Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Jody Enck]

Hi All,

My perception of spring migration is about the same as Chris' description.
Migration of neotropical migrants almost never happened.  Because of
helping out with the Sapsucker Woods Acoustic Monitoring Project (SWAMP)
this spring, I have spent a lot of time in Sapsucker Woods this spring.
Between the beginning of April and mid June, I've submitted more than 900
ebird lists from 10 points there.  Both diversity and abundance of present
species is way, way down from what I have experienced in previous years.  I
too hope that the change can be explained away by weather.  But, I fear
that it could be something much more serious that is at play.

Jody

On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 9:52 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <
c...@cornell.edu> wrote:

> Everyone,
>
> Just pointing out the obvious here, but bird numbers in my immediate area
> of Upstate NY are way down this year. I mean, *WAY* down. John, if you
> have full capacity of nesting Tree Swallows, it may be that the sites you
> host are prime and being filled to capacity because they *are* the best
> locations. It sounds to me like the sub-par sites are not being filled.
>
> Acoustically, birds are seriously lacking this year. Visually, birds are
> lacking this year. Birding at the Hawthorn Orchard was a disaster, yet
> there was food and everything was primed to receive birds. Regular numbers
> of expected birds were hugely lacking. What happened to the Tennessee
> Warblers and Blackpoll Warblers? I think I recorded something like three
> Tennessee Warblers at most on one day at the Hawthorn Orchard, then they
> were just done. Blackpoll Warblers…you were lucky to see or hear a single
> bird this spring. Blackpoll Warblers used to come through here in droves –
> just driving around, you would pass singing Blackpoll Warbler after
> Blackpoll Warbler, during their peak migration through this area. Remember?
> When all of those Blackpoll Warblers came through, that marked the “end” of
> that spring migration – the cleanup species – this simply didn’t happen.
>
> In overflow areas, where habitat may not be the best, or is sub-par, and
> which normally fills in because the best habitats are already taken by
> other birds, the birds simply are not there.
>
> Yellow Warblers, everywhere? Nope.
> Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, everywhere? Nope.
> Baltimore Orioles, everywhere? Nope.
> Red-eyed Vireos, everywhere? Nope.
> Chipping Sparrows, everywhere? Nope.
> Common birds absolutely everywhere? Nope.
>
> I’m just talking about the regular comings and goings of my own personal
> activities of driving around, walking in and out of buildings, coming and
> going from home, work, shopping, etc. I’m just not seeing or hearing the
> abundance of birds that I’m used to seeing or hearing. It just seems deadly
> quiet this year, if you look at the whole picture – the gestalt of bird
> abundance this year.
>
> Sure, prime habitats may seem to have the “regular” volumes of birds, but
> the sub-par habitats are seemingly empty.
>
> If there is not a rock solid explanation for this, then this is a red flag
> in my opinion.
>
> Perhaps the most logical cause is weather-related.
>
> If this is not the case, then we’ve got something far more detrimental
> going on, at least in the Northeast.
>
> Hope I’m wrong.
>
> Sincerely,
> Chris T-H
>
> On Jun 17, 2017, at 9:00 AM, k...@empacc.net wrote:
>
> We have 17 boxes active, one with bluebirds, two with House Wren, a one
> with chickadees and the remainder with Tree Swallows. Probably another good
> year after a 100% occupancy/success rate last year. We believe this is due
> to effective placement and predator guards that function well. john
>
> ---
> John and Sue Gregoire
> Field Ornithologists
> Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory
> 5373 Fitzgerald Rd
> Burdett, NY 14818
> 42.443508000, -76.758202000
>
> On 2017-06-17 12:40, Glenn Wilson wrote:
>
> We usually have a dozen or so flying and nesting until mid summer. I
> haven't seen a single one since early swallow migration.
>
> Glenn Wilson
> Endicott, NY
> www.WilsonsWarbler.com 
>
> On Jun 17, 2017, at 8:34 AM, John and Fritzie Blizzard <
> job121...@verizon.net> wrote:
>
> We've had one nesting pr. with 5 young expected to fledge in 11 days.
> Usually have at least 3 pr. with many others flying about. Not so this yr..
> Same with barn swallows. For the last 2 yrs. we've not had more than a doz.
> of either lining up on our power line in late summer before migration. Used
> to be many, many dozens. :'(
>
> The 100 acres behind us were mowed on Wed.. I didn't see a swallow. Same
> when the school lawns are being mowed. Always before the birds were
> swooping overhead in great numbers to get insects. We no longer see those
> many insects.
>
> Rachel Carson ... we need you again to lead a new fight.
>
> Fritzie Blizzard
>
> Union Springs
>
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
> 

Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Regi Teasley]

I have always felt that birders, from casual to die-hard, number in the 
millions and comprise a  group of potentially influential activists. 
 I would love to see an organization, or even discussion thread dedicated to 
furthering the convergence of birding and environmental activism.  While I know 
many birders are environmentalists, the groups have been relatively separate.  
Linking these would be powerful and creative!

IMHO We are all in a heap of trouble and we are running out of time to save our 
biosphere.

Meanwhile, hats off to those who are engaged in restoration and/or creating 
birding habitat.

BTW I study people, not birds.  ‍‍
Regi

"Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, 
you will perceive the divine mystery in things."  Dostoyevsky.


> On Jun 17, 2017, at 11:20 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes 
>  wrote:
> 
> Oh, yeah. I forgot about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. I remember when we used 
> to have them in the Northeast. They used to be a really common and cheerful 
> species of the summer. People used to put out these feeders filled with 
> sugar-water to attract them to their house for viewing pleasure. They were 
> these super tiny birds, about the size of a very large bee, and used to hover 
> from flower to flower feeding on nectar, and would glean insects from spider 
> webs from under the eaves of our house.
> 
> I’m obviously being facetious, but I’m greatly concerned that we are now 
> beginning to visibly see the effects of the greatest environmental 
> catastrophe since the fifth mass extinction – and this one being entirely 
> caused by human activity. Are we seeing the death of the canaries in the coal 
> mine? Is this finally becoming more visible and working it’s way up the food 
> chain? I haven’t seen a single fly-by Ruby-throated Hummingbird or heard any 
> chittery territorial calls from them this season.
> 
> Past few summers, insect numbers have been WAY down. Remember those longer 
> road trips across country, or just after a road trip for a few hours? My 
> windshield would get smattered solid with insect splatter – not so much any 
> more.
> 
> I’m concerned that we are all becoming complacent with these changes, and 
> accepting them as the “new norm”. This isn’t normal, this is a huge red flag, 
> and something should be done about it – the question is: what?
> 
> Party-pooper,
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
> On Jun 17, 2017, at 10:54 AM, Alicia Plotkin  wrote:
> 
> Thank you for sending this - it is exactly my experience & my concern.  I 
> don't worry quite so much about migration, which can skip over us easily due 
> to weather patterns.  In fact there was an odd weather pattern in late April 
> that seemed to sling a lot of 'my' warblers up to the coast of Maine where 
> the fallout was welcomed with delight and surprise. 
> 
> However the lack of nesters anywhere but prime habitat is far more worrisome, 
> especially without any readily identifiable weather event to explain it.  
> It's deeply concerning and I have wondered why no one is talking about it.  
> Thank you for bringing it up!
> 
> Alicia
> 
> P.S.  You left off hummingbirds, which are non-existent or in very low 
> numbers for everyone I know, both folks with feeders and people like me whose 
> plantings are tailored to their tastes.  I have not seen a single one in my 
> yard yet.  This is hard to believe, our habitat is pretty prime: we live in a 
> large clearing in the woods that is filled with wildflowers, additional 
> hummingbird-favored plants we have added, plenty of water, trees with perfect 
> forks for their nests (based on their past preference), and a neighbor who 
> puts fresh nectar in her feeder every day.
> 
>> On 6/17/2017 9:52 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes wrote:
>> Everyone, 
>> 
>> Just pointing out the obvious here, but bird numbers in my immediate area of 
>> Upstate NY are way down this year. I mean, WAY down. John, if you have full 
>> capacity of nesting Tree Swallows, it may be that the sites you host are 
>> prime and being filled to capacity because they are the best locations. It 
>> sounds to me like the sub-par sites are not being filled.
>> 
>> Acoustically, birds are seriously lacking this year. Visually, birds are 
>> lacking this year. Birding at the Hawthorn Orchard was a disaster, yet there 
>> was food and everything was primed to receive birds. Regular numbers of 
>> expected birds were hugely lacking. What happened to the Tennessee Warblers 
>> and Blackpoll Warblers? I think I recorded something like three Tennessee 
>> Warblers at most on one day at the Hawthorn Orchard, then they were just 
>> done. Blackpoll Warblers…you were lucky to see or hear a single bird this 
>> spring. Blackpoll Warblers used to come through here in droves – just 
>> driving around, you would pass singing Blackpoll Warbler after Blackpoll 
>> Warbler, during their peak migration through this area. 

Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Nancy Cusumano]

We are kayaker, and there are plenty of birds along the rivers. Yellow 
warblers, Baltimore orioles and especially cedar waxwings.
Around our house, same as others are reporting.

Nancy Cusumano

Cayuga Dog Rescue has saved more than 525! dogs since 2005!
Learn more at cayugadogrescue.org


Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 17, 2017, at 11:32 AM, Terry P. Mingle  wrote:
> 
> We have a TON of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at camp (Forest Lake Campground, 
> in Truxton).  Not so many in Cortland (where we live).
> 
> Also I've seen almost all the usual suspects in Cortland this year (sans the 
> hummingbirds).
> 
> At camp, plenty of assorted swallows (Tree and Barn) Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 
> Scarlet Tanagers, and assorted warblers, along with our resident Barred Owl, 
> hawks, etc.
> 
> Oh, and insects, too.  (Which I guess, is good AND bad…. could sure do 
> without the flies and mosquitoes!)
> 
> Hoping to re-energize the "party"….   :-D
> 
> --Terry
> 
> =
> 
>> On Jun 17, 2017 , at 11:20 AM, "Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes" 
>>  wrote:
>> 
>> Oh, yeah. I forgot about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. I remember when we used 
>> to have them in the Northeast. They used to be a really common and cheerful 
>> species of the summer. People used to put out these feeders filled with 
>> sugar-water to attract them to their house for viewing pleasure. They were 
>> these super tiny birds, about the size of a very large bee, and used to 
>> hover from flower to flower feeding on nectar, and would glean insects from 
>> spider webs from under the eaves of our house.
>> 
>> I’m obviously being facetious, but I’m greatly concerned that we are now 
>> beginning to visibly see the effects of the greatest environmental 
>> catastrophe since the fifth mass extinction – and this one being entirely 
>> caused by human activity. Are we seeing the death of the canaries in the 
>> coal mine? Is this finally becoming more visible and working it’s way up the 
>> food chain? I haven’t seen a single fly-by Ruby-throated Hummingbird or 
>> heard any chittery territorial calls from them this season.
>> 
>> Past few summers, insect numbers have been WAY down. Remember those longer 
>> road trips across country, or just after a road trip for a few hours? My 
>> windshield would get smattered solid with insect splatter – not so much any 
>> more.
>> 
>> I’m concerned that we are all becoming complacent with these changes, and 
>> accepting them as the “new norm”. This isn’t normal, this is a huge red 
>> flag, and something should be done about it – the question is: what?
>> 
>> Party-pooper,
>> Chris
> 
> --
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Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes]

Exactly, Terry. The issue is that the birds are in the prime habitat (such as 
at your campsite) but they are not as prevalent in the sub-prime habitat or 
traditional backyard habitat…

Thanks for trying… :-)

Sincerely,
Chris



On Jun 17, 2017, at 11:32 AM, Terry P. Mingle 
> wrote:

We have a TON of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at camp (Forest Lake Campground, in 
Truxton).  Not so many in Cortland (where we 
live).

Also I've seen almost all the usual suspects in Cortland this year (sans the 
hummingbirds).

At camp, plenty of assorted swallows (Tree and Barn) Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 
Scarlet Tanagers, and assorted warblers, along with our resident Barred Owl, 
hawks, etc.

Oh, and insects, too.  (Which I guess, is good AND bad…. could sure do without 
the flies and mosquitoes!)

Hoping to re-energize the "party"….   :-D

--Terry

=

On Jun 17, 2017 , at 11:20 AM, "Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes" 
> wrote:

Oh, yeah. I forgot about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. I remember when we used to 
have them in the Northeast. They used to be a really common and cheerful 
species of the summer. People used to put out these feeders filled with 
sugar-water to attract them to their house for viewing pleasure. They were 
these super tiny birds, about the size of a very large bee, and used to hover 
from flower to flower feeding on nectar, and would glean insects from spider 
webs from under the eaves of our house.

I’m obviously being facetious, but I’m greatly concerned that we are now 
beginning to visibly see the effects of the greatest environmental catastrophe 
since the fifth mass extinction – and this one being entirely caused by human 
activity. Are we seeing the death of the canaries in the coal mine? Is this 
finally becoming more visible and working it’s way up the food chain? I haven’t 
seen a single fly-by Ruby-throated Hummingbird or heard any chittery 
territorial calls from them this season.

Past few summers, insect numbers have been WAY down. Remember those longer road 
trips across country, or just after a road trip for a few hours? My windshield 
would get smattered solid with insect splatter – not so much any more.

I’m concerned that we are all becoming complacent with these changes, and 
accepting them as the “new norm”. This isn’t normal, this is a huge red flag, 
and something should be done about it – the question is: what?

Party-pooper,
Chris

--
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Rules and Information
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Leave
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Archive
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--
Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes
Field Applications Engineer
Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850
W: 607-254-2418   M: 607-351-5740   F: 
607-254-1132
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp


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Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Carol Schmitt]

 These reports are very worrisome. Fortunately, this year we have a fairly 
usual supply of Hummers, Tree Swallows and other named species at our cottage 
(near Long Point).
But -- remember at night when moths used to flutter at windows in great 
numbers?  When did you last see that?
At least the lightning bugs are are still creating a fairyland at night.
Carol S.

 -Original Message-
From: Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes <c...@cornell.edu>
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L <cayugabird...@list.cornell.edu>
Cc: Alicia Plotkin <t...@fltg.net>
Sent: Sat, Jun 17, 2017 11:20 am
Subject: Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow


Oh, yeah. I forgot about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. I remember when we used to 
have them in the Northeast. They used to be a really common and cheerful 
species of the summer. People used to put out these feeders filled with 
sugar-water to attract them to their house for viewing pleasure. They were 
these super tiny birds, about the size of a very large bee, and used to hover 
from flower to flower feeding on nectar, and would glean insects from spider 
webs from under the eaves of our house.


I’m obviously being facetious, but I’m greatly concerned that we are now 
beginning to visibly see the effects of the greatest environmental catastrophe 
since the fifth mass extinction – and this one being entirely caused by human 
activity. Are we seeing the death of the canaries in the coal mine? Is this 
finally becoming more visible and working it’s way up the food chain? I haven’t 
seen a single fly-by Ruby-throated Hummingbird or heard any chittery 
territorial calls from them this season.


Past few summers, insect numbers have been WAY down. Remember those longer road 
trips across country, or just after a road trip for a few hours? My windshield 
would get smattered solid with insect splatter – not so much any more.



I’m concerned that we are all becoming complacent with these changes, and 
accepting them as the “new norm”. This isn’t normal, this is a huge red flag, 
and something should be done about it – the question is: what?


Party-pooper,
Chris






On Jun 17, 2017, at 10:54 AM, Alicia Plotkin <t...@fltg.net> wrote:


Thank you for sending this - it is exactly my experience & my concern.  I don't 
worry quite so much about migration, which can skip over us easily due to 
weather patterns.  In fact there was an odd weather pattern in late April that 
seemed to sling a lot of 'my' warblers up to the coast of Maine where the 
fallout was welcomed with delight and surprise.

However the lack of nesters anywhere but prime habitat is far more worrisome, 
especially without any readily identifiable weather event to explain it.  It's 
deeply concerning and I have wondered why no one is talking about it.  Thank 
you for bringing it up!

Alicia

P.S.  You left off hummingbirds, which are non-existent or in very low numbers 
for everyone I know, both folks with feeders and people like me whose plantings 
are tailored to their tastes. I have not seen a single one in my yard yet.  
This is hard to believe, our habitat is pretty prime: we live in a large 
clearing in the woods that is filled with wildflowers, additional 
hummingbird-favored plants we have added, plenty of water, trees with perfect 
forks for their nests (based on their past preference), and a neighbor who puts 
fresh nectar in her feeder every day.


On 6/17/2017 9:52 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes wrote:

Everyone, 


Just pointing out the obvious here, but bird numbers in my immediate area of 
Upstate NY are way down this year. I mean,WAY down. John, if you have full 
capacity of nesting Tree Swallows, it may be that the sites you host are prime 
and being filled to capacity because theyare the best locations. It sounds to 
me like the sub-par sites are not being filled.


Acoustically, birds are seriously lacking this year. Visually, birds are 
lacking this year. Birding at the Hawthorn Orchard was a disaster, yet there 
was food and everything was primed to receive birds. Regular numbers of 
expected birds were hugely lacking. What happened to the Tennessee Warblers and 
Blackpoll Warblers? I think I recorded something like three Tennessee Warblers 
at most on one day at the Hawthorn Orchard, then they were just done. Blackpoll 
Warblers…you were lucky to see or hear a single bird this spring. Blackpoll 
Warblers used to come through here in droves – just driving around, you would 
pass singing Blackpoll Warbler after Blackpoll Warbler, during their peak 
migration through this area. Remember? When all of those Blackpoll Warblers 
came through, that marked the “end” of that spring migration – the cleanup 
species – this simply didn’t happen.


In overflow areas, where habitat may not be the best, or is sub-par, and which 
normally fills in because the best habitats are already taken by other birds, 
the birds simply are not there.


Yellow Warblers, everywhere? Nope.
Rose-breasted

Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Terry P. Mingle]

We have a TON of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at camp (Forest Lake Campground, in 
Truxton).  Not so many in Cortland (where we live).

Also I've seen almost all the usual suspects in Cortland this year (sans the 
hummingbirds).

At camp, plenty of assorted swallows (Tree and Barn) Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 
Scarlet Tanagers, and assorted warblers, along with our resident Barred Owl, 
hawks, etc.

Oh, and insects, too.  (Which I guess, is good AND bad…. could sure do without 
the flies and mosquitoes!)

Hoping to re-energize the "party"….   :-D

--Terry

=

On Jun 17, 2017 , at 11:20 AM, "Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes" 
 wrote:

> Oh, yeah. I forgot about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. I remember when we used 
> to have them in the Northeast. They used to be a really common and cheerful 
> species of the summer. People used to put out these feeders filled with 
> sugar-water to attract them to their house for viewing pleasure. They were 
> these super tiny birds, about the size of a very large bee, and used to hover 
> from flower to flower feeding on nectar, and would glean insects from spider 
> webs from under the eaves of our house.
> 
> I’m obviously being facetious, but I’m greatly concerned that we are now 
> beginning to visibly see the effects of the greatest environmental 
> catastrophe since the fifth mass extinction – and this one being entirely 
> caused by human activity. Are we seeing the death of the canaries in the coal 
> mine? Is this finally becoming more visible and working it’s way up the food 
> chain? I haven’t seen a single fly-by Ruby-throated Hummingbird or heard any 
> chittery territorial calls from them this season.
> 
> Past few summers, insect numbers have been WAY down. Remember those longer 
> road trips across country, or just after a road trip for a few hours? My 
> windshield would get smattered solid with insect splatter – not so much any 
> more.
> 
> I’m concerned that we are all becoming complacent with these changes, and 
> accepting them as the “new norm”. This isn’t normal, this is a huge red flag, 
> and something should be done about it – the question is: what?
> 
> Party-pooper,
> Chris


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Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes]

Oh, yeah. I forgot about Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. I remember when we used to 
have them in the Northeast. They used to be a really common and cheerful 
species of the summer. People used to put out these feeders filled with 
sugar-water to attract them to their house for viewing pleasure. They were 
these super tiny birds, about the size of a very large bee, and used to hover 
from flower to flower feeding on nectar, and would glean insects from spider 
webs from under the eaves of our house.

I’m obviously being facetious, but I’m greatly concerned that we are now 
beginning to visibly see the effects of the greatest environmental catastrophe 
since the fifth mass extinction – and this one being entirely caused by human 
activity. Are we seeing the death of the canaries in the coal mine? Is this 
finally becoming more visible and working it’s way up the food chain? I haven’t 
seen a single fly-by Ruby-throated Hummingbird or heard any chittery 
territorial calls from them this season.

Past few summers, insect numbers have been WAY down. Remember those longer road 
trips across country, or just after a road trip for a few hours? My windshield 
would get smattered solid with insect splatter – not so much any more.

I’m concerned that we are all becoming complacent with these changes, and 
accepting them as the “new norm”. This isn’t normal, this is a huge red flag, 
and something should be done about it – the question is: what?

Party-pooper,
Chris



On Jun 17, 2017, at 10:54 AM, Alicia Plotkin 
> wrote:

Thank you for sending this - it is exactly my experience & my concern.  I don't 
worry quite so much about migration, which can skip over us easily due to 
weather patterns.  In fact there was an odd weather pattern in late April that 
seemed to sling a lot of 'my' warblers up to the coast of Maine where the 
fallout was welcomed with delight and surprise.

However the lack of nesters anywhere but prime habitat is far more worrisome, 
especially without any readily identifiable weather event to explain it.  It's 
deeply concerning and I have wondered why no one is talking about it.  Thank 
you for bringing it up!

Alicia

P.S.  You left off hummingbirds, which are non-existent or in very low numbers 
for everyone I know, both folks with feeders and people like me whose plantings 
are tailored to their tastes.  I have not seen a single one in my yard yet.  
This is hard to believe, our habitat is pretty prime: we live in a large 
clearing in the woods that is filled with wildflowers, additional 
hummingbird-favored plants we have added, plenty of water, trees with perfect 
forks for their nests (based on their past preference), and a neighbor who puts 
fresh nectar in her feeder every day.

On 6/17/2017 9:52 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes wrote:
Everyone,

Just pointing out the obvious here, but bird numbers in my immediate area of 
Upstate NY are way down this year. I mean, WAY down. John, if you have full 
capacity of nesting Tree Swallows, it may be that the sites you host are prime 
and being filled to capacity because they are the best locations. It sounds to 
me like the sub-par sites are not being filled.

Acoustically, birds are seriously lacking this year. Visually, birds are 
lacking this year. Birding at the Hawthorn Orchard was a disaster, yet there 
was food and everything was primed to receive birds. Regular numbers of 
expected birds were hugely lacking. What happened to the Tennessee Warblers and 
Blackpoll Warblers? I think I recorded something like three Tennessee Warblers 
at most on one day at the Hawthorn Orchard, then they were just done. Blackpoll 
Warblers…you were lucky to see or hear a single bird this spring. Blackpoll 
Warblers used to come through here in droves – just driving around, you would 
pass singing Blackpoll Warbler after Blackpoll Warbler, during their peak 
migration through this area. Remember? When all of those Blackpoll Warblers 
came through, that marked the “end” of that spring migration – the cleanup 
species – this simply didn’t happen.

In overflow areas, where habitat may not be the best, or is sub-par, and which 
normally fills in because the best habitats are already taken by other birds, 
the birds simply are not there.

Yellow Warblers, everywhere? Nope.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, everywhere? Nope.
Baltimore Orioles, everywhere? Nope.
Red-eyed Vireos, everywhere? Nope.
Chipping Sparrows, everywhere? Nope.
Common birds absolutely everywhere? Nope.

I’m just talking about the regular comings and goings of my own personal 
activities of driving around, walking in and out of buildings, coming and going 
from home, work, shopping, etc. I’m just not seeing or hearing the abundance of 
birds that I’m used to seeing or hearing. It just seems deadly quiet this year, 
if you look at the whole picture – the gestalt of bird abundance this year.

Sure, prime habitats may seem to have the “regular” volumes of birds, but the 

Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[Alicia Plotkin]

Thank you for sending this - it is exactly my experience & my concern.  
I don't worry quite so much about migration, which can skip over us 
easily due to weather patterns.  In fact there was an odd weather 
pattern in late April that seemed to sling a lot of 'my' warblers up to 
the coast of Maine where the fallout was welcomed with delight and 
surprise.

However the lack of nesters anywhere but prime habitat is far more 
worrisome, especially without any readily identifiable weather event to 
explain it.  It's deeply concerning and I have wondered why no one is 
talking about it.  Thank you for bringing it up!

Alicia

P.S.  You left off hummingbirds, which are non-existent or in very low 
numbers for everyone I know, both folks with feeders and people like me 
whose plantings are tailored to their tastes. /I have not seen a single 
one in my yard yet. /This is hard to believe, our habitat is pretty 
prime: we live in a large clearing in the woods that is filled with 
wildflowers, additional hummingbird-favored plants we have added, plenty 
of water, trees with perfect forks for their nests (based on their past 
preference), and a neighbor who puts fresh nectar in her feeder every day.

On 6/17/2017 9:52 AM, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes wrote:
> Everyone,
>
> Just pointing out the obvious here, but bird numbers in my immediate 
> area of Upstate NY are way down this year. I mean, /WAY/ down. John, 
> if you have full capacity of nesting Tree Swallows, it may be that the 
> sites you host are prime and being filled to capacity because they 
> /are/ the best locations. It sounds to me like the sub-par sites are 
> not being filled.
>
> Acoustically, birds are seriously lacking this year. Visually, birds 
> are lacking this year. Birding at the Hawthorn Orchard was a disaster, 
> yet there was food and everything was primed to receive birds. Regular 
> numbers of expected birds were hugely lacking. What happened to the 
> Tennessee Warblers and Blackpoll Warblers? I think I recorded 
> something like three Tennessee Warblers at most on one day at the 
> Hawthorn Orchard, then they were just done. Blackpoll Warblers…you 
> were lucky to see or hear a single bird this spring. Blackpoll 
> Warblers used to come through here in droves – just driving around, 
> you would pass singing Blackpoll Warbler after Blackpoll Warbler, 
> during their peak migration through this area. Remember? When all of 
> those Blackpoll Warblers came through, that marked the “end” of that 
> spring migration – the cleanup species – this simply didn’t happen.
>
> In overflow areas, where habitat may not be the best, or is sub-par, 
> and which normally fills in because the best habitats are already 
> taken by other birds, the birds simply are not there.
>
> Yellow Warblers, everywhere? Nope.
> Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, everywhere? Nope.
> Baltimore Orioles, everywhere? Nope.
> Red-eyed Vireos, everywhere? Nope.
> Chipping Sparrows, everywhere? Nope.
> Common birds absolutely everywhere? Nope.
>
> I’m just talking about the regular comings and goings of my own 
> personal activities of driving around, walking in and out of 
> buildings, coming and going from home, work, shopping, etc. I’m just 
> not seeing or hearing the abundance of birds that I’m used to seeing 
> or hearing. It just seems deadly quiet this year, if you look at the 
> whole picture – the gestalt of bird abundance this year.
>
> Sure, prime habitats may seem to have the “regular” volumes of birds, 
> but the sub-par habitats are seemingly empty.
>
> If there is not a rock solid explanation for this, then this is a red 
> flag in my opinion.
>
> Perhaps the most logical cause is weather-related.
>
> If this is not the case, then we’ve got something far more detrimental 
> going on, at least in the Northeast.
>
> Hope I’m wrong.
>
> Sincerely,
> Chris T-H
>
> On Jun 17, 2017, at 9:00 AM, k...@empacc.net  
> wrote:
>
> We have 17 boxes active, one with bluebirds, two with House Wren, a 
> one with chickadees and the remainder with Tree Swallows. Probably 
> another good year after a 100% occupancy/success rate last year. We 
> believe this is due to effective placement and predator guards that 
> function well. john
>
>
> ---
> John and Sue Gregoire
> Field Ornithologists
> Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory
> 5373 Fitzgerald Rd
> Burdett, NY 14818
> 42.443508000, -76.758202000
>
> On 2017-06-17 12:40, Glenn Wilson wrote:
>
>> We usually have a dozen or so flying and nesting until mid summer. I 
>> haven't seen a single one since early swallow migration.
>>
>> Glenn Wilson
>> Endicott, NY
>> www.WilsonsWarbler.com 
>>
>> On Jun 17, 2017, at 8:34 AM, John and Fritzie Blizzard 
>> > wrote:
>>
>> We've had one nesting pr. with 5 young expected to fledge in 11 days. 
>> Usually have at least 3 pr. with many others flying about. Not so 
>> this yr.. Same with 

Re: No birds - Re: [cayugabirds-l] Tree swallow

[khmo]

Chris et al, 

I appreciate your comments and fully agree. We are blessed that after 31
years the restoration work to the sanctuary here has really come to
fruition. The creation of multiple water features and habitat niches has
proven very successful as has design/placement of nest boxes. The
elimination of people traffic from the sanctuary of a conservation
easement has also been of benefit to the wildlife. 

That said, we have also experienced this crazy spring "pattern". We've
been studying the timing and routing of migration for the three decades
we've worked here and are as flummoxed as everyone else. 

Some considerations. First weather favored a stop south of us and at
times an overflight as shown by the arrival of species in Ontario well
ahead of our area. Early and profuse blooming favored nectaring species
to either stay south or come late. The local landscape view has changed
radically and rapidly with the growth of agribusiness dairies, removal
of hedgerows and even woodlots, that added to all the other man induced
migration hazards of course! That same redo of farming methods has
extirpated many avian species in our area. Several sparrow and warbler
species are simply no longer here or about. 

For comparison: 

> Yellow Warblers, everywhere? Nope. abundant 
> Rose-breasted Grosbeak -Nope . abundant 
> Baltimore Orioles, everywhere? Nope. several 
> Red-eyed Vireos, everywhere? Nope. many heard -even in the dooryard 
> Chipping Sparrows, everywhere? Nope. a few pair but they go very sneaky 
> during nesting so we'll see once young fledge 
> Common birds absolutely everywhere? Nope. As above -several missing 
> 
> A final note and observation. Thirty years ago, bird life and song was 
> plentiful as was competition for habitat. I think we all agree that species 
> numbers have plummeted and this is quite observable in the paucity of 
> territorial competition and later song during nesting. Just isn't there these 
> days. 
> Best, 
> John

---
John and Sue Gregoire
Field Ornithologists
Kestrel Haven Migration Observatory
5373 Fitzgerald Rd
Burdett, NY 14818
42.443508000, -76.758202000 

On 2017-06-17 13:52, Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes wrote:

> Everyone,  
> 
> Just pointing out the obvious here, but bird numbers in my immediate area of 
> Upstate NY are way down this year. I mean, _WAY_ down. John, if you have full 
> capacity of nesting Tree Swallows, it may be that the sites you host are 
> prime and being filled to capacity because they _are_ the best locations. It 
> sounds to me like the sub-par sites are not being filled. 
> 
> Acoustically, birds are seriously lacking this year. Visually, birds are 
> lacking this year. Birding at the Hawthorn Orchard was a disaster, yet there 
> was food and everything was primed to receive birds. Regular numbers of 
> expected birds were hugely lacking. What happened to the Tennessee Warblers 
> and Blackpoll Warblers? I think I recorded something like three Tennessee 
> Warblers at most on one day at the Hawthorn Orchard, then they were just 
> done. Blackpoll Warblers...you were lucky to see or hear a single bird this 
> spring. Blackpoll Warblers used to come through here in droves - just driving 
> around, you would pass singing Blackpoll Warbler after Blackpoll Warbler, 
> during their peak migration through this area. Remember? When all of those 
> Blackpoll Warblers came through, that marked the "end" of that spring 
> migration - the cleanup species - this simply didn't happen. 
> 
> In overflow areas, where habitat may not be the best, or is sub-par, and 
> which normally fills in because the best habitats are already taken by other 
> birds, the birds simply are not there. 
> 
> Yellow Warblers, everywhere? Nope. 
> Rose-breasted Gro 
> Yellow Warblers, everywhere? Nope. 
> Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, everywhere? Nope. 
> Baltimore Orioles, everywhere? Nope. 
> Red-eyed sbeaks, everywhere? Nope. 
> Baltimore Orioles, everywhere? Nope. 
> Red-eyed Vireos, everywhere? Nope. 
> Chipping Sparrows, everywhere? Nope. 
> Common birds absolutely everywhere? Nope. 
> 
> I'm just talking about the regular comings and goings of my own personal 
> activities of driving around, walking in and out of buildings, coming and 
> going from home, work, shopping, etc. I'm just not seeing or hearing the 
> abundance of birds that I'm used to seeing or hearing. It just seems deadly 
> quiet this year, if you look at the whole picture - the gestalt of bird 
> abundance this year. 
> 
> Sure, prime habitats may seem to have the "regular" volumes of birds, but the 
> sub-par habitats are seemingly empty. 
> 
> If there is not a rock solid explanation for this, then this is a red flag in 
> my opinion. 
> 
> Perhaps the most logical cause is weather-related. 
> 
> If this is not the case, then we've got something far more detrimental going 
> on, at least in the Northeast. 
> 
> Hope I'm wrong. 
> 
> Sincerely, 
> Chris T-H 
> 
> On Jun 17, 2017, at 9:00 AM,