Re:[cayugabirds-l] Massive Solar Farm coming to Cayuga County
There are 60+ solar projects in various stages of development across NY. The big one in Cayuga County is call the Garnet Energy Center. The siting approval process can be followed at: http://documents.dps.ny.gov/public/MatterManagement/CaseMaster.aspx?MatterSeq=61792=20-F-0043 The solar panels and facility will be built on 1300 of the 2000 acre project. There is an Intervenor group formally involved in the proceeding called the Rural Preservation and Net Conservation Benefit Coalition. They are not trying to stop the project, but trying to encourage pollinator friendly planting and get some mitigation land set aside. I haven’t seen any sign that the developer is consenting. The documentation of the impact to breeding Horned Lark and Vesper Sparrow appears like it will be limited, so folks birding in the proposed project area (not far from Montezuma NWR) can contribute by looking for these two species and submitting sitings to eBird, especially this May and June. The project area has recently grown and maps can be found at the link above. Besides the renewable energy benefit, taking fields of neonic-laden corn and soy seeds and their associated herbicides out of production is a good thing. As far as we know, solar is more friendly to migratory birds than big wind regarding direct impacts, however no follow-up fatality studies are currently planned for ANY solar projects in NY. Substantial avian impacts from solar have apparently been a well-kept secret in California, so we need to keep an eye on it and push for some NY solar fatality studies. How could a grebe mistake a solar field for water? I don’t know, but it happens. In my current understanding, a 200 MW solar project in NY would have much less avian impact than the equivalent energy production from 70 600-ft high wind turbines in the same location. Bill Evans Danby From: david nicosia Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2021 8:31 AM Subject: Massive Solar Farm coming to Cayuga County All, see https://www.syracuse.com/news/2020/02/monster-cny-solar-farm-would-replace-corn-and-soybeans-with-power-for-3-homes.html Does anyone have any more details on this? If it is done with wildlife in mind this could be a good thing. If they plant pollinator friendly and native grasses this could be a positive. But if it is just plain grass it could be at best just a trade-off and at worse a negative. These solar farms could be good for birds and pollinators. see https://www.audubon.org/news/can-solar-plants-make-good-bird-habitat Maybe you are all aware of this but the big renewable energy push through solar farms could be an opportunity to improve bird and pollinator habitats. Anyway, just wondering if any folks have information on this or have contacted solar farm companies on this. Best, Dave -- 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] Loon migration alert - Sat morning
I counted 347 loons in southward migration over Danby from 6:52-9:06 (Comfort Rd. migration watch site adjacent to the Finger Lakes Trail crossing, 1/4 mile south of Lieb Rd). Meade Period 1-9 totals: 11,22,60,12,22,52,66,49,32. Most of the flight was to the east of the watch. >90% were less than 600 feet above my ground level and the early flight was seemingly at eye level coursing over the Michigan Hollow Valley. Bill From: Bill Evans Sent: Friday, November 20, 2020 9:50 AM To: Cayuga Birds Subject: Loon migration alert - Sat morning Thanks to all who posted loon migration reports last week. While I realize my credibility has taken a hit as a big flight prognosticator, all signs look good for a HEFTY loon flight tomorrow morning (Saturday 21Nov). If you’d like to report numbers using the old protocol developed by Bob Meade, tally totals for 15-minute periods with period 1 the 15 minutes before sunrise, period 2 the first 15 minutes after sunrise, and so forth. The peak loon flight typically comes off Cayuga & Seneca Lakes in periods 1-3 and the Lake Ontario peak passes over the Ithaca/Watkins Glen area and a broad swath of the Southern Tier during periods 5-9. Based on past reports, it seems loon migration largely finishes crossing the region by the end of period 10. Sunrise tomorrow in Ithaca is 7:06, so the Meade periods Saturday are: Period 1 – 6:52-7:06 Period 2 – 7:07-7:21 Period 3 – 7:22-7:36 Period 4 – 7:37-7:51 Period 5 – 7:52-8:06 Period 6 – 8:07-8:21 Period 7 – 8:22-8:36 Period 8 – 8:37-8:51 Period 9 – 8:52-9:06 Period 10 – 9:07-9:21 Urbi et Orbi! Bill Evans Town of Danby -- 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] Loon migration alert - Sat morning
Thanks to all who posted loon migration reports last week. While I realize my credibility has taken a hit as a big flight prognosticator, all signs look good for a HEFTY loon flight tomorrow morning (Saturday 21Nov). If you’d like to report numbers using the old protocol developed by Bob Meade, tally totals for 15-minute periods with period 1 the 15 minutes before sunrise, period 2 the first 15 minutes after sunrise, and so forth. The peak loon flight typically comes off Cayuga & Seneca Lakes in periods 1-3 and the Lake Ontario peak passes over the Ithaca/Watkins Glen area and a broad swath of the Southern Tier during periods 5-9. Based on past reports, it seems loon migration largely finishes crossing the region by the end of period 10. Sunrise tomorrow in Ithaca is 7:06, so the Meade periods Saturday are: Period 1 – 6:52-7:06 Period 2 – 7:07-7:21 Period 3 – 7:22-7:36 Period 4 – 7:37-7:51 Period 5 – 7:52-8:06 Period 6 – 8:07-8:21 Period 7 – 8:22-8:36 Period 8 – 8:37-8:51 Period 9 – 8:52-9:06 Period 10 – 9:07-9:21 Urbi et Orbi! Bill Evans Town of Danby -- 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] LOON MIGRATION ALERT
A mindboggling paucity of loons and migratory waterfowl in general! I counted 27 loons flying south from my watch site on a hilltop in south Danby. I didn’t see my first until 7:41. 16 passed between 7:54-8:09 and 7 passed between 8:09-8:23. Good to see all the reports even though a big flight didn’t materialize. I guess we can chalk it up as a warm for the next morning that looks promising. Bill -- 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] LOON MIGRATION ALERT
Folks, the conditions look excellent and such an opportunity doesn’t happen every year, so plan your morning accordingly! Favorable forecast for observing a large loon flight tomorrow morning (Nov 12): 1. We are in the window when big fall flights have been documented in the past. 2. We’ve had southerly winds with no loon movement since Nov 3rd (8 days) - the spring is loaded. 3. Weather forecast tomorrow is for NNW wind @ 7 mph - perfect for the spring to unload. 4. Viewing conditions should be good – mostly cloudy with no lake effect snow. 5. Temp ~43 F, so not brutally cold. Loons from current migratory aggregations on the Finger Lakes and southern Lake Ontario are likely to embark for southbound passage as early as 6:40 am. The main flight off Cayuga & Seneca Lake will mostly vector down the lake basins and have passed on by 7:30 am. So places like Stewart Park and Clute Park (Watkins Glen) should offer good viewing. If you can get there in time, Taughannock State Park can be a wonderful site to view the early flight down Cayuga. The peak of the flight off Lake Ontario will likely pass over Ithaca/Watkins Glen latitudes between 7:45 and 8:30, with lesser magnitude continuing thereafter. The densest flight vectors from Lake Ontario have been noted in the past coursing down the east side of the Seneca Lake Basin and the west side of the Cayuga Lake Basin, but the flight off Lake Ontario can be seen to some degree from high terrain anywhere in the southern Finger Lakes and Southern Tier counties of NY. If you have the opportunity to observe, please post your results here and/or eBird including the location & time period you counted, direction of flight, and the percentage of loons estimated to be flying below 1000 feet/300 m above ground level. Best wishes! Bill Evans -- 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] Listening to night migrants on Mt. Pleasant
Hello all, In lieu of listening for night migrants atop Mt.Pleasant this year, I’m sharing online a wonderful, huge flight I recorded on the night of Sep 11-12 in Danby. I have no doubt it is the largest all-night flight calling event I’ve documented in NY in 30+ years. Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Swainson’s Thrush can be heard streaming through the night amidst thousands of warbler calls. There are regular Green Herons and many other goodies, including the magnificent Red-breasted Nuthatch. During the second half of the 6+ hour recording, the night becomes so quiet it is extraordinary one can hear the wing beats of migrants as they pass. The nice thing about this year is you can listen at your convenience in the comfort of your home. I recommend cranking the volume and listening either through speakers or headphones while relaxing in a comfortable position..or even in bed as you go to sleep. https://soundcloud.com/user-830174402/big-migration-night While it is amazing to hear such a passage of migrants via the focus of a specialized microphone, there is nothing like being outside and hearing the calls directly. If you get a chance tonight, step outside for a bit and listen up. The wind will be light and the insect chorus has waned so it should be good listening. Gray-cheeked, Hermit, Wood, and Swainson’s Thrushes are all moving and the big sparrow waves are just beginning. Thanks for listening and feel free to share the link with others who might be interested. Bill Evans -- 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] Night migration at Mt. P - brief recap
25-30 attended the impromptu nocturnal migration event on Mt. Pleasant last night, and it was not a case of the early bird gets the worm. Opposite my big night prediction, the first hour or so was very slow with just a few calls heard, but it was a beautiful starry night with a very pleasant crowd to mingle with. Those who stayed or arrived after 10:30pm got treated to steady migration that seemed to build as time went on. The action really got started when a raucous flock of green herons passed to the west. Thereafter were Black-crowned Night-Heron, Sora, Least Bittern, and shortly after midnight an American Bittern. Amidst the building flight was a steady passage of Veery and by midnight the “pink” of the Bobolink was regular. Also in the mix were a few Swainson’s Thrush and a Black-billed Cuckoo. The warbler flight became steady after 11pm with Chestnut-sided and Common Yellowthroat the most prevalent identifiable calls along with some nice examples of Canada Warbler. Interestingly, American Redstarts didn’t start regular calling until around midnight. Thanks to all who attended, and to the Cornell facilities and astronomy staff who facilitated use of the grounds at the Hartung-Boothroyd Observatory. Special thanks to Chris T-H for expert operation of and commentary on the spectrographic stream of the real-time audio produced by Cornell’s bioacoustic analysis software, “Raven”. More savory details of the night coming in an article in the Cayuga Bird Club newsletter. Bill Evans -- 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] Fw: [nfc-l] ITHACA: Nocturnal flight calls @ Mt. P Friday night
Forwarding Chris T-H’s email regarding tonight at Mt. Pleasant. We should be ready to go by 8:30pm with microphones for listening to night flight calls, real-time Binghamton & continental NEXRAD, and thermal imaging. Bill From: Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 9:54 AM To: NFC-L Subject: [nfc-l] ITHACA: Nocturnal flight calls @ Mt. P Friday night Please join Bill Evans and me tonight, Friday, August 23, 2019, for a late evening of night listening atop Mount Pleasant at the Hartung-Boothroyd Observatory, located East of Ithaca, NY. The address for this location is: 553 Mount Pleasant Rd, Freeville, NY. The Observatory is located on the South side of Mount Pleasant Road. We will mostly like be set up on the South side of the Observatory by 9:00pm, and plan to take down once the night flight calls diminish, by midnight, unless there is a more significant migration. Birds should start moving after the end of Civil Twilight, which will be around 9:00pm, and there will be a lull around 11:00pm, due to the Lake Ontario shadow. Please take care when parking to avoid the roadside ditches and stay alert for passing cars. Because microphones will be set up and people listening, please try to keep voices to a whisper as you approach or while you hang out with the group. What to bring: flashlight, chair, warm clothes or a blanket. It will be clear, damp, and cool, with a low around 50ºF. Good night listening wherever you are! Sincerely, Chris T-H -- 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] Nocturnal flight calls @ Mt. P Friday night
Greetings birders, There will be public night flight call listening session tomorrow night (Friday) near the Hartung-Boothroyd Observatory atop Mount Pleasant Rd., a few miles east of Ithaca from 8:30pm to 11pm or later. The forecast is for a clear sky with north wind 5-10 mph. Birds will be high but we’ll have microphones and other tools to help tune in. I expect a steady flight of Bobolink & Veery, as well as lots & lots of warblers. Based on this time in past years, 30% of the warbler calls will be about equally from American Redstart, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Ovenbird. 20% (1 in 5) will be what are often referred to as “zeeps”, short modulated (slightly buzzy) calls from a complex of species very difficult to distinguish by ear (mostly likely tomorrow night are Magnolia & Blackburnian, but also Yellow, Blackpoll and maybe even Cerulean). Less common will be the distinctive night flight call of Canada Warbler (~ 1 out of every 30 warbler calls) and the more difficult but still distinctive Mourning Warbler (~1 out of every 50 warbler calls). You can hear these calls online at: http://oldbird.org/pubs/fcmb/species/warblers/warblers.htm There will be many of other species in the mix tomorrow night and maybe the first Tompkins County record of Upland Sandpiper in more than a year. We usually have this listening session in September, but tomorrow night is really looking good, with shades of once in a lifetime, and of course it’s a Friday night! More info posted tomorrow. Bill Evans -- 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] Crows at my feeders
Dozens of crows perched atop sumac branches eating berries near Wal-Mart yesterday. Bill E -- 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] Broad-winged Hawk migration
Nice raptor migration observation yesterday from Adam Troyer in Candor. Thanks for sharing Dave! I scanned the sky from Comfort Rd in Danby from 10:35-11:15 yesterday and only saw 19 Broad-wingeds – winds were stronger south (~10 mph) than forecasted. Later in the afternoon I noticed a steady flight occurring and counted ~250 BWs from 2:30-3:30 with the first half hour twice as active as the latter. Passage was mostly in small kettles/streams with the largest 25 & 32. Also, I see on eBird a count of ~225 BWs yesterday from Mt. Pleasant between noon & 1PM. We are still in the peak migration window for Broad-wingeds and today & tomorrow look promising. Bill Evans From: Dave Nutter Sent: Friday, September 14, 2018 7:27 PM Subject: Re: Broad-winged Hawk migration I talked to Reuben again today. He said that yesterday’s Broad-winged Hawk migration path shifted eastward during the day. Reuben also heard from another Amish farmer/birder, Adam Troyer in Candor NY, who counted these raptors migrating past his place yesterday: 774 Broad-winged Hawks 12 Ospreys 2 American Kestrels 5 Bald Eagles 1 Northern Harrier Reuben may have missed birds in the beginning of yesterday’s migration since they seemed to be in full swing when he first noticed them at 11am. Also his numbers were not precise. Still he was intrigued by how similar the number was that he saw and that Adam saw yesterday. Reuben also saw a few additional species of raptors, but I didn’t take notes on that. He did not see any migration today. - - Dave Nutter -- 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] Broad-wingeds
A seemingly unprecedented westward shift in the Broad-winged flight this September. Wes Blauvelt & and I counted a few hundred from Comfort Rd in Danby during lunchtime yesterday. Mindboggling to learn from David Nutter about the numbers Reuben Stoltzfus saw on an even further west track in Ovid. Today also looks good for continued Broad-winged passage across the Cayuga Lake Basin. We may not see another flight like this here for decades. Advise taking an early and long lunch break! Bill E -- 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] Bobolink-friendly hay cutting date
A take away from Tom Gavin’s fascinating presentation in Danby this past Tuesday is that if one can hold off on local hay cutting until after July 4, most Bobolinks will have fledged by then. Mid-July even better. While March was -4 F degrees off average and April –6.5, May was nearly 5 degrees above average (NE Regional Climate Center data). This likely has led to taller grass height than average in central NY this spring, and farmers cutting earlier than average (some fields in Danby have already been cut). Since Bobolink nesting is relatively synchronous from year to year, anticipate greater regional haying mortality for juvenile Bobolinks in 2018. Bill On Tue, May 29, 2018 at 1:11 PM, Bill Evans wrote: Tom Gavin, biologist and author, will be giving a talk titled “Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation of Bobolinks in Upstate New York” at Danby Town Hall tonight (1830 Danby Rd./Rte. 96B – about five miles south of Ithaca College). A Professor Emeritus from Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources, Dr. Gavin studied Bobolinks in New York over several decades and is one of the world’s experts on the species. The ecology & behavior of the Bobolink is astonishing. Folks with hayfields can make a difference in protecting this species if they are able to delay their mowing until after nestling Bobolinks have fledged. Come learn more tonight. Sponsored by the Danby Community Council. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public; seating limited. Bill Evans -- 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/ --
Fw: [cayugabirds-l] Bobolink presentation tonight
Begins at 7PM! Tom Gavin, biologist and author, will be giving a talk titled “Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation of Bobolinks in Upstate New York” at Danby Town Hall tonight (1830 Danby Rd./Rte. 96B – about five miles south of Ithaca College). A Professor Emeritus from Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources, Dr. Gavin studied Bobolinks in New York over several decades and is one of the world’s experts on the species. The ecology & behavior of the Bobolink is astonishing. Folks with hayfields can make a difference in protecting this species if they are able to delay their mowing until after nestling Bobolinks have fledged. Come learn more tonight. Sponsored by the Danby Community Council. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public; seating limited. Bill Evans -- 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] Bobolink presentation tonight
Tom Gavin, biologist and author, will be giving a talk titled “Ecology, Behavior, and Conservation of Bobolinks in Upstate New York” at Danby Town Hall tonight (1830 Danby Rd./Rte. 96B – about five miles south of Ithaca College). A Professor Emeritus from Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources, Dr. Gavin studied Bobolinks in New York over several decades and is one of the world’s experts on the species. The ecology & behavior of the Bobolink is astonishing. Folks with hayfields can make a difference in protecting this species if they are able to delay their mowing until after nestling Bobolinks have fledged. Come learn more tonight. Sponsored by the Danby Community Council. Refreshments will be served. Free and open to the public; seating limited. Bill Evans -- 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] Night flight calls tonight on Mt. Pleasant
Greetings Cayugabirders, Tonight, in the vicinity of the observatory atop Mount Pleasant, there will be microphones set up for listening to calls of night migrating birds, a thermal camera detecting and imaging their heat radiation, as well as live NEXRAD radar for visualizing the migration over the broader region. Chris Tessaglia-Hymes will be demonstrating the Cornell Bioacoustic Research Program’s spectrographic analysis software called Raven for visualizing and helping identify short songbird flight calls. We also plan to submit an eBird report for the evening. The forecast is for mostly clear skies, temps dropping into the high 40s F, and northerly winds 5-10 mph. It looks like a good migration night with steady passage of songbirds and other species. The birds will likely be flying high and difficult to hear by unaided ear, but the microphones should allow us to tune into an amazing density of birds moving high above. Each listening station can accommodate up to four listeners (8 total). Bring a folding chair or two and your own headphones or earbuds if you have them. Location: Hartung-Boothroyd Observatory Mt Pleasant Rd, Freeville, NY 13068 42.458252, -76.384655 Time: 8:30PM-11PM Dress warmly, bring a blanket, flashlight, hot tea, etc. Please be respectfully quiet while near others who are listening to the migration. Also, please be careful parking along side of Mt. Pleasant Road, and bring a flashlight to aid walking in the dark. See you tonight! Bill Evans -- 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] OT- Finger Lakes NF sensitive species help
Hello Josh, Sedge Wren (NY Threatened) should be added if there are fields within FLNF that are not managed for cattle and putting greens. I recall being a part of July surveys during the early 90s where we found a Sedge Wren with young and lots of Henslow’s in late cut hayfields around the periphery of FLNF, but none within. I suspect both species may still be irregular breeders in small numbers at FLNF & vicinity, especially in fields with no grazing contracts. Bill Evans On Mar 15, 2017, at 12:42 PM, Joshua Snodgrass <cedarsh...@gmail.com> wrote: Hello all, I've been volunteering in the Finger Lakes National Forest checking on the condition of bird boxes for the new biologist there. He is currently updating the Regional Forester Sensitive Species list for the forest, and asked for my input on any birds that should be added to the list that are in trouble. It would be irresponsible of me to give advice without asking for input from this community, who are far more knowledgeable than I am. What I have done in my efforts to make good recommendations are to crosscheck eBird sightings with the NY DEC's list of state Endangered, Threatened, and Species of concern, as well as the most recent State of the Birds report for species that are in trouble versus those that occur in the forest. I included any birds in the SotB report that received a score of "13" or higher. If any of you have recommendations for additional species, or other edits, please let me know. Thank you all for any input. Below is the list of bird species I came up with that have been recorded in eBird as occuring in the Finger Lakes NF, with NYDEC sensitive species first. Short-eared Owl- NY Endangered Golden Eagle- NY Endangered (usually a migrant, one recent record of a perched bird) Pied-billed Grebe- NY Threatened Bald Eagle- NY Threatened Northern Harrier- NY Threatened Henslow's Sparrow- NY Threatened Upland Sandpiper- NY Threatened (flyover record, but habitat seems amenable) Northern Goshawk- NY Species of Concern (SoC) Cooper's Hawk- NY SoC Sharp-shinned Hawk- NY SoC Red-shouldered Hawk- NY SoC Common Nighthawk- NY Soc Horned Lark- NY SoC Vesper Sparrow- NY SoC Grasshopper Sparrow- NY SoC Birds not listed by NY DEC, but in trouble globally according to 2016 State of the BIrds report follow. The State of the Birds Watch List includes any species with a score of 14 or higher, as well as those with a score of 13 and a rapidly declining population. I have included all species that scored a 13 or higher that are known to occur in the Finger Lakes NF below: Bobolink- 14 breeding Wood Thrush- 14 breeding Canada Warbler- 14 breeding? American Woodcock- 13 breeding Black-billed Cuckoo- 13 breeding Blue-winged Warbler- 13 breeding Prairie Warbler- 13 breeding Cape May Warbler- 13 migrant Connecticut Warble- 13 migrant Honorable mentions- birds that score a 12 that breed on Finger Lakes NF lands: Yellow-billed Cuckoo Chestnut-sided Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush Mourning Warbler (breeds?) Veery Field Sparrow Rusty Blackbird (migrant?) Links to the State of the Birds, and NYDEC species list, and breeding bird atlas http://www.stateofthebirds.org/2016/ http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7494.html http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/bba/ State of the Birds species table: http://www.stateofthebirds.org/2016/resources/species-assessments/ Thank for any input! Josh -- 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] Amherst Is. wind project
The Ontario Environmental Review Tribunal released their finding today that the folks fighting the wind project on Amherst “did not prove that engaging in the project will cause serious harm to human health or serious and irreversible harm to plant life, animal life or the natural environment.” The details of the decision can be found here: http://elto.gov.on.ca/ert/decisions-orders/ This may be the last winter for the Cayuga Bird Club to visit Amherst Is. before 26 wind turbines are built. -Bill E -- 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] Amherst Is. update
Closing arguments in the Appeal to prevent Amherst Is. from becoming an industrial wind farm will be presented on Tuesday June 7 at 10:15 am at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 1955 Stella 40 Foot on Amherst Island . The Association to Protect Amherst Island (APAI is encouraging supporters to fill the pews on June 7th, to convey how much the preservation of Amherst Island means to the community and to support their legal team. The APAI Members, Friends, and Guests attending the hearing are invited to mark this major milestone at The Lodge, 320 McDonalds Lane, at the conclusion of the hearing expected to be about 5:00 pm. Eric Gillespie, APAI's legal counsel, will reflect on the hearing and possible outcomes. Refreshments provided. -Bill E -- 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] nocturnal migration tonight!
There is a large nocturnal flight underway across all of New York: http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/radar/displayRad.php?icao=KUSA=bref1=gray=20150921=-1=0 -Bill E -- 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 notice, but...
The forecast looks great for hearing flight calls of night migrating birds across the region tonight. If anyone is interested in learning some calls, I’ll be up at Mount Pleasant Observatory listening from 8:30-11pm. For directions, google Hartung-Boothroyd Observatory. Park on the side of the road near the observatory. This is peak migration time for Chestnut-sided, Canada, and Mourning Warblers, each with fairly distinctive flight calls. Based on past listening in the area, perhaps 1 in 10 calls tonight may be from Chestnut-sided, 1 in 25 from Canada, 1 in 50 from Mourning and 1 in 100 from Black-and-white Warbler. Also audibly in the mix will be American Redstart (~5%), Common Yellowthroat(5-10%), and lots of Ovenbirds (~25%). Bobolink and Veery calling should be steady, and if lucky we’ll hear one of the remaining few Upland Sandpipers that breed to our north. Bill Evans -- 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] Phoebe
Singing at our house in Danby at 6:40AM this morning. Didn’t hear it yesterday so I guess it navigated in over the past 12 hours or so. Bill E -- 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] Grebe fallout?
Ice cover on Lake Erie was at 93% yesterday. With a cold week and lower wind speeds in the forecast, perhaps some waterfowl be forced aloft in search of open water. http://www.cleveland.com/weather/blog/index.ssf/2015/02/ice_cover_on_lake_erie_expands.html Bill E -- 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] Yellow Warbler
Tossing in a belated report of a Yellow Warbler in downtown Ithaca on Dec 3. The bird was trying to glean insects off sycamore fruit at 706 W. Green St. across from Agway – it was around 4pm. It was quite active and constantly giving its “chewp” alarm-type call note. Last saw it flying toward Agway. May end up in the canal zone near Wegman’s like several previous December Yellow’s (Ken’s 2006 bird comes to mind and I recall there was one a year or so after that). I wonder if these late ones are vagrants from northwestern NA? Bill E -- 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] Swans
Several vocal flocks have moved over central Danby (southern Tompkins Co) in the last half hour. Bill E -- 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] Thursday: Night Flight in Northeast
All, Had a good flight at my stations across NY last night, in fact most of this past week or so has been great. Near record low temps last night shut down the insect noise, and with light winds the calls were crisp and clear. No thrush or RBGR totals to report but their calls were thick. Warbler and sparrow call totals are at: http://oldbird.org/Data/Daily.htm Proportions of different warbler and sparrow species/complexes in the mix: Western NY: http://oldbird.org/Data/2014/ratio/JAS/JASratioAMRE.html Eastern NY: http://oldbird.org/Data/2014/ratio/CLC/CLCratioAMRE.html While there has been a trickle of White-throated Sparrow flight calls detected at my station near Albany NY the past week or so, last night were the first I’ve noted in central and western NY, with a good pulse at the Derby Hill Bird Observatory. Bill E From: Andrew Albright Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 10:33 AM To: Kenneth V. Rosenberg Cc: Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes ; CAYUGABIRDS-L ; NFC-L Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fwd: [nfc-l] Thursday: Night Flight in Northeast Chris and Ken - thanks for the heads up. In upstate NY do you get more thrush calls in the 1-2 hrs before day break?We seem to down in the Mid-Atlantic (and fewer warblers). Here's my ebird report from listening this morning (29 minutes starting at 5:38). Is this the type of distribution you heard? Anyone else have data from last night/this morning? -- 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 night
Hearing lots of flight calls up here in the remote highlands of Danby. NEXRAD suggests the biggest flight of the fall is underway. Bill E -- 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] sound help?
Northern Waterthrush? From: Therese O'Connor Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2014 9:13 PM To: cayuga bird email list Subject: [cayugabirds-l] sound help? Tonight between 8:35 to 8:55 PM a bird was singing loudly in SSW which is practically my back yard. It sounded like a cross between a Wood Thrush and a Whip-poor- Will. It was a deep, flute-like sound, repeating in descending 7-8 notes, with a resonance that was really loud. Could anyone venture a guess as to what it might be? It was near, flew far and called, came closer and called--always the same song. Therese -- 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! -- -- 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] Two Osprey chicks, perhaps 3 at Salt Point
Two Ospreys appeared to be in high courtship-like flight over Michigan Hollow yesterday. I wonder if there is uncharted nest somewhere in the extreme southern Cayuga Basin. Bill E From: Candace Cornell Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2014 6:58 PM To: cayugabirds-l Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Two Osprey chicks, perhaps 3 at Salt Point It's been frustrating since the Salt Point osprey nest is a few inches deeper than last year, but now that warm weather has come, I have finally seen this year's chicks—the eldest is 20 days old, the next looks about 17 days, and there may be a third like last year, but it is too difficult to see inside or through the stick nest to be certain. The female at Salt point, Ophelia, has started standing in her Mombrella (a term coined by osprey cam watchers) pose with wings partially spread, shading the chicks below and the little ones are now clearly visible panting in front of her or at meal time while being fed. Female ospreys are the model of maternal sacrifice and absolute dedication as they maintain these poses for 18 hours a day from mid-June rain or shine until the chicks are too big to hide in the shadow she casts in late July. When temperatures are in the 90s or 100s, Salt Point's male, Orpheus, and other male ospreys hide in the shade of trees, but Ophelia, and the other mothers, must stand and shade their chicks. Ophelia can see the cool lake just yards away, but never takes off, leaving the chicks, to take a refreshing dip. Her refusal to abandon the chicks for even a moment to satisfy her own gratification shows the level of her stamina and perseverance. I spent weeks last summer observing her in awe of her tenacity and utter dedication to her nest and nestlings. For those interested, I summarize my osprey observations in a blog On Osprey Time as part of the Friends of Salt Point website. The highlight of the Salt Point and Osprey sites and blog are the wonderful photographs sent to us from photographers captivated by the point and the osprey family. The site will soon be expanding to include artwork, children's projects and reading, more local history, insect check lists, and much more. (Pardon the plug!) Good birding! Candace -- 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! -- -- 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] Hendershot Gulf
Nice Geo...good to know Acadians are still in there. The Cayuta and Hendershot Gulfs offer unique wonderful local habitat rarely visited by local birders -- the trail alongside the former is especially nice. Bill E -Original Message- From: Geo Kloppel Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 10:23 AM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Hendershot Gulf Curious to know if any Acadian Flycatchers were still nesting in Hendershot Gulf, I parked my car along Swan Hill Road at 7:30 this morning, stepped into my muckmasters, waded across the creek and entered the upper end of the narrow gorge. I slowly worked my way down through, encountering Canada Warblers, Black-throated Blues, Winter Wrens, Hermit Thrushes and other fun stuff, along with clouds of gnats and mosquitos (happily these were not biting; the head net remained in my pocket). It wasn't until I reached the lower end of the state-owned section at 8:17 that I found an Acadian Flycatcher singing in the hemlocks. I thought it should be easy to spot an Acadian nest in that narrow place, so I took my time looking, but I had no luck with that. I spent 2 hours in there. Could easily have spent more, especially if I'd been prepared to botanize or look at invertebrates. Rugged going though, climbing over fallen trees and such. I'll be limping for the rest of the day! -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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Cayuta Outlet Acadian
I don't recall there ever being more than a pair in the Cayuta Gulf, but back in the early 90s there were 2-3 pairs in the Hendershot Gulf, a bit further down to the southeast. Outside of those territories, I recall only 2 other sites at Conn Hill where Acadian was known to nest. Bill E -Original Message- From: Geo Kloppel Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 10:29 AM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Cayuta Outlet Acadian I walked down the Cayuta Outlet gorge this morning, looking for the usual specialties. Canada Warblers, Hermit Thrushes, Blue-headed Vireos, etcetera. I didn't find any Winter Wrens, but I feel sure there must be some... On the way downstream I also found no Acadian Flycatcher, which didn't much surprise me as I've struck out repeatedly there in recent years, and figured they had abandoned the Cayuta Gulf. I turned around at the black locust truss bridge constructed by Cornell Engineering students (which is about due for rebuilding, I think), and headed upstream again. Approximately 1,000 meters below the head of the gorge, I found an ACADIAN FLYCATCHER singing, possibly in response to the penetration of sunshine, which doesn't really reach the floor of the shady gorge until 9:00 am. -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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] unusual song for downtown Ith
An out-of-place Common Yellowthroat singing this morning (~6AM) from the outdoor pen of trucked in plants at Ithaca Agway suggests a late migrant, itinerant young bachelor, or disoriented individual. Bill E -- 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] swallow-tailed kite near Geneva
The one seen yesterday at Derby Hill was headed “steadily”north. From: Kevin J. McGowan Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2014 2:32 PM To: Jay McGowan ; CAYUGABIRDS-L ; NYSBIRDS-L Subject: [cayugabirds-l] swallow-tailed kite near Geneva Charlie Rouse just called me to say that he just saw a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE near Intersection of Ontario County routes 4 and 6, near the Geneva Experiment Station, going south/southeast. -- 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: Re:[cayugabirds-l] Osprey nests.
On a historical note, while doing breeding bird surveys at the Seneca Army Depot in the early 1990s, I recall there was an Osprey nest on the lake there, which was one of the very few in the region at the time. 1980-1985 NY nesting: http://www.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/bba/bbaMaps.cfm?bndcode=OSPRorder=1year=1985comp=0 Bill E From: Candace Cornell Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2014 10:42 AM To: John and Fritzie Blizzard ; cayugabirds-l Subject: Re:[cayugabirds-l] Osprey nests. Thank you so much Fritzie for rechecking and notating the exact locations of the osprey nests in your area. As I said in my earlier e-mail, I am trying to keep track of all the osprey nests on Cayuga Lake and am starting to collect information on Seneca Lake. Your list of active nests is invaluable to my efforts is greatly appreciated. Do you have any anecdotal data on how long these individual nests have been in use by ospreys? Any recollections, no matter how approximate, may be useful. I know you are very busy and will patiently await your reply. Meanwhile, I hope you are enjoying this delightful, albeit changeable, weather and the birds it brings. Eyes to the skies! Candace On Mon, Apr 21, 2014 at 11:56 PM, job121...@verizon.net wrote: These are all nests with visible birds. I went back twice to check. I'm swamped with work so will check on a couple other nests soon as I have time but not before the end of the mo. at the rate I'm going. Hope this helps/clarifies. Fritzie ** Rte. 90 Cayuga Lake Farms .. on the hill north of Levanna Rd. (farm sign is no longer there.) Union Springs Center St./Number One Rd. at NYSEG relay station. Union Springs ... Dildine Rd. at Hardy Rd. Union Springs ... Across from US High School driveway at village water dept.. Backus Rd. that goes to Hibiscus Harbor just north of Union Springs. Rte. 90 Conners Rd. Fire Lane 15/16 ... North of US. Rte. 90 Gorwydd. Fire Lane 17/18 ... North of US at lakeside by yellow house. Rte. 90 1st fire lane north of the RR tracks. North of US. Rte. 90 ... south edge of Cayuga (new platform this yr.) Harris Park ... Cayuga. Mud Lock ... old tower nest. Rte. 5 20 ... east of Rte. 90 in tall power line pole, can be seen from intersection. Rte. 5 20 ... platform along Seneca R. seen from the bridge on right/north side. Rte. 5 20 ... 2 separate nests on power poles. Rte. 318 ... Glenwood Farms Mennonite store ... on power pole out in field across from store. Gravel Rd left side off Rte 318 ... on power pole. Rte. 89 North Pool on low platform (sometimes occupied by a Canada goose.) Rte. 89 west side of road seen from the bridge at May's. That's 19 confirmed occupied. Nests previously occupied, not occupied that I can confirm as of today: A 2nd one on Dildine Rd.. Beacon Mills in Cayuga. Nest was occupied last wk.. Wind has blown sticks off. I haven't checked Armitage Rd. but last yr. saw at least one nest. Another nest, now completely missing was at the lock at Mays. -- 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! -- -- 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] Ithaca breeding goose investigation
I’m thinking the area bounded by the south shore of Cayuga Lake (say out 100-ft), the base of the hills, and south to the bridge to nowhere. We might as well add mallards to the survey – I’m always surprised at the locations where they nest within the city. I’m happy to put a map online and update it with nests and gosling locations, but if someone else wants to do this that would be welcome. Bill From: Dave Nutter Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2014 9:02 AM To: Bill Evans Cc: Cayuga Birds Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Ithaca breeding goose investigation Bill, Great idea! It would be good to get an idea of pairs, and if possible nest locations, while nesting is going on. Maybe later an idea of young produced. What area did you want to cover? At Stewart Park yesterday during a brief cruise through in the taxi I tallied at least 16 pairs of geese plus several others that were not obviously paired. I don't know whether the pairs have nests, and if so whether they commute to Stewart Park to graze. --Dave Nutter -- 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] Fw: Ithaca breeding goose investigation
Sometimes it goes by so fast you hardly have time to reflect\ Tons and tons of potential reflection swept under the bridge\ So I inject the following peculiar observation\ I’m sitting in my office across from Agway working late tonight, ~7:45pm, and I hear calls of geese and look out the window\ I see two geese, presumably a pair, flying low (100 ft agl) circling back south, I think toward the pair’s nest site\ The question arises: Where are these geese going and how many such breeding pairs are there in the Cayuga Inlet floodplain? I’m guessing 10 pair, and I mull over lunchtime walks looking for gosslings in a month or so\ Will report back with findings\ Welcome any assistance or reports\ Bill E p.s. this is not like counting earthworms crossing the sidewalk in the rain. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese on the move
My understanding is that generally the longer the migration delay the more birds are ready to fly, so I agree with David that the potential exists for a huge waterfowl flight up from the mid-Atlantic if the weather sets up right. On the other hand, if weather is not suddenly conducive, we could see dribs and drab pushing northbound through semi-conducive conditions. I remember the great raptor migration release after the winter of 92-93 thaw. We had the very tough blizzard in mid-March 93 and when the sun finally melted through the hefty snow deposit (~10 days later) there was a very impressive flight noted from Mount Pleasant. Favorable migration weather began about March 23, but the big raptor pulse didn’t begin until the snow had largely melted on Mar 26th -- a substantial pulse then continued on most days through Apr 8th. During this period nearly 1500 raptors were tallied, and this didn’t include any Broad-wingeds. There were 31 Goldens, and symptomatic of that time only 3 Balds. Notable were 282 Red-shouldereds, including an impressive 109 on March 31st. That latter day was amazing with over 400 raptors in passage. There were still remains of a huge snow drift on the south side of the observatory, but skies were sunny and the temp must have reached at least well into the 60s because I recall Cornell students Adam Byrne and Ned Brinkley had taken off their shirts and were pretty well sunburned by day’s end. Ironman Bernie Guirey compiled the Mount P totals in those days, and for this period from Mar 26-Apr 8 (minus two days with unfavorable migration conditions) the Mt P watch site was covered for an average of 6 hours a day. Thanks to Tom Salo, the data was tracked down a few years ago and submitted to Hawkwatch.org, but I notice it’s not currently online – perhaps due do to the fact that start times were missing from the data. I will forward a copy of the historic data I have to the Cayuga Bird Club so that it might be posted on CBC website. Tom prompted me awhile back to see if we could get coverage up at Mt P again. The Mt P hawk watch came together spontaneously back in the early 90s. Such an effort takes the favorable circumstances of one or more folks free to organize and enough others available to help out and fill in so that continuous coverage on at least the good and moderately good flight days is maintained. Any future efforts should follow the standardized counting format noted on hawkwatch.org Needless to say for many of you, it appears the conditions have potential for some big raptor flight days in the next few weeks. Bill E From: david nicosia Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 11:20 PM To: Cayuga Birds Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snow Geese on the move I wonder when we are going to get the bulk of our snow geese migration? E-bird data shows that most of the snow geese are still in southeast PA, NJ and the Delmarva Peninsula. Weather-wise I don't see any prolonged mild southwest winds at least for another week... possibly longer. I wonder if they will come in a couple large waves or just in dribs and drabs as we do get occasional days of south winds in the next week but it won't be that mild. Not like today. This also goes for the thousands of canada geese that we usually get for a few days. We are already pretty late. When this winter weather finally breaks, will there be a massive migration that comes through really quick? It is been so long that we had a cold winter like this so I am not sure what to expect. Anyone remember the winter of 1993-94 which was comparable to this winter as far as the Great Lakes ice and cold? On Tuesday, March 11, 2014 12:08 PM, Anne Marie Johnson annemariejohn...@frontiernet.net wrote: A flock of Snow Geese just flew over Brooktondale valley from south to north. Anne Marie Johnson Brooktondale -- 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 Rules and Information Subscribe, Configuration and Leave Archives: The Mail Archive Surfbirds BirdingOnThe.Net Please submit your observations to 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:
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Wolfe Island Mortality
in the third year led to scrutiny and questions by Environment Canada with allegations of a potential change in survey methods. The take away point here is that the reported small numbers of carcasses found in wind energy fatality studies can be very deceiving. Canadian fatality studies are estimated in some cases to be finding only 1 out of 25 actual avian fatalities. In the US, for example the Maple Ridge Wind Project on the Tug Hill Plateau, the find rate is only estimated to be about 1 in 10 actual fatalities. What this means is that the current fatality survey protocols are perhaps pretty good for estimating the total number of avian fatalities, but they have low resolution for indicating the species impacted -- and this doesn't aid legal arguments against a wind project based on avian impacts. The current legal test for stopping a wind project in Ontario on environmental grounds is proving that there will be serious and irreversible impact to a species. This is impossible to prove for most species because of nebulous wind farm fatality estimates for any particular species and nebulous population estimates for most species. And, for better or worse, there is the convenient Catch-22 for the wind industry that as a species becomes less abundant, it becomes less likely to be a collision victim at wind farms. From what I've seen, efforts to stop the Amherst Island wind project will have very little traction with arguments based on collision or habitat impacts to wintering raptors. Those arguments may delay the proceeding a bit but will eventually lose as it will be impossible to prove that the wind project will have an impact on their populations or habitat in Ontario. A cumulative impact argument could work better in theory, but again one would be contending with nebulous fatality and population data. There are a limited number of people who would benefit from the Amherst Is. wind project -- the farmers who would have the wind energy on their land and the developer who rakes in the energy profits. Regarding the effort to curb CO2 emmissions, the project could be built somewhere else. Birders are generally not saying no to wind energy - we do give a damn if it is sited carelessly with regard to wildlife, and that has been the case in Ontario in recent years (e.g., Wolfe Island, Ostrander Point, and now Amherst Is.). I think it's great for birders and bird clubs to write letters and sign petitions, and the magnitude of the response may make a different in supporting internal Ontario politics that will likely contribute substantially in determining whether the project is built. Ultimately, if the Amherst Is. wind project is built and winter raptor numbers diminish (as apparently has happened on Wolfe Is.), birders largely won't go to Amherst Island anymore -- the days of Cayuga Bird Club members in full song around the piano at the BB after a day of great raptor viewing will be history. Bill E *Canadian wind farm fatality data data went dark after 2011 and is now not publically available -- only to gov't, the wind industry, and certain NGOs. -Original Message- From: John and Sue Gregoire Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2014 7:49 AM To: KHAMOLISTSERV Cc: Bill Evans ; cayugabirds-l Subject: Wolfe Island Mortality I was asked by some for the source of the quote that said Wolfe Island avian mortality was the second highest in NA. After some searching we find that it came from an analysis by our own Bill Evans. The link to that article is below. Not to belabor the point but John Confer's last paragraph goes to the heart of our concerns for Amherst Island...the importance of habitat. I was sent a second source, a PDf outlining deaths across Canadian wind farms and it does show Wolfe to be the highest and second for tat year only to Altamont in CA.It was written by Lyle Friesen of the CWS for the OFO (Ontario Field Ornithologist) Journal. Unfortunately I can't get that PDF to link in acceptable form. john http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/windfarm-turbines-deadly-for-birds-bats/article4392511/ -- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Road Burdett,NY 14818-9626 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ Conserve and Create 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] lake ice waterfowl
Just found this paper that shows in 1994 Lake Erie went from ~50% iced over on Jan 12 to ~100% on Jan 21 (Fig. 8). I’m imagining grebes on 5000 square miles of lake getting confined to a smaller and smaller area over a week then abruptly on one calm night being forced to evacuate en masse. http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/1520-0477(1996)077%3C0071%3AWWAICF%3E2.0.CO%3B2 Lake Erie was reported to be 95% ice covered last Thursday, so I imagine the most recent cold snap has by now pretty much eliminated that lake’s open water for waterfowl. Bill E -- 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] Amherst Island Wind Project
Cayugabirders, The public comment period for the proposed Amherst Island Wind Farm is now open. The message below was posted to the Kingston Field Naturalists Facebook page last night. ** Birders and Naturalists: Opposition to wind turbines on Amherst Island has entered the next phase and we need your help. This is a plea to join Jean Iron, Ron Pittaway, Dr. Roberta Bondar, and birders worldwide to oppose wind turbines on the Island and in particular adjacent to Owl Woods, world famous as a birding destination and a favourite for life owls. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has invited public comments on a Renewable Energy Approval application by Windlectric/Algonquin Power to build up to 36 industrial wind turbines on Amherst Island. Comments must be received by March 8, 2014. The posting is here on the Environmental Registry (or visit www.ebr.gov.on.ca and enter the number 012-0774 in the search line.) You are asked to send one email to oppose the industrialization of Amherst Island by writing to Susanne Edwards, Ontario Ministry of the Environment (with EBR 012-0774 in the subject line) by March 8, 2014. To: susanne.edwa...@ontario.ca, with copies to prem...@ontario.ca, minister@ontario.ca, ian.parr...@ontario.ca and protec...@kos.net Please tell the Ministry in your words why it is important to preserve Amherst Island. Some of the key messages you may wish to address include: • All of Amherst Island is an Important Bird Area of Global Significance on the Atlantic Migratory flyway and is home to 34 species at risk including Blanding’s Turtle. Habitat will be fragmented and lost. • The Island is internationally recognized for concentrations of wintering hawks and owls, with birders travelling from around the world to visit Owl Woods, where it is possible to see up to 11 species of owls. • Amherst Island was ranked second in biodiversity significance (Lake Ontario Islands – Northeast), and includes 400 hectares of Provincially Significant Coastal Wetland. • Amherst Island is one of Nature’s jewels in Lake Ontario — of similar significance to Point Pelee for migratory birds Named one of the Top Ten Endangered Places in Canada by the Heritage Canada Foundation (now known as Heritage Canada The National Trust) due to the threat of wind turbines on its rich cultural and natural heritage, Amherst Island is simply the wrong place for wind turbines. You can learn more about Amherst Island at: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ProtectAmherstIsland . Web: protectamherstisland.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] EVENING GROSBEAK, Brooktondale (slightly OOB)
Heard and saw a small flock of Evening Grosbeaks @ 7:30 this morning in northbound flight over Bald Hill Rd. in Danby. Also, while biking to Ithaca I was surprised to hear a White-crowned Sparrow singing in the landscaped intersection between Barnes Noble and Wegmans. Bill E -- 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] Pheasant
There has been a small but regular population of pheasants inhabiting the brushy fields west of 96B (from Muzzy Rd to Miller Rd) for at least the past eight years. I found a roadkill on 96B last summer and see individuals a few times a year in this area. I’ve suspected that the owners of one or more of these fields release them for hunting. Bill E From: David McDermitt Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 9:30 AM To: cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Pheasant Enjoyed seeing a single ring-necked pheasant skulk around the perimeter of our backyard this weekend in Danby. Dave -- Dave McDermitt -- 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! -- -- 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] 100+ Redpolls-for a minute
In the last week of Dec and on the CBC count day, I carried out a number of stationary counts from a parking lot at IC to see what was moving in the mornings. There was regular southbound passage of redpoll flocks, at least in the first two hours of daylight. For example, on Jan 1 I had three southbound flocks, totally ~130, from 7:45-8:45AM. The only other passerine species moving was crow, with a steady trickle southbound down the east side of the inlet valley in the morning. Beginning at some point in the early afternoon, there appeared to be a return northbound flight of crows. During my observations I saw no northbound flocks of redpolls. My sense in watching the same phenomenon at my house that Laura described is that they occasionally take breaks that are unrelated to normal back and forth from being spooked or from real predators. Bill E -- 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] (Long comment) Exempt part of Cayuga Lake from hunting diving ducks
This would be a nice accomplishment that is long overdue. I’ve thought that the “few individuals...greatly reducing the pleasure of many” angle should be enough to produce such an exemption, but your approach of population analysis and presenting a scientific case for the exemption might help facilitate the change for DEC. Certainly the issue of hunting in such close proximity to a population center seems like it could be a driver – besides the safety issue, the sound of gunshots can be quite unnerving for some in our society. From the birding and environmental education perspective, it would be wonderful to enjoy viewing large rafts of Aythya ducks and their cohorts on a more consistent basis. Nearly 20 years ago Common Council voted to ban hunting in Allan Treman Marine Park – apparently the City of Ithaca had allowed hunting there after it was purchased by the state in 1976. Hunting currently occurs in the water offshore, and I’m not clear on jurisdiction involved. Bill E From: John Confer Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2013 2:55 PM To: Cayuga Bird List ; Confer, Karen ; j...@cornell.edu Subject: [cayugabirds-l] (Long comment) Exempt part of Cayuga Lake from hunting diving ducks Hi Folks, CBC are always fun for many reasons. It tickles the grey cells to think about population trends and regulatory factors. I shared a fun discussion about the impact of hunting on waterfowl on the south end and the rest of Cayuga Lake and we discussed if there were objective data on population abundance to justify preventing such hunting. This got me thinking. The Fish and Wildlife spends an immense amount of effort to census waterfowl every year: extensive aerial surveys that criss-cross the prairie potholes and elsewhere and Hudson Bay coast, really extensive banding efforts, and hundreds of hours of ground surveys, etc. All of this provides an estimate of pop abundance for each species. This is used to set bag limits. This immense effort is predicated on the belief that hunters are one of the significant factors that regulate waterfowl abundance, and that to sustain the population at nearly level numbers over the long term, one must adjust the bag limit in some proportion to the abundance at the start of fall migration. In the same line of reasoning, the spring snow goose hunting season and the split canada goose hunting season are all based on the belief that hunting in general regulates waterfowl abundance. The newly proposed expansion of waterfowl hunting on snow geese for Montezuma is also based on hunting will continue to regulate abundance. Either, hunting does regulate waterfowl abundance, or the FWS is fooling us and themselves. It is impossible to acquire the specific, statistically-based evidence that hunting regulates the specific population of waterfowl using Cayuga Lake for several reasons. There is no reason to believe that the impact of hunting of waterfowl on Cayuga Lake is exempt from this generality. In fact, it would be incumbent for the merit of such an argument to provide evidence why Cayuga Lake is an exception to the general concept of waterfowl management. Difficulties in making data-based arguments about waterfowl on Cayuga Lake include many factors. 1) There is no estimate of the take, which obviously means you can't quantify the impact. The absence of the fundamental data limits the ability to say if there is or isn't an effect. 2)There is no way to estimate the impact of driving the waterfowl out of their favored foraging site. A reasonable hypothesis is that winter food supply is important. Waterfowl speak with their wings. This provides strong support for the hypothesis that the shallows of Cayuga Lake provide a favorable foraging site. There are no other areas in the inland northeast that have as many diving ducks in mid-winter as Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. The abundance of diving waterfowl on these lakes during times outside of the hunting season suggest that this food source may be one of the best in the entire winter range. In which case, limiting access to a food source for part of the winter may be very deleterious, and could have negative effects on far more than the number killed by shot. 3) When I first came here, there was a waterfowl bander on Seneca Lake. I never met him and don't recall his name. I was told, with what seemed like high credibility, that banding indicated that waterfowl moved back and forth between Seneca Lake, and by inference Cayuga Lake as well, and the coast repeatedly during the winter. Thus, populations on Seneca Lake, and by inference Cayuga Lake, are a sub-sample of the eastern population. The suggestion that an increase in waterfowl on Cayuga Lake during the winter shows that hunting on Cayuga Lake has no impact on the Cayuga Lake population fails to consider that the Cayuga Lake population is a portion of and exchanges with the east coast wintering population. In order
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Swan count for CBC
Last night I made of a Google map of the swan flock information reported to the listserv. I updated the trajectories and markers this morning adding some deductive/speculative text. Cayuga Bird Club 2013 CBC Swan flock map (click markers to read text – if you have a Google acct and log in you can add information to the map) The evidence suggests some flocks were double and even triple counted, but as Ken pointed out there are still some things that don’t add up. Two pieces of information that would help complete the picture would be more description on the location and trajectory of the flock of 21 (@ ~2:45pm) seen by Marty’s group. I don’t have that flock on the map and it doesn’t seem like it could have been the same flock of 19 I had at 2:15 or Ken had at 2PM, which were plausibly the same flock. Also, any swan flock information from section V (Sandy’s section) would be useful in determining whether the 40 seen there were unique flocks or flocks that had already been counted. Anyone else who saw swan flocks on January 1st, please have a look at the map and see if your information matches or suggests additional unique flocks. As of now there is a fairly solid case for a minimum of 163 southbound swans on count day. This presumes that swan flocks that exited the city of Ithaca in southbound flight didn’t return. Bill E -- 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: Re:[cayugabirds-l] Swan count for CBC
Last night I made of a Google map of the swan flock information reported to the listserv. I updated the trajectories and markers this morning adding some deductive/speculative text. Cayuga Bird Club 2013 CBC Swan flock map (click markers to read text – if you have a Google acct and log in you can add information to the map) The evidence suggests some flocks were double and even triple counted, but as Ken pointed out there are still some things that don’t add up. Two pieces of information that would help complete the picture would be more description on the location and trajectory of the flock of 21 (@ ~2:45pm) seen by Marty’s group. I don’t have that flock on the map and it doesn’t seem like it could have been the same flock of 19 I had at 2:15 or Ken had at 2PM, which were plausibly the same flock. Also, any swan flock information from section V (Sandy’s section) would be useful in determining whether the 40 seen there were unique flocks or flocks that had already been counted. Anyone else who saw swan flocks on January 1st, please have a look at the map and see if your information matches or suggests additional unique flocks. As of now there is fairly solid case for a minimum of 163 southbound swans on count day. This presumes that swan flocks that exited the city of Ithaca in southbound flight didn’t return. Bill E -- 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] Swan count for CBC
Jody, The concept of avoiding double counting is implied in the nature of the CBC, and there is a spectrum in the level of attentiveness in avoiding double counting for different species, different locations, and by different birding parties. The key idea amidst all the variables, as you note, is maintaining the utility of the data for long-term interpretation of changes, and this involves consistency of monitoring (even if it is rough around the edges). Of course there is no realistic means for preventing double-counting of chickadees in a neighborhood with multiple feeders, but every year there is a concerted effort not to double count waterfowl at Stewart Park -- the highest tallies are typically taken instead of adding each observer’s sightings, or as I recall, one person is designated to count geese, gulls etc. on the lake. Swans have only been documented on (I believe) 6 Ithaca CBCs in the past 100+ years, all in the last two decades. Whatever count total is used, this year is our record high count. I don’t recall any years like this one when we had multiple flocks in passage, so the previous count totals were likely highly accurate and not subject to being double-counted. However, the evidence suggests that a section-added count of ~400 is a 100% overestimate. Using the section-added total would likely be a gross deviation from the status quo with regard to the accuracy of past swan counts on our CBC. Like the coordinated effort at Stewart Park to prevent multiple waterfowl counts, the swan tally could be corrected with a bit of coordination in observations this year and foresight in future years (i.e., noting flock size, location, trajectory, and time). So, while I generally agree with the importance of maintaining the status quo in counting procedures, I don’t agree with projecting the status quo of a section-added count (i.e., for chickadees) on swans. Asher, section counts would not be denied their birds. As one can see from the map, section counts in fact help ascertain the accuracy of the migration tally. Bill E The evidence suggests some flocks were double and even triple counted, but as Ken pointed out there are still some things that don’t add up. Two pieces of information that would he -- 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] More CBC birds for 2013
The other issue I’ve been wondering about is counts of migrating birds crossing the count circle, in particular migrating swans this year. Perhaps this was addressed at the compilation dinner, otherwise I suspect the 396 total that Dave posted in his quick summary involves flocks being counted multiple times. Unless flock size and timing is noted, I don’t see how this can be avoided except perhaps if we take the highest count by one survey party. While covering section VI, I noted southbound swan flocks of 19, 15, 29, and 53 between 2:15 and 3PM (I have exact times and trajectories if anybody’s interested). All these flocks likely passed over sections VIII IX and some would have been visible from sections V VII. Unless redundant counts were somehow culled out at the compilation, I wouldn’t be surprised if these four flocks made up the bulk of the 396 swans in Dave’s quick summary. Typically in the past we’ve had no substantial visible migration on count days, though I remember one year more than a decade ago when the count coincided with the passage of a brutal cold front and there was massive southbound evacuation of 1000s of Canvasback and other Aythya. As I recall, there wasn’t a problem in double counting that year because only one party in section VIII happened to witness the event. Bill E -- 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] Ithaca Christmas Bird Count 1/1/2013 - quick dirty data; what to look for
Dave, Thanks for posting the quick summary again this year (a fine service for those of us unable to attend the compilation dinner)! FYI, the Winter Wren was foraging within exposed roots and fallen tree stumps along the inlet stream behind Grayhaven Motel. 42.407611,-76.538562 Bill From: nutter.d...@me.com Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 11:03 PM To: cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Ithaca Christmas Bird Count 1/1/2013 - quick dirty data; what to look for From my notes at the compilation of today's Ithaca Christmas Bird Count: -- 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] Ithaca Christmas Bird Count 1/1/2013 - quick dirty data; what to look for
Dave, Thanks for posting the quick summary again this year (a fine service for those of us unable to attend the compilation dinner)! The Winter Wren was foraging within exposed roots and fallen tree stumps along the stream behind Grayhaven Motel. 42.407611,-76.538562 Bill From: nutter.d...@me.com Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2013 11:03 PM To: cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Ithaca Christmas Bird Count 1/1/2013 - quick dirty data; what to look for From my notes at the compilation of today's Ithaca Christmas Bird Count: These 95 Species (plus 1 hybrid) were found on today's count: Snow Goose Cackling Goose - 2 at Stewart Park by Ken Rosenberg Canada Goose Tundra Swan - new high of 396: many flocks migrating Gadwall 5 American Wigeon - 2 at Stewart Park by Ken Rosenberg? American Black Duck Mallard (Mallard x American Black Duck - 1 at Stewart Park?) Northern Pintail Redhead 10 Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Surf Scoter - 1 north of East Shore by Chris Wood White-winged Scoter - 1 at Stewart Park by Ken Rosenberg? 15 BLACK SCOTER - NEW FOR COUNT - 2 from Treman or west shore by Scott Sutcliffe, possibly those I found Friday 28 December Long-tailed Duck - 1 by Chris Wood (location?) Bufflehead Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser 20 Common Merganser Ruddy Duck - 2 in southwest part of Cayuga Lake found by me Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkey Common Loon - 1 flying south of Myers found by Kevin McGowan Lee Ann Van Leer 25 Pied-billed Grebe - 1 north of East Shore found by ? Double-crested Cormorant - 1 southwest Cayuga Lake found by Scott Sutcliffe Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle 30 Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk - 1 found by Chris Wood coming to his feeders Red-tailed Hawk 35 Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel Merlin - 4 Peregrine Falcon - 1 found by Bob McGuire at Stewart Park American Coot 40 Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Glaucous Gull - 1 found by Chris Wood at Stewart Park? Great Black-backed Gull Rock Pigeon 45 Mourning Dove Eastern Screech-Owl Great Horned Owl Barred Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl - 1 attracted to Chris Wood in his hot tub 50 Belted Kingfisher Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker 55 Pileated Woodpecker Northern Shrike Blue Jay American Crow Fish Crow - 6 found by Kevin McGowan near Sciencenter 60 Common Raven - 20 Horned Lark Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch 65 White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Carolina Wren Winter Wren - 1 by Bill Evans (location?) Golden-crowned Kinglet 70 Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling American Pipit - 1 at Dodge Stevenson Rds by Gin Mistry, 1 on white lighthouse jetty by Ken Rosenberg 75 Cedar Waxwing Lapland Longspur - 2 found by Meena Haribal on Irish Settlement Rd near NYS-13 Snow Bunting Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 found by Asher Hockett below old NCR factory on South Hill American Tree Sparrow 80 Savannah Sparrow - 1 on Bluegrass Lane, 1 on Waterwagon Rd by NYS-34 Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco 85 Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird - 3 Brown-headed Cowbird - 5 Purple Finch House Finch 90 Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll - 1 on Sheldon Rd south of NYS-34-B found by Colleen Richards Pine Siskin American Goldfinch House Sparrow 95 These species have already been found as Count Week birds, but may or may not have been found yet in the Cayuga Lake Basin in 2013: Northern Shoveler - found count week last 3 days at Stewart Treman Parks; found outside count circle today at Myers by Chris Wood Canvasback - found count week by me off Treman Park Lesser Black-backed Gull - count week: found on 30 December by me on southwestern Cayuga Lake White-crowned Sparrow - count week (I don't know how many, where, when, or by whom) These species have been found in previous counts, but are missing from this year's count. Some were flukes not expected again, others may be in the circle or elsewhere in the Cayuga Lake Basin. Please report these birds if you find them, especially if you find them in or near the count circle this Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, so we can include them as Count Week birds: Greater White-fronted Goose Ross's Goose Brant Mute Swan Wood Duck Blue-winged Teal Green-winged Teal King Eider Red-breasted Merganser Northern Bobwhite Ring-necked Pheasant Red-throated Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Green Heron Osprey Red-shouldered Hawk Golden Eagle Killdeer Wilson's Snipe Bonaparte's Gull Snowy Owl Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker American Three-toed Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Boreal Chickadee House Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher - unverified count week report on South Hill Bohemian Waxwing Ovenbird Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow Warbler Pine Warbler Green-tailed Towhee Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Grasshopper
[cayugabirds-l] Mongo
Greetings Cayugabirders, This is a sentimental post for a large farm Mallard that was furtively released on the main pond at Sapsucker Woods back in the 1990s, when I was formally associate with the Lab of O when it was lodged in the old building with a staff of 50 or so. There were a few mallards that lived on the pond year-round and one was larger, a domestic hybrid of some sort. I realize “Mongo” has likely long ago passed to humus, but I wonder if anyone has recollections of this fine individual and if there is any knowledge of his fate? Bill E -- 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] Re: [cayugabirds-l] The Loon Watch – 1st notable push
Just wanted to mention also that Ethan has found lodging and that this year the watch is being conducted at the north pier of Taughannock Falls State Park. The old count location at the south pier has been fenced off and inaccessible for several years. To get to the north pier from Ithaca, take the first right after you cross the creek on rte 89. Bill E From: Ethan Kistler Sent: Friday, November 02, 2012 11:44 AM To: cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu Subject: [cayugabirds-l] The Loon Watch – 1st notable push Hi all, Today’s northwesterly winds produced the first notable push of Common Loons over Cayuga Lake. -- 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] Taughannock loon watch
North pier count site, 7:40-9:30AM EDT North wind 10-15 mph, 45 F with low cloud ceiling (~1400-ft asl) and occasional drizzle. Surprisingly little bird movement: 12 Common Loon (1 southbound; 11 northbound) ~100 southbound cormorants in three flocks ~70 southbound Canada Geese in three flocks 2 White-winged Scoters (low in northbound flight) 1 Black Scoter (low in southbound flight) 6 Bufflehead (low flight south then north) A few small flocks of mallards and similar-sized puddlers No gull or passerine migration; a few crows crossing the lake -Bill E -- 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] siskins now - great egret night flight calls tonight - DDT then now
Greetings birders: Right now there are a few siskins feeding in cedar trees on Green St. adjacent to Agway. The timing and conditions look good for hearing great egret night flight calls tonight. My past experience suggests that 8:30-10PM is the window to hear egrets, presumably individuals originating from the southern Lake Ontario marshes. I’m unable to go up to Mt Pleasant tonight for a listen but perhaps others can – should be a great night for listening with lots of migrants aloft! Today is the 50th anniversary of the publication of Rachael Carson’s Silent Spring. For a reflective read, check out the article Insecticides and Birds, which was presented orally to the National Audubon Society in November 1958, later published in Audubon Magazine (Jan-Feb 1959), and reprinted in the WI Ornithological Society’s Journal: The Passenger Pigeon (linked article). The article details how a serendipitous American Robin study on the University of Michigan campus in Lansing, MI documented the decimation of the local breeding American Robin population due to spraying of DDT over the campus to treat Dutch Elm Disease. For an excellent recent reflection on DDT, Rachel Carson, and our modern toxic stew, see Paul Ehrlich’s piece linked below: http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/commentary-paul-ehrlich-on-rachel-carson -Bill E -- 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] [nfc-l] migrating cuckoos
There’s a delightful old paper by Gerald Thayer describing the mid-summer, mid-night, mid-sky gyrations of the Black-billed Cuckoo, as noted by my father and me for three consecutive seasons in the southwestern corner of New Hampshire: ”Several years before we discovered the nocturnal-flight phenomenon, we began to be puzzled by the extreme frequency of Cuckoo calls on summer nights. ***They uttered both the cow-row notes and the rolling guttural call; but the guttural was much the commoner of the two, except on dark, foggy nights, when the case was usually reversed. ***The birds were often so far up as to be only faintly audible when directly overhead, with no obstructions interposed; and this on a still night would seem to mean an elevation of at least a hundred and fifty yards. They sometimes flew lower, however, and on cloudy nights often moved about barely above the tree-tops.” “On the evening of July 11-a pitch-dark evening with a thundershower lowering,-they were remarkably noisy, both sitting in trees and flying high in air. The seated ones, of which I heard only two, made the Cowcow notes, while all the flying ones made the liquid gurgle. I heard this note overhead between thirty and forty times in the course of about three hours, during half of which time I was afoot on the road.” -- Thayer, G. H. 1903. The Mystery of the Black-billed Cuckoo. Bird Lore 5:143-145. In a big nocturnal flight I heard moving up the St. Croix River (MN/WI) in late May of 1985, I estimated a rate of passage of Black-billed Cuckoos in the range of 100 per hour for at least a few hours in the middle of the night. This was not a call total but a rate of vocal birds estimated by following multiple calls from apparently the same individual, and it was clear that these birds were migrants heading northbound. In 1988-1990 I began recording nocturnal flight calls each fall migration period in early July around Ithaca, NY and was surprised that in each season the highest rate of BBCU calling was in July through early August. There seemed to be a lot of variability in the number of calls I recorded between proximal nights, which could be a function of weather/wind and microphone pickup dynamics or that the birds tended to prefer some nights over others. In the big passerine push from mid –August through mid-September across central NY, BBCU flight calls are less common than one might expect. Using a Sennheiser shotgun mic back in those days, my rates of BBCU nocturnal flight call detection in the latter half of August were in the 1-2 per hour range (averaged over whole night). In the first half of September rates dropped to the range of one call every four hours. Whereas in July through early August it was common to record sustained rate through the night of 4-5 per hour. But as I mentioned there was a lot of variability from night to night. I haven’t recorded much in June in central NY, but my impression has been that the breeding ground flight calling, the “mid-summer, mid-night, mid-sky, gyrations”, is a phenomenon that increases in July. Bill E -- 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] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes
Lisa, Unlike for commercial wind energy, there are no specific NY guidelines for minimizing avian impacts of communcations towers (i.e., nothing from NYDEC). The Federal guidelines put forth by the USFWS are pertinent for NY and can be found at the following link: http://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/communicationtowers.html Generally, towers should be kept as far away from the shores of Lake Ontario as possible, due to occasional large migratory bird concentrations there. Towers located within ~3 miles of the shoreline should be free-standing (no guy wires) and as short as possible. Towers should not be built near sources of bright permanent light (sports stadiums, convenient stores, etc.), which may lead to dense bird aggregations of disoriented birds on cloudy nights. Towers should use flashing (not steady-burning) aviation obstruction lighting if possible. Bill Evans www.towerkill.com - Original Message - From: Lisa Welch To: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 9:39 AM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes Hello, I am a planner with Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency and I'm researching migratory bird (or otherwise) regulatory requirements and/or recommended practices for proposed and existing towers. Can anyone recommend a definitive guide for NYS? Thanks. -- 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! -- -- 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] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes
Lisa, There are no other migratory concentration zones as well recognized in NY as shoreline regions. There are other geographic dynamics that cause migratory bird concentrations, such as long ridgelines (for migratory raptors especially) and box canyons (for night migrants especially) but there are no documented sites I am aware of for these other concentration dynamics in the Syracuse-Onondaga region. The concentrations of waterfowl at Montezuma would not be considered actively migrating as much as staging (migratory birds taking a pit stop). The FCC has Environmental Assessment rules that may limit tower construction within MNWR boundaries but I think there is a gray area for building towers in proximity to such preserves. Ideally there should be a buffer zone for tower construction around NWRs (depending on tower height). However, the scientific grounding for such a zone is scant and would be more a precautionary gesture. From what I've seen, communications towers and wind farms are being built with little regard for many IBAs (e.g. new wind farm on Wolfe Island Ontario). It seems human infrastructure can trump previously recognized wildlife zones in many cases. A lot depends on public awareness/support for the IBA and the nature of the intrusion, for example whether it is a 200-ft cell tower or 1000-ft TV tower. So, to answer your question, yes it is true in some cases and it should ideally be true in many other cases. Bill - Original Message - From: Lisa Welch To: Bill Evans ; cayugabirds Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:51 AM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes Thanks Bill, Wouldn't this be true of other recognized migratory routes, wildlife refugees, or IBA, etc, for example, Montezuma? -- From: Bill Evans wrev...@clarityconnect.com To: Lisa Welch welch_m_l...@yahoo.com; cayugabirds cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 10:16 AM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes Lisa, Unlike for commercial wind energy, there are no specific NY guidelines for minimizing avian impacts of communcations towers (i.e., nothing from NYDEC). The Federal guidelines put forth by the USFWS are pertinent for NY and can be found at the following link: http://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/communicationtowers.html Generally, towers should be kept as far away from the shores of Lake Ontario as possible, due to occasional large migratory bird concentrations there. Towers located within ~3 miles of the shoreline should be free-standing (no guy wires) and as short as possible. Towers should not be built near sources of bright permanent light (sports stadiums, convenient stores, etc.), which may lead to dense bird aggregations of disoriented birds on cloudy nights. Towers should use flashing (not steady-burning) aviation obstruction lighting if possible. Bill Evans www.towerkill.com - Original Message - From: Lisa Welch To: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2012 9:39 AM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Communication Towers and Migratory Bird Routes Hello, I am a planner with Syracuse-Onondaga County Planning Agency and I'm researching migratory bird (or otherwise) regulatory requirements and/or recommended practices for proposed and existing towers. Can anyone recommend a definitive guide for NYS? Thanks. -- 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! -- -- 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! -- -- 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! -- -- 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] BLUE-WINGED TEAL Montezuma NWR Visitor
Dave's post reminded me that I heard numerous flocks of Blue-winged Teal and other waterfowl over the high terrain of Danby during the windless quietude Sunday night. Notable in the mix was an emotionally-stirring flock of Long-tailed Ducks. Turn on, tune in, bird out, Bill E -- 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] Merlin eating House Sparrow
9:45AM atop a Green St. telephone pole next to Agway parkinglot. Bill E -- 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] NYSEG seeks help restoring Portland Point Osprey nest site
Robyn, Nice initiative! Here's a link with pictures and contact info for the Treman Marina Osprey platform that NYSEG voluntarily put up in 2009. http://www.ilovethefingerlakes.com/recreation/stateparks-tremanmarina-ospreynest.htm -Bill E - Original Message - From: Robyn Bailey To: Dave Nutter ; CAYUGABIRDS-L Cc: Stephen W. Kress Sent: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 8:48 AM Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] NYSEG seeks help restoring Portland Point Osprey nest site Thank you all for your input and support! Ron Rohrbaugh has agreed to advise NYSEG on the project, and Alan Poole (The Osprey Man) also may get involved. I will help in whatever way I can, of course. I will facilitate a conversation with the right people, and we should be able to move forward soon hopefully. To answer Dave's question, I think it will be possible to erect a platform of a plastic (nonconductive) material right above the old nest location. It will need to be far enough up that there is no chance of electricity arcing to the nest. However, the pole was also burned, and I'm not sure what the extent of the damage is. If the same post is not possible, they may have some decommissioned poles that might be repurposed into a free-standing Osprey platform. In the Big Flats area, they erected an old pole for an Eagle Scout who did all of the construction/design work. Some of you have informed me of NYSEG-aided Osprey platforms in the surrounding areas (Auburn, Big Flats), and the appropriate contacts are now being reached about how they went about it. (It's worth noting that they are responding quickly!) It is so inspiring to see our birding community get behind this, and even have the different NYSEG divisions talking to each other about their independent Osprey circumstances. Keep in mind that storm season is upon us, and while I hope that March is a reasonable goal, it all depends on cooperative weather. Thank you all for your contributions and such productive conversations! Robyn Bailey From: bounce-39148249-15067...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-39148249-15067...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Dave Nutter Sent: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 8:13 PM To: CAYUGABIRDS-L Cc: Stephen W. Kress Subject: [cayugabirds-l] NYSEG seeks help restoring Portland Point Osprey nest site Thanks for the news. What a great opportunity! Please help if you have knowledge or contacts. I can understand NYSEG not liking fires atop their poles, especially with transformers, and Cargill not liking operations to be interrupted by flaming nests. Would they be interested in a platform higher on the same pole to separate the nest better from the wires, or are they considering putting up a separate pole in the vicinity with a nest platform? I suspect that the closer the new platform is to the original nest site, the more likely it is to be used. From a public relations and birding standpoint, it would be good if the nest were visible from the public road in a place where people can pull over in a car and not be in the way of Cargill's trucks. The previous site worked fairly well, I thought, but I was mostly there on weekends when there were no trucks, and Cargill may have a different opinion. They might like to have a small gravel pull-off on the shoulder for one or two cars for the public to see their operations - an amazing sight in itself - and the Osprey nest in the middle of it. I don't know what types of Osprey nest platforms are most successful - I've seen many go unused for unknown reasons. I believe the pole and platform at Treman Marine Park, which saw some Osprey interest last year after several initial barren years, was coordinated by Bill Evans (who I think is on this list) and Ronda Roaring (who may not be). Perhaps Bard Prentiss (also on this list?) knows about or was involved in putting up a platform at Dryden Lake. Perhaps Steve Kress (cc) has contacts or info, too. I hope they or others among the many people at the Lab with related experience, expertise, or contacts step forward. This should be figured out pronto. The Ospreys will return in late March, and the first thing they are likely to do is start putting sticks atop that same pole unless there's a more attractive alternative close by. --Dave Nutter On Jan 17, 2012, at 12:19 PM, Robyn Bailey rb...@cornell.edu wrote: I spoke to the NYSEG lead forester for the Ithaca region (my fiancé) about the Osprey nest. I have a vested interest because this Cargill property abuts our own, meaning I could have Osprey on my yard list. J So, here is the scoop. This past fall, the nest made contact with the lines and sparked a fire. The fire department and line crews responded appropriately to put out the fire, but sadly the nest could not be saved. NYSEG is willing to provide a riser and possibly the bucket
[cayugabirds-l] Redheads
I stopped down at Hog Hole late afternoon yesterday and also roughly estimated 3000-4000 Redheads in the group. Bill E there must have been three to four thousand ducks in the air. -- 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] Merlin prey
Merlins regularly prey on exhausted warblers approaching shore (low over the water) after a night of transoceanic migration. Bill E -- 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] Merlin
There was a merlin bathing in a puddle of water near the Cass Park pool last week. Bill E -- 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] [nfc-l] big night flight tonight
Ken appears to have tuned into one of the biggest calling night of the season so far in central NY. The acoustic station at Alfred Station, NY logged its season high number (988) of warbler and sparrow flight calls last night between 8:30PM-5:30AM. Based on spectrographic analysis roughly 4 out of 100 were Common Yellowthroat, 2 out of 100 were Black-throated Blue, and 2 out of 100 were Chestnut-sided. Also notably in the mix were good numbers of presumed Lincoln's Sparrow calls. Bill E -- 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] An interesting art exhibit involving birds - public reception Thursday.
Carla Stetson: Ornithography The Gallery at FOUND is pleased to welcome a new show by CARLA STETSON. The exhibit opens Wednesday, September 14th, with an artist's reception on Thursday, September 15th from 5-7 pm. You are invited to meet the artist and enjoy light refreshments and tasty treats. The show will be on display in the Gallery through October 20th. Stetson's mixed media prints are characterized by transformation. Unlikely elements combine into new and hybrid entities. She works with a broad range of techniques and media, from mixed media works on paper to large-scale installations. She has taught art for many years to all ages of students and now teaches art studio classes and art education at Ithaca College. The Gallery at FOUND is an intimate art space located within FOUND in Ithaca, the area's newest antique and vintage marketplace. The gallery showcases works of local artists who utilize found imagery, found objects or employ an up-cycling philosophy in their work. FOUND will remain open during the artist's reception. Come browse through 7,000 square feet of great finds! FOUND is located along the inlet behind Wegmans at 227 Cherry Street. Open every day except Tuesday, 10-6. For more information call 607-319-5078 or visit our website at http://foundinithaca.com/events/carla-stetson/ -- 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] post front arrivals
I visited the white lighthouse jetty from 7:30-7:45AM this morning. No active migration of waterbirds was noted but I did find a RUDDY TURNSTONE and SOLITARY SANDPIPER near the beginning of the jetty on the east side. I note also that the city golf course has areas of standing water hosting many grazing waterfowl (including 15 Blue-winged Teal). Conditions look good for grounding interesting waterbirds on the lake vicinity this next day or so. Bill E -- 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] Wolfe Island Short-eareds (was Woodcock)
On Wolfe Island, a nest of Short-eareds with five chicks was plowed under by a farmer who had a turbine on his property. It has been widely surmised that he did so because he thought it would affect his annual paycheck for leasing space to the wind company. As far as I know he has not acknowledged doing so but it happened only a week or so after pictures of the nest and its location hit the media. There is a note in the recent issue of the Kingston Field Naturalist's journal, The Blue Bill, that has a number of discussions on wind power, some of which regard Wolfe Island Wind Project, and another regarding a wind farm siting that would be very deadly to birds on the Point Edward Peninsula http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/bluebill/bb-jun11.pdf I quote from page 35 of that document: Kurt Hennige's presentation of monitoring efforts of the Short-eared Owl - carried out for decades by members of the Kingston Field Naturalists on Wolfe and Amherst Islands - reached a different conclusion about the impact of the Wolfe Island wind plant. Hennige's findings strongly suggest that the distribution of Shorteared Owl on Wolfe Island has changed because of the wind plant - they no longer occupy the area around the turbines that have been their core wintering grounds for decades. The Short-eared Owl, a species that has declined steadily over the past 40 years, is listed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Special Concern. --Bill E -- 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] S-b Dowitcher, Black-bellied Plovers - MNWR Sunday
I recall birding in southern Minnesota in my youth and the date June 17 sticks in my mind as when we would get out to look for the first returning Lesser Yellowlegs. Based on the shorebird resource compiled by Kelling, it appears that Black-bellied Plover is the most unusual of the recent shorebird reports. Bill E - Original Message - From: Geo Kloppel geoklop...@gmail.com To: cayugabirdlist L cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 1:45 PM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] S-b Dowitcher, Black-bellied Plovers - MNWR Sunday If you Google shorebirds + failed breeders you'll get a lot of hits, and you'll see the word 'presumed' again and again. The Ontario Field Ornithologists website offers a more cautious assessment: Failed Breeders: Most adult shorebirds do not stay long on the breeding grounds after nest failure or loss of chicks. Some very early or earlier than normal first migrants in full alternate (breeding) plumage may be failed breeders. However, adults of most species appear at the same time every year suggesting that the “failed breeders” explanation is questionable in many cases. http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/southboundshorebirds.php When deciding how early is early enough in the Cayuga Basin to risk floating the failed breeder explanation, Steve Kelling's shorebird bar chart might be useful: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/cayugabirdclub/firstrecords/shorebirds.htm -Geo Geo Kloppel Bowmaker Restorer 227 Tupper Road Spencer NY 14883 607 564 7026 g...@cornell.edu geoklop...@gmail.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L 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] Barn Owl
Recorded in flight over my house in Danby (near Jennings Pond) last night about 4:15AM -- also, notable numbers of Grasshopper Sparrow flight calls the past two nights. Bill E -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Caspians in Danby
At 7:40AM this morning there were 14 CASPIAN TERNS foraging at Jennings Pond off Bald Hill Rd. in the Town of Danby. They weren't there yesterday late afternoon and they likely got caught in transit up from the mid-Atlantic by the wind shift last night -- I suspect there are such temporary visitors at other water bodies across the region this morning. These individuals are likely headed up to the breeding colony (~1800 pairs) on Galloo Island in northeastern Lake Ontario. Bill E -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Crow with Salamander
Lot of crow talk this morning so I thought I'd share an observation. While driving on Sandbank Rd. this morning, I saw a crow in the road pecking at something then fly off with what appeared to be a large dark salamander, presumably a Spotted. Bill E -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Conn Hill 15Mar11 - migration
From a vista on the south side of Conn Hill today (10:30-12:30 2:00-4:00). Geese (Snows, Canadas): passage of 1000+ per 15 minutes from 10:30-noon; then a notably denser pulse between noon and 12:30PM. From 2PM-4PM rate was 1000 per hour. Mean flight direction ~NNW. ~Mean altitude est. between 2000-4000 ft agl. Turkey Vulture: 4 apparent migrants S to N (also 4+ locals) Red-tailed Hawk: 4 apparent migrants SW to NE (also 6+ locals) Red-shouldered Hawk: 1 not migrating Unid. buteo: 3 apparent migrants (one possibly a dark Rough-legged) Cooper's Hawk: 1 (exhibiting display flight) Merlin: 1 migrant S to N Am. Kestrel: 1 migrant S to N Unid. small falcon: 1 migrant S to N note: this site is in the field at the north end of Black Oak Rd. (near met tower). It has excellent visibility to the west but the east vector is limited -- overall perhaps 60% the circumvisibility of the Mt. Pleasant watch site. --Bill E -- 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Why don't RTHA eat all the pheasants at the game farm?
What I guess we don't know is what proportion of their diet it pheasant versus rodent. - Original Message - From: Linda Orkin wingmagi...@gmail.com To: Chris Tessaglia-Hymes c...@cornell.edu Cc: cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 4:11 PM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Why don't RTHA eat all the pheasants at the game farm? Yes. I totally agree Chris. And what a totally unnatural environment and conditions, with those blinders on and totally exposed to all inclement weather. Linda Sent from my iPhone On Mar 3, 2011, at 4:03 PM, Chris Tessaglia-Hymes c...@cornell.edu wrote: Wouldn't these Red-tailed Hawks primarily be targeting the weak or sick; the ones that might die off (in this unnatural environment) anyway? -- Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes TARU Product Line Manager and Field Applications Engineer Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 W: 607-254-2418 M: 607-351-5740 F: 607-254-1132 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp -Original Message- From: bounce-8672169-3488...@list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-8672169-3488...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Tim Gallagher Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 3:19 PM To: cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Why don't RTHA eat all the pheasants at the game farm? I've seen red-tails eating pheasants there several times, and the people who work there have told me that they often see them catch them. Tim Gallagher Editor-in-Chief LIVING BIRD Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, New York 14850 (607) 254-2443 t...@cornell.edu From: bounce-8672008-10557...@list.cornell.edu [bounce-8672008-10557...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Bill Evans [wrev...@clarityconnect.com] Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2011 2:47 PM To: cayugabirds-l Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Why don't RTHA eat all the pheasants at the game farm? Has anyone ever seen a hawk take/eat a pheasant at the game farm? -- 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/ -- -- 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/ -- -- 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/ -- -- 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] CayugaRBA BLACK VULTURE perched 77
Wow. Perhaps the first perched Black Vulture ever reported in the CBasin. Bill E -- 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] 5000 blackbirds and starlings fall from the sky!
Greetings birders, This kill has all the signs of an aggregation event caused by artificial lighting emanating from the residential area where the kill was found. Whatever flushed the birds (fireworks, cannons or lightning), once they were in the air it is likely that the easiest cue for orientation was the lights of the nearest residential area. The birds would tend to stay in that lighted airspace instead flying into the darkness with no orientation cues, and I guess a dense aggregation with mixed-direction flight occurred and led to lots of midair collisions. There were no dead birds reported from the site where the birds had been roosting and it is likely that the kill wouldn't have occurred (or would have been much smaller) if there were no lights in the vicinity of the roost. The cloud ceiling was 100% overcast and the refraction of light off the bottom of the could ceiling may have contributed to creating a distinctly lighted airspace that birds concentrated within. The reported internal hemorraghing found in the salvaged carcasses could be partly from the midair collisions but more likely from falling bird impacts with the ground. I was out at the 850-ft Elmira TV tower one night a decade ago with two Cornell students while disoriented warblers were striking the tower's guy wires (or other birds) and falling to the TV station parking lot below. I distinctly remember the loud smack sound on the pavement within a few feet of us of a Red-eyed Vireo and a Black-throated Green Warbler. Small birds falling to the ground from 500+ ft in the air really hit the ground with quite a bit of force. Bill E - Original Message - From: Regi Teasley To: cayugabird...@cornell.e Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2011 10:37 AM Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] 5000 blackbirds and starlings fall from the sky! Regarding the blackbirds killed. There was a brief story about this on NPR. The fish and game fellow said he didn't think it was a storm after all. He was coming to think it was fireworks (cannons) celebrating New Year's Eve that frightened the roosting birds. Apparently, when they flew at night in their fear, they crashed into things. Their injuries were blunt force injuries. If so, once again humans blithely blunder around destroying nature in the process. Pathetic. Change is in order. Regi At 09:08 PM 1/3/2011, you wrote: Yes, I read about this on Sat.. I get the local, world national news from various newspaper sources on my computer. I found it interesting but didn't know if it would be acceptable to post so didn't. Today about 500 dead birds, starlings, grackles blackbirds were found outside New Roads, AL. Fritzie Blizzard Stephanie Greenwood wrote on Monday, January 03, 2011 8:27 PM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] 5000 blackbirds and starlings fall from the sky! I was just shocked when a friend I met for dinner this evening told me about this story. Have any of you heard about this? -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Avian towerkill -- the good news
Greetings all, I thought I'd follow up the depressing news of the big blackbird kill in Arkansas with a bit of positive news regarding the long standing problem of bird kills at communications towers. First, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently holding another public comment period on the issue. This stems from a lawsuit led by the American Bird Conservancy Forest Conservation Council, and a decision by the D.C. Circuit Court that prevented the FCC (under pressure from corporate lobbying) from dismissing the avian towerkill issue. Second, behind the scenes the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has conducted tests and found it no longer necessary for towers taller than 350-ft to have steady-burning lights, which are a primary factor in causing bird kills at towers. Tower owners apparently will soon be able to switch off these steady-burning lights (just having flashing lights) and save electricity and maintance costs while also preventing the needless slaughter of perhaps 100s of thousands of night migrating songbirds across the US annually. This is a simple win-win situation that took more than a decade to bring about, and appears close to becoming a reality. While comments submitted during the previous FCC comment periods regarding this issue are still in play, this current comment period regards input on whether the FCC should conduct a programmatic Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS) on its Antennae Structure Registration program. The answer is clearly yes, because the avian towerkill issue is not as much site specific as it involves all towers -- the impact to birds is cumulative and the primary mitigation would involve a change in aviation obstruction lighting regulations for all towers. The FCC currently abides by an Environmental Assessment (EA) program on a tower by tower basis, but this does not address cumulative impacts. Elevating the environmental review of the FCC's antennae structure regulation program to an EIS would help assure that the avian towerkill issue gets the appropriate mitigative attention for cumulative impacts. [e.g., by some estimates, more than 1% of the Cerulean Warbler population is killed at towers annually] So, one of the more significant direct conservation actions for songbirds is before us right now and the comment period ends in 10 days. One of the easiest ways to support this effort is to sign the petition at the Defenders of Wildlife webpage https://secure.defenders.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=displaypage=UserActionid=1769 As with other issues involving Federal Agencies and big corporations, success in instituting strong environmental regulations is dependent upon teamwork of large conservation organizations -- in this case American Bird Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, Forest Conservation Council, and National Audubon Society are all worthy of our support. For those with more time you can find out more information and submit your own comments directly to the FCC at: http://www.fcc.gov/pea All comments submitted to the FCC on this issue since 2003 are available on the FCC webpage http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi entering 03-187 in box #1, and then clicking the Retrieve Document List button. If you go back a few years you can read comments by several current and former members of the Cayugabirds-L community including Marie Read and Dan Lebbin. Finally, anyone who does take the time to submit a formal comment to the FCC will be cordially invited to a party at my house this spring with gratis Nines pizza and beer. Yours in bird, Bill Evans -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Loon flight
I counted over 1000 loons in southbound flight from near Agway in downtown Ithaca this morning. The flight was en masse (1000+ feet above ground level) when I arrived at ~8AM and it appeared most had passed when I stopped counting at 8:20AM. The groups were large, some formations stretching 100 birds wide. I guess this might have been a 3000+ day at Tunghannock State Park. Bill E -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Gender Patterns in Bird-related Recreation in the USA and UK
Cooper, C. B., and J. A. Smith. 2010. Gender patterns in bird-related recreation in the USA and UK. Ecology and Society 15(4): 4. [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol15/iss4/art4/ From the paper's abstract: Observing birds encompassed both a recreational hobby, bird watching, that was female biased in the USA, and a competitive sport, birding, that was heavily male biased among adults, but not youth, in both the USA and UK. Because of differences in gender participation in bird-related activities, fostering both competitive and noncompetitive bird-related activities is necessary to increase the likelihood of bringing larger segments of the population into nature-based recreation. * Bill E -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Out of Basin but interesting
Wolfe Island: Vermilon Flycatcher From: Bruce Di Labio bruce.dilabio AT sympatico.ca Date: Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:39:20 -0400 Hello Ontbirders With birding and our recent technology, the internet, anything is possible! Through eBird I found out that there was a male Vermilion Flycatcher photographed on Wolfe Island yesterday, October 13th. The bird was observed fly catching south east of the intersection of Bennett Road and 7th line Road on wolfe Island. So far no further reports. If anyone has additional information on this observation please let Ontbirds know. Good Birding, Bruce Directions: Wolfe Island is located off of Kingston and the ferry is located along the waterfront. Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www.dilabiobirding.ca http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O. Box 538 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0 Office 613-839-4395 Mobile 613-715-2571 -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Listening on Mt. Pleasant tonight
Greetings, Forecast is for clear skies and a light north wind early tonight. There may be some birds migrating early on, though I don't expect a huge flight. For anyone interested, I'll be up in the near vicinity of the Mount Pleasent Observatory (top of Mt. Pleasant Rd. a few miles east of Ithaca, NY) by 9PM and will have two audio stations available for listeners. It might be a good night to learn the night flight calls of Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrush, and some of the more distinctive warblers as they pass southward toward the tropics for the winter. If you come up, dress warmly and please drive carefully in the vicinity of the observatory as there may be people wandering about and cars turning around. Parking is on the shoulder of Mt. Pleasant Rd. Should be a beautiful evening in any case, and I'm told Uranus will be visible with binoculars (and perhaps by eye) to the right of Jupiter. I'll be there until at least 11PM, later if the migration is good. Bill Evans -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Night on the Mount
Great night listening up on Mount Pleasant tonight. Surprising large flight. Most birds were high and the calls were faint to the ear but listening via the micorphone was amazing. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Swainson's Thrush I think predonminated for us with many zeeps and tsips of warblers. We also had a thermal imager and after it cleared it became extraordinary seeing the magnitude of the flow that was actually moving over us. The wind had turned light southerly by 11PM and I would expect there will be a nice selection of new migrants about Ithaca over the weekend. Good birding to all, Bill E -- 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] 1998
Greetings Cayugabirders, Apologies for the lack of field reports the past decade. I'm still trying to understand what happened and where the time went, but I don't recall seeing anything too noteworthy. I remember Ned Brinkley, Cayuga Basin birder extraordinaire in the early 1990s, saying he always got a rare bird when he was depressed or in need, and I love often reflect upon that sort of interspecial pyschic connection (e.g. presumably as in the nature connection of the native american Cherokee Tribes their kin). In my progression away from Basin birding it seemed my calling perhaps was not specifically for rare birds but addressing needless slaughter of birds. I recall posting to this listserv on the issue of bird mortality at communications towers in early 1998 and soon after forming the website towerkill.com with Bernie Guirey of Horseheads, NY. For those interested, we have just updated the maps and data on tower farms in North America at the website www.towerkill.com so you can see the growth in tower numbers according to North American sector's of political meat. Simply stated, the slaughter of night migrating birds continues at TV communications towers -- but there is some hope via the American Bird Conservancy's (ABC) lawsuit against our government's Federal Communications Commission (which regulates communications towers). It is clear to me over the past decade that ABC is an exemplary North American ornithological organization supporting preservation of our remaining avian populations. Please consider supporting ABC www.abcbirds.org/ to ameliorate a largely unknown millions of bird deaths at communications towers annually. Bill Evans Town of Danby, NY -- 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Loons
50+ loons in southbound flight over the Danby State Forest from 6:30-7AM. Bill E - Original Message - From: Meena Haribal m...@cornell.edu To: cayugabirds-l-cornell.edu cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 9:14 AM Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Loons As I stepped out into back yard to catch bus, I just looked up and found loons overhead. There were nine of them fairly low in a tight knit group. So I watched them for a few seconds and almost missed the bus. Luckily driver saw me and stopped the bus :-) Along East Ithaca Recreation Way, between Maple Hill and Game farm way there was my usual Mocking bird. Today he was on a slightly further away tree and called a couple of times as I passed. I replied back as usual. It seems to be kind of we say hello to each other almost everyday. There were several Am robins in equestrian field on fruit trees. Meena -- 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 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 Archives: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Morning flight 10/25
Greetings birders, I estimate 400-500 Am. Robins past by my observation site in southcentral Danby this morning between 7:30-8:30AM EDT. They were headed northwesterly at altitudes generally 200-ft above ground level (about 1700-ft asl). A higher vector (~600+-ft agl) of lesser numbers of southbound Robins was noted beginning about 7:50 AM -- the two opposing flight directions happening simultaneously. Peak Robin morning flight numbers in past years from my observation site are 4000-5000/hour, ten times what I counted today. Last week I had another morning count in the 400-500 range and these are the two largest flights I've noted this fall. Peak fall migration morning flights of Am. Robins typically occur through Ithaca in the next two weeks and can be observed from anywere with a view of the sky between half hour before sunrise to an hour after sunrise, sometimes later. The regional numbers are highly variable from year to year, apparently due to broad-scale weather patterns, perhaps in conjunction with circumnavigation dynamics around Lake Ontario.. Bill E -- 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 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
