Re: [cayugabirds-l] stranded common loon to be rescued Sun.
I stopped by Goetchius Wetland Presreve this morning (4/18) on my way to work and did not see this bird. Hopefully, this is an indication that the bird was successfully rescued. There was a nice pair of COMMON MERGANSERS close to the road and the drainage pipe that might have snared the loon. David McCartt --- On Sat, 4/16/11, John and Fritzie Blizzard job121...@verizon.net wrote: From: John and Fritzie Blizzard job121...@verizon.net Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] stranded common loon to be rescued Sun. To: Glen glen...@frontiernet.net, cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011, 8:23 PM Hope a lot of people don't converge on the site traumatize the bird more than it probably will be, if it isn't already. Keep us updated . thanks! Fritzie -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] syracuse RBA
RBA * New York * Syracuse * April 18, 2011 * NYSY 1804.11 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): April 11, 2010 - April 18, 2011 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison Cortland compiled:April 18 AT 1:00 p.m. (EST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org #251 -Monday April 18, 2011 Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of April 11 , 2010 Highlights: --- RED-NECKED GREBE GREAT EGRET BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON EURASIAN WIGEON BROAD-WINGED HAWK PEREGRINE FALCON SANDHILL CRANE COMMON MOORHEN VIRGINIA RAIL GREATER YELLOWLEGS LESSER YELLOWLEGS DUNLIN PECTORAL SANDPIPER FORSTER’S TERN FISH CROW Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) 4/11: DUNLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a FISH CROW were all seen along the Wildlife Trail. 4/13: A SANDHILL CRANE was amont the 29 wpecies noted at the Audubon Center. 4/15: 12 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were found in the new Shorebird Area. Two more joined them the next day. 4/17: 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were spotted at the beginning of Towpath Road. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen along the Wildlife Trail. A FOS COMMON MOORHEN was found at Marten’s Tract. A SANDHILL CRANE was seen at the Audubon Center. 30 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER were all seen on Carncross Road. 4/18: 6 DUNLIN were seen along the Wildlife Trail. Derby Hill After a spectacular day on 4/11 (2565 raptors) cold weather has slowed the flight again. 4/11 saw the first BROAD-WINGED HAWKS of the season along with a GREAT EGRET.On 4/14 a FISH CROW was noted and on 4/17 the first PEREGRINE FALCON of the season was counted. Total number of raprors for the week was 3,321. Oswego County 4/12: An EURASIAN WIGEON was found at Phillips Point on Oneida Lake. A FOS BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen at Noyes Sanctuary on Lake Ontario. 4/13: 2 RED-NECKED GREBES were seen from Oneida Shores Park. 4/15: 2 VIRGINIA RAILS were found at West Monroe. 4/17: 2 FORSTER’S TERNS were seen from Oneida Shores Park Onondaga County 4/14 A FOS LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was found at Pratt’s Falls County Park. 4/16: A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen flying on Indian Hill Road in the southern part of the county. New Arrivals 4/11 - BROAD-WINGED HAWK, Derby Hill 4/11 - GREAT EGRET, Derby Hill 4/12 - BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, Noyes Sanctuary 4/14 - VESPER SPARROW, Baldwinsville 4/14 - LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, Pratt’s Falls 4/14 - BROWN THRASHER, Three Rivers WMA 4/15 - PECTORAL SANDPIPER, Montezuma 4/17 - BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, Montezuma 4/17 - COMMON MOORHEN, Montezuma --end transcript -- Joseph Brin Region 5 Baldwinsville, N.Y. 13027 U.S.A. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Osprey at Jennings Pond
No Caspian terns at Jennings Pond this morning (Danby), but at about 9:30 I watched an OSPREY circle and hover, and finally make off with a big fish. I've posted a pic post-catch at http://tinyurl.com/3ruajl4 Melissa Groo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Swan Pen/Jetty Woods
A lunch-time walk around the Swan Pen at Stewart Park turned up three singing Palm Warblers. They were all Eastern race (bright yellow underparts), different from the Palm Warblers found there last week which were the Western race. Also found were three Yellow-rumped Warblers, several of which were also singing. I then walked the path through Jetty Woods. There was a single Purple Finch singing loudly while munching wild grapes near the entrance, four Rusty Blackbirds (2 males, 2 females), and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Bob McGuire -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Unsuccessful loon attempt
My apologies for this late report about the adult Common Loon that was found feeding and swimming near the Goetchius Preserve on Flat Iron Road. (by Karen Allaben-Confer) For three days, the loon seemed healthy and was feeding vigorously on perhaps small fish, tadpoles, other water critters - we could see it diving, swallowing, bill dipping in the turbid water. The creek is runoff from the wetland on the west side of Flat Iron Rd, and was high and rapid from the latest rain storm. John (Confer) visited the loon several times and notice that when it was flapping its wings, one of the wings was bent as if sprained and there was no hope that the loon would be able to fly out of the creek. Our original plan was to capture the loon and relocate it in the Goetchius wetland where there was a longer runway for the loon's extended run along the water and take-off before it reached the back beaver dam and the forest. John called for help from a wonderful animal rescuer, Victoria Campbell, who agreed to bring a large net. We originally planned to ask a few people to help herd the loon, so-to-speak to a shallow bank near the deep culvert pool. Some years ago, after a major ice storm in the region when grebes, loons, and other birds were found stranded on icy roads or in high water spring streams. The DEC assisted in the rescue of three loons. A group of about 5 people braved the cold water to direct the loons toward a net that was extended across the stream. There were moments when we despaired over the loons diving and avoiding the net. But, in the end, when all of us, the DEC people, and the loons were tired, the loons were caught and placed in animal crates and boxes. A DEC official, John and I, and Sandy Podulka drove the loons to Dryden Lake and released them. It was very exciting and a great relief to watch the loons dive into the water and disappear, then, rise out of the water some distance away. I am sorry to report that the fate of the Flat Iron Rd. Loon does not have such a happy ending. While the loon seemed robust and healthy, we could not direct it into the net, even with several people waist deep in the stream trying to guide it to the net. It dove around the out wash of the culvert and would swim underwater to pop up behind us. We tried to drive the bird toward the shallows to one shore, but it was clever in evading us. In the end, we decided to not stress and tire the loon. We climbed back to the bank along the stream and watched for the loon to reappear. It did not and we assume that it continued to ride the strong current downstream to a culvert which would direct it further downstream. The stream is part of the Upper Susquehanna River system, but it shallows out in numerous sites as it flows west southwest. If the loon can make its way through the shallow sections and rest and feed in deeper pools downstream, then it might be able to reach the Susquehanna and find deeper waters. However, this sends the bird further from its northward flight. The loon was an adult and except for its injured wing was in spectacular plumage. It was alert and strong with its legs, but we believe there was no hope for it to soon take off to fly north. John and I mourned that there are is a large coyote pack in the Flat Iron valley, but we don't know if they would know of the loon's presence or if they would enter the stream to try to reach it. If the loon can find plentiful food sourceswell, you are now understanding the situation which seems hopeless at this point. This is a sad tale and I am sorry to report it. Perhaps if we had recruited more people, we would eventually have herded the loon to a shallow shoreline where catching it would have been much easier, or we might just have stressed it more without any success. Perhaps a seine across a narrow portion of the creek would have worked. Now, we are puzzling how the loon was injured in the first place. Was it shot? Was it blown down by gusty winds during the rain storms? Did it aim to land on the stream as it tired from a long migration from the south and simply crash landed on the shoreline before entering the water - injuring its wing in the process? We will never know. We are grateful to those who came out on a Sunday morning to help rescue the loon. You will all empathize with the very depressed group who had high hopes of saving this beautiful diver, rehabilitating it, and releasing it to continue its flight north. Later, as we sipped hot chocolate in our sunroom, each person declared how dreadfully sad they felt. This handsome bird had finally reached maturity and was heading north toward its first breeding year. After young loons make their first migration, they return by increments to their northern natal lakes. That is, the young loons take up to three years or so to make their final flight to breed on northern lakes and large ponds. They winter along the coast of North America
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Unsuccessful loon attempt
Thank you to Karen, John and Victoria for their compassion, and willingness to be heartbroken as they attempted this. Let us all maintain just a little hope and a spiritual moment of prayer for this being. Any of us would have come to help, but the outcome is never guaranteed no matter what. Linda On Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 3:42 PM, John Confer con...@ithaca.edu wrote: My apologies for this late report about the adult Common Loon that was found feeding and swimming near the Goetchius Preserve on Flat Iron Road. (by Karen Allaben-Confer) For three days, the loon seemed healthy and was feeding vigorously on perhaps small fish, tadpoles, other water critters - we could see it diving, swallowing, bill dipping in the turbid water. The creek is runoff from the wetland on the west side of Flat Iron Rd, and was high and rapid from the latest rain storm. John (Confer) visited the loon several times and notice that when it was flapping its wings, one of the wings was bent as if sprained and there was no hope that the loon would be able to fly out of the creek. Our original plan was to capture the loon and relocate it in the Goetchius wetland where there was a longer runway for the loon's extended run along the water and take-off before it reached the back beaver dam and the forest. John called for help from a wonderful animal rescuer, Victoria Campbell, who agreed to bring a large net. We originally planned to ask a few people to help herd the loon, so-to-speak to a shallow bank near the deep culvert pool. Some years ago, after a major ice storm in the region when grebes, loons, and other birds were found stranded on icy roads or in high water spring streams. The DEC assisted in the rescue of three loons. A group of about 5 people braved the cold water to direct the loons toward a net that was extended across the stream. There were moments when we despaired over the loons diving and avoiding the net. But, in the end, when all of us, the DEC people, and the loons were tired, the loons were caught and placed in animal crates and boxes. A DEC official, John and I, and Sandy Podulka drove the loons to Dryden Lake and released them. It was very exciting and a great relief to watch the loons dive into the water and disappear, then, rise out of the water some distance away. I am sorry to report that the fate of the Flat Iron Rd. Loon does not have such a happy ending. While the loon seemed robust and healthy, we could not direct it into the net, even with several people waist deep in the stream trying to guide it to the net. It dove around the out wash of the culvert and would swim underwater to pop up behind us. We tried to drive the bird toward the shallows to one shore, but it was clever in evading us. In the end, we decided to not stress and tire the loon. We climbed back to the bank along the stream and watched for the loon to reappear. It did not and we assume that it continued to ride the strong current downstream to a culvert which would direct it further downstream. The stream is part of the Upper Susquehanna River system, but it shallows out in numerous sites as it flows west southwest. If the loon can make its way through the shallow sections and rest and feed in deeper pools downstream, then it might be able to reach the Susquehanna and find deeper waters. However, this sends the bird further from its northward flight. The loon was an adult and except for its injured wing was in spectacular plumage. It was alert and strong with its legs, but we believe there was no hope for it to soon take off to fly north. John and I mourned that there are is a large coyote pack in the Flat Iron valley, but we don't know if they would know of the loon's presence or if they would enter the stream to try to reach it. If the loon can find plentiful food sourceswell, you are now understanding the situation which seems hopeless at this point. This is a sad tale and I am sorry to report it. Perhaps if we had recruited more people, we would eventually have herded the loon to a shallow shoreline where catching it would have been much easier, or we might just have stressed it more without any success. Perhaps a seine across a narrow portion of the creek would have worked. Now, we are puzzling how the loon was injured in the first place. Was it shot? Was it blown down by gusty winds during the rain storms? Did it aim to land on the stream as it tired from a long migration from the south and simply crash landed on the shoreline before entering the water - injuring its wing in the process? We will never know. We are grateful to those who came out on a Sunday morning to help rescue the loon. You will all empathize with the very depressed group who had high hopes of saving this beautiful diver, rehabilitating it, and releasing it to continue its flight north. Later, as we sipped hot chocolate in our sunroom, each person declared how dreadfully sad they felt.
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Swan Pen/Jetty Woods
I must have just missed Bob, but saw and heard the same warblers while walking the path around the swan pen. Also singing were numerous house sparrows, redwings, robins, starlings, and a N. Cardinal. Several Northern Rough-winged and numerous Tree Swallows were catching insects over the water and a chattering kingfisher circled the pond and flew off. I must have come right after a hatch of gnats as a cloud of them swarmed around me as I followed the warblers around the pond. Several Canada Geese are nesting along the northern edge of the pen with protective males fiercely hissing at passersby. Above one nest, a trio of bright N. Flickers noisily challenged each other atop a large cottonwood. Their yellow under-wings were flashing brilliant yellow as they flew around each other loudly squawking and trading places on the limb. Six pairs of Lesser Scaup and a pair of Bufflehead were resting just off shore in the placid lake along with numerous Canada Geese and mallards. A predominantly white-bodied hybrid mallard was also among the mix. It was a pleasant interlude on this drizzly, dank day. Candace Cornell On Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 2:14 PM, bob mcguire bmcgu...@clarityconnect.comwrote: A lunch-time walk around the Swan Pen at Stewart Park turned up three singing Palm Warblers. They were all Eastern race (bright yellow underparts), different from the Palm Warblers found there last week which were the Western race. Also found were three Yellow-rumped Warblers, several of which were also singing. I then walked the path through Jetty Woods. There was a single Purple Finch singing loudly while munching wild grapes near the entrance, four Rusty Blackbirds (2 males, 2 females), and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Bob McGuire -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Monday Night Seminar tonight! [book signing, too!]
One addition to last week's announcement-Wild Birds Unlimited will have copies some of John's newest books (both his new book (released 3/29/11), Dog Days, Raven Nights and the In the Company of Crows and Ravens books) And John will be available after the seminar to sign copies. Hope to see you here! Monday, April 18, 2011 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM The surprising behavior of crows by John Marzluff (online flyer: http://goo.gl/6jwqy) Do crows really talk, give gifts, and use surfboards? Of course they do, and so much more! During this seminar, John will explore and discuss some of the amazing feats that crows and ravens are reknown for, investigating their biological bases and implications for how we share the world with another species that often gets our ire. Much of what John will discuss stems from the contributions of citizen observers. Speaker Info: John Marzluff Professor, Wildlife Science University of Washington Learn more about John's work at his websitehttp://www.cfr.washington.edu/SFRPublic/People/FacultyProfile.aspx?PID=10 Check out John's books on corvids available online http://www.amazon.com/John-M.-Marzluff/e/B001ITYFK8 Monday Night Seminars were originally conceived by Lab founder Dr. Arthur A. Allen as a venue for sharing the complex world of science in a format aimed at a public audience. Seminars typically begin at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.) in the Visitors’ Center Auditorium. As always, admission is free and open to all. ** Charles Eldermire Public Education Outreach Associate Manager, Sapsucker Woods Johnson Visitors' Center Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 254-1131 (607) 254-2111 [fax] birds.cornell.edu/visit twitter.com/sapsuckerwoods facebook.com/sapsuckerwoods -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
