Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer

[Laurie Michelman]

Last year on March 22 I photographed killdeer for the first time in 2022. 
Today, I have once again on March 22 seen them for the first time in 2023! I 
have seen about 8 of them calling overhead and in the farm fields in the 
Skaneateles and Marcellus area. Between their alarm calls, the singing Song 
Sparrows and Robins, and one Belted Kingfisher near my house making its 
distinct sounds it feels very hopeful for the spring birding season. 

-Laurie

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 22, 2023, at 10:19 AM, anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:
> 
> In same Hile school x Ed hill intersection. Now.  
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

[Karen Steffy]

I also thought I heard one on Sunday morning, but didn’t get to see it.

Thanks!

Karen


From: bounce-126385147-25410...@list.cornell.edu 
 On Behalf Of Laurie Michelman
Sent: Sunday, March 6, 2022 11:08 AM
To: Paul Anderson 
Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

I was wondering if anyone else saw some Killdeer. I just saw three in 
Skaneateles. Heard them first. Great to see them back.

-Laurie
Sent from my iPhone


On Mar 6, 2022, at 10:23 AM, Paul Anderson 
mailto:fish...@gmail.com>> wrote:

This morning at Salt Point I heard and saw my first Killdeer of the year. Then 
at Sapsucker Woods I heard and saw three Rusty Blackbirds. An impressive flock 
of several thousand Red-winged Blackbirds flew over in about three separate 
waves.

Then at the field next to the compost piles, another Killdeer.

I finally went to Mount Pleasant in the hope that the warm south wind would 
bring some raptors over. No luck unfortunately.

-Paul

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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

[Eveline V. Ferretti]

Meant to add—saw a small flock of Eastern Bluebirds on Mount Pleasant as well.

From: bounce-126385369-62666...@list.cornell.edu 
 On Behalf Of Eveline V. Ferretti
Sent: Sunday, March 6, 2022 4:05 PM
To: Laurie Michelman ; Paul Anderson 

Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
Subject: RE: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

Seen on Mount Pleasant this morning as well (Killdeer)!

From: 
bounce-126385147-62666...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:bounce-126385147-62666...@list.cornell.edu>
 
mailto:bounce-126385147-62666...@list.cornell.edu>>
 On Behalf Of Laurie Michelman
Sent: Sunday, March 6, 2022 11:08 AM
To: Paul Anderson mailto:fish...@gmail.com>>
Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
mailto:cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>>
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

I was wondering if anyone else saw some Killdeer. I just saw three in 
Skaneateles. Heard them first. Great to see them back.

-Laurie
Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 6, 2022, at 10:23 AM, Paul Anderson 
mailto:fish...@gmail.com>> wrote:

This morning at Salt Point I heard and saw my first Killdeer of the year. Then 
at Sapsucker Woods I heard and saw three Rusty Blackbirds. An impressive flock 
of several thousand Red-winged Blackbirds flew over in about three separate 
waves.

Then at the field next to the compost piles, another Killdeer.

I finally went to Mount Pleasant in the hope that the warm south wind would 
bring some raptors over. No luck unfortunately.

-Paul

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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

[Eveline V. Ferretti]

Seen on Mount Pleasant this morning as well (Killdeer)!

From: bounce-126385147-62666...@list.cornell.edu 
 On Behalf Of Laurie Michelman
Sent: Sunday, March 6, 2022 11:08 AM
To: Paul Anderson 
Cc: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

I was wondering if anyone else saw some Killdeer. I just saw three in 
Skaneateles. Heard them first. Great to see them back.

-Laurie
Sent from my iPhone


On Mar 6, 2022, at 10:23 AM, Paul Anderson 
mailto:fish...@gmail.com>> wrote:

This morning at Salt Point I heard and saw my first Killdeer of the year. Then 
at Sapsucker Woods I heard and saw three Rusty Blackbirds. An impressive flock 
of several thousand Red-winged Blackbirds flew over in about three separate 
waves.

Then at the field next to the compost piles, another Killdeer.

I finally went to Mount Pleasant in the hope that the warm south wind would 
bring some raptors over. No luck unfortunately.

-Paul

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

[Deb Grantham]

I thought I saw that distinctive flight out of the corner of my eye yesterday. 
Sheffield Road, Ithaca.

Deb

On Mar 6, 2022 11:08 AM, Laurie Michelman  wrote:
I was wondering if anyone else saw some Killdeer. I just saw three in 
Skaneateles. Heard them first. Great to see them back.

-Laurie

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 6, 2022, at 10:23 AM, Paul Anderson  wrote:


This morning at Salt Point I heard and saw my first Killdeer of the year. Then 
at Sapsucker Woods I heard and saw three Rusty Blackbirds. An impressive flock 
of several thousand Red-winged Blackbirds flew over in about three separate 
waves.

Then at the field next to the compost piles, another Killdeer.

I finally went to Mount Pleasant in the hope that the warm south wind would 
bring some raptors over. No luck unfortunately.

-Paul

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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer and Rusties

[Laurie Michelman]

I was wondering if anyone else saw some Killdeer. I just saw three in 
Skaneateles. Heard them first. Great to see them back. 

-Laurie

Sent from my iPhone

> On Mar 6, 2022, at 10:23 AM, Paul Anderson  wrote:
> 
> 
> This morning at Salt Point I heard and saw my first Killdeer of the year. 
> Then at Sapsucker Woods I heard and saw three Rusty Blackbirds. An impressive 
> flock of several thousand Red-winged Blackbirds flew over in about three 
> separate waves.
> 
> Then at the field next to the compost piles, another Killdeer.
> 
> I finally went to Mount Pleasant in the hope that the warm south wind would 
> bring some raptors over. No luck unfortunately.
> 
> -Paul
> 
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer

[Linda Orkin]

 Several  Song Sparrows and two Redwings singing at  Sapsucker woods
Ithaca, NY this morning also. And so it begins and makes itself noticed.

Linda Orkin

On Wed, Feb 21, 2018 at 12:21 PM,  wrote:

> In addition to multiple flights of Snows (white and blue) and Canadas last
> night and today, we had one Killdeer sounding off as he flew overhead.
> --
> John and Sue Gregoire
> Field Ornithologists
> Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory
> 5373 Fitzgerald Rd
> 
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> 
> 42.443508000, -76.758202000
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this evil, what is the good
of the good of your life?

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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer Courtship at Myers

[Gary Kohlenberg]

Hi Lauren,
As Marie noted sometimes this behavior is by small groups. I 
watched a group of four Killdeer doing this display on a visit to Myer’s 
several years ago. It was the most unusual thing to see these birds do what 
amounted to a Killdeer version of a square dance calling like crazy. Very 
competitive for them probably and amazing for me.
Killdeer are really starting to peak now. I had 11 birds at one 
stationary count last night and I seem to hear them at every stop. Thanks for 
posting your observation and reminding me of the thrill I had seeing this 
behavior.

Gary

From: bounce-118987670-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
[mailto:bounce-118987670-3493...@list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Susan Fast
Sent: Friday, March 27, 2015 5:45 AM
To: Marie P. Read; superduperw...@aim.com; CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer Courtship at Myers

One recent good description of poses, etc. is the Stokes Nature Guides, "Guide 
to Bird Behavior", vol. 2.
The original Saunders source is Saunders, Aretas Andrews, "The Summer Birds of 
Central New York Marshes"  Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin. vol. 3 , pp. 335-475.  
1926
Also A. C. Bent's "Life Histories of North American Shorebirds" part two.  
Originally from the Smithsonian in 1927, Dover Publications did a reprint in 
1962.

Steve


On Thursday, March 26, 2015 9:47 PM, Marie P. Read 
mailto:m...@cornell.edu>> wrote:

I've seen Killdeer doing this and similar behaviors a number of times early in 
the breeding season. Sometimes in pairs, sometimes several birds together. My 
impression is that it has both territorial and  courtship components.
Pairs do something similar during a "nest scrape display"...the male bows, 
spreading his tail and trills constantly when the pair is at one of the nest 
scrapes the male makes when the two are deciding on a nest site.
Here are a couple of photos of this behavior:

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Killdeer/Gu7AkHC8sfg8/IALsXWhF3uvM/CzQU3lDkq6SE

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Killdeer/Gu7AkHC8sfg8/I6rJaalHoVTk/CzQU3lDkq6SE

Cool observation!
Marie


Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

Phone  607-539-6608
e-mail  m...@cornell.edu<mailto:m...@cornell.edu>

http://www.marieread.com<http://www.marieread.com/>

Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here:

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE

From: 
bounce-118984747-5851...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:bounce-118984747-5851...@list.cornell.edu>
 
[bounce-118984747-5851...@list.cornell.edu<mailto:bounce-118984747-5851...@list.cornell.edu>]
 on behalf of Lauren Flesher 
[superduperw...@aim.com<mailto:superduperw...@aim.com>]
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2015 11:38 AM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer Courtship at Myers

This morning at Myers Point, the group I was with observed two Killdeer 
engaging in what we assumed was a courtship ritual.  They stood on the log at 
the end of the gravel parking lot, back to back, with tails raised high, and 
backed into each other until tails were close to touching.  They then began 
imitating each other, with flicks and dips.  The whole time they were calling 
constantly, so that it sounds like one continuous trill.  No one in our group 
had ever seen the likes of it before, or heard of it.  Unfortunately we had to 
leave before seeing the end of this display, but my curiosity was piqued.

I came home and checked on Birds of North America for more information, and 
found nothing except a small reference to the 1967 paper "Prenuptial courtship 
in wintering shorebirds" by J.B. Funderburg.  Google searching this paper lead 
me to a website describing the ground courtship displays of Killdeer.  I find 
it quite interesting, so I thought I'd share it with you all!

Found on the website birdsbybent.com.  A 1929 bulletin - 146 (part 2: 202-217) 
- written by Arthur Cleveland Bent for the Smithsonian National Museum.

"The most noticeable courtship performances of the killdeer are those that take 
place in the air--the nuptial flight--but those that occur on the ground, 
although less often seen, are also spectacular. Aretas Saunders (1926) thus 
describes the display: Two birds would crouch side by side but facing in 
opposite directions. Then they would droop the tips of the wings so that they 
exposed the ochraceous patch of the lower back, spread the tail, and tip the 
breast forward, slowly lifting the wing tips till the came way above the back, 
but never covered it from view. All the while they kept up a continual call, 
the long-trilled note 't-r-r-r-r-r.' The displaying birds would often begin 
the performance or end it with a little

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer Courtship at Myers

[Susan Fast]

One recent good description of poses, etc. is the Stokes Nature Guides, "Guide 
to Bird Behavior", vol. 2.The original Saunders source is Saunders, Aretas 
Andrews, "The Summer Birds of Central New York Marshes"  Roosevelt Wild Life 
Bulletin. vol. 3 , pp. 335-475.  1926Also A. C. Bent's "Life Histories of North 
American Shorebirds" part two.  Originally from the Smithsonian in 1927, Dover 
Publications did a reprint in 1962.
Steve 


 On Thursday, March 26, 2015 9:47 PM, Marie P. Read  
wrote:
   

 I've seen Killdeer doing this and similar behaviors a number of times early in 
the breeding season. Sometimes in pairs, sometimes several birds together. My 
impression is that it has both territorial and  courtship components. 
Pairs do something similar during a "nest scrape display"...the male bows, 
spreading his tail and trills constantly when the pair is at one of the nest 
scrapes the male makes when the two are deciding on a nest site.
Here are a couple of photos of this behavior:

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Killdeer/Gu7AkHC8sfg8/IALsXWhF3uvM/CzQU3lDkq6SE

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Killdeer/Gu7AkHC8sfg8/I6rJaalHoVTk/CzQU3lDkq6SE

Cool observation!
Marie


Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

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

http://www.marieread.com

Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake Basin    Available here:

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE

From: bounce-118984747-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-118984747-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Lauren Flesher 
[superduperw...@aim.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2015 11:38 AM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer Courtship at Myers

This morning at Myers Point, the group I was with observed two Killdeer 
engaging in what we assumed was a courtship ritual.  They stood on the log at 
the end of the gravel parking lot, back to back, with tails raised high, and 
backed into each other until tails were close to touching.  They then began 
imitating each other, with flicks and dips.  The whole time they were calling 
constantly, so that it sounds like one continuous trill.  No one in our group 
had ever seen the likes of it before, or heard of it.  Unfortunately we had to 
leave before seeing the end of this display, but my curiosity was piqued.

I came home and checked on Birds of North America for more information, and 
found nothing except a small reference to the 1967 paper "Prenuptial courtship 
in wintering shorebirds" by J.B. Funderburg.  Google searching this paper lead 
me to a website describing the ground courtship displays of Killdeer.  I find 
it quite interesting, so I thought I'd share it with you all!

Found on the website birdsbybent.com.  A 1929 bulletin - 146 (part 2: 202-217) 
- written by Arthur Cleveland Bent for the Smithsonian National Museum.

"The most noticeable courtship performances of the killdeer are those that take 
place in the air--the nuptial flight--but those that occur on the ground, 
although less often seen, are also spectacular. Aretas Saunders (1926) thus 
describes the display: Two birds would crouch side by side but facing in 
opposite directions. Then they would droop the tips of the wings so that they 
exposed the ochraceous patch of the lower back, spread the tail, and tip the 
breast forward, slowly lifting the wing tips till the came way above the back, 
but never covered it from view. All the while they kept up a continual call, 
the long-trilled note 't-r-r-r-r-r.' The displaying birds would often begin 
the performance or end it with a little fighting."

Try as I might, I couldn't find the original Saunders source.  Have any of you 
witnessed this behavior before?

Happy birding!

Lauren
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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer Courtship at Myers

[Marie P. Read]

I've seen Killdeer doing this and similar behaviors a number of times early in 
the breeding season. Sometimes in pairs, sometimes several birds together. My 
impression is that it has both territorial and  courtship components. 
Pairs do something similar during a "nest scrape display"...the male bows, 
spreading his tail and trills constantly when the pair is at one of the nest 
scrapes the male makes when the two are deciding on a nest site.
Here are a couple of photos of this behavior:

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Killdeer/Gu7AkHC8sfg8/IALsXWhF3uvM/CzQU3lDkq6SE

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Killdeer/Gu7AkHC8sfg8/I6rJaalHoVTk/CzQU3lDkq6SE

Cool observation!
Marie


Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

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

http://www.marieread.com

Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake BasinAvailable here:

http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/GNlCxX37uTzE/CBPFGij6nLfE

From: bounce-118984747-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-118984747-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Lauren Flesher 
[superduperw...@aim.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2015 11:38 AM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer Courtship at Myers

This morning at Myers Point, the group I was with observed two Killdeer 
engaging in what we assumed was a courtship ritual.  They stood on the log at 
the end of the gravel parking lot, back to back, with tails raised high, and 
backed into each other until tails were close to touching.  They then began 
imitating each other, with flicks and dips.  The whole time they were calling 
constantly, so that it sounds like one continuous trill.  No one in our group 
had ever seen the likes of it before, or heard of it.  Unfortunately we had to 
leave before seeing the end of this display, but my curiosity was piqued.

I came home and checked on Birds of North America for more information, and 
found nothing except a small reference to the 1967 paper "Prenuptial courtship 
in wintering shorebirds" by J.B. Funderburg.  Google searching this paper lead 
me to a website describing the ground courtship displays of Killdeer.  I find 
it quite interesting, so I thought I'd share it with you all!

Found on the website birdsbybent.com.  A 1929 bulletin - 146 (part 2: 202-217) 
- written by Arthur Cleveland Bent for the Smithsonian National Museum.

"The most noticeable courtship performances of the killdeer are those that take 
place in the air--the nuptial flight--but those that occur on the ground, 
although less often seen, are also spectacular. Aretas Saunders (1926) thus 
describes the display: Two birds would crouch side by side but facing in 
opposite directions. Then they would droop the tips of the wings so that they 
exposed the ochraceous patch of the lower back, spread the tail, and tip the 
breast forward, slowly lifting the wing tips till the came way above the back, 
but never covered it from view. All the while they kept up a continual call, 
the long-trilled note 't-r-r-r-r-r.' The displaying birds would often begin 
the performance or end it with a little fighting."

Try as I might, I couldn't find the original Saunders source.  Have any of you 
witnessed this behavior before?

Happy birding!

Lauren
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Killdeer

[Daniel Graham]

Flyover Killdeer here in Tburg south of Taughannock just now.

On 3/10/15, Birding  wrote:
> Flyover Killdeer at aurora boathouse. Calling. Guessing it was scared off
> the spit by flyover Bald Eagle.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] killdeer

[John Confer]

Killdeer must have been on the move. I saw 11 Killdeer in half a mile 
along flooded fields on Flatiron Rd., Caroline just before it turned 
bitter cold with snow. I wonder how many survived.

John Confer

On 3/12/2014 6:53 PM, cl...@juno.com wrote:
> *Cayugabirds-L List Info:*


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Re: [cayugabirds-l] KILLDEER

[Pelkie Chris]

If he starts licking his lips, close your blinds!

On 20120308, at 14:24 , Meena Haribal wrote:

> A killdeer just flew over my office window! Also a Turkey Vulture has been 
> hanging here often, he almost looks like as if he was looking into the office!
>  
>  
> Meena 
>  
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__

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


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