Re: [cayugabirds-l] Interlaken Rufous Hummingbird update
This is a wonderful post Marty and Mary Jean. Thanks so much for this in-depth recap and for all the additional updates regarding banding and survival. Seems like she knew a good home when she saw one. Linda Orkin Ithaca, NY Sent from my iPhone On Nov 18, 2012, at 9:18 PM, Marty Schlabach wrote: > The Rufous Hummingbird, which has been regularly seen at our feeders on > Powell Road since Oct 3, was last seen on Thursday November 15. Between Oct > 3 and Oct 16 I posted a couple of times that we still had a hummingbird, and > usually got a query or two about whether it was possibly a Rufous. I > dutifully replied that it looked like a female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird to > me. > > Finally on the 16th I posted that I got a better look and it appeared to have > some rusty color on its side. Jay McGowan immediately contacted me about > coming out the next morning. He and two others were here at 7:30am on > October 17 and confirmed, with only a small amount of doubt, that it was a > female Rufous Hummingbird. They left a small chance that it might be an > Allen’s. Jay’s photos > https://picasaweb.google.com/37855303614931880/Fall2012#5800340256025985554 >were terrific and showed the rufous color on the sides and the spread > tail, even noting the width of the tail feathers, further confirming the > specie. His posting to eBird provided additional description > http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11818250. Chances are this was > the same bird observed by Naomi Brewer on September 16 at her home just north > of Sheldrake Point, which is about 3 miles north of our home on Powell Rd in > the Town of Covert. > Jay’s confirmation of the sighting was followed by a parade of birdwatchers, > many of whom contacted me before and/or afterward about stopping by. Since > the bird was confirmed a Rufous on the 17th, it has been seen by us or other > visiting birders almost every day. In addition to Cayuga Basin birders, > visitors have come from Elmira, Binghamton, Canandaigua, and Genesee County, > and probably other areas that I’ve forgotten or didn’t even hear about. > > On Sunday, November 4, birdbanders Bob Yunick, of Schenectady, NY and Bob > Pantle of Candor, were joined by Anne Cooke, a birdbander-in-training, and > came to our house to band the Rufous Hummingbird. Bob Yunick has banded > many hummingbirds including many late season Rufous Hummingbirds in the > northeast. From measurements and feather shapes Bob Yunick confirmed that > this hummer was a hatching-year female Rufous Hummingbird. On November 22 of > last year he banded an immature female Rufous in East Arlington, VT and that > bird continued to visit the feeder until January 17. During that time, > temperatures often went below freezing and indeed several times below 0oF. > The last day it was seen temperatures reached -8oF. Bob Yunick published > this in North American Bird Bander 37(1): 18-21 (2012). > > Subsequent to meeting with Bob Yunick, he forwarded me contact info for Bob > Sargent, a hummingbird expert in Alabama http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/ . > (Is everyone who is interested in hummingbirds named Bob?) Bob Sargent > provided suggestions on how others have succeeded in keeping hummingbird > feeders from freezing when the temperatures dropped below freezing. It > didn’t turn out to be necessary to put a heat lamp on the feeder to keep from > freezing, but on quite a few occasions, I brought in the feeder at night to > keep it from freezing and put it out early the next morning. > > It had also been suggested that I add amino acids to the sugar water > solution. I didn’t go down that road, but I did begin scheming how to > provide insects, inquiring among some entomologists to see if anyone might > have insects that I could feed to the hummer. Flightless fruit flies were > suggested. Given the relatively mild temperatures over the last several > weeks, I instead captured some fruit flies in our house and stored them in > the refrigerator. The idea was to put them outside near the nectar feeder on > a cold day, providing some protein for the hummer, when it might be hard for > it to otherwise find insects. That too became unnecessary, as we had below > freezing nights, but above freezing days meant that the hummer was able to > find insects themselves. Indeed, we observed the Rufous Hummingbird hawking > insects as well as searching window corners for insects and spiders. The > hummer also was regularly seen perching in the apple trees near the feeder. > It’s quite possible that insects were to be found around the remaining aging > fruit. > > We feel incredibly fortunate to have hosted this visitor from the western > part of the US for more than a month. And we were glad to share views of > this rarity with many area birders. Perhaps the lesson to all of us is to > keep our hummingbird feeders up well after we think ou
[cayugabirds-l] Interlaken Rufous Hummingbird update
The Rufous Hummingbird, which has been regularly seen at our feeders on Powell Road since Oct 3, was last seen on Thursday November 15. Between Oct 3 and Oct 16 I posted a couple of times that we still had a hummingbird, and usually got a query or two about whether it was possibly a Rufous. I dutifully replied that it looked like a female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird to me. Finally on the 16th I posted that I got a better look and it appeared to have some rusty color on its side. Jay McGowan immediately contacted me about coming out the next morning. He and two others were here at 7:30am on October 17 and confirmed, with only a small amount of doubt, that it was a female Rufous Hummingbird. They left a small chance that it might be an Allen's. Jay's photos https://picasaweb.google.com/37855303614931880/Fall2012#5800340256025985554 were terrific and showed the rufous color on the sides and the spread tail, even noting the width of the tail feathers, further confirming the specie. His posting to eBird provided additional description http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S11818250. Chances are this was the same bird observed by Naomi Brewer on September 16 at her home just north of Sheldrake Point, which is about 3 miles north of our home on Powell Rd in the Town of Covert. Jay's confirmation of the sighting was followed by a parade of birdwatchers, many of whom contacted me before and/or afterward about stopping by. Since the bird was confirmed a Rufous on the 17th, it has been seen by us or other visiting birders almost every day. In addition to Cayuga Basin birders, visitors have come from Elmira, Binghamton, Canandaigua, and Genesee County, and probably other areas that I've forgotten or didn't even hear about. On Sunday, November 4, birdbanders Bob Yunick, of Schenectady, NY and Bob Pantle of Candor, were joined by Anne Cooke, a birdbander-in-training, and came to our house to band the Rufous Hummingbird. Bob Yunick has banded many hummingbirds including many late season Rufous Hummingbirds in the northeast. From measurements and feather shapes Bob Yunick confirmed that this hummer was a hatching-year female Rufous Hummingbird. On November 22 of last year he banded an immature female Rufous in East Arlington, VT and that bird continued to visit the feeder until January 17. During that time, temperatures often went below freezing and indeed several times below 0oF. The last day it was seen temperatures reached -8oF. Bob Yunick published this in North American Bird Bander 37(1): 18-21 (2012). Subsequent to meeting with Bob Yunick, he forwarded me contact info for Bob Sargent, a hummingbird expert in Alabama http://www.hummingbirdsplus.org/ . (Is everyone who is interested in hummingbirds named Bob?) Bob Sargent provided suggestions on how others have succeeded in keeping hummingbird feeders from freezing when the temperatures dropped below freezing. It didn't turn out to be necessary to put a heat lamp on the feeder to keep from freezing, but on quite a few occasions, I brought in the feeder at night to keep it from freezing and put it out early the next morning. It had also been suggested that I add amino acids to the sugar water solution. I didn't go down that road, but I did begin scheming how to provide insects, inquiring among some entomologists to see if anyone might have insects that I could feed to the hummer. Flightless fruit flies were suggested. Given the relatively mild temperatures over the last several weeks, I instead captured some fruit flies in our house and stored them in the refrigerator. The idea was to put them outside near the nectar feeder on a cold day, providing some protein for the hummer, when it might be hard for it to otherwise find insects. That too became unnecessary, as we had below freezing nights, but above freezing days meant that the hummer was able to find insects themselves. Indeed, we observed the Rufous Hummingbird hawking insects as well as searching window corners for insects and spiders. The hummer also was regularly seen perching in the apple trees near the feeder. It's quite possible that insects were to be found around the remaining aging fruit. We feel incredibly fortunate to have hosted this visitor from the western part of the US for more than a month. And we were glad to share views of this rarity with many area birders. Perhaps the lesson to all of us is to keep our hummingbird feeders up well after we think our lone specie, the Ruby-throated, has headed to warmer climes for the season. Marty Schlabach Mary Jean Welser == Marty Schlabach m...@cornell.edu 8407 Powell Rd. home 607-532-3467 Interlaken, NY 14847 cell315-521-4315 == -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Summerhill 11/18
Hi all, Sorry for the typo, for those who caught it: I obviously meant to type BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, but my fingers did not obey. Happy Birding, -- *David Jonas Weber Natural Resources, Cornell Class of 2016 *2011 Young Birder Bird Species Life List: 258 -- 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] Harris's Hawk
Yesterday evening I picked up a very dead Harris's Hawk from the side of the 190 in Buffalo between the Vulcan and Kenmore exits. The bird has jesses and had been reported previously on the Genesee list. I am hoping to place it with a museum or other institution - interested parties may contact me off list. Joe Fell Buffalo, 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] Summerhill 11/18
Hello all, This morning I decided to check out Summerhill, hoping for some winter finches to be around. Assuming the feeder at the Yellow House on Salt Road was my best chance, I headed straight there. On the way, I could hear plenty of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, CAROLINA CHICKADEES, and BLUE JAYS in the spruces. Once at the house, there were only 8+ Chickadees and a Red-breasted Nuthatch at the feeder. Continuing down Dresser Road in an attempt to see the previously reported Northern Shrike, I stumbled across 2 RUFFED GROUSE taking their time crossing the road. After failing to find the shrike, I decided to return to the feeder once more before leaving. Luckily, when I got there (11:35am), there was a single EVENING GROSBEAK trying to hold its own against an army of chickadees for its place on the feeder. Just what I was hoping for! On the way out of Summerhill, still on Salt Road, was a flock of over 100 AMERICAN CROWS and among them was at least 2 COMMON RAVENS, calling audibly somewhere around or in the flock. All in all, a nice birding trip, and not too far from Cornell. Happy Birding, -- *David Jonas Weber Natural Resources, Cornell Class of 2016 *2011 Young Birder Bird Species Life List: 262 -- 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] LeConte's Sparrow - Freese Rd gardens
Hi all, Ken Rosenberg, Tom Schulenberg and I just arrived at the community gardens after seeing the photo of the LeConte's that Carl Steckler photographed. We haven't found it yet but just starting to search. Ethan Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T -- 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 Swan @ Stewart
A lone tundra swan is hanging out at Stewart park near the dock. Suan _ http://suan-yong.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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Local Birding
I went out this morning for a short birding expedition. At Freese Rd. gardens there were several Red-tailed Hawks, Mourning doves, several Crows and a possible Le Conte's Sparrow, I will need someone to look at the photo to make sure, but it does have the stripe behind the eye and didn't look like anything else I could identify, but maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part. If so it is a life bird for me, so here's hoping. At Myers Park there were the usual Mallards and many Ring-billed Gulls along with a couple of Greater black-backed gulls. a pair of Northern flickers and a Blue Jay rounded out that part of the trip. Going down east Shore Drive I spotted a Coopers hawk in a tree alongside the road. At Stewart Park there were many Coots, Mallards, Canada Geese, Buffelheads , Ringed-billed Gulls and a single DB Cormorant on the Jetty. The real surprise was behind the Swan Pen, There perched on the remains of a beaver cut tree was a small owl which I later Identified as a Northern Saw Whet Owl. It stood still for one good photo before taking off into the trees, I think it was as surprised to see me as I was to see it. Another Life bird for me. All in all 19 species for a short cold morning jaunt. Carl Steckler -- "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know" Unknown Marine Khe Sahn, Vietnam -- 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] Saturday Birding Brants et al
Hi all, Yesterday I hiked Lick Brook Gorge both blue and white trails and did not hear or see a single bird in one and a half hour or so. I thought that was pretty strange, I was hoping for some pine siskins and winter finches in the hemlocks and pines. May be they are all at feeders, i.e. at fast food joint. After that I went to Cass park, I did find three Brants feeding on the lawn along with ultimate frisbee players. Somehow they preferred to be closer to the players, may be they were safe from dogs as couple of times, I found dog owners being pulled closer to the birds by dogs. While they were feeding one ring-billed gull kept close to them, I think he was waiting for geese to disturb some juicy earthworm or something similar. Once one goose was very angry that gull came too close to him. After eating sometime they took off to lake and drank water a whole lot and then ten minutes later they were back on the lawn to eat more. I also found whenever the ultimate frisbeerers made a goal? (or equivalent to that) would scream in unison and the geese stopped feeding and all looked alert till the roar died. Initially, I was thinking they were not hearing human voices because when a single person screamed, it did not have any effect on them. Curious to know how their hearing senses are. If the volume of the sound is important or the quality of the sound. Later I went across to Cornell Rowing Club and in the bay, I found 39 female/young Common Mergansers. I also saw a young Bald Eagle flyby. Cheers Meena Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 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/ --
