[cayugabirds-l] Merlins in T’burg
On a walk last evening (April 2) I had a male and female Merlin on treetops within about 200’ in the upper village of Trumansburg close to the conservatory on McLallen St. The female was calling steadily. But sheesh, I just passed my neighbor Marc Devokaitis who reported seeing copulatory behavior (if not the act itself) this afternoon, up around Bradley St. where we live. There has been a Fish Crow pair around the trees near the corner of Old Main and Washington St. this past week. Lots of single calls. I’ve seen and heard them in flight but haven’t before noticed any roost site fidelity, if indeed that is what I am seeing. I don’t know enough of their habits to score it as a “pair in suitable habitat” much as I would like to. Jared Dawson Trumansburg -- 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] Harlequin Duck—not seen
On 7 Dec from 8:45 to 9:30 I checked Stewart Park, Eastshore Park, and a spot in between. I saw several groups of Bufflehead but did not see the Harlequin. Jared Dawson Trumansburg -- 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] Natural Purple Martin nesting?
Sorry, I was mentioning two small colonies in Santa Barbara County at Nojoqui County park in sycamore and conifer cavities at the top of the tallest trees, and one on Pine Tree Rd out of Alexander Valley in Sonoma County, also nesting in cavities in tall snags. Jared Dawson Trumansburg > On Apr 14, 2021, at 10:25 AM, Alicia Plotkin wrote: > > Summary of what was known in early 20th century in Birds by Bent - rare but > not completely unheard of at that time. Note that Naples, Florida was > considered to be remote country then! >> Nesting.--Before the advent of the white man the martin used natural >> cavities in trees and cliffs for nesting sites. But even in those distant >> days there was some bird-house nesting, for the Indians were fond of these >> birds and, as Wilson (1832) says, "even the solitary Indian seems to have a >> particular respect for this bird." He gives an account of the methods used >> by the "Choctaws and Chickasaws" who "cut off all the top branches from a >> sapling near their cabins, leaving the prongs a foot or two in length, on >> each of which they hang a gourd, or calabash, properly hollowed out for >> their convenience." Forbush (1929) adds that "when saplings were not >> conveniently situated the Indians set up poles, fastened cross-bars to them >> and hung the gourds on these cross-bars." >> Instances of strictly primitive nesting are still to be seen in remote parts >> of the country. Roberts (1932) gives an account of martins breeding among >> large boulders on Spirit Island, Lake Milles Lacs, Minn. Howell (1932) >> mentions two or three examples in Florida, one near La Belle and another at >> Naples. A unique situation came under his observation on Anna Maria Key in >> May 1918, when he found a pair using a hole in a palmetto piling over water, >> the cavity being about 3 feet from the surface. >> >> I have seen one instance of primitive nesting in Florida, that of a small >> colony of about five pairs utilizing a tall, dead pine perforated with >> woodpecker holes. This tree stands near the banks of the Kissimmee River, >> near the hamlet of Cornwell, in Highlands County, Fla., and martins were >> using it late in March 1940. Shown to several participants in the Wildlife >> Tours undertaken in that region during the early part of 1940 by the Audubon >> Association, it never failed to elicit the greatest interest. Flickers and >> bluebirds, as well as a red-bellied woodpecker, were also using this avian >> apartment house. I have had it reported that martins use the hollows in very >> old cypresses in some of the large river swamps of South Carolina, along >> with chimney swifts, which is certainly very likely, though I have not seen >> this association personally. >> > > > > > On 4/14/2021 10:18 AM, Johnson, Alyssa wrote: >> Good morning, >> >> As I watch the Purple Martins returning, and setting up seasonal residence, >> I wonder about natural nesting locations. I’m not asking for directions to >> one, but has anyone ever seen one? What do they look like? Do they nest in >> dead trees? Or holes/crags in cliffs? >> >> I’d love to see a natural nesting site, the only time I’ve ever seen PUMAs >> are at the colonial nesting boxes! And I got to thinking- what did they nest >> in before we built these condos for them?! >> >> Alyssa >> >> -- >> Alyssa Johnson >> Environmental Educator >> 315.365.3588 >> >> Montezuma Audubon Center >> PO Box 187 >> 2295 State Route 89 >> Savannah, NY 13146 >> Montezuma.audubon.org >> Pronouns: She, Her, Hers >> >> -- >> 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] Natural Purple Martin nesting?
In California where I used to live I annually enjoyed visiting two natural martin colonies > On Apr 14, 2021, at 10:25 AM, Alicia Plotkin wrote: > > Summary of what was known in early 20th century in Birds by Bent - rare but > not completely unheard of at that time. Note that Naples, Florida was > considered to be remote country then! >> Nesting.--Before the advent of the white man the martin used natural >> cavities in trees and cliffs for nesting sites. But even in those distant >> days there was some bird-house nesting, for the Indians were fond of these >> birds and, as Wilson (1832) says, "even the solitary Indian seems to have a >> particular respect for this bird." He gives an account of the methods used >> by the "Choctaws and Chickasaws" who "cut off all the top branches from a >> sapling near their cabins, leaving the prongs a foot or two in length, on >> each of which they hang a gourd, or calabash, properly hollowed out for >> their convenience." Forbush (1929) adds that "when saplings were not >> conveniently situated the Indians set up poles, fastened cross-bars to them >> and hung the gourds on these cross-bars." >> Instances of strictly primitive nesting are still to be seen in remote parts >> of the country. Roberts (1932) gives an account of martins breeding among >> large boulders on Spirit Island, Lake Milles Lacs, Minn. Howell (1932) >> mentions two or three examples in Florida, one near La Belle and another at >> Naples. A unique situation came under his observation on Anna Maria Key in >> May 1918, when he found a pair using a hole in a palmetto piling over water, >> the cavity being about 3 feet from the surface. >> >> I have seen one instance of primitive nesting in Florida, that of a small >> colony of about five pairs utilizing a tall, dead pine perforated with >> woodpecker holes. This tree stands near the banks of the Kissimmee River, >> near the hamlet of Cornwell, in Highlands County, Fla., and martins were >> using it late in March 1940. Shown to several participants in the Wildlife >> Tours undertaken in that region during the early part of 1940 by the Audubon >> Association, it never failed to elicit the greatest interest. Flickers and >> bluebirds, as well as a red-bellied woodpecker, were also using this avian >> apartment house. I have had it reported that martins use the hollows in very >> old cypresses in some of the large river swamps of South Carolina, along >> with chimney swifts, which is certainly very likely, though I have not seen >> this association personally. >> > > > > > On 4/14/2021 10:18 AM, Johnson, Alyssa wrote: >> Good morning, >> >> As I watch the Purple Martins returning, and setting up seasonal residence, >> I wonder about natural nesting locations. I’m not asking for directions to >> one, but has anyone ever seen one? What do they look like? Do they nest in >> dead trees? Or holes/crags in cliffs? >> >> I’d love to see a natural nesting site, the only time I’ve ever seen PUMAs >> are at the colonial nesting boxes! And I got to thinking- what did they nest >> in before we built these condos for them?! >> >> Alyssa >> >> -- >> Alyssa Johnson >> Environmental Educator >> 315.365.3588 >> >> Montezuma Audubon Center >> PO Box 187 >> 2295 State Route 89 >> Savannah, NY 13146 >> Montezuma.audubon.org >> Pronouns: She, Her, Hers >> >> -- >> 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] Phoebe and osprey nest-building
Happiness is waking up to a foraging Eastern Phoebe in our silver maple tree, first of the season for us in Trumansburg, and then spending an hour watching the Osprey pair building their nest on the cell tower just south of the village of Covert. We had extended views of male repeatedly making trips close by us to pick up sticks and clumps of vegetation and then returning to the nest where the larger female sat on the edge of the nest, occasionally going to the nest under construction and moving things a bit while the male was out, but most of the arrangements were made by the male. A member of our group also reported that copulation occurred, while we were dispersing, cinching the male-female ID. Good birding Jared Dawson Trumansburg -- 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] Odd RW Blackbird plumage
This evening (4-2) around sunset I was doing a raptor watch for the DEC on Black Rd just north of hwy 79, town of Mecklenburg. No dice with raptors, but one of the male red-winged blackbirds had quite interesting plumage. Its underside was coarsely and darkly streaked like a female, with a buffy color as the ground. Its head was black and its lesser and median coverts, although quite prominent and bright, were normal breeding male in appearance. The undertail coverts were yellowish, the tail white with a moderate black terminal tail band. The uppertail coverts were bright white as was the tail, but along with the tail band there was also a central black shaft reminiscent of the uppertail of a McCown’s Longspur. ( Not sure if this also appeared on the underside). The greater coverts were tipped white. This was unlike leucistic birds that I’ve seen which have not appeared so neatly patterned. The dark head and coverts seem to rule out a first-year male. Wish I had some pix. The last week I’ve had a Eastern Screech-Owl singing its monotone trill on and off, heard from my house, the first I’ve heard in upper Trumansburg village over the last year and previous winter. Good solitaire birding, Jared Dawson Trumansburg -- 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] Huge numbers of birds in Seneca Co yesterday
Hello all, my wife and I were exploring the northwest side of Cayuga Lake yesterday the 24th, on a very warm (50-54 degrees) and sunny day. Sheldrake Point was unremarkable but with the only goldeneye flock of the day. The real action was along Lower Lake Rd from Hwy 89 to the state park HQ. Massive numbers of chiefly Redheads and Canvasbacks stretched for a couple of miles and in various skeins out from shore. All I could do is a gross estimate of well over ten thousand waterfowl, and then attempt some rough percentages. Here goes: Redhead 75% Canvasback 20% Northern Pintail 2% Lesser Scaup 1-2% <1% Mallard <1% Am Black Duck And ONE male American Wigeon! In addition there were 1500 Canada Geese, about 100 Tundra Swans, and 20 American Coots in their favored cove. Out much farther in the lake were rafts of chiefly Common Mergansers, I estimated 500. Farther out still along the far shore to the east was a massive flock of Snow Geese, wheeling about in the heat shimmer. It was difficult to pin a number down in eBird on these species. Rather conservative estimates was the best I could do. There were at least 5 Bald Eagles, probably a few more, going up and down the shore. One was an adult and at one point there were 4 immatures out on the ice. There was more to come! On Farron Rd to the east of the airport there was a large flock of Snow Buntings that I estimated at 1500 birds. Mostly seen in the air, but they did land once close to previous roost spots of a Snowy Owl along the eastern berms of the runway. Stunning in the light of the lowering sun. Wait, still more. On rte 129 to the south near Vineyard Rd, we were treated to roughly 4000 Snow Geese flying fairly close to overhead in many skeins coming out from the SE and away from Cayuga Lake. This was around 1530 hrs. Good birding! Jared Dawson Trumansburg -- 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] Redpoll in Trumansburg
Hello, I’m a birder from California and a new resident of Trumansburg, so it will take some time to learn status and distribution in this area. My wife and I went out yesterday for the redpoll flock as reported in southern Seneca Co, and dipped on them, but this morning the 23rd was pleased to have a male Common Redpoll at my feeder. Looking at eBird for all dates, I see that there were a number of sightings here in the village at one site during 2013 and 2015, but no others. I suspect that this is from a lack of observers, or eBird reports, or could they be that unusual? Good birding... Jared Dawson Trumansburg -- 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/ --
