Re: [cayugabirds-l] Armitage rd drainage
The way I learned it, a swamp is a forest wetland, which describes this place well. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 30, 2022, at 9:43 AM, Kate T. Finn wrote: > > The language we use is important. I would suggest we consider replacing the > word "swamp" with "wetland", which is also a protected habitat in some cases. > > More information may be available via NY-DEC Fish and Wildlife as a place to > start. > > Kate T Finn > Ithaca > >> On Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 7:07 AM wrote: >> I was over on Armitage rd. the other day where the nestboxes are set up for >> Prothonotary warblers and noticed the one that had fallen over the winter >> was reinstalled (west side of the river). Unfortunately however this private >> property has had some ditching/drainage work done which is draining that >> swamp into the Clyde River. The ditch was flowing steadily and I fear the >> swampy woods there will be drained in no time, eliminating the habitat there >> for the Prothonotary warblers as well as Northern waterthrush, Wood duck and >> a host of other species. While these birds nest at other locations in the >> Montezuma complex it is saddening that this place may no longer provide >> wonderful opportunities to see these birds. I will try to find out more >> information regarding the plan for the swamp but at this point it doesn't >> look good. >> >> Kyle Gage >> -- >> 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Upland Sandpipers?
I was talking to Reuben Stoltzfus today. He often calls when he suspects he has found a new species for the Cayuga Lake Basin for the year, and he is often the first to find an Upland Sandpiper at their traditional site, the Lott Farm (access by permission). It’s located at the south edge of Seneca Falls, east of NYS-414 and north of Martin Road near the Finger Lakes Regional Airport. We’re a couple weeks overdue for Upland Sandpiper, and he hadn’t reported, and I know he’s busy, so I asked if he had been looking. Yes, he has been looking but not finding any. Last year he only saw 1, and eBird only has 2021 reports from there of a singe bird from April 18-26. It’s looking like maybe that last remaining reliable location in the Basin for breeding Upland Sandpipers may have died out. Keep your eyes and ears open, both there and at any large grassland area. We may only have them as migrants, if at all, from now on. Meanwhile, although I haven’t been there, I assume the Lott Farm is still good for lots (!) of other grassland species. - - 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] Ramblings and Peregrines
Yesterday I biked from my home near Cass Park in Ithaca to Taughannock Falls State Park. I used the Black Diamond Trail which is conveniently direct and safe from motor traffic, and goes through a variety of habitats past nice views and many lovely waterfalls of various sizes. It climbs from lake level to the top of Taughannock gorge ever so gently for 8 1/2 miles, yet the return trip can be made largely by coasting. All the distractions along the BDT slow me down, so for most of the trip I played leapfrog with a couple of steady walkers, as I kept pausing for real or imagined birds, until they finally pulled far ahead when at least 3 Eastern Towhees repeatedly called at me while staying hidden in dense nearby vegetation (Later I finally saw one more by luck than skill.) The other drawback to biking the BDT is the noise of the fine gravel under my tires which obscures bird sounds and drives me nuts. If it wasn’t for the energy-efficiency of biking, including the coasting return trip, I’d walk instead. My goal was to see a nesting Peregrine Falcon. I was warned, correctly, that it would be hard to see and not much to look at, but I wanted to bear witness to the species’ return. When I started birding as a kid, Peregrines were already gone from eastern North America, and I was my twenties visiting the Pacific coast when I first saw a Peregrine. It was the inspiring work of folks at the Cornell Lab or Ornithology, along with scores of volunteers in the field, which gave these spectacular birds another chance to live in our part of the world. The birds could finally return after the banning of some of the poisons whose incredibly widespread use had so harmed Peregrines, Bald Eagles, Ospreys, Brown Pelicans, and many other creatures. Then ecosystems had decades to flush themselves and heal while the birds slowly repopulated. Yesterday I succeeded in seeing the fastest of predators lying humbly, vague and anonymous in the distance, on a rock ledge waiting for her eggs to hatch. I knew more or less where to look, but it took me awhile. The best clue was the presumed male Peregrine perched & preening on a dead tree that overhung the gorge. Where he was on guard duty, the nest site must be nearby. I spent awhile staring at a bird-like-object on the wrong shelf before I found the actual bird staring back. I decided to try to photograph what I saw, but my set-up is a bit fussy. I can look through the scope, or I can photograph through the scope but it takes a few seconds of steadiness to switch, and it’s hard to tell exactly what my picture will show or did show. The view was tricky, too, over a fence and through a narrow grove of evergreen Hemlocks, other tree trunks, and understory trees, then across the substantial gorge. I spent several minutes moving my scope, seeking a better vantage. Then I had to ensure my tripod was steady, because of wind above and duff below, and because extending the tripod enough to see over the fence allowed it to vibrate more. During that time I was unable to photograph what I saw: the female raising herself a bit and reaching down with her bill to adjust and turn the eggs. My next picture has her lying down again, with her head not showing the white pattern on the face so well. But after a couple minutes she was pretty much in the original and recognizable position. Figuring she was settled for awhile, I decided to photograph the male. Maybe he had finished preening and looked more like a bird than like a lot of feathers sticking, out as he did when I first saw him. His perch had been just a bit too far away from her ledge to fit them both in one scope-view photo, so I was about to aim the scope on him when I saw that his dead tree was empty, and he was fluttering to a landing on the nest ledge, at the end of the shelf which was, conveniently, closest to his dead tree and also, respectfully, as far as possible from the female. Did any signal request his presence or ask her permission? I don’t know. Soon after the male arrived, the female stood up (photo) and walked to the edge (photo) before spreading her wings and dropping off the cliff, into flight, and out of view. The male then walked along the ledge to the nest area, leaned down to arrange the eggs a bit with his bill. I think I saw at least 3 of them, light brown like some chicken eggs, but more round. Then he settled himself on top of them to take a turn at incubation (photo), whether for minutes or hours I don’t know. This was all new to me. Maybe it wasn’t much, but it seemed like plenty. I hiked back to my bike for the long gentle ride home. Photos, such as they be, are here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S107585659 - - Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1)
[cayugabirds-l] Red-throated Loon @ East Shore Park, Ithaca
After several visits to East Shore Park, this morning I finally saw the continuing non-breeding plumage Red-throated Loon at East Shore Park, offshore to the north. So many times I only saw the even-longer-continuing non-breeding plumage Common Loons, which at a distance in heat shimmer can look similar, that I doubted the Red-throated was still around, and I would have doubted its very existence despite the numerous reports if not for Jay McGowan’s confirming photo on 11 April. The Red-throated is very pale and evenly gray on the crown and down the back of the neck, with none of the Common’s jagged pattern, and of course the Red-throated lacks the Common’s steep forehead. Amazingly, I took what for me is a pretty good photo. https://ebird.org/checklist/S107380293 - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] CHSP
I read and enjoy people’s reports of all sorts on CayugaBirds-L, including first arrivals. With eBird, I also like the standardization, the notifications, the ease of looking up dates & locations, and for rare birds the required inclusion of comments, the ease of inclusion of photos, and the professional vetting. While eBird comments can be personal notes about the place or the experience, IMO for rare birds the comments must include a description of observed field marks which both point to the ID of the rare species (which by definition is not expected to be there at that time) and rule out other species which are expected to be there at that time or are equally unlikely to be there. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 14, 2022, at 1:59 PM, John Gregoire > wrote: > > Our FOY this AM among increasing numbers of CHSP. SW CLB SW of Mecklenburg at > 1800 ft. > Dave Nutter,are you not wanting FOY reports via the listserv? Sorry but we do > not do 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] Chipping Sparrows
First Chipping Sparrow for me was 13 April, both in my yard by the south end of Cass Park in Ithaca and the same day at Allan H Treman State Marine Park, which is a bit later than many folks but still exciting for me - very handsome little bird. First record for the Cayuga Lake Basin this year currently is 31 March, photographed by Dave Kennedy in his yard in Seneca Falls, also reported to eBird. Earlier reports were not adequately distinguished by description or photo from similar but more likely sparrows, such as American Tree Sparrow, but rarely Chipping Sparrow does show up in winter and often at feeders when it does. Thank you for using eBird, which makes monitoring first arrivals easier for me, and where reports of rare birds (those which are out of range or out of season) get reviewed by an expert, such as Jay McGowan. It’s always good to include a photo of any surprisingly early bird if you can, even a not-too-pretty photo from a hand-held phone, which can help pin down the ID, and to note the things about the bird which said to you what species it was, especially if eBird says it is rare. Reports to eBird, even if they are not THE first local arrival, go into the database which gives a bigger and richer picture for researchers. Also, I find that eBird is a great way for me to keep track of my own observations & lists, so I recommend eBird generally. Also I enjoy all the reports on CayugaBirds-L of arrivals. Some species seem to arrive only a few at a time, other species arrive on south winds in a big wave at many places the same morning. Some species seem to push up against the Cayuga Lake Basin in places like Shindagin Hollow before spilling over. And some species I suspect circle around, arriving via the Ohio Valley and the Lake Ontario Plain, or maybe the Mohawk Valley, rather than crossing the Appalachians. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 13, 2022, at 1:38 PM, Kate T. Finn wrote: > > We had a chipping sparrow downtown on April 7. I ebirded it, for those who > monitor first arrivals. > > Regards, > > Kate > > >> On Wed, Apr 13, 2022, 12:15 PM Sigrid Connors wrote: >> Hello all, >> >> My FOY Chipping Sparrow arrived yesterday too. We live in Northwest Groton. >> >> >> >> >> Sigrid Larsen Connors >> >> >>> On Wed, Apr 13, 2022 at 11:57 AM John Gregoire >>> wrote: >>> Arrived here yesterday. Tree Sparrows also shrill with us but expect the >>> turnover to be soon. >>> John >>> Kestrel Haven Wildlife Sanctuary in the SW corner of the CLB. >>> -- >>> 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] Red-tailed hawks sharing prey?
Sounds like courtship to me. Or maybe it’s “maintaining a pair bond”. Or you could call it very practical help. A male demonstrates that he is a worthy provider by giving the female food, which is a big part of his job if she chooses him as a partner. For their best reproductive success, he brings food for the young, he brings food for her when she is brooding, he brings food when she is incubating, and maybe even when she is producing eggs. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 22, 2022, at 3:35 PM, Christopher Sperry wrote: > > Anyone have thoughts about want I just witnessed in my back yard in Ithaca: 2 > Red-tailed hawks vocalizing loudly from different trees – one with a mouse or > chipmunk, flying to different perches until the one with the prey offered it > to the 2nd hawk (no opposition). Was this likely an example of dominance, or > pairing behavior, or something else? > > Chris Sperry > > > > From: bounce-126420389-89368...@list.cornell.edu > on behalf of Peter Saracino > > Date: Monday, March 21, 2022 at 6:11 PM > To: eatonbirdingsoci...@groups.io , Cayuga > birds > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Lesser yellowlegs > > This message originated from outside the Ithaca College email system. > > 2 lesser yellowlegs at corners of Rt. 89 and 31mucklands > Pete Sar > -- > 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/ --
Fwd: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma updates
As Alyssa said, at 9am today (15 March) the Snow Geese were relatively few in number and located in the west corner of the flooded mucklands opposite the intersection of 31 & 89 (where there is enough shoulder to park several cars alongside the road). I was told that earlier in the morning there were a lot more Snow Geese over a much wider area, but that hunters had dispersed them. Before I left, I saw a guy with a gun, a canoe, and a loud dog on one of the strips of land to the north between the flooded fields. I returned at 11am, when the hunters were gone, and so were the geese from the west corner, but clouds of Snow Geese were forming farther east over the flooded mucklands north of 31, the first few touching down about 11:10am. The flooded field they chose was mainly in Seneca County, considerably east of the large pull off where the “Potatoes” building used to be, with a strip of vegetation blocking the view from there. (There are very few places a car can be pulled off the road near this flooded field, but I found and used one, pulling off so my car would not interfere with traffic.) The Snow Geese continued to swirl down, accumulating many thousands, until about 1:55pm all the Snow Geese took flight - I don’t know why - and resettled mainly northwest of the main pull-off, mostly in Wayne County. More were still arriving when I left about 2:30. But it was not til later that the Greater White-fronted Goose and the Tundra Bean-Goose were found among them. Oh, well. The problem with rare birds is that by definition there is a huge number of birds which are not the rare bird. At least Snow Geese are fun to watch if I’m not trying to pick out a Ross’s Goose, and I wrote down the codes for 8 different collars on them, which I will report at www.reportband.gov Regarding traffic on 31, it is true that there are some tractor-trailers, and that many drivers break the speed limit here as they do everywhere. However, it is not a limited access highway, so it is legal to be a pedestrian along the side of the road. The paved shoulder outside of the white lines, which is too narrow for parking a car, is supposed to be for pedestrians, Drivers can see a person on that shoulder a long way off, and drivers should not cross that white line. I parked in one of the gaps in the guardrail, not where my car would interfere with traffic or block that shoulder, but I walked on the paved shoulder, which is legal. Whether anyone else thinks that’s safe is their own judgement call, but if you as a pedestrian on that paved shoulder get hit by a driver, and you are in no shape to tell the police what happened, and the driver blames you, and the police decline to ticket, even though drivers legally must always try not to hit pedestrians, I think your heirs may have a good chance of success suing. Another non-bird note: although the bathrooms in the Visitor Center building are not available when it is closed, the bathrooms are available in the separate building near the Viewing Tower and the start of the Wildlife Drive and the Seneca Trail. Back to birds & birding: today the lower eastern part of Carncross Road between the marsh and the flooded field was blocked off with a sign saying it was closed due to flooding. There were lots of ducks in the flooded field. At Martens Tract there was still some deep snow/slush on part of the driveway to the parking lot, but it may have melted since this morning. The fields nearby hosted 2 pairs of Sandhill Cranes who were mostly quiet but occasionally very noisy - a joyous surprise to me. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: "Johnson, Alyssa" > Date: March 15, 2022 at 12:56:44 PM EDT > To: Undisclosed recipients:; > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Montezuma updates > Reply-To: "Johnson, Alyssa" > > Good morning all, > > I’ve been away from Montezuma since last Friday, so I haven’t been able to > keep up personally with where the Snow Geese and other waterfowl have been > hanging out over the weekend. I did a quick drive around to some of the hot > spots, and I’ll detail my observations below: > > -“Route 31 Muck”: this is where all the action has been the last week! > REMINDER: This is private land. The little pull off areas are on private > land. Please be respectful if you visit, and stay in the pull off area, do > not go walking out into the fields even if there is a “road”. I’ve seen > people doing this to get better pictures, but it isn’t necessary as the birds > have been pretty cooperative. Also, this is considered trespassing. Also, > please do not stop on Route 31/walk along the road, especially where there > are guard rails! This is a 55mph zone, and tractor trailers and other large > vehicles travel this route, and will not be able to stop or swerve if there > are cars along the side of the road (or even IN t
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tundra Bean-Goose photos
Thanks for the tips about Macaulay, searching by contributors and accessing photos which have not been confirmed. Turns out the URL was masked on my screen, it just said “ebird.org”, but I see how to reveal it fully, and in future I will use that, if my memory is up to the task. Learning all the time... maybe. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 15, 2022, at 9:08 PM, Jay McGowan wrote: > > Right, the most elegant way would be to provide the full URL when referencing > a checklist in a post, so no searching or copying-and-pasting needed. So: > https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S104578240 > Or the Macaulay Library search by county and species (with Show Unconfirmed > checked to include unreviewed media): > https://search.macaulaylibrary.org/catalog?taxonCode=tunbeg1=Grid=Seneca,%20New%20York,%20United%20States%20(US)=US-NY-099=all=T=Tundra%20Bean-Goose%20-%20Anser%20serrirostris > >> On Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 9:04 PM Dave Nutter wrote: >> Sorry to not have provided more information about how to see Joe Wing’s >> photos. >> >> I used the info Gary gave me, that Joe had nice photos from the Mucklands, >> then looked it up on eBird rare bird alerts for Wayne County since it’s less >> than 7 days old. Since Joe’s sighting has been confirmed, you can also use >> the eBird “explore” page to get the species map for Tundra Bean-Goose, zoom >> in to see the recent red pins, click on the upper pin for Wayne County in >> the Mucklands, then click the date beside Joe’s name. It’s checklist >> S104578240. Maybe there’s a more elegant way, but those are the ways I found >> it. >> >> - - Dave Nutter >> >>> On Mar 15, 2022, at 8:48 PM, Jay McGowan wrote: >>> >>> A suggestion—if you reference an eBird checklist, especially as having nice >>> photos, provide the URL. Kind of a tease otherwise! >>> >>> On Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 8:47 PM Dave Nutter wrote: >>>> Joe Wing also included some excellent photos in his eBird report from the >>>> Wayne County part of the Mucklands on 10 March - very sharp, detailed, >>>> well-lit, and only slightly obstructed. A joy to see. Thanks, Gary >>>> Kohlenberg, for pointing this out, I’d somehow overlooked them. >>>> >>>> - - Dave Nutter >>>> >>>>> On Mar 15, 2022, at 6:39 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Thank-you to *everybody* for your patience, persistence, & communication >>>>> regarding finding, refinding, and documenting this super-rare European >>>>> bird, the Tundra Bean-Goose. As I said before, this is only the second >>>>> NYS record, while the first record was only last March, and probably the >>>>> same bird, also on northbound migration in the eastern part of the state. >>>>> There are a lot of birders with cameras, but photography has been very >>>>> challenging, and few reports even include unique photos, let alone >>>>> detailed, focused, or complete views of the bird. I think Sandy Podulka >>>>> has finally submitted some photos to eBird which give us all - and >>>>> history - a satisfying view. If anyone else has photos or video which >>>>> even document some single field mark or behavior well for this bird, >>>>> please do not hesitate to add them to your eBird reports. >>>>> >>>>> - - Dave Nutter >>>>> >>>>> Begin forwarded message: >>>>> >>>>>> From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu >>>>>> Date: March 15, 2022 at 1:35:33 AM EDT >>>>>> To: nutter.d...@mac.com >>>>>> Subject: [eBird Alert] Seneca County Rare Bird Alert >>>>>> >>>>>> *** Species Summary: >>>>>> >>>>>> - Tundra Bean-Goose (1 report) >>>>>> >>>>>> - >>>>>> Thank you for subscribing to the Seneca County Rare Bird Alert. >>>>>> The report below shows observations of rare birds in Seneca County. >>>>>> View or unsubscribe to this alert at >>>>>> https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35526 >>>>>> NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. >>>>>> >>>>>> eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. >>>>>> Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and >>>>>> respect any active travel restrictio
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tundra Bean-Goose photos
Sorry to not have provided more information about how to see Joe Wing’s photos. I used the info Gary gave me, that Joe had nice photos from the Mucklands, then looked it up on eBird rare bird alerts for Wayne County since it’s less than 7 days old. Since Joe’s sighting has been confirmed, you can also use the eBird “explore” page to get the species map for Tundra Bean-Goose, zoom in to see the recent red pins, click on the upper pin for Wayne County in the Mucklands, then click the date beside Joe’s name. It’s checklist S104578240. Maybe there’s a more elegant way, but those are the ways I found it. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 15, 2022, at 8:48 PM, Jay McGowan wrote: > > A suggestion—if you reference an eBird checklist, especially as having nice > photos, provide the URL. Kind of a tease otherwise! > > On Tue, Mar 15, 2022 at 8:47 PM Dave Nutter wrote: >> Joe Wing also included some excellent photos in his eBird report from the >> Wayne County part of the Mucklands on 10 March - very sharp, detailed, >> well-lit, and only slightly obstructed. A joy to see. Thanks, Gary >> Kohlenberg, for pointing this out, I’d somehow overlooked them. >> >> - - Dave Nutter >> >>> On Mar 15, 2022, at 6:39 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >>> >>> Thank-you to *everybody* for your patience, persistence, & communication >>> regarding finding, refinding, and documenting this super-rare European >>> bird, the Tundra Bean-Goose. As I said before, this is only the second NYS >>> record, while the first record was only last March, and probably the same >>> bird, also on northbound migration in the eastern part of the state. There >>> are a lot of birders with cameras, but photography has been very >>> challenging, and few reports even include unique photos, let alone >>> detailed, focused, or complete views of the bird. I think Sandy Podulka has >>> finally submitted some photos to eBird which give us all - and history - a >>> satisfying view. If anyone else has photos or video which even document >>> some single field mark or behavior well for this bird, please do not >>> hesitate to add them to your eBird reports. >>> >>> - - Dave Nutter >>> >>> Begin forwarded message: >>> >>>> From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu >>>> Date: March 15, 2022 at 1:35:33 AM EDT >>>> To: nutter.d...@mac.com >>>> Subject: [eBird Alert] Seneca County Rare Bird Alert >>>> >>>> *** Species Summary: >>>> >>>> - Tundra Bean-Goose (1 report) >>>> >>>> - >>>> Thank you for subscribing to the Seneca County Rare Bird Alert. >>>> The report below shows observations of rare birds in Seneca County. View >>>> or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35526 >>>> NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. >>>> >>>> eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. >>>> Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and >>>> respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information >>>> visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully >>>> >>>> Tundra Bean-Goose (Anser serrirostris) (1) >>>> - Reported Mar 14, 2022 16:16 by Sandy Podulka >>>> - Savannah Mucklands (Seneca Co.), Seneca, New York >>>> - Map: >>>> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=43.0208882,-76.7310748=43.0208882,-76.7310748 >>>> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S104855238 >>>> - Media: 6 Photos >>>> - Comments: "Continuing, originally found on Seneca Lake, then seen here, >>>> and then re-found by Tim Lenz today. Thanks to Scott Peterson for >>>> patiently showing me and others the bird." >>>> >>>> *** >>>> >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Seneca >>>> County Rare Bird Alert >>>> >>>> Manage your eBird alert subscriptions: >>>> https://ebird.org/alerts >>>> >>>> eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare >>>> species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs >>>> Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed >>>> observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or >>>> inaccessible to the general public. It is the
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Tundra Bean-Goose photos
Joe Wing also included some excellent photos in his eBird report from the Wayne County part of the Mucklands on 10 March - very sharp, detailed, well-lit, and only slightly obstructed. A joy to see. Thanks, Gary Kohlenberg, for pointing this out, I’d somehow overlooked them. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 15, 2022, at 6:39 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Thank-you to *everybody* for your patience, persistence, & communication > regarding finding, refinding, and documenting this super-rare European bird, > the Tundra Bean-Goose. As I said before, this is only the second NYS record, > while the first record was only last March, and probably the same bird, also > on northbound migration in the eastern part of the state. There are a lot of > birders with cameras, but photography has been very challenging, and few > reports even include unique photos, let alone detailed, focused, or complete > views of the bird. I think Sandy Podulka has finally submitted some photos to > eBird which give us all - and history - a satisfying view. If anyone else has > photos or video which even document some single field mark or behavior well > for this bird, please do not hesitate to add them to your eBird reports. > > - - Dave Nutter > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu >> Date: March 15, 2022 at 1:35:33 AM EDT >> To: nutter.d...@mac.com >> Subject: [eBird Alert] Seneca County Rare Bird Alert >> >> *** Species Summary: >> >> - Tundra Bean-Goose (1 report) >> >> - >> Thank you for subscribing to the Seneca County Rare Bird Alert. >> The report below shows observations of rare birds in Seneca County. View or >> unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35526 >> NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. >> >> eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. >> Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and >> respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information >> visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully >> >> Tundra Bean-Goose (Anser serrirostris) (1) >> - Reported Mar 14, 2022 16:16 by Sandy Podulka >> - Savannah Mucklands (Seneca Co.), Seneca, New York >> - Map: >> http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=43.0208882,-76.7310748=43.0208882,-76.7310748 >> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S104855238 >> - Media: 6 Photos >> - Comments: "Continuing, originally found on Seneca Lake, then seen here, >> and then re-found by Tim Lenz today. Thanks to Scott Peterson for patiently >> showing me and others the bird." >> >> *** >> >> You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Seneca >> County Rare Bird Alert >> >> Manage your eBird alert subscriptions: >> https://ebird.org/alerts >> >> eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species >> (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in >> your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are >> included. Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the >> general public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and >> respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of >> Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Tundra Bean-Goose photos
Thank-you to *everybody* for your patience, persistence, & communication regarding finding, refinding, and documenting this super-rare European bird, the Tundra Bean-Goose. As I said before, this is only the second NYS record, while the first record was only last March, and probably the same bird, also on northbound migration in the eastern part of the state. There are a lot of birders with cameras, but photography has been very challenging, and few reports even include unique photos, let alone detailed, focused, or complete views of the bird. I think Sandy Podulka has finally submitted some photos to eBird which give us all - and history - a satisfying view. If anyone else has photos or video which even document some single field mark or behavior well for this bird, please do not hesitate to add them to your eBird reports. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu > Date: March 15, 2022 at 1:35:33 AM EDT > To: nutter.d...@mac.com > Subject: [eBird Alert] Seneca County Rare Bird Alert > > *** Species Summary: > > - Tundra Bean-Goose (1 report) > > - > Thank you for subscribing to the Seneca County Rare Bird Alert. The > report below shows observations of rare birds in Seneca County. View or > unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35526 > NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. > > eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please > follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any > active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: > https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully > > Tundra Bean-Goose (Anser serrirostris) (1) > - Reported Mar 14, 2022 16:16 by Sandy Podulka > - Savannah Mucklands (Seneca Co.), Seneca, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=43.0208882,-76.7310748=43.0208882,-76.7310748 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S104855238 > - Media: 6 Photos > - Comments: "Continuing, originally found on Seneca Lake, then seen here, and > then re-found by Tim Lenz today. Thanks to Scott Peterson for patiently > showing me and others the bird." > > *** > > You received this message because you are subscribed to eBird's Seneca County > Rare Bird Alert > > Manage your eBird alert subscriptions: > https://ebird.org/alerts > > eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species > (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your > region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. > Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general > public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and > respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of > Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/ -- 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] Song Sparrow and Tree Sparrow
Yes, you may well have different birds than usual at your feeders today. With the heavy snow covering many wild food sources and even covering some feeding stations on the ground, birds are making a special effort to find food by going to feeding stations they don’t normally visit. Meanwhile, in the past few days & weeks many birds have migrated into the area, such as Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles (who may flock together in winter and during migration) and Song Sparrows (more than just those returning to local territories, also lots who will head farther north). And lots of winter visitors are still in the area, such as Dark-eyed Juncos (who regularly visit feeders), and American Tree Sparrows (who rarely visit my feeder, but I’m sure go to other people’s feeders). The American Tree Sparrows may stay until early April, about the time that many Chipping Sparrows return (This makes the ID challenge between them more fun: can you see them together?) The sparrows usually feed on the ground, but today a Song Sparrow learned to use my hanging tube of sunflower seeds and also started coming up to my deck which I strew with sunflower seeds, even though in the past the Song Sparrows have stayed on the ground below the deck eating fallen seeds there. I’ve been seeing flocks of blackbirds (Red-winged Blackbirds &/or Common Grackles) flying past for several days, but today a mixed flock stopped and visited the feeders at my next door neighbor’s and at my place. They were new feeder birds for the year. Meanwhile I was having trouble keeping the seeds accessible. The snow would cover it faster than the birds would venture forth after I put it out. Mourning Doves regularly visit and eat seeds on the railing of my deck, but today the first one alit on the railing and stood staring at the inch-deep snow, then walked forward along the railing not seeing any food. The second Mourning Dove alit behind the first but could see the seeds through the first dove’s footprints, so it walked behind, eating the entire time. A third Mourning Dove alit behind the second, and because there were so many footprints, it didn’t have to walk but just stayed there eating. After the Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles figured out this was a food source, they trampled the snow on the railing pretty well. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 12, 2022, at 9:24 AM, Poppy Singer > wrote: > > Is it possible that both a Song Sparrow and a Tree Sparrow are at my feeder > now? I'm not an expert at sparrows, but I think so. > Also, a Grackle, like Donna mentioned. > Plus the regulars. > > -- > 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] Tundra Bean-Goose, Seneca County
This is a first for the Cayuga Lake Basin, and according to eBird the first NYS record was a single bird one year ago near Saratoga Springs, again migrating north. My bet is it’s one bird and the same one as last year. I’d be happy to be proven wrong with more birds or sightings, and better views. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 10, 2022, at 7:27 PM, Meredith Leonard > wrote: > > What are the chances there are two or more? Also, has it/have they been seen > here other years? > > On Mar 10, 2022, at 7:04 PM, Jay McGowan wrote: > > The bean goose was refound this afternoon in the huge Snow Goose flock in the > Savannah Mucklands this afternoon, although it was in the far back and out of > sight for quite some time. It was finally refound but then soon after took > off, seemingly to the north, at 5:50pm. Hard to say what the prospects are > for tomorrow, but I didn't get the sense it was heading back to Seneca Lake. > Checking the Mucklands would certainly be a good strategy, but hard to say if > the bean will return. > > On Thu, Mar 10, 2022, 5:22 PM Dave Nutter wrote: > Very cool find! > Perhaps this is the same bird who was found last March near Saratoga Springs. > Seneca Lake and its drainage are outside the Cayuga Lake Basin, but lands not > far to the north of Seneca Lake, including some ag fields along Serven Road > are inside the basin. Please check for it there if you are in the area. A > view on land may be more satisfying, and it would be great to confirm it > within the Basin!. > > - - Dave Nutter > >> On Mar 10, 2022, at 8:17 AM, Jay McGowan wrote: >> >> Tim Lenz found a TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE in a flock of Snow Geese off Seneca Lake >> SP in Seneca County last night. The bird was still present for very distant >> views early this morning, then flew north around 7:16am. >> >> Original checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S104518907 >> -- >> 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/ > > -- > -- 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] Tundra Bean-Goose, Seneca County
Very cool find! Perhaps this is the same bird who was found last March near Saratoga Springs. Seneca Lake and its drainage are outside the Cayuga Lake Basin, but lands not far to the north of Seneca Lake, including some ag fields along Serven Road are inside the basin. Please check for it there if you are in the area. A view on land may be more satisfying, and it would be great to confirm it within the Basin!. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 10, 2022, at 8:17 AM, Jay McGowan wrote: > > Tim Lenz found a TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE in a flock of Snow Geese off Seneca Lake > SP in Seneca County last night. The bird was still present for very distant > views early this morning, then flew north around 7:16am. > > Original checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S104518907 > -- > 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] New 2022 first Basin record for Red-headed Woodpecker
During the Great Backyard Bird Count an eBird report was submitted for a Red-headed Woodpecker visiting a feeder on West Hill in the Town of Ithaca. It’s a rare species, and fortunately the observer included a brief but adequate identifying description. Jay McGowan also personally verified the report on Sunday, as did I yesterday. This is an area which has had Red-headed Woodpeckers reported in past years from the southern part of Poole Rd, and from Elm St Extension east of the Coy Glen Gorge, so I think there must be some attractive habitat. I heard a “wheer“ call yesterday from woods on the N side of Elm St Extension in that area. I also heard rattle calls when the bird was at or near the feeder. The feeder is at the corner of Elm St Extension (a narrow road with rather fast traffic), and Valley View Rd (a one block long residential street). If you decide to drive there, I would recommend staying in your car with it stopped on the end of Valley View Rd near the intersection with Elm St Extension. I think there’s room for a single car on Valley View not to block traffic, the feeders are visible from there without staring at anyone’s house, and I think a stopped car with no one getting out would not disturb the bird. The owner of the house with the feeders is aware that people might stop by and is okay with that providing it doesn’t disturb the bird. For those of you who consider the carbon footprint of birding, I’m not sure whether driving to this location would be better than cruising out to Trumansburg or stopping there on the way to someplace else when those birds return, because Elm Street is a long steep ascent from downtown Ithaca. It is a pleasant walk though. As I said, Red-headed Woodpecker is rare in our area, but it is even more rare in winter. The other interesting bit of info provided on the original eBird report was that the Red-headed Woodpecker has been regularly seen at this feeder since 20 December. Most winter reports that I’ve seen have been unique or sporadic, but I believe this would be only the second documentation of Red-headed Woodpecker overwintering at one location in the basin. The first was several years ago in Cornell’s Parker Woods in Cayuga Heights next to North Campus. That bird had cached acorns into bark crevices. Presumably this bird has some additional food source than this suet feeder as well. The observer keeps a notebook and recorded seeing the Red-headed Woodpecker as early as 2 January this year (which would have made it a Count Week bird), so I have revised the 2022 Cayuga Lake Basin First Records list. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Osprey on Myer's Hill platform
A bird of prey on an Osprey Platform is not necessarily an Osprey. This past Tuesday (22 Feb) I took photos of the platform at Union Field in Ithaca’s Cass Park occupied by a Red-tailed Hawk. Please, whenever you are surprised by the presence of a bird which might be out of its usual season or out of its usual range, take a moment to note what it was about that bird - what identifying field marks - which said to you that it was the species which is not expected to be there rather than any other similar species which is more likely to be in the area. That is basic information to include in any rare bird report. Plus I find that going through this exercise with every “year bird” I encounter helps me remember the special traits of the species and wakes up the part of my brain which recognizes them (picture the ganglia yawning and stretching and getting ready for spring birding). Thanks! It really helps me out when I’m trying to figure out what are the first arrivals of each species in the Cayuga Lake Basin. Unfortunately I must ignore many eBird reports because they neglect to describe what they saw. - - Dave Nutter > On Feb 22, 2022, at 9:26 PM, Candace E. Cornell wrote: > > Robyn, > > Thanks for the additional info. The March 5 arrival date in 2016 was a fluke. > Although their arrival dates are getting a day or two earlier each year, Feb > 22 is a full three weeks ahead of when I expect them. > > I didn't see any Ospreys in the Lansing area earlier and will continue to > check daily. Please let me know if you have any Osprey sightings. Hello to > Paul. > > Many thanks! > > Eyes to the sky! > Candace > >> On Tue, Feb 22, 2022 at 8:32 PM Robyn Bailey wrote: >> See Carol’s note below about an Osprey downtown the day before. There was >> also an eBird report from Truxton a few days ago. Myers isn’t the only >> early sighting. >> Best, >> Robyn >> >> >> Begin forwarded message: >> >>> From: Robyn Bailey >>> Date: February 22, 2022 at 3:10:00 PM EST >>> To: Carol Cedarholm >>> Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Osprey on Myer's Hill platform >>> >>> >>> Indeed, it is very early. I looked at the bird club’s earliest first >>> arrival date for this species, and it was March 5 (2016) so today would be >>> a full 12 days early! 13 days early for yours! That’s almost two weeks >>> early. >>> >>> >>> >>> Yikes, I hope they will be able to find enough ice-free water for fishing. >>> >>> >>> >>> Best, >>> >>> Robyn >>> >>> >>> >>> From: Carol Cedarholm >>> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2022 2:00 PM >>> To: Robyn Bailey >>> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Osprey on Myer's Hill platform >>> >>> >>> >>> I saw one yesterday in a tree on the 300 block of 2nd st. Very early! >>> >>> Carol Cedarholm >>> >>> >>> >>> On Tue, Feb 22, 2022 at 12:11 PM Robyn Bailey wrote: >>> >>> Hi birders, >>> >>> At 9:30am this morning my neighbor Janice Levy reported an Osprey perched >>> atop the platform on Myers Road (Lansing). I didn’t see it, but we both >>> live near this platform and drive by it every day, so I’m trusting her id. >>> >>> >>> >>> Will be looking out for it on my drive home! >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Robyn Bailey >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> >>> 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] Swans
Several more Tundra Swans flew in while I watched between noon & 1:40pm from a sheltered vantage to the west. In addition to a family of 2 all-white adults & 5 grayish immatures who stayed close to each other almost between the docks, there were eventually 10 more adults on the lake nearby. They all called and gestured to one another briefly, but it seemed friendly. 17 was my high count. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 28, 2022, at 12:04 PM, Kevin C Packard wrote: > > Today there are 11 swans-a-swimming along the west side of the lake north of > Hog Hole. It's cold viewing with the NW wind though! > > Cheers, > > Kevin > > > > > From: bounce-126265072-86653...@list.cornell.edu > on behalf of Elaina M. McCartney > > Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2022 2:05 PM > To: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Swans > > Nine swans a-swimming just north of Hog Hole. Yesterday there were five. > > Elaina > > -- > > 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: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] 2022 First Cayuga Lake Basin Records are up
Thanks for the fast feedback, folks! I have now added the missing Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers from the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count, which I had inadvertently entered as Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. I have updated the Peregrine Falcon report to 4 January found by Lisa Podulka at A H Treman State Marine Park in Ithaca, a report I had not found, although I’d heard rumors of a Peregrine during Count Week. I have added Brown-headed Cowbird from John & Sue Gregoire at Kestrel Haven on Fitzgerald Rd in Hector on 1 January. Until today I only knew of Cowbirds on Hile School Rd just outside the Basin. Interestingly, 2 other reports of Cowbirds were also from that part of the basin. Regarding the Barred Owl during Count Week, the reports I’ve seen were either before 2022 or outside the Basin, so the earliest 2022 Basin record I have is from Cascadilla St in Ithaca on 13 January. Any more info is welcome. I welcome all reports, questions, and corrections. The criteria are: The bird must be wild, free, alive, and within the Cayuga Lake Basin*. I’m looking for any independent observations of a species from the earliest date in 2022. That means if there is a broad migration front and people find a species several places at once, I’ll try to include them all. If a species is rare according to eBird (even seasonally rare) I’d like to know what field marks were observed that prompted the ID as opposed to a similar but more likely species. *The Cayuga Lake Basin includes land which drains into Cayuga Lake. It also included some land to the north which drains south away from Lake Ontario but toward the Seneca River or Clyde River and associated canals, and some land which drains north toward those rivers & canals. The boundaries on the east and west in this area are from a map in the 1926 book by Karl Wiegand & Arthur Eames, The Flora of the Cayuga Lake Basin, New York: Vascular Plants, which was adopted by Ornithology professor and Lab of O founder Arthur Allen as the basic birding territory for study. Included are Howland Island on the east and Junius Ponds on the west and all the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Various streams are shown on that map which allow the border to be drawn onto modern maps as well. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 14, 2022, at 9:22 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > The 2022 first records tables (chronological and taxonomic) are now available > on the Cayuga Bird Club website resources page: > > www.cayugabirdclub.org/resources/cayuga-lake-basin-first-records-and-arrival-information > > Thank-you to Paul Anderson for making the tables and putting them on the > site, but he is not responsible for the information on the tables. I gleaned > the data mainly from eBird reports as well as the Ithaca Christmas Bird > Count, but postings on CayugaBirds-L also work well. Please contact me with > any questions, corrections, or submissions. > > I’ll send a more in-depth explanation later. > > - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] 2022 First Cayuga Lake Basin Records are up
Hi Pete. Yes, your previous report prompted some discussion. The earliest 2022 report of Red-winged Blackbird in the Cayuga Lake Basin of which I’m aware is from Marty Schlabach’s place in Covert on the 3rd. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 14, 2022, at 3:13 PM, Peter Saracino wrote: > > Had anyone had redwings yet? I had a male a few days ago. > Pete Sar > >> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022, 1:41 PM Sigrid Connors wrote: >> We had 2 females on the 5th in Groton. >> >>> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 1:00 PM John Gregoire >>> wrote: >>> We had cowbirds here on the first. >>> >>> >>>> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 10:25 AM Barbara Chase wrote: >>>> I looked out at my feeder a little while ago and saw a brown-headed >>>> cowbird which I don’t see on the list yet for this year. Someone else may >>>> have seen one and not reported it. >>>> >>>> Barbara Chase, Black Oak Road, Enfield. I did put it in eBird with a photo. >>>> >>>> Barbara >>>> >>>>> On Jan 14, 2022, at 9:22 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >>>>> >>>>> The 2022 first records tables (chronological and taxonomic) are now >>>>> available on the Cayuga Bird Club website resources page: >>>>> >>>>> www.cayugabirdclub.org/resources/cayuga-lake-basin-first-records-and-arrival-information >>>>> >>>>> Thank-you to Paul Anderson for making the tables and putting them on the >>>>> site, but he is not responsible for the information on the tables. I >>>>> gleaned the data mainly from eBird reports as well as the Ithaca >>>>> Christmas Bird Count, but postings on CayugaBirds-L also work well. >>>>> Please contact me with any questions, corrections, or submissions. >>>>> >>>>> I’ll send a more in-depth explanation later. >>>>> >>>>> - - Dave Nutter >>>>> -- >>>>> 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! >>> -- >> -- >> Sigrid Larsen Connors >> -- >> 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] 2022 First Cayuga Lake Basin Records are up
Can’t beat that! Thanks, John & Sue! I’ll revise it again. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 14, 2022, at 1:00 PM, John Gregoire > wrote: > > We had cowbirds here on the first. > > >> On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 10:25 AM Barbara Chase wrote: >> I looked out at my feeder a little while ago and saw a brown-headed cowbird >> which I don’t see on the list yet for this year. Someone else may have seen >> one and not reported it. >> >> Barbara Chase, Black Oak Road, Enfield. I did put it in eBird with a photo. >> >> Barbara >> >>> On Jan 14, 2022, at 9:22 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >>> >>> The 2022 first records tables (chronological and taxonomic) are now >>> available on the Cayuga Bird Club website resources page: >>> >>> www.cayugabirdclub.org/resources/cayuga-lake-basin-first-records-and-arrival-information >>> >>> Thank-you to Paul Anderson for making the tables and putting them on the >>> site, but he is not responsible for the information on the tables. I >>> gleaned the data mainly from eBird reports as well as the Ithaca Christmas >>> Bird Count, but postings on CayugaBirds-L also work well. Please contact me >>> with any questions, corrections, or submissions. >>> >>> I’ll send a more in-depth explanation later. >>> >>> - - Dave Nutter >>> -- >>> 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] 2022 First Cayuga Lake Basin Records are up
The 2022 first records tables (chronological and taxonomic) are now available on the Cayuga Bird Club website resources page: www.cayugabirdclub.org/resources/cayuga-lake-basin-first-records-and-arrival-information Thank-you to Paul Anderson for making the tables and putting them on the site, but he is not responsible for the information on the tables. I gleaned the data mainly from eBird reports as well as the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count, but postings on CayugaBirds-L also work well. Please contact me with any questions, corrections, or submissions. I’ll send a more in-depth explanation later. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Redwing Blackbird
The earliest Red-winged Blackbird in the Cayuga Lake Basin for 2022 that I’m aware of is on 10 January by Tom Schulenberg on Hanshaw Rd in Ithaca. Does anyone have any other records on or before that date? The 2022 First Basin Records list should be up to date - but always subject to addition & revision! - in a day or two and ready to be put on the club website. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 12, 2022, at 8:37 AM, Marty Schlabach wrote: > > We’ve had a female redwing periodically at our feeders here in Interlaken, > last seen yesterday. > --Marty > > > From: bounce-126231459-3494...@list.cornell.edu > On Behalf Of Peter Saracino > Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 8:29 AM > To: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Redwing Blackbird > > There's a male Redwing at my feeders this morning along with the usual > suspects (and a lurking Coopers hawk). > Sar > > > -- > 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] Big flock
The bleak season has begun at my place because the Flood Control Channel has finally frozen solid. Yesterday there was just a thin layer of slush on top in the morning moving slowly, but a few Canada Geese swam right through it, and later it broke up and cleared away in the warmer afternoon. I may not see many waterfowl flying, swimming, diving, displaying & mating as long as for awhile, although today there are still a few gulls flying around. The Rock pigeons still are resting on the high-tension wires over the ice, and maybe they will continue to display atop the pylon which I can see better from my house. I’m keeping my deck and its railing cleared of snow so that birds can access the sunflower seeds I put out, and every morning I hang a tube feeder of sunflower seeds. So far I’ve been visited by a flock of 5 American Goldfinches and a flock of 16 Mourning Doves, both high counts at the feeder for this young year, plus I’ve seen 2 other species (White-throated Sparrow and Downy Woodpecker) at or headed toward my neighbors’ clearly better feeding operation. My writing was interrupted in the middle of the above paragraph by a surprise new yard species. The first small flock of Canada Geese I saw this morning at 0845, which I wasn’t sure would happen at all due to the frozen water and some snow on the grass, included the Ross’s Goose which has been seen since at least 5 January on the ice at Stewart Park and in the lake off Allan Treman State Marine Park. This morning the Ross’s Goose had been reported among Canada Geese resting on the frozen Cayuga Inlet between Cass Park and Newman Golf Course. As it flew past my windows just above eye-level in bright sun, I saw that this white goose with black wing-tips not only was small, it also had a very short, very thick neck and a very small, stubby, all-pink triangular bill. I expect it is grazing on the lawns along the the water between the State Street bridge and the Fish Ladder east of NYS-13A (Floral Avenue/Five Mile Drive), and I don’t know, maybe there is even some open water for the geese along there. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 8, 2022, at 8:00 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: > > Many of us have been concerned about what seems to be low bird numbers in > past weeks. > But yesterday & today I have ~ 48 Mourning Doves eating bird food in my back > yard! > Also 2 regular Carolina Wrens, along with other usual suspects at feeding > areas. > & I picked up a third Crow out back. > > Donna Scott > Lansing > Sent from my iPhone > -- > 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Great Black-backed Gulls from Maine
I’ve written in the past about a Great Black-backed Gull which was banded on 17 July 2019 as a flightless juvenile on Appledore Island, ME, about 6 miles off the coast of the ME/NH border, and home of the Shoals Marine Lab. This bird sports a black plastic band on its left leg which says 4JF in white. I first saw it resting on a seasonally exposed gravel bar just north of Inlet Island in Ithaca in February 2020. At that time it was clearly a young bird with a checkered back. I’ve seen it again in Ithaca numerous times throughout this past Spring and Summer. It now looks like an adult except for some small dark markings on the tip of its bill. I last saw it on 4 December 2021 along with 27 other Great Black-backed Gulls on the docks at Treman Marina. To me, it’s fascinating when what would have been an anonymous bird becomes a recognizable individual with a life story, and in this case it’s connected to another place that I and many students have visited. It has spent what may be its final year before breeding here in Ithaca, and for several of those months it was the only Great Black-backed Gull I saw at the south end of Cayuga Lake. Perhaps this coming Spring 4JF will return to Appledore, or maybe somewhere else entirely, to breed. I haven’t written so much about another immature Great Black-backed Gull which was the only conspecific with 4JF in a small mixed flock of gulls when I first saw them in February 2020. That second bird had white 1HR on the black band on its left leg. Like 4JF, 1HR was also banded when too young to fly on Appledore Island, but a year earlier on 22 July 2018. I haven’t seen 1HR since. Back to the present: Also on the Treman Marina docks on 4 December I saw another Great Black-backed Gull, an adult, wearing a similar black band with white markings, but in this case on its right leg, reading 6AC. This bird was also banded on Appledore, but even earlier, on 17 May 2016. It was described as having hatched in 2015 or earlier, so we don’t know whether it was also hatched there, nor how old it is. I’m curious about how 6AC came to be banded, as well as this approximation of its age. Decades ago when I visited, Appledore had a colony of both Herring and Great Black-backed Gull nests. It must be pretty straightforward to band a chick if you can withstand the wrath of the parents. [I write blithely, not having actually approached gull chicks in their nests. Nor have I trekked through the colony daily to and from littoral study sites while carrying a tall upright stick, not to threaten the gulls but in hopes the birds will peck the top of the stick rather than the top of my head. Nor have I worn a raincoat, not because of bad weather, but to keep gulls’ well-aimed shit from hitting my clothes or person.] But capturing a huge, strong, smart gull who can fly, and doing so without either party getting injured must be a different project. Was a trap or net set for a single bird at a time? Or was there a bigger effort to catch multiple birds at once? Was 6AC captured as an immature bird whose actual age was unclear to the banders? I had thought that immatures typically might not bother or even be welcome to return to the colony in spring. Or was 6AC an adult who was there to breed, but again the banders were not confident in saying how many years it took to reach breeding age? At any rate, we have at least a third confirmed Appledore connection among the Great Black-backed Gulls who visit Ithaca. I don’t know of any relation between 4JF & 6AC. I saw just 4JF among the crowd as I walked past the marina toward the lakeshore and just 6AC as I walked back out, although it’s possible they were near each other and took turns sitting down and hiding their legs. I wonder about all the other Great Black-backed Gulls who are not banded. How many of them are from Appledore? Or what other places to they hail from? - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan Pfeiffer
My wife and I want to minimize both our energy use and our fossil fuel use. Because of our modest income, we qualified for a subsidy through this exact fund to get a hybrid electric water heater last year. It uses an air source heat pump, which chills the basement, as well as the standard much-less-energy-efficient electric resistance heating as a backup. After we got this water heater, a representative of Halco, who bought out the smaller local company which installed the water heater, told us that all appliances these days are not built to last, and urged us to buy a maintenance package with a yearly fee which would have eaten up our monetary savings on energy. This morning we are having Halco come look at the water heater, because the air source heat pump part, which was surprisingly noisy, has quit working. A previous electric water heater, which came with the old house we bought, had worked for an additional 20 years before it had any problems. We thought we were doing something good for the environment, and maybe we were, but some wealthier people who burn a lot of fossil fuel for a more extravagant lifestyle and realize their impact but want to clear their conscience, those folks are also taking the credit. Carbon offsets are neither simple nor clear in the way they work, if they work at all. IMO, there’s no substitute for actually reducing personal energy use in general and fossil fuel use in particular. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 9, 2021, at 10:34 PM, Hurf Sheldon wrote: > > This is a very good option for carbon offsetting: > https://www.fingerlakesclimatefund.org/ > cheers, > hurf > >> On Thu, Dec 9, 2021 at 11:24 AM Regi Teasley wrote: >> Totally agree. I have always thought that birders are a “sleeping giant” >> that can make a big difference. >> Regi >> >> >> “If we surrendered to the earth’s intelligence, we could rise up rooted, >> like trees.” Rainer Maria Rilke >> >> >>> On Dec 9, 2021, at 8:50 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: >>> >>> I like this idea, Bob. >>> >>> Re SPCA, they do more than any other group to neuter/spay feral cats, & >>> also cats of low-income people, with their free feral program & their >>> low-cost program for pets of those with limited means. I sometimes trap >>> ferals here & take them to SPCA. >>> All animals adopted from SPCA go home neutered. >>> >>> And to repeat what I have recently posted at various online places: >>> The Finger Lakes Land Trust really needs donations NOW for the purchase of >>> the Bell Station land from NYSEG. >>> for more info see www.fllt.org/savebellstation >>> This explains the way this deal works. >>> >>> NYS didn’t buy BS from NYSEG; nys just convinced NYSEG & Public Service >>> Commission to let FLLT buy Bell Station for later transfer to NYS DEC as a >>> Wildlife Mgt. Area, ensuring public access to this wonderful >>> lakeshore-woods. >>> >>> Non-profit FLLT does a masterful job at saving land from development in >>> various ways & they always emphasize that what they do creates, improves & >>> saves habitat for birds & wildlife! >>> >>> Donna Scott >>> Lansing >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>>> On Dec 9, 2021, at 8:31 AM, Stephanie P. Herrick wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> I like this idea Bob, for two reasons: >>>> >>>> 1. It benefits two worthy and appropriate local groups >>>> 2. The very act of making a mindful contribution encourages us to reflect >>>> on why we are doing it >>>> >>>> Thanks for suggesting! Looking forward to others thoughts! >>>> >>>> - S >>>> From: bounce-126137445-82496...@list.cornell.edu >>>> on behalf of bob mcguire >>>> >>>> Sent: Thursday, December 9, 2021 8:20:11 AM >>>> To: Dave Nutter >>>> Cc: linda orkin ; John Gregoire >>>> ; CAYUGABIRDS-L >>>> >>>> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan >>>> Pfeiffer >>>> >>>> Me too (a movement here?). >>>> >>>> And I have one small idea on how to deal with it. Bird clubs organize >>>> field trips, and participation is free. What if each participant was >>>> encouraged (not required, just encouraged) to donate - say - $10 to either >>>> the Land Trust or the SPCA? The Land Trust because they are a major player >>>> in habit
Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan Pfeiffer
Good to hear others’ ideas, thanks! One of Pfeiffer’s suggestions is that, as must as possible, we walk rather than drive on the Christmas Bird Count. I’ve made that my tradition for a number of years, literally just walking out my door and out on a big complicated loop for the morning, then off “poaching” in the afternoon (again by foot) at one of the hotspot parks which others already formally covered on the count. I find that starting the year this way keeps me in touch with the birds and people of my neighborhood, and of course I can do a far more thorough job birding outside of a car. Before I adopted my neighborhood as a CBC territory, I shared a rural CBC territory with another birder. We took my small car and a spare set of keys. We drove to the start of a road, I dropped her off with keys at the start. Then I drove a mile, parked, and walked ahead while she birded and caught up to the car. She drove to me, we switched and I drove ahead. We leapfrogged, all birding on foot, and neither the people nor the car backtracked, so neither time nor fuel were not wasted, we didn’t get too cold, and we checked in regularly. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 9, 2021, at 9:02 AM, Poppy Singer wrote: > > I appreciated the author saying that he has shifted his focus to learning > more of the local flora and fauna. Along this line, perhaps we could combine > bird walks with plant walks? > >> On Thu, Dec 9, 2021 at 8:31 AM Stephanie P. Herrick wrote: >> I like this idea Bob, for two reasons: >> >> 1. It benefits two worthy and appropriate local groups >> 2. The very act of making a mindful contribution encourages us to reflect on >> why we are doing it >> >> Thanks for suggesting! Looking forward to others thoughts! >> >> - S >> From: bounce-126137445-82496...@list.cornell.edu >> on behalf of bob mcguire >> >> Sent: Thursday, December 9, 2021 8:20:11 AM >> To: Dave Nutter >> Cc: linda orkin ; John Gregoire >> ; CAYUGABIRDS-L >> >> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan >> Pfeiffer >> >> Me too (a movement here?). >> >> And I have one small idea on how to deal with it. Bird clubs organize field >> trips, and participation is free. What if each participant was encouraged >> (not required, just encouraged) to donate - say - $10 to either the Land >> Trust or the SPCA? The Land Trust because they are a major player in habitat >> conservation, and the SPCA because they (and I’d have to check this out) >> play a role in reducing the number of feral/outdoor cats. Local >> organizations, local impact. >> >> Could something like this fly? >> >> Bob McGuire >> >>> On Dec 8, 2021, at 4:11 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: >>> >>> Better said than I could have, though such concerns have been brewing for >>> me a long time. So, how do we deal with it? As individuals, as >>> organizations, as unorganized groups? Thoughts welcome. >>> >>> - - Dave Nutter >>> >>> On Dec 8, 2021, at 11:02 AM, Linda Orkin wrote: >>> >>>> Thanks John. >>>> >>>> Yes I had also read that, with great interest. Lots to think about. I >>>> embrace these thoughts fully. >>>> >>>> Linda Orkin >>>> Ithaca, NY >>>> >>>>> On Dec 8, 2021, at 10:21 AM, John Gregoire >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Birdwatching’s Carbon Problem | Bryan Pfeiffer >>>>> -- >>>>> 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! >>&
Re: [cayugabirds-l] A great read for birders to consider by Bryan Pfeiffer
Better said than I could have, though such concerns have been brewing for me a long time. So, how do we deal with it? As individuals, as organizations, as unorganized groups? Thoughts welcome. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 8, 2021, at 11:02 AM, Linda Orkin wrote: > > Thanks John. > > Yes I had also read that, with great interest. Lots to think about. I embrace > these thoughts fully. > > Linda Orkin > Ithaca, NY > >> On Dec 8, 2021, at 10:21 AM, John Gregoire >> wrote: >> >> >> Birdwatching’s Carbon Problem | Bryan Pfeiffer >> -- >> 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] More loon migration
It should’ve been sunrise when I looked out this morning, but the gray sky had dropped far below the hills, then merged into snowfall, depositing a half inch on everything, including the downtown pavement for the first time this year. I hung out the bird feeder, brushed off part of the deck railing, and spread some sunflower seeds on it for the Mourning Doves, but the food was quickly obliterated in white. Then the flurry ceased, the clouds lifted a bit, and I was able to scope the Cornell skyline: the flag on the tower at the Barton Hall armory drooped for lack of wind. Above Inlet Island, the gulls alternated between commuting south and wheeling around overhead. Lately I’ve been wondering why suddenly there will be dozens of gulls kettling, then just as suddenly, none. I haven’t figured it out. But a couple of those high gray specks flew differently, with a more rapid wingbeat and a more direct path southward. Binoculars showed them to have straighter wings and a long neck: it was the right season and the right time of day for Common Loons to migrate, but I didn’t expect them in a snow squall or calm wind. I looked around and found 2 more southbound loons. Then it got confusing. A group of 10 loons were flying north, then turning west and out of my view over my house. And then a different group of 13 more arrived southbound: 27 loons as of 7:58am. But by 8:01 there were 37 loons flying north, which I had to assume could include all those I had seen previously. Still it was a new maximum. At 8:03 I counted 23 southbound loons. Then 16 more southbound at 8:07. This totaled 39, a couple more than my previous maximum. But the southbound loons crossed paths with an even larger number of loons who were flying north who suddenly circled in a cloud which I estimated at 80 strong, and they all moved off south. Soon after, 6 more loons flew south. So my maximum count was 86 Common Loons, although it could have been 189. What was going on? During this time the clouds had broken up a bit, and the wind settled in from the north (Barton Hall’s flag said so). My guess, based on my single observation point and no other nearby weather data, is that all the loons I saw had started their migration from the north on the lake with north winds there to encourage them. Then they outran their tailwind and met up with a stalled air in the Ithaca area associated with low clouds, falling snow, and maybe even headwinds. They plowed on awhile up Inlet Valley, but conditions worsened, so they headed back north, even as more migrating loons came south, also changed their minds, and went north, for the same reasons. But having come back north to Ithaca, they found that the weather once more favored migration, so they turned around again and went south, 86 strong this time. That’s when I stopped looking for loons. I had seen an odd bird flying north. Maybe it was a cormorant, because it was all dark and had a long neck, but the neck looked extra long & narrow, and the tail looked very long. I wondered if it was an Anhinga, so at 8:20 I walked toward Treman Marina, and never saw anything more to suggest such a rarity before I had to head home. But over 20 more Common Loons went south overhead as I started. To round out my migration notes, this evening around sunset I was again watching gulls from my house, and I saw several high flocks of waterfowl, I managed to get the scope on two southbound flocks of Northern Pintail (a new yard bird), but did not get the scope on the later northbound flocks which could have been the same birds. - - 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] Loon Watch 19 Nov 2021
This morning I watched for migrating Common Loons. I was more timely and successful than the day I started significantly later than Jared & Scott who watched from Taughannock Falls SP, and it was certainly better than the day Jay reported multiple flocks of 50 over Danby but I neglected to watch at all. Today I spent from 6:53 until 8:10 at the north end of the NYS-89 bridge over the Flood Control Channel in Ithaca. Wind was from the NW according to the flag atop Barton Hall. The temperature started in the mid-30sF according to the outdoor thermometer at my house nearby. The sky was partly cloudy with no precipitation. Local apparent sunrise was at 7:16. The flight may have already been underway when I arrived and started looking, and I saw a near-constant passage of groups of loons until 7:18, but mostly singles and some significant gaps thereafter. Discounting the 3 northbound loons who may have been counted in some previous southbound group, and assuming they did not change their minds again and join some later southbound group, I think my total was 219 Common Loons. As is typical, many loons were high and distant. I found and counted them by scanning with binoculars. A few particularly distant birds I double-checked the ID with my scope, but this was cumbersome, and I feared missing birds if I spent too much time scoping. Most loons passed considerably east of me, particularly in the early part of my count. Later, an increasing portion traveled over downtown or even almost overhead, but I did not see any passing to my west today. My notes are below: 7 S 655. 7 S 656. 7 S, 2 SW, & 1 N 657. 15 S 659. 20 S 701. 24 S 702. 30 S 704. 7 S, 1 SW, & 2 N 705. 4 S 706. 20 S 709. 17 S 711. 7 S 712. 22 S 714. 5 S 716. 12 S 718. 1 S 719. 3 S 721. 1 S 725. 1 S 727. 1 S 735. 1 S 757. 1 S 759. 1 S 800. 2 S 804. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Loon watch
Sorry about the delayed report, but I was also watching the morning of 10 November from the NYS-89 bridge over the Flood Control Channel in Ithaca. I got a late start, being there from 0742 to 0915, so I probably missed the majority of what Jared & Scott saw if their birds passed over Ithaca at all. Between 0754 and 0838 I saw a maximum of 23 Common Loons, assuming no duplicate sightings. They were generally to my east. 11 were flying south and appeared to be migrating. 3 were flying southwest and may also have been migrating but up Inlet Valley at a lower altitude. 1 was northbound, clearly not migrating. 1 was westbound, 3 were flying in clockwise curves, and 4 were flying counter-clockwise, so who knows what they were doing, but they were fun to watch. This is from my notes: 1 S 0754. 5 S & 1 SW 0755. 1 CW 0802. 1 N 0809. 3 S 0816. 1 S 0819. 1 S 0831. 1 W 0832. 2 CW 0834. 4 CCW 0838. 2 SW 0839. Yesterday I briefly scoped Cayuga Lake from A H Treman State Marine Park, and I saw my first Common Loon of this fall on the southern part of the lake. This bird was near the east side somewhere south of Portland Point, and I only saw it above the shimmer because it briefly took a low curving flight, but it was close enough that I could clearly see its big trailing splayed feet as it prepared to hit the water. (I struggled with that verb. I don’t like to use “to land” for a bird which not actually ending its flight onto land, but “alight” sounds far too dainty for such a heavy projectile as a loon. Maybe I should say it “ditched” like an airplane, even though the act was planned, routine, and inconsequential.) - - Dave Nutter > On Nov 11, 2021, at 7:30 AM, John Gregoire > wrote: > > Seneca Lake had a poor showing between 0700 and 0900, only 20 Loons. > Conditions were the same as yours and I was truly let down after thinking it > would be a great day for migrating Loons. > > Strong south winds are forecast for a while. > > Sue G. > >> On Wed, Nov 10, 2021 at 11:27 AM Jared Dawson wrote: >> This morning Nov 10 at Taughannock Park I did a 2 hour loon count from 6:36 >> to 8:36. There was a steady 8-10 mph wind out of the NW. I had a total of >> 137 loons, mostly high and over the east side of the lake. The bulk of the >> sightings took place between 6:45 and 7:30. Scott Sutcliffe joined me for >> the first hour which was a great help. >> Jared Dawson >> Trumansburg >> -- >> 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] Cattle Egrets at Cass Park & Treman Marina;
Hi All, This afternoon I took another walk through Cass Park, and along with a couple other birders I saw a CATTLE EGRET in the soccer field NW of the skating rink (giant Sowbug) and nearest NYS-89. It was eating worms that it found while walking in the wet grass. Initially it was rather alone and close to the south parking lot and the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. By staying on the pavement, where all other people had passed by innocuously, we could watch and photograph the egret without scaring it. There was also a flock of Ring-billed Gulls foraging in this field, and later they mixed with each other a bit more. After the other birders, having met their goal, left and headed south again, I walked north to check out the ducks in an extensive floodle in the next field to the east. Among the Mallards was an apparent American Black Duck, with a chocolate colored body, tan head & neck, olive bill, and violet speculum. But a closer inspection revealed it to be a hybrid with a Mallard, because it had the male’s telltail (!) curly rump feathers, plus the spread wing revealed very narrow white edges to the speculum. As I looked up with satisfaction from these observations, I noticed that there was an egret standing next to this pool of water. It was in plain view, quite conspicuous, resting quietly, and I don’t know when it got there. It was white-plumaged, yellow-billed, and black-legged like the rare-but-recently-seen Cattle Egret(s) but the legs, body, neck, head, and bill were all proportionately much longer, and the bird was clearly much larger than the nearby Mallards: it was a GREAT EGRET. Several people driving by noticed it and paused to talk about it. I don’t think they were as likely to notice the Cattle Egret among Ring-billed Gulls all of similar size, color, & behavior. Anyway, plenty of people enjoyed this Great Egret treat. But one fellow IMO went a bit too far. He came striding across the soccer field directly at the Great Egret while holding his phone in front of his face to photograph it. The Mallards began nervously moving away, and whether the guy intended or not, he was about to flush the egret. I called out to him, “Please don’t scare it away!” He quickly stopped and turned around, and although the egret took flight, fortunately it was only to the other side of the floodle where it resumed resting and preening. But later the same guy did the same thing in the middle of other soccer field, walking, phone-to-eye, right at the Cattle Egret, and this time he was too far away for me to call to him. Indeed the entire flock of Ring-billed Gulls flew E with the Cattle Egret hindmost. As I continued my walk to the NE corner of Cass Park I saw no more gulls in the fields, nor did I see the Cattle Egret. A few more bits of news: A correction to my description of the border between Cass Park and Allan H Treman State Marine Park: both parks have racks for kayaks at their common corner near the boat ramp. Treman’s rack is next to the concrete bulkhead, Cass’ rack is next to the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. I found what I presume was the same Cattle Egret on the very end of one of the docks in Treman Marina. It was conveniently next to a Double-crested Cormorant, a Great Black-backed Gull, a Herring Gull, and a Ring-billed Gull for size comparison. After I walked around the paved & gravel paths and was approaching the marina again, I saw in the distance an egret on top of one of the white electrical service posts at the end of a dock. I believe this was the Great Egret; the Cattle Egret had instead rather shyly stood hunkered on the dock. Before I could get a good enough look to be sure, an immature Bald Eagle flew low over the marina and scared this egret directly away to the SE where I last saw it disappear between treetops. I did not see the Great Egret in or near Cass Park along my walk homeward. Maybe it went into Jetty Woods? However, when I got closer to the marina I saw that the Cattle Egret was standing as before on one of the docks. I hope both the Great Egret & Cattle Egret stick around tomorrow. Good birding! - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 29, 2021, at 11:38 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > I don’t think this rare bird report went out to the wider listserve. > > On the morning of October 27th Jay McGowan found 2 CATTLE EGRETS in Cass Park > in Ithaca. They were with the couple hundred RING-BILLED GULLS who typically > rest in the soccer fields at the north end of Cass Park, but after the heavy > rains of the previous day they were foraging in the flooded lawns around the > edges of the large pools of water in those soccer fields. All these birds > were frequently making short flights to change which field they used. Later > in the day at least 1 CATTLE EGRET was resting on the docks in Treman Marina. > > This morning, October 29th, Jay reports that at least 1 CATTLE EGRE
Re: [cayugabirds-l] parks by Dave N/& P Paradine
Absolutely! I credit Paul Paradine’s work and the change of policy at NYSEG from knocking down Osprey nests from power poles (after which the Ospreys would often start over in the same place!) to instead raising the nest up onto a special platform. The result has been that NYSEG looks good, Ospreys have bred successfully, and over the course of several generations Ospreys have spread from Montezuma NWR south along Cayuga Lake’s shores to Ithaca, such that this past Spring when a storm fatally blew the young out of the nest in Cass Park’s Union Fields, there were 6 (six!) other successful nests arrayed around the south end of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca! Plus there are others farther afield such as Game Farm Road. Candace Cornell tries to keep track of a mind-bogglingly large number of Osprey nests in our area. - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 29, 2021, at 12:19 PM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: > > Just an addition to Dave Nutter’s wonderful, complete description of the > parks west of Cayuga Inlet in Ithaca: > > Re NYSEG’s work to provide safe, roomy, wooden nest platforms for Ospreys all > over this region, we have their Forester, Paul Paradine, to thank. > Paul is quite knowledgeable about birds, biology, and trees & plants & with > his NYSEG crew has donated much time to helping Ospreys & other birds. He > himself does volunteer work at the Cass Park Children’s Garden & other > smaller gardens. > > Originally from Ontario, he also happens to be the husband of Robyn Bailey > who manages bird nest programs for CLO. > > Paul also has been a huge help to the management of projects at Salt Point by > Cayuga Lake & Salmon Creek in Lansing. > SPt is owned by NYS DEC, but is managed by Town of Lansing thru work of > their Parks & Rec Dept. & Friends of Salt Point, Inc, a volunteer non-profit > group that sets policy & organizes projects there, based on the Salt Point > Master Plan. Years ago, Bob McGuire, Karen Edelstein & others wrote this plan. > > Paul does not get enough credit for all the help he has given to birds & > other species. > Thank you, Paul! > > Donna Scott > Director, Friends of Salt Point, Inc. > Lansing > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Oct 29, 2021, at 11:38 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >> >> I don’t think this rare bird report went out to the wider listserve. >> >> On the morning of October 27th Jay McGowan found 2 CATTLE EGRETS in Cass >> Park in Ithaca. They were with the couple hundred RING-BILLED GULLS who >> typically rest in the soccer fields at the north end of Cass Park, but after >> the heavy rains of the previous day they were foraging in the flooded lawns >> around the edges of the large pools of water in those soccer fields. All >> these birds were frequently making short flights to change which field they >> used. Later in the day at least 1 CATTLE EGRET was resting on the docks in >> Treman Marina. >> >> This morning, October 29th, Jay reports that at least 1 CATTLE EGRET is >> again in northern Cass Park’s wet soccer fields and on the Treman Marina >> docks where the gulls (mainly Ring-billed but also some Herring & a few >> Great Black-backed) typically rest. >> >> By the way, I’ve noticed some understandable confusion as to boundaries of >> these 2 adjacent and popular parks. >> >> ALLAN H. TREMAN STATE MARINE PARK (AHTSMP) is east and north of the Hangar >> Theater, bounded by NYS-89 on the west, Cayuga Lake on the north, and Cayuga >> Inlet on the east. The south border is very close to the south side of the >> boat ramp, its associated parking lot, and the entrance road from NYS-89 >> just south of the Hangar Theater. AHTSMP encompasses the boat ramp, the huge >> marina, a couple of weedy fields west and northwest of the marina (each with >> an Osprey nesting platform atop a pole), a bit of woods north of the marina, >> and an extensive and diverse wetland in the northwest part of the park. This >> wetland, known locally as Hog’s Hole or the Hog Hole, is named after a guy >> called Hoggy who lived in the area before the park was created. >> >> This State Park also includes a large fenced enclosure for loose dogs, a >> compromise after years of scofflaw dog-owners breaking the City of Ithaca >> leash ordinance and the State Park regulations by persistently letting their >> dogs run around the park off-leash, frequently harassing other park patrons >> who walk there. The dog pen is the most extensive mowed lawn in AHTSMP, >> which has no playing fields. >> >> There are some formal paths in AHTSMP which were created a couple years ago. >
[cayugabirds-l] Cattle Egrets at Cass Park & Treman Marina;
are only unlocked during the warmer months. The rink building, during business hours, may be the best bet for a legal public lavatory. Drinking fountains near playing fields may be disconnected. Much of Cass Park is encircled by a 2-mile loop of the paved pedestrian & bike path called the Cayuga Waterfront Trail. (This trail also crosses on the NYS-96 bridge to the east side of the Flood Control Channel then goes north along the east side of Cayuga Inlet to the Farmers’ Market, weaves inland along Cascadilla Creek and then east of Newman Golf Course to Stewart Park.) The CWT extends to the northern border of Cass Park. I believe the row of Yews alongside it belong to Treman. The wooden racks for canoes and kayaks are in Cass Park, even though they are close to Treman’s boat ramp. Cass Park extends south in a wedge to the dead end of Park Road, a remnant of NYS-89 before the big curving NYS-89 bridge with the tile pictures of waterfalls was built. Near the south end of Cass Park is an area managed by a private organization, called the Ithaca Children’s Garden. It is fenced to keep deer out, but people are welcome. Adults have had a wonderful time planting things here, including vegetables which you may sample, beautiful flowers, and things that are better seen than described. There are organized (& deliberately disorganized) programs for kids. One of Ithaca’s wonders resides here: a concrete sculpture of a Snapping Turtle (named Gaia) about 50’ from snout to tail tip and crouching several feet high. An artifact of its construction is a hole in its throat much like a tracheostomy, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows have nested there several years. To the west of Cass Park is the BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL, a gravel pedestrian and bike trail which follows an old railroad grade at a shallow 2% gradient northwest for 8 1/2 miles to the top of Taughannock Falls State Park. It doesn’t feel like work to bike north, but one can largely coast coming back to Ithaca. The Black Diamond Trail is a linear park managed by State Parks. It is also accessible at small parking areas where it crosses 8 roads. This is a wonderful way to view gorges & waterfalls of various sizes (including Taughannock’s secret spiral upper falls), and it’s good from birding, too. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Taughannock peregrine nest location
Hi Pete (& all), For the past 2 years the presence of Peregrines at Taughannock (returned after decades of absence) has only been publicized after fledging, and the nest location has not been publicized. This limits harassment by people trying to see or photograph them. Some folks try to get extra close to birds without gauging the birds’ discomfort, and a nest is a very vulnerable place. Photographers particularly value being as close as possible, and I have met amateurs who have scared off other rare birds locally. For instance a worker at Treman Marina deliberately flushed a Snowy Owl in order to obtain a cell-phone picture of it in flight, and the bird did not return. Maybe it’s better for people to use telescopes and to watch the Peregrines after the birds are able to keep their own comfortable distance. There are many ledges and snags for the birds to use, and they can be seen flying as well. - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 21, 2021, at 10:33 AM, Peter Saracino wrote: > > Hi folks. Is the peregrine nest location at Taughannock best seen from the > north or south side of the rim trail. > Thank you. > Pete Sar > -- > 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] Montezuma Crane follow up
Thanks for the exciting update on Sandhill Cranes in open ag fields. They are spectacular to see, and always thrill me. Just a small note about the township: Armitage Road is along the border between the Town of Savannah in Wayne County to the north and Town of Tyre in Seneca County on the south. Some folks who like to keep track of what birds they’ve observed in what county will actually keep 2 separate lists, one for each side of the Armitage Road when birding there. A bird which crosses the road gets counted on each list! So yes, while there may be Cranes in Savannah, but there may also be Cranes across the road in Tyre. EBird keeps track of records by county as well. - - Dave Nutter > On Oct 14, 2021, at 9:03 AM, Johnson, Alyssa > wrote: > > Currently counting 60+ cranes in the fields on either side of Armitage road. > Located just west of Olmstead Rd. Bulk of the flock is on the south side of > Armitage rd. The township is Savannah. They’ve been here for every morning > this week! > > Alyssa Johnson > Environmental Educator > Montezuma Audubon Center > -- > 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/ --
Fwd: [cayugabirds-l] Major Broad-winged Hawk flight 16 Sept Tioga County NY
Yes, my mistake, that is of course OWEGO, not Oswego. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: Wes Blauvelt > Date: September 17, 2021 at 8:55:45 PM EDT > To: Dave Nutter > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Major Broad-winged Hawk flight 16 Sept Tioga > County NY > > > Dave - That would be Owego. Wes >> On Fri, Sep 17, 2021 at 8:48 PM Dave Nutter wrote: >> I just got a report from Adam Troyer who was with a group of 6 birders on a >> high steep hill off Blodgett Rd, which is off West Creek Rd near NYS-38 in >> Flemingville, north of Oswego. This is close to the confluence of the East >> and West Branches of Oswego Creek. >> >> In that location yesterday afternoon (16 September) between noon & 4pm they >> saw a stream of 6,680 Broad-winged Hawks go by. >> >> Adam is wondering if anyone else in our region was doing a concerted hawk >> watch that day, or recently, and if so what totals they had. >> >> - - Dave Nutter >> -- >> 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Major Broad-winged Hawk flight 16 Sept Tioga County NY
I just got a report from Adam Troyer who was with a group of 6 birders on a high steep hill off Blodgett Rd, which is off West Creek Rd near NYS-38 in Flemingville, north of Oswego. This is close to the confluence of the East and West Branches of Oswego Creek. In that location yesterday afternoon (16 September) between noon & 4pm they saw a stream of 6,680 Broad-winged Hawks go by. Adam is wondering if anyone else in our region was doing a concerted hawk watch that day, or recently, and if so what totals they had. - - 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/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Raptors aloft despite south winds
That shallow glide was *southbound* making progress to more than offset the northward drift while circling up. - - Dave Nutter > On Sep 17, 2021, at 12:18 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Since then I’ve watched a Broad-wing glide north at a ridiculously shallow > angle before circling up again, a kettle of 6 climb beyond my view in cloud > mist, and a climbing kettle of 13 drift north out of view behind trees, yet > at least 9 likely from that group gliding SSW a short time later. It’s normal > migration, and it’s crazy amazing. > > - - Dave Nutter > >> On Sep 17, 2021, at 11:20 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >> >> Yesterday I watched a couple of Broad-winged Hawks and a couple of Turkey >> Vultures kettling upward only to disappear into the misty base of a cloud. I >> didn’t know they flew in clouds. >> >> This morning I was watching the sky despite the south winds, and the >> Broad-winged Hawks were moving again. I saw at least 5 circling and climbing >> - and drifting decided northward at a pretty good clip. Will they climb >> enough to be able to glide farther south? Or is it just a good day for >> flying regardless? I also saw a Peregrine Falcon disappear up into the mists >> of cloud, but what could have been the same bird was later in the clear >> again and managing to stay over downtown Ithaca. >> >> The Monarchs managed to maintain southward travel for awhile, but later they >> too were getting blown northward. >> >> - - 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/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Raptors aloft despite south winds
Since then I’ve watched a Broad-wing glide north at a ridiculously shallow angle before circling up again, a kettle of 6 climb beyond my view in cloud mist, and a climbing kettle of 13 drift north out of view behind trees, yet at least 9 likely from that group gliding SSW a short time later. It’s normal migration, and it’s crazy amazing. - - Dave Nutter > On Sep 17, 2021, at 11:20 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Yesterday I watched a couple of Broad-winged Hawks and a couple of Turkey > Vultures kettling upward only to disappear into the misty base of a cloud. I > didn’t know they flew in clouds. > > This morning I was watching the sky despite the south winds, and the > Broad-winged Hawks were moving again. I saw at least 5 circling and climbing > - and drifting decided northward at a pretty good clip. Will they climb > enough to be able to glide farther south? Or is it just a good day for flying > regardless? I also saw a Peregrine Falcon disappear up into the mists of > cloud, but what could have been the same bird was later in the clear again > and managing to stay over downtown Ithaca. > > The Monarchs managed to maintain southward travel for awhile, but later they > too were getting blown northward. > > - - 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] Raptors aloft despite south winds
Yesterday I watched a couple of Broad-winged Hawks and a couple of Turkey Vultures kettling upward only to disappear into the misty base of a cloud. I didn’t know they flew in clouds. This morning I was watching the sky despite the south winds, and the Broad-winged Hawks were moving again. I saw at least 5 circling and climbing - and drifting decided northward at a pretty good clip. Will they climb enough to be able to glide farther south? Or is it just a good day for flying regardless? I also saw a Peregrine Falcon disappear up into the mists of cloud, but what could have been the same bird was later in the clear again and managing to stay over downtown Ithaca. The Monarchs managed to maintain southward travel for awhile, but later they too were getting blown northward. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snowy Plover and Common Ringed Plover, Sandy Pond (Oswego Co.)
Also, of the 3 initial eBird reports, Sarah’s alone had ID info: “Not as big as semipalmated, black by eye, broken collar” Beautifully succinct, narrowing plover possibilities to Snowy. Matt had a narrative and alluded to photos which were added later. Kennedy noted Matt’s reputation, what the observers did and used, that the studied Piping Plovers had been gone awhile, who this bird was with, and that it was different, but not in what ways (no field marks or comparisons), all interesting, but not identifying, painting a background picture that awaited the portrait. Together they make an exciting story. Thank you to everyone on behalf of those of us who probably will not see the actual bird. - - Dave Nutter > On Sep 14, 2021, at 10:18 AM, Johnson, Alyssa > wrote: > > As I understand, just for the sake of giving credit where credit is due: > Sarah Forestiere an SCA/NYS Parks Piping Plover Steward was the first to put > eyes on the bird. She then asked Matt Brown for confirmation that it was not > a Wilson’s but in fact a Snowy. Sarah is a personal friends and was a student > at Finger Lakes Community College when I worked there several years ago. She > is a budding conservationist who is ecstatic about this sighting and the > experience as a whole. > > -- > Alyssa Johnson > Environmental Educator > 315.365.3588 > > Montezuma Audubon Center > PO Box 187 > 2295 State Route 89 > Savannah, NY 13146 > Montezuma.audubon.org > Pronouns: She, Her, Hers > > From: bounce-12595-79436...@list.cornell.edu > On Behalf Of Jay McGowan > Sent: Monday, September 13, 2021 11:28 PM > To: nysbird...@cornell.edu; oneidabi...@yahoogroups.com; Cayugabirds-L > ; geneseebirds-l > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Snowy Plover and Common Ringed Plover, Sandy Pond > (Oswego Co.) > > Matt Brown found a SNOWY PLOVER on the beach at Sandy Pond in Oswego County > this morning. The bird was still present this evening, on the lake side of > the south spit. At about 6:04PM, it took off to join a passing flock of > Sanderlings and they headed south out of sight down the beach. It's possible > they stopped farther down, but they were definitely gone from the pond outlet > area before dusk. Access to this area is best by boat, but you can reportedly > also walk north from Sandy Island Beach State Park. > > Then just before dusk I found a juvenile COMMON RINGED PLOVER on the sandy > shoal on the west side of Carl's Island in the bay. I was checking out some > of the array of shorebirds there, which included Red Knot, American > Golden-Plover, and Long-billed Dowitcher. As it was getting dark, I got on a > small plover giving melancholy calls in flight, quite unlike Semipalmated, > and I immediately suspected it was a ringed. Once it landed I was able to get > closer and call Drew Weber and Larry Chen who I had been birding with back > over to the island, and we were able to get some documentation shots in the > fading light. Plumage seemed consistent with a juvenile Common Ringed: > overall noticeably larger and plumper than nearby Semipalmated. Dark breast > band distinctly broken in center and bulging down on both sides. Lores dark > and no white wedge at gape. Closeups on photos show no sign of paler orbital > ring around eye. It continued to call occasionally when other shorebirds > would vocalize. It was still present on the south side of the shoal when we > left well after sunset. This flock would be visible by scope from the south > spit of the pond outlet, but ID would be challenging at that distance. > Otherwise access is by boat, putting in either at Greene Point marina > (paddlecraft launch fee $7) or the public launch on Doreen Dr. at the far > east side of the bay. > > Checklist with photos and a recording of the ringed plover here: > https://ebird.org/atlasny/checklist/S94634252 > > -- > Jay McGowan > jw...@cornell.edu > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- > -- > 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] uploading pictures to ebird?
fascinating. Take notes. Take photos if you can. Include them both in your eBird report. - - Dave Nutter * Ocean City MD CBC, 27 December, 1974. The pictures in my Peterson guide were too small to be useful to me, but in the Golden Guide held by my buddy Paul Burdick I pointed to the yellow sparrow with a dark crown with a white stripe in the middle while the actual bird sat atop a weed within our binocular view. The compiler for the count happened to be one of the Golden Guide’s authors, Chandler Robbins. The kid who grabbed the bird a week later was Peter Pyle, who was already an experienced bander, and who went on to write a guide for banders to determine the ID, age, and sex of birds in the hand. This story wouldn’t have happened if Paul & I didn’t stop, look carefully, consult guides when we realized the bird was totally unfamiliar, and write it up. As inexperienced kids giving a very basic description, our word was not enough for complete acceptance, nor to dispel skepticism, but it was enough to bring others to the scene to attempt corroboration. And the record wasn’t accepted until there were photos. Also a couple feathers were brought back to the Smithsonian. > On Sep 9, 2021, at 9:49 PM, Leona Lauster wrote: > > I was having trouble adding photos on my computer one evening. Later I tried > using my iPad and it was easy! > It makes me wonder if many people are having trouble. I often see reports > that say photos but when you click on the report there are NO photos posted. > ?? ? > Leona Lauster > > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Sep 9, 2021, at 3:17 PM, Pat Martin wrote: >> >> Anyone out there also having trouble uploading photos to their ebird >> reports today? Doesn't seem to be a computer issue, as I'm having the same >> problem on both my and my husband's computer. >> >> Pat Martin >> >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- >> > > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Muckrace 2021 & early deer season
my understanding. Please correct me where I’m wrong, and inform us of the hunting status of all lands managed by DEC & other organizations in the Muckrace area. I hope all goes well, and that birders find lots of birds and have a good time. If there are no conflicts, scares, near misses, or people shot, that will be good and welcome news. But it won’t mean that inviting people to shoot at deer during late summer when the leaves are still on the trees is a smart idea. I hope the DEC can be convinced - at least in future years - that holding fire until most leaves have fallen and fewer people are outdoors actually makes sense for safety. And if that basic bit of logic isn’t enough, we can lobby for early bow season instead, at least in WMUs 8F & 8J. Thanks for reading. I hope to see you all out birding in the future. - - Dave Nutter > On Sep 5, 2021, at 11:18 PM, Colleen Richards wrote: > > https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html > > > -- Original Message -- > From: Poppy Singer > To: John VanNiel > Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Muckrace 2021 & early deer season > Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2021 21:35:40 -0400 > > John, I’d like to see the link, but don’t see it attached….? > >> On Sun, Sep 5, 2021 at 5:02 PM John VanNiel wrote: >> Just for clarification, this change is being implemented over 13 Wildlife >> Management Units (WMUs) not just on Howland's Island and the Refuge. WMUs do >> not follow political boundaries so it is difficult to just explain exactly >> where this hunting can now take place but it impacts the Muckrace because >> most of Wayne County, Seneca County and some surrounding area are included. >> This isn't a local issue as far as the NYS DEC goes. >> >> ​ >> >> Here is a link to the DEC website if you are interested in knowing where >> else you may find deer hunters from 9/11-9/19. >> >> >> Birders may also be interested to know that big game hunters (deer and bear) >> can now legally hunt from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after >> sunset. That is the same start time as waterfowl and spring Wild Turkey. >> >> >> Dr. John Van Niel >> Professor of Environmental Conservation >> Director, East Hill Campus >> Finger Lakes Community College >> >> From: bounce-125889910-3493...@list.cornell.edu >> on behalf of Asher Hockett >> >> Sent: Sunday, September 5, 2021 3:54 PM >> To: Gary Kohlenberg >> Cc: Dave Nutter; gag...@twc.com; Steve Benedict; CAYUGABIRDS-L; Andrea >> VanBeusichem b >> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Muckrace 2021 & early deer season >> >> CAUTION: This message originated outside the FLCC employee email system. Do >> not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know >> the content is safe. >> >> The DEC is flat wrong to have tossed this on the schedule with the Muckrace >> already planned. I sincerely hope they can be convinced it is a grave error >> to proceed with the additional hunt. Were I planning to participate in the >> Muckrace I would change that plan if the DEC doesn't yield on this. >> I know, OOB opinion. >> >> On Sun, Sep 5, 2021, 12:30 PM Gary Kohlenberg >> mailto:jg...@cornell.edu>> wrote: >> I agree with this opinion and would add that rifles are now allowed for deer >> in almost all counties in New York. >> >> An argument could be made that this will increase or decrease safety for >> others, but it certainly changes the lethal range for misses to 1000+ yards. >> >> Gary >> >> On Sep 5, 2021, at 11:57 AM, Dave Nutter >> mailto:nutter.d...@me.com>> wrote: >> >>  >> Hi Kyle & Steve, (& all) >> >> Thanks for letting us know about the unprecedented early gun season on deer >> which is planned to start during the Montezuma Muckrace in some of the best >> birding areas. I have never heard of this conflict before, so it seems like >> something new promoted by DEC. In my opinion it is a very bad idea. >> >> I avoid being on public lands where deer hunting is permitted on opening day >> of gun season. The number of people with guns is not limited. They may be >> unfamiliar with the area. They may be inexperienced. Their enthusiasm may >> overwhelm their judgement. Deer will be particularly numerous, spooked, and >> running that day, which may provoke more shots and less care. Slugs for >> killing deer are also lethal to people, and unlike the less harmful fine >> shot used to shoot ducks and geese,
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Muckrace 2021 & early deer season
Hi Kyle & Steve, (& all) Thanks for letting us know about the unprecedented early gun season on deer which is planned to start during the Montezuma Muckrace in some of the best birding areas. I have never heard of this conflict before, so it seems like something new promoted by DEC. In my opinion it is a very bad idea. I avoid being on public lands where deer hunting is permitted on opening day of gun season. The number of people with guns is not limited. They may be unfamiliar with the area. They may be inexperienced. Their enthusiasm may overwhelm their judgement. Deer will be particularly numerous, spooked, and running that day, which may provoke more shots and less care. Slugs for killing deer are also lethal to people, and unlike the less harmful fine shot used to shoot ducks and geese, those slugs can travel travel hundreds of yards. On public lands the shots are less likely to be from deer stands aimed downward a short distance and more likely to be from people on foot aimed more-or-less level and therefore traveling much farther. Howland Island seems like a particularly dangerous place. Sightlines along winding trails are poor. The trail system is complex, and it’s hard to know how far away the closest trail is in any direction. The terrain is rolling, so shots fired somewhat upward are more likely, which would send slugs farther. On Howland Island people are allowed to walk or bike the trails any day. During the Muckrace there are typically dozens of additional people birding on Howland Island, and driving is also allowed. Birders trying to hear owls or night migrants are there during the night. Birders may be there all night, or may arrive well before dawn and stay through the early morning when many birds are most active. There will likely be plenty of birders on the island and active at first light when eager hunters first open fire. These birders’ presence may additionally make deer nervous and apt to move. There will likely be plenty of birders on the island and active at first light when eager hunters first open fire. The timing of this “special season” - in the first half of September rather than the second half of November - means that trees will be fully leafed out, making visibility minimal, such that people who are quietly moving within gun range will not be able to see each other. In my opinion it was a dangerous decision by DEC to open a special early gun season for deer on Howland Island when the trees are leafed out and at a time when the public traditionally has been able to go out without fear of lethal gunfire. It was particularly dangerous to promote this activity when the DEC already knew that the Muckrace would be ongoing there when the shooting started. Since this promotion of premature shooting seems to be a DEC project, I thought at least the dikes around the Montezuma NWR’s Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes would be safely available to birders. I am very disappointed that the Refuge is also welcoming people to fire guns there during the single 24-hour period when birders are trying to hold a fundraiser for conservation in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Can the DEC’s Howland Island, any other DEC lands in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, and the Refuge’s Knox-Marsellus & Puddler Marshes be exempted from this special shooting season on the Saturday of the Muckrace? Please share these concerns with decision-makers at DEC & the Refuge. Thanks. - - Dave Nutter > On Sep 4, 2021, at 8:17 AM, gag...@twc.com wrote: > > Muckrace Participants, > > We’d like to make all Muckrace participants aware of an early gun season for > deer which will start on September 11th, during the Saturday portion of the > Muckrace. NYSDEC Wildlife Management Units in the Northern Complex fall > within the areas open for hunting as well as parts of the Montezuma NWR. Hunt > times will run from ½ hr before sunrise to ½ hr after sunset. > > WMU’s will include any that are normally open to hunting during the regular > deer season, including Howland Island. Howland Island will be open to birders > however and Muckrace participants will be able to open the gate to drive onto > the island. Please close and lock the gate behind you after entering/exiting. > On refuge property, Knox/Marcellus Marsh and Puddlers Marsh will be open to > hunting as well as birders while the Esker Brook Trail, South Spring Pool > Trail, the Wildlife Drive and Seneca Trail will be closed to hunting but are > open for birding. Any areas other than Knox/Marcellus & Puddlers Marsh which > are normally off limits to the public remain that way. > > Please be conscious of the fact that you will be sharing the space with > hunters during your Muckrace birding and the use of blaze orange > vests/hats/jackets is encouraged/recommended (new regulations r
[cayugabirds-l] Eurasian Wigeon at K-M Marsh - photos please
This past Saturday during the walk onto the dikes at Knox-Marsellus Marsh at Montezuma NWR I picked out a wigeon in non-breeding plumage whose ruddy sides, breast, and head indicated it to be a Eurasian Wigeon. One detail which made it differ from depictions and my previous sightings was that instead of the entire head being uniform in color, the top third of its head was a slightly darker brown. Many people have since reported this bird. On Tuesday Dave Kennedy noted that in certain lighting conditions there appears to be a green streak behind its eye. Dave takes great photos, and you can see this in his eBird report which is referenced below. It will be interesting to see whether this bird shows more signs of hybridization as it molts into breeding plumage, which should happen during the next few weeks. My Sibley Guide says wigeons have non-breeding plumage in September, but breeding plumage starting in October. If you see a Eurasian Wigeon in the Montezuma area during the next month or so, please include photos with your eBird report. Photos can be useful even if they are not beautiful, so I encourage everyone to make it a habit to include photos, if possible, with any eBird report of a rarity, and also to include a written description as a rule with any rarity - you may observe features which other people miss. - - Dave Nutter Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) (1) - Reported Aug 31, 2021 07:45 by David Kennedy - Montezuma NWR--Towpath Rd., Seneca, New York - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=43.0038224,-76.7457005=43.0038224,-76.7457005 - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S93986765 - Media: 5 Photos - Comments: "continuing...faint green streak above eye in right light" -- 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] Québécois gull
Last Saturday afternoon at Myers Point I noticed one Ring-billed Gull (among hundreds present) whose left leg had a blue band marked with “TEJ” in white. I reported this sighting to reportband.gov, and today I learned a little about the bird: It’s a male who was banded as an adult in 2020 on June 26, which means it was hatched in 2017 or earlier. The folks who banded it were from the Biological Sciences Department of the University of Quebec at Montreal. The banders did not travel very far for this field work. The location was north latitude 45 degrees, 45 minutes and west longitude 73 degrees, 25 minutes, which is in the St Lawrence River a short distance downstream (northeast) of the City of Montreal. According to Google maps this point is close to an uninhabited island called Île Beauregard. Islands and shoals can shift, so maybe it wasn’t worth getting more precise with the location. My guess is that Ring-billed Gulls breed on that island. Anyway, it’s interesting to me to see where some of “our” gulls spend at least some of the breeding season. - - 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] Bugs for supper
Yesterday evening about 7pm I biked on the Cayuga Waterfront Trail alongside Cayuga Inlet through Cass Park to Allan H Treman State Marine Park. Along the way there were hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls milling about overhead. They stayed about 50-150’ up and were mainly over land, not the water. As they circled, each would occasionally flap faster a few times, then spread and lower its tail to slow down and even drop its feet while stretching its head and neck up to snap at some invisible-to-me aerial food. I wonder what was numerous and nutritious and easy enough to catch that it attracted the attention of so many gulls. I saw a few dragonflies as well, but they seemed to stay at a lower altitude. On my return trip around 8pm the event was over. I had been checking the White Lighthouse Jetty in case the Laughing Gulls that had been ousted from Myers Point by people using the park had wandered to the south end of the lake, but I saw no unusual gulls on the jetty nor in the water. The nearly adult Great Black-backed Gull which was banded in 2019 on Appledore Island off the coast of the Maine-New Hampshire border (“4JF” in white on a black band on its left leg) and which has been here all through winter and summer, remains here. It has a dark smudge on the tip of its upper bill. In the last few days it has been joined by a few actual adults with clean yellow bills. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Raptor behavior
Were the eagles cooperating in the harassment? Did they continue to compete for the fish after the Osprey gave up? Did they go off together? Also, has anyone seen an immature Bald Eagle successfully steal a fish from an Osprey? - - Dave Nutter > On Aug 1, 2021, at 10:23 AM, Peter Saracino wrote: > > Cool beans! > They ARE pirates those eagles > Pete Sar > >> On Sun, Aug 1, 2021, 9:56 AM Candace E. Cornell wrote: >> That is classic Bald Eagle behavior. Greater Black-backed Gulls will >> occasionally do this to Ospreys as well. Bald eagles are kleptoparasitic >> when it comes to fish. Eagles are always on the lookout for Osprey fishing. >> They'll wait patiently for the Osprey to score, then the eagle hassles the >> Osprey, forcing it to relinquish its catch. In-air catches are typical. >> Ospreys occasionally put up a fight for the fish and are sometimes killed by >> the larger bird. >> >> Eyes to the sky! >> Candace >> >> >> >>> On Sun, Aug 1, 2021 at 9:30 AM Donna Lee Scott wrote: >>> Last Thursday from East Rd at Knox-Marcellus Marsh, Barbara Clise, Mike >>> Tetlow & I watched 2 mature Bald Eagles chasing & harassing an Osprey that >>> was carrying a fish. >>> >>> The Osprey tried hard to escape, but eventually the eagles caused it to >>> drop the silvery fish. >>> Both eagles swooped down after the fish, & just when we thought the fish >>> would come to ground, 1 of the eagles caught it in the air! >>> >>> Donna Scott >>> Lansing >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> -- >>> 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Another Tompkins Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
I celebrated Sandy Podulka’s find of a juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Taughannock Falls State Park that so many of us saw. I still do. I said one of the previous Tompkins sightings of the species was an adult along Fall Creek in Freeville. That was in 2018. Today Tom Schulenberg noticed something in eBird that I had overlooked (Thank-you, Tom!). There was a second similar sighting of an adult along Fall Creek in Freeville, this time specifically in Mill Dam Park, THIS YEAR, on May 31 by Gwen Gallagher and a second person not named in the eBird report. Each of those reports has a photo of a beautiful calm bird watching the person. So that’s the newly corrected 2021 Cayuga Lake Basin First Record for the species. This is also cool, because the earlier record was not a single fluke event. Maybe it’s annual, or a pair, or breeding, or the source of the juvenile(s) downstream at Cayuga Lake. Meanwhile, this evening Sandy relocated the juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in Cass Park in a Willow along the lower reaches of Linderman Creek near where it crosses NYS-89 opposite Cove Lane. Maybe there’s better hunting there than in the soccer field floodles! - - 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] 2 Tompkins Yellow-crowned Night-Herons?
did not see any yellow on its bill. Some photographs from 3 July at Taughannock show a gray area on the bill which is similar to the Cass bird. Is the color of the bill apt to change on this time scale? Most of the photos look like separate birds at Taughannock & Cass by their bills. Facial skin: The Taughannock bird showed consistently more orange skin around the eye, the lores, and along the base of the bill, possibly including a bit of gape “lip” at the corner. The Cass bird looked faintly yellowish gray at its most colorful on the facial skin. Would the skin be expected to lose color over a couple weeks in a juvenile? If not, then this again points to 2 birds. So anyway I think there have been 2 individual Yellow-crowned Night-herons in Tompkins County, but if someone else has a look at these or additional photos and has another opinion, or can explain why some or all of these observations can be explained by the passage of a couple of weeks I’m open to hear it. - 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/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Montezuma Spoonbill update, 13 July
Addendum: at 5:30pm Tom Auer reported that the Roseate Spoonbill just flew in by the eagle statue from Tschache Pool! - - 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] Montezuma Spoonbill update, 13 July
large spoon bill” “pale pink wading bird with wide flat bill” “pink bird with long flat bill” “large pink bird w spoon shaped bill” The goal is to differentiate the observed rarity from any equally unlikely species, which in this case is easy. I hope the Spoonbill again chooses a more publicly accessible pond next. - - 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] Spoonbill continues at Montezuma NWR Monday morning
Shortly after 7am this morning (12 July) Jane Graves & Alison Van Keuren reported to eBird that they saw the juvenile Roseate Spoonbill with a Great Egret in Tschache Pool at Montezuma NWR. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Spoonbill Montezuma's Thruway Pool
The Roseate Spoonbill at Montezuma NWR remained all afternoon today (11 July) and was seen well by many people from the Wildlife Drive. While I was there (twice around the drive) it was in one of the pools alongside the Thruway near the large Bald Eagle sculpture. It spent its time standing on a log resting, preening, and sometimes wading either to wet its bill for preening or to feed. At one point I saw it catch and eat a fish that was longer than the widest part of its bill. During most of the time, no other large waders were in that pool, although there was a Great Blue Heron visible around the bend in the next pool. Some time after 5pm a Great Egret dropped gently from the sky and alit close to the Roseate Spoonbill. They tolerated each other well enough, often standing only a few feet apart, and the egret walked directly through a video I took of the spoonbill feeding. At 5:45pm the Roseate Spoonbill took flight as did the Great Egret (I think the spoonbill took off first but I’m open to correction on this point). Both flew NW over the Thruway staying fairly close to each other even though the spoonbill’s flight wandered left & right quite a bit more from my vantage as they got farther away. Last I saw them at about 5:48 they were descending toward what I believe was the northeastern part of Tschache Pool. About 15 minutes later I tried looking from the Tschache tower along NYS-89 near I-90 but could only discern a few Great Blue Herons in that area. My guess is that the spoonbill is spending the night roosting wherever the Great Egrets roost, and that there’s a good chance it will be somewhere around the Montezuma Wetlands Complex tomorrow. This is a lovely bird. As Kevin mentioned it’s a juvenile, which means just a couple months ago it was a nestling, probably in south Florida although they also breed along the gulf coast of Louisiana & Texas. This bird lacks the bare gray & black crown that forms by their second year, and it lacks the bold rose areas on the wings and the orange tail of the adults. Instead it is fully feathered white on the head & neck and evenly pale pink on the body & wings. The long flat bill is a fantastic thing, gray on the basal half and along the midline, but pink on the distal half, especially on the margins around the very broad tip. The upper bill is slightly broader and longer than the lower bill. The upper legs are pink, the ankle joint is gray, and the lower legs are pink in front and gray behind. Each foot has 4 toes, gray (at least below), with no webbing. The most contrasting part of the bird is in the outer primaries which are mainly pale pink but which also have a narrow edge of bold black, visible both when it preened and when it flew. I hope it gets refound. Very cool bird, a first for the Cayuga Lake Basin, and tied for first in upstate NY according to eBird. - - Dave Nutter > On Jul 11, 2021, at 4:19 PM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote: > > Timing of surge of spoonbills out of the south over the last month doesn’t > fit with the storm. > > Here are ebird reports for June: > https://ebird.org/map/rosspo1?neg=true=-100.76926532551144=31.833515337185677=-64.20676532551144=45.82328941682119=true=true=Z=on=6=6=cur=2021=2021 > > You can see a movement already. > > Here are ebird reports for July: > https://ebird.org/map/rosspo1?neg=true=-130.14670673176144=23.68895634547458=-57.02170673176145=51.648127862764916=true=true=Z=on=7=7=cur=2021=2021 > > Look at that straight line of reports from Florida to New York! Amazing. > > Pennsylvania had 4 spoonbills this week, 3 in one spot. > > Was this just a really good year for spoonbill breeding in the southeast? And > maybe for wading birds in general? The juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron in > Tompkins Co this month seems more than coincidental. Juvenile wading birds > (egrets, herons, storks, etc) are known to wander widely in summer after they > reach independence. I don’t know of any theories about what influences these > movements. But, it is logical that the more young produced, perhaps above an > average number (?), the more likely it would be for strays to end up in the > north. > > Amazing to have a juvenile Roseate Spoonbill at Montezuma NWR and Chenango > River State Park in the same day! Both an hour from Ithaca. I was already > committed to going south when the Montezuma report came in and didn’t have > enough stamina to go see both. > > > > Kevin > > Kevin McGowan > Freeville > > From: bounce-125763042-3493...@list.cornell.edu > On Behalf Of Asher Hockett > Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2021 3:42 PM > To: Donna Lee Scott > Cc: Dave K ; CAYUGABIRDS-L > > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Spoonbill Montezuma's Thruway Pool > > Wondering from our here in NM, diid these spoonbills ge
Re: More on Merlin Re: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin results/Turkey Vulture
Hi all, I think the Library of Natural Sound used to ask, when archiving audio, whether the bird was seen to make the call. Now, when people include audio with eBird submissions, that question is not asked, and sometimes people are clearly guessing, even against the advice of apps intended to help them ID the calls. I recently checked Macaulay trying to learn more about Black-billed Cuckoo calls. Because at many places and times the species is not rare, I think the recordings go directly from eBird to Macaulay without any review. Before I found any audio recordings which were verified by sight, I found 2 examples of people labeling Chipmunk calls as cuckoos and 1 Yellow-billed labeled as Black-billed. My confidence in Macaulay as a source of information was shaken. Recently an enthusiastic young collector of rare bird reports claimed on the basis of hearing alone that there were 2 Worm-eating Warblers singing at a new location in Tompkins County, a county where the species is always rare yet is regularly found in one location where it’s a lot of trouble to climb a steep slope. Maybe that person is competent to make that judgement. Maybe there are plenty of birders who can. I know I can’t, and clearly Merlin can’t. I sure would appreciate people noting in their eBird reports whether their audio contributions are of birds they also identified by sight while the bird was recorded making the noise, or whether the bird was not seen. - - Dave Nutter > On Jul 9, 2021, at 2:11 PM, Linda Orkin wrote: > > Thanks Jay and Alicia. I didn’t see first reply though I was looking for it. > Appreciate it. > I am going to try the uploading to eBird. I didn’t know you could do that > It’s interesting looking at the spectrogram and comparing between the > trillers too. Although obviously not foolproof it can help you hear the notes > in a slightly different way. > > Linda >> On Jul 9, 2021, at 1:42 PM, Alicia wrote: >> >> Hi Linda, >> >> Jay replied a couple days ago - forwarded below. >> >> Best - >> >> Alicia >> >> >> Forwarded Message >> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Possible Worm-eating Warblers in Lansing NY >> Date:Wed, 7 Jul 2021 12:02:10 -0400 >> From:Jay McGowan >> Reply-To:Jay McGowan >> To: Linda Orkin >> CC: Barbara Bauer Sadovnic , KitKat PonyBird >> , Cayugabirds-L >> >> >> Hi Linda, >> Yes, clicking that will give us a record of it, but it won't be a lot to go >> on otherwise. One thing that will help long-term would be to make a >> recording of the bird, then upload it to an eBird checklist (doing some >> light editing following our best practices whenever possible). This won't >> have any immediate effect on the model of course, but longer term it will >> provide us with more diverse examples to train on. >> >> Jay >> >>> On Wed, Jul 7, 2021 at 11:34 AM Linda Orkin wrote: >>> Jay I wonder if you can say what we should do if we know song ID is >>> incorrect. I got worm eating warbler for chipping sparrow down by vas’s >>> park rink today and I clicked no match. Is that the best way to tri and >>> alert Merlin to an incorrect choice? >>> >>> Linda Orkin >>> >>>> On Jul 6, 2021, at 10:32 AM, Jay McGowan >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> This is a good reminder that the new Sound ID function in Merlin is a >>>> great way to cue into new sounds and learn to ID birds, but should never >>>> be taken as the final word on an identification. In this case, trilling >>>> species like Worm-eating Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and >>>> even Pine Warbler can be challenging for even experienced birders to >>>> identify with confidence, and the sound ID model has trouble being sure as >>>> well. Juncos in particular pose a challenge, with their extreme variation >>>> between individuals. So certainly, if you're in the right habitat, look a >>>> little harder for a bird flagged as a possible Worm-eating, but in the >>>> cases you describe, these were almost certainly Chipping Sparrows. >>>> >>>> P.S. I'd be happy to take a listen to a recording if you want to send it >>>> privately. >>>> >>>> Jay >>>> >>>>> On Sun, Jul 4, 2021 at 6:38 PM Barbara Bauer Sadovnic >>>>> wrote: >>>>> The same thing happened to me today, also while eating breakfast on my >>>>> porch, in Enfield! I also tried BirdNET, a
Re: [cayugabirds-l] OT
The birds Nari celebrated painted a picture for me of his yard. - - Dave Nutter > On Jul 3, 2021, at 9:49 AM, Candace E. Cornell wrote: > > He was alway interested in the Ospreys and sent me many reports and > commentaries. He will be sorely missed. My condolences to his family. > Candace Cornel > >> On Sat, Jul 3, 2021 at 9:38 AM bob mcguire >> wrote: >> Here is the Journal obituary: >> https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/theithacajournal/name/nariman-mistry-obituary?pid=199315381 >> >> I will always remember Nari for his enthusiasm, his smile, and his kind >> words. My condolences to his wife, Ginny. >> >> Bob McGuire >> >>> On Jul 3, 2021, at 9:16 AM, Laura Stenzler wrote: >>> >>> Nari was also a long-time participant in the Ithaca Christmas bird count >>> for area IV, usually counting along Dodge Road and Ellis Hollow Road. He >>> was an enthusiastic birder and Cayuga Bird Club member. He will be missed! >>> Condolences to his family. >>> Laura >>> >>> Laura Stenzler >>> l...@cornell.edu >>> >>> >>> From: bounce-125747424-8866...@list.cornell.edu >>> on behalf of Donna Lee Scott >>> >>> Sent: Saturday, July 3, 2021 9:10 AM >>> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L >>> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] OT >>> >>> I just read the interesting obituary of Nari Mistry in the Ithaca Journal. >>> Nari in the past was a frequent contributer to this bird list. >>> >>> Donna Scott >>> Lansing >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> -- >>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>> Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> >>> Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> >>> Subscribe, Configuration and >>> Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> >>> Archives: >>> The Mail >>> Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> >>> Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> >>> BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> >>> Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>! >>> -- >>> >>> -- >>> >>> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >>> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >>> >>> ARCHIVES: >>> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >>> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >>> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >>> >>> Please submit your observations to eBird: >>> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>> >>> -- >>> >>> >> >> -- >> 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Yellow-crowned Night-Heron continues at Taughannock SP
The very rare local chance to observe a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron continues this morning. Jay McGowan confirmed that this immaculately plumaged juvenile is still at the small marina in Taughannock Falls State Park. Distinguishing this bird from juveniles of our more common Black-crowned Night-Heron are the smaller rounder head, the thicker shorter black bill, the longer legs, the longer thinner neck (often extended), and the tiny whitish spots instead of longer whitish teardrops at the tips of the feathers on the folded wings. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons specialize in eating crabs, and this bird has been eating crayfish. - - 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] Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Taughannock Falls SP
Hi All, I just noticed that there was no notice on CayugaBirds-L of a cool, cooperative rare bird. This afternoon (Thursday 1 July) Sandy Podulka found an immaculate fresh juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at the little marina and boat launch area at Taughannock Falls State Park, and it was there until after 8pm hunting & swallowing crayfish. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons specialize in eating crabs, so crayfish are the best local substitute. Although it was up in a tree with several birders below it when I arrived, this bird came back down and went about its business along the shore of the marina as soon as people moved away and stayed back in binocular distance. For anyone with a scope or a decent camera lens it was a great photo op. I hope the bird stays and is re-found tomorrow, as this was an excellent chance to see this species well. It is only the 3rd record in eBird for Tompkins County, and the first time it was “chase-able”. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Injured Kestrel
Thank you all for your quick responses! - - Dave Nutter > On Jun 26, 2021, at 8:04 PM, Nancy Cusumano wrote: > > Morgan Hapeman of Finger Lakes Raptor Center is on her way to get this bird. > She is a licensed rehabber in Lodi. > > > > > Sent from my iPad > >> On Jun 26, 2021, at 7:08 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: >> >> I just got a call from Reuben Stoltzfus. A Mennonite friend of his who lives >> just north of the former Seneca Army Depot has a slightly injured Kestrel >> which he would like to give to someone who can either care of it or take it >> to someone who can (a rehabber or the Swanson Center at Cornell for >> example). The bird can fly some but not very well, and I understand it is >> currently captive and being given food & water. >> >> If you can help, please call >> Cleason Horst >> 315-521-1488 >> He is at 4396 MacDougal Center Rd, which is a block east of 96A in the block >> which is north of 336 and south of Leader Rd. >> >> - - Dave Nutter >> -- >> 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Injured Kestrel
I just got a call from Reuben Stoltzfus. A Mennonite friend of his who lives just north of the former Seneca Army Depot has a slightly injured Kestrel which he would like to give to someone who can either care of it or take it to someone who can (a rehabber or the Swanson Center at Cornell for example). The bird can fly some but not very well, and I understand it is currently captive and being given food & water. If you can help, please call Cleason Horst 315-521-1488 He is at 4396 MacDougal Center Rd, which is a block east of 96A in the block which is north of 336 and south of Leader Rd. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed.
Hi All, Reuben Stoltzfus called me yesterday evening and clarified a few points about his experience with mowing v grassland birds. He agrees with all the folks who said that walking through fields to look for nests is not a good idea due to ineffectiveness and creating paths for predators. I forget whether he included trampling the hay, but I’m guessing that’s also an issue. He was able to avoid mowing Bobolinks in part because of the machinery he uses which, as I understand it, moves more slowly than non-Amish farmers’ machines, allows him to see & hear birds while he makes a strong effort to do so, and allows him to react quickly enough to stop or turn aside to avoid mowing the immediate area where a female Bobolink has just flushed. I forgot to ask how big an area he left around each flushed female and how effective it seemed in allowing fledging to succeed or whether it seemed that the exposure led to them being taken by predators. He found that within his 10 acre field Bobolink nests appeared to be concentrated only about 40 to 80 feet from the edge of the field in most instances, which seems paradoxical given that Bobolinks require large fields. He did not find nests of Grasshopper Sparrows. The question of how to balance hay production with grassland bird nesting is not easy, as the discussion over the last several days has demonstrated. Among the ironies is that the eastern US would have very few areas of grasslands large enough for several species if not for hay production, yet if cutting schedules prevent reproduction, then these places are a trap for the birds. Meanwhile, agriculture has made the vast majority of the prairies which were those grassland birds’ original range unavailable for nesting. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed.
I totally respect Anne’s experienced perspective. It would be a big challenge to even approximately locate any nest without disrupting the crop. Also it’s possible that Reuben’s mowing machinery was slower, quieter, & more maneuverable than what most farmers use, lending itself to guidance while cutting. So, maybe his tactic is not easily applicable everywhere. Seaside Sparrows attempt to nest in salt marshes as early as they can. They routinely get wiped out by the very high tide associated with a full moon. Then they immediately re-nest, which just allows them to fledge young by the next full moon. Can grassland birds similarly fit a breeding cycle into the time it takes a second hay crop to grow? This year I saw lots of hayfields mowed by May 15. Do field birds stick around and try again to breed after that? Is delaying a second cutting into July any better for the farmer? Do the field birds learn and not even try the fields next year that got mowed this year? Are there National Forest or DEC lands which are managed for grassland birds? That may not be much total area compared to privately cropped hayfields, but it might keep the species from being regionally wiped out. Maybe there are landowners who are not farmers and have not yet leased their land to farmers who would like to support grassland birds. - - Dave Nutter > On Jun 21, 2021, at 6:36 AM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: > > Speaking as someone who spent years locating redwing nests, I think this is a > mountain not a molehill. Locating nests in grassland is HARD on purpose. > Birds make it that way. Feeding females do t go down to their nests. They > drop and walk to the nest. One makes paths tromping through the grass which > neither farmer nor birds will benefit from. > > I was thinking about what long term obs and relatively few nesting areas it > took for the one farm as described. > > No not impossible but much harder than it seems. And leaving clumps with > nests as well as paths near them will increase predation. > > I am dubious as good as this sounds. > > Anne > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Jun 20, 2021, at 10:40 PM, Geo Kloppel wrote: >> >> I’ve been musing along a different line, wondering if a preemptive approach >> is possible. >> >> It takes time to mow the big fields that grassland nesters favor, and the >> hay farmer can’t mow all of them simultaneously. The work of haying season >> has to begin somewhere, and start early enough that the farmer can get >> through it all. So each year some field will be selected to go first, and >> another second, and the rest must wait their turns. >> >> Clearly some fields that are later in the queue can produce a crop of >> fledglings before it’s their turn to be mowed; otherwise we wouldn’t be >> having this conversation. So, suppose for the moment that the decision about >> which fields to mow early could be made before nesting had even begun. If >> there was then some way to discourage the birds from selecting those >> particular fields to nest in, the effect would be to direct them to the >> fields slated for later mowing... >> >> -Geo >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- >> > > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > -- 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] Fields being mowed.
demonstrated pest problem. Grow your own food without poisons. * Buy local. I prefer to buy the sunflower seed grown in Lansing rather than think of depriving birds in some other part of the country to feed birds here. Use money more to support small scale growers who may share our concerns, and less money toward packaging, polluting transportation, corporations which maximize extraction and profits by externalizing their costs (getting away with not paying the cost of their damage) to the environment (e.g. ripping out hedgerows; applying poisons) and to people (e.g. keeping farmers in hock; underpaying immigrant labor). A diverse local environment may be able to absorb the impact of scattered and well-run small farms, whereas the manure from factory farms (cows, pigs, or poultry) is just too voluminous, concentrated, and toxic (compare the manure we saw a few years ago spread on fields that would attract Snow Buntings in winter, to the vile liquid which larger dairies now spew over vast areas). Among the animals I have seen in my garden are American Goldfinches taking bites of Swiss Chard leaves, but they don’t eat so much as to be pests in my biased opinion. - - Dave Nutter > On Jun 16, 2021, at 9:30 AM, Rachel Lodder wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > Very, very well put Ken. It is indeed a significantly tricky balance. My > partner and I are organic grain (and hay) farmers in the Ithaca area (~1400 > acres, involving numerous large fields), who make our living 100% from > farming. We would also consider ourselves bird enthusiasts, and regular > birdwatchers, who do our best to be sensitive to environmental and > biodiversity issues (part of the reason that we farm organically). Not only > that, I own and ride horses. The Venn diagram in this case is profound! > > But seriously, my point is to stress how well you expressed the various sides > of the issue, and directed the passion that people are expressing toward > having a positive impact. And that Thor and I are real-life, local farmers > trying to do our best in this balancing act and are open to talking with > anyone about these issues. We have a lot of experience with conservation > programs in the Farm Bill (NRCS and FSA), and would be happy to talk with > other farmers (or anyone) about them. > > You offered some great ways for individuals to have an input. One point that > I would like to add to this discussion is the actual price of food. People > want food that is inexpensive - and we should all be able to afford good, > healthy food!! - but food that is produced in ways that incorporate > conservation methods is probably going to cost more. How you shop and where > you spend is one way that you can have an impact. > > So much to say about this. Feel free to get in touch! > Appreciative of all the concern, > Rachel and Thor > > > From: bounce-125714663-81221...@list.cornell.edu > on behalf of Kenneth V. > Rosenberg > Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2021 11:32 PM > To: Geo Kloppel ; CAYUGABIRDS-L > > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Fields being mowed. > > Hi everyone, > > Having fueled some of the passion about hay-cutting and grassland bird > conservation, I wanted to clarify a few points. Thanks to the many who > provided resources and links to additional information. I am not an expert on > farming or legal issues, but I can provide a bit more perspective on the > grassland bird issues. What is happening today has happened for decades and > is standard agricultural practice over most of the eastern U.S. The > challenges are complex, both for the farmers and those interested in > conservation. > > Most importantly, it is not fair or correct to blame the local farmers, or > even those at Cornell trying to manage the hayfields along Freese and Hanshaw > Roads – these are indeed hayfields, grown for the horses at the Equine > Research Lab, and the growers are under the same constraints regarding timing > and nutritional value of the hay (the horses won’t eat it if it’s mowed too > late). Individual farmers trying to eek out a living and keep their farms in > production cannot be expected to sacrifice economically for the sake of birds > or other wildlife – a common resource for us all. This is the fundamental > problem. > > The solutions, therefore, need to come at the societal and policy levels. If > more of society puts greater value on birds and other nature, then this can > become part of the economic structure that supports both agriculture and > biodiversity conservation. Much easier said than done! There is a > complicated array of Farm Bill and other incentive programs that encourage > farmers to create or set aside wildlife habitat, but these programs are > obscure to mos
[cayugabirds-l] Lime Hollow & Cayuga Basin
>> On May 22, 2021, at 4:02 PM, Maryfaith Miller >> wrote: >> >> Outside of Cayuga basin, but I had a black billed cuckoo at Lime Hollow >> Nature Center on Wednesday. >> Good birding! >> Maryfaith Three points: First, the CayugaBirds-L list serve is about birds in the general area. Second, I think most of Lime Hollow is within the Cayuga Basin, draining via Beaver Creek to join Fall Creek near Malloryville, although Stupke Pond is outside the basin, draining via Otter Creek to the Tioghnioga River. Third, many interesting birding areas are in wetlands that formed in saddles at the edge of the Cayuga Basin, and part of the challenge of listing within the Basin is that many of those spots are just outside, in the part of the saddle that drains away from Cayuga Lake: Hile School Rd wetland is at the headwaters of the Owasco Inlet. Just beyond the headwaters of Fall Creek, Bear Swamp Creek drains north to Skaneateles Lake. Goetchius is not far from Six-mile Creek, but it drains east and south into Owego Creek West Branch. Shindagin Hollow, Ridgeway Rd, & Steam Mill Fen all drain south to Catatonk Creek and Owego. Just beyond Jennings Pond, which is the headwaters of Buttermilk Creek, nearly all of Michigan Hollow and its wetlands also drain south. That’s why great birds found in those places don’t end up on the annual Cayuga Basin First Records list that I keep. There are plenty of great places within the Basin, too, of course. My advice is to choose whatever interesting place is closest, where you can spend the most time and get to know its birds. - - Dave Nutter P.S. The north end of the Cayuga Basin, as defined in a 1926 botany textbook, is a bit more complex, and I won’t go into it now. -- 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] Fwd: [eBird Alert] Tompkins County Rare Bird Alert
Here’s a fun birding game. By some fluke of eBird programming a checklist submitted from somewhere else in the world got listed instead as being at Stewart Park, so the species are listed as rare - outrageously so. There are birds which I suspect haven’t ever been found in North America. Based on the ranges of those birds (remember this is migration season), where do you think the checklist was made? After you have guessed, you can click the link to see the checklist, and when it gets corrected, you’ll see the actual location. - - Dave Nutter Begin forwarded message: > From: ebird-al...@birds.cornell.edu > Date: May 3, 2021 at 1:52:03 AM EDT > Subject: [eBird Alert] Tompkins County Rare Bird Alert > > *** Species Summary: > > - Bar-headed Goose (1 report) > - Graylag Goose (1 report) > - Garganey (1 report) > - Northern Shoveler (1 report) > - Eurasian Coot (1 report) > - Black-winged Stilt (1 report) > - River Lapwing (1 report) > - Yellow-wattled Lapwing (1 report) > - Red-wattled Lapwing (1 report) > - Kentish Plover (1 report) > - Little Ringed Plover (1 report) > - Small Pratincole (1 report) > - Black-headed Gull (1 report) > - Brown-headed Gull (1 report) > - River Tern (1 report) > - Little Cormorant (1 report) > - Great Cormorant (1 report) > - Red-naped Ibis (1 report) > - Green Bee-eater (1 report) > - Blue-tailed Bee-eater (1 report) > - Sand Lark (1 report) > - Eurasian Skylark (1 report) > - Crested Lark (1 report) > - White Wagtail (1 report) > > - > Thank you for subscribing to the Tompkins County Rare Bird Alert.The > report below shows observations of rare birds in Tompkins County. View or > unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summary?sid=SN35084 > NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated. > > eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please > follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any > active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: > https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully > > Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) (70) > - Reported May 03, 2021 08:04 by Amit Kumar > - 101 Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York, US (42.46, -76.504), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.46,-76.504=42.46,-76.504 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86983586 > - Comments: "Yes" > > Graylag Goose (Anser anser) (5) > - Reported May 03, 2021 08:04 by Amit Kumar > - 101 Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York, US (42.46, -76.504), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.46,-76.504=42.46,-76.504 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86983586 > - Comments: "Yes" > > Garganey (Spatula querquedula) (8) > - Reported May 03, 2021 08:04 by Amit Kumar > - 101 Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York, US (42.46, -76.504), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.46,-76.504=42.46,-76.504 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86983586 > - Comments: "Yse" > > Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) (4) > - Reported May 03, 2021 08:04 by Amit Kumar > - 101 Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York, US (42.46, -76.504), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.46,-76.504=42.46,-76.504 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86983586 > - Comments: "Yes" > > Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) (25) > - Reported May 03, 2021 08:04 by Amit Kumar > - 101 Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York, US (42.46, -76.504), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.46,-76.504=42.46,-76.504 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86983586 > - Comments: "Yes" > > Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) (30) > - Reported May 03, 2021 08:04 by Amit Kumar > - 101 Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York, US (42.46, -76.504), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.46,-76.504=42.46,-76.504 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86983586 > - Comments: "Good habitat" > > River Lapwing (Vanellus duvaucelii) (25) > - Reported May 03, 2021 08:04 by Amit Kumar > - 101 Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York, US (42.46, -76.504), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.46,-76.504=42.46,-76.504 > - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S86983586 > - Comments: "Yes" > > Yellow-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus malabaricus) (8) > - Reported May 03, 2021 08:04 by Amit Kumar > - 101 Stewart Park, Ithaca, New York, US (42.46, -76.504), Tompkins, New York > - Map: > http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8=p=13=42.46,-76.504=42.46,-76.504 > - C
Re: [cayugabirds-l] House Wren
I also saw my first Ithaca House Wren in the yard this afternoon, and soon afterward it obligingly sang several times. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 28, 2021, at 10:18 AM, Marc Devokaitis wrote: > > I'd buy that. FOY House Wren was singing in our yard this morning as well. > Marc Devokaitis > Trumansburg Village > >> On Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 10:12 AM Regi Teasley wrote: >> I’m pretty sure I’m hearing a House Wren singing in our yard. We’ve had one >> nesting here for several years. >> Regi >> West Hill (City) >> >> >> “The future of the world is nuts.” Philip Rutter, founder of the American >> Chestnut Foundation >> >> -- >> 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] large dark bird
Hi all, Sandra’s friend sent me the video clip from an evening this week in Newfield. The view is very distant, so I studied through a magnifying glass (binoculars turned backwards), but it’s good enough that I easily agree with the ID that the few “small” birds, some of whom flew a bit, are Crows. The larger dark bird is neither a Corvid, nor a Turkey, nor any of the usual raptors which use long legs and talons to reach out and grab prey at a safe distance or even chase it a bit. It walked with small steps, pecked at the ground in one spot, and did not fly. This bird has a fairly long tail which it holds parallel to the ground, a long slim body which tapers gradually to what appears to me to be a tiny head, and rather short legs. It walks like it’s not very good at it and doesn’t have to be. The size, shape, and behavior, including the posture at several points, lead me to believe it’s a Turkey Vulture, even though I was not able to be certain of a naked or red head. I’m guessing there was some meat in what was left out for the Crows. FWIW, a lot of Turkey Vultures gather not too far away in the evenings Near Robert Treman State Park. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 23, 2021, at 8:53 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > What would help is to know the location & date to determine a basic list of > what birds likely are in that area at that season. > Further information about habitat could also narrow down the likely species. > > Then it would really help to get a copy of that video in front of another > experienced birder to judge the shape of both kinds of birds, including bill > & tail, and their relative size. It’s surprisingly easy to misjudge the size > of birds at a distance, so the fact that there are 2 species in view together > is your best help, and you must use shape, behavior, pattern & color to try > to pin down one of them. There could be some subtle information in that video > that would not be obvious everyone. Speed of walking is also a clue to size. > > Assuming the video is from April in Northeastern US, and knowing the basics > of what blackish birds feed in flocks on the ground and tolerate each other, > we currently have lots of European Starlings and Common Grackles doing that. > Brown-headed Cowbirds are another possibility. Red-winged Blackbirds are more > territorial and single now but might also gather at a food source. American > Crows are also territorial now but could be either single or in small family > groups or again might gather at a large food source. Common Ravens are in > some places, but typically are chased off by Crows. Turkey Vultures (or > rarely Black Vultures) are also a possibility depending on the type of food > put out, but might also be chased off by Crows. > > It’s common for people unfamiliar with Grackles to call them Crows, either > occasionally at a distance, or habitually. So, if you saw very long > wedge-shaped tails, that’s an ID for one species. Or the very short tails of > Starlings or the way they walk and probe, can help ID them. Even Crows and > Ravens have slightly different shapes and behaviors. And eagles and vultures > may also be distinguished by shape. > > With all these unknowns and conjectures, I think a closer look at the video > is what’s needed. > > - - Dave Nutter > >> On Apr 22, 2021, at 1:31 PM, Peter Saracino wrote: >> >> Sibley: >> Ravens 24" long >> Crows 17.5 " long >> >>> On Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:24 PM Sandra J. Kisner wrote: >>> I suggested raven to her, but it was an awful lot larger. Is there that >>> much difference between crows and ravens? >>> >>> Sandra >>> >>> >>> From: Donna Lee Scott >>> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2021 12:45 PM >>> To: Sandra J. Kisner >>> Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L >>> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] large dark bird >>> >>> Ravens hang around where eagles are, but i am not sure crows would tolerate >>> being next to them. >>> Kevin McGowan would know. >>> >>> Donna Scott >>> Lansing >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> On Apr 22, 2021, at 12:41 PM, Sandra J. Kisner >>> mailto:s...@cornell.edu>> wrote: >>> >>> By appearance the eagle seems more likely than a vulture (the neck was >>> short), but would crows tolerate it? I'll suggest it to her; I don't >>> actually know where she lives, so I don't know if bald eagles are likely to >>> be in the area. >>> >>> Sandra >>> >>> >>> From: Joshua Snodgrass mailto:cedars
Re: [cayugabirds-l] large dark bird
What would help is to know the location & date to determine a basic list of what birds likely are in that area at that season. Further information about habitat could also narrow down the likely species. Then it would really help to get a copy of that video in front of another experienced birder to judge the shape of both kinds of birds, including bill & tail, and their relative size. It’s surprisingly easy to misjudge the size of birds at a distance, so the fact that there are 2 species in view together is your best help, and you must use shape, behavior, pattern & color to try to pin down one of them. There could be some subtle information in that video that would not be obvious everyone. Speed of walking is also a clue to size. Assuming the video is from April in Northeastern US, and knowing the basics of what blackish birds feed in flocks on the ground and tolerate each other, we currently have lots of European Starlings and Common Grackles doing that. Brown-headed Cowbirds are another possibility. Red-winged Blackbirds are more territorial and single now but might also gather at a food source. American Crows are also territorial now but could be either single or in small family groups or again might gather at a large food source. Common Ravens are in some places, but typically are chased off by Crows. Turkey Vultures (or rarely Black Vultures) are also a possibility depending on the type of food put out, but might also be chased off by Crows. It’s common for people unfamiliar with Grackles to call them Crows, either occasionally at a distance, or habitually. So, if you saw very long wedge-shaped tails, that’s an ID for one species. Or the very short tails of Starlings or the way they walk and probe, can help ID them. Even Crows and Ravens have slightly different shapes and behaviors. And eagles and vultures may also be distinguished by shape. With all these unknowns and conjectures, I think a closer look at the video is what’s needed. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 22, 2021, at 1:31 PM, Peter Saracino wrote: > > Sibley: > Ravens 24" long > Crows 17.5 " long > >> On Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:24 PM Sandra J. Kisner wrote: >> I suggested raven to her, but it was an awful lot larger. Is there that >> much difference between crows and ravens? >> >> Sandra >> >> >> From: Donna Lee Scott >> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2021 12:45 PM >> To: Sandra J. Kisner >> Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L >> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] large dark bird >> >> Ravens hang around where eagles are, but i am not sure crows would tolerate >> being next to them. >> Kevin McGowan would know. >> >> Donna Scott >> Lansing >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Apr 22, 2021, at 12:41 PM, Sandra J. Kisner >> mailto:s...@cornell.edu>> wrote: >> >> By appearance the eagle seems more likely than a vulture (the neck was >> short), but would crows tolerate it? I'll suggest it to her; I don't >> actually know where she lives, so I don't know if bald eagles are likely to >> be in the area. >> >> Sandra >> >> >> From: Joshua Snodgrass mailto:cedarsh...@gmail.com>> >> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2021 12:11 PM >> To: Sandra J. Kisner >> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] large dark bird >> >> Any chance it was a juvenile Bald Eagle? Young birds are very dark, but have >> white markings. It would be huge compared to crows. >> >> On Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 10:19 AM Sandra J. Kisner >> mailto:s...@cornell.edu><mailto:s...@cornell.edu>> wrote: >> I'm afraid I don't have much information to base my question on, but I >> promised I'd try. A friend showed me a short video on her phone of a group >> of crows that she puts food out for near the end of her long (rural) >> driveway, with a large dark bird apparently feeding with them. The shot is >> from far away; not knowing that I would have guessed it was a bunch of >> grackles being joined by a crow, but she assures me they are her usual >> crows. The guest is rather stocky, with a short (broad?) tail. The crows >> weren't in the least disturbed by the visitor, so it's not likely it was a >> hawk. At one point she pointed out what looked like a white wing bar (very >> hard to see at that distance). She also occasionally sees turkeys, but this >> didn't look like a turkey to me. Any ideas? >> >> Sandra >> -- >> -- 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] Minor local Ithaca phenomena: Ospreys, Chickadees, Gull
>From Allan H Treman State Marine Park I was watching Ospreys on 6 April. >Looking east I saw an Osprey doing a display flight carrying a fish. The bird >appeared to be beyond Jetty Woods, probably over Fall Creek by Stewart Park. >Meanwhile a second Osprey perched high the narrow northern part of Jetty >Woods. The 2 Ospreys then met and appeared to use a Cormorant nest as a handy >place to share a picnic. Today (10 April) I saw 2 Ospreys there, but one of >them was bringing a stick. This looks like the Ospreys are intending to nest >on the NW edge of the Cormorant colony using what I assume was previously a >Cormorant nest as the base of their own. (At the same time there were 2 >Ospreys by the nest in the NW corner of Newman Golf Course, across Cayuga >Inlet from the boat ramp, so it wasn’t them.) I wonder what the Cormorants >think of the Ospreys joining them. I also think it’s neat that the Ospreys are >not depending on a human-built structure. A few weeks back someone wrote about flocks of Chickadees. I’m accustomed to winter flocks with just a few Chickadees joined by an assortment of woodpeckers, titmice, and nuthatches. But this is different. For the past few days at Allan H Treman State Park I have been seeing flocks of just Chickadees: ten, twenty, thirty, or more in the tree crowns and flying across openings or fields to reach other trees. The Chickadees have been mostly moving east, sometimes stopping along Cayuga Inlet. They like the bare Tamaracks near the Park Police office. They seem to especially like the large Cottonwoods with swollen buds along the north side of the marina near Cayuga Inlet. (This is also an area where a Merlin has been spending time when it isn’t perched in the treetops of Jetty Woods. It tried to grab a small bird over Cayuga Inlet but failed.) I have only seen one Great Black-backed Gull lately around Allan H Treman State Marine Park lately, even as I scope across toward Stewart Park. The adults seem to have migrated back to their breeding grounds, but this is an immature with no need travel and compete with breeding adults. Maybe it will spend the summer here. I feel like this bird is becoming familiar. It is banded, and I have seen it several times before. On its left leg is a black plastic band with white writing: 4JF. I first noticed it in the winter of last year, and when I reported it I learned that it was banded before it was old enough to fly in July of 2019 on Appledore Island off the coast of Maine. If you have had the good fortune to go to Cornell programs at the Shoals Marine Lab there in Spring or Summer you will doubtless recall certain parts of the island where you needed to protect yourself from being pecked or shat upon by nesting Herring Gulls or Great Black-backed Gulls. That’s where this bird is from. Maybe someday it will return there to breed. If you scope this gull well enough to read the band, you too can help keep track of it by going to this website: reportband.gov I think this bird flew past my house yesterday, but I haven’t yet been able to see the band on the bird in flight. There was a second banded Great Black-backed Gull with this bird when I first saw it last year, but I haven’t seen that bird since. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] BROWN THRASHER
Ken, Yours may be the first migrant Brown Thrasher this year in the Basin, but two were found overwintering in February. The first was on Ferguson Road west of Dryden, showing up at a feeder when a big snowstorm hit, then staying for over a month. The second was noted by Jay McGowan on NYS-89 in Covert. - - Dave Nutter > On Apr 5, 2021, at 11:15 AM, Ken Haas wrote: > > This morning I had a Brown Thrasher in my yard foraging in the leaf litter > and along the back edge of the lawn. Ebird listed it as rare so I though I > better get some pictures. Link below. > > I guess this might be an FOY for the basin. Sure is for my property. > > > > Ken Haas > Mecklenberg > > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S84842924 > -- > > 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] First Pine Warbler & Barn Swallow
The Pine Warbler which Barbara Chase reported at her feeder yesterday appears to be the first record for 2021 in the Cayuga Lake Basin. Also, I got a call late this morning from Reuben Stoltzfus at the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center where had just heard then seen a Barn Swallow coming from the direction of the Main Pool. This also appears to be a first 2021 Basin record. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Ithaca Osprey
14:47pm: I had a second sighting of a northbound Osprey over the Flood Control Channel past my place. The first bird went straight and steady about treetop level, but this time the bird was lower and more erratic, and it gave 4 loud chirps just before it came into view. Behaviorally it seemed different, but I suppose it could be the same bird passing by again but for some reason more excited. I was, too. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 27, 2021, at 1:26 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > 12:05pm: I just saw my First-Of-Year Osprey flying slowly north past my house > while it stared down at the Flood Control Channel, clearly ready to take a > meal while traveling, whether the trip was local or long-distance. > -- 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] Ithaca Osprey
12:05pm: I just saw my First-Of-Year Osprey flying slowly north past my house while it stared down at the Flood Control Channel, clearly ready to take a meal while traveling, whether the trip was local or long-distance. This is not the first 2021 record for the Basin, just my personal thrill. But I’d like to take the occasion to explain some stuff. I also see Bald Eagles regularly, and I know their immatures can have some confusing plumages. I could tell this was an Osprey by plumage because it had a clean white underside of the body (Bald Eagles with white bellies generally also have murky gray markings below, especially on the breast). This bird had a dark brown mask which was well-defined & distinct from the clean white lower part of the head (Bald Eagles with a dark mask have murky edges to the mask, with the mask not as pure dark brown and the rest of the head not as pure white, something which may not be easy to tell at a glance or at a great distance). I could also distinguish this Osprey by shape: This bird had longer narrower wings than a Bald Eagle, which also made the few “fingers” of the outer primaries more prominent. This bird when seen from behind showed the distinct angled wing shape of the wrists being the high points of a long shallow M. Other distinguishing features of Osprey v immature Bald Eagle which I did not observe today would include: the evenly barred tail of the Osprey; the large-scale checkerboard pattern of lighter and darker areas below each of the Osprey’s wings with dark secondaries, wrists, and wingtips contrasting with pale base of primaries and white inner wing linings (Bald Eagle immatures tend to have most white throughout the wing linings and more scattered on the flight feathers); the M shape of the wings seen from below with the wrists held forward; a very slim shape when perched (Bald Eagles are hulks); and a very small hooked bill (Bald Eagles have a huge bill). Bald Eagles in winter regularly get mistaken for Ospreys, so when I asked for distinguishing features for out-of-season or early reports, the above field marks would be examples. They are not hard to see or describe, but they do require a bit of knowledge and discipline in observation and communication. I think it’s okay to point to a picture in a field guide if you can point to the particular features in the picture which you noticed. Like any rare bird report, a description of the observed features of the bird which support the ID should be included. I think that knowing what you have seen does a much better job of letting other people know what you have seen if you can say what it is that you saw that enabled you to know what it was. By the same token, a description (even a partial description) or a photo (even an unappealing photo) can help ID a bird whether or not the photographer knew the ID. So I encourage everyone to savor views of birds, and take in details of plumage, shape, and behavior. For me, this helps every observation to enrich my knowledge of each species as well as helping with IDs. Thanks for bearing with me. Happy Spring! Another Osprey is back! - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin reports
Yesterday evening (Thursday 25 March) I heard (several times) and saw (once) a Merlin calling and flying near my yard. It may have been in one or more of several mature conifers near the very bottom of Cliff Street in Ithaca. When I finally saw it, it was flying in a big clockwise arc around those trees then straightened and flew NW climbing over Hector Street. My guess is it was talking to an unseen partner about potential nest sites. I don’t know what the selection is of old or new crow nests in those trees. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 25, 2021, at 11:19 PM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote: > > Interesting. They have more 2020 crow nests to rent in the Birchwood area > than near that sycamore. But it will be interesting to see if one pair is > searching the whole area. The nest used last year was either a recently > depredated American crow nest or a takeover, the reason for the crow nest > failure. > Anne > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Mar 25, 2021, at 6:41 PM, Kenneth V. Rosenberg wrote: >> >> Hi John >> >> At least one Merlin has returned to the Northeast Ithaca neighborhood. I >> say “at least” one because there is a male perching regularly on the large >> sycamore at the north end of Muriel St. (and calling in that area) and one >> seen regularly (by Brad) flying around and calling on Birchwood Dr. I live >> about halfway between these areas on Tareyton and also see/hear one >> regularly flying over— so we don’t know if this represents 1 or 2 birds. >> >> Interestingly there was a pair of Merlins (one noticeably larger) perched >> and calling in the Muriel sycamore on a warm day in February— so they may >> have been winteri g locally. >> >> KEN >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >>> On Mar 25, 2021, at 6:18 PM, Karen wrote: >>> >>> >>> I love Merlins and Merlin reports and people who send in Merlin reports. I >>> check them all out. . Thanks to such reports, I have observed an increasing >>> number of incubated nests in Tompkins County as follows: 2 (2014), 6 >>> (2015), 6 (2016), 5 (2017), 3 (2018), 6 (2019), 9 (2020). These include >>> pairs in Trumansburg, Lansing, Dryden, Freeville, Etna, and Ithaca (plus >>> hints of a pair in Groton). Local observers provided guidance to almost all >>> of these. I have written one paper on this, and am trying to write a more >>> complete paper including habitat choice. Interestingly, all nests have been >>> in urban/suburban areas. None in forests nor edge of forest nor edge of >>> lake. >>> >>> Merlins start egg-laying in early May. Observations in late March are >>> helpful by providing a hint about where they may finally nest. For >>> instance, the pair observed by so many at Myer's Pint never nested there. >>> Weeks after being seen at Myer's Point, there was a pair about 800 m east >>> closer to the Catholic church. >>> >>> I would love to have individuals provide me with their observations at >>> confergoldw...@aol.com >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> John >>> -- >>> 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] Merlin
On Inlet Island there’s a tall flat-topped metal pole for electric wires. I have seen at least ten different species of birds choose to perch on top of that pole. Twice in the past few days I have seen a Merlin there. The more recent time the Merlin appeared to be urged off by a Rock Pigeon, perhaps (the) one who likes to display there. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 23, 2021, at 6:00 PM, Carol Cedarholm wrote: > > Just had a Merlin in my black walnut tonight in downtown Ithaca. Anybody else > seeing them? > -- > 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] Bad news for Osprey along 5 & 20
It’s still early for Ospreys to come back. I think the questions are what the birds will do when they return, and whether people will continue to knock down nests if Ospreys choose to build other than on discs. Ospreys and we who love them have been incredibly fortunate that NYSEG’s policy changed a number of years ago from tearing down Osprey nests to boosting the nests away from wires on platforms. I think this change was a major reason their population has increased in our area. I think it was largely the work of their forester, Paul Paradine (sp?). Platforms of the same design have also been placed on poles that don’t have wires. Other institutions and tower owners are not so enlightened. Maybe those folks could use a letter or call to wake them up. As for the discs, where NYS-90 crosses over the Clyde River you could see where Ospreys made their choice. They shunned the disc, but nested nearby. I’m not optimistic, but my pessimism has been proven wrong before (The martin box at Stewart Park for instance, has succeeded where I thought it would not). We shall see. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 23, 2021, at 3:46 PM, Marty Schlabach wrote: > > This afternoon we drove by the cell phone tower in the hamlet of Covert, on > Rt 96 just north of Trumansburg, that Alicia mentioned. We too had noticed > several weeks ago that last year’s nest was gone. Today there is still no > sign of an osprey. > > Marty > > From: bounce-125487631-3494...@list.cornell.edu > On Behalf Of Alicia Plotkin > Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 3:29 PM > To: John Gregoire ; CAYUGABIRDS-L > > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bad news for Osprey along 5 & 20 > > The osprey nest on the cell phone tower just north of Trumansburg went > missing at the end of last winter, was rebuilt and used successfully again > last spring/summer, and went missing again about a month ago, I assume torn > down but didn't see it being done. > > > On 3/23/2021 3:07 PM, John Gregoire wrote: > The sole Osprey nest in Schuyler was atop the microwave comm tower behind the > Tops Market. It had been there for 5 years with great success. Someone tore > it down in the last few days. > > On Tue, Mar 23, 2021 at 1:07 PM Ann Mitchell wrote: > The nests are being torn down and replaced with the discs. No sign of Osprey. > > Ann > > Sent from my iPhone > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] local bird photo worth seeing, IMO
Hi all, I’d like to tell you about a photo that I think is subtly wonderful. It’s of the male Eurasian Wigeon which showed up at Stewart Park around mid-day Friday and was present at least through mid-day Sunday, quite a show for a rarity, and seen by many. The place is famous for birds, with shallow lake water which ducks favor, and a north view so they are lit well, although not so sunny at the recorded moment. The work is by photographer Barbara Clise, and it is the picture on the right in her eBird report found here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S83399339 Please have a look at that photo, tap on it to see it full-screen, and appreciate it for yourself before being distracted by my comments about it below. - - Dave Nutter - - - - This photo by Barbara Clise of a male Eurasian Wigeon in breeding plumage is, to me, gorgeous, the one where it is not quite in profile, swimming, and turned slightly toward us... ... the low angle; we are at the level of the bird in the cold lake ... ... the waves in the background, the line across the bottom of that rough water passing through the Wigeon’s eye ... ... the foreground of calmer water ending at another line connecting the Wigeon’s chin and the tip of its bill ... ... the snow flakes falling ... ... with its head and eye centered, the Wigeon moves forward within our view ... ... its body is balanced by a pair of anonymous Mallards, the female’s white-edged tail pointing to the Wigeon’s eye, while the pattern of gray, black, and white on the male Mallard balances and points to the Wigeon’s head ... ... even the black of the Wigeon’s bill tip and its rear end have similar background markings to balance and highlight them, yet draw the eye toward the subject ... ... the hues of the drake Eurasian Wigeon, the soft gray of the back and sides - so similar to the waters - transitioning to his pink breast, then a crescendo of color in the cinnamon head, the creamy white forecrown, and the pale blue bill, which is somehow the same color as the band of water behind it ... ... and always the eye gazing at us. -- 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] Goose migration this morning
Since 12:40pm I’ve been seeing some flocks of all Snow Geese. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 9, 2021, at 12:01 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > At noon I’m finally seeing Snow Geese in mixed flocks northbound over Ithaca. > > - - Dave Nutter > >> On Mar 9, 2021, at 8:51 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: >> >> Several strings & Vs of northbound Canadas, but no Snows seen from my place >> yet. >> >> - - 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/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Goose migration this morning
At noon I’m finally seeing Snow Geese in mixed flocks northbound over Ithaca. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 9, 2021, at 8:51 AM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > Several strings & Vs of northbound Canadas, but no Snows seen from my place > yet. > > - - 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] Goose migration this morning
Several strings & Vs of northbound Canadas, but no Snows seen from my place yet. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Redwings
I think Joe was teasing about using the term “Redwing,” which many Americans use as shorthand for “Red-winged Blackbird,” because Redwing is actually the proper name for a European thrush, Turdus iliacus, which bears some resemblance to an immature American Robin. The true Redwing is an extremely rare winter visitor to the northeastern US, so rare that eBird lists only a single record in NYS, from 1959 at Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge. However, the real die-hard rarity chasers have already seen a Redwing this winter in Portland, Maine, where eBird lists 347 sightings of the bird, so it would probably only be birders who want it for their NYS list racing to your feeders, not from the whole country. You can relax. - - Dave Nutter > On Mar 4, 2021, at 8:53 PM, Marty Schlabach wrote: > > We had four male redwings show up at our feeders in Interlaken today. > --Marty > > From: bounce-125437516-3494...@list.cornell.edu > On Behalf Of Peter Saracino > Sent: Thursday, March 4, 2021 8:51 PM > To: Joe DeVito > Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L ; CAYUGABIRDS-L > > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Redwings > > With all due respect Joe, I think not. I anticipate the usual late winter > invasion any day now - for ALL to see. > Be well. > Pete Sar > > > > On Thu, Mar 4, 2021, 7:33 PM Joe DeVito wrote: > Red winged blackbirds? If you have red wings at your feeder, every birder in > the country will be there tomorrow > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Mar 4, 2021, at 10:45 AM, Peter Saracino wrote: > > > Flock of redwings just showed at my feeders! > Pete Sar > -- > 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] Osprey
Hi Diana, Osprey would be new for the Cayuga Lake Basin 2021 list. This is early though. It’s so early that there is only one eBird record ever for Osprey in February in NYS north of Long Island, and that was several years ago south of Kingston in Ulster County. This year the northernmost eBird report of Osprey in the past month was on the 27th in Maryland. It’s certainly possible. Birds fly. There have been plenty of south winds lately. Ospreys nest along 5&20 by the refuge. I am as interested as anyone in finding out if birds are migrating sooner, and Ospreys have surprised me with early returns to Myers in the recent past. But a report of Osprey even at the very end of February suggests some care be taken, particularly since there are plenty of immature Bald Eagles around, and in some plumages they share some of the color pattern of Ospreys. Bald Eagles also nest earlier than Ospreys and have even been known to take over Osprey nests before the Ospreys return, so Bald Eagles or Red-tailed Hawks or other raptors might be near those nests. So, I’m wondering if you would mind asking your sister what about the bird said “Osprey” to her instead of some other large raptor - shape, behavior, pattern, etc. Thanks so much. And thanks for your photos and reports. It’s a joy to hear what is happening all around us. - - Dave Nutter > On Feb 28, 2021, at 8:53 PM, Whitings wrote: > > Hi All, > My sister saw an osprey flying on Rt. 20 near the entrance to the refuge > yesterday. Also, a Sandhill crane was seen at Mercer Park in B’ville. Spring > is in the air! > > Diana Whiting > > dianawhitingphotography.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] possible Vega Gull at SW corner of Cayuga Lake yesterday
Hi All, Yesterday (28 Feb) I went to Allan H Treman State Park to check on the progress of migration (big news: the Northern Pintails - at least 10 - from the day before had all departed, and the Lesser Scaups were the #2 Aythya species in the raft, Canvasback numbers being a tenth of what they had been). At about 12:25 I noticed a gull standing on the ice in the very corner of the lake, a gull which I thought might be a juvenile Glaucous Gull because it looked very pale, and it had a long pink bill with a small black tip. It had to be bigger than a Herring Gull which was in the foreground, although given the variation in size among Herring Gulls, and that their distance away from each other was small compared to their distance to me, their difference in size may not have been significant. I took a photo of it through my scope then continued viewing it while I waited for a view of its wingtips. When the birds shifted I was disappointed to see its wingtips were not white but light brown, darker than the body generally, which I figured ruled out Glaucous Gull. I also noticed that the darkest and most distinct feature of its plumage was on the row of overlapping feathers on the folded wing which would be the upper inner trailing edge of the wing. Each of these feathers had a long oval of light brown surrounded by white along the length of the feather, and their effect should produce a relatively dark bar next to the trailing edge of the inner wing. I figured this must be an example of the tremendous variation in Herring Gulls - I’ve seen some immatures which are extremely faded in Summer - and I didn’t pay more attention at the time. But late last night as I was writing up details of my list for eBird, I got to wondering if this might be a Glaucous hybrid. I double-checked my Sibley for the Glaucous-like bill on Herring Gulls, and a picture jumped out at me. The first summer Vega (Siberian) Herring Gull most resembled my bird, although the bird I saw was even faded compared to that Sibley plate. I have no experience with Vega Gull, but I’m putting it out there as a possibility, for gull experts to consider. I’m hoping someone has seen this bird or will see it, or can form an opinion from my photo & notes. I never saw the bird’s tail, nor did I see it with spread wings, nor did I see it directly next to another gull, so I apologize for the limited information. Reference to my updated eBird list is below, which also shows up in the Tompkins County rare birds list with less detailed notes. Meanwhile I saw again a banded immature Great Black-backed Gull with a black plastic band on its left leg with white lettering saying “4JF”. This bird was hatched on Appledore Island, home of the Shoals Marine Lab, off the coast of the Maine - New Hampshire border, and this is the second winter I have seen it in Ithaca. Another observer this winter had remarked on how small this bird looked and unlike a Great Black-backed. My photos show that while it may be smaller than another Great Black-backed Gull, it is larger than a couple of Herring Gulls, and it is much larger than a Ring-billed Gull. - - Dave Nutter > From: ebird-checkl...@cornell.edu > Date: March 1, 2021 at 11:00:05 AM EST > To: nutter.d...@mac.com > Subject: eBird Report - NY:TOM:Ithaca: home to Cayuga L: Cass Pk - AHTreman > SMP, Feb 28, 2021 > > NY:TOM:Ithaca: home to Cayuga L: Cass Pk - AHTreman SMP, Tompkins, New York, > US > Feb 28, 2021 9:57 AM - 2:20 PM > Protocol: Traveling > 3.0 mile(s) > Checklist Comments: Walked N on CWT W, BDT, driveway, NYS-89; E on AHTSMP > entrance road; N on walkway to Hangar; N, E, N, & E on Hangar parking lots, > sidewalk, & driveway; N on maintenance building driveway, paved trail, > trampled snow shortcut, & snow/ ice covered gravel path; CW around N Field; S > on ice-covered paved path through & snow-covered grass path E/ N Woods; SW on > trampled snow path across grass field; S on mostly ice-covered paved path; W > along cleared S edge of marina; CW on cleared lane in boat ramp parking lot; > S on CWT E; W across NYS-89 & Turtle Ln S; S on spur & CWT W home. Totally > cloudy, low 40sF, light but increasing S breeze/ wind, liquid FCC except near > marina & bay by college boathouses; Williams Glen Estuary has cut a stream > through the ice in the SW corner of lake; Treman lakeshore generally > ice-free; considerable but deteriorating ice shelf off Stewart Park (Fall > Creek not seen but presumed eroded through ice). Lake calm, low shimmer. > 39 species (+3 other taxa) > > Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 80 ~30 grazing on limited snow-free > part of Union Field; 6 & 10 flying seen from BDT. 3 flying over AHTSMP > marina. Very few & uncounted on lake (sorry, eBird). ~30 flying near golf > course (doubtless more grazing t
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Large Crow flight
About that time, I was walking toward the lakeshore at Treman to survey the waterfowl in the SW part of the lake. As I passed between the frozen marina and the woods of the Hog Hole swamp, I saw an estimated 450 crows commuting east overhead. It sounded like there were more on the way but not yet visible. The light was starting to dim, and I chose to look at the birds on the lake, so it’s possible that hundreds more crows commuted behind my back. There were hundreds of ducks of at least a dozen species stretching north into the distance, nothing new, but lots of fun if you don’t stress about numbers. (Clarification: hundreds of Redheads, Canvasbacks and Common Mergansers, and much smaller numbers of the other 9 species I saw). I didn’t count the geese on the lake, mostly along the west shore, but did note that about 80 Canada Geese flew low both north and south from the middle of Allan Treman State Marine Park just south of the knoll. My guess is that they had been trying to graze where the land was windswept, but it looked like tough going. An immature Iceland Gull continues in the SW corner of the lake. Lots of Great Black-backs dominating the ice-covered Red Lighthouse Breakwater. Many of the Herring Gulls are now in sleek breeding plumage. No Ring-billeds that I saw. 4 Double-crested Cormorants rested atop the piling cluster. - - Dave Nutter > On Feb 22, 2021, at 5:39 PM, Elaina M. McCartney > wrote: > > Approximately 5:20 pm today I noticed a steady flight of Crows from my > vantage just north of Hog Hole, heading approximately toward Cayuga > Heights/Cornell Campus, moving in the approximately the opposite direction of > the large morning flight of 2/17. I don’t know the extent of today’s flight, > I assume it had been going on for a while before I looked up and > noticed—pretty gray out there. I don’t have complete numbers, but did a quick > count of maybe 100+ birds in less than a minute. Looked like an evening > “return” flight. > Elaina > > From: on behalf of Elaina > McCartney > Reply-To: Elaina McCartney > Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 9:27 AM > To: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Large Crow flight > > Shortly before sunrise this morning I noticed out the window a stream > (actually a river) of Crows flying north following the west shore of Cayuga > Lake. To attempt to count them I recorded a 20 sec video, and was able to > count 270 by examining it slowly. The steady flight, which seemed to > originate somewhere southish of Hog Hole, lasted at least 15 minutes at a > rate of approximately 800 per minute. I don’t know how long it had been > going on when I first noticed it, but there were upwards of 12,000 > individuals while I watched them pass at a steady rate. Some stragglers in > groups of 8-10 followed up until about 7 am. > > During the GBBC I observed three immature Bald Eagles simultaneously from my > window, making passes over a large raft of aythya and Canada Geese, just > north of Hog Hole. It was the first time I’d seen more than two at a time. > Yesterday I observed a mature Bald Eagle land in a nearby tree during a brief > snow flurry. Last fall a neighbor had limbs removed from a large, dying red > oak tree for safety, and constructed an osprey platform on what’s left of the > tree. Hoping there will be some nesting interest. > > Elaina > -- > 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] 50 Robins
My first 2021 American Robin was on the Count on New Year’s Day, a single bird in the suburban neighborhood above my home on Ithaca’s West Hill. It was over a month before I saw another Robin: On February 6th, around the time that other folks began writing on CayugaBirds-L about flocks of them, I happened to be staring out a window with my scope aimed toward the Collegetown skyline when a few distant passerines crossed my view. They were substantial and dark but didn’t have fast and regular wingbeats of Starlings. Fortunately, they were tracking toward me, and I stayed on one until it surprised me with a telltale white lower belly and undertail coverts contrasting with brick red elsewhere below. Closer, and the fuller wings and longer tail supported the ID as well. How novel to see a Robin shape! Scanning nearby, I confirmed 4 of them before they went out of view. Neat, but a bit weak as a contribution to discussions of flocks. Sorry. Yesterday, while trying to write, I kept being distracted by individual birds flying past the window, too far away for an easy naked-eye ID, but too fast for me to get binoculars on them. Eventually I gave up and went to the window as they became more organized. They were Robins, and at least 40 of them went past toward the bit of woods nearby, but they didn’t seem to be feeding. Today we were expecting a delivery, so I set up closer to the window. I didn’t get much of my writing project done. The Robins came back. Many settled into a Hawthorn tree whose numerous fruits I had assumed nobody liked. But they were tasty enough today. Another little tree that I hadn’t thought much about also had fruit, and the Robins covered that tree, too, and brought a few Cedar Waxwings along. Birds were busy emerging from the woods, eating, and resting in nearby trees. I tried to count them and got to at least 60 Robins. A few other birds tagged along - a Starling, a male and a female Red-bellied Woodpecker, a male Hairy, and also a gorgeous Flicker. I showed Laurie, who declared the array well worth looking at. She’s getting a bit tired of the small dull-colored birds. Then a Red-tailed Hawk, who had spent the morning next door quietly sitting atop a large tree, tried to join the party. Awkward! That so-called raptor was really bad at hunting songbirds in the woods, and after a few short flights and asymmetrical landings, it gave up and left. I hope it finds a nice, fat, slow squirrel crossing the snow. Within a minute the birds were back at the berries. A dozen Robins were thirsty enough that they came down to the pavement to sip at wet spots. I kept scanning through all the birds, hoping for a Hermit Thrush. No luck there, but I did notice something atop a tree about a quarter mile away: a young Cooper’s Hawk who has graced my yard many times this season without catching anything that I saw. How could it not notice the activity here? When my attention wandered I suddenly saw several Robins start a rush straight for the woods. Yup, the Cooper’s Hawk came ripping past, but veering off, again unlucky, I think. Still, everyone took this predator seriously, and the feeding session seemed to be over. A little while later I noticed Robins leaving the woods to fly away over downtown. There were 2 groups totaling about 75. The maximum number of Cedar Waxwings I saw at once was only 5. There is still some fruit, so I hope they come back. I still need to go out and try to ID that mystery tree. And get back to the other writing project. - - 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] RFI Historical Ithaca Lark Sparrow report
Hi all, I just noticed that last year an historical report of a LARK SPARROW in Ithaca was added to eBird, referencing the 1979 New York State Avian Records Committee (NYSARC )Annual Report, published in the Kingbird Volume 30, Number 4. Looking at that online, as far as I can tell, all it says is that there was a singing adult on 5 September 1979 in Ithaca, and that it was “about the 8th” record in NYS. Does anyone know (or know how to find out) more specifically where it was or who observed it? Thanks! - - 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/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] Goldfinches molting in mid-January?
On a recommendation I looked at Macaulay’s winter photos and saw plenty of variety but no sense of whether the sample is biased for or against molting birds. Then I recalled I own a reference, a bander’s ID guide. For American Goldfinch it says: “Continuous, limited molting occurs throughout the winter.” Wild. Learn something new... Still, is this generally known among feeder watchers? So much to learn. It’s fun being able to recognize individual birds. Spock was back today. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 15, 2021, at 2:21 PM, Dave Nutter wrote: > > For the last 10 months I have sharply curtailed my travel, both on account of > the pandemic and to eliminate my birding carbon footprint. Meanwhile I have > been paying closer attention to feeder birds than ever before. Maybe other > folks who have longer experience carefully noting who comes to their feeders > can answer me this: > > Is it unusual to have male American Goldfinches already beginning to molt > into breeding plumage in the middle of January? Yesterday I noticed at least > 2 with black speckles appearing on their foreheads, and one of those even has > a single bright yellow arched eyebrow, like a tiny quizzical Mr. Spock. I > noticed these birds at a time when I also had a new maximum number of > American Goldfinches, so I guess it’s possible that it’s these individual > birds’ presence rather than their plumage that has changed. So, my > alternative question is: Have other feeder watchers seen male American > Goldfinches retaining black speckles on the forehead or asymmetrical bright > yellow patches beyond the typical autumn molt time and into the winter? > > Thanks. > > - - 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] Goldfinches molting in mid-January?
For the last 10 months I have sharply curtailed my travel, both on account of the pandemic and to eliminate my birding carbon footprint. Meanwhile I have been paying closer attention to feeder birds than ever before. Maybe other folks who have longer experience carefully noting who comes to their feeders can answer me this: Is it unusual to have male American Goldfinches already beginning to molt into breeding plumage in the middle of January? Yesterday I noticed at least 2 with black speckles appearing on their foreheads, and one of those even has a single bright yellow arched eyebrow, like a tiny quizzical Mr. Spock. I noticed these birds at a time when I also had a new maximum number of American Goldfinches, so I guess it’s possible that it’s these individual birds’ presence rather than their plumage that has changed. So, my alternative question is: Have other feeder watchers seen male American Goldfinches retaining black speckles on the forehead or asymmetrical bright yellow patches beyond the typical autumn molt time and into the winter? Thanks. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] What to make of 1000 Swans
Suppose all the swans of a typical winter were for some reason concentrated on the Main Pool instead of on flooded mucklands along the Clyde & Seneca rivers (Armitage, NYS-31 to Carncross Rd) and on Cayuga Lake from Mud Lock to the RR bridge plus farther south along the shores of Cayuga Lake to Union Springs and Red Jacket, I wonder if that would total 1000 Tundra Swans. What is the ice situation on the lake and the refuge? What’s the flooding situation in the mucklands? Did the earlier waterfowl shooting season affect where the swans concentrate? I’d like to hear what the DEC Cayuga Lake waterfowl count shows, and I hope the refuge gets counted at the same time. I wonder what their typical Tundra Swan count is. Also I wonder what the number of Trumpeter Swans and Mute Swans is, although I know that’s harder to count if they are sleeping. I wonder if the attractiveness of Montezuma this year for swans is in any way related to the attractiveness for cranes - weather patterns for nesting success, bringing them here during migration, mild weather other than that one big snow storm keeping them here? - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 12, 2021, at 7:10 PM, Peter Saracino wrote: > > Today we conducted a brief survey at the Montezuma Refuge (Wildlife Drive > only) while also looking for the locations of some possible new eagle nests. > In addition to a good number of ducks (mostly mallards, blacks, ring necks, a > few geese and one redhead), we encounterd over 1000 swans - mostly tundra > with some trumpeters as well. Most were simply sitting on the ice and many > appeared to be sleeping. A number of young were among the larger group. So > I'm wondering if their presence in mid-January is simply a testament to the > mild winter we've had thus far? Will more severe weather send them packing? > Have they given up the thought of Migration this year? > Thoughts, opinions, musings all appreciated. > Thank you. > Pete Sar > -- > 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] 2021 Basin First Records list is up
Hi All, The 2021 Cayuga Basin First Records list is now on the Cayuga Bird Club website for viewing: > http://www.cayugabirdclub.org/Resources/cayuga-lake-basin-first-records It’s easier to read with fully spelt-out Common Names. In addition to the list in chronological order there’s also a complete checklist in taxonomic order to see which species have or haven’t yet been found. Alongside that checklist are notes about what years rare species have been found in the Basin or if they have yet to be found here at all, what years they have been found in nearby counties. This feature also can show some trends, such as when Sandhill Cranes, Black Vultures, Fish Crows, or Common Ravens first started to show up in the Basin. Again, please let me know of possible errors or additions. Thanks. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Future of Lott Farm & Basin Upland Sandpipers?
I don’t think I am the best person to organize or make contact. I think there are people who can speak well about conservation and agriculture and programs as well as what birders or bird clubs or other organizations might offer. What I think would be good to cover would include: * How very grateful we are that the Lotts have for years managed the land in a way that let grassland birds, particularly Upland Sandpipers breed there, the only remaining place in our area. * How very grateful we are that the Lotts have allowed birders onto their property to see and hear and observe the many kinds of birds including the Upland Sandpipers, but also Snowy Owls, Horned Larks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Bobolinks, Savannah Sparrows, and even sometimes Grasshopper Sparrows, American Kestrels... * If there is any way we can help the Lotts to continue to keep grassland habitat and the birds that use it, despite the loss of the Empire State Farm Days, we would like to try. The land is theirs and I assume that, unless they already have some conservation easement or funding, they could dig it up tomorrow and we must respect that. It’s literally their business, not ours, and even asking about their plans, let alone trying to influence them, might be offensive, so I’m not sure how to even broach the subject, but I feel there are people among us who could do this well. I don’t know what we can offer financially, either as organizations or as individuals, such as a small entrance fee or membership, but I think birders should consider this. Of course what also would have to happen is an assessment of what the shared sentiments of birders are. Maybe I’m making assumptions that are not valid. Thank you, everyone who has contributed to this. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 10, 2021, at 8:52 PM, Suan Hsi Yong wrote: > > As Cayuga Bird Club president, I'll bring this up for discussion at > our next executive committee meeting. It sounds like engaging with the > Lotts might be a good first step. Meanwhile, if anyone wants to play > an active role in pursuing this further, perhaps with the backing of > the bird club, let me know. > > Suan > > >> On Sun, Jan 10, 2021 at 7:38 AM Robert Horn wrote: >> >> I agree that contacting the Finger Lakes Land Trust could be beneficial. >> They certainly are experts in land conservation. Bob Horn >> >> On Jan 10, 2021, at 6:26 AM, John Gregoire >> wrote: >> >> Dave, >> The state has a strong farmland trust which greatly benefit the owner in >> cash which is in exchange for keeping it farmland. I have no further detail/ >> John >> >>> On Sat, Jan 9, 2021 at 8:17 PM Dave Nutter wrote: >>> >>> As many of you know, the private Lott Farm, located on the NE corner of >>> NYS-414 and Martin Rd on the south border of the Town of Seneca Falls, has >>> long been the site for the August farm equipment fair called Empire Farm >>> Days. Therefore it has fortuitously been managed as an extensive grassland. >>> It is the only remaining breeding site in the Cayuga Lake Basin for Upland >>> Sandpipers (They bred between Wood Rd & Caswell Rd in Dryden years ago, >>> before a few houses went in there.) as well as a great place for many other >>> breeding grassland birds, the occasional rare Dickcissel, plus fairly >>> regular Snowy Owls in winter. Furthermore, the owner has been gracious in >>> granting access, without charging any fee, to birders who simply request >>> permission, describe their vehicle, and agree to remain on the gravel roads. >>> >>> In talking to Reuben Stoltzfus this evening I learned that we cannot take >>> for granted the situation which had simply been the result of good luck and >>> generosity. This past year, the Empire State Farm Days event did not take >>> place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But also the event is now under new >>> management who have chosen a different site for the future. This means that >>> whatever profit and benefit which the Lott Farm gained from that event is >>> gone. And they never got any benefit except good will from us birders. >>> >>> While Reuben has not talked to the farm owner and did not know of any plans >>> for this land which had been managed as grassland, I think it’s safe to >>> assume that there is a strong incentive for the owner to find some use >>> which will pay the taxes or turn a profit, and that grassland bird habitat >>> may not be in the picture unless action is taken quickly to encourage >>> future management to allow these birds to continue, before decisions are >>> made - if they have not been finalized
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Dryden Conservation Board Resolution Recommending Preservation of Dryden Lake Dam
Is this DRAFT resolution the thing which we need to write to the board about our support right away, or has it already been passed, such that we can relax or take some next step? - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 9, 2021, at 5:28 PM, Mary Ann Lutz wrote: > > I would be able to donate to a fund for preservation of the lake. > > > > From: bounce-125276679-24840...@list.cornell.edu > on behalf of Poppy Singer > > Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2021 3:31 PM > To: Regi Teasley > Cc: Bard Prentiss ; CAYUGABIRDS-L > ; Marie P. Read > Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Dryden Conservation Board Resolution > Recommending Preservation of Dryden Lake Dam > > Great letter! > > On Sat, Jan 9, 2021 at 3:05 PM Regi Teasley wrote: > I would love to see birders, as birders, taking an active role in supporting > local environmental protection. > Regi > > > “The future of the world is nuts.” Philip Rutter, founder of the American > Chestnut Foundation > > >> On Jan 9, 2021, at 2:32 PM, Marie P. Read wrote: >> >> > >> ...or maybe I should have said “...help support financially.” >> >> >> Get Outlook for iOS >> From: bounce-125276647-5851...@list.cornell.edu >> on behalf of Marie P. Read >> >> Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2021 2:30:01 PM >> To: Bard Prentiss ; CAYUGABIRDS-L >> ; NATURAL-HISTORY-L >> >> Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Dryden Conservation Board Resolution >> Recommending Preservation of Dryden Lake Dam >> >> Good news...losing Dryden Lake would be a tragedy for wildlife and humans >> alike. If/when the expected grumbling about finding the needed funds and how >> that would affect local taxes comes up, this should be a project that the >> local birding community could support financially? >> >> Marie >> >> Get Outlook for iOS >> From: bounce-125276602-5851...@list.cornell.edu >> on behalf of Bard Prentiss >> >> Sent: Saturday, January 9, 2021 1:12:35 PM >> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L ; NATURAL-HISTORY-L >> >> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Dryden Conservation Board Resolution Recommending >> Preservation of Dryden Lake Dam >> >> v >> DRAFT 12/29/2020 >> >> Dryden Conservation Board Resolution Recommending Preservation of Dryden >> Lake Dam >> >> Whereas there has been a dam at Dryden Lake Dryden, NY since circa 1801; and >> >> Whereas the body of water known as Dryden Lake, created by the building of >> the dam, has provided numerous benefits to the citizens of the Town of >> Dryden and surrounding areas for over two hundred years, with its benefits >> changing and expanding over two plus centuries; and >> >> Whereas the lake originally provided power for a sawmill and ice harvesting, >> it created additional waterfowl and wildlife habitat that has made the lake >> today a birding “hot spot” with 228 species observed, providing migratory >> bird rest areas and nesting and foraging habitat (Canada geese, ducks, >> loons, herons, Bald Eagles) as well as habitat for numerous mammals, >> amphibians, turtles, etc; and >> >> Whereas Dryden Lake and its surrounding areas provides many forms of year >> round recreation for town and surrounding area residents, such as fishing, >> ice fishing, hiking, jogging, dog walking, biking, cross country skiing, >> snow shoeing (on the Jim Schug trail), kayaking, canoeing, ice skating, >> hunting, trapping, bird watching, picnicking, etc; and >> >> Whereas Dryden Lake and its surrounding natural areas are an important >> educational resource, being used both for formal classes in ecology and >> natural resources (Cornell University) and informal education of everyone >> from young children to lifelong education participants; and >> >> Whereas the Town of Dryden currently provides a community park at the Lake >> under an agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental >> Conservation; and >> >> Whereas the Dryden Lake park is a popular location for many community events >> with the lake being the center piece for those events; and >> >> Whereas the lake has a rich historical and cultural value to the citizens of >> the town; and >> >> Whereas the NYS DEC is considering the removal of the dam and the >> elimination of Dryden Lake in the form it has existed for over two hundred >> years; and >> >> Whereas the Dryden Town Board has requested a recommendation from the >> Conservation Board on the future of the Dryden Lake dam and
[cayugabirds-l] Future of Lott Farm & Basin Upland Sandpipers?
As many of you know, the private Lott Farm, located on the NE corner of NYS-414 and Martin Rd on the south border of the Town of Seneca Falls, has long been the site for the August farm equipment fair called Empire Farm Days. Therefore it has fortuitously been managed as an extensive grassland. It is the only remaining breeding site in the Cayuga Lake Basin for Upland Sandpipers (They bred between Wood Rd & Caswell Rd in Dryden years ago, before a few houses went in there.) as well as a great place for many other breeding grassland birds, the occasional rare Dickcissel, plus fairly regular Snowy Owls in winter. Furthermore, the owner has been gracious in granting access, without charging any fee, to birders who simply request permission, describe their vehicle, and agree to remain on the gravel roads. In talking to Reuben Stoltzfus this evening I learned that we cannot take for granted the situation which had simply been the result of good luck and generosity. This past year, the Empire State Farm Days event did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But also the event is now under new management who have chosen a different site for the future. This means that whatever profit and benefit which the Lott Farm gained from that event is gone. And they never got any benefit except good will from us birders. While Reuben has not talked to the farm owner and did not know of any plans for this land which had been managed as grassland, I think it’s safe to assume that there is a strong incentive for the owner to find some use which will pay the taxes or turn a profit, and that grassland bird habitat may not be in the picture unless action is taken quickly to encourage future management to allow these birds to continue, before decisions are made - if they have not been finalized already - for the plowing or construction season this spring. Is this something about which local bird clubs would want to work with the owner of Lott farm? Are there DEC programs which can reimburse landowners for maintaining such habitat? Would bird clubs want to help more directly? Would birders be willing to pay a small fee for the privilege of birding there or to become members of some organization for the pride of knowing they are helping some regionally rare birds survive where we can sometimes see them? These are just some ideas based on very limited information. I know there are people reading this who are far better than I am at organizing, networking, researching, and promoting these things. Please think about it, discuss it, and help ensure that come mid-April the Upland Sandpipers have a home to return to. Thanks. - - 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] Draft 2021 Basin First Records for review
Hi All, I’ve been working on the 2021 Cayuga Basin First Records List. Below my signature is a draft of my notes for review. When Paul Anderson has time to make a new spreadsheet, I’ll fill it out, and he’ll put it on the Cayuga Bird Club website here: http://www.cayugabirdclub.org/Resources/cayuga-lake-basin-first-records where it will remain, accumulating species throughout 2021 as I learn about them and update it. But this initial large list is easier to edit before it’s put up, so please have a look, and if you see things that appear wrong or missing, please let me know. Explanations: The six-letter code for bird species, used in Bird Population Studies when I worked there, has this format according to the number of words in the common name: BUFFLEhead, GREater SCAup, Eastern Whip-Poor-WILl. To avoid ambiguity some words may be abbreviated differently: GRaY, GraY, graY; GReeN, GreeN, greeN; GReaT, GreaT, Great; BLacK, BlacK, blacK; BLUe, BlUe, blUe. Have fun deciphering. I find it easier than 4-letter codes. Records are grouped first by date, so everything first found on New Year’s Day - currently the vast majority - is first. Species first found on subsequent days are all at the bottom. Within each day, the species are in the taxonomic order used by eBird. This is different than the older order used by the National Audubon Society for Christmas Bird Counts on the spreadsheet which Paul recently shared for the Ithaca count. For species which were widespread and found by multiple parties on the Christmas Bird Count, both the observer(s) and the locations(s) are listed as “Ithaca CBC”. Species which were found on the count by very few parties or in very few locations have the observers and locations listed. When a new species is found multiple places on the same day, rather than sort out where it was found first, I try to list all the places and credit all the finders, because I think it’s interesting when when a bird species arrives overnight en masse. My sources include eBird; the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count through Pauls’ spreadsheet, Area Leaders, and individual participants; and other birders who post to CayugaBirds-L, or text to the Cayuga Rare Bird Alert, or who contact me personally. Locations do not include personal addresses but do include road names. Locations also include the township to disambiguate, for instance, the many Lake Roads. Birds considered must be within the Cayuga Lake Basin as mapped in a 1926 botany book by Cornell professors Weigand and Eames. The area was adopted by Lab of O founder Arthur Allen as a reasonable convenient area in which to study a wide and representative array of birds. He also started the tradition of keeping an annual list of bird species found in the basin. The Basin, in its south half, as far north as the townships of Fayette and Scipio, is simply the land which drains to Cayuga Lake. However the north half of the Basin also includes lands which drain north and south into the Seneca River, Clyde River, and Erie/Barge Canal, with east and west limits along those waterways designed to include particularly interesting ecological and botanical areas, so it sweeps west just into Ontario County to include the Junius Ponds and east into the edge of Auburn and include Howland Island. The north edge appears ragged because the land is covered with north-south oriented drumlins which complicate the drainage. If you wonder whether a location is in the Basin, I can look it up. W/ = west of Questions? Feel free to ask. - - Dave Nutter 2021 Basin First of Year Records DRAFT as of 0108 BIRDSP MMDDObserver(s) Location, incl Town SNOGOO 0101Ithaca CBC Ithaca CBC CACGOO 0101Ken Rosenberg, Jay McGowan; Drew Weber Stewart Park, Ithaca; Chiropractic College, Seneca Falls CANGOO 0101Ithaca CBC Ithaca CBC MUTSWA 0101Dave Kennedy; Drew Weber, Ash Ferlito, Cullen Hanks Cayuga L SP / Lower L Rd, Seneca Falls; Montezuma NWR VC, Tyre TRUSWA 0101Dave Kennedy; Wade & Melissa Rowley Montezuma NWR VC, Tyre; Carncross Rd, Savannah TUNSWA 0101Dave Kennedy; Janet Akin; Drew Weber, Cullen Hanks, Ash Ferlito Montezuma NWR VC & NYS-89 overlook, Tyre; Cayuga L SP /Lower L Rd, Seneca Falls WOODUC 0101Dave KennedyOak I, Waterloo GADWAL 0101Dave Kennedy; Drew Weber, Cullen Hanks, Ash Ferlito, Reuben Stoltzfus Cayuga L SP, Seneca Falls; Montezuma NWR VC, Tyre; CR-53, Sheldrake, Ovid AMEWIG 0101Josh Snodgrass; Drew Weber, Cullen Hanks, Ash Ferlito SW Cayuga L, Ithaca; Montezuma NWR VC, Tyre MALLAR 0101Ithaca CBC Ithaca CBC AMKDUC 0101Ithaca CBC Ithaca CBC NORPIN 0101Drew Weber, Cullen Hanks, Ash Ferlito Montezuma NWR VC, Tyre GNWTEA 0101Brandon Woo Gracie Pond, Lime Hollow, Cortlandville CANVAS 0101Dave Kennedy; Drew Weber, Cullen Hanks, Ash Ferl
[cayugabirds-l] Seeking info for Basin First Records list
Hi All, Does anyone know whether the Gyrfalcon, which is often seen on N Hoster Rd in Fayette, was seen on January 1, 2, or 3 this year? I know it was seen as late as December 28. Here’s why I ask: There’s a long tradition of keeping an annual list of first records for the Cayuga Lake Basin. For a number of years I’ve been doing that. Past years’ lists are on the Cayuga Bird Club website, and the start of this year’s list should also be up soon, with Paul Anderson’s help. As you may know, on January 3 a Gyrfalcon was seen near Ithaca. The question for me is whether this was the first day the species was found this year, or whether the bird from the Canoga area was also seen that same day or earlier. If you have info as to when, where, and by whom it was seen, please let me know off list. Thanks! - - Dave Nutter nutter.d...@mac.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] Pileated pair and sumac
I’m also trying to establish Staghorn Sumac in my yard for winter bird food. Sometimes the autumn foliage is not just red, it can have a nearly complete rainbow of green-yellow-orange-red-purple! One of the challenges is removing the somewhat similar invasive Ailanthus. - - Dave Nutter > On Jan 5, 2021, at 11:53 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: > > I love sumacs & always let them grow. > Bluebirds & Robins & others eat the berries in winter. Including “my” > Pileated wdpkr. > In fall the foliage is brilliant red! > > Donna Scott > Lansing > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jan 5, 2021, at 11:50 AM, "anneb.cl...@gmail.com" > wrote: > >> A lovely pair of Pileated woodpeckers had a protracted morning tea on sumac >> seed headsmaking the sumac look very spindly! >> >> As always am working on ways to increase the sumac population. Beauty and >> utility! >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> -- >> >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm >> >> ARCHIVES: >> 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >> 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >> 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> >> -- >> > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > 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/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Migrating waterfowl
Yesterday morning (Friday 18 Dec) I took a cross-country ski trip on the Black Diamond Trail as far north as the woods below the hospital, a little over 2 miles. The trail which I had broken for the first half mile the previous morning had been extended by others at least to Glenwood Heights Rd, I learned from a rare passerby. My progress was mainly slowed by estimating the numbers in every flock of geese I heard and was able to see. All were flying south, evidently haven given up on the idea of grazing or foraging in farm fields buried by over a foot of snow. During my 3 hours out I tallied nearly 5,000 Canada Geese. It wasn’t until 0922 when I was near my turnaround that I encountered my first flock of Snow Geese, about 100. Eventually five flocks of them added up to around 700 birds. I did not see any mixing of Canadas & Snows in flocks, nor did I see any Ross’s nor Cackling. When I was back near Cass Park a particularly large flock of Canadas went past. I was still checking their number when they were south of me, and I noticed something sizable but different flying nearby. It was a Common Loon bucking the trend by flying north over Ithaca at 1044. Those birds fascinate me. And in the sky above the loon I saw two high ghostly silent birds that I would not have otherwise noticed - a pair of Swans, presumed Tundra. A few minutes later I heard several Tundra Swans calling, and I eventually caught sight of a flock of 48 of them in a counter-clockwise curving path over West Hill last seen going SW and fairly low. Maybe they saw a field they thought worth checking for food. I’m guessing that the shallow waters at the north end of the lake where they prefer to feed are all either frozen or disturbed by gunners. Gunfire was generally far north of Ithaca during my outing, perhaps helping to account for the large number of flying Canada Geese and the Common Loon The south end of the lake looked pretty empty through binoculars and trees from the trail, and ice was extensive off Stewart Park (though not as far as East Shore Park), across Fall Creek and Cayuga Inlet, and from the Red Lighthouse Breakwater past Allan H Treman State Marine Park all the way to about #857 on Taughannock Boulevard. My guess is that with the clear still air and single digit Fahrenheit overnight temperatures, that ice will have grown a lot by today. There were also 14 Snow Geese over the south end of the Black Diamond Trail who seemed to be exploring by flying NW, and the last flock of Snow Geese which I saw, about 70 of them, was the only substantial goose flock of the morning which was not southbound; for whatever reason it was last seen going pretty much East over Ithaca. - - 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/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Sandhills
The numbers of Sandhill Cranes reported this autumn at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex are remarkable - over 200 at Van Dyne Spoor Rd, over 250 at East Rd, and over 50 at the Montezuma NWR Visitor Center - even if they are overlapping counts of some or all of the same group moving about. Keep in mind that this species has only been observed annually in the Cayuga Lake Basin starting in 2000. Before that, eBird only lists 1 bird October 1968 at Montezuma by Brad Jacobs, 1 bird flying N on warm S winds in February 1990 in Enfield by Bill Evans (who I believe lived there at the time), and 1-2 birds in November 1994 in Montezuma observed by several, including Kevin McGann, Kevin & Jay McGowan, and Bill Purcell. Starting in 2000, the spring reports in eBird suggest birds might be breeding or considering doing so. The first confirmation in eBird of breeding success in the Montezuma area was in 2003. In recent years it seems that many (most?) major pools or marshes in the Montezuma Wetland Complex have their own pair of Sandhill Cranes. I wonder how many members of these autumn gatherings were breeding or raised locally and how many are pausing here during a longer migration from other parts of their range. Regardless, it is clear that Montezuma has become a hub for these social birds. - - Dave Nutter > On Dec 4, 2020, at 7:46 AM, Peter Saracino wrote: > > At least 250 Sandhill Cranes currently at Knox Marcellus Marsh (MNWR). > Pete Sar > -- > 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] Siskins
I haven’t seen them yet today, but for the last 3 days a flock of Pine Siskins has come to my feeders, where the only fare is black oil sunflower seeds. The Siskins have only been present for a few minutes at a time, so I have to be vigilant and lucky. The maximum has been 26, which is a real strain on my ability to keep track of them. Only 1 so far has shown prominent yellow on the wingbar, all the rest having white. I had been thinking of expanding the bird feeding operation, but this morning I got a series of reports of bird feeders and beehives being demolished by a Bear 1-2 miles away on West Hill, just into the Town of Ithaca, and at EcoVillage. - - Dave Nutter > On Nov 30, 2020, at 10:20 AM, Donna Lee Scott wrote: > > ~23 Pine Siskins, along w 4-5 Goldfinches, enjoying nyjer seeds on my deck > railing! > A Red-breasted Nuthatch grabbing sunflower seeds, too. > > Donna Scott > Lansing > Sent from my iPhone > -- > 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/ --
