RE: [cayugabirds-l] Stevenson Road Compost-Horned Larks
I have 3 yard crows this winter. For the past week two of them have been perching side-by-side quite often, one solicits preening by exposing the nape or the throat, and the other preens it. I have assumed this is the mated pair. The third crow mostly hangs off to the side in another tree. I have assumed this to be a juvenile of most likely the past breeding season. I have a question. This third crow once cawed outside the window, facing me, and I observed that the bases of the throat feathers were light-colored; looked white. Sibley shows the bases of the neck feathers of juvenile ravens to be either white or gray, but implies that this coloring occurs only during June thru August. Are crows different in this respect, or am I missing something obvious (as usual)? Steve Fast -Original Message- From: bounce-55208-9286...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-55208-9286...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Anne Clark Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 2:03 PM To: Cayuga Bird Club listserv Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Stevenson Road Compost-Horned Larks 1300h There were about 10 horned larks (all adults except one immature) foraging in newly manured field, W of the driveway into the Compost Facility and N of the Pheasant pens. Just to be complete--also present in the Compost Facility area (mounds, manured field, Dodge x Stevenson Rd) were 2-300 American crows, 2 Turkey Vultures (last seen monitoring an immature Redtailed Hawk that had just killed a pheasant in the pens), Ring billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, a few Great Black-backed Gulls, many more Red-tailed hawks (12-15?), 1 Cooper's hawk, starlings and a very dependable large flock of House Sparrows in the hedges along the drive. No unusual gulls noted. One interesting American crow interaction: an adult was preening a second crow (ragged tailed--unsure of age) when a third came in directly to the preener. This one marched back and forth, pausing and bowing its head (invite preen) at various angles to the preener, who was now just standing quietly. Then a fourth came in, paused, looked at the others and made its way to the head end of the preener; it too held a slightly head-down position and looked like it was in the act of solicitation when something brought a bunch of crows up including the much-sought preener. All unbanded...I can only make up stories. But the event resembled some we have seen in spring, when young birds try to insert themselves into parental allo-preening. Anne -- 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 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] Stevenson Road Compost-Horned Larks
At this time of year, the allopreening duo of crows are more likely to be an offspring and a parent. Starting about March the breeding pair allopreen at an elevated rate. But, through the fall and winter, it's usually a kid and its mom. The bases of the body feathers of nearly all birds are not the color of the tips. Chickadees can show dark areas when their light body feathers part. American Crows and Common Ravens have light gray bases to their body feathers. They can show at any time, but especially on windy days. The Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus, or crow with hidden white) used to be called the White-necked Raven because the bases of its body feathers are white. It's not only the bases to the neck feathers that are white; all the body feathers are that way. It's just that it's easier to see white on the neck. Kevin -Original Message- From: bounce-58168-3493...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-58168-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Susan Fast Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2013 7:53 AM To: 'Anne Clark'; CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Stevenson Road Compost-Horned Larks I have 3 yard crows this winter. For the past week two of them have been perching side-by-side quite often, one solicits preening by exposing the nape or the throat, and the other preens it. I have assumed this is the mated pair. The third crow mostly hangs off to the side in another tree. I have assumed this to be a juvenile of most likely the past breeding season. I have a question. This third crow once cawed outside the window, facing me, and I observed that the bases of the throat feathers were light-colored; looked white. Sibley shows the bases of the neck feathers of juvenile ravens to be either white or gray, but implies that this coloring occurs only during June thru August. Are crows different in this respect, or am I missing something obvious (as usual)? Steve Fast -Original Message- From: bounce-55208-9286...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-55208-9286...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Anne Clark Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 2:03 PM To: Cayuga Bird Club listserv Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Stevenson Road Compost-Horned Larks 1300h There were about 10 horned larks (all adults except one immature) foraging in newly manured field, W of the driveway into the Compost Facility and N of the Pheasant pens. Just to be complete--also present in the Compost Facility area (mounds, manured field, Dodge x Stevenson Rd) were 2-300 American crows, 2 Turkey Vultures (last seen monitoring an immature Redtailed Hawk that had just killed a pheasant in the pens), Ring billed Gulls, Herring Gulls, a few Great Black-backed Gulls, many more Red-tailed hawks (12-15?), 1 Cooper's hawk, starlings and a very dependable large flock of House Sparrows in the hedges along the drive. No unusual gulls noted. One interesting American crow interaction: an adult was preening a second crow (ragged tailed--unsure of age) when a third came in directly to the preener. This one marched back and forth, pausing and bowing its head (invite preen) at various angles to the preener, who was now just standing quietly. Then a fourth came in, paused, looked at the others and made its way to the head end of the preener; it too held a slightly head-down position and looked like it was in the act of solicitation when something brought a bunch of crows up including the much-sought preener. All unbanded...I can only make up stories. But the event resembled some we have seen in spring, when young birds try to insert themselves into parental allo-preening. Anne -- 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 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/ -- - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4259 / Virus Database: 3658/6932 - Release Date: 12/18/13 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1)
[cayugabirds-l] Bradfield peregrine
Peregrine on west side of Bradfield Hall now. Sent from my iPhone -- 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] starlings
Right now, there is a flock of perhaps 1000 starlings in our trees all around the east side of the house. Most of them came down to the creek a few minutes ago for a little sip of water, or perhaps a bath to rid themselves of the dirty bird' accusation. Shirley suggests that they are looking for my truck, upon which they often bestow little gifts. If we get 1000 little gifts today, I will just bury the truck. In Africa, there are numerous species of starlings and every one is more attractive than these invaders. Nonetheless, a flock of 1000 anythings is awesome when they fill the trees in one's yard. Bill McAneny, TBurg -- 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] Fox's Refrigerator - OT?
As a loyal reader of (but not a poster to) Cayugabirds-L, I hope you'll excuse me if I'm 'way off topic, I but thought you folks might be interested in (or have seen) what we saw yesterday morning. Watching from our front windows, we saw a beautiful red fox trotting up our driveway. (There's a den not far down the road from our house.) It had something in its mouth and as it came closer, we could see it was probably a mouse. A skinny tail was protruding from the fox's jaws. The fox trotted casually between our two cars, parked side-by-side in the driveway, then around the yard, in one direction, then another. Finally the fox trotted to a spot near our garage and began to dig in the snow with its front paws. After it had a hole about 6 inches deep, it placed the mouse in the hole and pushed snow over it, patting the snow down with its nose. Then it trotted to the edge of the yard where there are a lot of dried weeds and stood listening for a long time. Finally, though, it went back down the driveway, its fluffy tail waving jauntily behind. We've left the mouse-sicle undisturbed, of course. Kathy Kramer Newfield -- 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] tundra swans
A pair of tundra swans on the mill pond in Union Springs this morning about 10:45. Both had yellow tags on the wings; I could read only one: A21. Quite a few widgeons, a bufflehead, lots of Canadas. -- 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] EARED GREBE, SW Cayuga Lake scoped from NW Treman ...
EARED GREBE, SW Cayuga Lake scoped from NW Treman lakeshore. --Dave Nutter -- 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] Cayuga Bird Club Christmas Bird Count 2014, Information and request for participants!!
Please note, information is on our website, Cayugabirdclub.org. You can either access the blog through the December newsletter article on the front page or you can search under resources for Christmas Bird Count (but be aware that the resource article has not been updated since last year's count although this year's content is not much different.) You can access the count circle map in either place. This year will be Audubon’s 114th Christmas Bird Count. The Cayuga Bird Club again will organize the Ithaca count on their traditional date of January 1. This year that falls on a Wednesday, which is a holiday for most of us. All members of the public are encouraged to participate and we are very anxious to have anyone interested in this feel comfortable about participating. It is not necessary that you be a member of the Cayuga Bird Club. So please get in touch. If you see an area below that you are familiar with and would like to cover, let me know. If you would like more information or if you would like assistance in choosing a count area or if you are a beginner and are concerned about identifying birds accurately, you may call the Count Co-Coordinator, Linda Orkin at 279-4253 or email at this dedicated email address, cbccay...@gmail.com . I will be happy to discuss some options with you. Area leaders will be in touch with participants from last year, so no need to contact us, unless you do not hear from someone by the middle of December. Within the 15-mile diameter Ithaca count circle, we have nine areas from which to choose, all with their own hotspots. Here is a link to our bird club page with more details, including map of the circle and the areas: http://www.cayugabirdclub.org/Resources/christmas-bird-count. Beginners can be paired with more experienced birders if they wish. The more eyes and ears, the better. Dress warmly, be sure to have some hot beverages and other provisions with you and get out and enjoy the day. This will be a great start to your own personal 2014 bird list while contributing to this monumental data collection. You can begin at 12:01 a.m. on January 1 by listening for owls, or you can head out at dawn to tally resident songbirds. You can drive around in the afternoon to look for hawks, and/or you can snuggle in at home and count birds at your feeders. As you can see, there are many options for participation and your input is invaluable at all levels. We want to thank all of you in advance for your time and contribution. If you choose to stay home and count birds at your feeders, write down the total time you spend watching, the species seen, and the maximum number of birds of each species seen at any one time. This is the same protocol as Project Feederwatch. Call the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at 254-2473 between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. (no later, please!) to report your totals to this year’s club volunteer, We sincerely invite all to join other Christmas Bird Count (CBC) participants in the auditorium at the Laboratory of Ornithology, starting at 6:00 p.m., for a potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. followed by the compilation of sightings at 7:15 p.m. Bring a dish to share, a beverage and your own table service. Our count compiler will once again be Kevin McGowan, who always brings a fount of knowledge and a wonderful historical perspective to this endeavor. Counts are submitted to Audubon, which compiles the data from all the count circles. Audubon posts all CBC data on the Internet and makes this huge database is available for anyone to access—high school students doing a project, newspaper reporters writing about bird population trends, or scientists doing research. *Area I* West Dryden, Hile School Road area. Open fields, secondary growth fields, and woodlots. Possible Merlin, White-winged Crossbills, blackbirds, and sparrows. *Area II* Fall Creek area, Mount Pleasant. Woodlands and fields. Good for turkeys, hawks, and herons. *Area III* The linear park in Dryden, Beam Hill, and Yellow Barn Road. Pine and spruce forests, good for winter finches. *Area *IV Laura Stenzler: Ellis Hollow area, Snyder Hill, Ringwood. Woodlands and fields. Good for hawks, turkeys, bluebirds, sparrows, owls, and finches. *Area V* Six Mile Creek gorge, Brooktondale area. Our largest area, good birding and hiking. Possible turkey and grouse. *Area VI* Danby area, Finger Lakes Trail, and Buttermilk Falls. Noted for wintering bluebirds and robins. *Area VII * West side of Cayuga Lake, Bostwick Road, Mecklenberg Road. Good for waterfowl, including all three species of merganser. *Area VIII* Cornell campus, Cayuga Heights, and Stewart Park. Good for rare birds, Fish Crows, and gulls. *Area IX* East side of Cayuga Lake, Lansing area. Fields, woodlots. Waterfowl and field birds, including Northern Shrike and Short-eared Owl. The Audubon Christmas Bird Count has always been held in the December 14 through January 5 time span. In addition to count circles throughout the
[cayugabirds-l] South end of Cayuga waterfowl including Long-tailed Duck and White-winged Scoters
I scoped from East Shore Park this morning from 0830-9 and got a distant view of the spectacular assemblage of waterfowl from the the Hog Hole up the west shore of the lake. Notable were 20+ Tundra Swans, a female Log-tailed Duck fishing around the cluster piling, and a male/female pair of White-winged Scoters 200-300 yards out from the East Shore. I'm hoping that Dave Nutter, who is down along near the west shore, will post a detailed list from that area. Best…Stuart -- 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] Snow Buntings
About 100 beautifully backlit by the sun this morning on Harrier Hill, the summit of Tuttle Road (Town of Hector) which is also the watershed divide between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. (right after I saw you this Am Annie). 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 -- 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] Action on Hunt Hill
I came home this afternoon and could see something struggling in the poultry fence I have around my chicken coop. My first thought that a chicken had gotten out and was trying to force its way back in but quickly realized that it was a northern goshawk that was struggling in the fence. I went into the house to get my fireplace gloves and a blanket that I planned to throw over it whilst I tried to extricate it from the fence. Much to my surprise the bird flew off as I approached and landed on a nearby branch. I went back to the house to grab the camera and got a couple of distant shots before it flew off. As I approached the fence I could see that one of the roosters was stuck in the fence. Apparently, the goshawk was trying to pull him through. I pulled the rooster out of the fence and left him there hoping that the goshawk would return. About 20 minutes later it did and flew / hopped / dragged the rooster about 10 yards before it gave up and started eating. I was able to quietly approach and take a few more photos but unfortunately there was some brush between me and the action. I left the goshawk feeding on the rooster. I checked on the carcass after dark and it looked like what I have always assumed was typical of a raptor meal -- bird on its back with the breast muscles removed. I think that the pictures should be available here: https://plus.google.com/photos/108162973708281960515/albums/5959293456900441777?banner=pwa Gian -- 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/ --
