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Updated on Thursday, May 15 at 10:31 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


American Avocets,©David Sibley

16 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [Glenn Ousset ]
15 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [Tom Hickcox ]
15 May U.S. Nightjar Survey still needs volunteers [Mike Wilson ]
15 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [Beth Wiggins ]
15 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [Glenn Ousset ]
15 May Re: Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17 [Glenn Ousset ]
15 May Green Heron Distinguishing Characteristics ["Marsha J. Seyffert" ]
14 May Neotropical Songbird Tour Birds, Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana May 10, 2008 [Huner Jay V ]
14 May Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks nesting in Ponchatoula ["L. M. Lalonde" ]
14 May wood ducks [Danny Dobbs ]
14 May Re: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons? ["James W. Beck" ]
14 May Re: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons? [David Muth ]
14 May Re: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons? [Bruce Baird ]
14 May Re: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons? ["Purrington, Robert D" ]
14 May Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17 [Joelle Finley ]
14 May Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons? [Bruce Baird ]
14 May Swallowtail kite near DeQuincy []
14 May Re: non migrating robins [Richard Greig ]
14 May Re: Breeding Green Herons? [jwnix ]
14 May Re: Breeding Green Herons? ["James V. Remsen" ]
14 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [Peter H Yaukey ]
14 May Re: Breeding Green Herons? [wpbergen ]
14 May Re: Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17 [Craig Lucker ]
13 May Willow Flycatchers, Cassin's Sparrow, plus other notables - nw. LA - 12 May 2008 [Devin Eby-Bosler ]
13 May Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17 []
13 May Cameron Sunday [David Muth ]
13 May Cassin's Sparrow, etc. [Buford Myers ]
13 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [mara domingue ]
13 May Re: breeding robins [Buford Myers ]
13 May No Subject [Richard Gibbons ]
13 May Re: Breeding Green Herons? [janine and paul robin ]
13 May NEXRAD observed bird migration, 5-13-08 [John Arvin ]
13 May Re: Breeding Green Herons? [Linda Beall ]
13 May Fwd: eBird Report - Lake Villa Bird Sanctuary, Metairie , 5/12/08 [Bruce Baird ]
13 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin ["James V. Remsen" ]
13 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [Linda Beall ]
13 May Re: Breeding Green Herons? ["James V. Remsen" ]
13 May Re: non migrating robins [Don Richardson ]
13 May LSU Big Day and Eco-tourism in Cameron (and elsewhere) [Huner Jay V ]
13 May Re: Breeding Green Herons? [Linda Beall ]
13 May Re: Breeding Green Herons? [jwnix ]
13 May Breeding Green Herons? [Linda Beall ]
13 May Cave Swallow - Vermilion Parish Spring 07 - and Continued Breeding Presence of Tree Swallows in Rapides Parish [Huner Jay V ]
13 May Broussard Beach scoters - 11 May 2008 [Devin Eby-Bosler ]
13 May Terns in Audubon Pk ["Purrington, Robert D" ]
13 May Re: non migrating robins ["David A. Cagnolatti" ]
13 May breeding robins [David Muth ]
13 May Cave Swallow ["Purrington, Robert D" ]
13 May non migrating robins [G Landry ]
13 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [Mike Musumeche ]
13 May Orchard Oriole nest [janine robin ]
13 May Re: surprise visitor, a robin [janine robin ]

Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: Glenn Ousset <gousset AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Fri, 16 May 2008 03:30:54 +0000
Tom, Labird:
Your observations illustrate my question about breeding thrashers south of the 
lake: Since there are some present, why are there so many fewer than apparently 
suitable habitat could support? 


Glenn Ousset
-------------- Original message from Tom Hickcox : 
-------------- 



> At 09:31 5/15/2008 , Glenn Ousset wrote: 
> 
> >My eperience in the New Orleans area over the years with breeding season 
> >Brown Thrasher and Northern Flicker: 
> >Breeding season Brown Thrashers uncommon and occuring in parks, gardens, 
> >and brushy natural habitat. 
> >Occasionally I have seen them in residential areas in what seemed to be 
> >marginal thrasher habitat. 
> 
> I saw a pair of thrashers with young here by my residence in SE Baton Rouge 
> over the weekend and thought nothing of it. This is the fifth season I've 
> seen them. 
> 
> I see thrashers year round and always considered them to be breeders 
> here. They and the mockingbirds sing enough here to hone one's ability to 
> tell them apart by song. 
> 
> Before the latest revision to LSU's Bernie Moore Track Stadium several 
> years ago, there was a row of lugustrums at the bottom of the bleachers 
> that ran the entire length of the stadium. There used to be a pair of 
> thrashers that would fly into a spot near the finish line and another pair 
> that would fly into the bushes at the other end. I assumed the pairs were 
> nesting. I noticed them while I was there officiating track meets. 
> 
> Tom Hickcox, Baton Rouge 
Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: Tom Hickcox <cometkazie1 AT COX.NET>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 20:39:37 -0500
At 09:31 5/15/2008 , Glenn Ousset wrote:

>My eperience in the New Orleans area over the years with breeding season 
>Brown Thrasher and Northern Flicker:
>Breeding season Brown Thrashers uncommon and occuring in parks, gardens, 
>and brushy natural habitat.
>Occasionally I have seen them in residential areas in what seemed to be 
>marginal thrasher habitat.

I saw a pair of thrashers with young here by my residence in SE Baton Rouge 
over the weekend and thought nothing of it.  This is the fifth season I've 
seen them.

I see thrashers year round and always considered them to be breeders 
here.  They and the mockingbirds sing enough here to hone one's ability to 
tell them apart by song.

Before the latest revision to LSU's Bernie Moore Track Stadium several 
years ago, there was a row of lugustrums at the bottom of the bleachers 
that ran the entire length of the stadium.  There used to be a pair of 
thrashers that would fly into a spot near the finish line and another pair 
that would fly into the bushes at the other end.  I assumed the pairs were 
nesting.  I noticed them while I was there officiating track meets.

Tom Hickcox, Baton Rouge
Subject: U.S. Nightjar Survey still needs volunteers
From: Mike Wilson <mdwils AT WM.EDU>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 15:02:40 -0400
We are still looking/hoping for volunteers to adopt Nightjar Survey routes 
in many areas across the country.  The first survey window ends May 28th but 
a second window takes place June 10-June26.  There is still plenty of time 
to think about adopting a vacant route and assist the program.



The Nightjar Survey Network relies on volunteer participation by 
conservation-minded citizens, biologists, and other like-minded groups to 
adopt and conduct survey routes.  Nightjar Surveys are easy to perform and 
will not take more than two hours to complete.  Volunteers conduct roadside 
counts at night, during specific time windows when the moon is > 50 % 
illuminated, by driving and stopping at 10 points along a predetermined 
9-mile route.  At each point, the observer counts all Nightjars seen or 
heard by species during a 6-minute period.  No artificial broadcasts of the 
species' calls are used.  Please visit the United States Nightjar Survey 
Website for more details including location of routes, instructions, and 
results; www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm



Volunteer participation is important to provide information on nightjars in 
your state and the broader region.  Please consider adopting a route.



Mike Wilson

Center for Conservation Biology

College of William and Mary

Williamsburg, VA

e-mail: mdwils AT wm.edu

http://www.ccb-wm.org/nightjars.htm
Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: Beth Wiggins <wiggieb AT COX.NET>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 13:53:01 -0500
On 11 May 2005, I photographed (poor quality) a Brown Thrasher, with 
fledgling, in my back yard in Metairie.  In both 2006 and 2007, I 
photographed them in my back yard in April and again in June, but no shots 
in May and no young ones documented. I have been seeing mostly one but on 
one occasion, two in my yard for the past few weeks; and as recently as a 
few days ago, but no sign of any young ones.

Beth Wiggins
Metairie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Glenn Ousset" 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 9:31 AM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] surprise visitor, a robin


> Peter, Labird:
>
> My eperience in the New Orleans area over the years with breeding season 
> Brown Thrasher and Northern Flicker:
> Breeding season Brown Thrashers uncommon and occuring in parks, gardens, 
> and brushy natural habitat.
> Occasionally I have seen them in residential areas in what seemed to be 
> marginal thrasher habitat.
> I have regularly, but not every trip, found breeding season Northern 
> Flickers in tree lines at the edges of marshland. I may have seen them a 
> few times in breeding season in parks or residential areas.
>
> Glenn Ousset
>
> -------------- Original message from Peter H Yaukey 
> : -------------- 
>
>> LABird:
>>
>> I have long been curious about the role of urban areas as agents of
>> southward extension of birds' geographical ranges. Robins are clearly
>> extended southward by urban areas in Louisiana, and I also wonder
>> about thrashers and flickers.
>>
>> When I lived in Georgia, it was clear tto me that Song Sparrow and
>> House Wren were also found farther south as nesters in urban areas
>> than in other environments.
>>
>> PY
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>> From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana
>> Birds on behalf of James V. Remsen
>> Sent: Tue 5/13/2008 3:38 PM
>> To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
>> Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] surprise visitor, a robin
>>
>>
>>
>> On May 13, 2008, at 11:06 AM, Toddy and Chris Guidry wrote:
>>
>> > I'm curious to know how far south in the state Robins are seen
>> during
>> > breeding bird surveys?? Can anyone attest?
>> >
>> > I also saw a robin this past weekend near Bunkie.
>> >
>> >
>>
>> Toddy/Mara/LABIRD: as David Muth notes, you can see the breeding
>> distribution of American Robin or other Louisiana species in the
>> Wiedenfeld-Swan Breeding Bird Atlas, for which you can see maps online
>> at:
>>
>> http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm
>>
>> Confirmed breeding records farther south are worth 3x5s, and of course
>> any nest from anywhere always welcomed in the Louisiana Nest Record
>> Program:
>>
>> http://appl003.lsu.edu/natsci/NestingBirds.nsf/MainPage?OpenForm
>>
>>
>>
>> *********************************
>> Dr. J. V. Remsen, Jr.
>> LSU Museum of Natural Science
>> Foster Hall 119, LSU
>> Baton Rouge, LA 70803
>> najamesLSU.edu
>> http://www.museum.lsu.edu/RemsenLab.html 
Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: Glenn Ousset <gousset AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 14:31:59 +0000
Peter, Labird:

My eperience in the New Orleans area over the years with breeding season Brown 
Thrasher and Northern Flicker: 

Breeding season Brown Thrashers uncommon and occuring in parks, gardens, and 
brushy natural habitat. 

Occasionally I have seen them in residential areas in what seemed to be 
marginal thrasher habitat. 

I have regularly, but not every trip, found breeding season Northern Flickers 
in tree lines at the edges of marshland. I may have seen them a few times in 
breeding season in parks or residential areas. 


Glenn Ousset

-------------- Original message from Peter H Yaukey : 
-------------- 


> LABird: 
> 
> I have long been curious about the role of urban areas as agents of 
> southward extension of birds' geographical ranges. Robins are clearly 
> extended southward by urban areas in Louisiana, and I also wonder 
> about thrashers and flickers. 
> 
> When I lived in Georgia, it was clear tto me that Song Sparrow and 
> House Wren were also found farther south as nesters in urban areas 
> than in other environments. 
> 
> PY 
> 
> ________________________________ 
> 
> From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana 
> Birds on behalf of James V. Remsen 
> Sent: Tue 5/13/2008 3:38 PM 
> To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU 
> Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] surprise visitor, a robin 
> 
> 
> 
> On May 13, 2008, at 11:06 AM, Toddy and Chris Guidry wrote: 
> 
> > I'm curious to know how far south in the state Robins are seen 
> during 
> > breeding bird surveys?? Can anyone attest? 
> > 
> > I also saw a robin this past weekend near Bunkie. 
> > 
> > 
> 
> Toddy/Mara/LABIRD: as David Muth notes, you can see the breeding 
> distribution of American Robin or other Louisiana species in the 
> Wiedenfeld-Swan Breeding Bird Atlas, for which you can see maps online 
> at: 
> 
> http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm 
> 
> Confirmed breeding records farther south are worth 3x5s, and of course 
> any nest from anywhere always welcomed in the Louisiana Nest Record 
> Program: 
> 
> http://appl003.lsu.edu/natsci/NestingBirds.nsf/MainPage?OpenForm 
> 
> 
> 
> ********************************* 
> Dr. J. V. Remsen, Jr. 
> LSU Museum of Natural Science 
> Foster Hall 119, LSU 
> Baton Rouge, LA 70803 
> najamesLSU.edu 
> http://www.museum.lsu.edu/RemsenLab.html 
Subject: Re: Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17
From: Glenn Ousset <gousset AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 14:05:04 +0000
Craig,
The meeting place at 7:30am is the entrance to Pearl River WMA. 

Glenn
-------------- Original message from Craig Lucker 
: -------------- 



> Please specify the location to meet. The entrance to PR WMA is at the Honey 
> Island exit, not the Pearl River Turnaround. 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ---- 
> From: "Jacoulson AT AOL.COM" 
> To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU 
> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 8:43:32 PM 
> Subject: [LABIRD-L] Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17 
> 
> 
> The Orleans Audubon Society and  Crescent Bird Club are co-hosting the 
> following birding trip.  We hope you  can join us! 
> Sat., May 17                Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge and Honey 
> Island 
> Time: 7:30 a.m. Meet at the entrance of Honey Island  Wildlife Management 
> Area by Exit 11 off of I-59 just before the Mississippi border (also known as 

> Pearl River Turnaround). You will need a Wild Louisiana Stamp or a  valid LA 
> hunting or fishing license if you are between the ages of 16-59. Good chance 

> for 
> Swainson˘s Warbler and Swallow-tailed Kite is  possible. 
> Leader: Glenn Ousset  504-495-4284 (cell) 
> 
> 
> 
> **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family 
> favorites at AOL Food.      
> (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) 
> 
> 
> 
> 
Subject: Green Heron Distinguishing Characteristics
From: "Marsha J. Seyffert" <mseyffert AT COMCAST.NET>
Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 06:07:12 -0500
Hi,
From The Birds of North America on line:
Green Heron - Distinguishing Characteristics
 Small, stocky heron (41–46 cm long), neck and legs short relative to elongated 
structures of many other herons. Adult plumages similar, but females tend to be 
smaller, duller, and lighter. Sexual dimorphism appears geographically variable 
according to older studies (Oberholser 1912). Adults with glossy greenish-black 
cap and back, wings black with greenish or bluish cast, underparts gray. Wing 
feathers edged in buff. Neck of adult is rufous—the character that 
distinguishes North American populations from those of Butorides striatus . 
Legs orange, bill dark. Shaggy greenish-black crest erectile. Young birds 
striped brownish on neck and below; back brownish with buff spots; shape and 
size distinguish them from young of any other species. Color pattern of both 
adults and young cryptic, clearly adaptive for undisturbed, solitary life in 
dense vegetation (Hancock and Kushlan 1984). 

Authors: Davis, Jr., W. E., and J. A. Kushlan 

Follow the link below to see the "greenish-black crest erectile". I had never 
see the crest before I took this photo! 



http://www.pbase.com/marshawhiteseyffert/image/95828936

Best,

Marsha White Seyffert
http://www.pbase.com/MarshaWhiteSeyffert
Subject: Neotropical Songbird Tour Birds, Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana May 10, 2008
From: Huner Jay V <jvh0660 AT LOUISIANA.EDU>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 21:32:43 -0500
Subject: Neotropical Songbird Tour Birds, Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana May 
10, 2008

Location:     Sherburne Wildlife Area = Bayou Des Ourses - US Army Corps of 
Engineers; Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge - US Fish & Wildlife 
Service, and Sherburne Wildlife Management Area - Louisiana Department of 
Wildlife and Fisheries.

Iberville and Point Coupee Parishes, Louisiana.

Neotropical Songbird Tour

 Observation date:     5/10/08
 Notes:     Neotropical Songbird Tour. LA 975 from I-10 to US 190.
 Number of species:     69

Reporters: Jay Huner, Richard Gibbons, Steve Cardiff, and Donna Dittmann

Wood Duck
Anhinga
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Swallow-tailed Kite
Mississippi Kite
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Barred Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Acadian Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Purple Martin
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wood Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Tennessee Warbler
Northern Parula
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Swainson's Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Summer Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird



--
Subject: Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks nesting in Ponchatoula
From: "L. M. Lalonde" <lmlalondejr AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 21:38:06 -0400
There is a pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks nesting on my property
on the west side of Ponchatoula.  I knew they would be showing up in
this area at any time.
_________________________________________________________________
Make Windows Vista more reliable and secure with Windows Vista Service Pack 1.
http://www.windowsvista.com/SP1?WT.mc_id=hotmailvistasp1banner
Subject: wood ducks
From: Danny Dobbs <DNTDOBBS AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 21:20:40 EDT
Yesterday at Lake Martin I saw something new for me and wondered if it is  
really that unusual. I had a female wood duck with 8 very young ducklings. 
There 

 was also a second adult female following the group maybe 6-8 feet behind  
wherever they went. I have seen a lot of mama wood ducks with broods following 

along but never a second female in the picture?  Also at the lake, a pretty  
late yellow rump warbler today, a female blackburnian yesterday, and a female  
canvasback and female hooded merganser that seem to hang out with or near each 
 other. They have been around all spring. Injured I assume.  Danny  Dobbs



**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family 
favorites at AOL Food.      
(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
Subject: Re: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons?
From: "James W. Beck" <agkistrodon AT WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 19:13:18 -0500
David/Bruce/Labird,

I remember a red morph screech that chose a similar roost site in my 
great aunt's yard back in the early 80's....maybe in a black cherry 
though....they nicknamed him "fudge ripple".  He'd allow very close 
approach, and my father was able to take some nice pictures (w/o 
flash) of him/her.  This was of course, before I was into photography....

-j

At 06:56 PM 5/14/2008, you wrote:
>Bruce/Labird:
>
>I last saw the owl on its day roost May 13. It perches about 5 feet 
>up in the elderberry thicket where you describe, but not necessarily 
>on the same plant.This behaviour is a first for me-- I've never seen 
>an Eastern Screech Owl that roosted in such a conspicuous spot so 
>close to the ground--very peculiar.
>
>Please give it space, and if you want it to stay there, please avoid 
>flash and disturbance.
>
>David Muth
>New Orleans
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Bruce Baird" 
>To: 
>Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:39 PM
>Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons?
>
>
>>Dan/LaBird
>>
>>
>>These are the owl locating instructions I sent to Joelle on 5/7, the last
>>day I saw the owl.  I don't know if she ever located it.  The  owl was first
>>shown to me on 4/28 by an experienced birder, whose name I  did not 
>>get, but who
>>was also identifying all the warblers and other birds  we were seeing in the
>>oak grove at the time.  He also showed it to several  other birders 
>>as well as
>>a couple who took some pictures of it.  Later I  showed it to Bill Bergen who
>>took a good picture of it.  Craig  Mineo was also there.
>>
>>"The screech owl is asleep in a small sapling about 5 feet off the  ground
>>near the southeast edge of the live oak grove. The live oak  grove 
>>is evidently
>>where you go when you want to view  migrant warblers.  The owl was 
>>still there
>>today, 5/7.   Follow the path along the west side of the bayou until you get
>>to the live oak  grove toward the north end of the park.  Turn right on
>>another path as soon  as you get to the live oak grove and follow 
>>that but keep
>>going  straight along an overgrown path when the regular path takes 
>>a right  turn.
>>You will come to a tree that is about at the southeast corner of the grove.
>>You can get a direct view of the screech owl from the right side of  that
>>tree.  It's hard to see it if you pass the tree up, but he is about 
>>10 feet to
>>the left of this footpath and about 20 feet ahead.  If you keep on  going on
>>this overgrown footpath you will come to the service road and you 
>>have gone to
>>far."
>>
>>Bruce Baird
>>
>>
>>
>>In a message dated 5/14/2008 3:28:44 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
>>danny AT TULANE.EDU writes:
>>
>>I hardly  ever fail to call up a screech owl in Couterie Forest (City Pk,
>>NO) with my  imitation owl call.  That has always been the case, though
>>there seem  to be fewer, post-K.  I don't think I have ever seen  one,
>>however.
>>
>>Dan Purrington
>>
>>-----Original  Message-----
>>From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on  Louisiana Birds
>>[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Bruce  Baird
>>Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:07 PM
>>To:  LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
>>Subject: [LABIRD-L] Eastern Screech Owl, was  Breeding Green Herons?
>>
>>Bill/LaBird
>>
>>The last time I saw the  Eastern Screech Owl was on  5/7.  It was at the
>>exact same place  in Couturie  Forest where we saw him on 4/28.  I've
>>checked three  times since then,  including today, and he is not at  that
>>spot.
>>
>>Bruce
>>
>>
>>In a message dated 5/14/2008 9:01:25  A.M. Central Daylight Time,
>>wpbergen AT BELLSOUTH.NET  writes:
>>
>>Bruce,  Are you still seeing the Eastern Screech Owl at  Couterier Woods
>>Bill
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>**************Wondering what's  for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on
>>family favorites at AOL  Food.
>>(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family
>>favorites at AOL Food.
>>(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
>
>James W. Beck
>Broussard, Louisiana
>Venomous Photography
>"Anything that bites, and then some". 
Subject: Re: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons?
From: David Muth <dpmuth AT COX.NET>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 18:56:17 -0500
Bruce/Labird:

I last saw the owl on its day roost May 13. It perches about 5 feet up in 
the elderberry thicket where you describe, but not necessarily on the same 
plant.This behaviour is a first for me-- I've never seen an Eastern Screech 
Owl that roosted in such a conspicuous spot so close to the ground--very 
peculiar.

Please give it space, and if you want it to stay there, please avoid flash 
and disturbance.

David Muth
New Orleans

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bruce Baird" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 4:39 PM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons?


> Dan/LaBird
>
>
> These are the owl locating instructions I sent to Joelle on 5/7, the last
> day I saw the owl.  I don't know if she ever located it.  The  owl was 
> first
> shown to me on 4/28 by an experienced birder, whose name I  did not get, 
> but who
> was also identifying all the warblers and other birds  we were seeing in 
> the
> oak grove at the time.  He also showed it to several  other birders as 
> well as
> a couple who took some pictures of it.  Later I  showed it to Bill Bergen 
> who
> took a good picture of it.  Craig  Mineo was also there.
>
> "The screech owl is asleep in a small sapling about 5 feet off the  ground
> near the southeast edge of the live oak grove. The live oak  grove is 
> evidently
> where you go when you want to view  migrant warblers.  The owl was still 
> there
> today, 5/7.   Follow the path along the west side of the bayou until you 
> get
> to the live oak  grove toward the north end of the park.  Turn right on
> another path as soon  as you get to the live oak grove and follow that but 
> keep
> going  straight along an overgrown path when the regular path takes a 
> right  turn.
> You will come to a tree that is about at the southeast corner of the 
> grove.
> You can get a direct view of the screech owl from the right side of  that
> tree.  It's hard to see it if you pass the tree up, but he is about 10 
> feet to
> the left of this footpath and about 20 feet ahead.  If you keep on  going 
> on
> this overgrown footpath you will come to the service road and you have 
> gone to
> far."
>
> Bruce Baird
>
>
>
> In a message dated 5/14/2008 3:28:44 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
> danny AT TULANE.EDU writes:
>
> I hardly  ever fail to call up a screech owl in Couterie Forest (City Pk,
> NO) with my  imitation owl call.  That has always been the case, though
> there seem  to be fewer, post-K.  I don't think I have ever seen  one,
> however.
>
> Dan Purrington
>
> -----Original  Message-----
> From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on  Louisiana Birds
> [mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Bruce  Baird
> Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:07 PM
> To:  LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
> Subject: [LABIRD-L] Eastern Screech Owl, was  Breeding Green Herons?
>
> Bill/LaBird
>
> The last time I saw the  Eastern Screech Owl was on  5/7.  It was at the
> exact same place  in Couturie  Forest where we saw him on 4/28.  I've
> checked three  times since then,  including today, and he is not at  that
> spot.
>
> Bruce
>
>
> In a message dated 5/14/2008 9:01:25  A.M. Central Daylight Time,
> wpbergen AT BELLSOUTH.NET  writes:
>
> Bruce,  Are you still seeing the Eastern Screech Owl at  Couterier Woods
> Bill
>
>
>
>
>
> **************Wondering what's  for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on
> family favorites at AOL  Food.
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>
>
>
>
>
> **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on 
> family
> favorites at AOL Food.
> (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
> 
Subject: Re: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons?
From: Bruce Baird <Bbairdsr AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 17:39:51 EDT
Dan/LaBird
 
 
These are the owl locating instructions I sent to Joelle on 5/7, the last  
day I saw the owl.  I don't know if she ever located it.  The  owl was first 
shown to me on 4/28 by an experienced birder, whose name I did not get, but who 

was also identifying all the warblers and other birds  we were seeing in the 
oak grove at the time.  He also showed it to several  other birders as well as 
a couple who took some pictures of it.  Later I  showed it to Bill Bergen who 
took a good picture of it.  Craig  Mineo was also there.
 
"The screech owl is asleep in a small sapling about 5 feet off the  ground 
near the southeast edge of the live oak grove. The live oak grove is evidently 

where you go when you want to view  migrant warblers.  The owl was still there 
today, 5/7.   Follow the path along the west side of the bayou until you get 
to the live oak  grove toward the north end of the park.  Turn right on 
another path as soon as you get to the live oak grove and follow that but keep 

going straight along an overgrown path when the regular path takes a right 
turn. 

You will come to a tree that is about at the southeast corner of the  grove.  
You can get a direct view of the screech owl from the right side of  that 
tree. It's hard to see it if you pass the tree up, but he is about 10 feet to 

the left of this footpath and about 20 feet ahead.  If you keep on  going on 
this overgrown footpath you will come to the service road and you have gone to 

far."
 
Bruce Baird

 
 
In a message dated 5/14/2008 3:28:44 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  
danny AT TULANE.EDU writes:

I hardly  ever fail to call up a screech owl in Couterie Forest (City Pk,
NO) with my  imitation owl call.  That has always been the case, though
there seem  to be fewer, post-K.  I don't think I have ever seen  one,
however.

Dan Purrington 

-----Original  Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on  Louisiana Birds
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Bruce  Baird
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:07 PM
To:  LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: [LABIRD-L] Eastern Screech Owl, was  Breeding Green Herons?

Bill/LaBird

The last time I saw the  Eastern Screech Owl was on  5/7.  It was at the
exact same place  in Couturie  Forest where we saw him on 4/28.  I've
checked three  times since then,  including today, and he is not at  that
spot.

Bruce


In a message dated 5/14/2008 9:01:25  A.M. Central Daylight Time,
wpbergen AT BELLSOUTH.NET  writes:

Bruce,  Are you still seeing the Eastern Screech Owl at  Couterier Woods
Bill





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Subject: Re: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons?
From: "Purrington, Robert D" <danny AT TULANE.EDU>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 15:28:04 -0500
I hardly ever fail to call up a screech owl in Couterie Forest (City Pk,
NO) with my imitation owl call.  That has always been the case, though
there seem to be fewer, post-K.  I don't think I have ever seen one,
however.

Dan Purrington 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Bruce Baird
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 12:07 PM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: [LABIRD-L] Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons?

Bill/LaBird

The last time I saw the Eastern Screech Owl was on  5/7.  It was at the
exact same place in Couturie  Forest where we saw him on 4/28.  I've
checked three times since then,  including today, and he is not at that
spot.

Bruce


In a message dated 5/14/2008 9:01:25 A.M. Central Daylight Time,
wpbergen AT BELLSOUTH.NET writes:

Bruce,  Are you still seeing the Eastern Screech Owl at Couterier Woods
Bill





**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on
family favorites at AOL Food.
(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)
Subject: Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17
From: Joelle Finley <joelle_finley AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 14:12:32 -0500
Hi Craig and LABIRD,

We will meet by Exit 11 for the CBC/OAS birding trip this Saturday. Sorry 
for the confusion.

Joelle Finley
New Orleans

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Craig Lucker" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 7:54 AM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17


Please specify the location to meet. The entrance to PR WMA is at the Honey 
Island exit, not the Pearl River Turnaround.
Subject: Eastern Screech Owl, was Breeding Green Herons?
From: Bruce Baird <Bbairdsr AT AOL.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 13:07:07 EDT
Bill/LaBird
 
The last time I saw the Eastern Screech Owl was on  5/7.  It was at the exact 
same place in Couturie  Forest where we saw him on 4/28.  I've checked three 
times since then,  including today, and he is not at that spot.
 
Bruce
 
 
In a message dated 5/14/2008 9:01:25 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
wpbergen AT BELLSOUTH.NET writes:

Bruce,  Are you still seeing the Eastern Screech Owl at Couterier Woods   Bill





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Subject: Swallowtail kite near DeQuincy
From: Michaelcav AT AOL.COM
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 12:27:21 EDT
Friends, as we were traveling back from Houston to Baton Rouge yesterday,  we 
were treated to a tree-top swallow-tail kite about 2 miles WEST of the  
DeQuincy city limits sign on Highway 12. It was neat to come home to read Van 

Remsen's reference to the on-line nesting atlas and see there are STK sites 
near 

there.  I had thought they were mainly in the Atchafalaya (where  we also 
THOUGHT we saw one fleetingly as we came into Krotz Springs -- we have seen 
them 

there on other occasions)
 
Cordially,
Michael Cavanaugh

James V. Remsen wrote:
(_http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm_ 
(http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm) )  




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Subject: Re: non migrating robins
From: Richard Greig <RGreig AT COASTALENV.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 10:07:30 -0500
Don,
 
One of the female robins in my neighborhood is definitely there year round 
(based on two tertials being white) and I am willing to bet that the majority 
of the nesting individuals in my area are year round residents since I had a 
nest fledge two young on February 29th 
(http://picasaweb.google.com/rngatlsu/RobinNestInFebruary) . 

Richard Greig
Baton Rouge, LA

>>> On 5/13/2008 at 3:15 PM, in message 
<59520.66489.qm AT web82302.mail.mud.yahoo.com>, Don Richardson 
 wrote: 

I can usually find some American Robins in my area near Houston but I suspect 
they all migrate. There are some five different subspecies of American Robin 
and I'd say that those that winter here are different birds than the ones that 
breed here in summer. I'm not sure there is such a thing as a non migrating 
Robin - at lease except for an occasional individual. Maybe I'm wrong and if so 
- set me straight. 


My guess is that my wintering Robins are _Turdis migratorius migratorius_ while 
those I see here as breeders are T. m. achrusterus. Note that I'm not claiming 
to have lots of expertise with this - - - I just doubt they are the same 
Robins. 


Don Richardson
Pearland Texas



----- Original Message ----
From: G Landry 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU 
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:51:35 AM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] non migrating robins

There has long been resident populations of non migrating Robins here  
and there in LA, there is one on the UL Campus and surrounding  
neighborhoods,  in Lafayette, Ive seen Robins in that region for 40  
years, all summer long, not many but some are always present.

Also observed a single pair in my home town of Franklin several years  
back during Summer months.

Its always interesting to speculate on why some individuals of a  
migrating species choose not to do so.  Wonder what they tell their  
cousins when they come down for winter visits?


Garrie 
Subject: Re: Breeding Green Herons?
From: jwnix <jwnix AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:03 -0500
each of the resources I searched ONLY list the male as having the  
orange legs...no mention whatsoever of the female having the fancy  
color change.....

it would seem logical  to me to think that IF they changed, it would  
be noted....??!!!  Whereas if they stay the same color, there would be  
no need to mention her legs!!
Josephine
avery island


On May 14, 2008, at 9:51 AM, James V. Remsen wrote:

On May 13, 2008, at 3:50 PM, Linda Beall wrote:

> Thanks, Van.  Didn't know the atlas was online...very nice!  Perhaps  
> I made an incorrect assumption that two Green Herons feeding  
> together were "a pair".  I always think of them as loners.

Linda/LABIRD -- a pair is a logical assumption but not sufficient to  
infer breeding pair.

>
> Another question...do only males have orange legs during high- 
> breeding?  I looked in several books but didn't find a specific  
> answer.
>

I can't find any indication that males and females differ.  Again,  
probably a breeding pair, but doesn't quite make atlas criteria as  
"probable" without additional data.

*********************************
Dr. J. V. Remsen, Jr.
LSU Museum of Natural Science
Foster Hall 119, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najamesLSU.edu
http://www.museum.lsu.edu/RemsenLab.html
Subject: Re: Breeding Green Herons?
From: "James V. Remsen" <najames AT LSU.EDU>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 09:51:14 -0500
On May 13, 2008, at 3:50 PM, Linda Beall wrote:

> Thanks, Van.  Didn't know the atlas was online...very nice!  Perhaps I 
> made an incorrect assumption that two Green Herons feeding together 
> were "a pair".  I always think of them as loners.

Linda/LABIRD -- a pair is a logical assumption but not sufficient to 
infer breeding pair.

>
> Another question...do only males have orange legs during 
> high-breeding?  I looked in several books but didn't find a specific 
> answer.
>

I can't find any indication that males and females differ.  Again, 
probably a breeding pair, but doesn't quite make atlas criteria as 
"probable" without additional data.

*********************************
Dr. J. V. Remsen, Jr.
LSU Museum of Natural Science
Foster Hall 119, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najamesLSU.edu
http://www.museum.lsu.edu/RemsenLab.html
Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: Peter H Yaukey <PYaukey AT UNO.EDU>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 09:08:51 -0500
LABird:
 
I have long been curious about the role of urban areas as agents of
southward extension of birds' geographical ranges.  Robins are clearly
extended southward by urban areas in Louisiana, and I also wonder
about thrashers and flickers.
 
When I lived in Georgia, it was clear tto me that Song Sparrow and
House Wren were also found farther south as nesters in urban areas
than in other environments.
 
PY

________________________________

From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana
Birds on behalf of James V. Remsen
Sent: Tue 5/13/2008 3:38 PM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] surprise visitor, a robin



On May 13, 2008, at 11:06 AM, Toddy and Chris Guidry wrote:

> I'm curious to know how far south in the state Robins are seen
during
> breeding bird surveys??  Can anyone attest?
>
> I also saw a robin this past weekend near Bunkie.
>
>

Toddy/Mara/LABIRD:  as David Muth notes, you can see the breeding
distribution of American Robin or other Louisiana species in the
Wiedenfeld-Swan Breeding Bird Atlas, for which you can see maps online
at:

http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm

Confirmed breeding records farther south are worth 3x5s, and of course
any nest from anywhere always welcomed in the Louisiana Nest Record
Program:

http://appl003.lsu.edu/natsci/NestingBirds.nsf/MainPage?OpenForm



*********************************
Dr. J. V. Remsen, Jr.
LSU Museum of Natural Science
Foster Hall 119, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najamesLSU.edu
http://www.museum.lsu.edu/RemsenLab.html
Subject: Re: Breeding Green Herons?
From: wpbergen <wpbergen AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 09:00:36 -0500
Bruce, Are you still seeing the Eastern Screech Owl at Couterier Woods  Bill
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Linda Beall" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:50 PM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] Breeding Green Herons?


> Thanks, Van.  Didn't know the atlas was online...very nice!  Perhaps I 
> made an incorrect assumption that two Green Herons feeding together were 
> "a pair".  I always think of them as loners.
> 
> Another question...do only males have orange legs during high-breeding?  
> I looked in several books but didn't find a specific answer.
> 
> Linda
> 
> James V. Remsen wrote:
>> Linda/LABIRD:  likely but not necessarily, especially since one can't 
>> tell if they were a pair for certain.  St. Tammany had a number of 
>> "possible" breeding records in the Wiedenfeld-Swan atlas 
>> (http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm) but no records that would 
>> elevate its status to "probable".  We haven't keep track of changes to 
>> the old atlas in a systematic way.
>>
>
Subject: Re: Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17
From: Craig Lucker <southernautoglass AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 05:54:41 -0700
Please specify the location to meet. The entrance to PR WMA is at the Honey 
Island exit, not the Pearl River Turnaround. 




----- Original Message ----
From: "Jacoulson AT AOL.COM" 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 8:43:32 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17


The Orleans Audubon Society and  Crescent Bird Club are co-hosting the 
following birding trip.  We hope you  can join us! 
Sat., May 17                Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge and Honey 
Island 
Time: 7:30 a.m. Meet at the entrance of Honey Island  Wildlife Management 
Area by Exit 11 off of I-59 just before the Mississippi border (also  known as 
Pearl River Turnaround). You will need a Wild Louisiana Stamp or a  valid LA 
hunting or fishing license if you are between the ages of 16-59. Good  chance 
for 

Swainson˘s Warbler and Swallow-tailed Kite is  possible. 
Leader: Glenn Ousset  504-495-4284 (cell)



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Subject: Willow Flycatchers, Cassin's Sparrow, plus other notables - nw. LA - 12 May 2008
From: Devin Eby-Bosler <debybo1 AT LSU.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 23:08:49 -0500
LABIRD,

 On Monday (12 May), Justin Bosler and I met up with Terry Davis and Jonathan 
Carpenter at the Cassin's Sparrow location on W. Viking Dr. in Bossier City 
(Bossier Parish). We didn't arrive until ~8 AM. Terry had been there since 7 AM 
and did not hear/see the Cassin's Sparrow by the time we arrived. After 
listening, waiting, and looking at every sparrow for the next 10+ minutes 
without any luck, we decided to use playback as a last resort to determine if 
the sparrow was actually still there or not. As it turns out, the CASSIN'S 
SPARROW was indeed still present. Within several seconds of playing its song 
once, the male sparrow was up singing on the metal fence by the white oil/gas 
tank. For all of those going to see the sparrow, please limit the use of 
playback, so as not too confuse the bird anymore or drive it off. Since the 
initial discovery on 10 May, the sparrow's behavior and habits have changed 
quite dramatically over the past couple of days. Instead of exp! 

 ending energy skylarking and delivering its flight song, it appears to be 
spending much more time foraging out of view in the adjacent wheat/barley 
field. Maybe this out-of-range male eventually realized that there are no mates 
to attract or rival males competing for territory in the area. Now, the sparrow 
sings very infrequently from the fence or low shrubbery at the edge of the 
road. On Monday, it was also observed foraging on the ground for a short time. 
Not surprisingly, this migratory sparrow of the southwest and south-central 
short grass prairies has a history of vagrancy. In late spring, apparently a 
few lost males overshoot their breeding grounds and show up much further north 
and east of thier normal range. There are a few records for the Midwest and 
Northeast. Remarkably, there is a single record for Nova Scotia and another for 
Maine. Although only about 350 miles east of its east-most breeding range in c. 
Texas, this individual constitutes a first state r! 

 ecord for Louisiana (if accepted by the LBRC).  Another exceptional fi
nd for Terry in 2008! Additional video images of this bird can be viewed at the 
following link: 

http://snipurl.com/28r6c [picasaweb_google_com] 
Also at the site were a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, numerous 
Dickcissels, and 2 lingering ad. White-crowned Sparrows. 


 From here, we continued on to Cane's Landing on the banks of the Red River in 
Bossier City to try for another review list species; Willow Flycatcher. Within 
minutes of arriving, one vocal male WILLOW FLYCATCHER was heard announcing its 
presence from within the early successional willow thicket below the dump site. 
This low-lying, swampy tract of willows and cottonwoods provides optimal 
breeding habitat for Willow Flycatchers. In an attempt to visually locate the 
singing male, a second male was delivering its 'fitz bew' song in response 
nearby. Finally, one of the males flew up to an exposed perch and allowed for 
stellar, unobstructed views and video. While searching for the singing males, 
another Willow, possibly a female was encountered along with a Least 
Flycatcher. Several video images of the male Willow Flycatcher can be found at 
the following link: http://snipurl.com/28r6f [picasaweb_google_com] 

Other birds of interest at Cane's Landing were an ad. Broad-winged Hawk, a 
Spotted Sandpiper, a soft-singing Swainson's Thrush, at least 3 breeding pairs 
of Warbling Vireos, 125+ lingering Cedar Waxwings, multiple Yellow Warblers, a 
singing male Black-and-white Warbler, 2 Northern Waterthrushes, a male 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and several breeding pairs of Indigo Buntings and 
Baltimore Orioles. 


 A late morning/early afternoon run up to the pecan grove and sod farm on 
Sentell Rd. in Dixie (Caddo Parish) yielded a few more noteworthy sightings. 
The pecan grove was alive with migrants and the usual summer residents. Unusual 
for the date and location was an ad. Bald Eagle sailing N over the pecan grove, 
however a pair is presumed to nest along the Red River in the area. Sharing the 
sky with the eagle were at least 4 ad. Mississippi Kites drifting high 
overhead. Eastern Wood-Pewees and Great Crested Flycatchers were vocal, a few 
Tennessee Warblers sang from the canopy, an ad. male American Redstart foraged 
low in the outer branches of a pecan, a male Summer Tanager joined the chorus, 
and a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak appeared briefly. A late push of Eastern 
Kingbirds (45+) was underway along Sentell Rd. as they lined the fences to 
fly-catch and refuel. The bountiful Eastern Kingbirds were accompanied by 2 
Western Kingbirds. At least 2 pairs of breeding Horned! 

 Larks were present at the sod farm, which is fewer than in past years 
according to Terry. Lark Sparrows were in good numbers with a minimum of 12 
between the pecan grove and the sod farm, including several displaying males. 
Upwards of 7-8 Savannah Sparrows linger at the sod farm and the best bird, a 
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was singing from a ridge of taller grasses toward the 
center of the property. This individual may be attempting to breed at the sod 
farm this year, which is always notable anywhere in n. LA, as they are rare and 
local breeders in the state. All in all, a memorable half-day of birding in NW 
LA! 


Good Birding,
Devin Bosler
LSU-Baton Rouge
Subject: Birding Honey Island Swamp on Saturday, May 17
From: Jacoulson AT AOL.COM
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 21:43:32 EDT
 
The Orleans Audubon Society and  Crescent Bird Club are co-hosting the 
following birding trip.  We hope you  can join us! 
Sat., May 17                 Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge and Honey 
Island 
Time: 7:30 a.m. Meet at the entrance of Honey Island  Wildlife Management 
Area by Exit 11 off of I-59 just before the Mississippi border (also  known as 
Pearl River Turnaround). You will need a Wild Louisiana Stamp or a  valid LA 
hunting or fishing license if you are between the ages of 16-59. Good chance 
for 

Swainson’s Warbler and Swallow-tailed Kite is  possible. 
Leader: Glenn Ousset  504-495-4284 (cell)



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Subject: Cameron Sunday
From: David Muth <dpmuth AT COX.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:22:53 -0500
Labird:

As noted by Dan Purrington, he and I birded Cameron Sunday after a squal 
line with scattered but imbedded thunderstorms passed over at dawn. Heavy 
rain passed over the town, but there was little evidence of onshore rain to 
the west. By 0800 winds were steady from the north.  After doing Rutherford 
Bch. early (not much--others have probably noted numerous 
territorialDickcissels and Least Ternson scrapes on the post Rita beach 
ridge), we headed west to Peveto. Only a scatter of migrants, highlighted by 
2 Olive-sided Flycatchers (already found by others before our arrival), a 
very late Blue-headed Vireo (Dan saw and heard--I only heard it sing), and a 
late Ruby-crowned Kinglet. E. Wood-pewee was the only migrant in double 
digits. We went to Hackberry Ridge where a round up was taking place, but 
were graciously welcomed by the ranchers. No House Crow, and little else. By 
2:30 there was no sign of a fallout,so we headed out. A stop at the old 
Trahan Place to look for Bobolinks turned up two callling American Crows and 
singing Dickcissels.

There are three lists: Rutherford, Peveto,and the rest of Cameron.

David Muth
New Orleans

Location:     Rutherford Beach
Observation date:     5/11/08
Notes:     pavement to pavement, Rutherford to Broussard; did not stop in 
marsh. After frontal passge 1 hour earlier, intermittent squall line, wind 
shift; gulf flat
Number of species:     42

Brown Pelican     35
Great Blue Heron     2
Great Egret     17
Snowy Egret     40
Little Blue Heron     1
Tricolored Heron     1
White Ibis     1
Roseate Spoonbill     1
Clapper Rail     1
Black-bellied Plover     29
Snowy Plover     7
Wilson's Plover     9
Killdeer     1
Black-necked Stilt     11
American Avocet     20
Willet     48
Whimbrel     3
Ruddy Turnstone     68
Sanderling     265
Semipalmated Sandpiper     3
Dunlin     4
Buff-breasted Sandpiper     8     fly by over surf west to east
Laughing Gull     130     100 behind shrimper, few on beach
Ring-billed Gull     6
Herring Gull (American)     30     3 adults
Least Tern     135     on scrapes on high beach in several locations
Caspian Tern     65
Common Tern     44
Forster's Tern     6
Royal Tern     20
Gull-billed Tern 1
Black Skimmer     80
Common Nighthawk     1
Eastern Kingbird     6
Barn Swallow     35
Common Yellowthroat     7
Savannah Sparrow     1
Dickcissel     25     singing and territorial along back beach
Red-winged Blackbird     95
Eastern Meadowlark     16
Boat-tailed Grackle     100
Orchard Oriole     5

Location:     Peveto Woods - Baton Rouge Audubon Society
Observation date:     5/11/08
Notes:     after frontal passage with squall line 0600 h and wind shift to 
north.
Number of species:     44

American White Pelican     8
Brown Pelican     2
Snowy Egret     4
Cattle Egret     10
Roseate Spoonbill     2
Black Vulture     1
Turkey Vulture     1
Black-bellied Plover     1
Sanderling     6
Laughing Gull     100     behind shrimp boat
Forster's Tern     1     behind shrimp boat
Royal Tern     10     behind shrimp boat
Mourning Dove     1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     5
Chimney Swift     2
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     8
Downy Woodpecker     3     carrying food
Olive-sided Flycatcher     2     video
Eastern Wood-Pewee     15
Eastern Kingbird     6
Blue-headed Vireo     1     RDP--very late; May 5 latest in Lowery
Red-eyed Vireo     5
Purple Martin     6
Barn Swallow     12
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1     very late; ties Lowery
Gray-cheeked Thrush     1
Catharus sp.     2
Gray Catbird     3
Northern Mockingbird     6
Tennessee Warbler     6
Chestnut-sided Warbler     2
Magnolia Warbler     1
Black-throated Green Warbler     4
Blackburnian Warbler     3
Bay-breasted Warbler     1
American Redstart     1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Canada Warbler     1
Northern Cardinal     1
Indigo Bunting     3
Painted Bunting     3     singing
Red-winged Blackbird     10
Boat-tailed Grackle     10
Orchard Oriole     6

Location:     Cameron County, LA, US
Observation date:     5/11/08
Notes:     w/ RDP Cameron (see checklists for Peveto and Rutherford); 
calling Am. Crows behind old Trahan house on Blue Buck ridge, just east of 
Head of Hollow Cemetery. Highway, Ferry, Holly Bch., Hackberry ridge.
Number of species:     71

Mottled Duck     9
Blue-winged Teal     6
Lesser Scaup     3
Pied-billed Grebe     1
Brown Pelican     6
Neotropic Cormorant     8
Great Blue Heron     2
Great Egret     3
Snowy Egret     4
Little Blue Heron     2
Tricolored Heron     9
Green Heron     6
Black-crowned Night-Heron     5
White Ibis     5
White-faced Ibis     3
Roseate Spoonbill     8
Black Vulture     15
Turkey Vulture     15
Clapper Rail     2
King Rail     2
Common Moorhen     8
American Coot     4
Black-bellied Plover     4
Snowy Plover     2
Wilson's Plover     2
Semipalmated Plover     1     Hackberry Ridge
Killdeer     6
Black-necked Stilt     8
Spotted Sandpiper     2
Greater Yellowlegs     1
Willet     15
Ruddy Turnstone     20
Sanderling     45
Least Sandpiper     5
White-rumped Sandpiper     6     fly-by highway
Laughing Gull     30
Ring-billed Gull     1
Herring Gull     7
Least Tern     20
Caspian Tern     125
Black Tern     2
Common Tern     5
Forster's Tern     2
Royal Tern     65
Sandwich Tern     5
Rock Pigeon     2
Eurasian Collared-Dove     5
Mourning Dove     15
Common Nighthawk     3
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     2     1 motel, 1 Holly Beach
Eastern Wood-Pewee     5
Eastern Kingbird     10
Loggerhead Shrike     8
Red-eyed Vireo     1
Blue Jay     1
American Crow     2 Blue Buck Ridge, calling
Fish Crow     1
Purple Martin     5
Barn Swallow     40
Marsh Wren     4
Swainson's Thrush     1
Northern Mockingbird     10
European Starling     25
Common Yellowthroat     1
Painted Bunting     2
Dickcissel     7
Red-winged Blackbird     120
Boat-tailed Grackle     50
Brown-headed Cowbird     3
Orchard Oriole     4
House Sparrow     1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: Cassin's Sparrow, etc.
From: Buford Myers <bmyers990 AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 20:13:58 -0500
Labird,

Today Curt Sorrells and I went to Bossier City. We met Terry Davis and 
proceeded to the location near the end of Viking Road just before noon. We were 
rewarded with a short look at the Cassin's Sparrow on the fence surrounding the 
gas tank, and then a longer look. Curt got video, and Terry made audio 
recordings. While on the fence, the bird sang both truncated versions of its 
song (lacking the terminal couple of notes) and full versions. When not on the 
fence, it spent most of its time invisible in the Johnson Weed and other 
vegetation to the left of the farm road, between that road and the wheat field. 
Others have already commented on Terry's extraordinary auditory acuity in 
hearing and recognizing the bird's song while Terry was driving and with the 
bird well downwind. I'll just add that there were numerous dickcissels singing 
there. Their songs don't resemble the Cassin's, but they certainly contributed 
plenty of background noise, making his feat even more remarkable. 


We left there and went to Cane's Landing. The territorial Willow Flycatchers 
which Terry had previously located there were not very vocal or cooperative, 
but eventually we obtained a couple of responses to ipod, including one pretty 
good look. In addition, Terry spotted the nest of a Warbling Vireo, in a 
cottonwood tree (the tree?) where he and the Boslers had seen a bird carrying 
nesting material the day before. 


Mac
Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: mara domingue <curiouskitty AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:50:58 -0500
Linda/Labird,

In a message dated Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:37 PM 
"Linda Beall"  writes: 

>Robins gathered mud from a puddle in my own yard.  
I don't  know where they were nesting, but it had to 
be within a few blocks of my house, also in Covington
but  probably over a mile from the Clifton's son. So 
my birds were a different breeding pair.
 
> Linda

Robins won't fly a mile to build a nest if preferred mud 
isn't more available nearer?

In retrospect, the robin I saw yesterday may very well 
have been gathering mud! It was scavenging on bare 
Earth. I didn't watch it with binos. I was moving the
sprinkler. I did take a couple photos though but not 
with a zoom, and after photo review, I can't say I can
see a blob of mud in its bill. Last year, I recorded a 
robin in New Roads on my breeding survey about a 
mile or so from my house as a crow flies, and 
www.manybirds.com  shows a documented breeding 
record here/there.

mara domingue
ventress, la
curiouskitty AT bell.south.net 
Subject: Re: breeding robins
From: Buford Myers <bmyers990 AT EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 19:14:22 -0500
There are resident, nesting Am. Robins around my home in Eunice.

Mac
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Muth" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 12:10 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] breeding robins


> Labird:
>
> The La. breeding bird atlas showed confirmed breeding at New Orleans and 
> Lake Charles, so basically the 1-10 corridor, but absent or sporadic from 
> the easter Florida Parishes and much of south central Louisiana. They also 
> show probable breeding near Houma and on Grand Isle. The GI bird(s) were 
> definitely anamalous--that was the only year I ever knew of summering 
> robins down there. As is clear, breeding pairs can show up anywhere in 
> residential areas of Louisiana, but breeding in "natural" areas is more 
> likely in the north half of the state. They've been in a few New Orleans 
> neighborhoods for decades, but my impression is they are down since the 
> hurricane. I've assumed that their presence in some neighborhoods but 
> absence from other seeminly identical neighborhoods habitat wise is a 
> function of New Orleans being on the extreme periphery of the range, and 
> slow recruitment. The New Orleans birds flock up early in the fall and 
> move into places like City Park. Who knows if they m!
> igrate from there, or are swallowed up when northerners arrive in 
> November.
> --
> David Muth
> New Orleans 
Subject: No Subject
From: Richard Gibbons <rgibbo3 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:04:15 -0700
Jay and LABIRD,

I applaud the support of birding trails in Louisiana by the Department
of Culture, Tourism, and Recreation. I wonder if the department would
be interested in sponsoring an event to promote these trails. As it is,
there has been very little promotion of the trails beyond word of mouth
and a few brochures. 

Would it be worth drafting a letter and soliciting signatory
organizations to support some type of birding event to promote the
birding trails? 

Would Louisiana birders participate in some kind of birding event such
as a Big Sit, Big Quad, or Big Day to promote Louisiana birding?


Richard Gibbons
Baton Rouge, LA 


      
Subject: Re: Breeding Green Herons?
From: janine and paul robin <j-probin1982 AT PEOPLEPC.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 17:43:51 -0400
Hi Linda,
 I had a breeding pair of Green Herons on the pond's edge in May of 2001,2002 
and 2003. After 2003 I had new neighbors who were way to noisy for the Green 
Herons to nest. I see them every spring,but they haven't nested here since 
2003. All 3 years, I saw the fledglings as they walked on the tree branches 
that hung over the pond. It was really cool. 

                                         Janine in Folsom, LA
-----Original Message-----
>From: Linda Beall 
>Sent: May 13, 2008 3:53 PM
>To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
>Subject: [LABIRD-L] Breeding Green Herons?
>
>Hi LABird,
>
>I received an email from friends in Folsom who saw two adult Green 
>Herons feeding together in the stream behind their home.  They said both 
>bird's legs were bright orange.
>
>I looked in the Louisiana Breeding Bird Atlas and found no confirmed 
>breeding datapoints mapped for St. Tammany Parish.  Would this sighting 
>indicate a "breeding pair"?
>
>Thanks!
>Linda


________________________________________
PeoplePC Online
A better way to Internet
http://www.peoplepc.com
Subject: NEXRAD observed bird migration, 5-13-08
From: John Arvin <jarvin AT GCBO.ORG>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 16:24:23 -0500
Against all odds it would appear that events and conditions will come together 
to produce yet another fallout of sorts this weekend (virtually every weekend 
this season - amazing). Birds were arriving at the Houston and Lake Charles 
stations and encountering increasing instability over land. West of the area of 
disturbed weather small flights seemed to be passing just off the coast at 
Brownsville and Corpus and continuing, with a hook (or is that a slice?) toward 
the NE north of Corpus. The instability is forecast to proceed to strong to 
severe thunderstorms later this afternoon into tomorrow morning with another 
round on Thursday. As always this system will be gradually shifting to the 
east. At the moment New Orleans and Mobile are not showing bird activity. That 
may change over the next couple of days as weather presently over Texas shifts 
eastward. 


Actual frontal passage is expected Thursday night or Friday so the weekend may 
turn out to be pleasant and birdy - a winning combination. 


John C. Arvin
Research Coordinator
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
103 W. Hwy 332
Lake Jackson, TX 77566
(979) 480-0999
Fax: (979) 480-0777
jarvin AT gcbo.org
www.gcbo.org
eBird.org/gcbo
Subject: Re: Breeding Green Herons?
From: Linda Beall <lbeall AT MINILOGIC.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:50:41 -0500
Thanks, Van.  Didn't know the atlas was online...very nice!  Perhaps I 
made an incorrect assumption that two Green Herons feeding together were 
"a pair".  I always think of them as loners.

Another question...do only males have orange legs during high-breeding?  
I looked in several books but didn't find a specific answer.

Linda

James V. Remsen wrote:
> Linda/LABIRD:  likely but not necessarily, especially since one can't 
> tell if they were a pair for certain.  St. Tammany had a number of 
> "possible" breeding records in the Wiedenfeld-Swan atlas 
> (http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm) but no records that would 
> elevate its status to "probable".  We haven't keep track of changes to 
> the old atlas in a systematic way.
>
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Lake Villa Bird Sanctuary, Metairie , 5/12/08
From: Bruce Baird <Bbairdsr AT AOL.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 16:45:14 EDT
 
  
____________________________________
 From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org
To: Bbairdsr AT aol.com
Sent: 5/13/2008  3:40:08 P.M. Central Daylight Time
Subj: eBird Report - Lake Villa Bird  Sanctuary, Metairie , 5/12/08




Location:     Lake Villa Bird  Sanctuary, Metairie
Observation date:     5/12/08
Number  of species:     16

Mallard (Domestic type)   9
Great Blue Heron     1
Great Egret   1
Snowy Egret     1
Little Blue Heron   1
Killdeer     3
Laughing Gull   4
Least Tern     2
Black Skimmer   19
Rock Pigeon     18
Mourning Dove   16
American Crow     2
Purple Martin   4
European Starling     1
Red-winged  Blackbird     4
House Sparrow      2

This report was generated automatically by eBird  v2(http://ebird.org)





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Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: "James V. Remsen" <najames AT LSU.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:38:41 -0500
On May 13, 2008, at 11:06 AM, Toddy and Chris Guidry wrote:

> I'm curious to know how far south in the state Robins are seen during
> breeding bird surveys??  Can anyone attest?
>
> I also saw a robin this past weekend near Bunkie.
>
>

Toddy/Mara/LABIRD:  as David Muth notes, you can see the breeding 
distribution of American Robin or other Louisiana species in the 
Wiedenfeld-Swan Breeding Bird Atlas, for which you can see maps online 
at:

http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm

Confirmed breeding records farther south are worth 3x5s, and of course 
any nest from anywhere always welcomed in the Louisiana Nest Record 
Program:

http://appl003.lsu.edu/natsci/NestingBirds.nsf/MainPage?OpenForm



*********************************
Dr. J. V. Remsen, Jr.
LSU Museum of Natural Science
Foster Hall 119, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najamesLSU.edu
http://www.museum.lsu.edu/RemsenLab.html
Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: Linda Beall <lbeall AT MINILOGIC.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:37:49 -0500
Janine,

I think Olga and Walter Clifton's son had Am. Robins nesting around his 
Covington house (near Tyler)  for a couple of years.  Some years ago 
(maybe 8?) Robins gathered mud from a puddle in my own yard.  I don't 
know where they were nesting, but it had to be within a few blocks of my 
house, also in Covington but  probably over a mile from the Clifton's 
son.  So my birds were a different breeding pair.

Linda

janine robin wrote:
> I saw a robin while birding last week in Folsom. I have never seen a 
> robin in this area except in the winter. I was very surprised to see it.
>                                        Janine in Folsom
>
Subject: Re: Breeding Green Herons?
From: "James V. Remsen" <najames AT LSU.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:33:20 -0500
Linda/LABIRD:  likely but not necessarily, especially since one can't 
tell if they were a pair for certain.  St. Tammany had a number of 
"possible" breeding records in the Wiedenfeld-Swan atlas 
(http://www.manybirds.com/atlas/atlas.htm) but no records that would 
elevate its status to "probable".  We haven't keep track of changes to 
the old atlas in a systematic way.


On May 13, 2008, at 2:53 PM, Linda Beall wrote:

> Hi LABird,
>
> I received an email from friends in Folsom who saw two adult Green 
> Herons feeding together in the stream behind their home.  They said 
> both bird's legs were bright orange.
>
> I looked in the Louisiana Breeding Bird Atlas and found no confirmed 
> breeding datapoints mapped for St. Tammany Parish.  Would this 
> sighting indicate a "breeding pair"?
>
*********************************
Dr. J. V. Remsen, Jr.
LSU Museum of Natural Science
Foster Hall 119, LSU
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najamesLSU.edu
http://www.museum.lsu.edu/RemsenLab.html
Subject: Re: non migrating robins
From: Don Richardson <donrich514 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 13:15:18 -0700
I can usually find some American Robins in my area near Houston but I suspect 
they all migrate. There are some five different subspecies of American Robin 
and I'd say that those that winter here are different birds than the ones that 
breed here in summer. I'm not sure there is such a thing as a non migrating 
Robin - at lease except for an occasional individual. Maybe I'm wrong and if so 
- set me straight. 


My guess is that my wintering Robins are _Turdis migratorius migratorius_ while 
those I see here as breeders are T. m. achrusterus. Note that I'm not claiming 
to have lots of expertise with this - - - I just doubt they are the same 
Robins. 

 
Don Richardson
Pearland Texas



----- Original Message ----
From: G Landry 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:51:35 AM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] non migrating robins

There has long been resident populations of non migrating Robins here  
and there in LA, there is one on the UL Campus and surrounding  
neighborhoods,  in Lafayette, Ive seen Robins in that region for 40  
years, all summer long, not many but some are always present.

Also observed a single pair in my home town of Franklin several years  
back during Summer months.

Its always interesting to speculate on why some individuals of a  
migrating species choose not to do so.  Wonder what they tell their  
cousins when they come down for winter visits?


Garrie 
Subject: LSU Big Day and Eco-tourism in Cameron (and elsewhere)
From: Huner Jay V <jvh0660 AT LOUISIANA.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:12:05 -0500
Prior to my retirement from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 
2005, I was active in the ecotourism potential for our state but reference 
to the ULL "area of influence" which is southwestern Louisiana. Three 
birding events developed from the work I was doing including the Neotropical 
Songbird Tour in Sherburne, the Wading Bird/Shorebird Event at South Farm in 
Sherburne, and the Eagle Festival in Morgan City. We were working to develop 
birding materials and seasonal checklists for the Palmetto Island State Park 
which sort of went on hold with Hurricane Rita but I understand that the 
park should be up and running in about 18 months. My very last project 
involved examining the potential of the Leach Family holdings in Cameron and 
Calcasieu Parishes for private birding/eco-tourism to augment an existing 
hunting/fishing operation at Sweet Lake. Hurricane Rita sort of messed 
everything up there but if you want a high end place to stay and decent 
birding, the Leache's lodge is a great place to go.

One of the things I did in my work was to look at birding tours. Many go to 
High Island. Only ONE schedules the Cameron are specifically - Bird Treks. 
Now, the High Island-oriented folks DO poach in Louisiana. On a recent trip 
to southern Florida and the Keys, one of the participants from Philadelphia 
said that he had been on a tour last year at this time that centered on High 
Island but that their BIG DAY was 121 birds in Cameron Parish when 
they "slipped" across the border incognito! 

Okay, I just got a flyer from one "higher end" birding company that is 
actually targeting the Cameron area for next spring during migration. So 
there will now, be two tours in Cameron and maybe more are to come?!

I suspect that publicity surrounding the ABA meeting in Lafayette last 
spring has had a lot to do with recognizing Louisiana as a birding 
destination. While the numbers were "down," those who came apparently had a 
good feeling for their visits and there was a lot of publicity both before 
the meeting and following it in the various birding magazines. So, many 
thanks are owed the organizers of the meeting.

I think that Richard Gibbons'suggestion about Big Day competitions for 
Louisiana during migration can only help to generate more ecotourism in the 
state. Many people need credit for generating the ground work for these 
developments including the state's Department of Culture, Recreation and 
Tourism. 

Regards,             Jay Huner
Subject: Re: Breeding Green Herons?
From: Linda Beall <lbeall AT MINILOGIC.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 15:10:04 -0500
Thanks for responding, Josephine.

I should have qualified my question with....according to atlasing 
standards, would this indicate "breeding"  for St. Tammany?  Is there 
anyone still keeping track of these types of sightings?  I believe the 
nest record program wants only data on nests.

Linda

jwnix wrote:
> I also looked up in field guide(NGS) which states the male (usually 
> dull yellow legs) gets bright orange legs with his high season 
> breeding plumage
Subject: Re: Breeding Green Herons?
From: jwnix <jwnix AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:59:16 -0500
I also looked up in field guide(NGS) which states the male (usually  
dull yellow legs) gets bright orange legs with his high season  
breeding plumage


On May 13, 2008, at 2:53 PM, Linda Beall wrote:

Hi LABird,

I received an email from friends in Folsom who saw two adult Green  
Herons feeding together in the stream behind their home.  They said  
both bird's legs were bright orange.

I looked in the Louisiana Breeding Bird Atlas and found no confirmed  
breeding datapoints mapped for St. Tammany Parish.  Would this  
sighting indicate a "breeding pair"?

Thanks!
Linda
Subject: Breeding Green Herons?
From: Linda Beall <lbeall AT MINILOGIC.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:53:45 -0500
Hi LABird,

I received an email from friends in Folsom who saw two adult Green 
Herons feeding together in the stream behind their home.  They said both 
bird's legs were bright orange.

I looked in the Louisiana Breeding Bird Atlas and found no confirmed 
breeding datapoints mapped for St. Tammany Parish.  Would this sighting 
indicate a "breeding pair"?

Thanks!
Linda
Subject: Cave Swallow - Vermilion Parish Spring 07 - and Continued Breeding Presence of Tree Swallows in Rapides Parish
From: Huner Jay V <jvh0660 AT LOUISIANA.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:46:49 -0500
Cave Swallows -

About this time of year, Mike Musumeche had at least one Cave Swallow off LA 
82 about 10 miles west of Abbeville. Then about a week later, I had one in 
the same area. We assumed that they were "passing through." But, who knows 
based on the "colony" at the bridge into Texas in Cameron Parish and finding 
them here and there including several I found a few weeks ago in amongst 
hundreds of Clff Swallows at Lock and Dam #3 on the Red River near Colfax in 
central Louisiana.

Tree Swallows - 

Also, took a ride in Cotile Lake yesterday afternoon and found a Tree 
Swallow in a cavity in a cypress snag at the bridge in the causeway on Hoyt 
Road. I found a pair of Tree Swallows in that snag cavity in May-June 05 and 
06 and noted a fledged bird in 06. I did not find birds using the cavity in 
07 but had several Tree Swallows on the lake during the period suggesting 
strongly that they were either nesting or attempting to nest in other 
cavities.


On Tue, 13 May 2008 12:01:48 -0500, Purrington, Robert D wrote
> I hope I am not duplicating a posting by David, but the Cave Swallow 
> we had in the rice fields, and which might represent a breeding site,
>  was where Liberty Farm Rd. crosses the Marrone Canal, 29 56 14/92 
> 18 08. About 5 mi SSE of Kaplan.
> 
> Dan Purrington


--
Subject: Broussard Beach scoters - 11 May 2008
From: Devin Eby-Bosler <debybo1 AT LSU.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:46:03 -0500
LABIRD,

 On Sunday (11 May), an afternoon of birding along the coast in Cameron Parish 
was very disappointing. Despite the strong N winds continuing well into the 
afternoon and gusting to 20+ mph, there was hardly a trace of residual or 
newly-arriving neotropical migrants at any of the woodlots from Oak Grove to 
Willow Island. Although spring migration is not over yet, it certainly appeared 
that way on Sunday afternoon. Perhaps trans-Gulf migrants were being deflected 
elsewhere along the coast or arrival was delayed considerably under such 
unfavorable conditions. With headwinds of this intensity, migrants may have 
arrived after dark on Sunday evening. Apparently the coastal bend of Texas was 
receiving a grounding of migrants on Sunday and coastal Alabama had very 
similar reports as well, but the late migrant scenario on the Louisiana coast 
was grim at best. 


 Aside from numerous Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings in fancy breeding 
plumage, Rutherford Beach was rather birdless. On a positive note, a/the scoter 
flock continues off Broussard Beach, ca. 2 mi. SE of Cameron. This is 
presumably the same flock that lingered in the surf west of the Calcasieu Ship 
Channel between 26 April and 4 May, though no White-winged Scoter(s) present in 
the raft on Sunday. Instead, an adult male BLACK SCOTER joined the raft of 5 (3 
imm. male, 2 female) SURF SCOTERS and 6 LESSER SCAUPS. It will be interesting 
to note how long the scoters and scaups linger at this location. Resting on the 
beach were a few lingering Am. Herring Gulls (only a single ad.) and 6 (5 ad., 
1 first-summer) Common Terns mixed-in with the usual summering larids. A pair 
of Wilson's Plovers were defending a potential nest site above the wrack line. 
Birding was equally slow over at E. Jetty Beach. The Cameron oxidation ponds 
yielded over a dozen ad. Black Terns and a li! 

 ngering Spotted Sandpiper. A lingering ad. Ring-billed Gull and several 
Wilson's Phalaropes were present in parking lot pools along Davis Rd. 


 Willow Island was unbeleivably quiet between 5:30 and 6 PM. The only migrants 
noted were an Eastern Wood-Pewee, a "Traill's" Flycatcher, 3 Tennessee, 2 
Yellow, a male Magnolia, a female Blackburnian Warbler and a male Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak. No vireos, thrushes, etc. Oak Grove Sanctuary in Oak Grove was even 
more depressing than Willow Island. Here, a single Yellow-billed Cuckoo, 2 
Great Crested Flycatchers, and 2 late female Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were 
the only apparent migrants. No vireos or thrushes here either, and the only 
warbler was a male Common Yellowthroat singing in the marsh across the road. 


 On the way north toward I-10, a lingering juv. Red-tailed Hawk was perched 
atop a utility pole nr. the jct. of LA-14 x LA-397, SE of Lake Charles 
(Calcasieu Parish). 


Good Birding,
Devin Bosler
LSU-Baton Rouge
Subject: Terns in Audubon Pk
From: "Purrington, Robert D" <danny AT TULANE.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:40:35 -0500
While walking (alas, not running) in Audubon Park at noon, I saw a group
of terns feeding on a pond near the golf clubhouse.  There was at least
one Gull-billed, one or more Least Terns, and about 8 Forster's Terns.
The first two might be nesting on a rooftop nearby, perhaps one of the
wharf structures, and who knows where the Forster's might be nesting, if
indeed they are.  There are often a coupld of GBTEs at this site in the
breeding season.
 
Dan Purrington
Subject: Re: non migrating robins
From: "David A. Cagnolatti" <dcagnolatti AT COX.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 14:19:48 -0400
There is a substantial population of non-migrating robins on the grounds of the 
state Capitol in Baton Rouge. 


Dave Cagnolatti

---- G Landry  wrote: 
There has long been resident populations of non migrating Robins here  
and there in LA, there is one on the UL Campus and surrounding  
neighborhoods,  in Lafayette, Ive seen Robins in that region for 40  
years, all summer long, not many but some are always present.

Also observed a single pair in my home town of Franklin several years  
back during Summer months.

Its always interesting to speculate on why some individuals of a  
migrating species choose not to do so.  Wonder what they tell their  
cousins when they come down for winter visits?


Garrie 
Subject: breeding robins
From: David Muth <dpmuth AT COX.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 13:10:33 -0400
Labird:

The La. breeding bird atlas showed confirmed breeding at New Orleans and Lake 
Charles, so basically the 1-10 corridor, but absent or sporadic from the easter 
Florida Parishes and much of south central Louisiana. They also show probable 
breeding near Houma and on Grand Isle. The GI bird(s) were definitely 
anamalous--that was the only year I ever knew of summering robins down there. 
As is clear, breeding pairs can show up anywhere in residential areas of 
Louisiana, but breeding in "natural" areas is more likely in the north half of 
the state. They've been in a few New Orleans neighborhoods for decades, but my 
impression is they are down since the hurricane. I've assumed that their 
presence in some neighborhoods but absence from other seeminly identical 
neighborhoods habitat wise is a function of New Orleans being on the extreme 
periphery of the range, and slow recruitment. The New Orleans birds flock up 
early in the fall and move into places like City Park. Who knows if they m! 

 igrate from there, or are swallowed up when northerners arrive in November.
--
David Muth
New Orleans
Subject: Cave Swallow
From: "Purrington, Robert D" <danny AT TULANE.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 12:01:48 -0500
I hope I am not duplicating a posting by David, but the Cave Swallow we
had in the rice fields, and which might represent a breeding site, was
where Liberty Farm Rd. crosses the Marrone Canal, 29 56 14/92 18 08.
About 5 mi SSE of Kaplan.
 
Dan Purrington
Subject: non migrating robins
From: G Landry <garriel AT LOUISIANA.EDU>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 11:51:35 -0500
There has long been resident populations of non migrating Robins here  
and there in LA, there is one on the UL Campus and surrounding  
neighborhoods,  in Lafayette, Ive seen Robins in that region for 40  
years, all summer long, not many but some are always present.

Also observed a single pair in my home town of Franklin several years  
back during Summer months.

Its always interesting to speculate on why some individuals of a  
migrating species choose not to do so.  Wonder what they tell their  
cousins when they come down for winter visits?


Garrie 
Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: Mike Musumeche <mjmusumeche AT COX.NET>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 11:32:12 -0500
Toddy/LaBirders,

A number of years ago in the main city park in New Iberia, I studied a pair 
of Am. Robins as they started building a nest, deposited eggs, incubate and 
bring off two young.  They also constructed a "dummy" nest about 50 meters 
from the viable one.

Mike
_________________________________________________
          ^v^   ^v^    ^v^    ^v^    ^v^    ^v^    ^v^    ^v^    ^v^


Michael Musumeche
New Iberia, Louisiana
mjmusumeche AT cox.net

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Toddy and Chris Guidry" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] surprise visitor, a robin


> I'm curious to know how far south in the state Robins are seen during
> breeding bird surveys??  Can anyone attest?
>
> I also saw a robin this past weekend near Bunkie.
>
> Toddy Guidry
> Lafayette
> guidrys AT cox.net
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds
> [mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of mara domingue
> Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 9:42 AM
> To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
> Subject: [LABIRD-L] surprise visitor, a robin
>
> LaBirders,
>
> Yesterday evening when I moved the sprinkler,
> I noticed a bird fly up into the live oak. I kept
> thinking it sure looked like a robin. I moved a
> little closer and it was! It flew back down into
> the wet garden and continued feeding. I know
> there are reports of a few breeding populations
> near and around water specifically at LSU and
> a few other places, but I don't commonly see
> them around here even though we live close to
> False River. About a month ago, I spotted a
> pair together in the back garden, and I was
> excited that we might have a robin family here
> for the summer!
>
> mara domingue
> ventress, la
> curiouskitty AT bellsouth.net
> 
Subject: Orchard Oriole nest
From: janine robin <j-probin1982 AT PEOPLEPC.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 11:14:29 -0500
A pair of Orchard Orioles are nesting in my backyard. They chose a large pear 
tree to build the nest. It is well hidden in a hanging brach that is loaded 
with young pears. Quite pretty. 

                                                    Janine in Folsom, LA
Subject: Re: surprise visitor, a robin
From: janine robin <j-probin1982 AT PEOPLEPC.COM>
Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 11:03:55 -0500
I saw a robin while birding last week in Folsom. I have never seen a robin 
in this area except in the winter. I was very surprised to see it.
                                        Janine in Folsom
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "mara domingue" 
To: 
Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 9:41 AM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] surprise visitor, a robin


LaBirders,

Yesterday evening when I moved the sprinkler,
I noticed a bird fly up into the live oak. I kept
thinking it sure looked like a robin. I moved a
little closer and it was! It flew back down into
the wet garden and continued feeding. I know
there are reports of a few breeding populations
near and around water specifically at LSU and
a few other places, but I don't commonly see
them around here even though we live close to
False River. About a month ago, I spotted a
pair together in the back garden, and I was
excited that we might have a robin family here
for the summer!

mara domingue
ventress, la
curiouskitty AT bellsouth.net