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8 Feb geese, etc. ["mick zerr" ] 08 Feb How to Leave this List [Dick Kappedal ] 7 Feb Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) trip announcement ["Gene " ] 7 Feb No Subject ["prlowell AT joink.com" ] 6 Feb PENNINGTON CTY.: SHORT-EARED OWL ["Jocelyn Baker" ] 5 Feb Pierre ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 4 Feb NHBC 4 Feb mtg - cancelled ["Gene " ] 4 Feb Gyrfalcons ["m. melius" ] 2 Feb Gyrfalcons ["Doug Backlund" ] 1 Feb This week ["mick zerr" ] 31 Jan Meade, Pennington [Richard Latuchie ] 30 Jan Great horned owls/sw Rapid City [cbstafford ] 29 Jan Gyrfalcon ["Doug Backlund" ] 29 Jan endangered species seasonal job opportunity [] 29 Jan NHBC meeting 4 February ["Gene " ] 28 Jan Reducing aircraft-wildlife strikes at airports [Matt Kennedy ] 27 Jan Wednesday ["mick zerr" ] 27 Jan Aberdeen ["Bill Fuhrman" ] 25 Jan Re: "Hacking out" Falcons [Dick Kappedal ] 25 Jan "Hacking out" Falcons [] 25 Jan blizzard ["mick zerr" ] 25 Jan "Hacking out" Falcons [] 25 Jan RE: Gulls- FTPIERRE ["Palmer, Jeff" ] 25 Jan Gulls- FTPIERRE ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 25 Jan Aberdeen Birds ["Bill Fuhrman" ] 25 Jan Announcement-$100.00 Alfred Hinds Memorial Award ["Jocelyn Baker" ] 24 Jan Birds and birding blog ["Terry Sohl" ] 22 Jan 23 Jan NHBC - cancelled ["Gene " ] 20 Jan Re: Gyrfalcons, Falconers, and other stories [David Graham ] 20 Jan Further Perspectives on Falconry and Falconers [David Graham ] 20 Jan Falconry info from PBS.Org [Dick Kappedal ] 20 Jan Gulls & Dams ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 19 Jan RE: gulls and dams ["Doug Backlund" ] 19 Jan RE: feeder cam, raptors ["Terry Sohl" ] 19 Jan Re: feeder cam, raptors [Rick ] 19 Jan RE: feeder cam, raptors [Paul Roisen ] 19 Jan RE: feeder cam, raptors ["Doug Backlund" ] 19 Jan Re: feeder cam, raptors [Dick Kappedal ] 19 Jan Pintail ["R&M Mabie" ] 19 Jan gulls and dams [Douglas Prisbe ] 19 Jan feeder cam, raptors ["mick" ] 18 Jan Rosy-finch Trifecta ["Vic/Donna Fondy" ] 18 Jan Gyrfalcons, Falconers, and other stories ["Terry Sohl" ] 17 Jan gyrfalcon and a couple other birds ["Doug Backlund" ] 17 Jan NHBC Field Trip Sat., 23 January ["Gene " ] 17 Jan Rapid City CBC ["m. melius" ] 16 Jan Northern shrike [cbstafford ] 16 Jan January Thaw Birds in Northeast SD [Dlskadsen ] 16 Jan January Thaw Birds [Dlskadsen ] 15 Jan Yankton birds ["Roger Dietrich" ] 13 Jan Canvasback [Bill Bossman ] 13 Jan Miner County Western Meadowlark ["Jensen, Kent" ] 13 Jan Wood Duck ["R&M Mabie" ] 13 Jan crow info ["mick" ] 13 Jan red crossbills, or lack thereof [] 13 Jan red crossbills, or lack thereof [Douglas Prisbe ] 13 Jan March 2010 Bird Notes deadline [douglas chapman ] 13 Jan FT PIERRE & GULLS ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 12 Jan birding police ["mick" ] 12 Jan Long-tailed Duck ["R&M Mabie" ] 11 Jan tree birds ["mick" ] 11 Jan Ducks ["R&M Mabie" ] 11 Jan Fw: Gift Bird ["Bill Fuhrman" ] 11 Jan Fw: Gift Bird ["Bill Fuhrman" ] 10 Jan Lawrence Co. Gyrfalcon [Scott Weins ] 11 Jan Black duck [KENNY MILLER ] 10 Jan long-tailed duck ["Doug Backlund" ] 9 Jan NHBC Field Trip Report ["Vic/Donna Fondy" ] 9 Jan Gyrfalcon ["Doug Backlund" ] 9 Jan Blackbird ID question ["m. melius" ] 9 Jan Snow birds ["m. melius" ] 9 Jan Fw: Gift Bird ["Bill Fuhrman" ] 8 Jan Long-eard owls... ["Jensen, Kent" ] 8 Jan Response to Responses to Lumper's Rant [David Graham ] 8 Jan Re: Winter Wrens [douglas chapman ] 8 Jan Winter Wrens ["Vic/Donna Fondy" ] Subject: geese, etc. From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 20:47:25 -0600 Here in Sioux Falls we have not seen the sun for over a week, with snow almost every day. Five more inches last night. The feeders have been busy with the usual 14 feeder species, but nothing unusual. The Pine Siskins have not been back since Monday. The Brown Creeper (or two) appears every hour or so. See him at work: http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view ¤t=browncreeper.flv One thing unusual overhead has been endless flocks of Canada Geese flying south in formation. Have their migration genes kicked in due to the bad winter, or are they just heading to a good corn field south of town? The February edition of the SFBC newsletter is now on the website at www.leifericson.org/sfbc The feeder cam http://www.leifericson.org/sfbc/id24.html is semi-working with at least one camera streaming. Think Spring Mick SFBC Hav _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 10:01 PM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Cc: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [sd-birds] This week Greetings cold birders: (if you live in the Dakotas) A trip north to Aberdeen was an eye opener. The total round trip of 420 miles had 1 RL Hawk, 10 Pheasants, three Horned Larks and one crow. That is the worst total for that trip ever. When getting back to Sioux Falls, the feeders were very busy as the snow fell. The usual 14 species showed up today, including the tiny Brown Creeper. Also, for the first time in over a month there were 3 Pine Siskins. The Orange-variant House finch gave a good comparison to the regular colored ones. See the photos below. http://www.flickr. com/photos/siouxfalls/sets/72157623331731110/ Don't forget the Great Backyard Bird count coming up Feb. 12-15. http://www.birdsour ce.org/gbbc/ Make sure you also enter your sightings in the SDOU database: http://homepages. dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/ And the e-bird data base: http://ebird. org/content/ebird/ The Sioux Falls Argus Leader is doing a story on the Great Backyard Bird Count in this Wednesday's paper. Only 48 days till Spring Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: How to Leave this List From: Dick Kappedal <roughrider AT sio.midco.net> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:59:19 -0600 To leave this list you need to send an email to sd-birds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com. I would place unsubscrribe as the Subject and in the body of your email. If you have a Yahoo ID, you can also go to your Yahoo Groups Page and check the Leave Group Button. http://groups.yahoo.com/mygroups Dick Kappedal Sioux Falls, SD Subject: Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) trip announcement From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 21:02:05 -0700 The Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) will conduct a field trip out of Rapid City on Saturday, February 13. Weather permitting we will bird around Rapid City or alternatively the prairie east of Rapid City. We expect to finish at about 1 p.m. Participants will meet at 7:30 AM at Dunn's Coffee shop (719 Omaha) for coffee and the trip will depart at 8 AM. Birders of all levels are welcome as well as visiting birders. There is no charge for the field trip. Contact Gene Hess at 605-791-0630 for more information. Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: No Subject From: "prlowell AT joink.com" <prlowell@joink.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 16:50:55 -0500 unsubscribe Subject: PENNINGTON CTY.: SHORT-EARED OWL From: "Jocelyn Baker" <osprey AT hills.net> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 18:03:49 -0700 Short-eared Owls (a pair) were observed on Antelope Creek Road, south of the Rapid City Airport this morning (February 6). Other birds of note observed were: Merlin, Prairie Falcon, American Kestrel and Rough-legged Hawk. Jocelyn L. Baker, Rapid City [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pierre From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 10:40:23 -0600 I have not much new to share. The gulls have returned. Usually 20- 40- gulls around now. mainly Herring, 2-3 Glaucous around and a Thayer's or two. Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC 4 Feb mtg - cancelled From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 15:18:22 -0700 Hi, Due to increasingly poor road conditions tonight's NHBC meeting is canceled. Please pass this message along to anyone who may attend the meeting but might not receive this e-mail. We don't want anyone to get hurt. Thank you, Gene Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: Gyrfalcons From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 4 Feb 2010 02:17:37 -0500 (EST) I saw a white Gyrfalcon somewhere in SD today. It flew right over me. In its body shape and flight it reminded me directly of an unid'd bird I'd seen back in Nov., also in SD. I see Prairie Falcons fairly often; a Gyr is one big falcon. Michael Melius Subject: Gyrfalcons From: "Doug Backlund" <dougback AT pie.midco.net> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 19:44:35 -0600 I got a phone call late this afternoon with a report of three different gyrfalcons between Fort Pierre and the emergency spillway, near Billy Goat Jump, along Highway 1806. I hurried up there and just before I got to the Missouri River Fisheries Center I saw a juvenile gyrfalcon in hot pursuit of a pheasant. It didn't catch the pheasant but flew back to the west, I got a few photos. This would be a good area to look if anyone is coming out this weekend. There have been several sightings of gyrfalcons around the Oahe Dam area this winter. http://www.wildphotosphotography.com/WildPhotos/Gyrfalcons/gyr2_2_2010.htm Doug Backlund Pierre, SD www.wildphotosphotography.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: This week From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 22:00:42 -0600 Greetings cold birders: (if you live in the Dakotas) A trip north to Aberdeen was an eye opener. The total round trip of 420 miles had 1 RL Hawk, 10 Pheasants, three Horned Larks and one crow. That is the worst total for that trip ever. When getting back to Sioux Falls, the feeders were very busy as the snow fell. The usual 14 species showed up today, including the tiny Brown Creeper. Also, for the first time in over a month there were 3 Pine Siskins. The Orange-variant House finch gave a good comparison to the regular colored ones. See the photos below. http://www.flickr.com/photos/siouxfalls/sets/72157623331731110/ Don't forget the Great Backyard Bird count coming up Feb. 12-15. http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ Make sure you also enter your sightings in the SDOU database: http://homepages.dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/ And the e-bird data base: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ The Sioux Falls Argus Leader is doing a story on the Great Backyard Bird Count in this Wednesday's paper. Only 48 days till Spring Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Meade, Pennington From: Richard Latuchie <rlatuchie AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:24:46 -0700 Saw a flock of about 20 Red Crossbill this morning on High Meadows Rd., near Piedmont. Also had FOY Cedar Waxwing, Hairy Woodpecker, and Sharp-Shinned Hawk. Also saw Black-billed Magpie, and Golden Eagle at the Schroeder Rd. Forest Service Area, in Pennington County. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Great horned owls/sw Rapid City From: cbstafford <turkeyfeathrs AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2010 17:01:58 -0800 (PST) are serenading each other in our backyard...the "singing" has been going on for at least a half hour so far. Usually we hear them around midnight, but today is started right after sundown. There are at least 2, possibly 3 out there, hard to tell with sound bouncing around. Caroline Stafford [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gyrfalcon From: "Doug Backlund" <dougback AT pie.midco.net> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:42:44 -0600 Today I saw an adult gyrfalcon in the Sheriff Dam-Richland Dam area, Fort Pierre National Grassland. I'm pretty sure this is the same adult gyr that has wintered in this area for several years. http://www.wildphotosphotography.com/WildPhotos/Gyrfalcons/gyr1_29_2010.htm Light was terrible for photography, as it usually is when I find a gyrfalcon. Doug Backlund Pierre, SD www.wildphotosphotography.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: endangered species seasonal job opportunity From: <eileen.dowdstukel AT state.sd.us> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:58:32 -0600 SDGFP will be hiring two seasonal employees to assist the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in monitoring least terns and piping plovers along the Missouri River. We have a returning employee in Mobridge and will be hiring new people in Pierre and Yankton. If you know of a conscientious college student who is interested in getting some great experience, please advise them to visit this website: http://bop.sd.gov/workforus/seasonal/gfp2010.aspx#7078 Note that the deadline for submitting applications is February 12. Thanks. Eileen Dowd Stukel SDGFP [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC meeting 4 February From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:17:06 -0700 The Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) will meet at 7 PM on Thursday, February 4 at the Sturgis City Library located at 1040 2nd Street. There is also an accessible entrance on Sherman Street. Topics for the meeting will include planning for February field trips, and individual reports on feeder and area sightings by the membership. The program will be a talk by Tim Ludwick on birding in Costa Rica. Refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome. Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: Reducing aircraft-wildlife strikes at airports From: Matt Kennedy <kennedym2009 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:21:34 -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 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Wednesday From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:28:09 -0600 A cold wind Winter's day, the temperature was dropping (no I wasn't going to McDonalds), but a quick run to the mile of open water by the Sioux Falls spillway (For information on this location, see the bottom of the latest newsletter at: http://www.leifericson.org/sfbc/ ), proved very short, due to a nasty wind chill of -15. But during the quick look, there were about a thousand Canada Geese, a few dozen Mallards, about 10 Common Goldeneye, and one nice male Common Merganser. I did not venture far enough to look for the Hooded Merganser seen a few weeks ago. At the feeders, RB and WB Nuthatch and the three species of Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Juncos, H. Sparrows and 8 H. Finch, Starlings, Crows, many Chickadees, and a few Cardinals. Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Aberdeen From: "Bill Fuhrman" <bfuhrman AT nvc.net> Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:24:11 -0600 The winter blast we just had must have changed a few bird habits. I haven't seen any Northern Flickers, Purple Finches, or Red-Breasted Nuthatches until today. They were plentiful. I'm sure the bright sun helped bring them around. N.E. Aberdeen Bill [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: "Hacking out" Falcons From: Dick Kappedal <roughrider AT sio.midco.net> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:25:30 -0600 The Wild Hacking that Terry speaks about does not seem to be a practice that a reputable Falcon Breeder would practice. In fact it seems inhumane to the birds and potentially harmful to the wild Falcon population. I found a link on a British site that details a more humane hacking practice for captive bred falcons raised for the Arabian Falcon Trade. I have included short segments from their web page. The Hacking practice posted by Terry seems to be a bit more "Wild West, Anything Goes", that the Wonders of Nature are for "My Enjoyment", and "I'll do anything I want". Sorry, that's not the way to Conserve our Natural Resources. I would hope that our 30 South Dakota Falconers are more responsible than that. Dick Kappedal http://www.gyrfalcons.co.uk/hacking.htm SNIP Hacking is a traditional technique used by falconers whereby young falcons, approximately 4 weeks old, are released in a semi-wild state in order to improve their flying and hunting skills before being trained in falconry. It is also thought that hacking improves mental conditioning as falcons receive a greater number of stimuli and experiences when out at hack. Most falconers would agree that a hacked falcon is superior to a falcon taken straight from the breeding aviary. SNIP Captive bred falcons are placed in the hack box at approximately 35 days old. After about 5-10 days in the box we open up the front so that they can start to scramble around just as the young wild falcons would do in their nest area. SNIP The falcons normally take their first proper attempt in flying about 3 days after the front of the hack box has been opened. The first flights are normally not far, maybe to the neighbor hack box. The wild falcons would be continuously guarded by the female who will forcefully scare of any potential danger. In our case Sara is continuously watching over the falcons on hack to make sure they don't get stuck in the long grass or that they don't get taken by a predator for example a fox. (Sara is one of their employees) SNIP The article is longer and more detailed Subject: "Hacking out" Falcons From: brdfsd AT sio.midco.net Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:08:09 -0600 I agree with Terry that there is apparently much about falconry that seems way less than desirable for the birds. The falconers are having fun, but at the expense, not the enhancement, of the birds, it would seem. I understand that taming a raptor for falconry requires that after capture it is hooded, kept blind essentially, for weeks until it either gives in and is subdued or dies of hunger. I am not seeing that the sport benefits the birds, only the captors. Some people find bullfighting an exciting sport also, but most around the world find it cruel and in the case of Spain and other countries where bulls are killed in the end, unacceptable, even uncivilized, because of the abuse of the bull for the enjoyment of the bullfighters and the crowd. Falconry may be in the same camp as bullfighting, its great challenging sport extolled by its adherents, and viewed with contempt by most others who would prefer that wild raptors remain wild. Rosemary Draeger Sioux Falls brdfsd AT sio.midco.net Subject: blizzard From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:13:26 -0600 Two days of 40 mph winds and snow, with temps in the teens is not good for birds or birding. I had to run some errands on the west side of Sioux Falls, and saw a Kestrel fighting the wind, and a very cold Robin sitting in a tree. The beautiful male Red-bellied WP is showing up daily at the feeders. The female has been absent for a few days. The resident Red-tail sits in the tall trees at Leif Ericson Camp, being harassed daily by the mob of Crows. The Canada Geese were flying very low, due to the fog, but the knew exactly where to go. They fly to and from the spillway area to Arrowhead Park every day at the same time. Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: "Hacking out" Falcons From: tlsohl AT alliancecom.net Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:13:48 -0600 Was pretty much putting the falconry thing to rest, but got more e-mails from falconers today (oh the stories I could tell), including one very interesting, and to me, distressing one regarding the practice of "hacking out", and questioning whether that Dark-phased Gyrfalcon I photographed was actually a Gyr/Peregrine hybrid that had been "hacked out". I beg your pardon if you're sick of the posts on the listserver...this will be the last time I'll post anything out here on the topic. Here's a post about the falconer's thoughts about the origin of this bird, and the practice of "Hacking out": http://sdakotabirds.com/birdseyeview/2010/01/25/36/ Terry Sohl Subject: RE: Gulls- FTPIERRE From: "Palmer, Jeff" <Jeff.Palmer AT dsu.edu> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:39:04 -0600 Ricky and others, Thanks for providing the opportunity to "plug" the SDOU on-line database. It isn't going to tell us why birds do what they do but sometimes it can help to identify what they are doing and provide us the opportunity to start asking the questions. * Go to the online site at http://homepages.dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/ * Select the link for Public Entry * Select Ring-billed Gull (or Herring Gull) from the checklist * Select the Date Range to be Any Month / Any Year * Hit select Obviously the data depend greatly on the number of observers who are inputting sightings and on how often they submit those records, however, sometimes general trend do show up. Notice that both of these species of gulls seem to drop off in late January and early February. You can also look at the sightings from each of the dams separately by selecting the county/counties that border the dam. The database is fun to look at and I sure hope that many more observers will add their contributions to the sightings J Jeffrey S. Palmer College of Arts & Sciences Dakota State University Madison, SD 57042 (605) 256-5190 jeff.palmer AT dsu.edu http://www.homepages.dsu.edu/palmer/ sola fide, sola gratia, sola scriptura From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Ricky D. Olson Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 11:52 AM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [sd-birds] Gulls- FTPIERRE I had to open my mouth & brag about all the gulls being here. Here's what it got me, last weeks high was 23 gulls, with ZERO one day and the week average about 4 gulls a day. Today I located one Herring Gull, that's it. Usually a big storm makes gulling here great. I do not know where they are going and if they will return soon. It appears that all the Ring-billed Gulls left about 2 weeks ago. Which is strange, because although they usually leave for a couple weeks in the winter when it gets very cold, they were still present for awhile after the Big Chill. So why leave now?? Thanks for allowing me to give my whining gull update. Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gulls- FTPIERRE From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:51:33 -0600 I had to open my mouth & brag about all the gulls being here. Here's what it got me, last weeks high was 23 gulls, with ZERO one day and the week average about 4 gulls a day. Today I located one Herring Gull, that's it. Usually a big storm makes gulling here great. I do not know where they are going and if they will return soon. It appears that all the Ring-billed Gulls left about 2 weeks ago. Which is strange, because although they usually leave for a couple weeks in the winter when it gets very cold, they were still present for awhile after the Big Chill. So why leave now?? Thanks for allowing me to give my whining gull update. Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Aberdeen Birds From: "Bill Fuhrman" <bfuhrman AT nvc.net> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 11:46:49 -0600 Seems I don't have many varieties in my backyard other than bluejays, pheasants, sparrows, various finches, chickadees, & Downies, but today a Northern Goshawk paid a visit. It still amazes me how they can sit facing North, & take a 360 degree survey of the surroundings without moving anything but their head (on a swivel). I have not seen one here yet this winter, so must be food is getting "hard-to-come-by" further north. The Goldfinches seem to be getting brighter yellow as the days get longer?? I'd appreciate any advice on other feed; I put out the following: sunflower seed, white proso millet, cracked corn, suet, thistle, & peanuts. While filling the drill last spring I spilled a bushel of wheat, so scooped it up & set some out for my wildbirds. They finished all of it within a month. That was the cheapest feed I've ever fed the birds in my backyard. Of course, not all birds ate it, but I think it kept the sparrows satisfied. Bill Fuhrman, Northeast side of Aberdeen, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Announcement-$100.00 Alfred Hinds Memorial Award From: "Jocelyn Baker" <osprey AT hills.net> Date: Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:38:04 -0700 ALFRED HINDS MEMORIAL AWARD FOR ORNITHOLOGY-- ANNOUNCEMENT The South Dakota Ornithologists' Union will be presenting a memorial award in the amount of $100.00 to a deserving individual or organization in 2010. The Alfred Hinds Memorial Award for Ornithology, established in 1983, will be presented to an individual, student (high school, college (undergraduate/graduate) or an organization/agency that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of ornithology in South Dakota. It may also be awarded to a special SDOU project which needs financial support. Nominations should include: Name/address/e-mail address and phone number of the nominee, accomplishment(s) of nominee and any supporting information (i.e. newspaper articles, remarks from co-nominators, etc.). Nomination period will close April 15, 2010. The $100.00 award will be announced in mid-May 2010. Send name(s) of nominees to: Jocelyn Lee Baker, Chair, SDOU Scholarships and Awards Committee, 3220 Kirkwood Drive, Rapid City, SD 57702 or osprey AT hills.net. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Birds and birding blog From: "Terry Sohl" <tlsohl AT alliancecom.net> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:17:24 -0600 If anyone is interested.my experience with the falconry folks, and particularly the number of e-mails that I got, got me interested in holding those "discussions" in a forum other than my e-mail inbox. Used to have a "news" section on my website which never seemed to fit well. I've started a new blog devoted to birds, birding, and conservation issues (guess what the first posting was of mine?). I will try to update it very frequently with any news/views/info that I come across. It's at: http://sdakotabirds.com/birdseyeview/ Never have done this before, so I hope I have it set up correctly. I believe I have it set up so anybody can comment on any post (maybe that will relieve the pressure on my e-mail inbox!!!). Not sure or not if I have it set up to accept new posts from outside folks. Had a heck of a time trying to figure out how to set it up. Terry Sohl Brandon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 23 Jan NHBC - cancelled From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:25:42 -0700 Hi folks, Given the vagueness of the prediction for the storm track for this weekend & the forecast for ice & snow I am going to err on the side of caution & cancel tomorrow's trip. If the conditions are such that you want to give it a try you may e-mail me for the route I was planning to take. In any event, keep warm & safe, Gene Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: Re: Gyrfalcons, Falconers, and other stories From: David Graham <uuglypher AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:22:15 -0600 Terry, I'm contually in awe of your photography, especially of the raptors in your area. That dark gyr is absolutely beautiful. And if it's any consolation, I'd lay a bunch of money on that bird NOT having been caught by the falconers, at least not until possibly much later that day, if at all. Its crop ("gorge" in falconer argot) is noticeably well distended with a recent meal, and the only reason that a wild falcon may fall prey to a falconer's bait pigeon is an empty crop and at least a touch of hunger. O.K. That's not 100% reliable, for I have caught the occasional falcon possessed of a partial crop of food, but in general, the falcon with an empty crop is a far better prospect for being caught with a bait pigeon or pheasant than is one - like your dark gyr - with a noticeable portion of a recent meal bulging above its breast. Might add that I've heard of such crop distention being attributed to the "casting" of indigestible hair and feathers from a previous meal, but that is an erroneous assertion. The "casting" accumulates in the proventriculus, the muscular fore-stomach (down inside the body cavity), where it is compressed and whence it is regurgitated in compact form without causing crop distention. I might also address your angst concerning the "fate" of a captured falcon. Most - including many otherwise knowledgeable birders - aren't aware that the approximately 70% first-year mortality experienced by most species of both resident and migratory bird species is also experienced by the raptors. Thus, if the falcon of your concern were a juvenile of the previous summer's hatch, its"fate"- its chance of survival to breeding age - is actually enhanced if it spends a year or two as a falconer's partner than were it to remain in the wild. It may seem counterintuitive, but there it is. For any individual surviving the first year, either in the wild or with a falconer, its chances of surviving to breeding adulthood are greatly increased. The sum of the impacts of falconry upon the health of wild raptor populations is thus, at worst, but neutral, and at best, significantly positive. I can easily appreciate your response when the falconers asked you, albeit politely, to "butt out" and subjugate your personal interests to theirs. In your shoes, I'd have felt the same as you, and in their shoes, I hope I'd have acted with more immediate appreciation of your point of view. As a researcher studying a variety of diseases to which raptors are susceptible I frequently trapped wild falcons, hawks, and owls to impose on them the indignities of collecting swabs of cloacal feces and urates, jugular vein blood samples, feather pulp from growing contour feathers, and oro-pharyngeal swabs for possible virus isolations. Although iinfrequent, It was almost always momentarily unpleasant when members of the serious and avid local birding community (around Ithaca N.Y,. Ames, IA, Brazoz County, TX, and even Harding County, SD) happened upon my field research activities. It can be truly disconcerting to be in the midst of the relatively delicate process of jugular venipuncture and blood collection from a freshly-trapped and highly indignant falcon or Buteo or GHowl while trying to convince the honestly concerned birders that I am most definitely NOT "injecting a long-acting sedative" into the raptor "...so that it will sleep thru..." its impending shipment to a buyer in the middle east! Now realize that some of that was a realistic concern in the early years of my field work - the late 60s and early 70s - so my duty to allay their suspicions and fears was very real ... and a P.I. the A, while trying to label samples and assure that those needing refrigeration and those requiring freezing were handled expeditiously and accurately! And yes, when a nesting ferruginous that I'd scouted for two days to assure that the 15 minutes of capture and sample collection would result in no significant interruption of her care of her nestlings was at last making its approach to the bait lab rat.... a careening carload of wild-eyed, binocular- and camera-wielding birders rushed upon my carefully planned scene and queered the whole effort ! I'll admit to more than a little difficulty in retaining my professorial dignity and equanimity while trying, calmly, sooo calmly, to explain my "...interference with God's Plan..." as it was angrily put. by one furiously stammering defender of said "Plan." Rodney King's words "Can't we all just get along" frequently leap to mind when I recall those incidents. I know tain't easy, from either side of the fence of love and regard for the birds! Best regards Dave Graham On Mon, Jan 18, 2010 at 1:40 AM, Terry Sohl wrote: > > > Very interesting day. Mostly good, with probably the best day of birding, > and photography, I've had in the Presho to Fort Pierre National Grasslands > area. Given how many raptors are always around somewhere in the area, > that's saying something!! > > First the good.3 Gyrfalcons, 1 mature (Jones County), and 2 immatures in > and > around the Fort Pierre grasslands. As Doug said, I called him and we > watched one chase pheasants around for a while.very cool. About half an > hour after leaving that one, I came across another GORGEOUS, quite dark > bird. Is this what is called a dark-morph Gyr? First saw it in a tree, > and it seemed so dark I thought it was a dark Roughie or something. Then I > look, and see it's a Gyr, but the face is so dark that the "whisker" blends > in with the rest of the face. > > Now for the bad.what happened when I started taking pictures of that Gyr. > Won't put it here, the story is with the photo (first link). More Gyrfalcon > photos from today below the first link: > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_7.htm > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_8.htm > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_5.htm > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_4.htm > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_6.htm > > Other interesting thing.the SCADS of eagles around, both Bald and Golden. > Nearly all were in the Kennebec to Presho area, and then west from Presho > for about 20-25 miles. There was one little shelterbelt about 15 miles SW > of Presho that had 14 Bald Eagles in it, way out in the middle of the > prairie, and there were many more eagles scattered around, with at least a > dozen other Balds and about 10 Goldens for the day. Photos: > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/bald_eagle_18.htm > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/bald_eagle_17.htm > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/golden_eagle_3.htm > > And of course, there were the usual bezillion Rough-leggeds. Like last time > I went over a month ago, most were south of the Grasslands, with much > slower > action on the Grasslands themselves. Also plenty of Ferruginous and > Red-tails around. Photos: > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/ferruginous_hawk_13.htm > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/rough_legged_hawk_17.htm > > http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/rough_legged_hawk_18.htm > > Throw in a Merlin (same place I always seem to see one, SW of Presho), and > 3 > Prairie Falcons, and a few Harriers, and it was a great day for raptors. > > Terry Sohl > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir New snow - falling deeper in old footprints to smooth things out D.L.Graham, Jan 6,2010 One can only see what one observes, and one observes only things which are already in the mind. Alphonse Bertillon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sd-birds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sd-birds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: sd-birds-digest AT yahoogroups.com sd-birds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: sd-birds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Further Perspectives on Falconry and Falconers From: David Graham <uuglypher AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:27:33 -0600 All good comments and links, Dick. As a veterinarian and falconer who was involved in raptor biology and disease research in the late 60s and thru the 70s and 80s I can attest that not only were the birds used in the peregrine captive breeding program donated by falconers, the raptor biologists who conceived, raised funds, staffed, and implemented essentially all aspects of the peregrine recovery program were, themselves, also active falconers. The list of names of those visionary raptor conservationists and biologists can readily be found in the rolls of the North American Falconers' Association. Tom Cade, Bill Burnham, Jim Enderson, Heinz Meng, Clayton White, Jim Grier, Dan O'Brien,Fran Hammerstrom, Vic Hardaswick ... I'm starting to feel sorry I started this list because it is a far longer one than my memory is capable of stating without serious omissions. I would add that the veterinarians who pioneered the now well-founded and well-grounded veterinary sub-specialization of raptor medicine were also, with but one exception I can recall, active, accomplished and dedicated falconers: Bill Halliwell, Pat Redig, Jim Snelling, Jim Johnson, and several veterinarians from Texas whose names now, embarassingly, escape me, were a bunch of dedicated veterinarian-falconers among whom I remain truly proud to be numbered.. That original program, The Pergrine Fund, begun at Cornell in 1970 under the guidance of Dr. Tom Cade, expanded its breeding facilities to Colorado and today continues its efforts in the conservation, captive breeding, and preservation of threatened and endangerd raptor populations throughout the world at the retitled World Raptor Center in Idaho. Falconers remain at the helm and among the implementers of the activities of the Center. The statement that falconry is a way-of-life rather a mere sport is not to be taken lightly. Unless maintained for captive breeding, every falconer expects that any bird with which he or she is partnered in falconry will, eventually, be returned to the wild state, preferably by intent. But if the return to the wild is of the bird's initiative, the falconer knows it has been his daily responsibility to assure that if the bird leaves his influence, it does so in the highest possible physical and athletic condition and unemcumbered by any equipment that might in the slightest way hinder its ability to function and compete once again as a full and competent participant in the natural world. South Dakota was one of the leaders among states to statutorially sanction licensing of falconers in the late 60's. I recall , as a faculty member at the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine, providing over 200 challenging multiple choice questions to Don Hunter, the late, well-known South Dakota cattleman and falconer who was, at that time, assisting the State in putting together the first test for license applicants. Falconry is not for the lazy, the questionably motivated, the would-be pet keeper who fancies being seen and heard pontificating about an ancient "sport" with a noble bird on his hand. Dedication to the bird's and to the specie's welfare are paramount. It is not the bag of game that is crucial to the falconer. Indeed, it is a low percentage of flights at game that end with success (from the raptor's perspective) just as is the case with wild raptors. Falconry, however, provides, thru partnership with a trusting, but never "tamed" raptor, insights into aspects of nature capable of being profoundly experienced in no other way. I present the above not to change the opinions of those opposed to the practice of falconry, but only to relieve them of ignorance - to whatever degree may be needed - about the practice, the motivations, dedication, and qualifications of those who do elect and strive to enter into an unparalleled relationship with the beings we all regard so highly. With Best regards, Dave Graham, Estelline, South Dakota On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:05 AM, Dick Kappedal wrote: > > > > I have been Googleing the sport of Falconry since Terry Sohl's post > about his encounter with Falconers trying to trap a Gyrfalcon. > > Dick Kappedal > Sioux Falls, SD > > I found the below Falconry info on PBS. > > Apparently the Peregrine recovery breeding program began with Peregrines > donated by Falconers. > > http://www.pbs.org/falconer/falconry/index.htm > > Falconry Falconry is an art. It requires long hours, constant devotion, > finesse, subtlety and skill. The falconer must train a bird of prey to > fly free, hunt for a human being and then accept a return to captivity. > > "Falconry is not a hobby; it's a lifestyle," according to Ted Benzon, > administrator for the falconry program for South Dakota's Game Fish & > Parks Department. Falconers must devote time to their birds each and > every day, 365 days a year. > > SNIP > > http://www.pbs.org/falconer/falconry/training.htm > > Falconers deal with birds in three stages of life. > > * An "eyass" is a young bird taken from the nest before it is ready > to fly. Once it is ready to fly, a young bird -- like the > peregrines in A FALCONER'S MEMOIR -- is "hacked," allowed to fly > free until it is ready to hunt its own food. This helps the bird > develop its flying skills. Then, the bird is returned to captivity. > * A "passager" is any young bird that already can fly that is taken > while it is still in its first-year plumage. > * A "haggard" is a bird captured as an adult and therefore of > unknown age; often, the law prohibits capturing birds of mating age. > > Falconers begin with a Falconry Permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife > Service plus state permits where required. But before the beginner can > even apply for the permit, Benzon says, a would-be falconer must have > the proper gear and facilities for the bird. Then, he or she must pass a > test (100 questions, 80 percent required) and pay the appropriate fees. > In South Dakota, for example, the falconer's facilities and equipment > must be inspected and approved by Game, Fish & Parks and the application > and test must be approved on the state level before being forwarded to > the national Fish & Wildlife Service. > > SNIP > > http://www.pbs.org/falconer/man/index.htm > > 1600 - Falconry reaches its highest level in England and is governed by > strict rules-- a king could fly a gyrfalcon; an earl would fly a > peregrine; a yeoman could have a goshawk; the sparrowhawk was reserved > for priests; and servants would have a kestrel. Poet and playwright > William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, was an avid falconer. > > 1970 - Peregrines are placed on the U.S. Endangered Species List. By > this time, the birds were wiped out in the Eastern United States. There > were only 39 known pairs in the Western U.S. > > 1972 -DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is banned in the United > States. It was banned in Canada in 1970. The potent pesticide > accumulated in non-targeted animals as it moved up the food chain, > causing ill effects including reproductive problems, especially among > birds of prey. The Peregrine Fund is established by Tom Cade of Cornell > University. > > 1974 -First peregrines raised in captivity (fewer than two dozen) > released by The Peregrine Fund to begin rebuilding the population. The > organization used peregrines donated by falconers to begin the breeding > program. Since then, the organization, now based in Idaho, has released > some 4,000 birds. > > SNIP| > | > || > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir New snow - falling deeper in old footprints to smooth things out D.L.Graham, Jan 6,2010 One can only see what one observes, and one observes only things which are already in the mind. Alphonse Bertillon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sd-birds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sd-birds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: sd-birds-digest AT yahoogroups.com sd-birds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: sd-birds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Falconry info from PBS.Org From: Dick Kappedal <roughrider AT sio.midco.net> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 11:05:19 -0600 I have been Googleing the sport of Falconry since Terry Sohl's post about his encounter with Falconers trying to trap a Gyrfalcon. Dick Kappedal Sioux Falls, SD I found the below Falconry info on PBS. Apparently the Peregrine recovery breeding program began with Peregrines donated by Falconers. http://www.pbs.org/falconer/falconry/index.htm Falconry Falconry is an art. It requires long hours, constant devotion, finesse, subtlety and skill. The falconer must train a bird of prey to fly free, hunt for a human being and then accept a return to captivity. "Falconry is not a hobby; it's a lifestyle," according to Ted Benzon, administrator for the falconry program for South Dakota's Game Fish & Parks Department. Falconers must devote time to their birds each and every day, 365 days a year. SNIP http://www.pbs.org/falconer/falconry/training.htm Falconers deal with birds in three stages of life. * An "eyass" is a young bird taken from the nest before it is ready to fly. Once it is ready to fly, a young bird -- like the peregrines in A FALCONER'S MEMOIR -- is "hacked," allowed to fly free until it is ready to hunt its own food. This helps the bird develop its flying skills. Then, the bird is returned to captivity. * A "passager" is any young bird that already can fly that is taken while it is still in its first-year plumage. * A "haggard" is a bird captured as an adult and therefore of unknown age; often, the law prohibits capturing birds of mating age. Falconers begin with a Falconry Permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service plus state permits where required. But before the beginner can even apply for the permit, Benzon says, a would-be falconer must have the proper gear and facilities for the bird. Then, he or she must pass a test (100 questions, 80 percent required) and pay the appropriate fees. In South Dakota, for example, the falconer's facilities and equipment must be inspected and approved by Game, Fish & Parks and the application and test must be approved on the state level before being forwarded to the national Fish & Wildlife Service. SNIP http://www.pbs.org/falconer/man/index.htm 1600 - Falconry reaches its highest level in England and is governed by strict rules-- a king could fly a gyrfalcon; an earl would fly a peregrine; a yeoman could have a goshawk; the sparrowhawk was reserved for priests; and servants would have a kestrel. Poet and playwright William Shakespeare, 1564-1616, was an avid falconer. 1970 - Peregrines are placed on the U.S. Endangered Species List. By this time, the birds were wiped out in the Eastern United States. There were only 39 known pairs in the Western U.S. 1972 -DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is banned in the United States. It was banned in Canada in 1970. The potent pesticide accumulated in non-targeted animals as it moved up the food chain, causing ill effects including reproductive problems, especially among birds of prey. The Peregrine Fund is established by Tom Cade of Cornell University. 1974 -First peregrines raised in captivity (fewer than two dozen) released by The Peregrine Fund to begin rebuilding the population. The organization used peregrines donated by falconers to begin the breeding program. Since then, the organization, now based in Idaho, has released some 4,000 birds. SNIP| | || [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gulls & Dams From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:48:26 -0600 I think a little of everything plays into the amount of species seen now along the river in SD. I would agree with Doug without the dams, no gull species wintered here. Several gull species have just in recent times (last 10-15 years) expanded their range to the inland portions of the US. These are the Lesser Black-backed & Great Black-backed. I think new field guides have helped people identify gulls. More people actually look at and search for gulls now. The Thayer's , Lesser Black-backed, Sabine's, and Mew Gulls required a Rare Bird Report when I started first started gulling (1999 ?). Now along the Missouri River observations of these species do not require a Rare Bird Report. Increased ID skills and intense searching were the main factors I think in the increased observations. In 2001 Jeff & Robb opened my eyes to the fact that Mew Gulls stopped here in migration. Since then I have intensely looked for them in migration and guess what I almost always see a few in Spring & Fall Migration. How many years had they been doing that ?? I would guess some of our cool vagrant gulls ( Glaucous,Little, Sabine's, Black-legged Kittiwake) always came through, but without dams never stayed long. Also their migration time window is more patterned so people know when to look for them now. I think more people look for them and more people can identify them. As the following info states it took quite a few years after the dams were created until breeding birds were observed. The first California Gull & Ring-billed Gull breeding records on Lake Oahe were in documented in 1994- 1996 (Harris and Betts 1998). In 2007 on lower Lake Oahe I documented the first breeding Herring Gull record in SD . Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: gulls and dams From: "Doug Backlund" <dougback AT pie.midco.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:26:08 -0600 It is an interesting phenomenon. One can safely say that there were no wintering gulls here before the dams were built. CBC data from Pierre show some interesting trends for herring and ring-bill gulls: http://wildphotosphotography.com/WildPhotos/CBC_Gulls.htm even though the count data doesn't go back to the years prior to and just after Oahe Dam was closed, the trend seems to be up. In looking at the CBC data, I get the impression that our species count went up shortly after Ricky moved here. Some other natural history observations: The reservoirs and dams have also increased wintering waterfowl and eagles. Loons are regular migrants now that the water is clear. Freshwater mussels were reported to be absent from the Missouri River back in the days when it was call the Big Muddy. Now the area below Gavins Point Dam has a diverse and thriving mussel population. It is ironic that the Big Muddy is now clean and clear, while the main east river tributaries, the James and Big Sioux were once clean and clear but are now muddy and turbid. Both of those rivers once supported huge populations of musssels that are now greatly depleted. Pallid sturgeons and other species that had adapted to a large turbid river ecosystem are going extinct. Now we have walleyes, salmon, and smallmouth bass in the reservoirs and remaining areas of the Missouri River. The extensive forested bottomlands probably supported many species of birds more common in the eastern deciduous forests, but no one was really looking for them before the dams were built. Wood thrush once nested in the Pierre area, but are long gone now. We have a colony of Cope's Gray Treefrogs here below Oahe Dam, far west of where this species is supposed to occur. I expect that species was once found along the river downstream to where it is currently found, in the Vermillion and Springfield areas. I don't know about anyone else, but I'd much rather have the river the way it was rather than the way it is. Doug Backlund Pierre, SD www.wildphotosphotography.com _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Douglas Prisbe Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 2:46 PM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [sd-birds] gulls and dams I would like to spark some discussion on the subject of dams and gulls. Does anyone out there know how soon, after the creation of the string of dams on the Missouri, gulls began to arrive? And then this: with the diversity of species seeming to increase over the years (thayers, lesser black-backed, sabine, etc) have all these different species always been showing up, or are we (well, the experts such as Ricky) just getting better at noticing? George Prisbe Hanna, Lawrence County South Dakota [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: feeder cam, raptors From: "Terry Sohl" <tlsohl AT alliancecom.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 21:01:50 -0600 Hi, Doug set me straight yesterday on the legal issues associated with falconry, which was much appreciated. Very good information, and I’m glad to see him post it to the listserver. I take comfort knowing that with sales of wild birds banned, money isn’t an issue here, that it’s not what’s motivating these folks. If money were an issue, I think there WOULD be a lot more of it going on. I also corrected my website page yesterday to remove any implication that money/profit might be an issue. With that said, count me as one who is philosophically opposed to the practice. That feeling was only strengthened by my encounter, and here’s why. When I came across the bird and started taking photos, they approached very rapidly and told me (very animatedly) that I needed to get out of there, that this was a bird they were trying to catch. When I said no, I have every right to stop on this public road and take photos of the bird, they were extremely, extremely upset. These folks were generally very nice, after they calmed down (which wasn’t until well after I got my fill of photos and moved away, with the bird still there). They were obviously EXTREMELY excited about the chance to catch this bird. As I said in my post, I have no doubt they’d take good care of the bird. What upsets me was something that was reinforced by their initial behavior towards me when I stopped to take photos, and that is that the capture of the bird is all about THEIR enjoyment of the bird in their falconry. To me, it’s that selfishness, that attitude that I shouldn’t have been taking photos of it and potentially disturbing the capture because that was a bird THEY wanted. THAT is what really bugged me. They’re taking a bird out of the wild, a bird that COULD potentially delight many birders. But instead, they’re depriving other people the right to enjoy the bird in its natural environment, and are exploiting it for their personal enjoyment. And while that REALLY bugs me, it doesn’t even touch on the resource itself and what’s best for the animal in question, which is of course the biggest negative of falconry for me. Terry Sohl From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul Roisen Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 8:39 PM To: Doug Backlund; South Dakota Ornithological Union Subject: RE: [sd-birds] feeder cam, raptors Doug, Nicely put. God Bless, Paul Roisen Sioux City, IA Woodbury County 712-276-0371(H) 712-301-2817(C) --- On Tue, 1/19/10, Doug Backlund > wrote: From: Doug Backlund > Subject: RE: [sd-birds] feeder cam, raptors To: "sd-birds" > Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 8:31 PM I guess I'll have to jump in here and get people informed about this. Raptors are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The MBTA also authorizes falconry. There are federal and state falconry laws. Falconers can take a limited number of raptors, at most two per year, from the wild. They can only possess a limited number of raptors. Falconers cannot legally sell raptors taken from the wild. In the last four years, a grand total of 9 wild raptors have been legally taken in SD by falconers. There are currently 30 falconers in SD and they possess at last check 28 falconry raptors. Many of the raptors are purchased from captive breeders. The mostly mythical black market in gyrfalcons just doesn't exist here. Maybe in some parts of the world it does but we have strong laws here. I emphasize that, we have strong laws here. Captive bred gyrfalcons can be purchased for a few thousand dollars. Why would anyone pay tens of thousands of dollars for an illegally or legally taken gyrfalcon and risk a stiff fine and jail time? Falconers have known about the gyrfalcons that winter here far longer than the birding community has. It is common knowledge among falconers. Gyrs also winter regularly in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Minnesota. Falconers don't need help finding gyrfalcons and it doesn't make one bit of difference if we post sightings or not. Think about it, if someone intended to poach a gyrfalcon and smuggle it out of the country to the middle east, would it be a smart move to go where a sighting has been posted to the whole world and where all the birders are going to be looking? I don't think so. For those of you who are philosophically opposed to falconry, that's your right. I'm not a falconer and I'm not endorsing falconry, but it is legal. It's a non-issue as far as affecting raptor populations. There are much bigger, far more serious problems affecting raptor populations that we all should be far more vocal about. Here's a peer reviewed research paper: Millsap, Brian B. and George T. Allen. 2006. Effects of Falconry Harvest on Wild Raptor Populations in the United States: Theoretical Considerations and Management Recommendations. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34(5):1392-1400. I'd be happy to email it to anyone who wants it. End of rant. Doug Backlund Pierre, SD _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of Dick Kappedal Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 7:24 PM To: mick Cc: sd-birds Union; SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com; douglas chapman Subject: Re: [sd-birds] feeder cam, raptors I thought Raptors were protected by the Migratory Bird Act. Can anyone trap Raptors and sell them? On 1/19/2010 11:35 AM, mick wrote: > > I will suggest this again, some might disagree with me, but I wish if > you spot an uncommon raptor, especially falcons, if you post it, give > no details as to the location, even generally. If legit birders want > to find it, they can e-mail you individually. How would you like to > find a rare falcon, and be the one responsible for the commercial > raptor hunters to take it to sell to some rich Asian for thousands of > dollars.With laws dealing with this being very weak, we must be careful. > > Mick > SFBC > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: feeder cam, raptors From: Rick <FHolbrook AT cableone.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:43:05 -0600 Well Said Doug Backlund wrote: > > > I guess I'll have to jump in here and get people informed about this. > > Raptors are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The MBTA also > authorizes falconry. There are federal and state falconry laws. > > Falconers can take a limited number of raptors, at most two per year, from > the wild. They can only possess a limited number of raptors. > > Falconers cannot legally sell raptors taken from the wild. > > In the last four years, a grand total of 9 wild raptors have been legally > taken in SD by falconers. There are currently 30 falconers in SD and they > possess at last check 28 falconry raptors. Many of the raptors are > purchased > from captive breeders. > > The mostly mythical black market in gyrfalcons just doesn't exist here. > Maybe in some parts of the world it does but we have strong laws here. I > emphasize that, we have strong laws here. Captive bred gyrfalcons can be > purchased for a few thousand dollars. Why would anyone pay tens of > thousands > of dollars for an illegally or legally taken gyrfalcon and risk a > stiff fine > and jail time? > > Falconers have known about the gyrfalcons that winter here far longer than > the birding community has. It is common knowledge among falconers. > Gyrs also > winter regularly in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and > Minnesota. Falconers don't need help finding gyrfalcons and it doesn't > make > one bit of difference if we post sightings or not. Think about it, if > someone intended to poach a gyrfalcon and smuggle it out of the country to > the middle east, would it be a smart move to go where a sighting has been > posted to the whole world and where all the birders are going to be > looking? > I don't think so. > > For those of you who are philosophically opposed to falconry, that's your > right. I'm not a falconer and I'm not endorsing falconry, but it is legal. > It's a non-issue as far as affecting raptor populations. There are much > bigger, far more serious problems affecting raptor populations that we all > should be far more vocal about. > > Here's a peer reviewed research paper: > > Millsap, Brian B. and George T. Allen. 2006. Effects of Falconry > Harvest on > Wild Raptor Populations in the United States: Theoretical > Considerations and > Management Recommendations. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34(5):1392-1400. > > I'd be happy to email it to anyone who wants it. > > End of rant. > > Doug Backlund > > Pierre, SD > > _____ > > From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com > [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com ] > On Behalf > Of Dick Kappedal > Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 7:24 PM > To: mick > Cc: sd-birds Union; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com > ; douglas chapman > Subject: Re: [sd-birds] feeder cam, raptors > > I thought Raptors were protected by the Migratory Bird Act. Can anyone > trap Raptors and sell them? > > On 1/19/2010 11:35 AM, mick wrote: > > > > I will suggest this again, some might disagree with me, but I wish if > > you spot an uncommon raptor, especially falcons, if you post it, give > > no details as to the location, even generally. If legit birders want > > to find it, they can e-mail you individually. How would you like to > > find a rare falcon, and be the one responsible for the commercial > > raptor hunters to take it to sell to some rich Asian for thousands of > > dollars.With laws dealing with this being very weak, we must be careful. > > > > Mick > > SFBC > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus > signature database 4787 (20100119) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com -- Rick Fargo, ND N 46°53'251" W 096°48'279" Remember the USS Liberty http://www.ussliberty.org/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: feeder cam, raptors From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:39:04 -0800 (PST) Doug,  Nicely put. God Bless, Paul Roisen Sioux City, IA Woodbury County 712-276-0371(H) 712-301-2817(C) --- On Tue, 1/19/10, Doug Backlund wrote: From: Doug Backlund Subject: RE: [sd-birds] feeder cam, raptors To: "sd-birds" Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 8:31 PM   I guess I'll have to jump in here and get people informed about this. Raptors are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The MBTA also authorizes falconry. There are federal and state falconry laws. Falconers can take a limited number of raptors, at most two per year, from the wild. They can only possess a limited number of raptors. Falconers cannot legally sell raptors taken from the wild. In the last four years, a grand total of 9 wild raptors have been legally taken in SD by falconers. There are currently 30 falconers in SD and they possess at last check 28 falconry raptors. Many of the raptors are purchased from captive breeders. The mostly mythical black market in gyrfalcons just doesn't exist here. Maybe in some parts of the world it does but we have strong laws here. I emphasize that, we have strong laws here. Captive bred gyrfalcons can be purchased for a few thousand dollars. Why would anyone pay tens of thousands of dollars for an illegally or legally taken gyrfalcon and risk a stiff fine and jail time? Falconers have known about the gyrfalcons that winter here far longer than the birding community has. It is common knowledge among falconers. Gyrs also winter regularly in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Minnesota. Falconers don't need help finding gyrfalcons and it doesn't make one bit of difference if we post sightings or not. Think about it, if someone intended to poach a gyrfalcon and smuggle it out of the country to the middle east, would it be a smart move to go where a sighting has been posted to the whole world and where all the birders are going to be looking? I don't think so. For those of you who are philosophically opposed to falconry, that's your right. I'm not a falconer and I'm not endorsing falconry, but it is legal. It's a non-issue as far as affecting raptor populations. There are much bigger, far more serious problems affecting raptor populations that we all should be far more vocal about. Here's a peer reviewed research paper: Millsap, Brian B. and George T. Allen. 2006. Effects of Falconry Harvest on Wild Raptor Populations in the United States: Theoretical Considerations and Management Recommendations. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34(5):1392-1400. I'd be happy to email it to anyone who wants it. End of rant. Doug Backlund Pierre, SD _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of Dick Kappedal Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 7:24 PM To: mick Cc: sd-birds Union; SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com; douglas chapman Subject: Re: [sd-birds] feeder cam, raptors I thought Raptors were protected by the Migratory Bird Act. Can anyone trap Raptors and sell them? On 1/19/2010 11:35 AM, mick wrote: > > I will suggest this again, some might disagree with me, but I wish if > you spot an uncommon raptor, especially falcons, if you post it, give > no details as to the location, even generally. If legit birders want > to find it, they can e-mail you individually. How would you like to > find a rare falcon, and be the one responsible for the commercial > raptor hunters to take it to sell to some rich Asian for thousands of > dollars.With laws dealing with this being very weak, we must be careful. > > Mick > SFBC > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: feeder cam, raptors From: "Doug Backlund" <dougback AT pie.midco.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:31:46 -0600 I guess I'll have to jump in here and get people informed about this. Raptors are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The MBTA also authorizes falconry. There are federal and state falconry laws. Falconers can take a limited number of raptors, at most two per year, from the wild. They can only possess a limited number of raptors. Falconers cannot legally sell raptors taken from the wild. In the last four years, a grand total of 9 wild raptors have been legally taken in SD by falconers. There are currently 30 falconers in SD and they possess at last check 28 falconry raptors. Many of the raptors are purchased from captive breeders. The mostly mythical black market in gyrfalcons just doesn't exist here. Maybe in some parts of the world it does but we have strong laws here. I emphasize that, we have strong laws here. Captive bred gyrfalcons can be purchased for a few thousand dollars. Why would anyone pay tens of thousands of dollars for an illegally or legally taken gyrfalcon and risk a stiff fine and jail time? Falconers have known about the gyrfalcons that winter here far longer than the birding community has. It is common knowledge among falconers. Gyrs also winter regularly in Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Minnesota. Falconers don't need help finding gyrfalcons and it doesn't make one bit of difference if we post sightings or not. Think about it, if someone intended to poach a gyrfalcon and smuggle it out of the country to the middle east, would it be a smart move to go where a sighting has been posted to the whole world and where all the birders are going to be looking? I don't think so. For those of you who are philosophically opposed to falconry, that's your right. I'm not a falconer and I'm not endorsing falconry, but it is legal. It's a non-issue as far as affecting raptor populations. There are much bigger, far more serious problems affecting raptor populations that we all should be far more vocal about. Here's a peer reviewed research paper: Millsap, Brian B. and George T. Allen. 2006. Effects of Falconry Harvest on Wild Raptor Populations in the United States: Theoretical Considerations and Management Recommendations. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34(5):1392-1400. I'd be happy to email it to anyone who wants it. End of rant. Doug Backlund Pierre, SD _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dick Kappedal Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 7:24 PM To: mick Cc: sd-birds Union; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com; douglas chapman Subject: Re: [sd-birds] feeder cam, raptors I thought Raptors were protected by the Migratory Bird Act. Can anyone trap Raptors and sell them? On 1/19/2010 11:35 AM, mick wrote: > > I will suggest this again, some might disagree with me, but I wish if > you spot an uncommon raptor, especially falcons, if you post it, give > no details as to the location, even generally. If legit birders want > to find it, they can e-mail you individually. How would you like to > find a rare falcon, and be the one responsible for the commercial > raptor hunters to take it to sell to some rich Asian for thousands of > dollars.With laws dealing with this being very weak, we must be careful. > > Mick > SFBC > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: feeder cam, raptors From: Dick Kappedal <roughrider AT sio.midco.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:24:07 -0600 I thought Raptors were protected by the Migratory Bird Act. Can anyone trap Raptors and sell them? On 1/19/2010 11:35 AM, mick wrote: > > I will suggest this again, some might disagree with me, but I wish if > you spot an uncommon raptor, especially falcons, if you post it, give > no details as to the location, even generally. If legit birders want > to find it, they can e-mail you individually. How would you like to > find a rare falcon, and be the one responsible for the commercial > raptor hunters to take it to sell to some rich Asian for thousands of > dollars.With laws dealing with this being very weak, we must be careful. > > Mick > SFBC > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pintail From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:44:04 -0600 There was a male Pintail in the tailwaters of Fort Randall Dam this afternoon. The female Hooded Merganser and Long-tailed Duck were still present. Eagle count today was 26. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: gulls and dams From: Douglas Prisbe <przybysz AT wildblue.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:46:04 -0700 I would like to spark some discussion on the subject of dams and gulls. Does anyone out there know how soon, after the creation of the string of dams on the Missouri, gulls began to arrive? And then this: with the diversity of species seeming to increase over the years (thayers, lesser black-backed, sabine, etc) have all these different species always been showing up, or are we (well, the experts such as Ricky) just getting better at noticing? George Prisbe Hanna, Lawrence County South Dakota [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: feeder cam, raptors From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:35:16 -0600 Feeder cam will be off the air until I can figure out why it is not broadcasting correctly. I will suggest this again, some might disagree with me, but I wish if you spot an uncommon raptor, especially falcons, if you post it, give no details as to the location, even generally. If legit birders want to find it, they can e-mail you individually. How would you like to find a rare falcon, and be the one responsible for the commercial raptor hunters to take it to sell to some rich Asian for thousands of dollars.With laws dealing with this being very weak, we must be careful. Mick SFBC ----- Original Message ----- From: mick To: sd-birds Union ; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com ; douglas chapman ; mick Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 3:44 PM Subject: [sd-birds] crow info While watching two crows in the yard today, it looked like everything they did was thought about first. Even their calls (two caws meant "lets go".) An interesting site on just about every aspect of Crows is at: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/crowinfo.htm and also http://www.crows.net/analysis.html (this one is good on calls) The SF feeders have been pretty dead today, "nothing to crow about". Mick SFBC ----- Original Message ----- From: mick To: sd-birds Union ; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com ; douglas chapman ; mick Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 8:49 PM Subject: [SF-BC] birding police Folks, I was not being fair. One of the other birds did not fly at all, and he was closer. Here he is. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4270706248_1168e7f712_o.jpg I informed the Birding Police to give warning tickets only to all those (including me) who have never seen turkeys in tree tops. Mick ----- [ . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Rosy-finch Trifecta From: "Vic/Donna Fondy" <treasurecreek AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:34:36 -0700 If you ever pass thru Albuquerque NM in the winter you can see/photograph Black-Brown-Gray Crowned Rosy Finches at the Crest House on the upper end of NM 536 on the East slopes of Sandia Mountain. All three species come to the feeders at the Crest House. (Elevation 10,678 feet). Vic/Donna Fondy [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gyrfalcons, Falconers, and other stories From: "Terry Sohl" <tlsohl AT alliancecom.net> Date: Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:40:24 -0600 Very interesting day. Mostly good, with probably the best day of birding, and photography, I've had in the Presho to Fort Pierre National Grasslands area. Given how many raptors are always around somewhere in the area, that's saying something!! First the good.3 Gyrfalcons, 1 mature (Jones County), and 2 immatures in and around the Fort Pierre grasslands. As Doug said, I called him and we watched one chase pheasants around for a while.very cool. About half an hour after leaving that one, I came across another GORGEOUS, quite dark bird. Is this what is called a dark-morph Gyr? First saw it in a tree, and it seemed so dark I thought it was a dark Roughie or something. Then I look, and see it's a Gyr, but the face is so dark that the "whisker" blends in with the rest of the face. Now for the bad.what happened when I started taking pictures of that Gyr. Won't put it here, the story is with the photo (first link). More Gyrfalcon photos from today below the first link: http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_7.htm http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_8.htm http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_5.htm http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_4.htm http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/gyrfalcon_6.htm Other interesting thing.the SCADS of eagles around, both Bald and Golden. Nearly all were in the Kennebec to Presho area, and then west from Presho for about 20-25 miles. There was one little shelterbelt about 15 miles SW of Presho that had 14 Bald Eagles in it, way out in the middle of the prairie, and there were many more eagles scattered around, with at least a dozen other Balds and about 10 Goldens for the day. Photos: http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/bald_eagle_18.htm http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/bald_eagle_17.htm http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/golden_eagle_3.htm And of course, there were the usual bezillion Rough-leggeds. Like last time I went over a month ago, most were south of the Grasslands, with much slower action on the Grasslands themselves. Also plenty of Ferruginous and Red-tails around. Photos: http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/ferruginous_hawk_13.htm http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/rough_legged_hawk_17.htm http://sdakotabirds.com/species_photos/rough_legged_hawk_18.htm Throw in a Merlin (same place I always seem to see one, SW of Presho), and 3 Prairie Falcons, and a few Harriers, and it was a great day for raptors. Terry Sohl [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: gyrfalcon and a couple other birds From: "Doug Backlund" <dougback AT pie.midco.net> Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 18:54:46 -0600 Terry Sohl will have more gyr stories to tell later when he gets home, but here's mine. Terry called this afternoon and told me about a gyrfalcon he had found on County Line Road. I headed out and when I got there, Terry was watching it flying back and forth chasing some pheasants. He had taken some nice photos, but after I arrived the gyr stayed way out in the field. Then it flew west and landed on a pole by the road. I drove over but had to shoot toward the sun so the photos looked terrible. A little Photoshop work made them presentable for a web page. http://www.wildphotosphotography.com/WildPhotos/Gyrfalcons/gyr1_17_2010.htm The long-tailed duck was in the tailrace late afternoon. Yesterday the saw-whet owl was back on its roost at the Archery Range. Doug Backlund Pierre, SD www.wildphotosphotography.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC Field Trip Sat., 23 January From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:30:03 -0700 The Northern Hills Bird Club will conduct a half-day field trip in the Piedmont area on Saturday, January 23. Participants will meet at Java Junction, I90 Exit 48 (go toward west), Stagebarn, at 7:30 AM for an 8:00 AM departure. Birders of all levels and non-members of NHBC are welcome. There is no charge for the field trip. For further information contact Gene Hess at 605-791-0630, gene AT neopaleo.net. Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: Rapid City CBC From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:12:09 -0500 (EST) Data entry for the Rapid City Christmas Bird Count is complete, available at the Audubon website, www.audubon.org We found 58 species, plus 2 count week birds. New high #'s for Blue Jay, 102, the previous high of 100 was nearly 40 years ago, and E. Collared Dove, 111, the previous high was last year's count. Michael Melius Hermosa Subject: Northern shrike From: cbstafford <turkeyfeathrs AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:37:29 -0800 (PST) The Northern Shrike that has been in the Moon Meadows Rd/Sheridan Lake Rd area (sw Rapid City) was out and about again today, not seen in a week or so by me. Not much to count for Feederwatch, it was 56F at one point, birds are elsewhere. Cottonwood across the street had a flock of about 25 starlings all preening feathers in the late afternoon sun, I suspect they must have been bathing in meltwater puddles and were grooming before roosting for the night. Caroline Stafford [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: January Thaw Birds in Northeast SD From: Dlskadsen <dlskadsen AT venturecomm.net> Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:25:33 -0700 Had a flock of 14 robins and 1 common grackle in the yard at Pickerel Lake State Recreation Area, Day County, SD today January 16, 2010. Also a late report of a Varied Thrush observed in Bristol, SD on January 3. Dennis Skadsen Subject: January Thaw Birds From: Dlskadsen <dlskadsen AT venturecomm.net> Date: Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:22:35 -0700 Subject: Yankton birds From: "Roger Dietrich" <rogerd AT iw.net> Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:24:21 -0600 Once the fog cleared this morning Mary Gertsema and I checked out the Missouri River. Lake Yankton, a little sliver of Nebraska, and the area northwest of Yankton. Very few birds on the river, Mallards, Common Mergansers, and Common Goldeneye. A few Bald Eagles along the river. The river had been frozen during the cold spell from a couple miles down river from the dam all the way to Sioux City. More of it is open now. No gulls anywhere. Lake Yankton had Green-winged Teal, Mallards, American Coots, Common Goldeneye, and Common Mergansers. In the country in NE and NW of Yankton we saw lots of Horned Larks, a few Lapland Longspurs, American Tree Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Western Meadowlarks, American Crows, one Red-tailed Hawk, six Rough-legged Hawks (incl one dark morph), and one American Kestrel. We returned to Yankton and checked out the duck pond near the hospital. Interesting birds and best pictures of the day (see link below if interested in pictures.) Five male Wood Ducks and one female, three Snow Geese, one Ross's Goose, a dozen Canada Geese, plus the usual assortment of resident pond ducks and geese. http://www.flickr.com/photos/yanktonbirds Roger Dietrich Yankton, South Dakota Email rogerd AT iw.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Canvasback From: Bill Bossman <billbossman50 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:04:13 -0600 There was a Canvasback in the Missouri River off LaFramboise Causeway in Pierre late this afternoon. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Miner County Western Meadowlark From: "Jensen, Kent" <kent.jensen AT sdstate.edu> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:22:35 -0600 On my way back from Mitchell last Sunday I saw a western meadowlark along Hwy 34 about 3 miles east of Fedora. I also saw a flock of about 50 snow buntings just west of Howard, and several mixed flocks (some very large) of horned larks and Lapland longspurs. K. C. Jensen, Ph.D. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences SPB 138D, Box 2140B South Dakota State University Brookings, SD 57007 (605)688-4781 (office) (605)690-6104 (cell) (605)688-4515 (FAX) wfs.sdstate.edu/wfsdept/faculty/kcjensen.htm 100% of the shots you don't take don't go in - Wayne Gretzky ________________________________ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of R&M Mabie Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 4:13 PM To: sd-birds Subject: [sd-birds] Wood Duck I saw a Wood Duck in the tailrace at Fort Randall Dam this afternoon. Also saw a Prairie Falcon between the dam and Pickstown. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Wood Duck From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:12:57 -0600 I saw a Wood Duck in the tailrace at Fort Randall Dam this afternoon. Also saw a Prairie Falcon between the dam and Pickstown. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: crow info From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:44:43 -0600 While watching two crows in the yard today, it looked like everything they did was thought about first. Even their calls (two caws meant "lets go".) An interesting site on just about every aspect of Crows is at: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/crows/crowinfo.htm and also http://www.crows.net/analysis.html (this one is good on calls) The SF feeders have been pretty dead today, "nothing to crow about". Mick SFBC ----- Original Message ----- From: mick To: sd-birds Union ; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com ; douglas chapman ; mick Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 8:49 PM Subject: [SF-BC] birding police Folks, I was not being fair. One of the other birds did not fly at all, and he was closer. Here he is. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4270706248_1168e7f712_o.jpg I informed the Birding Police to give warning tickets only to all those (including me) who have never seen turkeys in tree tops. Mick ----- [ . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: red crossbills, or lack thereof From: Steve_Fairbairn AT fws.gov Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:13:28 -0700 I live in the same area of Lawrence County (near Deer Mountain) and have also noticed an absence of red crossbills at our feeders. I haven't seen one all winter. They usually keep us cleaned out of sunflower seeds. Steve Fairbairn [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: red crossbills, or lack thereof From: Douglas Prisbe <przybysz AT wildblue.net> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:38:36 -0700 Posts of non-sightings have always amused me, but here i go, anyway. I know i have disparaged red crossbills in the past, and that all you "flatlanders" are enamored with this species, especially when eruptions cause it to show up at your winter feeders. So, here is a strange. I have not heard or seen a red crossbill at Hanna (elevation 5750', near Cheyenne Crossing in Lawrence County) in 170 days! My last record of this species is August 6! For this reason, I viewed the Black Hills area CBC results with particular attention to this species. Though i was pleased to see them show up, it is still odd - very odd - that I have not had them here. We have lived here for 13 years (and the place is for sale, by the way) and my records show that red crossbill numbers decrease, here at Hanna, in winter, but never has this species been so absent. Usually, there is a flock or two, or three, moving about. Since they vocalize so prolifically on the wing, it just seems impossible that i could be missing them (and no, i do not believe that my distaste for these birds has caused me to block them out). I have as many active feeders as always, and i hike (snowshoe) as much, if not more, than usual. The spruce cone crop seems good, too. But still, no crossbills. Last week I did encounter two (just two!) individuals at Savoy (about ten miles down the canyon), but the crossbill drought at Hanna continues. So, there you go. A non-report from Hanna. george prisbe Hanna, Lawrence County South Dakota United States of America [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: March 2010 Bird Notes deadline From: douglas chapman <foodrev AT sio.midco.net> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 09:11:33 -0600 Hello Birders, IT's that time again. This is a reminder that the deadline for the March 2010 SD Bird Notes is a month away--Feb. 15th, 2010. And as I will be leaving Feb. 27 for Cuba, I need to have everything in by the 15th. Alternatively, the March, 2010, issue could be processed after I return in mid-March. But I really prefer to have issues appear at your door near the beginning of the stated month of issue. There are several of you who have articles that I cannot wait to read they will be of such interest. Thanks, and keep warm. Bird on... Doug Chapman Sioux Falls, SD Subject: FT PIERRE & GULLS From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:08:38 -0600 Dick Filby of CO wanted me to post the gulls he saw near LaFramboise "On the ice island mid river, MONDAY, I saw three adult Thayer's, a 1st yr Thayer's, a 1st yr Glaucous, plus the many Herring and a couple of Ring-billed. It appears most of the gulls in SD are here in the Pierre/FT Pierre area. The last few weeks I have been counting about 60 large gulls ( Glaucous,Herring,Thayer's and one day a Lesser Black-backed) and 10 small gulls ( Ringed-billed). Monday there were 80 large gulls and a few small gulls. Yesterday there were 101 combined gulls. Through emails etc people have told me there are no gulls at Big Bend or FT Randall Dams. I haven't heard from Gavin's Point (NE). The amount of fish coming through the tailrace must be bringing in all the gulls wintering in SD. Yesterday there were 3 1st year Glaucous Gulls, 2 Thayer's , many Herring and a few Ring-billed Gulls. Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: birding police From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:49:49 -0600 Folks, I was not being fair. One of the other birds did not fly at all, and he was closer. Here he is. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4270706248_1168e7f712_o.jpg I informed the Birding Police to give warning tickets only to all those (including me) who have never seen turkeys in tree tops. Mick ----- [ . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Long-tailed Duck From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 15:06:18 -0600 I saw a Long-tailed Duck in the Fort Randall tailrace this morning. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: tree birds From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:48:47 -0600 Made a quick run to Big Sioux State Recreation Area to check for owls.Again, no owls, but found two birders also searching. Seen were many Chickadees, Juncos, WB Nuthatches, Pheasant, and Blue Jay. All at Campsite 13. Saw a Kingfisher along the open water near Redwood Blvd. Did not see the Eagles today. Found in the trees, many Tree Sparrows, and two unexpected birds. See how quick you can identify these two tree birds. You have ten seconds (before they flew). If you can't ID them, you need to turn in your binoculars. The birding police will pick them up. http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4267146459_d2ed089c3f_b.jpg Mick SFBC ----- Original Message ----- From: douglas chapman To: sd-birds Union ; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 4:33 PM Subject: [SF-BC] Comments from your eBird editor Hi All, I have spent most of this cold and snowy day in Sioux Falls facing my new job as regional editor for eBird out of Cornell. There were 125 pages of flagged posts to look though--25 to a page! And the learning curve took a while, but hopefully will now be easier. Anyone who received an e-mail asking for further details of a sighting, please take it as it was (and is) intended. Just a request for further details for a pretty rare sighting. Some sightings are pretty outrageous, but I still asked for details; one never knows. Others are from lack of familiarity with SD's birds; mostly from out of state birders, but things like Common Raven--at least 50 posts. I thank all who are participating and urge all to join in this project, whose objectives are many, but recording large numbers of common birds and any shifts in those numbers over the years and decades is a prime one. Chris Wood of Cornell, one of the eBird managers, will be the guest speaker at the SDOU Spring Meeting May 20-22 in Sioux Falls next year. Let's show him a good number of SD sightings. Thanks again. Doug Chapman Sioux Falls, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ducks From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:36:11 -0600 Among the hundreds of Mallards, Common Mergansers and Goldeneyes in the Fort Randall tailrace this afternoon, I spotted an American Black Duck, Red-breasted Merganser and Hooded Merganser. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fw: Gift Bird From: "Bill Fuhrman" <bfuhrman AT nvc.net> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:51:54 -0600 ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Fuhrman To: Birds from SD Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 1:43 PM Subject: Fw: Gift Bird Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 21:27:39 +0000 pure genius -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fw: Gift Bird From: "Bill Fuhrman" <bfuhrman AT nvc.net> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:43:28 -0600 Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 21:27:39 +0000 pure genius -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Lawrence Co. Gyrfalcon From: Scott Weins <sweins AT rushmore.com> Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 19:30:39 -0700 The Gyrfalcon was feeding on a duck along the Chicken Creek Road this morning. Here are a few flight shots. http://www.gdik.com/gyrfalcon.htm Scott Weins Spearfish, SD Subject: Black duck From: KENNY MILLER <littlebend AT q.com> Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:27:20 +0000 There was a Black Duck in with all the mallards off Fisherman's Point below Oahe Dam today. Kenny Miller Pierre [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: long-tailed duck From: "Doug Backlund" <dougback AT pie.midco.net> Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 18:57:46 -0600 There was a long-tailed duck in the Oahe Dam tailwaters late this afternoon. No sign of the harlequin duck. A female red-breasted merganser was in the tailwaters too. http://wildphotosphotography.com/WildPhotos/links/ltduck.htm Doug Backlund Pierre, SD www.wildphotosphotography.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC Field Trip Report From: "Vic/Donna Fondy" <treasurecreek AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 20:32:43 -0700 Nine members of the Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) participated in a field trip on January 9, 2010. Spearfish was added to the planned routing and the group was successful in locating the immature Gyrfalcon North of I-90 Exit 8 on the East side of Old Belle Road on the East-West electric transmission line poles. The only Rough-legged Hawk of the day was in the same area. There were lots of Mallards by the Spearfish Trout Farm and one tree full of 30-40 Eurasian-collared Doves. The group then went North of Belle Fourche up Camp Crook Road and return via the Harding/Old 85 Road looking for Snowy Owls. No owls were found, but there were lots of Sharp-tailed Grouse with about 15 different sightings during the trip. There was a distinct lack of birds on the Camp Crook/Harding roads except for the Grouse, Horned Larks and Golden Eagles (5 for the day). We birded Fruitdale, St. Onge, and the backroads on return to Whitewood picking up some feeder birds and ended up with 24 species for the trip. Other sightings on interest included 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Bald Eagles, 1 Lewis' Woodpecker, 1 Northern Shrike, and one flock of American Tree Sparrows. Vic Fondy-NHBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gyrfalcon From: "Doug Backlund" <dougback AT pie.midco.net> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 19:20:02 -0600 Dick Filby and Tom McConnell from Colorado just called and reported seeing a juvenile gyrfalcon this afternoon. It was on the Cut Across Road between Hwy. 1806 and Hwy. 34, Stanley County. Doug Backlund Pierre, SD www.wildphotosphotography.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Blackbird ID question From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 15:15:09 -0700 (GMT-07:00) I saw a blackbird at Agar in Potter--or is it Sully?--Co. on Jan 8th, along Hwy 83. It was in cattails, then flew up to perch in a small tree. I got a pretty good look at it, and think it was a Rusty, but I'm not too familiar with the species. Is the slightly curved bill diagnostic? I definitely saw that. Otherwise, it was much like a Brewer's--all black with some vague purplish sheen on the head/back, whitish eye. I suppose a Rusty's is more likely to be seen this time of year? Thanks, Michael Melius Hermosa Subject: Snow birds From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 15:06:24 -0700 (GMT-07:00) I saw some Snow Buntings near Faulkton on Thursday, the 7th, and a Snowy Owl west of Lebanon in Potter Co. on the 8th. Michael Melius Hermosa Subject: Fw: Gift Bird From: "Bill Fuhrman" <bfuhrman AT nvc.net> Date: Sat, 9 Jan 2010 14:00:18 -0600 ----- Original Message ----- From: Monte Fuhrman To: Bill Fuhrman Sent: Thursday, January 07, 2010 4:20 PM Subject: FW: Gift Bird -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: chipwalter AT msn.com Subject: FW: Gift Bird Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 21:27:39 +0000 pure genius -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Long-eard owls... From: "Jensen, Kent" <kent.jensen AT sdstate.edu> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 12:22:47 -0600 I'm wondering if anyone around the state has been seeing increased numbers of Long-eared owls? I have received 2 phone calls from local people in the last 3 days that have found dead owls next to their homes (presumably hitting large windows - one near Volga and the other near Sinai) - they told me they had screech owls, but when I went to pick them up they were both long-eared owls. I have a 3rd owl to pick up early next week from near Clear Lake - and from the description I received over the phone it sounds like a long-eared as well. Has anyone been out looking for owls in the eastern part of the state? I did a quick listen in 2 local woodlots (mine and the neighbors) during the CBC - but just picked up screech owl and great horned. But I am wondering if the recent weather systems have pushed some other birds into the area, including some long-eared owls? Perhaps they are always around but we just don't look for them? Anyway - I'm interested in finding out if anyone else in eastern SD has been seeing any. K. C. Jensen, Ph.D. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences SPB 138D, Box 2140B South Dakota State University Brookings, SD 57007 (605)688-4781 (office) (605)690-6104 (cell) (605)688-4515 (FAX) wfs.sdstate.edu/wfsdept/faculty/kcjensen.htm 100% of the shots you don't take don't go in - Wayne Gretzky [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Response to Responses to Lumper's Rant From: David Graham <uuglypher AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 10:44:37 -0600 Well, there y'go. You compose a heartfelt, albeit superficial rant in favor of taxonomic lumping, present it in light-hearted fashion to a knowledgeable, and presumably not humorless audience, and whuddayaget? Not one, but several mostly well-reasoned, concise, devastatingly substantive responses,(all mercifully devoid of deserved sarcasm...) accompanied by laudably authoritative references to the scholarly literature. Sheesh ! Well... O.K. ... Y'might just have a point.... or ten or more... I might have been a tad... hasty. Abysmally ignorant of the facts, even.. As for the suggestion that motivations other than those based exclusively on scientific evidence be used to alter an animal's taxonomic status I can only assume that it was made in the heat of momentary emotional response to my sarcasm, and was not the fruit of cool,reflective, reasoned, rational detachment. But it was from the heart, and understandable thereby, but unjustified in the cold light of dawn (-32 F. by my spirit thermometer this 6:30 am). By the bye, if either of the responding Douglases* ( Douglii?? Douglae ??) - anyway ... if Doug Chapman or Doug Prisbe or any other experienced birder for that matter - has plans to lead a group of interested birders to the Paha Sapa haunts of the...er... um ...Pacific wren, please contact me off list. My life list is, contrary to understandable recent impressions, amenable to augmentation by a new, righteous splittee. With thanks and best regards to all responders, Dave Graham, Estelline, Hamlin County -- *Any help with Latinized plurals of Goidelic (Q-Celtic) names happily accepted ! "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir A Hamlin County Haiku: Strange how new snow falls deeper in old footprints to smooth things out D.L.Graham, Jan 6,'10 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Winter Wrens From: douglas chapman <foodrev AT sio.midco.net> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 09:16:35 -0600 In Ward Draw at least, I, like George Prisbe reported yesterday, have heard (and thus seen) only "western" species. His relating that Jen Fowler played "eastern" Winter Wren to no avail but then got a big response to "western" Winter Wren is what my experience there has been. I do not know about Winter Wren elsewhere in the Black Hills. I was assuming they would be the same--sometimes a dangerous thing with birds. Doug Chapman Sioux Falls, SD On Jan 8, 2010, at 8:32 AM, Vic/Donna Fondy wrote: > Tim Ludwick is a member of the Northern Hill Bird Club but lives in Wyoming and is not on SD Birds Yahoo and sent me the following request: > > "Vic, Would you mind posting this link to SD Birds? http://slybird.blogspot.com/2008/07/winter-wren-is-multiple-species.htmlIt looks like there may be need to be some clarification on the most likely Winter Wren subspecies to occur in the Black Hills. The discussion by Mr. Chapman seemed to indicate that the proposed "Pacific Wren" would be the one occurring in the Black Hills. From the looks of the range maps, I would think either subspecies may occur in western South Dakota. However, I would suspect that the eastern subspecies would be more commonly observed. Regardless any Winter Wren occurring in the Black Hills should be thoroughly investigated. Thanks so much. Tim." > > Vic Fondy-NHBC > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sd-birds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sd-birds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: sd-birds-digest AT yahoogroups.com sd-birds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: sd-birds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Winter Wrens From: "Vic/Donna Fondy" <treasurecreek AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 07:32:07 -0700 Tim Ludwick is a member of the Northern Hill Bird Club but lives in Wyoming and is not on SD Birds Yahoo and sent me the following request: "Vic, Would you mind posting this link to SD Birds? http://slybird.blogspot.com/2008/07/winter-wren-is-multiple-species.htmlIt looks like there may be need to be some clarification on the most likely Winter Wren subspecies to occur in the Black Hills. The discussion by Mr. Chapman seemed to indicate that the proposed "Pacific Wren" would be the one occurring in the Black Hills. From the looks of the range maps, I would think either subspecies may occur in western South Dakota. However, I would suspect that the eastern subspecies would be more commonly observed. Regardless any Winter Wren occurring in the Black Hills should be thoroughly investigated. Thanks so much. Tim." Vic Fondy-NHBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]