When real time tracking of eagles by satellite transmitter demonstrated the tremendous distances they often travel in 24 hours (crossing multiple state lines), I would have thought that any population survey should be accomplished on a single day nationwide. A fourteen or even a two day period would produce very inaccurate results.
my two cents to the Corps John -- 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" On Thu, November 28, 2013 00:06, Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: > CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Wednesday, November 27, 2013. > > 1. Stewart Park and Newman Golf Course, Wed 11/27 > 2. 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey > 3. Crow-chipmunk > 4. Re: Crow-chipmunk > 5. Re: [nysbirds-l] 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey > 6. RE: Crow-chipmunk > 7. Golden Eagle in Dryden > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Stewart Park and Newman Golf Course, Wed 11/27 > From: Mark Chao <markc...@imt.org> > Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:09:42 -0500 > X-Message-Number: 1 > > On Wednesday morning (10:00-10:50 AM), Tilden and I saw four BALD EAGLES at > the south end of Cayuga Lake. We had long scope views of a couple of these > eagles at rest. Better still, we witnessed a spectacular show from these > birds in the air all over Stewart Park and the Newman Golf Course. One > circled over the ducks on the lake. One passed right overhead, holding a > small fish in talons balled and rolled back like piano casters. And for > several stirring minutes, all four rose together over Fall Creek and the > Stewart Park woods, mostly arranged two by two, alternating between seeming > choreographed synchrony and bursts of aggression and tumbling aerobatic > evasion. At one point the eagles - which included one adult, two third-year > birds, and one dark first-year or second-year bird - ranged far to the south > almost out of view, but then they returned for a while. We did not see them > during the final 15 minutes of our visit, as we walked back from the golf > course to Stewart Park. > > > > Mark Chao > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey > From: Thomas Salo <salotho...@gmail.com> > Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 12:57:33 -0500 > X-Message-Number: 2 > > NYSDEC is no longer organizing the Midwinter Bald Eagle Surveys. It is now > being > done by a federal biologist. If anyone is interested in setting up a > Midwinter Bald > Eagle Survey Route please contact Michael Vissichelli as per the conversation > below. > > Tom Salo > > On 11/26/2013, Vissichelli, Michael wrote: > > *We are always interested in more survey routes, feel free to have folks > reach out > to me and I can work with them to identify a survey route so they do not > overlap > with an existing one.* > > Thanks, > Mike > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Thomas Salo [mailto:salotho...@gmail.com] > Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 8:23 AM > To: Vissichelli, Michael G NAD > Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey Dates and Information > (UNCLASSIFIED) > > Michael - > > I could forward your message to people who may be > interested in setting up a survey route if I knew the NYS contact. > There are growing numbers of wintering birds at water bodies that > may have not been covered regularly in upstate New York. > > Tom Salo > > On 11/25/2013 11:51 AM, Vissichelli, Michael G NAD wrote: > >> The 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey will be held from WED, 1 JAN 2014 to >> WED, 15 >> JAN 2014 with target dates 10-11 JAN 2014. >> >> If you do not plan to coordinate the 2014 count, I would appreciate if you >> can >> contact me and provide the name and email address of someone who might be >> willing >> to take over the job. >> >> Just as in past years, counts should be conducted on one of the two target >> dates >> along non-overlapping, clearly defined, standard survey routes (SSR) that >> have >> been consistently surveyed in previous years. SSR's that have been surveyed >> consistently for at least 4-years and where at least 4 eagles have been seen >> in at >> least 1 year should be a priority in the 2014 survey. Previous analyses have >> shown that trend estimates are biased when observers switch methods of >> transportation (air, ground, boat), even when they survey the same area. So >> please >> try to have your observers use a consistent transportation method on each >> route. >> Also, please ensure that your observers note on the survey form whether the >> survey >> covered the same area as in past years. >> >> In collaboration with USGS, we're in the process of mapping Golden Eagle >> sightings >> recorded during the annual MWBES for landscape-level wind energy planning and >> management, so please ensure your observers continue to record all eagles >> (Bald >> and Golden) detected during their counts. >> >> Much of the information (instructions, coordinator contact information, blank >> forms, etc.) you will need to coordinate the count in your state can be >> found on >> the Corps of Engineers website at: >> >> http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/bird/midwinter.cfm >> >> Please make sure the form year says 2014. >> >> Completed forms should be returned to my attention at the address below or >> you can >> scan and send them to me via e-mail. >> >> >> Thanks for your help in this important effort. If you have any questions >> please >> feel free to contact me. >> >> Mike Vissichelli >> Natural Resources Management Program Manager >> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers >> North Atlantic Division >> Fort Hamilton Military Community >> 301 General Lee Avenue >> Brooklyn, NY 11252-6700 >> >> Desk - 347-370-4663 >> Cell - 718-775-5571 >> >> >> >> Classification: UNCLASSIFIED >> Caveats: NONE >> >> >> > -- Tom Salo 5145 State Highway 51 West Burlington, NY 13482 607-965-8232 > salotho...@gmail.com Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE > > -- > Tom Salo > 5145 State Highway 51 > West Burlington, NY 13482 > 607-965-8232 > salotho...@gmail.com > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Crow-chipmunk > From: "Susan Fast" <sustf...@yahoo.com> > Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 14:04:19 -0500 > X-Message-Number: 3 > > I've spent much of this morning watching red squirrel interactions in our > yard; stuff I haven't seen before. Anyway, on to birds. We also have still > one CHIPMUNK which has daily been filling its cheeks with seeds (yesterday > it had a tail; today no tail, but that is a rodent-rodent interaction most > likely). It was busy foraging when our 3 yard CROWS arrived and also > started feeding on seeds. 2 of the crows soon flew off to the compost; the > third remained and began sidling closer to the chipmunk. It got within 6", > the chipmunk turned its back, and the crow reached down and grabbed it by > the skin in the center of the back. Chipmunk twisted away and shot under a > bush, the crow jumped back, then flew off. 5 minutes later, they were both > back to the same spot under the feeders, about a foot apart, but this time > the chipmunk watched the crow like a hawk and no interaction occurred. > Several years ago, I watched a crow this close to a meadow vole (same size > as chipmunk) and the crow hammered the vole twice with its beak and killed > it. Why the difference? > > > > > > Steve Fast > > Brooktondale > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Re: Crow-chipmunk > From: "Donna Scott" <d...@cornell.edu> > Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 14:34:16 -0500 > X-Message-Number: 4 > > As Kevin McGowan recently wrote, Crows are wanna-be predators and don't quite > have > all the equipment or know how to be a consistent bird of prey (I paraphrased > here; > sorry if I got it a bit wrong). > --Donna Scott > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Susan Fast > To: 'CAYUGABIRDS-L' > Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 2:04 PM > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Crow-chipmunk > > > I've spent much of this morning watching red squirrel interactions in our > yard; > stuff I haven't seen before. Anyway, on to birds. We also have still one > CHIPMUNK > which has daily been filling its cheeks with seeds (yesterday it had a tail; > today > no tail, but that is a rodent-rodent interaction most likely). It was busy > foraging when our 3 yard CROWS arrived and also started feeding on seeds. 2 > of > the crows soon flew off to the compost; the third remained and began sidling > closer to the chipmunk. It got within 6", the chipmunk turned its back, and > the > crow reached down and grabbed it by the skin in the center of the back. > Chipmunk > twisted away and shot under a bush, the crow jumped back, then flew off. 5 > minutes later, they were both back to the same spot under the feeders, about a > foot apart, but this time the chipmunk watched the crow like a hawk and no > interaction occurred. Several years ago, I watched a crow this close to a > meadow > vole (same size as chipmunk) and the crow hammered the vole twice with its > beak > and killed it. Why the difference? > > > > > > Steve Fast > > Brooktondale > > -- > 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! > -- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey > From: Thomas Salo <salotho...@gmail.com> > Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 15:40:08 -0500 > X-Message-Number: 5 > > Tom > > Per Michael Vissichelli's message:/"Completed forms should be returned > to my attention at the address below or you can scan and send them to me > via e-mail.//"/ > > Sorry his email address did not come through in the post. It is > michael.g.vissiche...@usace.army.mil. His mailing address is at the bottom. > > Tom > > On 11/27/2013 1:10 PM, Lake, Thomas R wrote: >> *Tom -* >> Should completed forms be sent (e-mail attachment?) to - >> Wade Eakle >> >> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Pacific Division >> 1455 Market St >> San Francisco, CA 94103-1399 >> E-mail: wade.l.ea...@spd02.usace.army.mil >> <mailto:wade.l.ea...@spd02.usace.army.mil> >> >> *????????* >> ** >> /*TOM LAKE, NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program*/ >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> *From:* bounce-111074776-26920...@list.cornell.edu >> [bounce-111074776-26920...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Thomas Salo >> [salotho...@gmail.com] >> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 27, 2013 12:52 PM >> *To:* nysbird...@cornell.edu; hmbi...@yahoogroups.com; >> oneidabi...@yahoogroups.com; osbi...@yahoogroups.com; >> northern_ny_bi...@yahoogroups.com >> *Subject:* [nysbirds-l] 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey >> >> NYSDEC is no longer organizing the Midwinter Bald Eagle Surveys. It is now >> being >> done by a federal biologist. If anyone is interested in setting up a >> Midwinter >> Bald Eagle Survey Route please contact Michael Vissichelli as per the >> conversation >> below. >> >> Tom Salo >> >> On 11/26/2013, Vissichelli, Michael wrote: >> >> *We are always interested in more survey routes, feel free to have folks >> reach out >> to me and I can work with them to identify a survey route so they do not >> overlap >> with an existing one.* >> >> Thanks, >> Mike >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Thomas Salo [mailto:salotho...@gmail.com] >> Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2013 8:23 AM >> To: Vissichelli, Michael G NAD >> Subject: [EXTERNAL] Re: 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey Dates and >> Information >> (UNCLASSIFIED) >> >> Michael - >> >> I could forward your message to people who may be >> interested in setting up a survey route if I knew the NYS contact. >> There are growing numbers of wintering birds at water bodies that >> may have not been covered regularly in upstate New York. >> >> Tom Salo >> >> On 11/25/2013 11:51 AM, Vissichelli, Michael G NAD wrote: >>> The 2014 Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey will be held from WED, 1 JAN 2014 to >>> WED, 15 >>> JAN 2014 with target dates 10-11 JAN 2014. >>> >>> If you do not plan to coordinate the 2014 count, I would appreciate if you >>> can >>> contact me and provide the name and email address of someone who might be >>> willing >>> to take over the job. >>> >>> Just as in past years, counts should be conducted on one of the two target >>> dates >>> along non-overlapping, clearly defined, standard survey routes (SSR) that >>> have >>> been consistently surveyed in previous years. SSR's that have been surveyed >>> consistently for at least 4-years and where at least 4 eagles have been >>> seen in >>> at least 1 year should be a priority in the 2014 survey. Previous analyses >>> have >>> shown that trend estimates are biased when observers switch methods of >>> transportation (air, ground, boat), even when they survey the same area. So >>> please try to have your observers use a consistent transportation method on >>> each >>> route. Also, please ensure that your observers note on the survey form >>> whether >>> the survey covered the same area as in past years. >>> >>> In collaboration with USGS, we're in the process of mapping Golden Eagle >>> sightings recorded during the annual MWBES for landscape-level wind energy >>> planning and management, so please ensure your observers continue to record >>> all >>> eagles (Bald and Golden) detected during their counts. >>> >>> Much of the information (instructions, coordinator contact information, >>> blank >>> forms, etc.) you will need to coordinate the count in your state can be >>> found on >>> the Corps of Engineers website at: >>> >>> http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/employees/bird/midwinter.cfm >>> >>> Please make sure the form year says 2014. >>> >>> Completed forms should be returned to my attention at the address below or >>> you >>> can scan and send them to me via e-mail. >>> >>> >>> Thanks for your help in this important effort. If you have any questions >>> please >>> feel free to contact me. >>> >>> Mike Vissichelli >>> Natural Resources Management Program Manager >>> U.S. Army Corps of Engineers >>> North Atlantic Division >>> Fort Hamilton Military Community >>> 301 General Lee Avenue >>> Brooklyn, NY 11252-6700 >>> >>> Desk - 347-370-4663 >>> Cell - 718-775-5571 >>> >>> >>> >>> Classification: UNCLASSIFIED >>> Caveats: NONE >>> >>> >>> >> -- Classification: UNCLASSIFIED Caveats: NONE >> -- >> *NYSbirds-L List Info:* >> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME> >> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES> >> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave >> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> >> *Archives:* >> The Mail Archive >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> >> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L> >> BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html> >> *Please submit your observations to **eBird* >> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>*!* >> -- > > -- > Tom Salo > 5145 State Highway 51 > West Burlington, NY 13482 > 607-965-8232 > salotho...@gmail.com > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: RE: Crow-chipmunk > From: "Kevin J. McGowan" <k...@cornell.edu> > Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 21:11:37 +0000 > X-Message-Number: 6 > > Very cool observations. > > Donna quoted me pretty well. Wanna-be-predators is what crows are. They > definitely > donât have the tools to make it happen often. > > Actually, eastern chipmunks are substantially larger than meadow voles. I > trapped > hundreds of meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, for my masterâs research > (âSmall mammal populations on Ohio stripâmined lands reclaimed with > herbaceous > vegetation under old and new reclamation lawsâ). Some big bulls and > pregnant > females would be over 50 grams, but I only had a few get over 60 g. > Chipmunks, on > the other hand, start at 80 g and can get to be 150 g. Iâve handled both > (and > skinned both), and chipmunks are much tougher customers than meadow voles. > It would > be one crafty crow that could kill a chipmunk. > > Crows eat small mammals when they can, but by far the most common prey is the > short-tailed shrew, Blarina brevicauda. Blarina have short tails and short > gray fur > very much like meadow voles and can easily be mistaken for them. The pointy > shrew > nose is the characteristic to watch for. > > Best, > > Kevin > > > > From: bounce-111075079-3493...@list.cornell.edu > [mailto:bounce-111075079-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Donna Scott > Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 2:34 PM > To: Susan Fast; CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crow-chipmunk > > As Kevin McGowan recently wrote, Crows are wanna-be predators and don't quite > have > all the equipment or know how to be a consistent bird of prey (I paraphrased > here; > sorry if I got it a bit wrong). > --Donna Scott > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Susan Fast<mailto:sustf...@yahoo.com> > To: 'CAYUGABIRDS-L'<mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu> > Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 2:04 PM > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Crow-chipmunk > > Iâve spent much of this morning watching red squirrel interactions in our > yard; > stuff I havenât seen before. Anyway, on to birds. We also have still one > CHIPMUNK > which has daily been filling its cheeks with seeds (yesterday it had a tail; > today > no tail, but that is a rodent-rodent interaction most likely). It was busy > foraging > when our 3 yard CROWS arrived and also started feeding on seeds. 2 of the > crows > soon flew off to the compost; the third remained and began sidling closer to > the > chipmunk. It got within 6â, the chipmunk turned its back, and the crow > reached > down and grabbed it by the skin in the center of the back. Chipmunk twisted > away > and shot under a bush, the crow jumped back, then flew off. 5 minutes later, > they > were both back to the same spot under the feeders, about a foot apart, but > this time > the chipmunk watched the crow like a hawk and no interaction occurred. > Several > years ago, I watched a crow this close to a meadow vole (same size as > chipmunk) and > the crow hammered the vole twice with its beak and killed it. Why the > difference? > > > Steve Fast > Brooktondale > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and > Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > Archives: > The Mail > Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! > -- > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and > Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > Archives: > The Mail > Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! > -- > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Golden Eagle in Dryden > From: "Kevin J. McGowan" <k...@cornell.edu> > Date: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 21:27:32 +0000 > X-Message-Number: 7 > > I did a quick birding run around Dryden this afternoon. Dryden Lake is > completely > frozen, so nothing there. The only waterfowl I saw were 100 Canada Geese and > 6 > Mallards in an unfrozen puddle on West Lake Road. Also about 20 SNOW BUNTINGS > there. Cornell Lane had 30 Horned Larks along the road near the cow barns, > one of > which had large white patches on the wings and back. I didn't get a good > look, but > it could suggest Snow Bunting with only a glimpse. > > As I hit the frozen-tundra-zone of Ferguson Rd coming out of Dryden toward > Irish > Settlement Rd, I was thinking Snowy Owl. Instead I saw a large broad-winged > raptor > flying along the tree line up hill. I figured it was a Red-tailed Hawk, but > then > noticed the upward dihedral of the wings and thought Turkey Vulture. When > the crows > came up out of the trees to mob it I realized it wasn't a vulture, but a > GOLDEN > EAGLE. > > After making sure I was off the road and not a tundra road hazard, I snapped a > couple (hundred) photos. They confirm the ID, showing the white at the base > of the > inner secondaries and the base of the tail feathers of a juvenile Golden > Eagle. It > kept moving west toward Irish Settlement Rd, but disappeared into the clouds > hanging > below the tops of the hills. I hoped it would hang along the treeline of the > ridge > and turn up at my house on Yellow Barn. But, it never showed. :^( > > Kevin > > > > > > --- > > END OF DIGEST > > > -- 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/ --
