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8 Feb Le Mars Sentinel article on Bald Eagle Poisoning ["Hank Zaletel" ] 8 Feb FW: QC Audubon February program ["Walt Zuurdeeg" ] 8 Feb merlin, Des Moines [Jeff Karnicky ] 8 Feb Ring-necked Duck in C.R. ["Bill Scheible" ] 8 Feb Caution when maintaining Wood Duck Nest Boxes ["Ty Smedes" ] 8 Feb Trumpeter Swans Johnson County ["Sandra Cook" ] 8 Feb SE Iowa Sunday. ["Dinsmore, Stephen J [NREM]" ] 7 Feb QC Audubon February program ["Walt Zuurdeeg" ] 7 Feb Sunday's Quad Cities Gulls ["jmforde" ] 7 Feb White Raptor ["Rob Thelen" ] 7 Feb International Festival of Owls and Keynote Speaker [Ric Zarwell ] 7 Feb Reporting Trumpeter Swan ID in Iowa ["David Eastman" ] 6 Feb Varied Thrush-Ventura Heights [] 6 Feb Trumpeter Swans/ Cedar River/ Waterloo ["David Eastman" ] 6 Feb Info for Photographers ["Ann Johnson" ] 6 Feb IOU Photo Contest Update ["tom.lawson" ] 6 Feb mystery raptor ["Brochu, Christopher A" ] 5 Feb Boone County this Week ["Larry Dau" ] 5 Feb Iowa RBA: 2-5-10 [John and Anna Bissell ] 5 Feb RE: Prairie Falcons [Paul Roisen ] 5 Feb Prairie City Trumpeter Swan [] 4 Feb More fun in Fairfield [Tim Franklin ] 4 Feb Re: Cedar Lake Trumpeter Swans ["Bill Tollefson" ] 4 Feb Birds today ["Kathy Marner" ] 04 Feb email address change [Peter A Pattee ] 3 Feb Hermit Thrush in Fairfield [Tim Franklin ] 3 Feb Quad Cities Today & Brown Thrasher at Feeder [Jim Fuller ] 3 Feb Re: Cedar Lake Trumpeter Swans ["Lora Schwendinger" ] 3 Feb Singing Cardinal [Matt Baumann ] 2 Feb Woodbury 2-2-10 [Paul Roisen ] 2 Feb Cedar Lake Trumpeter Swans ["Bill Tollefson" ] 2 Feb Great Backyard Bird Count February 12-15 ["Bill Tollefson" ] 2 Feb Ames owl [Andrew Williams ] 1 Feb 2-1-10 PM Woodbury [Paul Roisen ] 1 Feb Bald Eagles ["Brian gibbs" ] 1 Feb Prairie Falcon Update-February 1 ["Tucker J. Lutter" ] 1 Feb Odd for February? [Matt Baumann ] 01 Feb Swans at...Swan Lake ["matt AT naturebymatt.com" ] 1 Feb Cedar Rapids Gazette Article on Eagle Surveys ["Hank Zaletel" ] 1 Feb Prairie Falcon-January 31 ["Tucker J. Lutter" ] 1 Feb red-shouldered hawk ["Amy J. Yoakum" ] 1 Feb Snow Goose?? ["Virginia" ] 31 Jan Re: Beemer's Pond ["Jacob Newton" ] 31 Jan Beemer's Pond ["Virginia" ] 31 Jan Quad Cities Gulls ["jmforde" ] 31 Jan Website update- great NZ photos! ["Ross Silcock" ] 31 Jan Gray Partridge correction [Cory Gregory ] 31 Jan Gray Partridge [Cory Gregory ] 31 Jan Cardinal Singing ["Sarah and/or Trish" ] 31 Jan Clarke Co. [] 31 Jan Oregon Junco in Mitchellville ["LAURIE FENIMORE" ] 30 Jan Prairie Falcons, Woodbury County [Cory Gregory ] 30 Jan North Iowa ["Rita Goranson" ] 30 Jan Trumpeter Swans in Johnson County [Jim Fuller ] 30 Jan Central Iowa today. ["Dinsmore, Stephen J [NREM]" ] 30 Jan Oregon Junco and Plymouth County ["Tucker J. Lutter" ] 30 Jan Rusty Blackbird Survey ["Ann Johnson" ] 30 Jan Cardinals, etc. [Art Check ] 29 Jan Re: large, white raptor -- central Iowa [Aaron Brees ] 29 Jan Iowa RBA: 1-29-10 [John and Anna Bissell ] 29 Jan large, white raptor -- central Iowa [Aaron Brees ] 29 Jan Varied Thrush [Danny Akers ] 29 Jan Gray Partridge [] 29 Jan Ames area ["Jacob Newton" ] 29 Jan Woodbury 1-28-10 [Paul Roisen ] 28 Jan Reducing aircraft-wildlife strikes at airports [Matt Kennedy ] 28 Jan Prairie Falcon Photo ["Tucker J. Lutter" ] 28 Jan Bald Eagles [Linda Rudolph ] 28 Jan Swans [John Rutenbeck ] 28 Jan Cedar Lake Lesser Black-backed Gull [Diana Pesek ] 28 Jan Prairie Falcon-January 28 ["Tucker J. Lutter" ] 28 Jan QC Times article on Mid-Winter Eagle Count ["Hank Zaletel" ] 27 Jan Prairie Falcon [Paul Roisen ] 27 Jan quails and doves in Fairfield [Tim Franklin ] 27 Jan Bald Eagle ["Libbey A Taylor" ] 27 Jan Red-shouldered Hawk in Johnson County [Jim Fuller ] Subject: Le Mars Sentinel article on Bald Eagle Poisoning From: "Hank Zaletel" <madowl AT midiowa.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 16:04:11 -0500 Hats off to Jay for the article: Go to: http://www.lemarssentinel.com/story/1607106.html If the url is too long, copy and paste into your browser's url line. Hank Zaletel nevada --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: FW: QC Audubon February program From: "Walt Zuurdeeg" <kaisersosa AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 13:05:39 -0600 That should be February 11 of course. Oops Walt Zuurdeeg ----- Original Message ----- From: Walt Zuurdeeg To: Iowa List Serve Sent: 2/7/2010 10:46:47 PM Subject: QC Audubon February program This Thursday, January 11, Linda Boardsen will show a film, "Opposable Chums: Guts & Glory at the World Series of Birding" by Jason Kessler at the QC Audubon Society membership meeting. The film features interviews with David Sibley, Kenn Kaufman and Peter Dunne. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline, Illinois. Walt Zuurdeeg Quad City Audubon Society www.quadcityaudubon.org --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: merlin, Des Moines From: Jeff Karnicky <jeff.karnicky AT drake.edu> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:40:54 -0600 Around nine this morning, from my car, I saw a Merlin perched on top of a telephone pole on the corner of Hickman and Beaver in Des Moines. It was tearing a bird apart--I saw feathers flying! Jeff Karnicky Des Moines Dr. Jeff Karnicky Assistant Professor of English Department of English Drake University Des Moines, IA 50311 "And when he came back to, he was flat on his back on the beach in the freezing sand, and it was raining out of a low sky, and the tide was way out." (David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest) Dr. Jeff Karnicky Assistant Professor of English Department of English Drake University Des Moines, IA 50311 "And when he came back to, he was flat on his back on the beach in the freezing sand, and it was raining out of a low sky, and the tide was way out." (David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest) Dr. Jeff Karnicky Assistant Professor of English Department of English Drake University Des Moines, IA 50311 "And when he came back to, he was flat on his back on the beach in the freezing sand, and it was raining out of a low sky, and the tide was way out." (David Foster Wallace, Infinite Jest) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Ring-necked Duck in C.R. From: "Bill Scheible" <drbeel AT mchsi.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:21:26 -0600 Birders Saints win Super Bowl. Laissez les bon temps rouler! Just before kickoff late yesterday, I found a Morrillon a Collier ( Ring-necked Duck ) at Cedar Lake, in the open water beyond the large small lighthouse. Only other non-Mallard, non-Canada was Common Goldeneye. Bill Scheible Cedar Rapids --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Caution when maintaining Wood Duck Nest Boxes From: "Ty Smedes" <ty.smedes AT smedesphoto.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 08:39:38 -0600 FYI...For those who are getting ready to maintain their wood duck boxes, and supply them with new wood chips...a word of caution. The heavy December snows (and continued snow cover) have kept the ground from freezing in much of Iowa. Consequently the field tiles are still flowing, and bringing warm water into bottom-land and back-water areas, like the area I maintain at Beaver Bottoms wetland.. Many ponds have a foot or more of ice, but the back-waters have very thin and weak ice, due to the flow of warm water.. I just finished servicing my Wood Duck boxes, and although the water is no more than knee-deep, I needed to wear hip boots, because I broke through, many times.. Knee-high boots won't be adequate this winter! Ty Smedes ty.smedes AT smedesphoto.com Ty Smedes Nature Photography 4732 72nd Street Urbandale Iowa 50322-1148 phone: 515-270-9086 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Trumpeter Swans Johnson County From: "Sandra Cook" <rscook_2 AT msn.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 09:05:26 -0500 Yesterday we photographed 4 juvenile trumpeter swans in city park they were across from the Mayflower. We watched them fish for about an hour. It is fun watching them eat fish. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: SE Iowa Sunday. From: "Dinsmore, Stephen J [NREM]" <cootjr AT iastate.edu> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 06:41:31 -0600 Tyler Harms and I spent most of yesterday birding the Mississippi River in Lee County. Highlights included: 18 waterfowl species 1 Wood Duck at Lock and Dam 19 289 Greater Scaup on Pool 19 2 Long-tailed Ducks (1 adult male off Montrose, 1 adult female at Fort Madison) 1 Ruddy Duck off Montrose 3 American White Pelicans at Lock and Dam 19 and 1 at Fort Madison totals of 42 Red-tailed Hawks and 28 American Kestrels 1 Killdeer and 1 Wilson's Snipe at Montrose only small numbers of Ring-billed and Herring gulls 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker near Galland 1 Loggerhead Shrike along Hwy 218 south of Mount Pleasant 1 Northern Shrike along Hwy 218 at Iowa City 1 continuing Marsh Wren at the Montrose cemetery Steve ********** Stephen J. Dinsmore Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management Iowa State University 339 Science II Ames, IA 50011 Phone: 515-294-1348 E-mail: cootjr AT iastate.edu Web: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cootjr/ --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: QC Audubon February program From: "Walt Zuurdeeg" <kaisersosa AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:46:49 -0600 This Thursday, January 11, Linda Boardsen will show a film, "Opposable Chums: Guts & Glory at the World Series of Birding" by Jason Kessler at the QC Audubon Society membership meeting. The film features interviews with David Sibley, Kenn Kaufman and Peter Dunne. The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline, Illinois. Walt Zuurdeeg Quad City Audubon Society www.quadcityaudubon.org --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Sunday's Quad Cities Gulls From: "jmforde" <jmforde AT qwest.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 21:42:00 -0600 Today most of the QC gulls were at the two dams. The notables (all on the Iowa side) included: A 1W KUMLIEN'S / ICELAND (this one brownish) along with an adult THAYER'S GULL at L&D 15. A white 2W GLAUCOUS GULL and 2 adult THAYER'S GULL (one pale eyed) at L&D 14. Jim Forde Cedar Rapids --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: White Raptor From: "Rob Thelen" <rthelen AT mchsi.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 15:18:40 -0600 Yesterday while driving back from Omaha on Interstate 80. I noticed a large pure white raptor resting in a tree. I saw this bird around 4:00 pm on the northside of the interstate about 1/10 of a mile west of Milemarker 30. I had to go about 4 or 5 miles east to get turned around and by the time I got back to the tree that it was in it was, of course gone. This is the same area where my cousin told me that he saw a Snowy Owl at last year. I don't think this was a Snowy Owl as it was sitting in a tree and appeared to be a Hawk or Falcon. Rob Thelen --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: International Festival of Owls and Keynote Speaker From: Ric Zarwell <ric.zarwell AT mchsi.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 14:35:06 -0600 Iowa Biders: For information about the International Festival of Owls in southern Minnesota that is soon approaching, and to register for the festival, banquet and other events, visit www.festivalofowls.com or contact the Houston Nature Center at 507-896-4668. The banquet is expected to sell out, so purchase tickets soon! For details about special activities at this years banquet and the excellent keynote speaker, see below. Ric <") ( \ / |`` GIVE CONSERVATION WINGS SHOW UP.... SPEAK UP.... ANTE UP.... for Birds, for Natural Habitats, for All Biodiversity If anyone can speak bird, it’s Marge Gibson. There is a special understanding that exists between Marge and birds that is key to her success as a wildlife rehabilitator. But rehabilitation isn’t what she set out to do. Although she was known as the “Bird Girl” because she started rehabbing birds at the tender age of nine, she went on to become a wildlife biologist who worked on some very high profile projects. She was a team captain in the Bald Eagle Capture and Health Assessment Program after the Exxon Valdez oil spill and was a member of the California Condor Recovery Team. She founded the Raptor Education Group, Inc. (REGI) in her hometown of Antigo, Wisconsin in 1990, fully intending to focus her efforts on using raptors in education. But her remote location and rehabilitation skills soon led REGI to become the largest avian rehabilitation facility in the state. Her skills have led her to serve as the President of the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council and teach rehabilitation internationally. Marge has seen nearly everything during her lifetime working with birds. A gifted storyteller, she has true tales to tell that are heart-wrenching, infuriating, hilarious, heart-warming, inspiring, and just plain miraculous. She has dealt with a turkey vulture shot up on drugs, a gay alcoholic trumpeter swan, a great horned owl with both feet cut off and much, much more. People of all interest levels will enjoy Marge’s keynote presentation entitled “Owls: Personal Stories of Wonder and Inspiration” at the International Festival of Owls banquet on Saturday, March 6 at Valley High Golf Club near Houston, Minnesota. Tickets are $28/person and include the banquet, a live auction to benefit the Houston Nature Center, the presentation of the World Owl Hall of Fame Awards, and a presentation by Englishman Colin Shawyer titled “Conserving Britain’s Barn Owls.” Karla Kinstler Festival Coordinator International Festival of Owls PO Box 731 Houston, MN 55943 507-896-4668 507-896-5668 FAX info AT festivalofowls.com www.festivalofowls.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Reporting Trumpeter Swan ID in Iowa From: "David Eastman" <daveeastman AT cfu.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 12:58:25 -0500 The following link to Iowa DNR is the place to report Trumpeter Swan sightings including the color of the neck band and alphanumeric ID. DNR will take the info on either a mailed form for which they provide a copy on the site, telephone call, or e-mail. If you are lucky, as I have been to know a local volunteer in the reintroduction program, they are a great source of information as well. http://www.iowadnr.gov/wildlife/files/swanreporting.html The swans I reported yesterday apparently were raised and released in Iowa, took at least one trip out of state (Virginia, Missouri) and decided to return to the local area for this winter. Dave Eastman Cedar Falls --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Varied Thrush-Ventura Heights From: TFischer2165 AT aol.com Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 17:25:41 EST For the past five weeks the reliable Varied Thrush has been making daily appearance in Ventura Heights. It was there again on Friday morning. There were two very large flocks of Snow Buntings south of Ventura Heights along S-14. Carolyn Fischer Mason City Cerro Gordo County --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Trumpeter Swans/ Cedar River/ Waterloo From: "David Eastman" <daveeastman AT cfu.net> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 15:08:14 -0500 Four swans, two with red/white neck labels 7M9 and 1M7 were observed today on open water between Cedar Bend Park and East Lake at George Wyth SP. I am checking with a local volunteer and the Iowa DNR to see if additional information is available on these swans. Dave Eastman Cedar Falls --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Info for Photographers From: "Ann Johnson" <aj AT hologrambirds.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:26:59 -0600 I received information on a nature photography workshop being held in February. Please see http://iowabirds.org/other/docs/MidwinterThawNaturePhotographyWorkshop.pdf for details and registration form. Ann Johnson Norwalk --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: IOU Photo Contest Update From: "tom.lawson" <tom.lawson AT mchsi.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 11:57:47 -0600 IOU members: The IOU photo contest entry time is fast approaching. Remember, photos will be accepted the entire month of March this year either through the traditional entry process, or through the new electronic entry format. You may enter photographs in each category (traditional, electronic) as they will be judged seperatly. The contest is open to all IOU members and the rules and entry form can be found at: http://www.iowabirds.org/IOU/photo_contest.asp This year, the panel of judges are: Ty Smedes, Urbandale Karen Viste-Sparkman, Des Moines John Wenck, Des Moines Electronic Entry Instructions This is the easy part, it is as simple as Size, Name, Send, Mail. SIZE: Please size your photographs the same as found in the rules, either 8 X 10 inches minimum or 8.5 X 11 inches maximum. (printable quality .jpeg format) NAME: Name the .jpeg file: Species.date of photo.county.your initials EXAMPLE: Ivory Gull.11-4-2008.Polk.TKL SEND: Send the photos as email attachment* to: tom.lawson AT mchsi.com Maximum number of e-entries is 3 photographs per person, also, in the body of the email message please list the photographs which you are sending. MAIL: Fill out the entry form found at http://www.iowabirds.org/IOU/photo_contest.asp print and send along with your check made payable to the IOU to the address at the bottom of the form. If you enter in both categories of the contest you must fill out two forms but only one check is needed for the total. The forms and fee must be rec'd by entry deadline for your e-entered photos to be considered. *You will received a confirmation email from me that your photographs have been received. Your photographs will be uploaded onto a digital frame and retained by me until judging is completed, after, they will be deleted. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. This is exciting and spring is coming! Tom Lawson Adel, IA 50003 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: mystery raptor From: "Brochu, Christopher A" <chris-brochu AT uiowa.edu> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 11:40:33 -0600 Ladies and Gentlemen, This past weekend, I took a trip out to Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines in an effort to prove to myself that the merlin is not just something some of you made up to make the rest of us go looking for it. I didn't see anything that was unambiguously a merlin, but I did see a pair of smallish raptors that I cannot key out. They were perched on a light tower just outside the cemetery, and one of them was there for quite a while. Unfortunately, I was not very close, and the bird was always facing toward me, only occasionally turning its head and never spreading its wings. (The other bird flew off while I was glancing away, so I never saw its flight profile. I'm sure the bird timed its departure precisely to elude identification.) They appeared to be uniformly brown on back and white on the belly, with an overall dark head. No obvious sideburn stripe, and no apparent streaking or spotting to the breast. Because of its distance I couldn't really get a good handle on its size, but I'm fairly sure it was too small to be one of the larger Buteos (red-tailed, rough-legged). My first guess (and closest match I could find in any reference) was a juvenile broad-winged hawk, which would be very unusual for this time of year. Any thoughts? Christopher A. Brochu Associate Professor Department of Geoscience University of Iowa Iowa City, IA 52242 USA phone 319-353-1808 fax 319-335-1821 email chris-brochu AT uiowa.edu --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Boone County this Week From: "Larry Dau" <lgdau AT netins.net> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 21:22:13 -0600 I drove some of the roads in my area the past three days. I found nothing rare, but a few interesting birds: 7 Snow Buntings (actually in Greene County just west of Harrier Marsh) 2 Lapland Longspurs (in with Horned Larks west of Ledges) 3 Rough-Legged Hawks - 1 a beautiful dark phase 1 Sharp-Shinned Hawk at my house 1 Pileated Woodpecker (in woods near my house) 1 Meadowlark Species (near Harrier) 2 Flocks of Red-Winged Blackbirds (60 East of river near Iowa Arboretum, 28 at Harrier Marsh) 3 Tufted Titimouse at my feeders My feeders have large numbers of Goldfinches (70+),Am. Tree Sparrows (45+) nad Dk. Eyed Juncos (100+, 1 an Oregon subspecies). Turkey and Pheasants at feeders each day too. Could not locate an Partridge! Larry Dau Boone COunty --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Iowa RBA: 2-5-10 From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 20:05:03 -0600 Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, January 30, through Friday, February 5, 2010: -RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required) CASUAL: *ICELAND (KUMLIENS) GULL* -Additional Species Mentioned Gray Partridge PRAIRIE FALCON Thayers Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Short-eared Owl Brown Thrasher Lincolns Sparrow ***NEW!**************** For more up to date information on rarities in the state of Iowa, visit the Iowa Birds and Birding website at www.iowabirds.org. A list of rare birds is placed on the home page with the location of the rarity and most recent date of observation. This is updated several times per day. This is a handy tool for anyone making a birding trip or otherwise into the state of Iowa. ************************ Species in ALL CAPS can be classified into three categories in the state of Iowa: 1) UNRECORDED, ACCIDENTAL or Casual; 2) A RARE but regular species; or 3) record early or late date or unusual for time of year. Any species with three asterisks (***species***) would represent a first record for Iowa (UNRECORDED) and should be observed and documented very carefully. Species with two asterisks (**species**) are species that are either ACCIDENTAL, CASUAL, or a rare regular species, and should also be documented. Species with one asterisk (*species) should have some details of the observation provided. EAST: SCOTT COUNTY: Highlights from Lock and Dam 14 on the 31st included a 3W LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a 1W ICELAND (KUMLIENS) GULL. An adult and 1W THAYERS GULL were seen at Lock and Dam 14 on the 3rd. JOHNSON COUNTY: A BROWN THRASHER was seen at an Iowa City feeding station on the 3rd. SOUTHEAST: JEFFERSON COUNTY: 2 LINCOLNS SPARROWS were seen along the northeast corner of the Fairfield Loop Trail on the 4th. CENTRAL: BOONE COUNTY: 7 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen on the east side of W Ave just north of 290th St on the 31st. NORTHWEST: WOODBURY COUNTY: 2 PRAIRIE FALCONS were seen at the Sioux Jersey Cattle Farms on the 30th. They were last seen on the 5th. 7 SHORT-EARED OWLS were seen on the 1st. 1 was on Owego Rd , 1 was on 280th just east of Owego Dairy, and 5 were seen at the Luton South WPA. A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen along 260th St on the 2nd. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, February 12, 2010 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted. John Bissell Grimes, Iowa john.annabissell AT gmail.com 515-986-9796 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: RE: Prairie Falcons From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 17:36:23 -0800 (PST) Prairie Falcons both seen at 3:19PM (they were there when I arrived).They were not there at 4:30PM when I checked on my way home.  Typically I find them around 2:30 to 4:30.  The rest of the time I have no idea where they go.  They have been sighted in the AM but much more often in the PM. Those interested in trying for them--I will be around tomorrow for anyone who wishes my help.  Cell 712-301-2817 Rough-legged hawks 7, Western (did not hear what dialect they were speaking though) Meadowlark 14 (two groups).  RT Hawk 4, pheasant, turkey, DEJunco, Am. Tree Sparrow, Lapland Longspur 2, Snow Bunting 250+, Horned Lark numberous. NO Short-eared Owl seen. Snow was falling but melting.  I had more trouble with muddy roads than snow. Travel SAFE. God Bless, Paul Roisen Sioux City, IA Woodbury County 712-276-0371(H) 712-301-2817(C) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Prairie City Trumpeter Swan From: Karen_VisteSparkman AT fws.gov Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 08:14:19 -0600 I have gotten a couple of reports of a Trumpeter Swan at the sewage ponds in Prairie City (Jasper Co.). I have been away so I haven't seen it yet, but saw photos. Local people are excited. It doesn't have a neck band. ******************************************** Karen Viste-Sparkman Refuge Biologist Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 399 9981 Pacific Street Prairie City, IA 50228 (515) 994-3400 2010: Year of the Prairie --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: More fun in Fairfield From: Tim Franklin <tbird.franklin AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 19:10:46 -0800 (PST) Two and a half years ago, before I started posting, I flushed 7 or 8 Gray Partridge near the NE corner of the Fairfield Loop Trail. After I started posting I debated whether or not to post it just for the record. I decided to try for them again so it could be a fresh post and today was another effort without finding them. I will keep trying but thought I might as well go ahead and post it for the record. But I did find some other interesting birds near that same corner of the loop trail today. Out from the corner about 300 yds there is a 100 yd "branch" in the middle of wide open fields. There I found 10-12 Eurasian Tree Sparrows, same number of American Tree Sparrows and a pair of Lincoln's Sparrows. One on the Lincoln's sat on a limb facing me for 10 minutes as I kept trying to make it into something more likely to be in this range but I was pretty close and got all the field marks exactly, especially after I moved closer and closer until he flew. The other one never gave me a great look, but enough of one so that, combined with the fact that these two were the only ones left at that end of the branch and they moved together for a little ways, I am comfortable that it was also a Lincoln's. Also saw a Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk and two other hawks that I could not see well enough to ID. On the way past the south side of Pleasant Lake I got close looks at two Red-breasted Nuthatches and heard a third. Two days ago my birding buddy told me there were 1,000 Canadas, with some Cackling mixed in, in the pond behind the Bonnie Lake dam. As I was heading back in today I sat on a bench on the Loop Trail for a few minutes and at least most of them flew up and scattered out, generally coming my way in my half of the pie, with at least a hundred coming right over me, quite low and honking up a storm. I felt like I was at some famous NWR or something. Very cool. Tim Fairfield --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: Cedar Lake Trumpeter Swans From: "Bill Tollefson" <wgtollef AT rockwellcollins.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 17:32:12 -0500 Thanks for the replies on this - sounds like these birds are a male and female released near Middle Amana in 2001. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Birds today From: "Kathy Marner" <kmarner AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 17:12:23 -0500 Thanks to Rosemaru Plapp and Jim Fuller's alerts, today I saw the four juvenile Trumpeter Swans near Crandic Park in Iowa City on the Iowa River. Also saw a single male Common Goldeneye in same area. Two new life birds with photos, a very good day! Also saw Canada Geese and Mallards on the Iowa River at Lower City Park in Iowa City, as well as Bald Eagles. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: email address change From: Peter A Pattee <mallard AT iastate.edu> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:29:56 -0600 please change my email address from mallard AT iasate.edu to pkpattee AT gmail.com - thanks! Katie Pattee --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Hermit Thrush in Fairfield From: Tim Franklin <tbird.franklin AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 17:30:22 -0800 (PST) I found it at the north end of Pleasant Lake on the sunny side of a clearing in a large area of hawthorne shrubs. It was sunning and I looked at it from 30 ft for five minutes, full frontal, very tame and still, no tail bobbing, just moving its head from side to side--until I tried to circle around to look at the tail. When he flew he flew even closer to me but on the other side of a small cedar bush. It was pretty active in the cedar bush as I gave some phishes but it never gave me another look. 26 Wild Turkeys were a treat in a field north of the north part of the Fairfield Loop Trail. The pheasant that I flushed gave me some outrageous squawks, up down, up down, and quite loud. Nice day, no wind, no rain, no clouds, no snow, no sleet, no ice--been awhile. Tim Fairfield --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Quad Cities Today & Brown Thrasher at Feeder From: Jim Fuller <jnkfuller AT mchsi.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:05:28 -0600 Hi all, This morning at the Quad Cities there were ten Swans (9 Trumpeter and 1 Tundra) downstream from the south end of Canal Shores Drive, which is downstream from the I-80 bridge, At L & D #14 a there were 1W and adult Thayer's Gulls, and the Peregrine Falcon was sitting on the downtown Davenport building which can be viewed from the Parking lot at L & D #15. Upon return home there was a Brown Thrasher at my feeder. Jim Fuller, Iowa City --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: Cedar Lake Trumpeter Swans From: "Lora Schwendinger" <lschwendinger AT casscoia.us> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:31:43 -0500 Bill and to all interested!! I have looked in my Trumpeter Swan records, I can tell you those numbers have Not visited Atlantic, IA - Cass County. I monitor our wintering site, and I report the numbers to Dave Hoffman and Ron Andrews with the IDNR, they can tell you their stories! david.hoffman AT dnr.iowa.gov is his email,he keeps track of babies and pairings ect. I hope this has helped! Thanks, Lora Schwendinger Cass County Naturalist --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Singing Cardinal From: Matt Baumann <baumann_matt AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 08:19:08 -0600 Heard a cardinal singing ( near Blairs Ferry/Ushers Ferry, Cedar Rapids) as I walked from my car into work. Thoughts of Spring filled my head...briefly. Matt Baumann Robins, Iowa --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Woodbury 2-2-10 From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 18:40:00 -0800 (PST) Eugene and Eloise Armstrong made the trek to NWW Iowa today.  Hopes for Prairie Falcon and Short-eared Owl.  After much disappointment, as we traveled to and fro about Woodbury and even up for the Black-billed Magpie in Plymouth, we returned for a final try at the Prairie Falcons and hoped for Short-eared Owls at dusk. 3:12 we find first one Prairie Falcon then the other.  The sunshine gave us outstanding looks.3:20 a very friendly Short-eared Owl sits on a sign post on 260th (50 east of Dallas Ave.). He as so relaxed that Eugene and Eloise were able to pass within 10 feet of him while I took photos.3:30 while trying to photograph one of the Prairie Falcons a Merlin flies in a lands just one post away. 3:40 Eugene and Eloise are able to head home.  Originally, the plan was to stay until dusk to see the Short-eared Owls but we were blessed with the early find and hopefully Eugene and Eloise made it home safely shortly after dark. God Bless, Paul Roisen Sioux City, IA Woodbury County 712-276-0371(H) 712-301-2817(C) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Cedar Lake Trumpeter Swans From: "Bill Tollefson" <wgtollef AT rockwellcollins.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 18:56:47 -0500 Ran into Jim Forde at Cedar Lake this afternoon. By the lighthouse were 2 Trumpeter Swans with red neck bands P62 and P64. I read that birds released in Iowa have red neck bands. Would be interested to hear the story of these two if anyone knows where to get this information. A Great Blue Heron was hanging around. Also a strange looking Canada Goose with a lot of white on the face. Looked similar to the picture of the hybrid Canada x Barnacle Goose in Sibley. Large goose. Interested to hear what others think if the bird hangs around - maybe a hybrid with a domestic goose? Bill Tollefson Cedar Rapids --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Great Backyard Bird Count February 12-15 From: "Bill Tollefson" <wgtollef AT rockwellcollins.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:19:23 -0500 If you haven't participated in this event in the past, I encourage you to do so and log you sightings at the web site below in addition to entering your seasonal field reports on the IOU site. It's easy and the web site gives a good 'how to' guide on what to do. It's pretty cool to see what folks are seeing across the continent. Lots of good photographs and photoigraphy class as well. http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ Bill Tollefson Cedar Rapids --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Ames owl From: Andrew Williams <studiesnature AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 07:19:17 -0600 Hi again, In Ames, this morning at 5:45, as my wife and I enjoyed a first cup of coffee in bed, we heard a screech owl outside. We are new here and had never heard a screech owl from our bed before. I know a lot of you birders chase winter birds all over, burning up gas and walking out in the cold. We recommend this "heard from bed" mode of birding! I went to get the Forbush (1927) from the bookcase and read aloud about screech owls. Listen to this: "Many of the smaller owls appear to be more numerous [in Massachusetts] in winter... Many of the smaller owls are killed and eaten during the winter by larger species.... *I once found in the stomach and gullet of a Barred Owl the greater part of a Long-eared Owl, while in the stomach of the latter were some remains of a Screech Owl*." My neighbor was out shovelling snow a little later and I told him of our owl. He said that we will hear screech owls right here more often as the spring warms up. All the best, Andrew Williams --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: 2-1-10 PM Woodbury From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 18:02:23 -0800 (PST) Poor weather, poor visibility but the birding got better and better as the day went on though not a good day for taking photographs.  Canada Goose 42  Bald Eagle 1 adult  Red-tailed Hawk 13  Rough-legged Hawk 5 (all at Owego)  Ring-necked Pheasant 26  Wild Turkey 11  American Kestrel 2  PRAIRIE FALCON 2  Rock Pigeon numerous  Eurasian Collared Dove 1  Great Horned Owl 1  Short-eared Owl 7  (Owego Rd 1, 280th just east of Owego Dairy 1, Luton South WPA 5)  Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 (strangest location--pecking a sign post surrounded on all sides by at least 3/4 mile of corn stubble)  Northern Flicker 1  Horned Lark numerous in small flocks  Blue Jay 3  American Crow 9  European Starling numerous  American Tree Sparrow 3  Dark-eyed Junco 21  Northern Cardinal 1  Red-winged Blackbird ~80 (Luton North WMA)  Western Meadowlark 8  Brown-headed Cowbird 3  House Sparrow 18 God Bless, Paul Roisen Sioux City, IA Woodbury County 712-276-0371(H) 712-301-2817(C) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Bald Eagles From: "Brian gibbs" <brian_claytonccb AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 16:09:06 -0500 In a One HR span today, noticed 44 Bald Eagles between Clermont and Elkader Iowa. One large grouping was feasting on fresh carrion the other group in a manured field. The good news just keep coming! --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Prairie Falcon Update-February 1 From: "Tucker J. Lutter" <lutter AT netins.net> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 14:22:54 -0500 Paul Roisen just called me and said that both Prairie Falcons were just to the north of the Sioux Jersey Cattle Farm on some power poles. Good Birding, Tucker J. Lutter Bronson, IA Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/backpackingbirdwatcher/ Blog: http://www.birdingwithtucker.blogspot.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Odd for February? From: Matt Baumann <baumann_matt AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 12:54:41 -0600 On the way back to work after lunch, saw a lone Great Blue Heron in the shoulder of Miller Road in Cedar Rapids. He/she was just south of the "Farmer's Daughter Market" on Miller Road on the east side of the road. I believe there is a small stream nearby, so I imagine this was the attraction for the bird. Just odd seeing one this deep into winter and so close to the road with traffic. Matt Baumann Robins, Iowa --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Swans at...Swan Lake From: "matt AT naturebymatt.com" <matt@naturebymatt.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:48:23 -0500 Birders, I just saw 6 trumpeter swans (3 adult, 3 young). Makes sense, right? I do work at Swan Lake, afterall. Wishing I worked at Spoonbill Lake, Skimmer Lake, or maybe even Moorhen Marsh. Also found a new screech owl hiding spot, always fun. Bird on... matt Matthew T. Wetrich Carroll County Naturalist Swan Lake State Park Carroll, Iowa (712)792-4614 - w www.naturebymatt.com (641)919-6061 - c Jefferson,IA Greene County Nature by Matt Wetrich --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Cedar Rapids Gazette Article on Eagle Surveys From: "Hank Zaletel" <madowl AT midiowa.net> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 11:18:51 -0500 Go to: http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2010/01/28/volunteers-sought-to-monitor-state%E2%80%99s-burgeoning-population If url is too long, copy and paste url into your browser's address line. Hank Zaletel Nevada --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Prairie Falcon-January 31 From: "Tucker J. Lutter" <lutter AT netins.net> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:56:01 -0500 A local birder reported seeing one of the two Prairie Falcons at the Sioux Jersey Cattle Farm yesterday, January 31. It wouldn't suprise me if the birds showed up here each winter. Good Birding, Tucker J. Lutter Bronson, IA Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/backpackingbirdwatcher/ Blog: http://www.birdingwithtucker.blogspot.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: red-shouldered hawk From: "Amy J. Yoakum" <ayoakum AT storycounty.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 09:35:53 -0600 A red-shouldered hawk was seen in Lucas County on Sunday afternoon. The bird was located on County Road S50/280th Avenue, in a tree on the west side of the road, directly across from the entrance to the South Colyn Wildlife Area. I am assuming this is one of the resident birds who nest in the area. Amy Yoakum Naturalist Story County Conservation --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Snow Goose?? From: "Virginia" <vmmack AT hughes.net> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 08:55:31 -0600 The male (white) goose had some black feathers toward the back that brought snow goose to mind. I am still working on identifying ducks, geese and hawks! Thanks for all the help. Virginia --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: Beemer's Pond From: "Jacob Newton" <superbufanda AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:35:59 -0500 We went yesterday, they are a domestic breed of Greylags...if I remember what Dr. Dinsmore said correctly. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Beemer's Pond From: "Virginia" <vmmack AT hughes.net> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:22:42 -0600 We finally got a chance to get to Beemer's Pond and it was really something to see, we got there at feeding time and enjoyed talking with the feeding lady. I saw two geese with orange bills that I thought were snow geese but I may be totally wrong , I took a picture of them and uploaded it. If someone could help me identify these geese I would appreciate it. We also saw 16 wild turkeys on R21 and a barred owl by the park office at Brushy Creek. http://picasaweb.google.com/avmmack/BeemerSPond#5433106016765335138 Virginia --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Quad Cities Gulls From: "jmforde" <jmforde AT qwest.net> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:51:14 -0600 Gull numbers seem to have slowly increased at the Quad Cities. Today, I saw about a thousand including a 1W KUMLIEN'S / ICELAND and a 3W LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, both on the Iowa side of L&D 14. Jim Forde Cedar Rapids --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Website update- great NZ photos! From: "Ross Silcock" <silcock AT rosssilcock.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:10:07 -0600 I've just overhauled the photo gallery on my website (URL below) to include 200+ great photos of our recent New Zealand trip by Phil Swanson- the seabird photos are especially noteworthy. Phil will be presenting at the May Omaha Audubon meeting, and will show many of the photos as well as some spectacular scenic shots. http://www.rosssilcock.com/galleryindex.htm Ross Ross Silcock P.O. Box 57 Tabor, IA 51653 New Zealand Land and Pelagic Bird Tours http://www.rosssilcock.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Gray Partridge correction From: Cory Gregory <cgregory AT iastate.edu> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:23:37 -0600 My apologizes, my previous post should have read "290th St" instead of "190th St". Cory Gregory ------------------------------------ Cory J. Gregory Graduate Research Assistant Iowa State University Natural Resource Ecology & Management 339 Science II Ames, IA 50011 269.325.8695 cgregory AT iastate.edu --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Gray Partridge From: Cory Gregory <cgregory AT iastate.edu> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:35:29 -0600 Birders, Around 4:15 this afternoon, Ashley and I saw 7 GRAY PARTRIDGE on the east side of W Ave, just north of 190th Street in Boone County. Photos at: http://arcticory.blogspot.com Good Birding, Cory Gregory & Ashley Casey Ames, IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Cardinal Singing From: "Sarah and/or Trish" <photobird AT mchsi.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:22:48 -0600 I was just out of a bit at 30 degrees and heard my first Cardinal singing for the year... Spring is getting closer..... Sarah Bissell Burlington --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Clarke Co. From: JacobTee AT aol.com Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:07:53 EST I drove the gravel roads in Clarke Co. this afternoon for a few hours in search of raptors and other birds. I came across only two groups of Lapland Longspurs (25 total birds) and only 5 Horned Larks. Some of the birds seen include: 44 Wild Turkeys 6 Bald Eagles (5 ad, 1 imm) 14 Red-tailed Hawks (inc. 1 Western dark morph) 3 Rough-legged Hawks (1 dark, 2 light morphs) 8 American Kestrels 2 Eastern Bluebirds 2 American Robins 13 Brown-headed Cowbirds (feedlots on Clover and Benson St's.) 9 Purple Finches Also, I still have a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker coming to my feeders. It first arrived at the end of November with a brown head and now it's head is almost completely red. It's been neat watching it molt! Good birding... Jay Gilliam Norwalk, IA _jacobtee AT aol.com_ (mailto:jacobtee AT aol.com) _http://jayspix.smugmug.com/Bird%20Photos/176462_ (http://jayspix.smugmug.com/Bird%20Photos/176462) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Oregon Junco in Mitchellville From: "LAURIE FENIMORE" <fenimore1956 AT msn.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 11:01:40 -0600 Male Oregon Junco seen with the usual small flock of Slate-colored Juncoes at our feeder in Mitchellville, IA 2:30 p.m. Sat, Jan 30, 2010. Dan Fenimore --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Prairie Falcons, Woodbury County From: Cory Gregory <cgregory AT iastate.edu> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:38:49 -0600 Birders, We had not only one, but TWO Prairie Falcons today near the Jersey Farms in Woodbury County. The 1st bird came in and took a starling over the barns and flew to the large field to the south around 1:30 PM. In then later took the starling further south (past the E-W powerlines) and perched again on the ground. It was then that another Prairie Falcon came in and landed a couple feet from the other one! Very distant photos of the falcons can be seen on my blog: http://arcticory.blogspot.com/ Also on our day out: 2 Northern Shrikes 1 Red-headed Woodpecker Several Rough-legged Hawks Meadowlarks, Lapland Longspurs, and Snow Buntings were along roadsides. Good birding, Cory Gregory & Ashley Casey Ames, IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: North Iowa From: "Rita Goranson" <ritag AT mchsi.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:13:17 -0600 There was more at my feeders today than I saw driving out and about. At the feeders for most of January, besides the expected winter fare, have been Red-breasted Nuthatches, a Fox Sparrow, and Pine Siskins. Today a white-throated Sparrow joined these birds. One or two Cooper's Hawks have visited the feeders regularly through the month. Rita Goranson Mason City, Iowa --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Trumpeter Swans in Johnson County From: Jim Fuller <jnkfuller AT mchsi.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:18:18 -0600 Hi all, Rosemaru Plapp alerted me to the presence of 4 juvenile and untagged Trumpeter Swans on the Iowa river at Crandic park in iowa City. Crandic park is off Rocky Shore Drive just north of its intersection with hiway 6. Jim Fuller, iowa City --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Central Iowa today. From: "Dinsmore, Stephen J [NREM]" <cootjr AT iastate.edu> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:42:00 -0600 Members of ISU's Trumpeter Swan Restoration Committee took a field trip today to Beemer's Pond where we saw 132 (69 adult, 63 juvenile) Trumpeter Swans and single American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, and Lesser Scaup. We wandered back roads on the way home and saw the following birds of note: 5 Mallards, 1 Gadwall, and 1 Green-winged Teal in an open tile drainage in southern Hamilton Co. 4 Rough-legged Hawks (including an injured bird near Bjorkboda M.) 1 Merlin and 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches at Brushy Creek Rec. Area 31 Eurasian Collared-Doves in Stratford 1 Northern Shrike south of Webster City Steve ********** Stephen J. Dinsmore Department of Natural Resource Ecology & Management Iowa State University 339 Science II Ames, IA 50011 Phone: 515-294-1348 E-mail: cootjr AT iastate.edu Web: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cootjr/ --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Oregon Junco and Plymouth County From: "Tucker J. Lutter" <lutter AT netins.net> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:35:01 -0500 First off an "Oregon" Junco stopped by our feeders yesterday making for a nice photo which can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/backpackingbirdwatcher/4314581864/ Has anyone noticed a lower number of this subspecies this winter? I usually see a few at my feeders but have only seen one so far.... This morning I went out to Broken Kettle Grasslands in search of Golden Eagles but no luck with those or the magpies. However I did see a pack of six Coyotes running across the hills there! The Bison were also seen. There are relatively few birds anywhere. During the small warm-up we had a few more birds even in my yard including an American Robin, Cedar Waxwings, and lots of blackbirds but after it got cold again the birds were gone. This winter has been a bit of a let down with no finches and very few raptors...oh well spring is just around the corner and so is my Northern Minnesota trip (I hope). Good Birding, Tucker J. Lutter Bronson, IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Rusty Blackbird Survey From: "Ann Johnson" <aj AT hologrambirds.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:10:35 -0600 Even with this incredibly snowy winter, I've noticed that from time to time folks have reported Rusty Blackbirds. A nationwide survey of wintering Rusty Blackbirds starts today. See http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/rubl-survey-2010 for more information and to add to the knowledge. Ann Johnson Norwalk --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Cardinals, etc. From: Art Check <artsbirdbrain AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:56:49 -0800 (PST) Yesterday I had 27 Cardinals at my feeders, along with 9 goldfinches--the most I've had this year of both.  Also had an American Tree Sparrow and a Song Sparrow.   Art Check Nevada --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: large, white raptor -- central Iowa From: Aaron Brees <abrees AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:34:33 -0600 Paul was able to relocate the bird and it is a Red-tailed Hawk. It's a great looking bird. A few photos are posted here: http://www.angelfire.com/ab6/birdpics/images/RTHA1.jpg http://www.angelfire.com/ab6/birdpics/images/RTHA2.jpg http://www.angelfire.com/ab6/birdpics/images/RTHA3.jpg Aaron Brees Des Moines, IA http://www.flickr.com/photos/abrees/collections/ _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390707/direct/01/ --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Iowa RBA: 1-29-10 From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:34:29 -0600 Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, January 23, through Friday, January 29, 2010: -RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required) NONE -Additional Species Mentioned Long-tailed Duck Gray Partridge PRAIRIE FALCON Lesser Black-backed Gull Glaucous Gull AMERICAN PIPIT (Record late) VARIED THRUSH ***NEW!**************** For more up to date information on rarities in the state of Iowa, visit the Iowa Birds and Birding website at www.iowabirds.org. A list of rare birds is placed on the home page with the location of the rarity and most recent date of observation. This is updated several times per day. This is a handy tool for anyone making a birding trip or otherwise into the state of Iowa. ************************ Species in ALL CAPS can be classified into three categories in the state of Iowa: 1) UNRECORDED, ACCIDENTAL or Casual; 2) A RARE but regular species; or 3) record early or late date or unusual for time of year. Any species with three asterisks (***species***) would represent a first record for Iowa (UNRECORDED) and should be observed and documented very carefully. Species with two asterisks (**species**) are species that are either ACCIDENTAL, CASUAL, or a rare regular species, and should also be documented. Species with one asterisk (*species) should have some details of the observation provided. NORTH CENTRAL: CERRO GORDO COUNTY: The VARIED THRUSH continues at a Ventura Heights feeding station as recently as the 29th. EAST: LINN COUNTY: A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at Cedar Lake on the 24th. It was last seen on the 28th. An adult GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at Cedar Lake on the 26th. NORTHEAST: BLACK HAWK COUNTY: 10 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen on the south side of county road C66, 2 Âľ miles east of Highway 63 on the 29th. SOUTHEAST: LEE COUNTY: Highlights from a county big day on the 25th included a record late AMERICAN PIPIT and 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS. CENTRAL: BOONE COUNTY: 9 GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen on W Avenue just south of 280th Street on the 24th. NORTHWEST: WOODBURY COUNTY: A PRAIRIE FALCON was seen at the Sioux Jersey Cattle Farms on the 27th. It was last seen on the 28th. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, February 5, 2010 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted. John Bissell Grimes, Iowa john.annabissell AT gmail.com 515-986-9796 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: large, white raptor -- central Iowa From: Aaron Brees <abrees AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:38:56 -0600 I just got a call from Paul Roisen. He has found a raptor which he describes as very large and barrel chested, very white with some black on the head and some black spotting on the tail. He does not have a positive ID but feels it is probably not a leucistic Red-tailed Hawk or a Snowy Owl. The location was in a tree just east of the Minden exit on I80, then flying to the northwest. Paul has taken some photos which he thinks will be good enough for ID purposes, but wanted to get this information out now in case anyone would like to go look for the bird before it gets dark. Aaron Brees Des Moines, IA http://www.flickr.com/photos/abrees/collections/ _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390707/direct/01/ --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Varied Thrush From: Danny Akers <birdmandan1231 AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:56:35 -0600 The Varied Thrush was present in Ventura this afternoon at 3:05 PM. Awesome bird! Danny Akers Ankeny BirdManDan1231 AT hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390706/direct/01/ --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Gray Partridge From: MiSaJo AT aol.com Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:54:01 EST This afternoon I saw a group of 10 Gray Partridge on the south side of County Road C-66 (Dunkerton Road) 2 3/4 miles East of Highway 63. I first saw them as I was headed for Waterloo and they were in the same location and hour later when I returned. They were sitting in a sunny spot out of the wind in bean stubble. Mike Johnston --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Ames area From: "Jacob Newton" <superbufanda AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:19:29 -0500 I did a little loop northeast of Ames. Nothing spectacular to report but I did find one Harris' Sparrow at McFarland Park. No waterfowl were seen at the reservoir there even though an aerator was at work. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Woodbury 1-28-10 From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:53:27 -0800 (PST) NO Prairie Falcon seen in the AM Song Sparrow 1Harris's Sparrow 1Western Meadowlark 17Brown-headed Cowbird 3Morning Dove 2Snow Bunting ~90Bald-Eagle 1Sharp-shinned Hawk 1Rough-legged Hawk 2Red-tailed Hawk 4 Horned Lark numerous small groupsRing-necked Pheasant 7Wild Turkey 28Dark-eyed Juncon 11American Tree Sparrow 7Northern Flicker 1Great-horned Owl 1 Blue Jay, Crow, European Starling, House Sparrow, and Rock Pigeon also seen God Bless, Paul Roisen Sioux City, IA Woodbury County 712-276-0371(H) 712-301-2817(C) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Reducing aircraft-wildlife strikes at airports From: Matt Kennedy <kennedym2009 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:23:33 -0800 (PST) Dear fellow birding enthusiasts,     As a lifelong birder and professional aviator for over 16 years, I am conducting a nation-wide study on the level of community support for the mitigation measures used at airports to reduce the wildlife strike hazard to commercial aircraft.  Getting input from different regions of the country is necessary to gauge whether there are regional differences due to varying bird populations or possible high profile incidents involving wildlife strikes on aircraft.      Responses are submitted electronically to a database that does not identify users, so your answers will be completely confidential.  Findings will be released only as analyzed data or summaries in which no individual’s answers can be identified.  Please take a few moments to share your opinions and experiences.  I appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to contribute toward this important research about community views on wildlife mitigation measures at airports.   The survey can be accessed at:   https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XTVS225   If you would like a summary of my findings, please send me your e-mail address at kennedym2009 AT yahoo.com.  Once the study is complete, I will e-mail the summary to you. Best Regards, Matt Kennedy Graduate student in Aeronautical Science Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Prairie Falcon Photo From: "Tucker J. Lutter" <lutter AT netins.net> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:49:46 -0500 I got a photo of the Prairie Falcon at the cattle farm today. It probably won't win any awards but if you so want to see see it go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/backpackingbirdwatcher/4313116718/ Good Birding, Tucker J. Lutter Bronson, IA Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/backpackingbirdwatcher/ Blog: http://www.birdingwithtucker.blogspot.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Bald Eagles From: Linda Rudolph <lgrudolph AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:09:05 -0600 There were between 75 to 100 bald eagles below the Coralville Dam today (Johnson County). Many of them were soaring and actively fishing. It was a beautiful sight. Linda Rudolph Coralville _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/196390710/direct/01/ --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Swans From: John Rutenbeck <jrutenbeck AT mchsi.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:21:49 -0600 Six untagged Trumpeter swans and one Tundra swan were close to the Iowa shore today near the town of LeClaire in Scott County. Of the Trumpeters, there were two adults and four juveniles. The Tundra swan stayed in the general area of, but somewhat separate from, the group of Trumpeters. This location is just downstream from the I-80 bridge over the Mississippi River. To see the birds, leave I-80 at the LeClaire exit and drive north to a stop light which, in turning towards the river, puts you on Canal Shore Drive. Follow it towards and then under the bridge, over Sycamore Creek and then on to near a boat marina/sales shop. The swans were in this general area. Additionally, there were hundreds of Common goldeneye on the river along with numbers of Canvasbacks, Redheads and Common mergansers. John Rutenbeck Burlington --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Cedar Lake Lesser Black-backed Gull From: Diana Pesek <keesiemom AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:41:38 -0800 (PST) The Lesser Black-backed Gull was present among the Cedar Lake (Cedar Rapids) gulls tonight (1-28-10) around 5 p.m. Diana Pesek Cedar Rapids keesiemom AT yahoo.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Prairie Falcon-January 28 From: "Tucker J. Lutter" <lutter AT netins.net> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:37:58 -0500 The Prairie Falcon was still at the Sioux Jersey Cattle Farm this morning and was there from the time I arrived at 9:20am until I left at 10. He was succusful in catching a starling and he was eating it to the south of the farms far out in a field. A very beautiful bird to say the least. Birding the Missouri River along the Sioux City water front was fairly slow this afternoon with only one Common Goldeneye and no mergansers being seen. Unsually there are good numbers of both along with a couple Bald Eagles but no luck with that on my shot stop there. Good Birding, Tucker J. Lutter Bronson, IA Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/backpackingbirdwatcher/ Blog: http://www.birdingwithtucker.blogspot.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: QC Times article on Mid-Winter Eagle Count From: "Hank Zaletel" <madowl AT midiowa.net> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:28:46 -0500 Go to: http://www.qctimes.com/news/local/article_044ac6ee-0bce-11df-b12e-001cc4c03286.html If url is too long, copy and paste into your browser's address line. Hank Zaletel Nevada --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Prairie Falcon From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:18:34 -0800 (PST) As obsessed people often do we go do things that sometimes make no sense like go birding when sane people would stay home.  Having seen all of 4 species in 15 miles I slid down the road towards Owego Wetlands (not really wet at this time of year but....).  Rolling past Sioux Jersey dairy barns and looked out over the snow piled fields.  Hum, don't remember even a short post out there.... Swing around and find a Prairie Falcon sitting on a little raised snow mound.  Wonder if it is the same one that showed up last year in February (about the same time as the Snowy Owls we had). Final tab for the day was 9 species but then a Prairie Falcon makes up for all of it. God Bless, Paul Roisen Sioux City, IA Woodbury County 712-276-0371(H) 712-301-2817(C) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: quails and doves in Fairfield From: Tim Franklin <tbird.franklin AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:56:03 -0800 (PST) It was nice to hear a couple of Bobwhites singing today. Can we call it a sign of things to come or do they sing throughout the winter? Also there were 26 or so Eurasian Collared Doves on a fly about over MUM campus. They would circle around and almost light and then not quite and circle some more and almost light but not quite and then finally they lit. Wonder who makes the decision? Note: 26 is twice 13. OMG Tim Fairfield --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Bald Eagle From: "Libbey A Taylor" <libbster AT netins.net> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:32:04 -0600 This afternoon I was at the South Ankeny Blvd/Oralabor Rd intersection and saw an almost fully mature Bald Eagle in the sky. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Red-shouldered Hawk in Johnson County From: Jim Fuller <jnkfuller AT mchsi.com> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:05:28 -0600 Hi all, I have had a beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk sitting along the Iowa River at my house north of iowa City the past couple days. Jim Fuller, Iowa City --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net