Hello Cayuga Birders
Please join us at *7:30 on March 17* for the next Monday Night Seminar at the Lab of Ornithology <http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1573>. As always, these seminars are free and open to the public. The doors open at 7:00. This coming Monday, we will be streaming the seminar live. Be sure to bookmark http://dl.allaboutbirds.org/cornelllab-monday-night-seminars for quick access on Monday evening. And if you missed them, you can also watch the archived versions <http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1579> of the previous live-streamed lectures. Thanks for spreading the word--hope to see you there! Marc Devokaitis Cornell Lab of Ornithology *Tom Stephenson, author; Scott Whittle, photographer The Warbler Guide: The Overlooked ID Points that Make Identifying Warblers Easy Host: Mike Webster* Birder and author Tom Stephenson and photographer Scott Whittle will describe important but often overlooked ID clues for colorful and sometimes elusive warblers: overall contrast, subtle facial features, color impressions, feather edging, rump contrast, as well as foraging style, location, and behavior. Even viewing a warbler from below can reveal identity clues for many species. Stephenson and Whittle will also address some of the most challenging species to identify, compare them to similar species, and illustrate how even partial views can be used to identify warbler species. *Stephenson's and Whittle's book, The Warbler Guide, published by Princeton University Press, will be available for purchase and signing. * *UPCOMING MONDAY NIGHT SEMINARS* *March 24 Sara Kaiser, Cornell Lab Unraveling the Mysteries of Songbird Mating Systems* *Host: TBA *Sara Kaiser is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. She'll discuss how habitat quality affects where and how often the seemingly monogamous Black-throated Blue Warbler mates outside its pair bond. Most male Black-throated Blue Warblers are "socially monogamous," meaning they are mated to a single female. However, all is not as it appears: up to 50% of Black-throated Blue Warbler nests have young sired by a male that is not the territory holder. Sara has been studying the mating system of these warblers in the hardwood forests of New Hampshire. *March 31 Margaret Barker, Elissa Wolfson, Chris Willett Building, Placing, and Maintaining Great Homes for Great Birds Host: Robyn Bailey *Join authors Margaret Barker and Elissa Wolfson, along with woodworker Chris Willett as they share what they learned--and built--while writing and researching the Audubon Birdhouse Book (Voyageur Press, 2013). Find out how to build for birds that take up residence within birdhouses--including Wood Ducks, kestrels, and of course, bluebirds--as well as those such as Great Blue Herons, Ospreys, and loons that nest "outside the box." We'll explore the reasons behind birdhouse building, especially where natural habitat is scarce, the latest design innovations, and how people everywhere are helping birds by providing them with safe homes. *April 7 Taza Schaming, PhD candidate; Cornell Lab of Ornithology Clark's Nutcrackers: Pivotal Players in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Host: TBA* Whitebark pine and Clark's Nutcrackers have a fascinating relationship. The trees provide the birds with rich, fatty seeds that have more calories per pound than chocolate. In return, the nutcrackers "plant" the seeds that grow whitebark pines as well as 10 other conifer species--trees needed to provide food for wildlife and to helping retain snow (and thus drinking water) on the upper slopes of the Rockies. Schaming will also provide insights into the social behavior of the Clark's Nutcracker. *April 14 Cayuga Bird Club Meeting Dr. John L. Confer, Biology Department, Ithaca College Saw-whet Owls: The Cute Factor Aids Science: 206,000 Birds Banded by Insomniac Banders Reveal Migration Patterns and Regional Reproductive Success* The Northern Saw-whet Owl is widely distributed and an intensive banding effort provides a data trove for this tiny raptor. Banding records combined with GIS analyses reveal exceptional detail about migration patterns in eastern and central North America which allows us to analyze temporal/spatial patterns of reproductive success for breeding populations in different portions of North America. * April 21 Anne B. Clark, Binghamton University; Kevin McGowan, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; To Know the Crow: Insights and stories from a quarter century of crow study Host: TBA* American crows have followed us into our suburban and urban neighborhoods, making them one of our most familiar birds. But they have socially intricate lives, with more complex goals than converging at your local dumpster--in fact, socially, they are probably more like us than any primate. Ithaca is home to the longest running study of marked American crows anywhere: it is now 26 years since Kevin first began banding them. Kevin and Anne will tell some of their stories, including tales of family values and treachery, stay-at-homes and travelers, dynasties and disease. * April 28 Alfonso Aguirre Muñoz, Director, Grupo de Ecología y Conservación de Islas Restoration of Mexican Islands and Conservation of Birds Host: Eduardo Iñigo-Elias* The Mexican islands are among the most valuable natural ecosystems. While well preserved, invasive mammals have been a big threat to its biodiversity, even causing the extinction of some island species. In response, Mexico has eradicated 56 populations of invasive mammals from 36 islands, protecting 147 endemic species of mammals, reptiles, birds and plants. In addition, 227 colonies of seabirds have been protected. The eradication of invasive mammals from the approximately 40 remaining islands is a strategic goal achievable by 2025, thanks to the collaboration of local communities, federal government agencies, academic institutions, and NGOs, as well as national and international donors and funds. * May 12 Cayuga Bird Club Meeting Mia Boynton PhD, granddaughter of Louis Fuertes and independent writer Fuertes Revisited: A Bird Artist in His Setting *Mia Boynton, a granddaughter of Louis Fuertes and an independent writer, will talk about the research she has done for her recently completed biography of Louis Agassiz Fuertes, *Fuertes Revisited: A Bird Artist in his Setting*. Topics covered will include business realities of being a bird artist in the early 20th century, sources of inspiration for Fuertes, sources of difficulty, and the ways in which he survived. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. This seminar is one event in a series of events commemorating and celebrating the Cayuga Bird Club's 100 year anniversary *Seminars are held at 7:30* *p.m. in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Visitor Center auditorium except on night indicated as Cayuga Bird Club meetings, with club business at 7:30 p.m., followed by the seminar. Doors open at 7:00 and close when the auditorium is filled. Seminars are free and open to the public. * -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
