[cayugabirds-l] Rough legged hawk ithaca airport

[Chris R. Pelkie]

About 3 pm big beautiful ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK soaring over field north of 
borgwarner and NW of runway. Sorry for late post... I was driving at the time.

___
Chris Pelkie
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[cayugabirds-l] Barred Owl still there

[Chris R. Pelkie]

At about 10:10am today, the BARRED OWL reported by Mark and Bob is still 
sitting in the lone pine by the Sapsucker Woods Wilson Trail shelter.

Easily spotted approaching from the East as it is on the 2nd big needled branch 
up from ground on South side of tree, 2’ from trunk.
Harder to see looking back from West.

Also singing BROWN CREEPER by Harper Bench.

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods, Th 2/7 (Barred Owl reported again)

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I observed it in the fog at 745am but chose not to report it.

I’d like to ask all to be aware that the last time I did, the crowd that showed 
up scared it off.
Raptors have better eyesight than you and get edgy when a cluster of people 
gather under the tree. (which is a lousy viewpoint since it is 40’ up)
Give the owl some breathing room this time so it isn’t scared off this 
conveniently visible roost.

Thanks!

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

On Feb 7, 2019, at 09:16, Mark Chao mailto:markc...@imt.org>> 
wrote:

Tom Schulenberg reports that the BARRED OWL has returned to the tall pine tree 
by the shelter at the Wilson/Severinghaus intersection in Sapsucker Woods on 
Thursday morning.

Mark Chao

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] The tale of two merganser ducklings on Beebe Lake

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Great first story! I look forward to more. I finally get to see some of your 
great photos after meeting you on the trail many times!

___
Chris Pelkie

> On May 27, 2019, at 13:33, Wee Hao Ng  wrote:
> 
> My first post to the list.

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[cayugabirds-l] A Blackbird Blowing 'Smoke' Rings Wins Top Prize at the 2019 Audubon Photography Awards

[Chris R. Pelkie]

https://gizmodo.com/a-blackbird-blowing-smoke-rings-wins-top-prize-at-the-2-1836308346

Definitely a cool shot!
___
Chris Pelkie
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Angry birds (Am robins!)

[Chris R. Pelkie]

For the record, don’t try this at home! Poke berries are very toxic to humans 
and many other mammals though some foxes, mice,etc are resistant, as are many 
songbirds that distribute the seeds after ingestion. Make sure your kids do NOT 
ingest these.
Poke leaves are made edible only after three separate boilings in fresh water. 
See wiki for details.

___
Chris Pelkie
Data Manager; IT Support
Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

On Oct 26, 2019, at 09:00, 
"anneb.cl...@gmail.com" 
mailto:anneb.cl...@gmail.com>> wrote:


This morning I have a large number of robins all age/sexes foraging on my 
productive pokeweed berries and scratching leaves AND chasing each other hard 
and long.  More athletic long chases than I am used to associating with robins.

They are not just chasing around the berries although I watched some head 
lowered face offs ( before a chase) on the fence near pokeweed.

Anne
Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Angry birds (Am robins!)

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Agreed! I have some pokeweed growing behind the shed, no intention of removing 
(or tasting) it. I went to wiki initially to see if the toxins were 
intoxicating Anne’s robins but there’s no obvious support for that from this 
plant. I have seen robins et al get ripped on late season “raisins” from wild 
cherry so wondered if that was similar.

[Btw, I worked for Dr John many moons ago as a barely passable cook and 
carpenter assistant building the lab on Appledore Island when he was director 
of Isles of Shoals.]

___
Chris Pelkie
Data Manager; IT Support
Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

On Oct 26, 2019, at 12:54, darlingtonbets 
mailto:darlingtonb...@gmail.com>> wrote:

just that people should be cautious in using, handling or eating it.  And many 
plants that are toxic to humans are fine for birds and other animals.  Pokeweed 
is a beautiful, interesting plant. Just don't eat it or handle it without 
gloves.
Betsy

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[cayugabirds-l] Dawn Chorus: Have You Seen a Salmonberry Bird?

[Chris R. Pelkie]

https://www.dailykos.com/story/2020/5/31/1947630/-Dawn-Chorus-Have-You-Seen-a-Salmonberry-Bird

This was interesting to me as I enjoy etymology as well as how different 
cultures derive different names for the same thing.

Chris Pelkie


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[cayugabirds-l] John James Audubon's Birds of America | Audubon

[Chris R. Pelkie]

https://www.audubon.org/birds-of-america

Download high res images from Birds of America. 435 of them!

Chris Pelkie


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Birds' secret caches

[Chris R. Pelkie]

You’ll want to pry them out. Some years ago, a squirrel stashed sunflower seeds 
into my exhaust pipe.
OMG, there’s nothing on earth that stinks as bad as burning sunflower seeds!
(:-)
__

Chris Pelkie
Data Manager; IT Support
Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/

On Nov 20, 2020, at 12:37 , Peter Saracino 
mailto:petersarac...@gmail.com>> wrote:

So I hung strings of  Christmas lights on the porch the other day but didn't 
put the bulbs in yet. They're easier to string without the bulbs. I finally got 
around to screwing the bulbs in this morning only to find single, unopened 
black oil sunflower seeds in a few of the places into which one would screw the 
actual bulb. I began to wonder how they ever could have gotten into so tight a 
space until I realized they must be places where the birds I'm feeding are 
catching food for a later date!
I think that's kind of neat!
The birds are helping me decorate! Well, sort of.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] YB Cuckoo

[Chris R. Pelkie]

There was a Black-billed Cuckoo singing (multiple triplets closely spaced) 
yesterday at 730am at the Lab.
As I got out of the car in the staff lot, the sound was from either the trees 
between the drive and second lot (and bird facing away) or further over in the 
patch of trees on the other side of the road by second lot, I couldn’t be sure 
of range. It was distinct but not super loud.

Had both from home this year, with the gurgle-intro leading into single-note 
songs from YBCU both of the last couple evenings just outside our sunroom.

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Data Manager; IT Support
K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/

On Jun 9, 2021, at 10:17 , Suan Hsi Yong 
mailto:suan.y...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Just heard the repeated single calls of a yellow-billed cuckoo outside
my home / office. Coupled with the BBCU from last month, that's both
cuckoos as new yard birds for me this season! Again, once I got
outside it stopped calling and could not be found.

Is it just me, or have the black-billed cuckoos, who seemed to be
singing everywhere earlier in the season, been replaced by
yellow-billed cuckoos lately? We had looks and calls from
yellow-billed cuckoos on our Connecticut Hill field trip last Sunday.
I also heard then saw one that afternoon at Lindsay-Parsons

Suan

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Binoculars - reasonably priced?

[Chris R. Pelkie]

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/the-best-binoculars/
Just updated in late Nov. I didn’t disagree with anything said but I’m not 
familiar with all the models reviewed.
Written by a birder/ornithologist/real user.

ChrisP

__

Chris Pelkie
Data Manager; IT Support
K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/

In office: Tue, Thu 0730-1130
Else: working remote

On 2021-12-15, at 23:13 , Kathleen P Kramer 
mailto:k...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Hello,

I hope this is an acceptable message for this ListServ. Can anyone suggest 
reasonably priced binoculars for a beginning birder? I’m taking a chance that 
the recipient will even pursue birding and I also know that “bad” binoculars 
can discourage a beginner. So I’d really appreciate a couple of suggestions!

Many thanks,
Kathleen Kramer




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[cayugabirds-l] A few items from today (SSW item for Linda)

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I headed out for the Loon and stopped at Cass Park for the GREAT-HORNED OWL.. I 
parked in the first lost, and ended up walking about halfway up the walk 
scanning the tall trees at Newman (cause I forgot the excellent directions 
someone else provided). When I spotted it, it was really obvious, big nest, 
high in a tall tree, and I was almost at right angle looking across the Inlet. 
Good viewing in mid-morning sun. Two pretty big white fluffy owlets were 
bobbing their heads from under mom who watched over them. (Not sure if there 
were any more.)

Don Timmons and I met up at Treman Marina for the RED-THROATED LOON which was 
in the Inlet by the boat canal at first but during dives made its way further 
away from us, so we both drove to the dog park and walked in. Along the way, 
Dave Nutter chatted with us, pointing out 3 OSPREY on the wing and 1 PEREGRINE 
FALCON higher still. Don and I refound the Loon at close and excellent viewing 
distance. While the crews were passing it and over it (during dives), the Loon 
seemed unperturbed by the boats, but some of its dives were 50’ long, so it was 
fun to try to keep up with it. We walked to Hog Hole, spotted a few more things 
along the way, Song Sparrows, Redheads, Common and Hooded Mergansers, I had a 
Greater Scaup M and ‘harem’ but it disappeared before I could show Don, several 
AMERICAN BLACK DUCKs that Dave had mentioned as well. One of the OSPREY spent 
time on the nest as well. We also chased down the source of a weird sound that 
we both thought at first sounded amphibian-like, then too random, but still 
loud enough to get one’s attention. I finally localized it to two of the tall 
grass (phragmite?) stems rubbing on each other like a cricket leg on abdomen or 
a fraying bow on a big string.

We parted and I had no special luck at Stevenson Road or Mt Pleasant nor did I 
relocate Meena’s Shrike though I did have a good look at both a RED-TAILED HAWK 
and AMERICAN KESTREL on the airport fence (some distance from each other), and 
at least 2 more Red-tails soaring over Freese Rd. but no interesting sparrows 
at the gardens.

I did a turn around Severinghaus Trail at Sapsucker Woods. First: the trail is 
in rough condition: icy and hard to negotiate even with a trekking pole, plus 2 
trees down across the trail, plus Dayhoff Boardwalk is almost as bad this year 
(falling into a weird fun-house curve) as Woodleton was before the Boy Scouts 
fixed it last year. I will let Jeff, the building manager, know all this 
tomorrow. BUT, it was worth the trip as I startled a WINTER WREN who flew to a 
fallen log about 30’ away and did rhythmic squat thrusts while making alarm 
calls at me for a couple of minutes, moving to other locations in a partial 
circle while I stood still. This looked a lot like territorial defense, so when 
the trail gets more navigable this might be a good spot to visit for a WIWR 
nest site or possible song. This was near the SW end of Dayhoff near the West 
Trail fork.

When I got home, my first of yard-year GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET showed up.

Cheers,
ChrisP


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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] A few Sapsucker items

[Chris R. Pelkie]

A couple days ago at lunch, my FOY RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET appeared in the trees 
behind the lab, only ‘chirring’ one syllable of the song while foraging up high.

Yesterday morning, I set out at around 7am to pick up SWAMP SPARROW in the 
field east of the north parking lot and found one easily only about 100’ in 
from the chain, sitting rather higher than normal (15’ on a small sapling 
rather than 3’ on the reeds) and loudly trilling and showing his colors in the 
breaking daylight. Since my FOY yard CHIPPING SPARROW arrived yesterday 
afternoon, I wanted to confirm I hadn’t fooled myself so went back again today 
and found what I am pretty sure is the same SWSP on the same tree still singing.

On the way to that field yesterday, I encountered the (a) Ruby-crowned in full 
glorious song (I think this is maybe my favorite bird song of this region: it’s 
so ecstatic!), this time down low foraging on a bush about 6’ from me, ruby 
crown somewhat erected, just off the footbridge from the second parking lot to 
the lab.

Today, after checking the field, I moved to the top end of that north parking 
lot where I heard very faintly what sounded like Meadowlark song. With the 
Starlings busily calling and building nests in the power tower behind me and 
all the early morning Rt 13 traffic noise, I listened and heard it again, so 
scanned the airport fence but saw nothing. Then a large bird flew up from 
‘below’ Rt 13 (must have been in the ditch or dropoff on the other side) and I 
followed it flying away. Was it? Couldn’t tell but another same sized bird 
joined up, the two furiously chased each other down the runway, TURNED (yes!) 
and flew back toward me, battling along the way like fighter jets, TURNED their 
glorious yellow EASTERN MEADOWLARK bellies to the morning sun in my full binoc 
view and confirmed that I can still hear the odd faint sound if I am paying 
attention.

After their battle, they dropped back out of sight on the other side of 13.

Nice start to a Spring day!

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] SSW this morning

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I was a half hour behind Mark, I guess: from 7-745 I walked the northern end of 
Hoyt-Pileated, finding 3 BLUE-HEADED VIREOs, 2 of whom were interacting vocally 
and by chasing each other through the treetops, while the other was some 
distance away singing. Numerous BROWN CREEPERs in full song; the 2 I located 
were as expected on high perches, so I suspect this is territory/nest defense 
song? Then amidst the creeper song, I heard what sounded like BLACK-THROATED 
GREEN WARBLER but wondered if a creeper had swapped a couple notes. Moving 
closer to Woodleton though, I got confirmation from 2 BT Greens singing (one in 
front of me, and 1 behind) though I couldn’t see them.

I think the big wave is coming but not here yet.

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods worm eating warbler

[Chris R. Pelkie]

This was an interesting exchange: I wondered if WEWA foraged and sang from very 
high perches, since I think of them as low bush skulkers.
But I have much to learn about such things and no guarantee all of a species do 
the same thing anyway.

ChrisP

On May 6, 2015, at 12:01, Brad Walker 
mailto:edgarallenhoo...@gmail.com>> wrote:


Thanks Jay and Gary! One uncommon bird was mistaken for another. I'll update my 
list later.

Brad

On Wed, May 6, 2015, 11:58 Jay McGowan 
mailto:jw...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Gary and I just refound Brad's warbler in the same spot, above the egg cairn on 
the east side. However, it turned out to be not a Worm-eating but an 
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, understandably confusing as it foraged high over the 
trail in the crowns of the trees, only occasionally giving its metallic trill.

On May 6, 2015 8:08 AM, "Brad Walker" 
mailto:edgarallenhoo...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Singing softly and foraging on Hoyt pileated trail in the canopy above the egg 
cairn.

Brad

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[cayugabirds-l] Really cool wind map

[Chris R. Pelkie]

This one is even cooler than the one I sent last year:

https://www.windyty.com

Check it out, birdy weatherwatchers!
Be sure to note that you can choose the altitude of interest and you’ll find 
amazing differences. For example, last evening, surface winds were very mild 
and non-directional. 3000m winds were those wicked t-storms flying through the 
area.

ChrisP
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[cayugabirds-l] Upcoming Nature show

[Chris R. Pelkie]

This is the show Paul mentioned a couple CBC meetings ago: it had a sneak 
preview at Cinemapolis but now is going national. Produced by the Multimedia 
Group at the Lab of O.

The Sagebrush Sea makes its broadcast premiere May 20, on 
NATURE
 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time/7:00 p.m. Central on PBS. (Check local listings.)

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tennessee warbler song

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I’ve located and visually verified two different Chestnut-sided Warblers this 
spring that were not singing the ‘normal’ song we know and love. Close but off 
enough that I was going through Magnolia, Redstart, and Yellow-rump thoughts 
before seeing the Chestnut face and/ or sides.

Good stuff on your analysis and spectrograms!


ChrisP



Yesterday we heard Bay-breasteds and Cape Mays also doing lots of variations. 
The Chestnut-sided I heard did not seem to sing the regular "Pleased Pleased to 
meet you", which we hear in Ithaca area,  but instead they had totally a 
different dialect. I also found all three species singing at the same time and 
there was overlap of songs.  So how do they recognize each other or different 
species when they are all singing together in same band width.



Meena Haribal
Ithaca NY 14850
42.429007,-76.47111
http://www.haribal.org/
http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/
Ithaca area moths: https://plus.google.com/118047473426099383469/posts
Dragonfly book sample pages: http://www.haribal.org/dragonflies/samplebook.pdf




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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Game bird farm

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Really? I was there 2 weeks ago, full of pheasants, topped by lots of TUVUs and 
1 Common Raven in the adjacent field near the road.
Did they just open the gates?

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Jun 2, 2015, at 12:10, Richard Tkachuck 
mailto:rictkal...@gmail.com>> wrote:

When did the pheasant farm close and is there a DEC facility that still breeds 
birds for release?
Richard Tk
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[cayugabirds-l] Yellow-billed cuckoo SSW

[Chris R. Pelkie]

At noon, I heard a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO do 3 series of 6-8 single coo’s from 
the exclosure area just south of the covered shelter on Wilson.
I was close enough by the third series to ensure myself it wasn’t a squirrel, 
though the pacing and separation of series had already indicated that.
However, it shut up and didn’t move while I served as a mosquito meal waiting 
to get a visual or record a 4th series so I left while I still had the strength.

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Modified report

[Chris R. Pelkie]

In light of an offline conversation with T-H, I want to amend my observation to 
Cuckoo sp. until someone gets a visual. He has come across Black-billed doing 
single call series in the past, whereas  I thought they were usually double 
(cu-cucu-cu) patterned. Considering all the other strange variability in 
other bird vocalizations this year, I’ll hedge my bet.

What I heard was a ‘kwolp” not a “coo” note, repeated as I described earlier, 
that is spaced single notes maybe 1 sec apart for 6-8 repetitions, in 3 sets 
spaced about 30-60 sec apart. I moved toward it as quickly and quietly as I 
could so I could be sure it wasn’t a Gray Squirrel and am convinced it was not.

Anne’s observation is good to hear: at least we likely heard the same thing 
whatever it is!

ChrisP
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[cayugabirds-l] Yellow-throated Vireo

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Yellow-throated Vireo in full dress color, yellow spectacles, actively feeding 
near the green scummy pond on West Wilson Trail.
He’s making a lot of squeaks that sound like a wet thumb dragged quickly over a 
rubber balloon (not real loud, but frequent) which helps locate him as he moves 
around rapidly. Just observed at 1pm.

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Woods Weekend Bird walk reports.

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Speaking of compliant Phoebes, I walked to Sherwood Platform at lunch and met 
(first time) a visitor/birder from NYC. As he was turning to leave and I was 
approaching, I spotted a Phoebe on the hand rail and pointed it out to him. It 
was 5’ away. Then it hopped to a closer post and eventually to about 3’ from 
us. We remarked that it must be a juvenile though it was in full feather. Then 
it landed on the floor of the platform in the hot sun and spread its wings and 
squashed its belly down, opened its mouth and started sunning. We had to walk 
around it (!) to get back to the rail to look for herons and kingbirds, etc. It 
finally flew into the bushes at its own good time.

I have often thought of tethering a flycatcher to my hat to ward off 
mosquitoes...

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Jul 27, 2015, at 12:10, Linda Orkin 
mailto:wingmagi...@gmail.com>> wrote:

I thought people might be interested in reading these.  The leaders write up 
these reports each week and they are posted on the 
Cayugabirdclub.org website under About us, and then 
field trips. Hope you enjoy. I plan on posting them each week, as long as this 
is okay with the list administrator.   Linda Orkin

Reports from this past weekend's beginner bird walks led by Cayuga Bird Club 
Members.
Saturday from Lisa Wood. 22 participants. Big group today, so I was grateful 
for help from CBC member Donna Coventry Wray, who’s been on many, many of these 
walks and is a multiple-year SFO alumna. A few “townies” were mixed in with the 
many visitors. We had several memorable experiences in the 2.5 hours it took us 
to get all the way around the Wilson Trail. First, we had good looks at a 
silent Yellow Warbler pair foraging in full sun near the Owens Platform 
boardwalk. From the platform itself, we watched a long and daring (and comical) 
“tightrope“ walk by a Green Heron across a section of the wire above the pond. 
From the Sherwood Platform, everyone enjoyed watching Eastern Kingbirds feeding 
busily and noisily above the lily pads. Having seen a Great Crested Flycatcher 
earlier, we declared it a flycatcher day when, by the pergola, we were 
repeatedly “buzzed” by a brave little Eastern Phoebe. The bird first flew from 
the island over to the shore and perched above us, quite close. That was a nice 
treat, but then it actually flew to a couple of us, close to our faces and 
above our heads/hats—close enough that those of us in the front couldn’t help 
but flinch. Evidently the bird was after the mosquitoes that were after us! It 
successfully caught prey several times while we stood there—what a thrill for 
all of us!

And Sunday from Paul Anderson 10 participants.I had ten people show up: a group 
of six students from Colombia, a couple from New Jersey and a two ladies from 
Binghamton. There was a lot to see, even if little of it was unusual. Many 
juveniles of many species were out begging. We saw more flycatchers - mostly 
Phoebes - than I've ever seen on one of these walks. The mosquitoes were 
voracious. An early highlight was a Green Heron on the main pond, but 
everybody's favorite was a group of three baby Wood Ducks.
--
Veganism is simply the acknowledgment that a replaceable and fleeting pleasure 
isn't more valuable than someone's life and liberty.
~ Unknown

If you permit
this evil, what is the good
of the good of your life?

-Stanley Kunitz...

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] a mystery---goldfinchs

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Chipmunks make excellent fox food.
I enjoy the Red Foxes that have taken up nesting, breeding, cavorting, and 
howling at my place in the last few years.
For better or worse, we have a nice selection of chipmunks, red squirrels, and 
gray squirrels, along with voles, deer mice, etc. to keep them well-fed (in 
addition to the compost we toss out there).
The circle goes on.
ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Sep 9, 2015, at 20:05, Kathleen P Kramer 
mailto:k...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Several years ago, I posted to Cayugabirds-L about seeing a chipmunk kill an 
adult female cardinal. The chipmunk and the cardinal were feeding, apparently 
companionably, on the ground beneath my dad’s bird feeder. Suddenly, the 
chipmunk lunged at the cardinal and grasped her in his/her mouth by the head. 
The cardinal flopped wildly from side to side, trying to escape. We ran 
outside, not able to repress that desire to save the bird, even knowing that as 
Rob says, “Nature is messy.”

The chipmunk ran off, scolding loudly, but we were too late to help the 
cardinal. Her neck was broken. We had to go away from the house on an errand, 
so we placed the dead cardinal on a nearby stump. When we came back a short 
time later, the cardinal was gone. We know she didn’t leave under her own 
power, so the answer probably is that the chipmunk came back and dragged her 
away. Or perhaps a cat that wasn’t kept inside took her.  Pretty dramatic 
example of how predatory these little bundles of muscle really are.

Kathy Kramer

On Sep 9, 2015, at 6:53 PM, Rob Blye 
mailto:rwb...@comcast.net>> wrote:

Chipmunks and squirrels do what they do without conscience or shame as do all 
predators. Nature is messy. Good work for keeping your cats inside.


From: "Melanie Uhlir" mailto:mela...@mwmu.com>>
To: "Robyn Bailey" mailto:rb...@cornell.edu>>, "Susan Fast" 
mailto:sustf...@yahoo.com>>, "CAYUGABIRDS-L" 
mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 4:17:23 PM
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] a mystery---goldfinchs

I guess I hate chipmunks now. Why didn't the vicious vermin eat the murder 
victims??

My cats are indoor-only. If I could train them to eat only chipmunks and House 
Sparrows I would let them out.

Melanie

On 9/9/2015 4:11 PM, Robyn Bailey wrote:
Re: Part 2…I have heard that this is a chipmunk M.O. Fortunately, have never 
had to witness it in person.

Robyn Bailey

From: 
bounce-119633859-15067...@list.cornell.edu
 [mailto:bounce-119633859-15067...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Susan Fast
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 3:20 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] a mystery---goldfinchs

I've been watching some inexplicable behavior (to me) by 1 or 2 goldfinches 
nesting in my yard.  There are 2 parts.

Part 1:  2 weeks ago I noticed a female goldfinch perching in bushes along the 
front of the house, then flying toward the upper lefthand corner of a large 
double-hung window, hovering for a second, then flying against the glass.  This 
was late afternoon and she repeated the behavior a dozen times.  I would scare 
her away, but she returned after several minutes.   Night fell and she 
desisted.  At 0700 next morning she was at it again.
I tightly closed the inside curtains.  No effect.  I then hung a painter's 
dropcloth over the whole window on the outside.  This stopped her briefly, but 
she then moved to the upper lefthand corner of an adjacent window (same size 
and shape, but 4' away) and continued.  I put a dropcloth over that window 
also.  I have 2 other identical windows in the second story over these, but she 
did not go up there, thankfully.   I didn't see her the rest of the day.  Next 
morning I took the cloths down and she did not reappear.

Part 2:  The last several days, I have seen a goldfinch flying repeatedly into 
the top (40' up) of a large sugar maple in our side yard.  Nest, I figured.   
About an hour ago, my daughter found a headless baby bird, still warm, on the 
ground under the tree.  The neck was still present, although skinless, the head 
gone except for the very bottom edge of it, apparently cleanly removed.  She 
called me out to look, and as we did so, another baby dropped onto the roof of 
her car.  Blood was still flowing from the point where the neck attaches to the 
body, but both head and neck were gone.  No other damage visible.
  Both babies have rudimentary wing feathers and patches of fuzz here and 
there.  At this time also, an adult goldfinch could be heard vocalizing from 
above in the tree.  Shortly thereafter, a female adult was seen moving about 
among the goldenrod and other weed heads below the tree and picking out seeds.  
She was also vocalizing (prob. same bird) initially, but stopped after a couple 
minutes.

Idea

Re: [cayugabirds-l] a mystery---goldfinchs

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Sounds like Sandy’s recent report was ‘payback time’ for the birds…

Oh, speaking of Disney films, you may want to avoid watching “The Living 
Desert” (some seriously rigged nature photography to get one critter to eat 
another, several different episodes).
Disney learned his lesson after the bad reviews and didn’t do quite so much 
fake photography after that, ceding the crown to Wild Kingdom.

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Sep 11, 2015, at 24:17, Melanie Uhlir 
mailto:mela...@mwmu.com>> wrote:

Well, I do really like Red Foxes. I'm glad to know they like to eat chipmunks. 
I can't help but think Red Squirrels are cute. I blame Beatrix Potter.

I think some Disney films I was shown in early childhood damaged my ability to 
accept the food chain. I just want all the animals to be herbivores who are 
friends!

I guess I just have completely illogical biases for some creatures, but nature 
does not support favoritism based on cuteness.

Thank you for the gently phrased reality check, Chris.

Melanie

On 9/10/2015 10:14 AM, Chris R. Pelkie wrote:
Chipmunks make excellent fox food.
I enjoy the Red Foxes that have taken up nesting, breeding, cavorting, and 
howling at my place in the last few years.
For better or worse, we have a nice selection of chipmunks, red squirrels, and 
gray squirrels, along with voles, deer mice, etc. to keep them well-fed (in 
addition to the compost we toss out there).
The circle goes on.
ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Sep 9, 2015, at 20:05, Kathleen P Kramer 
<<mailto:k...@cornell.edu>k...@cornell.edu<mailto:k...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Several years ago, I posted to Cayugabirds-L about seeing a chipmunk kill an 
adult female cardinal. The chipmunk and the cardinal were feeding, apparently 
companionably, on the ground beneath my dad’s bird feeder. Suddenly, the 
chipmunk lunged at the cardinal and grasped her in his/her mouth by the head. 
The cardinal flopped wildly from side to side, trying to escape. We ran 
outside, not able to repress that desire to save the bird, even knowing that as 
Rob says, “Nature is messy.”

The chipmunk ran off, scolding loudly, but we were too late to help the 
cardinal. Her neck was broken. We had to go away from the house on an errand, 
so we placed the dead cardinal on a nearby stump. When we came back a short 
time later, the cardinal was gone. We know she didn’t leave under her own 
power, so the answer probably is that the chipmunk came back and dragged her 
away. Or perhaps a cat that wasn’t kept inside took her.  Pretty dramatic 
example of how predatory these little bundles of muscle really are.

Kathy Kramer

On Sep 9, 2015, at 6:53 PM, Rob Blye 
mailto:rwb...@comcast.net>> wrote:

Chipmunks and squirrels do what they do without conscience or shame as do all 
predators. Nature is messy. Good work for keeping your cats inside.


From: "Melanie Uhlir" mailto:mela...@mwmu.com>>
To: "Robyn Bailey" 
<<mailto:rb...@cornell.edu>rb...@cornell.edu<mailto:rb...@cornell.edu>>, "Susan 
Fast" mailto:sustf...@yahoo.com>>, "CAYUGABIRDS-L" 
<<mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 4:17:23 PM
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] a mystery---goldfinchs

I guess I hate chipmunks now. Why didn't the vicious vermin eat the murder 
victims??

My cats are indoor-only. If I could train them to eat only chipmunks and House 
Sparrows I would let them out.

Melanie

On 9/9/2015 4:11 PM, Robyn Bailey wrote:
Re: Part 2…I have heard that this is a chipmunk M.O. Fortunately, have never 
had to witness it in person.

Robyn Bailey

From: 
bounce-119633859-15067...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:bounce-119633859-15067...@list.cornell.edu>
 
[<mailto:bounce-119633859-15067...@list.cornell.edu>mailto:bounce-119633859-15067...@list.cornell.edu]
 On Behalf Of Susan Fast
Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2015 3:20 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] a mystery---goldfinchs

I've been watching some inexplicable behavior (to me) by 1 or 2 goldfinches 
nesting in my yard.  There are 2 parts.

Part 1:  2 weeks ago I noticed a female goldfinch perching in bushes along the 
front of the house, then flying toward the upper lefthand corner of a large 
double-hung window, hovering for a second, then flying against the glass.  This 
was late afternoon and she repeated the behavior a dozen times.  I would scare 
her away, but she returned after several minutes.   Night fell and she 
desisted.  At 0700 next morning 

[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: hurt bird question

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Forwarded for a friend in Ithaca not on the list: not sure who might help, 
Victoria? or is this a vet school question?
Thanks

__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

Begin forwarded message:



Hi Chris,

I have a bird question, and since you're at the Lab of O now, I'm hoping it's 
ok to start with you?

My son (undergrad) found a hurt pigeon (broken wing?) inside a building on 
campus last night, about 10:30.  What's the best thing for the non-birder to do 
in that situation?  He wanted to do something to help it, but had no idea what.

Thanks-
S


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[cayugabirds-l] Poster

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I just ordered one of these for myself. Thought others might find it nice too 
(I haven’t seen it in the flesh yet):


http://popchartlab.com/collections/prints-nature/products/birds-of-north-america

740 North American birds on one poster for $38 unframed. Framed option 
available also.

ChrisP


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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Crows vs TVs

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I mentioned seeing my first of season ‘big’ crow assemblage at the CBC meeting 
last week, of about 100 American Crows doing small wheelies in a large group 
swirling over my house (I first thought it was gulls, in fact).

Over the last week, I’ve seen similar numbers streaming over at dusk, probably 
from Lansing corn fields to Ithaca/Northeast area.

This morning, I had a bird-a-palooza at 645AM while walking the dog. As I 
stepped out, the cawing was loud, continuous, and numerous. Looking up in early 
dawn against gray overcast, I estimated 200 AMCRs swirling and attacking about 
16 Turkey Vultures (this is unusual, of course).
The TVs were clearly not enjoying this at all, and probably saying “Mellow out, 
dudes! What’s up with this?”. But crows were hitting the TVs and small groups 
chasing individual TVs around in a giant swirling mass of black wings.
The illusion of a WWII bomber-fighter sky battle came to mind.

I suspect that the crows were roosting in the same trees around Asbury Cemetery 
as the TVs have used for several years, and both groups woke up about the same 
time, probably when a near-sighted crow with a short temper jumped the first TV 
by accident thinking it was one of those ‘other’ raptors it should be 
attacking, then the cascade began of more crows joining in and more TVs 
freaking out and going from tree to sky only to be attacked themselves. Just my 
hypothesis.

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Windmap

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Of course you discovered you can zoom in with mouse or fingers on iPad, etc.. 
And if you click the speed scale legend it will cycle to your favorite unit 
(knots, mph, etc.).
And there’s a bit of history you can roll back to on the time line: I just 
dialed up last night’s blow to see how bad it was (30’s MPH).

ChrisP

On Dec 29, 2015, at 08:57 , Meena Madhav Haribal 
mailto:m...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Thank you Wade and Melissa! Cool site! I like we can see temperatures and 
pressure and other bells and whistles too. Great information.  But only thing I 
did not like is the color combinations. Reds and oranges don't go very well 
with the greens. I have bookmarked the site.

As for the birds, yesterday around 10.30 am while I was driving on rt 70 
towards Elmira, somewhere close to Eddy street in Collegetown, a Raven flew 
over followed by a crow.

All the way to Elmira -Corning airport, I did not see any other birds except a 
few crows here and there. I was hoping to see a shrike or a turkey.

Cheers
Meena

Meena Haribal
Ithaca NY 14850
42.429007,-76.47111
http://www.haribal.org/
http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/
Ithaca area moths: https://plus.google.com/118047473426099383469/posts
Dragonfly book sample pages: http://www.haribal.org/dragonflies/samplebook.pdf






From: 
bounce-120015637-3493...@list.cornell.edu
 
mailto:bounce-120015637-3493...@list.cornell.edu>>
 on behalf of gone mailto:gon...@gmail.com>>
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 6:56 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Windmap

We prefer https://www.windyty.com/



Happy Birding,
Wade and Melissa
Our Flickr Photos
Our 30 Latest Photos
go.team@gmail.com






From: 
bounce-120015273-26966...@list.cornell.edu
 [mailto:bounce-120015273-26966...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Peter
Sent: Monday, December 28, 2015 1:17 PM
To: Meena Madhav Haribal; CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Windmap



Incredible the online things that exist to help us better understand the 
natural world. They make the teaching of concepts a thousand times easier and 
more fun than they use to be!
Happy New Year!
On 12/27/2015 12:47 PM, Meena Madhav Haribal wrote:
Thanks Peter! Previously I used to use the map link you sent. But the one I 
sent was colorful so I fell in love with this windmap. It is amazing how sharp 
is the demarcation in both versions. I thought it was a front, but as you 
mention I too  have never seen anything so clearly dividing the country. I 
think it is an unusual front.
I would keep watch to see how it changes over time!



I am always fascinated by the wind energy!



Cheers
Meena



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RE: Re:[cayugabirds-l] Pipits @ Salt Pt

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Cool!   I mean: Warm!
ChrisP

From: bounce-120042537-12822...@list.cornell.edu 
[mailto:bounce-120042537-12822...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Suan Yong
Sent: Saturday, January 09, 2016 23:51 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
Subject: Re:[cayugabirds-l] Pipits @ Salt Pt

I posted some photos of today's pipits, including the infrared image, on 
facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/suan.yong/posts/10208622363774511

If you can't see the IR image, I posted it here too:

https://flic.kr/p/CrsRQa

I did eventually see all seven fly together a short distance.
Suan
_
http://suan-yong.com
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[cayugabirds-l] Noah Strycker broke birding’s worldwide Big Year record.

[Chris R. Pelkie]

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2016/01/noah_strycker_broke_birding_s_worldwide_big_year_record.html

eBird mentioned in passing



chris.pel...@cornell.edu
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Starling murmuration downtown ithac

[Chris R. Pelkie]

> On Jan 13, 2016, at 19:59 , Anne Marie Whelan  wrote:
> 
> Yes, quite a flock of starlings blew into the West End this morning and 
> swirled around and hung out for a bit on and around my crabapple tree and 
> feeder.  Quite startling!
> 
> 

Ouch, that was the vulgaris pun I’ve seen lately… (;-)

ChrisP


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Morning voices

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Before a week ago, I had observed Pileated, Hairy, Downy, Flicker, and 
Sapsuckers at one point or another (in past years) doing the ‘flicka-flicka’ 
type interaction where a pair (sometimes M-F, sometimes M-M) were ascending a 
pole or tree and playing hide-and-seek while doing this vocalization.

Although Red-bellied Woodpeckers abound in our yard, woods, and bark butter 
feeder, it was only a few days ago when I walked out to observe 2 males 
ascending a bare tree, with a female in an adjacent tree, one M doing a loud 
Wukka-Wukka at the other.

New yard bird vocalization for me (yes, I’m reduced to that now….)

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Mar 10, 2016, at 10:41, Geo Kloppel 
mailto:geoklop...@gmail.com>> wrote:

A very light sprinkle, and I'm working with the door open. There sure are lots 
of bird voices around my yard this morning! A Song Sparrow seems to be the only 
new arrival, unless there are newcomers among the Juncos that are trilling from 
all directions. But Cardinals, Robins, Jays, Crows, Ravens, Purple Finches, 
Goldfinches, all the recent regulars seem to have found their more exuberant 
voices. A Barred Owl is day-hooting from down in the direction of the West 
Danby Fire Station, Pileated Woodpeckers are working somewhere quite close, and 
a Red-bellied Woodpecker that hangs out around my shop broke from its usual 
querrs and chatters for a string of slow woika-woika-woika interaction calls - 
perhaps for a mate.

Hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds have gone over, and a few thousands of Canada 
Geese, all turning west-northwest, rather than continuing north toward Ithaca.

I flushed a Ruffed Grouse from the thickets down in the orchard, and I see the 
Turkeys have been raking the ground aggressively there. No Fox Sparrows yet...

-Geo

Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Possible leucistic Canada at SSW

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Is there any significance to the mostly yellow bill with black tip? And the 
yellow legs and feet?
With little experience in picking apart weird plumages, I also leaned toward 
domestic or hybrid and away from Canada because of those marks.
Unless leucism can impart those color shifts as well.

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Mar 14, 2016, at 09:45, Kevin J. McGowan 
mailto:k...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Although the body shows some dark feather edging that resemble a Canada Goose, 
the thick neck with deep ridges in the feathers indicate this bird has domestic 
goose genes.

Kevin

From: 
bounce-120266252-3493...@list.cornell.edu
 [mailto:bounce-120266252-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Kenneth V. 
Rosenberg
Sent: Monday, March 14, 2016 9:16 AM
To: edgarallenhoo...@gmail.com
Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Possible leucistic Canada at SSW

I saw that goose by the horse farm on Blugrass Lane yesterday. Very large and 
whitish, but with some "wild-type" markings. Looked mostly domestic but 
obviously flying around with Canadas.

Ken

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 14, 2016, at 9:06 AM, Brad Walker 
mailto:edgarallenhoo...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Hi all,

There's a possible leucistic Canada Goose at Sapsucker Woods on the pond for 
those that want to take a look. It's either that or a domestic type.

Brad
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[cayugabirds-l] Perverse chuckle of the day

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I get a regular ‘deal’ email from B&H and spotted this oddity this morning:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1197974-REG/snypex_9842_lrf1800_snypex_knight_lrf1800_laser.html?utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Promotion&utm_source=WeeklySpecials%20160314&utm_content=Retail&utm_term=Knight-8x42-LRF-1800

It’s a pair of 8x42 binocs from a company I’ve never heard of (Snypex!) for 
$800 ($200 off). Kinda pricey unless you count the fact that it has a built-in 
laser rangefinder.

So if you have a burning desire to know exactly how far away your now blinded 
bird is, or if you like to spot airplanes just before being arrested by the 
FAA, these babies are for you! Or are these designed for people who cheat at 
golf?

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] TuVu

[Chris R. Pelkie]

22 TURKEY VULTUREs playing on the wind this evening over Gulf Creek at 
Triphammer, Asbury, plus one RED-TAILED HAWK
One of the TUVU had the all white outer half of left wing, haven't seen that 
one here for a couple years though it was seen last year in the Basin as I 
recall
First song of yard year from CAROLINA WREN this afternoon

ChrisP



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] a surfeit of urban vultures?

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I’ve lived in the same place for 23 years, started seriously keeping track of 
the yard birds about 8-9 years ago and can state the vultures have ‘moved in’ 
even over the last decade. I don’t remember ever seeing them prior to that 
(wasn’t watching, but they are pretty obvious).

As others know, the pines at Asbury Cemetery and just east of that are a 
favorite roost for at least one family group for the last few years, and are 
then joined by others on occasion.

I mentioned the crowd a couple nights ago, and last night, there were 24, NOT 
including white-wing, so the group membership is dynamic, but I’m quite sure 
there is one long-term resident group of about 5-6.

I have also been impressed by the low high-speed swooping of these ‘locals’ vs 
the high flight of migrants.
I had reported a year or so back a close encounter of AmCrows attacking 
vultures: first time (and so far, only) where they were trying to hit the TUVU.

We have about 10 AMCrows in the neighbrhood this year; most I’ve seen for 
several years. At first, they appeared to be 2 groups marking different trees 
as their own territories, but I’ve since seen them all gather in the neighbor’s 
tall basswood. Have not yet traced them to a nest tree but there are some tall 
pines just to the east of Triphammer, just to the north of Horvath where they 
might have a nest.

On occasion, the crows called more and flew near, but not at, the low-flying 
TUVUs. I’ll watch for more ‘attacks’ maybe after crows have eggs...

ChrisP

__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Apr 1, 2016, at 08:44, AB Clark 
mailto:anneb.cl...@gmail.com>> wrote:

While checking on and looking for crow nests around Ithaca, mostly to NE side 
and Cayuga Heights, I am encountering numerous vultures swooping low through 
neighborhoods, just sailing around looking for your backyard carrion, I 
suppose.  But my impression is that there are more than in years past, and 
closer, lower and more “residential”.

In my view, the crows have had a lot of reason to attack as the vultures have 
come within 20-30 meters of nest sites, looking pretty predatory.  Yesterday, I 
watched an acrobatic event between crows and a low swooping couple of vultures 
over Pleasant Grove Road near Forest Home and Hasbrouck community buildings 
yesterday, with the vultures having to dodge and sail pretty fast, after they 
dropped in over a nest.

Am I just not remembering past years, or are there more vultures close at hand 
over residential and campus Ithaca?

Anne
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[cayugabirds-l] Barred Owl _SSW, interesting Phoebe call

[Chris R. Pelkie]

At 1pm I was just about to set foot on the south end of Podell Boardwalk 
returning from a lunchtime circuit of the pond but lingered to watch 2 HAIRY 
WOODPECKER females chasing each other from tree to tree. Interesting that they 
were both female: much squeaking and peeking but no flicka’ing though they 
landed on the same tree several times and eyeballed each other.

To my east, I thought I heard a weird monotonic dog bark, but then the BARRED 
OWL must have turned to face me because 30 sec later it was a very clear 
WHO_COOKS_FOR_YOU without the following WHO_WA growl on the end. I estimate it 
was in the evergreens by the two gates on Sapsucker Woods but I walked back up 
and scanned for 15 min without a further call or a visual.

Also on this walk, I heard again an unusual call from an EASTERN PHOEBE that I 
noticed a few weeks ago when the first one arrived. At that time, there was 
only one, so the call was spontaneous, but today my attention was drawn to it 
because 2 of them spatted and one landed on a low branch, making both 
straightforward chips and then a soft ‘chi-bew’ (‘bew’  lower than ‘chi’) sound 
that is similar to some other flycatchers, interspersed with the chips. This 
time, it seemed to be a reaction sequence to the ‘fight’. I did not see how far 
away the other one was but think it was within 20’.

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Barred Owl recall

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I’ve been informed by a reliable source that he (human) was doing BARRED OWL 
(voice not playback I think) from Woodleton at 1pm which explains the location 
and the lack of finishing growl.
Also explains the oddness of a mid-day Strix varia aria.
Drat!

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Bufflehead at SSW

[Chris R. Pelkie]

This one I saw!
Single individual BUFFLEHEAD diving right outside the big window (near the 
bubbler). Either female or 1st winter male, methinks, prominent cheek patch and 
small white patch near wingtips (folded) but not a breeding male.

Went out to check on what sounded like Towhee song (we have a live mic feed to 
our suite) but couldn’t find it, for the second time. Glad someone else 
reported Towhee here a couple days ago. It seems to sing “Drink your 
Tea-tea-tea” so I wanted to see I was hearing a variant Song Sparrow instead. 
Could still be the latter.

ChrisP
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Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Swan Pen Yellow-rumped Warbler

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Kevin pointed out another Yellow-rumped Warbler yesterday up here on the North 
Wilson side of the Sapsucker Pond, but I only heard it then.
Today, I heard then caught up with it for some good looks.

This is FYI for Sapsucker Woods walkers this weekend.
It was near the beaver exclosure cage both days.

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Apr 15, 2016, at 12:12, bob mcguire 
mailto:bmcgu...@clarityconnect.com>> wrote:

There was a single Yellow-rumped Warbler singing lustily from the shrubs just 
NW of the boathouse this morning. Palm Warbler next?

Bob McGuire
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] White-throated Sparrows

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Yes same in my yard. They (WTSP) are dominating the dawn chorus.
Difficult to get an accurate count but probably 12-20 easily.

I noticed few Robins which are normally the main component of dawn chorus this 
time of year (some but not as many).

ChrisP
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Information/Data Manager; IT Support
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Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
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On Apr 26, 2016, at 09:52, smb4...@aol.com wrote:

This past week we have enjoyed an amazing number of White-throated Sparrows in 
the yard.  Yesterday there were over twenty male and female White-throated 
Sparrows between the front and back yards.  I've never had that many here...are 
others finding relatively large numbers by their bird feeders?

Suzanne Broderick
Northeast area of Ithaca
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[cayugabirds-l] SPEAKING OF NATURE: Fishers are back | Lifestyle | fltimes.com

[Chris R. Pelkie]

http://www.fltimes.com/lifestyle/speaking-of-nature-fishers-are-back/article_d7d8fafe-6cba-11e6-ab55-038e8d6a63c3.html

Thought the many of us who go to montezuma would find this interesting.
Justifying posting to Cayuga birds as John says that crows found his fisher for 
him.
Keep watching the crows!
ChrisP 



chris.pel...@cornell.edu
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] ID help? Whistling at night

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I’ll defer to the experts but would not rule out Screech-owl. I’ve heard that 
also: clear descending rather than whinny descending but followed by other EASO 
distinct sounds, so concluded it was the same bird. I’ve been hearing EASO loud 
whinnies just in the last couple of weeks, first time this year, so I guess I 
have a male imoving around checking out the territory or advertising once again.

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager, Application Systems Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Sep 22, 2016, at 08:32, Eva Smith 
mailto:eva.h.sm...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Dear all,

I hope it's ok to ask for ID help here. Between Sibley and the Lab of O's bird 
call recordings, I haven't been able to get a decent ID on a bird heard last 
night.

The call was a long (1-2 s) descending clear whistle (not a whinny like a 
typical Eastern Screech Owl), starting on a high note and ending quite low. It 
was repeated 3-4 times and then followed by a repeated whistle on a single, 
high note. The timbre was similar to a saw-whet owl, but the tempo was 
different.

It was heard at 1 AM at the border between a field and scrubby forest.

Regards,
Eva
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[cayugabirds-l] Barred owl ssw this am

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Sorry for late post but I was walking to frog barn this am when a large bird 
jumped up From  ground to 12' branch,. On trail between parking area gate and 
fb. Thought Cooper's hawk, stopped, crept forward to find baow staring back w 
big black eyes
Jumped in truck and drove here to VA Beach, pardon typos on phone
Great way to start day!
Saw am white pelicans from Chesapeake bay bridge, mockingbird singing at hotel 
at dusk
Great way to end day!

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[cayugabirds-l] A Legend Who Persuaded a Generation to Love Birds, Wild Places and Science Has Passed

[Chris R. Pelkie]

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/3/21/1645790/-A-Legend-Who-Persuaded-a-Generation-to-Love-Birds-Wild-Places-and-Science-Has-Passed

Chandler Robbins, in case you don't like to click links



chris.pel...@cornell.edu
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[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: [clo_brp-l] For you birders

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Forwarding this to the wider birding audience in the area.
We (BRP) have 30 of our newly developed Swift recorders (TARUs or terrestrial 
audio recording units) spread throughout SSW recording 24/7 as part of a 
long-term biodiversity measure.
The avicaching will assist as ground truth as we develop detectors for species 
specific vocalizations, in addition to the noise analysis work we can do now, 
such as airport and route 13 noise patterns.
BTW, the recording sites are marked, a requirement to ensure that no one was 
surreptitiously being recorded.

Cheers,
ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager, Application Systems Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

Begin forwarded message:

From: Holger Klinck 
mailto:holger.kli...@cornell.edu>>
Subject: [clo_brp-l] For you birders
Date: March 31, 2017 at 08:52:20 EDT
To: mailto:clo_br...@list.cornell.edu>>
Reply-To: Holger Klinck 
mailto:holger.kli...@cornell.edu>>


Hi all,

We just finished setting up a avicaching site in eBird in support of our 
Sapsucker Woods monitoring project:

http://ebird.org/content/ebird/avicaching/swamp/

If you happen to go out birding, please consider conducting 5 min bird counts 
at the locations indicated by the website.

Thanks,

Holger

--
Dr. Holger Klinck



Director

Assistant Professor

Bioacoustics Research Program

Oregon State University and

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

Cornell University

Hatfield Marine Science Center

159 Sapsucker Woods Road

2030 SE Marine Science Drive

Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

Newport, OR 97365, USA





Tel: +1.607.254.6250

Email:

Fax:+1.607.254.2460

holger.kli...@oregonstate.edu

Email: holger.kli...@cornell.edu

holger.kli...@noaa.gov




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Re: [cayugabirds-l] does anyone have an extra copy of the book, not CDs, from Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs 1997

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Forgot to look til now.
i have the booklet if you want to borrow it to scan to PDF or some such.
Let me know and I will bring it to the Lab this week.

ChrisP


__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager, Application Systems Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Apr 16, 2017, at 13:01 , Peter 
mailto:psara...@rochester.rr.com>> wrote:


Common Birds And Their Songs by Lang Elliott and Marie Read?

On 4/14/2017 8:37 AM, Laurie Roe wrote:
Hi all, I am looking for a copy of the booklet that comes with the CD set of 
the Eastern Region, released in 1997..with the singing YW on the cover..don't 
need the CDs just the booklet..or if you have suggestions on how to find just 
the booklet! Thanks, Laurie

--
Einstein quote:  ‘Setting an example is not the main means of influencing 
others, it is the ONLY means.’

Healing Hands of Ithaca
MassageIthaca.com
108 W. Buffalo Street, Ithaca,NY
[X]
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[X]
 Virus-free. 
www.avg.com

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[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: Guess which bird made the front page of the Scottish BBC news...

[Chris R. Pelkie]

The things some people get excited about… (:-)
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager, Application Systems Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

Begin forwarded message:


Subject: Guess which bird made the front page of the Scottish BBC news...
Date: May 1, 2017 at 10:16:00 EDT


http://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-39769825/birdwatchers-flock-to-orkney-for-rare-bird
[https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/164D1/production/_95854319_p051n2tf.jpg]

Red-winged blackbird spotted on North Ronaldsay - BBC 
News
www.bbc.com
Birdwatchers are making their way to North Ronaldsay after what is claimed to 
be the first European sighting of a red-winged blackbird.



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Guess which bird made the front page of the Scottish BBC news...

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I wanted you to know that I got the forwarded note from a Scots woman colleague 
whom I just showed a male Red-winged Blackbird to a couple weeks ago on a trip 
around the pond, presumably for her first time.
I hope the Scots who get to add the F to their life list are as thrilled as I 
was with the Tufted Duck a couple years ago.

And I still think we should all be called “twitchers”, the instinctive lurching 
and twisting motion made in response to peripheral activity, a far more 
accurate nickname than “birdwatchers” which implies there is a bird sitting 
still long enough to be watched. Like that ever happens!

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager, Application Systems Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On May 2, 2017, at 09:22, Dave Nutter 
mailto:nutter.d...@me.com>> wrote:

Everyone knows what Red-winged Blackbirds are. They arrive here at the very 
start of Spring when there are still bouts of cold and snow to survive, causing 
general wonderment about their judgement. They fly, perch, and call 
conspicuously, establishing their territories. Their short, harsh song is among 
the best known by the general public. Their plumage is all black except for 
big, bold, red wing patches. They are obvious birds, well-named, and easy to 
ID. But those are just the males.

The females are a totally different story. They arrive a couple weeks later 
when people have stopped paying attention to the males. Females' most obvious 
association with the males is to be chased at high speed around marshes. 
Females act different, doing more skulking in marshes where they feed and nest. 
They are smaller than the males. They have no black. They have no red. When 
most people see a female Red-winged Blackbird, they think, "Oh, a stripy brown 
bird." Many people stop there, daunted by that category, while other folks are 
confused by finding not finding it among the sparrows. The name is no help at 
all. Identifying a female Red-winged Blackbird is a more complicated puzzle 
which birders memorize. It's also a reminder, whenever there is no obvious 
match for a brown bird, to check the field guide for females of various 
species, using shape and habitat as clues. And often birds' names are just 
distracting arbitrary words.

--Dave Nutter


On May 1, 2017, at 1:47 PM, Jody Enck 
mailto:jodye...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Hi All,

Here's an opportunity to dust off your field guides (as many as you can find) 
and look at all the different plumages presented in those guides of Red-winged 
Blackbirds.  Like many, many species of birds, males and females of Red-winged 
Blackbirds look quite different.  The picture posted on the BBC website of the 
bird is a female.  So, yes, this time of year about half the Red-winged 
Blackbirds out there really do look like this.  As these are typically 
short-distant migrants, it is quite astounding that this bird made it all the 
way to Scotland.  Even if it hop-scotched across Greenland and Iceland to get 
there, it is quite a feat for this bird.  Very cool.

Jody

On Mon, May 1, 2017 at 1:34 PM, Tom Hoard 
mailto:tomhoar...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Maybe a juvenile?

Sent from my iPad

On May 1, 2017, at 11:36 AM, Sandra J. Kisner 
mailto:s...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Is that what they think a red-winged blackbird looks like?  Or is it just a 
poor choice of illustration?

Sandra

From: 
bounce-121484551-3493...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:bounce-121484551-3493...@list.cornell.edu>
 [mailto:bounce-121484551-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Chris R. Pelkie
Sent: Monday, May 01, 2017 11:24 AM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>>
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Fwd: Guess which bird made the front page of the 
Scottish BBC news...

The things some people get excited about… (:-)
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager, Application Systems Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


Begin forwarded message:


Subject: Guess which bird made the front page of the Scottish BBC news...
Date: May 1, 2017 at 10:16:00 EDT


http://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-39769825/birdwatchers-flock-to-orkney-for-rare-bird
[https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/164D1/production/_95854319_p051n2tf.jpg]<http://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-39769825/birdwatchers-flock-to-orkney-for-rare-bird>

Red-winged blackbird spotted on North Ronaldsay - BBC 
News<http://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-39769825/birdwatchers-flock-to-orkney-for-rare-bird>
www.bbc.com<http://www.bbc.com/>
Birdwatchers are making their way to North Ronaldsay after what is claimed to 
be the first European sighting of a red-winged blackbird.


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[cayugabirds-l] SSW this AM

[Chris R. Pelkie]

First for me this year, several EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE singing on Hoyt-Pileated.
Also saw NASHVILLE at power line cut, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH(es) at Woodleton, 
heard singing BROWN CREEPER (still), numerous Common Yellowthroat and Ovenbird. 
Followed HAIRY WOODPECKER to the underside of a large high tree branch where 
nestlings can be heard; I found the same at home last night: a hole in the 
underside of a branch with loud nestlings and attendants. SCARLET TANAGER was 
singing but did not come close enough to see.

Heard 3 distinct “THREE-beer” clear tones between Woodlleton and the road but 
it didn’t come closer, did not hear “WHIP”, and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERs were 
in abundance, so just saying: keep an ear and eye out for possible Olive-sided.

Yesterday I observed 2 female COMMON MERGANSERS perching on the 15’ high stumps 
in the south part of the pond (1 per stump). Also came across a male WOOD DUCK 
high in a tree at the end of Podell who squeaked at me for a bit while I took a 
video of him, then finally flew off when I took a step forward. Later saw both 
M and F Woodies up on the big snag.

Big warbler day at home yesterday, mostly afternoon-evening: MAGNOLIA (M 
breeding and non-breeding), BLACK-THROATED GREEN, several loud full-song 
NORTHERN PARULA, WILSON’S, YELLOW, AM REDSTART, BLACK-AND-WHITE, several bright 
BLACKBURNIAN, possible ORANGE-CROWNED (but I did not count it as the looks were 
too brief), COMMON YELLOWTHROATs setting up territories as in past years.

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager, Application Systems Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Bioacoustics site is up and check out the Red-eyed Vireo movie

[Chris R. Pelkie]

All of us in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bioacoustics Research Program 
(BRP) are pleased to share our new site with you all:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

In particular, I think many of you in the CBC will enjoy this video that Russ 
put together (and which I tantalized Suan with a couple weeks ago).

The riddle to consider is whether the Red-eyed Vireo is making it up as he goes 
along or playing from memory.
What do you think, before you watch the video?

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/education/

And if you bird Sapsucker Woods, you can help us analyze the soundscape:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/soundscapes/

as we are recording 24/7 using:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/swift/

Enjoy and send comments via the links at the site. Holger and Ashik did all the 
hard work to make it happen!

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager, Application Systems Analyst
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Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Best Binoculars: The Cornell Lab Review 2013 | All About Birds

[Chris R. Pelkie]

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/best-binoculars-the-cornell-lab-review-2013/

For the binoc request, see if yours are in here


Chris Pelkie


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[cayugabirds-l] Praying mantises regularly hunt and kill small birds

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Here's something you probably didn't want to know...

http://newatlas.com/praying-mantis-killing-birds-study/50346/?li_source=LI&li_medium=default-widget



Chris Pelkie


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Question

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Finger Lakes NF - Hector Station 607-546-4470 Hector NY 
https://www.fs.fed.us/r9/gmfl/contact/offices.htm YES YES

The YESes are for Senior Pass and Access Military 4th Grade

Taken from:
https://store.usgs.gov/sites/default/files/PassIssuanceList.pdf

I have not tried this source myself.

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Jul 13, 2017, at 10:51, Peter 
mailto:psara...@rochester.rr.com>> wrote:

Might anyone know where one could purchase a Senior park pass to our National 
Parks? I got mine at the Refuge but am told they are no longer selling them.

Much obliged.

Pete Sar


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] New post published Meeting on Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Plan

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I recently read this thesis:
https://books.google.com/books/about/Factors_Affecting_Avian_Diversity_in_a_N.html?id=xnVPYAAJ
produced by Tom Litwin in 1986, discussing the changes in Sapsucker Woods in 
both avian type and foliage type, over the hundred years up to that time.

Amazing that grazing, lumbering, and fire have all passed through SSW prior to 
its ‘sanctuary’ days.
The charted changes in nesters (Canada Warblers were once frequent!) is very 
informative.

My only point here is that Tom says early on something to the affect that there 
is a difference between ‘conservation’ and ‘preservation’ and that distinction 
had never hit home before so clearly.
Not to bend the Latin (and PIE) roots too far, but ‘con’ (from Latin ‘cum’ with 
or together) and ‘serve’ (‘ser’ protect) is not the same as ‘pre’ (beforehand) 
and ‘serve’.
Protecting together, as John C eloquently described, is not the same business 
as protecting the same static thing forever.

I finally grasped why the south side of the SSW is so barren of lower tier 
breeders, after looking at Litwin’s historic maps of the woods.
Frankly, I prefer the north and east for diversity; the south high closed 
canopy has its interesting but quite different residents (thrushes, tanagers, 
barred owl, pileated et al., high canopy warblers in migration, and ovenbirds 
to give one forest floor denizen his due.)

The occasional cutting, as horrifying as it seems, breathes and welcomes new 
life into the tired old forest, when done intelligently and in moderation.
I would like to think that keeping an eye on the DEC efforts is worthy, but 
that DEC is not rapacious in intent.

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

On Aug 18, 2017, at 13:07, John Confer 
mailto:con...@ithaca.edu>> wrote:

HI Dave,

It still surprises me that even among environmentalists, biodiversity is 
still a matter of contention. There are ecological reasons to support 
biodiversity, often thought to enhance the mega goal of biostability.


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] New post published Meeting on Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Plan

[Chris R. Pelkie]

argh: ‘something to the effect’

As Officer O’Hara said in Arsenic and Old Lace: “I have these great ideas, but 
I can’t spell ‘em!”

ChrisP
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Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

On Aug 21, 2017, at 07:44, Chris R. Pelkie 
mailto:chris.pel...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

something to the affect


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] 65 Sandhill Cranes

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Nice. Is ‘cranery’ a word yet? Maybe we should start pushing it! Oxford 
Dictionary, here we come!
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Sandhill Collective noun

[Chris R. Pelkie]

+1 for pun!


Chris Pelkie


On Oct 28, 2017, at 09:07, Tony Shrimpton 
mailto:fiveshri...@yahoo.com>> wrote:

How about a “desert” of Sandhills? 😀

Sent from my iPhone

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crested Caracara in Wayne County

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Whoo-ee! THAT's a yard bird!


__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

On Feb 6, 2018, at 11:57, Brad Walker 
mailto:bm...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

This list was posted on the New York Birders Facebook group:

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S42534197

Long story short: The reporter had a trail cam on a deer carcass and the bird 
showed up for a quick nibble. Photos in the list.
--
Brad Walker
Multimedia Collections Specialist
Macaulay Library
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Some kind of thrush?

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I’d so no. Thrasher bill is pronouncedly longer.
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

On Apr 16, 2018, at 11:04, Dimitri William Ponirakis 
mailto:dw...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Brown Thrasher?
Toxostoma rufum
ORDER: Passeriformes
FAMILY: Mimidae

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher

From: 
bounce-122475495-24773...@list.cornell.edu
 [mailto:bounce-122475495-24773...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Carol 
Cedarholm
Sent: Monday, April 16, 2018 10:39 AM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>>
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Some kind of thrush?

Does anyone know what kind of thrush this is.  Was in my backyard the last few 
days foraging on the ground.  I have definitely had 2 hermit thrushes, but this 
one looks redder with bolder spots on the breast. Thanks, Carol

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Some kind of thrush?

[Chris R. Pelkie]

OK, I’ll buy that. I didn’t see the expected downcurve until you pointed it 
out, but the yellow eyes are probably more definitive (and the wing-bars).
__

Chris Pelkie
Information/Data Manager; IT Support
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp/

On Apr 16, 2018, at 11:55, Geo Kloppel 
mailto:geoklop...@gmail.com>> wrote:

The bill looks foreshortened because of this pose, but note that it’s all dark, 
down-curved and quite pointy. The breast and flanks have streaks rather than 
spots; the eye is yellow. The whole color scheme is right for Brown Thrasher, 
even down to the white wing bars, which you won’t see on any of our Thrushes.

-Geo


On Apr 16, 2018, at 10:39 AM, Carol Cedarholm 
mailto:cceda...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Does anyone know what kind of thrush this is.  Was in my backyard the last few 
days foraging on the ground.  I have definitely had 2 hermit thrushes, but this 
one looks redder with bolder spots on the breast. Thanks, Carol

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[cayugabirds-l] Birds/eclipse

[Chris R. Pelkie]

First Eclipse 
Finding
preview.mailerlite.io
[X]

Preliminary Finding
What did birds do during today's eclipse?

from HaikuBox

I own/operate a HaikuBox so got an email with this result, but resending the 
web link, so I hope that works for you.

ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Data Manager; IT Support
K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
https://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/

In office: Tue,Thu 0700–1100
Else: working remote 0700–1600
Available in-person or via zoom/teams at any time


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bald Blue Jay

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I would guess mites leading to mange.
Be careful handling the feeder so you don’t get the mites. There are some nasty 
images on Google of what human skin looks like after bird mites get at it.


ChrisP
__

Chris Pelkie
Data Manager; IT Support
K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
https://www.birds.cornell.edu/ccb/

In office: Tue, Wed, Thu 0700–1100
Else: working remote 0700–1600 M–F

On Aug 18, 2024, at 16:22, Tom Vawter  wrote:

This Jay has been at our feeders for the last week or so.  I can only think 
he’s been picked on by other Jays.  Other ideas?


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[cayugabirds-l] Lansing marina rules?

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Bob or anyone else, what is the understanding (if any) with the owners of the 
Lansing Marina, the private part, not the public area?
I know in past SFOs, the leaders merrily led us in there and it is normally a 
great spot to pick up a number of ducks, mergansers, and coots, but yesterday 
when I was solo birding at Myers and elsewhere, I decided not to walk (or 
drive) right past the pretty prominent sign that says "no admittance except to 
members" (which I ain't). I decided to ask on the list before approaching the 
office which was an option on a Friday since it appeared to be open.

After the most unpleasant experience  a year ago with the bozo who claims to 
own all of Portland Point, and past notices about the Empire Farm area (where 
the owners specifically request a courtesy notice from birders entering the 
grounds), I wanted to play fair with the Marina so I can see those ducks in 
future.

Has either the Bird Club or SFO specifically received privileges to the marina? 
And if so, any indication if they are cool about short incursions by other 
birders not directly associated with either?

ChrisP





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Research Analyst
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Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] New nester

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I'm as thrilled as a new pappy to announce that the owl box I built and erected 
last June, for the first time today was occupied by a red morph probably female 
EASTERN SCREECH-OWL! Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo. She (I'm being optimistic there are more 
in the box) sunned herself all morning with that dreamy screechie look of smug 
satisfaction: ear tufts up, eyes closed (almost), bill hidden by soft feathers. 
As small as the entrance hole is, the owl is still clearly small enough to not 
be cramped. The impression is that she fills the hole due to the fluffiness but 
if you watch a bit you realize there is still clearance on either side.

I followed Kaufmann's plans but made a couple modifications. My mods were to 
hinge the clean-out front a couple inches below the hole, latch at the bottom; 
made more sense to me to be able to clean it more easily this Fall, than to 
hinge at bottom and have all the grunge land in my face when I opened it. Also, 
I shaped the hole into a small arch thinking the flat bottom would make a more 
comfortable perch. Finally, I bought (expensive!) aluminum flashing and 
completely roofed the top and top sides: I am pretty sure no squirrel can get a 
purchase on this. The box hangs about 15' up on a young cherry, on chains 
passed through short lengths of garden hose, so I can let them out a bit each 
year to avoid harming the tree, and faces East. I might rotate it when I clean 
it because while I can see the box from the house, I can't see the hole in that 
orientation. But we have several vantage points from a trail that circles that 
tree at about 30' so hoping we don't disturb Mom. She did turn to face us at 
one point, though with eyes mostly closed. We backed off slowly after I got 
some photos.

The other thing that occurred to me is that the previous screechie visitor we 
had which I photo'd in daylight ( june 2011) was a grey morph. He (or she) was 
the direct inspiration to get that box built. We have heard the monotone 
trilling note many nights in the past two months, so I'm happy we have an 
apparent resident.

Hoping for lots of little screechies!

ChrisP



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Research Analyst
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159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Pics of the screechie

[Chris R. Pelkie]

A couple people asked, so I put a couple images on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73284351@N03/8696531183/in/set-72157633375403153/

I misspoke about my owl house design: the hinges are above (not below) the 
hole, but the idea of hinging at top front rather than at bottom or hinging the 
roof is the basic change from some designs I found.

Kaufmann's (Audubon) is here:
http://archive.audubonmagazine.org/backyard/backyard0201.html
This was my main guide for cutting and sizes.

ChrisP

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Mississippi Kite over Ithaca, Wed 5/22

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Chance favors the prepared mind.



chris.pel...@cornell.edu

On May 22, 2013, at 21:08, "Mark Chao" 
mailto:markc...@imt.org>> wrote:

On Wednesday evening at about 6:20 PM, Tilden and I, plus a bemused umpire and 
a dugout full of youth baseball players saw an adult MISSISSIPPI KITE circling 
over Valentino Field at Tutelo Park on Bostwick Road in Ithaca.

Notes:  Raptor soaring easily in circles overhead for about 90 seconds.  
Distinctive long, slim pointed wings, more like a gull than a hawk.  Small 
outermost primaries plainly seen and reconfirmed.  Long tail broadly fanned, 
about the same proportion to body length as Cooper’s Hawk, with no pattern.   
Whitish head, underside, and wing coverts.  Broad black tips to wings, without 
distinct border against white.  Overall black-and-white contrast vaguely 
reminiscent of Northern Harrier or Broad-winged Hawk, but also obviously 
different.  Wings had no black trailing edge.  Overall shape while soaring 
rules out any other species with similar coloration.  I lost the bird when I 
had to refocus on the ballgame, but think the kite probably drifted off to the 
north or northwest.

This was a life bird for both Tilden and me, but despite our lack of 
experience, I feel certain about the ID.

Mark Chao




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[cayugabirds-l] Windy day makes great swallowing!

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I went up to Myers/Salt Pt on a lark, so to speak, knowing the NW winds were 
fast and furious. And they were! White caps, 2-3 foot waves, rollers, crashing 
on the shore, spray hitting the side of the Myers lighthouse which I was soon 
standing behind.

Now, you might expect there would be nothing much to see in those conditions, 
and generally you're right. A smattering of Ring-billed Gulls and 2 Canada 
Geese facing the wind and leaning into it (pretty amusing actually).

But the coolest phenomenon presented itself. As Mark and Tilden reported 
yesterday, there were swallows. Wow, lots of swallows! It was like standing in 
the observing window of a wind tunnel as the swallows were more or less 
stationary in the steady wind blast. BARN SWALLOWs (adult and immature), BANK 
SWALLOWs, and TREE SWALLOWs were all mixing it up. I tried to find Northern 
Rough-winged but was not confident that I did. Nor did I confidently see any 
Cliff Swallow yellow rumps amongst the other blue-backs. The point is what they 
were doing: they were hovering inches over the 2 foot waves, dipping into the 
troughs, rising just before the next crest whacked them, and picking something 
off the water without ever getting wet or missing a beat and getting swamped. 
This was very neat and the best ever swallow observing I've ever had because 
they were literally 30' away and flying in place! You could pick out any 
individual and study it at leisure.

The winds are set to keep blowing this afternoon and tomorrow, so if you are 
over that way, check this out.

Lots of other birds on Salt Pt, nothing new, but still fun to hear/see. Singing 
FIELD SPARROWs, fighting BALTIMORE ORIOLES, singing YELLOW WARBLERs, Flickers, 
Kingfishers, Ospreys, Common Mergansers, etc. A group of 4-6 Mergansers flew by 
and I was pretty sure one was RED-BREASTED but I did not get a second look at 
that one. There were obvious female Commons there but I'm reasonably sure I saw 
red down the neck, not just on top of that one flyby. Saw one shorebird briefly 
flash up from the shoreline and fly by at 40 mph before disappearing behind the 
trees I was using as a shield. I think it was probably a Dunlin from the 
distinct white wing bar pattern, but can't say with any more specificity 
because I have little experience with most shorebirds.

ChrisP



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[cayugabirds-l] Flattened birds

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Thanks for the responses and ideas about the flattening Gnatcatcher.
Here are two images gleaned from Google searches like "bird flatten behavior" 
that look very similar to what I witnessed, but with 2 other species entirely:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51562852
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hopsmaltyeast/4607003205/

There doesn't seem to be an obvious pattern here. In the Bewick Wren's case, it 
could have been a camouflage attempt.

I was wondering if maybe the Gnatcatcher was actually using the hot bark mulch 
to 'cook' parasites. It did choose the hot sunny part of the trail when there 
were cooler shaded parts only 10' in either direction. So the wing spreading, 
feather fluffing, and open mouth may have been to help dissipate body heat 
while concentrating heat on the belly fat.

ChrisP



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Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Blue-gray Gnatcatcher oddness

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Was sending my previous note just as yours arrived. My idea is like your #3. I 
like #3 and #4.

I should add that the bird resumed active foraging right after the 2nd sunning 
on the path. It didn't appear to have just bathe nor did I see any preening.


ChrisP

On May 31, 2013, at 17:43 , Susan Fast wrote:

Chris,

I can think of 4 reasons that could explain this behavior.

1.  Some birds, like some people, like to lie in the sun.

2.  The bird may have come from bathing, and wishes to dry its feathers quickly.

3.  Research has shown that a short period of dry heat (a dryer, for example) 
will kill nymphal deer ticks.  Washing doesn’t kill ticks.

4. At this time of the year, when birds have nestlings to feed, they may not 
feel they have the time to spend laboriously oiling individual feathers, and so 
use the sun’s warmth to distribute their oil quickly and evenly, especially to 
hard to reach spots like the back.

I like the last idea myself.

Steve Fast
Brooktondale


From: 
bounce-97343615-9286...@list.cornell.edu
 [mailto:bounce-97343615-9286...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Chris Pelkie
Sent: Friday, May 31, 2013 1:07 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Blue-gray Gnatcatcher oddness

I just took a brief lunchtime walk on the northern part of Wilson Trail at SSW.
I saw a small bird flit to a low shrub only 10-12' from me, got on it and ID'd 
it as a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER.

Then, it flew down to the bark mulch in full sun, spread its wings and wing 
feathers as wide as possible, pressed its belly to the mulch and flattened its 
wings on the mulch, fluffed up all its back feathers, opened its mouth wide. 
Sat there for 15 seconds or so. Hopped up into a bush for 15 sec or so, then 
repeated the spreadeagle (spreadgnatcatcher, I guess) in a different spot.

I thought the first time it might be 'anting', the behavior I've heard of 
(correct me if this is an old wive's tale) of some birds letting ants bite them 
to get the formic acid rush which either repels parasites or feels better than 
the parasites themselves.

But when I walked forward I saw no ants or anthills or holes at the spots the 
bird had just used.

No other birds obviously nearby so not apparently a display.
Ideas?
__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

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[cayugabirds-l] Backyard/woods observations

[Chris R. Pelkie]

As it turned out, the rufous Screechie I reported in late April did not nest 
this year, but did appear virtually every day in the box hole for about 10 
days. Over the past week, I was out several clear nights with the telescope and 
heard 1 or 2 different calling Screechies in the nearby area, one monotone-ing, 
one whinnying, sometimes together. So I hope there will be a return this winter 
to the 'known' nest box.

Meanwhile, my efforts were not in vain: a pair of GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERs are 
using the owl box for their nest! We've been watching them moving in and out of 
the box for a couple of weeks at least, and in the last week bringing a 
continuous series of bugs, beetles, and moths. Up until this morning, the 
nestlings were dead silent which I thought was remarkable based on the size of 
some of the insects, thinking that if they were big enough to eat those, they 
must be mature enough to whine like all the other species' nestlings are at 
this time of year (we have loud Robin, Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, Catbird, 
Song Sparrow nestlings in abundance). Also, I twice traced begging sounds to a 
Cowbird chick being fed by an EASTERN PHOEBE adult about 2/3's the size of the 
chick. The cheerful male Cowbird sings every morning in the dawn chorus, and 
why not! His work is done.

For the first time, this morning, I heard the first faint GCFL nest begging 
sounds, which sound like faint versions of the adult wheeep. (So they aren't 
Cowbirds at least!)
There are a couple of striking observations about how GCFL tends the nest. Of 
course, being an owl box (deep and 15' up on a tree), I cannot see in. But 
staking it out for a while showed no obvious incubation hand-offs where one 
parent replaces the other with no or a short delay, as one might expect in this 
non-dimorphic species (that is, both should share incubation). Instead, both 
parents seem to vacate the nest for up to 20 min at a time even on some of the 
rather chilly days we had in the recent past. Sometimes, they both arrive at 
the same time from different foraging directions and almost crash into each 
other. Every feeding has been only seconds long: parent enters nest, less than 
10 sec later, emerges, usually perches and looks around from the nest hole, 
then bolts away. On a few occasions, a wayward bug flies by during the perch 
and becomes the next dinner. Usually, the parents fly off out of sight.

The other striking behavior is how wary the parents are of 'showing' the nest. 
When they see me (usually I'm 40' away, often sitting still), they NEVER fly to 
the nest hole but land 10-20' away on a branch, bug in bill, and observe me. If 
I'm on the path with the dog, even still, they will stay there for 10 min, 
until I finally move away behind bushes where I can look back and see them 
finally go to the hole. If I'm sitting dead still sans canine and they return 
and see me, they will wait less time before finally going to the hole. 
Occasionally, both will have arrived and neither will make a move unless I 
remain motionless.

We had nesting Red-bellied Woodpeckers a few years ago, and they were largely 
oblivious to us sitting only 20' below their nest hole with scopes and cameras 
and stuff, and they always traded positions in perfect synch: calling as they 
approached so the nest resident knew they were coming, then doing a quick swap 
of position. By contrast, I have yet to hear a vocalization from the GCFL's 
except once or twice, a surprised squawk as they almost collide at the hole.

This is the second time in a few years I've known GCFLs have nested in my 
woods. I have video and photos of a family of 6 on a branch from about 5-6 
years back, so I'm very pleased they seem to be successful again this year. I 
think I've had them as a yard bird, but not a breeder, virtually every year 
since I've kept records, and they remain my very favorite bird for overall 
plumage and color. Personally I think they should be renamed Myiarchus 
algorensis for that color scheme. (:-)

A RED-EYED VIREO sang a few times yesterday then I saw it picking at something 
on a low bush that looked like a strand of plant material maybe for a nest. It 
failed to take the piece and today I found it was a piece of thin almost clear 
plastic that had blown away probably from the recycling truck and lodged in the 
bush.

Finally, yesterday, a totally unexpected first of year yard (FOYY) bird. I 
heard the song of a BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER at a distance, thought I was 
hearing things, but then it came through the woods, sang 4 more times very 
clearly, but remained annoyingly invisible the whole time. I've recorded these 
only during migrations in past years, in early-mid May or mid-late September, 
so this was a nice treat for 2nd day of summer!



__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] More on Great Crested Flycatchers

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Yesterday, I was watching the nest box again when a big yellow flurry appeared 
at the nest hole. At first, I thought a Flicker was raiding the box (I had just 
found a dead, intact Flicker on the ground nearby; my only theory was it flew 
into a tree and broke its neck while chasing around with others; today the body 
was gone, probably to the Red Fox who lives here).

But the yellow flash was the wing of a very large Swallowtail butterfly clamped 
firmly in the jaws of the GCFL parent. Oddly, the parent did not enter the box 
after landing on the edge of the entry hole; I don't know if it saw me or just 
decided the butterfly was too big or not dead yet, so it flew up to its normal 
'safety' perch and sat rearranging the bug in its mouth. Eventually, it had 
both wings folded to one side and antennae out the other, making an amusing 
sight. After all, this Swallowtail was several inches across, so it looked like 
a yellow-belied flycatcher wearing a huge fashionable summer yellow hat. I did 
not have time to outwait it so never saw it go to the nest.

This morning, the parent I believe is the male, based on it being somewhat 
larger, usually showing somewhat erect crest, all gray face, cheek, and neck, 
and more vocal (wheeps from a perch on occasion when it returns with food) flew 
to the nest with a small beetle then emerged again. At that time, the female 
(smaller, never shows erected crest, has faint white sub-auricular patch and 
faintly white just under bill) arrived and perched nearby as well. That meant 
that the bird that had popped into the entry hole was one of the feathered but 
apparently not yet fledged young! Yay! it sat there looking goofy showing much 
lighter color 'grin'.

So then, here's the interesting bit: one of the parents flew to the nest hole, 
wiggled past that young and dropped into the nest to feed another one. 
Interesting that the older stronger chick didn't beg or expect or just receive 
the fresh offering. This was repeated in short order. On the third trip, the 
young one turned and dropped back into the nest. Again, this is such a marked 
contrast with the Red-bellied Woodpecker whose older chick was extremely 
aggressive when new food arrived, almost always winning it by pecking viciously 
at the parent mouth and stepping on its nest mate (who eventually died inside 
the nest for one reason or another).

Final observation today was a female Cowbird appeared on a nearby branch and 
was immediately buzzed by one of the GCFL parents. So it then hopped onto the 
roof of the nest box (angled aluminum flashing, so not a good footing), then to 
a branch on the same cherry tree where it picked haphazardly at some loose 
peeling bark. I am sure in my own mind it was gauging whether or not it could 
drop an egg or two into that well-tended box. We'll have to see what emerges 
over the next week or so. I expect the GCFLs will stop feeding young after 
their first brood is fledged, but time will tell.



__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Common Nighthawks and Olive-sided Flycatcher Lansing

[Chris R. Pelkie]

About 45 min ago, we had a group of 5 COMMON NIGHTHAWKs appear over our 
neighborhood (W Meadow Dr Lansing). I first saw only 4 as I had just turned 
around from spotting some Cedar Waxwing flyovers, so only got the new group 
disappearing behind trees, but a good enough view of the white wing mark on two 
of them to be sure. I've been out for the last two weeks every nice evening 
waiting/hoping for these guys to reappear as they have the last few Augusts, so 
was most gratified to have them appear tonight!

I waited for a bit, then walked from more enclosed backyard to street view 
where we picked them up again, wheeling about our and adjacent yards for a few 
turns. As in my extended observation of a couple years ago, they were again 
(annoyingly) silent, but still graceful to watch.

Another turn around the yard and woods, trying to stay one jump ahead of the 
black flies (didn't work: I'm a pincushion now) turned up a juvenile BALTIMORE 
ORIOLE working high branches: I also saw an adult BAOR in wild grapes around 
430pm here. I had heard two oriole phrases sung in the much diminished dawn 
chorus a few days ago, so it was nice to see these guys probably for almost the 
last time this season.

Then just as I was headed in, a glimpse of a flycatcher sallying from a high 
bare box elder. I thought, ah, that's the Eastern Wood-Pewee I watched on 
Sunday afternoon, but, like a good birder, never assume anything, so I got the 
glasses on it and lo and behold, it was my first yard OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER ! 
Yes! after many years of swing and a miss on Phoebes, this was no doubt OSFL. 
Especially after the Friday confirmed view of another at SSW, this was no doubt 
in my mind a more juvenile version of same. The flanks were grayer, but showed 
slight streaks; the belly and center breast and throat were quite white and 
clean. Tail relatively short and no wagging. When it dipped it's head, I could 
see the much darker cap. I got a bunch of pictures from almost directly below 
and the bird was so obliging at returning to the same perch after multiple 
sallies that I ran and got the scope and had even better looks. I was amused to 
stand back and see the scope was nearly vertical but there was just no way to 
get another viewpoint on this tree, as adjacent trees were just too bushy.

ChrisP




__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Black Vultures and Broad-winged Hawks

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Having the day off, I got over to Stevenson Rd about 1030, arriving at the same 
time as Bud, where we found Reed and Eric. Reed and Eric had already scouted 
the vultures and found at least two BLACK VULTURES as they took wing and 
started circling higher. This gave me time to see them in binocs then grab the 
scope and share brief views with the others as the birds departed the immediate 
area. As Bud kindly gave Eric and Reed a lift back to campus, I noticed a huge 
kettle had formed up over Dodge Rd so went that way solo. I pulled over more or 
less under the kettle and scanned, spotted one of the BLVUs but not in time to 
take a photo, but a few minutes later refound it or another and got some 
distant shots that i have not yet got off the camera. The kettle had broken up 
into smaller sets by that time. A new basin bird for me!

I had not had enough bug bites yet so headed to Monkey Run where the 
moose-quitos armed with BBQ forks and carving knives were waiting for me. The 
bug spray i was using was effective only at making their foothold slippery, so 
some left and returned wearing muck boots to finish the job.

As I was fleeing, I heard piercing calls from two BROAD-WINGED HAWKs and walked 
toward the sound. One flew up from the path to a low perch (15') and the other 
was at a similar height in an adjacent tree. I crept forward to the continual 
shrieking of the pair and got some good pics of them. The one that had flown 
seemed to be splaying its tail and one wing, making me think this was a 
juvenile begging from the other, which might also account for all the noise 
they were making. It doesn't seem like the time of year for mating displays.

ChrisP



__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Earthflight (PBS)

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Just noticed a series coming up called Earthflight, A Nature Special 
Presentation that purports to be a bird's-eye tour of 6 continents, observing 
animal migrations, etc.
This Sat on PBS at 8pm (and probably other times): North America, snow geese, 
pelicans, bald eagles...
Appears to be the first of 6 1-hr shows over the fall.
Ep 2 is Africa, cape gannets, fish eagles, flamingos, kelp gulls, vultures.

ChrisP



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Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Screech Owl in the box

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Following Robyn's report of the return of her screechie, I was pleased to see 
for the 2nd time in a month, an owl sunning itself in my box, here in S Lansing.

Just shy of a month ago (9/23), I spotted an owl one afternoon, but without my 
binocs, and because the box faces East and this was 4pm, I wasn't sure of the 
color, but thought it was Grey morph. By the time I got back from the house 
with binocs, it had disappeared and was not seen there since, though we heard 2 
owls calling many evenings or early mornings in the interim. They would appear 
to pass through, maybe moving through a territory; 2 would counter call several 
times over 1-2 minutes: you could hear them farther away, then in our woods, 
then moving along in the same direction then out of earshot. Sometimes at dusk, 
occasionally closer to midnight, a couple times at dawn (I'm a light sleeper 
and they seem to invariably wake me up).

However, this sunny AM in full sun and with binocs at hand, I saw a Grey morph 
EASTERN SCREECH-OWL in the box, eyes closed and seemingly unperturbed by the 
dog and me. However, once again, this bird seems somewhat more skittish about 
my presence, or is camera shy, because it disappeared in the 2 mins it took to 
get back with camera.

Hopeful this is the start of a nest!

Yesterday, I had one of those 'bird piñata' days in the backyard, where it 
seems like someone smacked open a piñata and out burst a variety of birds.
It was mainly due to the weird air, the wind direction, approaching rain, time 
of year, presence of cherries and grapes, and migration waves coinciding, 
though with a lot of residents joining in. Standing in one location and just 
rotating, I had a female PILEATED WP, female FLICKER, DOWNY WP, male 
RED-BELLIED WP, quick glimpse of probably female YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER 
(they've been rare this year in our woods), RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH checking out 
a hornet nest high in a sapling, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH stashing sunflower 
seeds, a flock of about 40 CEDAR WAXWINGS (close study revealed no Bohemian to 
add to my yard list), numerous recently arrived DARK-EYED JUNCOs, numerous 
calling (both Tseeps and Peabodys) though hard to see WHITE-THROATED SPARROWs 
(one gloriously full colored M did pop up though), several GOLDEN-CROWNED 
KINGLETs, BLUE JAYs, 3 TURKEY VULTUREs circling rather low overhead, many 
AMERICAN ROBINs feeding on the berries, 2 vocalizing CAROLINA WRENs (one was 
Tweed-e-o'ing while the other was doing a Bronx cheer), and a single 
observation of a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (actually first time for this year's 
yard list, though I saw this species earlier this year elsewhere); the Warbler 
was chewing on a grape: it was pecking at it, getting small mouthfuls at a 
time; took several passes on the same fruit while it was attached to the vine. 
BC CHICKADEE and TUFTED TITMOUSE upped the count for that single stance. I then 
walked to the other side of the property where I had in the same bush only a 
few feet away, 4 more Golden-crowned Kinglets and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET all 
together. I think this is the first time I've had both Kinglets in the same 
view at the same time. So much energy packed into one bush! Lots of vocalizing 
and hopping about.

ChrisP


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] mottled robin

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Yes, very interesting. I think this is probably what I saw very briefly in the 
thicket on N Wilson trail today (maybe there's a run on mottled Robins this 
year). I  saw only enough of the rufous side with white below to start 
imagining I had seen a Towhee; but watching the same thicket for a while longer 
revealed only 'normal' Robins and no further glances at the weirdo. I ran into 
Jody on the trail and tried to describe it but he only found Robins in the same 
area.

Thanks for probably solving that mystery.

BTW, this afternoon on Asbury Road near the cemetery, about a dozen Turkey 
Vultures were roosting and sunning and occasionally flighting up then 
resettling. One of them is our old friend, the leucistic winged. I believe it's 
the same bird as it also sports a prominent white primary feather on the right 
wing. It was displaying both wings to the late afternoon sun and me. The 
vultures have been elsewhere all summer, only 1 or 2 about, so this may be the 
beginning of the winter roost like last year's. Same pine grove.

ChrisP


On Oct 29, 2013, at 16:49 , Marie P. Read wrote:

> Interesting looking bird. I also saw a partial albino robin in the CU 
> arboretum a couple of weeks ago, feeding on pokeberries.
> 
> Marie
> 
> Marie Read Wildlife Photography
> 452 Ringwood Road
> Freeville NY  13068 USA
> 
> Phone  607-539-6608
> e-mail   m...@cornell.edu
> 
> http://www.marieread.com
> 
> ***NEW***  Music of the Birds Vol 1 ebook for Apple iPad now available from 
> iTunes
> 
> http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/music-of-the-birds-v1/id529347014?mt=11
> 
> From: bounce-109817311-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
> [bounce-109817311-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Kevin J. McGowan 
> [k...@cornell.edu]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2013 3:29 PM
> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] mottled robin
> 
> I got some photos this morning of a partial albino American Robin.  This is 
> rather common for robins, but it’s still an interesting bird.  I put photos at
> http://picasaweb.google.com/101683745969614096883/Fall2013#5940227183995330754
>  and following, or at the end of the fall gallery,
> https://picasaweb.google.com/101683745969614096883/Fall2013.
> 
> Kevin
> 
> --
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[cayugabirds-l] Owl not (yet) seen this AM

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Anne Klingensmith and I independently arrived behind Target around 7am this 
morning but neither of us saw the Snowy this morning from that position. I 
scanned the mall and BJs and the woods for about 15 min. Of course it might be 
over on the fire station again or just hidden on the mall roof.

I did count approx 700 Am Crows moving north just to the west of the mall in 
huge waves in the time I was there.

__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Owlings

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Yesterday, wife Martha, friend Kristin, and I trekked around the area 
unsuccessfully
looking for Snowy’s (TC Airport, Freeville, Poplar Ridge) but very
successfully converging on Long Point Winery along with several other
folks to see a display starting about 415 pm by the SHORT-EARED OWLs (I
counted 4 different owls [and 6 other birders] but there may have been
others). Along the way we got an AMERICAN KESTREL on the wire in
Freeville and another on the barn across from the Winery.

While I haven’t been able to report a successful nester in my owl box,
like Mark has, I did hear a screechie warbling from the neighbor’s
pine trees a couple evenings ago.

This morning in the quite dark pre-dawn, I let the dog lead me down into
the woods.
As I passed the area where the box hangs, on a horizontal bare pine
branch only 5-6' away from me and only about 5' off the ground,
there was a perfectly silhouetted, 'ears' up, EASTERN SCREECH-OWL. It
sat there unmoving as I walked by. I suspect he thought he was invisible to me, 
heh heh.

Reminded me of the upcoming mural of life-size bird silhouettes being
painted in the CLO lobby! And fun to be reminded again of how small
these guys are, esp. compared to those majestic SEOWs.

__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Freeville snowy

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I was happy to see others already posted (I was poring over the pictures I 
finally got).
The recent lack of postings re the Freeville Snowy might have discouraged some, 
but it is still there, as of 400pm this afternoon.

I pulled up just as two of the farm workers were getting out of their truck; 
one asked if he could help me and I said ‘seen any Snowy’s lately’ to which he 
replied, ‘yes, it’s right there on that post’ and indeed it was, plain as day 
about 200 yds away, and about exactly where Tom S. had described it a few days 
ago (the orange posts led the eye right up to it). I think Gian was watching it 
at that same time as indeed it shortly flew off the post, glided amazingly low 
to the ground with only a couple wing flaps, then soared up over Fall Creek Rd 
to land atop a telephone pole.

It stayed there for as long as I stayed, surveying the field and unperturbed by 
me, one of the farm workers with his camera, and several others who saw us and 
whacked on their brakes to come have a look.

ChrisP
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Indian Field Road Owl(s!)

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Thanks for the note on the Snowys. We missed the one at Freeville today (we saw 
Meena though!), though I saw it there on Thu afternoon. We also tried on Fri 
afternoon at Freeville without success, but did have a great fish fry dinner at 
Toad’s (which by the way is now only open during days and on Fri evening, no 
other nights).

So I will try Indian Field tomorrow.

Re SEOW: we were there last Sunday at 4pm and no activity until shortly later, 
then 4-6 owls appeared almost together. I think you were just a bit early for 
them. Try about 415pm. I think that it is what Marie had previously reported.

ChrisP


On Jan 19, 2014, at 16:55 , Maryfaith Miller 
mailto:merrymilkm...@gmail.com>> wrote:


Hi, thank you for all the great bird location tips today, you all are an 
awesome resource. There are two Snowys on Indian Field as of 4:52 today. We saw 
them together. Both sitting on different telephone poles. One is larger and 
less barred. No SEOW activity at Long Point as of 3:30-4:00. Maryfaith

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[cayugabirds-l] Snow Buntings

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Forgot to mention that on the way back from Freeville, we swung down to come 
across on Snyder Rd: no Snowy Owl, several other birders in quest of one, but I 
spotted and photographed a drift of at least 46 SNOW BUNTINGs almost at the 
intersection of Snyder and Warren foraging in the gravel edge of Snyder. (I 
counted 46 in one photo but there were probably a few more.) There were no 
obvious Longspurs or Larks in this flock.

ChrisP
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Freeville Snowy owl subject heading in Junk

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Anything “Free” on the internets is probably a scam! (:-)
It is not happening to me (different spam blocker, I guess: I use SpamSieve on 
Mac Mail).

Chrisp

On Jan 17, 2014, at 18:06 , Meena Madhav Haribal 
mailto:m...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Hi all,
I seem to be having trouble about Freeville Snowy Owl. All the emails with 
Freeville as subject title seem to be going into junk mail folder. So does this 
happen to others with Cornell email system?



Meena

Meena Haribal
Ithaca NY 14850
42.429007,-76.47111
http://haribal.org/
http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/


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[cayugabirds-l] Possible shrike at Cayuga Vista

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I had a distant view of what is likely a Northern Shrike at Cayuga Vista Dr 
Lansing about 1130am today.
When I pulled up, the candidate was on one of the low trees near the road, but 
flew down and into the hedge just as I brought my binocs up so I got nothing 
that time.
I waited a while, got out, scanned, then re-found what I thought was the same 
bird but further back this time.
It was just out of reach of my vision to resolve the bill hook and I thought 
the tail seemed a bit longer than I thought a shrike out to have but it was 
wagging it while perched in one of the low trees by the roadside hedge south of 
the road across from that truck shop business.
It was white underneath and blue-gray on top, but I could not resolve the face 
mask at the distance it was perched from me. I am confident this was not a 
Mockingbird though they were in this hedge last year as well (it was not that 
long a tail and the colors were clear to me).

So those going by should take a look and see if you can get a definite NOSH.

Myers was brisk, MALLARDs and RING-BILLED GULLs aplenty and couple other 
commoners. I was pretty surprised to see that Lansing has apparently felled ALL 
the big willows in Myers Park very recently. Maybe they were old enough to be 
widow-maker hazards?

Ladoga had a nearby raft of mostly REDHEADs with some Scaup (pretty sure they 
were Lesser but the raft was bobbing on 2’ waves so I’ll leave it at sp.). 7 
LONG-TAILED DUCKs flew over the raft, circled for good views then settled on 
the choppy water and disappeared from sight. I also saw 2 AMERICAN WIDGEON in 
the Redhead raft.

__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Screech roost cavity

[Chris R. Pelkie]

John, I have a question that hope is not pedantic. You referred to ‘grey phase’ 
EASO in your note. As you are the owl expert, can you clarify, is this really a 
‘phase’ or a ‘morph’?
I thought they stayed either grey or rufous (born that way), not phased into 
different plumage colors.
Not calling you out, just wanting to learn!
ChrisP

__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Jan 27, 2014, at 12:53, John Confer  wrote:

>  a grey phase Screech 
> Owl 


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] bird hydration

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Two days ago, I went to the CLO Observatory on lunch break and watched a lone 
American Crow, moving around on the pond ice (30’ away so easy to watch with 
binocs), selecting morsels of ice (small balls it appeared) and ingesting them. 
Later it moved over to an area where there were black bits, maybe seeds or 
something blown over from the feeding area and picked at those as well. But the 
first sequence was definitely ice, not ‘stuff’. I wondered why it didn’t move 
to the small area of open water though the ice edge might have been too fragile 
for it and it knew that.

__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Jan 29, 2014, at 20:03, Linda Orkin 
mailto:wingmagi...@gmail.com>> wrote:

Nice sequence. Note his final comment about heat loss.

Linda

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 29, 2014, at 7:55 PM, "Christine C. Bogdanowicz" 
mailto:c...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Thought this would be an appropriate read ;-)
http://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2014/01/26/frost-eating-white-crowned-sparrow/


Christine C. Bogdanowicz
Assistant Director for Academic Programs
Shoals Marine Laboratory
106A Kennedy Hall, Cornell University
Ithaca, NY  14853
(607) 255-3851: office
(607) 379-3341: mobile/cell
(607) 255-0742: fax



On Jan 29, 2014, at 7:47 PM, Marie P. Read 
mailto:m...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

Regarding winter bird hydration:

I've seen several species of bird "eat" snow (e.g. Northern Cardinal, Common 
Redpoll).
I've also seen chickadees hovering to sip from melting icicles.

Marie

Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

Phone  607-539-6608
e-mail   m...@cornell.edu

http://www.marieread.com

***NEW***  Music of the Birds Vol 1 ebook for Apple iPad now available from 
iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/music-of-the-birds-v1/id529347014?mt=11

From: 
bounce-112260081-5851...@list.cornell.edu
 
[bounce-112260081-5851...@list.cornell.edu]
 on behalf of Eben McLane [etmcl...@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 7:11 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] bird hydration

I’m sure someone knows how birds in the wild stay hydrated in a prolonged cold 
snap, such as we’re experiencing. I know that sunflower seeds in feeders 
provide some moisture, but I can’t see any main water sources around my house 
that aren’t frozen solid. (I live just above Owasco Lake, and even the entire 
lake is frozen over this year, as are the waterfall tributaries.) Do birds 
“drink” snow in some way?

I’d be grateful for information about this.

Eben McLane
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[cayugabirds-l] Sapsucker Trail note

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I did a lunchtime turn around Hoyt-Pileated inner loop back to Wilson yesterday.
I took and would highly recommend you take trekking poles: it is seriously 
treacherous out there with the frozen snow/ice/footprint holes.

It was cold and crisp but not snowing (yesterday), so good exercise but few 
birds. Crows, jays, red-bellied woodpecker, titmouses, and chickadees called or 
flew over. I had hopes of an owl or creeper or even yellow-rumped warbler but 
saw none of those.

The thing of note was 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERs who called (not the crazy laugh 
call but more like a flicker social call) and flew to a tall tree where I saw 
them together, then flew again.
I caught up with them near the south end of Woodlleton Boardwalk where they 
have excavated a roundish hole in a 16” live oak just 15’ up and so close to 
the boardwalk that chips are littered over it.

I think these are both juvenile males because I could see some red as well as 
black in both malar patches. I stand to be corrected, but don’t think females 
have red there, and yet it took some looking even to be sure there was red, 
unlike the ease of ID’ing a breeding color male. I fancy they are brothers.

They stayed together on that tree, hopping up and hopping down while chattering 
to each other, worked the hole, then jumped to another tree, which finally 
allowed me to pass without scaring them off. Good thing because I was starting 
to freeze in place.

So if you need a PIWO for your year list, they should be around that oak some 
more, I’d guess.

__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Chicken eye displays unique arrangement of cells

[Chris R. Pelkie]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/26/chicken-eye-weird-state-of-matter_n_4854897.html

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Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Non-context Yard bird

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Stoneflies close and raptors distant. Reminded me of:
Poe: The Sphinx (short story, good quick read)
http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/eapoe/bl-eapoe-sphinx.htm
Enjoy while waiting for the ice to break!
__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

On Mar 7, 2014, at 12:56, Susan Fast  wrote:

I went into the large field across the road from my house at 1030 this morning 
to see what might go over.  I saw 2 local RED-TAILED HAWKS being harassed by 
some of the local CROWS, BLUEBIRDS singing, and 2 RAVENS soaring about.  Then a 
largish bird flew in from the south, red-tail size, dark brown above and light 
below, but with long wings and deep, deliberate wingbeats that also showed a 
slight hesitation.  Did not recognize it.  I tried to classify it as doing some 
kind of courtship flying, but that didn't work.  I watched it till it 
disappeared to the NW, arguing and cursing my inability to assign a name to it, 
because I knew I had seen that flight pattern before.  Something FINALLY 
clicked and I shouted SHORT-EARED OWL.  This is a milestone as I have been 
watching this field, dawn and dusk, for years for this species and now I had it 
flying right by me couldn't put it together for a while.  It's all in what you 
expect to appear.
About 15 minutes later, another brown bird popped over the trees, same line as 
the owl, but this was my FOY RED-SHOULDERED HAWK.
And finally, I collected a few stoneflies on my scope lens--Spring is coming!

Steve Fast
Brooktondale
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[cayugabirds-l] Snow geese

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Roughly coincident with George and Meena’s observations and possibly one of the 
same huge flocks, I saw hundreds and hundreds of Snow Geese in a vast boiling 
flock probably 3 mi distant to the east from CLO (I was on Sherwood Platform at 
about 1215). Too distant to hear of course. If they had not had directed flight 
to the north, the clumps and trailers reminded me of a Starling murmuration and 
at that distance were more like smoke wisps. Flying very high, it seemed.

There is a male Pileated Woodpecker working very hard on a hole about 30’ above 
Wilson Trail near the shelter (south of pond); large light gray tree, I think 
beech. He and mate were there also on Tue. The hole seems elongated for a nest 
hole but he is doing mostly woodwork and I don’t see any foraging, so maybe 
it’s a future nest. The mate called from a short distance and he responded 
while I walked by but he was unperturbed by me walking below (and moving on).

Anyone know why there is a black-colored hunter stand/ladder attached to a pine 
in the clump west of the pond? I don’t remember seeing it before.

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Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] GBHE Myers

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Nothing of particular note at Myers or Salt Point at noon, but as I was pulling 
out, a GREAT BLUE HERON flew out of Salmon Creek toward the lake. I saw one 
Monday just before sundown flying north over my house and wondered where it 
would find open water. Maybe this is where… White-winged Scoters off Myers, no 
Surf seen.

Earlier, a juvenile BALD EAGLE landed in the tall trees scaring up all the 
ducks and geese.
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[cayugabirds-l] TVs and a bone mystery at Asbury

[Chris R. Pelkie]

The Turkey Vultures have been reappearing in numbers this week over my house 
and woods and landing in the pines on Asbury Rd just east of the cemetery 
(corner of Triphammer and Asbury) and occasionally in the neighbors’ large 
pines next to our sunroom.

We have had resident pair or two all winter.
Monday, there were 6 birds.
Tues there were 14.
Wed there were 25-30 (couldn’t count as they were boiling around).

I had a good look at the half-white winged (left wing) individual for the first 
time since last year. I thought I saw a spot of white on its breast or belly 
and at first thought it was carrying something white. Haven’t seen it yet again 
to resolve what I was seeing. It may have just been tipped at a weird angle at 
first glance, so I was seeing the wing tip.

Tue I saw 2 cavorting in a raven-like way: very close coordinated flying with 
sharp turns, almost wing tips touching. Never noticed TUVU doing this before so 
very intriguing. Not sure if that is a courting pair or a rivalry show-off pair.

I really like watching these guys; they clearly are having a ball flying in 
harsh windy conditions like yesterday’s. They do some crazy Ivan stunts like 
fly really low and really fast down the creek bed through the trees or really 
low over my house and adjacent trees, then shoot up in the air. Some were being 
pushed sideways by the wind, but always under control (fortunately, to date, 
none have smashed into my sunroom windows like the passerines). I think of them 
as the skateboarders of the bird world: taking nutty chances to show off and 
just have fun.

They all look pretty healthy too: clean bright plumage and bright red face skin 
on the whole; only one missing primary on one bird of the many observed. I 
wonder if the ‘hard’ winter led to more food sources: i have certainly noticed 
decaying flesh smell on several recent walks at home and SSW (and checked my 
boots to be sure it wasn’t me). Probably critters being exposed as the snow 
melts. My dog has turned up several Red Fox caches under the snow.

A few days ago, I found a beef leg bone piece (about 5 inches long, 4 in 
diameter) that we had given the dog, then disposed of in the compost heap when 
she was done getting all the marrow out. The bone was stashed up in the crotch 
of a small branch, 6’ off the ground on a large horizontally growing box elder 
that I pass under when we do our walk. It stayed there a couple days and is 
back on the ground again now (not directly under where it would have fallen). 
Raccoon? Opossum (we had one pass through the yard in the last few days)? Fox 
(they can climb trees and this would be an esp. easy place for a fox to get 
to)? Raptor (we have a resident Cooper’s Hawk but that seems like a silly thing 
for it to fool with)? Corvid? There was no meat or marrow on this bone, so I 
can’t imagine what critter thought it was worth the effort to cache. I think it 
must be too heavy and unwieldy for either squirrel species in the neighborhood.

__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese

[Chris R. Pelkie]

As I stepped out of the truck in my driveway at 1545 yesterday, the barky 
honking of a large ‘disorganized’ flock of SNOW GOOSE was heard overhead.
I did a quick count of a subset and estimated about 400. They were relatively 
low (under 1000’ probably).
I grabbed binocs but only had time to look carefully at about 100 of them: all 
were white, not blue, and no obvious Ross in there.
They were headed north.
It was great to see them in good light, somewhat surprising to have them flying 
in a stiff SW or W wind, and somewhat unusual for them to be overhead of my 
house.
However, the other sightings of flocks over SSW at 2 and in Lansing later 
suggest this was not the only group yesterday.

I am hopeful we get a big collection on the northerly end of the lake so would 
also appreciate early birders’ reporting conditions up there.

ChrisP

__

Chris Pelkie
Research Analyst
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Huge snow goose flocks ssw now

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Many hundreds some blue

chris.pel...@cornell.edu

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[cayugabirds-l] Sat afternoon East side of Cayuga

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Martha and I took a quick run up the lake skipping Myers (so missing Carl’s 
osprey!).
A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was fluttering its wings on the way so easy to see as we 
drove up 34.

Long Point was barren though I did get my First of Year COMMON LOON off the 
north side in quite quiet water and relatively close.
Other than that, 1 lone LESSER SCAUP M and 3 SCAUP (sp) F, 3 TREE SWALLOWs and 
a few BUFFLEHEAD. There were some dark fowl with light bills way out in the 
lake, so more likely Scoter than Coot but I just could not resolve them well 
enough to decide if they were White-winged, Black, or what.
Otherwise, nothing!

Union Springs big pond was more interesting though the grebes and wood ducks of 
last week were gone or hiding. Pairs of HOODED MERGANSER, RING-NECKED DUCK, 
BUFFLEHEAD, NORTHERN SHOVELER and AMERICAN COOT were seen there.
Did not go down to Frontenac (fool, I).

Then Mud Lock showed the BALD EAGLE on the nest, COMMON GOLDENEYE (pairs), 
TUNDRA SWANs, GADWALL (pairs), PILEATED WOODPECKER (2 flew over us and the lock 
to land on opposite side and called a bit). Water is much more open than last 
week, so many other waterfowl on water, ice floes, and I guess sand bars or 
other debris. We saw a pair of WOOD DUCKs sitting out of the water by 
themselves on some such protrusion.

Harris Park offered distant but still spectacular views of what I think was 
reasonably a quarter million SNOW GEESE sitting mostly out of water, apparently 
on ice, but about 1/4 mi S of the parking lot at Railroad St. so definitely 
scope subjects. Also seen from there were my FOY MUTE SWANs (2 definite, maybe 
more) nearer shore. Across the lake were thousands or tens of thousands of 
mixed ducks, Scaup, Redhead, and Ring-necked identifiable but just too far away 
to spend much time on finding more interesting ones, plus the cold rain had 
just begun.

At the Potato Barn, NORTHERN PINTAILs are still close by and doing a lot of 
chattering while foraging with MALLARDs. Snow Geese in relatively small numbers 
and TUNDRA SWANs were out in the fields or flying about with bouts of CANADA 
GEESE. It was raining harder now so we called it a day.

3 RED-TAILED HAWKs seen en route at different sites but did not spot any 
harriers today though those were seen along this same route last week.

ChrisP
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[cayugabirds-l] SSW this morning

[Chris R. Pelkie]

I led some of the attendees of our Sound Analysis Workshop on a walk around the 
grounds at Sapsucker this AM.
Highlights:
EASTERN PHOEBE singing on south side of pond,
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK spiraled over us in the sun for several minutes,
EASTERN BLUEBIRDs (one on knoll box, one on W Wilson),
TREE SWALLOW on adjacent box on knoll,
RUSTY BLACKBIRDs on N Wilson,
singing BROWN CREEPER on Podell,
WOOD DUCKs flew over us on Sherwood
GREAT BLUE HERON flew over us on Podell than landed in the front by the 
observatory in the open water
singing PURPLE FINCH on NW Wilson (some saw it and described it as likely a 
juvenile as it had strong eye stripe but little purple, but it was singing full 
song which we all heard)
__

Chris Pelkie
IT Support Assistant
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Kingfisher at SSW

[Chris R. Pelkie]

Heard my first BELTED KINGFISHER at SSW this year at noon from Sherwood 
Platform.
Pair of HOODED MERGANSERs on the pond at present.
Phoebe singing again but otherwise quieter today in the brisk wind.

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Chris Pelkie
IT Support Assistant
Bioacoustics Research Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, NY 14850


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[cayugabirds-l] Eastern Towhee

[Chris R. Pelkie]

First of yard year EASTERN TOWHEE showed up today (W Meadow Dr Lansing) singing 
his head off but with an unusual (and at first baffling) added strong second 
syllable that challenged my memorized pattern to something at first 
unidentifiable: drink-a-you-TEEE or drink-you-your-TEEE; the trill was flatter, 
and less upscale than I remembered so I had to get a visual on him to verify it 
wasn’t some really aberrant song sparrow or other mystery.

On top of that, last year’s 1st Towhee was Apr 23 and 2012’s was Apr 26 so he’s 
very early for this location.

Another item of interest: he sang two upsweep notes while foraging (after he 
stopped singing). At first I was sure there were 2 birds one responding to the 
other from about 10’ away. But after I found him and watched him, I could see 
he was throwing his voice: the first note was a few semitones higher and really 
seemed to come from a distance away, then the second note was more rooted at 
his location (on the ground). Fascinating trick.

ChrisP
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