[cayugabirds-l] Snow Buntings
I just saw about 15 Snow Buntings fly across from east to west by my office window! Meena Dr. Meena Haribal Boyce Thompson Institute Ithaca NY 14850 Ph: 607-3011167 http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ http://haribal.org/ -- 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] new yard bird
Trivia follows After 65 years of extensive feeding of birds in my yard, (OK, including homes of parents for Karen and John and our previous homes) and with dispersal of up to ~100 lb/wk of bird seed when there has been frequent, fresh snow fall, and after thousands of hours of observation; it is a rare treat to get great views of a new species feeding in our yard. OK, guess what species. It is not really rare, just almost never seen in our yard habitat. It is a bird of the field. Don't have it yet? Does it help to know that it nests in the tundra? Scroll down Snow Bunting! for about 15 minutes about 3-4 m from the window. It was snowing hard and images show snow accumulating on its head as it fed. -- 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] Snow Buntings
I would not be surprised to find many field birds (buntings, larks, longspurs) dispersing farther South in search of available food resources in more open fields (or even seed feeders in the middle of the forest – John). In the recent sleet-covered and heavy snowfall-covered areas, many previously open manure spread fields are now frozen or covered over by blowing snow or high snowfall amounts. Food will be scarce for a short time. Keep your eyes open! Sincerely, Chris T-H On Mar 13, 2014, at 10:15 AM, Meena Madhav Haribal m...@cornell.edumailto:m...@cornell.edu wrote: I just saw about 15 Snow Buntings fly across from east to west by my office window! Meena Dr. Meena Haribal Boyce Thompson Institute Ithaca NY 14850 Ph: 607-3011167 http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ http://haribal.org/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm Archives: The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/! -- -- Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes Field Applications Engineer Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 W: 607-254-2418 M: 607-351-5740 F: 607-254-1132 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp -- 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] Monday Night Seminar--The Warbler Guide: The Overlooked ID Points that Make Identifying Warblers Easy
Hello Cayuga Birders Please join us at *7:30 on March 17* for the next Monday Night Seminar at the Lab of Ornithology http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1573. As always, these seminars are free and open to the public. The doors open at 7:00. This coming Monday, we will be streaming the seminar live. Be sure to bookmark http://dl.allaboutbirds.org/cornelllab-monday-night-seminars for quick access on Monday evening. And if you missed them, you can also watch the archived versions http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1579 of the previous live-streamed lectures. Thanks for spreading the word--hope to see you there! Marc Devokaitis Cornell Lab of Ornithology *Tom Stephenson, author; Scott Whittle, photographer The Warbler Guide: The Overlooked ID Points that Make Identifying Warblers Easy Host: Mike Webster* Birder and author Tom Stephenson and photographer Scott Whittle will describe important but often overlooked ID clues for colorful and sometimes elusive warblers: overall contrast, subtle facial features, color impressions, feather edging, rump contrast, as well as foraging style, location, and behavior. Even viewing a warbler from below can reveal identity clues for many species. Stephenson and Whittle will also address some of the most challenging species to identify, compare them to similar species, and illustrate how even partial views can be used to identify warbler species. *Stephenson's and Whittle's book, The Warbler Guide, published by Princeton University Press, will be available for purchase and signing. * *UPCOMING MONDAY NIGHT SEMINARS* *March 24 Sara Kaiser, Cornell Lab Unraveling the Mysteries of Songbird Mating Systems* *Host: TBA *Sara Kaiser is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. She'll discuss how habitat quality affects where and how often the seemingly monogamous Black-throated Blue Warbler mates outside its pair bond. Most male Black-throated Blue Warblers are socially monogamous, meaning they are mated to a single female. However, all is not as it appears: up to 50% of Black-throated Blue Warbler nests have young sired by a male that is not the territory holder. Sara has been studying the mating system of these warblers in the hardwood forests of New Hampshire. *March 31 Margaret Barker, Elissa Wolfson, Chris Willett Building, Placing, and Maintaining Great Homes for Great Birds Host: Robyn Bailey *Join authors Margaret Barker and Elissa Wolfson, along with woodworker Chris Willett as they share what they learned--and built--while writing and researching the Audubon Birdhouse Book (Voyageur Press, 2013). Find out how to build for birds that take up residence within birdhouses--including Wood Ducks, kestrels, and of course, bluebirds--as well as those such as Great Blue Herons, Ospreys, and loons that nest outside the box. We'll explore the reasons behind birdhouse building, especially where natural habitat is scarce, the latest design innovations, and how people everywhere are helping birds by providing them with safe homes. *April 7 Taza Schaming, PhD candidate; Cornell Lab of Ornithology Clark's Nutcrackers: Pivotal Players in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Host: TBA* Whitebark pine and Clark's Nutcrackers have a fascinating relationship. The trees provide the birds with rich, fatty seeds that have more calories per pound than chocolate. In return, the nutcrackers plant the seeds that grow whitebark pines as well as 10 other conifer species--trees needed to provide food for wildlife and to helping retain snow (and thus drinking water) on the upper slopes of the Rockies. Schaming will also provide insights into the social behavior of the Clark's Nutcracker. *April 14 Cayuga Bird Club Meeting Dr. John L. Confer, Biology Department, Ithaca College Saw-whet Owls: The Cute Factor Aids Science: 206,000 Birds Banded by Insomniac Banders Reveal Migration Patterns and Regional Reproductive Success* The Northern Saw-whet Owl is widely distributed and an intensive banding effort provides a data trove for this tiny raptor. Banding records combined with GIS analyses reveal exceptional detail about migration patterns in eastern and central North America which allows us to analyze temporal/spatial patterns of reproductive success for breeding populations in different portions of North America. * April 21 Anne B. Clark, Binghamton University; Kevin McGowan, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; To Know the Crow: Insights and stories from a quarter century of crow study Host: TBA* American crows have followed us into our suburban and urban neighborhoods, making them one of our most familiar birds. But they have socially intricate lives, with more complex goals than converging at your local dumpster--in fact, socially, they are probably more like us than any primate. Ithaca is home to the longest running study of marked American crows anywhere: it is now 26 years since Kevin first
[cayugabirds-l] Icterid invasion, owl observation
At least 14 COMMON GRACKLES and 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (one adult male, one immature male) has just invaded my neighbors' yard, taking over their feeders and drinking from a seep at the bottom of the hill. Earlier I heard and saw a NORTHERN FLICKER which looked a bit sad. Maybe it didn't visit the feeders. On Tuesday afternoon at 5pm I saw a flock of ~40 probable COMMON GRACKLES northbound over NYS-366 by the Vet School, but I wasn't able to pull over and get the binoculars on them in time to be 100% sure. Later that evening I went to Snyder Rd behind the airport and at about 7:20pm saw at least one, possibly 2, SHORT-EARED OWLS hunting. The longest view was of an initially distant bird which coursed north and south working its way east over the weedy grounds northeast of the runway, eventually pouncing in the field just outside the airport fence, not far from my vantage, but I could barely see its head above the grass. I listened unsuccessfully for American Woodcock until almost 8pm. --Dave Nutter -- 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! --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Icterid invasion, owl observation
The blackbirds just as suddenly left, and the horde of House Sparrows once again reigns. Correction: they have returned. The grackle group is overwhelmingly male - they crowd into a semi-enclosed feeder then overfill the space by giving their body-plumage-burp displays - but there are also at least 2 sedate females among them, reminding me of old-fashioned widows.I forgot to mention that during my unsuccessful quest for American Woodcock I did hear a COYOTE duet at 7:42pm southwest of the intersection of Etna and Mohawk Rds. I understand this is common in rural areas, but for this townie who doesn't get out much in the evenings it was a treat.--Dave NutterOn Mar 13, 2014, at 12:13 PM, Dave Nutter nutter.d...@me.com wrote:At least 14 COMMON GRACKLES and 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (one adult male, one immature male) has just invaded my neighbors' yard, taking over their feeders and drinking from a seep at the bottom of the hill. Earlier I heard and saw a NORTHERN FLICKER which looked a bit sad. Maybe it didn't visit the feeders. On Tuesday afternoon at 5pm I saw a flock of ~40 probable COMMON GRACKLES northbound over NYS-366 by the Vet School, but I wasn't able to pull over and get the binoculars on them in time to be 100% sure. Later that evening I went to Snyder Rd behind the airport and at about 7:20pm saw at least one, possibly 2, SHORT-EARED OWLS hunting. The longest view was of an initially distant bird which coursed north and south working its way east over the weedy grounds northeast of the runway, eventually pouncing in the field just outside the airport fence, not far from my vantage, but I could barely see its head above the grass. I listened unsuccessfully for American Woodcock until almost 8pm. --Dave Nutter--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and BasicsRules and InformationSubscribe, Configuration and LeaveArchives:The Mail ArchiveSurfbirdsBirdingOnThe.NetPlease submit your observations to eBird!-- -- 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! --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Icterid invasion, owl observation
Last night while all arctic hell was breaking loose, a brave mourning dove was cooing outside my window. This irrepressible bird, like the rest of us, must be yearning for Spring or was he mourning our eternal winter? On Thu, Mar 13, 2014 at 12:13 PM, Dave Nutter nutter.d...@me.com wrote: At least 14 COMMON GRACKLES and 2 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (one adult male, one immature male) has just invaded my neighbors' yard, taking over their feeders and drinking from a seep at the bottom of the hill. Earlier I heard and saw a NORTHERN FLICKER which looked a bit sad. Maybe it didn't visit the feeders. On Tuesday afternoon at 5pm I saw a flock of ~40 probable COMMON GRACKLES northbound over NYS-366 by the Vet School, but I wasn't able to pull over and get the binoculars on them in time to be 100% sure. Later that evening I went to Snyder Rd behind the airport and at about 7:20pm saw at least one, possibly 2, SHORT-EARED OWLS hunting. The longest view was of an initially distant bird which coursed north and south working its way east over the weedy grounds northeast of the runway, eventually pouncing in the field just outside the airport fence, not far from my vantage, but I could barely see its head above the grass. I listened unsuccessfully for American Woodcock until almost 8pm. --Dave Nutter -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archivehttp://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: 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] Mucks Cayuga Lake north end - Tuesday
I statused the Savannah Mucklands and north end of Cayuga Lake on Tuesday afternoon before the return to winter. Mucks (east end) - still frozen Mucks (west end) - dabblers and Canada Geese but poor numbers and little diversity for the date. More Pintails than on previous visit but otherwise little evidence of migration and few birds that weren't there two weeks ago. Lots of birds flying about but nothing like it should be. Only two Snow Geese. Cayuga Lake (west shore to Lower Lake Rd) - frozen as far as could be seen from Lower Lake Rd. Ice fishing still viable so I don't think it's opening imminently. Mud Lock - north end entirely frozen. Open water near the railroad bridge with birds. I didn't scope them. Harris Park - two small open spots mostly near the railroad track and halfway across. Packed with birds but distance and heat shimmer a major issue. Increase in Ring-necked ducks. Several Green-winged Teal were the only dabblers that didn't winter there. Several hundred gulls but nothing unusual. Aythya ducks coming in from the south but no roost flight of geese (the small number I saw were traveling west and not stopping). Mucks (sunset) - I thought there might be a roost flight of geese but there was not. My guess is they are going to Seneca Lake at Geneva. Two late and distant Short-eared Owls. Regarding the spring Snow Goose movement, we normally enjoy a pre-flight staging period on Cayuga Lake and at the Mucklands. We may be mostly losing that this year or it may be very short in duration. Snows mostly seem to avoid crossing Lake Ontario, presumably because they have no interest in stopping on it, and sometimes come back when they encounter frozen water and farm fields to our north. Much, if not most, of the Cayuga Lake Snow Geese overfly Derby Hill so we should know more before long. David Wheeler N. Syracuse, NY -- 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] White against the blue
How beautiful to see 2 flocks of pure white swans flying overhead about 4 p.m with the brilliant blue sky above them. Becky could hear them discussing their plans for their evening rest on the lake, or maybe they were talking about not enough grass poking up through the snow where they had stopped for lunch. Whatever it was, their passage from our view as we were shoveling snow, was much too fast. She opened the platform feeder enclosure so the cardinals could go in to feed but the first to go in for seed were 2 FOY grackles. We've had many tree sparrows, house finches juncos since the storm. I haven't been to the ponds since Tues.. Dave Nutter wrote to me about what I posted about seeing 2 female common mergs on the 11th. He said he had seen female red-breasted mergs I realized he was correct since I had definitely noticed the bill difference. Didn't have my scope ... rarely take it when I go to the PO for mail forgot to check when I got home. Fritzie -- 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] Cooper's Hawk
Today when I got back home from work, I entered from the backyard. From among the shrubbery of lilacs and some other plants flew out a Copper's Hawk, which seemed to have been having a quiet meal and got disturbed by my arrival, landed on a Maple branch quite in open just a few feet from me. I watched him and he watched me for some time and then I headed towards the back door while he still sat there watching me. I came inside and after a while I looked for him from my bedroom. He was still there. Another five minutes later he was gone. He seemed gorgeous in the low evening light! Also from the bus I watched the trees, when the sun was hitting the trees from the back there were sparklers on the trees (basically due to ice) and they shined from various angles of sun quite differently. It was very beautiful! Meena Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 42.429007,-76.47111 http://haribal.org/ http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ -- 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/ --
