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15 Mar Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch [Laura Erickson ] 15 Mar Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch [Jim Turner ] 15 Mar Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch [Joseph Morlan ] 15 Mar Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch ["Barry K. MacKay" ] 15 Mar Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch [Laura Erickson ] 15 Mar Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch [Gail Mackiernan ] 15 Mar Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch [Laura Erickson ] 14 Mar Re: Trtavel med insurance [Chris Van Beveren ] 14 Mar Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch [Jerry Friedman ] 14 Mar Re: Trtavel med insurance [savagebirder ] 14 Mar Re: Trtavel med insurance [Chris Van Beveren ] 14 Mar Trtavel med insurance [Richard Carlson ] 14 Mar Fwd: The Big Year rumors (the movie) [Phil Davis ] 14 Mar Winter Birding Highlights in Canada - 2009-2010 [Blake Maybank ] 14 Mar Winter Birding Highlights in Canada - 2009-2010 [Blake Maybank ] 14 Mar Audubon and Tom's Finch [Jim Turner ] 14 Mar Revision of Furnariidae finished [John Penhallurick ] 13 Mar Birds/Butterflies in Cozumel RFI [Mary Beth Stowe ] 13 Mar RFI: medevac insurance [John Puschock ] 13 Mar Re: ABA logo was Re: [BIRDCHAT] "People and Places" column in Birding magazine [Jerry Blinn ] 13 Mar BirdNote, last week, and the week of March 14, 2010 [Ellen Blackstone ] 12 Mar ABA logo was Re: [BIRDCHAT] "People and Places" column in Birding magazine [Joseph Morlan ] 12 Mar FW: Texas Whooping Cranes (9 March 2010) ANWR aerial census [Patty Waits Beasley ] 11 Mar Strange Duck [Jim Royer ] 11 Mar Re: The Big Year - the movie ["Gorton, Gregg" ] 11 Mar The Big Year - the movie [Charles Swift ] 10 Mar Re: [SPAM] Re: [BIRDCHAT] Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) ["John J. Collins" ] 10 Mar Hawk or Buzzard ["David M. Gascoigne" ] 10 Mar Re: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 [Joseph Morlan ] 10 Mar Re: [SPAM] Re: [BIRDCHAT] Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) [Theo Hofmann ] 10 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) [Pastor Al Schirmacher ] 10 Mar Re: DC Birding [Gail Mackiernan ] 10 Mar Re: DC Birding [Jerry Friedman ] 10 Mar Re: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 [David M Mark ] 10 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) [Morgan Churchill ] 10 Mar RE: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 ["John Galluzzo" ] 10 Mar Re: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 [] 10 Mar Re: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 [Ronald Orenstein ] 10 Mar Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 ["Ken Blackshaw" ] 10 Mar DC Birding [Richard Carlson ] 10 Mar Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 [Ken Blackshaw ] 10 Mar Companions wanted for Brazil trip August 2010 [Janet Zinn ] 10 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard [John Walters ] 9 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard [Joseph Morlan ] 9 Mar 5 nearshore albatrosses seen from San Diego Bird Festival pelagics [Terry Hunefeld ] 9 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard ["Spector, David (Biology)" ] 9 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard [David M Mark ] 9 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard [Eric DeFonso ] 9 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard [Jerry Friedman ] 9 Mar Re: Hawk or Buzzard [Rick ] 9 Mar Hawk or Buzzard ["David M. Gascoigne" ] 9 Mar BirdNote anniversary, mystery birds [links] [Devorah Bennu ] 9 Mar Re: RFI: Washington, DC [Jerry Friedman ] 9 Mar No more bird surveys - ever! [Tim Boucher ] 8 Mar Re: Sooty Grouse request [Wayne Weber ] 8 Mar RFI Ghana Birding [Tom Dougherty ] 8 Mar Belize_2010 [Jerry Oldenettel ] 8 Mar Re: RFI: Washington, DC [Gail Mackiernan ] 7 Mar RFI: Washington, DC [Jerry Friedman ] 6 Mar pigeons [Rick Wright ] 6 Mar pigeons, pigeons, pigeons [Jules Levin ] 6 Mar 'double names' [Rick Wright ] 6 Mar Re: Double Names ["Guttman,Burt" ] 6 Mar Re: Double Names ["Spector, David (Biology)" ] 6 Mar Re: Double Names [Katrina Knight ] 6 Mar Double Names [Ken Blackshaw ] 6 Mar BirdNote, last week, and the week of March 7, 2010 [Ellen Blackstone ] 6 Mar CA Sooty Grouse [Richard Carlson ] 5 Mar Sooty Grouse request [Richard ZainEldeen ] 4 Mar New book- Ethno-ornithology: Birds, Indigenous Peoples, Culture and Society [bob gosford ] 3 Mar Possible Early Migratory Movements in Southern Great Plains ["R.D. Everhart" ] 3 Mar Re: Palm Desert and Chino Hills [Joan Czapalay ] 3 Mar Hong Kong [Katharine Mills ] 3 Mar Birding field guides and books, from Princeton University Press ["Jessica Pellien" ] 3 Mar Texas Whooping Cranes (16 February 2010) census update [Patty Waits Beasley ] 2 Mar RFI: Chuck-Wills-Widows in DelMarVa ["John J. Collins" ] Subject: Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: Laura Erickson <bluejay AT LAURAERICKSON.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:07:11 -0400 I just looked up a list of the birds Audubon listed in Birds of America. He includes "Bachman's Pinewood-Finch" (Bachman's Sparrow), "Baird's Bunting" (Baird's Sparrow), "Black-and-Yellow-Crowned Finch" (looks like Golden-crowned Sparrow), and "Brown Song-Finch" (I think Song Sparrow). And I didn't even get through the B's. Best, Laura Erickson On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 4:44 PM, Jim Turner wrote: > I understand what you all are saying, and the Grosbeaks is a particularly > salient example, > > But Audubon called the bird Tom's Finch at the outset, and then very > quickly (perhaps in a day or two) renamed it Lincoln's Sparrow. So John J > did know the difference between a Finch and a Sparrow, even under the > criteria in use in his time. > > My comment was intended to remark on Audubon's criteria in the field for > his own taxonomic classification, and the apparent fact that he considered > finches and sparrows to be distinct, miscalling this particular bird. A > modern birder would not likely see a Lincoln's Sparrow and think "finch", > since Lincoln's is not at all atypical of what we expect sparrows to act > like. > > =============== > Jim Turner > Victoria Texas > havivoca AT yahoo.com > > > > > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > -- -- 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. For the love, understanding, and protection of birds 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. BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: Jim Turner <havivoca AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:44:05 -0700 I understand what you all are saying, and the Grosbeaks is a particularly salient example, But Audubon called the bird Tom's Finch at the outset, and then very quickly (perhaps in a day or two) renamed it Lincoln's Sparrow.  So John J did know the difference between a Finch and a Sparrow, even under the criteria in use in his time.  My comment was intended to remark on Audubon's criteria in the field for his own taxonomic classification, and the apparent fact that he considered finches and sparrows to be distinct, miscalling this particular bird.  A modern birder would not likely see a Lincoln's Sparrow and think "finch", since Lincoln's is not at all atypical of what we expect sparrows to act like.  =============== Jim Turner Victoria Texas havivoca AT yahoo.com BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:26:04 -0700 On Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:42:56 -0500, Gail Mackiernan wrote: >What is the current taxonomic status of the Grosbeaks belonging to the genus >Saltator (e.g. Slate-colored Grosbeak) -- at one time they were considered >Tanager affiliates. They are currently classified with the other Saltators as Incertae Sedis between the Thraupidae (Tanagers) and the Emberizidae (Sparrows). They were formerly placed in the Cardinalidae. Recent studies show that they are unrelated to any other group, although one study concluded that they were sister to Tanagers. -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Feb.9 http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: "Barry K. MacKay" <mimus AT SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 11:05:38 -0400 As an artist I collect visual images of birds and other wildlife, vegetation and scenes, and have, well, many thousands of old fashioned (!) colour slides stored in albums. Many are photos of other photos. As an aside, I hasten to add I don't "copy" photos...that would be no fun at all, and often a copyright violation, but I do refer to them when I'm drawing birds, just as I refer to museum specimens, field notes, written descriptions, my own sketches made of wild and captive birds and anything else I can get my hands on. Anyway, the photos are stored in albums, and since the purpose has nothing to do with science, when I started I simply wrote a broad designation of the categories...for example, "background vegetation, s.w. U.S." or "Loons and Grebes" or "Mustelids". Alas, way back when I started and didn't have a lot of slides to reference, I foolishly just called one album "Finches" and "lumped" anything sparrow, bunting, grosbeak, finch, cardinal, saltator, weaver, whydah-or whatever like into that one album. That album has literally split its seams and takes far too long to go through to find what I'm after, so I am going to have to do my own "splitting" and divide it into two or three albums. I needn't follow any taxonomy...I could split geographically...for example, one album for species native to North America, and another for non-North American species (there is, for obvious reasons, a strong North American bias, so the two albums would probably be about the same size). Or I could take the plunge and risk trying to remember who belongs where, taxonomically. My ornithologist friend, Ron Orenstein, and others with photographic, or at least very good memories wouldn't see a problem, but I can't remember whether I had lunch and it strains my brain cells to the point of frustration to keep all these finchy birds straight. Ease of use is a criterion in setting up the albums...this is strictly a pragmatic thing. I don't want to have to look up where things go. But that is what I am thinking...well...not "look up" in the sense of referencing a book, but I would have to list all the genera on the outside of each album, and maybe many of the English names. For most groups of birds it's easy. A woodpecker is a woodpecker, and if there is something kind of oddballish...a wryneck, for example, it's easy to remember where it belongs. Swallows, Hummingbirds, Kingfishers...all easy. But a finch, sparrow, grosbeak, bunting...well....no...it's not at all obvious. There is a vaguely similar problem with raptors outside of North American species...but it's a cinch compared to the "finches". Cheers, Barry Barry Kent MacKay Markham, Ontario, Canada -----Original Message----- From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) [mailto:BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Laura Erickson Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 10:23 AM To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Audubon and Tom's Finch David Spector kindly backchanneled me with a gentle correction--Pine and Evening Grosbeaks are "cardueline" finches , belonging to the subfamily Carduelinae of the family Fringillidae. The Rose-breasted and Black-headed Grosbeaks are "cardinaline" finches belonging the family Cardinalidae, along with Northern Cardinals. Of course, that reflects yet another change--for a while Cardinalidae was a subspecies of Emberizidae. But just to confuse matters further, the Red-crested Cardinal and Yellow-billed Cardinal don't belong to Cardinalidae--they are still in Emberizidae. Best, Laura Erickson So-called science editor Cornell Lab of Ornithology On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 9:43 AM, Spector, David (Biology) < spectord AT mail.ccsu.edu> wrote: > Larua, > > Pine and Evening are cardueline. > Rose-breasted and Black-headed are cardinaline. > > There should be a law against such similar words (like inter and intra). > > David > > -----Original Message----- > From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) > [mailto:BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Laura Erickson > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 8:25 AM > To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Audubon and Tom's Finch > > Jerry's exactly right. And even for that, "grosbeak" is applied to > finches > (Pine and Evening grosbeaks) and to a cardueline--the Rose-breasted > Grosbeak. > > Best, Laura Erickson > (Ithaca, NY, or Duluth, MN--take your pick) > > On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 12:01 AM, Jerry Friedman > wrote: > > > --- On Sun, 3/14/10, Jim Turner wrote: > > > I was just reading about Audubon's > > > discovery of Lincoln's Sparrow in Labrador. Named for > > > Thomas Lincoln, it was at first called "Tom's Finch". Now, > > > I can tell an emberizid from a fringillid at a glance. But > > > Audubon had already determined that this was a previously > > > unknown species, and named it, and still mistakenly thought > > > it was a finch. How could he have made such an error? > > > > The distinction doesn't seem to have been made in his > > time, or at least he didn't make it. That lasted till > > much later. My Peterson eastern field guide (1947 edition > > printed in the early '70s, I guess), includes > > "Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, and Buntings: > > Fringillidae" (and the Old World sparrows under > > "Weaver Finches: Ploceidae"). > > > > You can tell those families apart at a glance, but > > that doesn't prove they're separate families. Instead, > > the ornithologists have told us what the families are > > (till they change), and you've learned ways that work > > to tell them apart. Other ways, such as plumage and > > bill size, don't work. For instance, you can tell > > grosbeaks from other birds at a glance, but that > > doesn't mean Audubon would have made a mistake in > > calling an Evening Grosbeak a finch. > > > > I don't think most of us can tell at a glance that our > > tanagers are Cardinalidae, or what family the Dickcissel > > belongs to. > > > > > I'm going to leap to an answer, but maybe somebody has a > > > better one. In Audubon's time, birders shot first and > > > asked questions later. So, I assume Audubon had no > > > opportunity to use the birds flight style, flocking pattern, > > > or perching elevation preference as identifying clues. All > > > he had was the critter in hand. > > > > Someone who knows more about Audubon can say whether > > he noticed behaviors such as those. I think the idea > > that there was more than one family of "finch" never > > crossed his mind. > > > > Jerry Friedman > > > > > > > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > > > > > > -- > -- > 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. > > For the love, understanding, and protection of birds > > 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. > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > > > -- -- 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. For the love, understanding, and protection of birds 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. 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: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: Laura Erickson <bluejay AT LAURAERICKSON.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:22:50 -0400 David Spector kindly backchanneled me with a gentle correction--Pine and Evening Grosbeaks are "cardueline" finches , belonging to the subfamily Carduelinae of the family Fringillidae. The Rose-breasted and Black-headed Grosbeaks are "cardinaline" finches belonging the family Cardinalidae, along with Northern Cardinals. Of course, that reflects yet another change--for a while Cardinalidae was a subspecies of Emberizidae. But just to confuse matters further, the Red-crested Cardinal and Yellow-billed Cardinal don't belong to Cardinalidae--they are still in Emberizidae. Best, Laura Erickson So-called science editor Cornell Lab of Ornithology On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 9:43 AM, Spector, David (Biology) < spectord AT mail.ccsu.edu> wrote: > Larua, > > Pine and Evening are cardueline. > Rose-breasted and Black-headed are cardinaline. > > There should be a law against such similar words (like inter and intra). > > David > > -----Original Message----- > From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) > [mailto:BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Laura Erickson > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 8:25 AM > To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Audubon and Tom's Finch > > Jerry's exactly right. And even for that, "grosbeak" is applied to > finches > (Pine and Evening grosbeaks) and to a cardueline--the Rose-breasted > Grosbeak. > > Best, Laura Erickson > (Ithaca, NY, or Duluth, MN--take your pick) > > On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 12:01 AM, Jerry Friedman > wrote: > > > --- On Sun, 3/14/10, Jim Turner wrote: > > > I was just reading about Audubon's > > > discovery of Lincoln's Sparrow in Labrador. Named for > > > Thomas Lincoln, it was at first called "Tom's Finch". Now, > > > I can tell an emberizid from a fringillid at a glance. But > > > Audubon had already determined that this was a previously > > > unknown species, and named it, and still mistakenly thought > > > it was a finch. How could he have made such an error? > > > > The distinction doesn't seem to have been made in his > > time, or at least he didn't make it. That lasted till > > much later. My Peterson eastern field guide (1947 edition > > printed in the early '70s, I guess), includes > > "Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, and Buntings: > > Fringillidae" (and the Old World sparrows under > > "Weaver Finches: Ploceidae"). > > > > You can tell those families apart at a glance, but > > that doesn't prove they're separate families. Instead, > > the ornithologists have told us what the families are > > (till they change), and you've learned ways that work > > to tell them apart. Other ways, such as plumage and > > bill size, don't work. For instance, you can tell > > grosbeaks from other birds at a glance, but that > > doesn't mean Audubon would have made a mistake in > > calling an Evening Grosbeak a finch. > > > > I don't think most of us can tell at a glance that our > > tanagers are Cardinalidae, or what family the Dickcissel > > belongs to. > > > > > I'm going to leap to an answer, but maybe somebody has a > > > better one. In Audubon's time, birders shot first and > > > asked questions later. So, I assume Audubon had no > > > opportunity to use the birds flight style, flocking pattern, > > > or perching elevation preference as identifying clues. All > > > he had was the critter in hand. > > > > Someone who knows more about Audubon can say whether > > he noticed behaviors such as those. I think the idea > > that there was more than one family of "finch" never > > crossed his mind. > > > > Jerry Friedman > > > > > > > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > > > > > > -- > -- > 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. > > For the love, understanding, and protection of birds > > 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. > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > > > -- -- 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. For the love, understanding, and protection of birds 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. BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: Gail Mackiernan <katahdinss AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:42:56 -0500 What is the current taxonomic status of the Grosbeaks belonging to the genus Saltator (e.g. Slate-colored Grosbeak) -- at one time they were considered Tanager affiliates. Gail Mackiernan Silver Spring, MD on 03/15/2010 8:25 AM, Laura Erickson at bluejay AT LAURAERICKSON.COM wrote: > Jerry's exactly right. And even for that, "grosbeak" is applied to finches > (Pine and Evening grosbeaks) and to a cardueline--the Rose-breasted > Grosbeak. > > Best, Laura Erickson > (Ithaca, NY, or Duluth, MN--take your pick) > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: Laura Erickson <bluejay AT LAURAERICKSON.COM> Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:25:17 -0400 Jerry's exactly right. And even for that, "grosbeak" is applied to finches (Pine and Evening grosbeaks) and to a cardueline--the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Best, Laura Erickson (Ithaca, NY, or Duluth, MN--take your pick) On Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 12:01 AM, Jerry Friedman wrote: > --- On Sun, 3/14/10, Jim Turner wrote: > > I was just reading about Audubon's > > discovery of Lincoln's Sparrow in Labrador. Named for > > Thomas Lincoln, it was at first called "Tom's Finch". Now, > > I can tell an emberizid from a fringillid at a glance. But > > Audubon had already determined that this was a previously > > unknown species, and named it, and still mistakenly thought > > it was a finch. How could he have made such an error? > > The distinction doesn't seem to have been made in his > time, or at least he didn't make it. That lasted till > much later. My Peterson eastern field guide (1947 edition > printed in the early '70s, I guess), includes > "Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, and Buntings: > Fringillidae" (and the Old World sparrows under > "Weaver Finches: Ploceidae"). > > You can tell those families apart at a glance, but > that doesn't prove they're separate families. Instead, > the ornithologists have told us what the families are > (till they change), and you've learned ways that work > to tell them apart. Other ways, such as plumage and > bill size, don't work. For instance, you can tell > grosbeaks from other birds at a glance, but that > doesn't mean Audubon would have made a mistake in > calling an Evening Grosbeak a finch. > > I don't think most of us can tell at a glance that our > tanagers are Cardinalidae, or what family the Dickcissel > belongs to. > > > I'm going to leap to an answer, but maybe somebody has a > > better one. In Audubon's time, birders shot first and > > asked questions later. So, I assume Audubon had no > > opportunity to use the birds flight style, flocking pattern, > > or perching elevation preference as identifying clues. All > > he had was the critter in hand. > > Someone who knows more about Audubon can say whether > he noticed behaviors such as those. I think the idea > that there was more than one family of "finch" never > crossed his mind. > > Jerry Friedman > > > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > -- -- 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. For the love, understanding, and protection of birds 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. BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Trtavel med insurance From: Chris Van Beveren <becktravel AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:55:31 -0700 Unless you are over 80, it is much less than $50 extra to go from $50,000 to $100,00 of medevac. If you are between 60 and 70 years of age, the cost to upgrade is $13 more. The higher limits of coverage also apply to any emergency medical or dental expenses, raising from $10,000 to $25,000, and the baggage coverage is also higher. OK, back to birds! Chris Van Beveren Beck Travel 10921 Oso Ave. Chatsworth, Ca. 91311 Phone: 818-998-3122 Fax: 818-998-3588 becktravel AT yahoo.com ________________________________ From: savagebirder To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Sent: Sun, March 14, 2010 7:55:20 PM Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Trtavel med insurance I would agree with the suggestion to go to a travel agent. That's what I do. And, think carefully to make sure you get enough. Depending on where you are going, what is it going to cost to get you back to a hospital at home or the nearest place that can deal with something major. Ask an insurance agent what it would cost for where you are going to get you home and how much insurance you need. If you are seriously injured or have a serious medical problem suddenly, you don't want to discover that you have huge medical bills because you skimped on insurance. An extra $50 to save $50,000 if you need it is a good deal. Sandra Savage Calgary, Alberta 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: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: Jerry Friedman <jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:01:27 -0700 --- On Sun, 3/14/10, Jim Turner wrote: > I was just reading about Audubon's > discovery of Lincoln's Sparrow in Labrador.  Named for > Thomas Lincoln, it was at first called "Tom's Finch".  Now, > I can tell an emberizid from a fringillid at a glance.  But > Audubon had already determined that this was a previously > unknown species, and named it, and still mistakenly thought > it was a finch.  How could he have made such an error?  The distinction doesn't seem to have been made in his time, or at least he didn't make it. That lasted till much later. My Peterson eastern field guide (1947 edition printed in the early '70s, I guess), includes "Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, and Buntings: Fringillidae" (and the Old World sparrows under "Weaver Finches: Ploceidae"). You can tell those families apart at a glance, but that doesn't prove they're separate families. Instead, the ornithologists have told us what the families are (till they change), and you've learned ways that work to tell them apart. Other ways, such as plumage and bill size, don't work. For instance, you can tell grosbeaks from other birds at a glance, but that doesn't mean Audubon would have made a mistake in calling an Evening Grosbeak a finch. I don't think most of us can tell at a glance that our tanagers are Cardinalidae, or what family the Dickcissel belongs to. > I'm going to leap to an answer, but maybe somebody has a > better one.  In Audubon's time, birders shot  first and > asked questions later.  So, I assume Audubon had no > opportunity to use the birds flight style, flocking pattern, > or perching elevation preference as identifying clues.  All > he had was the critter in hand.  Someone who knows more about Audubon can say whether he noticed behaviors such as those. I think the idea that there was more than one family of "finch" never crossed his mind. Jerry Friedman BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Trtavel med insurance From: savagebirder <savagebirder AT SHAW.CA> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:55:20 -0600 I would agree with the suggestion to go to a travel agent. That's what I do. And, think carefully to make sure you get enough. Depending on where you are going, what is it going to cost to get you back to a hospital at home or the nearest place that can deal with something major. Ask an insurance agent what it would cost for where you are going to get you home and how much insurance you need. If you are seriously injured or have a serious medical problem suddenly, you don't want to discover that you have huge medical bills because you skimped on insurance. An extra $50 to save $50,000 if you need it is a good deal. Sandra Savage Calgary, Alberta BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Trtavel med insurance From: Chris Van Beveren <becktravel AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:18:45 -0700 Chatters, as an option to Amex, which you have to pay for every month whether you are traveling or not, you can get travel insurance through any travel agent (including yours truly) without trip cancellation, at a pretty reasonable rate. Ask for "zero trip cost". The cost depends on your age and how much coverage you want. For example, a purchaser aged 31-59 buying a policy that would cover up to $10,000 of medical expense and $50,000 of medevac transportation, costs $20, and if the buyer is 60-70, it costs $26, topping out at 80+ for $52. You can get $100,000 of medevac for a little more. The insurance company adds a $6 administrative fee to the order, which can have all those traveling together, so it is not per person unless only one person is going. The policy also covers baggage getting lost as secondary coverage about what the airline would pay, which is much less than the value of what's in most people's luggage let alone the luggage piece itself. Travel agents do not charge any service fee to handle this sale, as the insurance company pays commission. Any agent would be happy to sell this coverage to you, confirm it via email and the policy comes to you in the mail. Chris Van Beveren Beck Travel 10921 Oso Ave. Chatsworth, Ca. 91311 Phone: 818-998-3122 Fax: 818-998-3588 becktravel AT yahoo.com ________________________________ From: Richard Carlson To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Sent: Sun, March 14, 2010 5:46:25 PM Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Trtavel med insurance By far the best deal is from AMEX it's hard to find but for cardholders its only $15 /month. You need to charge your trip on their card. It's not rip insurance, which costs more but includes BOTH medevac & trip cost coverage. RCC Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl AT pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 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: Trtavel med insurance From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT PACBELL.NET> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:46:25 -0700 By far the best deal is from AMEX it's hard to find but for cardholders its only $15 /month. You need to charge your trip on their card. It's not rip insurance, which costs more but includes BOTH medevac & trip cost coverage. RCC Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl AT pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Fwd: The Big Year rumors (the movie) From: Phil Davis <pdavis AT IX.NETCOM.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:51:11 -0400 Hi Birdchatters: I had seen rumors about this on other listservers ... well, here it is from the horse's mouth ... !!! Phil >Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:31:34 -0800 (PST) >From: Greg Miller >Subject: The Big Year rumors >To: pdavis AT ix.netcom.com > >Don't know if you've seen the latest rumors flying around on the >Internet or not. > >-Within the last few months the cast was listed as follows: > >Sandy Komito - Owen Wilson >Al Levantin - Dustin Hoffman >Greg Miller - Jack Black >Directed by David Frankel (Marley & Me; Devil Wears Prada) >Produced by Red Hour (Ben Stiller) >Fox 2000 is now doing the movie instead of Dreamworks > >-Within the last few days: >Dustin Hoffman is out and negotiations are going forward with Steve >Martin to play Al Levantin's character >Filming will start in May in Canada >"In Development" status upgraded to "pre-production" >Release Date set for some time in 2011 > >Here are a few links to all the latest buzz: > >http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/441731/The-Big-Year/details >http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1053810/ >http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Frankel-Will-Start-Filiming-The-Big-Year-In-May-17413.html >http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i755f10fb8f89b626f5c9fe31cc580117 > >-greg miller ================================== 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: Winter Birding Highlights in Canada - 2009-2010 From: Blake Maybank <maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:45:37 -0300 Winter Birding in Canada - 2009-10 - Final Summary 14 March 2010 The birding this past winter season in Canada was less exciting than normal. With two exceptions (see Manitoba and Quebec, below) every province recorded winter season species totals that were lower than average. Here are some possible reasons for this: - The active El Nino circulation in the Pacific caused Canada to experience its warmest and driest winter since 1948. Precipitation was down by nearly 25%, and the average temperatures were 4 degrees Celsius above normal. The Arctic had its warmest winter ever. - Wild food was easier for birds to access, and most feeder-watchers reported less activity at their feeding stations. - There were few irruptions of northern owls and finches. - Though twitchers did have good birds to chase, there were not as many rarities as a typical winter. - The first day of the winter birding season, Dec. 1, fell on a Monday, which meant that, in most areas, the concerted search for winter birds did not begin until the first Saturday of December, six days into the winter season, by which time an early cold snap had pushed waterfowl further south, and likely removed many “half-hard autumn lingerers”. - The first day of the Christmas Bird Count period also fell on a Monday, which meant that most counts were held later in December than is usual, reducing the number of species recorded. Here are the links to the Winter Birding web pages for all ten Canadian provinces, as well as the French islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon, and the country of Iceland. PROVINCES FROM EAST TO WEST: Newfoundland and Labrador: http://tinyurl.com/2jqo5p 129 species. Highlights: Northern Lapwing (3 separate birds); Yellow-legged Gull (2); Slaty-backed Gull; +++ Ivory Gulls; White-winged Dove (1st winter record); Redwing. There were sufficient gaps between winter storms to allow Newfoundland birders to locate a good variety of rare and regular species, though slightly fewer than in recent years. The province continues to offer superb gull watching in the St. John’s area, but that may change soon, and there are plans to stop pumping sewage in the harbour. And rumours are floating about that authorities might consider changing landfill practices at the famous St. John’s garbage dump. Both actions make sense environmentally, but would cause much anguish to gull-watchers. Nova Scotia: http://tinyurl.com/nswinter 181 species. (average = 195). Highlights: Red Phalarope (3rd winter record); Empidomax flycatcher sp.; Prairie Warbler (2nd winter record); Spotted Towhee (1st winter record, 2nd provincial record). Big Misses: Northern Fulmar, Spruce Grouse (resident), Red Knot, White-crowned Sparrow. We’ve been keeping track of Nova Scotia’s winter birds since 1996, and the total this past winter tied the lowest previous total, set in 1998/99. Almost every observer was complaining about the scarcity of birds. The mood was glum. Prince Edward Island: http://tinyurl.com/peiwinter 107 species (average = 113). Highlights: Cattle Egret (2nd winter record); Broad-winged Hawk (2nd winter record); Black-legged Kittiwake (1st winter record). Big Misses: Sharp-tailed Grouse (resident, introduced). A soft winter made it hard to find winter specialties, and kept the province’s total below the long-term average. New Brunswick: http://tinyurl.com/nbwinter (updated 12 Feb) 151 species (average = 162). Highlights: Virginia Rail (1st winter record); Marsh Wren (2nd winter record); Ovenbird (2nd winter record); Lark Sparrow (2nd winter record). Big Misses: Wilson’s Snipe; Carolina Wren; American Pipit. A dearth of rarities kept the province’s total well below the long-term average. Quebec: http://tinyurl.com/qcwinter 178 species (10 year average = 166, not including exotics). Highlights: Pacific Loon (1st winter record); Great Egret (2nd winter record); Black Vulture (1st winter record); Barnacle Goose (1st winter record); Rock Ptarmigan (1st winter record); Arctic Tern (1st winter record); White-winged Dove (1st winter record); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1st winter record). Quebec birders took advantage of the mild winter to really explore their large province, and ended up with one of their highest totals to date. They added seven species to their 10-year cumulative winter list. Ontario: http://tinyurl.com/onwinter 191 species. Highlights: Barnacle Goose (2nd winter record); Yellow-billed Loon (2nd winter record); Black-tailed Gull (2nd winter record); Ivory Gull; Phainopepla (2nd provincial and Canadian record, 1st Canadian winter record); Northern Waterthrush (2nd winter record). Big Misses: Eurasian Wigeon; Yellow-headed Blackbird. The province had fewer species than the previous two winters, but managed to surpass the Nova Scotia total for the first time. The Phainopepla took pride of place, of course, and attracted many admirers. Manitoba: http://tinyurl.com/mbwinter 109 species (average = 99). Highlights: Wood Duck (2nd winter record); Greater Scaup (1st winter record); Common Loon (2nd winter record); Western Grebe (1st winter record); Sora (1st winter record); Thayer’s Gull (1st winter record); Lincoln’s Sparrow (2nd winter record); Swamp Sparrow (2nd winter record); Yellow-headed Blackbird (2nd winter record); Brambling (1st winter record; 2nd provincial record). Manitoba birders pulled out all the stops in the first few days of December, and their diligence was rewarded when they achieved the highest total since they started keeping records nine years ago. And equally as important – for the first time they bettered the total of their provincial rival, Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan: http://tinyurl.com/skwinter 100 species (average = 111) - Highlights: Wood Duck (1st winter record); Sandhill Crane (2nd winter record); Rustic Bunting (1st provincial record, 2nd Canadian record); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2nd winter record); Baltimore Oriole (1st winter record). Big Miss: American Three-toed Woodpecker Perhaps if Saskatchewan birders knew how determined their Manitoba neighbours were they might have pushed harder in the first days of December. But, alas, they didn’t, and struggled to reach 100 species, the lowest total since they started winter listing 8 years ago. But there was a great consolation prize in one of the rarest birds across the country this winter. Alberta: http://tinyurl.com/abwinter 136 species (average = 142). Highlights: Cape May Warbler (3rd winter record); Green-tailed Towhee (1st Canadian winter record); Lincoln’s Sparrow (1st winter record). Big Miss: Red-breasted Merganser. Alberta turned in a slightly lower than normal performance, no doubt due to a paucity of rarities, though the Green-tailed Towhee was outstanding. British Columbia: http://tinyurl.com/bcwinter 237 species (average = 250). Highlights: Pectoral Sandpiper (2nd winter record); Oriental Turtle-Dove (1st Canadian record, if accepted); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1st winter record); Western Scrub-Jay; Nashville Warbler; Western Tanager (2nd winter record); Clay-colored Sparrow (3rd winter record); Brambling (3rd winter record). Big Misses: Least Sandpiper; Cassin’s Auklet. B.C. had a lower-than-average winter total, but the weather was mild, and there was the distraction of the Winter Olympics, at which winter birding was not a competition, more’s the pity. And there were no pelagic birding trips, so tubenoses were absent from the list. Several key Christmas Counts have not yet reported in, and there are rumours of a documented Jack Snipe on one of them, so the total could inch up later on. Other Reporting Regions: French Islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon: http://tinyurl.com/spmwinter2 83 species (average = 84, 14 years of data). Highlights: Hairy Woodpecker (1st winter record); Brown Creeper (3rd winter record); Meadowlark sp. (1st winter record). Big Misses: Purple Finch; Common Redpoll; Pine Siskin. SPM birders enjoyed a winter of above average temperatures, but only an average number of species, among which were only a few finches. Iceland: http://tinyurl.com/iceland-winter 98 species. (average = 91, 10 years of data) Highlights: Bean Goose (1st winter record); Northern Shoveler (1st winter record); Stellar’s Eider (1st winter record); Northern Lapwing (1st winter record); Bonaparte’s Gull (1st winter record); Ross’s Gull (1st winter record); Black Redstart (1st winter record); Brambling (2nd winter record) 30 species of waterfowl, 13 of shorebirds, 13 of gulls, and seven new winter species (in the past 10 years of data) helped Icelandic birders surpass their long-term average. Other Resources: Environment Canada’s Winter Seasonal Forecast: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/saisons/index_e.html Reference: What is Winter Birding? In Canada, perhaps because of (or in spite of) experiencing a bit of weather during the winter, winter birding has become a very popular activity. The origins of this slightly insane behaviour apparently date from southern Ontario in the 50's and 60's, but the sport's appeal really took off with the promotion afforded it by Gerry Bennett in the 1980's, through his "Birdfinding in Canada" newsletter. Winter Birding remains popular today. The winter birding period comprises the three months of December through February, matching the reporting period of "North American Birds" journal. "For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, it basically involves a frenzied search during the first couple of weeks to squeeze in as many late migrants as possible before the onslaught of usually more severe weather conditions. Christmas Bird Counts often jack up our total, as do normal winter activities. Plus, it gives us birders something to do for the three slowest birding months of the year other than sitting idle on our hands until March. To me, at least, a winter list is great for maintaining birding enthusiasm, and gets a person active and out of the house to ward off the winter doldrums that tend to creep up mid season." - Ryan Dudragne, Saskatchewan Good (winter) birding, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blake Maybank maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca White's Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada Editor, "Nova Scotia Birds" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm “A true Canadian loves the Winter, revels in it, especially in the North. . . .Winter is on, the air becomes like rich wine that strengthens and invigorates; pure, crisp and health-giving. Those who have not travelled in the vast, snowbound lake country of the North, or tramped on snowshoes in the Winter forest, where the brilliant sun, shining out of a sky that is pure, clear blue; those who have never witnessed the wild, majestic spectacle of a swiftly marching snowstorm—To them I will say that no matter what they may have seen and done, life still holds something for them that they should not miss. Not every country has these things and I, for one, say we are fortunate. ” - Grey Owl Subject: Winter Birding Highlights in Canada - 2009-2010 From: Blake Maybank <maybank AT NS.SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:45:37 -0300 Winter Birding in Canada - 2009-10 - Final Summary 14 March 2010 The birding this past winter season in Canada was less exciting than normal. With two exceptions (see Manitoba and Quebec, below) every province recorded winter season species totals that were lower than average. Here are some possible reasons for this: - The active El Nino circulation in the Pacific caused Canada to experience its warmest and driest winter since 1948. Precipitation was down by nearly 25%, and the average temperatures were 4 degrees Celsius above normal. The Arctic had its warmest winter ever. - Wild food was easier for birds to access, and most feeder-watchers reported less activity at their feeding stations. - There were few irruptions of northern owls and finches. - Though twitchers did have good birds to chase, there were not as many rarities as a typical winter. - The first day of the winter birding season, Dec. 1, fell on a Monday, which meant that, in most areas, the concerted search for winter birds did not begin until the first Saturday of December, six days into the winter season, by which time an early cold snap had pushed waterfowl further south, and likely removed many “half-hard autumn lingerers”. - The first day of the Christmas Bird Count period also fell on a Monday, which meant that most counts were held later in December than is usual, reducing the number of species recorded. Here are the links to the Winter Birding web pages for all ten Canadian provinces, as well as the French islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon, and the country of Iceland. PROVINCES FROM EAST TO WEST: Newfoundland and Labrador: http://tinyurl.com/2jqo5p 129 species. Highlights: Northern Lapwing (3 separate birds); Yellow-legged Gull (2); Slaty-backed Gull; +++ Ivory Gulls; White-winged Dove (1st winter record); Redwing. There were sufficient gaps between winter storms to allow Newfoundland birders to locate a good variety of rare and regular species, though slightly fewer than in recent years. The province continues to offer superb gull watching in the St. John’s area, but that may change soon, and there are plans to stop pumping sewage in the harbour. And rumours are floating about that authorities might consider changing landfill practices at the famous St. John’s garbage dump. Both actions make sense environmentally, but would cause much anguish to gull-watchers. Nova Scotia: http://tinyurl.com/nswinter 181 species. (average = 195). Highlights: Red Phalarope (3rd winter record); Empidomax flycatcher sp.; Prairie Warbler (2nd winter record); Spotted Towhee (1st winter record, 2nd provincial record). Big Misses: Northern Fulmar, Spruce Grouse (resident), Red Knot, White-crowned Sparrow. We’ve been keeping track of Nova Scotia’s winter birds since 1996, and the total this past winter tied the lowest previous total, set in 1998/99. Almost every observer was complaining about the scarcity of birds. The mood was glum. Prince Edward Island: http://tinyurl.com/peiwinter 107 species (average = 113). Highlights: Cattle Egret (2nd winter record); Broad-winged Hawk (2nd winter record); Black-legged Kittiwake (1st winter record). Big Misses: Sharp-tailed Grouse (resident, introduced). A soft winter made it hard to find winter specialties, and kept the province’s total below the long-term average. New Brunswick: http://tinyurl.com/nbwinter (updated 12 Feb) 151 species (average = 162). Highlights: Virginia Rail (1st winter record); Marsh Wren (2nd winter record); Ovenbird (2nd winter record); Lark Sparrow (2nd winter record). Big Misses: Wilson’s Snipe; Carolina Wren; American Pipit. A dearth of rarities kept the province’s total well below the long-term average. Quebec: http://tinyurl.com/qcwinter 178 species (10 year average = 166, not including exotics). Highlights: Pacific Loon (1st winter record); Great Egret (2nd winter record); Black Vulture (1st winter record); Barnacle Goose (1st winter record); Rock Ptarmigan (1st winter record); Arctic Tern (1st winter record); White-winged Dove (1st winter record); Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1st winter record). Quebec birders took advantage of the mild winter to really explore their large province, and ended up with one of their highest totals to date. They added seven species to their 10-year cumulative winter list. Ontario: http://tinyurl.com/onwinter 191 species. Highlights: Barnacle Goose (2nd winter record); Yellow-billed Loon (2nd winter record); Black-tailed Gull (2nd winter record); Ivory Gull; Phainopepla (2nd provincial and Canadian record, 1st Canadian winter record); Northern Waterthrush (2nd winter record). Big Misses: Eurasian Wigeon; Yellow-headed Blackbird. The province had fewer species than the previous two winters, but managed to surpass the Nova Scotia total for the first time. The Phainopepla took pride of place, of course, and attracted many admirers. Manitoba: http://tinyurl.com/mbwinter 109 species (average = 99). Highlights: Wood Duck (2nd winter record); Greater Scaup (1st winter record); Common Loon (2nd winter record); Western Grebe (1st winter record); Sora (1st winter record); Thayer’s Gull (1st winter record); Lincoln’s Sparrow (2nd winter record); Swamp Sparrow (2nd winter record); Yellow-headed Blackbird (2nd winter record); Brambling (1st winter record; 2nd provincial record). Manitoba birders pulled out all the stops in the first few days of December, and their diligence was rewarded when they achieved the highest total since they started keeping records nine years ago. And equally as important – for the first time they bettered the total of their provincial rival, Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan: http://tinyurl.com/skwinter 100 species (average = 111) - Highlights: Wood Duck (1st winter record); Sandhill Crane (2nd winter record); Rustic Bunting (1st provincial record, 2nd Canadian record); Rose-breasted Grosbeak (2nd winter record); Baltimore Oriole (1st winter record). Big Miss: American Three-toed Woodpecker Perhaps if Saskatchewan birders knew how determined their Manitoba neighbours were they might have pushed harder in the first days of December. But, alas, they didn’t, and struggled to reach 100 species, the lowest total since they started winter listing 8 years ago. But there was a great consolation prize in one of the rarest birds across the country this winter. Alberta: http://tinyurl.com/abwinter 136 species (average = 142). Highlights: Cape May Warbler (3rd winter record); Green-tailed Towhee (1st Canadian winter record); Lincoln’s Sparrow (1st winter record). Big Miss: Red-breasted Merganser. Alberta turned in a slightly lower than normal performance, no doubt due to a paucity of rarities, though the Green-tailed Towhee was outstanding. British Columbia: http://tinyurl.com/bcwinter 237 species (average = 250). Highlights: Pectoral Sandpiper (2nd winter record); Oriental Turtle-Dove (1st Canadian record, if accepted); Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1st winter record); Western Scrub-Jay; Nashville Warbler; Western Tanager (2nd winter record); Clay-colored Sparrow (3rd winter record); Brambling (3rd winter record). Big Misses: Least Sandpiper; Cassin’s Auklet. B.C. had a lower-than-average winter total, but the weather was mild, and there was the distraction of the Winter Olympics, at which winter birding was not a competition, more’s the pity. And there were no pelagic birding trips, so tubenoses were absent from the list. Several key Christmas Counts have not yet reported in, and there are rumours of a documented Jack Snipe on one of them, so the total could inch up later on. Other Reporting Regions: French Islands of Saint-Pierre et Michelon: http://tinyurl.com/spmwinter2 83 species (average = 84, 14 years of data). Highlights: Hairy Woodpecker (1st winter record); Brown Creeper (3rd winter record); Meadowlark sp. (1st winter record). Big Misses: Purple Finch; Common Redpoll; Pine Siskin. SPM birders enjoyed a winter of above average temperatures, but only an average number of species, among which were only a few finches. Iceland: http://tinyurl.com/iceland-winter 98 species. (average = 91, 10 years of data) Highlights: Bean Goose (1st winter record); Northern Shoveler (1st winter record); Stellar’s Eider (1st winter record); Northern Lapwing (1st winter record); Bonaparte’s Gull (1st winter record); Ross’s Gull (1st winter record); Black Redstart (1st winter record); Brambling (2nd winter record) 30 species of waterfowl, 13 of shorebirds, 13 of gulls, and seven new winter species (in the past 10 years of data) helped Icelandic birders surpass their long-term average. Other Resources: Environment Canada’s Winter Seasonal Forecast: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/saisons/index_e.html Reference: What is Winter Birding? In Canada, perhaps because of (or in spite of) experiencing a bit of weather during the winter, winter birding has become a very popular activity. The origins of this slightly insane behaviour apparently date from southern Ontario in the 50's and 60's, but the sport's appeal really took off with the promotion afforded it by Gerry Bennett in the 1980's, through his "Birdfinding in Canada" newsletter. Winter Birding remains popular today. The winter birding period comprises the three months of December through February, matching the reporting period of "North American Birds" journal. "For those who may be unfamiliar with the concept, it basically involves a frenzied search during the first couple of weeks to squeeze in as many late migrants as possible before the onslaught of usually more severe weather conditions. Christmas Bird Counts often jack up our total, as do normal winter activities. Plus, it gives us birders something to do for the three slowest birding months of the year other than sitting idle on our hands until March. To me, at least, a winter list is great for maintaining birding enthusiasm, and gets a person active and out of the house to ward off the winter doldrums that tend to creep up mid season." - Ryan Dudragne, Saskatchewan Good (winter) birding, ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blake Maybank maybank AT ns.sympatico.ca White's Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada Editor, "Nova Scotia Birds" author, "Birding Sites of Nova Scotia" http://maybank.tripod.com/BSNS.htm “A true Canadian loves the Winter, revels in it, especially in the North. . . .Winter is on, the air becomes like rich wine that strengthens and invigorates; pure, crisp and health-giving. Those who have not travelled in the vast, snowbound lake country of the North, or tramped on snowshoes in the Winter forest, where the brilliant sun, shining out of a sky that is pure, clear blue; those who have never witnessed the wild, majestic spectacle of a swiftly marching snowstorm—To them I will say that no matter what they may have seen and done, life still holds something for them that they should not miss. Not every country has these things and I, for one, say we are fortunate. ” - Grey Owl BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Audubon and Tom's Finch From: Jim Turner <havivoca AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:41:02 -0700 I was just reading about Audubon's discovery of Lincoln's Sparrow in Labrador.  Named for Thomas Lincoln, it was at first called "Tom's Finch".  Now, I can tell an emberizid from a fringillid at a glance.  But Audubon had already determined that this was a previously unknown species, and named it, and still mistakenly thought it was a finch.  How could he have made such an error?  I'm going to leap to an answer, but maybe somebody has a better one.  In Audubon's time, birders shot  first and asked questions later.  So, I assume Audubon had no opportunity to use the birds flight style, flocking pattern, or perching elevation preference as identifying clues.  All he had was the critter in hand.  =============== Jim Turner Victoria Texas havivoca AT yahoo.com BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Revision of Furnariidae finished From: John Penhallurick <jpenhall AT BIGPOND.NET.AU> Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:47:44 +1100 Dear Friends, I have just finished the revsion of the family Furnariidae on my website as a result of the paper by Derryberry,Claramunt,O'Quin,Aleixo,Chesser,Remsen & Brumfield,2010,Zootaxa,XXXX. This involves the merging of Schizoeaca, which is itself polyphyletic, and does not even merit recognition as a subgenus, and Oreophylax into Asthenes. It also provides a new genus Pseudasthenes for the former Asthenes humicola, A.patagonica, A.steinbachi and A.cactorum, as DNA sequencing revealed that that are far removed form the other member of Asthenes. Enjoy! It's free. Dr John Penhallurick 86 Bingley Cres Fraser A.C.T. 2615 Australia email:jpenhall AT bigpond.net.au Phone: Home (612) 62585428 Mobile:0408585426 Please visit my website:http://www.worldbirdinfo.net BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Birds/Butterflies in Cozumel RFI From: Mary Beth Stowe <MiriamEagl AT AOL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:47:16 EST Hi, all! If all goes well, I'll be attending my niece's wedding in Cozumel next November, and plan to stay a week at the resort where the wedding will take place (Occidental Grand Cozumel). I don't how the grounds are for birds and butters, but I'd definitely be interested in hiring a guide for a day to go birding! I also hear there's a butterfly sanctuary on the island. Any info would be greatly appreciated; thanks! Take care, MB Mary Beth Stowe McAllen, TX _www.miriameaglemon.com_ (http://www.miriameaglemon.com/) BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: RFI: medevac insurance From: John Puschock <g_g_allin AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:28:19 +0000 Hi all, Can anybody offer recommendations for medevac insurance? I'm looking to get some coverage for within Alaska. Thanks, John Puschock Seattle, WA g_g_allin AT hotmail.com p.s. The ABA logo vote would have been interesting if the first vote was whether or not to change the logo -- only about a third of voters chose the tropicbird.... _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/210850553/direct/01/ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: ABA logo was Re: [BIRDCHAT] "People and Places" column in Birding magazine From: Jerry Blinn <support AT AVISYS.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:35:46 -0700 THANK GOD!!!!! Logos need easily recognizable silhouettes, and the only other bird close to such is the Barn Swallow. The original Tropicbird was an brilliant choice as a logo, and I'm pleased the ABA is not changing it just "to do something new and improved," like "New Coke." Jerry >>>>>>. "Red-billed Tropicbird wins! Members have voted to continue using the . . . " At 10:47 PM 3/12/2010, Joseph Morlan wrote: >On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:21:53 -0800, Ted Floyd >wrote: > > >Oh, and one other thing: an announcement that the ABA is changing > its venerable Red-billed Tropicbird logo to some other bird > species. Any reaction to that?? 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: BirdNote, last week, and the week of March 14, 2010 From: Ellen Blackstone <ellen AT 123IMAGINE.NET> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:25:35 -0800 Hello, BirdChatters! A new *State of the Birds* report is out. Learn more! http://stateofthebirds.org/ ----------------------------------------------------- Last week, BirdNote aired: * Flicker Attack -- Are they drumming, drilling, or excavating. It makes a difference! http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1719 * Treasure Chest of Hummingbirds http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=621 * Robins and Berries in Winter http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1443 * The Golden Pendulum - Montezuma Oropendola http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1049 * Montezuma Oropendola's High-Security Nesting http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1050 * Lewis's Woodpeckers and Pine Forests http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1724 * Master Gardeners Can Help - Create a backyard sanctuary http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=625 -------------------------------------------- Check out the photos accompanying next week's shows: http://bit.ly/aPec6g ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BirdNote is a two-minute audio program, airing on several public radio stations and available by podcast: http://tinyurl.com/y24e8n. You can listen to the mp3, see a photo, and read the transcript on the website. All episodes are in the archives. Shows may vary by station. BirdNote helps connect listeners to the natural world. Tell someone you know about BirdNote. If you'd like to have your local public radio station broadcast BirdNote, please ask the program director to check this out: http://birdnote.org/birdnote-info.cfm?id=1403 Thanks! Ellen Blackstone http://www.birdnote.org Seattle, Washington BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: ABA logo was Re: [BIRDCHAT] "People and Places" column in Birding magazine From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:47:43 -0800 On Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:21:53 -0800, Ted Floyd wrote: >Oh, and one other thing: an announcement that the ABA is changing its venerable Red-billed Tropicbird logo to some other bird species. Any reaction to that?? Results posted in the ABA newsletter: ABA Logo Survey Red-billed Tropicbird wins! Members have voted to continue using the Red-billed Tropicbird for the ABA logo. A majority commented that they love the logo just as it is. Thanks to all who took the time to vote. Here was the final tally: Red-billed Tropicbird: 312 votes American Kestrel: 255 votes Red-tailed Hawk: 90 votes Common Yellowthroat: 72 votes Barn Swallow: 58 votes American Robin: 50 votes Yellow Warbler: 49 votes Black-crowned Night-Heron: 40 votes -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Feb.9 http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: FW: Texas Whooping Cranes (9 March 2010) ANWR aerial census From: Patty Waits Beasley <hawks AT CCBIRDING.COM> Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:52:08 -0600 Greetings all, The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, USFWS biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator. ------------- begin report -------------- The seventh aerial census of the 2009-10 whooping crane season was conducted March 9th, 2010 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions of Castroville, Texas with USFWS observer Tom Stehn. Sighted on the flight were 193 adults and 18 juveniles = 211 total whooping cranes. Fog rolling in off the Gulf in the late afternoon prevented completion of the census. No evidence of mortality was noted on the flight other than the one juvenile that had died earlier in the winter. The flight again provided solid evidence of 20 family groups currently at Aransas. With one juvenile last seen in Oklahoma December 25th that apparently separated from its parents during migration and is presumably okay and wintering in an unknown location, and the S. Sundown Island chick that has died at Aransas, this accounts for 22 of the 22 juveniles found in Canada during the mid-August fledging surveys. With the one documented mortality this winter, the current flock size is estimated at 242 + 21=263. March 9th - Recap of whooping cranes (211) found at Aransas: Adults + Young San Jose 52 + 5 = 57 Refuge 46 + 5 = 51 Lamar 16 + 1 = 17 Matagorda 60 + 4 = 64* Welder Flats 20 + 2 = 22* Hynes Bay * Total 194 + 17 = 211* * Census incomplete due to presence of fog. Some cranes continue to leave their marsh territories and are searching for food on the uplands. Upland areas on the barrier islands are flooded, with numerous wet swales on the uplands up to the beach dunes. Overall habitat use documented on the flight included 27 cranes on unburned uplands (13%, or half of the previous flight's total), 2 in open bays, 3 at a game feeder at Welder Flats, 0 on prescribed burns, and 179 (85%) in salt marsh. Low numbers of 2-3 inch blue crabs have moved into the marshes with recent high tides, and more foraging on crabs has been noted, although blue crab numbers are still low. Flight Conditions: Winds were light and flight conditions were smooth. Visibility was challenging throughout the flight due to all the moisture in the air. Late afternoon sunshine was often shining in our faces so that it was only possibly to see cranes reliable heading away from the sun. Late afternoon fog rolling onto the barrier islands prevented us from completing the census. The largest group sizes observed were 9 birds seen in the marsh on San Jose and 7 on the uplands on Matagorda Island. Spring Migration, 2010 The single white-plumaged whooping crane confirmed present at Salt Plains NWR in northern Oklahoma on February 24th and 26th apparently moved on to the Platte River in Nebraska where it was confirmed on March 5th. No other whooping cranes are believed to have left Aransas. - Tom Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge ------------- end report ---------------- 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 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. All reports are posted on the Texas Whooping Crane website (www.ccbirding.com/twc). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Patty Waits Beasley Corpus Christi, Texas USA Texas Whooping Cranes www.ccbirding.com/twc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Strange Duck From: Jim Royer <jrmotmot AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:09:39 -0800 I have posted three photos of a weird looking duck that may just be an odd female Bufflehead. Please let me know if you have any ideas on the ID of this duck posted at http://greenbirding.blogspot.com/ , March 1 post. Thanks. Jim Royer Los Osos, CA BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: The Big Year - the movie From: "Gorton, Gregg" <Gregg.Gorton AT VA.GOV> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:40:01 -0500 ... "interesting" may not be the word for it if the writer and director don't get some competent ornithological advice so the movie is actually at least somewhat accurate--even if zany, silly, and potentially offensive to serious birders! Pete, Kenn, David--are you listening? This is a consulting opportunity! Gregg Gorton Philadelphia, PA -----Original Message----- From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) [mailto:BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Charles Swift Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 2:13 PM To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDCHAT] The Big Year - the movie The book "The Big Year" by Mark Obmascik is reportedly being made into a movie, with Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black in lead roles, should be interesting! for more information see: *http://tinyurl.com/yda36zw * -- Charles Swift Moscow, ID chaetura AT gmail.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: The Big Year - the movie From: Charles Swift <chaetura AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:13:13 -0800 The book "The Big Year" by Mark Obmascik is reportedly being made into a movie, with Steve Martin, Owen Wilson, and Jack Black in lead roles, should be interesting! for more information see: *http://tinyurl.com/yda36zw * -- Charles Swift Moscow, ID chaetura AT gmail.com BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: [SPAM] Re: [BIRDCHAT] Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) From: "John J. Collins" <jjcbird AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 22:39:39 -0500 I totally agree. When I was birding in Hungary, I was fortunate to know the scientific names of many of the birds - our Hungarian guide was trying to point out a bird for which he forgot the English name and of course none of the members of our group knew the Hungarian name - but when he told us the scientific name I knew exactly what he was talking about. John J. Collins Raritan, NJ jjcbird AT verizon.net "God desires that all the world be pure in his sight. The earth should not be injured. The earth should not be destroyed." (Hildegard von Bingen) -----Original Message----- From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) [mailto:BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Theo Hofmann Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 4:04 PM To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] [SPAM] Re: [BIRDCHAT] Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) Hi All, On Wed, 10 Mar 2010, Pastor Al Schirmacher wrote: > A primary reason for standardization is, obviously, ease of communication. >>snip<< > Frankly, how many of us know all the Latin names for the birds we enjoy? > Such standardization may only work in scientific circles, or in print, > rarely in the field with not-so-scientific birders. And it can lead to > arrogance, a communication destroyer if there every was one. >>snip<< Whereas few of us in North America know the Latin Names, as Al Schirmacher points out, but if you lived in Europe you'd be glad to know the Latin Names if you birded in different countries. You wouldn't want to learn some 15 - 20 different names for each species. The European birders I know are quite familiar with the Latin Names and they are not only the scientists. Theo Hofmann ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." Anonymous (or birding). -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theo Hofmann e-mail: theo AT hera.med.utoronto.ca 199 Arnold Avenue Thornhill Ontario Phone: 905 889-1554 Canada L4J 1C1 Fax: 416 978-8548 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Hawk or Buzzard From: "David M. Gascoigne" <bateleur27 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:11:45 -0500 Thanks to everyone who contributed to the discussion on this forum and to those who also emailed me privately. I guess that for buteos it's "Hawk" in North America and "Buzzard" everywhere else. I agree with Morgan Churchill that I prefer the IOC list, which is what I use; as he states their updates occur very frequently, they have copious explanatory notes and they are very responsive to suggestions to improve the format and quick to acknowledge any errors or omissions that are pointed out to them. David M. Gascoigne, 606 Osprey Drive, Waterloo, ON Canada N2V 2A5 519 725-0866 Fax 519 725-1176 blog: www.travelswithbirds.blogspot.com _________________________________________________________________ IM on the go with Messenger on your phone http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712960 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:29:06 -0800 On Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:43:42 -0500, David M Mark wrote: >That is what I would have assumed, too. But when the American and Eurasian >Three-toed Woodpeckers were split, the name of the American species became >Picoides dorsalis, described by Baird 1858. Yes, the split became official in the 44th AOU Supplement. http://www.aou.org/checklist/suppl/AOU_checklist_suppl_44.pdf >In http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=6D2680D04CEB17B9 >Avibase confirms that it was called "Picoides americanus" from 1886 to >1931, but if that had been a valid name then presumably americanus would >have been restored when the AOU re-split them in the 7th edition. Now I am >intrigued... Me too. Here's the reference from Brehm which has priority: http://zoonomen.net/cit/RI/SP/Phod/phod00717a.jpg And here's the reference from Baird: http://zoonomen.net/cit/RI/SP/Phod/phod00723a.jpg My guess is that Brehm's name was suppressed because his type locality was questionable "undoubtedly Amerika" and because the bird was described as larger than the form in Germany. In fact P. dorsalis is smaller than European birds. I don't know if the type of P. americanus still exists, but it's possible (likely?) that it was not actually collected in North America. Baird's later name is linked to a bird collected in Wyoming with a still extant specimen in the Smithsonian. Zink et al. (The Condor 104:167–170, 2002) say, "...the first three-toed woodpecker from North America was described as Picoides dorsalis by Baird in 1858 (see AOU 1957). Thus, the American Three toed Woodpecker should be reclassified as Picoides dorsalis and the Eurasian species should remain P. tridactylus." However I don't see where the 1957 AOU checklist suppresses Brehm's earlier name. Anybody have a reference? -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Feb.9 http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: [SPAM] Re: [BIRDCHAT] Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) From: Theo Hofmann <theo AT HERA.MED.UTORONTO.CA> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:04:16 -0500 Hi All, On Wed, 10 Mar 2010, Pastor Al Schirmacher wrote: > A primary reason for standardization is, obviously, ease of communication. >>snip<< > Frankly, how many of us know all the Latin names for the birds we enjoy? > Such standardization may only work in scientific circles, or in print, > rarely in the field with not-so-scientific birders. And it can lead to > arrogance, a communication destroyer if there every was one. >>snip<< Whereas few of us in North America know the Latin Names, as Al Schirmacher points out, but if you lived in Europe you'd be glad to know the Latin Names if you birded in different countries. You wouldn't want to learn some 15 - 20 different names for each species. The European birders I know are quite familiar with the Latin Names and they are not only the scientists. Theo Hofmann ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." Anonymous (or birding). -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Theo Hofmann e-mail: theo AT hera.med.utoronto.ca 199 Arnold Avenue Thornhill Ontario Phone: 905 889-1554 Canada L4J 1C1 Fax: 416 978-8548 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) From: Pastor Al Schirmacher <pastoral AT PRINCETONFREECHURCH.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:41:46 -0600 A primary reason for standardization is, obviously, ease of communication. But a primary reason for non-standardization is richness of culture. Just speaking personally, I love the creativity and diversity of names that a bird can generate (well, perhaps not the more profane ones). Rarely does a different name lead to any true or long-lasting confusion. Frankly, how many of us know all the Latin names for the birds we enjoy? Such standardization may only work in scientific circles, or in print, rarely in the field with not-so-scientific birders. And it can lead to arrogance, a communication destroyer if there every was one. Must admit I am perfectly content with the status quo, which is unusual for me: relative consensus on names within a region or country, some diversity based on cultural richness/upbringing/humor, and even with the occasional name changes pressed upon us by those in high places (gives us something to relearn, or at least complain about:)). IMHO Al Schirmacher Princeton, MN Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: DC Birding From: Gail Mackiernan <katahdinss AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:21:04 -0500 Alas, I am afraid that Cape May Warbler is no longer as common as it once was -- I recall them being fairly regular in my own yard in Silver Spring in the early 1980s. At Rock Creek last spring we did have a few days with multiple sightings but lots of days with none seen. Other species that have declined over the 15 years we have been watching this site are Golden-winged and Cerulean Warblers, while overall migrant numbers have also shrunk. We have far fewer really BIG days than in the past, and it is not just differences in weather or local conditions, although this definitely plays a part from day to day. We have more observers so logically we should be recording more. Obviously the spreading outward of the suburban/developed sprawl around the city affects migrant routes but one cannot help but think that there are fewer birds as well. The only bird-finding guide for the entire area is Claudia Wild's 1993 book which is still good for most areas although some sites are very out of date. However the Montgomery (County) Bird Club has just updated and reprinted its site guide for that county and other more recent guides are available for other counties in the region. The MBC guide is available from ABA and also at the Audubon Society Book Store at Woodend in Chevy Chase. Gail Mackiernan Silver Spring, MD on 03/10/2010 2:58 PM, Jerry Friedman at jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM wrote: > --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Richard Carlson wrote: >> I started serious birding in DC eons >> ago. Did my long departed friend Carl Carlson's pamphlets >> ever get updated and turned into a bird finding guide? > > I don't see anything at Amazon. > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: DC Birding From: Jerry Friedman <jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:58:46 -0800 --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Richard Carlson wrote: > I started serious birding in DC eons > ago. Did my long departed friend Carl Carlson's pamphlets > ever get updated and turned into a bird finding guide? I don't see anything at Amazon. > The DC area is so big that where to bird depends on where > you're starting from.  If  you're staying in the > NW, just head out the C&O canal to Pennyfield locks > & Seneca.  If you're in the southern part of the > area, Mason's neck makes sense. In fact, those are the two places I could stay (my cousin lives in Virginia), so the birding is part of my decision. > Early May is > great.  I still remember my Bethesda front yard tree > full of Cape May Warblers the 1st week of May every year. That's it, I'm going to Bethesda. :-) Cape Mays are now listed as "rare" is the places I'm thinking about, unfortunately. Anyway, thanks for the tips. Jerry BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 From: David M Mark <dmark AT BUFFALO.EDU> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:43:42 -0500 Hello: That is what I would have assumed, too. But when the American and Eurasian Three-toed Woodpeckers were split, the name of the American species became Picoides dorsalis, described by Baird 1858. In http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/species.jsp?avibaseid=6D2680D04CEB17B9 Avibase confirms that it was called "Picoides americanus" from 1886 to 1931, but if that had been a valid name then presumably americanus would have been restored when the AOU re-split them in the 7th edition. Now I am intrigued... David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ David M. Mark Amherst, New York (near Buffalo; home location) dmark AT buffalo.edu http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/~dmark/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Wed, 10 Mar 2010, Ronald Orenstein wrote: > I believe that this was a lump with the Eurasian birds (which are often > now split again). > > Ronald Orenstein > 1825 Shady Creek Court > Mississauga, ON L5L 3W2 > Canada > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Ken Blackshaw > To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Sent: Wed, March 10, 2010 11:06:45 AM > Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 > > Hi All - I'm wondering why the Three-toed Woodpecker went from Picoides > americanus to Picoides tridactylus in 1931. Can't see where it was a split > or a lump. I didn't think species names were ever changed without splitting > or lumping. But perhaps the rules were different in 1931. > > 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 > > 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: Hawk or Buzzard (and IOC) From: Morgan Churchill <mmcjawa AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:41:09 -0800 I actually wouldn't worry terribly much what name is used elsewhere. Standardization is (IMHO) only important on a regional level, where it can be confusing if for instance Northern Harrier goes by 5 different names in California alone. So for the purpose of rare bird alerts, Xmas bird counts, etc, it's important to have one name. I guess my point is, your life list is personal, and feel free to call a species by whatever term you are most comfortable with. As for world lists, IOC (again, IMHO) has several advantages over Clements, including more frequent updates and a better coverage of old world taxonomy than Clements currently has. As far as "world lists" go, I think Clements really only reflects NA/SA consensus. That might be fine if your list is confined to New World birds, but from what I can tell Europeans at least are getting away from it. I use IOC for my world list, but then I don't publish my lists anywhere other than surfbirds. I do think the IOC list will be used more in the future, and I wouldn't mind if ABA created a separate IOC category list. ********************************** Morgan Churchill Laramie, Wyoming --- On Wed, 3/10/10, Joseph Morlan wrote: > From: Joseph Morlan > Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Hawk or Buzzard > To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 1:41 AM > On Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:42:26 -0500, > "David M. Gascoigne" > > wrote: > > >As for Buteo lagopus, formerly know as Rough-legged > Hawk, it is now called Rough-legged Buzzard in the IOC World > Bird List. > > Standards attempt to avoid these kinds of problems.  > The trouble is, there > are so many "standards" from which to chose.  Some are > more widely accepted > than others. > > The IOC list is not authoritative.  The North American > standard is the AOU > check-list where it's still the Rough-legged Hawk.  > For your ABA world list > use Clements 6th which also retains Rough-legged Hawk. > > The IOC checklist is an attempt at a new standard, but it > has a long way to > go.  Currently it is not much more of an accepted > international standard > than the Sibley & Monroe or Howard & Moore world > lists. > > > > > -- > Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA        > jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu > SF Birding Classes start Feb.9     http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/ > California Bird Records Committee  http://www.californiabirds.org/ > Western Field Ornithologists    >    http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ > > 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: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 From: "John Galluzzo" <jgalluzzo AT massaudubon.org> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:36:04 -0500 Ken - You're not the only one who's ever asked, apparently. See page p. 927, and in the right column, the listing for p341: http://www.aou.org/checklist/suppl/AOU_checklist_suppl_44.pdf John -----Original Message----- From: massbird-approval AT TheWorld.com [mailto:massbird-approval AT TheWorld.com] On Behalf Of Sabrina K. Hepburn 01 Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 12:36 PM To: "Ken Blackshaw"; "Birdchat Append"; "MassBird Append" Subject: Re: [MASSBIRD] Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 Ken, I don't know the reason behind the three-toed woodpecker change. But I wanted to add that taxononmic names follow rules of precendence and for historic records, it is not always obvious which is the first published name. Sometimes a widely accepted species name can change if an earlier name becomes recognized. This is not so common now with birds, especially in North America, which have relatively well established taxonomy, but it does happen all the time for taxa like insects and plants. In some cases, it can take some significant investigation and examination of specimens to confirm that two different authors, who have described records or specimens under different names, are actually referring to the same species. A later name may already be in common usage, but the earlier name is correct. Sabrina ---"Ken Blackshaw" wrote --- > Hi All - I'm wondering why the Three-toed Woodpecker went from Picoides > americanus to Picoides tridactylus in 1931. Can't see where it was a split > or a lump. I didn't think species names were ever changed without splitting > or lumping. But perhaps the rules were different in 1931. > > Ken Blackshaw - Nantucket Island - 30 Miles at Sea > > --- End of quote --- Subject: Re: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 From: Sabrina.K.Hepburn.01 AT alum.dartmouth.org (Sabrina K. Hepburn 01) Date: 10 Mar 2010 12:35:55 -0500 Ken, I don't know the reason behind the three-toed woodpecker change. But I wanted to add that taxononmic names follow rules of precendence and for historic records, it is not always obvious which is the first published name. Sometimes a widely accepted species name can change if an earlier name becomes recognized. This is not so common now with birds, especially in North America, which have relatively well established taxonomy, but it does happen all the time for taxa like insects and plants. In some cases, it can take some significant investigation and examination of specimens to confirm that two different authors, who have described records or specimens under different names, are actually referring to the same species. A later name may already be in common usage, but the earlier name is correct. Sabrina ---"Ken Blackshaw" wrote --- > Hi All - I'm wondering why the Three-toed Woodpecker went from Picoides > americanus to Picoides tridactylus in 1931. Can't see where it was a split > or a lump. I didn't think species names were ever changed without splitting > or lumping. But perhaps the rules were different in 1931. > > Ken Blackshaw - Nantucket Island - 30 Miles at Sea > > --- End of quote --- Subject: Re: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 From: Ronald Orenstein <ron.orenstein AT ROGERS.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:22:43 -0800 I believe that this was a lump with the Eurasian birds (which are often now split again). Ronald Orenstein 1825 Shady Creek Court Mississauga, ON L5L 3W2 Canada ----- Original Message ---- From: Ken Blackshaw To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Sent: Wed, March 10, 2010 11:06:45 AM Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 Hi All - I'm wondering why the Three-toed Woodpecker went from Picoides americanus to Picoides tridactylus in 1931. Can't see where it was a split or a lump. I didn't think species names were ever changed without splitting or lumping. But perhaps the rules were different in 1931. 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 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 From: "Ken Blackshaw" <kenandcindy1 AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:06:45 -0500 Hi All - I'm wondering why the Three-toed Woodpecker went from Picoides americanus to Picoides tridactylus in 1931. Can't see where it was a split or a lump. I didn't think species names were ever changed without splitting or lumping. But perhaps the rules were different in 1931. Ken Blackshaw - Nantucket Island - 30 Miles at Sea Subject: DC Birding From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT PACBELL.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:52:30 -0800 I started serious birding in DC eons ago. Did my long departed friend Carl Carlson's pamphlets ever get updated and turned into a bird finding guide? The DC area is so big that where to bird depends on where you're starting from. If you're staying in the NW, just head out the C&O canal to Pennyfield locks & Seneca. If you're in the southern part of the area, Mason's neck makes sense. Early May is great. I still remember my Bethesda front yard tree full of Cape May Warblers the 1st week of May every year. RCC Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl AT pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Three-toed Woodpecker Latin name change - 1931 From: Ken Blackshaw <kenandcindy1 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:06:45 -0500 Hi All - I'm wondering why the Three-toed Woodpecker went from Picoides americanus to Picoides tridactylus in 1931. Can't see where it was a split or a lump. I didn't think species names were ever changed without splitting or lumping. But perhaps the rules were different in 1931. 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: Companions wanted for Brazil trip August 2010 From: Janet Zinn <Bkbirdr AT AOL.COM> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:11:59 EST I've had good luck finding trip companions via Birdchat before, so...let's give it another try! Looking for folks interested in joining my husband and I on a birding trip to Brazil's Atlantic rainforest with optional extension to Iguacu falls and/or the Pantanal. We will have one week in and around Itatiaia National Park and Ubatuba; then heading to Iguacu, but you could alternatively continue to the Pantanal (we've already been on a previous trip, so are going to Iguacu instead.) The trip will obviously focus on serious birding but will have lots of time for photography. Comfortable lodging and expert bird guide (Paulo Boute, _www.boute-expeditions.com_ (http://www.boute-expeditions.com) ), more personalized than a big tour. We've used Paulo before and he is a great birder, excellent organizer, and lots of fun to be with. This trip is in early August 2010 (will give exact dates with details.) Please contact me for full details at _jzinn AT jczinn.com_ (mailto:jzinn AT jczinn.com) or _bkbirdr AT aol.com_ (mailto:bkbirdr AT aol.com) Janet Zinn Brooklyn, NY _www.janetzinnphotography.com_ (http://www.janetzinnphotography.com/) BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Hawk or Buzzard From: John Walters <john-walters AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:06 -0800 Its "standard name" is /Buteo lagopus/. Period. You can call it "Rough-legged Hawk" or "Rough-legged Buzzard"--or "Chipping Sparrow," for that matter. That's why we've gone to all the trouble to work out the (admittedly often arbitrary) rules of binomial nomenclature. Equally inconvenient for American birders, British birders, French birders, Uzbek birders... John Walters Bonita, CA john-walters AT cox.net BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Hawk or Buzzard From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 22:41:13 -0800 On Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:42:26 -0500, "David M. Gascoigne" wrote: >As for Buteo lagopus, formerly know as Rough-legged Hawk, it is now called Rough-legged Buzzard in the IOC World Bird List. Standards attempt to avoid these kinds of problems. The trouble is, there are so many "standards" from which to chose. Some are more widely accepted than others. The IOC list is not authoritative. The North American standard is the AOU check-list where it's still the Rough-legged Hawk. For your ABA world list use Clements 6th which also retains Rough-legged Hawk. The IOC checklist is an attempt at a new standard, but it has a long way to go. Currently it is not much more of an accepted international standard than the Sibley & Monroe or Howard & Moore world lists. -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Feb.9 http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: 5 nearshore albatrosses seen from San Diego Bird Festival pelagics From: Terry Hunefeld <sdbirdlover AT FASTMAIL.FM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:09:18 -0800 Greetings, From March 4-7, 2010, the San Diego Bird Festival conducted three day-trips to the Nine Mile Bank and just over the border to Mexico’s Los Coronados Islands to see the Brown Booby colony. We were prepared to take what mother ocean gave us – and she was bountiful. 5 near-shore albatrosses – Black-footed and Laysan – were totally unexpected. Three species of alcid were seen daily including more than 30 Xantus’s Murrelets on Sunday. Photos by participants and leaders, GPS trip tracks showing the underwater topography, complete species lists, video and full trip report are posted at: http://www.socalbirding.com/tripreports/sdbirdfest467mar2010.html W. Terry Hunefeld, Encinitas Life is short. Seabird often. In memory of Luke Cole “Come on out with us to see what’s out there.â€� Southern California Seabirding Trips by: Buena Vista Audubon Society http://www.SoCalBirding.com Los Coronados Islands & Nine Mile Bank all the way to the edge of the Continental Shelf ---- W. Terry Hunefeld San Diego Life is short. Bird often. reply to: thunefeld AT gmail.com ---- -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Same, same, but different... BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Hawk or Buzzard From: "Spector, David (Biology)" <spectord AT MAIL.CCSU.EDU> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 21:05:21 -0500 The restriction of hawk to the genus Accipiter in Great Britain is relatively recent, and not traditional. The OED definition first indicates "any diurnal bird used in falconry . . . ," and then offers a narrower definition used in natural history, confining hawks to birds "of the subfamily Accipitrinae, with rounded and comparatively short wings . . . ." The quotes documenting usage are varied and includes a quote as late as the 1879 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica equating "long-winged hawks" with falcons. Folk names in England include Blue Hawk for Hen Harrier; Buzzard Hawk for Common Buzzard; Duck Hawk, Cliff Hawk, and Hunting Hawk for Peregrine; Van-winged Hawk for Hobby; Blue Hawk, Rock Hawk, Stone Hawk, and Hawk-Kestrel for Merlin; Stand Hawk, Red Hawk, and Blood Hawk for Common Kestrel; and Mullet Hawk for Osprey. Buzzard has been more narrowly used for Buteo and Buteo-like birds, but has found its way into folk names for harriers (Bald Buzzard for Marsh Harrier and Grey Buzzard for Hen Harrier). One oddity resulting from confining "hawk" to the genus Accipiter is the statement in the Wheeler and Clark field guide that "'Hawk' properly refers only to raptors in this genus . . . ." Thus, the authors might consider the title of their field guide, "Hawks," to be improper! David Spector Belchertown, Massachusetts -----Original Message----- From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) on behalf of David M Mark Sent: Tue 3/9/2010 7:03 PM To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] Hawk or Buzzard Hello! The problem is that, as bird names crossed the Atlantic with English-speakers, they often switched to refer to different things, different species, different genera, or even different families. Traditionally in England, the term "hawk" applied only to genus Accipiter, but in North America "hawk" was applied willy-nilly to almost all diurnal raptors except Eagles. In the meantime, in common American English, "buzzard" switched over to refer to vultures, especially Turkey Vulture. Over the last 40 years, the AOU has switched the common names of many birds back toward Eurpean origins. Harrier, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine. But with "buzzard" pre-empted as an informal name for Turkey Vulture, we probably won't see the North American Buteo species switch to "Buzzard" any time soon... David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ David M. Mark Amherst, New York (near Buffalo; home location) dmark AT buffalo.edu http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/~dmark/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Tue, 9 Mar 2010, David M. Gascoigne wrote: > I wonder if someone can enlighten me as to the rationale used in deciding whether raptors in the genus Buteo are designated as hawks or buzzards. For example, Buteo buteo is Common Buzzard, Buteo jamaicensis is Red-tailed Hawk. As for Buteo lagopus, formerly know as Rough-legged Hawk, it is now called Rough-legged Buzzard in the IOC World Bird List. Many other buteos carry the designation "hawk," others "buzzzard." I know little about the intricacies of taxonomy, but based on what research I have been able to do it would seem that Buzzard would be an appropriate nomenclature for all buteos. > > > > David M. Gascoigne, 606 Osprey Drive, Waterloo, ON Canada N2V 2A5 519 725-0866, Fax 519 725-1176 blog: www.travelswithbirds.blogspot.com > > _________________________________________________________________ > Live connected with Messenger on your phone > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712958 > 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 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Hawk or Buzzard From: David M Mark <dmark AT BUFFALO.EDU> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:03:41 -0500 Hello! The problem is that, as bird names crossed the Atlantic with English-speakers, they often switched to refer to different things, different species, different genera, or even different families. Traditionally in England, the term "hawk" applied only to genus Accipiter, but in North America "hawk" was applied willy-nilly to almost all diurnal raptors except Eagles. In the meantime, in common American English, "buzzard" switched over to refer to vultures, especially Turkey Vulture. Over the last 40 years, the AOU has switched the common names of many birds back toward Eurpean origins. Harrier, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine. But with "buzzard" pre-empted as an informal name for Turkey Vulture, we probably won't see the North American Buteo species switch to "Buzzard" any time soon... David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ David M. Mark Amherst, New York (near Buffalo; home location) dmark AT buffalo.edu http://www.geog.buffalo.edu/~dmark/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Tue, 9 Mar 2010, David M. Gascoigne wrote: > I wonder if someone can enlighten me as to the rationale used in deciding whether raptors in the genus Buteo are designated as hawks or buzzards. For example, Buteo buteo is Common Buzzard, Buteo jamaicensis is Red-tailed Hawk. As for Buteo lagopus, formerly know as Rough-legged Hawk, it is now called Rough-legged Buzzard in the IOC World Bird List. Many other buteos carry the designation "hawk," others "buzzzard." I know little about the intricacies of taxonomy, but based on what research I have been able to do it would seem that Buzzard would be an appropriate nomenclature for all buteos. > > > > David M. Gascoigne, 606 Osprey Drive, Waterloo, ON Canada N2V 2A5 519 725-0866, Fax 519 725-1176 blog: www.travelswithbirds.blogspot.com > > _________________________________________________________________ > Live connected with Messenger on your phone > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712958 > 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: Hawk or Buzzard From: Eric DeFonso <bay.wren AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:02:43 -0700 The rationale seems to be that if the buteo occurs primarily or exclusively in the western hemisphere, it is a hawk, otherwise it is a buzzard. This undoubtedly stems from the influence of existing common usage among New World English speakers to refer to all buteos and accipiters as hawks, while we (historically anyway) used 'buzzard' to refer to what are really cathartids, or vultures. Of course, New World vultures are really not 'vultures' but rather 'condors', but that's a whole other ball of wax. Anyway, it's a mess any way you slice it. My sense is that the IOC chose to keep the appelation of 'hawk' on this side of the Atlantic for purely practical reasons, as I can foresee only much rending of garments and gnashing of teeth if the edict came down from on high to henceforth use a name like 'Red-tailed Buzzard'. Eric On Tue, Mar 9, 2010 at 4:42 PM, David M. Gascoigne wrote: > I wonder if someone can enlighten me as to the rationale used in deciding whether raptors in the genus Buteo are designated as hawks or buzzards. For example, Buteo buteo is Common Buzzard, Buteo jamaicensis is Red-tailed Hawk. As for Buteo lagopus, formerly know as Rough-legged Hawk, it is now called Rough-legged Buzzard in the IOC World Bird List.  Many other buteos carry the designation "hawk," others "buzzzard." I know little about the intricacies of taxonomy, but based on what research I have been able to do it would seem that Buzzard would be an appropriate nomenclature for all buteos. > > > > David M. Gascoigne, 606 Osprey Drive, Waterloo, ON Canada N2V 2A5  519 725-0866, Fax 519 725-1176 blog: www.travelswithbirds.blogspot.com -- Eric DeFonso Fort Collins, CO BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Hawk or Buzzard From: Jerry Friedman <jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 16:01:12 -0800 The Rough-legged Hawk is And from everywhere else except the Americas. The Rough-legged Hawk is circumpolar. After the IOC's attempt at compromise, "Roughleg", was greeted with derision, they apparently decided to go with British use on that one. Jerry Friedman --- On Tue, 3/9/10, Rick wrote: > It my understanding that Buzzards are > European. > > > David M. Gascoigne wrote: > > > > > > David M. Gascoigne, 606 Osprey Drive, Waterloo, ON > Canada N2V 2A5  519 725-0866, Fax 519 725-1176 blog: > www.travelswithbirds.blogspot.com > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Live connected with Messenger on your phone > > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712958 > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, > version of virus signature database 4930 (20100309) > __________ > > > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Rick > Fargo, ND > N 46°53'251" > W 096°48'279" > > > Remember the USS Liberty > http://www.ussliberty.org/ > > Reply to: fholbrookatcableone.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: Re: Hawk or Buzzard From: Rick <fholbrook AT CABLEONE.NET> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 17:51:39 -0600 It my understanding that Buzzards are European. David M. Gascoigne wrote: > > > David M. Gascoigne, 606 Osprey Drive, Waterloo, ON Canada N2V 2A5 519 725-0866, Fax 519 725-1176 blog: www.travelswithbirds.blogspot.com > > _________________________________________________________________ > Live connected with Messenger on your phone > http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712958 > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4930 (20100309) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > -- Rick Fargo, ND N 46°53'251" W 096°48'279" Remember the USS Liberty http://www.ussliberty.org/ Reply to: fholbrookatcableone.net BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Hawk or Buzzard From: "David M. Gascoigne" <bateleur27 AT HOTMAIL.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 18:42:26 -0500 I wonder if someone can enlighten me as to the rationale used in deciding whether raptors in the genus Buteo are designated as hawks or buzzards. For example, Buteo buteo is Common Buzzard, Buteo jamaicensis is Red-tailed Hawk. As for Buteo lagopus, formerly know as Rough-legged Hawk, it is now called Rough-legged Buzzard in the IOC World Bird List. Many other buteos carry the designation "hawk," others "buzzzard." I know little about the intricacies of taxonomy, but based on what research I have been able to do it would seem that Buzzard would be an appropriate nomenclature for all buteos. David M. Gascoigne, 606 Osprey Drive, Waterloo, ON Canada N2V 2A5 519 725-0866, Fax 519 725-1176 blog: www.travelswithbirds.blogspot.com _________________________________________________________________ Live connected with Messenger on your phone http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9712958 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: BirdNote anniversary, mystery birds [links] From: Devorah Bennu <birdologist AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 12:00:00 -0800 hello everyone, the radio program, BirdNote, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Each program lasts only 2 minutes and is broadcast each morning on several NPR affiliates, and celebrates the wonders of birds, the environment and nature. The entire five years' worth of programs are archived as mp3s and can be dowloaded individually or en toto to your iPod or streamed on your laptop. To learn more about BirdNote, including some suggestions for adding it to your own local NPR affiliate's program list, please read this; http://bit.ly/czqltB you might also wish to peek at today's mystery bird, which was photographed along the coast of North Carolina; http://bit.ly/daNaqn you might also wish to see yesterday's mystery bird, a species i photographed in Frankfurt am main, Germany: http://bit.ly/9IPSWf as always, if you have images of birds you'd like to share as the daily mystery bird with a large and appreciative audience, please do email me so we can talk about it further. cheers, GrrlScientist http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/ http://twitter.com/GrrlScientist http://profile.to/grrlscientist/ American Expat living in Frankfurt, Germany BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: RFI: Washington, DC From: Jerry Friedman <jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 07:39:06 -0800 --- On Mon, 3/8/10, Gail Mackiernan wrote: > From: Gail Mackiernan > Subject: Re: [BIRDCHAT] RFI: Washington, DC > To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU > Date: Monday, March 8, 2010, 6:14 AM > Hi Jerry -- > > Rock Creek Park is a noted migrant trap and migration > corridor through the > urban expanse of Washington DC and its suburbs. The > 1700-acre park is a > green highway running due north and south along a high > ridge (on the western > side) which catches first light at dawn. Thank you very much for all the information, and many thanks to Richard Danca too. > All of the common and many of the uncommon eastern > warblers, vireos, > thrushes etc are seen there on migration, sometimes in > quite high numbers. > On a spring or autumn day during May there will be many > birders there as well. I'm not too proud to look where other people are looking. ... > Blue-winged Warblers come through fairly early in May and > you should be > there at the best time., A few Golden-wings will also be > seen, alas not as > many as in the past decade as it is a species in decline. Both of those would sure be good. > Black-throated > Blue warblers are quite common migrants -- the NPS info is > wrong even though > they have been given our survey results for years and > should know!-- The checklist I got was from the NPS, and it said Black-throated Blues were common in May. Maybe they finally listened to you? > however > they peak a bit later than your visit. > Northern Parula is a common local > breeder and migrant, and can be found on territory along > the C&O Canal, also > a good spot for Yellow-throated Warbler, rarely seen at > upland Rock Creek. Is that close to Rock Creek, so you can do both in one morning? If so, it certainly makes Rock Creek more attractive. So does the convenience for my friends who live in Maryland, if any of them want to come along. Here's my list of lifers that the checklists say are more common in Mason Neck: Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Common Tern, Forster's Tern (as if I could tell them apart as they speed by), Magnolia, Pine, Prairie, Bay-breasted, and Cerulean Warblers, Swamp Sparrow. Here's the list for Occoquan: Least Bittern, King Rail (fat chance), Lesser Yellowlegs, Caspian Tern, Forster's Tern, White-eyed Vireo, Hooded Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow. For equal time, here's my list for Rock Creek: Broad-winged Hawk, Veery, Least Flycatcher, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, and Chestnut-sided Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush. I'm not asking you to go through all those species, but if you or someone knows I'd have a good chance at some at the C&O Canal (which I can't find a checklist for) or if I can forget about some because it's the wrong time of year or some such, that would be very helpful to me. ... > I will be away in early May this year on a birding trip but > will try and > link you up with a local DC birder who can help you. That would be great! At this point it seems a cousin and some part of his family, and a niece, want to join me--a pleasant surprise!--and maybe some friends will, so I can't say how big or experienced a group it will be. I guess I'll have to find out before we can make any arrangements like this. Thanks again, Jerry Friedman BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: No more bird surveys - ever! From: Tim Boucher <tboucher AT GEOCITIES.COM> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 05:27:04 -0700 Stay home in your nice warm bed and let remote sensors do your Christmas count, point counts, BBS surveys (OK, you'd have to put your sensing platform on wheels and program a vehicle to drive to your stops) for you: http://www.conservationmaven.com/frontpage/automating-bird-surveys-with-remote-sensors.html Ellen Paul Bethesda, MD BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Sooty Grouse request From: Wayne Weber <contopus AT TELUS.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 15:36:35 -0800 Richard And Birdchatters, Sooty Grouse are really not that difficult to locate (from April through October, that is)-- it should not be necessary to hire somebody to find one, unless you are extremely short of time. The males hoot incessantly from late March through July, and can be heard up to a mile away (unlike Dusky Grouse). However, they are admittedly hard to see, usually well-hidden in a tall tree. It's actually much easier to see Sooty Grouse from July through September and October, when you can find females with groups of young. Roads leading to most ski areas in western WA or OR, or southwestern BC, are likely to have broods of Sooty Grouse right on the road if you check them very early in the morning. A couple of suggested locations for Sooty Grouse are the Heather Meadows ski area near Mount Baker, WA (the road to this location is open all year), where I have seen Sooty Grouse many times; or Crater Lake National Park in Oregon (Rim Drive is usually not open till at least late June). Good luck to anyone looking for this common but somewhat elusive species! Wayne C. Weber Delta, BC contopus AT telus.net -----Original Message----- From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) [mailto:BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU] On Behalf Of Richard ZainEldeen Sent: March-05-10 3:42 PM To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Sooty Grouse request I am thinking of going out to either Washington State or Oregon in mid-April to find one of my last-remaining Lower 48 species--Sooty Grouse. I am looking to find some local person out there who would be willing to take me to see this species. I am willing to pay something for it, of course. It would be great if someone is doing a study of the species as they would have the most current information. I saw my first (then) Blue Grouse in Colorado that way many years ago by going with a person who had been monitoring the population. Thank you. Richard ZainEldeen Brooklyn, NY 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: RFI Ghana Birding From: Tom Dougherty <thomasdoc AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 16:43:04 -0500 I hope to have an opportunity to travel to Ghana this summer timeframe. Can anyone point me in the right direction to hire a local birding guide and possibly have any information on an acceptable (clean, not a tourist trap, not expensive/hundreds of $$ a night) in Accra, Ghana which is where I would fly into, Thanks in advance for your help! Sincerely Tom Dougherty Chambersburg, PA BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Belize_2010 From: Jerry Oldenettel <Borealowl AT AOL.COM> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 11:29:47 EST I have posted trip notes, daylists, and imagery (~300) for last month's trip to Belize and Guatemala. The notes and daylists are on my home page at: http://sites.google.com/site/oldenettelspage/ There is a link to my flickr site or you can go directly to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jroldenettel and click on the Belize set at the right. Sorry for any cross-postings. Jerry R. Oldenettel Socorro, NM BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: RFI: Washington, DC From: Gail Mackiernan <katahdinss AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 08:14:36 -0500 Hi Jerry -- Rock Creek Park is a noted migrant trap and migration corridor through the urban expanse of Washington DC and its suburbs. The 1700-acre park is a green highway running due north and south along a high ridge (on the western side) which catches first light at dawn. All of the common and many of the uncommon eastern warblers, vireos, thrushes etc are seen there on migration, sometimes in quite high numbers. On a spring or autumn day during May there will be many birders there as well. We have been doing migration surveys there for about 12 years and still think it is the best place in the Washington area to see migrants. However, on days with poor weather -- wind, rain, fog -- it can be very quiet. It is important to get there early, as it often shuts down by late morning although this seems to vary -- the Maintenance Yard stays active longer than the Ridge which is is best from dawn to about 8:30 AM. Blue-winged Warblers come through fairly early in May and you should be there at the best time., A few Golden-wings will also be seen, alas not as many as in the past decade as it is a species in decline. Black-throated Blue warblers are quite common migrants -- the NPS info is wrong even though they have been given our survey results for years and should know!-- however they peak a bit later than your visit. Northern Parula is a common local breeder and migrant, and can be found on territory along the C&O Canal, also a good spot for Yellow-throated Warbler, rarely seen at upland Rock Creek. Both of these should be at Mason neck. However I have never birded Mason neck for migrants so not sure how good it is for mixed flocks. There are specific places to bird (e.g. The Ridge, Maintenance Yard etc.)and these are all described on the Maryland Ornithological Society web site at: www.mdbirds.org/sites/dcsites/ccorridor.html (scroll down to Rock Creek Park) This site is in DC itself and can be reached by public transportation (buses run along Military Road) but having a car helps get from site to site, some of which are a bit of a hike from one another. I will be away in early May this year on a birding trip but will try and link you up with a local DC birder who can help you. Gail Mackiernan Silver Spring, MD on 03/08/2010 1:25 AM, Jerry Friedman at jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM wrote: > Hi, all.  I didn't bird much till I moved to New Mexico, > so I have big gaps in the eastern part of my life list. > I'm going to be in DC from probably the afternoon of > May 7 to the afternoon of May 9--a rare opportunity for > me to be out of town in May.  I'll spend much of the > time with friends and family, but I'll get some birding > in, getting a ride with a cousin or renting a car if > necessary.  I have a number of questions and will be > grateful for answers on or off the list. > > Any general advice? > > Sources on line seem to like Rock Creek Park, but the > online checklists for Mason Neck NWR and Occoquan NWR > have more species I want. > > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: RFI: Washington, DC From: Jerry Friedman <jerry_friedman AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 22:25:38 -0800 Hi, all.  I didn't bird much till I moved to New Mexico, so I have big gaps in the eastern part of my life list. I'm going to be in DC from probably the afternoon of May 7 to the afternoon of May 9--a rare opportunity for me to be out of town in May.  I'll spend much of the time with friends and family, but I'll get some birding in, getting a ride with a cousin or renting a car if necessary.  I have a number of questions and will be grateful for answers on or off the list. Any general advice? Sources on line seem to like Rock Creek Park, but the online checklists for Mason Neck NWR and Occoquan NWR have more species I want. Is there any special reason Rock Creek is preferable? For instance, that it's open during daylight, while the other two open at 7 AM and close at 7 PM? Or could I expect better views? Are the checklists' assessments of commonness reasonably comparable? To name some species I especially want to see, Black-throated Blue Warbler is given as "common" at both Rock Creek and Mason Neck--do I really have a good chance to see it (a male, please) at both? Northern Parula is listed as "common" at Mason Neck and Occoquan and "uncommon" at Rock Creek--do I really have a significantly better chance at the former two? I could go on--dozens of lifers are possible for me on this trip. Is there a reasonable possibility of seeing a good number of birds at Mason Neck and Occoquan in a single morning, say from 7 to 11 or 12, or are they too big or too far apart? Would it make sense to start at Mason Neck for songbirds and then go to Occoquan for a couple more songbirds, Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, a tern or two, and maybe a chance of a Least Bittern still calling? Am I right in fearing that although the Occoquan checklist says Northern Bobwhite is "common" there, I have little or no chance to even hear it? Would it make sense to drop by Rock Creek in the evening (if I'm not doing other things) and hope to hear thrushes and maybe see a Broad-winged Hawk? Maybe glimpse a Chestnut-sided Warbler? Or do I want to go to some totally different park? Might there be any Audubon or other public field trips I could join? Schedules seem to be posted only for the current month, which makes planning hard. Or is anyone here planning a field trip that weekend and wouldn't mind someone tagging along--or several people, if friends and relatives are interested? Jerry Friedman P. S. A Least Bittern would be really nice. Last summer I finally got around to driving to Tucumcari Lake, said to be the only reliable spot in N. M. for it, and the lake had been allowed to go dry! BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: pigeons From: Rick Wright <birdaz AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 19:22:22 -0800 Anyone interested in the relationship between humans and pigeons could do no better than the two films by Al Croseri. Reviews at http://birdaz.com/blog/?s=croseri Best, rick Vancouver and Tucson -- Rick Wright Editor and Senior Leader, WINGS http://wingsbirds.com, http://birdaz.com/blog BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: pigeons, pigeons, pigeons From: Jules Levin <ameliede AT EARTHLINK.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 19:10:04 -0800 For those who share my affection and admiration for the lowly rock dove, here is a newly discovered web page devoted to homing pigeons in wartime: http://www.interbug.com/pigeon/messaging/photos/ It includes photos of the personal military gear used to carry pigeons into combat. Jules Levin Los Angeles BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: 'double names' From: Rick Wright <birdaz AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 16:43:48 -0800 The nominate subspecies of Graylag Goose Anser anser anser is actually a five-fold tautonym: "lag" means goose and "Anser" means goose. -- Rick Wright Editor and Senior Leader, WINGS http://wingsbirds.com, http://birdaz.com/blog BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Double Names From: "Guttman,Burt" <GuttmanB AT EVERGREEN.EDU> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 16:12:52 -0800 Someone with a better grasp of zoological nomenclature will probably correct me, but I believe the species with the same trivial name as the generic name is always the type species of the genus. The rules of zoological nomenclature specify that whenever a genus is established, some species must be designated the type of that genus; that doesn't necessarily mean that the type species is in some sense the most ideal or most perfect example of the genus, but simply that it is the one that the generic name is tied to. And the type species doesn't have to have the generic name--just that it often does have it. My understanding is there might be a genus Primus with four species: Primus primus, Primus secundus, Primus tertius, and Primus quadrus, where P. primus is the type species. Then along comes Professor Jones who studies the genus and proposes that P. secundus and P. quadrus are so different from the other two that they ought to be in a different genus, which he names Bumpus, so the species are now called Bumpus secundus and Bumpus quadrus. But the name Primus remains with the species P. primus because it is the type species of the genus. If that was more than you wanted to know about double names and nomenclature, I'm sorry. And if I'm wrong, someone please correct me. Burt Guttman The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA 98505 guttmanb AT evergreen.edu Home: 7334 Holmes Island Road S. E., Olympia, 98503 ________________________________ From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) on behalf of Ken Blackshaw Sent: Sat 3/6/2010 10:56 AM To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: Double Names Hi All - I personally love "doubles." My friend Lee started this list and several others have added to it. Sorry about the messy sequence. Perhaps you'll find it fun too. Ken Blackshaw - Nantucket Island - 30 miles at sea - Where obviously we have too much time on our hands. Common Name Genus Species Graylag Goose Anser anser Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Gray Partridge Perdix perdix Corncrake Crex crex Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio N. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Dovekie Alle alle Double-wattled Cassowary Casuarius casuarius Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Red-footed Booby Sula sula Anhinga Anhinga anhinga Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius Black-crowned Night-heron Nicticorax nicticorax Yellow-billed Stork Ibis ibis White Stork Ciconia ciconia Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Goldcrest Regulus regulus Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia Euro Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Magpie Pica pica Jamaican Tody Todus todus Green-tailed Jacamar Galbula galbula Common Swift Apus apus Amazilia Hummingbird Amazilia amazilia Bronzy Inca Coeligena coeligena Swordbill Ensifera ensifera Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sehanoides White-backed Mousebird Colius colius Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus Serin Serinus serinus Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Malaysian Fish Owl Ketupa ketupa Guira Cuckoo Guira guira Common Crane Grus grus Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus Eliro Quail Coturnix coturnix N. Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 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: Double Names From: "Spector, David (Biology)" <spectord AT MAIL.CCSU.EDU> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 15:01:05 -0500 The technical term for these "doubles" is tautonym. I believe that tautonyms are allowed in zoölogical but not in botanical nomenclature, so that botanists don't get to enjoy lists like these. Because some of these species have subspecies there are also triples, which can increase the fun. For example, if you were to see an individual of the nominate subspecies of Black-tailed Godwit on Taiwan (which is not likely), you'd be seeing Limosa limosa limosa on Formosa. David David Spector Belchertown, Massachusetts -----Original Message----- From: National Birding Hotline Cooperative (Chat Line) on behalf of Ken Blackshaw Sent: Sat 3/6/2010 1:56 PM To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Double Names Hi All - I personally love "doubles." My friend Lee started this list and several others have added to it. Sorry about the messy sequence. Perhaps you'll find it fun too. Ken Blackshaw - Nantucket Island - 30 miles at sea - Where obviously we have too much time on our hands. Common Name Genus Species Graylag Goose Anser anser Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Gray Partridge Perdix perdix Corncrake Crex crex Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio N. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Dovekie Alle alle Double-wattled Cassowary Casuarius casuarius Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Red-footed Booby Sula sula Anhinga Anhinga anhinga Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius Black-crowned Night-heron Nicticorax nicticorax Yellow-billed Stork Ibis ibis White Stork Ciconia ciconia Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Goldcrest Regulus regulus Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia Euro Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Magpie Pica pica Jamaican Tody Todus todus Green-tailed Jacamar Galbula galbula Common Swift Apus apus Amazilia Hummingbird Amazilia amazilia Bronzy Inca Coeligena coeligena Swordbill Ensifera ensifera Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sehanoides White-backed Mousebird Colius colius Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus Serin Serinus serinus Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Malaysian Fish Owl Ketupa ketupa Guira Cuckoo Guira guira Common Crane Grus grus Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus Eliro Quail Coturnix coturnix N. Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula 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: Double Names From: Katrina Knight <kknight AT FASTMAIL.FM> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 14:40:52 -0500 At 01:56 PM 03/06/2010 Ken Blackshaw wrote: >I personally love "doubles." My friend Lee started this list >and >several others have added to it. Sorry about the messy >sequence. Perhaps >you'll find it fun too. I can think of two more. Hoary-headed Grebe - Poliocephalus poliocephalus Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus -- Katrina Knight kknight AT fastmail.fm Reading, PA, USA BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Double Names From: Ken Blackshaw <kenandcindy1 AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 13:56:32 -0500 Hi All - I personally love "doubles." My friend Lee started this list and several others have added to it. Sorry about the messy sequence. Perhaps you'll find it fun too. Ken Blackshaw - Nantucket Island - 30 miles at sea - Where obviously we have too much time on our hands. Common Name Genus Species Graylag Goose Anser anser Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Gray Partridge Perdix perdix Corncrake Crex crex Spotted Crake Porzana porzana Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio N. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago Dovekie Alle alle Double-wattled Cassowary Casuarius casuarius Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus Red-footed Booby Sula sula Anhinga Anhinga anhinga Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius Black-crowned Night-heron Nicticorax nicticorax Yellow-billed Stork Ibis ibis White Stork Ciconia ciconia Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes Goldcrest Regulus regulus Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Rock Sparrow Petronia petronia Euro Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus Ratchet-tailed Treepie Temnurus temnurus Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Magpie Pica pica Jamaican Tody Todus todus Green-tailed Jacamar Galbula galbula Common Swift Apus apus Amazilia Hummingbird Amazilia amazilia Bronzy Inca Coeligena coeligena Swordbill Ensifera ensifera Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sehanoides White-backed Mousebird Colius colius Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Common Buzzard Buteo buteo Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus Serin Serinus serinus Eurasian Eagle Owl Bubo bubo Malaysian Fish Owl Ketupa ketupa Guira Cuckoo Guira guira Common Crane Grus grus Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus Eliro Quail Coturnix coturnix N. Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: BirdNote, last week, and the week of March 7, 2010 From: Ellen Blackstone <ellen AT 123IMAGINE.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 07:13:08 -0800 Hello, BirdChatters! Last week, BirdNote aired: * Birds in Music: Respighi, Rautavaara, & Eulberg http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1427 * Kinglets in Winter - how do they survive? http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1043 * Eagles Rebuild http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=620 * Brown Kiwi, an "honorary mammal" http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1047 * Myth of the Kiwi of New Zealand http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1048 * Red-tailed Hawk, Bulky Bird http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=58 * Rufous Hummingbirds Are on the Way http://www.birdnote.org/birdnote.cfm?id=1046 -------------------------------------------- Check out the photos accompanying next week's shows: http://bit.ly/aQ61mC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BirdNote is a two-minute audio program, airing on several public radio stations and available by podcast: http://tinyurl.com/y24e8n. You can listen to the mp3, see a photo, and read the transcript on the website. All episodes are in the archives. Shows may vary by station. BirdNote helps connect listeners to the natural world. Tell someone you know about BirdNote. Thanks! Ellen Blackstone http://www.birdnote.org Seattle, Washington BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: CA Sooty Grouse From: Richard Carlson <rccarl AT PACBELL.NET> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 05:56:03 -0800 They come to my front yard at Lake Tahoe as soon as I start throwing out seed for them. They also wander the streets on quiet days. RCC Richard Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker and Rotarian Part-time Economist Tucson, AZ, Lake Tahoe, CA, & Kirkland, WA rccarl AT pacbell.net Tucson 520-760-4935 Tahoe 530-581-0624 Kirkland 425-828-3819 Cell 650-280-2965 ________________________________ From: BIRDCHAT automatic digest system To: BIRDCHAT AT LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Sent: Sat, March 6, 2010 12:20:37 AM Subject: BIRDCHAT Digest - 3 Mar 2010 to 5 Mar 2010 (#2010-60) There is 1 message totalling 26 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Sooty Grouse request BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 18:41:37 EST From: Richard ZainEldeen Subject: Sooty Grouse request I am thinking of going out to either Washington State or Oregon in mid-April to find one of my last-remaining Lower 48 species--Sooty Grouse. I am looking to find some local person out there who would be willing to take me to see this species. I am willing to pay something for it, of course. It would be great if someone is doing a study of the species as they would have the most current information. I saw my first (then) Blue Grouse in Colorado that way many years ago by going with a person who had been monitoring the population. Thank you. Richard ZainEldeen Brooklyn, NY BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html ------------------------------ End of BIRDCHAT Digest - 3 Mar 2010 to 5 Mar 2010 (#2010-60) ************************************************************ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Sooty Grouse request From: Richard ZainEldeen <Richjack115 AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 18:41:37 EST I am thinking of going out to either Washington State or Oregon in mid-April to find one of my last-remaining Lower 48 species--Sooty Grouse. I am looking to find some local person out there who would be willing to take me to see this species. I am willing to pay something for it, of course. It would be great if someone is doing a study of the species as they would have the most current information. I saw my first (then) Blue Grouse in Colorado that way many years ago by going with a person who had been monitoring the population. Thank you. Richard ZainEldeen Brooklyn, NY BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: New book- Ethno-ornithology: Birds, Indigenous Peoples, Culture and Society From: bob gosford <bgosford AT GMAIL.COM> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 16:01:45 +0930 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Robin Hide Date: 4 March 2010 08:43 Subject: [canberrabirds] new book- Ethno-ornithology: Birds, Indigenous Peoples, Culture and Society To: COG line This new book might be of interest to some list members: at least one Australian chapter, and several from the region on New Guinea, New Zealand, Pacific, Indonesia etc. Robin Hide http://www.earthscan.co.uk/?tabid=101789 *Ethno-ornithology: Birds, Indigenous Peoples, Culture and Society* Edited By Sonia Tidemann and Andrew Gosler* *(2010) Earthscan* * Publishers blurb...An African proverb states that when a knowledgeable old person dies, a whole library disappears. In that light, this book presents knowledge that is new or has not been readily available until now because it has not previously been captured or reported by indigenous people. Indigenous knowledge that embraces ornithology takes in whole social dimensions that are inter-linked with environmental ethos, conservation and management for sustainability. In contrast, western approaches have tended to reduce knowledge to elemental and material references. This book also looks at the significance of indigenous knowledge of birds and their cultural significance, and how these can assist in framing research methods of western scientists working in related areas. As well as its knowledge base, this book provides practical advice for professionals in conservation and anthropology by demonstrating the relationship between mutual respect, local participation and the building of partnerships for the resolution of joint problems. It identifies techniques that can be transferred to different regions, environments and collections, as well as practices suitable for investigation, adaptation and improvement of knowledge exchange and collection in ornithology. *'The last half century has seen a significant growth in our understanding of how humans perceive the world of birds, and this knowledge has shaped the development of ethnobiology. Consider, for example, the role, amongst ornithologists of Jared Diamond, amongst anthropogists of Gene Hunn, and amongst the indigenous experts, of Saem Majnep. Given this prominence, it is perhaps surprising that we have had to wait so long for a review of the subject and for such a powerful statement of its scope and significance. What is remarkable about this benchmark volume is the size and diversity of the contributions. There can be little doubt that with its publication ethno-ornithology has arrived as an identifiable cross-disciplinary specialism, with much to say that is relevant not only to the humane sciences, but to conservation and the emerging consensus on biocultural diversity.' Roy Ellen, Professor of Anthropology and Human Ecology and Director of the Centre for Biocultural Diversity, University of Kent, UK 'A fascinating series of essays exploring the diverse links that exist between birds and people; studies that remind us how all human societies are deeply indebted to birds - for language, song, food, inspiration, commerce - a biocultural certainty that cries out for a stronger role in contemporary nature conservation.'*** ***John Fanshawe, Senior Strategy Adviser, BirdLife International* (Contents) Foreword by Eugene Hunn Preface by the Editors Part I: Introduction 1. Indigenous Knowledges, Birds that have 'Spoken' and Science Sonia Tidemann, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Australia Sharon Chirgwin, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Australia Ross Sinclair, Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea Programme 2. Ethno-Ornithology and Conservation Mark Bonta, Division of Social Sciences, Delta State University, Mississippi, USA 3. The Broader Significance of Ethno-Ornithology Andrew Gosler, Institute of Human Sciences, and Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Oxford, UK with Deborah Buehler & Alberto Castillo Part II: Birds: Hunting and Products 4. The Maori and the Huia David Houston, Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK 5. Santa Cruz Red Feather Currency And The Scarlet Honeyeater David Houston, Faculty of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK 6. Entrapment Of Wetland Birds: Local Customs And Methods Of Hunting In Central Java Surya Purnama, Public University of Yogyakarta, Indonesia Mochamad Indrawan, Unversity of Indonesia 7. Wildlife Hunting and Bird Trade in Northern Papua (Irian Jaya), Indonesia Margaretha Pangau-Adam, Faculty of Life Sciences and Mathematics, Cenderawasih University Papua, Indonesia Richard Noske, Charles Darwin University, Australia Part III: Birds and Knowledge 8. Transmutation of Human Knowledge about Birds in 16th Century Honduras Mark Bonta, Division of Social Sciences, Delta State University, Mississippi, USA 9. Sound, Sight, Stories and Science: Avoiding Pitfalls in Ethno-Ornithological Research, with Examples from Kenya Fleur Ng'weno, independent, Kenya 10. What the Locals Know: Comparing Traditional and Scientific Knowledge of Megapodes in Melanesia J Ross Sinclair, Wildlife Conservation Society Papua New Guinea Programme Lorima Tuke, Solomon Islands Red Cross Society Muse Opiang, Papua New Guinea Institute for Biological Research Part IV: Birds: Story and Language 11. The Birds and Nature in the Stepwells of Gujarat, Western India Purnima Bhatt, Hood College, Maryland, USA 12. Aboriginal Stories: The Riches and Colour of Australian Birds Sonia Tidemann and Tim Whiteside, both Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Australia 13. Tlingit Birds, an annotated list with a statistical comparative analysis Eugene Hunn, University of Washington, Seattle Thomas Thornton, Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University 14. Raven=Heron in Mayan-Language Prehistory: An Ethno-Ornithological/Linguistic Study Cecil Brown, Northern Illinois University, Illinois, USA 15. What's in a Bird Name: Relationships among Ethno-Ornithological Terms in Nage and other Malayo-Polynesian Languages Gregory Forth, University of Alberta, Canada Part V: Birds and Conservation 16. An Alternate Reality: Maori Spiritual Guardianship of New Zealand's Native Birds Phil Lyver, Research, New Zealand Henrik Moller, Centre for Study of Agriculture, Food & Environment, University of Otago, New Zealand 17. Everyone Loves Birds: Using Indigenous Knowledge of Birds to Facilitate Conservation in New Guinea William Thomas, New Jersey School of Conservation, USA 18. Birds, People and Conservation in Kenya Mercy Muiruri and Patrick Maundu, both National Museums of Kenya 19. Bird Messengers for all Seasons: Landscapes of Knowledge among the BriBri of Costa Rica Nicole Sault, Univeristy of Costa Rica 20. The Bull of the Bog: Bittern Conservation Practice in a Western Bio-cultural Setting Maan Barua, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, UK Paul Jepson, Oxford University, UK 21. Towards an Indonesian bird conservation ethos: reflections from a study of bird-keeping in the cites of Java and Bali Paul Jepson, Oxford University, UK -- Robert Gosford Crikey.com The Northern Myth blog http://blogs.crikey.com.au/northern/ Alice Springs, NT Australia Ph: (+61) 0447024968 BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Possible Early Migratory Movements in Southern Great Plains From: "R.D. Everhart" <everhart AT BLACK-HOLE.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 21:39:37 -0600 Hey everybody, I just checked doppler radar and it looks like there might be some migratory movement in the states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. This is the second night in a row I've seen this pattern. From the color of the returns it appears the numbers of birds moving is not high but it's something. Image is posted on my blog. http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com Roger Everhart Apple Valley, MN www.ncbo.com BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Re: Palm Desert and Chino Hills From: Joan Czapalay <joancz AT NS.SYMPATICO.CA> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 22:18:04 -0400 Hello, Bird Chatters, I have been off line for a long time, and have missed your posts. (I've been busy with volunteer work with Nature Nova Scotia and Nature Canada, as well as my regular jobs.) We are entering our final year in our second Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas, and I am coordinator for the Cobequid Mountain area. I want to do a big push to find Bicknell's Thrush in my region this spring! Meantime, I will be on a short holiday to the south west, and would love to meet or chat with some California birders. From March 18-21, I will be staying with friends in Palm Desert. Would dearly love an outing to the Salton Sea, and /or the Anza Berrago Desert. Between March 22-24th I will be staying in Chino Hills, Cal. If you are free to do some birding with me, please contact me by e-mail before March 8th, when I leave for Tucson. Thanks and happy spring birding! Joan Czapalay (Zap-a-lay) BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Hong Kong From: Katharine Mills <gkmills AT CHARTER.NET> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:32:47 -0500 Hi, I will be gong to Hong Kong the last two weeks in March and am looking for a birder to bird with me at Mai Po Wildlife refuge. Does anyone have a recommendation for a Hong Kong bird guide? Thanks, Kathy Mills Holden, MA BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: Birding field guides and books, from Princeton University Press From: "Jessica Pellien" <Jessica_Pellien AT press.princeton.edu> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 16:16:32 -0500 Hello, I am writing today from Princeton University Press. I have just visited your birding site and would like to alert you from time to time of new field guides and books we are publishing. We specialize in international books as well as American guides. For example, we recently published the Small/Sterry guides -- Birds of Eastern (or Western) North America: A Photographic Guide -- and we will soon release new and highly anticipated editions of BIRDS OF EUROPE and BIRDS OF PERU. We will also publish the incredible, game-changing ID Guides by Richard Crossley in 2011. What I would like to do is add you to our media database so we can alert you to new titles like these and occasionally send you review copies for your personal use and for review on your blog or list serv. Please let me know what mailing address we should use or if we should continue to contact you via email. Also, if you are only interested in specific regions, please let me know so I don't send you info you can't use :) Thank you so much, Jessica Jessica Pellien Assistant Publicity Director Princeton University Press 41 William St. Princeton, NJ 08540 Phone: 609-258-7879 jessica_pellien AT press.princeton.edu http://press.princeton.edu Read the latest on our books at the Princeton University Press Blog: http://press.princeton.edu/blog/ Follow us on twitter: PUPBlog Subject: Texas Whooping Cranes (16 February 2010) census update From: Patty Waits Beasley <hawks AT CCBIRDING.COM> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 10:34:35 -0600 Greetings all, The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, USFWS biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator. ------------- begin report -------------- The sixth aerial census of the 2009-10 whooping crane season was conducted February 16, 2010 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions of Castroville, Texas with USFWS observer Tom Stehn. Sighted on the flight were 237 adults and 19 juveniles = 256 total whooping cranes. No evidence of mortality was noted on the flight other than the one juvenile that had died earlier in the winter. The radioed family on Lamar Peninsula was overlooked on the flight, but GPS data indicates it was on Lamar before and after the census flight. Since it has not been documented leaving Lamar since being tagged in December, it is considered very unlikely that they had moved over to San Jose to account for the extra family found there during the census. The flight provided a firm tally of the 20 family groups currently at Aransas. With one juvenile last seen in Oklahoma December 25th that apparently separated from its parents during migration and is presumably okay and wintering in an unknown location, and the S. Sundown Island chick that has died at Aransas, this accounts for 22 of the 22 juveniles found in Canada during the mid-August fledging surveys. This is one more juvenile accounted for than on previous survey flights this winter. With the one documented mortality this winter, the current flock size is estimated at 242 + 21=263. February 16th - Recap of whooping cranes (256) found at Aransas: Adults + Young San Jose 55 + 5 = 60 Refuge 47 + 5 = 52 Lamar 16 + 0 = 16* Matagorda 93 + 7 = 100** Welder Flats 24 + 2 = 26 Hynes Bay 2 + 0 = 2 Total 237 + 19 = 256* * One family group was overlooked. ** Ties record high for Matagorda Island set during the 2008-09 winter. The territories of adult cranes remain difficult to figure out as many of the crane pairs have left their marsh and are searching for food on the uplands. Upland areas on the barrier islands are flooded, with numerous wet swales on the uplands up to the beach dunes. Three cranes on Matagorda Island were in one of these flooded swales next to the dunes. Overall habitat use documented included an unusually high 67 cranes (26%) on unburned uplands, 16 in open bays, two at a game feeder south of the Big Tree on Lamar, 0 on prescribed burns, and 171 (67%) in salt marsh. Blue crabs are at low levels and the cranes are having to look for other sources of food, although some cranes continue to catch a few crabs. This is a stressful time of winter for the whooping cranes as evidenced by all the cranes on uplands. No whooping cranes have been reported up the coast at Smith Marsh in Matagorda County located west of the Nature Conservancy's Mad Island Marsh Preserve since 1/17/10. Two whooping cranes are continuing to winter northwest of Austwell on the Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. I noted one thing on the flight that I had never observed previously. Twenty sandhill cranes on the southern end of the crane range on San Jose Island flushed from the census aircraft and flew a very short distance to stand in open bay habitat. I had never seen sandhill cranes before in open bay habitat. Flight Conditions: Visibility was excellent throughout the flight, though the sun angle on late afternoon transects made for difficult viewing conditions when heading into the sun at Welder Flats. Winds were light and flight conditions were smooth until mid-afternoon, enabling us to travel at approximately 130 knots for most of the flight. Due to reported crane movements, the search area was expanded further out into upland areas. This paid off, as cranes were found near the beach dunes on Matagorda Island, inland in a pasture at Welder Flats and on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge uplands. The largest group size observed was 9 birds seen on the uplands on San Jose and in the marsh on Matagorda Island. Post-Flight Update Food availability improved for the cranes during the last week in February with more cranes observed feeding on 2-3-inch blue crabs. Upland swales remain very wet and bay salinities remain moderate < 10 ppt. Spring Migration, 2010 A single white-plumaged whooping crane was confirmed present at Salt Plains NWR in northern Oklahoma on February 24th and 26th. Since we did not know of any other white-plumaged whooping cranes in the Flyway this winter, this must be a case of a whooper on the Texas coast getting influenced by sandhill cranes and starting the journey ahead of the normal time for whooping cranes. Except for birds that had a history of separating from their parents as juveniles, I think it would be the earliest migration start on record. - Tom Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge ------------- end report ---------------- 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 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. All reports are posted on the Texas Whooping Crane website (www.ccbirding.com/twc). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Patty Waits Beasley Corpus Christi, Texas USA Texas Whooping Cranes www.ccbirding.com/twc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html Subject: RFI: Chuck-Wills-Widows in DelMarVa From: "John J. Collins" <jjcbird AT VERIZON.NET> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 18:37:39 -0500 Can anyone tell me the best location and most reliable place to see or hear Chuck-wills-widows in the area near Salisbury, Maryland? I am going there in early May and the last time I was there the place I had previous luck with was a dud! (That area is Truitts Landing Road in the Boxiron Landing area southeast of Salisbury.) Thank you to anyone who can help with this request. John J. Collins Raritan, NJ jjcbird AT verizon.net "God desires that all the world be pure in his sight. The earth should not be injured. The earth should not be destroyed." (Hildegard von Bingen) BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksu.edu/audubon/chatguidelines.html Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html