Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The Cayuga Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, July 3 at 08:02 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	European Spoonbill,©Tony Disley

3 Jul first shorebirds of the season at Montezuma [Chris Wiley ] 3 Jul Bald Eagle adult @ Stewart [] 2 Jul Railroad Road, 7/2 [Gordon Bonnet ] 02 Jul Possible plover at IC [Anne Hobbs ] 02 Jul Red-tailed Hawk killed [Dave Nutter ] 2 Jul GB Heron Nest pics [Raghuram Ramanujan ] 1 Jul Sora? [Gordon Bonnet ] 30 Jun Birds and snails [Marla Coppolino ] 30 Jun Caspian Terns @ Stewart Park [Dave Nutter ] 30 Jun Kestrel parents and fledglings at Sapsucker Woods [Marla Coppolino ] 30 Jun Beam Hill Bluebird Trumps Swallow ["Lois Chaplin" ] 29 Jun Seneca Falls fairgrounds (Uppie, Grasshopper sparrow) [Paul Hurtado ] 29 Jun Re: Sapsucker Woods Great Blue Heron nest [Linda Orkin ] 29 Jun Sapsucker Woods Great Blue Heron nest [Laura Erickson ] 29 Jun Syracuse RBA [Joseph Brin ] 29 Jun RE: junco nesting in garage? [Dave Nutter ] 29 Jun RE: junco nesting in garage? [Anne Hobbs ] 29 Jun RE: junco nesting in garage? ["Annette Finney" ] 28 Jun Re: junco nesting in garage? [Ken Rosenberg ] 28 Jun junco nesting in garage? [scott coonrod ] 28 Jun Re: junco nesting in garage? [Meena Haribal ] 28 Jun SSW:Kestrel fledglings w/Parents &GBH nestlings & other great views @Sapsucker Woods in Ithaca [Lee Ann van Leer ] 28 Jun ADMIN: Test [Chris Tessaglia-Hymes ] 27 Jun junco nesting in garage? [scott coonrod ] 27 Jun Re: This is a great article for competative birders (and hopefully okay for here [Dave Nutter ] 26 Jun This is a great article for competative birders (and hopefully okay for here [] 26 Jun Acadian Flycatcher [Geo Kloppel ] 26 Jun belated Myers report [Chris Wiley ] 25 Jun Cass/Treman 25 June CASPIAN TERN, etc. [Dave Nutter ] 25 Jun Boatworks Fish Crows [Elaina McCartney ] 24 Jun POSSIBLE King Rail -- Montezuma NWR [Christopher Wood ] 24 Jun Refuge eagles, etc. ["John and Fritzie Blizzard" ] 24 Jun rain crows ["Meena Madhav Haribal" ] 24 Jun rain today? [Geo Kloppel ] 24 Jun Re: Tree Swallow eats snail! [Brenda Best ] 24 Jun Backyard Woodcock ! [Nariman Mistry ] 24 Jun Re: Tree Swallow eats snail! ["Marie P Read" ] 24 Jun Re: Tree Swallow eats snail! ["Marie P Read" ] 24 Jun Pine Siskins returning ["Watt W. Webb" ] 23 Jun Re: Montezuma today [Dave Nutter ] 23 Jun Re: Tree Swallow eats snail! [Dave Nutter ] 23 Jun Montezuma today [Kathy Strickland ] 23 Jun Tree Swallow eats snail! ["Marie P Read" ] 23 Jun Re:rainy crow [Rhea Garen ] 23 Jun Great Crested Flycatchers try again [Geo Kloppel ] 23 Jun Re: cuckoos and rain [Meena Haribal ] 22 Jun FW: eBird Report - Montezuma Mays Point Pool , 6/22/09 ["Joe & Carol Slattery" ] 22 Jun FW: eBird Report - Montezuma NWR - Auto Loop , 6/22/09 ["Joe & Carol Slattery" ] 22 Jun cuckoos and rain [] 22 Jun Syracuse RBA [Joseph Brin ] 22 Jun Re: rain crows [Bard Prentiss ] 22 Jun Re: Rain Crows [Laura Erickson ] 22 Jun Re: Rain Crows [Geo Kloppel ] 22 Jun Rain Crows ["John and Sue Gregoire" ] 21 Jun Montezuma this afternoon] [Chris Tessaglia-Hymes ] 21 Jun Re: rain crows [Meena Haribal ] 21 Jun Re: rain crows [Geo Kloppel ] 21 Jun Foster parents for Tree Swallows ["John and Fritzie Blizzard" ] 21 Jun rain crows [Kevin McGowan ] 21 Jun cuckoos/rain birds/rain crows ["John and Fritzie Blizzard" ] 21 Jun Re: rain birds [Geo Kloppel ] 21 Jun Re: Rain Birds = Cuckoos addition [Meena Haribal ] 21 Jun Rain Birds = Cuckoos Re: cayugabirds-l digest: June 20, 2009 [Meena Haribal ] 21 Jun Re: cayugabirds-l digest: June 20, 2009 [Gerry Rising ] 20 Jun Rain birds [Kathy Strickland ] 19 Jun Red-bellied Woodpecker treat [Elaina McCartney ] 19 Jun ADMIN: Attachments & Rules [Chris Tessaglia-Hymes ] 18 Jun Virginia Rail @ MNWR ["John VanNiel" ] 18 Jun Virginia Rail Sapsucker 61609 [wroberts ] 17 Jun Brown Thrasher feeding on lawn ["W. Larry Hymes" ] 17 Jun May's Point [Barrs ] 17 Jun MNWR this Saturday ["Marie P Read" ] 17 Jun Re: Bird friendly space ["candr1 AT i-bird.com" ] 17 Jun indigos [Nancy Dickinson ] 16 Jun Virginia Rails, American Black Ducks, Brown Thrasher [Dave Nutter ] 15 Jun Re: South Hill Pine Siskin ["B Mcaneny" ] Subject: first shorebirds of the season at Montezuma From: Chris Wiley <cjw95 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 21:02:38 -0400 Tim Lenz and I headed up to Montezuma this afternoon (via a slight detour to see the Mississippi Kite in Montgomery County). Highlights were as follows: * The main pool was still mostly dry (and full of weeds) despite the recent rain. Highlights were 14 BALD EAGLES and 5 SANDHILL CRANES. * The water level at Tschache was very high, with 20-30 BLACK TERNS and many MOORHEN babies being the highlights. * The May's Point pool was mostly dry and contained the best shorebird habitat of anywhere in Montezuma right now. It also contained the first of the Fall's shorebirds: 7 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 5 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS, as well as 2 CASPIAN TERNS. * The water level at the Knox-Marcellus marsh was also very high, but we managed to find one BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON in amongst the 80+ WOOD DUCKS. * Carncross RD had another 2 SANDHILL CRANES. * A wander along the dikes at Marten's Track revealed 8+ calling VIRGINIA RAILS and 1 SORA. There are probably a few other sightings I'm forgetting to mention, but it gives you some idea of what's going on in the usual Montezuma birding localities. Happy Birding, Chris Wiley -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Bald Eagle adult @ Stewart From: 6072292158 AT VTEXT.COM Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:43:33 -0400 (EDT) Bald Eagle adult AT Stewart Park 1020am dead tree south side --Dave Nutter by phone -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Railroad Road, 7/2 From: Gordon Bonnet <jaggy227 AT fltg.net> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:00:27 -0400 Hi all, Spent a couple of hours at Railroad Road, Savannah, this morning. If you go, be forewarned; I haven't seen so many hungry mosquitoes since the last time I was in Belize during the rainy season. They were EVERYWHERE. On a happier note, I had splendid views of a Virginia Rail, sitting (as a matter of fact) right in the middle of the road, preening. So much for their being elusive. I had had quick views twice earlier, once (probably the same bird) with a chick, darting off into the grass in about the same spot; and a second bird, further along the road (past the yellow gate) -- momentary views. Then, this five minute sitting there, not a care in the world, acting as if I wasn't there staring at it. I wasn't so lucky with the Soras. They're there; I heard at least three different individuals, but the vegetation was so dense that I never saw one. Right before I left, I was probably no more than ten feet away from _two_ of them (they called virtually simultaneously) and still couldn't even catch a glimpse. Other than that: I saw what I think was a Winter Wren -- tiny (even by wren standards) and very dark. Heard and saw Common Yellowthroats, Yellow Warblers, and lots of the other usual suspects. I'd really like to try again for the Soras. I'm busy tomorrow -- but if anyone would like to give it a shot, I'll probably go back up either Saturday or Sunday morning. I'll bring bug repellent this time. cheers, Gordon Bonnet Trumansburg NY -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Possible plover at IC From: Anne Hobbs <arh27 AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:04:01 -0400 For what it's worth... I received a call from a woman at Ithaca College this morning who thinks she saw a Piping or a Ringed Plover at the Chapel Pond on the Ithaca College campus yesterday morning at 9 am while she was walking her dog. She based her ID on behavior and general size and shape and says she's familiar with plovers from many years spent on the shore in Massachusetts. Anne -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Red-tailed Hawk killed From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:22:16 -0700 I received this from a friend on 1 July: Subject: GB Heron Nest pics From: Raghuram Ramanujan <raghu AT cs.cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 00:44:14 -0400 I've been trying to photograph the Great Blue Heron family in Sapsucker Woods for a while now, but have been repeatedly foiled by poor light, a lack of action, rain, laziness, other commitments and oftentimes, a combination of the above. Not so today -- the stars seemed to finally align and the rain-clouds that seem to have set up a permanent residence in the skies above Ithaca parted for a brief couple of hours right around sunset. And the family put on quite a show in the warm evening light (there was even a rainbow for a while that unfortunately disappeared before I could set up). Click on the pictures for bigger versions. Feeding frenzy (spot the runt!): http://rramanujan.smugmug.com/gallery/7409224_tA5Rn#579786725_cMDee Post-dinner squabble: http://rramanujan.smugmug.com/gallery/7409224_tA5Rn#579786843_aJq5j On a side note, has anyone encountered the Virgina Rail family of late? I think the last I saw/heard them was about 10 days ago, so if there have been more recent sightings, I'd love to know. Thanks! Raghu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Sora? From: Gordon Bonnet <jaggy227 AT fltg.net> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:57:36 -0400 I'm (finally) off for the summer, and was wondering if anyone might know a spot that was a reasonably high possibility for Sora. (I know they're difficult to see.) It's the last regular breeder in the Cayuga Basin that I've never seen, and I'd like to give it a shot! Thanks for any advice. cheers, Gordon Bonnet Trumansburg NY -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Birds and snails From: Marla Coppolino <marlacoppolino AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:56:03 -0400 Hello, I recently joined this list and have interest in a posting from last week, on the tree swallow that was feeding on a snail. Fascinating, as swallows are insectivores! Land snails are an important source of calcium for some species of birds, and could very well also be prey for bird species that don't necessarily specialize in them. Whether a bird consumes both the snail's shell and soft body, or just the soft body alone, the bird still obtains calcium. The snail's soft body is rich in calcium -- it needs to be, as it requires this element available for building its shell, making repairs to the shell, laying eggs, and producing mucus (which contains a good bit of calcium). The better-known land snail consumers include thrushes and turkeys. I would be greatly interested to hear if anyone else has observed these or other birds eating snails! Thank you, Marla -- Marla L. Coppolino Ithaca, New York Website: http://mypage.siu.edu/mlcopp/ Email: marlacoppolino AT gmail.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Caspian Terns @ Stewart Park From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:58:47 -0700 Birds seen at Stewart Park on a slow taxi day included 7 CASPIAN TERNS on or flying near the red lighthouse jetty along with many RING-BILLED GULLS, 1 adult DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT on a dead tree across the mouth of Fall Creek from the Cascadilla Boathouse, and many CANADA GEESE on and offshore at Stewart Park along with two ringers - the usual Canada X domestic Greylag hybrid and also a hulking huge white domestic goose with a big knob on its orange bill. --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Kestrel parents and fledglings at Sapsucker Woods From: Marla Coppolino <marlacoppolino AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:40:44 -0400 Hello, I enjoyed the bird walk last Sunday at Sapsucker Woods, led by Lee Ann van Leer and Angelika Beckmann. It was a great day and I was fortunate to photograph the kestrel parents and their fledglings. Here are the links: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bella_chiocciola/3675146010/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bella_chiocciola/3675145966/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bella_chiocciola/3674337969/ Enjoy! Marla -- Marla L. Coppolino Ithaca, New York Website: http://mypage.siu.edu/mlcopp/ Email: marlacoppolino AT gmail.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Beam Hill Bluebird Trumps Swallow From: "Lois Chaplin" <lec4 AT cornell.edu> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:51:16 -0400 In an unusual turn of events, a Bluebird took possession of a nest box occupied by a Tree Swallow to raise a family. Earlier this spring, a first year Tree Swallow set up home in a nest box in the back yard. Neighbors Jim and Dorothy banded her and determined this was her first year. I kept track of the nest and soon there were five swallow eggs in the nest. A while later when I checked the box, there was a new nest built on top of the egg-filled nest. And, a few days later, there were four blue eggs in the nest. Jim and Dorothy reported that they found Mrs. Tree Swallow in another nest box about a quarter mile away, apparently making yet another attempt at a family. I'm not sure what the latest development is with her second attempt. The bluebirds, however, have hatched (three of four). Mrs. Bluebird has found the suet feeder on the back deck to be a good source of dining materials for her chicks. She's not interested in the freeze dried mealworms and doesn't seem to notice that there are live, wiggling ones in the mix, either. Alas, these little birds will grow up thinking they're woodpeckers. But, they're from bold stock. Lois Chaplin Beam Hill -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Seneca Falls fairgrounds (Uppie, Grasshopper sparrow) From: Paul Hurtado <pauljh AT cam.cornell.edu> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:30:03 -0400 Hi folks, On my way back from Syracuse this a.m. I took a detour down 90 to stop by the Seneca Falls fairgrounds and surroundings to see if I could catch a glimpse of Upland Sandpiper for the year. While most of it is mowed, the northern areas are full of flowers (lots of weeds - but still some nice looking habitat!) and tall grasses, which hosted lots of SAVANNAH SPARROWS, BOBOLINKS (nice photo ops w/ all the tall grass and flowers - I didn't have my camera), 1+ GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, handful of E. MEADOWLARKS, small flock of HORNED LARKS fussing about a kestrel, and 1 (juv?) UPLAND SANDPIPER. Good birding, Paul H. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Sapsucker Woods Great Blue Heron nest From: Linda Orkin <wingmagic16 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:07:35 -0400 These are fantastic pictures detailing the maturing of these little ones and the supreme parenting skills of this pair. Thanks to Laura for her continued documenting of a great SSW event and I, for one,am very glad you got your new camera. Linda On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 9:59 PM, Laura Erickson wrote: > I got a little panicky yesterday when I spent a few minutes looking at the > Great Blue Heron nest in Sapsucker Woods and could only locate 3 chicks. The > first of them hatched out on or about June 5, and within a week there were > four chicks. It's unusual for four chicks to survive long, but fishing's > been good and fortunately Great Blue Heron chicks aren't as bent on killing > one another as Great Egret chicks are. Anyway, it was with great relief this > morning that I saw all four chicks in the nest. I put a few more photos up > on Flickr. The ones from today are first on my photostream. Thanks to Ken > Rosenberg, I caught one adult flying in--he saw it coming right as I was > pulling the camera down, so I got back up and trained on the nest in time. > These photos were all taken from the window of one of the conference rooms > on the second floor in the Lab. > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/48014585 AT N00/ > > If you want to see the kinds of fish we've been watching the adults eat and > in turn regurgitate out to the young, I've got a couple of cool shots: > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/48014585 AT N00/3668028419/ (taken through the > window at the Visitor's Center) > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/48014585 AT N00/3634602264/ > > Best, Laura Erickson > > > -- > -- > Laura Erickson > Science Editor > Cornell Lab of Ornithology > 159 Sapsucker Woods Road > Ithaca, NY 14850 > 607-254-1114 > > > There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. > There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of > nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the > winter. > > --Rachel Carson > > Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Sapsucker Woods Great Blue Heron nest From: Laura Erickson <lle24 AT cornell.edu> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:59:51 -0400 I got a little panicky yesterday when I spent a few minutes looking at the Great Blue Heron nest in Sapsucker Woods and could only locate 3 chicks. The first of them hatched out on or about June 5, and within a week there were four chicks. It's unusual for four chicks to survive long, but fishing's been good and fortunately Great Blue Heron chicks aren't as bent on killing one another as Great Egret chicks are. Anyway, it was with great relief this morning that I saw all four chicks in the nest. I put a few more photos up on Flickr. The ones from today are first on my photostream. Thanks to Ken Rosenberg, I caught one adult flying in--he saw it coming right as I was pulling the camera down, so I got back up and trained on the nest in time. These photos were all taken from the window of one of the conference rooms on the second floor in the Lab. http://www.flickr.com/photos/48014585 AT N00/ If you want to see the kinds of fish we've been watching the adults eat and in turn regurgitate out to the young, I've got a couple of cool shots: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48014585 AT N00/3668028419/ (taken through the window at the Visitor's Center) http://www.flickr.com/photos/48014585 AT N00/3634602264/ Best, Laura Erickson -- -- Laura Erickson Science Editor Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-254-1114 There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. --Rachel Carson Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Syracuse RBA From: Joseph Brin <brinjoseph AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:18:51 -0700 (PDT) RBA * New York * Syracuse * June 29, 2009 * NYSY 2906.09 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): June 22, 2009 - June 29, 2009 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison & Cortland compiled:June 29 AT 4:00 p.m. (EST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org #160 -Monday June 29, 2009 Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of June 22 , 2009 Highlights: ----------- SANDHILL CRANE LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO ORCHARD ORIOLE PROTHONOTARY WRBLER GRASSHOPPER SPARROW MISSISSIPPI KITE (Extralimital) Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) ------------ 6/22: 7 SANDHILL CRANES were seen along the wildlife drive. 6/23: 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen along the wildlife drive. Onondaga County ------------ 6/20: (belated) Many species of birds including 8 species of warbler were found in the Central New York Land Trust’s Mason Hill Preserve in the Town of LaFayette. Highlights were LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH and HOODED WARBLER. 6/28: A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was heard singing on Oran-Delphi Road in the Town of Pompey. Reports of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were also recieved from Slate Hill Road and Beaver Creek Road in south eastern Madison County. It is thought that this years Tent Caterpiller infestation may be bring larger numbers of the YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO than is normal in our area. 6/28: An adult male ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen on Perry Road in the Town of Van Buren. Earlier this week at this sight a pair of ORCHARD ORIOLES was observed feeding young and a second year male was also seen. Oswego County ------------ 6/27: An adult male PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen in the usual site on Toad Harbor Road at the first lagoon. It was seen again the next day. 6/28: 2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen on Silk Road near the Oswego County Airport.. Extralimital ------------ This weeks big news is the pair of MISSISSIPPI KITES found in southern Montgomery County south of Canajoharie. One bird was apparently found as early as June 1 and local farmers have reported seeing and hearing them daily since. One bird was reported again on 6/27 and 2 were seen on 6/28 and it is thought they may be a nesting pair. One bird was seen again today and later reports are certain to come in. Directions th where the birds are being seen are: NYS Thruway to the Canajoharie exit, #28 (not 29 as NYS Birds says). Take Rt.10 south to Maple Town Road and turn left and go about 3 miles to mailbox #919. From here the bird has seen flying overhead and also further east in some dead trees. You may have to wait a while to see the birds. --end transcript -- Joseph Brin Region 5 Baldwinsville, N.Y., U.S.A.. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: RE: junco nesting in garage? From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:52:38 -0700 The full quote about nests of Dark-eyed Junco from Ehrlich is: "Usu in shallow depression with overhead protection, oft against vertical surface, rarely in shrub, tree, or building; of coarse grass, moss, rootlets, forbs, bark, twigs, lined with fine materials." In my experience they tend to nest under a vegetated overhang of a steep or even slightly undercut embankment such as along a road or stream. So although they technically nest on the ground, they aren't averse to heights per se. Their affinity for a bit of roof is not so very different from a Phoebe or Barn Swallow. That's pretty neat to see the way they stretched their typical limits here. The photos of adult and young at the nest helped my mind make the same stretch. --Dave Nutter On Monday, June 29, 2009, at 05:31AM, "Annette Finney" wrote: >Friends of mine in Trumansburg have juncos nesting in their garage, also. >They called me to for help with identification, and I was dubious about >their tentative Junco identification, but Paul Erlich's Handbook for Birders >says Juncos occasionally nest in structures. > >Annette Finney > > >-----Original Message----- >From: bounce-4054028-9876008 AT list.cornell.edu >[mailto:bounce-4054028-9876008 AT list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Ken Rosenberg >Sent: June 28, 2009 11:01 PM >To: scott coonrod; cayugabirds-l AT list.cornell.edu >Subject: Re: junco nesting in garage? > > >Scott, > >Your photos partially confirm my suspicion, as I distinctly remember a pair >of Barn Swallows nesting in the garage of that same pre-school about 7 years >ago. Your pictures are clearly of a junco, and in fact your last pic shows a >streaked juvenile Junco -- BUT the nest they are in is not a junco nest, it >is a Barn Swallow nest (check out photos at: >http://www.northrup.org/photos/swallow/barn-swallow-in-nest%20(1).htm ) > >Very interesting that the juncos obviously used the swallow nest to raise >their brood -- this sort of behavior is not unheard of, but I do not know if >the junco/Barn Swallow cmbo has been documented -- juncos normally nest on >the ground. > >KEN > >At 5:25 PM -0400 6/28/09, scott coonrod wrote: > >Hello again, > >Regarding the Junco nesting in the garage I went back today >and took some pics. The link is below. When I was taking the >pics the male and female were outside at first scolding me in the >garage I got some good pics of the female (i think) on the nest >and around the garage. I also got a pic of the mom and a fledgling >at the nest. > > >http://picasaweb.google.com/scottcoonrod/JuncoNesting2009_06_26# > >Looking forward to hearing what people think > >scott > >-- >Scott Coonrod, Ph.D., >Associate Professor of >Reproductive Biology, >Baker Institute for Animal Health, >College of Veterinary Medicine, >Cornell University, >Hungerford Hill Road, >Ithaca NY, 14853 >email: sac269 AT cornell.edu >office: 607-256-5657 >lab: 607-256-5659 > > > >-- >**************************************** >Ken Rosenberg >Director, Conservation Science Program >Cornell Lab of Ornithology >159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, >Ithaca, NY 14850 >(607) 254-2412 >kvr2 AT cornell.edu >**************************************** > > >-- >Cayugabirds-L List Info: >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > >Temporary archive: >http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >-- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: RE: junco nesting in garage? From: Anne Hobbs <arh27 AT cornell.edu> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:35:43 -0400 This is the fourth year in a row that a junco has chosen to build her nest in a hanging basket on our front porch. It's sheltered from the rain, has ready access to trees and shrubs and, except that the parents scold incessantly when I spend any time weeding the garden below, it's a real treat. That said, I'm waiting for her to finish with the hanging basket because the plant in it does much better in full sun! I'll be more careful about which plant I put in that location next year. Anne >Friends of mine in Trumansburg have juncos nesting in their garage, also. >They called me to for help with identification, and I was dubious about >their tentative Junco identification, but Paul Erlich's Handbook for >Birders says Juncos occasionally nest in structures. > >Annette Finney > >-----Original Message----- >From: bounce-4054028-9876008 AT list.cornell.edu >[mailto:bounce-4054028-9876008 AT list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Ken Rosenberg >Sent: June 28, 2009 11:01 PM >To: scott coonrod; cayugabirds-l AT list.cornell.edu >Subject: Re: junco nesting in garage? > >Scott, > >Your photos partially confirm my suspicion, as I distinctly remember a >pair of Barn Swallows nesting in the garage of that same pre-school about >7 years ago. Your pictures are clearly of a junco, and in fact your last >pic shows a streaked juvenile Junco -- BUT the nest they are in is not a >junco nest, it is a Barn Swallow nest (check out photos >at: http://www.northrup.org/photos/swallow/barn-swallow-in-nest%20(1).htm ) > >Very interesting that the juncos obviously used the swallow nest to raise >their brood -- this sort of behavior is not unheard of, but I do not know >if the junco/Barn Swallow cmbo has been documented -- juncos normally nest >on the ground. > >KEN > >At 5:25 PM -0400 6/28/09, scott coonrod wrote: >>Hello again, >> >>Regarding the Junco nesting in the garage I went back today >>and took some pics. The link is below. When I was taking the >>pics the male and female were outside at first scolding me in the >>garage I got some good pics of the female (i think) on the nest >>and around the garage. I also got a pic of the mom and a fledgling >>at the nest. >>http://picasaweb.google.com/scottcoonrod/JuncoNesting2009_06_26# >> >>Looking forward to hearing what people think >> >>scott >> >>-- >>Scott Coonrod, Ph.D., >>Associate Professor of >>Reproductive Biology, >>Baker Institute for Animal Health, >>College of Veterinary Medicine, >>Cornell University, >>Hungerford Hill Road, >>Ithaca NY, 14853 >>email: sac269 AT cornell.edu >>office: 607-256-5657 >>lab: 607-256-5659 > > > >-- >**************************************** >Ken Rosenberg >Director, Conservation Science Program >Cornell Lab of Ornithology >159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, >Ithaca, NY 14850 >(607) 254-2412 >kvr2 AT cornell.edu >**************************************** -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: RE: junco nesting in garage? From: "Annette Finney" <afinney AT hospicare.org> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:31:53 -0400 Friends of mine in Trumansburg have juncos nesting in their garage, also. They called me to for help with identification, and I was dubious about their tentative Junco identification, but Paul Erlich's Handbook for Birders says Juncos occasionally nest in structures. Annette Finney -----Original Message----- From: bounce-4054028-9876008 AT list.cornell.edu [mailto:bounce-4054028-9876008 AT list.cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Ken Rosenberg Sent: June 28, 2009 11:01 PM To: scott coonrod; cayugabirds-l AT list.cornell.edu Subject: Re: junco nesting in garage? Scott, Your photos partially confirm my suspicion, as I distinctly remember a pair of Barn Swallows nesting in the garage of that same pre-school about 7 years ago. Your pictures are clearly of a junco, and in fact your last pic shows a streaked juvenile Junco -- BUT the nest they are in is not a junco nest, it is a Barn Swallow nest (check out photos at: http://www.northrup.org/photos/swallow/barn-swallow-in-nest%20(1).htm ) Very interesting that the juncos obviously used the swallow nest to raise their brood -- this sort of behavior is not unheard of, but I do not know if the junco/Barn Swallow cmbo has been documented -- juncos normally nest on the ground. KEN At 5:25 PM -0400 6/28/09, scott coonrod wrote: Hello again, Regarding the Junco nesting in the garage I went back today and took some pics. The link is below. When I was taking the pics the male and female were outside at first scolding me in the garage I got some good pics of the female (i think) on the nest and around the garage. I also got a pic of the mom and a fledgling at the nest. http://picasaweb.google.com/scottcoonrod/JuncoNesting2009_06_26# Looking forward to hearing what people think scott -- Scott Coonrod, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Reproductive Biology, Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Hungerford Hill Road, Ithaca NY, 14853 email: sac269 AT cornell.edu office: 607-256-5657 lab: 607-256-5659 -- **************************************** Ken Rosenberg Director, Conservation Science Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 254-2412 kvr2 AT cornell.edu **************************************** -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: junco nesting in garage? From: Ken Rosenberg <kvr2 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:35 -0400 Scott, Your photos partially confirm my suspicion, as I distinctly remember a pair of Barn Swallows nesting in the garage of that same pre-school about 7 years ago. Your pictures are clearly of a junco, and in fact your last pic shows a streaked juvenile Junco -- BUT the nest they are in is not a junco nest, it is a Barn Swallow nest (check out photos at: http://www.northrup.org/photos/swallow/barn-swallow-in-nest%20(1).htm ) Very interesting that the juncos obviously used the swallow nest to raise their brood -- this sort of behavior is not unheard of, but I do not know if the junco/Barn Swallow cmbo has been documented -- juncos normally nest on the ground. KEN At 5:25 PM -0400 6/28/09, scott coonrod wrote: >Hello again, > >Regarding the Junco nesting in the garage I went back today >and took some pics. The link is below. When I was taking the >pics the male and female were outside at first scolding me in the >garage I got some good pics of the female (i think) on the nest >and around the garage. I also got a pic of the mom and a fledgling >at the nest. > >http://picasaweb.google.com/scottcoonrod/JuncoNesting2009_06_26# > >Looking forward to hearing what people think > >scott > >-- >Scott Coonrod, Ph.D., >Associate Professor of >Reproductive Biology, >Baker Institute for Animal Health, >College of Veterinary Medicine, >Cornell University, >Hungerford Hill Road, >Ithaca NY, 14853 >email: sac269 AT cornell.edu >office: 607-256-5657 >lab: 607-256-5659 -- **************************************** Ken Rosenberg Director, Conservation Science Program Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 254-2412 kvr2 AT cornell.edu **************************************** -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: junco nesting in garage? From: scott coonrod <sac269 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:25:10 -0400 Hello again, Regarding the Junco nesting in the garage I went back today and took some pics. The link is below. When I was taking the pics the male and female were outside at first scolding me in the garage I got some good pics of the female (i think) on the nest and around the garage. I also got a pic of the mom and a fledgling at the nest. http://picasaweb.google.com/scottcoonrod/JuncoNesting2009_06_26# Looking forward to hearing what people think scott -- Scott Coonrod, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Reproductive Biology, Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Hungerford Hill Road, Ithaca NY, 14853 email: sac269 AT cornell.edu office: 607-256-5657 lab: 607-256-5659 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: junco nesting in garage? From: Meena Haribal <mmh3 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:31:19 -0400 Probably Junco's used old nest of swallows with some modification? Meena At 05:25 PM 6/28/2009, scott coonrod wrote: >Hello again, > >Regarding the Junco nesting in the garage I went back today >and took some pics. The link is below. When I was taking the >pics the male and female were outside at first scolding me in the >garage I got some good pics of the female (i think) on the nest >and around the garage. I also got a pic of the mom and a fledgling >at the nest. > > >http://picasaweb.google.com/scottcoonrod/JuncoNesting2009_06_26# > >Looking forward to hearing what people think > >scott > >-- >Scott Coonrod, Ph.D., >Associate Professor of >Reproductive Biology, >Baker Institute for Animal Health, >College of Veterinary Medicine, >Cornell University, >Hungerford Hill Road, >Ithaca NY, 14853 >email: sac269 AT cornell.edu >office: 607-256-5657 >lab: 607-256-5659 Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 webpage: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mmh3/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/mothsofithaca.html http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ http://haribal.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/wildwest+trip+August+2007+.pdf Current Loc: 42o 25' 44.48" N, 76o 28' 16.90" W Elev 816 ft or 248.7 m Formerly: 19o 0' 41,65" N, 72o 51' 13.02" E Elev 33 ft or 10m -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: SSW:Kestrel fledglings w/Parents &GBH nestlings & other great views @Sapsucker Woods in Ithaca From: Lee Ann van Leer <lavl AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:39:10 -0400 (EDT) I co-lead the 7:30AM bird walk at Sapsucker Woods today. It was an outstanding day for viewing birds as most were very cooperative for viewing. Highlights: AMERICAN KESTRELS (4) Kips Barn: When at end of Owens Observation platform facing Kips Barn if you looked to the left there are 3 dead trees and the 2 fledglings and 2 parents were all in the 3rd to the right dead tree in background. If I have time I'll upload photos to flickr.com and send a link. The parents kept flying in and out (I went back after walk and they were still there). The fledglings are doing begging calls and testing their wings and trying to steady themselves with tail feather motions. GREAT BLUE HERON (4) one adult and 3 nestlings standing in the nest on the Sapsucker Woods Pond. For those that haven't been out to see the nest yet its in a large dead snag in the middle of the pond. Best viewable from the Sherwood Observation Platform on Wilson Trail (the birds stand on that side of the trunk). In the bushes/trees on Wilson Trail right near beginning of Owens O. Platform we had great views of several YELLOW WARBLERS. Males singing and males and females out in the open chasing each other around. There is a HOUSE WREN in and around the more traditional of the two chickadee NEST BOXES that is by the sign about Chickadees. Also very cooperative with views were one male RED-EYED VIREO, juvenile YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, AMERICAN REDSTARTS, GRAY CATBIRD, TUFTED-TITMOUSE, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, COWBIRDS, CANADA GEESE w/ 2 goslings, MALLARD DUCKS w/ducklings, CEDAR WAXWINGS We also viewed LEAST FLYCATCHER, WOOD THRUSH, VEERIES, WARBLING VIREO, NORTHERN CARDINAL, AMERICAN ROBINS, TREE SWALLOWS,BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, MOURNING DOVES, GRACKLES, female PURPLE FINCH at feeders,DOWNY WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, FIELD SPARROW Heard: GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, OVENBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, EASTERN WOOD PEEWEES, EASTERN PHOEBES, BLUE JAYS, HAIRY WOODPECKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NON BIRDS-- Great view of snapping turtle sunning itself on a little sidewalk next to the lab, Eastern Chipmunks, Grey Squirrels, Eastern Cottontail rabbit, FROGS, FROGS, & more FROGS! Dragonflies & more. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: ADMIN: Test From: Chris Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 09:53:03 -0400 This is only a test. You may delete this message. -- Chris Tessaglia-Hymes Listowner, Cayugabirds-L Ithaca, New York cth4 AT cornell.edu http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: junco nesting in garage? From: scott coonrod <sac269 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:48:11 -0400 Hello All. This is my first time posting here. We were just doing and end of the year clean up at our daughters preschool off of Warren road and we noticed what appeared to be a JUNCO nesting in the rafters of the garage. The nest was not made of grass and twigs but instead the nest was mud-based like a swallows nest. I got a close look at the bird so I am sure it was a Junco and not a swallow. Has anyone heard to this type of nesting before for Juncos' Thanks in advance for the help! -- Scott Coonrod, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Reproductive Biology, Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Hungerford Hill Road, Ithaca NY, 14853 email: sac269 AT cornell.edu office: 607-256-5657 lab: 607-256-5659 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: This is a great article for competative birders (and hopefully okay for here From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:43:22 -0700 From: "Dave Nutter" To: Date: June 26, 2009 09:19:54 PM PDT Subject: Re: This is a great article for competative birders (and hopefully okay for here By changing the "h" to a "b" (so it refers to the ISBN number of the book) I got a reference to the book containing the essay, but not the essay itself. --Dave Nutter On Friday, June 26, 2009, at 07:55PM, wrote: >Hi Birders, >A friend, knowing my addition to my unfortunate competitive birding, sent >me this short story titled "Skill Display in Birding Groups" by Bert O. >States. It is from BEST ESSAYS FOR 2005 in case the website link doesn't >work. The link is _http://www.powells.com/biblio?ishn=9780618357.130_ >(http://www.powells.com/biblio?ishn=9780618357.130) . Hope it downloads okay for >everyone. I totally enjoyed it and laughed quite a bit. Enjoy! >Best, >Ann Mitchell >Ithaca, NY > >**************Stay connected and tighten your budget with a great mobile >device for under $20. Take a Peek! >(http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100122638x1222405996x1201457362/aol?redir=http://www.getpeek.com/aol) > >-- >Cayugabirds-L List Info: >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > >Temporary archive: >http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >-- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: This is a great article for competative birders (and hopefully okay for here From: Alm9413 AT aol.com Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:55:28 EDT Hi Birders, A friend, knowing my addition to my unfortunate competitive birding, sent me this short story titled "Skill Display in Birding Groups" by Bert O. States. It is from BEST ESSAYS FOR 2005 in case the website link doesn't work. The link is _http://www.powells.com/biblio?ishn=9780618357.130_ (http://www.powells.com/biblio?ishn=9780618357.130) . Hope it downloads okay for everyone. I totally enjoyed it and laughed quite a bit. Enjoy! Best, Ann Mitchell Ithaca, NY **************Stay connected and tighten your budget with a great mobile device for under $20. Take a Peek! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100122638x1222405996x1201457362/aol?redir=http://www.getpeek.com/aol) -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Acadian Flycatcher From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:00:45 -0400 A violent storm at 5 pm yesterday knocked out power in my West Danby neighborhood. It has taken NYSEG 14 hours to restore service. The severe weather pushed some wildlife around. My Blue Jays' nest was disturbed, and seems to be empty this morning. Probably the storm was responsible, but possibly some follow-up role was played by the raccoon that I found sheltering in the "attic" of my little chicken coop nearby. An ACADIAN FLYCATCHER appeared briefly by the pond. It gave just one explosive song, without which I might have overlooked it entirely. As it flew from perch to perch, it demonstrated those quiet twittering sounds once described here by Karl David, which are not mentioned in any of the books I have at hand. I'm not sure what I could have done if the cuckoos had warned me of the impending storm - apart from closing some windows - but I heard nothing out of them. Again this morning they said not a thing in advance of the rain that is now streaming down. -Geo Geo Kloppel Bowmaker & Restorer 227 Tupper Road Spencer NY 14883 607 564 7026 gek2 AT cornell.edu geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: belated Myers report From: Chris Wiley <cjw95 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:47:06 -0400 I checked Myers Pt, Lansing, yesterday afternoon during the heavy storm, where four adult CASPIAN TERNS were flying around for the entire time (unlike the Ring-billed Gulls, which were sensibly sitting it out). As Dave Nutter suggested, I guess these are failed breeders that are returning early. Chris Wiley Ithaca -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Cass/Treman 25 June CASPIAN TERN, etc. From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:27:00 -0700 This evening (Thurs 25 June 2009) after the storm I took a leisurely bike ride around Cass Park and to the lakeshore beyond the marina at Treman State Marine Park. On the red lighthouse jetty among the many RING-BILLED GULLS was a single CASPIAN TERN, which I'm guessing to be a southbound unsuccessful breeder. Other fun birds I encountered included 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS on the white lighthouse jetty and the lakeshore, a pair of CEDAR WAXWINGS atop a tree on the lakeshore, a female PILEATED WOODPECKER at eye-level on the trunk of cottonwood along the inlet, a BELTED KINGFISHER flying next to the jetty woods, a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in a tree not far from the Hangar Theatre, one EASTERN KINGBIRD flying slowly and noisily toward Cass Park from the golf course and another calling from a treetop, a male EASTERN BLUEBIRD dropping from the back of a park bench to grab food in the lawn, NORTHERN FLICKERS also poking in the lawn for food, the distant song of a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, a CHIMNEY SWIFT high overhead along with BARN and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS which also flew inches from the ground, CHIPPING SPARROWS singing from the pavement, YELLOW WARBLERS chasing among the foliage, invisible GRAY CATBIRDS and WARBLING VIREOS... ...but the most satisfying experience was some unsolicited praise for the birding kiosk from a couple of acquaintances. They said that just before it went in they'd been notiicng lots of birds, then found that it helped them to identify them. I remarked how glad that made me because I'd never before been sure if anyone ever read it or used it, and they said that in fact they liked it so much that one had photographed each panel to send to her mother! --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Boatworks Fish Crows From: Elaina McCartney <Elaina.McCartney AT cornell.edu> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:31:36 -0400 I've been working on my boat early mornings at Cayuga Wooden Boatworks, the old boathouse that has one long side open on Cayuga Inlet near the hulk "Spirit of Ithaca". There are 2-3 adolescent Fish Crows that hang around off and on inside the metal building up in the rafters--they're free to fly in and out on the open side that faces the water. I believe they're adolescents because (1) they flap their wings in a begging way up in the rafters, and (2) their voices crack sometimes when they're yelling! What they appear to be doing in the building is playing with the echo of the large old metal structure. They come inside, start with a soft quacking sound, and then crescendo to an enormous deafening echoing racket that sounds like intentional fun to me, back and forth imitating each other and outdoing each other, louder and louder. It's so dark and echo-y in there I can't tell if it's 2 or 3, or maybe 2 young, and an adult whose presence elicits the begging/flapping. The boathouse is also quite a haven for Barn Swallows. Elaina -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: POSSIBLE King Rail -- Montezuma NWR From: Christopher Wood <pinicola AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:21:22 -0400 I received the following email in response to a report of a possible King Rail that was reported to eBird from Montezuma NWR--Tschache Pool on the 20th of June, seen by Linda Tuyn. Given that a family of Virginia Rails was at Sapsucker Woods and wasn't noticed until the young fledged, it certainly seems possible that a similar situation could happen with King Rails at Montezuma. Here is her email with some details. --CLW Thank you so much for your email -- I am a beginner so I was reluctant to even report it, but I thought others would want to know, or maybe it had already been seen. I was using my Peterson guide and then checked online at CLO and in a Smithsonian guide when I got home, and particularly wondered if I was looking at a Virginia Rail (or Clapper) instead, but the cheeks as well as chest were rusty red (not grey), and it was more the size of a chicken like the book says -- say 15 or 16 inches. A bill long and pointy (not like a Sora's), but not as long as a godwit or curlew. Not as squat as a redknot. I have seen quite a few shorebirds (willets, yellowlegs, dunlin, turnstones,etc) in Florida and knew I hadn't seen this before. Location was in the reeds pretty much right in front of the platform, but they couldn't have been seen from there -- I had walked north to the chained off road along the side and was walking back when the adult came out of a clearing in the reeds and was followed by 2 completely black chicks, a bit unsteady on feet and legs that looked too long for their bodies! I was probably 40 feet away but used my binocs till they disappeared into the rushes after crossing about 10 feet in the clear. I got a better look at adult from the front and its right side than from the back, so I can't give a good description of its back or tail. The stunning features were how rusty red most of the body was, the size, and behavior of poking at the marsh w/ a longish bill. I'm perfectly prepared to hear I'm wrong (that maybe it was a large Virginia rail? or a hybrid?) -- but I hope it's okay that I reported what I saw, to the best of my limited ability. Thank you! I have to go out of town tomorrow, so if you write and don't hear back, it's because I may not have email access. -- Chris Wood eBird / AKN Project Leader Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York http://ebird.org http://www.avianknowledge.net/ Senior Leader, WINGS http://wingsbirds.com/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Refuge eagles, etc. From: "John and Fritzie Blizzard" <job121830 AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:31:46 -0400 Birds sighted by Kathy Strickland on Tues. are basically the same as my son, Jim, & I, saw late Mon. afternoon. We had 6 sandhills, maybe 200 mallards, a pb grebe, lots of Canadas, & 8-10 juvie eagles on the ground plus several others in the air. Jim was amazed at the no. of carp in the waters of the main pool & at Mays (also about dry) & at the spillway. As did Kathy, I also counted no fewer than 80 GBHs at Mays in just 1/2 of the area looking from the center of the pool to the left of the platform. Some appeared to be juvies. Also had 6 egrets. Knox-Marcellus/East Rd. had a couple woodies, at least a doz. nesting cormorants & also a nesting COOT! Mon. was so very windy we really didn't expect to see many birds but there was no shortage. Had 6 ospreys in view along the river at Larue's. Fellow birders ..... I intend to continue to call that pool/marsh LARUE'S LAGOON no matter what name gets tagged on it! Are you with me??? Larue deserves the honor as long as he lives. By the way, the wildflowers at the visitor's center are absolutely gorgeous .... a photographer's delight. Mine, TOO!!! Fritzie -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: rain crows From: "Meena Madhav Haribal" <mmh3 AT cornell.edu> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:03:07 -0400 (EDT) Geo, May be you want to ask them to keep quiet if they are asking for rain. I don't want rain so soon. At least make sure this week-end they don't call :-) Meena -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: rain today? From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:48:33 -0500 My neighborhood "rain crows" (both species of cuckoos) are singing frequently this morning. If I understood the recent discussion, competing folksisms offer us a choice of mutually exclusive interpretations. Either 1) they're excited to song because they perceive that it's going to rain, or 2) they're pleading for rain because the day is more warm and sultry than any we've had lately. Strange, it's late June, but I feel an unaccountable urge to plant some radishes... -Geo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Tree Swallow eats snail! From: Brenda Best <bestbird AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:32:32 -0400 Yes, the snail shells were in the nest cup and very much deceased. No matter discernible in the shell. I'm not too sure about the chicks not getting the calcium, though. I have no way of knowing if every snail was regurgitated. After a project conducted by the Lab involving offering common household chicken eggshells, I have continued to place out crushed shells around my property. I have seen swallows take these pieces to nestboxes as well. (When I take the bag out of the freezer in spring, I'm amazed at how much I've collected through the year.) Brenda -- Brenda Best Durhamville, NY 13054 bestbird AT verizon.net -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Backyard Woodcock ! From: Nariman Mistry <nbm2 AT cornell.edu> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:03:59 -0400 Yesterday afternoon we were showing a visitor around our backyard, which includes some very wet areas at the back, and bordering a seasonal stream. We were amazed to surprise a woodcock that flew up from the undergrowth near the stream. This was a first for our yard. We have never seen or heard a woodcock in our yard in our 41 years here. (Ellis Hollow Rd.) Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that we installed a deer fence last winter, and the deer have been discouraged from walking along the stream -- though both the stream and the woodcock's hiding place are just outside the fence. Nari & Gin Mistry -- Nari B. Mistry, Ithaca, New York For my paintings, see http://www.artbynari.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Tree Swallow eats snail! From: "Marie P Read" <mpr5 AT cornell.edu> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:38:03 -0400 (EDT) HI all, For those interesting in pursuing the fascinating if esoteric topic of hirundid molluscophagy (ay? wot???), I found this reference in The American Midland Naturalist 144(1):216-219. 2000 online at: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1674/0003-0031%282000%29144%5B0216%3ANTSTBD%5D2.0.CO%3B2 _________ Nestling Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) Diets in an Upland Old Field in Western Michigan MATTHEW E. JOHNSON and MICHAEL P. LOMBARDO1 Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan 49401. Abstract We collected and identified 1852 prey items from 89 boluses delivered to 62 nestling tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) at 14 nests in an upland old field in western Michigan. We found that 90.8% of nestling diets was insects from the Orders Diptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera and Coleoptera. We also found clam and snail shells in boluses. Over the most common brood sizes of 4–6 nestlings, brood size was inversely proportional to the number of items per bolus delivered to nestlings although mean dry and mean organic weight of boluses did not differ. Bolus composition was not influenced by weather conditions. Nestling diets at our study site were similar in the proportions of many prey items, such as Diptera and Homoptera, to tree swallow nestling diets in other habitats but contained fewer aquatic forms such as Odonata and Ephemeroptera. __________ Marie Marie Read Wildlife Photography 452 Ringwood Road Freeville NY 13068 USA Phone 607-539-6608 e-mail mpr5 AT cornell.edu http://www.marieread.com http://www.agpix.com/mari -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Tree Swallow eats snail! From: "Marie P Read" <mpr5 AT cornell.edu> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:11:18 -0400 (EDT) Brenda best wrote: > Many times I've found small snail shells in Tree Swallow nests while > cleaning out boxes after fledging. I believe the chicks regurgitate > them. That would be too bad because it means the swallows aren't actually benefitting from the calcium! Are the shells actually in the nest cup? How soon after fledging do you clean out the boxes? What I'm getting at is whether there is a chance the snails may be just "roosting" in the boxes after they're vacated. Thanks Marie Marie Read Wildlife Photography 452 Ringwood Road Freeville NY 13068 USA Phone 607-539-6608 e-mail mpr5 AT cornell.edu http://www.marieread.com http://www.agpix.com/mari -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Pine Siskins returning From: "Watt W. Webb" <www2 AT cornell.edu> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:59:52 -0400 Responding to inquiries about Pine Siskin persistence, we had 2 avaricious Pine Siskins at our feeders this morning after having none for at least a month since our roughly 30 had left along with most but not all of our usual Goldfinches. wwwebb -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Montezuma today From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:52:06 -0700 I think they are up to 8 or 9 Bald Eagle nests in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex last I heard, plus the young ones keep looking young for several years. --Dave Nutter On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at 06:32PM, "Kathy Strickland" wrote: >The Mud Lock eagle "chicks" on site, perched in trees (so they weren't among the 20-30 up on the marsh). Not a bad day for being "no time of year to see anything!" (How many eagle nests must there be in the area to produce this many young?) -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Tree Swallow eats snail! From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:48:53 -0700 I guess if it rains enough there's enough air in the water for the swallows to swim or enough water in the air for the snails to stay aloft. At Cass Park yesterday (Mon 22 June) I saw a family of at least 4 noisy fledgling TREE SWALLOWS in the pines near the Children's Garden being fed by the adult(s) who foraged low over the adjacent field along with BARN & NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. This morning (Tue 23 June) a family of fledgling NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS was in a willow across Fall Creek from the Cascadilla Boathouse at Stewart Park. Maybe we're a bit ahead of you downtown. --Dave Nutter On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at 08:44AM, "Marie P Read" wrote: >Hi all, > >Over the past few very rainy days, I've been fretting about all the >swallows, and other birds that feed on flying insects, having a hard time >finding food for their young. > >Well, they're more resourceful than I knew! This morning I photographed >Tree Swallows feeding young at a nest box. One had a round food item in >its bill, and when I took a look at the photos later it turned out to be a >small snail! I know swallows of many species fly low over vegetation >particularly on wet overcast days, but I assumed they were gleaning >perched insects. Guess they'll take whatever they can get! Good source of >calcium too. > >Marie > > >Marie Read Wildlife Photography >452 Ringwood Road >Freeville NY 13068 USA > >Phone 607-539-6608 >e-mail mpr5 AT cornell.edu > >http://www.marieread.com >http://www.agpix.com/mari > > >-- >Cayugabirds-L List Info: >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > >Temporary archive: >http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >-- > > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Montezuma today From: Kathy Strickland <carkatstr1ck AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:32:40 -0400 Made a swing through Montezuma on my way over to Glenwood Foods (on Rte 318). The volunteer at the Visitor Center had no information whatsoever about what might be around to look for, and flat out (and rather rudely) told a visiting couple from PA that if they wanted to see birds that this was no time of the year to do so--basically to forget it. (No explanation about the possibilities different seasons offer. I wonder how many people have been turned off on Tuesday mornings by such a response. If I'd not known better, I might have called it a wash.) But I encouraged them to give it a try, based on what I've been seeing on the list serve, and I think they got some interesting sightings, as I did. For a starter, four juvenile Bald Eagles were soaring high above us as we returned to our cars. Out in the Main Pool there were at least 15 juveniles and a couple of adults sitting on the ground and on hummocks. Two Sandhill Cranes were grazing on the far side. An adult Bald Eagle flew from his hummock and joined a juvie, circling together, at times wingtips almost touching, until I lost track of them when my attention was drawn to several distant Turkey Vultures. A few Great Blue Herons were fishing or flying, and one was perched in a dead tree north of the spillway. On the way to Benning there was an Indigo Bunting singing his heart out on the east side of the road, and Marsh Wrens in the cattails near the photo blind. A couple of Osprey flying along the river. Mourning Doves moving around close together on the roadway--an adult and a young one, somewhat smaller and with no white "petticoat" when it flew. From the tower at Tschache I saw two black fluffballs scurry into the weeds at the side of the gated road--I'm assuming they were Virginia Rail chicks. Several more juvenile eagles hunched over waiting for lunch out on the marsh. And a Black Tern drifting low along the near shoreline. Mays Point Pool was FULL of Great Blue Herons--I counted 81 with a single quick scan. And 9 Great Egrets. Without a scope I didn't scan the gull flocks. On my way back south on Rte 89 I glimpsed small creatures in the channel at the bend across from Tschache and backtracked--6 Pied Billed Grebe chicks, close to full-size but with necks still softly stripy. Also another GBH. Ospreys on nearly every nest I passed. The Mud Lock eagle "chicks" on site, perched in trees (so they weren't among the 20-30 up on the marsh). Not a bad day for being "no time of year to see anything!" (How many eagle nests must there be in the area to produce this many young?) Kathy Strickland _________________________________________________________________ Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now http://www.bing.com?form=MFEHPG&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFEHPG_Core_tagline_try_bing_1x1 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Tree Swallow eats snail! From: "Marie P Read" <mpr5 AT cornell.edu> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:44:47 -0400 (EDT) Hi all, Over the past few very rainy days, I've been fretting about all the swallows, and other birds that feed on flying insects, having a hard time finding food for their young. Well, they're more resourceful than I knew! This morning I photographed Tree Swallows feeding young at a nest box. One had a round food item in its bill, and when I took a look at the photos later it turned out to be a small snail! I know swallows of many species fly low over vegetation particularly on wet overcast days, but I assumed they were gleaning perched insects. Guess they'll take whatever they can get! Good source of calcium too. Marie Marie Read Wildlife Photography 452 Ringwood Road Freeville NY 13068 USA Phone 607-539-6608 e-mail mpr5 AT cornell.edu http://www.marieread.com http://www.agpix.com/mari -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re:rainy crow From: Rhea Garen <rg27 AT cornell.edu> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:48:56 -0400 Coincidentally, I've been trying to catch a glimpse of a Black billed cuckoo I've heard calling near my yard since I moved in last September -- (heard first last fall and then again starting late spring). I'd almost convinced myself that the sound was amphibious since there's a little wetland 2 doors down (maybe there is a similar amphibious sound too!) Friday, late day, I was busy watching a pair of Brown Thrashers when I heard the cuckoo call from aways back. A few minutes later, while I was still busy with the thrashers, I caught the bird checking me out very closely and silently, it's red eye trained on me from just a few feet away in the shrubs. It stared at me for a few minutes before it flew off to the creek across the street. It was quite the rainy weekend! Rhea Garen 117 Hopkins Rd. Ithaca, NY -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Great Crested Flycatchers try again From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:05:26 -0400 Their first nest was destroyed by a predator several weeks ago, but the Great Crested Flycatchers in my yard may be starting over. Three days ago I saw them visiting the same cavity. This morning the female was calling softly "wheep!", which in the past has prompted the male to respond loudly "Wreep! Wreep! Wreep!" and bring nesting material. But she made these calls from a different hollow tree, and he didn't show while I was there... -Geo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: cuckoos and rain From: Meena Haribal <mmh3 AT cornell.edu> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:08:22 -0400 HI Bruce, At 06:02 PM 6/22/2009, jpackard AT clarityconnect.com wrote: >When I was in southern China three years ago, I saw and heard an Asian >Koel. Koels call well before pre-monsoon and even past Monsoon. Koel's call has nothing to do with rain. Koel's start singing in march, which is in fact equivalent of spring or lengthening of the days. I have lived more than half of my life in India and I don't think there is any co-relation. But there are three migratory species (Indian, Hawk and Pied Crested Cuckoos) that call pre- or during monsoon. It is not the call that is important. It is the arrival of the birds to breeding grounds suggest the rain is not too far. If cuckoos sing at particular time does not mean there would be rain immediately after that. They follow south west monsoon winds which blow over Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Then there are many more cuckoos in India that have no relation to rains at all as in some parts of east where it rains almost every afternoon. Last Sunday when I was in Connecticut Hills (from 9 am to 4.30 pm), I heard cuckoos (both Yellow-billed and Black-billed) at different locations whole day and there was no rain that day. Of course after three days it rained for two days. >Their song is a repeated whistle -'You're ill, you're ill . . . .'. This >song is the supposed to be a harbinger of the monsoon. It was wet and >rainy all that afternoon. Also, it is interesting to note that for you it sounded "you're ill". For us it was Kuhoo Kuhoo Kuhooo sound of happiness. And most Indian poetic literature considers that the it is the female Koel who mourns at the separation from her loved one! I have no idea how it has got into the poets head that it the female bird, which sings. Meena Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 webpage: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mmh3/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/mothsofithaca.html http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ http://haribal.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/wildwest+trip+August+2007+.pdf Current Loc: 42o 25' 44.48" N, 76o 28' 16.90" W Elev 816 ft or 248.7 m Formerly: 19o 0' 41,65" N, 72o 51' 13.02" E Elev 33 ft or 10m -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: FW: eBird Report - Montezuma Mays Point Pool , 6/22/09 From: "Joe & Carol Slattery" <jslattery2 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:09:43 -0400 Location: Montezuma Mays Point Pool Observation date: 6/22/09 Number of species: 2 Great Blue Heron 117 Great Egret 8 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/ny) Joe & Carol Slattery -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: FW: eBird Report - Montezuma NWR - Auto Loop , 6/22/09 From: "Joe & Carol Slattery" <jslattery2 AT rochester.rr.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:08:39 -0400 Location: Montezuma NWR - Auto Loop Observation date: 6/22/09 Notes: Main Pool dry Number of species: 9 Canada Goose X Mallard 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 15 Sandhill Crane 7 Yellow Warbler 1 Song Sparrow 1 Red-winged Blackbird X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/ny) Joe & Carol Slattery -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: cuckoos and rain From: jpackard AT clarityconnect.com Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:02:06 -0400 When I was in southern China three years ago, I saw and heard an Asian Koel. Their song is a repeated whistle -'You're ill, you're ill . . . .'. This song is the supposed to be a harbinger of the monsoon. It was wet and rainy all that afternoon. Bruce Packard Groton PS I saw a cuckoo in Danby yesterday. Yellow-Billed, i think. . .. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Syracuse RBA From: Joseph Brin <brinjoseph AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:52:04 -0700 (PDT) RBA * New York * Syracuse * June 22, 2009 * NYSY 2206.09 Hotline: Syracuse Rare bird Alert Dates(s): June 15, 2009 - June 22, 2009 to report by e-mail: brinjoseph AT yahoo.com covering upstate NY counties: Cayuga, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) (just outside Cayuga County), Onondaga, Oswego, Lewis, Jefferson, Oneida, Herkimer, Madison & Cortland compiled:June 22 AT 5:00 p.m. (EST) compiler: Joseph Brin Onondaga Audubon Homepage: www.onondagaaudubon.org #159 -Monday June 22, 2009 Greetings! This is the Syracuse Area Rare Bird Alert for the week of June 15 , 2009 Highlights: ----------- RED CROSSBILL GREAT EGRET GRASSHOPPER SPARROW BLACK TERN EURASIAN WIGEON SHORT-EARED OWL WHIP-POOR-WILL COMMON NIGHTHAWK RED-HEADED WOODPECKER SEDGE WREN GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER GRASSHOPPER SPARROW CLAY-COLORED SPARROW HENSLOW’S SPARROW OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (MNWR) and Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) ------------ 6/16: 5 GREAT EGRETS, 1 SANDHILL CRANES, and 4 BLACK TERNS were seen at May’s Point Pool. 6/20: 6 SDANDHILL CRANES were seen in the Main Pool. 6/21: An adult drake EURASIAN WIGEON was seen in the Main Pool. Also seen were 6 SANDHILL CRANES, and 30 BALD EAGLES. Fort Drum ------------ Fort Drum in Jefferson County has always been known as an excellent birding location but the report from Jeff Bolsinger for the first half of June is nothing short of spectacular. Highlights are probable nesting SHORT-EARED OWLS, WHIP-POOR-WILL, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, numerous RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS, GRASSHOPPERS, CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, and HENSLOW’S SPARROWS. I will include a list of all birds seen from June 1 to June 15 on the area. Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Hooded Merganser Ruffed Grouse Wild Turkey Pied-billed Grebe American Bittern Least Bittern Great Blue Heron Green Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Virginia Rail Sora Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Wilson’s Snipe American Woodcock Ring-billed Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Great Horned Owl Common Nighthawk Whip-poor-will Belted Kingfisher Red-headed Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Wood-Pewee Alder Flycatcher Willow Flycatcher Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Sedge Wren Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Veery Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher European Starling Cedar Waxwing Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler “Brewster’sâ€� Warbler “Lawrence’sâ€� Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Prairie Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Mourning Warbler Common Yellowthroat Canada Warbler Scarlet Tanager Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Clay-colored Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Henslow’s Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Birding is permitted on the base by permit only. For instructions to obtain a permit contact Jeff Bolsinger by email (jsbolsinger AT yahoo.com) . Madison County ------------ 6/20: An adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen and photographed at a feeder in Morrisville. The bird also returned the next day. Herkimer County ------------ 6/21: An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was heard only from the Third Lake Creek Trail north of Old Forge. Also seen and heard were 10 species of warbler. --end transcript -- Joseph Brin Region 5 Baldwinsville, N.Y., U.S.A. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: rain crows From: Bard Prentiss <prentissb AT frontiernet.net> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:29:38 -0400 Both of my Grandmothers, one from VT and one from Jeff Co. NY also referred to Cuckoos as Rain Crows. Bard Bard Prentiss P O Box 283 Dryden, NY 13053 607-844-4691 prentissb AT frontiernet.net On Jun 21, 2009, at 10:44 AM, Kevin McGowan wrote: > My grandmother in Ohio used to refer to cuckoos as "rain crows." > She had > never seen one, but she knew the Yellow-billed Cuckoo's song, and > said they > sang before a rain. I have to say that the fact she knew any > bird's song, > especially one that I had just learned, impressed me quite a bit as > a kid > just starting in birding. > > One wonders where those things come from. If a bird is a presager > of the > monsoons or the beginning of any rainy season, that is an easy > connection. But in Ohio? I paid attention to when I heard > cuckoos after > that and I've never suspected any pattern of calling that would > connect > them with rain. > > I woke up to a Yellow-billed Cuckoo's song this morning in the fog and > drip. But much more impressive has been the family of Pileated > Woodpeckers > making a general racket around my deck the last two days. > > Kevin > > At 07:44 AM 6/21/2009, Gerry Rising wrote: > >> An interesting post. I read it, however, expecting to find mention of >> cuckoos. I don't know where I heard cuckoos referred to as rain >> birds, >> but the idea has stuck with me. Is anyone else familiar with that >> reference? Gerry >> >> Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: >>> CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Saturday, June 20, 2009. >>> >>> 1. Rain birds >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> -- >>> >>> Subject: Rain birds >>> From: Kathy Strickland >>> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 >>> X-Message-Number: 1 >>> >>> >>> I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which >>> was >> cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip with a >> visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the rain was >> light, >> and even lighter under the trees. A few highlights: 1) a female Wood >> Duck, very scruffy (molting?), scurried off under the first bridge >> between the parking lot and the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with >> Linda's >> birding group at the end of their walk and getting brief views of >> several >> of the Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several >> times; 3) >> observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had of the >> orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two trails >> whose >> names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet Tanager in the >> large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding Garden. (By then I was >> observing from the comfort of the building since it was raining >> heavily. >> Sitting beside me was disappointed couple visiting from Arizona >> gettin >>> g a few target birds at the feeders.) >>> >>> >>> >>> When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and was >> greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail head >> and a >> very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a couple of others >> more >> distant, and Field Sparrows singing in several places as well. >> Down the >> trail almost to the entrance to the forest was a pair of Eastern >> Towhees, >> both giving me nervous and persistent "thweets" so their nest must >> have >> been nearby. The sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo >> were about all I could hear in the forest through the increasing rain >> clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up again I declared >> defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to Union >> Springs. But >> I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. >>> >>> >>> >>> Kathy Strickland >>> >>> _________________________________________________________________ >>> Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. >>> >> http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd? >> ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 >>> >>> >>> --- >>> >>> END OF DIGEST >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> >> Temporary archive: >> http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> -- > > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > > Temporary archive: > http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Rain Crows From: Laura Erickson <lle24 AT cornell.edu> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:05:58 -0400 According to the Folklore entry in Terres's The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of North American Birds, the name rain crow or rain-bird "is especially applied to the black-billed and yellow-billed cuckoos, whose frequent calling on hot, sultry days supposedly 'calls for rain.'" Laura Erickson Science Editor Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-254-1114 If you've found this information useful, I hope you'll consider supporting our work on behalf of birds and other wildlife. In addition to knowing that you'll be making a difference for conservation, you'll receive our award-winning Living Bird magazine and informative BirdScope newsletter four times a year. We invite you to join our "force for nature." To sign up or watch our video about membership, visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/membership or call us at 1-800-843-2473. Geo Kloppel wrote: > I suspect that Meena's story is closer to the truth, and even on the > Atlantic coastal terraces of North America, where rising soil > temperature is an important consideration at planting time, it was > probably the _arrival_ of the cuckoo that the old farmer heard and > took note of, associating it with his planting schedule and warm > spring rains. If so, it's easy to imagine that subsequent generations > of folk whose livelihood did not depend on planting by the natural > signs simply misunderstood the "rain-crow" story, giving it a more > literal-minded (and erroneous) interpretation as an immediate > predictor of impending rain. > > -Geo > > > > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Rain Crows From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:01:42 -0500 I suspect that Meena's story is closer to the truth, and even on the Atlantic coastal terraces of North America, where rising soil temperature is an important consideration at planting time, it was probably the _arrival_ of the cuckoo that the old farmer heard and took note of, associating it with his planting schedule and warm spring rains. If so, it's easy to imagine that subsequent generations of folk whose livelihood did not depend on planting by the natural signs simply misunderstood the "rain-crow" story, giving it a more literal-minded (and erroneous) interpretation as an immediate predictor of impending rain. -Geo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Rain Crows From: "John and Sue Gregoire" <khmo AT empacc.net> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:12:12 -0400 Prior to moving to this area in the mid-80s, I lived and spent most of my birding time in the south - Cape May being the northernmost excursion. In working with the Bald Eagle and Osprey recovery programs in the three state Chesapeake Bay area, we had many encounters with old tobacco farmers, tenant farmers and fisherpeople along the many rivers. Both there and throughout the south, the cuckoo is almost universally known as "rain crow" and is given the capability to predict rain. Someone (I believe Univ of Md. - probably Don Messerchmidt) once did a study of weather events and frequency of Yellow-billed Cuckoos calling with some positive correlation between dropping barometric pressure and increase in calls. Black-billeds were a rarity seen only in migration and seldom calling. Best, John -- John and Sue Gregoire Field Ornithologists Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory 5373 Fitzgerald Road Burdett,NY 14818-9626 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/ "Conserve and Create Habitat" -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Montezuma this afternoon] From: Chris Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:45:58 -0400 Message sent to GeneseeBirds-L by Mike Tetlow: -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Montezuma this afternoon Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 22:39:28 -0400 From: Michael and Joann Tetlow To: This afternoon Joann and I took a trip to Montezuma after hearing of 19 Bald eagles and 4 Sandhill Cranes on the main pool yesterday. Today's highlight was a male breeding plumage EURASIAN WIDGEON feeding with a couple hundred Mallards on the NW edge of the main pool. Today 6 Sandhill Cranes were feeding out near the ducks and a total of 30 Bald Eagles including 3 adults were enjoying Carp among the new vegetation. Other sightings included the following: Main Pool: 1 American Widgeon, 2 No. Pintail, 4 Black Duck, 1 GW Teal, 2 Black Tern, 1 Am. Bittern flying over the marsh at stop #7, 1 ad. Spotted Sandpiper sitting 3 feet up on the stem of a weed, and 1 Yellow-throated Vireo near the visitor center. Tsache Pool: 2 Bald Eagle, 12 Black Tern, 1 Am Bittern flying from May's point to the left of the tower. May's Point: 1 Bald Eagle, 150 Great-blue Herons (2 Juveniles), 8 Great Egrets, 1 more Sandhill Crane. Knox-Marcellus Marsh: about 75 Wood Ducks of every sex, age and plumage, 5 families of Common Moorhen with 3 young each, 2 families of Am. Coot with 3 young each, 6 double-crested Cormorants, 1 Black Duck. Mike Tetlow -- ============================================= Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes TARU Product Line Manager and Field Applications Engineer Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850 Voice: 607-254-2418, FAX: 607-254-2460 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp mailto:cth4 AT cornell.edu ============================================= -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --_______________________________________________ GeneseeBirds-L mailing list - GeneseeBirds-L AT geneseo.edu http://mail.geneseo.edu/mailman/listinfo/geneseebirds-l Subject: Re: rain crows From: Meena Haribal <mmh3 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:10:46 -0400 Geo and others, I too think like Geo, it is the ancestral intelligence that has been passed on to next generations as cuckoos are found in all parts of the world. I dont see any reason for any birds to be called as rainbirds here. By the way, two days ago I picked a book about travelogue in Africa from Tompkins count Library and the book is titled "the raindbird"! I have not started reading it yet, but it is some Central African related book. I will let people know if it is related to cuckoos! My today's highlights are, in the morning after I woke up, I just straight went to my kitchen door and opened it to listen to birds and there was a commotion and found out the reason was a Cooper's Hawk was circling around. I came back from garden around noon and I found the same Cooper's Hawk (I think) circling overhead again and my crows gave him a anti-heave out of their territory. In Connecticut Hills, I watched a beautiful Broad-winged Hawk calling and circling over the woods. I was glad that rain left the town! Meena At 03:39 PM 6/21/2009, Geo Kloppel wrote: > > One wonders where those things come from. If a bird is a presager > > of the > > monsoons or the beginning of any rainy season, that is an easy > > connection. But in Ohio? > >In America those kinds of things are often relics from a family's >previous agricultural existence somewhere else, whether in "the old >country" in Europe, or just the old farm east of the Appalachians, or >even far-off Bombayr! My great-grandfather lived most of his life >here in New York State, but he was born and raised in Brazil, where >his parents were pioneer farmers. He learned early that shooting >parrots was a necessary part of farming life. Not surprisingly, he >passed bird hunting along to his son and grandson, who long continued >to shoot agricultural "pests" like crows and woodchucks, though we >were no longer a farming family. > >-Geo > >On Jun 21, 2009, at 10:44 AM, Kevin McGowan wrote: > > > My grandmother in Ohio used to refer to cuckoos as "rain crows." > > She had > > never seen one, but she knew the Yellow-billed Cuckoo's song, and > > said they > > sang before a rain. I have to say that the fact she knew any > > bird's song, > > especially one that I had just learned, impressed me quite a bit as > > a kid > > just starting in birding. > > > > One wonders where those things come from. If a bird is a presager > > of the > > monsoons or the beginning of any rainy season, that is an easy > > connection. But in Ohio? I paid attention to when I heard > > cuckoos after > > that and I've never suspected any pattern of calling that would > > connect > > them with rain. > > > > I woke up to a Yellow-billed Cuckoo's song this morning in the fog and > > drip. But much more impressive has been the family of Pileated > > Woodpeckers > > making a general racket around my deck the last two days. > > > > Kevin > > > > At 07:44 AM 6/21/2009, Gerry Rising wrote: > > > >> An interesting post. I read it, however, expecting to find mention of > >> cuckoos. I don't know where I heard cuckoos referred to as rain > >> birds, > >> but the idea has stuck with me. Is anyone else familiar with that > >> reference? Gerry > >> > >> Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: > >>> CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Saturday, June 20, 2009. > >>> > >>> 1. Rain birds > >>> > >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- > >>> -- > >>> > >>> Subject: Rain birds > >>> From: Kathy Strickland > >>> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 > >>> X-Message-Number: 1 > >>> > >>> > >>> I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which > >>> was > >> cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip with a > >> visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the rain was > >> light, > >> and even lighter under the trees. A few highlights: 1) a female Wood > >> Duck, very scruffy (molting?), scurried off under the first bridge > >> between the parking lot and the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with > >> Linda's > >> birding group at the end of their walk and getting brief views of > >> several > >> of the Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several > >> times; 3) > >> observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had of the > >> orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two trails > >> whose > >> names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet Tanager in the > >> large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding Garden. (By then I was > >> observing from the comfort of the building since it was raining > >> heavily. > >> Sitting beside me was disappointed couple visiting from Arizona > >> gettin > >>> g a few target birds at the feeders.) > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and was > >> greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail head > >> and a > >> very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a couple of others > >> more > >> distant, and Field Sparrows singing in several places as well. > >> Down the > >> trail almost to the entrance to the forest was a pair of Eastern > >> Towhees, > >> both giving me nervous and persistent "thweets" so their nest must > >> have > >> been nearby. The sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo > >> were about all I could hear in the forest through the increasing rain > >> clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up again I declared > >> defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to Union > >> Springs. But > >> I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> Kathy Strickland > >>> > >>> _________________________________________________________________ > >>> Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. > >>> > >> http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd? > >> ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 > >>> > >>> > >>> --- > >>> > >>> END OF DIGEST > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: > >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > >> > >> Temporary archive: > >> http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >> > >> Please submit your observations to eBird: > >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > >> -- > > > > > > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > > > > Temporary archive: > > http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > >Geo Kloppel >Bowmaker & Restorer >227 Tupper Road >Spencer NY 14883 > >607 564 7026 >gek2 AT cornell.edu >geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com > > > > > > >-- >Cayugabirds-L List Info: >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > >Temporary archive: >http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >-- Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 webpage: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mmh3/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/mothsofithaca.html http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ http://haribal.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/wildwest+trip+August+2007+.pdf Current Loc: 42o 25' 44.48" N, 76o 28' 16.90" W Elev 816 ft or 248.7 m Formerly: 19o 0' 41,65" N, 72o 51' 13.02" E Elev 33 ft or 10m -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: rain crows From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:39:48 -0400 > One wonders where those things come from. If a bird is a presager > of the > monsoons or the beginning of any rainy season, that is an easy > connection. But in Ohio? In America those kinds of things are often relics from a family's previous agricultural existence somewhere else, whether in "the old country" in Europe, or just the old farm east of the Appalachians, or even far-off Bombayr! My great-grandfather lived most of his life here in New York State, but he was born and raised in Brazil, where his parents were pioneer farmers. He learned early that shooting parrots was a necessary part of farming life. Not surprisingly, he passed bird hunting along to his son and grandson, who long continued to shoot agricultural "pests" like crows and woodchucks, though we were no longer a farming family. -Geo On Jun 21, 2009, at 10:44 AM, Kevin McGowan wrote: > My grandmother in Ohio used to refer to cuckoos as "rain crows." > She had > never seen one, but she knew the Yellow-billed Cuckoo's song, and > said they > sang before a rain. I have to say that the fact she knew any > bird's song, > especially one that I had just learned, impressed me quite a bit as > a kid > just starting in birding. > > One wonders where those things come from. If a bird is a presager > of the > monsoons or the beginning of any rainy season, that is an easy > connection. But in Ohio? I paid attention to when I heard > cuckoos after > that and I've never suspected any pattern of calling that would > connect > them with rain. > > I woke up to a Yellow-billed Cuckoo's song this morning in the fog and > drip. But much more impressive has been the family of Pileated > Woodpeckers > making a general racket around my deck the last two days. > > Kevin > > At 07:44 AM 6/21/2009, Gerry Rising wrote: > >> An interesting post. I read it, however, expecting to find mention of >> cuckoos. I don't know where I heard cuckoos referred to as rain >> birds, >> but the idea has stuck with me. Is anyone else familiar with that >> reference? Gerry >> >> Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: >>> CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Saturday, June 20, 2009. >>> >>> 1. Rain birds >>> >>> -------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> -- >>> >>> Subject: Rain birds >>> From: Kathy Strickland >>> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 >>> X-Message-Number: 1 >>> >>> >>> I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which >>> was >> cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip with a >> visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the rain was >> light, >> and even lighter under the trees. A few highlights: 1) a female Wood >> Duck, very scruffy (molting?), scurried off under the first bridge >> between the parking lot and the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with >> Linda's >> birding group at the end of their walk and getting brief views of >> several >> of the Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several >> times; 3) >> observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had of the >> orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two trails >> whose >> names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet Tanager in the >> large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding Garden. (By then I was >> observing from the comfort of the building since it was raining >> heavily. >> Sitting beside me was disappointed couple visiting from Arizona >> gettin >>> g a few target birds at the feeders.) >>> >>> >>> >>> When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and was >> greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail head >> and a >> very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a couple of others >> more >> distant, and Field Sparrows singing in several places as well. >> Down the >> trail almost to the entrance to the forest was a pair of Eastern >> Towhees, >> both giving me nervous and persistent "thweets" so their nest must >> have >> been nearby. The sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo >> were about all I could hear in the forest through the increasing rain >> clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up again I declared >> defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to Union >> Springs. But >> I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. >>> >>> >>> >>> Kathy Strickland >>> >>> _________________________________________________________________ >>> Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. >>> >> http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd? >> ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 >>> >>> >>> --- >>> >>> END OF DIGEST >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Cayugabirds-L List Info: >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >> http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> >> Temporary archive: >> http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >> Please submit your observations to eBird: >> http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >> -- > > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > > Temporary archive: > http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > -- Geo Kloppel Bowmaker & Restorer 227 Tupper Road Spencer NY 14883 607 564 7026 gek2 AT cornell.edu geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Foster parents for Tree Swallows From: "John and Fritzie Blizzard" <job121830 AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:10:43 -0400 On 28 May I found a Tree Swallow weakly fluttering & hanging from the nest box opening. She had swallowed a piece of yarn that was in the nesting material in the box, perhaps thinking it was a bit of eggshell from her just hatched babies. I carefully pulled more than an inch of yarn from her gullet/throat/mouth & held her awhile .... should have put her back in the box but released her, thinking she might be able to get some food for herself but she was barely able to fly & I feel she did not survive. I opened the box & found 5 unmoving, very cold, just hatched babies. Quandry!! Another swallow box about 20' away had five 4 or 5 day old eggs. The male house sparrow(s) had already destroyed swallow & bluebird eggs from 2 boxes so I figured here I had 5 live babies, why take the chance of losing them & the eggs. I held the babies in my hand against my stomach for awhile to warm them then put them under the other mama & went where I could watch. Shortly the mama flew out of the box. Several times she peered into the box, finally went in & stayed about 30 seconds. She flew away but soon returned with food!! (Short incubation period!!!) From then on the orphans were well cared for & right on schedule, on the 21st day they fledged!! The eggs, of course, not in view didn't get turned, & were soon covered with 5 healthy bodies ... so all was not lost. Four Bluebirds should fledge today or tomorrow. We have Mockingbirds nesting in our spruces & cedars. I have seen more Mockers in various places in Cayuga & Tompkins Counties this month than I've ever seen in all yrs. combined. They're fun to watch as they raise & spread their wings as they hunt insects. We've had nearly 6" of rain in the last 18 days according to my rain gauge! Where are the frogs? Fritzie -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: rain crows From: Kevin McGowan <kjm2 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:44:39 -0400 My grandmother in Ohio used to refer to cuckoos as "rain crows." She had never seen one, but she knew the Yellow-billed Cuckoo's song, and said they sang before a rain. I have to say that the fact she knew any bird's song, especially one that I had just learned, impressed me quite a bit as a kid just starting in birding. One wonders where those things come from. If a bird is a presager of the monsoons or the beginning of any rainy season, that is an easy connection. But in Ohio? I paid attention to when I heard cuckoos after that and I've never suspected any pattern of calling that would connect them with rain. I woke up to a Yellow-billed Cuckoo's song this morning in the fog and drip. But much more impressive has been the family of Pileated Woodpeckers making a general racket around my deck the last two days. Kevin At 07:44 AM 6/21/2009, Gerry Rising wrote: >An interesting post. I read it, however, expecting to find mention of >cuckoos. I don't know where I heard cuckoos referred to as rain birds, >but the idea has stuck with me. Is anyone else familiar with that >reference? Gerry > >Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: > > CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Saturday, June 20, 2009. > > > > 1. Rain birds > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > Subject: Rain birds > > From: Kathy Strickland > > Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 > > X-Message-Number: 1 > > > > > > I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which was > cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip with a > visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the rain was light, > and even lighter under the trees. A few highlights: 1) a female Wood > Duck, very scruffy (molting?), scurried off under the first bridge > between the parking lot and the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with Linda's > birding group at the end of their walk and getting brief views of several > of the Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several times; 3) > observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had of the > orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two trails whose > names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet Tanager in the > large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding Garden. (By then I was > observing from the comfort of the building since it was raining heavily. > Sitting beside me was disappointed couple visiting from Arizona gettin > > g a few target birds at the feeders.) > > > > > > > > When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and was > greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail head and a > very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a couple of others more > distant, and Field Sparrows singing in several places as well. Down the > trail almost to the entrance to the forest was a pair of Eastern Towhees, > both giving me nervous and persistent "thweets" so their nest must have > been nearby. The sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo > were about all I could hear in the forest through the increasing rain > clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up again I declared > defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to Union Springs. But > I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. > > > > > > > > Kathy Strickland > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. > > > http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 > > > > > > --- > > > > END OF DIGEST > > > > > > > > >-- >Cayugabirds-L List Info: >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > >Temporary archive: >http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >-- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: cuckoos/rain birds/rain crows From: "John and Fritzie Blizzard" <job121830 AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 10:29:37 -0400 As a child back in the early-mid1940s I spent several wks. each summer at my grandparents' farm near Wellsboro, PA with no companions except the farm animals & a very protective Border Collie who killed any snake we encountered! The Aug. days seemed dreadfully long & horribly hot, (no A/C or fans), with flies plastering the door screens at meal times & always one endlessly buzzing as a person wanted to sleep. Shep & I roamed alone all over the farm despite the very firm knowledge that rattlesnakes were all too common & several times one day I was bucked off the back of the mule as I was going to the woods to get the cows for milking ........ smart mule .... a bear was standing at the woods end of the lane. Oh, what kids of today miss! The farm days weren't lonely without other kids with whom to play BUT I absolutely hated the endless sound of the cuckoos calling on those hot, humid days. Mother called them rain crows because that was what they were called in VA, where we were from. Fritzie Blizzard Union Springs -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: rain birds From: Geo Kloppel <geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:58:31 -0400 I thought it was going to be about plovers! (genus Pluvialis - Latin for "rain") -Geo On Jun 21, 2009, at 7:44 AM, Gerry Rising wrote: > > An interesting post. I read it, however, expecting to find mention of > cuckoos. I don't know where I heard cuckoos referred to as rain birds, > but the idea has stuck with me. Is anyone else familiar with that > reference? Gerry > > Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: >> CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Saturday, June 20, 2009. >> >> 1. Rain birds >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> - >> >> Subject: Rain birds >> From: Kathy Strickland >> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 >> X-Message-Number: 1 >> >> >> I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which >> was cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip >> with a visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the >> rain was light, and even lighter under the trees. A few >> highlights: 1) a female Wood Duck, very scruffy (molting?), >> scurried off under the first bridge between the parking lot and >> the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with Linda's birding group at the >> end of their walk and getting brief views of several of the >> Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several times; 3) >> observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had of >> the orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two >> trails whose names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet >> Tanager in the large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding >> Garden. (By then I was observing from the comfort of the building >> since it was raining heavily. Sitting beside me was disappointed >> couple visiting from Arizona gettin >> g a few target birds at the feeders.) >> >> >> >> When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and >> was greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail >> head and a very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a >> couple of others more distant, and Field Sparrows singing in >> several places as well. Down the trail almost to the entrance to >> the forest was a pair of Eastern Towhees, both giving me nervous >> and persistent "thweets" so their nest must have been nearby. The >> sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo were about >> all I could hear in the forest through the increasing rain >> clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up again I >> declared defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to >> Union Springs. But I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. >> >> >> >> Kathy Strickland >> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. >> http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd? >> ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 >> >> >> --- >> >> END OF DIGEST >> >> >> > > > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > > Temporary archive: > http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > -- Geo Kloppel Bowmaker & Restorer 227 Tupper Road Spencer NY 14883 607 564 7026 gek2 AT cornell.edu geokloppel AT clarityconnect.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Rain Birds = Cuckoos addition From: Meena Haribal <mmh3 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:30:48 -0400 I forgot to write Pavsya is Pied Crested Cuckoo. Meena At 08:20 AM 6/21/2009, Meena Haribal wrote: >Hi Gerry and curious others, > >It may be related to cuckoos in India, and British might have given that >name as I know in Marathi, an Indian languages it is called Pavsya - >meaning the one that comes like rain (pavus). The Pied Crested Cuckoo and >actually many other birds and other critters follow monsoons. They spend >winter in Africa (I dont know how they return to Africa) and during south >west monsoon they come to India ahead of monsoon winds. So if this bird >is seen the monsoon is not far behind and that is how farmers take cue to >impending rains. > >Just recently a paper published by Charles Anderson of Maldives (for >geographically challenged it is an island in the Indian Ocean between >India and Africa), show how Panatala flavescens migrate as many as 3000 >miles from Africa to India across Indian Ocean and Arabic sea. Panatala >flavescens is a global dragonfly, named aptly as Wandering Glider >http://picasaweb.google.com/mharibal/IndianOdonates#5139342929877766354 . >I have seen swarms of them at several places in India. Just last year a >friend wrote to me that she hundreds of them coming in from over the >sea. I have also seen them in good numbers in Fall in Ithaca. > >Sorry Kathy, it rained but no PCC (as we called our Pied Crested Cuckoos)! > >Meena > >PS: The mad female Robin, who attacked me a couple of weeks ago has >successfully fledged two young at least and now the fledglings are so loud >you can locate their hiding place easily. Two days ago one flew straight >at me, not knowing where to go! The male seem to be very happy, right now >he is singing very cheery song, that makes me feel cheery too! Also, >yesterday in the morning we saw Virginia Rails and chick between north >side Lab building and Wilson trail. > > >At 07:44 AM 6/21/2009, Gerry Rising wrote: > >>An interesting post. I read it, however, expecting to find mention of >>cuckoos. I don't know where I heard cuckoos referred to as rain birds, >>but the idea has stuck with me. Is anyone else familiar with that >>reference? Gerry >> >>Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: >> > CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Saturday, June 20, 2009. >> > >> > 1. Rain birds >> > >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> > >> > Subject: Rain birds >> > From: Kathy Strickland >> > Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 >> > X-Message-Number: 1 >> > >> > >> > I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which was >> cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip with a >> visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the rain was light, >> and even lighter under the trees. A few highlights: 1) a female Wood >> Duck, very scruffy (molting?), scurried off under the first bridge >> between the parking lot and the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with Linda's >> birding group at the end of their walk and getting brief views of >> several of the Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several >> times; 3) observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had >> of the orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two trails >> whose names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet Tanager in >> the large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding Garden. (By then I >> was observing from the comfort of the building since it was raining >> heavily. Sitting beside me was disappointed couple visiting from Arizona gettin >> > g a few target birds at the feeders.) >> > >> > >> > >> > When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and was >> greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail head and a >> very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a couple of others more >> distant, and Field Sparrows singing in several places as well. Down the >> trail almost to the entrance to the forest was a pair of Eastern >> Towhees, both giving me nervous and persistent "thweets" so their nest >> must have been nearby. The sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a >> Red-eyed Vireo were about all I could hear in the forest through the >> increasing rain clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up >> again I declared defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to >> Union Springs. But I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. >> > >> > >> > >> > Kathy Strickland >> > >> > _________________________________________________________________ >> > Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. >> > >> http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 >> >> > >> > >> > --- >> > >> > END OF DIGEST >> > >> > >> > >> >> >>-- >>Cayugabirds-L List Info: >>http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >>http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >> >>Temporary archive: >>http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html >> >>Please submit your observations to eBird: >>http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >>-- > >Meena Haribal >Ithaca NY 14850 >webpage: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mmh3/ >http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/ >http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/mothsofithaca.html > > > >http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ > > >http://haribal.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/wildwest+trip+August+2007+.pdf >Current Loc: 42o 25' 44.48" N, 76o 28' 16.90" W Elev 816 ft or 248.7 m >Formerly: 19o 0' 41,65" N, 72o 51' 13.02" E Elev 33 ft or 10m Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 webpage: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mmh3/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/mothsofithaca.html http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ http://haribal.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/wildwest+trip+August+2007+.pdf Current Loc: 42o 25' 44.48" N, 76o 28' 16.90" W Elev 816 ft or 248.7 m Formerly: 19o 0' 41,65" N, 72o 51' 13.02" E Elev 33 ft or 10m -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Rain Birds = Cuckoos Re: cayugabirds-l digest: June 20, 2009 From: Meena Haribal <mmh3 AT cornell.edu> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 08:20:14 -0400 Hi Gerry and curious others, It may be related to cuckoos in India, and British might have given that name as I know in Marathi, an Indian languages it is called Pavsya - meaning the one that comes like rain (pavus). The Pied Crested Cuckoo and actually many other birds and other critters follow monsoons. They spend winter in Africa (I dont know how they return to Africa) and during south west monsoon they come to India ahead of monsoon winds. So if this bird is seen the monsoon is not far behind and that is how farmers take cue to impending rains. Just recently a paper published by Charles Anderson of Maldives (for geographically challenged it is an island in the Indian Ocean between India and Africa), show how Panatala flavescens migrate as many as 3000 miles from Africa to India across Indian Ocean and Arabic sea. Panatala flavescens is a global dragonfly, named aptly as Wandering Glider http://picasaweb.google.com/mharibal/IndianOdonates#5139342929877766354 . I have seen swarms of them at several places in India. Just last year a friend wrote to me that she hundreds of them coming in from over the sea. I have also seen them in good numbers in Fall in Ithaca. Sorry Kathy, it rained but no PCC (as we called our Pied Crested Cuckoos)! Meena PS: The mad female Robin, who attacked me a couple of weeks ago has successfully fledged two young at least and now the fledglings are so loud you can locate their hiding place easily. Two days ago one flew straight at me, not knowing where to go! The male seem to be very happy, right now he is singing very cheery song, that makes me feel cheery too! Also, yesterday in the morning we saw Virginia Rails and chick between north side Lab building and Wilson trail. At 07:44 AM 6/21/2009, Gerry Rising wrote: >An interesting post. I read it, however, expecting to find mention of >cuckoos. I don't know where I heard cuckoos referred to as rain birds, >but the idea has stuck with me. Is anyone else familiar with that >reference? Gerry > >Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: > > CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Saturday, June 20, 2009. > > > > 1. Rain birds > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > Subject: Rain birds > > From: Kathy Strickland > > Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 > > X-Message-Number: 1 > > > > > > I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which was > cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip with a > visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the rain was light, > and even lighter under the trees. A few highlights: 1) a female Wood > Duck, very scruffy (molting?), scurried off under the first bridge > between the parking lot and the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with Linda's > birding group at the end of their walk and getting brief views of several > of the Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several times; 3) > observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had of the > orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two trails whose > names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet Tanager in the > large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding Garden. (By then I was > observing from the comfort of the building since it was raining heavily. > Sitting beside me was disappointed couple visiting from Arizona gettin > > g a few target birds at the feeders.) > > > > > > > > When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and was > greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail head and a > very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a couple of others more > distant, and Field Sparrows singing in several places as well. Down the > trail almost to the entrance to the forest was a pair of Eastern Towhees, > both giving me nervous and persistent "thweets" so their nest must have > been nearby. The sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo > were about all I could hear in the forest through the increasing rain > clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up again I declared > defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to Union Springs. But > I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. > > > > > > > > Kathy Strickland > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. > > > http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 > > > > > > --- > > > > END OF DIGEST > > > > > > > > >-- >Cayugabirds-L List Info: >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > >Temporary archive: >http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ >-- Meena Haribal Ithaca NY 14850 webpage: http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/mmh3/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/ http://www.geocities.com/asiootusloe/mothsofithaca.html http://meenaharibal.blogspot.com/ http://haribal.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/wildwest+trip+August+2007+.pdf Current Loc: 42o 25' 44.48" N, 76o 28' 16.90" W Elev 816 ft or 248.7 m Formerly: 19o 0' 41,65" N, 72o 51' 13.02" E Elev 33 ft or 10m -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: cayugabirds-l digest: June 20, 2009 From: Gerry Rising <insrisg AT buffalo.edu> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 07:44:55 -0400 An interesting post. I read it, however, expecting to find mention of cuckoos. I don't know where I heard cuckoos referred to as rain birds, but the idea has stuck with me. Is anyone else familiar with that reference? Gerry Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: > CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Saturday, June 20, 2009. > > 1. Rain birds > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Rain birds > From: Kathy Strickland > Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 > X-Message-Number: 1 > > > I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which was cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip with a visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the rain was light, and even lighter under the trees. A few highlights: 1) a female Wood Duck, very scruffy (molting?), scurried off under the first bridge between the parking lot and the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with Linda's birding group at the end of their walk and getting brief views of several of the Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several times; 3) observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had of the orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two trails whose names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet Tanager in the large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding Garden. (By then I was observing from the comfort of the building since it was raining heavily. Sitting beside me was disappointed couple visiting from Arizona gettin > g a few target birds at the feeders.) > > > > When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and was greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail head and a very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a couple of others more distant, and Field Sparrows singing in several places as well. Down the trail almost to the entrance to the forest was a pair of Eastern Towhees, both giving me nervous and persistent "thweets" so their nest must have been nearby. The sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo were about all I could hear in the forest through the increasing rain clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up again I declared defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to Union Springs. But I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. > > > > Kathy Strickland > > _________________________________________________________________ > Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. > http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 > > > --- > > END OF DIGEST > > > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Rain birds From: Kathy Strickland <carkatstr1ck AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:40:22 -0400 I went down to Ithaca this a.m. for Meena's butterfly walk, which was cancelled (as I'd figured it would be). But I redeemed my trip with a visit to the Lab and walked the several trails since the rain was light, and even lighter under the trees. A few highlights: 1) a female Wood Duck, very scruffy (molting?), scurried off under the first bridge between the parking lot and the Fuller Wetlands; 2) met up with Linda's birding group at the end of their walk and getting brief views of several of the Virginia Rail chicks and hearing an adult call several times; 3) observed an Ovenbird forage, with the best looks I've ever had of the orange and striping on the head, near the junction of two trails whose names I can't recall; and 4) great looks at a Scarlet Tanager in the large flowering bushes just beyond the Feeding Garden. (By then I was observing from the comfort of the building since it was raining heavily. Sitting beside me was disappointed couple visiting from Arizona getting a few target birds at the feeders.) When the rain let up I journeyed over to Roy E Park Preserve and was greeted by a very agitated Common Yellowthroat at the trail head and a very nearby singing Prairie Warbler, along with a couple of others more distant, and Field Sparrows singing in several places as well. Down the trail almost to the entrance to the forest was a pair of Eastern Towhees, both giving me nervous and persistent "thweets" so their nest must have been nearby. The sweet song of the Hermit Thrush and a Red-eyed Vireo were about all I could hear in the forest through the increasing rain clattering on the leaves. With the rain thickened up again I declared defeat and slogged my way back to the car and home to Union Springs. But I'm glad for what I did get to see and hear. Kathy Strickland _________________________________________________________________ Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/QuickAdd?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_QuickAdd_062009 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Red-bellied Woodpecker treat From: Elaina McCartney <Elaina.McCartney AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:14:11 -0400 I've been watching a Red-Bellied Woodpecker harvest cherries from the top of tree in my yard, and fly away with them, behavior I've never observed before. Elaina -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: ADMIN: Attachments & Rules From: Chris Tessaglia-Hymes <cth4 AT cornell.edu> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:30:52 -0400 Good afternoon, This message is just a reminder message that attachments are not permitted on Cayugabirds-L. Please take a moment to re-read the Rules for Cayugabirds-L at this URL: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Thanks and have a good weekend of birding! Sincerely, Chris T-H Listowner, Cayugabirds-L Ithaca, NY -- Chris Tessaglia-Hymes Listowner, Cayugabirds-L Ithaca, New York cth4 AT cornell.edu http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Virginia Rail @ MNWR From: "John VanNiel" <vanniejj AT flcc.edu> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:51:12 -0400 I had an interesting Virginia Rail encounter yesterday while driving on RTE 89 at about 11 am. I was heading around the curve near Tschache Pool tower when I had to brake hard to avoid an adult and two immature Virginia Rails crossing the road. They bolted and as I slowed down to watch, I noticed an adult and two little ones that had already (recently) been hit by a car. I salvaged them for the collection at FLCC. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Virginia Rail Sapsucker 61609 From: wroberts <wroberts AT wells.edu> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:00:35 -0400 Another great evening at Sapsucker Woods as one of the Virginia Rails investigated me as I investigated him. He, presumably a male, came within a few feet of me without showing too much concern. Additional pics on request. Bill Roberts Aurora wroberts AT wells.edu -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Brown Thrasher feeding on lawn From: "W. Larry Hymes" <wlh2 AT cornell.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 19:36:18 -0400 Dave, When vacationing in the south I commonly find BROWN THRASHERS foraging in lawns. The time I first observed this feeding behavior, my reaction was, "Holy Cow! Brown thrashers are yard birds down here!!" Larry P.S. Have you seen the VIRGINIA RAIL family at the Lab of O yet??? It was a once in a lifetime experience for Sara Jane and I, which we'll never forget. I was very disheartened that you missed the show, and by a matter of mere seconds!!!!! Upstate NY Birding digest wrote: > CAYUGABIRDS-L Digest for Tuesday, June 16, 2009. > > 1. Virginia Rails, American Black Ducks, Brown Thrasher > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Subject: Virginia Rails, American Black Ducks, Brown Thrasher > From: Dave Nutter > Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:08:57 -0700 > X-Message-Number: 1 > > Monday evening the VIRGINIA RAIL family (at least 2 adults & 7 chicks) was seen and heard by many patient people. The birds were in the wetlands north of the northeast corner of the Lab of O, crossing the Wilson Trail North, and in the adjacent Fuller Wetlands north of there and east of the walkway to the viewing platform. > > Tuesday (this) morning I saw 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS along the shore at Stewart Park just north of the dock. Seems the wrong season for them to be here. > > Tuesday (this) morning I also saw a BROWN THRASHER on the manicured lawn (an odd habitat, I thought) by the parking lots at the Ithaca Airport. > > --Dave Nutter > > > > > --- > > END OF DIGEST > > > -- ================================ W. Larry Hymes 120 Vine Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 (H) 607-277-0759, wlh2 AT cornell.edu ================================ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: May's Point From: Barrs <creek6 AT mfire.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:56:40 -0400 Gwendolyn and I were at May's Point pool in Montezuma yesterday ay 1900: five GREAT EGRETS, a convention of 54 blue herons, 1 adult SANDHILL CRANE, redheads, pied billed grebes, red winged blackbirds, 1 immature BALD EAGLE, 4 BLACK TERNS, 1 blue winged teal, Canada geese, barn swallows, tree swallows, and one large snapping turtle. Vicinity Esker Brook: northern flicker, yellow warblers, common yellowthroats, hermit thrushes, robins, tree swallows, eastern wood peewees, and a northern waterthrush. Susan Barr Brooktondale -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: MNWR this Saturday From: "Marie P Read" <mpr5 AT cornell.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:43:29 -0400 (EDT) ---------------------------- Original Message ---------------------------- Subject: FOTMWC members - Black Tern presentation - Sat, 20 June From: "Michael R. Morgan" Date: Tue, June 16, 2009 3:42 pm To: info AT friendsofmontezuma.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photographic Adventures with the Black Tern - A Presentation by Marie Read Saturday, June 20, 2 pm. Montezuma NWR Visitor Center. Wildlife photographer and nature writer Marie Read is renowned for her exquisite bird photos that often tell a story as well as being beautiful. Marie's articles and photo essays have appeared in such publications as Living Bird, Birder's World, Bird Watcher's Digest, and Women In The Outdoors. She is the author of Secret Lives of Common Birds: Enjoying Bird Behavior Through the Seasons (Houghton Mifflin, 2005). For the past two summers, Marie Read has photographed Black Terns in the secluded marshes of Upstate New York. In this presentation Marie will share the techniques she used to photograph them in action. Plus you'll learn about the lives of these beautiful terns, listed as endangered in New York, as well as some of the other creatures that share their wetland home. Free to Friends members and $5 for non-members. --------------------------------- Marie Read Wildlife Photography 452 Ringwood Road Freeville NY 13068 USA Phone 607-539-6608 e-mail mpr5 AT cornell.edu http://www.marieread.com http://www.agpix.com/mari -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: Bird friendly space From: "candr1 AT i-bird.com" <candr1@i-bird.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 06:00:36 -0700 A big thanks to all who provided ideas for a "Bird friendly space." We are encouraged to try. Cheers, Richard ---------------------------------------- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: indigos From: Nancy Dickinson <nwd1 AT cornell.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 08:56:47 -0400 As often happens, but never until late June, a pair of Indigo Buntings has magically appeared in our yard, singing and chirping and displaying, and exploring nest sites. Other places have them earlier, but they are always my summertime companions. Lucky me! -- Nancy Dickinson Mecklenburg Make a little birdhouse in your soul. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Virginia Rails, American Black Ducks, Brown Thrasher From: Dave Nutter <nutter.dave AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:08:57 -0700 Monday evening the VIRGINIA RAIL family (at least 2 adults & 7 chicks) was seen and heard by many patient people. The birds were in the wetlands north of the northeast corner of the Lab of O, crossing the Wilson Trail North, and in the adjacent Fuller Wetlands north of there and east of the walkway to the viewing platform. Tuesday (this) morning I saw 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS along the shore at Stewart Park just north of the dock. Seems the wrong season for them to be here. Tuesday (this) morning I also saw a BROWN THRASHER on the manicured lawn (an odd habitat, I thought) by the parking lots at the Ithaca Airport. --Dave Nutter -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- Subject: Re: South Hill Pine Siskin From: "B Mcaneny" <bmcaneny1 AT fltg.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:03:18 -0400 Message Our daughter lives on Whitetail Dr very near the Hospicare pond. She tells us of putting out a pie plate size dish of water on her deck, daily, and immediately the siskins move in and take a bath, filling the surface area. She sits nearby and watches. Here in Trumansburg we see one or two siskins daily to our platform feeder. So many people have witnessed and enjoyed these "interlopers" that next winter may be very bland if they go back north. Shirley McAneny----- Original Message ----- From: Annette Finney To: cayugabirds-l AT cornell.edu Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 2:55 PM Subject: South Hill Pine Siskin While sitting near the small fish pond at Hospicare (E. King Rd., South Hill) this morning, I was surprised to see a small bird approach the running water into the pond, only about two feet from me. It turned out to be PINE SISKIN in need of a drink. I watched it for a bit, and the bird remained near the pond even when I stood up and walked away. A delightful close encounter. :) Annette Finney -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES Temporary archive: http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --