Re: [cayugabirds-l] Redpolls
Until two days ago, we were having occasional, small flocks of redpolls at our feeder, and I was jealous of others with consistent, nice-sized flocks. Starting on Tuesday, we have had a flock of about 150 birds that come in to feed (largely on sunflower seeds) about 3 times a day. It is neat to know there are so many around. We live on the south end of Hammond Hill with some farmland adjacent and in the vicinity and also with lots of extensive forest cover. John and Karen Confer On 1/27/2011 11:29 AM, Stephanie Greenwood wrote: I have about 40 Redpolls hanging around my feeders now on a daily basis. Yippee!!! Stephanie -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Why don't RTHA eat all the pheasants at the game farm?
Hi Folks, I have talked with the Game Farm manager. He told me that they try to release about 130,000 pheasant each fall, that the captive flock starts in fall at about 35,000, and that they loose about 7000 to predation every year. Since the potential for the weight of snow and ice on the screen prohibit the use of screen on top for about 200 days of the year, that means about 35 eaten per day. This winter the count may be higher. There is the mega-number of hawks now, but when the first remove the over-the-top screen in early fall there aren't as many predators around, and before they but it back in spring, there aren't as many hawks then either. So, even though there may be more than 35 eaten per day now, an average of 35 per day for the entire period of no-screen seems reasonable to me. I must admit that I get some satisfaction from seeking hunting license dollars going to feed red-tails. After all, we birders loose the pleasure of seeing so many things due to hunting, it is nice to have some turn around. I wonder how many owls eat there? I wonder if juvenile red-tails have a lower efficiency of capture than the adults? Cheers, John On 3/3/2011 12:22 PM, Candace Cornell wrote: This may be a naive question, but why don’t the large number of Red-tailed Hawks (15-60+), which keep vigil at the Ring-necked Pheasant pens on Game Farm Road in Ithaca, decimate the pheasant population? According to the BNA, Ring-necked Pheasant is one of their preferred foods and I've seen them eating what looks pheasant entrails within the pens. Candace Cornell -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Why don't RTHA eat all the pheasants at the game farm?
HI Folks, The only state-owned pheasant farm left in NY is our own on Game Farm Rd. The immediate factor that led to the close of the next to last game farm was budget concerns, (although there may well have been environmental reasons to close them.) Our pheasant farm was scheduled for closure, but the threat of declining hunting licenses may have kept it open. By the way, until about 20 years ago the game farm controlled for hawk and owl predation by putting leg traps on the poles and then killing the captured raptors, which would have died of a broken leg, anyway. By the way, did you know that Professor Allen wrote a small brochure (It's in the archives for the Cayuga Bird Club at Uris Library) about How to Kill the Bad Hawks (which meant those that take chickens and birds we like) without killing the good hawks that take mice and rats. About 15 years ago, Profesor Whittaker, the famous ecologist of the widely-used text, called up the Hawk Barn, while it was still in Ithaca, to say that they should come and capture the Cooper's Hawk feeding at his bird feeder or he would take care of the hawk himself. Yeah, values do change. Cheers, John Confer On 3/3/2011 1:47 PM, Meena Haribal wrote: Well, I was thinking Red tailed hawks were organic feeders, they want free ranging pheasants. Anyways, how come pheasants are preferred food? These are non native birds. And are there so many pheasant farms all around US? May be the particular study that found pheasant are preferred food, happen to have been conducted in Ithaca around game farm and does not reflect true preferences of RTHA Just another query. Meena Meena Haribal Boyce Thompson Institute Ithaca NY 14850 Phone 607-254-1258 http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ http://haribal.org/ http://haribal.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/wildwest+trip+August+2007+.pdf http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/http:/www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/mothsofithaca.htmlhttp:/haribal.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/wildwest+trip+August+2007+.pdf *From:*bounce-8671320-3493...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-8671320-3493...@list.cornell.edu] *On Behalf Of *John Confer *Sent:* Thursday, March 03, 2011 1:05 PM *To:* Candace Cornell *Cc:* cayugabirds-l *Subject:* Re: [cayugabirds-l] Why don't RTHA eat all the pheasants at the game farm? Hi Folks, I have talked with the Game Farm manager. He told me that they try to release about 130,000 pheasant each fall, that the captive flock starts in fall at about 35,000, and that they loose about 7000 to predation every year. Since the potential for the weight of snow and ice on the screen prohibit the use of screen on top for about 200 days of the year, that means about 35 eaten per day. This winter the count may be higher. There is the mega-number of hawks now, but when the first remove the over-the-top screen in early fall there aren't as many predators around, and before they but it back in spring, there aren't as many hawks then either. So, even though there may be more than 35 eaten per day now, an average of 35 per day for the entire period of no-screen seems reasonable to me. I must admit that I get some satisfaction from seeking hunting license dollars going to feed red-tails. After all, we birders loose the pleasure of seeing so many things due to hunting, it is nice to have some turn around. I wonder how many owls eat there? I wonder if juvenile red-tails have a lower efficiency of capture than the adults? Cheers, John On 3/3/2011 12:22 PM, Candace Cornell wrote: This may be a naive question, but why don't the large number of Red-tailed Hawks (15-60+), which keep vigil at the Ring-necked Pheasant pens on Game Farm Road in Ithaca, decimate the pheasant population? According to the BNA, Ring-necked Pheasant is one of their preferred foods and I've seen them eating what looks pheasant entrails within the pens. Candace Cornell -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] South winds brought NSWO
Ok, that's mean. How many of you had that annoying feeling about those stupid BBL (O, there I go again, that's Bird Banding Lab) acronyms. Just kidding, a little tease. Anyway, last night from 7:30-9:00 with two nets last night and a digital caller, Karen and I were able to catch one, fat female (this is not a sexist comment, merely referring to the fact that the bird appeared to be in good shape despite just coming out of winter and in the middle of migration) Northern Saw-whet Owl. For what it is worth, our property is on the line of the Christmas Count circle (if you use a pencil with a very broad lead) and about a half mile outside the basin. We drain to the south. So. you might split hairs and argue that the bird is not a basin bird. There is a major saw-whet banding listserve which suggests using a digital caller with about 100 decibels of call output. I just can't stand it that loud, but the bird was in the net about a meter or so from the speaker with a very loud output. Reminds me that I have wondered if Snowy Owls at Logan airport are deafened by airplanes coming and going and then about this little saw-whet. How can they find mice by a squeak after sitting near jet engines. For some reason, two pair of Barred Owl were calling throughout the 1.5 hours I visited the nets. Looks like salamander migration tonight. Spring is so much fun. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Unsuccessful loon attempt
My apologies for this late report about the adult Common Loon that was found feeding and swimming near the Goetchius Preserve on Flat Iron Road. (by Karen Allaben-Confer) For three days, the loon seemed healthy and was feeding vigorously on perhaps small fish, tadpoles, other water critters - we could see it diving, swallowing, bill dipping in the turbid water. The creek is runoff from the wetland on the west side of Flat Iron Rd, and was high and rapid from the latest rain storm. John (Confer) visited the loon several times and notice that when it was flapping its wings, one of the wings was bent as if sprained and there was no hope that the loon would be able to fly out of the creek. Our original plan was to capture the loon and relocate it in the Goetchius wetland where there was a longer runway for the loon's extended run along the water and take-off before it reached the back beaver dam and the forest. John called for help from a wonderful animal rescuer, Victoria Campbell, who agreed to bring a large net. We originally planned to ask a few people to help herd the loon, so-to-speak to a shallow bank near the deep culvert pool. Some years ago, after a major ice storm in the region when grebes, loons, and other birds were found stranded on icy roads or in high water spring streams. The DEC assisted in the rescue of three loons. A group of about 5 people braved the cold water to direct the loons toward a net that was extended across the stream. There were moments when we despaired over the loons diving and avoiding the net. But, in the end, when all of us, the DEC people, and the loons were tired, the loons were caught and placed in animal crates and boxes. A DEC official, John and I, and Sandy Podulka drove the loons to Dryden Lake and released them. It was very exciting and a great relief to watch the loons dive into the water and disappear, then, rise out of the water some distance away. I am sorry to report that the fate of the Flat Iron Rd. Loon does not have such a happy ending. While the loon seemed robust and healthy, we could not direct it into the net, even with several people waist deep in the stream trying to guide it to the net. It dove around the out wash of the culvert and would swim underwater to pop up behind us. We tried to drive the bird toward the shallows to one shore, but it was clever in evading us. In the end, we decided to not stress and tire the loon. We climbed back to the bank along the stream and watched for the loon to reappear. It did not and we assume that it continued to ride the strong current downstream to a culvert which would direct it further downstream. The stream is part of the Upper Susquehanna River system, but it shallows out in numerous sites as it flows west southwest. If the loon can make its way through the shallow sections and rest and feed in deeper pools downstream, then it might be able to reach the Susquehanna and find deeper waters. However, this sends the bird further from its northward flight. The loon was an adult and except for its injured wing was in spectacular plumage. It was alert and strong with its legs, but we believe there was no hope for it to soon take off to fly north. John and I mourned that there are is a large coyote pack in the Flat Iron valley, but we don't know if they would know of the loon's presence or if they would enter the stream to try to reach it. If the loon can find plentiful food sourceswell, you are now understanding the situation which seems hopeless at this point. This is a sad tale and I am sorry to report it. Perhaps if we had recruited more people, we would eventually have herded the loon to a shallow shoreline where catching it would have been much easier, or we might just have stressed it more without any success. Perhaps a seine across a narrow portion of the creek would have worked. Now, we are puzzling how the loon was injured in the first place. Was it shot? Was it blown down by gusty winds during the rain storms? Did it aim to land on the stream as it tired from a long migration from the south and simply crash landed on the shoreline before entering the water - injuring its wing in the process? We will never know. We are grateful to those who came out on a Sunday morning to help rescue the loon. You will all empathize with the very depressed group who had high hopes of saving this beautiful diver, rehabilitating it, and releasing it to continue its flight north. Later, as we sipped hot chocolate in our sunroom, each person declared how dreadfully sad they felt. This handsome bird had finally reached maturity and was heading north toward its first breeding year. After young loons make their first migration, they return by increments to their northern natal lakes. That is, the young loons take up to three years or so to make their final flight to breed on northern lakes and large ponds. They winter along the coast of North America
[cayugabirds-l] Goetchius Preserve, if not bored with loony loon and more
Hi Folks, At a minimum: the loon arrived two weeks ago and we tried to capture it but instead we drove it down stream; it came back to the pol just below the road culvert and was photographed by Melissa Groo; it went away but on Sat morning (30 April), I saw it in the culvert outflow close to the road; it soon went back down stream and has not been seen since (to my knowledge). Clearly, it goes both ways through the second culvert downstream from the road culvert. We can hope it finds enough food in the creek and that its wing heals before fall freeze. (Perhaps other thoughts and observations about the loon could go off the busy listserve, always excepting unusually neat stuff, but I would enjoy hearing them at con...@ithaca.edu) At Goetchius: (First, FYI the owners of the original parcel purchased for the Preserve were the Goetchius, pronounced somewhat like getchas.) Steve Kress pointed out to me that there were Solitary Sandpipers in the newest wetland restoration and I later counted at least 4 and probably 5. I watched them successfully feeding frequently in the mud only a few months after being churned over by bulldozers. I hesitate to mention the next because I used playbacks of Virginia Rail at the obvious, accessible sites near the road. You may enjoy knowing the results. I've done this with other species of birds whose nesting success I was monitoring and I think a few times with playbacks doesn't discourage most species of birds from their nesting activities. It is possible that dozens of people doing the same would chase the birds away. So, the truth is this is sort of like don't do what I did, or go find your own place to do it. I got responses from four individual birds, including one pair that came in close together. No Soras responded to a Sora playback, although the Virginia did respond to the Sora playback. So far, I've only heard one meadowlark at a time. It is nice to hear that others have seen a few bobolinks back on the preserve. John Confer Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* 1) The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bird nest que.
Hi Betsy, My bet is on chickadees. Check out http://www.nature.net/forums/load/bird/msg0501291817883.html?12. John Confer On 10/18/2011 3:02 PM, Betsy Darlington wrote: What cavity-nesting bird(s) use a lot of moss in their nests? We were cleaning out our boxes yesterday (we have 14), and two of them were made up mainly of moss. In 38 years of tending these boxes, I've never seen that before. Bluebirds and Tree Swallows are our main nest box occupiers, with an occasional House Wren (though not for years, for these). Deer mouse nests in boxes don't look anything like this, and they never build in the boxes as we now have them situated. The boxes are not near trees, but I still wonder if they could have had flying squirrels in them. Anyone know what their nests are like? Betsy -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Banding saw-whets
HI Folks, There is a list-serve for saw-whet owl banders. According to dozens of reports on this list-serve, for much of NY and PA and more, the fall migration of saw-whets has been an incredible bust. We are well past the peak time with very few birds. For my small banding effort, I caught 27 birds last year and only 11 birds this year even though last year I used two nets for 4 nights with a good audio speaker compared to this year with 4 or 5 nets for generally longer hours each night on 11 nights. However, some stations located north of us have had average or above average number of saw-whets. Maybe most of the birds trickled by the banders around here and in PA on nights or by some migration pathway that eluded banders, or there may be many birds north of us that have stalled out on migration while we get weeks of rain and warm winds from the south. The weather prediction for Friday night looks OK, only the third night that might rate that high in weeks, and I am thinking of trying to band until 4 or 5 or 6 AM, if I had help. It would be a handicap to me, to the catching and handling of the birds, and to the accuracy of data processing if there were new people coming in and out throughout the night and if people came for a look-see for an hour or so. If, however, someone were willing to come for a 4 or 5 hr stretch, that would be helpful. Please, do not come for a quick tour, which would be disruptive and distracting. Please do not come without first contacting me offline as mentioned below. Putting up nets starts at about 6 and the first shift would work from 6 to 11, the second shift would work as long as there were owls coming in to the net, maybe closing the nets at 5:00 AM and finishing processing at 6:00. Please respond OFFLINE to con...@ithaca.edu. I do need to be able to control the number of people, should there be numerous, wacko potential helpers. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Karen's Fox Sparrow
Some of us spent the day, Sunday, standing on windy, snow-swept shorelines looking through incredibly large flocks for Ross Geese and Eurasian Widgeon without success (Well OK, there was the Ross Goose overhead, but you might have seen it while staying in the car.) Others stayed at home, slept in late and birded from within the house looking at feeders. One of us got perhaps the bird of the day, a Fox Sparrow eating our corn. OK, that person did miss the companionship during the day. Cheers, John and Karen -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] winter finches, a teaser
On 3/5/2012 10:01 PM, Bill Addison wrote: This has been the winter of finches, flock after flock of them. They are eating up to 4 litres of black sunflower seed a day, if we give them that many. These photos have pine grosbeaks, redpolls and pine siskins. The male pine grosbeaks (red ones) started heading north by the second week in February and their numbers are now almost zero. The females and immature pine grosbeak numbers started decreasing by the end of the third week in February. There are still some of them left but tomorrow is supposed to +6 C as is Thursday, so my guess is that the pine grosbeaks will be gone by the end of the week. Redpolls are still here in fair numbers. Redpolls are scrappy little critters and we watched a few of them go beak to beak with pine grosbeaks and win. Chickadees have been scarce this winter, perhaps because they don't stand a chance against the other species. We had a few intermittent evening grosbeaks. Hairy woodpeckers and red-breasted nuthatches were regular visitors. The nuthatches existed almost exclusively on deer suet while the woodpeckers ate sunflower seeds almost exclusively, rarely visiting the suet. We have rarely had as many winter finches as this year. Bill is a professional naturalist with great memory and keen insight. Take his word for what he says.If interested, Bil sent some great feeder pictures of Pine Grosbeak that I could forward if you contact me at con...@ithaca.edu Cheers,John Did I forget to mention that Bill lives about 20 miles north of the northernmost point of Lake Superior, north of Thunder Bay, Ontario -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Mount Pleasant Ves. Sp., Pine War (2), Goetchius
9:00 Am Wed., 4 April I got a very satisfying view of a Vesper Sparrow on Mount Pleasant in scope that flew off and chased another sparrow, potentially a mate. About 100 m East of the observatory along the graveled tractor path leading south, in shrubs about 20-30 m from road. Then flew into herbicided, brown vegetation to the west of the tractor path. Potentially a pair near territory. As always minimize disturbance but particularly in this case because it would be neat to have a pair nesting so close to the road for easy viewing. 10:00 Am Wed., 4 April Pine Warbler singing in pine trees (duh) on down hill side (to the east) and quite close to Thomas Rd., about 100 m south of intersection with Ellis Hollow Rd. 11:00 Am Wed. 4 April, Goetchius Cooper's Hawk being chased by male and female Kestrel across Goetchius toward pine swamp forest in the northwest corner of Preserve. Third time this year I've seen Cooper's flying by Goetchius plus hearing accipiter calling on one morning. Plus, Meadowlark Am, Tuesday, 3 April, southern end of Hammond Hill Rd. Pleasant surprise to get a great view of a Pine Warbler at our back yard suet feeder. Stayed at feeder long enough for Karen to come up from the basement and get to the window to see it also (Nice). We actually saw the bird pick up bits of suet in its beak. Am, Tuesday, 3 April, Goetchius Adult, female harrier coursing over sedge meadow restored by NY DOT. I've found two, well-plucked duck carcasses in this part of Goetchius this spring. Makes me wonder, coincidence or cause. Spring is great. John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?
For my two cents: I have done some really extensive audio playback as part of my golden-wing nest surveys and studies of nesting success, which involved luring birds into nets for color-banding and for blood samples to determine hybridization. I never felt that my playbacks reduced nesting success or caused mortality by predators, although that could rarely happen. I do know that in 20 years there were 3-4 instances when I caused nest failure by visiting nests, but not due to playbacks themselves. I always justified the extremely regretful nest failures and any small stress to the birds due to playback because of the gain in knowledge about the conservation and ecology of the species. I certainly agree that multiple playbacks by many visitors should be prohibited, but I don't think a few, say ~4 or 5 in a day or 10 over a week, does any harm. That would be qualified by the weather condition and somewhat by the stage of courtship and nest building. In terrible weather, turn the audible off, and also if it is apparent that the pair is just forming a pair bond. Cheers, John Confer On 4/9/2012 2:13 PM, geoklop...@gmail.com wrote: Hi Nari, As John said, it used to be strictly limited to scientific research, but I think over the last 50 years we've shifted from black-and-white to grayscale on this question. The advent of Citizen Science has played a role, by creating research projects that depend on the participation of birders, hence offering them an inside view of the scientific justifications for various kinds and degrees of disturbance. For example, pishing, imitation and playback are all accepted field techniques in various projects that aim to survey breeding birds. I expect that birding ethics (and citizen science) will continue to evolve, and eventually we may see them in something like true color! Geo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] CBC Sunday Trip around lake
The CBC trip around Cayuga Lake on Sunday, 16 April had good luck with weather and birds and a very congenial group of 12 people sharing laughs and great views. We went up the east side of the lake, around the main auto tour route, to Tschache Pool with lots of waterfowl and 3 ad Bald Eagles. After lunch at the NiceEasy, renamed EasyGo, we went to Helmer Marsh and then to the wetland complex. Sandy, Bill, and Lisa Pudulka reported several species of water birds at Puddlers, including Great Egret. The group didn't have time to get there. We saw a very pleasing 86 species by observers in my car plus 5 species observed by splinter groups before/after we got together, including: Greater Scaup; 20 m away on wooden piling at Mud Lock with broken wing Wood Duck; pair flying/landing in nearby, dead, elm trees with large cavities near eagle nest at Mud Lock. Western Grebe; THE pair seen from road/hillside near Harris Park Bald Eagle; with two feathered young at Mud Lock and two Virginia Rail; the only bird that responded to an audio of the American Bittern near DEC headquarters on Morgan Rd. Sandhill Crane; heard southwest of DEC headquarters, from Morgan Rd. in direction of Carncross Rd, but probably not that far away. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher;eye level along raised trail at Helmer Marsh. ~15 Rusty Blackbird; Helmer Marsh, sat in trees long enough to observe in scope! Horned Lark; doing sky dance along Center Rd (east at King Ferry Winery) and also lots of Savannah singing, both nearer eastern end of road approaching 34B. Pine Warbler; singing at the Cornell Plantations at start of trip (7:00 AM) at parking lot near old Dairy Bar. Chipping Sparrow; Helmer Marsh, for a nice total of 8 Emberizidea (if you count the Fox Sparrow as I got out of the car at home) Savannah Sparrow; large numbers at every likely habitat that we stopped at. Eastern Meadowlark; in-your-face views on Lake Rd at south end near Rt 79. We missed on Tundra Swan and left wondering if there are reliable locations for them now that water level is dropping. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Yellow throated warbler update
Some of you youngsters may not know that this bird was once called the Sycamore Warbler. John Confer On 5/7/2012 12:17 PM, Jay McGowan wrote: Right before the fire department training center, in the tall sycamores on the golf course. On May 7, 2012 11:56 AM, Brad Walker bm...@cornell.edu mailto:bm...@cornell.edu wrote: The warbler is currently in the sycamores on the golf course along the water. -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Gonewit?
I believe Paul's observation was based on a Sunday visit. The godwit was present on Saturday, which may have been its last day at our latitude. Hopefully, by now is up on the tundra. Cheers, John On 6/3/2012 12:50 PM, p...@grammatech.com wrote: I tried to find the Godwit at Benning this morning. No luck. Sent from my HTC Inspire™ 4G on ATT -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Towpath Van Dyne Spoor Tu and Su last week
I have been lucky to have the time to go up to to these areas twice last
week. (I'm usually ready for a trip to Montezuma)
At the wetlands at the end of Van Dyne Spoor Rd:
Least Bittern; heard once (about 200 m east of middle of the marsh) and
a great view of a fly-by once (near west end of marsh)
Black-crowned Night Heron; both days flushed from marsh near road (We
didn't do anything to try to scare them up)
Numerous Marsh Wren and Common Morehen
Black Tern; a half dozen although more, maybe 12-15, at Tschache Pool
(If that's how it is spelled)
Towpath Rd, Puddler's mud flat:
1 Wilson's Phalarope,
12 Black-bellied Plover,
lots more way out there.
Karen, Stefan Karkuff and I tried for a sort of Big Day with most
migrants gone on Saturday. With good luck on shorebirds and poor luck on
resident warblers, e.g., no Yellow-throated Warbler or Blue-winged
Warbler (I know, how bad can you be?), we got 137 species. A very nice day.
Highlights: The second bird of the day was a Northern Saw-whet Owl at
3:30AM. We played a call for about 5 minutes before it responded at the
Park Preserve. After listening to the response and a round of general
laughing at out pleasure (sorry for the annoyance Mr. Saw-whet), we
tried for a Shore-eared Owl with no luck. Probably because the NSWO
kept on calling and chased it away. Then we tried Barred Owl, at which
the NSWO shut up. After we gave up on the BAOW, the NSWO started up
again. It was still calling when we left. The next bird for the day (or
was it night) was a pair of Barred Owl that put up a duet near the
snowplow turn-around on Star Stanton Hill.
Goetchius Preserve had both Virginia and Sora and the only Northern
Waterthrush for us for the day. Fortunately, someone pointed out an
Orchard Oriole nest at Salt Point Rd. nearly directly above a telephone
pole about the third or fourth pole in the road in a cottonwood. We saw
the male for about 3 seconds before it silently left flying a couple
hundred yards eastsoutheast. We never would have found it without help,
(but I've {forgive me someone} have forgotten the name of the person who
showed it to us. Let me know, thanks.)
The day and weather was great, especially since the forecast was pretty
bad. Got to enjoy those birds and the help of local birders.
Cheers,
John Confer
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] a few Sunday birds-Cerulean
Interesting. This spring, I have heard Cerulean along Van Dyne Spoor Rd just before getting to the cattail marsh (twice - both in early morning and mid-day), along Armitage Rd. (three times), near Helmer Marsh (twice), at May's Point Pool and along River Rd (on three occasions) this spring. I had the impression that Ceruleans, in the places I have gone, were more numerous this year than ever before. I even played a tape to get the Cerulean to come down to eye level for John and Mary Yrizarri on River Rd. and heard it twice subsequently. I usually don't manage to get up to these areas early in the day, so these are middle-of-the-day singing and I certainly missed some that would be singing in early morning. I absolutely don't doubt other's observations and considerable skills in detecting birds if they are singing when they are there, much better than mine. It is interesting that you can't determine the absence of a bird based on not detecting the song at the time when you are there, although a prolonged survey along Salmon Creek is pretty convincing. Conversely, for me this would also seem to apply to the elusive Yellow-throated Warbler, which has been my personal nemesis bird, even though for me Ceruleans have been a dime for a dozen. John Confer On 6/4/2012 11:34 AM, Kenneth Victor Rosenberg wrote: There was at least 1 CERULEAN on River Rd. near Mud Lock last year, although I did not hear one last weekend. They seem to still be numerous in all the traditional spots around Montezuma Refuge, though the refuge staff have noted their disappearance from the forest south of Rt. 5/20 west of Mud Lock, for some unexplained reason. Cerulean Warblers are often patchily distributed, even in suitable habitat, and are known to shift their population areas from year to year. Still, the complete disappearance of a healthy population along Salmon Creek (including on the adjacent slopes) -- Chris's long-standing road-paving theory aside -- is a complete mystery. KEN Ken Rosenberg Conservation Science Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2412 607-342-4594 (cell) k...@cornell.edu mailto:k...@cornell.edu On Jun 4, 2012, at 9:11 AM, Kathy Strickland wrote: Speaking of Ceruleans, I can remember hearing many singing along River Road (Mud Lock) back in the mid-90's as well, but it's been years since I've heard even one there. Disappointing. Kathy Strickland From:k...@cornell.edu mailto:k...@cornell.edu To:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu Subject: [cayugabirds-l] a few Sunday birds Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 02:10:25 + I was surprised to hear a PINE SISKIN over my house this morning -- further evidence perhaps that a few might be breeding in the area. At Myer's Point, there was a single SEMILPALMATED SANDPIPER on the lakeshore, and an ORCHARD ORIOLE singing by the park entrance. I birded up along Salmon Creek for several hours in the steady light rain, mostly listening for singing birds out the car window. Lots of common local breeders, but I could find no Cerulean Warblers in any of the formerly traditional spots (there used to be 30+ singing males along Salmon Creek in the mid 1990s). I also checked several side streams and could not find Acadian Flycatchers. Saw a silent LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH along one stream. Back at home, the YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS just fledged from their nest in a partially dead willow, and they were noisily feeding around the yard. KEN Ken Rosenberg Conservation Science Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2412 607-342-4594 (cell) k...@cornell.edu mailto:k...@cornell.edu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1)http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2)http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3)http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com
[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Management Plan Urgent-rush.
I apologize for my empty-headed failure to let this list-serve, with its many connections to activities at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, know about the following a couple days ago. I only learned about it at the end of last week. The NYSOA Conservation Committee very recently became aware of a 15-year Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Montezuma NWR. The Plan has some good points including more trails. It would, however, decrease grassland and shrubland habitat management by about 400 acres with a corresponding increase in forest cover area. These changes would decrease habitat for several of the rarer species on the Refuge, which use grassland-shrubland habitat, by 35% while increasing forest cover by about 12%, and greatly expand hunting for Canada Geese and Snow Geese, and allow Sunday deer hunting, and start Wild Turkey hunting. One goal of the CCP goal is to increase the number of waterfowl hunters from 355 last year to 1000, despite a series of years with generally declining number of waterfowl hunters. The Plan hopes that more hunting opportunities will lead to a major decrease in Canada Geese and in Snow Geese in New York. A link to the full proposal is at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Montezuma/ccpchapters.html Much of the proposal is condensed in Chapter 3. Unfortunatley, the deadline for public comment was 21 June, although the reviewers for the US FWS have said that they would keep the reviews open for a few days after the deadline. Comments can be submitted via email to northeastplann...@fws.gov mailto:northeastplann...@fws.gov (please put Montezuma NWR in the subject line) John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Banding saw-whets
Ques. Why would a normally sane person spend two hours cutting a 2 m wide strip through 40 m of dense shrub and grass in 80-90 F temperature (beside bad judgment)? Ans. Because I get such a thrill every time I walk up to a net in the middle of the night and find a saw-whet in it. Ive banded several dozen Northern Saw-whet Owls the last two falls and I am trying to set up a second set of nets to convert a sort of haphazard effort into a significant banding project. I hope to have enough trained volunteers to operate two sets of nets in order to test if different recording of owl calls have a different effectiveness in luring owls. I would also like to capture enough owls to derive a chart of the molt distribution for saw-whets expanding an existing model. Also, Id like to be able to contribute personal data to my study of the patterns of migratory movement, part of which is illustrated below. To operate two sets of nets will require the help of several individuals who are willing to work a couple times a week from sunset to late at night from mid-September to mid-November, weather permitting. If you would like further information or are willing to help run a strong banding effort, Id love to talk with you. Banding birds requires great attention in order to reduce to an absolute minimum the possibility of harming the bird, it requires considerable attention and concentration to correctly record the molt condition of 21 feathers on each wing, and the weight and wing chord for the banding records and studies of molt pattern. Crew members would become moderately adept at these banding efforts. I am delighted to have a FEW, SCHEDULED visitors on any evening. For the birds welfare and the accuracy of data recording, I can not have unscheduled drop-ins. Please, if you are interested in watching the banding process, you must call me first and schedule a time to come out. John Confer (Home = 539-6308, or email off line at con...@ithaca.edu). -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- attachment: confer.vcf
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Hoary or not?
I think the genetic analyses provide very strong evidence for a lack of
speciation between/among redpolls. Providing additional very weak support, I
have been able to watch 20-100 redpolls on the railing of our deck about 10'
from our dining table. It has seemed to me that there is a gradation in size
and color between what could have been a Hoary and what looked more like a pale
common redpoll.
(One of three Hoary-like birds on our deck one was quite sick. I was kind
of hoping that the Sharpy that has been hanging out in our yard {His arrival
corresponded to a great the decline in redpolls, probably because the big
flocks decided not to feed here} would get get his meal from this sick bird.)
Still, I am not ready to totally reject the hypothesis of two species. I'm
not totally convinced that they are only a gradation within the same species
because of a similar situation with Golden-winged and Blue-winged warblers. At
least as of a couple years ago there were no detected nuclear genetic markers
that distinguished Golden-winged from Blue-winged warblers despite considerable
effort to find them. But we know there are genetic differences between GW and
BW. GW and BW look different. In some locations they select dramatically
different microhabitats for nesting. They sing different primary songs
(usually). They have distinct mitochondrial DNA, which suggests about 2 million
years of isolation. If nulear DNA studies can't find the different genes that
determine color, then such studies at a moderately detailed level by current
techniques are not able to detect differences that we know do occur. By the
way, even if some newer studies can find a nuclear difference, we still have to
make a subjective decision about how much of a difference is sufficient for us
to accept them as one or two species. Great fun this melding of nuclear
genetics and birding.
John
From: bounce-72618183-25065...@list.cornll.edu
[bounce-72618183-25065...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Geo Kloppel
[geoklop...@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2013 9:53 PM
To: cayugabirds-l
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Hoary or not?
Thanks, Laura, that ABA discussion was very interesting. I found myself in Ryan
O'Donnell's camp; the reported lack of genetic differentiation between Common
and Hoary Redpolls just didn't seem to justify the suggestion that we ought to
practice Hoary Denial, and Andy Boyce's quick dismissal of the likely
explanation left me groping for about three imperfectly remembered sentences
from E. O. Wilson's popular writing. Happily, I didn't need to look them up, as
Ryan neatly framed that explanation in just three words: incomplete lineage
sorting.
Redpolls at my feeders peaked near 300. I tried hard to call one or two of them
Hoary, but for whatever reason, I just couldn't make it stick. My failure had
little if anything to do with doubts about the legitimacy of the split, and I'm
not challenging anyone else's distinctions, but somehow I still feel better
after reading through that discussion!
-Geo Kloppel
On Jan 24, 2013, at 11:23 AM, Laura Stenzler
l...@cornell.edumailto:l...@cornell.edu wrote:
Hi All,
I found a very interesting article (link below), followed by a discussion,
about the ‘Hoary Redpoll Question” which you might want to look at. Don’t skip
the comments at the end. There are some familiar names taking part in that
discussion.
Food for thought…..
http://blog.aba.org/2013/01/open-mic-redpolls.html
Laura
Laura Stenzler
Lab Manager
Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, New York 14850
Office: (607) 254 2141
Lab:(607) 254 2142
Fax:(607) 254 2486
l...@cornell.edumailto:l...@cornell.edu
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[cayugabirds-l] Around the lake 10 Feb
Almost every day around the lake is well spent. This not spectacular trip had its great moments. We started at Andy's house near Game Farm Rd and Rt. 366 and counted 47 red-tails at the nearby game farm and continued to see numerous red-tails during the trip, perhaps 80 or 90 for the day. As we were driving up to the point at Myers Point a large falcon with streaked breast frew off to the north. Seen very briefly through dirty car windows we could very definitely identify it as a falcon larger than a Merlin with a streaked breast. Courting golden-eye showed how ridiculous courting males can be. North of Triangle Diner we found the only manure strip of the entire trip: about 150 Horned Lark, 30-50 Snow Buntings, and two Lapland Longspur (or one that moved around a good deal). The birds came up to seed heads along the shoulder of the road a few feet from the (still dirty) car windows. What we could see was really neat. Aurora Bay (from the parking lot above the boathouse) we say five Horned Grebes, but no Eared after a thorough search in good light conditions. (We did get outside the car, which was recognizable as ours. See there was a good reason to have those especially dirty windows.) From Towpath Rd. we saw several hundred swans (Now how did Bob distinguish Trumpeter from Tundra several hundred yards out? Maybe he cleaned his car windows.) Van Dyne Spoor Rd., Morgan Rd and Carncross Rd, collectively, produced two light phase and one dark phase Rough-legged. (I don't know where the robins that Bob saw went to.) and a parked car that blocked our passage along the dike. Please, move over to the side when parked on those roads with narrow dikes.) Near Ovid we saw a few bluebirds and a Mockingbird on a television antenna above a house surrounded primarily by corn stubble. We didn't find any short-eared despite roughly being in the right general area around Ovid and Interlaken at the right time. It was noticeable that almost all the fields had been cut barren and that the few hay fields we saw were cut short without seed heads. This is not good mouse habitat. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Shrike in Danby and at Goetchius
I presume the same shrike, still at Goetchius on 12 Feb. in tree top near parking/bridge area. It is not always readily seen. I see it near the road on my commute route about 1 out of 6 trips by the Preserve and about 1 out of 3 times I walk around in the Preserve. There have been two Rough-legged Hawks occasionally at the Preserve, one light phase and one dark phase, but not recently seen and definitely absent more than present. Lots of rodent trails in the snow. John From: bounce-73576566-25065...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-73576566-25065...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Dan Kathy C [kathyc...@twcny.rr.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 7:31 PM To: Upstate NY Birding Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Shrike in Danby Late this afternoon I saw a N. Shrike sitting in a small tree next to the bird feeders. What a surprise. A few larger birds didn’t seem to be bothered by its presence but there weren’t any little birds to be seen. Kathy Clements 634 Comfort Rd. Danby -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm Archives: The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Eagle moving nest???
Does it seem to others that the pair of eagles at the lock at the outlet of Cayuga Lake has moved its nest to the south? I didn't see any activity at the electric poles at the lock and the nest there seemed shrunken. And, there is a large pile of sticks farther to the south in a very large tree, which had an eagle sitting next to it on Saturday. The eagle nest at the lock was perhaps the most photographed nest in New York. If not the most, then certainly one of the most. In a way it is too bad if the eagles have moved to a more distant and less visible location. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: Bald Eagle MNWR - nestling.jpgattachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Goetchius: 2 sp shorebirds 3/11
Of course, you guessed that they were Killdeed (3) and Am. Woodcock. You've got to like spring. Cheers, John From: bounce-75482728-25065...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-75482728-25065...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John A-X. Morris [john.ax.mor...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, March 11, 2013 4:26 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeers The Killdeers are back! Two of 'em were inspecting our horse pasture this morning. john morris -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm Archives: The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] More early birds: WIWR
It is so much fun when birds that become fairly regular by summer can give you a charge when you first ID them for the year. In our backyard, Karen and I had a Winter Wren trying to do his song, but doing a poor job of it this morning. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Goetchius shrike, Lake Rd. Harriers.
Going up and back on the east side of Cayuga Lake, besides the wonderful waterfowl, we noted 3 No. Harrier over the grassy fields on Lake Rd. near Rt. 90. Two close together were an after second year male (gray ghost) and the pale brown ASY female. A couple hundred yards away we saw a second year bird (russet chest). Wouldn't it be nice if the adult male+female stayed around. At Goetchius I saw the No. Shrike using the same perches frequented in the past. This was my first observation in about two weeks. I had thought that it had left on its northward migration, but I guess not. Birds are full of pleasant surprises. Made the trip with Bob and Sally Love and a young couple from Spain. (Sorry I'm so bad with remembering names).The later were quite familiar with Spanish birds, but not our birds. It is so much fun to see our common birds through the excitement of good birders seeing them for the first time and comparing them to Spanish birds. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] A long comment on Draft Plan for Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn State Forests
The Unit Management Plan (UMP) proposes forest regeneration cuts in areas with moderate density of aspens to create habitat for shrubland species such as field sparrows, chestnut-sided warblers, blue-winged and golden-winged warblers, yellow warblers, etc. I have seen dozens of other locations where the propose forest regeneration cuts do not produce shrubland habitat. They actually produce dense thickets of saplings, particularly because of the growth of aspens from root stalks. If you want shrublands with herbs and shrub patches that are used by a variety of shrubland birds, then you need some other kind of management. I have urged the DEC to implement brush-hogging and herbicide spraying after the clear cuts. If anyone is interested in my 4 pages of text (already submitted) that critiques the details of the management that is presented as if it would enhance shrublands and shrubland birds in the two state forests, please email me directly, and I'll be glad to forward a copy. Cheers,John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Great feeder day
Evening Grosbeak (5), Redpoll (3), Purple Finch (3), Towhee (1), Tree (2), Song (2), Fox Sparrow (7), Junco (120), Goldfinch (5), very pale and large female Sharshinned Hawk perched at seed feeder, 30+ Turkey with several displaying toms, and yesterday, Sapsucker, Downy, Hairy, Pileated and Red-bellied with all but the sapsucker at suet in yard, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch. Meanwhile, Goetchius had Swamp Sparrows (4), 8 fly-by Great Blue Herons, American Merg. (8), Wood Duck (2), Mallard 6, etc.. Generally, a highly enjoyable day and it's just 12:00. Good birding to all. John and Karen -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Goetchius vesper sparrow
Well, who can keep up with Jay's impressive flock of sparrows. Verper at Goetchius near road at DOT wetlands. Flew west toward gate for deer exclosure. It is feasible that Vesper could nest in this habitat. Jay's are almost certainly all migrants. (In the spirit of very friendly competition, does this make the Goetchius bird better?) Incidentally, this vesper is new to the cummulative Goetchius list as kept by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. One of the great things about birding is that you don't know what new observation may occur anywhere. John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Ringwood Rd Brown Thrasher
We, too, heard a Brown Thrawsher singing this morning for the first time this year. It was in our (extended) yard on the south side of Hammond Hill Rd.. That makes at least four people seeing 5 thrashers for the first time this year. Must have been a good night for thrashers to migrate. As I recall, we have had one singing for a few days almost every year for about the last 6-7 years, and usually then disappeare. Well, except last year when I saw a pair together three or four times. I wonder if they quit singing or move on. Yellow Palm Warbler at the parking access at Goetchius this morning. Beautiful, tame little bird. Cheers, john confer From: bounce-83618343-25065...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-83618343-25065...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of bob mcguire [bmcgu...@clarityconnect.com] Sent: Saturday, April 20, 2013 12:30 PM To: Marie P. Read Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Ringwood Rd Brown Thrasher Two Brown Thrashers singing from different corners of our yard this morning as well. Snyder Hill area. Bob McGuire On Apr 20, 2013, at 8:55 AM, Marie P. Read wrote: I stepped outside to do a chore a few minutes ago and heard snatches of a song that seemed out of place up here - loud, bright, with a definite mimid-feel to it. Shortly afterwards, a Brown Thrasher landed in my flower garden and started tossing leaves about. Only the second time I've recorded one up here (the first time was ~15 years ago!) Good yard bird for these parts. 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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] 6:30 AM
I try to notice the first day of spring when I don't notice one of the winter feeder birds. Usually, I'm not very good at that. However, following Geo's comment on no Fox Sparrow, today is the first time in weeks that I haven't heard a Fox Sparrow at our feeder in the 45 minutes it takes to run our dog and fill the feeders. So, maybe 23 April is the end for lingering Fox Sparrow. I'll miss their beautiful song, but hope they are fat and healthy when they leave for the northern limits of the boreal forest. John Confer On 4/23/2013 7:41 AM, Geo Kloppel wrote: 6:30 AM; 32 degrees, and I'm dressed for winter, but on a quick walk around home I found many singing birds, including Brown Thrasher, Winter Wren, Brown Creeper, Blue-headed Vireo, Louisiana Waterthrush. No Fox Sparrows this morning; perhaps they've finally cleared out. -Geo Kloppel -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Goetchius: 6 Snipe, 1 Meadowlark - Home: Prairie Warbler
Goetchius wetlands becoming very shallow to only damp. Wood Frog and salamander eggs, some with tadpolls already free swimming, in danger of dessication. Funny sort of forested wetland restoration. Cheers, John From: bounce-85865347-25065...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-85865347-25065...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of David [mccart...@yahoo.com] Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2013 11:11 AM To: CayugaBirds Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Pine Siskins Hi all, In addition to a nice diversity of migrants, including YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, OVENBIRD, BARN SWALLOW and HOUSE WRENS we just had 4 PINE SISKINS on the Niger sock. Good birding, David McCartt Tubbs Hill Rd. Richford -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Goetchius Solitary Spotted Sandpipers
Solitary Sandpiper conviently in east end of new pond closest to parking lot. Pair of Spotted Sandpiper in west end of new pond to the north of parking area. I'm still trying to figure out if there is just one or maybe two singing meadowlarks (You would think that would be easy, buy they/it fly/flies around.) Please let me know if you hear two at once. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Stefan Karkuff + J Confer Big Day
Symbolically , we missed staked out brids such as Screech Owl at two locations, Sora Rail, Black and White Warbler., the Glossy Ibis, or Tri-colored Heron, Orchard Oriole at two locations, yet we were at 100 species before driving into Montezuma. Monday, 6 May, was much too early for the biggest day of the year with, e.g., no Red-eyed Vireos, no Willow, Alder, wood pewee, no Bay-breasted or Blackpool warblers. More yellow-bellied sapsuckers than I ever remember, 3 or 4 Barred Owl in Shindagin calling spontaneously where it was 39 F for a couple hours, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue warblers, and Golden-crowned Kinglet at Star-Stanton and Cannon Rds, three Solitary Sandpipers at Goetchius with a Northern Waterthrush in the far back left from the parking lot/bridge. The beautiful Wilson's Phalarope was still associating with a Greater Yellowlegs while making me dizzy with her endless right-turn circles (our thanks to the related postings). The last bird of the day was a Rough-winged Swallow. Driving home down the west side of the lake, we commented that was a species we should have gotten. I mentioned that they nested in the shale cliffs of some of the gorges and Stefan said lets stop on Taughannoch. We were parked and out of the car and up the bridge for less that 15 seconds when one flew by, turned around and darted upward to chase an insect and at the apex of the climb, very briefly came to a stop showing his dirty throat. I don't generally like to check and run, but we were tired and we we were back in the (perhaps illegally parked) car in less than 30 seconds with our 130th species for the day! On big days, I always feel that the species we found were deserved due to skill and effort and that the ones we missed were just bad luck. Even with a date that was too early and the bad luck on staked out species, we had a really great and very satisfying day. Good birding, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Lone snow goose
Hi Folks, It is possible that the same bird is flying around this area. I didn't see it until about 10 days ago after several scans of the Thomas Rd wetlands when I spent enough time that I think I would have seen it if it were there. It was at the Thomas Rd wetlands last Friday at about 1:00. The time Karen and I saw it was awfully close to the time John saw it, although that doesn't mean that it didn't arrive or fly away just minutes before/after we saw it. Cheers, John On 5/10/2013 2:03 PM, Marie P. Read wrote: I wonder if that's the same one I saw in the Thomas Road wetland last week...just a couple of miles north of Wilseyville Swamp as the goose flies. 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-89893376-5851...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-89893376-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John Cancalosi [jjcpurav...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, May 10, 2013 1:58 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Lone snow goose I saw a lone snow goose flying north in the Wilseyville area yesterday afternoon. As they are not exactly solitary birds, I wonder what was going on. John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm Archives: The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Goose and Sora
The location Jeff mentions for the Sora is the same as where I heard one about 2 weeks ago. Nice to know it may be staying around. The darn bird did not respond to playbacks on my Big Day. It certainly is not a bird that I am very fond of. Cheers, John On 5/16/2013 10:50 AM, Jeff Gerbracht wrote: The Snow Goose is still hanging around the Thomas Rd beaver ponds and this morning I heard a Sora in one of the overgrown ponds just N of the BB Jeff -- Jeff Gerbracht Lead Application Developer Neotropical Birds, Breeding Bird Atlas, eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology 607-254-2117 -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Life member Karen Allaben-Confer - RTPI show
Karen Allaben-Confer, life member of the Cayuga Bird Club, has a retrospective art show at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History http://www.rtpi.org/ in Jamestown, NY. The show runs from August 9 to October 29 with the opening from 5:00 to 7:00 Friday, August 9. Karen's work was selected as the poster piece for a show that toured in Japan out of ~1000 juried submissions. She has been described as among the great wildlife artists of our time (Bill Roberts, Emeritus Professor of Art, Wells College) and as among the world's finest wildlife artists (Alan Singer, Professor of Art RIT). Over 50 pieces of Karen's works are on display with many from local collectors including Ton and Laura Schat, Peter and Mary Lou Harriet, Paul and Linda McBride, and Randy Wayne. The show spans 35 years of creative effort and depicts the changing style from evocative acrylic to more recent, delicate graphite and pastel. Images feature Pileated Woodpeckers, Peregrine Falcons, and seabirds including Atlantic Puffin, Common Tern, and the Great Auk. The show features many of Karen's finest works, that are unlikely to be assembled for display again. I hope this personal note will not appear to violate the listserve norms of use. JLC -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Hammond Hill Owl Site (HHOWLS)
To HHOWLS Northern Saw-whet Owl Banding Team First, let me say that *__UN _*SCHEDULED VISITORS ARE A MAJOR CAUSE OF BANDING MISHAPS AND ARE NOT WELCOME. Migration has formally started. There are reports from Montezuma by those who look for beaks that dip by about 2 mm as seen from about 500,000 mm away and who get chills and thrills when they find one that does. (Forgive limp attempt at humor) In contrast, imaging having a saw-whet in hand with its talons in your fingers and its bright little eyes staring at you from a foot (pun) away. How much more blessed is it to see the bird so close that you have to use your reading glasses. Last year the Hammond Hill Owl Site (that would be HHOWLS, which I can hear from you), which is about 3 miles southeast of Slaterville Springs, NY, had a phenomenal year. The banding crew was great in all aspects and we got banding data for 102 birds. That included three birds banded elsewhere that we recaptured and one Screech Owl that we banded the year before that was back trying to eat saw-whets again this year (just before it went for a longer car ride). We had one of our birds, which we banded the year before last, that was recaptured last year and one of the birds banded last year recaptured last year. Bob McGuire, Julia Gillis, Andy Myers, and I co-authored a paper about that wonderful year for The Kingbird (first issue of this year). I never imagined that there would be numerous saw-whet owls migrating through our yard, until I heard a seminar by Valerie Freer at the annual meeting of the New York State Ornithological Association describing her success in her yard. Now that the real migration is about to begin, I am hoping to have another great year of banding, literally, in Karen's and my front yard. I hope to work with another great banding team. As with last year, I expect that HHOWLS banders should come out at least three nights. The first two nights of help from those with a commitment to being part of the banding team are much more of a handicap than an asset. I can't give primary attention to the birds' welfare and the accuracy of the data recording with several banders-to-be around who are unfamiliar with the process and *UNSCHEDULED* visitors. This year I am going to ask the banding team to choose specific nights of the week and to try to come on those nights (or wee, early hours of the morning of the next day) for the duration from end of Se to 5^th or 10^th November. I will also need some additional help expanding the net lines for some new nets to be established sometime in mid- to late September. If you are interested in being a regular bander again this year or for the first time, please email me or call 607-539-6308 for further information. If you would like to see the banding process, I would be delighted to show those who have scheduled a visit, which allows me to control the number of visitors on any given night. Not even Karen can give someone else permission to come, if you hope to see our marriage continue, which was jeopardized last year. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Wo caching food
I have seen Red-headed Woodpeckers caching acorns. At at least one location, they cached food somewhat as I have seen in videos of Acorn Woodpeckers, putting them in shallow, tiny holes in the surface of the tree trunk. This was at Presquille in fall probably a couple decades ago. so you might wonder about the accuracy of the memory. It was a pretty striking occasion with several birds flying over a parking lot to and from the acorn source to the storage trees, so I'm pretty sure that is what they were doing. Cheers, John On 8/20/2013 7:06 PM, Anne Clark wrote: Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees. More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very late nestlings). But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings on mulberries. Anne Clark On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote: Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point this morning. Very active until about 10 am. Saw an interesting sequence when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks. Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the other to the north in a tree along the river. The Merlin was in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before resuming activity. More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest cavity. (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at other times it appeared to be round objects. Did not seem possible to be acorns. Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit. Paul Schmitt -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Political: Managing St. Lawrence River water level for wetlands
As a member of the Conservation Committee for the New York State Ornithological Society, I receive several notices each year about environmental issues. These come from Andy Mason, Chair, NYSOA Conservation Committee. I don't pass on most of them because they seem of local interest or seem to me to be of lesser significance (although maybe I should just send them all and not make that judgement). This one concerns managing water levels of the St. Lawrence River in ways that mimic natural flooding and helps re-establish and retain the extensive wetlands along the river. I think this merits wide distribution. I apologize for this political use of the listserve, but in this instance I think this is of statewide concern and a matter that individuals or the Cayuga Bird Club may wish to endorse. If you wish, you may sign your support through some of the links described below. I would appreciate hearing how you fell about this use of the listserve. Probably responding off list to con...@ithaca.edu would be best. Thanks. FYI. The Conservation Committee is meeting later this week with Matt Swayze (29 Aug), Senior Forester, NYS DEC Region 7. Matt has assumed John Clancy's position with the NY DEC at the Cortland Office of the Division of Lands and Forests. We will have the opportunity to discuss the Unit Management Plan for small clear cuts in Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn in ways that will favor early succession species. It is very pleasing that Matt appears very pleased to meet with us on this matter. John Confer Original Message Subject:FW: Action Alert and Sign on Letter in Support of Plan 2014 Date: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 09:41:02 -0400 From: Andrew Mason andyma...@earthling.net To: John Confer con...@ithaca.edu, Gerry Smith gosh...@gisco.net, Joan Collins joan.coll...@frontier.com Folks--- I received this alert from Audubon NY---with a request for Audubon Chapters to sign on to the attached letter. Evidently Gerry has played a role in this. Would you all support signing NYSOA on to this? Andy Andrew Mason 1039 Peck St. Jefferson, NY 12093 (607) 652-2162 andyma...@earthling.net Asmany of you know, earlier this summer, the International Joint Commission released Plan 2014 -- another revision to water level management on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Audubon and the environmental community supports this plan and we're asking our network to submit comments in support, too. Our Great Lakes area Chapters have been heavily involved in this over the years. Special thanks especially to June Summers of Genesee Valley Audubon and Gerry Smith of Onondaga Audubon who have attended meetings, read testimony into the record, and who have assisted with action alerts and kept our office apprised local actions! Plan 2014 mirrors many of the past versions of the plan that provide important environmental benefits to the Lake and River by restoring natural fluctuations of water levels. Click here for more information on the new Plan: http://www.ijc.org/en_/losl . As you will see, comments on the new Plan are due Friday, August 30^th , and we are working to build strong support for this important revision to water level management. We just sent out a statewide action alert to our list this morning. There are three easy ways you can help with this campaign this week: 1)Take personal action on the alert: http://ny.audubonaction.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepageid=1289 (If you received the action alert in your inbox, using the link in that email will be easier, since your information should already auto-filled) 2)Share the alert link (http://ny.audubonaction.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepageid=1289) to your networks including the rest of your board list, your chapter email list, and your facebook page. Here is a sample facebook post you can cut and paste on your own wall or on your chapter page: /Let's make Lake Ontario a Greater Lake! Take action today - stand with Audubon in showing support for Plan 2014, which will restore a natural water level management plan for the Lake and St. Lawrence River. Here's the link: http://ny.audubonaction.org/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepageid=1289/ 3)If you can, sign your chapter on to the sign on letter in Support of Plan 2014 that Sean distributed to his Great Lakes colleagues this morning. Please see the attached letter. *If you would like your chapter to sign on, please send him (sma...@audubon.org mailto:sma...@audubon.org) the name and title of the person from your chapter you'd like to sign on by close of business Thursday August 29^th .* ** ** Thank you for your help, and please don't reach out to Sean or I with questions! Most sincerely, Laura /To be successful in our conservation efforts, we need your help! Sign up for Audubon Alerts and the Advisory at http://ny.audubonaction.org http://ny.audubonaction.org// __._,_.___ *Reply via web post
[cayugabirds-l] NYSOA Annual Long Island meeting
The New York State Ornithological Association meeting on 1-3 Nov is at Long Island this year. Next year we are hosting the meeting. I am going to go to the meeting, but registered for a motel room at a late date. Sat field trips go out to Long Island, business meeting (which would be beneficial for those helping to organize next year's meeting) on Sat. afternoon. I would go straight home on Sun morning to get back in time to band owls that night. Is there anyone who would want to share a room at the Long Island Marriott Hotel and split the outrageous cost of $237 for each of two nights? I have a double reserved, so we wouldn't be sharing a bed. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Travel to NYSOA meeting
HI Folks, I am going to the Long Island meeting 1-3 Nov. The Long Island Marriott Motel did give me the group discount, so the room is about $150/night. Even with this discount, I would still love to share the double bed room and its expense. I will leave early on Sun morning to get back to Ithaca. I don't know of any other person from the Cayuga Bird Cub who is going. Since we are hosting the meeting next year, it is really important and expected at the business meeting for someone on the planning committee to provide information about next year, encourage people about attending our meeting, assure people about our progress, and to see how the meeting is managed by another club. I haven't gone to any of our planning meetings and am not on the planning committee. I can say something, but not much. Attendance at our meeting is somewhat influenced by providing evidence of a good reason for people to come to us. Besides those motives for going, I really hate to drive alone and I especially really hate driving through NY alone. If anyone could share the room expense, that would be good for me and probably very good for the club and our next meeting. Cheers, John Confer Please leave a message at 539-6308. I do not check email very often but will check the home phone daily. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Saw-whet migration FYI
HHOWLS (Hammond Hill Owl Site) had our best night of the year last night on 29 Oct. We have banded on almost all nights that weren't raining or had very strong winds from the south for this fall. Migration this year has far fewer birds than last year when we got banding records for 102 birds (including foreign recaptures). This year we have gotten 38 different birds, including one foreign recapture from Sullivan County that migrated northwest. This year has very few Hatch Year birds, less than 20%, which is similar for other banding stations for eastern North America. Generally, we have had very few Second Year birds as an echo from last years abundance of HY birds. Except last night, we (Bob McGuire, Maddie Ulinski, Abigail Gepner, Karen and I ) caught 12 birds, of which 6 were SY birds, as many as we have had previously all year. Last year the ratio of HY birds to older birds was about 6 to 1 and this year it is less than 1 to 6. Great fun banding, but a strong indication of very low reproductive success this past breeding season. Listen for those little owls passing us by during the night. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Volunteer for color-banded bird study
Hi Folks, Sorry for this non-bird posting. I have a student who would like a particular job for which it would be helpful to have some experience and demonstrated skill with observing color-banded birds. The student has my very high recommendation and could work odd and moderately lengthy hours. Anyone need help for say, ~5-10 hours a week for a month or so? Please call numbers below. Cheers, John Confer 539-6308 274-3978 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bats!
I spent a summer banding bats in Indiana as part of an undergrad project from Earlham College. It was supervised by Jim Cope, father of Ed Cope of our Ithaca community. We banded 10,000in one summer mainly from large breeding colonies. My first science paper was on the results of that bat study. Probably the red bat was the Red Bat Lasiurus borealis. As Alyssia said, some bats hybernate at our latitude. The temperature needs to be not too cold, or they will use up all of their energy trying to keep warm before spring returns, but not too warm, or their temperature will drop to the ambient and metabolism will not slow down enough to make the body fuel last until spring. The chance that the bats have rabies, which they do carry, is very small. They do poop and pee during the winter, which can leave stains and smells. Otherwise, they are harmless and interesting. John Confer On 12/5/2013 5:34 PM, alyssajohns...@aol.com wrote: Betsy, I'd love to see your picture. Also, there are both tree and cave bats it NY. Typically the tree bats are here in summer and migrate. Cave bats are the ones we find in our attics this time of year. Attics make great pseudo caves! There are multiple species of each. I recently wrote a blog entry on them, if interested! http://blog.timesunion.com/nywildlife/readers-write-in-bats-of-ny/1762/ - Reply message - From: Elizabeth B. King ebk...@twcny.rr.com To: Betsy Darlington darlingtonb...@gmail.com, cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Bats! Date: Thu, Dec 5, 2013 5:24 PM I'd be interested in the answers you get. We have had bats hibernating in our garage for years. We've sealed up every possible entry space but they still get in. They live in our bat house in the summer but they prefer the warm garage in the winter. We had a beautiful orange (!) bat on a deck railing last month. I can send a picture if anyone can identify it for me. Thanks, Elizabeth King At 05:00 PM 12/5/2013, Betsy Darlington wrote: Does anyone know of a bat expert in Ithaca - perhaps at Cornell or IC? We had two bats show up in our house last night, a little after midnight! We have no idea how they got in, and we were unable to catch them in our bat net and release them, so they no doubt will show up again. They didn't fly around much, unlike the ones that get in during the summer. Does anyone know if they hibernate in people's attics in Ithaca or should they be off in a cave somewhere? Thanks! Betsy -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info: *Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives: * The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/! *-- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] CBC Owling company?
There are many good potential owl sites in the Cayuga Bird Club Christmas Bird Count, the CBC CBC. I don't want to poach on anyone's intended location for pre-dawn playing of owl calls. I usually try along southern end of Hammond Hill, Flatiron Rd., Rt., 79 near Slaterville, Six Hundred Rd., along Midline including the Park Preserve, Star Stanton Rd., and Thomas Rd for only saw-whets very early in the morning. If no one is doing it, Genung Rd., Ellis Hollow near Pine Tree Rd., and then the walkway near the game farm which usually has a Screech. It is a rush to try to do all of this, and I wouldn't mind someone else doing part of it. I've said that misery loves company, and if anyone wants to join me at anytime between 3:15 and 5:00, we can correspond offline or by phone about where I will be. Good Birding, John Confer 539-6308 PS. So far, all I have heard about means that Area 3 has just me doing the area. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Screech roost cavity
I pick up the morning paper on my commute route at Dandy's in Slaterville Springs almost every morning. About two weeks ago I parked in the northwest corner of the lot and heard/saw a flock of Blue Jays mobbing the empty entrance to a tree cavity. I have checked the cavity every morning since then. On two of the ~3 mornings with bright sun and little wind (We haven't had many of those recently) a grey phase Screech Owl has been filling up the cavity opening. The hole is about 4 m higher and about 10 m to the westnorthwest of a parking lot lamp post in the northwest side of the lot. It takes about 30 seconds to drive by and check if he is filling up the hole with fluffy feathers, closed eyes, and little ear tufts. Enjoy, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] SNOW HELP-Please
About a month ago the instructor for the IC course in Conservation Biology asked me if I would lead a Sat. extra activity trip to look for SNOW for students in the class . I said yes and we talked about the biggest invasion in 20-40 years. I may have given the impression that SNOW were everywhere and that we could see several, or at least that was how the conversation was received. Then the announcement to the students raised the expectation that SNOW were dripping from the trees, or at least that the students should expect to see some. So, yesterday I went north up Indian Field Rd. to Poplar Ridge and west on Poplar Ridge to Corey Rd., the next road parallel to Indian Field, and south on Corey Rd. south on it to Rt. 90 and back to Indian Field Rd. and up it again, and then east on Poplar Ridge to Rt. 34 and then west on Poplar Ridge to Aurura and up to Farley's Point to look for SNOW on the ice edge in 20 degree temp with 25 mph winds, which I tired but without real conviction. And then back to Long Point Winery where I found two birders in a car at 4:50 who said they had seen 3 Short-eared Owls. However, the owls did not reappear from then to 6:00 when I left. All in all, the only raptor I saw was one Red-tailed Hawk and the Screech Owl at Dandy's in Slaterville in the morning. I don't look forward to being apologetic to students, but most importantly the students are going to miss an exciting opportunity if I can't show them a SNOW and SEOW on this coming Sat afternoon leaving at 2:00 in the afternoon. People have reorted SNOW moving around, but I would really like to know about a potentially sedentary SNOW. HELP: If you find a potentially, sedentary SNOW this week, could you email me at con...@ithaca.edu or the listserve if you prefer. If you see a SNOW on Sat morning, would you be kind enough to call my cell hone at 607-229-5952 before we leave at 2:00 or even later for birds that are near the east side of the lake where we will be driving. I'd really like to show the students a SNOW and maybe even a SEOW. I think it could be a significant experience for students in the class. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] SNOW HELP-Please-Thanks
My gosh, I wouldn't have guessed that I could get so many helpful tips about somewhat sedentary SNOW. Thanks so much. The 16 person field trip looks like it may well be a success. Of course, the weather forecast is now for warming (which you might think was a blessing, except) with snow/sleet/rain. It could be that this trip is under a jinx. I'm certainly not going to supervise the driving of two vans filled with students in sleet/rain/snow, but we'll see what happens. Given the kind input so far, I will pay particular attention around Lane Rd off 34 and to the southern end of Indian Field Rd.! Several people have said that they have seen the SEOWs near Lake Winery from even as early as 3:30 to 4:30. I will time the trip to catch that window of opportunity. By the way, the raptor survey for the Greater Montezuma Wetlands Complex starts it's survey a half hour before legal sundown, way later than 3:30. I think the Montezuma timing is based on a lot of previous experience so the short-ears near the winery seem to be the exception. Thanks so much to the listserve, John Confer I will have my cell phone (607-229-5952) with me throughout the day with the trip leaving at 1:00 (not 2:00 as I thought earlier). -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Article about great lakes freezing over
Historically, Lake Superior did freeze over entirely. The current open water during winter allows for much greater evaporation that would occur if the ice cover were 100%. One of the major contributors to the drop in the level of the Great Lakes is the additional winter evaporation associated with the reduction/absence of ice cover. Lakes Seneca and Cayuga are oriented somewhat in the direction of prevailing storms. In winter the temperature of both lakes is within 0.1C top to bottom as a consequence of mixing of water from top to bottom related to prevailing winds. For both lakes to freeze at the top for the entire length, it would be necessary for the entire water column to loose enough heat to be very close to 0C. As long as the power plant continues to release a great deal of heat to the surface, Cayuga Lake will never freeze 100%, even without any effect of global climate change. The concentration of redheads in Cayuga Lake is a consequence of keeping some shallow areas open due to water movement from the deeper areas that don't freeze. Other, shallow lakes in this area do freeze over 100% so that there is no way that diving ducks can get food. (PS: This may seem odd coming from a birder, but my grad work was in limnology with half the research since grad school was on lakes.) John Confer On 2/9/2014 7:20 AM, Liisa S. Mobley wrote: There's been a bit of discussion about the Finger Lakes freezing over, as well as the Great Lakes, on the Cayuga Birds list in recent weeks. I came across this article from one of the channel 9 (Syracuse) weathermen, which indicates that the Great Lakes, as of last Friday, had more than 79% of their surface area frozen. Great Lakes Freezing Over: Dave Eichorn's Blog http://bit.ly/1gcubdX Where do all the birds go? Lake Ontario is only about half frozen, so maybe they go there. You'll notice in the photo that Cayuga and Seneca are not frozen. Not sure why they don't freeze over, too. And, no, they are not deeper than the Great Lakes, except for Erie. (This is kind of bugging me, so let me know if you have a good answer!) -Liisa Liisa Mobley Sent from my iPhone -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] thanks for SNOW guidance +Longspur
Hi Folks, The class field trip was postponed from last week to 9 Feb. Of course it snowed, made roads slippery and we turned around to get home earlier than intended. But ... . We go two Snowy Owls, one along Rt 34 just north of Lane Rd and about 1 mile south of Genoa on a fence post to the southeast of the farm buildings , and the other at the very large dairy farm on Indian Field Rd and partially surrounded by Saxton Rd. on a building roof on the east side of Indian Field Rd. At this location we say ~50 Horned Lark, ~6 Snow Buntings, and 2-3 Laplad Longspur in driveway where the earth had been scraped bare by a plow blade. Not the best field trip with two cars and snow and wind, but good enough to thrill the students. Thanks. I am a jinx. I have been blanked on Short-eared Owls all year. Yesterday we were at the Lake Winery for an hour from 3:30 to 4:30 with no owls detected, although snow and wind made watching difficult. I've gone on three raptor surveys at Montezuma and a trip to Amherst Island without getting any short-ears. Warning, do not ever go on a trip with me to find short-ears. thanks for help wit the field trip, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] crow count MOVED LOCATION
Hi Folks, The crows have moved their roost to the trees west of Ithaca College campus between NCR and Longview. A quick scan yesterday suggested about 10,000 crows. Count from just west of entrance to IC from 4:30 to 6:00. Please call 539-6308 if you would like to come. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] crow roost - count
I counted 4549 crows coming to the roost located primarily west of Rt96B opposite the IC campus with some birds roosting on the east side of 96B near the circle apartments: Sunday, 1 March, 2014. I couldn't see if there were any birds coming from the south or west. On 1 March, the birds were roosting primarily on IC Natural Area land. The arrival began slowly, peaked about 5:20-5:30 and then declined abruptly. There were two major flight lines approaching the roost as follows The first approach line came from the north over the land that slopes steeply down to the valley. On 1 March, these birds were high in the sky. On 28 Feb. this approach had far greater density of crows during a few minutes of observation period than at the same time on 1 March and the birds came in to the roost just above tree top. The other approach line flew into the roost going in a westsouthwest direction. This approach line had many birds on 1 March, but did not have many birds during the previous evening. On both evenings, peak arrival was during the later part of the entire arrival time. The flight lines and elevation used varied between the two nights. THE ROOSTING BIRDS WERE VERY CLOSE TO RT 96B AND PROVIDED A PHOTOGENIC OPPORTUNITY, IF YOU LIKE BLACK AND WHITE. The crows even fed along the road shoulder with hundreds in tree tops directly behind the feeding birds. From 96B the site is crossed by utility lines, but from the drive that accesses Longview, the roosting bids can ge seen without lines in the way. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basics Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to eBird! -- attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Spring - Fox Sp and Winter Wren
We've had Fox Sparrow singing around our feeder since 1 March, and this morning (5 March ) a Winter Wren chimed in with its incredibly long song. Spring is absolutely marvelous. Just pay attention to the photoperiod and forget about the temperature. John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Amherst Island needs help
Subscribers to the list may be interested in the letter Karen and I sent to Suzanne Edwards of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. Use as you may wish. John Confer To: Susanne Edwards, Ontario Ministry of the Environment cc to above email addresses. I am a strong proponent of wind energy. As a faculty member at Ithaca College, NY I wrote a successful grant proposal with administrative support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund installation of a wind anemometer to assess the potential wind power on our campus property. The test, unfortunately, documented unsatisfactory winds for our location. I have been on the Conservation Committee of the New York State Ornithological Association for many years and compiled the wind power resolution adopted by NYSOA. Excerpts from this resolution are copied below and show strong support for wind power in general, but not in locations such as Amherst Island with famous concentrations of raptors. As Coordinator (now retired) for the Environmental Studies and Science Programs at Ithaca College and instructor for related courses, I often lectured on the advantages of wind power. These include the renewable supply, the very limited production of greenhouse gasses, limited environmental degradation, and limited cultural loss when cited at appropriate locations. Wind power is desirable because it can help meet our energy needs without the downside associated with fossil fuels, when cited appropriately. My professional focus is on birds and I have more than 30 publications and a dozen research grants in this area, and sole authorship and co-authorship on monographs of two warbler species in The Birds of North America series. Amherst Island is known internationally for its concentration of winter raptors. Amherst Island and the similar, nearby Wolfe Island provided a habitat that supported concentrations of winter raptors perhaps unexceeded in eastern North America. My interest in birds and this unique birding opportunity led me to take a half-dozen birding trips to Amherst Island over several decades with my wife, with friends, and as trip leader with other birders. The proposed wind power farm on Amherst Island is the perfect example of the implementation of a generally good concept in exactly the wrong place. Certainly wind power can be environmentally beneficial, but not when it threatens the habitat recognized for its global significance as a location with globally special concentrations of wintering raptors including uncommon species such as Short-eared Owls and other species rarely seen this far south such as Hawk Owls, Boreal Owls and Snowy Owls sometimes even in abundance. Wind power can provide energy for human activities without the indirect consequences of global climate change. But in this case, the construction and operation of a wind farm would destroy the environment enjoyed by many and would threaten a life style and culture deeply rooted in the values of island families and maintained even for centuries. What may be gained by a minimal impact on global climate change is more than offset by the degradation of a globally significant environment and industrialization of a rural culture. Bird surveys on Wolfe Island show that post-construction density of winter raptors is lower than on the mainland. Yet for decades birders have visited Wolfe and Amherst because concentrations of raptors on the islands were phenomenally high. Abrupt mortality due to impact with the blades may occasionally occur, but the abandonment of rare habitat due to disturbance can cause far more birds to disperse to areas where starvation and highway mortality are more common than on the islands. Wind power on the right site is environmentally beneficial in comparison to fossil fuels. But this generality should not be accepted as a rational to locate a wind farm in a site where there is every expectation that the direct environmental and cultural loss will be highly significant on the local, national, and global scale. Respectfully submitted by Dr. John L. Confer, retired Coordinator for Environmental Studies at Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY con...@ithaca.edu mailto:con...@ithaca.edu mailto:con...@ithaca.edu mailto:con...@ithaca.edu, 607-539-6308 tel:607-539-6308 651 Hammond Hill Rd. Brooktondale, NY 14817 /Please sign the attached petition. We all know the importance of this island to migrating raptors and passerines as well as wintering owls. Wolf Island next door is the home of a wind farm and had been documented as one of the most devastating to birds with so many raptors killed there. We can't allow Amherst to go down as well. Our friends to the north thank you. John / http://www.protectamherstisland.ca/save-amherst-island-letter/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Inebriation in birds
Clearly, the FAA is not acting in a responsible manner. The IC campus has numerous ornamental cherry trees, some very close to the center of campus and in locations with heavy human traffic. Cedar Waxwing flocks, occasionally as large as several hundred, eat the berries on these trees in late fall and on spring return in early spring. If you squeeze the berries, they sure do smell like an alcoholic fruit drink. Without any scientific evidence, I've always assumed that it was fermented. Supporting the fermentation possibility is that 1. The birds eating the fermented berries can be absurdly tame, allowing nearly a hundred students to walk by with 2 to 15 m as class changes. 2. A great many of the birds kill themselves against the nearby plate glass windows, far more than I would expect if they weren't flying while under the influence. I suppose I have seen at least 20 dead below windows. 3. Even more convincing, I have seen an additional 10-20 lying dead beneath the trees. I never thought of alcohol poisoning, which now seems possible. In several instances the birds had berries half swallowed in their throat or in the gap of their mouth. I thought they got drunk and then suffocated themselves. Keven mentioned the major selective pressure against eating fermented berries and drunken behavior. Similarly, there have been fatal consequences among students on our campuses due to drinking in the last several years, yet students do continue to get smashed (a quite appropriate word). I guess that for waxwings, the choice at some time and place may be starvation or drunkenness. John On 3/6/2014 12:56 PM, Weinberg, Kathy C. wrote: Besides, the FAA will not allow the birds to fly with elevated blood alcohol levels. Kathy C. Weinberg Jenner Block LLP 1099 New York Avenue, N.W. Suite 900, Washington, DC20001-4412|jenner.com (202) 639-6868 | TEL (214) 673-1300 | MOBILE (202) 661-4930 | FAX kweinb...@jenner.com Download V-Card|View Biography CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING: This email may contain privileged or confidential information and is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). Any unauthorized use or disclosure of this communication is prohibited. If you believe that you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete it from your system. From: bounce-112957669-62235...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-112957669-62235...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Dave Nutter Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2014 12:20 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Inebriation in birds I am just speculating, but my thoughts are: * The drying process would preserve the fruit because the yeasts might be unable to function without water (I surmise), just as the bacteria cannot function with low water and high sugar concentrations (my understanding of why drying preserves fruit). * Any alcohol in the fruit would be as apt to evaporate as the water, or maybe more so, ethanol boiling at a lower temperature than water. * The birds would need water to reconstitute and digest the concentrated fruit. When I eat very dry food, my stomach hurts unless I also drink water, I think because the dried food draws too much water from my stomach. Water is needed for digestion generally to break up many larger molecules, although oxidation later on also creates water which I assume can be used for this. Birds don't carry around extra water. I often see waxwings drinking, and I think that's why. * I'm skeptical that birds who rely on old fruit have issues with inebriation. Birds are so finely tuned for flying that the drunks wouldn't survive, either hitting something or getting eaten. The selection pressure would be enormous. I think either there isn't much alcohol out there, or they know how to avoid it. * Cedar Waxwings are a bit quirky and different from other birds,
[cayugabirds-l] Short-eared Owls - Ithaca Airport
Two Short-eared Owls flying inside chain link fence at about 7:20 Sunday evening. First spotted by Bob, eagle eye, McGuire who was still sitting inside a car after all the rest of us had gotten out of three different cars and did not notice anything. And the moral is ... ? -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Silk purse from sow's ear.
So, my calendar says I was leading a Cayuga Bird Club trip on Sunday, 9 March. Knowing my success with owls, this may have been doomed from the start. Apparently, the entire rest of the world thought I was leading an owl prowl on Saturday, 8 March. O dear. I'm sorry. Ann Mitchell was kind enough to call to see if I was coming, but she has an unlisted phone number that I don't know. O dear, o dear. Sow's ear number one. Months ago when scheduling this tragi-comic event, I forgot about Daylight Sayings time and 7:00 PM was about an hour too early for any anticipated owl. Fortunately, I had the brilliant idea of going around the back of the airport to listen for American Woodcock, of which there were none that we could hear. More sows' ears. Incredibly, there were two Short-eared Owls at about 7:20 flying around the northwest corner of the airport, which I will trade for American Woodcock anytime. Two silk purses. Proceeded to the north end of Wood Rd and heard, some even saw, a pair of courting Great Horned Owls. At this point, we should have gone home with our silk purses and called it quits. No screech or saw-whet. Stopped at three more locations on Wood Rd. No saw-whet, screech or Barred Owl. No Screech along Lower Creek Rd. Stopped at three locations on the Recreational Way for no screech. Stopped at three locations on Thomas Rd with no screech or saw-whet, although I have had both along that portion of the road within the last month. Stopped on the west side of Freeze Rd., just north of the bridge over Fall Creek and did get a screech owl to respond. The bird moved around and changed its song so that there could have been 1 to 3 owls. Back to the lab, and on my way home stopped at Thomas Rd., and got a screech owl to respond north of the bed and breakfast. cheers, John Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm Archives: The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] new yard bird
Trivia follows After 65 years of extensive feeding of birds in my yard, (OK, including homes of parents for Karen and John and our previous homes) and with dispersal of up to ~100 lb/wk of bird seed when there has been frequent, fresh snow fall, and after thousands of hours of observation; it is a rare treat to get great views of a new species feeding in our yard. OK, guess what species. It is not really rare, just almost never seen in our yard habitat. It is a bird of the field. Don't have it yet? Does it help to know that it nests in the tundra? Scroll down Snow Bunting! for about 15 minutes about 3-4 m from the window. It was snowing hard and images show snow accumulating on its head as it fed. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] killdeer
Killdeer must have been on the move. I saw 11 Killdeer in half a mile along flooded fields on Flatiron Rd., Caroline just before it turned bitter cold with snow. I wonder how many survived. John Confer On 3/12/2014 6:53 PM, cl...@juno.com wrote: *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] mega flock Snow Geese Green-winged Teal, Ruddy Duck, Rusty Blackbird
I think I deleted my previous email attempt from yesterday, so again. On Friday afternoon, Snow Geese: flock near north end of lake, distant view in middle of lake, on ice, raft more than a mile long G-w Teal and Ruddy Duck at extreme sw corner of Cayuga Lake. 25 Rusty Blackbird just east of Slaterville Springs (50 m) in wet woods north of Rt 79, between Rt. 79 and Slaterville-Harford Rd. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Rusty Blackbird continue at same Slaterville Springs place.
25 Rusty Blackbird just east of Slaterville Springs (50 m) in wet woods north of Rt 79, between Rt. 79 and Slaterville-Harford Rd. Birds have been here up to Sunday evening for 3 days. Having said that, they are sure to fly away over night. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm Archives: The Mail Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/! -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sunday around Cayuga Lake
Karen and I and Stefan Karkuff went around Cayuga Lake, which resulted in some beautiful observations, a few uncommon birds, and, as usual, some odd misses. We started with the Cooper's Hawk in our back yard, harassed by crows, that landed fairly close to us, presumably the nesters of both species that have been nearby for the last two years. Omitting the more common, but still beautiful, birds: 8:30 at Stewart Park; subadult Bald Eagle hang gliding into the wind over willow trees 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls Frontenac Park, looking south alone east shore of Cayuga Lake 3 Long-tailed Ducks 3 White-winged Scoters 1 Red-necked Grebe in marina with light house 1 Long-tailed Duck Myer's Point 4+ Water Pipit Auto tour route around main pool at Montezuma NWR 1 Iceland Gull in dredged ponds near thruway 1 Double-crested Cormorant (alright, should I mention this as a special bird?) Armitage Rd., in flooded corn field just east of creek 2 Trumpeter Swans: wing markers 101 and 202, very close to road. Lower Lake Rd. an estimated 25,000 diving ducks in front of just one of many observations points that had extremely large flocks We set a goal of 30 species of grebes, ducks, geese, swans, loons (and cormorants) for the day and came up with: (fanfare, trumpet roll) a total of 32 species including 3 spp of swan and 2 spp grebes. Indeed, a very nice day. Only about 2000 Snow Geese (Are they all on Seneca lake or did they go north?) It does pay to go out on very uncomfortable days. John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Goetchius - beautiful morning - Am Bittern
7:00-8:00 AM Aside from one previous report of a calling Am. Bittern for Goetchius, aided by a very flexible boundary, this was the first AM BI sighting within the Goetchius and actually this was in the NY DOT portion of the wetland, that I have heard about. A female Harrier coursing over the northwestern portions of the Preserve to go along with Marie's earlier report of a male two days ago. I wonder? 5 E. Meadowlarks, including a pair with one carrying a considerable amount of nest material to the ground. 2 Solitary Sandpiper at least 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 2 Greater Yellowlegs at least 5 Common Snipe, including one winnowing courtship flight. Only 2 singing male Savannah Sparrows. - Three Brown Thrasher Friday, two on IC campus and one in front yard. An unusually high number for me. How nice. John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Big Day Bust or Great?
From 3:30 to 8:00 I say the lowest number of species that I can remember in decades. Still early with many regulars not back. That's not good. But, how can you call a day a bust when you get to see/hear: Barred Owls calling before you are out of your car at 3:40. I knew that was too easy and that I would have to pay. It was an hour before I got the second species, a screech owl. Then, of course, I only found one other species in the May Day count, which did happen to be a Snowy Owl!! (Spotted by Karen Allaben-Confer far from original, posted location!!)Too bad we got only three species of owls. Two flocks of Black Tern: Main Pool and Tschache Pond. A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers excavating a hole in the same stand of dead trees as last year near May's Point Pond. Hole on north side of road and facing the road in single-stem, dead elm with a little piece of bark around the trunk and hole in the middle of bark. Birds appeared totally oblivious to hoards of observers. Eurasian Wigeon: opposite pole 291 as reported on Van Dyne Spoor Rd. Trumpeter Swans: seen from Carncross Rd. Prothonatory Warbler on Armitage Rd building nest about 100 m north of bridge. The best view in my life of a Bay-breasted Warbler perched in conifer tree for at least 30 seconds, with full exposure to rising sun, above a play-back of a mobbing tape. A Sora Rail, but no Virginia Rail. Who would have thought 15 years ago that you would see more Osprey and more Bald Eagles than Red-tailed Hawks and Am. Kestrel summed together? Was this a bust day with few species for the effort and time of year, or a great day? Birding is unpredictably fun John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] playback tapes
Steve raised a concern about the use of audio playback for personal gain, not related to scientific study. I think it is important to think of the consequences of our activities on wildlife, and I appreciate Steve raising this concern. I did 34 years of field study of Golden-winged Warblers, more than half of it requiring the capture and banding of birds with individual markers, without which the research data could not have been obtained. I have probably had more hours of field experience, probably hundreds of hours, using playing audio calls to attract birds into nets than anyone in this community. I intensively played audios back to catch some individual males. I was willing to accept some bird fatality to obtain the data that can be used for the conservation of the entire species. That seemed a fair trade. I do recall 3 or 4 nests where nest checking caused mortality. I do recall banding that caused perhaps two fatalities. I DO NOT RECALL ANY BIRD THAT ABANDONED ITS NEST, LOST A MATE OF AN ESTABLISHED PAIR, OR DESERTED A TERRITORY OUT OF A THOUSAND ATTEMPTS TO CATCH AND BAND A BIRD USING AUDIO PLAYBACK. My work involved relating nesting success to environmental factors and I did everything reasonable to reduce the chances that my activities would harm the birds. I was acutely aware or sensitive to what happened to each nest, to each pair, to each male or female. I never saw that audio lures hurt a bird. My quantified data has never shown that a few minutes of audio playback is a problem for birds. I suppose the chances of harm to the bird due to audio playback are about of the same order of magnitude of the chances of your car killing a bird as you drive up and down to Montezuma NWR. Most accept that risk for our pleasure. Once this year I almost veered off the road to try to avoid a Ring-necked Pheasant, which I hit anyway, which is more damage than I ever attributed to audio playbacks. I am quite conscious of trying to help wildlife through the worst storms of winter by feeding them as some compensation for the loss of habitat, and highway mortality, and infrastructure damage to wildlife caused by humans. I am actually quite conscious of this reasoning when I buy the usual 100 lb cracked corn, 100 lb whole kernel corn, and 100 lb black oil seed perhaps every 2-3 weeks., and when I make an extra, outside trip or two or even three in a day to put feed out on the ground when it is snowing hard. I maintain a few bird houses, and apply the same conscious thought of compensating birds for my share of the the infrastructure that has depleted habitat and killed birds. I think we all accept some damage to wildlife for our pleasure. But, I don't think a few minutes of audio playback by one or two or three individuals makes any difference. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Winged Warbler songs
Thanks Matt for the kind and just about perfectly correct comments. The author who has written more about GWWA and BWWA song and behavioral response of each to the other's song and call is Frank Gill, former Pres of the AOU, Ornithologist of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Science, and I good guy with great expertise. I had the good fortune to go out in a winged warbler, sympatric population site with Frank for two long field days. He bet me dinner that he could distinguish Type II song by species for two different birds based on their Type II song. (Type II is the alarm or aggression sputter, or pre-dawn singing bout.) He bought me two dinners. I think there may be regional differences and that Frank could tell them apart in his study area, but he was in a new region. Hybrids can sing a perfect copy of either Type I song of both species, rarely one individual mixes them up, i. e. alternates from one to the other during a multi-song series. Maybe 90% of the time, the hybrid song is to my ear a perfect copy. Sometimes a song sounds a little off and I'll bet myself that it is a hybrid. In such cases, I think I have been right better than 50% of the time. So, maybe 10% of the hybrids sing something that is not quite right, but is still quite close to one or the other of the two species. I very much like the BNA series and use them fairly often. The BNA account has a word limit and does not allow space for subtle distinctions such as the above. It has a generally correct commentary, but leaves out some of the rich nuances. Cheers, John From: bounce-115623973-25065...@list.cornell.edu bounce-115623973-25065...@list.cornell.edu on behalf of Matthew Medler m...@cornell.edu Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2014 12:03 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Winged Warbler songs Hi All, We are fortunate to have John Confer, one of the world's foremost experts on Blue-winged Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler, in our midst, so I'm hoping that he can provide a more insightful commentary on this topic than I can. But, I did want to point out that both the Blue-winged Warbler BNA account (which John co-authored) and the Golden-winged Warbler BNA account (which he authored and co-revised) make it clear that hybrids between the two species do not sing intermediate songs and are therefore not identifiable by song as a hybrid (let alone the type of hybrid): From the Blue-winged Warbler BNA Account: Songs of hybrids typical Blue-wing or Golden-wing; not intermediate or more variable in hybridizing populations, in contrast to plumage color. And from the Golden-winged Warbler BNA Account: Songs of hybrids match those of the parental species and are not intermediate in form (Ficken and Ficken 1967, Gill and Murray 1972b)Census techniques that use bird calls face severe difficulty with Golden-winged and Blue-winged warblers. Hybrids will be identified as one or the other species. The pre-dawn singing bouts of type II song are very similar for both species, and difficult to distinguish. Going a step further, the song situation between Blue-winged Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler is very complicated, with Blue-winged Warblers capable of singing Golden-winged Warbler song and vice versa. Therefore, it is my understanding that no winged warbler can be safely identified to species (let alone hybrid type) with 100% confidence without visual confirmation. For those interested in listening to the vocal variability in this group, here are the 164 Vermivora recordings archived at the Macaulay Library: http://macaulaylibrary.org/search?taxon=vermivorataxon_rank_id=62taxon_id=12023487tab=audio-listorder=taxapage=1 (This includes four Bachman's Warbler recordings at the top, and 32 hybrid recordings on Page 2.) And for those interested in more reading, both Birds of North America accounts contain extensive Sounds sections that discuss interspecies discrimination and related topics in the two species. Good birding, Matt Medler Ithaca P.S. John, I hope that I got this all right! I'm sure we'd all enjoy hearing additional comments from you. From: Wesley M. Hochachka w...@cornell.edu To: CAYUGABIRDS-L cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2014 8:52 PM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] likely Golden-winged/Brewster's Warbler on Hammond Hill this morning Hi everyone, Apologies for my late posting, but I only now had a chance to scan through a large number of recordings of singing warblers, and concluded that there was either a Golden-winged or Brewster's Warbler on Hammond Hill this morning. The bird was heard by me, Scott Haber, and Brad Walker on the trail labelled Yellow 6. If you travel the trail across the road from the Hammond Hill Rd parking lot in the state forest, you will be on the Yellow 1 trail. At a point just above the old blow-down area that has both Mourning and Canada
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Owl seduction
HI Folks, I have no information about using metal boxes as potential nest boxes. Owls probably can't be too picky about the shape of their nest box because natural cavities come in a variety of shapes. But I do have a concern. I wonder if metal boxes wouldn't get too hot if they get direct sun. I wonder if they would lack insulation and get too cold when the temperature drops. I don't think owls carry much nesting material, if any at al, and sitting on a piece of metal could be really near lethal in cold weather and really hard on eggs. Maybe you could line the box with plywood? Anyone else have nesting experiences for birds in metal containers? I put up one of Brad Prentise's owl boxes and had an owl use it for a winter roost, once in about 15 years. I know other's have had an occasional owl and Hooded Merganser use Brad's boxes. It is fun to put them up and hope. Good luck, John Confer I think this is entirely appropriate for the list serve. On 6/29/2014 5:57 PM, Robin Cisne wrote: I hope you'll excuse this being somewhat off-topic, but I could use some sage counsel. I have an old mailbox that I was thinking I could nail up in a tree in hopes an owl would roost in it. Am I deluding myself? If this is a realistic possibility, are there things I could do to make it more attractive? I put up a bat house a couple of years ago and am disappointed that it remains unused. Thanks for your help, Robin -- ///I met a traveller from an antique land Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert / //P.B. Shelley / / -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Least Bittern and Red-Headed Woodpecker.
A couple weeks ago, I went around the main dike auto tour route and saw two Least Bittern flying by less than 10 yards apart: near the first segment of the drive that goes north-South just where the dense cattails open up so that you can see several hundred yards of more or less open water. I can't remember ever seeing a Least Bittern on the main auto tour route before. A week before that I helped with the Black Tern survey by pushing my canoe through the cattails for about a quarter of a mile(!) at May's Point and scared up one Least Bittern. That is way above average for me. Maybe it is a great year for Least Bittern. Cheers, John On 7/5/2014 10:49 PM, W. Larry Hymes wrote: Sara Jane and I went to Montezuma today in hopes of seeing LEAST BITTERN. We were most fortunate to have one land out in the open at Jay's Place across from Larue's Lagoon. It very kindly posed for us for a whopping 20 seconds or so!! About that same time we had a fly-by AMERICAN BITTERN. Later we went to the DEC headquarters on Morgan Road and had another Least Bittern do a nice long fly-by for us, before it literally took a dive into the vegetation. Based on the recent posts on this species, and our good fortune today, it would appear that the numbers of Least Bittern are significantly higher than in most years. Is this true?? We also stopped to see the RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS over at Mays. We saw the adults feeding a young bird. They seemed to take their time coming to the nest hole with food, as though they were trying to coax the young bird into fledging. At the same time I had the feeling that perhaps the young bird wasn't terribly anxious to go out and look for a job, preferring instead to stay home where it could have food brought to it in bed! Larry -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Saw-whet owl banding
Tired of getting warbler neck from tiny, confusing fall warblers darting among dense foliage? Tired of straining your eyes to see miniscule differences among peeps? Tired of little brown jobs in immature or fall plumage that hide in brown grass? Try looking at owls, at eye level, at your eye focal distance, and holding them in your hand! Consider becoming a BANDING ASSISTANT for HHOWLS, (HammondHill Owls) during the upcoming migration of Northern Saw-whet Owls, starting in late September. The primary consideration during this study is the safety of the owls and the accurate recording of the data. In the last three years, nearly 200 owls have been banded at this site with 5 recoveries of owls banded elsewhere while 2 of our banded birds have been recovered elsewhere. As a result of a major interest in and effort for saw-whet banding , about 1% of all the saw-whets that are captured are already banded and foreign recoveries of banded birds are frequent. Banding must be carried out following specific conditions and procedures. If interested in helping three or more nights as a BANDING ASSISTANT, please email off-list to John Confer con...@ithaca.edu mailto:con...@ithaca.edu for further information. Give a hoot -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] possible Connecticut
Just a heads up. I heard out my bedroom window a possible (well, it made my year list) Connecticut Warbler. It took about 3-4 calls before it clicked in my mind what it was. Checking with web sites http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=66, I thought it was a perfect match. Perhaps they are moving through the area now and others may hear their call and have that moment of What the heck was that. I think I know it, but I haven't heard it in so long I can't place it. Refresh your memory and you'll be able to know it. Of course, in the next hour, it didn't call again. Odd - My recollection is that fall Connecticut are more often than not reported by sound recognition than by sight. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] possible Connecticut
Hi Folks, Both Ken Rosenberg and Kevin have raised the most polite and informed question about the possible Connecticut singing. The bird I heard was singing. I was busy and half-listened and half registered the song and initially said to my self that it was a really odd Ovenbird because each note was so staccato, and then I said to myself that it just was not right for Ovenbird. Each note of an Ovenbird song seems to flow into the next note without a distinct pause between notes, even if each note is very emphatic. The song of this bird had a distinct stutter, or extremely brief pause between notes. I know songs of warblers are rare in fall, which is why I mentioned I thought it odd. Now you guys make me wonder about it, but as I played back in my mind what I had heard, it really did sound like a Connecticut and my recollection matched the audio at the web site. Caution is always appropriate, but it is still on my year list, but maybe that says more (or less) about my year list. Thanks for the informed questions. Cheers, John On 8/26/2014 12:24 PM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote: Are you saying it was singing? I don't think I've ever heard of a Connecticut singing here in the fall before. The thin call note isn't distinctive enough to me to be recognizable, although perhaps with enough experience it might be (as opposed to no experience at all). Best, Kevin -Original Message- From: bounce-117782773-3493...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-117782773-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of John Confer Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 12:00 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] possible Connecticut Just a heads up. I heard out my bedroom window a possible (well, it made my year list) Connecticut Warbler. It took about 3-4 calls before it clicked in my mind what it was. Checking with web sites http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=66, I thought it was a perfect match. Perhaps they are moving through the area now and others may hear their call and have that moment of What the heck was that. I think I know it, but I haven't heard it in so long I can't place it. Refresh your memory and you'll be able to know it. Of course, in the next hour, it didn't call again. Odd - My recollection is that fall Connecticut are more often than not reported by sound recognition than by sight. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Rough-legged Hawk-Slaterville
And more hawks A rough-legged hawk flew by the western edge of Slaterville Springs crossing Rt 79. John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Asher's phone # and CBC
I used the phone number in the newsletter to try to call Asher about the Christmas Bird Count. Twice I got the no such phone number recorded statement. Maybe I misdialed, but I suspect the number is wrong. Asher, or anybody who can correct the number, could you email me at con...@ithaca.edumailto:con...@ithaca.edu. Thanks John Confer I hope you don't mind using the listserve for this, thanks. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Short-eared Owls and other raptors at Lake Rd. 12/12
Bob and Joan Horn, Karen and John Confer Indian Farm Rd: 1 Red-tailed Hawk, junco, tree Spa, and Horned Larks Poplar Ridge Rd; accipiter and probable N. Harrier Lake Rd/Long Point Winery: from ~~3:00-3:45 and primarily west or toward lake from winery, 1 male Am. Kestrel, 1 light phase Rough-legged Hawk attacking a Red-tailed Hawk, 1 imm. N. Harrier (seemed very large and probably female), (and wait for it) 2 Short-eared Owls around road from ~3:15 to 3:45. For John, this was the sixth visit to the Long Point Winery area in the last two years and the first time seeing SEOWs. Bob and Joan have seen four at a time and we compromised between my jinx and their good luck and got great views of 2. Goo raptoring -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Christmas Bird Count - Owl Route
Hi Folks, Hearing an owl respond to an audio lure is great fun for me. But, I would like to try a new owl route using audio lures for the Cayuga Bird Club Christmas Bird Count. In the past 15 years I have adapted my route to acvcomodate people who have moved into areas where I previously tried the audio lure, which is entirely appropriate! Some of my stops are well known for owls and may even have been taped to the point that they produced tape fatigue so that staked out owls no longer respond on Jan 1. Consequently, what is left of my route is a very miserable area for owling with the highest elevations in the count area, deepest snow, the lowest temperatures, and maybe the lowest density of owls. I'd like to try a new area at 400' elevation instead of 1400-2000 with far less snow providing owls with easier access to mice, and warmer temperatures, which may support more owls. Anyone who has been using an area for pre-dawn audio lure owl surveys certainly has the unquestioned priority to continue to use that area. If the following doesn't impose on others, I'd like to try around the area that includes Floral Ave., Coy Glen Rd., lower Buttermilk Falls St. Pk., Inlet Creek along Rt. 13, including Larch Meadows, the area behind Home Depot. Asher Hockett compiles this area and did not know of anyone doing pre-dawn owl surveys in this area. *Has any one been using audio lures for owls in this area?* Please let me know and I will rethink. I guess comments about where someone does pre-dawn owling are fine for the listserve. *If some other fool would like to join me at 4:00 AM at lower Buttermilk Falls St. Pk. please respond to con...@ithaca.edu or 539-6308* Hoot, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Northern Goshawk Fingerlakes National Forest, Schuyler Co.
I'm just suggesting that an overdoes of caution for the sake of a species that is known to be adverse to human disturbance is worth considering. The evidence for goshawk nest abandonment that I know about is limited but real. I doubt that at this time of year that there would be any impact on reproductive success, but a visit in ~April-May might have an impact. 40 years ago Dorothy McIlroy described to me one goshawk nest that was abandoned while the birds were on eggs and 30 years ago John Snelling, a former grad student of Tom Cade, with a strong interest in raptors, also described such an instance. John Gregoire, below, added another instance(s). This doesn't approach the sample size for a publication. There is data for golden-wings that the number fledged per nest is lower for renests, but that comes from pooling nearly a dozen major studies of GWWA reproductive success, including a half-dozen PhDs, and is detectable only with a sample size of on the order of 500 nests. This won't happen for goshawk. So what we have is anecdotal. Since my information on goshawk is old and very personal and not generally known among the public, I wanted to make the gentle suggestion that for birds swuch as ravens and goshawk or similar birds with individual pairs that can be adversely affected by human presence that the location of (potential) territories and/or nests is probably not a good thing to share. It is interesting that within a species there may be pairs that are acclimated to human presence and pairs that don';t often contact humans and may over-react' to human intrusion. This the consequence of visiting a nest or entering a territory is unpredictable. Cheers, John On 1/16/2015 2:17 PM, Anne Clark wrote: Hopefully this is not taking this outside the interest of many on the list but: I am curious to know the evidence on reduced nesting success in goshawks, in part because it is really important to know what such evidence would look like. John, can you direct those of us who might want to follow up to publications, people, organizations? Thanks, Anne On Jan 16, 2015, at 2:07 PM, John and Sue Gregoire wrote: Heartly concur John. Count me as a bander who has both noted this and had research muddled by such exact descriptions. john -- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Road Burdett,NY 14818-9626 N 42 26.611' W 76 45.492' Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ Conserve and Create Habitat On Thu, January 15, 2015 16:03, John Confer wrote: HI Folks, The barn door is open or the cat is out of the bag, BUT I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT DESCRIBING LOCATIONS OF N GOSHAWK WHEN THEY ACT SOMEWHAT AS IF THEY HAD A TERRITORY. Northern Goshawk are known among banders who climb to hawk nests to frequently abandon a nest, especially early in the nesting cycle, although not so much after the young have hatched.Individual birds can become accustomed to human disturbance at a low level and provide an exception. Other birds that rarely see humans may well abandon a nest if disturbed. At this time of year, they probably haven't started laying and, even if the bird is considering nesting nearby, at this time of the year the bird might just move away. However, if they did start to nest and someone visited the well described site a couple months from now, the bird might abandon eggs. I know there is an excitement in seeing a good bird, and it is very nice to share providing a very good motivation to share a siting with others, e.g., the Schofield Short-eared Owls, which do not seem to be at all disturbed by humans watching them in a car. Other species of birds may have reduced nesting success if people visit them, and goshawk are known to be so affected. Discretion in individual circumstances is advised. Cheers, John On 1/15/2015 11:14 AM, Donna Scott wrote: Where is Foster Pond, please? Sent from my iPhone Donna Scott On Jan 14, 2015, at 6:19 PM, Joshua Snodgrass cedarsh...@gmail.com mailto:cedarsh...@gmail.com wrote: I went birding at Foster Pond this afternoon, because high twenties feels like spring compared to the last few days. Past the frozen pond and down Backbone trail I ventured into the brushy field to get a better look at some waxwings when I flushed a Northern Goshawk from low cover. Life Bird! She (I'm guessing based on the size) perched in a small tree and posed for a long time. Excellent views. Adult with a bright eyestripe. I took pictures until my hands and toes went numb. She never flew away. As I was returning to the trail two Common Ravens flew over calling. Awesome Day! Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/123875591@N03/16096262487/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/123875591@N03/15662257883/in/photostream/ Sorry I didn't post earlier, but I have a dumb phone. Good birding! Josh -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info
[cayugabirds-l] 50+ red-wings
So we do have global climate change and the photoperiod is getting longer.. Still, I wonder if the 50+ male red-wings, all of them quiet, at Montezuma last night are going to pass on any genes for arriving this early. Surely we'll get at least one big snow storm that would be potentially lethal. Still, red-wings mean spring is thinking about coming our way. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Northern Goshawk Fingerlakes National Forest, Schuyler Co.
HI Folks, The barn door is open or the cat is out of the bag, BUT I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT DESCRIBING LOCATIONS OF N GOSHAWK WHEN THEY ACT SOMEWHAT AS IF THEY HAD A TERRITORY. Northern Goshawk are known among banders who climb to hawk nests to frequently abandon a nest, especially early in the nesting cycle, although not so much after the young have hatched.Individual birds can become accustomed to human disturbance at a low level and provide an exception. Other birds that rarely see humans may well abandon a nest if disturbed. At this time of year, they probably haven't started laying and, even if the bird is considering nesting nearby, at this time of the year the bird might just move away. However, if they did start to nest and someone visited the well described site a couple months from now, the bird might abandon eggs. I know there is an excitement in seeing a good bird, and it is very nice to share providing a very good motivation to share a siting with others, e.g., the Schofield Short-eared Owls, which do not seem to be at all disturbed by humans watching them in a car. Other species of birds may have reduced nesting success if people visit them, and goshawk are known to be so affected. Discretion in individual circumstances is advised. Cheers, John On 1/15/2015 11:14 AM, Donna Scott wrote: Where is Foster Pond, please? Sent from my iPhone Donna Scott On Jan 14, 2015, at 6:19 PM, Joshua Snodgrass cedarsh...@gmail.com mailto:cedarsh...@gmail.com wrote: I went birding at Foster Pond this afternoon, because high twenties feels like spring compared to the last few days. Past the frozen pond and down Backbone trail I ventured into the brushy field to get a better look at some waxwings when I flushed a Northern Goshawk from low cover. Life Bird! She (I'm guessing based on the size) perched in a small tree and posed for a long time. Excellent views. Adult with a bright eyestripe. I took pictures until my hands and toes went numb. She never flew away. As I was returning to the trail two Common Ravens flew over calling. Awesome Day! Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/123875591@N03/16096262487/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/123875591@N03/15662257883/in/photostream/ Sorry I didn't post earlier, but I have a dumb phone. Good birding! Josh -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Dandy's dandy drive-by screech - again
I stop by the Slaterville Springs Dandy store several times a week to get a newspaper on my way to/from work. I hadn't seen the owl or months. It really surprised me that David saw it, and also gave me considerable pleasure. I looked at the cavity at about 11:00 this morning. It wasn't there when I went in the store, but when I glanced at the hole when I came back, there was this gray, streaked ball of feathers filling up the hole. Hoot, John The cavity is about half way up a tree at the back edge of the parking lot on the left side of the Dandy Mart on Rt. 79 in the village of Slaterville Springs (in the town of Caroline). If you don’t see a dark cavity, then the owl is probably in the opening, well camouflaged. The cavity faces the parking lot and is easily seen from one of the parking spaces on the left side of the building. Anne Marie Johnson -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Serendipitous raptor observations- long rambling
serendipity: the faculty or phenomenon of finding valuable or agreeable things not sought for, refers to the fairy tale characters who were always making discoveries through chance. Cayugabirds-l has carried two recent reports of serendipitous raptor observations. A+ ratings: Kevin McGowan posted photo-documentation of an immature Bald Eagle eating a rat observed near the game farm, an unprecedented observation. Diana Whiting posted intriguing photos of a fight between two adult Red-tailed Hawks (both in banders terminology being after second year birds) along Ledyard Rd. where a third bird seen moments earlier. Both instances involved going beyond just serendipity; putting oneself into the locations where the odds were better than average that some serendipitous wildlife event might occur, and even further, by giving attention to surrounding events, and by the Boy Scout prepardness of having camera gear at the ready and also the skill to use it. B- rating:I was coming home from a root canal job that cost $1160 (rest assured this is pre-insurance). Further, having fallen over the dog and into a wooden chair, which I knocked down onto the dog and, on which I landed while it was on the dog, which broke three of the dog's foot bones, which cost $341 so far (of course no insurance), and which led me to wrench my back, bruise my chest and scrape my side just two days earlier, I was not feeling good but was feeling sorry for myself, and being a little ahead of schedule, (well actually not having any schedule), I turned into the Mulholland Widlflower Trail parking space at Giles Street, which put me in a location where some serendipitous wildlife event might be observed. Now my wife and I buy an exorbitant amount of bird seed, sometimes 300 lb weekly throughout several winter months. This feeds chipmunks, red and gray squirrels, mice, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, Mourning Doves, and other raptor food items. This has led to hearing the piteous squeals of a dying prey as an accipiter plucks feathers on several occasions, a sound one is not likely to forget. Unfortunately, in the last two weeks my wife or I have scared an accipiter off a dying prey on two occasions thereby leaving the prey to die an even slower death and the hawk to go off to kill another bird or to starve. As I turned off WSKG, I heard the familiar dying squeals and looked out my window to try to locate the origin. So, I was paying attention and thereby, facilitating serendipity. Almost immediately a small accipiter flew up and landed nearly over the top of my car so that I had to bend forward and lower my head below the top of the steering wheel to see the hawk, which had no prey in its talons, almost over my head - sort of nice if my back hadn't been hurting. I was surprised to hear the continued squeals coming from the ground about 10 yards away. I located the area with stirring leaves, and watched as a Red-tailed Hawk flew up and landed on a fallen log with some bird in its talons, which it preceded to pluck, dismember, and eat. Unfortunately, and this is where Kevin and Diana leave me embarrassed, I didn't have any camera with me, but even worse, I didn't have any binoculars. Lacking any means to verify this story, my serendipitous moment rates only a B-. All I can do is provide a little word picture. You can guess, as well as I, what happened before I arrived. I guess that the most likely event was that the sharpie made a kill and the red-tail stole it. Further happy beginnings are imaginable. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bradfiled Peregrines?
I checked Bradfield twice on Sunday, 8 March, once at about 7:45 and once at about 4:00 with no luck. Whitewash, which I guess was from Peregrines, was all over the brick walls with a few places of concentration. One of the three students whom I picked up, Menachem, said he saw a Peregrine fly by as he walked across campus that Sunday morning in the vicinity of college town. Tom Cade's first Peregrine release sites was at Taughannoch St.Pk. That site turned out to be a disaster as two (or three?) of the released young were killed, presumably by a Great Horned Owl. I think that is the last time Peregrines fledged near here. It was the last time a release was tried at that site. Subsequent release sites were moved to intertidal marshes to avoid Great Horned Owls. Wouldn't it be nice to have a local nest where the fledglings would be defended by an adult, i.e., the adults would attack and drive away an owl during daylight hours. A long time ago, I tired to get IC approval for a release site on the roof of one of the IC towers. The administration said no because the falcons might attack coeds and the dead pigeons might carry a disease that students could contact. Academia is not immune to ignorant prejudices. Cheers, John On 3/10/2015 9:39 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: I last saw a single Peregrine on the east side of Bradfield Hall on the afternoon of Monday 2 March, and it was a quick poor view as I was driving and looking back and up through trees over my shoulder. I had checked thoroughly without success twice earlier that day. Previous to that I saw 2 on Bradfield on 25 February. I have checked without seeing any every other day or so since then. Yesterday as I was checking I talked to a couple of people whom I don't know who were photographing or videoing one of the Red-tailed Hawks, whom they called Big Red, as it brought a stick to its nest. They said they hadn't seen Peregrines at Bradfield for several days but said the Peregrines were downtown catching pigeons. They also said they didn't know where the scrape is, which I assume meant they thought the Peregrines are nesting somewhere using a typical shallow scraped area in gravel on a cliff or building. This afternoon about 2:45 I was at Myers Point with Bob McGuire and Ann Mitchell when a Peregrine Falcon flew out near the lighthouse then back toward land and alit in a tree near the Finger Lakes Marine Service private marina. I had a brief view in flight, then it was rather obscured by branches where it perched, so I couldn't tell the gender, but I think it was an adult - blue gray back in flight, bold pattern on face. --Dave Nutter On Mar 10, 2015, at 01:42 PM, Meena Madhav Haribal m...@cornell.edu wrote: Has anyone seen the Peregrines lately? I went during lunch and did not see any. Meena Dr. Meena Haribal 409, Boyce Thompson Institute (BTI) Ithaca NY 14853 USA Phone 6073011167 Email: m...@cornell.edu mailto:m...@cornell.edu http://haribal.org/ http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ Ithaca area moths: http://tinyurl.com/kn6q2p4 Dragonfly book sample pages: http://www.haribal.org/140817samplebook.pdf -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Fresh, fragrant manure - How lovely
Just ~200 yds southeast of the Triangle Diner is a newly spread patch of manure. There were ~50 Horned Larks and ~75 Snow Bunting close to the road. And about a half mile south of there on Center Rd, which has a T-junction with Lake Rd at the Treleavan Winery, there were ~6 Lapland Longspurs along with ~15 Horned Lark. The HOLA were conspicuous in many locations Tufted Duck present at 3:30, found with the assistance of David Nutter. No gyrfalcon along Seybolt Rd. Cheers, -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Sunday CBC Field Trip- daylight savings
Do remember to move the time on your clocks one hour forward, i.e., less sleep. See you tomorrow at 7:45 at the parking lot opposite the Dairy Bar., or at the Lab before 8:00 Should you forget, our first stop of considerable duration will be at Myer's Point, but don't forget. Tufted Duck, Lapland Longspurs, and Snow Buntings better than a 50/50 chance, and others. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Raven courtship
Spring around our house includes Raven courtship. I heard and saw a pair of ravens flying from _south _of Rt 79 over Goetchius Preserve and up Hammond Hill and across to Robinson Hollow ( from a field you can see and hear them from a large distance away). The entire time they flew very close to each other with twists and turns, even occasionally seeming to bump into each other, giving croaks, and the bell-like sound, which I love, and other sounds that carry for more than a mile. I've seen this performance other times and interpret it as raven love. After watching them fly for well over a mile, I have no idea where their this pair might nest. The snow is melting, and the Great Lakes ice cover has receded from nearly 90% to 77%. I got to believe that spring is coming. Cheers, John *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com http://www.avg.com Version: 2015.0.5645 / Virus Database: 4299/9212 - Release Date: 03/02/15 -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Ithaca Yacht Club
I'm leading the club bird trip Sunday, and thought we would try for the Tufted Duck at the Ithaca Yacht Club then. Hence I called around starting with the homepage to get the number. It turns out that the Commodore gave permission for the club trip to go down to the water front. The Commodore, Marie Neumer, was in a rush as she was in line to get on a plane at the Ithaca Airport and indicated she could only be very brief. I didn't think to ask about permission for many visitors since I only thought about asking in the briefest possible conversation.. Sorry. She didn't seem concerned, but did not consider the possibility of many other visitors. Cheers, John Confer On 3/5/2015 9:37 AM, Sandy wrote: I think the idea of getting permission to bird there is a good idea. Anyone know who to call? I followed the footprints to the patio and stayed there. I also drove up the hill and looked down. In the meantime, I highly recommend going. There is so much courting behavior going on! And the sound of the ice is amazing! Like crystal bells chiming. I'd add one lone displaying male Hooded Merganser to the list of birds people have been reporting. I will try to go back today around 5:15 if anyone wants to meet me. I'd love to see the Tufted Duck. I assumed he would be far out of sight for me, but I think I might have seen it and want to go back to be sure. I'll be in a blue Hyundai sedan. Sandy Sent from my iPhone -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy - GH Owl nest - correction: owls there Thursday 4/16 morning.
Well, I'll be darned. It certainly does sound as if there were two raptor nests. They would have to be very close to each other. In fact, I was pretty certain I was looking at the same nest/location where I saw the adult owl about 10 days ago. The two nests must be really close. I'll have to go back to try to see both nests. I'm still not completely convinced I was looking at a different nest because in location and structure, it certainly looked like my memory of the owl nest. Life is interesting. Cheers, John From: bounce-119070192-25065...@list.cornell.edu bounce-119070192-25065...@list.cornell.edu on behalf of Dave Bulatek Teresa Wagner Bulatek bula...@twcny.rr.com Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2015 9:04 PM To: Noe Fernandez Pozo; CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy - GH Owl nest - correction: owls there Thursday 4/16 morning. There is a Red-tailed hawk nest not far from the owls' nest. We have photos of the owls from Friday evening, April 17. Teresa - Original Message - From: Noe Fernandez Pozo noeis...@gmail.com To: CAYUGABIRDS-L cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2015 7:58 PM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy - GH Owl nest - correction: owls there Thursday 4/16 morning. Hi, I saw the GHO on the nest today. Cheers, Noe On Apr 19, 2015, at 7:19 PM, Susan Danskin dans...@twcny.rr.com wrote: A friend sent me a photo of the chick in the nest time stamped 10:45 am today. is it possible John’s group was looking at a different nest? I know Gary K said he spent a bunch of time looking at the wrong nest a couple of weeks ago. Susan On Apr 19, 2015, at 7:02 PM, Paul Schmitt pschmi...@gmail.com wrote: Well, I have photos of both chicks and adult from Saturday morning. This report does not match. Paul Schmitt Sent from my iPad On Apr 19, 2015, at 6:15 PM, Marie P. Read m...@cornell.edu wrote: Correction: I was at the GH Owl nest THURSDAY morning, around 9:00 am. One adult and one large nestling were visible in the nest. I was there myself on Friday morning when the owls were definitely in residence. 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 Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here: http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE From: bounce-119069866-5851...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-119069866-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Marie P. Read [m...@cornell.edu] Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2015 6:08 PM To: John Confer; CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: RE:[cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy - GH Owl nest John Confer wrote: We drove over to the golf course and first stopped to see the Great Horned Owl nest. To our total surprise, , although there was no owl in sight, there was a Red-tailed Hawk flat on the nest as if incubating. I know some species reuse the nest of other species, but two raptor species in the same season? If the red-tail is incubating, it must have started laying almost immediately after the GHOW left, because it was there just two weeks ago. Well that is totally bizarre, because some friends of mine said they saw the GH Owls on that nest Saturday afternoon (I think) and I was there myself on Friday morning when the owls were definitely in residence. What happened? 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 Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here: http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE From: bounce-119069750-5851...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-119069750-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John Confer [con...@ithaca.edu] Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2015 4:56 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L; John Confer Subject: [cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy The warbler team had a moderately good day. We did not find many migrants: one White-throated Sparrow as we were leaving the Lab and then a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker calling as we got into the cars. The swan pen at Stewart Park had few birds and the waterfront produced the more common waterfowl. An ornithology class from Binghamton did find a Ruddy Duck, which we missed. We heard and saw Fish Crow, at least 5 around the picnic tables near the band shelter. We did hear the wheesey call and see glimpses of two Blue-gray Gnatcatchers along the west band of Fall Creek. We drove over to the golf course and first stopped to see the Great Horned Owl nest. To our total surprise, , although there was no owl in sight, there was a Red-tailed Hawk flat
[cayugabirds-l] Merlins
Well I'm hopeless looking for raptor nests. I went by Christopher Lane between 6:30 and 7:00 when I thought would be the best times, and didn't see the Merlin once. Nice that Mark saw it though. I would like to know of other Merlin sightings, please. (Not that I'm going to see it.) John Confer During the week after Anne Clark posted about the Merlins along Christopher Lane in our neighborhood in northeast Ithaca, I would see one Merlin atop a tree every time I passed. But I haven’t seen any Merlins there for more than a week now. Mark Chao http://www.avast.com/ This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. www.avast.com http://www.avast.com/ -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- 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... -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Downtown Ithaca Merlin pair
Ken Kemphues first noted Merlins in the 400 block of N. Titus. At about 7:15, a pair was sitting in a tree in the middle of the block between N. Titus and Center Street. I moved to get a better view and the female disappeared as my view was blocked so I don't have a clue about the nest location. The male called very infrequently. He actually flew in and perched over my head, looking down at me as if he certainly was aware of my presence and perhaps concerned about me being there even on the sidewalk. The birds are obviously accustomed to some human activity and can be seen from the sidewalk without having to get closer. I would love to know where the nest is so that I could monitor nesting success. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy - GH Owl nest - correction:
Well, live and learn. I must have missed the email about the RTHA nest. Sorry for missing someone's effort to be helpful (I guess that was was Gary). My, it would have been so nice to see for myself and to show the SFO both nests. I will go back. Thanks for all the helpful comments. Hoot, john Confer On 4/20/2015 9:59 AM, Gary Kohlenberg wrote: Hi John, Yes the nests are very close. From the buss garage the RTHA nest is easier to see. It is in the tree with the painted 150 yd. marker. It was only after people reported seeing Owls after I left that I started to get suspicious. Gary On Apr 20, 2015, at 7:23 AM, John Confer con...@ithaca.edu wrote: Well, I'll be darned. It certainly does sound as if there were two raptor nests. They would have to be very close to each other. In fact, I was pretty certain I was looking at the same nest/location where I saw the adult owl about 10 days ago. The two nests must be really close. I'll have to go back to try to see both nests. I'm still not completely convinced I was looking at a different nest because in location and structure, it certainly looked like my memory of the owl nest. Life is interesting. Cheers, John From: bounce-119070192-25065...@list.cornell.edu bounce-119070192-25065...@list.cornell.edu on behalf of Dave Bulatek Teresa Wagner Bulatek bula...@twcny.rr.com Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2015 9:04 PM To: Noe Fernandez Pozo; CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy - GH Owl nest - correction: owls there Thursday 4/16 morning. There is a Red-tailed hawk nest not far from the owls' nest. We have photos of the owls from Friday evening, April 17. Teresa - Original Message - From: Noe Fernandez Pozo noeis...@gmail.com To: CAYUGABIRDS-L cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2015 7:58 PM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy - GH Owl nest - correction: owls there Thursday 4/16 morning. Hi, I saw the GHO on the nest today. Cheers, Noe On Apr 19, 2015, at 7:19 PM, Susan Danskin dans...@twcny.rr.com wrote: A friend sent me a photo of the chick in the nest time stamped 10:45 am today. is it possible John’s group was looking at a different nest? I know Gary K said he spent a bunch of time looking at the wrong nest a couple of weeks ago. Susan On Apr 19, 2015, at 7:02 PM, Paul Schmitt pschmi...@gmail.com wrote: Well, I have photos of both chicks and adult from Saturday morning. This report does not match. Paul Schmitt Sent from my iPad On Apr 19, 2015, at 6:15 PM, Marie P. Read m...@cornell.edu wrote: Correction: I was at the GH Owl nest THURSDAY morning, around 9:00 am. One adult and one large nestling were visible in the nest. I was there myself on Friday morning when the owls were definitely in residence. 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 Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here: http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE From: bounce-119069866-5851...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-119069866-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Marie P. Read [m...@cornell.edu] Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2015 6:08 PM To: John Confer; CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: RE:[cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy - GH Owl nest John Confer wrote: We drove over to the golf course and first stopped to see the Great Horned Owl nest. To our total surprise, , although there was no owl in sight, there was a Red-tailed Hawk flat on the nest as if incubating. I know some species reuse the nest of other species, but two raptor species in the same season? If the red-tail is incubating, it must have started laying almost immediately after the GHOW left, because it was there just two weeks ago. Well that is totally bizarre, because some friends of mine said they saw the GH Owls on that nest Saturday afternoon (I think) and I was there myself on Friday morning when the owls were definitely in residence. What happened? 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 Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here: http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE From: bounce-119069750-5851...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-119069750-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John Confer [con...@ithaca.edu] Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2015 4:56 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L; John Confer Subject: [cayugabirds-l] SFO learns alchemy The warbler team had a moderately good day. We did not find many
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Thursday + Eurasian Widgeon
We also saw an Eurasian Wigeon in Knox Marcellus. There were many Green-winged Teal feeding on the mud flats, and for a second there my heart got excited with the possibility of large flock of large sandpipers, but, sad to say, no such luck. John From: bounce-119116854-25065...@list.cornell.edu bounce-119116854-25065...@list.cornell.edu on behalf of bob mcguire bmcgu...@clarityconnect.com Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2015 5:49 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Thursday John Confer and I spent the morning helping out with the Refuge’s marsh bird survey. Our route covered the south end of the Main Pool and on west into Black Lake. We drove north on the dike directly across from the Visitor’s Center, parked opposite the Center and saw immediately that we were in for a slog. We donned chest waders, took the canoe off the top of the car, and set out to pull it a couple hundred yards west through the fallen cattails. Along the way we heard the first of two MARSH WRENs for the day and flushed a pair of SANDHILL CRANES that may well be setting up a nest. That, of course, would be great for all the visitors because their calls will be heard easily from the viewing deck. It was another slog through fallen cattails to our next point where, in addition to responses from several VIRGINIA RAILS we heard our only SORA of the day. Shortly after that we came out onto open water (4 - 6” deep!) and were able to paddle to our remaining three points. All in all we encountered 6 Virginia Rails and two AMERICAN BITTERNs. Other than that, a couple of American Coots, numerous Swamp Sparrows, and eagles and ospreys flying over. The south end of the Main Pool was surprisingly quiet. No Least Bitterns yet. The Refuge is draining the Main Pool for the season at a couple of inches per day so it is questionable whether or not we will be able to conduct the next two required surveys (two weeks apart). Nevertheless, it was great to be out there: warm temps, no wind, and clear blue skies. We checked Knox-Marsellus Marsh on the way home. There were at least 20 Bald Eagles but only one shorebird (Greater Yellowlegs) on all of the exposed mud, and hundreds of ducks, mostly teal and shovelers. Finally down Rt 90 near the Aurora Shoe Company, an EASTERN KINGBIRD flew up from the ditch to a overhead wire. Bob McGuire -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] N Titus Merlin nest - location correction for Fish Crow.
N. Titus x Plain x Center Sts: I watched the male Merlin fly toward, briefly perch, and fly away from a bundle of sticks in an exceptionally tall Sycamore along Center St., which parallels N. Titus and is the next street north. Not proof, but an indication of an actual, active nest. The nest might be 70-80 feet high in the western part of the crown of an immense tree, which is itself the western-most of a row of sycamores. It really seems impervious to human disturbance partially because of the height and partially because there is already disturbance from cars, bicycles, kids, and adults with barking dogs under the nest. I'd love to know of confirming observations of activity at the nest. It may well be that incubation is just starting and will last ~30 days, so feeding of nestlings is a long way away. Probable Fish Crow nest with activity today (05/06/15) is in a tall pine just east of Meadow Court Motel, not behind restaurant as I said previously. Cheers, John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Basin Big Day Saturday- Congratulations
What an exceptionally great day. Thanks for taking the time to compile the observations. John On 5/10/2015 4:26 PM, Jay McGowan wrote: Livia and I had a fun day yesterday. We had a few setbacks: slow migrant birding in Ithaca; missing some know stakeouts like Upland Sandpiper, Rusty Blackbird, and Palm Warbler; almost no raptors whatsoever, despite favorable winds and sun; and generally hot and windy conditions all day. Even so, we had a good morning for breeders and got most of our targets at Montezuma in the afternoon, so we were able to end the day with 175 species. Highlights: --Challenging but decent night migration at home in Northeast Ithaca, including an early GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, HERMIT THRUSH, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and VIRGINIA RAIL. --Good night birding, with over 10 AMERICAN WOODCOCK, EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, BARRED OWL, and GREAT HORNED OWL. --Productive morning at Park Preserve and Hammond Hill, with 15 species of warblers and most of the essential forest birds like Ruffed Grouse and Winter Wren, as well as Pine Siskin. --Slow going at Sapsucker Woods but a nice singing WILSON'S WARBLER on the Wilson Trail. --Continuing CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on campus, not singing but quickly found. --Lindsay-Parsons added WORM-EATING, BLACK-AND-WHITE, and HOODED WARBLERS but little else, making it rather a time sink in the overall day. --Hot and windy at Stewart and Myers, but managed to pick out a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the jetty and several ORCHARD ORIOLES singing around Myers. --Despite challengingly shimmery lake conditions, we were able to find BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a few lingering RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS off the Aurora bluffs, as well as 14 COMMON and a single FORSTER'S TERN on the marina breakwall in Union Springs. --An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER on Lake Road just a few houses north of Long Point State Park that flew across the road in front of us. An awesome bird, if overall unhelpful for the day considering the cooperative one at Mays Point (saving us all of about 30 seconds). --Continuing SNOW GOOSE at the Visitor Center. --Extensive mudflats on the Main Pool hosting almost 100 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 400+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, and SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. --EURASIAN WIGEON, LESSER SCAUP, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, and all the expected dabblers at Montezuma. A male COMMON GOLDENEYE is also apparently around, but we missed it. --Two GREAT EGRETS flying around Knox-Marsellus from East Road, as well as BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS from Towpath at dusk. --Continuing PROTHONOTARY WARBLER on Armitage Road, singing as we drove up. --Singing ORCHARD ORIOLES on Lake Road south of Aurora and Van Dyne Spoor Road. One was also reported on the Wildlife Drive. --Two BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and lots of the same shorebirds in the fields on Carncross Road. Our biggest misses were all Accipiters, Broad-winged and Red-shouldered hawk, Rusty Blackbird, Palm Warbler, Upland Sandpiper, American and Least bittern, many migrants that seemingly just showed up today (Bay-breasted, Cape May, Blackpoll, Philadelphia Vireo, Alder Flycatcher, cuckoos, and frustratingly White-crowned Sparrow), and worst of all, Carolina Wren! With so much time spent in upland spots in the morning, we didn't realize this was going to be a challenge until it was too late. This morning I saw at least six species we missed yesterday. Oh well. No sign of Friday's Glossy Ibis nor the Little Blue Heron. Good birding, Jay -- Jay McGowan Macaulay Library Cornell Lab of Ornithology jw...@cornell.edu mailto:jw...@cornell.edu -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] 4 downtown merlins, Fish Crow nest with rambling story
4 Merlin: How nice it is to see two pair of Merlin in downtown Ithaca this morning! One pair in the block NW of N Titus and Plain Sts, and another between Cascadilla Creek-Court St.-Tioga St. in backyard of Finger Lakes Land Trust office. FISH CROW: There is a tall White Pine just off S. Titus to the east of what was A Taste of Thai. For a couple weeks there has been a lot of Fish Crow activity in that tree, including two flying into the tree almost at once this morning and then staying there. Ramble I would like to monitor the nesting success of urban raptors, i.e., how long the birds incubate successfully and how long the pair feed nestlings, but I'm being befuddled by the nests of the Merlins. This is complicated by not wanting to walk into someone's backyard with a telescope and binoculars at 6:30 in the morning. So far, the residents on this block I have encountered include the former director of Env. Studies at IC, a former employee at the Lab, an environmental studies graduate, and a former instructor on environmental energy policies at IC, which was all well and good, until I met a woman whose house was robbed a couple weeks ago. I am not uniformly welcome. It is awkward trying to get a good view of potential nests but avoiding wandering around outside someone's bedroom window. Bob first posted about hearing a Merlin in the block to the NE of Court and Tioga Streets. This morning, ~7:15, a male Merlin flew in with a House Sparrow in its talons, landed in a non-leafed out deciduous tree providing a great view and proceeded to pluck it. In about two minutes it was joined by the female and I thought how nice it would be if they shared. No such thing. The male flew off NE and appeared to circle to the north. I found the marvelous walkway along Cascadilla Creek and walked along it continually looking back southward where I lost sight of the male until I glanced almost overhead looking northward. Just across the creek the pair of Merlin were sitting on a branch with the male carrying the prey with joggers going by nearly underneath. Again I thought what a nice pair-bonding experience it would be to share. The male then proceeded to fly away to the west carrying all of the pretty much plucked clean prey and the female sat in the tree for several minutes for as long as I had patience. I expect the FLLT staff to eat lunch on the delightful walkway adjacent to the creek about a half-block from their office and report back about finding the nest. The pair in the block NW of N. Titus and Plain Sts. continues to defy me about where their nest is. I saw both members of the pair again in the same block this morning. Cheers, John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Merlin preempt Fish Crow nest.
Bob McGuire described hearing Merlin along Cascadilla Creek between Aurora and Tioga on 3 May. Since then I have made 6 visits to find the nest because I wanted to monitor it and determine nesting success. I heard/saw Merlins on 5 visits in the the block between Aurora and Tioga. On 5 May, I watched very noisy Fish Crows, about 4, involved in taking small branches to top of tall pine between Tioga and Cayuga on north side of the creek. I saw Fish Crow on a few, subsequent visits. Twice I saw Merlin fly into spruce near corner of Aurora St. and Cascadilla Creek. A stick nest is visible in top of spruce from Aurora and I was sure that I had found the nest. On Sunday, I visited the area between Aurora and Tioga with Stefan Karkuff (who says hello). As we walked up to the supposed Merlin nest, I casually said there was a Fish Crow on the tip of the tall pine and emphatically pointed upstream and said there is where the Merlin nest is located. Stefan said , John, that bird on top of the pine is a Merlin. Today (Mon) I watched the Merlins exchange at the nest and the male settled in as the female flew off. Definitive sign of incubation, probably the second or third day, given time to lay the complete clutch. In this case this is a real example of alchemy and I really am not crazy. Either the Fish Crows abandoned the nest or the Merlins drove them away. How could a pair of Merlin drive off 4 Fish Crow? The nest can be easily watched from the bridge over Cascadilla Creek looking downstream on the north side of the creek in a tall White Pine. John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Horned Grebe courtship-song + Merlin Aurora
Sunday, 12 April, The Wells College boathouse provided: 50+ Horned Grebes close to the dock. Some in breeding plumage and even began their courtship dance and song. Fabulous. A Merlin, or possibly two, called off and on for about two minutes from about 100 yds east of boatchouse and about 100 yds east of Rt 90 from direction conifer trees just northwest of the large/tall red steeple and along the crescent-shaped, one-way road that passes through part of Wells South Campus. Further info on hawks appreciated. Cayuga Village Clerk Office Rough-winged Swallow. Cheers, John and Karen Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Cayuga Lake Ospreys
This is just awesome. I can hardly wait to see the map by you and Karen. Is there some way we general public could contribute to some guesstimate of the number fledged from all these nests? And to think, in the middle of the DDT usage, there were no active Osprey nests in upstate New York. Sometimes we win an environmental issue! John On 4/9/2015 12:11 PM, Candace Cornell wrote: This is a great time to get out and watch the ospreys performing their tandem courtship flight swooping, looping, and circling together in the wind. It's also the time when the males perform their spectacular sky dances above the nests. These behaviors only last for a few weeks so enjoy them while you can. All the established local osprey nests in the Ithaca (Union Fields, Treman Marina, and Game Farm Rd) and Lansing (Portland Point and Salt Point) areas have been reclaimed by their owners. The new platforms at Stewart Park, the Newman golf Course, and the two at Portland Point are still not occupied, but the season is just starting. However the platform on Myers Hill and the new one at Salt Point (now there are two) have both had ospreys bringing sticks to them. Whether they'll successfully establish nests and attract mates is still up in the air, but the prospects look good. Many of the nests from Union Springs to the Montezuma area were reclaimed by last weekend and I expect the rest to be occupied any day now. *If anyone sees any osprey nests on the west side of the lake, please send me an email with the location.* On the west side there are nests at Dean's Cove, on Footes Corners Rd in Interlaken, and at the Seneca Golf Club, but other than that, I haven't found any more. The shallow shelf where the ospreys can fish is narrower on the west side than on the east side and at the ends of the lake, but it still should support some ospreys. So far I have documented 53 nests around the lake, although I don't know yet how many of them will be used this year. Karen Edelstein and I are developing an interactive Cayuga Lake Osprey Trail map showing the locations of the nests visible from public roads for every one's viewing pleasure. We should have it ready within the month so stayed tuned. Thank you all for your help! Candace cec...@gmail.com mailto:cec...@gmail.com -- *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* Welcome and Basics http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME Rules and Information http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Subscribe, Configuration and Leave http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm *Archives:* The Mail Archive http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html Surfbirds http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds BirdingOnThe.Net http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html *Please submit your observations to eBird http://ebird.org/content/ebird/!* -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Merlin - Dryden Rite Aid - GHOW RTLoon continue
On consecutive 15 min. visits to the parking lot at Rite Aid in Dryden: two Merlin flying into spruce trees just to the east of Rite Aid at ~ 4:00 PM Sunday, and on Monday ~7:`15 one flying from trees to the south. ~7:15 AM. More info appreciated. Great Horned Owl actually winked as class watched at golf course (Thanks to whomever for the posting - I've forgotten name). RT Loon ridiculously close at marina on Sunday sfternoon: best views of my life, and an incredible treat for a class. (Again thanks for post). Sunday morning; About 6-7 meadowlark on Burdick Hill Rd. John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] Update on 6 Merlin nests
There are four Merlin nests in Ithaca. The N. Titus St nest, which I thought might have been abandoned, has had lots of recent activity. Perhaps this change in parental activity reflects a change in the nest status; maybe the eggs hatched. Please do not go off the sidewalk along N. Tutus and do not stay there long, thanks. The probable nest for the Christopher Circle/Lane appears to have been destroyed and I haven't heard any activity there for on the last two mornings. The Cascadilla Creek nesting pair seems to ignore all the nearby car and pedestrian traffic, and is quite nicely seen from the bridge over Cascadilla Creek looking west along the north side of the creek in a tall White Pine. Many local land owners know about the noisy pair and one seems to accept a rain of feathers their yard. The East Hill Cemetery nest is active, but on private grounds. Too many visitors to the immediate vicinity of the nest might lead the owners/managers to forbid monitoring the nest, as I am trying to do. This morning I discovered a nest in Dryden in the front yard of the elementary school. I followed the flight line of a Merlin seen on two mornings in April and soon heard the beautiful ka ka ka ka ka. Since the pair accepted this nest while hundreds of recess kids were screaming around the area, I think they are fairly immune to human disturbance. There is a nest on the Wells College campus. It is being monitored as part of a senior thesis, and it would be nice not to disturb this one too much. So far, there have been 9 identifiable prey, 7 of which were House Sparrows. I still would appreciate additional nest monitors. Someone did call about doing this, but the phone message got lost. Do contact me via email, thanks. Imagine: the 1980-'85 Breeding Bird Survey for New York with 300,000 person hours of field work did not find a single Merlin nest. The more recent survey found ~60, and now we have 6 known territories close to us. All of these are urban, partially because we birders spend more time in an urban situation. But no nests in wild situations doesn't represent the time we birders spend in the wilds. They certainly are an urban bird. John -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --attachment: confer.vcf
[cayugabirds-l] N., Titus Merlins fledging
The Merlin nest in the 400 block of N. Titus is fledging yesterday/today. At least one, probably two, fledged yesterday. There are three on the nest or nearby branches. This is about as large a clutch as has been reported. Fledglings, with light brown chest and downy tufts on their head, are quite beautiful. They make a lot of begging calls, as adults fly nearby. Young are likely to hang around in the vicinity for over a month, but activity is more focused in a smaller area today than it will be in the future. More Merlins for the future!! Thanks to Kurt for originally locating the nest vicinity. John Confer -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
