[nysbirds-l] Marine Park Brooklyn Cattle Egret (NO)...

[Andrew Baksh]

Motivated by Menachem's text and encouraged by Rob Jett, I visited Marine
Park to look for the Cattle Egret.

Despite a long and careful search of the area I did not find the bird.  I
could easily have missed it or it relocated from the area to avoid the Jet
Ski traffic which was very active when I visited.

Good luck if you go.  As far as shorebirds at Big Egg Marsh in Queens, the
numbers have dropped off significantly.  Notable were 3 White-rumped
Sandpipers.

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

On Jun 4, 2013, at 6:22 PM, Rob Jett  wrote:

I relocated the earlier reported Cattle Egret at Marine Park at around
4:40pm. It was in a stretch of marsh grass on the East side of Gerritsen
Creek adjacent to the golf course. JUst follow the gravel path until you
come to a large steel container and follow the sand path behind it. It was
still present at little past 5pm.

Good birding,

Rob

http://citybirder.blogspot.com
Twitter - @thecitybirder
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[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret Marine Park Brooklyn...

[Andrew Baksh]

Menachem texted to report that he had the previously reported Cattle
Egret in Marine Park. It continues as of 5:30 at the end of the trail
just in front of the driving range fence.

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

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[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret follow-up

[Rob Jett]

I relocated the earlier reported Cattle Egret at Marine Park at around 4:40pm. 
It was in a stretch of marsh grass on the East side of Gerritsen Creek adjacent 
to the golf course. JUst follow the gravel path until you come to a large steel 
container and follow the sand path behind it. It was still present at little 
past 5pm.

Good birding,

Rob

http://citybirder.blogspot.com
Twitter - @thecitybirder
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Importance of data -- Re: [nysbirds-l] Fwd: Minimal Migration or Population Decline?

[David]

Chris and Joan speak of what many of us have individually observed and then 
discussed in passing in the birding trails  this spring. 
I'm sure, as we write, there are doctoral candidates and others near the 
posting areas, who are awaiting data from this May, and will give us the broad 
analysis we want.
A great source for the raw data is, of course, eBird. This discussion 
highlights the importance of each of our accurate reports to ebird. 
While we all hope that somehow the apparent absence of birds in Joan's -- and 
the rest of our -- usual spots, can be explained by an increase of birds in 
other locations, the data, good or bad, can help us help the birds.
That is, legislators/policy makers love numbers and can use them as tools for 
change, positive change of many kinds. 
Either way, being part of a citizen-science venture like ebird, whether 
recreational birder or professional is good for the birds we all love. 
Looking forward to reading those dissertations and papers. 
Good birding and good reporting!
David
Staten Island


On Jun 4, 2013, at 12:18 PM, "Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes" 
 wrote:

> Good afternoon!
> 
> This morning, I sent the following email to NFC-L, the Night Flight Call 
> eList, and thought some on NYSbirds-L might find this of interest or have 
> some input.
> 
> Sincerely,
> Chris T-H
> 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
>> Date: June 4, 2013 9:46:52 AM EDT
>> To: NFC-L 
>> Subject: Minimal Migration or Population Decline?
>> 
>> Good morning,
>> 
>> I am curious to know if recording stations in the Northeast have 
>> experienced, numerically – with respect to quantity of night flight calls, a 
>> reduced number of migrants this spring as compared to past years. My 
>> perception is that there was a noticeable lack of birds moving throughout 
>> certain regions of the Northeast this spring. Conversely, did recording 
>> stations elsewhere (perhaps in the mid-west) record higher numbers of 
>> migrants this spring?
>> 
>> On the ground, for example, I don't ever remember a year when I only heard 
>> or saw 2-3 Blackpoll Warblers. Period. Usually, I would hear or see several 
>> Blackpoll Warblers on any given day over the course of a few days during the 
>> peak movement for this species. Of course, maybe a mass die-off of Blackpoll 
>> Warblers and other migrants went unnoticed this past fall or this spring, 
>> similar to the infamous mass die-off from 2-3 October 2011 at the Laurel 
>> Mountain wind facility in West Virginia. See: 
>> http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2011/10/29/in_the_news_484_blackpoll_warblers_die_at_wind_farm.
>>  Note: it is suggested these birds succumbed to exhaustion from becoming 
>> trapped in the sphere of fog-reflected light produced by a lighted 
>> substation, which was accidentally left on overnight at the facility, rather 
>> than actual deaths caused by direct turbine strikes.
>> 
>> I know there was a memorable weather-related fallout on the Gulf Coast of 
>> Texas this past 25-27 April 2013. See: 
>> http://www.texasbirdimages.com/home/2013-fallout---cameron-county/nueces-co-list---april-25-2013.
>>  It makes me wonder if it is at all possible for unfortunately-timed severe 
>> weather-related events, during key trans-Gulf crossings, to result in 
>> population-wide declines of neotropical migrants.
>> 
>> Or, is this just an anomalous year as a result of the negative phase of the 
>> North Atlantic Oscillation, producing unfavorable conditions for nocturnal 
>> movement of small passerines into the Northeast. In possible scenarios like 
>> this, do boreal neotropical migrants favor an alternate springtime route 
>> that may carry them North, up the Mississippi Flyway to a point North of the 
>> Great Lakes, allowing them to then catch the prevailing West wind in an 
>> Easterly direction to their breeding grounds? If such a scenario were to 
>> play out, how do first spring individuals learn of these routes? Do they 
>> follow the masses?
>> 
>> Interestingly, I'm finding that the cuckoos seem most unaffected by minor 
>> Northerly airflow at night (such as the night of 2-3 June). I'm sure their 
>> body size and wing length have everything to do with the ability to migrate 
>> into a headwind as compared to smaller passerines, such as warblers. Last 
>> night, in calm to light winds, I recorded 7 different Black-billed Cuckoos 
>> and a single Yellow-billed Cuckoo, plus a single Virginia Rail, one Alder 
>> Flycatcher, one Swainson's Thrush, and a single Indigo Bunting.
>> 
>> Unfortunately, I was not recording sooner this spring in Etna, NY, so don't 
>> have a good comparison of this year to last year (for peak migration); 
>> however, I did get out as much as possible to a migrant stopover patch on 
>> most mornings (see the Hawthorn  Orchard: 
>> http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/hawthorn.htm and check eBird for 
>> this site). My perception from daytime observation was a serious lack of 
>> neotropical migrants, yet with a 

[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret in Brooklyn

[Rob Jett]

I just received word from Bobbi Manian that there is a Cattle Egret at Marine 
Park along the East side of Gerrittsen Creek, just South of the Nature Center.

Good birding,

Rob

Sent via Talking Drum


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[nysbirds-l] South Fork LI: Cattle Egret in Southampton, Suffolk

[Angus Wilson]

John Shemilt just called to say he's looking at a CATTLE EGRET in a freshly
plowed field on the eastern side of David Whites Lane in Southampton. This
is north of Rt 27 (Montauk Hwy) towards North Sea-Mecox Road.

Cheers, Angus Wilson

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[nysbirds-l] Fwd: Minimal Migration or Population Decline?

[Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes]

Good afternoon!

This morning, I sent the following email to NFC-L, the Night Flight Call eList, 
and thought some on NYSbirds-L might find this of interest or have some input.

Sincerely,
Chris T-H

Begin forwarded message:

Date: June 4, 2013 9:46:52 AM EDT
To: NFC-L mailto:nf...@list.cornell.edu>>
Subject: Minimal Migration or Population Decline?

Good morning,

I am curious to know if recording stations in the Northeast have experienced, 
numerically – with respect to quantity of night flight calls, a reduced number 
of migrants this spring as compared to past years. My perception is that there 
was a noticeable lack of birds moving throughout certain regions of the 
Northeast this spring. Conversely, did recording stations elsewhere (perhaps in 
the mid-west) record higher numbers of migrants this spring?

On the ground, for example, I don't ever remember a year when I only heard or 
saw 2-3 Blackpoll Warblers. Period. Usually, I would hear or see several 
Blackpoll Warblers on any given day over the course of a few days during the 
peak movement for this species. Of course, maybe a mass die-off of Blackpoll 
Warblers and other migrants went unnoticed this past fall or this spring, 
similar to the infamous mass die-off from 2-3 October 2011 at the Laurel 
Mountain wind facility in West Virginia. See: 
http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2011/10/29/in_the_news_484_blackpoll_warblers_die_at_wind_farm.
 Note: it is suggested these birds succumbed to exhaustion from becoming 
trapped in the sphere of fog-reflected light produced by a lighted substation, 
which was accidentally left on overnight at the facility, rather than actual 
deaths caused by direct turbine strikes.

I know there was a memorable weather-related fallout on the Gulf Coast of Texas 
this past 25-27 April 2013. See: 
http://www.texasbirdimages.com/home/2013-fallout---cameron-county/nueces-co-list---april-25-2013.
 It makes me wonder if it is at all possible for unfortunately-timed severe 
weather-related events, during key trans-Gulf crossings, to result in 
population-wide declines of neotropical migrants.

Or, is this just an anomalous year as a result of the negative phase of the 
North Atlantic Oscillation, producing unfavorable conditions for nocturnal 
movement of small passerines into the Northeast. In possible scenarios like 
this, do boreal neotropical migrants favor an alternate springtime route that 
may carry them North, up the Mississippi Flyway to a point North of the Great 
Lakes, allowing them to then catch the prevailing West wind in an Easterly 
direction to their breeding grounds? If such a scenario were to play out, how 
do first spring individuals learn of these routes? Do they follow the masses?

Interestingly, I'm finding that the cuckoos seem most unaffected by minor 
Northerly airflow at night (such as the night of 2-3 June). I'm sure their body 
size and wing length have everything to do with the ability to migrate into a 
headwind as compared to smaller passerines, such as warblers. Last night, in 
calm to light winds, I recorded 7 different Black-billed Cuckoos and a single 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, plus a single Virginia Rail, one Alder Flycatcher, one 
Swainson's Thrush, and a single Indigo Bunting.

Unfortunately, I was not recording sooner this spring in Etna, NY, so don't 
have a good comparison of this year to last year (for peak migration); however, 
I did get out as much as possible to a migrant stopover patch on most mornings 
(see the Hawthorn Orchard: 
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/hawthorn.htm and check eBird for 
this site). My perception from daytime observation was a serious lack of 
neotropical migrants, yet with a reasonable amount of resources (insect larvae) 
for them to feed upon. This was one of the more memorable springtimes for me, 
with respect to flowering trees. I don't recall a time in the recent past of a 
springtime with the same amazingly full quantity of flowers remaining on the 
trees for as long as they did, yet with so few migrants. Though, perhaps in 
actuality there may have been fewer food resources (insect larvae) available 
than in past years, due to the cooler weather this spring (in the Northeast).

If weather conditions correlate as closely to food resource availability as is 
probably the case, perhaps the birds use weather-related cues to avoid 
migration routes that may lead through regions with a dearth of food resources 
as compared to routes through other regions with high food resources. Or, 
perhaps there was a mass die-off in the Gulf this spring or the Atlantic and/or 
Gulf last fall, or at nighttime lighted facilities on unfortunately 
fog-enshrouded nights. It all seems so speculative without looking at long-term 
population trends in different regions. I think it will be interesting to watch 
for the comparative results from this year's Breeding Bird Surveys to past 
Surveys and of Surveys to come in future years, as well as the gradual 

[nysbirds-l] Update on Bicknell's Thrush & more

[Joan E. Collins]

6/1/13 Whiteface Mountain, Essex County, NY

 

On a dawn tour of Whiteface Mountain with birders from NYC on Saturday, we
found at least 15 Bicknell's Thrushes between 3900 and 4400'.  After the
extreme weather event with 3 feet of new snow between 5/25 and 5/26, I was
curious to see what we would find.  After my recent post, a birder from NYC
emailed about the Swainson's Thrushes.  He wondered if the cold/snow would
help in "beating them back" down the mountain.  I wondered the same thing,
and it did indeed seem to be the case!  We only heard 3 Swainson's Thrushes
in the 3900 to 4400 foot elevation range, and only one was singing (the
other 2 called).  In the days after the snowfall last week, temperatures
were very warm (80 to 90 degrees) and there were only small, remnant snow
piles left along the road from the plowing by Saturday.  Time will tell if
the Swainson's Thrushes will move back up the peak this breeding season.  I
plan to conduct the Mountain Birdwatch survey as close to last year's date
(6/23/12) as possible for a good comparison.  It was lovely to hear the
Bicknell's Thrushes singing at dawn (& pre-dawn), and as usual, they
switched over to occasional calling after 5 a.m.!  I also noticed that I did
not hear the Black-throated Blue Warbler that I found singing (at around
4200') on 5/19.  There was a Black-throated Green Warbler singing, but lower
down from where I found one on 5/19.  Blackpoll Warblers were found singing
up the peak but far fewer than expected.  It was the same situation for
Yellow-bellied Flycatchers in the 3900 to 4400 foot range.  I will be up on
Whiteface several times a week through the breeding season with dawn tours,
so I'll be able to observe changes that may occur now that the snow/cold is
gone (hopefully gone for the season!).

 

Sean O'Brien, a birder friend from Saranac Lake, was up on Whiteface
Mountain's summit on 5/31, and he called to note the lack of Swainson's
Thrushes after the storm also.

 

The weekend tour was two days, with Saturday spent in boreal habitat (high
and low elevation boreal), and Sunday spent in the vast St. Lawrence Valley
grasslands, wetlands, and shrublands.  In the largest bog (actually a "fen")
in NYS, we found boreal bird species including Yellow-bellied Flycatcher,
Palm Warbler, and Lincoln's Sparrow, along with many bog plants in bloom -
Labrador Tea and Bog Laurel.  Butterflies were photographed along the way
(Tom Fiore - we found Arctic Jutta again this year!).  I continue to find
the grasslands of the St. Lawrence Valley fascinating, but at times,
heartbreaking, when you return to a mowed field knowing all the species that
were nesting in it.  We spent a great deal of time at a large, Henslow's
Sparrow "colony" where I can't even begin to estimate how many birds occupy
the gigantic wet, unmanaged field.  The birds were buried in the grass -
often just a few feet from us, but mostly remained out of sight.  The Birds
of North America Henslow's Sparrow account mentions that Eastern Meadowlarks
are dominate over Henslow's, and we can add Red-winged Blackbird to that
section after our observations on Sunday!  A few Henslow's Sparrows appeared
and were immediately attacked by Red-winged Blackbirds, which may be a
factor in their singing from the ground, out of sight.  There were very few
Savannah Sparrows heard in this location.  Thanks to Mike Morgan, NYS Dept.
of Environmental Conservation, for sending a journal article discussing the
importance of social cues used by Henslow's Sparrows in choosing a breeding
location - study conducted in Iowa (playbacks were used to entice Henslow's
Sparrows to restored habitat areas).  After spending time reading about
Least Flycatcher aggregates, I am becoming more and more interested in the
social cues used by some species for their choice of breeding habitat.  I
will write another blog on this topic that will focus on Henslow's Sparrows.
At another grassland location, we enjoyed watching Grasshopper Sparrows
vying for singing perches on two old stumps in a large field - and they were
occasionally confronted by Song Sparrows, but it appeared the Grasshopper
Sparrows were winning the stumps!  Overall, we found 115 species, including
20 warbler, 11 sparrow, and 8 flycatcher species.

 

Painted and Snapping Turtles have been laying eggs in the past week.  I've
rescued as many as possible from roadways, where they are often hit.  We
also observed a Mink, Porcupine, Snowshoe Hare, and of course many Deer.

 

Joan Collins

Long Lake, NY

http://www.adirondackavianexpeditions.com/

http://www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian

 

 


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[nysbirds-l] Update on Bicknell's Thrush more

[Joan E. Collins]

6/1/13 Whiteface Mountain, Essex County, NY

 

On a dawn tour of Whiteface Mountain with birders from NYC on Saturday, we
found at least 15 Bicknell's Thrushes between 3900 and 4400'.  After the
extreme weather event with 3 feet of new snow between 5/25 and 5/26, I was
curious to see what we would find.  After my recent post, a birder from NYC
emailed about the Swainson's Thrushes.  He wondered if the cold/snow would
help in beating them back down the mountain.  I wondered the same thing,
and it did indeed seem to be the case!  We only heard 3 Swainson's Thrushes
in the 3900 to 4400 foot elevation range, and only one was singing (the
other 2 called).  In the days after the snowfall last week, temperatures
were very warm (80 to 90 degrees) and there were only small, remnant snow
piles left along the road from the plowing by Saturday.  Time will tell if
the Swainson's Thrushes will move back up the peak this breeding season.  I
plan to conduct the Mountain Birdwatch survey as close to last year's date
(6/23/12) as possible for a good comparison.  It was lovely to hear the
Bicknell's Thrushes singing at dawn ( pre-dawn), and as usual, they
switched over to occasional calling after 5 a.m.!  I also noticed that I did
not hear the Black-throated Blue Warbler that I found singing (at around
4200') on 5/19.  There was a Black-throated Green Warbler singing, but lower
down from where I found one on 5/19.  Blackpoll Warblers were found singing
up the peak but far fewer than expected.  It was the same situation for
Yellow-bellied Flycatchers in the 3900 to 4400 foot range.  I will be up on
Whiteface several times a week through the breeding season with dawn tours,
so I'll be able to observe changes that may occur now that the snow/cold is
gone (hopefully gone for the season!).

 

Sean O'Brien, a birder friend from Saranac Lake, was up on Whiteface
Mountain's summit on 5/31, and he called to note the lack of Swainson's
Thrushes after the storm also.

 

The weekend tour was two days, with Saturday spent in boreal habitat (high
and low elevation boreal), and Sunday spent in the vast St. Lawrence Valley
grasslands, wetlands, and shrublands.  In the largest bog (actually a fen)
in NYS, we found boreal bird species including Yellow-bellied Flycatcher,
Palm Warbler, and Lincoln's Sparrow, along with many bog plants in bloom -
Labrador Tea and Bog Laurel.  Butterflies were photographed along the way
(Tom Fiore - we found Arctic Jutta again this year!).  I continue to find
the grasslands of the St. Lawrence Valley fascinating, but at times,
heartbreaking, when you return to a mowed field knowing all the species that
were nesting in it.  We spent a great deal of time at a large, Henslow's
Sparrow colony where I can't even begin to estimate how many birds occupy
the gigantic wet, unmanaged field.  The birds were buried in the grass -
often just a few feet from us, but mostly remained out of sight.  The Birds
of North America Henslow's Sparrow account mentions that Eastern Meadowlarks
are dominate over Henslow's, and we can add Red-winged Blackbird to that
section after our observations on Sunday!  A few Henslow's Sparrows appeared
and were immediately attacked by Red-winged Blackbirds, which may be a
factor in their singing from the ground, out of sight.  There were very few
Savannah Sparrows heard in this location.  Thanks to Mike Morgan, NYS Dept.
of Environmental Conservation, for sending a journal article discussing the
importance of social cues used by Henslow's Sparrows in choosing a breeding
location - study conducted in Iowa (playbacks were used to entice Henslow's
Sparrows to restored habitat areas).  After spending time reading about
Least Flycatcher aggregates, I am becoming more and more interested in the
social cues used by some species for their choice of breeding habitat.  I
will write another blog on this topic that will focus on Henslow's Sparrows.
At another grassland location, we enjoyed watching Grasshopper Sparrows
vying for singing perches on two old stumps in a large field - and they were
occasionally confronted by Song Sparrows, but it appeared the Grasshopper
Sparrows were winning the stumps!  Overall, we found 115 species, including
20 warbler, 11 sparrow, and 8 flycatcher species.

 

Painted and Snapping Turtles have been laying eggs in the past week.  I've
rescued as many as possible from roadways, where they are often hit.  We
also observed a Mink, Porcupine, Snowshoe Hare, and of course many Deer.

 

Joan Collins

Long Lake, NY

http://www.adirondackavianexpeditions.com/

http://www.facebook.com/AdirondackAvian

 

 


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[nysbirds-l] Fwd: Minimal Migration or Population Decline?

[Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes]

Good afternoon!

This morning, I sent the following email to NFC-L, the Night Flight Call eList, 
and thought some on NYSbirds-L might find this of interest or have some input.

Sincerely,
Chris T-H

Begin forwarded message:

Date: June 4, 2013 9:46:52 AM EDT
To: NFC-L nf...@list.cornell.edumailto:nf...@list.cornell.edu
Subject: Minimal Migration or Population Decline?

Good morning,

I am curious to know if recording stations in the Northeast have experienced, 
numerically – with respect to quantity of night flight calls, a reduced number 
of migrants this spring as compared to past years. My perception is that there 
was a noticeable lack of birds moving throughout certain regions of the 
Northeast this spring. Conversely, did recording stations elsewhere (perhaps in 
the mid-west) record higher numbers of migrants this spring?

On the ground, for example, I don't ever remember a year when I only heard or 
saw 2-3 Blackpoll Warblers. Period. Usually, I would hear or see several 
Blackpoll Warblers on any given day over the course of a few days during the 
peak movement for this species. Of course, maybe a mass die-off of Blackpoll 
Warblers and other migrants went unnoticed this past fall or this spring, 
similar to the infamous mass die-off from 2-3 October 2011 at the Laurel 
Mountain wind facility in West Virginia. See: 
http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2011/10/29/in_the_news_484_blackpoll_warblers_die_at_wind_farm.
 Note: it is suggested these birds succumbed to exhaustion from becoming 
trapped in the sphere of fog-reflected light produced by a lighted substation, 
which was accidentally left on overnight at the facility, rather than actual 
deaths caused by direct turbine strikes.

I know there was a memorable weather-related fallout on the Gulf Coast of Texas 
this past 25-27 April 2013. See: 
http://www.texasbirdimages.com/home/2013-fallout---cameron-county/nueces-co-list---april-25-2013.
 It makes me wonder if it is at all possible for unfortunately-timed severe 
weather-related events, during key trans-Gulf crossings, to result in 
population-wide declines of neotropical migrants.

Or, is this just an anomalous year as a result of the negative phase of the 
North Atlantic Oscillation, producing unfavorable conditions for nocturnal 
movement of small passerines into the Northeast. In possible scenarios like 
this, do boreal neotropical migrants favor an alternate springtime route that 
may carry them North, up the Mississippi Flyway to a point North of the Great 
Lakes, allowing them to then catch the prevailing West wind in an Easterly 
direction to their breeding grounds? If such a scenario were to play out, how 
do first spring individuals learn of these routes? Do they follow the masses?

Interestingly, I'm finding that the cuckoos seem most unaffected by minor 
Northerly airflow at night (such as the night of 2-3 June). I'm sure their body 
size and wing length have everything to do with the ability to migrate into a 
headwind as compared to smaller passerines, such as warblers. Last night, in 
calm to light winds, I recorded 7 different Black-billed Cuckoos and a single 
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, plus a single Virginia Rail, one Alder Flycatcher, one 
Swainson's Thrush, and a single Indigo Bunting.

Unfortunately, I was not recording sooner this spring in Etna, NY, so don't 
have a good comparison of this year to last year (for peak migration); however, 
I did get out as much as possible to a migrant stopover patch on most mornings 
(see the Hawthorn Orchard: 
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/hawthorn.htm and check eBird for 
this site). My perception from daytime observation was a serious lack of 
neotropical migrants, yet with a reasonable amount of resources (insect larvae) 
for them to feed upon. This was one of the more memorable springtimes for me, 
with respect to flowering trees. I don't recall a time in the recent past of a 
springtime with the same amazingly full quantity of flowers remaining on the 
trees for as long as they did, yet with so few migrants. Though, perhaps in 
actuality there may have been fewer food resources (insect larvae) available 
than in past years, due to the cooler weather this spring (in the Northeast).

If weather conditions correlate as closely to food resource availability as is 
probably the case, perhaps the birds use weather-related cues to avoid 
migration routes that may lead through regions with a dearth of food resources 
as compared to routes through other regions with high food resources. Or, 
perhaps there was a mass die-off in the Gulf this spring or the Atlantic and/or 
Gulf last fall, or at nighttime lighted facilities on unfortunately 
fog-enshrouded nights. It all seems so speculative without looking at long-term 
population trends in different regions. I think it will be interesting to watch 
for the comparative results from this year's Breeding Bird Surveys to past 
Surveys and of Surveys to come in future years, as well as 

[nysbirds-l] South Fork LI: Cattle Egret in Southampton, Suffolk

[Angus Wilson]

John Shemilt just called to say he's looking at a CATTLE EGRET in a freshly
plowed field on the eastern side of David Whites Lane in Southampton. This
is north of Rt 27 (Montauk Hwy) towards North Sea-Mecox Road.

Cheers, Angus Wilson

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[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret in Brooklyn

[Rob Jett]

I just received word from Bobbi Manian that there is a Cattle Egret at Marine 
Park along the East side of Gerrittsen Creek, just South of the Nature Center.

Good birding,

Rob

Sent via Talking Drum


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Importance of data -- Re: [nysbirds-l] Fwd: Minimal Migration or Population Decline?

[David]

Chris and Joan speak of what many of us have individually observed and then 
discussed in passing in the birding trails  this spring. 
I'm sure, as we write, there are doctoral candidates and others near the 
posting areas, who are awaiting data from this May, and will give us the broad 
analysis we want.
A great source for the raw data is, of course, eBird. This discussion 
highlights the importance of each of our accurate reports to ebird. 
While we all hope that somehow the apparent absence of birds in Joan's -- and 
the rest of our -- usual spots, can be explained by an increase of birds in 
other locations, the data, good or bad, can help us help the birds.
That is, legislators/policy makers love numbers and can use them as tools for 
change, positive change of many kinds. 
Either way, being part of a citizen-science venture like ebird, whether 
recreational birder or professional is good for the birds we all love. 
Looking forward to reading those dissertations and papers. 
Good birding and good reporting!
David
Staten Island


On Jun 4, 2013, at 12:18 PM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes 
c...@cornell.edu wrote:

 Good afternoon!
 
 This morning, I sent the following email to NFC-L, the Night Flight Call 
 eList, and thought some on NYSbirds-L might find this of interest or have 
 some input.
 
 Sincerely,
 Chris T-H
 
 Begin forwarded message:
 
 Date: June 4, 2013 9:46:52 AM EDT
 To: NFC-L nf...@list.cornell.edu
 Subject: Minimal Migration or Population Decline?
 
 Good morning,
 
 I am curious to know if recording stations in the Northeast have 
 experienced, numerically – with respect to quantity of night flight calls, a 
 reduced number of migrants this spring as compared to past years. My 
 perception is that there was a noticeable lack of birds moving throughout 
 certain regions of the Northeast this spring. Conversely, did recording 
 stations elsewhere (perhaps in the mid-west) record higher numbers of 
 migrants this spring?
 
 On the ground, for example, I don't ever remember a year when I only heard 
 or saw 2-3 Blackpoll Warblers. Period. Usually, I would hear or see several 
 Blackpoll Warblers on any given day over the course of a few days during the 
 peak movement for this species. Of course, maybe a mass die-off of Blackpoll 
 Warblers and other migrants went unnoticed this past fall or this spring, 
 similar to the infamous mass die-off from 2-3 October 2011 at the Laurel 
 Mountain wind facility in West Virginia. See: 
 http://www.birdfellow.com/journal/2011/10/29/in_the_news_484_blackpoll_warblers_die_at_wind_farm.
  Note: it is suggested these birds succumbed to exhaustion from becoming 
 trapped in the sphere of fog-reflected light produced by a lighted 
 substation, which was accidentally left on overnight at the facility, rather 
 than actual deaths caused by direct turbine strikes.
 
 I know there was a memorable weather-related fallout on the Gulf Coast of 
 Texas this past 25-27 April 2013. See: 
 http://www.texasbirdimages.com/home/2013-fallout---cameron-county/nueces-co-list---april-25-2013.
  It makes me wonder if it is at all possible for unfortunately-timed severe 
 weather-related events, during key trans-Gulf crossings, to result in 
 population-wide declines of neotropical migrants.
 
 Or, is this just an anomalous year as a result of the negative phase of the 
 North Atlantic Oscillation, producing unfavorable conditions for nocturnal 
 movement of small passerines into the Northeast. In possible scenarios like 
 this, do boreal neotropical migrants favor an alternate springtime route 
 that may carry them North, up the Mississippi Flyway to a point North of the 
 Great Lakes, allowing them to then catch the prevailing West wind in an 
 Easterly direction to their breeding grounds? If such a scenario were to 
 play out, how do first spring individuals learn of these routes? Do they 
 follow the masses?
 
 Interestingly, I'm finding that the cuckoos seem most unaffected by minor 
 Northerly airflow at night (such as the night of 2-3 June). I'm sure their 
 body size and wing length have everything to do with the ability to migrate 
 into a headwind as compared to smaller passerines, such as warblers. Last 
 night, in calm to light winds, I recorded 7 different Black-billed Cuckoos 
 and a single Yellow-billed Cuckoo, plus a single Virginia Rail, one Alder 
 Flycatcher, one Swainson's Thrush, and a single Indigo Bunting.
 
 Unfortunately, I was not recording sooner this spring in Etna, NY, so don't 
 have a good comparison of this year to last year (for peak migration); 
 however, I did get out as much as possible to a migrant stopover patch on 
 most mornings (see the Hawthorn  Orchard: 
 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/hawthorn.htm and check eBird for 
 this site). My perception from daytime observation was a serious lack of 
 neotropical migrants, yet with a reasonable amount of resources (insect 
 larvae) for them to feed upon. This was one of the 

[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret follow-up

[Rob Jett]

I relocated the earlier reported Cattle Egret at Marine Park at around 4:40pm. 
It was in a stretch of marsh grass on the East side of Gerritsen Creek adjacent 
to the golf course. JUst follow the gravel path until you come to a large steel 
container and follow the sand path behind it. It was still present at little 
past 5pm.

Good birding,

Rob

http://citybirder.blogspot.com
Twitter - @thecitybirder
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[nysbirds-l] Cattle Egret Marine Park Brooklyn...

[Andrew Baksh]

Menachem texted to report that he had the previously reported Cattle
Egret in Marine Park. It continues as of 5:30 at the end of the trail
just in front of the driving range fence.

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

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[nysbirds-l] Marine Park Brooklyn Cattle Egret (NO)...

[Andrew Baksh]

Motivated by Menachem's text and encouraged by Rob Jett, I visited Marine
Park to look for the Cattle Egret.

Despite a long and careful search of the area I did not find the bird.  I
could easily have missed it or it relocated from the area to avoid the Jet
Ski traffic which was very active when I visited.

Good luck if you go.  As far as shorebirds at Big Egg Marsh in Queens, the
numbers have dropped off significantly.  Notable were 3 White-rumped
Sandpipers.

Sent from somewhere in the field using my mobile device!

Andrew Baksh
www.birdingdude.blogspot.com

On Jun 4, 2013, at 6:22 PM, Rob Jett citybir...@earthlink.net wrote:

I relocated the earlier reported Cattle Egret at Marine Park at around
4:40pm. It was in a stretch of marsh grass on the East side of Gerritsen
Creek adjacent to the golf course. JUst follow the gravel path until you
come to a large steel container and follow the sand path behind it. It was
still present at little past 5pm.

Good birding,

Rob

http://citybirder.blogspot.com
Twitter - @thecitybirder
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