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5 Dec Re: RFI - Birders Journal ["David M. Gascoigne" ] 5 Dec Jemima Parry-Jones [John Penhallurick ] 4 Dec Re: RFI - Birders Journal [Phil Davis ] 4 Dec RFI - Birders Journal ["Ken S." ] 4 Dec Re: Status of Spotted Dove in Southern California [Mitch ] 4 Dec Re: World Checklists [Elliott Bedows ] 4 Dec Uhuaya & El Calafate - Birds. [pauloboute ] 4 Dec Re: World Checklists [Morgan Churchill ] 4 Dec Bird Feathers [Joyanne Hamilton ] 4 Dec mystery birds and parrots on the Tonight Show (links) [Devorah Bennu ] 4 Dec Re: World Checklists [David M Mark ] 4 Dec World Checklists [James Yurchenco ] 4 Dec Keep your eye out for color banded Savannah Sparrows [Rob Fergus ] 4 Dec Birding for Everyone [Rob Fergus ] 2 Dec Re: Thanks - Grey Market Cameras [William Leigh ] 4 Dec Re: RFI Barnacle Geese in the UK [Stephen Christopher ] 4 Dec Hilton Pond 11/16/08 (Guatemala Hummingbirds) [Research at Hilton Pond ] 4 Dec RFI Barnacle Geese in the UK [] 3 Dec Re: Sungrebe at Bosque del Apache [Mitch ] 3 Dec sungrebe and thickknee [Rick Wright ] 4 Dec Sungrebe at Bosque del Apache [Terry Witt ] 3 Dec Tar sands exploration takes big toll on birds [Chuck Hagner ] 3 Dec mystery birds and a couple interesting OT stories (links) [Devorah Bennu ] 3 Dec Digiscoper of the Year [Dale Forbes ] 3 Dec Re: Adapting SLR lenses to DSLR cameras [Dan Daniel ] 2 Dec Hummingbirds of Guatemala [Carol Anderson ] 2 Dec Re: Adapting SLR lenses to DSLR cameras [Jerry Blinn ] 2 Dec Answer to CFO Mystery Quiz #275 [Rachel Hopper ] 2 Dec Adapting SLR lenses to DSLR cameras [Ken Blackshaw ] 2 Dec Re: BIRDCHAT Digest - 30 Nov 2008 to 1 Dec 2008 (#2008-333) [Dennis Burnette ] 2 Dec mystery birds, ghost birds, and snowballs (links) [Devorah Bennu ] 2 Dec More on Wind Power [Ken Blackshaw ] 1 Dec Re: CBC websites [Denise Hughes ] 1 Dec Criteria for Wind Farm Shut Down [Tim Boucher ] 1 Dec CBC websites [Devorah Bennu ] 1 Dec Birds in the News, mystery birds, and more (links) [Devorah Bennu ] 1 Dec Criteria for Wind Farm Shut Down [Ken Blackshaw ] 30 Nov Re: Grey Market Camera questions [Ken Sayers ] 30 Nov History of Ornithology [Rick Wright ] 30 Nov History of Ornithology ["David M. Gascoigne" ] 30 Nov Re: Grey Market Camera questions [Brandon Best ] 30 Nov Whooping Cranes [Rick Wright ] 30 Nov Re: Grey Market Camera questions [Jerry Friedman ] 30 Nov Re: Texas Whooping Cranes... [Jerry Blinn ] 30 Nov Re: Texas Whooping Cranes... [Jules Levin ] 30 Nov Re: Grey Market Camera questions [Roy Harvey ] 30 Nov Re: Grey Market Camera questions [Jerry Blinn ] 30 Nov Re: Grey Market Camera questions [Jerry Blinn ] 30 Nov Birdwatch Radio at RGV Bird Fest #2 [Steve Moore ] 30 Nov Texas Whooping Cranes - 25 November 2008 - 266 at ANWR! [Patty Waits Beasley ] 30 Nov Re: Grey Market Camera questions [Jerry Friedman ] 30 Nov mystery birds (links) [Devorah Bennu ] Subject: Re: RFI - Birders Journal From: "David M. Gascoigne" <bateleur27 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 04:41:01 -0500 Ken: Birders Journal has not been published for several years now. I think its demise in large part was brought about by the internet, ironically. One of its substantial features was a roundup of all the rarities from across Canada organized by province or territory. This information became immediately available to anyone with a computer as soon as the sighting was made, so that by the time the bi-monthly magazine was published, it was already stale news. David M. Gascoigne 606 Osprey Drive Waterloo, ON Canada N2V 2A5 519 725-0866 Fax: 519 725-1176 blog: travelswithbirds.blogspot.com > Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 19:22:34 -0800> From: kschnei1 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Subject: [BIRDCHAT] RFI - Birders Journal> To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU> > My apologies if this is "common knowledge", but I'm having difficulties finding a web site or current contact information for this Canadian birding publication. Is it still being published and, if so, is there a way to subscribe online?> > Thanks in advance!> > Ken Schneider, Redwood City, CA.> > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html> Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html _________________________________________________________________ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Jemima Parry-Jones From: John Penhallurick <jpenhall AT BIGPOND.NET.AU> Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2008 16:51:27 +1100 Dear Friends, Can anyone give me an email address for Jemima Parry-Jones. I believe she mover from England to South Carolina some time ago. Many thanks, John Penhallurick BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: RFI - Birders Journal From: Phil Davis <pdavis AT IX.NETCOM.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 22:51:47 -0500 Hi Ken: It's no longer being published. Too bad, it was a good journal. Phil At 22:22 12/04/2008, Ken S. wrote: >My apologies if this is "common knowledge", but I'm having >difficulties finding a web site or current contact information for >this Canadian birding publication. Is it still being published and, >if so, is there a way to subscribe online? > >Thanks in advance! > >Ken Schneider, Redwood City, CA. > >BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html >Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html ================================== Phil Davis Davidsonville, Maryland USA mailto:PDavis AT ix.netcom.com ================================== BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: RFI - Birders Journal From: "Ken S." <kschnei1 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 19:22:34 -0800 My apologies if this is "common knowledge", but I'm having difficulties finding a web site or current contact information for this Canadian birding publication. Is it still being published and, if so, is there a way to subscribe online? Thanks in advance! Ken Schneider, Redwood City, CA. BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Status of Spotted Dove in Southern California From: Mitch <mitch AT UTOPIANATURE.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 14:11:36 -0600 David Mark wrote: Hi. Don't tell the ABA Check-List committee, but it seems that Spotted Doves have 'crashed' in California in the last couple of decades. Cristmas Count data are on line at http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/index.html You can select a species, a region, a range of years. I selected Spotted Dove, California, 1990-91 to rpesent. Last Christmas Count season (2007-2008) was the first time that no Spotted DOves were reported at all, but numbers were under 100 since 2003. Number of counts reporting also had a steady decline. They were seen on 5 different counts in 2006-2007, but none last year. Are they gone? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Hi all, and with apologies for being slow.....and thanks for the other responses..... I'll add some stuff .... I think some of which I posted somewhere years ago..... and a little updated.... ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The LA County birds listserv (at Siler's Birdingonthe.net,etc.) still regularly has reports of very small numbers. The LA Basin was their starting point, and main population center for decades. The Palos Verdes Peninsula CBC numbers show the crash well. Spotted Doves were still locally abundant in socal in 1990. Their ascension to abundance occured from the 1920's or so (intro period) to the 1980's. About half way through that period Los Angeles was de-treed (40's and 50's), the L.A. River paved, etc.. All riparian corridors stripped and concreted, and species like Cooper's Hawks, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-shouldered Hawks were lost locally. Through the 1960's to the 70's & 80's for instance Cooper's or Red-shouldered Hawks did not nest around the Palos Verdes Peninsula (mainland SW L.A. Co.). The dove only succeded and exploded in numbers because there were no predators present. But then Cooper's and Red-shouldered Hawks (re-?) colonized the PV Peninsula as resident breeding species about 1990, as well as much of the L.A. area, and other outlying areas. This coincided with the urban (often Eucalyptus - but generally a bewildering array of non-native) forests growing up enough to create a woodland substantial enough for hawks to consider it suitable habitat. And every pole had food (a Spotted Dove) on it. Evasive flight is an oxymoron for Spotted Dove. They are sittin' ducks for an accipter. Fatter and slower than those leary native Mourning Doves. No twists and turns, they fly straight, and slowly. I tried to estimate the population of Spotted Doves about 1990-1 in the Palos Verdes Peninsula (a CBC I co-compiled) and estimated about 10,000 Spotted Doves just in the PVP CBC circle. They were like Starlings and English Sparrows. Everywhere. Post Cooper's Hawk arrival as a resident nester during the early 1990's I could hardly visit a park without finding a pile of Spotted Dove feathers. They became to Cooper's Hawks at least, the prey de jour as Coops (re?) colonized the peninsula and vicinity. I also saw occasional Red-shouldered Hawks with them. I never saw a Coop miss one when going after it. It seemed quite clear to me being at a center of a huge Spotted Dove population, watching Coops move in and the doves disappear, with piles of evidence at 10 different stops in a single birding day. Day after day after day. Year after year after year. It wouldn't take 10-20 pairs of Coops nesting twice a season very long to eat 10,000 Doves and their progeny. Or, how many Spotted Dove can 20 pairs of Coops and their young eat in 10 years? Anyway, that is what I think caused the crash and decline to Spotted Doves in L.A., until someone offers evidence of something better. I'm glad it happened before the Eur. Collared-Doves got there or they would be blamed. For me one introduced non-native species is as bad as the next, but no need to wrongly malign one. Each will seemingly do that in its own special way itself. It will be interesting to see if the Eur. Collared-Dove can make it where the Spotted Dove failed. They are much faster in straight line flight. I haven't had a chance to see them use evasive maneuvers. Spotted Dove didn't have any evasive capabilities whatsoever, relying soley on productivity, which worked well as long as there were no predators around. happy feathers, Mitch Mitch Heindel Utopia, TX www.utopianature.com BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: World Checklists From: Elliott Bedows <ebedows AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 12:48:45 -0600 Hi James (and others), I use Avisys as my database so I "tend' towards using the Clements list. I say "tend" because (and this is one of the reasons I love Avisys - and BTW: usual disclaimer - I get nothing from Jerry Blinn other than his great software, which I paid for) because it is so easy to modify to meet my own opinions. Being a professional molecular reproductive biologist, I have opinions that would make every bird database writer gag, but that's OK. It's my list and I don't ever try to compare my numbers with anyone else's. My list is a hybrid derived from many sources. I know that I am right - it's just so hard to get people to agree with me :^). Happy Holidays to all and to all ........ GREAT birding....... Elliott Bedows, Bellevue, NE ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Yurchenco" To: Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 10:16 AM Subject: [BIRDCHAT] World Checklists > This is a general question to the Birdchat community. If you keep a > personal world life list of birds, what checklist do you base this on? > With > the recent publication by Cornell of the Clements 6.3 update, the Clements > list has wandered even further than the IOC 1.7 list in terms of what is > recognized as a species and what is not. Cornell has been lumping while > IOC > has been splitting. > > I am not a strong partisan of either list, I happen to use Clements > because > years ago it was the first published checklist I stumbled upon and I never > found a reason to change. I am interested in what checklists other people > use, and, more particularly, why? > > I will be happy to collate responses for the group, so either public or > private responses are much appreciated. > > James Yurchenco > Palo Alto, CA > jimy AT ideo.com > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.13/1828 - Release Date: 12/4/2008 8:05 AM BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Uhuaya & El Calafate - Birds. From: pauloboute <pauloboute AT UOL.COM.BR> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 15:53:49 -0200 Hello! Please if, anyone can give me tips about some good places to bird in Ushuaya and El Calafate,in Argentina, I will be very grateful. Truly yours, Paulo Boute. BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: World Checklists From: Morgan Churchill <mmcjawa AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:45:21 -0800 I don't competitively submit my world list anywhere, (other than Surfbirds), and so I don't adhere to any one checklist. So far it hasn't been much of a problem, as I haven't done a lot of birding outside the states. In general, for species level taxonomy, I tend to rely on the regional official checklist (NACC for the US for instance) or similar taxonomic authority, the IOC for common names of birds outside the NACC area, and I have my own cobbled together family and ordinal taxonomy reflecting the latest in bird phylogenetic research. As already said, it really doesn't matter what checklist you use as long as your consistent, unless your submitting your records to some official body. Even then you can always keep an "official list" and a personal list. FYI, as far as I know (and please correct me if I am wrong), there is no official committee for taxonomy for the IOC, and there main purpose is standardization of English names. So I am not certain how "valid" a source they are to base splits and lumps ********************************** Morgan Churchill Masters candidate Department of Biology San Diego State University San Diego, CA 92115 --- On Thu, 12/4/08, James Yurchenco wrote: > From: James Yurchenco > Subject: [BIRDCHAT] World Checklists > To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 11:16 AM > This is a general question to the Birdchat community. If > you keep a > personal world life list of birds, what checklist do you > base this on? With > the recent publication by Cornell of the Clements 6.3 > update, the Clements > list has wandered even further than the IOC 1.7 list in > terms of what is > recognized as a species and what is not. Cornell has been > lumping while IOC > has been splitting. > > I am not a strong partisan of either list, I happen to use > Clements because > years ago it was the first published checklist I stumbled > upon and I never > found a reason to change. I am interested in what > checklists other people > use, and, more particularly, why? > > I will be happy to collate responses for the group, so > either public or > private responses are much appreciated. > > James Yurchenco > Palo Alto, CA > jimy AT ideo.com > > BirdChat Guidelines: > http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: > http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Bird Feathers From: Joyanne Hamilton <innoko_bird AT MAC.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 07:36:48 -0900 Hello, One of my students found two LARGE feathers laying on the snow in our village yesterday. We surmised that maybe the bird was attacked or was fighting while flying over our village or maybe a fox grabbed it. Fun, how they think. It IS pretty unusual to find "strange" feathers laying right in the middle of our village. Raven feathers are found frequently, during the summer, other misc. feathers, too but none this unusual and none right in the middle of town. It still has a chunk of follicle hanging on the quill end. I'm a newbie at feather identification and found a great website this morning that has helped. http://www.ups.edu/x5662.xml It could be a Goshawk or Harrier or some other kind of hawk. Don't help us yet! OH, I take that back. If you know of any other great websites out there, please let us know! We're having fun trying to find out what it could be. Kids are asking, "Is it a tail feather? A wing feather?" etc. We still need to check the books and the Alaska Bird Observatory to find out what possibilities exist for us at this time of year. When our discussion went to what could have attacked it we decided that it couldn't be Bald or Golden Eagles as they flew out in early November What amazed me when looking at the above feather ID website was how many variations there were depending on month and gender for the same bird! Holy smokes! Well, I guess we can assume it's a December bird for starters although I know that there might be some variability there. Also, as a result of our find, we have gotten into some great discussions about laws protecting birds and legislation involving traditional Native Alaska/Native American use of feathers. What an exciting lesson! Thanks for your thoughts. Joyanne Hamilton Innoko River School Shageluk, Alaska -11C this morning. 8 cm snow last night. Total snow depth to date: 65 cm. BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: mystery birds and parrots on the Tonight Show (links) From: Devorah Bennu <birdologist AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 08:28:25 -0800 Hello everyone, the most recently demystified mystery bird was a lovely male Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus, as all of you correctly identified; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_64.php Be sure to return to that link to read Rick's analysis about this species .. and also to appreciate Joseph Kennedy's image (gorgeous). here's today's challenging mystery bird, thanks to photographer, Eva Gerdts (Eva, don't give my readers any hints!); http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_90.php I also found a funny video clip of the Tonight Show when several parrots took over Jay Leno's exhaulted position as the show's host; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/a_flock_of_parrots_take_over_t.php happy holidaze, GrrlScientist Devorah http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: World Checklists From: David M Mark <dmark AT BUFFALO.EDU> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 11:27:06 -0500 Hi. Members of the American Birding Association who want to send in their list totals to the ABA are required to make their world and non-American regional lists correspond to Clements. As an ABA life member who does report list totals each year, I have no choice. I can keep lists according to other authorities as well but I have to no which ones "count" under Clements to make my list conform to their rules. I was unhappy with the ABA's choice of Clements, but that was the rule. I am hopeful that under Cornell's control, the list will get better. For my own purposes, I prefered the Sibley & Monroe check-list, and that was available in digital form from Rolf de By. So I computerized my lists under that, and then added columns for the Clements taxonomy. Now, if you don't send in lists to the ABA, well, as Ben Feltner always says, "It's your list!". If you compare your totals with those of certian friends, it would make sense to use the same "score card" as they do. Just my opinion... David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ David M. Mark Amherst, New York (near Buffalo; home location) dmark AT buffalo.edu http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/~dmark/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Thu, 4 Dec 2008, James Yurchenco wrote: > This is a general question to the Birdchat community. If you keep a > personal world life list of birds, what checklist do you base this on? With > the recent publication by Cornell of the Clements 6.3 update, the Clements > list has wandered even further than the IOC 1.7 list in terms of what is > recognized as a species and what is not. Cornell has been lumping while IOC > has been splitting. > > I am not a strong partisan of either list, I happen to use Clements because > years ago it was the first published checklist I stumbled upon and I never > found a reason to change. I am interested in what checklists other people > use, and, more particularly, why? > > I will be happy to collate responses for the group, so either public or > private responses are much appreciated. > > James Yurchenco > Palo Alto, CA > jimy AT ideo.com > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: World Checklists From: James Yurchenco <jimy AT IDEO.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 08:16:24 -0800 This is a general question to the Birdchat community. If you keep a personal world life list of birds, what checklist do you base this on? With the recent publication by Cornell of the Clements 6.3 update, the Clements list has wandered even further than the IOC 1.7 list in terms of what is recognized as a species and what is not. Cornell has been lumping while IOC has been splitting. I am not a strong partisan of either list, I happen to use Clements because years ago it was the first published checklist I stumbled upon and I never found a reason to change. I am interested in what checklists other people use, and, more particularly, why? I will be happy to collate responses for the group, so either public or private responses are much appreciated. James Yurchenco Palo Alto, CA jimy AT ideo.com BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Keep your eye out for color banded Savannah Sparrows From: Rob Fergus <birdchaser AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:33:40 -0600 Folks conducting Christmas Bird Counts this year have a chance to help us better understand the distribution of Savannah Sparrows. A group of biologists are working with a heavily studied Savannah Sparrow population that breeds on Kent Island, Bowdoin College's scientific field station (Nat Wheelwright, of Bowdoin College, is the head of this effort). They band all Savannah sparrows that breed, hatch, or are found on the study site as juveniles with at least two bands; juveniles receive two bands (an aluminum USFWS band on one leg, a plastic color band on the other) and adults receive four bands (an aluminum USFWS plus a color band on one leg, two color bands on the other). We know that the birds, both adults and first year, return each year to the study site to breed. One part of the project centers on song development, and it is clear that some of that process occurs before the young birds return to the study site for their first breeding season. It would be very useful to be able to find their wintering grounds so as to determine what effects the winter environment has on song learning in this philopatric population. However, we have no idea where this population winters (except that it is likely to be in the southeast US). Christmas Bird Counters should be on the lookout for these banded Savannah sparrows? A simple report of their presence would be very valuable, and if the colors on each leg could be ascertained, that would be an amazing bonus. In the absence of tiny transmitters with GPS units (which may come our way eventually), the only chance of finding the wintering location of these birds is to disseminate the question and a heads-up to watch out for and notify those interested of banded birds to a community such as the CBC participants. If you see a color-banded Savannah Sparrow during the Christmas Bird Count, or any other time during the winter, please contact Heather Williams Biology Department, Williams College Williamstown, MA 01267 hwilliams AT williams DOT edu (413) 597-3315 More information about the study is online at http://www.collegenews.org/x5526.xml. Please distribute this message to any other birding email lists that you may be a member of. Thanks! Rob Fergus Perkasie, Bucks, Pennsylvania http://birdchaser.blogspot.com _________________________________________________________________ Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_122008 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Birding for Everyone From: Rob Fergus <birdchaser AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:16:48 -0600 I have a review of John Robinson's new book Birding for Everyone at my Audubon Birdscapes blog: http://tinyurl.com/birdingforeveryone. Rob Fergus Perkasie, Bucks, Pennsylvania http://birdchaser.blogspot.com _________________________________________________________________ Send e-mail faster without improving your typing skills. http://windowslive.com/Explore/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_hotmail_acq_speed_122008 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Thanks - Grey Market Cameras From: William Leigh <leightern AT MSN.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 17:29:41 +0000 All, Wow! Thanks for all the input on Grey Market Cameras. All in all I think I only received one email saying go ahead and get the lowest price you can find. Everyone else had either personal experiences which they related in all their painful details or felt strongly that it wasn't worth the hassle and that typically the low prices were usually followed by extravagant prices on other accessories. If that was the case one would think one could just by the camera cheap and buy the accessories elsewhere. However, many folks said that if they didn't buy the accessories then the camera was suddenly out of stock. All in all it sounds like the sort of morass that I have next to no patience in dealing with. Warranty issues were another potential headache. If I understood correctly the thing to look for is a warranty that is through the company that makes the camera and not some warranty that is handled only through the dealer as many of these dealers are not capable of repairing the cameras and/or may not be in business long enough to make good on any warranty issue than might arise. I realise that I may have a few of the related some of the details incorrectly but all in all that is the summary impression that came away with. Anyway I must thank all of you for taking the time to give me your advice. I am definitely buying from a reputable dealer such as B &H or Adorama or maybe even the local camera shop whose prices were not that different. Thanks again! Sincererly, William Leigh Bridgewater, VA leightern AT msn.com >From: Brandon Best >Reply-To: Brandon Best >To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU >Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Grey Market Camera questions >Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:08:32 -0500 > >I will put a plug in for Adorama, also out of New York. I have purchased >lenses three different times from them and had good results every time. I >also received a camera case as a gift from them, and decided it just wasn't >the right thing, so I shipped it back to them. Despite somewhat ominous >language about their return policy, they processed it with no problems. >Their prices tend to be neck and neck with B&H. So, they remain my >retailer >of choice for camera equipment. > >For binos and scopes I really like working with Eagle Optics out of >Wisconsin. > >Brandon Best >Lawrenceville, GA > >BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html >Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: RFI Barnacle Geese in the UK From: Stephen Christopher <s.christopher AT TELEFONICA.NET> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 09:47:44 +0100 Hi Wayne There's currently about 1000 breeding birds in the UK but you're correct that they're feral and, for most, not countable. I make an annual visit to see the wintering geese in Norfolk and usually pick up the odd Barnacle Goose. September however is probably too early as you say as post-breeding birds are usually at staging posts in Iceland until they arrive in the UK during November. Although of course it's a gradual process. http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/b/barnaclegoose/index.asp I would say your birds were probably feral but then again this map here shows none breeding in Norfolk so they could be just 'captivity' birds having escaped or roaming from a nearby farm. Perhaps a member from Norfolk can shed more light. All the best Stephen Christopher www.catalanbirdtours.com Birding Holidays and Bird Tours in Spain www.surfbirds.com/blog/spainbirding/ Spain Birding blog, trip reports and photos On 4 Dec 2008, at 04:20, waynef AT PROVIDE.NET wrote: > I saw four Barnacle Geese at Minismere Reserve in Suffolk in > September. I am trying to figure out if they are "countable". > > I know that wild Barnacle Geese winter in the UK, but mostly > farther north and mostly later in the year. There is also a > population of feral birds. These were probably some of those. I am > trying to figure out how well established they are. > > I don't report my list to anyone, so I don't have to follow any > organizations official rules, but I follow the principle that > introduced birds are only countable if the population is well > established. > > Can anyone tell me the status of Barnacle Geese there? > > Wayne Fisher > Ann Arbor, MI > waynef at provide.net > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Hilton Pond 11/16/08 (Guatemala Hummingbirds) From: Research at Hilton Pond <research AT HILTONPOND.ORG> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 00:06:46 -0500 Our most recent on-line photo essay described an early November week in San Salvador, during which we were mainly indoors but had one great day in the field when we caught the first two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds ever banded in El Salvador. "This Week at Hilton Pond" we detail the second half of our Neotropical excursion--this time a full six days of catching, banding, and observing ruby-throats on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. As you might guess, our results were far more productive; we banded a LOT more ruby-throats--including the first one for Guatemala--and caught six other hummingbird species. To find out how many we banded and to view the installment for 16-30 November 2008, please visit http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek081116.html . To properly chronicle our observations and accomplishments we've included many photos of people, places, plants, and animals, so it may take a moment for the entire page to load. We appreciate your patience in that regard and hope you'll let us know what you think about the contents of the photo essay. :-) As always we include lists of birds banded or recaptured at Hilton Pond, as well as nature notes and a link to a surprise recognition from Discover magazine. If you're doing any on-line shopping for the holidays, please consider doing so through iGive.com at http://www.igive.com/welcome/warmwelcome.cfm?c=25243 . A portion of your purchase price goes to support the education, research, and conservation work of Hilton Pond Center and "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project." Happy Nature Watching! BILL -- RESEARCH PROGRAM c/o BILL HILTON JR. Executive Director Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History 1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA research AT hiltonpond.org, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845 Please visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net): Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History at http://www.hiltonpond.org "Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project" at http://www.rubythroat.org ********** BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: RFI Barnacle Geese in the UK From: waynef AT PROVIDE.NET Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 03:20:25 +0000 I saw four Barnacle Geese at Minismere Reserve in Suffolk in September. I am trying to figure out if they are "countable". I know that wild Barnacle Geese winter in the UK, but mostly farther north and mostly later in the year. There is also a population of feral birds. These were probably some of those. I am trying to figure out how well established they are. I don't report my list to anyone, so I don't have to follow any organizations official rules, but I follow the principle that introduced birds are only countable if the population is well established. Can anyone tell me the status of Barnacle Geese there? Wayne Fisher Ann Arbor, MI waynef at provide.net BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Sungrebe at Bosque del Apache From: Mitch <mitch AT UTOPIANATURE.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 19:36:28 -0600 Hi all, The Yucatan Vireo at High Island is I believe one of a number of examples of birds believed to be non-migratory that have occurred as vagrants far from their normal haunts, that are not likely human assists. Mitch Heindel Utopia, TX www.utopianature.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Witt" To: Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 6:23 PM Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Sungrebe at Bosque del Apache > re the Sungrebe seen in New Mexico last month - > about 20 years ago plus or minus, a Double Striped Thick-Knee spent some time on a golf course in Az or NM and was seen by most of the big NA listers, then turned down as a valid record by the state committee and then the ABA. > My question - as neither are migratory, why would the Sungrebe be more or less likely to be a wild bird?? > > Terry Witt > Murfreesboro Tn BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: sungrebe and thickknee From: Rick Wright <birdaz AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 17:48:48 -0700 The AZ thickknee was known to have been transported into the state. See the archives of birdwg05 (AZ/NM) for fuller discussions. DAvid Sibley also has a well-reasoned note on his blog. r -- Rick Wright Managing Director, WINGS http://wingsbirds.com http://birdaz.com, http://birdaz.com/blog BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Sungrebe at Bosque del Apache From: Terry Witt <terrywitt AT BELLSOUTH.NET> Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2008 00:23:51 +0000 re the Sungrebe seen in New Mexico last month - about 20 years ago plus or minus, a Double Striped Thick-Knee spent some time on a golf course in Az or NM and was seen by most of the big NA listers, then turned down as a valid record by the state committee and then the ABA. My question - as neither are migratory, why would the Sungrebe be more or less likely to be a wild bird?? Terry Witt Murfreesboro Tn BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Tar sands exploration takes big toll on birds From: Chuck Hagner <chagner AT KALMBACH.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 14:15:31 -0600 Hi everyone-- A report issued yesterday states that if mining and drilling operations in the so-called tar sands region continue to increase, as many as 166 million birds could be lost over the next 30 to 50 years. Associate Editor Matt Mendenhall listened in on the news conference called to publicize the study and just posted a report on our blog. You can read it here: Tar sands exploration takes big toll on birds Birder's World Field of View http://bwfov.typepad.com/birders_world_field_of_vi/2008/12/tar-sands-exploration-takes-big-toll-on-birds.html The report itself is available online here: Report Finds Millions of Birds Will Be Lost from Tar Sands Development Boreal Songbirds Initiative http://www.borealbirds.org/birdstarsands.shtml --Chuck Chuck Hagner Editor, Birder's World Waukesha Co., WI Web: http://www.birdersworld.com Blog: http://bwfov.typepad.com BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: mystery birds and a couple interesting OT stories (links) From: Devorah Bennu <birdologist AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 11:03:12 -0800 hello everyone, the most recently demystified mystery bird was a male hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_105.php Be sure to check that link for an analysis by Rick Wright and also to read why he showed you an "obviously easy" mystery bird in the first place. here's today's mystery bird, courtesy of your tricky teacher, Rick Wright; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_102.php this is slightly off-topic, but it's fascinating so i thought you'd like to watch this video of the Indonesian mimetic octopus; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/the_indonesian_mimetic_octopus.php oh, and this story is especially for my Seattle peeps; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/seattle_artists_christmas_orna.php cheers, GrrlScientist Devorah http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Digiscoper of the Year From: Dale Forbes <lalaparoja AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 13:05:32 +0100 I suppose most on birdchat would already have seen the results of the Digiscoper of the Year competition which came out last month. If you are interested, you can always check out the official site, but I also blogged about my favorite photos on my Alpine Birds blog here. At the very least, I would check out the gorgeous photo of the bee-eaters . Happy birding Dale Forbes Check out my Austrian Alpine Birds blog here - http://alpinebirds.blogspot.com . BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Adapting SLR lenses to DSLR cameras From: Dan Daniel <ddandan AT PACBELL.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2008 02:59:29 -0800 The current Pentax DSLRs will accept your M42 screwmount lens. It's one of the nice things Pentax has done over the years, keeping lenses usable. You will need an adapter, commonly available (but I've heard that the Pentax-made one is the best and others may have problems). Metering is much less crippled than you might think. You will also get shake reduction since Pentax builds it into the body, not the lenses. I'd suggest that you search through some of the Pentax forums on the internet- http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1036 http://photo.net/pentax-camera-forum/ You'll find lots of info on using older lenses, and many helpful people to answer your questions. Be sure to search/ask about your specific lens. Someone probably knows it and can say more about the worth of using it with digital. And sometimes there are quirks in some companies' mounts such as the Ricoh pin and Vivitar extended baffle. BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Hummingbirds of Guatemala From: Carol Anderson <mayancarol AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 19:41:13 -0600 Friends, I made this video back on October 5th, 2008 and I couldn't upload it to youtube. Today a guy came over and set me up with a high speed connection and that video went up like lightning. I also have several new photos on my website of North American migrants in Guatemala. You can find them here and scroll all the way down because the photos of the Western Tanagers and Baltimore Orioles match the colors of the fruit and are really a treat. Several people from Birdchat have come to visit me recently and I owe them many thanks in educating me and helping me to appreciate how much we all can learn from one another. The webpage is here: http://www.monterey-bay.net/birds/guatemala/winter.htm And the hummingbird video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PjETZAlZtM It's an open invitation to everyone on this list to come and visit me in Guatemala and see the amazing array of species here. And many thanks to those who helped me chose a new camera so I can do more point and shoot and video in high def. This Casio shoots 60 frames per second so very soon you might see hummingbird wings!! Imagine that!! Carol Anderson -- Carol C. Anderson San Pedro La Laguna Guatemala www.monterey-bay.net/birds BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Adapting SLR lenses to DSLR cameras From: Jerry Blinn <support AT AVISYS.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 16:31:22 -0700 Assuming you mean a Pentax M42 screw mount, for one example, see this: http://www.zenit-camera.com/m42_lenses_adapters.htm But these adapters have an optical element to allow infinity focus, and do not have a very good reputation for image quality. Jerry At 03:44 PM 12/2/2008, Ken Blackshaw wrote: >Hi All - This is my week for Birdchat questions it seems. > >I have a beautiful 600 mm lens with a Pentax screw-type mount that has been >languishing since I got my first digital camera. Actually bought it through >the PX over 30 years ago - a Mamiya Sekor lens. > >Now I'm seeing Digital single lens reflex cameras and I'm wondering if any >of you have tried to use some sort of adaptor to couple old lenses to new >cameras. > >I'm aware there would be no automatic focus or exposure control. Also there >may be focal length problems. > >What do you think? > >Ken Blackshaw -- (Better, Better & Better) >Amateur Radio W1NQT (Never Quits Talking) >Nantucket Island -- 30 miles at sea > >BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html >Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Jerry Blinn Perceptive Systems Placitas, NM 505-867-6255 jerry AT avisys.net Web Site: www.avisys.net BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Answer to CFO Mystery Quiz #275 From: Rachel Hopper <hopko AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 16:10:08 -0700 The answer to Mystery Quiz #275 and the new quiz are now on the CFO website: www.cfo-link.org ----------------------- Rachel Hopper Ft. Collins, CO Visit the CFO County Birding site at: www.coloradocountybirding.com BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Adapting SLR lenses to DSLR cameras From: Ken Blackshaw <kenandcindy1 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 17:44:53 -0500 Hi All - This is my week for Birdchat questions it seems. I have a beautiful 600 mm lens with a Pentax screw-type mount that has been languishing since I got my first digital camera. Actually bought it through the PX over 30 years ago - a Mamiya Sekor lens. Now I'm seeing Digital single lens reflex cameras and I'm wondering if any of you have tried to use some sort of adaptor to couple old lenses to new cameras. I'm aware there would be no automatic focus or exposure control. Also there may be focal length problems. What do you think? Ken Blackshaw -- (Better, Better & Better) Amateur Radio W1NQT (Never Quits Talking) Nantucket Island -- 30 miles at sea BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: BIRDCHAT Digest - 30 Nov 2008 to 1 Dec 2008 (#2008-333) From: Dennis Burnette <deburnette AT TRIAD.RR.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 16:28:30 -0500 Here is the URL for a list of bird counts in North Carolina and South Carolina: http://www.carolinabirdclub.org/christmas/index.html -- Dennis Burnette Greensboro, NC deburnette AT triad.rr.com on 12/2/08 2:16 AM, BIRDCHAT automatic digest system at LISTSERV AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU wrote: > -----Original Message----- > From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) > [mailto:BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Devorah Bennu > Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 1:57 PM > To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Subject: [BIRDCHAT] CBC websites > > hello again, everyone, > > sorry to bother you again, but if any of you know the URLs for state CBC > websites, could you please send them to me so I can include them in Birds in > the News? > > thanks, > > GrrlScientist > Devorah > http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ > Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: mystery birds, ghost birds, and snowballs (links) From: Devorah Bennu <birdologist AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 08:38:08 -0800 hello everyone, the most recently demystified mystery bird was a male Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, as you all correctly identified; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/11/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_59.php here's a similarly easy mystery bird for you to identify (oh, but what a gorgeous image!), courtesy of photographer, Joseph Kennedy; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_64.php Here is a streaming news report about conservation of the Thick-billed Parrot, courtesy of the American Bird Conservancy's online Bird News Network (BNN); http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/conserving_the_thickbilled_par.php And here's a streaming video trailer for a film that will be released soon called "Ghost Bird". This film is a documentary about the "rediscovery" of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/ghost_bird.php The producer of the Ghost Bird movie has offered to provide further (exclusive) streaming video for my blog for your viewing pleasure, so I'll let you know if/when that happens. and last but not least, here's a seasonally-appropriate (and hilarious) streaming video of a pet sulfur-crested cockatoo named Snowball who is dancing enthusiastically to a variety of Christmas carols; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/snowball_the_parrot_dances_to_1.php happy holidaze, GrrlScientist Devorah http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: More on Wind Power From: Ken Blackshaw <kenandcindy1 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Dec 2008 07:24:25 -0500 Referring to my append on yesterday. Several of you assumed this was related to the 'Cape Wind' project. No it's not. We want to set up some power generating windmills at our landfill site to help provide power for our public service facilities. WE don't seem to be able to conserve effectively so WE must find more ways - clean ways - to generate power. Ken Blackshaw -- (Better, Better & Better) Amateur Radio W1NQT (Never Quits Talking) Nantucket Island -- 30 miles at sea BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: CBC websites From: Denise Hughes <dhughes55 AT CLEARWIRE.NET> Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 18:19:10 -0700 Here is the link to Idaho's CBC list. http://idahobirds.net/news/news.html Denise Hughes Caldwell, Idaho -----Original Message----- From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) [mailto:BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Devorah Bennu Sent: Monday, December 01, 2008 1:57 PM To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDCHAT] CBC websites hello again, everyone, sorry to bother you again, but if any of you know the URLs for state CBC websites, could you please send them to me so I can include them in Birds in the News? thanks, GrrlScientist Devorah http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Criteria for Wind Farm Shut Down From: Tim Boucher <tboucher AT GEOCITIES.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 16:35:05 -0700 I'm a bit suprised to hear that this is being asked of "local birders" -not because local birders have nothing to offer - they of course do - but because this Cape Wind project and every other contentious wind energy project, as well as wind energy and wildlife generally - are all being discussed and negotiated and examined, etc., ad nauseum, among and by every federal and state agency, conservation organization, wind energy company, wind energy company industry groups, ornithologists, etc. But it doesn't matter who they ask, or who they talk to, because basically, the answer is "no one knows, because no one is willing to do the research or fund the research." Mostly, it is just reasonable guesses. The basic issue, of course, is when there are birds around, but that isn't just about when migration is occurring. Think of all the breeding and resident birds in the area, and how they use the airspace around the turbines or the places where the turbines will be located. Diurnal birds that are foraging have a different risk from migrating birds. The other reality is that the operators can shut down the turbines for only a few days per year and still remain profitable. Or so they say. So even if we knew when the risk is greatest, odds are that they couldn't/wouldn't shut down most of those days, and certainly not all the days when there is considerable risk of mortality. And none of this addresses avoidance due to the habitat disturbance - a real issue for birds that nest/forage in the area. Ellen Paul Chevy Chase, MD BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: CBC websites From: Devorah Bennu <birdologist AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 12:57:17 -0800 hello again, everyone, sorry to bother you again, but if any of you know the URLs for state CBC websites, could you please send them to me so I can include them in Birds in the News? thanks, GrrlScientist Devorah http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Birds in the News, mystery birds, and more (links) From: Devorah Bennu <birdologist AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 12:43:11 -0800 Hello everyone, Birds in the News is now available for you to read and enjoy. This issue features a stunning image of a whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus, courtesy of photographer, Joseph Kennedy; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/birds_in_the_news_153.php Today's demystified mystery bird was a male Blue Grosbeak, Guiraca caerulea, as everyone correctly identified (you're all so smart!); http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/11/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_63.php be sure to return to that blog entry to read Rick's informative analysis for identifying this species. Here's today's mystery bird for you to identify, courtesy of photographer and tricky bird ID teacher, Rick Wright; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_105.php Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, I finished my review of Irene Pepperberg's Alex and Me, a memoir about Alex, the African grey parrot. In short, this is a wonderful book that will forever change the way you view birds; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/alex_and_me.php here's a dramatic image of three bald eagles fighting in mid-air over a salmon for you to enjoy, courtesy of photographer, Jose Hernandez, and my friends at National Geographic Magazine, who hosted the 2008 international photography contest. This breathtaking image was the honorable mention in the nature category; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/12/menage_a_toi.php check out the link from that blog entry because there's more lovely images where that one came from! cheers, GrrlScientist Devorah http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Criteria for Wind Farm Shut Down From: Ken Blackshaw <kenandcindy1 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 1 Dec 2008 14:38:45 -0500 Hi there Bird Chatters - Here on Nantucket wind power is on our mind. Local birders are being asked to provide criteria for shutting down windmills certain nights during fall migration. We're being asked for trigger points for shut down that an operator could use without outside guidance. Here are some things suggested -- The criteria would need to be specific. Examples; If it is temperature related, what specific temperature. If it is fog related, what amount of visibility. If it is wind related, what wind speed and from what direction. The purpose of criteria is that the operator of the wind turbines would need to be able to implement it. And also because, frankly, it will be around longer than any of us! I'm wondering if any of you are involved in projects like that and have any experience to pass on. I'd like to be able to use websites like - http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/northeast_loop.php to watch for approaching waves. But these don't provide specific criteria for which they are asking. Ken Blackshaw Nantucket Island - 30 miles at sea BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Grey Market Camera questions From: Ken Sayers <saybak AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:42:39 -0500 On Nov 30, 2008, at 11:54 AM, Jerry Friedman wrote: > A friend who's a fine-art photographer recommends B&H Photo > Video . Their prices are > close to the lowest and she's been completely satisfied Yes, I almost forgot. These are the guys I stumbled upon by accident. Highly recommended. k ______ Ken & Nette Atlanta, GA saybak AT comcast.net http://myspace.com/4merlyknownasken "If men had wings and bore black feathers, few of them would be clever enough to be crows." -Rev. Henry Ward Beecher mid 1800' BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: History of Ornithology From: Rick Wright <birdaz AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:35:52 -0700 I second David's recommendation of this book as one one should have read--but myself found it sloppily written, shallowly researched, and poorly thunk. Eager to hear what others think of it. -- Rick Wright http://birdaz.com, http://birdaz.com/blog BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: History of Ornithology From: "David M. Gascoigne" <bateleur27 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:31:06 -0500 For anyone interested in the subject may I recomment an excellent, highly readable book. "A Concise History of Ornithology" ; Walters, Michael; Yale University Press 2003. Fascinating stuff! David M. Gascoigne 606 Osprey Drive Waterloo, ON Canada N2V 2A5 519 725-0866 Fax: 519 725-1176 blog: travelswithbirds.blogspot.com _________________________________________________________________ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Grey Market Camera questions From: Brandon Best <sandfalcon AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:08:32 -0500 I will put a plug in for Adorama, also out of New York. I have purchased lenses three different times from them and had good results every time. I also received a camera case as a gift from them, and decided it just wasn't the right thing, so I shipped it back to them. Despite somewhat ominous language about their return policy, they processed it with no problems. Their prices tend to be neck and neck with B&H. So, they remain my retailer of choice for camera equipment. For binos and scopes I really like working with Eagle Optics out of Wisconsin. Brandon Best Lawrenceville, GA BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Whooping Cranes From: Rick Wright <birdaz AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 15:02:03 -0700 Unlike the situation with a number of rare species that persist or have persisted only in captivity (think California Condor), there's never been a time when there were no wild Whooping Cranes. Happily! -- Rick Wright Managing Director, WINGS http://wingsbirds.com http://birdaz.com, http://birdaz.com/blog BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Grey Market Camera questions From: Jerry Friedman <jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:48:58 -0800 --- On Sun, 11/30/08, Jerry Blinn wrote: > To: jerry_friedman AT yahoo.com, BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Date: Sunday, November 30, 2008, 1:24 PM > > >>>> B&H. Two warnings about this > company: As they're > >run by Orthodox Jews, they're closed on Shabbat > (sundown > >Friday to sundown Saturday in New York). And the one > >salesman I talked to conformed to the New York > stereotype > >by seeming a tiny bit impatient as I was trying to make > >a decision over the phone.<<<< > > Yes, but they are open on Sunday, and most holidays. I'm sure "most" is the right word. I'm not going to try calling them on Yom Kippur. > To each his own . . . . Something every birder believes. > I don't consider that a "warning" -- > it has nothing to do > with the quality of the business, just their store hours. We seem to differ on the meaning of "warning". I don't consider it to mean a reason not to do business with them; I said I'm happy with them. It's just information about a potential annoyance. Maybe there are a few people who strongly prefer being able to get phone help 24/7. By the way, I was told off-list that B&H closes on Fridays at 1 PM their time. > And, even the Mayor of New York is a "tiny bit > impatient." This is not unrelated to my reasons for living in New Mexico, as you do (maybe for different reasons). Jerry Friedman BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Texas Whooping Cranes... From: Jerry Blinn <support AT AVISYS.NET> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:30:18 -0700 > >There were no free-flying wild cranes at that time. >So can I add whooping cranes to my life list? >Jules Levin Sure. It's YOUR life list. But if you submit your list to the ABA, you can't . . . or at least you aren't supposed to. Jerry Jerry Blinn Perceptive Systems Placitas, NM 505-867-6255 jerry AT avisys.net Web Site: www.avisys.net BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Texas Whooping Cranes... From: Jules Levin <ameliede AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:16:43 -0800 At 09:37 AM 11/30/2008, you wrote: >Greetings all! > >The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, >USFWS biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator. This jogged my memory re a question I have been pondering. In 1957/58 I spent my freshman year in college at Tulane University in New Orleans. I had a bike and rode everywhere. I spent a lot of time in the park and at the adjacent Audubon Zoo. Where there were whooping cranes... There was a visitor-free zone between their enclosure and an outer barrier of chain-link fence. Don't know how wide this zone was, but the cranes, which I saw in the distance, would have been obscured by a quarter held up a few inches from the eye. That was as close as you could get. There were no free-flying wild cranes at that time. So can I add whooping cranes to my life list? Jules Levin BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Grey Market Camera questions From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey AT SNET.NET> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:16:22 -0800 > There are many mail-order dealers who are running scams. One good reference to check before dealing with any mail-order or internet retailer is resellerratings.com (http://www.resellerratings.com/). Two retailers mentioned as reliable have good ratings there: B&H is 9.66 out of 10.0, Adorama is 9.06. In contrast, I Googled Canon 40D, picked one of the advertisers (Broadway Photo) and checked it on resellerratings. If I found the right outfit their lifetime rating was 1.18 out of 10. Roy Harvey Beacon Falls, CT BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Grey Market Camera questions From: Jerry Blinn <support AT AVISYS.NET> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:24:05 -0700 > >>>> B&H. Two warnings about this company: As they're >run by Orthodox Jews, they're closed on Shabbat (sundown >Friday to sundown Saturday in New York). And the one >salesman I talked to conformed to the New York stereotype >by seeming a tiny bit impatient as I was trying to make >a decision over the phone.<<<< Yes, but they are open on Sunday, and most holidays. To each his own . . . . I don't consider that a "warning" -- it has nothing to do with the quality of the business, just their store hours. And, even the Mayor of New York is a "tiny bit impatient." Jerry Jerry Blinn Perceptive Systems Placitas, NM 505-867-6255 jerry AT avisys.net Web Site: www.avisys.net BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Grey Market Camera questions From: Jerry Blinn <support AT AVISYS.NET> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:16:06 -0700 William, You are right to be concerned about some of the low prices you see. There are many mail-order dealers who are running scams. And it's more than just "gray market." You might order a 40D at some low price and they will call you to confirm the order and push additional product. For example, "This camera comes with the 20 picture battery -- if you want the 1,000 picture battery, it's an additional $89.95." "Oh, and you'll need the charger for that battery and that's an additional $49.95." In reality, the camera is shipped by the manufacturer with a 1,000 picture battery and a charger. If you insist on ordering just the camera as advertised, after much personal abuse they will tell you it's not in stock and cancel the order. There are even cases where they've charged customers' cards for the whole schlemiel and shipped it, even if the customers refused the add-ons. And there are other cases where they substitute a cheap, no-name lens for the one advertised. I know this seems bold. "How can they get away with this?!!!" They do. And if they get shut down by the state, they open up again a day later under another name. If you frequent the camera/photo forums, you'll see documented cases of people almost getting screwed almost every day -- you never hear from the ones who do get screwed, because they are ashamed to admit it. The bottom line is: "There is a sucker born every minute," and there are a lot of people who prey on those suckers -- and they aren't all in Nigeria. As for gray market cameras, just about every legit dealer offers them, well marked, and at a lower price than USA imports. But the price difference is rarely worth the hassle. With gray market Nikon cameras, for example, if something goes wrong, the warranty is with the dealer, not Nikon. And after warranty, Nikon will not work on it even for a price. Examples of really good dealers are B&H Photovideo, Adorama, Allens. BTW, the 40D body only at B&H is $839.95 after Canon rebate. Jerry At 07:19 AM 11/30/2008, William Leigh wrote: >All, > >This may be a bit off topic but I thought birders would probably >know something about which cameras to buy. I know next to nothing >about photography but have been digiscoping for the last few years >through a Swarovski 80 mm scope. This works great for slow moving >birds but not so great warblers. Yesterday I did manage to get a few >photos of a distant GE in flight but that was luck. Anyway when I >started looking at SLRs with the hope of being able to photograph >fast moving warbers etc etc. I was confounded to find such a huge >difference in price. In particular I have been looking at the Cannon >40D. I have seen prices in the 600 range that includes a 300 mm lens >and I have seen prices for the body alone at above 1,000 dollars. >Both cameras appear to come with a one year warranty. Can one assume >that the lower priced cameras are Grey Market? What are the cons of >getting a grey market camera? > >Thanks for any input you may have > >Sincerely, > > >William Leigh >Bridewater, VA >leightern AT msn.com > >BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html >Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Jerry Blinn Perceptive Systems Placitas, NM 505-867-6255 jerry AT avisys.net Web Site: www.avisys.net BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Birdwatch Radio at RGV Bird Fest #2 From: Steve Moore <steve AT BIRDWATCHRADIO.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:08:40 -0700 The latest edition of the Birdwatch Radio podcast features several interviews and segments from the Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival...all with a focus on the influence of adults in the lives of younger birders. I hope you enjoy it. Steve BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Texas Whooping Cranes - 25 November 2008 - 266 at ANWR! From: Patty Waits Beasley <patty AT CCBIRDING.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:37:01 -0600 Greetings all! The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, USFWS biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator. ------------- begin report -------------- The second aerial census of the 2008-09 crane season was conducted November 25, 2008 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions of Castroville, Texas with USFWS observers Tom Stehn and Darrin Welchert. Weather conditions were ideal during the 5.4-hour flight with sunshine and light winds. Located were 228 adults + 38 juveniles = 266 total. This 266 total matches the peak population in the 2007-08 winter (but keep reading!). Recap of cranes (266) found at Aransas on the aerial: |------------+--------------| | |Adults + young| |------------+--------------| | Refuge | 65 + 11 | |------------+--------------| | Lamar | 7 + 3 | |------------+--------------| | San Jose | 51 + 7 | |------------+--------------| | Matagorda | 85 + 15 | |------------+--------------| | Welder | 20 + 2 | | Flats | | |------------+--------------| | farm fields| - | |------------+--------------| | Total |228 + 38 = 266| |------------+--------------| Explanation of numbers located and additional cranes in the flock Due to considerable crane movements during the flight, it was difficult to pin down the exact number of whooping cranes present. Eight-six cranes were found in uplands (45 at fresh water sources and 41 on coastal prairie). Such movements make it possible to double-count cranes as well as completely miss cranes as they move to and from the marshes. For example, a group of 8 adults, 4 juveniles and 1 subadult was found at one waterhole on Matagorda Island, and 24 whooping cranes were on a prescribed burn on Matagorda Island. Crane presence on uplands also makes it very difficult to identify specific territorial cranes since they are not in their marsh territories. In addition to the estimated 266 counted, the following additional cranes presumably can be added to the estimated flock size: 2 whooping cranes in central Kansas 1 whooping crane juvenile seen in the farm fields south of Austwell, TX on Nov. 20-21st 2 family groups (4 adults + 2 chicks) believed overlooked at Welder Flats. This brings the unofficial estimated flock size to a RECORD 234 + 41 = 275! Future flights will try to confirm this estimated total. Migration Update: Additional cold fronts reached the Texas coast on November 15, 20 and 24 that enabled an estimated 27 cranes to reach Aransas since the previous census on November 14th. Sighting reports in the migration corridor have nearly come to a halt. The National Tracking office in Grand Island, Nebraska reports only the 2 whooping cranes still in central Kansas. The most recent sighting before that was a family group in Nebraska on November 17th. However, it is well documented that some whooping cranes make it to Aransas in December every year. With the one known sighting in Kansas, it is very likely that low numbers of additional whooping cranes are in migration since most whooping cranes stop in isolated areas and never get reported. Items of Note: The 38 juveniles seen on the census flight indicates survival was very good from the 41 juveniles located in Canada in mid-August. With one additional juvenile seen November 20-21 with sandhills in the farm fields north of the refuge and possibly 2 family groups overlooked at Welder Flats on the flight, it's possible that 41 juveniles can be accounted for. Pinning down that number is a priority on future flights. The juvenile whooping crane was seen in a flock of about 600 sandhills on November 20-21 south of Austwell, Texas about 2 miles north of Aransas. One day, it was about 500 yards from a single adult whooping crane, but at opposite ends of the sandhill flock. The two whooping cranes flew separately at sunset to roost at the Refuge's Burgentine Lake. It seems likely that this juvenile had migrated with its parents all the way to the refuge's Burgentine Lake. In the commotion within a large flock of sandhill cranes, the juvenile presumably got separated from its parents that probably flew on to the salt marshes. The farm fields where the juvenile was at is about 9 miles from the nearest wintering whooping crane territory, so it is unknown whether the juvenile will continue to winter with sandhills or whether somehow it might encounter other its parents if it starts wandering. In the meantime, it looked fine. One pair has arrived with twin chicks. This family (Klewi-20 in Wood Buffalo NP / Johnson Ranch pair at Aransas) that winters on the Lamar Peninsula has brought twin chicks to Aransas 3 times in the 12 years (1997-2008) since the egg pickup ended. They have brought 6 single chicks to Aransas during that same time period. That adds up to having brought one or two chicks to Aransas 9 out of the last 12 years. They have brought a total of 12 chicks to Aransas in the last 12 years. They have been the most productive pair during the past dozen years! They arrived about 9 AM on November 15th aided by a strong cold front. A single-chick family landed next to them about 5 minutes later that presumably had migrated with the twin family. The territorial Johnson Ranch male within 20 minutes had re-established his territory, scattering the other family and the 9 subadult cranes that had been present. The 16 cranes present that morning on the Johnson Ranch set a record high for most whooping cranes ever on the Lamar Peninsula. One bird in the subadult group of 9 flew with one leg hanging down. No limp had been noticed when that bird had been observed walking. Perhaps this was the crane reported with an injured leg in the fall migration in Saskatchewan. Habitat Use: The conditions at Aransas this winter do not look very good. The wolfberry crop seems notably lower, perhaps a result of the summer drought. Although some blue crabs were found on a count conducted November 10th, the cranes initially seemed to be foraging more on fiddler crabs. This suspected minimal amount of food resources was indicated by the 41 whooping cranes seen on uplands during today's census flight. A prescribed burn of around 2,500 acres conducted on Matagorda Island on November 15th held 24 whooping cranes, with 17 on unburned uplands. The use of unburned uplands this time of year is indicative of less than ideal food resources in the marsh. Bay and marsh salinities are around 30 parts per thousand, forcing the cranes to make daily flights to freshwater to drink. Forty-five cranes were found at fresh water sources during the census flight. Tom Stehn, Whooping Crane Coordinator U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Aransas NWR P.O. Box 100 Austwell, TX 77950 (361) 286-3559 Ext. 221 fax (361) 286-3722 E:mail: tom_stehn AT fws.gov ------------- end report ---------------- Where applicable, CWS stands for Canadian Wildlife Service; USFWS is US Fish and Wildlife Service. Crane monitoring involves cooperative efforts and support by both countries, plus many volunteers and non-profit organizations along the way. Anyone wanting to contact Tom about the report or the whooping crane projects can reach him via email at: tom_stehn AT fws.gov. Other information, including archived copies of these reports, can be found at the Texas Whooping Crane web site at http://www.ccbirding.com/ Patty Waits Beasley Corpus Christi, TX email: patty AT ccbirding.com web: http://www.ccbirding.com/ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Grey Market Camera questions From: Jerry Friedman <jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:54:31 -0800 --- On Sun, 11/30/08, William Leigh wrote: > All, > > This may be a bit off topic but I thought birders would > probably know something about which cameras to buy. I know > next to nothing about photography but have been digiscoping > for the last few years through a Swarovski 80 mm scope. This > works great for slow moving birds but not so great warblers. > Yesterday I did manage to get a few photos of a distant GE > in flight but that was luck. Wow! I hope your luck turns out to be consistent--the kind that indistinguishable from skill. > Anyway when I started looking > at SLRs with the hope of being able to photograph fast > moving warbers etc etc. I was confounded to find such a huge > difference in price. In particular I have been looking at > the Cannon 40D. I have seen prices in the 600 range that > includes a 300 mm lens and I have seen prices for the body > alone at above 1,000 dollars. Both cameras appear to come > with a one year warranty. Can one assume that the lower > priced cameras are Grey Market? What are the cons of getting > a grey market camera? A friend who's a fine-art photographer recommends B&H Photo Video . Their prices are close to the lowest and she's been completely satisfied with their service--as I have, now. When I was looking for lower prices, I checked reviews on the places that sell them and saw lots of extremely bad reviews. A lot of these places seem to be one company operating under different names. Their trick is said to be making you call back "to confirm the order", at which point they subject you to a sales talk for expensive additional equipment at high prices. If you resist, they may find that the low- priced camera you want is "out of stock". Or my friend said these cut-rate places tend to leave something out of the box. I haven't experienced this myself; the reviews convinced me to go with B&H. Two warnings about this company: As they're run by Orthodox Jews, they're closed on Shabbat (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday in New York). And the one salesman I talked to conformed to the New York stereotype by seeming a tiny bit impatient as I was trying to make a decision over the phone. Jerry Friedman BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: mystery birds (links) From: Devorah Bennu <birdologist AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:05:51 -0800 Hey everyone, the most recently demystified mystery bird was a very cute downy American avocet chick, as most of you correctly identified; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/11/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_42.php Be sure to click on the link to read Rick's analysis for identifying this species. today's mystery bird, courtesy of photographer, Joseph Kennedy, should remind you of warmer days to come; http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2008/11/todays_mystery_bird_for_you_to_59.php If any of you have mystery bird images that you'd like to share with a large and appreciative audience, feel free to contact me off-list for more details. cheers, GrrlScientist Devorah http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ Roosting high up a tree somewhere in Central Park, NYC BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html