Re: [cayugabirds-l] local birds - nothing exceptional here!

[Alicia]

Today on the Ravine Trail in the National Forest there were three 
separate groups of Ovenbirds moving together & making continual chip 
calls: two groups of three birds and one of four. They were surprisingly 
bold and would land quite near (w/i 6') of my dog and me, still making 
chip notes.  I'm guessing they were groups of fledglings since in June 
the Ovenbirds there were a lot more cautious.  Did not hear or see any 
BT Greens, which also usually breed there - there were many males on 
territory in spring - but maybe they have dispersed already.


We had Carolina Wrens year 'round at our house in Ovid (Seneca Basin) 
since we bought it in May 1990, until Feb 2015 when the prolonged cold 
spell wiped out not only ours but probably over 90% of the ones that had 
settled in S. Seneca County in the last 25 years.  However they are 
prolific little birds and the territories are slowly refilling.  Earlier 
this month, a male was shepherding fledglings through our yard and they 
all were feasting on spiders and insects in the brush piles we keep for 
that purpose.  The fledglings aren't apparent anymore but he has 
continued to sing here daily, often answered by the female chattering, 
and finally last week I found half of a Carolina Wren eggshell in our 
lane - first sign of nesting here since Sept 2014.


Robins, Phoebes, M. Doves, & GC Flycatcher all fledged broods earlier 
this year. In the past week Catbirds, Cardinals, Titmice, WB Nuthatches, 
and Downy, Hairy & Pileated woodpeckers all have been feeding (or 
avoiding) begging fledglings.  Screetch owls didn't nest in our yard 
this year but we have been hearing bounce calls the past few nights so 
perhaps one or two is prospecting for territory.  The adult bald eagles 
aren't fishing in our cove any more - their nest apparently was on the 
west side of Seneca Lake and they would fly all the way across with the 
fish they caught! - but we are seeing more juvenile eagles now.


Missing nesters this year include B. Orioles (first time ever we haven't 
had at least one pair nesting in the yard); RB Woodpecker (ditto); RT 
Hummingbirds (finally saw FOY three weeks ago but instead of several 
regular visitors all spring & summer, we have what seems to be a single 
unusually shy female/immature coming to the trumpet vine, fuchsia & 
other flowers planted specifically for them); and Wood Thrush (we heard 
some occasionally thru May & June so they may be nesting nearby but not 
here).  Up the road there seem to be no Indigo Buntings when usually 
there are many, and only a single male E. Meadowlark with his harem, 
instead of the usual two or three males.  Chipping Sparrows also seem to 
be down and the Grasshopper Sparrow that was there last year did not 
return.  OTOH, it has been an exceptional year for Barn Swallows there 
with two dozen swooping around now.


Overall we have had no unusual nesting birds and are missing several of 
the regulars for the first time.  Not sure why - there doesn't seem to 
have been any significant habitat change in the area.


Alicia



On 7/29/2017 5:31 PM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote:
>
> There hasn't been much local birding information on this list for a 
> while. I admit that I'm as guilty as anyone of not posting my 
> sightings. I get most of my "hot bird info" from my hourly email eBird 
> "needs list" updates for the county. It's an awesome tool, but it's 
> not as friendly as CayugaBirds. (Just as an aside, Steve Kelling 
> created both of these forums!!)
>
>
> So, here are some of my recent observations and thoughts.
>
>
> There are lots of baby birds out there right now. I'm hearing 
> hatch-year bird calls everywhere I go. Also, young warblers seem to be 
> on the move right now. We've had lots of young Yellow Warblers around 
> the Lab trails this week, and most of there were NOT produced on the 
> local grounds. This was an oddly Yellow-Warbler-free year in Sapsucker 
> Woods. As far as I know, there were NO breeding pairs around the Lab 
> pond this year. So it seems that newly-produced warblers are 
> dispersing. I had some nice encounters with hatch-year Blue-winged and 
> Chestnut-sided warblers today, and I heard young warbler chips and 
> zeeps in lots of places while driving around town.
>
>
> My weekly crow census at the Cornell compost facility on Stevenson Rd 
> turned up a single Herring Gull amongst the approximately 500 
> Ring-billed Gulls (only present in the last few weeks). Also, a single 
> SOLITARY SANDPIPER foraging along the drainage ponds. A PEREGRINE 
> FALCON of undetermined age (man, they fly fast!!) came through and 
> flushed just about everything.
>
>
> A few shorebirds are being reported at Myers Point, and a respectable 
> report of the transitional male RUFF came in this week from the main 
> drive at Montezuma.  

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Clear cutting under powerlines

[Alicia]

We pretty much live in the woods but have planted a lot of 
bird-attracting perennials in the opening around our house, which also 
hosts NYSEG lines.  Years ago NYSEG left a card on our door saying that 
they would be 'tree trimming' soon and to contact them if we wanted to 
be notified of the date so we could be present.  I did that - I think I 
spoke with someone who identified himself as the NYSEG forester? - and 
he said they would be in touch before they came.  He also reminded me 
that within the utility right of way that they own, they have a right to 
remove anything growing there that they deem a potential danger to the 
lines.  They actually have not cleared the lines here since they left 
that card, but we hope they would follow through and contact us as 
promised. It has been a lot more than 5 yrs since then ...

Alicia


On 6/8/2018 7:24 PM, Carol Schmitt wrote:
> Our summer garden at our cottage was completely _clear-cut_ early this 
> winter.Low-growth lilacs, honeysuckle, witch hazel, Japanese maples 
> with a likely mature height of 12’, and other very small trees were 
> sliced off at the ground.My five bird feeders were removed and left on 
> our front steps.Mean-spirited and heart-breaking to discover when we 
> opened the cottage for the season.
> I made an appointment for the Auburn NYSEG forester to come look at 
> the damage.He said that although the decorative trees in question were 
> considered ‘low-growth compatible’ and not a problem, “mistakes 
> happen” and “our guys are only human”.He said I can try to file a 
> claim through their website.
> I was told that they now have a 5-year program to continue doing this, 
> contracting with Ironwood Heavy Highway.Having found that simple 
> branch trimming was not effective, NYSEG now will simply completely 
> remove any trees they deem a possible future problem under any of 
> their power lines.
> Carol Schmitt
> -Original Message-
> From: Muhammad Arif 
> To: Marie P. Read ; Karen L Edelstein 
> ; CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> Cc: Bill Evans ; Donna Lee Scott 
> ; Candace Cornell 
> Sent: Fri, Jun 8, 2018 11:33 am
> Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Clear cutting under powerlines
>
> Marie, Thank you.
> I also just sent them an email. If anyone else would like to send 
> NYSEG a note, here is their “contact us by email” page: 
> https://www.nyseg.com/WritetoNYSEG.html
> They also have a Facebook page and it might be worthwhile for some of 
> us to post messages there. I found this page: 
> https://www.facebook.com/NYSEandG which says Binghamton but 
> regardless, it ought to get their attention. (I’ve posted a message 
> there as well).
> --
> muhammad arif
> http://flickr.com/arif-photos
> http://facebook.com/mnarifphotos
> https://mainetomiami.wordpress.com
> 
> *From:* bounce-122625976-77717...@list.cornell.edu 
> <mailto:77717...@list.cornell.edu> 
>  <mailto:77717...@list.cornell.edu>> on behalf of Marie P. Read 
> mailto:m...@cornell.edu>>
> *Sent:* Friday, June 8, 2018 10:19:38 AM
> *To:* Karen L Edelstein; CAYUGABIRDS-L
> *Cc:* Bill Evans; Donna Lee Scott; Candace Cornell
> *Subject:* RE: [cayugabirds-l] Clear cutting under powerlines
> I just sent NYSEG the following email:
>
> "I am hearing from others in Tompkins County that clear cutting/brush 
> hogging under powerlines is currently being done in the area. I want 
> to stress that this is entirely the WRONG time of year to do this! 
> There are numerous birds nesting in the utility access areas whose 
> breeding efforts will be destroyed when vegetation is removed. Have a 
> heart PLEASE. At this time of year, this removing vegetative cover is 
> cruel and unnecessary. Please wait until autumn when the birds have 
> finished nesting and are leaving the area for the winter. Thanks!"
>
> Marie
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Marie Read Wildlife Photography
> 452 Ringwood Road
> Freeville NY  13068 USA
>
> Phone  607-539-6608
> e-mail m...@cornell.edu <mailto:m...@cornell.edu>
>
> Website: http://www.marieread.com
> Follow me on Facebook: 
> https://www.facebook.com/Marie-Read-Wildlife-Photography-104356136271727/
> 
> From: bounce-122625773-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
> <mailto:5851...@list.cornell.edu> 
> [bounce-122625773-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
> <mailto:5851...@list.cornell.edu>] on behalf of Karen Edelstein 
> [k...@cornell.edu <mailto:k...@cornell.edu>]
> Sent: Friday, June 8, 2018 9:28 AM
> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
> Cc: Paul Paradine; Bill Evans; Donna Lee Scott; Candace Cornell
> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Clear cutting under powerlines
>
> I was dismayed to see tha

[cayugabirds-l] pine siskins in Ovid

[Alicia]

Over a dozen pine siskins noisily greeted me as I left for work this 
morning, zreeping from several different trees.  That's the largest 
number we've ever had, and the first ones we've seen or heard since May 
2015.


Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] snowy afternoon

[Alicia]

Large snowflakes driven by south winds somewhat hampered visibility 
across the north end of Seneca County this afternoon.  Around 4 pm 
single snowy owl was sitting on a hillock close to the bend in the 
driveway of the Finger Lakes Airport.  (We also checked Chadwick and 
Thorpe, but not Farron Road.)  Tens of thousands of snow geese - 
probably hundreds of thousands but I can't estimate when the numbers get 
that high - were spooling & swirling in small and large flocks across 
the entire sky at 4:15.  Some fields were covered in snow geese, notably 
south of Airport Rd in Seneca Falls and off of Ridge Road in Fayette.



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snowy Owl by Lott Farm

[Alicia]

At 3:45 today an unusually white Snowy Owl was sitting in what I assume 
is the same area? close to the base of the cluster of metal silos on the 
west side of Rte 414.  Definitely a very handsome bird!

Alicia

On 4/6/2018 1:43 PM, Carol Schmitt wrote:
> A Snowy Owl was still up by Lott Farm yesterday, across the road under 
> the wind turbine, sitting in the field.A handsome bird.
> Carol S.
> --
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows at my feeders

[Alicia]

We haven't had any so far this year, but some years small flocks - 
usually between 3 and 8 - they swoop in and entertain us when the snow 
is deep.   At least one figured out how to land on edge of our hopper 
feeder - s/he had to fly in carefully from the side, ducking under the 
overhang, just fitting by scrunching down & clinging onto the narrow 
seed tray, parallel to it.  Although they are sitting in most of the 
tray, they still have room to eat from the very end of it.  No way to 
know if many different crows mastered that move and did it in rotation 
or just one, but it is an impressive feat of athleticism.  (After flying 
in from the side for several days, s/he/they decided it was easier to 
start on the roof and jump off from there, ducking under the overhang 
and simultaneously grabbing the feed tray, to arrive in the same 
position - which seems even harder when observed.)

Alicia


On 1/21/2019 12:24 PM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:
> And deep snowy.  They can deal with cold if they can reach the ground 
> to forage. Bet the thousands that have been foraging nearer Syracuse 
> and Auburn are finding it VERY challenging.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jan 21, 2019, at 9:40 AM, Rachel   <mailto:rachel.lod...@outlook.com>> wrote:
>
>> Crows (4 to 12 at a time, who knows if they are the same birds, with 
>> more in the trees) have ascended upon my bird feeders, eating spilled 
>> seed on the ground. I've never had crows as a feeder bird before, 
>> although we have many around our grain farm. Pretty impressive; they 
>> look huge next to the other birds! They're very flighty, and easily 
>> spooked. I guess now we know it's cold!
>> --
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[cayugabirds-l] feeder aggression

[Alicia]

Just had a female Hairy Woodpecker hitch herself up and around the suet 
holder attached to the side of a hopper feeder, and nail a Mourning Dove 
who was sunning itself on the roof, about 6" away fro the suet. The MODO 
had her tail toward the woodpecker and never saw it coming.  At least 6 
or 8 pieces of down & feathers flew off the MODO's butt in a poof and 
the MODO exploded off the feeder.  The woodpecker went back to eating suet.


We frequently see birds posture and threaten in an effort to get or 
preserve position on the feeders, and even a bit of tussling between 
birds of the same species sometimes, but hadn't seen one actually attack 
another bird that didn't appear to be competing or crowding. The MODOs 
don't mess with the woodpeckers intentionally but this one appeared not 
to be aware there might be a problem until it felt that nail-gun beak 
hit it.  Looked like a painful lesson.


Alicia



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Golden-winged Warbler Seneca Co

[Alicia]

If you go, note that ALL of this property is private.  Please bird only 
from the road and do not trespass!  The folks who own the land are very 
private and do not welcome strangers walking on it.  Plus there are no 
trails to follow and all the land around here is infested with deer 
ticks, so staying on the roads makes sense!


Alicia

On 5/4/2019 12:43 PM, Jared wrote:

After a delightful early morning with Josh Snodgrass and a robust group of over 
20 birders I heard word of a reported GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER at the intersection 
of Combs and McCarriger Rds between Lodi and Ovid. Got over there at 10:45 
where the two birders present reported last seeing it at 10:30. Just after 11 I 
saw a smallish warbler with a black throat and a yellowish wing patch. The 
light was poor and it was a brief look but good enough for an ID. About 15 
minutes later I saw presumably the same bird and got a good look at a black and 
white patterned head although the body was obscured.
I also saw a Black-throated Blue, two Blackburnians, 3 Nashvilles, a 
Yellow-rumped, and heard an Ovenbird.
Jared Dawson


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[cayugabirds-l] Yellow-Throated Warbler in southwest part of Ovid this afternoon

[Alicia]

At 12:45 this afternoon, a Yellow-Throated Warbler, which had spent the 
last 5 minutes in clear view working over a bare walnut tree about 20' 
away from me, flew off to the north.  It has not been refound and 
although there is a fair amount of warbler chatter on our property today 
(mostly Yellow-Rumps), I suspect it has moved on.  This is the third 
time in 11 years that we briefly have hosted at YT warbler, and the one 
seen by Dave Kennedy earlier this year was just over 3 miles north of us 
along the Seneca Lake shoreline, so while it was a delightful surprise, 
it was not unprecedented.  My theory is that they continue to wend their 
way northward along the lake shore which, if true, means that Willard 
WMA, Bonavista Golf Course, and the Lakeshore Trail of Sampson State 
Park (where Dave Kennedy found his bird) all are possible places it 
could be headed. If anyone is birding those places this evening or 
tomorrow morning, you might want to keep an eye out for it.


Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] [nysbirds-l] Dryden, NY - Hammond Hill State Forest Birding: Few Birds

[Alicia]

Hi Chris,

I hope you agree this thread is within the rules of CayugaBirds, even 
though it ranges over things that go beyond the Basin.  But it's the 
best conversation I've seen on the list in many months, so I hope it can 
continue!

Best -

Alicia

On 6/26/2019 8:49 AM, k...@empacc.net wrote:
>
> Comments in caps. Appreciate your input.
> John
>
> ---
> John and Sue Gregoire
> Field Ornithologists
> Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory
> 5373 Fitzgerald Rd
> Burdett, NY 14818
> 42.443508000, -76.758202000
> "Create and Conserve Habitat"
>
> On 2019-06-26 12:02, David Nicosia wrote:
>
>> John/Chris,
>> I totally agree that point counts from birding could misrepresent 
>> bird populations. I have been out on two different days and have seen 
>> big differences. I have a walk I take in the evening to listen to the 
>> thrushes. One evening I had 5 wood thrushes and 1 hermit thrush 
>> singing. The next night I had 3 hermit thrushes and 1 wood thrush. If 
>> you were doing a survey your numbers would depend on which night you 
>> chose. In Broome Co we don't have as much farming as John does and 
>> his comments on the large scale agriculture and the destruction of 
>> habitat on farms would make a big difference locally. Anyway,  what 
>> do you make of this banding dataset from Canada? 
>> https://www.bsc-eoc.org/birdmon/default/popindices.jsp
>>
>>
>> CANADA IS MILES AHEAD OF US IN SUCH STUDIES. I DO BELIEVE THAT FOR 
>> OUR EFFORT, THE CONVERSION OF DAIRY FROM SMALL FAMILY TO VERY LARGE 
>> AGRIBUSINESS HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY DECLINE CAUSE. THAT HAS BEEN 
>> REFLECTED THROUGHOUT THE NORTHEAST WHERE FARMING HAS CHANGED AND 
>> HABITAT/PREY BASE HAS BEEN DENUDED.
>>
>> LONG POINT AND A FEW OTHER HUGE STATIONS IN THE CENTRAL FLYWAY ARE 
>> DATA BUSTERS FOR MANY REASONS. I TOOK A LOOK AT SAVANNAH SPARROW FROM 
>> THE MCGILL DATA, A STATION I KNOW IS PROPERLY RUN AND SEE A LONG TERM 
>> DECLINE SIMILAR TO THE ABA REPORTED DATA. I WANT TO GO BACK AND CHECK 
>> OTHER SPECIES.
>>
>> WE TEND TO SEE A DIFFERENT TREND LINE FROM THE CENTRAL FLYWAY AND I 
>> THINK THIS IS LARGELY DUE TO WEATHER. WHENEVER THE ATLANTIC FLYWAY IS 
>> BOTTLED UP BY FRONTAL SYSTEMS DURING SPRING MIGRATION WE SEE A LARGE 
>> CONCOMITANT SHIFT TO THE CENTRAL AS SHOWN BY RADAR. PAUL H'S SITE IS 
>> TERRIFIC FOR SEEING THIS. FOR SOME REASON THE PACIFIC FLYWAY SHARES 
>> LESS DATA AS MOST BANDERS ARE ACADEMECIANS PROTECTING THEIR NEXT 
>> PAPER AND THE AREA HAS MANY FEWER VOLUNTEER BANDERS.
>> I look at Long Point Bird Observatory since it seems to have the 
>> longest record. It seems that most species are doing very well on 
>> this long term dataset. It is interesting to note an increase in the 
>> 1970s for most species. Is this artificial? or real?   I know the 
>> climate of the 60s and 70s was very chilly and springs were often 
>> cold and wet then it warmed in the 80s and 90s especially. But I 
>> don't understand how they calculate their population index. I assume 
>> it is normalized to the man-hours of banding. But what happening in 
>> the 1970s? Why such increases?  From 2006-2016 most birds seems 
>> fairly stable based on their population index.
>>
>> REQUIRES SOME RESEARCH INTO HOW THEY DERIVE THEIR INDEX, I HAVEN'T A 
>> CLUE. OVERALL THEY AGREE IN SOME AREAS AND DISAGREE IN OTHERS WITH 
>> THE ABA PRESENTATIONS.
>>
>> WE HEARD SO MANY MORE IN THE 60S AND 70S THAN NOW. JUST A GENERAL 
>> IMPRESSION ON MY PART BUT DAWN CHORUS AIN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE.
>> Anyway, what are your thoughts on this? I am curious.
>> Also there was a study on breeding bird survey data and they found 
>> that some of the data is contaminated by observers who, through 
>> normal aging, lose hearing. This was especially true of certain 
>> species that have higher pitch songs. So BBS may not be totally 
>> reliable either.
>>
>> NEAR AND DEAR AS MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AT PATUXENT, CHAN ROBBINS 
>> AND DANNY BYSTRAK, STARTED THIS (AND NORTH AMERICAN ATALSSING).   
>> OBSERVER BIAS WAS A TOPIC I TOOK ON AND FOUND THAT BBS HAD VERY FEW 
>> NEW VOLUTEERS AND THE MAJORITY WERE AGEING. AS ONE WHO HAS LOST ALL 
>> HIGHER FEQUENCY HEARING I FULLY BELIEVE THAT SOME DECLINES (ALWAYS 
>> THE HIGH REGISTER BIRDS) ARE STRICTLY DUE TO HEARING DEGRADATION. 
>> (IT'S DARN HARD TO ENJOY GENERAL BIRDING THESE DAYS FOR ME AS I WAS 
>> SO USED TO AUDIO KEYING).
>> Is anyone doing a study on total radar returns during migration? 
>> Theoretically, spring and fall migration could be quantified by 
>> integrating all t

[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: Yellow Throated Warbler at South End of Lake Trail at Sampson SP, Seneca Cty

[Alicia]

Dave Kennedy reports that at 8:40 this morning, there was a 
yellow-throated warbler feeding just inside the gate to the Sampson 
Lakeshore Trail next to the parking lot just north of Willard Town Park. 
8:40 a.m. cayugaBirds rejected his email so he asked me to post it, but 
unfortunately, I just got that message, which he sent to me at 9:30 - 
apologies to all for the delay.


I'm a little confused actually about what happened when Dave sent the 
message to CayugaBirds.  It showed up in my email so I went over to the 
Lakeshore Trail and hunted for the YT Warbler between 9:20-10:20. Didn't 
conclusively refind it although got a tantalizing glimpse of a warbler 
that had a gray back and white on its wing (did not see the head or 
breast), and what seemed like an appropriate chip note, just opposite 
the southernmost bench at ~10:10.  I had been chasing the chip sounds 
for a few minutes but it flew east before I got more than that glimpse.  
At 10:20 Jay McGowan & Livia Santana were looking, perhaps they'll have 
an update?


Alicia



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[cayugabirds-l] Seneca Lake Lake Trail mess

[Alicia]

Hi,

I've been tied up with other responsibilities this year and haven't been 
able to bird much but yesterday evening I was able to go out and got 
past the 1/4 mile mark on the Lake Trail for the first time in many 
months.  I was expecting to find some migrating warblers in the brush & 
small shrub/trees east of the trail since this generally is a great spot 
during migration.  But not any more!  It looks like someone went in and 
clear cut a swath of 50' or more and then followed up with generous 
application of herbicide, leaving no vegetation of any kind in a wide 
band for much of the 1½ mile length of the trail - hideously ugly and, 
so far as I can see, totally unnecessary in terms of protecting power 
lines since nothing had been even remotely close to line height. (Plus 
this is less than 100' feet from the Seneca Lake shore - wonder what 
effect the herbicide that was washed into the lake had on the lake 
ecology?)  I think the actual bush remains where this past spring's 
Yellow Throated Warbler was seen, but so much of the surrounding area is 
devastated that the area certainly will be less likely to attract it 
next year.  The cedars and taller trees further back remain, but the 
brushy spots and smaller trees on the east side of the trail are almost 
all gone now

Does anyone know when this was done?  And if it was NYSEG or the NYS 
Parks?  I'm equal parts heartbroken and furious.

Alicia

P.S.  The NYS Parks 2020 Plan has set as Goal 6, "Sustain New York's 
Natural Environment" and goes on to say,

As stewards of the 335,000 acres of parkland, a central part of
State Parks’ mission is to protect its natural treasures, beautiful
open spaces and diversity of plant and animal life.
• Protecting natural resources.A variety of stewardship
initiatives–in partnership with colleges, not-for-profits and
volunteers–will include projects to prevent the spread of invasive
species, protect rare plants and animals, plant trees and improve
natural habitat at parks across the State.

Really?!  By wiping out a prime re-fueling stop for migrating warblers??!!



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[cayugabirds-l] could someone explain the radar tonight?

[Alicia]

It looks like there is a significant radar bloom on the Binghamton radar 
that has expanded a bit over the past 90 minutes, yet according to 
windy.com, there are steady and significant south winds all over the 
east, and they get stronger at higher altitudes. That's consistent with 
what I feel in our yard.


Are birds or insects moving?  If not, what's the bloom? If so, why not 
wait a few days for the north winds that area forecast for Monday & Tuesday?


Thanks to any weather maven who can help!

Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] US population trends; time frame for bird study

[Alicia]

_Decrease in children per family_: In the 1970's, there were an average 
of 2.12 children per family, while from 2009-2018, the number had 
decreased to an average of 1.88 and is holding steady there - a decrease 
of over 11% . (For more info, check here 
<https://www.statista.com/statistics/718084/average-number-of-own-children-per-family/>.)
 
The percentage of single child families doubled from 11% of all families 
in 1975 to 22% in 2016. At this point, the birth rate alone is 
considerably less than replacement rate and even with the increase in 
longevity, the only reason the US population size is increasing is 
immigration.  (That is a factual, not a political, statement - for the 
record, I am not against immigration!)

_When did the decline in bird population begin_? The effect of human 
population size and, particularly, habitat destruction and the changing 
chemistry of our soil, air, and water, surely have taken a huge toll on 
birds.  But in at least aspect of the new bird population study is 
misleading.  Its baseline is 1970, about 50 years ago, but speaking as 
someone who was in high school then and who learned from birders who 
were alive at the beginning of the 20th century, it is clear that at 
least spring migration already was had suffered a significant decline by 
1970.  One very reliable birder I got to know was born in 1905, and he 
assured me that by 1980, spring migration was a shadow of what it had 
been in the 1920s & 30s in Tompkins County.  He wondered if migratory 
routes had changed but said for whatever reason, there were only a 
fraction of the warblers, vireos, orioles, and tanagers moving through 
the area in the spring that there were 50 yrs before. (This was a man 
who spent pretty much every waking hour of his 93 years being outdoors 
birding, fishing, or when he was younger hunting.)  Other people who had 
been around birding in the 1930s before told me much the same.

If you check accounts in Birds By Bent you'll find supporting evidence 
for this in reports made at the time.  For example, a few years ago I 
had 25 Palm Warblers in one group.  eBird was skeptical, but later when 
I checked Birds by Bent, there were several accounts of palm warbler 
flocks, including one from Wm Brewster (co-founder of the American 
Ornithologists' Union), writing from Massachusetts in 1906, who noted 
casually that in spring "one may often meet up with fifteen or twenty in 
a single flock or forty or fifty in the course of a morning walk."  I 
don't think any of us thinks of a walk that yields 50 Palm Warbler as a 
migration event that 'often' happens now.

So as we think about this, we need to be careful not to assume that 1970 
was the beginning of the end, just because few of us around today 
remember even more plentiful birds before that. There is plenty of 
evidence that this started much, much earlier, and as we look for causes 
and solutions, that needs to be kept in mind.

Alicia



On 9/26/2019 11:55 AM, Deb Grantham wrote:
>
> You’re right about population – nobody wants to talk about that anymore.
>
> I do the same with composting but also compost ALL of my food waste. I 
> know the crows and raccoons and possums and so on help with that, but 
> that’s ok with me.
>
> Deb
>
> *From:*Donna Lee Scott 
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 26, 2019 11:54 AM
> *To:* Deb Grantham ; CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> 
> *Subject:* RE: [cayugabirds-l] How to help birds
>
> Compost all you can; I save out most used paper towels and tissues and 
> mix with my big compost pile leaves, grass, veg garbage etc.
>
> Having a few small woodsy plots here, I also make “wildlife hut” piles 
> with most my downed branches and tree/bush trimmings, rather than send 
> it to the dump.
>
> Town of Lansing on their ONE brush pickup service per year at least 
> makes mulch out of all they pick up.
>
> But the Other Big Elephant in the room is HUMAN OVERPOPULATION, which 
> obviously is helping to cause a lot of climate change , habitat loss, 
> rain forest destruction, etc.
>
> A very complex issue for which probably only massive education 
> world-wide will help. Look at results of China’s previous efforts at 
> “one child per couple”…
>
> Back in the 1970s there was the Zero Population Growth book and 
> publicity. Haven’t heard much about this lately.
>
> Donna Scott
>
> Lansing
>
> *From:*bounce-123960446-15001...@list.cornell.edu 
> <mailto:bounce-123960446-15001...@list.cornell.edu> 
> [mailto:bounce-123960446-15001...@list.cornell.edu] *On Behalf Of *Deb 
> Grantham
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 26, 2019 11:42 AM
> *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L  <mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>>
> *Subject:* RE: [cayugabirds-l] How to help birds
>
> For reducing impacts of ag, don’t waste food. A very high percentage 
> of food in the US i

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Monday Night Seminar

[Alicia]

Actually, if you go to that link you get the following message:

Unfortunately, do [sic] to copyrighted content, we are unable to
offer an archived version of this event. We do encourage you to
learn more about this topic at 3billionbirds.org
<https://www.3billionbirds.org/>

Given the importance of this issue, it's a shame that the Lab doesn't 
excise the "copyrighted content" and post the remainder - assuming the 
"copyrighted content" even needs to be excised given the doctrine of 
Fair Use.  This presentation is a something that people should be able 
to refer their friends and acquaintances to - changing the trend depends 
on widespread knowledge and understanding, and webinars are a great way 
to engage people who are not interested in reading even the most 
engaging print based explanations.

Alicia Plotkin





On 11/5/2019 7:56 AM, Diane Morton wrote:
> You can watch the archived seminar with this link:
>
> https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/live-event/3-billion-birds-lost-the-bird-crisis-and-what-we-can-do-about-it/
>
> Diane Morton
>
> On Tue, Nov 5, 2019 at 7:24 AM Nancy Cusumano 
> mailto:nancycusuman...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> Will the recording be available?
>
> On Mon, Nov 4, 2019 at 8:52 PM Carol Keeler
> mailto:carolk...@adelphia.net>> wrote:
>
> Thank you so much for live streaming Ken Rosenburg’s talk.  It
> was excellent!  I don’t drive at night so I can’t make it down
> to Ithaca for the Monday night seminars.  This was a wonderful
> way for me to be further informed.  Thanks again.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> --
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] FLNF Grassland Enhancement Project open house, 11/22/19, in Hector N.Y.

[Alicia]

According to the Scoping Letter (see the link in Gary's email), the open 
house is tonight from 6 to 7 pm.

On 11/22/2019 8:00 AM, Gary Kohlenberg wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I wanted to let everyone know about an open house that is taking place 
> tomorrow evening at the Finger Lakes Nation Forest ranger station in 
> Hector, NY. with Gregory Flood the Hector District Forest Service 
> Wildlife Biologist. It will give the public an opportunity to discuss 
> a new grassland enhancement project trying to get underway for this 
> upcoming summer. Public comments are being accepted. To provide a 
> comment please see the link below and open the “scoping letter”. 
> Instructions on how to submit a comment are include in that document.
>
> Hector Ranger Station
>
> 5218 State Route 414
> Hector, NY 14841
>
> https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=56961
>
> Gary Kohlenberg
>
> --
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] U.S. Plan on Killing Birds in New York - CounterPunch.org

[Alicia]

In case anyone is interested in following up on this ...

The regulatory process that generated this thread has an interesting 
definition of what constitutes "damage" sufficient to trigger action.  
It sets up an /entirely /subjective standard - if you feel you are 
negatively affected by bird behavior, then you have damage!

The term “damage” is most often defined as economic losses to
resources or threats to human safety [as perceived by any
individual], but the term “damage” could also include a loss in
aesthetic value and other situations where the actions of wildlife
are no longer tolerable to an individual person.

It clearly states that whenever a situation motivates someone to ask for 
assistance qualifies as "damage"!  (See draft regulation at page 7, Sec 
1.2 "Need for Action" 
<https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=APHIS-2019-0070-0001>).  So the 
noise from the Great Horned Owl that wakes us up every January would be 
classified as damage if we asked for help.  This doesn't mean someone 
immediately would be sent out to shoot the owl, just they would have to 
look into whether they needed to take action and lethal force would be 
one option.

There were only 215 comments on this regulation - comments closed on 
11/8/19.  At this point the only avenue would appear to be to try to get 
attention outside the notice & comment process by writing directly to 
the Secretary of the US Department of Agriculture (whose background is 
in agribusiness and economic development) or asking congress to get 
involved.  Congressmen do take it seriously when they get a number of 
contacts on a particular topic, particularly if it is one that might 
sound sympathetic to voters.  ("Why is the US Government spending good 
money helping people who want to kill robins and cardinals?")

If anyone wants to do either of these, you should try to say what you 
support as well as what you oppose. Note that the first page of the 
document linked above is the Executive Summary and it's a good overview 
but written in a confusing way. The first alternative for control sounds 
pretty innocuous: "an alternative in which WS [USDA Wildlife 
Services]continues the current bird damage management approach (the “no 
action” alternative and proposed action alternative)." But actually this 
is the alternative that includes lethal management methods in its 
arsenal of responses!  So it might be clearest just to say you oppose 
lethal methods and support non-lethal ones - or, if you prefer, that you 
support the agency's getting out of the bird control business entirely 
but that sounds unlikely, and also could lead to support for self-help 
by anyone who feels annoyed by birds!
*
*Alicia


**
On 12/3/2019 6:52 PM, Magnus Fiskesjo wrote:
> I've seen other articles on US government agency-organized mass killing all 
> sorts of wildlife as disturbances to farming, etc., but don't know the long 
> and short of it.
>
> --Some examples found just now:
>
> https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2016/02/160212-Wildlife-Services-predator-control-livestock-trapping-hunting/
>
> It says: "Wildlife Services is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of 
> Agriculture, ... Since 2000, the agency has killed at least two million 
> mammals and 15 million birds. Although it’s main focus is predator control in 
> the West, Wildlife Services also does things like bird control nationwide at 
> airports to prevent crashes and feral pig control in the South. Reporter 
> Christopher Ketcham’s investigation, out this month in Harper’s Magazine, 
> doesn’t mince words. The article is called “The Rogue Agency: A USDA program 
> that tortures dogs and kills endangered species.”
>
> This seems to be about the same agency you are talking about?
>
> Here is a historical view of government agencies killing sometimes protected 
> species, supposedly to prevent crop damage etc.:
> https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK208754/
>
> + some others from out West where these issues seem to have been under debate 
> for a long time:
>
> https://www.sacbee.com/news/investigations/wildlife-investigation/article2574599.html
> https://psmag.com/environment/the-government-agency-in-charge-of-killing-wild-animals-is-finally-facing-backlash
>
> --yrs.
> Magnus Fiskesjö, PhD
> Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Cornell University
> McGraw Hall, Room 201. Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
> E-mail: magnus.fiske...@cornell.edu, or: n...@cornell.edu
>
> Affiliations at Cornell University, WWW:
> Anthropology Department, anthropology.cornell.edu/faculty/
> Southeast Asia Program (SEAP), seap.einaudi.cornell.edu/faculty_directory
> East Asia Program (EAP), eap.einaudi.cornell.edu/faculty_directory
> CIAMS (Archaeology), ciams.cornell.edu/people/
> Cornell Institute for Pu

[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: cleaning bird feeders

[Alicia]

This was on a different bird list, thought it might be of interest to 
Cayuga birders.


 Forwarded Message 

The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130(1):313–320, 2018
The effectiveness of bird feeder cleaning methods with and without debris

Lisa M. Feliciano,1 Todd J. Underwood,1* and Daniel F. Aruscavage1

ABSTRACT—Although feeders provide supplementary food to wild birds, they 
can be a site of disease transmission. Periodic cleaning of bird feeders 
is recommended to prevent disease transmission, but little is known 
about which cleaning methods are most effective. We determined the 
effectiveness of 3 cleaning methods (scrubbing with soap and water, 
bleach soak, and scrubbing with soap and water followed by a bleach 
soak) in removing Salmonella from feeders with debris from normal field 
use and without debris. Feeders were inoculated with Salmonella enterica 
in the lab and then swabbed before and after cleaning to determine the 
percent reduction of Salmonella colony forming units (CFU/mL). All 
cleaning methods effectively reduced levels of Salmonella on feeders 
without debris, but the presence of debris significantly lowered the 
percent log reduction of Salmonella CFU/mL on feeders. The bleach soak 
and the scrubbing with soap and water plus bleach soak methods had a 
significantly higher percent reduction in Salmonella CFU/mL than the 
scrubbing with soap and water method overall. A significant interaction 
between debris and cleaning method was noted, however, indicating that 
the presence of debris greatly lowered the percent reduction of 
Salmonella CFU/mL on feeders cleaned with the scrubbing with soap and 
water method compared to other methods. *Overall, we recommend either 
scrubbing with soap and water or a bleach soak to clean feeders with 
minimal debris, but suggest a combination of these 2 cleaning methods if 
feeders have heavy debris or if diseased birds are known to be in the area.*



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fwd: cleaning bird feeders

[Alicia]

I assumed it meant that grungy combination of oil & dust & chaff that 
piles up and adheres to the corners and base of feeders that are filled 
with sunflower or nyjer seed, but all I actually know is what was 
forwarded!

Alicia



On 10/13/2019 4:46 PM, Norwalk, James wrote:
> I don't understand what the debris component is.
>
> 
> From: bounce-124015218-48869...@list.cornell.edu 
>  on behalf of Alicia 
> 
> Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2019 4:20 PM
> To: cayugabirds-l
> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Fwd: cleaning bird feeders
>
> This was on a different bird list, thought it might be of interest to Cayuga 
> birders.
>
>
>  Forwarded Message 
>
> The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 130(1):313-320, 2018
> The effectiveness of bird feeder cleaning methods with and without debris
>
> Lisa M. Feliciano,1 Todd J. Underwood,1* and Daniel F. Aruscavage1
>
> ABSTRACT-Although feeders provide supplementary food to wild birds, they can 
> be a site of disease transmission. Periodic cleaning of bird feeders is 
> recommended to prevent disease transmission, but little is known about which 
> cleaning methods are most effective. We determined the effectiveness of 3 
> cleaning methods (scrubbing with soap and water, bleach soak, and scrubbing 
> with soap and water followed by a bleach soak) in removing Salmonella from 
> feeders with debris from normal field use and without debris. Feeders were 
> inoculated with Salmonella enterica in the lab and then swabbed before and 
> after cleaning to determine the percent reduction of Salmonella colony 
> forming units (CFU/mL). All cleaning methods effectively reduced levels of 
> Salmonella on feeders without debris, but the presence of debris 
> significantly lowered the percent log reduction of Salmonella CFU/mL on 
> feeders. The bleach soak and the scrubbing with soap and water plus bleach 
> soak methods had a significantly higher percent reduction in Salmonella 
> CFU/mL than the scrubbing with soap and water method overall. A significant 
> interaction between debris and cleaning method was noted, however, indicating 
> that the presence of debris greatly lowered the percent reduction of 
> Salmonella CFU/mL on feeders cleaned with the scrubbing with soap and water 
> method compared to other methods. Overall, we recommend either scrubbing with 
> soap and water or a bleach soak to clean feeders with minimal debris, but 
> suggest a combination of these 2 cleaning methods if feeders have heavy 
> debris or if diseased birds are known to be in the area.
>
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bald Eagle & geese

[Alicia]

There's a particular call Loons make here (Seneca Lake) and I assume 
elsewhere, that inevitably means an eagle will be sweeping through 
momentarily.

Alicia



On 1/21/2020 9:57 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote:
> As I was in back yard filling the birdfeeders ~9:30 am, suddenly about 
> 200 Canada geese, honking wildly, flew from a few 100 feet of shore 
> length, low out over the water, and landed in the middle of Cayuga lake.
> An Amer. Crow was calling wildly too.
>
> Soon I saw the reason: a mature Bald Eagle swooped by over the 
> shoreline from north to south!
>
> Donna Scott
> Lansing
> Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Albino Green-winged Teal

[Alicia]

Here's  the link to Dave's list 
(in case you're like me and didn't know how to use the checklist # to 
find it!).

On 4/5/2020 11:18 AM, Dave K wrote:
> eBird checklist S8446


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] arrogant dogowner going viral

[Alicia]

I completely agree on all points and in fact had a lot more to say but 
Robin's succinct message gets to the heart of the matter. Robin, thank 
you for putting it so well.



On 5/26/2020 8:29 PM, Robin Cisne wrote:
> Magnus, your last paragraph linking unleashed dog-walking to the 
> depravities of colonialism is an ambitious overreach, and an 
> outrageous conjecture unsupported by fact.  I assume you meant to type 
> "setting their /dogs/ on birds and people."  No evidence has been 
> offered, either in this forum or by Christian Cooper, that any owners 
> of unleashed dogs have deliberately sicced 'em on innocent bird 
> watchers.  You are not a victim.
>
> I am a birder and the responsible, unarrogant owner of a frequently 
> unleashed dog who is not permitted to bother people (and generally 
> ignores them anyway).  The great outdoors is big enough for all of us, 
> even for people eager to police others.
>
> //
>
>
>
> On Tue, May 26, 2020 at 7:40 PM Magnus Fiskesjo 
> mailto:magnus.fiske...@cornell.edu>> wrote:
>
>
> Connecting to the recent discussion here, about arrogant
> dog-owners, this case in Central Park, NYC is relevant.
>
> The sister of the birdwatcher in the incident sent around his
> original film, which is going viral and reaching millions now:
> https://twitter.com/melodyMcooper/status/1264965252866641920
>
> The BBC reports: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52759502
>
> But, because the birdwatcher who reminded the woman she is
> required to have her dog leashed in the park, was a Black man,
> Christian Cooper, most attention has understandably turned to her
> astounding attempt to call in the police on account him being a
> Black person -- and less attention seems to be paid to her
> arrogance against our feathered friends ... which is why he told her.
>
> Some people online have tried to highlight the guy's identity as a
> birdwatcher also.
>
> Here is Christian Cooper the man talking about the excitement of
> birdwatching:
> https://twitter.com/JoshuaPotash/status/1265338098256424973
>
> Also his friend said this - turns out he's a TV host, “Birds of
> North America”:
> https://twitter.com/JasonWardNY/status/1265353355150450690
>
> All in all, I think this incident actually brought out how the
> arrogance of the dogowners setting their down on birds and people,
> is actually intimately related to the deeper history of
> colonialist appropriation (the "I, me, mine" selfishness of
> grabbing, owning, excluding others), and the racism that goes with
> it ... and apraently lurks right under the surface, consciously or
> not.
>
> (ps. I live in both Ithaca and NYC and often birded in Central
> Park, and I often have chatted with fellow birdwatchers while
> waiting for birds in the Ravine and other places. I think I may
> have run into Cooper a few years ago)
>
> --Sincerely,
> Magnus Fiskesjö, PhD
> Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Cornell University
> McGraw Hall, Room 201. Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
> E-mail: magnus.fiske...@cornell.edu
> , or: n...@cornell.edu
> 
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[cayugabirds-l] Found: Parakeet (or maybe Parrot?) found in Ovid on Saturday

[Alicia]

Hi,

Reuben Stoltzfus asked me to post this.  He got a call from Henry 
Stoltzfus whose farm is located on Rte 96A, opposite Beaujohn Road, 
about a mile west of the village of Ovid.  Just before the storms came 
through on Saturday, they found a parrot or parakeet outside their barn 
and brought it inside where they have been caring for it ever since. 
They would like to find the owners and asked Reuben if he could get the 
word out.


The bird is mostly yellow with a greenish tint on back & wings, light 
faded blue spots under each eye and & bluish tail. Please stop by Henry 
Stoltzfus's farm to pick up the bird if it's yours!


Please share widely - perhaps the Eaton Birding Society has a list serve 
and/or a Facebook page?  Or anywhere else you can think of...


Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Future of Lott Farm & Basin Upland Sandpipers?

[Alicia]

The change in the Empire Farm Days location was announced in early 
October 2020.  It originally rotated around the state until the Lotts 
convinced the people holding the event that the Lott Farm was 
conveniently central and could be adapted to make an ideal site, so they 
it settled in there beginning around1990 for an indefinite stay.  Before 
that I think the Lotts farmed the land but I don't really remember.  (We 
lived in Seneca Falls then.)


The Lotts are sophisticated land managers and Ralph Lott is on the 
Seneca County Bd of Supervisors (the legislature for Seneca Cty). Since 
they have had had several months to think about this, they probably are 
far along in their planning.  Someone might want to contact Mr. Lott 
them before putting a lot more thought into the options available.


Alicia




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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed.

[Alicia]

I have zero expertise in this area, but it looks like the courts have at 
best a mixed record in interpreting unintentional negative effects as 
violations of the MBTA. Take a look at this summary 
<https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed-discussion-migratory-bird-treaty-act>,
 
and also this one 
<https://www.crowell.com/files/The-Migratory-Bird-Treaty-Act-An-Overview-Crowell-Moring.pdf>.
 
Based on these summaries, it looks like courts are divided on the 
question of whether criminal behavior under the MBTA is limited "to 
deliberate acts done directly and intentionally to migratory birds" or 
if actions that incidentally hurt birds/nests/etc also are covered.

A 43 yr old case from the 2d Circuit, which includes NY,
> "affirmed the conviction of a manufacturer of pesticides for migratory 
> bird deaths. /United States v. FMC Corp./, 572 F.2d 902 (2d Cir. 
> 1978). Still the FMC court stated misgivings (a “construction that 
> would bring every killing within the statute, such as deaths caused by 
> automobiles, airplanes, plate glass modern office buildings or picture 
> windows into which birds fly, would offend reason and common sense”) 
> and suggested possibly limiting incidental takes to “extrahazardous” 
> activities ... ."
  (Entire quote from second summary linked above.)  FWIW, I doubt that a 
farmer cutting hay would be considered engaged in an extra-hazardous 
activity in a legal sense, even though farming itself is a hazardous 
occupations.

Later cases in other circuits aren't as willing to assign criminal blame 
when the intent was not specifically to harm birds. The 5th Circuit 
ruled in 2015 that
> we agree with the Eighth and Ninth circuits that a “taking” is limited 
> to deliberate acts done directly and intentionally to migratory birds. 
> Our conclusion is based on the statute’s text, its common law origin, 
> a comparison with other relevant statutes, and rejection of the 
> argument that strict liability can change the nature of the necessary 
> illegal act.
Looking at a somewhat similar fact pattern, federal district courts have 
held that timber operations are /not /criminally liable under the MBTA 
for felling trees when that activity takes out nests, for example in 
/Curry v. U.S. Forest Service/, 988 F.Supp. 541, 549 (W.D. Pa. 1997); 
and /Mahler v. U.S. Forest Service/, 927 F. Supp. 1559, 1573-83 (S.D. 
Ind. 1996).  (Again, I am relying on the summaries above and haven't 
read the cases but the summaries seem evenhanded and well done.)

Conclusion?  This is not a clear area of the law.  At some point perhaps 
the US Supreme Court will agree to hear a case and clarify it, but I'm 
not holding my breath that this particular Supreme Court would rule the 
way we would wish if it came before them, particularly if it involves 
farmers cutting hay rather than, say, an oil spill caused by the 
negligence of a large corporation.

Alicia



On 6/15/2021 6:43 PM, david nicosia wrote:
> The MBTA is completely ignored in this case and has been for decades. 
> Why is that? Anyone know?
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
> <https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers_wl=ym_sub1=Internal_sub2=Global_YGrowth_sub3=EmailSignature>
>
> On Tue, Jun 15, 2021 at 6:27 PM, Kevin J. McGowan
>  wrote:
>
> I don’t think that’s true. Birds, nests, eggs, and their parts all
> come under protection from the MBTA. If feathers are covered,
> nestlings are covered.
>
> Kevin
>
> *From:* bounce-125714362-3493...@list.cornell.edu
>  *On Behalf Of *david
> nicosia
> *Sent:* Tuesday, June 15, 2021 5:55 PM
> *To:* darlingtonbets ; Nancy Cusumano
> ; Kenneth V. Rosenberg 
> *Cc:* Linda Orkin ; CAYUGABIRDS-L
> 
> *Subject:* Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed.
>
> Young nestling birds aren't protected by the migratory bird act. I
> guess that is true since this has been going on for decades. Wish
> they were.
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android
> 
> <https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers_wl=ym_sub1=Internal_sub2=Global_YGrowth_sub3=EmailSignature>
>
> On Tue, Jun 15, 2021 at 5:33 PM, darlingtonbets
>
> mailto:darlingtonb...@gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> Good! And let's try to get some publicity into the Ithaca
> Journal.
>
> Betsy
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
>
>  Original message 
>
> From: Nancy Cusumano  <mailto:nancycusuman...@gmail.com>>
>
> Date: 6/15/21 4:28 PM (GMT-05:00)
>
> To: "Kenneth V. Rosenberg" 

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed.

[Alicia]

*_Paying farmers_**:*  It's worth considering paying farmers to manage 
farmland to accommodate nesting birds, but it isn't $10 per farmer, 
farmers were paid $50/acre for the 2019 growing season by the Bobolink 
Project.  Bobolinks like large fields, the bigger the better., so the 
Bobolink Project requires a minimum grassland field size of 20 acres.  
At 2019 rates, that meant one minimally sized field cost $1000/yr.  
Upland sandpipers generally require 100 acres - $5000/yr.  Probably why 
in 2021 their fundraising protected only 1,159 acres statewide - much 
better than nothing, but not a large area.  That is in Massachusetts and 
acreage protection could cost more or less here, but probably not much 
less since grassland is farmed to produce hay, which is not cheap.
*
**_Discouraging birds from nesting_**:* With regard to Geo's point on 
discouraging nesting where mowing will be done, MassAudubon, which runs 
the Bobolink Project, recommends 
:
> If a field must be mowed during June or early July—and we strongly 
> hope such will not be the case for lands held in the public trust by 
> municipalities, land trusts, and conservation NGOs—intentionally make 
> the site unsuitable for grassland-nesting birds by mowing every 2 or 3 
> weeks, beginning in late May and continuing through mid-July. 
> Discouraging birds from nesting on such sites will prevent them from 
> being lured into ecological traps; hopefully the frequent mowing will 
> force them to relocate to other, more bird-friendly location.
Not clear they are basing this on any particular evidence.  Also, I 
don't understand how this would work for hay, but perhaps they mean 
non-farmers?

*_Targeting grassland not in cultivation_**:* Landowners who aren't 
farming their land might not even need to be paid to adopt a 
bird-friendly mowing schedule, or they might accept a much lower payment 
since they aren't out of pocket when they change how and when they mow.  
Does it make sense to begin by looking into efforts made by other bird 
clubs and organizations to these landowners, and then spend time on 
outreach to state, not for profit, and private landowners?  There are 
plenty of grassland management guides to borrow from (for example 
MassAudubon's 

 
and the NYS DEC's ).  The DEC 
itself manages a lot of land on wildlife refuges - is it required to 
follow its own guidelines on the grassland portions? And is it required 
to keep grassland as grassland or is it allowing it to grow up into 
scrub, renting it to farmers to use as cropland, or otherwise failing to 
maintain this habitat?



On 6/21/2021 10:52 AM, hollis.white wrote:
> Hi everyone,on early/late mowing,why not follow the Bobolink 
> Project,pay the farmers and whoever,to mow later,10 dollars apiece or 
> some sum,giv
> En to farmer will do wonders.
>
> Hollis
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy Tablet
>
>  Original message 
> From: Geo Kloppel 
> Date: 6/21/21 8:54 AM (GMT-05:00)
> To: anneb.cl...@gmail.com
> Cc: CayugaBirds-L b 
> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed.
>
> Hi Anne,
>
> I wasn’t thinking of entering the fields that had been pre-selected 
> for early mowing, nor searching for nests. Rather, I was wondering if 
> in some way those fields could be rendered unappealing just before 
> nesting begins, at the critical moment* when the sociable and 
> polygamous Bobolinks are choosing which fields to build their nests 
> in. Maybe they would find certain noises or predator signals or 
> patrolling drones or something else unacceptable, and move on to 
> settle into other fields that were slated for later mowing.
>
> *I wrote “moment” for whatever the brief period might be before they 
> make their choice and begin nest building.
>
> -Geo
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Jun 21, 2021, at 6:36 AM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > Speaking as someone who spent years locating redwing nests, I think 
> this is a mountain not a molehill. Locating nests in grassland is HARD 
> on purpose. Birds make it that way.   Feeding females do t go down to 
> their nests. They drop and walk to the nest. One makes paths tromping 
> through the grass which neither farmer nor birds will benefit from.
> >
> > I was thinking about what long term obs and relatively few nesting 
> areas it took for the one farm as described.
> >
> > No not impossible but much harder than it seems. And leaving clumps 
> with nests as well as paths near them will increase predation.
> >
> > I am dubious as good as this sounds.
> >
> > Anne
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> >> On Jun 20, 2021, at 10:40 PM, Geo Kloppel  wrote:
> >>
> >> I’ve been musing along a different line, wondering if a preemptive 
> approach is possible.
> >>
> 

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Changing bird names/Armitage Rd this morning

[Alicia]

I'm not familiar with specific proposals by the AOS, but two 
ornithologists wrote an op ed in the Washington Post 
<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/08/04/american-bird-names-colonialism-audubon/>
 
a few days ago that seems to call for the elimination of all eponymous 
bird names.  They give as examples Bachman’s sparrow, Townsend’s 
warbler, Bendire’s thrasher, Hammond’s flycatcher, and McCown’s 
longspur.  I'm not sure I followed the logic for eliminating all the 
others since only some of the names seem to have objectionable roots, 
but the authors seem to be saying more broadly that eponymous names 
reflect colonialism, racism, and inequality and should be eliminated.  
Their website, which includes a table of the names they have identified, 
and by & for whom each bird was named, is here 
<https://birdnamesforbirds.wordpress.com/>.

Alexander Wilson bought a farm in Ovid & the possibility that Wilson's 
Warblers seen now might be direct descendants of ones he spotted has 
always tickled me.  I don't pretend to understand all the arguments but 
given that these ornithologists (at least so far) have not listed 
anything objectionable about Wilson, I'm not sure why that name would 
need to be abandoned.  Or maybe they are suggesting only names they have 
identified as problematic need to go?  The language they use is more 
sweeping, however - I'm not entirely sure of the scope of their proposal.

Not taking sides here, just trying to clarify the facts.

And a bird report: Armitage Road was reasonably birdy this morning with 
both the Mourning Warbler and the Prothonotary Warbler singing 
continually and relatively easy to spot. Cerulean warblers and a 
Northern Waterthrush were singing less consistently and invisibly since 
they were further from the road.  Also several Redstarts and Yellow 
Warblers, plus a surprise Hooded Warbler, singing well east of the 
bridge on the south side of the road.  Non-warblers included 
persistently singing Yellow-Throated Vireo, Wood Thrushes & Veeries, and 
a Black-Billed Cuckoo.  Thank you Dave Kennedy for the careful 
description of the spot favored by the Mourning Warber, and suggesting 
there might be a Hooded!

Alicia

P.S. The Pileated Woodpeckers that had been in the nest just west of the 
bridge have fledged and were not hanging around the nest tree while I 
was there.



On 6/5/2021 5:37 PM, Robin Cisne wrote:
> What names are you referring to?  It's my understanding that what we 
> used to call an Oldsquaw is now properly called a Long-Tailed Duck.  
> Are there other birds whose names are being changed?  The quotation 
> below is from Wikipedia, but similar commentaries are found in other 
> references:
>
> "The English word /*squaw*/ is an ethnic and sexual slur 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs>,^[1] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-Vowel-1-1> ^[2] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-NMAI-2> ^[3] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-AIM-SC-3> historically 
> used for Indigenous North American 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas> 
> women.^[4] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-BNews1-4> 
> Contemporary use of the term, especially by non-Natives, is considered 
> offensive, derogatory 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotypes_of_Native_Americans>, 
> misogynist <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misogyny> and racist 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism>.^[1] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-Vowel-1-1> ^[2] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-NMAI-2> ^[3] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-AIM-SC-3> ^[4] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-BNews1-4> ^[5] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-Hirschfelder-5> ^[6] 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squaw#cite_note-AICRJ-6>
>
> The word is not used among Native American 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States>, 
> First Nations <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nations>, Inuit 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit>, or Métis 
> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9tis> peoples."
>
>
> Surely ornithologists and amateur birders alike don't wish to 
> perpetuate ignorant and disparaging slurs.
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 5:26 PM Carl Steckler  <mailto:simmshil...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> First it was statues, then military bases.
> Now the target of the woke crowd are birds.
> The American Ornithological Society is thinking about changing the
> names of some birds because they have a past that some call racist.
>
> Common people there is no room for political co

Re: [cayugabirds-l] OT

[Alicia]

Such sad news - Nari was an exceptionally kind & wise man.  In addition 
to all his other talents, he and Ginny created a beautiful bird-friendly 
garden on their land which they invited people to visit, and they 
generously shared advice.  We finally planted a Japanese quince this 
spring entirely because of Nari's gentle insistence that his quince 
always blooms just in time for the first hummingbirds.  I am grateful we 
have this reminder of this wonderful man visible from our front door.

A great loss to the community.

Alicia


On 7/3/2021 9:10 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote:
> I just read the interesting obituary of Nari Mistry in the Ithaca 
> Journal. Nari in the past was a frequent contributer to this bird list.
>
> Donna Scott
> Lansing
> Sent from my iPhone
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Re: More on Merlin Re: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin results/Turkey Vulture

[Alicia]

Hi Linda,

Jay replied a couple days ago - forwarded  below.

Best -

Alicia


 Forwarded Message 
Subject:Re: [cayugabirds-l] Possible Worm-eating Warblers in Lansing NY
Date:   Wed, 7 Jul 2021 12:02:10 -0400
From:   Jay McGowan 
Reply-To:   Jay McGowan 
To: Linda Orkin 
CC: Barbara Bauer Sadovnic , KitKat PonyBird 
, Cayugabirds-L 



Hi Linda,
Yes, clicking that will give us a record of it, but it won't be a lot to 
go on otherwise. One thing that will help long-term would be to make a 
recording of the bird, then upload it to an eBird checklist (doing some 
light editing following our best practices 
<https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48001064341-audio-preparation-and-upload-guidelines>
 
whenever possible). This won't have any immediate effect on the model of 
course, but longer term it will provide us with more diverse examples to 
train on.

Jay

On Wed, Jul 7, 2021 at 11:34 AM Linda Orkin mailto:wingmagi...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Jay I wonder if you can say what we should do if we know song ID is
incorrect. I got worm eating warbler for chipping sparrow down by
vas’s park rink today and I clicked no match. Is that the best way
to tri and alert Merlin to an incorrect choice?

Linda Orkin

> On Jul 6, 2021, at 10:32 AM, Jay McGowan  <mailto:jw...@cornell.edu>> wrote:
>
> 
> This is a good reminder that the new Sound ID function in Merlin
> is a great way to cue into new sounds and learn to ID birds, but
> should never be taken as the final word on an identification. In
> this case, trilling species like Worm-eating Warbler, Chipping
> Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and even Pine Warbler can be challenging
> for even experienced birders to identify with confidence, and the
> sound ID model has trouble being sure as well. Juncos in
> particular pose a challenge, with their extreme variation between
> individuals. So certainly, if you're in the right habitat, look a
> little harder for a bird flagged as a possible Worm-eating, but in
> the cases you describe, these were almost certainly Chipping
> Sparrows.
>
> P.S. I'd be happy to take a listen to a recording if you want to
> send it privately.
>
> Jay
>
> On Sun, Jul 4, 2021 at 6:38 PM Barbara Bauer Sadovnic
> mailto:bsadov...@htva.net>> wrote:
>
> The same thing happened to me today, also while eating
> breakfast on my porch, in Enfield!  I also tried BirdNET, and
> got the same result, although that might have been a “wild
> guess.” When I went looking for it I thought I saw a chipping
> sparrow, but couldn’t get a good look.
>
> Later in the day the bird (I think the same bird) was closer,
> and was identified as a chipping sparrow. But I couldn’t find it.
>
> Just now I heard it again, and again Merlin thought
> “worm-eating warbler.”  When I got closer Merlin changed his
> mind to chipping sparrow, and when I finally got a good look,
> I did see chipping sparrow, singing.
>
> I am really enjoying the new Merlin.
>
>> On Jul 4, 2021, at 1:15 PM, KitKat PonyBird
>> mailto:kitkatponyb...@gmail.com>>
>> wrote:
>>
>> 
>> While enjoying breakfast on my back porch today, I heard an
>> unfamiliar bird.  The new Sound ID on the Merlin app came up
>> with Worm-eating Warbler.
>>
>> Merlin says this bird is rare for this area.  I heard at
>> least three of the same song from different locations at
>> nearly the same time.  Still hearing them around.
>>
>> I did a couple of recordings, but don't know (yet) how to
>> share them. It's definitely different from the chipping
>> sparrows I usually hear.
>>
>> Wish I'd been able to get a visual.
>>
>> Happy Birding
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[cayugabirds-l] SPRING ORNITHOLOGY

[Alicia]

Please share this scholarship announcement with anyone you think may be 
interested in applying for a scholarship for our upcoming course, Spring 
Ornithology with Steve Kress. We hope to make the course available to 
educators and young people who may be interested in birds but unable to 
afford the course fee. Instead of the full $125 course fee for the 
eight-week course, scholarship recipients will be asked to pay $15, 
which includes Cayuga Bird Club membership.


*Applications for youth and young adults are welcome from people ages 
14-25.*

*Applications for educators are welcome from teachers, naturalists, and 
other youth mentors.*

*/Spring Ornithology with Steve Kress/* will be held by Zoom webinars on 
Tuesday evenings, March 30 - May 18, 2021, 7 - 9 pm.

Course information and scholarship application forms are available for 
download at www.cayugabirdclub.org/spring-ornithology 
.

Lectures by Dr. Stephen Kress, well-known for teaching a Spring Field 
Ornithology course at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for more than 40 
years, will include discussion of bird migration, courtship, family 
life, and conservation. Each weekly presentation features a group of 
birds that are at the peak of their spring migration, with beautiful 
photos and sound recordings. Lectures will also be recorded and shared 
with participants for later viewing if they are unable to attend a 
session, or if they’d just like to watch again to review. Dr. Kress is 
renowned for his entertaining and engaging teaching style, and loves 
sharing his extensive knowledge of bird life.


You may also request scholarship application materials by emailing 
dianegmor...@gmail.com . The application 
deadline is March 1, 2021.

Diane Morton
Cayuga Bird Club
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Wildlife rehab???

[Alicia]

If this means that an adult goose will have to be caught and taken to 
the vet school, seems like that's a job for more than one person!  I 
can't get over east of Ithaca today but maybe a few people have time to 
volunteer & John could give more specific directions?  Or John, if you 
think you have this on your own, let us all know.

Alicia


On 8/10/2021 10:32 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote:
> John
> You could try contacting Janet Swanson wildlife clinic at Cornell 
> veterinary College 253-3060.
>
> See website for how to handle injured animal/ bird. (I am sure you 
> know most of this),
> Clinic hours, map, etc.
> www.vet.cornell.edu
>
> Off hours, one takes animal to vet school small animal clinic to meet 
> an on-call wildlife clinic person.
>
> Donna Scott
> Lansing
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Aug 10, 2021, at 10:22 AM, Karen  wrote:
>>
>> 
>> Hi Folks,
>>
>>    There is a Canada Goose with a broken wing on a pond along 
>> Slaterville Rd. I think this is one of the adults that fledged 4 
>> young on the pond, but the others have left. I have lost my reference 
>> for not-a-hawk wildlife rehabilitator. Any help appreciated. Send to 
>> confergoldw...@aol.com
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> John Confer 539-6308
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[cayugabirds-l] Only FOY sightings welcome?!

[Alicia Plotkin]

Dave Nutter wrote:
 Some neat birds were found Saturday that didn't get posted on Cayugabirds-L 
 ...  Neither was a first of year observation nor a bird which is unexpected, 
 but both are tough basin birds which few people have seen this year.  Should 
 such observations be put on the RBA?  
There are hundreds of birders who subscribe to Cayugabirds and 
relatively few keep first of year lists, let alone seek to be recognized 
as the person who discovered a FOY bird.  A posting of any even slightly 
unusual bird has value to us.  What a strange turn of events, that a 
list intended to disseminate information about wild bird sightings in 
and around the Finger Lakes Region in a timely manner might be morphing 
into one where only the documentation of first sightings is 
unquestionably appropriate.  I personally have no interest whatsoever in 
who saw a particular bird first, or if it was the first or second or 
whatever seen in the basin this year - I just want to hear about the birds!

  Alicia Plotkin

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[cayugabirds-l] snows - buntings and geese

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

 A flock of 35-40 snow buntings has been hanging around the 
intersection of Munson Rd  Hall Rd (town of Ovid) this week; and a 
flock of ~200 snow geese was foraging through the stubble of a corn 
field just south of Interlaken, in the bend of Rte 96, at 11:30 this 
morning.


Alicia

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Re:[cayugabirds-l] Red Winged Blackbirds/Grackles

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

 For the first time in the 20 yrs we have been here, our yard with 
its two modest feeders has transformed into a set from The Birds - 
over a hundred grackles, RW blackbirds, and a few starlings have taken 
over the feeders, driving away the usual titmice, nuthatches, 
chickadees, goldfinches, cardinals, sparrows, juncos  woodpeckers - 
even the RB  hairy woodpeckers spent the afternoon hovering on the 
outskirts rather than challenge the masses of blackbirds.

 I know the other birds won't starve - they have been stashing as 
much as they've eaten all winter - but I am too cheap to be willing to 
feed this army of blackbirds!  Will they be able to open black oil 
sunflower seed if I convert both feeders to that for awhile?  Or is the 
only solution to stop feeding for awhile?  They aren't interested in the 
small nyger feeder that's off to the side but, then again, neither are 
most of the regular feeder birds!

 Thanks for any suggestions -

 Alicia


On 3/6/2011 5:32 PM, Donna Scott wrote:
 Along with all my other feeder birds on this snowy day, there are ~ 
 2-300 Red Winged Blackbirds and a dozen or so Grackles here at my 
 feeder areas (along with 33 C. Red Polls and many Cardinals and 
 Goldfinches, etc.). Most the RW B.birds are male, but there are a few 
 females with them.
 Donna L. Scott
 535 Lansing Station Road - by Cayuga Lake
 Lansing, NY 14882
 d...@cornell.edu mailto:d...@cornell.edu



 No virus found in this incoming message.
 Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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[cayugabirds-l] SSW at 1:00 pm today

[Alicia Plotkin]

Had a few minutes on the Wilson Trail after lunch - best bird was a 
Wilson Warbler working the shrubs just north of the foot bridge on the 
branch of the Wilson Trail that is closer to the wetlands - very 
cooperative and visible bird.  Also, with others, saw a YB Sapsucker 
completely flattened out, wings spread  head forward with mouth open, 
lying on the board walk to the Owens Observation Platform.  He flew away 
after awhile and started drilling on a tree, so apparently he was 
sunbathing.  The feathers on his head seemed damp, so maybe he had 
bathed and was drying himself in the sun?


The sweetest sighting was a tiny faun, lying no more than 8' from the 
Wilson Trail.  I had stopped for a Canada Goose family to cross the 
trail and the faun suddenly stood up on his (very long  spindly) legs, 
teetered there for a moment, and then curled up and went (back to?) 
sleep.  Had he not stood up, I never would have seen him - he was 
well-camouflaged and incredibly small, his body no bigger than a house 
cat's although his legs were longer - and the cute factor was off the chart.


Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] downtown pileated woodpecker/waxwings

[Alicia Plotkin]

Cedar Waxwings also were in the midst of the furor in Bank Alley 
yesterday, calmly eating cornelian cherries (I think) while the Physics 
Guys shot puffs of air in their direction.


Alicia

On 6/4/2011 8:39 PM, M Kardon wrote:

I was surprised to see a pileated woodpecker on a telephone pole at the 
southeast corner of Buffalo and Meadow Sts..  Also saw two cedar waxwings in a 
tree on Cayuga St. in the midst of the Ithaca Festival craft fair.  Marsha 
Kardon


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[cayugabirds-l] Eagles at Mud Lock

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

I have a young (10 yr old) friend visiting from France who is not a 
birder but who is interested in seeing an adult Bald Eagle this week.  
Are the mud lock eagles still in the general area of the nest?  Are any 
other adult eagles likely to give good looks and, if so, what's the best 
place to check?  He is only here for a few days and it probably isn't 
worth the drive from Ithaca to Montezuma - even with a stop at 
Fingerlakes Creamery! - unless there is a fairly good chance of getting 
an eagle close enough for good binocular looks (we don't have a scope).


 Thanks for any advice, even if it is that this isn't likely to pan 
out for him!


Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] Eagles 7/1 - and just how many RH woodpeckers are there in Aurora?

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

  Thanks to all for suggestions on the best places for eagles - we 
did succeed yesterday.  As many suggested, we drove up the east side of 
Cayuga, stopping first to watch the Red-Headed Woodpeckers at the 
intersection of Poplar Road  Rte 90.  We had a late start and didn't 
get to Aurora until after 11 AM, but as soon as we got out of the car I 
heard the distinctive q from two different spots in the black 
walnuts around the famous sycamore tree.  Soon there were multiple views 
of two adult RHWO flying around in those trees, and many chatter calls.  
Then both birds flew across Rte 90 to the lakeside of the road, where 
they spent periods in the grass and on tree trunks and a utility pole.  
They generously provided long close looks for the 45 minutes we were 
there, staying mostly on the west side of Rte 90.  We did not always 
have both birds in view, but usually did, and did not see them ever land 
on any part of the sycamore tree.  We finally left, the birds still in 
clear view, and the kids very impressed with their beauty.  Needless to 
say, these are not birds they see in France!

 Our next stop was the Bet the Farm store in the village, where we 
mentioned to the proprietors we had been seeing the RH Woodpeckers at 
Poplar Ridge Road.  The pleasant man said oh, there are some there, too? 
He had been watching a pair daily this spring as they went in and out of 
their nest hole while he waited with his son there at the school bus 
stop - near where _Wells_ Road came into Rte 90!  I asked if perhaps he 
meant Red Bellied Woodpecker, which has a red head, and he said 'no, I'm 
from Alabama, I've seen RH Woodpeckers all my life - they really aren't 
as much like RB Woodpeckers as Ladder-Backed Woodpeckers are.  Well, 
shut my mouth!  He said this nest tree was between Rte 90 and the lake, 
very close to where Wells Rd meets Rte 90.  Looking at a map, this would 
be about 2/3 mile from Poplar Ridge, and it seems unlikely but not 
impossible that we all would be watching a pair consistently by Poplar 
Ridge Road, and it actually would be nesting 2/3 mile north ... so are 
there perhaps two pair of RH Woodpeckers in Aurora?

 Traveling north from Aurora, we saw many osprey, including a pair 
several miles south of the north end of the lake, soaring over their 
nest on a platform just east of Rte 90.  At mud lock my young friend Zak 
found an adult eagle in a tree where we watched it for a half-hour but 
it was not inclined to fly.  We went up to Armitage Rd but it was well 
past noon at this point and the eagles surely were at their siesta - at 
any rate, they weren't in evidence.  Zak did find a pellet that had been 
cast by some raptor while we scanned the surrounding area for eagles.  
Moving on, we watched another pair of osprey with at least one chick in 
an active nest on 520, not far east of Rte 89.  When we got to the 
visitor center, there were reports of multiple immature eagles on the 
Wildlife Drive eating carp, but we had a hungry 7 year old with us, as 
well as the 10 year old eagle lover, so we headed for the Finger Lakes 
Creamery for a late lunch and ice cream dessert.

 That evening, back in Ovid, while canoeing on Seneca Lake with my 
husband, Zak looked up and spotted a mature bald eagle flying overhead.  
They got a clear view as it passed overhead.  They had not brought 
binoculars but my husband said the bird was fairly low and they got 
excellent looks.  We see eagles in the area a few times a year, usually 
immature - how wonderful that this bird swung by today!

 I had told Zak of all the help people on this list gave us and the 
first thing he said when he got back was, you have to tell the internet 
about our eagle.  So I have.

 Thanks again for all your help in making this a very memorable day 
for Zak and the rest of us, too!

Alicia



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crow hunting regulations

[Alicia Plotkin]

On 2/9/2012 9:05 PM, Mark Miller wrote:
 ... but if you happen to be from Geneva or Auburn it's kind of hard to 
 find anyone pro crow due to the devastation they cause. The rules 
 are designed to help maintain population levels at healthy limits. 
 Just FYI, I had a flock (murder) of about 1000 crows flying over me in 
 the town of Waterloo about 7 AM this morning (96A/East Lake Rd).

There have been winters when crows roosted in downtown Ithaca, and the 
sidewalks became covered with the inevitable result in the area where I 
park my car - sometimes the car, too.  It didn't make me want to shoot 
them, although sometimes I did wish someone would bring in a Goshawk or 
other raptor big enough to scare them off!

Seems hard to argue that crow hunting has any relationship to 
maintaining healthy population limits in NYS, given how sporadic and 
relatively unregulated it is.  Seems more like a bunch of people wanting 
to go out and shoot at a bunch of birds, and then compare body counts 
over beers. In Auburn the 'hunt' was run by a bar, making that 
particularly easy for participants.

 Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] snow geese movement

[Alicia Plotkin]

Same thing happening between Cayuga  Seneca Lakes: at 5:00 PM today, 
tens of thousands of Snow Geese coming out of the north and flying SSE 
over Rock River  Wycoff Roads in Ovid, in steady streams with hardly a 
break between flocks.  I could only stay about 10 minutes, so have no 
idea how long the river of flocks continued.   They were flying pretty 
much parallel to Cayuga Lake, hard to say just where they were headed.

Alicia Plotkin
Ovid


On 2/20/2012 8:25 PM, Eben McLane wrote:
 Owasco Lake 4:30 PM Monday: enormous flight of several thousand snow 
 geese flying SW, low in the sky (heading where? to the fields before 
 overnight stop on Cayuga Lake?); 8 PM : many, many more (by the sound 
 of it) on central Owasco Lake.

 Eben McLane
 Scipio, NY


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Field Sparrows?

[Alicia Plotkin]

I'm over in the Seneca Basin, but there seems to be one or two singing 
males in each of the usual fields near our house in Ovid, FWTW.

 Alicia
 Ovid

On 5/23/2011 12:39 PM, Annette Nadeau wrote:

 I heard one Field Sparrow singing last week along Central Chapel Road 
 (just before it intersects with Boiceville and Valley roads) in 
 Brooktondale.

 Annette

 Brooktondale

 *From:*bounce-31540423-14356...@list.cornell.edu 
 [mailto:bounce-31540423-14356...@list.cornell.edu] *On Behalf Of 
 *Kevin J. McGowan
 *Sent:* May 23, 2011 12:38 PM
 *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L
 *Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] Field Sparrows?

 Where are all the Field Sparrows?  The severe mowing of the powerline 
 cut beside my house could account for the lack of my regular yard one, 
 but I haven't heard a single song this spring.

 Kevin

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Prothonotary Warblers

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

 Prothonotaries were observed  photographed carrying food to 
peeping nestlings at a nest site in a cavity in a dead tree that arced 
over the Canal, just south of this same bridge, in the early 1990's.*  
They continued to nest there for two or three years, until the tree fell 
into the water one winter.  If they continued after that, I am not aware 
of anyone locating the nesting site.  Given that much of the land north 
of Armitage at this point is not real accessible (and not public land), 
perhaps they nested at last some other years since then, undetected by 
birders?  Seems like over the years there have continued to be 
occasional reports of Prothonotaries in the general area.

Alicia

* Fred - didn't you photograph these birds???


On 5/30/2011 9:59 PM, Kenneth Victor Rosenberg wrote:
 I should add that we did observe the north-side male entering a cavity 
 in a rotted stump about 30 ft. in from the road (and sing from the top 
 of this snag), so they are definitely /thinking/ about breeding -- of 
 course it will take a prospecting female to make this happen.


 Ken Rosenberg
 Director of Conservation Science
 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
 607-254-2412
 607-342-4594 (cell)
 k...@cornell.edu mailto:k...@cornell.edu

 On May 30, 2011, at 9:33 PM, Julie Bertram wrote:

 Hi,
   Today at 11:00AM the Protonotarys were about 300 feet west of the
 bridge on the north side. At times they would come to within 15 feet of
 the road.

 Fred Bertram
 -- 
 www.pbase.com/fjbertram http://www.pbase.com/fjbertram

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Rufuous Hummingbird

[Alicia Plotkin]

I stopped in to the Schlabachs around 1:15 this afternoon and also got 
to enjoy a couple visits by the hummingbird, about 20 minutes apart.  I 
echo Candace's thanks to Marty  Mary Jean - just sitting in the sun at 
their picnic table waiting for the hummer was lovely: an Amish man with 
a team of horses was loading hay onto a wagon in a field a hundred yards 
to the east, and behind that more fields  hedgerows repeated until 
Cayuga Lake could be glimpsed a mile or so away.  Chickadees, titmice, 
blue jays, house finches, bluebirds, and a very affectionate cat kept us 
company while we waited for the hummingbird to make his/her 
appearances.  FWIW, I thought the throat was light colored and assumed 
it was female or immature, but only had binoculars so may have been 
mistaken.

Alicia



On 10/26/2012 6:09 PM, Candace Cornell wrote:

 Nancy Ostman and I enjoyed a number of excellent views of the Rufous 
 Hummingbird at the Schlabach home between 9:40-10:50 am. today. It is 
 a stunning male, especially when the sunlight catches it just right. 
 Many thanks to Marty and Mary Jean for opening their yard to birders!


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[cayugabirds-l] Raptor Love is in the Air

[Alicia Plotkin]

Yesterday about 5 pm I heard two Great Horned Owls dueting close by 
while the dogs and I were out stretching our legs.  After several 
minutes the duet changed to a single 'hoot' that was repeated over 30 
times evenly on one pitch, then a short pause, then another set of 37 
hoots, then back to duets.  According to the Owl CDs put out by the Lab 
several years ago, this is a 'copulation call.'


Also saw two Red Tailed Hawks flying together on Friday afternoon, so 
close that their wing tips nearly touched, then they landed high up in a 
bare tree and sat together quietly side by side, still there without 
changing their position when I had to leave after 5 minutes.


 Alicia Plotkin
 Ovid

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[cayugabirds-l] OT: Comet visible in western sky now

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

   In case I'm not the only one who has searched fruitlessly for Comet 
PanSTARRS, it is visible right now, significantly north of west, and 
higher in the sky than I expected - maybe ~6 full moon diameters (?) 
above the horizon - I'm even worse at astronomical descriptions than 
bird descriptions!  But it is the lowest object I can see in the western 
sky with the naked eye: a very faint dot from my backyard, but thru 10 
power binoculars, it is far more impressive with a fairly wide filmy 
tail pointing straight up.


And to make this marginally bird relevant, for the first time in 
several nights there is not a mass of snow geese barking in the middle 
of Seneca Lake tonight.  They don't make as much noise as when they fly, 
but there is a constant murmuring all night long many nights this time 
of year.


Alicia in Ovid


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[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma?

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

 Have a friend who was thinking about going up the west side of 
Cayuga and checking out Montezuma tomorrow.  Anyone go up today who 
could give us an idea of what is there this weekend?


Alicia Plotkin

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[cayugabirds-l] Migration on radar?

[Alicia Plotkin]

Could someone more learned than I - which is just about anyone - 
interpret what is happening on radar right now  what it might mean for 
tomorrow morning?  I'm hoping good things ...


Thanks!

 Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] More on SSW today a question about the BirdCast forecast

[Alicia Plotkin]

Usually 11 warblers on May 10th isn't so exceptional, but this year it 
felt like a jackpot!  Late in the morning there was a (live) 
BLACK-THROATED BLUE hanging out with two or three BLACK-THROATED GREENS 
at the northeast corner of the Hoyt Pileated Trail. Initially he sang a 
weird song partway between BT Blue  BT Green, but then he settled down 
and did several repetitions of beer beer brie and established his 
identity.

Earlier in the morning I had my first warbler flock of 2013 on the north 
branch of the Wilson trail, where it splits: 3 or 4 Yellow-Rumps, 2 
REDSTARTS, 1 MAGNOLIA, and 1 BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHER, all vocalizing and 
heading roughly east.  There were also singing yellow warblers, orioles, 
and a house wren all competing for aural attention - it was almost like 
a regular spring for a moment there!

Two VEERIES were veering near the shelter on the Wilson Trail; one of 
them, or possibly a third, obligingly hopped around on a log in front of 
the netting a little later.  A BLACKBURNIAN and another BT GREEN were ar 
the intersection with the Severinghaus Trail, and a single NASHVILLE was 
in the trees off Sapsucker Woods Road at the entrance to the East 
Trail.  Not sure if ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are old news but there was a 
male singing early in the day north of the north part of the Wilson 
Trial, and a pair near the intersection of the Woodleton Boardwalk and 
the Hoyl-Pileated Day, hopping around right on the trail with a pair of 
Cardinals?!

Question re BirdCast: has anyone else noticed the forecast for May 12-18 
http://birdcast.info/forecast/regional-migration-forecast-12-18-may-2013/?  
It actually starts with tonight, Friday May 10th, and predicts moderate 
to heavy migration tonight  with possible fallout throughout this area 
for tomorrow.  For real

 Alicia


On 5/10/2013 8:34 AM, Chris Pelkie wrote:
 Unfortunately almost the first bird of the day was a BLACK-THROATED 
 BLUE WARBLER who sang once as I stepped out the back door of the lab, 
 then flew up from a perch probably on our BBQ grill a couple feet from 
 the windows, smacked it, broke his neck and fell to the ground. I 
 picked him up hoping for a revival but it was not to be, so he will 
 soon be an educational device in the skins lab. Seemed to be not quite 
 in full breeding color. These windows have black see-through curtains 
 to help cut down bird strikes but they didn't help this time.

 Coming back out after putting him inside, I saw the 2 GREEN HERONs 
 reported yesterday fly one after the other across the pond to the snag 
 tree near Sherwood. Also watched one of the nesting GREAT BLUE HERONs 
 bring a new stick to the nest where it was gratefully accepted by the 
 mate who raised neck and bill straight up and made the peculiar 
 throaty noise reserved for such an occasion.

 Walking around the pond got looks at YELLOW-RUMPED and YELLOW 
 WARBLERs, my FOY MAGNOLIA WARBLER foraging and singing quietly, heard 
 OVENBIRD, heard and saw HOUSE WREN(s), heard BLACK-THROATED GREEN 
 WARBLER, thought I might have heard Black-and-white, but when I went 
 to check the board at the front desk, found that Brad had posted 
 Blackburnian so maybe I heard a trace of them (not claiming either). 2 
 BARN SWALLOWS flew over, and more than one BALTIMORE ORIOLE was 
 singing. A BLUE-HEADED VIREO was heard a couple times. Singing 
 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, Chickadees, Robins, Titmouse were all noted.

 Highlight though was that while at the base of Sherwood, almost ready 
 to walk out to the platform where I might have come across the 
 Kentucky Warbler that Brad and Mary found only a short time earlier (! 
 drat !), I heard really intense crow mobbing SW of the platform back 
 in the thicket of pine. After I listened for a bit, I said  'that is 
 NOT a hawk, it MUST be an owl; oh boy, these guys might have found me 
 a Barred Owl!. So I had to go all the way around by the bench, then 
 to the trail fork onto West Trail, the mobbing getting more intense as 
 I got closer. Scanning high and low and realizing the mob was down in 
 the thick part, I finally raised glasses and 50 yds away saw in full 
 front view on a branch, the GREAT HORNED OWL looking back at me. A few 
 seconds later, one of the crows, literally sitting 2' away on a 
 branch, lunged at the owl and everyone flew off into the forest.
 __
 *
 *
 *Chris Pelkie
 Research Analyst
 Bioacoustics Research Program
 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
 159 Sapsucker Woods Road
 Ithaca, NY 14850*

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[cayugabirds-l] Lumpy Hooded Warblers?

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

Many hooded warblers are sleek little birds, looking much like this 
http://www.greglasley.net/hoodedwarbler.html.

A couple days ago, I was watching the local male signing, and he had a 
distinct hump on his back, like this 
http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/warblers/hooded+warbler_001/hooded+warbler+2.jpg.ht
 
only even a bit more pronounced.  It was a warm day, before the weather 
turned, so there was no thermal reason for him to be fluffing out his 
back feathers, and it seemed no different in size during or between 
bursts of song.  Photos on the internet show some other males with 
similar bumps or humps, and some without.

So does anyone know what's with the hump?  Is this a fat deposit? (This 
male has been back on territory since May 5th, but I don't know how long 
it would take him to replenish fat reserves, or if there would be a 
concentration of fat on his back.)

Alicia



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Lumpy Hooded Warblers? - better link!

[Alicia Plotkin]

The link for the lumpy warbler photo isn't working (thanks, Fritzie!) 
sohere's http://www.avibirds.com/html/Hooded_Warbler.html one that 
does, and here's 
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TCWSQn8YsY8/UALj6WpH8kI/AxA/nRUwfdn2pP8/s1600/BP+Hooded+Warbler+E.jpg
 
another!


On 5/14/2013 9:03 PM, Alicia Plotkin wrote:
 Hi,

 Many hooded warblers are sleek little birds, looking much like this 
 http://www.greglasley.net/hoodedwarbler.html.

 A couple days ago, I was watching the local male signing, and he had a 
 distinct hump on his back, like this 
 http://www.lilibirds.com/gallery2/v/warblers/hooded+warbler_001/hooded+warbler+2.jpg.ht
  
 only even a bit more pronounced.  It was a warm day, before the 
 weather turned, so there was no thermal reason for him to be fluffing 
 out his back feathers, and it seemed no different in size during or 
 between bursts of song.  Photos on the internet show some other males 
 with similar bumps or humps, and some without.

 So does anyone know what's with the hump?  Is this a fat deposit? 
 (This male has been back on territory since May 5th, but I don't know 
 how long it would take him to replenish fat reserves, or if there 
 would be a concentration of fat on his back.)

 Alicia


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[cayugabirds-l] meadowlark question

[Alicia Plotkin]

A meadowlark was singing on territory in  neighbor's hayfield at least 
by April 28th this year.  I heard him regularly, early in the day, for 
over a month and then my schedule changed so I do't really know if he 
still is singing there mornings or not.


To my surprise, our neighbor just asked me if 'those birds of yours have 
finished with their nests' because he has been waiting to mow (!), but 
he says he can't wait much longer or his machinery will jam.  A little 
research suggests that from first egg to fledging is under 30 days - so 
would it be safe to say that the meadowlarks should be finished nesting 
and it's OK to mow there now?


BTW, I'm pretty sure there aren't any bobolinks are in that field - the 
only male we had this year seems to have left after the field across the 
road was mowed late last month.   :-(The sad thing is that even just 
ten years ago we had scores of bobolinks and maybe a dozen male 
meadowlarks, as well as grasshopper  more common grassland sparrows, 
and usually harriers, nesting on this one half mile stretch of road, but 
agricultural uses of the land have changed and now there is only this 
tiny remnant holding on ...


So would really like to make sure this last meadowlark male  his harem 
have had the chance to finish nesting, but not prolong it to the point 
where my neighbor doesn't want to do this in future years.  Is it safe 
to tell him to go ahead and mow?


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] count v hunting: a possible solution

[Alicia Plotkin]

As Dave may remember from his days skirmishing with dog walkers at 
Treman Marina, the City neither owns nor controls what happens offshore 
in Cayuga Lake.  The lake bottom, and what happens above it, is 
regulated solely by the state of NY.   (Unlike most bodies of water in 
NYS, both Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, including the lake bottoms, are owned 
by the state.)  This  which is why if you want to build a dock or boat 
house over the lake, for example, you have to get permission from the 
State in addition to regular building permits.  So while the City can 
control who carries guns in Stewart Park, it can't keep someone from 
having a gun if s/he is standing in the lake itself. The Ithaca City 
Court recognized the limits of the city's power when it held the city 
could not ticket off leash dogs swimming in the lake at Treman Marina: 
while the city has a law against off leash dogs, as does the state park 
system, the state itself does not and it is NYS that regulates the 
lake.  Similarly, the city can prohibit someone from landing a boat at 
Stewart Park, but unless there is some state law giving it the power to 
do so, it cannot prohibit one from approaching, regardless of what the 
statute says.  Finally, FWIW, Treman Marina is located geographically 
within the city but as state park land, it is not subject to city laws - 
the state park laws and state laws regulate what is permissible there.

Best -

Alicia


On 12/31/2013 12:32 PM, Linda Orkin wrote:
 It will come as no surprise that I would be very willing to work with 
 others to enact out existing statutes regarding this. This is great 
 information Dave and thank you.

 You will be sorely missed tomorrow.

 Linda

 Sent from my iPhone

 On Dec 31, 2013, at 11:46 AM, Dave Nutter nutter.d...@me.com 
 mailto:nutter.d...@me.com wrote:

 I support keeping New Year's Day for the Ithaca count, despite the 
 difficulty in explaining to people why our Christmas Bird Count is on 
 the wrong holiday. The reasons have to do with data, birds, and 
 people, and an alternative solution.

 The Ithaca count has a long tradition of being on this date starting 
 with Doc Allen, so our records are likely more valuable for 
 consistency than most counts, many of which vary by several days 
 between years as they try to use (and conflict with one another) on 
 weekend days. Being late in the 3-week window for counts, our count 
 may also give a better picture of winter bird numbers. As climate 
 change occurs it's even more important to have data which is taken 
 consistently from year to year. Yes, the disruption of waterfowl in 
 the past several years has been significant, and should be noted in 
 the records for those using waterfowl data, but the Christmas Bird 
 Count is not just of water birds and not just on the lake. Sorry, 
 Ken, that your job has been made more difficult as Stewart Park 
 counter. I'd like to try to change the situation in the City (more 
 below).

 On the human side, I think having the count on this secular holiday 
 is both good for getting a large and consistent turn-out of counters 
 (I think I am an exception in that I work Wednesdays regardless so I 
 won't be counting this year.), it is appropriately celebrated by 
 birders as we start our year lists. Of course always want more 
 counters because we have higher standards for coverage than most 
 counts, and we always miss the great birders who migrate away 
 according to the academic calendar, but I don't think we are likely 
 to get more college folks participating unless we move the date to 
 the very earliest end (with maximum data screw-up), and meanwhile any 
 change from New Year's Day will lose a bunch of regular counters.

 About gunning season, from what I have just read in the resources 
 which others have supplied to this listserv (thank-you!), I think the 
 feds set the start and end date, as well as the maximum number of 
 days in between which may be open, while the states decide which 
 calendar days will be open. The state is nominally open to input, but 
 (again looking at those resources) clearly is interested mainly 
 (only?) in the views of those wanting maximum shooting opportunities, 
 so the state makes a big effort to include as many weekends and 
 holidays as possible, which of course are also the times when those 
 of us who are not killing things or endangering anyone also have the 
 most free time to be out, so the conflicts are maximized. We could 
 try, but I think it would be difficult to get a holiday from shooting 
 on New Year's Day. It's another question whether it's possible to 
 reason with the particular individuals who are so intent on killing 
 birds at the south end of Cayuga Lake that it appears to me they are 
 willing to break various rules.

 Regarding the City of Ithaca, in 1994 it rescinded the lake hunting 
 whose start was bemoaned in the historic newspaper column which Jane 
 Graves posted on the club

Re: [cayugabirds-l] American three-toed woodpecker

[Alicia Plotkin]

I can't remember whether it was a Black-Backed or Three-Toed Woodpecker, 
but one of these was seen 20-25 years ago by an experienced birder from 
the Eaton Birding Society - maybe Lyn Jacobs? - at her home near 
Canandaigua Lake. The sighting pre-dates eBird and apparently never was 
entered but a few other semi-local sitings have been.  So while these 
woodpeckers are very rare in this area they certainly are not unheard of.

Best -

Alicia


On 3/9/2014 3:35 PM, Martin Fellows Hatch wrote:
 Dave,

 Hairys come to our suet feeder often. It's not a Hairy. I'd say that 
 the Hairys don't have as much bulk as this bird did.

 Sorry I don't have more to describe of the body wing colors. The bird 
 perched on the suet feeder in such a way that I could see only its 
 left side. What I remember of it is that the belly was black/grey with 
 white flecks and the wing was similar. Not as much white anywhere as 
 I've seen on a Hairy, especially the belly. There was also a whitish 
 stripe under its eye. Later this afternoon there has been a Downy and 
 Hairy at the feeder. They both had more clear white on their bodies, 
 especially on the underside.

 The thing I remember most clearly was its call, the base tone of which 
 was lower than the hairy's and still lower than the downy's, and the 
 cheep of it all was somehow richer than that of the downy and hairy.

 About size, I'd say that it is hard to know if it was larger or 
 smaller than the Hairys I've seen, but I said larger because of the 
 bulk of it.

 Best, Marty

 On Mar 9, 2014, at 2:36 PM, Dave Nutter wrote:

 Marty,
 The back and sides are more distinguishing between the species, so 
 more detail would be helpful. I think immature Hairy Woodpeckers 
 occasionally show yellow on the crown.
 --Dave Nutter

 On Mar 09, 2014, at 01:12 PM, Donna Scott d...@cornell.edu 
 mailto:d...@cornell.edu wrote:

 Dear Marty  Susie
 Please describe more about the feather patterns on the woodpecker. 
 What pattern is on its back and sides?

 My Sibley guide says the three-toed is a bit smaller than the Hairy 
 wdpkr. (Altho without the two seen together, size is hard to judge, 
 as they tell us in Spring Field Ornithology class)

 However, the Black-Backed wdpkr, which also has a yellow head patch, 
 is slightly larger than an Amer. Three Toed and the Hairy.

 Both the Black- Backed and Amer. Three-toed Woodpeckers would be 
 rare here, but w this severe winter weather it seems like anything 
 is possible.
 Thanks for more description of the bird.

 Donna Scott
 Lansing

 Sent from my iPhone
 Donna Scott

 On Mar 9, 2014, at 1:53 PM, Martin Fellows Hatch m...@cornell.edu 
 mailto:m...@cornell.edu wrote:

 Hope that this report is not too casual for you all, but we have 
 had an American three-toed woodpecker at our suet feeder and on a 
 maple tree nearby today. The feeder is out the window, within 10 
 feet of our dining-room table, so we can see it clearly. What we 
 see is the following. Slightly larger than a Hairy. Head slightly 
 larger. A Yellow stripe on the front of the top of the head 
 (beginning behind the beak and above the eye and extending towards 
 the top).

 It has also been on a maple tree about 20 feet away from the 
 feeder, moving about a bit on the trunk and branches and making a 
 cry unlike those of the hairy and downy that I have heard: short 
 and chippy, with a timbre that is bright and brisk, but the 
 base tone is lower than the hairy and downy.

 Marty and Susie Hatch
 Snyder Hill Road, opposite Besemer Hill Road



 Subject: Re: American Three-toed Woodpecker Sighting?
 From: John and Sue Gregoire k...@empacc.net mailto:k...@empacc.net
 Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2014 14:29:04 -0500
 X-Message-Number: 10

 That would be exceedingly amazing for this area. Never say never 
 but that report is
 entirely too casual to be believed.
 -- 
 John and Sue Gregoire
 Field Ornithologists
 Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory
 5373 Fitzgerald Road
 Burdett,NY 14818-9626
 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ 
 http://www.empacc.net/%7Ekestrelhaven/
 Conserve and Create Habitat

 On Sat, March 8, 2014 14:25, David Weber wrote:
 Can anyone validate this sighting, or is it just another 
 misidentification?

 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S17357540

 Good birding,
 David

 --


 *David Jonas WeberCornell University, Class of 2016Natural Resources,
 Applied Ecology*

 --

 --

 Subject: Re: American Three-toed Woodpecker Sighting?
 From: Rob Blye rwb...@comcast.net mailto:rwb...@comcast.net
 Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2014 21:10:04 +
 X-Message-Number: 12

 The species has been changed to hairy woodpecker which is much more 
 likely.


 Rob Blye
 East Coventry Township
 Chester County, Pennsylvania

 - Original Message -
 From: John and Sue Gregoire k...@empacc.net 
 mailto:k...@empacc.net
 To: David Weber weberbird...@gmail.com 
 mailto:weberbird...@gmail.com
 Cc

[cayugabirds-l] Injured Red-Tailed Hawk

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

 On my way home from work, at 5:30 PM, an injured mature (and 
gorgeous) red-tailed hawk was in a field just south of Interlaken. It 
was able to jump and flap for very short distances - maybe 3' in lift 
and 10' in distance - and was progressing through a series of flap/hops, 
but appeared to have an injury to the left wing and possibly weakness in 
the left leg.  It was extremely alert - it watched crouched by the side 
of Rte 96A for a series of cars and trucks to scream past and then 
flap/hopped across the road - but surely will tire quickly.  The field I 
last saw it in is I think the same one where a Snowy Owl was seen 
briefly earlier this year (not be me) and is a favorite of foxes and 
coyotes.


 Anyone have the name/phone number of someone willing to go after 
this strong but injured bird?  I can give more specific directions then, 
or meet someone there to show them where it was last seen.


Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Injured Red-Tailed Hawk - update request for help

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi everyone,

 By the time Rose and I made contact today, it was too late in the 
day for me to get back to Interlaken and confirm the bird was still 
visible and for her then to make the trip  arrive before sunset.  I 
will look again tomorrow morning and see if I can find it on my way to work.

  As of 5:30 PM today, the hawk was on the ground in the spot marked 
with a pin here http://tinyurl.com/py5lx62. It had just crossed 96 and 
was hopping/flapping generally north. While it is injured, it still is a 
powerful and alert animal  I doubt anyone without the right experience 
and equipment can catch it without hurting both themselves and the hawk.

  My suggestion is that if you see the bird and it is possible for 
you to wait in the area while help comes, then call either the Cornell 
Wildlife Center (607-253-3060 and follow the prompts to the Wildlife 
Center to discuss the situation and get directions) or call Rose at the 
number she gave below and see if someone can come catch it.  You /must/ 
stay with the bird to keep an eye on where it goes, though - it is 
unlikely someone would be able to just show up a half hour later and be 
able to find it unless you do this, as these fields have lots of cover 
in and around them!

   If someone does try or succeed in catching this hawk, could you 
let me know?

   Thanks -

  Alicia

On 4/1/2014 6:18 PM, Rosalie V Borzik wrote:

 Hi Alicia,

 If you go back to that area, tell me the hawk is still there and wait 
 for me to arrive, I will come. Otherwise, it's a long drive for what 
 is likely to be a wild goose chase.

 Email me at rbor...@audubon.org mailto:rbor...@audubon.org or call 
 my cell 607-342-0271 tel:607-342-0271

 Rose Borzik

 Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Smartphone

 -- Original message--

 *From: *Alicia Plotkin

 *Date: *Tue, 4/1/2014 6:08 PM

 *To: *CAYUGABIRDS-L;

 *Subject:*[cayugabirds-l] Injured Red-Tailed Hawk

 Hi,

   On my way home from work, at 5:30 PM, an injured mature (and
 gorgeous) red-tailed hawk was in a field just south of Interlaken. It
 was able to jump and flap for very short distances - maybe 3' in lift
 and 10' in distance - and was progressing through a series of flap/hops,
 but appeared to have an injury to the left wing and possibly weakness in
 the left leg.  It was extremely alert - it watched crouched by the side
 of Rte 96A for a series of cars and trucks to scream past and then
 flap/hopped across the road - but surely will tire quickly. The field I
 last saw it in is I think the same one where a Snowy Owl was seen
 briefly earlier this year (not be me) and is a favorite of foxes and
 coyotes.

   Anyone have the name/phone number of someone willing to go after
 this strong but injured bird?  I can give more specific directions then,
 or meet someone there to show them where it was last seen.

  Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: RE:[nysbirds-l] Willow Ptarmigan Point Peninsula YES [OOB]

[Alicia Plotkin]

More info on the Willow Ptarmigan  at Point Peninsula as posted to the 
NYS BIrds list

 Original message 
From: Arie Gilbert ariegilb...@optonline.net
Date: 04/26/2014 12:15 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: Arie Gilbert ariegilb...@optonline.net
Subject: RE: Willow Ptarmigan Point Peninsula YES


New location @ 12:14 PM

Here is a link to my current viewing location: 
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:43.963096,-76.270219

Arie Gilbert
No. Baylon NY


Sent from Loretta IV in the field



 Original message 
From: Arie Gilbert ariegilb...@optonline.net
Date: 04/26/2014 10:56 AM (GMT-05:00)
To: NYSBIRDS-L@cornell edu nysbird...@cornell.edu
Subject: Willow Ptarmigan Point Peninsula YES


Currently being seen with Ian Resnick and Derek Rogers.

Here is a link to my current viewing location: 
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=loc:43.965551,-76.266438


04/26/2014 @ 10:56 AM

Arie Gilbert
No. Baylon NY


Sent from Loretta IV in the field
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] ANy resource for hybrid warbler photos?

[Alicia Plotkin]

Yep, that's it!  While I haven't found any quite as weird as the bird I 
saw, the mask definitely seems identical to several, and one shows small 
blotches on the upper breast.

Thanks, Jay!

Alicia



On 5/14/2014 11:59 AM, Jay McGowan wrote:
 Hi Alicia,
 Warbler hybrids do occur, but in general they are less frequent (or at 
 least less frequently reported) than in some other groups, such as 
 ducks. The exception of course is Blue-winged x Golden-winged crosses, 
 which are seen quite frequently, especially in this part of the world. 
 The bird you describe sounds to me like an immature male American 
 Redstart, which look essentially identical to females their first year 
 but often look blotchily transitional their second. I just saw a 
 similar looking bird to what you describe at Sapsucker Woods, mostly 
 like a female redstart but with a small black mask and blotchy black 
 markings on the body. Take a look at some photos on the web and see if 
 that seems reasonable for what you saw.

 -Jay


 On Wed, May 14, 2014 at 11:52 AM, Alicia Plotkin t...@zoom-dsl.com 
 mailto:t...@zoom-dsl.com wrote:

 Hi,

  As often happens after storms in May, we had a bunch of
 warblers in our yard this morning, and I just got in from four
 hours of watching them.  (Since the part of our yard involved is
 only about an acres, this is a lot of time - partly it was birdy,
 partly it's hard to come in when there is anything at all to watch
 or hear.)  One bird definitely was not a standard issue warbler,
 but I don't have a camera so am reduced to looking at other
 people's pictures, although it was extremely cooperative and
 staying in clear view at or a little above eye level for 20
 minutes and may still be there for all I know!  (But my neighbors
 with cameras have all gone to work.)  It seemed redstart-ish in
 many ways - size, feeding patterns, songs variable and generally
 w/i the redstart spectrum - and it also in many ways was like a
 female redstart in overall color.  However, the tail had a bit
 less yellow, it had a single short and very slim buffy wingbar,
 and, most peculiarly, it s head had a greyish cast and also a
 black mask that extended to the eyes. It had the same yellow
 shoulder patches but it also had a fairly large blotch of black on
 it's upper breast that was slightly off center to the left, where
 it met the yellow patch, but didn't extend nearly as far to the
 right; and a much smaller blotch a bit below that and on the
 right, with one or two very short vertical black lines below that
 smaller blotch.  The rest of the chin and breast, all the way to
 the tail, were white.

  I don't really expect anyone to recognize this bird from this
 description, but if you could point me toward a resource with
 photos. I'd be much obliged.

Alicia
oob in Ovid

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 Macaulay Library
 Cornell Lab of Ornithology
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Sparrows in the area

[Alicia Plotkin]

On 5/21/2014 8:15 PM, Chris R. Pelkie wrote:


... Our recent mob of singing White-crowned Sparrows have headed north 
as have our winter feeder Juncos.


ChrisP


Chris  Richard,

 Keep in mind that there may not be mobs of them time time of year, 
but juncos do breed here.  A junco has been darting into our porch to 
glean fur from the cover of the dog bed there, presumably to line her 
nest, and a pair continues to come to our feeder daily.


  Alicia

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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Fairgrounds Access

[Alicia Plotkin]

TMI on Seneca Falls and fairgrounds: There actually /is/ something 
called the Seneca County Fairgrounds, but they have nothing to do with 
the Lott Farms and in fact are in Waterloo, on the north edge of the 
village off Swift Street.  Every year the Seneca County Fair is held 
there in mid-July.  So far as I know there aren't any interesting birds 
there although there are lots of sheds on the property so, who knows, 
maybe Monk Parakeets have moved in!

The Lott Farms used to be a working farm but for the last 25 years or 
so, it mostly has hosted Empire State Farm Days in early August each 
year.  This is probably where the idea that it is a fairgrounds began, 
but that is just a private arrangement between the NYS Potato Growers 
Assn and the Lotts - Empire State Farm Days essentially is an 
Agricultural Expo by businesses who want to sell farming related stuff.

Maybe the Lott Farm should be referred to by its own name to avoid 
confusion, just in case Parakeets do invade the real Seneca County 
Fairgrounds?

Alicia



- Original Message -
From:
Gary Kohlenberg jg...@cornell.edu

To:
randrew...@gmail.com randrew...@gmail.com, CAYUGABIRDS-L
cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu
Cc:

Sent:
Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:38:31 +
Subject:
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Fairgrounds Access


Ralph Lott Farms are what I call the Seneca County Fairgrounds.

*315 568-9501*

I always get an answering machine; ask permission, leave my name and
# with a description of the vehicle I will be driving. They have
been very generous in giving people access.

Gary

*From:*bounce-116574009-3493...@list.cornell.edu
mailto:bounce-116574009-3493...@list.cornell.edu
[mailto:bounce-116574009-3493999@list.cornelledu
mailto:bounce-116574009-3493...@list.cornell.edu] *On Behalf Of
*Andrew Dreelin
*Sent:* Thursday, June 26, 2014 9:51 AM
*To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L
*Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] Fairgrounds Access

Hi all,

Eric Sibbald and I are headed up to the Montezuma area today, and we
would like to see Upland Sandpipers. I understand that the
fairgrounds where

they're seen reliably is restricted access. Does anyone know how I
can go about obtaining permission? Is there a number I can call?
Please contact me off-list via email (randrew...@gmail.com
https://mail.google.com/mail/mu/mp/972/?source=naphr=1hl=en), or
phone (706-587-9312). Thank you very much!

Happy birding,

Andrew Dreelin




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[cayugabirds-l] OOB Red-Headed Woodpecker in Ovid

[Alicia Plotkin]

For the second time in 20 years, we had a brief visit from an adult RH 
woodpecker this morning.  The first time, which was at least 15 yrs ago, 
one stopped in for a quick bite at our sunflower seed feeder in early 
spring.  This morning's bird snacked on ripe cherries.  (The tree has 
small sweet cherries that draw a multitude of birds for a week or ten 
days each spring, including lots of woodpeckers.)  Since at least this 
past Friday, red-bellied woodpeckers and downy woodpeckers have been 
flying into the tree with fledglings and feeding them, but the RH 
woodpecker was unaccompanied by young.


Alicia, on the west side of Ovid

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[cayugabirds-l] YB Chat in FL National Forest

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

This was a life bird for me so I came home to do some checking 
before posting.  At 2:30 PM today I saw a yellow-breasted chat next to 
the Ravine Trail in the FL National Forest in Hector.  The bird was 
first near the short wooden stairs that are just northeast of the turn 
around point on the loop.  I was enjoying watching a RB Nuthatch when a 
strange cacophony started just up behind me, mixing sounds like a 
playground whistle, a blue jay's call, and the way a crow might laugh if 
a crow had a higher voice and was capable of laughter.  I turned and saw 
a smallish bird flitting in a hemlock tree about 10 feet away and got on 
it with binoculars.  It was bigger than a solitary vireo, which was my 
first thought as I glimpsed the spectacles, although never thought a 
solitary vireo was making those sounds and assumed I was on the wrong 
bird, but then it sang.  Was somewhat backlit making exact colors hard 
to see, but had clear white spectacles, dark back  long slim tail, 
lighter colored beneath, no wing bars.  It moved around and briefly 
fickered through better light, which gave an impression of a yellowish 
breast, but I never got a clear look  can't say I got the full effect 
of a brilliant yellow breast.  However, having now compared the sounds 
it was making with those online, and noting the size, bold spectacles, 
and long thin tale, I am very confident of the identification.  When I 
saw the bird it was moving around in the hemlocks and small trees, 
moving gradually north.  It sang pretty consistently for 2-3 minutes, 
then fell silent until several minutes later it sang from further north 
and I found it again about a tenth of a mile further up the trail, still 
on the same side of the little creek.


 If you go, there also were  at least three hermit thrushes, two BT 
green warblers, a pair of scarlet tanagers, and ovenbirds (this trail is 
extremely reliable for these four species in spring  summer), plus a N. 
waterthrush, all singing at midday; among other common woodland birds 
like juncos  chickadees and both nuthatches.


   Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Support NW Refuges

[Alicia Plotkin]

This might just be an Ithaca policy.  We get one every year  haven't 
done that yet for 2014-15, but at least as of last year we always were 
able to pick it up at our local post office in Ovid.

Best -

 Alicia

On 8/5/2014 12:31 PM, Melissa Groo wrote:
 FYI, the Duck Stamp is only available at the Warren Rd post office in 
 the Ithaca area, I bought mine there a couple weeks ago when the new 
 one first became available (after going to the downtown p.o. which 
 didn't have it). You can also order it via the American Birding 
 Association (even if you're not a member), which is a nice way to make 
 your purchase count as a birder. Go here: http://aba.org/stamp/
 I agree that we need to help support our wildlife refuges and make 
 them as inviting as we can to as many people as we can.
 Melissa


 On Tue, Aug 5, 2014 at 10:08 AM, Donna Scott dls...@me.com 
 mailto:dls...@me.com wrote:

 Have all you birders considered buying a duck stamp to help Pay
 for all these wildlife refuges we use  enjoy?

 I just bought mine at the US Post Office for $15. It has a
 beautiful painting of Canvasbacks.
 Yep, hunters go there too, but if we want large habitats like this
 to be preserved  maintained, we millions of birders could really
 add a lot of support.

 PS: I agree with Kevin and others on the  educational value of
 helping people to learn about birds by having pedestrians allowed
 in some format at MNWR.

 Sent from my iPhone
 Donna Scott
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 Melissa Groo

 photographer . wildlife biographer . educator
 www.melissagroo.com http://www.melissagroo.com/

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Suing over Bald Eagle deaths (explanation, perilously close to off-topic ...)

[Alicia Plotkin]

This is a fascinating article and I hope everyone reads beyond the 
headline if they click through to it.  Money is indeed at the heart of 
it, but the groups suing aren't making any money except to get the costs 
for bringing the lawsuit reimbursed - /the money here is what the 
industry claims is the cost of complying with the regulation that the 
lawsuits compel./  The lawsuits are forcing the Environmental Protection 
Agency and other federal agencies to enact regulations and industry is 
saying these regulations (decreasing particulate mercury in the first 
example) cost a lot.

The headline reflects the source: the Center for Policy Analysis openly 
admits its goal is to eliminate government regulations - see its 
homepage - believing they interfere with a free market. The free market 
was seriously interfered with when DDT was banned, so it's particularly 
apt to raise eagles in this context!

Money certainly is at the heart of this: the money that industry resents 
having to spend to clean up its act, and the lack of money in the 
regulatory agencies.  The EPA, for example, had its budget slashed by 
the Bush Administration and then, before those cuts were made up, faced 
additional cuts due to budget sequestration - no one talks about 
sequestration anymore but those annual cuts continue for most parts of 
the government!  Many federal agencies have been finding it increasingly 
difficult to meet deadlines imposed by statute because they are 
underfunded.  That's the heart of this issue: if the agencies had the 
resources to do their jobs, there would be no basis for these lawsuits 
and there would be no resulting 'rushed' regulations./'Sue  settle' 
certainly is not the best way to get regulations promulgated, but until 
these agencies are properly funded, it may be the only way - which the 
Center for Policy Analysis well understands and as a think tank founded 
to eliminate regulation, that is why it is so riled up!/

I realize that this post is not centered on birds, but birders should be 
aware that the EPA is so underfunded that it cannot possibly do its job, 
and that _does_ impact birds. Sequestration did not help US Fish  
Wildlife, either, which manages Montezuma: at least initially USFW had 
to absorb $127 million in annual cuts due to the sequester - including 
substantial cuts to visitor services and more modest ones to new 
construction. (Don't know the current impact, there's a limit to how 
long I am willing to search through the annual Greenbooks  budget 
announcements!)

Best -

Alicia



On 8/15/2014 7:30 AM, John and Sue Gregoire wrote:
 http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/bg174.pdf

 This is fascinating.   It now explains to me why the ABC is suing the U.S. 
 gov't
 over bald eagle deaths.  Like everything about this subject, it's about the 
 money.



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[cayugabirds-l] Wake of vultures?

[Alicia Plotkin]

Heading north on Rt 414 this morning at 7:30 AM, about 2 miles north of 
the 96/96A intersection in Ovid, at least 30 Turkey Vultures were 
scattered around the ground in a field that appeared to have had hay cut 
recently (maybe yesterday judging by the dark green color) and gathered 
into long parallel heaps.  I couldn't stop to observe carefully, but 
they seemed mostly to have their heads up (not eating on the ground) and 
no two were together.  Any idea what was up with them?  Seems like a 
heck of a lot of birds for the odd vole or bunny that would have been 
killed in the haying process.

Alicia


On 9/10/2014 11:47 AM, Nancy wrote:
 Yes, these are fields of harvested grains-oats, wheat and rye I 
 believe. So short enough for the mallards to be gleaning leftover grain.

 Cayuga Dog Rescue has saved more than 450 dogs since 2005!
 Learn more at cayugadogrescue.org http://cayugadogrescue.org


 Sent from my iPad

 On Sep 10, 2014, at 9:10 AM, Jody W Enck j...@cornell.edu 
 mailto:j...@cornell.edu wrote:

 Hi Nancy,
 Thanks for the post about flocks of mallards in farm fields.  It 
 brought back fond memories of growing up on our farm in south-central 
 PA.  Sometimes mixed flocks of dabbling ducks would land to feed in 
 our harvested small grain fields (wheat, barley, oats) in late 
 summer, but they seemed especially attracted later in the fall and 
 early winter to the harvested corn fields.  They would come and go at 
 different times of day, but I have wonderful memories of lots and 
 lots of birds coming into those fields between sunset and dark.  Much 
 fun!

 Thanks for the memories.
 Jody

 Jody W. Enck, PhD
 Program Development and Evaluation
 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

 *From:* Nancy mailto:nancycusuman...@gmail.com
 *Sent:* ‎Wednesday‎, ‎September‎ ‎10‎, ‎2014 ‎8‎:‎58‎ ‎AM
 *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu

 There have been flocks of a couple hundred mallards in the ag fields 
 around our house lately. Is it unusual to see them in such great 
 numbers on land? They have been in the field at the corner of Perry 
 City and Dubois rds, and also in the field next to our home at 5011 
 Dubois. Along with lots of geese...

 Nancy Cusumano

 Cayuga Dog Rescue has saved more than 475 dogs since 2005!
 Learn more at cayugadogrescue.org http://cayugadogrescue.org


 Sent from my iPad
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Impacts of approved casino at Tyre:OT?

[Alicia Plotkin]

The casino is likely to be the anchor for other major development in the 
immediate area.  One $100,000,000 project already has been presented to 
the Planning Board, to be located a little further west on Rte 318, and 
proposing hundreds of thousands of sq feet of retail  commercial 
space on a 155 acre parcel.  Last week NYS gave Seneca County a $750,000 
grant to put in a sewer system along Rte 318, extending up to the 
Premium Outlets site, removing one major hurdle to further development.

Alicia


On 12/21/2014 12:32 PM, Kimberly Sucy wrote:
 The CasiNO Tyre web site ( http://www.casinofreetyre.com ) points out 
 the risk of runoff from the parking areas into White Brook as a cause 
 for concern.   It's a good site (discounting the obvious bias towards 
 one side of the issue which one would expect from the site name!).

 -kimberly


 On Dec 21, 2014, at 12:09 PM, Dave Nutter wrote:

 I think the location will be convenient for travelers on the Thruway 
 by being immediately on the north side of the interchange of I-90  
 NYS-414, near Magee at the west edge of the Town of Tyre. I would 
 expect additional traffic on NYS-414, NYS-318, to the east 
 NYS-5/US-20, to the northeast maybe on NYS-31, and to the south on 
 NYS-96A, NYS-96, and NYS-89. My hope is that the other roads around 
 the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and the north Cayuga Lake Basin will 
 not see much impact because they do not efficiently serve Magee or 
 any large population center. Of course workers to build and run the 
 complex have to come from somewhere, so expect a general local 
 increase. We might be okay for traffic as long as there are no new 
 roads or road straightenings or road expansions. Maybe it'll be a 
 flop, since casinos elsewhere are failing, and after construction 
 we'll see very little traffic. Maybe the light pollution will be 
 limited to the interchange area. About 2 miles west of the 
 interchange on the north side of the Thruway is a large pond/swamp 
 full of dead trees with a major heronry, and herons and egrets 
 commuting between here and the Montezuma Wetlands Complex may overfly 
 the the casino site. Please chime in if you see other problems or 
 think I've got it wrong. I only saw one map of the proposal awhile 
 ago, and it was hard to track down.
 --Dave Nutter

 On Dec 19, 2014, at 12:10 PM, Betsy Darlington 
 darlingtonb...@gmail.com mailto:darlingtonb...@gmail.com wrote:

 And not just the light pollution!  It's a massive project.
 Betsy

 On Fri, Dec 19, 2014 at 7:48 AM, Karen Edelstein k...@cornell.edu 
 mailto:k...@cornell.eduwrote:

 My advance apologies if this question is outside of list bounds
 (please weigh in, Chris). I am wondering if there are concerns
 about the light pollution from the gigantic casino facility just
 approved for Tyre, and the impacts this gaming development may
 generate at Montezuma NWR. When this project was first proposed,
 I asked Tom Jasikoff if a study would be done, but never heard back.

 Thanks for your thoughts. Please email me off- list if Chris
 says this is not ok too discuss here.

 Karen

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[cayugabirds-l] Ovid Siskins and White-Crowned Sparrows

[Alicia Plotkin]

Yesterday we had our first pine siskins, two females, and today we had a 
male and female, on our nyger feeder.  We also continue to have one or 
two redpolls on the same feeder most days and the female flicker 
continues at the suet as do(es) a carolina wren or wrens - usually we 
have two but have not seen more than one at a time or heard the female 
singing this winter.  The wrens are tough and will drive away 
everything, including blue jays, starlings, and downy/hairy/red-bellied 
woodpeckers, but give way to the flicker. Two white throated sparrows 
and a half dozen tree sparrows are among the usual suspects eating 
sunflower seed.  We are in the woods on the far west side of the township.


A friend who isn't on this list reports he's been hosting a half-dozen 
white crowned sparrows eating sunflower seed the last several days, and 
also has about 30 tree sparrows who have been there all month.  He lives 
on a farm a bit southwest of the village of Ovid.


Stay warm -

Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Waterfowl hunting regulation

[Alicia Plotkin]

In 2005 the Ithaca City Court ruled that only the State of New York can 
regulations activities in or on Cayuga Lake because the State has 
retained  its rights to regulate the lake.  The court cited a Court of 
Appeals case that ruled on jurisdiction over activity in Canandaigua 
Lake.  (The Court of Appeals is the highest court in NYS.)  So the 
courts already have looked at the question of jurisdiction over the lake 
and ruled against the application of an ordinance enacted by 
municipalities or authorities to anything happening in or on Cayuga 
Lake.  The City Court ruling was in the context of an off leash dog 
swimming in the south end of the lake, and the court threw out the case 
against the dog owner, saying the leash law didn't apply in Cayuga Lake 
because the State has no leash law.  The same logic would apply to the 
City's firearm ordinance if someone tried to ticket or arrest a hunter 
working in or on the lake.


Alicia



On 1/8/2015 8:13 AM, Geo Kloppel wrote:

I guess the courts have the final say on the validity of Ithaca's ordinance. Concern 
about the cost and risks associated with jurisdictional disputes may be explanation 
enough for the lack of enforcement heretofore. But if the city begins to enforce its 
No Hunting ordinance, then DEC will have to decide whether to accept the 
situation or challenge it.

I wonder if there's a patch for this conflict available under ECL 11-0321, which 
authorizes DEC to set up Restricted Areas for a variety of purposes, 
including protection of public health and safety. Kayaked disrupting the hunt could pose 
a public safety concern...

-Geo



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[cayugabirds-l] multitudes of snow geese, Town of Covert

[Alicia Plotkin]

Tried to send this as soon as I got home, but just found a message from 
Lyris saying it had bounced because the original subject line referred 
to South Seneca County and Lyris said that sounded like spam for a 
vacation home rental!  So blame Lyris for it being send so late ...




On my way home from work today, about 6:15, by far the most common birds 
seen in the Town of Covert were many thousands of snow geese, carpeting 
the majority of fields adjacent to Route 96, as well as the fields next 
to Halls Corners Road west of there, and flying low overhead in swirling 
and disorganized groups everywhere.  Maybe 10% as many Canada Geese.  In 
a few fields there also were large flocks of ducks, all Mallards that I 
saw but I didn't check that many, and also did not have a scope.


Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: Please Consider Assisting with the Rusty Blackbird Blitz

[Alicia Plotkin]

This is forwarded from another state bird list, but maybe some people on 
Cayuga Birds might appreciate the reminder if they are going to be out 
and about birding tomorrow?

Alicia


 Forwarded Message 

To help conserve this elusive and vulnerable songbird, consider 
participating in The Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz. The Blitz 
collects its data through eBird checklists, so if you're already an 
eBird user, there's only another step or two to really help out this 
program. Essentially, just bird as you normally do and search especially 
carefully for Rusty Blackbirds, and report your results to eBird under 
the “Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz” survey type (as opposed to 
traveling, stationary, etc.). If you can, to go a bit further, please 
consider visiting one of the Rusty Blackbird Areas of Interest (visit 
our interactive map at 
http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/2015-areas-of-interest/) 
to help us assess consistency of migratory timing and habitat use during 
spring migration.

For more information on Blitz objectives, along with Rusty Blackbird 
identification tips, data collection instructions, and data reporting 
information, you can find additional resources at 
http://rustyblackbird.org/outreach/migration-blitz/.The project's 
coordinator, Judith Scarl, also wrote a great piece on the ABA Blog, 
which is worth a read: 
http://blog.aba.org/2015/03/open-mic-battling-bye-bye-blackbird-conserving-a-declining-species.html.

Happy spring!

Bangor, ME




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[cayugabirds-l] Bonaparte's Gulls, Varick

[Alicia Plotkin]

As of 12:30 pm today, there were abundant Bonaparte's Gulls flying in 
streams up and down the lake off E. Varick, in the same area as 
described in yesterday's emails.  The lake was choppy and white capped, 
the light was very bright and flashing off the waves, and I have no idea 
if any Little Gulls might have been lurking among the scores of swooping 
and banking Bonaparte gulls.  While I was there the flock headed off to 
the north, still flying close to the water. No way to tell if they were 
exploring other nearby spots and might return or if they were intending 
to move on.

Also along that stretch of Rte 89: about 15 snow geese in the narrow 
strip of grass between the road and the lake at the pull off at 4590, 
and several groups of from 2-8 Horned Grebes scattered, close to shore, 
from that point to about a mile south of there.

Beautiful day, even if the bright light reflecting off the water could 
make looking at lake birds harder.

Alicia


On 4/19/2015 1:43 PM, Jay McGowan wrote:

 At least two of 3+ LITTLE GULLS of various ages found by Tim Lenz an 
 hour ago still present in Varick, on water across from 4590 Rt. 89.

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Old Birds/New Birds

[Alicia Plotkin]

The only choice they have at our feeders this time of year is sunflower 
seeds, a combination of shelled kernals and black oil in the shell.  It 
seems to attract all the birds that eats seed, including birds that 
typically like nyjer seed.


Alicia



On 5/6/2015 3:42 PM, Melanie Uhlir wrote:

What do Indigo Buntings eat at a feeder? I will buy LOTS of it!

On 5/6/2015 2:35 PM, Alicia Plotkin wrote:

Nothing borrowed but something definitely blue: brilliant male Indigo
Bunting is sharing our feeders with four Pine Siskins.  Weird year.

Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] Old Birds/New Birds

[Alicia Plotkin]

Nothing borrowed but something definitely blue: brilliant male Indigo 
Bunting is sharing our feeders with four Pine Siskins.  Weird year.


Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] In lobbying, the medium actually is the message!

[Alicia Plotkin]

Mr. Steckler is correct.  I was told the same thing by both a 
congressional aide and a state agency staffer, namely that contact from 
citizens has impact increasingly in the following order:

  * electronic petitions carry the least weight
  * followed by form emails
  * followed by individually-drafted emails
  * followed by phone calls
  * but best of all is an old fashioned letter faxed or sent through the
mail

I had though a phone call would count less than a thoughtful email, but 
both people told me that wasn't true - they mostly just count the yea's 
 nays and the medium is what matters!

Alicia



On 7/12/2015 6:36 PM, Carl Steckler wrote:
 I would like to chime in here. Dave your info and perspective are 
 right on. The problem I have is having everyone relying so heavily on 
 a petition.

 Having given comment , all be it about Wolves, to both DEC and FWS on 
 several occasions concerning de-listing or changing status of wildlife 
 I have learned that petitions do not carry as much weight as you would 
 think.
  After talking to several FWS agents and hearing their comments 
 concerning petitions I have come to the conclusion that a letter 
 directly to the agency, clearly marked as comment  about the change of 
 protection to the Golden-cheeked Warbler will do much more than a 
 petition. Both the people from DEC and FWS have told me that petitions 
 do not carry much weight because there is little thought and effort to 
 sign a petition, it is too easy and anyone can do it without really 
 knowing the issues. I have also heard this statement from several 
 prominent wildlife biologists.

 Even a short letter outlining why you believe that a change is either 
 warranted or not warranted with sound biological reasons, and 
 certainly loss of habitat certainly qualifies as a sound biological 
 reason, means a lot more to those reviewing the issue. If FWS suddenly 
 started receiving dozens of letters commenting about this issue they 
 will be more motivated to look at the situation a lot closer before 
 making a decision.

 Is it worth you buying a stamp and spending a few minutes writing a 
 letter? You bet it is. In these days of electronic mail and web based 
 petitions a letter still carries a lot more weight. So sit down and 
 wright please.
 Carl Steckler

 On 7/12/2015 13:46, Sandy Wold wrote:
 ... for your eloquent synopsis of the Golden-cheeked Warbler 
 conservation status, educating and updating us, modeling a graceful 
 (also fair and balanced) assessment of a potentially controversial 
 issue, modelling how to acknowledge the contribution of all parties 
 concerned, and (finally) sharing your personal conclusion (absent of 
 any arm-twisting).  You not only saved some of us a lot of time, but 
 I am now personally motivated to read more about this!
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[cayugabirds-l] Chartering the MV Haendel - no actual birding content ...

[Alicia Plotkin]

(1) A group of birders chartered the Haendel awhile ago - maybe 10 yrs 
ago? - for some mid-lake birding, and & then reported back to this 
list.  Any of the folks who did that still on the list?

(2) I am on the board of The Floating Classroom 
<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cayuga-Lake-Floating-Classroom/136863769666514>,
 
which uses the Haendel to get kids out on the lake to see what that's 
like and to do science like measuring and tracking water transparency & 
temperature, invertebrate sampling, etc.  (It was an FC intern who first 
found and identified hydrilla in Cayuga Lake a couple years ago.)  I 
checked with our ED to see if charters still are available and he 
explained that the Haendel normally carries insurance only through 
October, as it did this year.  So while I think it might still be on the 
water, it isn't available for commercial use now.  However he thought it 
might be possible to set something up for a November charter in the 
future, it just would need to be discussed earlier in the season with 
the Ithaca Boat Tour owner so that she could arrange for continuing 
insurance - and of course the charter price would have to make it 
worthwhile for her to pay for that extended insurance.  The Haendel is 
certified to carry up to 38 passengers.

BTW, in addition to getting kids access to the lake on the Haendel, the 
Floating Classroom also runs Trout in the Classroom for elementary 
school classrooms.  This is another neat program that gets kids involved 
with the outdoors and introduces some basic ecological concepts - they 
spend the year feeding, caring for, and watching a large tank of trout 
fry get big enough to release.  In the process they learn about the 
trouts' requirements to thrive. The students choose a stream that can 
support the young trout and release them there in the spring.  If anyone 
is interested in contributing to FC programming, serving on our board or 
an advisory committee, or finding out more, please let me know & I can 
get you that info or put you in touch with someone who can.

Alicia

P.S.  Just saw Meena's post - am pretty sure it was the Haendel she 
chartered & her trip is what I am remembering ...


On 11/17/2015 3:55 PM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes wrote:
> I did approach them just this fall with this very question. Issue is 
> they remove their vessel from the Inlet for the winter in the first 
> week of November. Sometime, in the near future, the lake water levels 
> are lowered and no deep-hulled vessels can traverse the Cayuga Inlet. 
> Plus, the unpredictability of icing in area waterways or harbors, the 
> additional cost of keeping a vessel operationally winterized, and the 
> relatively low likelihood of tourist usage during the winter months, 
> makes it economically unfeasible to keep open for the winter.
>
> If there were enough interested persons to go out in late October, the 
> cost per person for a group of 10-15 would amount to something like 
> $75 per person for a chartered 8-hour day – those numbers are probably 
> off a bit, but it was something like that.
>
> I can see a very specialized charter after the passage of a very 
> uniquely situated hurricane or tropical storm; but it would have to 
> occur prior to them pulling the vessel from the water.
>
> Sincerely,
> Chris T-H
>
> On Nov 17, 2015, at 3:11 PM, Geo Kloppel <geoklop...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> A few weeks ago I dropped  some friends off at the dock for an Ithaca 
>> Boat Tour on the HAENDEL. I hadn't previously been up close to that 
>> steel-hulled vessel. It reminded me of the old LAKE DIVER IV over on 
>> Seneca Lake, which used to take research parties out weekly in all 
>> kinds of winter conditions. Pretty frigid sometimes (though there was 
>> a good-sized heated cabin)! Seeing the HAENDEL made we wonder if 
>> anyone has ever approached Ithaca Boat Tours about a winter birding 
>> charter?
>>
>> -Geo
>



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Western tanager still here

[Alicia Plotkin]

Thanks to Liisa, at 10:25 this morning I was able to spot him in the two 
smallish trees just west of the benches in Wee Stinky Glen.  He was 
eating some of the dessicated fruit in one tree (crab apple?), then went 
down to the water to get a drink, then flew back up and spent quite 
awhile in the tree with small yellow flowers (cornellian cherry?) 
preening and sunning himself.  When he isn't moving, he can be 
surprisingly hard to spot - only his breast is brightly colored - but he 
is completely lovely!


Thanks also to Vanessa Ng who posted such a great description of the 
pattern of his movements a week or two ago - he must have read her post, 
he followed it to a 'T'.


Alicia

On 3/17/2016 12:50 PM, Liisa S. Mobley wrote:

At 10:15 am, the bird was sitting in the little tree in the courtyard by the 
back entrance to the Cornell store, in the sunshine.  I seem to find him most 
often in sunny areas; I don't know if he's just easier to spot, as the yellow 
feathers glow more brightly, or if he likes to sun himself.
-Liisa




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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Seneca Falls birds: Snowy Owl and four swan species

[Alicia Plotkin]

  We lived in Seneca Falls from 1985-1995 and during at least part 
of that time, there was a pair of black swans on a pond that I think 
belonged to the Lotts - at any rate, near the intersection of 414 and 
County House Road.

  I watched one Snowy Owl at the Lott Farm from 12:45 to 2:15 pm 
Friday.  It flew 7 times during that period, using 5 different perches, 
twice landing on the highest part of the silo structure. At one point it 
sailed out from the silo top and flew for over two minutes, making a 
large loop over the field on the south side of Airport Road and coursing 
back and forth over it a few times from quite high up, before returning 
to the silo area.  It spent the longest time (over 30 minutes) on an 
electric pole at the north end of the fairgrounds area.  Several people 
have posted photos of this bird on eBird from Friday.  Mr. Lott said 
there were 3 owls on the farm Friday morning, including one 'in the back 
field' (he gestured to the far north) but the one I saw was flying 
around at that moment and I just followed its movements & didn't look 
for any others.

 Alicia





On 1/7/2017 6:57 PM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote:
>
> I went to Seneca Falls today, as did a number of other birders, 
> looking for Snowy Owls and hoping for Gyrfalcon. So far as I know, no 
> one has refound the Gyrfalcon seen on Thursday.
>
> I managed to find only one Snowy Owl today. It was a sparsely-marked 
> individual with deep blackish markings and plenty of bars in the tail. 
> Adult female? It was perched on the highest possible perch to oversee 
> the area, on the top of a grain elevator complex west of Rt 414, near 
> the windmill, west of Lott Farm fairgrounds and well west of the airport.
>
>
> I heard that a Snowy was seen east of the Finger Lakes Regional 
> Airport runways at some point, but I didn't see it. Best birds I had 
> during several loops around the airport were a male Northern Harrier 
> on Thorpe Road, and at least one Lapland Longspur in a Horned Lark 
> flock I was told about on Hoster Rd south of Stahl Rd in a manure spread.
>
>
> There was open water along the southern end of Lower Lake Road SE of 
> Seneca Falls on Cayuga Lake, and there were lots of swan there. Most 
> were Tundra Swans, of course, but I was quite surprised to see a pair 
> of BLACK SWANS swimming off the ice edge at the far southern end of 
> the road. They're kind of unmistakable, being huge waterbirds with 
> long, gracefully curving necks, red bills, and all black body plumage. 
> But, seeing as how they are native to Australia, there is zero chance 
> they were wild vagrants. They're popular in captivity, and I don't 
> know of any established feral populations around. I looked for, but 
> did not see, their white wingtips (all swans have white wingtips; the 
> only non-domestic waterfowl that do, with one half of an exception), 
> so I can't say if they were free-flying or wing-clipped. Totally cool, 
> though. Their presence, along with the couple of thousand Tundra Swans 
> made me want to find Mute and Trumpeter swans too to get my very first 
> 4-swan day. I wasn't doing a great job of parsing the waterfowl, but 
> fortunately I talked to my son, Jay, and his birding group, and they 
> had in fact seen some Mute Swans and a single wing-tagged Trumpeter 
> along the road. With their tip, I found a pair of Mutes and the 
> wing-tagged juvenile Trumpeter to complete my four swan day. I don't 
> know when to ever expect that to happen again!
>
>
> Just for the record, I do keep track of the free-flying exotic birds I 
> see (including in the Basin, Bar-headed Goose, Egyptian Goose, 
> Red-crested Pochard, and Eurasian Goldfinch). Fortunately, so does 
> eBird! I won't count Black Swan on my year Basin list, but I do want 
> to know when and where I saw it. Some of these exotics actually get 
> established and become "countable" birds. I like to know where I first 
> saw things like Monk Parakeet (Yellow Springs, Ohio) and Eurasian 
> Collared-Dove (Marathon Key, Florida).
>
>
> Happy birding new year.
>
>
> Kevin
>
>
> Kevin McGowan
>
> Ithaca
>
>
>
>
> 
> *From:* bounce-121130380-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
> <bounce-121130380-3493...@list.cornell.edu> on behalf of Marty 
> Schlabach <m...@cornell.edu>
> *Sent:* Saturday, January 7, 2017 6:28 PM
> *To:* Laura Stenzler; CAYUGABIRDS-L
> *Subject:* RE:[cayugabirds-l] Snowy at Lott farm
> I forgot to mention that the reason we were in the area was to stop at 
> Hoover's kitchen cabinet shop, across the road from the airport.  In 
> conversation with the cabinetmaker, I asked if he had seen a snowy owl 
> in the area

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Important Lyme Disease info!

[Alicia Plotkin]

Apparently anaplasmosis also has made its way to central NY.  Our dog 
became extremely ill and nearly died last November.  Her symptoms were 
odd and it wasn't clear what the cause of her problems were until the 
test for anaplasmosis came back positive.  She already was somewhat on 
the mend by the time she was diagnosed, but a 21 day cycle of 
doxycycline hastened her recovery.

Alicia


On 3/26/2017 12:06 PM, Betsy Darlington wrote:
> This article is really important for all us outdoor lovers!
> Betsy
>
> http://www.mvtimes.com/2016/07/13/visiting-physician-sheds-new-light-lyme-disease/
>  
> <http://www.mvtimes.com/2016/07/13/visiting-physician-sheds-new-light-lyme-disease/>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android 
> <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/mobile/?.src=Android>
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[cayugabirds-l] Mockingbird mocking

[Alicia Plotkin]

We went to Sampson State Park again today where we heard a mockingbird 
singing a full repertoire of songs from apparently across the large 
field judging by the quality of the sound and the volume.  Except then I 
saw the bird, only about 50' away - he was singing in a full but very 
quiet voice, running through a couple of dozen songs with the same 
dexterity that he will showing regularly in a few weeks, except somehow 
dialing the volume way down while not changing the quality of the 
sound.  Perhaps warming up for the first day of spring tomorrow?


Cardinals, titmice, chickadees, robins & mourning doves also singing in 
the warmth of the full sun, but they weren't holding back.


Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] Eagles and Snow Geese

[Alicia Plotkin]

Beautiful day to be outside!  We took our dog for a walk at Sampson 
State Park this afternoon and as we were walking on the road that leads 
to the gate on the north end, where the private housing abuts the park, 
we saw hundreds of Snow Geese flying just above the lake from north to 
south.  We watched a continuous stream go past that 'window' over the 
gate for over a minute.  The flight was underway when we rounded the 
slight bend so have no idea how many total.   We also could hear them 
barking to west and it sounded like perhaps they had landed on Seneca 
Lake but the lake isn't visible from the road there.


Also at that spot at the north end of the park we saw a pair of Bald 
Eagles soaring together, first fairly low but gradually spiraling higher 
& higher until they were high enough that their white heads and tails 
could not be seen except with binoculars and they were hard to see at 
certain angles even if you knew where to look. Anyone know where there 
is a nest near there?


Back in Ovid, we still have one each Fox Sparrow (down from two), Am 
Tree Sparrow, and White Throated Sparrow, along with the usual feeder 
birds and occasional sorties by various black birds.


Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] N. Parula??? [was Prairie Warbler???]

[Alicia Plotkin]

Was wondering where these lucky folks were birding?  No Parula's are 
showing up in eBird in NYS except for a posting from Sullivan County, 
haven't seen anything posted to this list, either.  An eBird listing 
might require moderator approval but would hope that was happening 
quickly this time of year, when arrival times are so variable and many 
exceptions occur.

Alicia


On 4/20/2017 11:05 AM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote:
>
> A number of people had Northern Parula today, so consider that, too.
>
> Kevin
>
> *From:* bounce-121451829-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
> [mailto:bounce-121451829-3493...@list.cornell.edu] *On Behalf Of *Geo 
> Kloppel
> *Sent:* Thursday, April 20, 2017 10:52 AM
> *To:* Karen Steffy <ks...@cornell.edu>; CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> <cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>
> *Subject:* Re: [cayugabirds-l] Prairie Warbler???
>
> Hi Karen,
>
> Field Sparrow can give that impression, because its song too is 
> delivered in /accelerando, /sometimes even with a slight rise in 
> pitch. If you have the Audubon Birds app, you can compare Track #3 for 
> both species to see what I mean.
>
> -Geo
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
> On Apr 20, 2017, at 10:13 AM, Karen Steffy <ks...@cornell.edu 
> <mailto:ks...@cornell.edu>> wrote:
>
> I heard the ascending sound of what I think is a prairie warbler
> this morning, but it seems early.  Is there a bird that has a
> similar song to a prairie warbler?
>
> /Karen/
>
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Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Alicia Plotkin]

Thank you for sending this - it is exactly my experience & my concern.  
I don't worry quite so much about migration, which can skip over us 
easily due to weather patterns.  In fact there was an odd weather 
pattern in late April that seemed to sling a lot of 'my' warblers up to 
the coast of Maine where the fallout was welcomed with delight and 
surprise.

However the lack of nesters anywhere but prime habitat is far more 
worrisome, especially without any readily identifiable weather event to 
explain it.  It's deeply concerning and I have wondered why no one is 
talking about it.  Thank you for bringing it up!

Alicia

P.S.  You left off hummingbirds, which are non-existent or in very low 
numbers for everyone I know, both folks with feeders and people like me 
whose plantings are tailored to their tastes. /I have not seen a single 
one in my yard yet. /This is hard to believe, our habitat is pretty 
prime: we live in a large clearing in the woods that is filled with 
wildflowers, additional hummingbird-favored plants we have added, plenty 
of water, trees with perfect forks for their nests (based on their past 
preference), and a neighbor who puts fresh nectar in her feeder every day.

On 6/17/2017 9:52 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes wrote:
> Everyone,
>
> Just pointing out the obvious here, but bird numbers in my immediate 
> area of Upstate NY are way down this year. I mean, /WAY/ down. John, 
> if you have full capacity of nesting Tree Swallows, it may be that the 
> sites you host are prime and being filled to capacity because they 
> /are/ the best locations. It sounds to me like the sub-par sites are 
> not being filled.
>
> Acoustically, birds are seriously lacking this year. Visually, birds 
> are lacking this year. Birding at the Hawthorn Orchard was a disaster, 
> yet there was food and everything was primed to receive birds. Regular 
> numbers of expected birds were hugely lacking. What happened to the 
> Tennessee Warblers and Blackpoll Warblers? I think I recorded 
> something like three Tennessee Warblers at most on one day at the 
> Hawthorn Orchard, then they were just done. Blackpoll Warblers…you 
> were lucky to see or hear a single bird this spring. Blackpoll 
> Warblers used to come through here in droves – just driving around, 
> you would pass singing Blackpoll Warbler after Blackpoll Warbler, 
> during their peak migration through this area. Remember? When all of 
> those Blackpoll Warblers came through, that marked the “end” of that 
> spring migration – the cleanup species – this simply didn’t happen.
>
> In overflow areas, where habitat may not be the best, or is sub-par, 
> and which normally fills in because the best habitats are already 
> taken by other birds, the birds simply are not there.
>
> Yellow Warblers, everywhere? Nope.
> Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, everywhere? Nope.
> Baltimore Orioles, everywhere? Nope.
> Red-eyed Vireos, everywhere? Nope.
> Chipping Sparrows, everywhere? Nope.
> Common birds absolutely everywhere? Nope.
>
> I’m just talking about the regular comings and goings of my own 
> personal activities of driving around, walking in and out of 
> buildings, coming and going from home, work, shopping, etc. I’m just 
> not seeing or hearing the abundance of birds that I’m used to seeing 
> or hearing. It just seems deadly quiet this year, if you look at the 
> whole picture – the gestalt of bird abundance this year.
>
> Sure, prime habitats may seem to have the “regular” volumes of birds, 
> but the sub-par habitats are seemingly empty.
>
> If there is not a rock solid explanation for this, then this is a red 
> flag in my opinion.
>
> Perhaps the most logical cause is weather-related.
>
> If this is not the case, then we’ve got something far more detrimental 
> going on, at least in the Northeast.
>
> Hope I’m wrong.
>
> Sincerely,
> Chris T-H
>
> On Jun 17, 2017, at 9:00 AM, k...@empacc.net <mailto:k...@empacc.net> 
> wrote:
>
> We have 17 boxes active, one with bluebirds, two with House Wren, a 
> one with chickadees and the remainder with Tree Swallows. Probably 
> another good year after a 100% occupancy/success rate last year. We 
> believe this is due to effective placement and predator guards that 
> function well. john
>
>
> ---
> John and Sue Gregoire
> Field Ornithologists
> Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory
> 5373 Fitzgerald Rd
> Burdett, NY 14818
> 42.443508000, -76.758202000
>
> On 2017-06-17 12:40, Glenn Wilson wrote:
>
>> We usually have a dozen or so flying and nesting until mid summer. I 
>> haven't seen a single one since early swallow migration.
>>
>> Glenn Wilson
>> Endicott, NY
>> www.WilsonsWarbler.com <http://www.wilsonswarbler.com/>
>>

[cayugabirds-l] Subj should be "Sampson SP Lake Trail mess!"

[Alicia Plotkin]

Apparently I was too angry to accurately identify where the Lake Trail 
is!  It starts at the south tip of Sampson SP.  To get there, you'd take 
the road that runs through the village of Willard and past the grounds 
of the old Williard Psych Center, now partly occupied by the shock 
incarceration camp.  Road bends north at Seneca Lake and ends at a 
parking lot for the trail.  The trail extends north along Seneca Lake 
from there for 1.5 miles. The trail is black topped - it used to be a 
road - and used regularly by walkers and bicyclists.  Until recently it 
was a good birding spot, too.

Alicia


On 9/3/2019 2:43 PM, Alicia wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've been tied up with other responsibilities this year and haven't 
> been able to bird much but yesterday evening I was able to go out and 
> got past the 1/4 mile mark on the Lake Trail for the first time in 
> many months.  I was expecting to find some migrating warblers in the 
> brush & small shrub/trees east of the trail since this generally is a 
> great spot during migration.  But not any more!  It looks like someone 
> went in and clear cut a swath of 50' or more and then followed up with 
> generous application of herbicide, leaving no vegetation of any kind 
> in a wide band for much of the 1½ mile length of the trail - hideously 
> ugly and, so far as I can see, totally unnecessary in terms of 
> protecting power lines since nothing had been even remotely close to 
> line height.  (Plus this is less than 100' feet from the Seneca Lake 
> shore - wonder what effect the herbicide that was washed into the lake 
> had on the lake ecology?)  I think the actual bush remains where this 
> past spring's Yellow Throated Warbler was seen, but so much of the 
> surrounding area is devastated that the area certainly will be less 
> likely to attract it next year.  The cedars and taller trees further 
> back remain, but the brushy spots and smaller trees on the east side 
> of the trail are almost all gone now
>
> Does anyone know when this was done?  And if it was NYSEG or the NYS 
> Parks?  I'm equal parts heartbroken and furious.
>
> Alicia
>
> P.S.  The NYS Parks 2020 Plan has set as Goal 6, "Sustain New York's 
> Natural Environment" and goes on to say,
>
> As stewards of the 335,000 acres of parkland, a central part of
> State Parks’ mission is to protect its natural treasures,
> beautiful open spaces and diversity of plant and animal life.
> • Protecting natural resources.A variety of stewardship
> initiatives–in partnership with colleges, not-for-profits and
> volunteers–will include projects to prevent the spread of invasive
> species, protect rare plants and animals, plant trees and improve
> natural habitat at parks across the State.
>
> Really?!  By wiping out a prime re-fueling stop for migrating warblers??!!
>
>
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Meadow lark

[Alicia Plotkin]

I assumed she meant Center Rd and not Center St, which is in the Town of 
Ovid, due east of the village. Try putting 2600 Center Road Ovid into 
Google & you'll get this intersection, which often has interesting birds 
- a Snowy Owl spent 4 mos there several years ago.

Alicia


On 1/21/2020 8:12 PM, marsha kardon wrote:
> What city is this in?
>
>
> On Mon, Jan 20, 2020 at 9:41 PM Whitings  <mailto:whiti...@roadrunner.com>> wrote:
>
> Hi All,
> Today I found a Meadow Lark on Center St. just east of Route 129.
> I noticed it’s silhouette in a shrubs and was able to make out
> some color besides the shape against the sun. Then it flew across
> the road landing low in the grass where I was able to get a couple
> very distant poor but identifying photos which are on ebird. I
> think it was an eastern variety, but not confident enough to make
> the call. Very quiet day otherwise.
>
> Diana
>
> dianawhitingphotography.com <http://dianawhitingphotography.com>
>
>
>
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[cayugabirds-l] Sampson State Park uplands at lunchtime

[Alicia Plotkin]

On this blustery cloudy day with brief bursts of light rain, not a lot 
of birds out but a few each of several varieties of sparrow were 
singing: song, Savannah, field, and towhee.  Best parts of the walk were 
two tiny blue azure butterflies flitting in front of us and a long (5+ 
minute) look from less than 100 yds at a robustly healthy and 
lush-furred Gray Fox, who didn't see or smell us and was concentrating 
on something on the ground during that time.  Never saw one for that 
long before, and never saw one at all during midday.  (Definitely a grey 
fox and not red - tail black all the way down to the tip, distinctive 
facial pattern, grizzled above and only rusty red on belly/neck.)


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[cayugabirds-l] osprey nest south of Covert?

[Alicia Plotkin]

For the past two years, osprey have nested on a cell phone tower that is 
just south of the hamlet of Covert, on the east side of Rte 96.  When I 
looked earlier this year, the nest seemed to be missing but I didn't 
stop and check carefully until today.  There may be a few remnant 
sticks, I'm not sure, but certainly the main structure is gone.  A lone 
osprey was sitting on the tower, don't know if the mate also is back or 
if they will try to rebuild it.


Anyone know what happened to the nest?  Did it blow down (seems unlikely 
since it was well-nestled in the various girders) or was it removed?


Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] Nocternal sparrow behavior

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

Last night about 1:00 am I was working at my computer in a somewhat 
dimly lit room - in addition to the monitor there was a single light on, 
about 15 feet from the window and directed downward.  I heard a 
scampering/skrittering noise on the roof,* sounded like maybe a tree 
branch had fallen and was tumbling down the slope, but it persisted, and 
then it started skittering and bumping against the large window I was 
facing.  Its fluttery flight against the window was bat-like, but when I 
turned off the monitor & the light and got out a flashlight, I found a 
song sparrow that had quieted and was perched just on the other side of 
the window, on the sill.  Pinned in the beam of the flashlight, it 
didn't move much, just turned its head and then shifted slightly.  It 
was not visibly injured.  I turned off the flashlight and waited a 
couple of minutes for it to leave, then turned the lights back on - it 
apparently was still on the window sill and commenced fluttering up and 
down against the window again.  At that point I gave up, turned the 
lights off, and went to sleep.


Apparently it was trying to get into a space that where it could see 
better, but why was it up and about at all?  Wouldn't it have done 
better just to hunker down somewhere?  (FWIW, the light that had been on 
was a Stella LED light which is supposed to mimic daylight wavelengths 
but, as noted, that light was across the room and pointed downward.)


Thanks for any insight you can give!

Alicia
* As I wrote this, it occurred to me that maybe the noise came not from 
anything on the roof but from the sparrow flying against the screen of 
the small high window just under the eaves, and that's why I heard it so 
clearly?  But at the time at least it sounded like something skittering 
down the roof.


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] First fall DE Junco 10/13/20

[Alicia Plotkin]

Also had at least one pair breeding here in Ovid - first breeding bird I 
entered in the BBA in fact, one was collecting & carrying nesting 
material. Later saw them with fledglings but never found the nest, 
although have found nests twice before.

Alicia



On 10/13/2020 1:01 PM, Linnea Garrepy wrote:
> I've had Juncos stay around and breed for the past three summers! The 
> first brood this year was Cowbirds but they tried again and fledged 
> DEJUs. Oh, and I live in Syracuse, albeit a hilly, wooded part of the 
> city.
>
> Lin
>
> 
> *From:* bounce-125033856-83680...@list.cornell.edu 
>  on behalf of John and 
> Fritzie Blizzard 
> *Sent:* Tuesday, October 13, 2020 4:41 PM
> *To:* Cayuga Birds 
> *Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] First fall DE Junco 10/13/20
> A lone junco was feeding on my window sill in Union Springs, NY today at
> 12:25 p.m.. Old-timers thought seeing the first juncos meant that was a
> sign of snow so called them Snowbirds. Is snow in the forecast??? We had
> a few sprinkles of rain this a.m. while praying for about 5 days of
> steady rain.
>
> Fritzie B.
>
> Union Springs
>
>
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[cayugabirds-l] Grasshopper Sparrows are around

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

I think there are a lot more of these guys than people realize.  If you 
don't happen to know what a grasshopper sparrow sounds like, take a 
listen here 
<https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Grasshopper_Sparrow/sounds> - it's 
pretty distinctive.  At least in Lodi, Ovid & Romulus, many of the 
fields that harbor bobolinks also have a grasshopper sparrow or two or 
three if you stop and listen.  They don't sing as continually as the 
bobolinks do, but they pipe up periodically and their song carries 
surprisingly well. Even the introductory very high tick notes often can 
be heard - higher and shorter than a Savannah Sparrow's - and the buzzy 
main part of the song is distinctive and clearly audible over a distance.

Grasshopper Sparrows have been annual residents on the western section 
of Combs Rd in Ovid and are back again this year, although later than 
usual.  They also are back on McCarriger Road and on Rte 131 just south 
of Willard Wildlife Management Area (also in Ovid), and may well be in 
WWMA as well, I haven't had time to check.  In years past they have been 
in the fields leading down to Lodi Point in Lodi, in fields on Hayt 
Corners Rd near Iron Bridge Road in Romulus, and other spots between 
Seneca and Cayuga Lakes including many of the grasslands in the National 
Forest, and likely on the east side of Cayuga Lake, too.

As you note birds the Breeding Bird Atlas, you miight want to keep an 
ear out. Grasshopper Sparrows are singing right now and since they are a 
good grassland indicator, it might be particularly useful later to have 
accurate entries for them now.

Plus it's fun to find them.

Alicia

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[cayugabirds-l] OT: anyone want shed snake skin?

[Alicia Plotkin]

Our resident Rat Snake shed its skin today.  Usually the skin gets 
dinged up in the process, maybe losing the last foot of tail or tearing 
the belly midway, but today's skin is totally intact and also impressive 
- just shy of 7'.  Does anyone have a use for this at a nature center or 
in a classroom (I'm assuming classrooms will become a thing again) or 
anywhere else?  Happy to get it to anyone who would like it, if not, 
I'll put it out for the GC flycatcher who has been preeping territorial 
announcements for the last ten days & presumably can make good use of it.


Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] RHWO at Long Point

[Alicia Plotkin]

In 2011 many birders, including my husband & me, went over to the Aurora 
to see the nesting RH Woodpeckers at Paines Creek, easily visible and 
audible from Rte 90.  This is abt 1/2 mile north of Long Point.  A 
gentleman who said he lived in Aurora stopped to chat with my husband & 
me.  He seemed surprised by all the birders and said he had seen RH 
Woodpeckers in Aurora since he had moved there from Mississippi, where 
he said they were pretty common, abt 10 years before.  He also directed 
me to a second nest further north on Rte 90 - he said he met his kids 
there when the bus dropped them off from school so had noticed the nest 
tree while waiting, and he suspected these weren't the only two nests in 
and around the village but they were the only two he knew of that 
spring.  I went and easily found the second nest with his directions.


There is only a scattering of eBird reports for Aurora: 1972, 1990, 
1996, 2008, and 2011 (many). Yet in 2011 the gentleman from Mississippi, 
who seemed quite reliable (and definitely knew the difference between a 
Red-Bellied & Red_Headed Woodpecker) said they were there every year.  
Does anyone in Aurora enter RH Woodpeckers in eBird when they see them, 
or otherwise keep track of them?  Does anyone else regularly check out 
the Aurora area for them?


Just curious about whether they are usually absent or only usually 
absent from birding records.


Alicia



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[cayugabirds-l] The saw whet that got away!

[Alicia Plotkin]

Hi,

I'm not on social media & stumbled on this 
<https://www.facebook.com/1404058576543469/posts/2833723070243672/?d=n> 
randomly - if everyone already saw it, apologies for clogging you inboxes!

Have a good weekend & a safe holiday -

Alicia

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] LOON MIGRATION ALERT

[Alicia Plotkin]

East side of Seneca Lake in Ovid, was out from 7:30-7:40 and 7:50-8:45 
(maybe too late).  Saw the following:

7:30-7:40: 0
7:50-8:00: 5 in single group, a tad lower than expected but still 
migration height - moving very fast with the wind, a couple hundred 
yards inland of the shore
8:00-8:15: 1, same height/speed/track as the first 5
8:15-8:30: 1, very very high up, over center of lake, beating its wings 
hard & moving south to north - wouldn't have seen it with naked eye but 
was bored so looking at one of the resident eagles soaring high up & the 
loon crossed behind it as small blurry bird so focused on it & could 
make out characteristic torpedo shape & flight style
8:30-8:45: 0

Have been small numbers of loons on the lake here for the past week but 
none this morning when I got out.




On 11/12/2020 9:07 AM, Martha Fischer wrote:
> Are birds moving?
>
> Get Outlook for iOS 
> 
> *From:* bounce-125123331-3494...@list.cornell.edu 
>  on behalf of Bill Evans 
> 
> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 11, 2020 4:23:29 PM
> *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> *Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] LOON MIGRATION ALERT
>
> Folks, the conditions look excellent and such an opportunity doesn’t 
> happen every year, so plan your morning accordingly!
>
> Favorable forecast for observing a large loon flight tomorrow morning 
> (Nov 12):
>
> 1.We are in the window when big fall flights have been documented in 
> the past.
>
> 2.We’ve had southerly winds with no loon movement since Nov 3^rd (8 
> days) - the spring is loaded.
>
> 3.Weather forecast tomorrow is for NNW wind @ 7 mph - perfect for the 
> spring to unload.
>
> 4.Viewing conditions should be good – mostly cloudy with no lake 
> effect snow.
>
> 5.Temp ~43 F, so not brutally cold.
>
> Loons from current migratory aggregations on the Finger Lakes and 
> southern Lake Ontario are likely to embark for southbound passage as 
> early as 6:40 am. The main flight off Cayuga & Seneca Lake will mostly 
> vector down the lake basins and have passed on by 7:30 am.So places 
> like Stewart Park and Clute Park (Watkins Glen) should offer good 
> viewing. If you can get there in time, Taughannock State Park can be a 
> wonderful site to view the early flight down Cayuga.
>
> The peak of the flight off Lake Ontario will likely pass over 
> Ithaca/Watkins Glen latitudes between 7:45 and 8:30, with lesser 
> magnitude continuing thereafter. The densest flight vectors from Lake 
> Ontario have been noted in the past coursing down the east side of the 
> Seneca Lake Basin and the west side of the Cayuga Lake Basin, but the 
> flight off Lake Ontario can be seen to some degree from high terrain 
> anywhere in the southern Finger Lakes and Southern Tier counties of NY.
>
> If you have the opportunity to observe, please post your results here 
> and/or eBird including the location & time period you counted, 
> direction of flight, and the percentage of loons estimated to be 
> flying below 1000 feet/300 m above ground level.
>
> Best wishes!
>
> Bill Evans
>
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed - state land, too

[Alicia Plotkin]

More generally, another problem are policies by NYS Parks and the 
Wildlife Management areas.  Grassland areas under their control 
increasingly seem to be rented out for farming.  For example, part of 
Willard Wildlife Management area that 25 yrs ago was in grass that only 
got mowed in late summer, and that had the full range of nesting 
grassland birds (confirmed nesting by Meadowlark, Bobolink, Northern 
Harrier, several grassland sparrows), recently has been leased to 
farmers who plant & harvest row crops there.  Probably true lots of 
other places.  This is a situation where the Bird Club and the Lab of O 
might be able to work together to encourage regulation by NYS that 
ensured the land was used in a way that is consistent with grassland 
nesting.


On 6/15/2021 4:07 PM, Kenneth V. Rosenberg wrote:
>
> Linda, thanks for bringing this mowing to everyone’s attention. In a 
> nutshell, what is happening today in those fields, repeated over the 
> entire U.S., is the primary cause of continued steep declines in 
> Bobolink and other grassland bird populations.
>
> Last year, because of the delays in mowing due to Covid, the fields 
> along Freeze and Hanshaw Roads were full of nesting birds, including 
> many nesting Bobolinks that were actively feeding young in the nests 
> at the end of June. In the first week of July, Cornell decided to mow 
> all the fields. Jody Enck and I wrote letters and met with several 
> folks at Cornell in the various departments in charge of managing 
> those fields (Veterinary College, University Farm Services) – although 
> they listened politely to our concerns for the birds, they went ahead 
> and mowed that week as dozens of female bobolinks and other birds 
> hovered helplessly over the tractors with bills filled food for their 
> almost-fledged young.
>
> The same just happened over the past couple of days this year, only at 
> an earlier stage in the nesting cycle – most birds probably have (had) 
> recently hatched young in the nest. While mowing is occurring across 
> the entire region as part of “normal” agricultural practices (with 
> continued devastating consequences for field-nesting birds), the 
> question is whether Cornell University needs to be contributing to 
> this demise, while ostensibly supporting biodiversity conservation 
> through other unrelated programs. Jody and I presented an alternative 
> vision, where the considerable acres of fields owned by the university 
> across Tompkins County could serve as a model for conserving 
> populations of grassland birds, pollinators, and other biodiversity, 
> but the people in charge of this management were not very interested 
> in these options.
>
> And there we have it, a microcosm of the continental demise of 
> grassland birds playing out in our own backyard, illustrating the 
> extreme challenges of modern Ag practices that are totally 
> incompatible with healthy bird populations. I urge CayugaBirders to 
> make as much noise as possible, and maybe someone will listen.
>
> KEN
>
> Ken Rosenberg (he/him/his)
>
> Applied Conservation Scientist
>
> Cornell Lab of Ornithology
>
> American Bird Conservancy
>
> Fellow, Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future
>
> k...@cornell.edu 
>
> Wk: 607-254-2412
>
> Cell: 607-342-4594
>
> *From: *bounce-125714085-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
>  on behalf of Linda Orkin 
> 
> *Date: *Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 3:02 PM
> *To: *CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> *Subject: *[cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed.
>
> After a couple year hiatus in which the Freese Road fields across from 
> the gardens have been mowed late in the season allowing at least 
> Bobolinks to be done with their nesting and for grassland birds to be 
> lured into a false feeling of security so they have returned and I’ve 
> counted three singing meadowlarks for the first time in years,  
> Cornell has returned to early mowing there as of today. And so the 
> mayhem ensues. How many more multitudes of birds will die before we 
> believe our own eyes and ears. Mow the grass while it’s still 
> nutritious but are we paying attention to who is being fed. Grass 
> taken from the land to pass through animals and in that inefficient 
> process turning to food for humans.
>
> Linda Orkin
> Ithaca NY
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> 3) 

[cayugabirds-l] Yellow-Breasted Chat at Montezuma

[Alicia Plotkin]

Just heard 3rd hand that there was a yellow breasted chat somewhere near 
the intersection of the Esker Brook and South Spring Trails this 
evening, observed by very experienced birders.  I have no further 
details on exactly where and it could be that this 3rd hand info on 
location has gotten degraded along the way, but perhaps there will be a 
knot of birders in the area to direct you if you go?


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Black-throated Green Warbler

[Alicia Plotkin]

Just came home from an early morning appt to find my yard (west side of 
Ovid) awash in Yellow Rumped Warblers - had only seen 5 warblers of any 
kind before today, but there were at least 15 singing, chipping & 
gleaning at 12:45.  Still hear some singing now, 30 minutes later.  
Wasn't able to hear or see any other varieties of warbler but last night 
must have brought in some good birds.


Alicia


On 4/27/2021 11:56 AM, Ann Mitchell wrote:

It’s back at Park Preserve South!

Good birding,
Ann

Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bad news for Osprey along 5 & 20

[Alicia Plotkin]

It's a little early yet - there are no sightings in eBird for Osprey 
north of Jacksonville and south of Interlaken before 3/31.  Marty always 
spots them before I do, but I didn't see them until April Fool's Day 
last year.

On 3/23/2021 3:46 PM, Marty Schlabach wrote:
>
> This afternoon we drove by the cell phone tower in the hamlet of 
> Covert, on Rt 96 just north of Trumansburg, that Alicia mentioned. We 
> too had noticed several weeks ago that last year’s nest was gone.  
> Today there is still no sign of an osprey.
>
> Marty
>
> *From:* bounce-125487631-3494...@list.cornell.edu 
>  *On Behalf Of *Alicia Plotkin
> *Sent:* Tuesday, March 23, 2021 3:29 PM
> *To:* John Gregoire ; CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> 
> *Subject:* Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bad news for Osprey along 5 & 20
>
> The osprey nest on the cell phone tower just north of Trumansburg went 
> missing at the end of last winter, was rebuilt and used successfully 
> again last spring/summer, and went missing again about a month ago, I 
> assume torn down but didn't see it being done.
>
> On 3/23/2021 3:07 PM, John Gregoire wrote:
>
> The sole Osprey nest in Schuyler was atop the microwave comm tower
> behind the Tops Market. It had been there for 5 years with
> great success. Someone tore it down in the last few days.
>
> On Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 1:07 PM Ann Mitchell
> mailto:annmitchel...@gmail.com>> wrote:
>
> The nests are being torn down and replaced with the discs. No
> sign of Osprey.
>
> Ann
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bad news for Osprey along 5 & 20

[Alicia Plotkin]

The osprey nest on the cell phone tower just north of Trumansburg went 
missing at the end of last winter, was rebuilt and used successfully 
again last spring/summer, and went missing again about a month ago, I 
assume torn down but didn't see it being done.


On 3/23/2021 3:07 PM, John Gregoire wrote:
> The sole Osprey nest in Schuyler was atop the microwave comm tower 
> behind the Tops Market. It had been there for 5 years with 
> great success. Someone tore it down in the last few days.
>
> On Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 1:07 PM Ann Mitchell  > wrote:
>
> The nests are being torn down and replaced with the discs.  No
> sign of Osprey.
>
> Ann
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Natural Purple Martin nesting?

[Alicia Plotkin]

Summary of what was known in early 20th century in Birds by Bent 
 - rare but not 
completely unheard of at that time. Note that Naples, Florida was 
considered to be remote country then!
> *Nesting*.--Before the advent of the white man the martin used natural 
> cavities in trees and cliffs for nesting sites. But even in those 
> distant days there was some bird-house nesting, for the Indians were 
> fond of these birds and, as Wilson (1832) says, "even the solitary 
> Indian seems to have a particular respect for this bird." He gives an 
> account of the methods used by the "Choctaws and Chickasaws" who "cut 
> off all the top branches from a sapling near their cabins, leaving the 
> prongs a foot or two in length, on each of which they hang a gourd, or 
> calabash, properly hollowed out for their convenience." Forbush (1929) 
> adds that "when saplings were not conveniently situated the Indians 
> set up poles, fastened cross-bars to them and hung the gourds on these 
> cross-bars."
>
> Instances of strictly primitive nesting are still to be seen in remote 
> parts of the country. Roberts (1932) gives an account of martins 
> breeding among large boulders on Spirit Island, Lake Milles Lacs, 
> Minn. Howell (1932) mentions two or three examples in Florida, one 
> near La Belle and another at Naples. A unique situation came under his 
> observation on Anna Maria Key in May 1918, when he found a pair using 
> a hole in a palmetto piling over water, the cavity being about 3 feet 
> from the surface.
>
> I have seen one instance of primitive nesting in Florida, that of a 
> small colony of about five pairs utilizing a tall, dead pine 
> perforated with woodpecker holes. This tree stands near the banks of 
> the Kissimmee River, near the hamlet of Cornwell, in Highlands County, 
> Fla., and martins were using it late in March 1940. Shown to several 
> participants in the Wildlife Tours undertaken in that region during 
> the early part of 1940 by the Audubon Association, it never failed to 
> elicit the greatest interest. Flickers and bluebirds, as well as a 
> red-bellied woodpecker, were also using this avian apartment house. I 
> have had it reported that martins use the hollows in very old 
> cypresses in some of the large river swamps of South Carolina, along 
> with chimney swifts, which is certainly very likely, though I have not 
> seen this association personally.
>




On 4/14/2021 10:18 AM, Johnson, Alyssa wrote:
>
> Good morning,
>
> As I watch the Purple Martins returning, and setting up seasonal 
> residence, I wonder about natural nesting locations. I’m not asking 
> for directions to one, but has anyone ever seen one? What do they look 
> like? Do they nest in dead trees? Or holes/crags in cliffs?
>
> I’d love to see a natural nesting site, the only time I’ve ever seen 
> PUMAs are at the colonial nesting boxes! And I got to thinking- what 
> did they nest in before we built these condos for them?!
>
>  Alyssa
>
> --
>
> *Alyssa Johnson*
>
> Environmental Educator
>
> 315.365.3588
>
> *Montezuma Audubon Center*
>
> PO Box 187
>
> 2295 State Route 89
>
> Savannah, NY 13146
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Massive Solar Farm coming to Cayuga County

[Alicia Plotkin]

Great idea!  The Syracuse article you linked to says that a number of 
these mega-farms are in the planning stage for NYS.  Maybe an approach 
through the permitting process or legislation would be more effective 
than approaching them individually?  Does anyone on this list have good 
DEC or legislative contacts?

Does Audubon or the Sierra Club or anyone else have an updated report on 
how this can work, perhaps analyzing the effect of the Minnesota law 
mentioned in your other link - what regulations work best & why they 
don't cost taxpayers or solar farms much?  For that matter, is Audubon 
already working on this in NYS?

Alicia


On 2/20/2021 8:31 AM, david nicosia wrote:
> All,
>
> see 
> https://www.syracuse.com/news/2020/02/monster-cny-solar-farm-would-replace-corn-and-soybeans-with-power-for-3-homes.html
>  
> <https://www.syracuse.com/news/2020/02/monster-cny-solar-farm-would-replace-corn-and-soybeans-with-power-for-3-homes.html>
>
>
> Does anyone have any more details on this? If it is done with wildlife 
> in mind this could be a good thing. If they plant pollinator friendly 
> and native grasses this could be a positive. But if it is just plain 
> grass it could be at best just a trade-off and at worse a negative. 
> These solar farms could be good for birds and pollinators. see
> https://www.audubon.org/news/can-solar-plants-make-good-bird-habitat 
> <https://www.audubon.org/news/can-solar-plants-make-good-bird-habitat>
>
> Maybe you are all aware of this but the big renewable energy push 
> through solar farms could be an opportunity to improve bird and 
> pollinator habitats. Anyway, just wondering if any folks have 
> information on this or have contacted solar farm companies on this.
>
> Best,
> Dave
>
>
>
>
>
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Yellow Bellied Sapsucker Question

[Alicia Plotkin]

A friend a mile away reports one is regular at his feeder this winter.  
Don't remember reports of any over-wintering here on the west side of 
Ovid before this year, and there is only one report in eBird for Dec-Feb 
in the Seneca drainage of Ovid before 2021 (assuming Dave Kennedy was on 
the Ovid side of the line in Willard Town Park when he made his report 
in 2018).


On 2/22/2021 5:32 PM, Tim Gallagher wrote:
> I saw a sapsucker in Freeville last Friday morning.
>
> 
> *From:* bounce-125408654-10557...@list.cornell.edu 
>  on behalf of Tom 
> Fernandes 
> *Sent:* Monday, February 22, 2021 4:55 PM
> *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> *Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] Yellow Bellied Sapsucker Question
> There seems to be numerous reports of sapsuckers in CNY this winter. 
> In my thirty plus years living here I don't recall ever seeing one in 
> the winter. Here in McGraw I have one visiting my feeders for the past 
> few weeks. How common is it for them to winter in our area?
>    Thanks, Tom Fernandes
>
> 
>  
>   Virus-free. www.avg.com 
> 
>  
>
>
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