhood feathered ones.

Wee Hao,
Cornell North Campus, Ithaca

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[cayugabirds-l] The tale of two merganser ducklings on Beebe Lake

[Wee Hao Ng]

Hi all,

My first post to the list. I usually like to keep a low profile, but the
story that unfolded before me this morning was so full of twists and turns
that I had to share it with other bird enthusiasts.

I will call the two ducklings Ruth and Edek, in homage to The Silver Sword
by Ian Serraillier.

Yesterday afternoon, while walking around Beebe Lake on Cornell campus, I
saw a handful of common merganser ducklings together with their parents
resting lazily on a branch in the afternoon sun. Great, I thought, since it
meant that I could return tomorrow morning and watch the ducklings jostle
to sit on the back of mama when they go out foraging, always an
entertaining spectacle.

The morning arrived, and I started walking around the lake. No sign of the
merganser family. Just when I was about to leave, I finally saw a lone
merganser duckling, with no signs of the rest of the family. Has it been
abandoned? Should I call a rehabiliator, or should I leave it be since it
is able to feed itself, and is too agile anyway? I left the lake feeling
somewhat uncertain.

I returned a few hours later. Again I saw a duckling, which henceforth I
shall name Edek, but this time playfully swimming near an adult female.
Great, I thought, that Edek has finally found its mum! However, it soon
became obvious that the female wasn't friendly, and what I had thought to
be playful swimming was in fact frantic attempts by Edek to escape. The
female finally caught up with Edek, lifted Edek with its beak, and started
violently thrashing Edek about. Realising what was happening before me,
instinctively I ran forward, causing the female to swim away. However, I
could no longer see any signs of Edek, so I assumed that Edek had perished.

With a heavy heart, I left the scene.

While crossing the small wooden bridge on the southern side of the lake, I
spotted a movement in the creek below. In a shadowy corner hid yet another
merganser duckling, which henceforth I shall name Ruth. Quietly, I stepped
back to avoid alerting Ruth to my presence. Minutes later, Ruth made a dash
for the lake. Oh how fast the little mite went, perhaps wary of dangers
lurking in the thick foliage on either side! Ruth didn't go very far
though, and stopped to preen on a branch at the mouth of the creek.

Soon, Ruth started calling. To my surprise, I heard a call back, from the
direction where I thought Edek had perished! This got Ruth excited, and it
started calling with increasing fervour. And lo! Edek soon came into view.
Unable to contain its excitement, Ruth hopped off the branch and swam
forward to join Edek. Reunited at last!

I've created an eBird checklist with screencaps of the actors involved.
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56796010
Descriptions are in the photo comments. The first two are Edek trying to
scramble away from the adult female, the third Ruth sitting quietly in the
creek, the fourth Ruth returning call to Edek, the fifth Ruth and Edek at
the moment of reunion, and the sixth Ruth and Edek resting on a branch
post-reunion.



Unlike The Silver Sword, the story of Ruth and Edek is not over yet, since
I am uncertain whether their parents will return given that I have not seen
any other female mergansers (except the hostile one) on the lake. What is
the usual recommendation for seemingly abandoned ducklings that are still
really small (such as those in the photos), but nonetheless able to forage
by themselves? Is it better to leave them be, or is rehabilitation
preferred?

Regards,
Wee Hao

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