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17 Mar hummingbirds in NW Arkansas [Kimberly Smith ] 17 Mar Hummingbird migration map [Janine Perlman ] 17 Mar FW: 'Gracie" [Larry Witherspoon ] 17 Mar Millwood swallows [Charles Mills ] 17 Mar and the hooters are heard in the land [Kk Hart ] 17 Mar Birds in the black [Joe Neal ] 17 Mar INFO: Gracie [Larry Witherspoon ] 16 Mar Red Slough Bird Survey - March 16 [David Arbour ] 16 Mar FW: Upcoming bird ID workshop [Kimberly Smith ] 16 Mar Black-legged Kittiwake [Charles Mills ] 15 Mar Shorebirds at Punkin Center Road [Mitchell Pruitt ] 15 Mar Re: N Rough-winged Swallow [Jacque Brown ] 15 Mar ASCA March Field Trip Reminder [Karen Holliday ] 15 Mar Lake DeGray [Karen Holliday ] 15 Mar IP2 watching: Dardenelle & Holla B 3-13 [Joe Neal ] 15 Mar Letter from Lake Fayetteville [Hilary David Chapman ] 15 Mar Re: unintended binocular acceleration ["Popham, James T YD02 USAF AMC 19 CES/CEAN" ] 15 Mar Nature Center on Thursday [Mitchell Pruitt ] 14 Mar F.O.S.s [Adam Schaffer ] 14 Mar unintended binocular acceleration [Joe Neal ] 14 Mar swallows, shorebirds and Wood Ducks [Carol Joan Patterson ] 14 Mar Bald Knob Saturday [Beverly Sullivan ] 14 Mar N Rough-winged Swallow [Charles Mills ] 14 Mar SIGHTING: leucistic Red-winged Blackbird; Arkansas Co. [Tim Tyler ] 14 Mar Wind Birds - They're Back- TN-AR-MS ["Jeff R. Wilson" ] 13 Mar LINK: Trumpeter Swan Society Photo of the Month [Gail Miller ] 12 Mar Bell Slough [David Starrett ] 12 Mar RBA--Arkansas-March 12, 2010 [Warbling Vireo ] 12 Mar Shores Lake [Joe Neal ] 12 Mar NEW RED SLOUGH PHOTO GALLERIES NOW ONLINE! [David Arbour ] 11 Mar Rock Wren [Charles Mills ] 9 Mar Red Slough Bird Survey - Mar. 09 [David Arbour ] 9 Mar Sandhill Crane [Terry & Judy Butler ] 9 Mar Rock Wren [Charles Mills ] 9 Mar FOS - E Phoebe Nesting; Fish Crows [James Morgan ] 9 Mar Sounds of Spring [Sandy Berger ] 8 Mar Mute Swan-NO [Donna Haynes ] 8 Mar Ospreys 'fishing' [Barry Haas ] 8 Mar Openings for June 2010 AAS Halberg Ecology Camp- a great opportunity for 11- & 12-year old boys and girls [Barry Haas ] 8 Mar Re: Eastern Phoebe [Jacque Brown ] 8 Mar Baltimore Oriole at Fayetteville [Joe Neal ] 7 Mar Arboretum [Bill Thurman ] 7 Mar horned grebes at lake fayetteville, washington co. [Carol Joan Patterson ] 8 Mar birdboy@ntl.sympatico.ca [Bob Sargent ] 7 Mar Sightings: Images from this weekend [Jim Dixon ] 7 Mar American Golden-Plover [Allan Mueller ] 7 Mar Birds in Art [Bill Shepherd ] 7 Mar Sightings: Mute Swan on Arkansas River [Jim Dixon ] 7 Mar Sightings: Mute Swan on AR River [James Dixon ] 6 Mar Sightings: NW Arkansas - Wood Ducks; Presentation - Doug James [James Morgan ] 6 Mar Today at Craighead Forest and the Nature Center [Mitchell Pruitt ] 6 Mar SIGHTINGS: Lakes Dardanelle and Maumelle [Jim Dixon ] 6 Mar From the Associated Press: Energy groups relieved sage grouse won't be listed [Barry Haas ] 6 Mar Sightings: Southeast Arkansas [Dan Scheiman ] 6 Mar Ouachita County Yard Birds [Kelly Chitwood ] 5 Mar Eastern Phoebe [Carolyn Partain ] 5 Mar natural history list and some bird stuff [George Hoelzeman ] 5 Mar Chimney Swift Reports ["Jeff R. Wilson" ] 5 Mar Followup on cedar waxwing window strikes [Steve Taylor ] 5 Mar Need fast advice about caring for injured cedar waxwing, please! [Steve Taylor ] 5 Mar Sharp-shinned Hawk [Mitchell Pruitt ] 5 Mar Great-blue Herons nests on the Ouachita River [Jeffrey Short ] 5 Mar Great-blue Herons nesting [Jacque Brown ] 5 Mar on the hated blackbirds front [Joe Neal ] 5 Mar Purple Martin [Lynn Nowell ] 3 Mar Eurasian-collared Dove inWLR [Craig Provost ] 2 Mar Red Slough Bird Survey - Mar. 2 [David Arbour ] 2 Mar Re: Purple Martin Scouts. [Larry Witherspoon ] 2 Mar Sighting:Coopers Hawk [Donna Haynes ] 2 Mar RFI [Athena Pettingill ] 2 Mar RBA--Arkansas-March 2, 2009 [Warbling Vireo ] 2 Mar Sightings: Stuttgart Airport [Dan Scheiman ] 2 Mar Purple Martin Scouts. [lwatson ] 2 Mar Piping Plover Photo [Dottie Boyles ] 2 Mar AARP puzzle address.. [JoAnne Rife ] 2 Mar Official Number of Protected Migratory Bird Species Climbs to More than 1000 [Kimberly Smith ] Subject: hummingbirds in NW Arkansas From: Kimberly Smith <kgsmith AT uark.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:59:21 -0500 Will people in northwest Arkansas send me a message when they see their first hummingbird this spring? They are in southern Texas at the moment and should be here in the next 2 weeks or so. Thanks, Kim ********************************************************* Kimberly G. Smith University Professor of Biological Sciences Department of Biological Sciences University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-575-6359 fax:479-575-4010 email: kgsmith AT uark.edu ********************************************************* Subject: Hummingbird migration map From: Janine Perlman <jpandjf AT SWBELL.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:04:14 -0500 For those who may not be aware of this wonderful resource, springtime RTHU migration can be followed here: http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html It removes much necessity for guesswork. :) Janine Perlman Alexander Mt., Saline Co. On 3/17/2010 6:40 AM, Larry Witherspoon wrote: > > Gracie, the AHY F Rufous Hummingbird that I banded January 17^th , was > still in NLR Blue Hill area as of yesterday, Tuesday March 16^th . > > As far as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, I have not heard of or seen any > yet. Get the feeders out, it is time! > > As a casual observation...has anyone noticed, or does it seem, that > the trees and flowers are two to three weeks later than usual with the > budding and flowering? It seems the bird activity is behind also. > Yesterday afternoon around 3:30pm, all of a sudden, the yard got very > busy with birds. Lots of singing, definitely courting, and the feeders > were loaded with birds. The Brown Thrasher was having a big time with > the suit feeder. And we still have lots of Juncos! I also noticed that > the Carolina Wrens, Sparrows, Mockingbirds and Robins appeared to be > making nest. > > I did not have the camera (it never fails) to take a picture of a > Kodak moment, but on the feeder was a House Finch, a Purple Finch, and > a Gold (still dull but yet some yellow) Finch all at the same time. > But alas, I have not seen a Purple Martin as of yet. > > Thanks, > > Larry Witherspoon > > Time for coffee > Subject: FW: 'Gracie" From: Larry Witherspoon <ldspoon AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:41:28 -0500 _____ Just got the news that Gracie is still here....eating at both our house and my sister's. c Just letting everyone know that Gracie the AHY F Rufous Hummingbird is still at the Blue Hill area home in NLR. Thanks, Larry Witherspoon Subject: Millwood swallows From: Charles Mills <swamp_fox AT mac.com> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:15:38 -0500 Swallows (2 Barn, 2 Cliff, 1 Cliff/Cave species?, and 1 Tree) made it to the Millwood spillway this morning. Charles Mills Ogden AR 71853 Sent from my iPhone Subject: and the hooters are heard in the land From: Kk Hart <Hartwnkkk AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:46:57 EDT Euro doves are getting with the program. Hopefully I will soon hear the unmelodious "gaaak!" announcing new euro dovelets are in the making. Karen Hart _hartwnkkk AT aol.com_ (mailto:hartwnkkk AT aol.com) Hillcrest Little Rock Subject: Birds in the black From: Joe Neal <joeneal AT uark.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:10:13 -0500 Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society continues to find its way back from its state of near dissolution in fall 2008. Many hands came forward to save it then. Some have since departed. By my calculation, more than half of the current board has changed. I’ve been thinking about this, especially, because Scott Michaud, who set up a web site for the reorganized NWAAS, is returning to Maryland. He wanted to see Greater Prairie-Chickens, so we traveled over to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve yesterday. One of the first birds we spotted was a Rough-legged Hawk (light morph type), but it is late in the season, and it was the only one we saw. We did not see Sprague’s Pipit or Smith’s Longspur. What we did have were wonderful views of birds foraging widely in burned grasslands. The first bison we encountered were foraging on young grasses pushing up from the black. Right there among them, and all around, Killdeer. We traveled miles along burned grasslands, and there were Killdeer everywhere, staging or pausing in migration and spread out like American Robins in a shortgrass pasture. It reminded me of a small American Golden-Plover flock I saw a few years ago. They were using a blackened, recently burned part of Chesney Prairie Natural Area. There were also robins all over these burned areas, pausing in their northward push. Grasslands along Sand Creek had also been burned. We saw several flocks of Harris’s Sparrows foraging in the blackened grasses. Their dark face masks blended quite well with the blackened habitat, though of course, I can’t say the same for their pink bills! Brewer’s Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds foraged the black, too, all but disappearing unless in flight. One of the great miracles of the modern age is the cell phone. Scott & his wife Amy were still working out details with a mover. In one of the places where we hoped for prairie-chickens, we had to hold up a bit while Scott handled a cell call from the mover. So here we are out in the middle of the prairie. Scott has his binoculars employed scanning fields as he talks to a mover. I’m watching great billows of smoke from the prescribed burn to our east, listening to the distant tap-tap of oil wells, the closer songs of chorus frogs & singing Eastern Meadowlarks, the feel of the wind, the sweep of a flock of Red-winged Blackbirds, and a Greater Yellowlegs that suddenly flushes from a pond below us. Scott’s call finished, we scan the big shallow pond and see Canvasback (1), Green-winged Teal (10), and Mallards (2). We did not see the chickens. On my last trip over here (in January), I saw over 50. I guess the unpredictability is part of what keeps birding interesting. I’m sorry Scott didn’t see them, but I’m glad they know how & when to blend into their landscape. Richard Stauffacher has agreed to fill in behind Scott as NWAAS webmaster. Richard is an artist who has included depictions of local birds and plants in his etchings. I knew he could be a good webmaster for NWAAS because his own website, etchings.org, is well-organized & user-friendly. Good luck, Scott & Amy. Welcome Richard. Subject: INFO: Gracie From: Larry Witherspoon <ldspoon AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:40:34 -0500 Gracie, the AHY F Rufous Hummingbird that I banded January 17th, was still in NLR Blue Hill area as of yesterday, Tuesday March 16th. As far as Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, I have not heard of or seen any yet. Get the feeders out, it is time! As a casual observation.has anyone noticed, or does it seem, that the trees and flowers are two to three weeks later than usual with the budding and flowering? It seems the bird activity is behind also. Yesterday afternoon around 3:30pm, all of a sudden, the yard got very busy with birds. Lots of singing, definitely courting, and the feeders were loaded with birds. The Brown Thrasher was having a big time with the suit feeder. And we still have lots of Juncos! I also noticed that the Carolina Wrens, Sparrows, Mockingbirds and Robins appeared to be making nest. I did not have the camera (it never fails) to take a picture of a Kodak moment, but on the feeder was a House Finch, a Purple Finch, and a Gold (still dull but yet some yellow) Finch all at the same time. But alas, I have not seen a Purple Martin as of yet. Thanks, Larry Witherspoon Time for coffee Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - March 16 From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:19:01 -0500 Berlin Heck and I surveyed birds at Red Slough today and found 68 species. We ran into a couple birders (Chad Fitzmorris & Catherine Temple) from NE Oklahoma and invited them to join us. A drawdown in unit 44 has created shallow water mudflats which has attracted hundreds of shorebirds and waterfowl. This in turn has attracted a Peregrine Falcon which we saw twice today at this unit. It caught a bird this morning (probably a yellowlegs) and by evening it or another one was back swooping on the birds in this unit. Unit 30 also has some mudflats and is attracting hundreds of shorebirds and ducks also. Other highlights today included an adult male Cinnamon Teal in unit 44 and a Neotropic Cormorant on Otter Lake. Here is a list of all found today: Greater White-fronted Goose - 36 Canada Goose - 6 Wood Duck - 15 Gadwall - 525 Mallard - 32 Blue-winged Teal - 145 Cinnamon Teal - 1 male (unit 44) Northern Shoveler - 123 Northern Pintail - 7 Green-winged Teal - 321 Ring-necked Duck - 70 Common Goldeneye - 1 Hooded Merganser - 6 Pied-billed Grebe - 41 Eared Grebe - 1 (Lotus Lake) American White Pelican - 25 Neotropic Cormorant - 1 (Otter Lake) Double-crested Cormorant - 110 American Bittern - 1 Great Blue Heron - 19 Black Vulture - 2 Turkey Vulture - 50 Bald Eagle - 3 Northern Harrier - 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 5 Peregrine Falcon - 1 (Unit 44) Virginia Rail - 1 American Coot - 1300 Killdeer - 8 Greater Yellowlegs - 177 Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 Least Sandpiper - 29 Pectoral Sandpiper - 40 Dunlin - 5 Long-billed Dowitcher - 40 Wilson's Snipe - 118 Barred Owl - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Downy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 5 Eastern Phoebe - 8 Loggerhead Shrike - 3 Blue Jay - 2 American Crow - 10 Fish Crow - 1 Purple Martin - 2 Tree Swallow - 14 Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 1 Carolina Chickadee - 3 Tufted Titmouse - 1 Carolina Wren - 2 Bewick's Wren - 1 Marsh Wren - 2 American Robin - 41 American Pipit - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 20 Pine Warbler - 1 Common Yellowthroat - 1 Savannah Sparrow - 9 Song Sparrow - 1 Swamp Sparrow - 4 White-crowned Sparrow - 8 Northern Cardinal - 6 Red-winged Blackbird - 140 Eastern Meadowlark - 4 American Goldfinch - 1 Odonates: Fragile Forktail Herps: American Alligator Red-eared Slider Eastern Gray Treefrog Southern Leopard Frog Good birding! David Arbour De Queen, Arkansas Visit the new Red Slough Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma Subject: FW: Upcoming bird ID workshop From: Kimberly Smith <kgsmith AT uark.edu> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:23:55 -0500 Folks: After several years of offering a great bird ID workshop each spring to state and federal biologists in the region, we are pleased to offer it this year to anyone who needs or wants to take his or her birding skills to another level and put them to use to help birds. Experienced and talented instructor Georgann Schmalz will lead this workshop among the lush bottomland forests of Tara Wildlife near Vicksburg, Mississippi. Please pass this on to your friends and your lists. Please see the details below: Advancing Your Birding Skills and Putting Them to Use to Help Birds A Workshop of the Audubon Mississippi River Field Institute Join Audubon and veteran ornithologist and instructor Georgann Schmalz April 30-May 2 in the beautiful and bird-rich bottomlands of the Mississippi River to learn advanced skills for recognizing birds by sight and sound, techniques for monitoring bird populations, and the ecological relationships of birds to their habitats. Ms. Schmalz - former president of Atlanta Audubon Society, longtime ornithologist at Georgia's Fernbank Science and veteran bird tour leader - will lead instructional tours from the comfortable accommodations of Tara Wildlife, a lodge and conference center set among 17,000 acres of mature hardwood forests near Vicksburg, Mississippi. Participants will learn how to recognize the songs and habits of some of the region's stunning breeding songbirds such as the Painted Bunting, Prothonotary Warbler and Kentucky Warbler. By attending this workshop, you will not only learn more about the birds of the Mississippi Valley, you will also increase your knowledge of the habitats birds need to thrive; how those habitats can be managed to support a rich variety of birds and other wildlife; and how you can help Audubon and other conservation organizations survey birds as indicators of the region's environmental health. If you are a conservation professional wanting to learn more about birds and how you can help them, a student of wildlife management or forestry, an Audubon member engaged in a bird conservation project, or someone who wants to take your birding skills to another level, this workshop is for you. LOCATION: Tara Wildlife lodge and conference center, 6791 Eagle Lake Shore Road, a 30-minute drive northwest of Vicksburg. http://tarawildlife.com . ACCOMODATIONS: Single or double rooms (with private bathrooms), hearty meals and other amenities such as free wireless internet access. FEE: $275 person for those occupying a double room; $350 per person for a private room. Fee includes meals starting with dinner Friday evening and ending with breakfast Sunday morning, overnight lodging, and registration. RESERVATIONS: Contact Tara Wildlife, 601-279-4261; for more information about the details of the workshop, contact the Audubon Mississippi River Field Institute at 601-661-6189 or email Reid Bishop, rbishop AT audubon.org or Bruce Reid, breid AT audubon.org . Bruce Reid Director of Conservation Outreach-Mississippi River Initiative National Audubon Society 1208 Washington Street Vicksburg MS 39183 601.661.6189 (office phone) 601.631.4102(cell phone) breid AT audubon.org Subject: Black-legged Kittiwake From: Charles Mills <swamp_fox AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:38 -0500 A winter adult Black-legged Kittiwake is currently feeding in the river channel just below the spillway at Millwood Lake. Charles Mills Ogden AR 71853 Sent from my iPhone Subject: Shorebirds at Punkin Center Road From: Mitchell Pruitt <mlpruitt24 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:37:52 -0700 Ron Howard emailed me just a few minutes ago and told me he had a few Greater Yellowlegs, a few hundred Pectoral Sandpipers, and about 25 A. Golden-Plovers at Punkin Center Rd this past Saturday as well as hundreds of ducks that were mostly GW, BW Teal and Shovelers.  Punkin Center Road is a farm road off of Hwy. 1 near Jonesboro.  Most of Punkin Center is barely in Poinsett County.  I will try this area in a few weeks because I won't get a chance before going to Florida on Thursday. ~Mitchell Pruitt Subject: Re: N Rough-winged Swallow From: Jacque Brown <bluebird2 AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:28:14 -0500 I saw 1 N Rough-winged Swallow at Lake Atalanta in Rogers Saturday. It was hanging out with the Phoebes and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Jacque Brown, Centerton ---- Charles Mills wrote: ============= Swallows seem to be running a bit late in reaching SW AR this spring. The first Northern Rough-winged was spotted this morning. Just a few minutes ago at 3:00 p.m., the Rock Wren was seen about 1/4 mile west of the spillway. Charles Mills Ogden AR 71853 Sent from my iPhone -- Jacque Brown Centerton Benton, Co AR, bluebird2 AT cox.net Subject: ASCA March Field Trip Reminder From: Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1 AT ATT.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:22:51 -0700 This Saturday, March 20, the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas will hold it's monthly field trip. Meet at Cook’s Landing at 8:30 a.m. We’ll explore the Isabella Jo Trail and the Pfeiffer Loop Trail, both are easy walking. The trails at Cook’s Landing offer a diverse habitat, which includes the riparian area of the Arkansas River, and should provide us with a variety of birds species. We will finish with a short climb to the top of the Big Dam Bridge. This will be half day trip. Bring water and light snacks. You do not have to be a member of ASCA to participate in our field trips. You can also find more information about our upcoming field trips, monthly meetings, and birding issues at our website at www.ascabird.org.   Directions:  From Little Rock take I-430 North across the river bridge. Take Exit 12 Maumelle/Crystal Hill Road. Turn right (east) onto Crystal Hill Road (Hwy. 100). At the stoplight, turn right onto Northshore Drive. Take the first right onto Cook’s Landing Road and follow it to the first parking lot on your right at the North Little Rock Police guard shack. Subject: Lake DeGray From: Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1 AT ATT.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 07:58:00 -0700 I spent the weekend at Lake DeGray. Counted over 50 loons in spot! More were scatted in ones and twos in other parts of the lake. One for sure and one maybe were Pacific Loons in the big group of loons. Several C. Loons were resplendent in full breeding plumage. Saw close to 100 Horned Grebes. Many were going into breeding plumage with their yellow fan of feathers spiking out from their red eyes. Wish I'd had more time to check the loons and grebes more closely, but keeping a hyperactive, 11 year old great nephew entertained cut into my birding time!  I explained he was very fortunate to add a Pacific Loon to his life list. He agreed, then went right back to his fishing. Karen Holliday Maumelle, Pulaski Co.   Subject: IP2 watching: Dardenelle & Holla B 3-13 From: Joe Neal <joeneal AT uark.edu> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:57:50 -0500 We met Kenny & LaDonna Nichols at Lake Dardenelle on March 13. Besides me: Carole Jones from Fayetteville, her buddy Kelly Chitwood & Kelly’s friend Micki McIntyre. It was cool, gray & windy, so before meeting up with Kenny, I had my scope set up inside the state park visitor’s center, taking advantage of big panoramic windows overlooking Dardenelle. From the windless warmth inside, we had American Coots and long ways off Lesser Scaup appearing and disappearing in the day’s white-caps. I was teasing Kenny about what a swell deal he had for spotting rare winter gulls when he mentioned that this was the SECOND time he’d ever been inside the building… So, off we went toward the Delaware area, where midst gray cool & serious white-caps, we had an unmistakable Lesser Black-backed Gull cleanly perched on a much bird white-washed “Delaware” sign, Arkansas Nuclear One puffing in the background. Then Kenny found the second Lesser Black-backed Gull, this one a grayish plumaged juvenile that I had assumed was an immature Herring Gull. I wonder how many “Herring Gull” juveniles I’ve seen just upriver at Kerr Dam in OK? In the wind and in the gray cool, Kenny shared on-the-spot field ornithology, explaining the difference between Herring & Lesser Black-backed juvs. Gulls are an acquired taste. Then to Holla Bend NWR (nearby), which is where Kelly, who made the long drive from Camden, had wanted to go. In a shallow pool we had a male pintail, Green-winged Teals (~100), a few Blue-winged Teals, Gadwalls, a couple of shovelers, etc. There were also two Trumpeter Swans, with green neck collars. One of them, number 0P4, may have been the bird I barely held (barely: powerful kicking legs, 8 foot wing span, that wanted LOOSE) during the recent re-introduction release at Holla Bend February 10, 2010. Number 1P2 seemed oblivious to us, it’s extraordinary neck & head tucked in apparent repose, BUT an image I collected shows that it was steadily watching the curious goings on (us) with dark eye almost hidden above an immaculate white back. There were plenty of hawks on the refuge. One in particular, hundreds of yards away across an open field, lead to controversy. So what hawk, very rare in Arkansas & strongly associated with the open windy country, is at distance white looking with a dark belly band? Of course I shouted out ROUGH LEGGED! Ominously, I heard no amen from Kenny, who also had a scope on it, and there was no amen from LaDonna, who was intelligently in the truck out of the wind, holding Missy, with a full view of proceedings. Nobody else had amened, either, but it would be such a very good bird… Its legs were unfeathered (Kenny), but I think maybe feathered (me). Look at that tail with the wide black band (me); silence on the Kenny front. I just love these long-ways-away birds, because they permit so much room for fantasy…then the bird flew...it’s complete association with the tribe of light morph or juvenile Red-tailed Hawks was decently or indecently (me) evident. On the way out: hundreds of Ring-billed Gulls perching on freshly turned soil, others closely and rather artistically following the plow. In the same field, ~75 Rusty Blackbirds, my highest count of the year. Subject: Letter from Lake Fayetteville From: Hilary David Chapman <dchapman AT UARK.EDU> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:37:51 -0500 From: David Chapman Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 6:07 PM To: David Chapman Subject: For those interested in Lake Fayetteville there is some sad news to report. The city council and Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association have made great efforts recently to improve access to the park and active conservation is under way to restore old fields to grassland habitat. In this we have made careful efforts to preserve a few mature Oak trees. One of the jewels has been Veterans Park which in addition to serving leisure activities was surrounded by mature woodland and was one of the best places to observe woodland birds such as Acadian Flycatcher that prefer this type of habitat. Joe Neal has observed nesting Barred Owls here in the past and for several weeks I have been observing an active Red-shouldered Hawk nest. This is now destroyed since all the oaks on the southern side have been cut down by "developers". We have already seen the view from the iron bridge ruined by the construction of an overlooking commercial building. Nice view for them but eyesore for us. What will now overlook Veteran's Park? Office buildings, condiminiums, luxury homes? Once a part of my regular survey route I shall now give it a miss. David Chapman Subject: Re: unintended binocular acceleration From: "Popham, James T YD02 USAF AMC 19 CES/CEAN" <james.popham AT LITTLEROCK.AF.MIL> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:47:33 -0500 The question is: Can this unintended binocular acceleration be duplicated by officials for verification?? -----Original Message----- From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List [mailto:ARBIRD-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of Joe Neal Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2010 8:13 PM To: ARBIRD-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU Subject: unintended binocular acceleration Jacque Brown, David Oakley, and I toured the broad agricultural fields of the Arkansas River valley today. We started out in Oklahoma at Dora & Moffett, crossed into Arkansas at Fort Smith & continued on through Van Buren to Frog Bayou WMA and the Alma sewer ponds. At Moffett we were much taken by a mixed species goose flock that included Canada (26), Ross's (1), Snow (6 white, 6 blues), and White-fronted (1). No less fascinating: a line-up of 4 cars from the Bonny & Clyde era, rusting gracefully with trees growing through broken windows, silently proclaiming glories of the Nash Rambler & Ford Coupe. American Pipits (33) patrolled smooth turf just east of Van Buren. We were able to find a legal spot to peep at the posted glories of Hollis Lake: Canvasback (5), American White Pelican (15), Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, a few Mallards -- ALL flushed suddenly by a subadult Bald Eagle. A Red-tailed Hawk carried a HUGE snake away from the highway ditch. We continued to drift slowly east through the bottoms, traveling a well potholed farm road. I was much taken by small groups of Horned Larks in 5 places & I had my window open to hopefully hear more. So I hear another squeak - it must be a lark? -- & the Toyota bounced free & clear across the mother-of-all-potholes. I looked around and saw Jacque's head lurch forward & her Bushnell Legends simultaneously lurch upward, then rapidly reverse, a perfectly choreographed & wholly unintended binocular acceleration. Eyepieces were crammed into her eyeballs, then suddenly out again, and her head ended up against the headrest, no worse for wear, Thank Goodness! I guess Jacque could sue me for negligence or Toyota for bad springs, or perhaps Bushnell for failure to install devices that inhibit unintended binocular acceleration, and include pothole-making Crawford County farmers in the complaint. We three held a quick powwow just east of Lake Pothole and decided that Bushnell might need to install a cheap fix for the binocular strap to slow forward momentum and pad eyepieces. The manufacture's recall will no doubt be forthcoming. The Horned Lark vocalization that precipitated the unintended binocular acceleration turned out actually to be a squeaky steering column in my 1991 Toyota, a defect that showed up at 247,000 miles of such rural Arkansas adventure. Jacque & David aren't the only ones who have noticed this squeak, but this is the first time I've thought it a Horned Lark in flight. The unintended binocular acceleration was also a first. Somewhere in this discussion, David Oakley collapsed into a laughing hysteria, and he dragged Jacque & I down with him, enough that we could barely pay attention to Savannah Sparrows in the plowed fields & the sudden dramatic flash of a male Northern Harrier. As most good ones do, this birding expedition ended at or near a sewer pond. At Alma, we could just barely make out a nice flock of Lesser Scaup (38), very sharp-looking in the treated wastewater. On several farm ponds right across the road, Blue-winged Teal (8, 14) were amazing & truly immaculate in their smart fresh plumage, returned from the south, all about spring refreshment. Subject: Nature Center on Thursday From: Mitchell Pruitt <mlpruitt24 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:16:19 -0700 Hi everyone, I got back yesterday from Bentonville. I went to the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Conference. One of the highlights of the trip was going through Fort Smith to see the Arkansas River Valley Nature Center there. It was a pretty day and there were lots of birds out on the trails and in the wildlife viewing area where they had a very nice 'camera blind'. Pictures are posted on my website. Nature Center Gallery: http://www.pbase.com/mpruitt/river_valley_nature_center All Galleries: www.pbase.com/mpruitt ~Mitchell Pruitt, Jonesboro Location:    Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center Observation date:    3/11/10 Number of species:    18 Turkey Vulture 6 Mourning Dove 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 American Crow 2 Carolina Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 1 American Robin 1 Pine Warbler 1 Field Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 7 White-crowned Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 5 Northern Cardinal 12 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 Purple Finch 2 American Goldfinch 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: F.O.S.s From: Adam Schaffer <adam AT ONSC.US> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:58:30 -0500 Plenty of first of springs for the first two weeks of March out at ONSC including: Pine warblers Eastern Phoebes (except for hearing one in January) Fish Crows Eastern Towhees Chipping Sparrows Spring Peeper chorus Spotted Salamanders American Toad Deer Ticks! Mourning Cloak butterfly American Woodcock mating displays Cricket Frogs Northern Fence Lizards Rough Earth Snakes budding Spicebush and hepatica A very exciting time to be working outside every day. I could go for the warmer weather to return however. Happy birding all, Adam Schaffer Fayetteville Subject: unintended binocular acceleration From: Joe Neal <joeneal AT uark.edu> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:13:13 -0500 Jacque Brown, David Oakley, and I toured the broad agricultural fields of the Arkansas River valley today. We started out in Oklahoma at Dora & Moffett, crossed into Arkansas at Fort Smith & continued on through Van Buren to Frog Bayou WMA and the Alma sewer ponds. At Moffett we were much taken by a mixed species goose flock that included Canada (26), Ross’s (1), Snow (6 white, 6 blues), and White-fronted (1). No less fascinating: a line-up of 4 cars from the Bonny & Clyde era, rusting gracefully with trees growing through broken windows, silently proclaiming glories of the Nash Rambler & Ford Coupe. American Pipits (33) patrolled smooth turf just east of Van Buren. We were able to find a legal spot to peep at the posted glories of Hollis Lake: Canvasback (5), American White Pelican (15), Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, a few Mallards -- ALL flushed suddenly by a subadult Bald Eagle. A Red-tailed Hawk carried a HUGE snake away from the highway ditch. We continued to drift slowly east through the bottoms, traveling a well potholed farm road. I was much taken by small groups of Horned Larks in 5 places & I had my window open to hopefully hear more. So I hear another squeak – it must be a lark? -- & the Toyota bounced free & clear across the mother-of-all-potholes. I looked around and saw Jacque’s head lurch forward & her Bushnell Legends simultaneously lurch upward, then rapidly reverse, a perfectly choreographed & wholly unintended binocular acceleration. Eyepieces were crammed into her eyeballs, then suddenly out again, and her head ended up against the headrest, no worse for wear, Thank Goodness! I guess Jacque could sue me for negligence or Toyota for bad springs, or perhaps Bushnell for failure to install devices that inhibit unintended binocular acceleration, and include pothole-making Crawford County farmers in the complaint. We three held a quick powwow just east of Lake Pothole and decided that Bushnell might need to install a cheap fix for the binocular strap to slow forward momentum and pad eyepieces. The manufacture’s recall will no doubt be forthcoming. The Horned Lark vocalization that precipitated the unintended binocular acceleration turned out actually to be a squeaky steering column in my 1991 Toyota, a defect that showed up at 247,000 miles of such rural Arkansas adventure. Jacque & David aren’t the only ones who have noticed this squeak, but this is the first time I’ve thought it a Horned Lark in flight. The unintended binocular acceleration was also a first. Somewhere in this discussion, David Oakley collapsed into a laughing hysteria, and he dragged Jacque & I down with him, enough that we could barely pay attention to Savannah Sparrows in the plowed fields & the sudden dramatic flash of a male Northern Harrier. As most good ones do, this birding expedition ended at or near a sewer pond. At Alma, we could just barely make out a nice flock of Lesser Scaup (38), very sharp-looking in the treated wastewater. On several farm ponds right across the road, Blue-winged Teal (8, 14) were amazing & truly immaculate in their smart fresh plumage, returned from the south, all about spring refreshment. Subject: swallows, shorebirds and Wood Ducks From: Carol Joan Patterson <joanie.patterson AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:48:04 -0700 Mike Mlodinow and I saw a Greater Yellowlegs and a Bairds Sandjpiper March 13 at Centerton.  The same day we saw a Rough-winged Swallow at Lake Atlanta.  Today, the 14th we saw 2 Rough-winged Swallows and 2 Tree Swallows at Siloam Springs City Park Lake and some Wood Ducks at Eagle Watch in Gentry.  We've also still been seen American Tree Swallows at several places, including Woolsey Wet Prairie and Chesney. Joanie Subject: Bald Knob Saturday From: Beverly Sullivan <damebev AT AOL.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:18:26 -0400 Is anyone on here that was at Bald Knob on Saturday? I went there and saw someone way across the fields but did not go over there. (My husband did not want me driving on the muddy levees.) If so, did you see the whitish hawk that was flying around? I have pictures of it but can not tell what it was. (My pictures are not the best as it was a ways across the fields.) It was grey on top, white on bottom with black tips to it's wings. It looks a lot like a seagull but was not one. I was hoping that the shorebirds would have arrived but I did not see them. There were a lot of green winged teal and Northern shovelers. If anyone was there and saw the bird in question, could you please let me know what it was? Thanks, Beverly Sullivan Marion, AR Subject: N Rough-winged Swallow From: Charles Mills <swamp_fox AT mac.com> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:11:37 -0500 Swallows seem to be running a bit late in reaching SW AR this spring. The first Northern Rough-winged was spotted this morning. Just a few minutes ago at 3:00 p.m., the Rock Wren was seen about 1/4 mile west of the spillway. Charles Mills Ogden AR 71853 Sent from my iPhone Subject: SIGHTING: leucistic Red-winged Blackbird; Arkansas Co. From: Tim Tyler <tylertim204 AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:23:38 -0500 I reported this bird in the same location 4/11/09. So he is back. Off Holdridge RD, 1/2 mile west of Hwy 130. Arkansas County. Also of interest this morning was the number of Flicker feeding on the recently burnt ditch banks. The farmers tend to burn their ditch banks this time of year. Also seen in the early morning sun were Green-winged Teal in their full plumage. Subject: Wind Birds - They're Back- TN-AR-MS From: "Jeff R. Wilson" <OLCOOT1 AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 09:08:38 EDT March 13, 2010 Shelby Co. TN Crittenden Co. AR DeSoto and Tunica MS Thursday, I made a quick run through, north DeSoto Co. MS and Ensley Bottoms in TN and found Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson's Snipe, Pectoral, Least Sandpipers and Long-billed Dowitchers scattered in both locations. Last week Robco Lake went from 3,000 Scaup to 200 over one night, so things were moving. Yesterday, I started in Crittenden Co, AR and at the old Benwood Lake area and Bob White Road located 9 Lesser Yellowlegs, 120 Pectoral and 30 Least Sandpipers along with many Wilson's Snipe and 45 Long-billed Dowitchers. I also had a group of 50+ Golden-Plovers whistle by, my first of the season. At Ensley, TVA Lake held a few hundred Lesser and Greater Scaup plus the female Red-breasted Merganser that has been around a few weeks plus Gadwall, Shovelers, 40 Green-winged Teal, 5 Bufflehead and a single female Ring-necked Duck. In the plowed fields were 32 Golden-Plovers but at the pits only scattered Least Sandpipers, 3 Long-billed Dowitchers and a few Snipe and Pectoral Sandpipers. I headed to Mississippi where I found the mother load, at one of the Golden-Plover fields that produces year after year, Plovers were everywhere as far as you could see, 600+ counted as best as I could; then two groups few over with 200 and 300 birds. When a Harrier came across the field and the large group took flight, I heard a Upland Plover calling but never saw the bird. This is an early date for me at this location for the Upland but they appear here every year. I traveled south to Tunica Co. and found more Golden-Plovers at 2 regular locations plus two large groups of Pectoral Sandpipers 100+ in each wet field and another group that flew in tight formation across Buck Island Road. Scattered Wilson's Snipe plus Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs and 45 more Long-billed Dowitchers feeding in a drained fish pond rounded out the day. They're Back!! Enjoy Good Birding !!! Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA 6300 Memphis-Arlington Road Bartlett, TN 38135 http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/ What is this feathered thing that lifts my heart to the heavens. Subject: LINK: Trumpeter Swan Society Photo of the Month From: Gail Miller <gail.miller AT CONWAYCORP.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:13:02 -0600 My computer caught a virus and crashed, so I have been 'out of commission' for a bit trying to get the new computer set up. Several months ago, I got emails from two different people from the Trumpeter Swan Society asking if they could use some of my PBase photos in their monthly Internet blog. I gave them permission and also provided a short biographical sketch, per their request. Their March blog page has one of my photos featured as Photo of the Month with the bio and some links to Magness Lake, where I took the photos. Below is the link, for anyone who might be interested. One error on my part in the bio is that I did not get my Canon 40D camera in 2005, that should have said 2007. Oops! http://trumpeterswansociety.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/trumpeter-swan-photo-of-the-month-march-2010/ Gail in Conway Subject: Bell Slough From: David Starrett <starrett AT CSTL.SEMO.EDU> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:03:28 -0600 ARBirders, A couple weeks ago I asked about sites to bird near Conway. I received a few off list suggestions; Bell Slough being the easy consensuses. Wednesday after I finished up at UCA, I spent 6 hours walking the trails there. Weather was perfect. Saw some nice birds, though nothing new for the life list. Weather was so good, I found a bench and sat for quite awhile just listening, watching the birds, etc. I left right as the thunderstorms started and they followed me all the way across I-40 and as I went up I-55 they kept angling up from the SWest. I got out of the car at home to have the rain start within 15 minutes. Thanks to all for the suggestion on a great birding site. For the heck of it, this is what I saw: American Crow American Goldfinch American Robin Blue Jay Brown Creeper Brown Thrasher Canada Goose Carolina Chickadee Carolina Wren Cedar Waxwing Dark-eyed Junco Eastern Towhee Golden-crowned Kinglet Green-winged Teal Hairy Woodpecker Hermit Thrush Killdeer Northern Cardinal Northern Mockingbird Pileated Woodpecker Red-bellied Woodpecker Ruby-crowned Kinglet Tufted Titmouse Turkey Vulture White-throated Sparrow Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Yellow-rumped Warbler Red-winged Blackbird Savannah Sparrow Dave Starrett ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Dr. David Starrett, | Dean, School of University Studies and | Academic Information Services and | Director, Center for Scholarship in Teaching and Learning | MS 4650, 1 University Plaza | Southeast Missouri State University | Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 | Ph: (573) 651-2783 | Fax: (573) 986-6858 | email: dstarrett AT semo.edu | WWW: http://www.semo.edu/ustudies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subject: RBA--Arkansas-March 12, 2010 From: Warbling Vireo <warblingvireo AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:35:17 -0800 -RBA *Arkansas *Statewide *March 12, 2010 *ARST10.03.12   -Species Mentioned   Rock Wren Sandhill Crane American Golden-Plover   -Transcript   Welcome to the Arkansas Rare Bird Alert for March 12, 2010, sponsored by the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas (ASCA).  ASCA meets at 7:00pm the second Thursday of each month.  Check the www.ascabird.org website for details on upcoming meetings and field trips.      From around the state recent sightings are:   The Millwood Lake Rock Wren is being seen near MillwoodState Park.   A Sandhill Crane was seen between Heber Springs and Pangburn AR on Hiarm Rd.  It was feeding by a small pond next to the hwy.  From Heber Springs or Pangburn it would be about 4 miles distance.   An American Golden-Plover was at Cadron Flats below Beaverfork Lake near Conway.   Thanks for calling the Arkansas Rare Bird Alert.  Your contributions make the Rare Bird Aert possible.  If you would like to leave a message, please wait for the chirp.  Good Birding!   Hotline:  Arkansas Date:  March 12, 2010 Phone number:  (501)753-5853 To Report: (501)753-5853, ARBird email discussion list, BRC forms available at ARBirds.org Compiler/Transcriber:  DeLynn Hearn Coverage: Statewide   -End transcript    DeLynn Hearn 317 West K St. N. Little Rock, AR 72116 (501) 771-4686 Subject: Shores Lake From: Joe Neal <joeneal AT uark.edu> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:35:33 -0600 Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society has a field trip to the Shores Lake area of the Ozark National Forest on Saturday March 27. It will be lead by Bill Beall, the veteran birder from Fort Smith who has birded this area for years, including big stands of native shortleaf pine. I went out there to look around today. It is one of the real gems in our part of the state. I got to Shores Lake, not on I-540, but down old 71, then east on state 348 just south of Mountainburg. You get to the end of 348, then the highway assumes several local names; fear not! Just keep heading east. Old 71 and 348 provide a leisurely way to see the magnificent Boston Mountains. The 16 miles from old 71 to Fern & Shores Lake wind and turn, climb and descend, both in elevation and in time. It looks pretty modern near Mountainburg, but further east & deeper into the old hills is the feel & look of an older Arkansas : homes with big porches & yards full of old time varieties of simple flowering daffodils. The previous generations also set out yuccas and these grace many of the older yards. A big yard was full of migrating robins. A farm pond at Fern was all about spring peepers and Red-winged Blackbirds. The huge shortleaf pine stands along 215 south of Fern hosted a flock of 9 Wild Turkeys, and many flocks of American Goldfinches. I’m sure I saw 200. There were goldfinches up in the small cones & goldfinches seeking tiny seeds in ripe sweetgum balls. A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew across the highway carrying prey about half the hawk’s size. Pine Warblers are in full song. Eastern Towhees were “che-winking” in the thickets around timber harvest areas. Purple Finches were probing the newly blossomed tree flowers in the bottoms at Shores Lake. And as I watched them, a Barred Owl called from the ridge. Witch hazel was still in bloom along the creek at Shores Lake and later, also at Winslow along old 71. Today it was just a little too early for Black-and-white Warblers & Louisiana Waterthrushes. Of course that didn’t keep me from trying. I’ll bet they’ll be there on the 27th. Folks in the Fort Smith area will probably take I-40 to Mulberry, then north on 215 to Shores Lake. This is a simple and straight forward path. Folks from Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers could take I-540 to I-40, but I found the travel on old 71, then 348 & the various roads it becomes (Old Locke, etc) to be a pleasurable beginning of a fun birding expedition. It is almost all paved (just a few miles in the middle are still gravel). I googled-up a map showing this route and I can email this to anyone who wants to go that way, or just type Shores Lake, Ozark National Forest into Google Earth. We are going to meet up at the picnic area entrance on the west side of the lake. Just as you get to Shores Lake, notice the sign that indicates the left fork for “Shores Lake -1, Camping, White Rock 7.” Meeting time is 9 AM. Subject: NEW RED SLOUGH PHOTO GALLERIES NOW ONLINE! From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:22:01 -0600 The new Red Slough photo galleries are now online! We have upgraded with 100's of new and much higher quality photos than we had at the forest service webpage. The photo galleries at the forest service site will be discontinued soon and a link to these new pbase galleries will be added there. At this new site there are 97 galleries and subgalleries and 1,435 images. The nice thing about this new pbase site is that I will be able to upload photos to it the same day we get or take the photos. One gallery is labeled "Recent Photos" and will contain the newest photos before they are moved into the other galleries, so check this gallery regularly. Be sure to check out the "Yellow Rail" gallery and the "American Alligator" gallery. Theres also a gallery with a slideshow sequence showing a Purple Gallinule attacking an alligator that was too close to its nest. All of the wildlife galleries are in taxonomic order except the "Wildflower & Other Plants" and "Other Invertebrates" galleries. If you have ever visited Red Slough and went on a tour, you might see yourself in our "Tours, Field Trips, Research, etc." gallery. I have spent close to 100 hours over the past 3 months building this site so please check it out: http://www.pbase.com/red_slough_wma Good birding! David Arbour De Queen, Arkansas Subject: Rock Wren From: Charles Mills <swamp_fox AT mac.com> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:11:49 -0600 The Millwood Lake Rock Wren just popped up onto, what else, a rock near Millwood State Park. Also, for those in more northerly regions, a handful of willows along the dam are sporting today beautiful green leaves that yesterday were absent. Charles Mills Ogden AR 71853 Sent from my iPhone Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - Mar. 09 From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:02:34 -0600 Berlin Heck and I surveyed birds today at Red Slough and found 63 species. It was clear, warm (70's), and extremely windy making it difficult to find small passerines and look through a scope. We ran into Doug Wood and his student Ross Anderson who were there making plans for their research projects with Tree Swallows and Willow Flycatchers. We also ran into personnel from the Sam Noble Museum who were down surveying herps. Highlight today was finding a pair of Mottled Ducks in the flooded ditch along Appleberry Lane next to unit 15. Also, we had two Minks chasing each other in the road by the middle parking lot. Here is a list of all found today: Ross's Goose - 1 Canada Goose - 8 Wood Duck - 11 Gadwall - 530 Mallard - 8 Mottled Duck - 2 (unit 15) Blue-winged Teal - 17 Northern Shoveler - 73 Northern Pintail - 27 Green-winged Teal - 310 Ring-necked Duck - 140 Hooded Merganser - 8 Ruddy Duck - 3 Pied-billed Grebe - 27 Neotropic Cormorant - 1 (Pintail Lake; seen by Doug Wood.) Double-crested Cormorant - 76 Great Blue Heron - 13 Great Egret - 1 Green Heron - 1 Black Vulture - 6 Turkey Vulture - 43 Bald Eagle - 4 Northern Harrier - 7 Cooper's Hawk - 1 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 Red-tailed Hawk - 9 American Kestrel - 1 Common Moorhen - 1 (Bittern Lake) American Coot - 1000 Killdeer - 5 Greater Yellowlegs - 30 Least Sandpiper - 17 Dunlin - 3 Long-billed Dowitcher - 40 Wilson's Snipe - 100 Ring-billed Gull - 1 Mourning Dove - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 Hairy Woodpecker - 1 Northern Flicker - 3 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Eastern Phoebe - 2 Loggerhead Shrike - 5 American Crow - 12 Fish Crow - 1 Tree Swallow - 12 Carolina Chickadee - 1 Tufted Titmouse - 3 American Robin - 2 Northern Mockingbird - 6 European Starling - 3 American Pipit - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 6 Pine Warbler - 3 Savannah Sparrow - 10 Song Sparrow - 2 White-crowned Sparrow - 23 Northern Cardinal - 9 Red-winged Blackbird - 500 Eastern Meadowlark - 48 Brewer's Blackbird - 8 American Goldfinch - 2 Herps: Mississippi Mud Turtle Red-eared Slider Diamond-backed Watersnake Graham's Crayfish Snake Blanchard's Cricket Frog Cajun Chorus Frog Spring Peeper Southern Leopard Frog Bullfrog Mammals: Mink - 2 (chasing each other.) Good birding! David Arbour De Queen, Arkansas Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/ Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Sandhill Crane From: Terry & Judy Butler <twbutler AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:23:11 -0600 Driving in from work this afternoon I spotted a Sandhill Crane. It was between Heber Springs and Pangburn AR on Hiarm Rd. It was feeding by a small pond next to the hwy. From Heber Springs or Pangburn it would be about 4 miles distance. No room to pull over and I don't know how friendly the land owner might be. A Lifer for me. Terry Butler Pangburn Subject: Rock Wren From: Charles Mills <swamp_fox AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 10:41:13 -0600 At approximately 10:30 a.m., I relocated the overwintering Rock Wren in the rip rock of Millwood Dam just outside the boundary of Millwood State Park. Charles Mills Ogden AR 71853 Sent from my iPhone Subject: FOS - E Phoebe Nesting; Fish Crows From: James Morgan <jlmm AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 08:04:33 -0600 Heard and saw our first Fish Crows. Quite vociferous. Heard them first on Sunday. Then saw and heard 35 yesterday afternoon flying into the wind with a little trouble making headway. Fish Crows are back flying over the farm (probably looking forward to getting more than their share of the apples from 200 trees). Saw 35 yesterday. E Phoebes returned to nesting on the porch Sunday. Somewhat interesting, in Jan & Feb, seemed to only see the most prominently on the days the snow, ice, sleet were most intense. Jim Morgan Fayetteville Subject: Sounds of Spring From: Sandy Berger <fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 05:00:27 -0800 I know Spring is just around the corner when I hear Fish Crows calling. They have arrived back in Fort Smith following their winter getaway. Sandy B. FS, AR Subject: Mute Swan-NO From: Donna Haynes <birdiehaynes AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 18:10:37 -0600 I made a very short vist to Cooks Landing today. I did not find the Mute Swan. I did however find a Hermit Thrush and Yellow-Rumped Warbler while I walked a short part of the River Trail. Carolina Chickadees and Wrens, and Tufted Titmouse were singing. Other birds seen while driving through were Canada Greese, Lesser Scalp, Ring-Billed Gulls, American Robins and Blue Jays. Not very productive bird-wise, but the weather made it a joy even to see a House Sparrow or Rock Dove. Donna Haynes West Pulaski Co. Subject: Ospreys 'fishing' From: Barry Haas <bhaas AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 17:10:29 -0600 Dear ARBIRDers, One of my wife's cousins sent the following link to roughly 40 slides in a slideshow. There are some terrific shots of ospreys catching trout, plus a few of other birds. Most will enjoy this: http://www.miguellasa.com/photos/sspopup.mg?AlbumID=1001578 The slideshow should be automatic. Enjoy. From the deep woods just west of Little Rock, Barry Haas Subject: Openings for June 2010 AAS Halberg Ecology Camp- a great opportunity for 11- & 12-year old boys and girls From: Barry Haas <bhaas AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 17:20:01 -0600 Dear ARBIRDers, It's that time of year again when we are actively recruiting 11- and 12-year old boys and girls for the two June sessions of the Arkansas Audubon Society Halberg Ecology Camp. The 1st session will begin Sunday June 13 and end Friday June 18. The 2nd session will begin Sunday June 20 and end Friday June 25. This is the 31st year for this superb, hands-on Ecology Camp to be held. We have capacity for a total of 50 new students each session, and some of those available spaces have already been filled. If you know of one or more youth that age (students must be 11- or 12-years old at the time of camp) who are interested in the natural sciences- ornithology, herpetology, mammalogy, aquatic biology, entomology, geology and botany- please make sure their families are aware of this terrific educational opportunity. The staff consists of 16 instructors, most of whom teach in pairs (for example, two ornithology instructors with a class of 8-10 students), co-directors to oversee and coordinate camp activities, an activitities director, a full-time registered nurse and an excellent kitchen staff that serves meals that are both tasty and nourishing. The instructors are mostly high school science teachers and college professors. Can you imagine having the opportunity as an 11- or 12- year old of getting to work with college professors and high school science teachers? Rather than trying to describe everything about the camp to you, I suggest you visit the Arkansas Audubon Society web site at: http://www.arbirds.org/halberg_ecology_camp.html where you will find information about the Ecology Camp plus a downloadable application form and camp brochure, both PDFs. If you still have questions, feel free to contact me at: bhaas AT sbcglobal.net or 501-821-4097 in Little Rock or efulton114 AT sbcglobal.net or 501-663-9380 in Little Rock (this is executive director Liz Fulton's contact info). Liz Fulton receives all the camper applications and matches up any available scholarships and tuition assistance funds with students from families that can show true financial need. The Ecology Camp charges $275 for full tuition, but it actually costs about $425 per student to hold the camp. Our great supporters help fund the balance of camp costs. Remember this can be your child, grandchild or some other 11- or 12- year old girl or boy that you know or know of. They will need a recommendation from their teacher and must have an interest in the study of nature. Please help us find some good kids who will benefit from this terrific experience. And please help spread the word by forwarding this e-mail to others. Thanks, Barry Haas, Treasurer Arkansas Audubon Society Halberg Ecology Camp Subject: Re: Eastern Phoebe From: Jacque Brown <bluebird2 AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 16:47:39 -0600 I took a drive to the Boxley valley on Saturday, at the mill pond while watching the Wood Ducks I saw two Eastern Phoebes and several Yellow-rump Warblers behaving like flycatchers. I also saw a very reddish brown backed bird that I couldn't get a good look at, only enough to know it wasn't a Carolina Wren. There were 6 pairs of Wood Ducks and a single male that I could see. The 2 Trumpeter Swans were dozing on the grass nearby, too. Jacque Brown ---- Carolyn Partain wrote: ============= Today, March 5, my daughter's birthday, I saw and heard my FOS eastern phoebe. From my kitchen window, we could see it flitting around beneath the entryway cover to my husband's shed. For a while, it was very busy there. My husband thinks it had nest building plans while I thought it might be scavenging for insects. There's no adequate ledge on which it can build in that location. In the afternoon, I heard its familiar two-note song. We enjoy watching them in the summer while sitting on the front deck. Like the neighborhood bluebirds, they dive to the ground from a nearby, low utility line, snatch their prey, and then immediately back to their station to await another unsuspecting victim. Carolyn, just outside the borders of Hot Springs -- Jacque Brown Centerton Benton, Co AR, bluebird2 AT cox.net Subject: Baltimore Oriole at Fayetteville From: Joe Neal <joeneal AT uark.edu> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 12:31:08 -0600 I photographed a Baltimore Oriole (female type plumage) at my feeder in Fayetteville at noon today. We have at least 2 previous out-of-season records for this species in nwAR. Subject: Arboretum From: Bill Thurman <bill.masterofmusic AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 10:55:13 -0800 just thought I'd mention, especially to those who stay around Little Rock much of the time, that there is a sizeable number of red headed woodpeckers now at the Arboretum near Pinnacle Mountain. they are quite noisy. there are also plenty of red bellies, downies and pileated woodpeckers. there have been winter wrens and white breated nuthatches as well as the numerous cardinals, robins, chickadees, titmice, c. wrens, t. vultures, pine warblers and more of the usual birds. I haven't heard or seen the b. kingfisher yet at the Little Maumelle river. Bill Thurman Subject: horned grebes at lake fayetteville, washington co. From: Carol Joan Patterson <joanie.patterson AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:19:09 -0800 Donald Ouellette and I saw 3 Horned Grebes at Lake Fayetteville yesterday, March 6.  Joanie Patterson Subject: birdboy@ntl.sympatico.ca From: Bob Sargent <RubyThroat AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 08:14:39 EST Arbirders Can anyone help me get in contact with the person (I don't have a name) at this email address. My spam filter or his will not allow us to exchange emails. If you know the identity and/or a phone number will you please share that with me. The unknown person is at _birdboy AT ntl.sympatico.ca_ (mailto:birdboy AT ntl.sympatico.ca) Thanks for allow me to post this odd request. Bob Sargent Clay, Alabama 205-681-2888 Subject: Sightings: Images from this weekend From: Jim Dixon <jamesdixonlr AT att.net> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 21:44:36 -0600 Here are some images gleaned from Two Rivers Park, Lake Dardanelle, and Cook's Landing this weekend. I hope you enjoy them. Mute Swan http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4385 http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4388 Wood Duck http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4382 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4400 http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4397 Fox Sparrow http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4412 Eastern Meadowlark http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4409 Carolina Chickadee http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4379 Eastern Phoebe http://jamesdixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=4391 -- Jim Dixon Little Rock, AR www.JamesDixon.us See my recent images at http://JamesDixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=1814 Subject: American Golden-Plover From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 16:33:24 -0600 This afternoon Kathleen and I saw one American Golden-Plover at Cadron Flats below Beaverfork Lake. Also 14 Mallards, in seven pairs all far apart busy mate guarding. You can't trust duck neighbors. And a new yard bird, Rusty Blackbirds. -- Allan Mueller 20 Moseley Lane Conway, AR 72032 501-327-8952 Be sincere, even if you don't mean it... Subject: Birds in Art From: Bill Shepherd <stoneax63 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 15:50:41 -0600 Arbirders: If you take pleasure in good bird art, as I do, you may be interested in seeing a traveling exhibit of bird art that is scheduled to open Tuesday, March 9, at the Museum of the Red River in Idabel, OK, and to remain there through May 15. http://www.museumoftheredriver.org/exhibits.html Most importantly, the exhibit will still be open in Idabel when the Arkansas Audubon Society meets in Hope, April 30-May 2. The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum of Wausau, Wisconsin, has long specialized in bird-themed art and puts together a new exhibit titled "Birds in Art" every fall. The exhibit is shown first in Wausau, where I saw it in October of 2009. Then it goes on tour. The curator of the Museum of the Red River served on the jury that selected the pieces for the 2009 show; thus the Museum of the Red River is one of the stops on the current tour. At least 100 pieces of art were included in the 2009 show. Sixty of them are touring. Most of them are paintings in various media, but several are sculptures. If memory serves me well, only living artists are represented in the show. For more about the Woodson Museum and its annual "Birds in Art" show, click on http://www.lywam.org/birdsinart/ As many of you know, Idabel is the city closest to Red Slough and is located in extreme southeastern Oklahoma. And some of you may be planning to visit Red Slough anyway while you are in Hope, which is located in southwestern Arkansas. But you might not be welcome in the museum if you showed up in muddy boots after a visit to Red Slough. So you may need to plan to make two trips from Hope to Idabel. In any case, you can take it from me that the exhibit is outstanding and well worth a drive over to McCurtain County in the "Indian Nation." Bill Shepherd Bill Shepherd 2805 Linden, Apt. 3 Little Rock, Arkansas 72205-5964 Stoneax63 AT hotmail.com (501) 375-3918 Subject: Sightings: Mute Swan on Arkansas River From: Jim Dixon <jamesdixonlr AT att.net> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 12:13:56 -0600 Karen Holliday, Sam Dixon, & I saw a Mute Swan on the Arkansas River at Cook's Landing at 11 AM. He was paddling around rather than just floating downstream so he might be there a while. -- Jim Dixon Little Rock, AR www.JamesDixon.us See my recent images at http://JamesDixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=1814 Subject: Sightings: Mute Swan on AR River From: James Dixon <jamesdixonlr AT att.net> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 12:11:13 EST There is a juvenile MUSW on the river next to Cook's Landing. Downstream from dam. 3/7 AT 11AM. Jim Dixon Little Rock, AR www.JamesDixon.us sent from BlackJack II Subject: Sightings: NW Arkansas - Wood Ducks; Presentation - Doug James From: James Morgan <jlmm AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 19:01:17 -0600 While doing sheep chores this evening saw a flock of small to moderate sized ducks land on a pond on land I lease. Went through the hundreds of clumps of naturalized daffodils; thousands of potential flowers (they popped today and lots of flowers - none last night; sorry Kim about the non-bird note, but it has been a rough winter). The ducks were the first Wood Ducks we have seen on the farm. 9 ducks total (moved to the farm in 1993) Also have been hearing Woodcocks. Saw one Woodcock in the last 8 days when out doing sheep chores at dusk. 1 sighting and 2 nights with calls. Doug James is doing a program on raptors tomorrow at Sunday 4 PM ( I won't be able to attend). Nightbird Books in Fayetteville If I remember the announcement correctly. Cheers, Jim Morgan Fayetteville, AR PS - Sorry Kim - another regression from birds. After 2 years, I now have a squirrel that is outwitting my 7K volt sheep-fence-wired-feeder. I think I can outwit him/her for another few months by reversing the polarity of hot and cold. After two years of a hot-wired feeder and never seeing a squirrel experiencing the shock (but observing that my bird feeder was no longer being hauled away into the woods) this winter (4-6 weeks ago), I had decided that the reward was not to have a destroyed sunflower seed feeder. Then about four weeks ago, finally saw my 1st squirrel experiencing the 7K volts (see sheep handle it on a regular basis; I regularly experience it as well when doing sheep chores in the rain and the fence touching a rain-soaked glove; I experience what the sheep and squirrels experience within the limitations of the difference in grounding based on our footwear). In the last two years, I had decided that I needed to be content with the fact that the squirrels were no longer destroying my sunflower seed feeder and not observing the pleasure (that many of us wish to observe when our efforts to outwit squirrels succeed - in my case 7K volts of an animal electric fence). Karma! Within 4 weeks ago of observing a squirrel get shocked I now have a Plexiglass tube feeder with a big hole chewed in it by a squirrel and the bottom aluminum that holds the sunflower seed in the feeder being hauled into the woods every day. It is my retribution from for receiving pleasure of seeing a squirrel experience 7-8 K volts.(low current/impedance) - when trying to eat sunflower sees out of my feeder. (note with low impedance/current it is not dangerous, just not pleasant. ) This observation goes against all of my 3 degrees in Biology (science). I wish I had not seen that squirrel experiencing the 7K volts. My efforts to keep the squirrels from destroying my bird feeders (I do feed the squirrels with extra bird seed on the ground). But am starting to be convinced that two years of successfully preventing squirrels from destroying my bird feeders without any any observing any of them experiencing 7K volts that my one second observation (with lots of enjoyment of the my gratification of a squirrel being shocked; I work out of my house, so look out of my window at the bird feeders several times/day regularly). : ) Subject: Today at Craighead Forest and the Nature Center From: Mitchell Pruitt <mlpruitt24 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 16:03:39 -0800 Today was a beautiful day for birding! There wasn't a great variety today, but every species was singing. I got a few pictures and saw plenty of butterflies that had overwintered and hatches for spring. ~Mitchell Today's Shots: http://www.pbase.com/mpruitt/fallwinter_20092010 All Galleries: www.pbase.com/mpruitt Location:    Crowley's Ridge Nature Center/Craighead Forest Observation date:    3/6/10 Number of species:    20 Canada Goose 12 Mallard 3 Ruddy Duck 3 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Mourning Dove 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Blue Jay 2 Carolina Chickadee 8 Tufted Titmouse 5 Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 2 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 20 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 10 Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 7 Northern Cardinal 12 Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: SIGHTINGS: Lakes Dardanelle and Maumelle From: Jim Dixon <jamesdixonlr AT att.net> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 19:44:56 -0600 Karen Holliday and I went to Lake Dardanelle Saturday morning and came back by Lake Maumelle. At Lake Dardanelle, we saw about 150 Ruddy Ducks, one adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, one Herring Gull, two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 12 Cedar Waxwings, and one two week early Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Plus plenty of more common birds. At Lake Maumelle, we saw 13 Common Loons, a few Horned Grebes, and the Pacific Loon that has been seen there for several weeks. -- Jim Dixon Little Rock, AR www.JamesDixon.us See my recent images at http://JamesDixon.us/?page_id=4&g2_itemId=1814 Subject: From the Associated Press: Energy groups relieved sage grouse won't be listed From: Barry Haas <bhaas AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 17:17:57 -0600 Dear ARBIRDers, Thought some of you might be interested in yesterday's story "Energy groups relieved sage grouse won't be listed": http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100305/ap_on_re_us/us_sage_grouse Seems to be a difference of opinion among conservations groups on whether or not sage grouse will be adequately protected and the proper protection for the species versus development of new energy sources. From the deep woods just west of Little Rock, Barry Haas Subject: Sightings: Southeast Arkansas From: Dan Scheiman <birddan AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 15:56:40 -0600 Subject: Ouachita County Yard Birds From: Kelly Chitwood <kchitwood AT CABLELYNX.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 08:59:47 -0600 This week we've had an influx of birds. My favorite for the week is the Common Grackle. One has white feathers on it's head, which gives it the appearance of having a crown. Another perched on my feeder by the kitchen window and fed, while I did the same on the inside. I noticed its pupil dilates rapidly. It reminded me of my Red-lored Amazon parrot who's eyes would do the same when she would talk. Do grackles have a shallow depth of field in their vision? Or was it adjusting for the difference of lighting from outside to inside my home, for to better to see me with? Of course, the light colored eyes contrast sharply with their dark pupils, making it more noticeable. It was very interesting how quickly their eyes adjusted! Cheers! Can't wait to go outside today. It's so beautiful. Kelly Chitwood Camden, AR Subject: Eastern Phoebe From: Carolyn Partain <cthedove AT CABLELYNX.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 20:54:26 -0600 Today, March 5, my daughter's birthday, I saw and heard my FOS eastern phoebe. From my kitchen window, we could see it flitting around beneath the entryway cover to my husband's shed. For a while, it was very busy there. My husband thinks it had nest building plans while I thought it might be scavenging for insects. There's no adequate ledge on which it can build in that location. In the afternoon, I heard its familiar two-note song. We enjoy watching them in the summer while sitting on the front deck. Like the neighborhood bluebirds, they dive to the ground from a nearby, low utility line, snatch their prey, and then immediately back to their station to await another unsuspecting victim. Carolyn, just outside the borders of Hot Springs Subject: natural history list and some bird stuff From: George Hoelzeman <vogel AT GRHSTUDIOS.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 21:36:10 -0500 First, I would like to know how to get back on the Arkansas natural history list. I've a long list of questions that are more suitable to that list than this including, but not limited to, fossils, funky stuff in creeks and how to deal with various critters. . . but I digress. Hiked over the place today for the first time in awhile, unless you count tromping through the snow but we didn't see many birds during the snow (too much whooping, hollering, snowballing and sliding down hills apparently). I didn't go in serious pursuit of anything unusual, but did see a fair number of Dark-eyed juncos along the creek in deep woods (I usually see them in more open areas). Also - is it my imagination or are there more Downy and other woodpeckers this year? Maybe its just here and the other place or two I've explored recently, but I've seen a lot of Downys and Sapsuckers. In an unrelated front, our Chipping sparrows were singing as early as the week after the Big Snow. As soon as it got into the upper 40's, even though there was still white stuff on the ground. No quail spotted today, however. Not that it means anything. Sadly, one of the locations the quail favored, along the road into our place, is about to go away. After they decided our land was unsuitable for drilling, they moved across the section line to the north and are constructing the pad there. We get a new road, but since they moved to the next section, no royalties for us, just lots of noise and traffic . . . probably loose the water well too. That's my whining for the day, and the birds that got my attention this week. George (n. Conway Co. where quiet is an endangered experience) Subject: Chimney Swift Reports From: "Jeff R. Wilson" <OLCOOT1 AT aol.com> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 23:16:30 EST The Chimney Swifts are Coming! Dear Associate, The first Chimney Swifts of the season have been sighted on the Gulf Coast retuning from their wintering grounds in South America. As in past years we will be plotting the swifts' movements northward over the next few months. Please let us know when you see the first ones in your area. This year's results will be posted on our web site at: WWW.CHIMNEYSWIFTS.ORG along with past years' efforts. You can help us get the word our by passing this message along to any groups or organizations who might want to contribute. We look forward to hearing from you! Paul and Georgean Kyle Project Directors Driftwood Wildlife Association www.ChimneySwifts.org _Please visit our website! _ (http://cmpgnr.com/r.html?c=1595604&r=1594263&t=949361794&l=1&d=91567841&u=http://www.ChimneySwifts.org&g=0&f=-1) This year's "A Swift Night Out" dates will be August 6,7, 8 and September 10, 11, 12 Subject: Followup on cedar waxwing window strikes From: Steve Taylor <stevertaylor AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 17:36:04 -0800 Incidentally, we have festooned the outside of the windows where the strikes occurred with many strands of pink crepe paper, which seemed to stop the carnage late this afternoon.   We care more about these gorgeous birds than what people think when they drive by on Markham...the streamers stay until the cedar waxwings have stripped the holly tree and moved on!    We tearfully gathered the dead little ones and pray the dazed one will make it through the night.   Subject: Need fast advice about caring for injured cedar waxwing, please! From: Steve Taylor <stevertaylor AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 17:07:48 -0800 Hi, all.  I've been enjoying dozens of cedar waxwings in my yard here in midtown Little Rock the last couple of days as they gorge on holly berries.  But I was horrified to return home this afternoon to find 8 dead and one dazed from strikes with windows on the front of the house.  As I stood in front of the largest window, two more fatal strikes occurred.  I can't begin to describe how this has broken my heart, and my wife's.  They're so beautiful, and some of the dead birds still had holly berries in their beaks.   The dazed one is still acting that way 2 1/2 hours later.  We put it in a cardboard box lined with paper towels, added a dish of water and a holly twig with berries and formed a little open-ended tent with more paper towels to give the bird a sense of shelter.  It's in the garage, safe from cats and night predators.   What else can we do for the injured bird?  When Cindy first touched it, it did flap its wings and fly a foot or so, then became still again.  When she gently pressed against its breast, it hopped into the palm of her hand and didn't struggle during the transfer to the box.  It's sitting upright, blinking and breathing, occasionally looking around, but not much else.  Thanks for your advice!  Subject: Sharp-shinned Hawk From: Mitchell Pruitt <mlpruitt24 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:53:03 -0800 The thought to be Cooper's Hawk that has been visiting my feeder infrequently is not a Cooper's Hawk but a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  I heard its call this afternoon and it turns out to be a S-s.  This is a lifer for me!  I got a decent look this afternoon and am about to go out and try to photograph it. I am also going to try for a S-s at Craighead Forest tomorrow where Ron Howard has seen an adult and two juveniles. ~Mitchell Subject: Great-blue Herons nests on the Ouachita River From: Jeffrey Short <bashman AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 17:54:54 -0600 The GB Heron nest-tree about a mile down from Remmel Dam has only 7 nests at the present time. (Three years ago, I think I recall 27 nests in the same tree in March.) We didn't see any herons on nest but saw a couple fishing on the river. Several hundred Double-crested Cormorants were found along the river. (Too bad for the Rainbow Trout!) Saw a Belted Kingfisher and a Spotted Sandpiper (a few weeks early according to the AAS checklist). Jeff Short Subject: Great-blue Herons nesting From: Jacque Brown <bluebird2 AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 16:15:36 -0600 I drove up through Bella Vista this morning and noticed the Great-blue Herons standing on nests in a small Heron rookery up by Trafalgar St. If you get stopped at that light when driving north you can see it at the back of the golf course to your left. I found my way through the winding streets of Bella Vista last year to see if I could get a better look at the nests from eye level. The houses back up to a cliff and somebody has a great view out their back deck of those trees. Through the branches of street level trees from my car I could see 8 Herons laying on nests situated in three large Sycamore trees and 3 GBH standing around nearby. There are probably 10 nests in one tree and a few in each of the other trees. I also drove by the even smaller Rookery off of Fruitwood Dr near Gravette. There were also birds standing on nests there. You can't get a clear look because of other trees but I think there are probably 10 nests total there. -- Jacque Brown Centerton Benton, Co AR, bluebird2 AT cox.net Subject: on the hated blackbirds front From: Joe Neal <joeneal AT uark.edu> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 14:29:30 -0600 I was up at the Craig state fish hatchery (Centerton, Benton County) this morning. There is a big pond on the west end that has never held water very well and it usually is pretty grassy. It was burned off recently, and the burn was found agreeable by several bird species, including one of the despised ones, Molothrus ater, better known as cowbird. A flock of maybe 250 (including one that is leucistic) were thoroughly enjoying themselves in the short black, no doubt because many seeds are exposed by such burns. Sort of out of the blue in my head, I said, “Hooray for the despised ones.” I’m not sure where this came from, but I enjoyed watching the cowbirds on the burn. Maybe it’s because I also know them as buffalo birds, their old name. I do not blame them individually or collectively for what our species has done to the landscape, leading to an explosion of cowbirds and the explosion of negative impacts (like, Black-capped Vireo decline because cowbirds so heavily parasitize their nests). In terms of the negatives we collectively despise as “cowbirds,” please allow me to note that we are ourselves a bunch of cowbirds. What we see as so negative about M. ater is a reasonable reflection of what Homo sapiens have done, negatively-speaking to this planet. So maybe a little understanding of M. ater could be a useful primer for us to better understand us, H. sapiens. On another of the hated blackbirds front, there were at least 200-300 Great-tailed Grackles around the dairy farms at Vaugn (just south of the hatchery). Today they were as shiny, purple, golden-eyed, and almost impossibly great-tailed, and constantly squeaking, clacking, whistling & generally strutting their stuff so much so of all of this one would have thought spring was on it's way or maybe already arrived. Subject: Purple Martin From: Lynn Nowell <lnowell AT CENTURYTEL.NET> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 08:34:18 -0600 First male of the year sitting on the rack this morning!!! A little late, but that is probably a good thing with the cold we have had! Glad the migration has reached my house. Lynn Nowell-Northern Lonoke County Subject: Eurasian-collared Dove inWLR From: Craig Provost <craig-daleprovost AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 21:11:26 -0600 My first sighting of an E-C Dove in West Little Rock. At the end of work today at the Westlake Office Complex, and also seen by Cindy Franklin. Craig Provost, Little Rock Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - Mar. 2 From: David Arbour <arbour AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 21:03:44 -0600 Berlin Heck and I surveyed birds today at Red Slough and found 74 species. It was overcast, cold, and windy for most of the survey. The sun did finally come out toward evening. We surveyed some different areas today to avoid the cold, moist wind; avoiding the reservoirs which is were we usually spend a lot of time. We walked into the Teal Lake area as it was too wet to drive there. The woodland edge in this area provided a good wind break. We also drove the county roads and visited the south end of Ward Lake. Here is a list of all found today: Canada Goose - 7 Wood Duck - 17 Gadwall - 205 Mallard - 69 Blue-winged Teal - 2 Northern Shoveler - 37 Northern Pintail - 4 Green-winged Teal - 550 Redhead - 1 Ring-necked Duck - 132 Hooded Merganser - 3 Pied-billed Grebe - 14 Neotropic Cormorant - 1 (unit 16E) Double-crested Cormorant - 20 Great Blue Heron - 13 Green Heron - 1 Black Vulture - 6 Turkey Vulture - 34 Bald Eagle - 1 adult Northern Harrier - 3 Red-shouldered Hawk - 2 Red-tailed Hawk - 12 American Kestrel - 1 American Coot - 525 Killdeer - 2 Greater Yellowlegs - 19 Least Sandpiper - 1 Dunlin - 5 Long-billed Dowitcher - 2 Wilson's Snipe - 50 Eastern Screech-Owl - 1 Barred Owl - 1 Belted Kingfisher - 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2 Downy Woodpecker - 2 Northern Flicker - 18 Pileated Woodpecker - 2 Eastern Phoebe - 6 Loggerhead Shrike - 3 Blue Jay - 11 American Crow - 11 Fish Crow - 3 Carolina Chickadee - 5 Tufted Titmouse - 3 Carolina Wren - 3 Winter Wren - 1 singing Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 3 Eastern Bluebird - 17 Hermit Thrush - 1 American Robin - 58 Northern Mockingbird - 2 Brown Thrasher - 6 European Starling - 7 American Pipit - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler - 23 Pine Warbler - 2 Eastern Towhee - 2 Field Sparrow - 4 Savannah Sparrow - 5 Fox Sparrow - 2 Song Sparrow - 22 Swamp Sparrow - 4 White-throated Sparrow - 16 White-crowned Sparrow - 51 Northern Cardinal - 21 Red-winged Blackbird - 25 Eastern Meadowlark - 51 Rusty Blackbird - 5 Brewer's Blackbird - 12 Common Grackle - 4 Brown-headed Cowbird - 7 House Sparrow - 17 Other creatures: Cajun Chorus Frog Spring Peeper Swamp Rabbit Good birding! David Arbour De Queen, Arkansas Visit the Red Slough Website: http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita/natural-resources/redslough/ Personal Photo Galleries: http://www.pbase.com/sloughbirder Subject: Re: Purple Martin Scouts. From: Larry Witherspoon <ldspoon AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 20:48:43 -0600 I was going to ask this question this evening. I have seen and heard NO Purple Martins yet. So what is the scoop? Larry witherspoon _____ From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List [mailto:ARBIRD-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU] On Behalf Of lwatson Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 10:50 AM To: ARBIRD-L AT LISTSERV.UARK.EDU Subject: Purple Martin Scouts. Does anyone have a sighting or a report of the Purple Martin scouts arriving in February? I watched, but never saw nor heard any. Leon Watson, Fouke, AR Subject: Sighting:Coopers Hawk From: Donna Haynes <birdiehaynes AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 19:08:29 -0600 My husband had told me that he saw a hawk attack the bird feeding staion as I was on my way to see the doctor today. I got a diagnosis of sprained neck and shingles. This afternoon, as I lay in the recliner with an ice pack on my neck, I was staring out the window, not really concentraiing on the birds. The hawk, a first-year Coopers Hawk, landed on the platform feeder that sits atop a 4X4 pole. It sat there for about 5 minutes. I thanked the hawk, as for those few minutes, I almost forgot about my pain. Donna Haynes West Pulaski co. Subject: RFI From: Athena Pettingill <athenavan AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 16:20:06 -0800 I took my dog for a walk in the woods this afternoon after work, and I carry my camera with me everywhere I go, I came across a bird that is not common in my area. I walk the woods daily and have not come across this bird before: *   black head and eyes *   back is ashe gray *   belly/abdomen looks cream color *   secondaries have white I have pictures if that may help. Thank you Athena in Jacksonville Subject: RBA--Arkansas-March 2, 2009 From: Warbling Vireo <warblingvireo AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 14:41:10 -0800 -RBA *Arkansas *Statewide *March 2, 2010 *ARST10.03.02   -Species Mentioned   Trumpeter Swan Red-throated Loon Common Loon Pacific Loon Tundra Swan Rock Wren Spotted Towhee Inca Doves Tundra Swan Rufous Hummingbird Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull VARIED THRUSH Sandhill Crane   -Transcript   Welcome to the Arkansas Rare Bird Alert for March 2, 2010, sponsored by the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas (ASCA).  ASCA meets at 7:00pm the second Thursday of each month.  Check the www.ascabird.org website for details on upcoming meetings and field trips.      From around the state recent sightings are:   A VARIED THRUSH visited a feeder in Jonesboro during snow at least January 29 to February 1 or 2, 2010. The bird was photographed at the feeder. Word about this was not shared until well after the bird left so there was no opportunity to allow others to see it.  It was seen was south of the 63 bypass and between Hwy.49S and the Craighead Park/Culberhouse Road area The record, including obvious images, has been reviewed and accepted as a first for the state by Arkansas Audubon Society's bird records committee.   Four Sandhill Cranes have been feeding on the far side of a pasture just north of an Alcoa plant south of Arkadelphia.    A Rufous Hummingbird was bandedin the Oak Grove area of North Little Rock   An adult and an immature Tundra Swan are being seen on a small pond south of Fayetteville.  The pond can be seen shortly after leaving Fayetteville south  on Hwy 540, on the right (west).    Inca Doves were calling at South P and South 25 in Fort Smith.   A Spotted Towheeis being seen at a private home in Little Rock.  Call 501-681-1097 for more information.   The Rock Wren, first found in October 2009, was relocated a few moments ago along the base of the rip rock within 300 yards of the marina in MillwoodState Park.   An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and a first-winter Glaucous Gull are being seen from Delaware Recreation Area at Lake Dardanelle.  Flyover Sandhill Cranes have also been seen in the area.   At Lake Maumelle, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon,  and Pacific Loon continue to be seen from the location about a mile east on AR-10 from the west end of the lake.  A scope is essential. Park at west end of bridge and follow use trail to point.  An adult male Red-breasted Merganser has also been seen in the middle of the lake viewed from the end of the Old Chimney Trail. The immature Tundra Swan is still feeding just west of West Memphis, AR, I-40 Exit #271/Hwy 147. Just about 100 feet north of the exit on Hwy 147, there is an unmarked road to the right.  This road runs parallel to the interstate. Go back east on that road about a mile and there are several flooded fields just north of the road that are full of ducks. Most recently, it was on the east side of the eastern most wet field along the road. Trumpeter Swans are at Lake Magness near Heber Springs for the winter.  For ABA listers, these are countable birds, since they are not released/introduced birds and are part of an established migratory population.    Thanks for calling the Arkansas Rare Bird Alert.  Your contributions make the Rare Bird Aert possible.  If you would like to leave a message, please wait for the chirp.  Good Birding!   Hotline:  Arkansas Date:  March 2, 2010 Phone number:  (501)753-5853 To Report: (501)753-5853, ARBird email discussion list, BRC forms available at ARBirds.org Compiler/Transcriber:  DeLynn Hearn Coverage: Statewide   -End transcript     ________________________________ Subject: Sightings: Stuttgart Airport From: Dan Scheiman <birddan AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 17:19:12 -0600 It was a cold and windy day on the Grand Prairie for my last survey of this winter season at Stuttgart Airport with Bill Shepherd. Bird activity was down due to the wind; sparrows kept low and didn't fly far, making many hard to identify. A few highlights: Le Conte's Sparrow - 2 Loggerhead Shrike - 1 Accipiter sp. - 1 Northern Harrier - 2 Blue-winged Teal - 2 Ribbon Snake - 1, Bill saw it slither through the grass Since our last visit at the end of January, birders from California, Virginia, and Kentucky have visited. The CA birder saw Smith's Longspurs, the other two did not. Most, if not all, of the longspurs have probably left the airport by now. Dan Scheiman Little Rock, AR Subject: Purple Martin Scouts. From: lwatson <lwatson AT SWAT.COOP> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 10:49:53 -0600 Does anyone have a sighting or a report of the Purple Martin scouts arriving in February? I watched, but never saw nor heard any. Leon Watson, Fouke, AR Subject: Piping Plover Photo From: Dottie Boyles <dottie.boyles AT ARKANSAS.GOV> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:46:46 -0600 Does anyone have a good photo of a Piping Plover I can use for the Birding and Watchable Wildlife guide for Parks and Tourism? We are in the process of revising our brochure and the current photo is poor quality. I need the photo ASAP! Thanks, Dottie Dottie Boyles Arkansas Parks & Tourism 1 Capitol Mall Little Rock, AR 72201 501-682-1088 Subject: AARP puzzle address.. From: JoAnne Rife <RifeJA AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:41:15 EST Here is the address for the AARP puzzle..you have to get the right day.. birdy puzzle was March 1st. I hope this is right!! I'm a nerd but not always a geek!!! JASR _http://www.uclick.com/client/mma/uj/_ (http://www.uclick.com/client/mma/uj/) Subject: Official Number of Protected Migratory Bird Species Climbs to More than 1000 From: Kimberly Smith <kgsmith AT uark.edu> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 09:45:41 -0600 The USFWS just announced its update to the list of species protected under MBTA. The attached PDF may also be downloaded at http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/mbta/10-13%20Final%20Rule%201%20March%202010.pdf The USFWS also issued its final rule on the status of Muscovy Duck: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/reg2010/Muscovy%20Duck%20Final%20Rule%201%20March%202010.pdf The rule adds protection for Muscovy Duck but also provides for control in places where it does not occur naturally. Finally, the USFWS has added the Purple Swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) to the list of species protected under the MBTA because the species occurs naturally in an American territory (American Samoa). See http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/RegulationsPolicies/reg2010/Purple%20Swamphen%20Final%20Rule%201%20March%202010.pdf However, under this new rule, the Service will allow removal of Purple Swamphens in the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contacts: Joshua Winchell 703 358-2279 Joshua_winchell AT fws.gov Alicia King 703 358-2522 Alicia_f_king AT fws.gov Official Number of Protected Migratory Bird Species Climbs to More than 1,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Rowan Gould today announced revisions to the list of bird species protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Species appearing on this list are governed under migratory bird hunting and permitting regulations concerning most aspects of possession, transportation, sale, purchase, exportation, and importation of protected species. The list, last updated in 1985, incorporates the latest taxonomic and scientific data for migratory birds. The changes include 186 new additions and 11 subtractions, bringing the total number of species protected under the MBTA to 1007. "This update to the list of federally protected birds reflects the best available science on bird taxonomy and distribution and will help us improve management of our nation's migratory birds," said Gould. "The new list benefits researchers, hunters, conservationists, state agencies, tribal governments, and birdwatchers by extending federal protection to all migratory bird species native to the United States while highlighting advances and changes in bird taxonomy that have accumulated since the list was last published." The Service is the primary federal agency responsible for managing migratory birds. Federal migratory bird regulations, including the list, implement the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which in turn implements treaties with Canada, Mexico, Japan and Russia. All species included on the list are considered federally protected, and governed by federal regulations limiting take (from the wild), possession, and other use. The newly revised list reflects the addition of species based on new evidence of their occurrence in the United States or its territories. The revisions also remove species no longer known to occur within the United States and change some names to conform to accepted usages. The changes also reflect taxonomic revisions to the bird taxa of North America published by the American Ornithologists' Union and changes in the Migratory Bird List incorporate name changes and revisions moving some species from one taxon to another. The final rule can be found online at http://migratorybirds.fws.gov . The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov/ . ********************************************************* Kimberly G. Smith University Professor of Biological Sciences Department of Biological Sciences University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-575-6359 fax: 479-575-4010 email: kgsmith AT uark.edu