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Updated on Thursday, May 8 at 08:54 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.


Veery,©David Sibley

8 May Rapid creek warblers galore [cbstafford ]
8 May feeder cams ["mick" ]
8 May feeder update ["mick" ]
8 May Hummingbird [Nancy Dunn ]
8 May Prothonotary Warbler at Cotton Park in Vermillion ["Swanson, David" ]
8 May Grassland bird tour, Bristol, SD []
7 May Rapid City /yellow rumped warblers [cbstafford ]
7 May Wednesday Diversity ["mick" ]
7 May Prairie Warbler [Jim McLaird ]
7 May BUTTE CTY.: Lark Bunting, Eastern Kingbird ["Jocelyn Baker" ]
7 May Lark Bunting early dates ["m. melius" ]
7 May Snowmelt! ["m. melius" ]
7 May Western tanager Meade county ["Anna K. Ball" ]
6 May Pennington Co./ arrivals [cbstafford ]
6 May Whitewood Report ["Vic/Donna Fondy" ]
06 May towhee question ["nun2brite2002" ]
6 May PENNINGTON CTY.: NORTHERN PARULA ["Jocelyn Baker" ]
6 May Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin - American Eagle Foundation []
6 May summer tanager, I assume [Jim McLaird ]
5 May Migration phenomenon ["m. melius" ]
05 May lesser goldfinch?? [Scott Weins ]
5 May HPET Breeding Shorebird Survey ["Ron & Marietta Mabie" ]
5 May red lake ["Todd Jensen" ]
5 May Seavey's Lake, Meade Coutny ["Anna K. Ball" ]
5 May Auction guidelines [douglas chapman ]
5 May Re: Auction Special! "The Birds of North America" complete set. [douglas chapman ]
5 May Auction Special! "The Birds of North America" complete set. [douglas chapman ]
5 May Minnehaha County May 3rd ["Tom Parliman" ]
4 May Pickstown Birds ["Ron & Marietta Mabie" ]
4 May Sunday ["mick" ]
04 May orman dam, B-c Night-Heron [Scott Weins ]
05 May Kyle Dam birds (Shannon Cty) ["Peter Hill" ]
4 May Weekend Birds ["Ron & Marietta Mabie" ]
4 May Dbl Crested Cormorants/Pennington Co [cbstafford ]
4 May Re: junco with rufous back [Jennifer Fowler ]
04 May Red-bellied Woodpecker - Spearfish ["Eric Davis" ]
4 May white throated swifts... ["Anna K. Ball" ]
4 May After the blizzard birds/Pennington Co. [cbstafford ]
04 May Black-necked Stilts and other shorebirds (Shannon Cty) ["Peter Hill" ]
3 May Sat ["mick" ]
3 May grey-headed junco ["Anna K. Ball" ]
3 May junco with rufous back ["Anna K. Ball" ]
3 May Silent Auction at Pickstown [douglas chapman ]
2 May Ruby-throated Hummingbird ["Ron & Marietta Mabie" ]
2 May (unknown) [Cheryl Wormstadt ]
2 May Update on WRMC ["Addison Ball" ]
2 May East-river highlights ["m. melius" ]
02 May Blizzard birds [Elizabeth Krueger ]
1 May bird videos ["mick" ]
1 May New Sightings ["Ron & Marietta Mabie" ]
1 May Red-winged Blackbird east of Canton [douglas chapman ]
1 May Broad-winged Hawk question ["m. melius" ]

Subject: Rapid creek warblers galore
From: cbstafford <turkeyfeathrs AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 18:53:49 -0700 (PDT)
Walked along the bank of Rapid Creek this afternoon
from bridge on Canyon Lake Drive (by sundial and herb
garden)upstream about 100 yards...it was windy and
trying to rain and I was in shirtsleeves. 

The streamside bushes and trees were loaded with
yellow rumped, orange-crowned warblers, 6 common
yellowthroats, 1 northern waterthrush, flock of 20+
white crowned sparrows,  similar sized group of lark
sparrows, 3 robins, several chipping sparrows, 1 song
sparrow, pair of chickadees, 2 rs flickers, house
finches, Lincoln's sparrow and several others too far
to pick up field marks. All the yellow-rumps that I
saw were myrtle variety, as they were yesterday
farther upstream. 

There was one flycatcher, it looked like a least, but
was making a buzzier sound than the usual "Che-bek" I
recognize. Its song was more like the recordings I can
find of a willow flycatcher, and eye ring was not as
distinct. Opinions anyone? Maybe just list it as one
of the empids.

Had it not been windy and spitting rain, I would have
searched farther. Not bad for about 20 minutes.
Caroline Stafford


 
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Subject: feeder cams
From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:26:49 -0500
If you are new to the listserve, the live cams are at the feeder complex two 
blocks west of Leif Ericson camp in Sioux Falls, at National Wildlife 
Federation Backyard Wildlife Habitat #20922. Two cameras run live from 6:30 to 
dark on most days, and capture images every 5 minutes to the gallery, so one 
can check if anything was around during the whole day. Cameras can be accessed 
at: 

http://96.2.100.137:8080/  or http://www.leifericson.org/sfbc/id24.html

Mick 
SFBC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: feeder update
From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:08:31 -0500
After 5 PM feeder report:
Rain today, but The Oriole count at the feeders is now four. Two adult males, 
two first year males, and a female. One of the young males ate so much orange 
that he took a 15 minute catnap (whoops!) a birdnap right on the spot. A bit 
dangerous in Hawk country. See him at: 
http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/sleepingbeauty.jpg 


The Harris' Sparrow is still around, as well as the female RB Nuthatch. 
Woodpeckers include Downy, Hairy, and an female Red-bellied. The Cattle egrets 

(I only saw one on the way home) are still on the clover-leaf wet grass near 
Cliff Ave. Nursery and Leif Ericson (the east side of I229). That makes almost 
a week in that location or across the road to the west in the Yeager road 
ditch. 

As I write this, one of the Oriole males is eating three feet from me. He has 
been eating suet and orange,but prefers the grape jelly. I am setting camera #1 
to shoot at that feeder until the Orioles move on. A quick video at: 
http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=MOV01593.flv 


Mick
SFBC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Hummingbird
From: Nancy Dunn <dunn3 AT svtv.com>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 20:02:10 -0500
Moody County, 10 miles east of Dell Rapids

Ruby-throated hummingbird, male spotted at the feeder tonight.
Subject: Prothonotary Warbler at Cotton Park in Vermillion
From: "Swanson, David" <David.Swanson AT usd.edu>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 17:08:30 -0500
This afternoon from about 4-4:30 pm I found a male Prothonotary Warbler
at Cotton Park in Vermillion. For those of you not familiar with Cotton
Park, to get there take Dakota Street south, down the hill, and Cotton
Park will be on your right shortly after the railroad tracks. The
Prothonotary was pretty far down the cement walking path, near where the
path curves north away from the river toward the residential area. I saw
the warbler in the areabetween the last bench and this curve (about 30
yards total distance). It was singing very irregularly.

 

Dave

 

David Swanson

Department of Biology

University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD 57069



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Grassland bird tour, Bristol, SD
From: <Silka.Kempema AT state.sd.us>
Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 10:24:26 -0500
The 2008, SD Grassland Coalition sponsored grassland bird tour will be
held at the Darwin Peckham ranch in Day County.  For more information on
the tour and registration see
http://sdgrass.org/Bird%20Tour/2008%20Bird%20Tour%20Brochure%20(FINAL).p
df.  More information on the Coalition and last year's tour near Rapid
City see http://sdgrass.org/

Silka L. F. Kempema
Terrestrial Wildlife Biologist
SD Dept.of Game, Fish and Parks 
Wildlife Diversity/Environmental Review Programs
523 East Capital Ave     P:  605-773-2742
Pierre, SD   57501         F:  605-773-6245
http://www.sdgfp.info/Wildlife/Diversity/index.htm



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Rapid City /yellow rumped warblers
From: cbstafford <turkeyfeathrs AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 20:01:47 -0700 (PDT)
Still many yellow-rumped warblers in the Canyon Lake
area below the dam in the riparian habitat. All the
ones I got binoculars on today were myrtle variety. I
couldn't find the northern parula, it was raining
lightly at that time. Also several of same yr with a
couple of orange-crowned and a chickadee pair foraging
in flowering crabapple   north side at Lincoln
Academy, base of Dinosaur Hill.
Caroline Stafford


 
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Subject: Wednesday Diversity
From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 21:28:37 -0500
Sioux Falls on Wednesday afternoon:
Four days in a row the pair of Cattle Egrets have been in the grass areas by 
Yeager Road and the 229 26th street ramps. 

Arriving home today at 5:00, the yard was filled with feathered beauties. 
FOY - three male (1 first year) Baltimore Orioles
FOY- (for the feeders) Harris' Sparrow
Chipping and House Sparrows, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Goldfinch, 
Housefinch, Starlings, Grackles, RC Kinglet, Robins. M. Doves, Pair of Blue 
Jays feeding each other, Y Rumped Warbler, Warbler species with yellow breast, 
4 Mallards, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Cardinals, and Chickadees. 


Photos: 
http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?source=ppsl&instanceid=112181913 

Video of RB Grosbeak 
http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=MOV01489.flv 

Video of Orioles: 
http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=MOV01474.flv 


Mick
SFBC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Prairie Warbler
From: Jim McLaird <jimmclaird AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 19:23:57 -0700 (PDT)
About 6:00 this evening (Sept. 7), I saw a Prairie
Warbler along Sergeant Creek just down from Horse
Trail Camp in Newton Hills State Park. As I was not
among those who saw it last year, it was a new lifer
for me.  Once again, I had to scramble for my field
guide.  I know there was some speculation (perhaps
hope is a better word) that it might return this year.
 In fact, it has!
Jim McLaird
Mitchell, S.D.


 
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Subject: BUTTE CTY.: Lark Bunting, Eastern Kingbird
From: "Jocelyn Baker" <osprey AT hills.net>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 16:19:01 -0600
Lark Bunting and Eastern Kingbird were observed this morning (May 7) at 
Belle Fourche Reservoir. I looked for the Eurasian  Wigeon observed by the 
Fondy's at the St. Onge Pond yesterday but was unable to find it.  Jocelyn 
Lee Baker, Rapid City. 

Subject: Lark Bunting early dates
From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 12:28:57 -0600 (GMT-06:00)
I'd just come inside, was checking phone msgs and staring somewhat blankly out 
the window at a spot in my garden when the first Lark Bunting flew into that 
spot. Should I feel charmed? They are garden birds in the summer here. 


Some recent first dates from my place in NE Custer County:

5/7/98
5/5/00
5/8/03
5/5/04
5/7/05
5/7/06
5/10/07
5/7/08

And I distinctly remember May 7, 1982, my first year here. The spring had been 
quite dry. A mellow thunderstorm gave us a nice shower and a lavender sunrise, 
during which the first Lark Bunting called from the fenceline. Then it didn't 
stop raining until October, 33 inches later. 


Michael Melius
Subject: Snowmelt!
From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 07:50:56 -0600 (GMT-06:00)
The prairies in western SD are blue again, with flowing & standing water from 
the snowmelt. At least they are here SE of Rapid City, which was not the 
hardest hit area. There should be even more run-off in areas north of here, and 
still time to pull in some migrating shorebirds. 


I was away during the storm, but it looks like the upland prairie soils didn't 
gain much moisture. Apparently there wasn't much rain, then when the snow came 
it was sideways, and with the prairies in long drought, there wasn't much 
vegetation to catch snow. This was a storm for the streams and stock dams. 


Michael Melius
NE Custer Co.
Subject: Western tanager Meade county
From: "Anna K. Ball" <magpie AT rap.midco.net>
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 05:51:58 -0600
Lovely male western tanager yesterday in the water-FILLED Little Elk Creek 
Canyon near Piedmont. 


--anna


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Pennington Co./ arrivals
From: cbstafford <turkeyfeathrs AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 21:10:23 -0700 (PDT)
House wren arrived this morning, same day as last year
and 2005. Also had male yellow warbler foraging in
chokecherry bushes in back yard early as well.

Oddly marked male hairy woodpecker at birdbath. He was
around last year, back of the head red blaze is not a
solid strip of red in the white. There is a solid
vertical black line that the divides the red into a
small red patch on either side of it. Resembles a
division sign turned 90 degrees.

Caroline Stafford


 
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Subject: Whitewood Report
From: "Vic/Donna Fondy" <treasurecreek AT gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 18:42:53 -0600
The FOY birds continue to slowly come in.  Here are recent FOY arrivals at 
our home South of Whitewood:  4/27-Chipping Sparrow; 4/28-Orange Crowned 
Warbler; 4/29-Says Phoebe (Crook City Rd); 5/1-House Wren and Yellow-rumped 
Warbler; 5/2-Brown-headed Cowbird and White-crowned Sparrow (day of the 
blizzard); 5/4-Red-naped Sapsucker (Crook City Rd); and 5/6-Black-headed 
Grosbeak and Lark Sparrow.

We birded some backroads today going to a meeting and saw a EURASIAN WIGEON 
on St. Onge Pond (1 mile N of St Onge on the Crooked Oaks Road).  Other FOY 
birds included Western Kingbird (Snoma Rd) and Yellow Warbler (Crooked Oaks 
Rd).  The recent snow has filled most of the area ponds for the first time 
in years.

Vic/Donna Fondy
605-269-2553 
Subject: towhee question
From: "nun2brite2002" <pintail AT abe.midco.net>
Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 21:35:38 -0000
I got a fairly long look at a towhee today...it only had the wing bars, 
no spotting.  The bird was facing away from me and the back was fairly 
conspicuous.  Could this be an eastern?  I see that a few people have 
reported spotted towhees, but I have not seen any mention of easterns.  
The bird was north of Leola.  Any help would be appreciated.  I also 
saw common yellowthroats, American bittern, barn and tree swallows, and 
spotted sandpiper...all FOY for me.
Barry Parkin
Aberdeen SD
Subject: PENNINGTON CTY.: NORTHERN PARULA
From: "Jocelyn Baker" <osprey AT hills.net>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 13:27:15 -0600
This morning, May 6, I observed a Northern Parula in Canyon Lake Park from 
8:45 until 10:30 a.m.  It was in the riparian area below the spillway, high 
in the trees most of the time, and very active.  There were a good number of 
Yellow-rumped Warblers and a few Orange-crowns also actively feeding in the 
area so I was able to get a good size comparison between the 3 species.  The 
warbler had all of the usual field marks except for the bi-color chest-band 
which was barely discernible. Because of the (almost) lack of a band, I 
assume it was a female.  It was difficult to track as it was moving 
constantly but when it did get lower in the trees several times I was able 
to clearly observe the yellow bill, the lime-green patch on the upper back, 
the bright yellow chin, throat and upper breast, the white wing-bars and the 
white eye crescents.  The only other observation I have for the Black Hills 
area was on June 22, 1977 when I observed a male near the intersection of 
Highways #385 and 44.
Jocelyn Lee Baker, Rapid City   605/388-0949 

Subject: Bald Eagle Commemorative Coin - American Eagle Foundation
From: <eileen.dowdstukel AT state.sd.us>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 14:03:20 -0500
We've been asked to raise public awareness about this coin. To learn
more, visit this website: www.eagles.org

Eileen Dowd Stukel, SDGFP


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: summer tanager, I assume
From: Jim McLaird <jimmclaird AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 11:23:00 -0700 (PDT)
While hiking at Lake Mitchell this morning, I saw what
I at first thought was an oriole high in a tree--a
look with the binoculars changed that! It had a
yellowish-orange breast with red throat and face (the
light behind it made colors a bit difficult, but the
red was striking).  It flew before I could examine it,
but later I got a better look while atop the hill, and
saw it from the back. It had a red patch in mid-back
and mostly red head, otherwise yellowish-green. 
   I'm certain it was a first spring male Summer
Tanager. The best picture I could find showing what
the bird's back looked like is in the National
Geographic field guide, and Sibley's guide has a
pretty good picture as well.  It caught me off
guard--I have never seen a first year male Summer
Tanager, and had to scramble for a while to figure out
what I was seeing.
Jim McLaird
Mitchell, S.D.


 
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Subject: Migration phenomenon
From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 21:42:23 -0600 (GMT-06:00)
I wrote last Friday from Faulk County in eastern SD, about all the birds I was 
seeing as rainy weather settled in. On Friday around noon I saw some Hudonian 
Godwits lift from a small pond and head north, followed shortly by a couple 
groups of dowitchers. Mind you, the storm was just getting to its peak for us 
then, winds having gone from ENE to straight out of the north, with rain 
starting up again and feeling icy. It looked bad. 


Turns out it was just ending. By five pm skies were clearing (it was still 
windy). I went out and could hardly find a migrant, in trees or fields or 
wetlands. Apparently, the birds left during the storm and flew north into the 
clear. As if they knew the storm was ending, and not deepening, as I'd thought. 


Michael Melius
Subject: lesser goldfinch??
From: Scott Weins <sweins AT rushmore.com>
Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 21:37:19 -0600
We observed what we think might be a Lesser Goldfinch in our yard this 
evening.  It seemed small for a goldfinch and definitely more greenish 
than brown with a dark bill.  Here is a link to some photos:
http://www.gdik.com/lesser_goldfinch.htm
What does everyone else think?
Observed on Old Belle Road just north of Spearfish.  If it shows up 
again, I'll try for some better photos.

Scott Weins
Spearfish, SD
Subject: HPET Breeding Shorebird Survey
From: "Ron & Marietta Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 21:25:27 -0500
Ed Rodriquez, at the Lake Andes NWR, is looking for volunteers to conduct 
surveys within the late April to early May and late May to early June time 
frames. The surveys are similar to the Breeding Bird Survey in that the routes 
are 25 miles long, with 3 minute stops at 0.5 mile intervals. The survey routes 
are around Avon, Parkston and Stickney, SD. Target birds are: American Avocet, 
Marbled Godwit, Upland Sandpiper, Willet, Wilson's Phalarope and Wilson's 
Snipe. 


If you are interested in running one of these surveys or want more information, 
please call Ed at (605) 487-7603. 


Ron Mabie
Pickstown, SD

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: red lake
From: "Todd Jensen" <gyrfalcon AT redwoodwireless.com>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 19:29:44 -0600



Birded red lake today. Western grebes were going through there courtship 
display. I observed also small colony of franklin's gulls gathering nesting 
material for building nests. watch several go out gather nesting material and 
return back to the same spot. not certain how many as alot of them flyin around 
maybe 50-200 in area not exact. Todd Jensen 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Seavey's Lake, Meade Coutny
From: "Anna K. Ball" <magpie AT rap.midco.net>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 18:39:23 -0600
ok, it isn't exactly a lake like in the old days but there is enough water 
to hold wilson's phalaropes , blue and green teals, and a couple of 
different shorebirds i just couldn't make out.  bring your scope!

--anna 



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Subject: Auction guidelines
From: douglas chapman <foodrev AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 19:12:22 -0500
Hello all,

I thought that I would post the guidelines for our silent auction to  
be held in Pickstown.

These are also to be found on the President's Page of the March 2008  
issue of SDBN. There have been a few small changes.

1. Minimum value must be at least $1.00, but may be higher if you have  
a valuable item you are willing to donate, as long as it commands a  
price worthy of its value. Donated items of exceptional value will be  
auctioned on ebay.com with proceeds to SDOU, or will be offered, at  
the auctioneer's discretion, in a member auction.
2. Birding-related items only: birding gear, bird books, bird photos,  
bird paintings, bird sculpture, bird houses, bird baths, bird feeders,  
bird decor, bird jewelry, bird note cards, bird ornaments, plus, of  
course, binoculars, walking sticks, new or slightly used and very  
clean birding clothing and hats (no seed caps, please), and so forth  
that are in excellent condition.
3. No taxidermy please (no stuffed birds!).
4. No bird seed.
5. No baked goods or other food items.
6. The auction will run from set-up Friday evening until fifteen  
minutes prior to start of the banquet Saturday evening. This will give  
winners time to pay for and pick up their items before the banquet and  
evening’s program.
7. One added rule is that if we receive several copies of one item, we  
may hold back the extra copies until the next auction, or sell them on  
ebay.com.
8. Please be advised that all material is deemed donated to SDOU, and  
thus becomes the property of SDOU and may be utilized at a later  
auction if unsold.

Thanks, and I know we will do well with this. I look forward to the  
not-so-distant-future when the auction will become one of the  
highlights of SDOU meetings as it is at Iowa Ornithologists' Union  
meetings.

See you in Pickstown.

Doug Chapman
Sioux Falls, SD





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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Subject: Re: Auction Special! "The Birds of North America" complete set.
From: douglas chapman <foodrev AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 18:12:30 -0500
Hello All,

Given the response to my post Re: the gift of the complete Birds of  
North America set, I would say that I and those I discussed it with  
were wrong: this set still has an amazing degree interest out there.

I have a "bid" of $300 already and with other members and friends  
input, I have asked Ron Mabie to include a bit of time before the  
banquet starts for this one item to be a live auction.

I hope this is successful--I sure never expected to be getting us  
(me?) into a live auction situation, but for enough money going to  
SDOU I guess I'm willing. I sure hope it goes well. I'd hate it to  
fail to bring a commensurate dollar amount given this attention. There  
may well be an ear-mark put on the proceeds of the sale of this  
volume. Perhaps for the banquet speaker fund. TBD.

The reasoning behind the lower price point was that this whole set is  
now available on-line and thus we assumed that the "hard copy" would  
have a much diminished value. The consensus of the responses seems to  
contradict that.

So be it.

Doug Chapman
Sioux Falls, SD

On May 5, 2008, at 11:38 AM, douglas chapman wrote:

> A complete set of The Birds of North America (includes Hawaii) has
> been donated to the SDOU (ISSN 1061-5466).  The set consists of 18-
> volumes in 720 pamphlets. This set was published between 1990 and 2004
> by the Academy of Natural sciences of Philadelphia, with support from
> Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the American Ornithologists'
> Union. As most birders are aware, these are remarkable compilations of
> the knowledge of each species’ life history, very useful today in
> researching North American and Hawaiian birds. Especially interesting
> is the detailed treatment of subspecies, some of whose names are still
> familiar to us. The set will be offered complete, i.e. it will not be
> broken up for individual pamphlet sales.
>
> The Birds of North America, Volume 8.-A. E Poole and E B. Gill (Eds.).
> 1997. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. Accounts generally
> are between 12 to 32 pages each, each with 1 color plate, 1 range map,
> and variable numbers of figures, tables, and appendices. ISBN  
> 1061-5466.
>
> The original price paid was $1,875. From the introduction.
>
> "Avian life histories have remained the lifeblood of ornithological
> progress for more than 400 years. Initially written by individuals
> with the help of a network of regional correspondents, the explosive
> growth of ornithological literature in this century necessitated a new
> approach in the compilation of such accounts: that of full-time
> editors working with groups of specialists in production-line fashion
> to quickly distill and disseminate separately bound, timely summaries
> of the current and historical ornithological literature. The ambitious
> and highly successful Birds of North America project represents this
> new approach. The encyclopedic collection, scheduled for completion in
> 2001, [it was complete as of 2002] published its first account in
> 1992. The 18-volume, 720 account series, represents the combined labor
> of 79 authors. Coverage includes the Gaviidae (1 species),
> Procellardae (3), Phalacrocoracidae (1), Ardeidae (1), Anatidae (2),
> Accipitridae (1), Scolopacidae (1), Laridae (2), Psittacidae (1),
> Cuculidae (1), Caprimulgidae (1), Picidae (2), Tyrannidae (1),
> Hirundinidae (1), Troglodytidae (2), Regulidae (1), Sylviidae (1),
> Turdidae (1), Mimidae (1), Bombycillidae (1), Peucedramidae (1),
> Emberizidae (7), Fringillidae (5), and Estrildidae (1)."
>
> As a result of consultation with others, the minimum bid for the
> complete set will be $200, and the first bid of $300 will take the
> set, but with a chance for any underbidders to respond. I prefer to
> avoid shipping them out. Consequently, I will hold bids open through
> the Spring SDOU meeting in Pickstown May 16-18, and will bring the set
> with me (unless it is sold here in the Sioux Falls area beforehand).
>
> Please consider acquiring this valuable and fascinating set while
> supporting the excellent that is the SDOU organization.
>
> Thanks for your support to SDOU and I'm sure all will join me in
> thanking the donor.
>
> Doug Chapman
> Sioux Falls, SD
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
Subject: Auction Special! "The Birds of North America" complete set.
From: douglas chapman <foodrev AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 11:38:37 -0500
A complete set of The Birds of North America (includes Hawaii) has  
been donated to the SDOU (ISSN 1061-5466).  The set consists of 18- 
volumes in 720 pamphlets. This set was published between 1990 and 2004  
by the Academy of Natural sciences of Philadelphia, with support from  
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the American Ornithologists'  
Union. As most birders are aware, these are remarkable compilations of  
the knowledge of each species’ life history, very useful today in  
researching North American and Hawaiian birds. Especially interesting  
is the detailed treatment of subspecies, some of whose names are still  
familiar to us. The set will be offered complete, i.e. it will not be  
broken up for individual pamphlet sales.

The Birds of North America, Volume 8.-A. E Poole and E B. Gill (Eds.).  
1997. Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia. Accounts generally  
are between 12 to 32 pages each, each with 1 color plate, 1 range map,  
and variable numbers of figures, tables, and appendices. ISBN 1061-5466.

The original price paid was $1,875. From the introduction.

"Avian life histories have remained the lifeblood of ornithological  
progress for more than 400 years. Initially written by individuals  
with the help of a network of regional correspondents, the explosive  
growth of ornithological literature in this century necessitated a new  
approach in the compilation of such accounts: that of full-time  
editors working with groups of specialists in production-line fashion  
to quickly distill and disseminate separately bound, timely summaries  
of the current and historical ornithological literature. The ambitious  
and highly successful Birds of North America project represents this  
new approach. The encyclopedic collection, scheduled for completion in  
2001, [it was complete as of 2002] published its first account in  
1992. The 18-volume, 720 account series, represents the combined labor  
of 79 authors. Coverage includes the Gaviidae (1 species),  
Procellardae (3), Phalacrocoracidae (1), Ardeidae (1), Anatidae (2),  
Accipitridae (1), Scolopacidae (1), Laridae (2), Psittacidae (1),  
Cuculidae (1), Caprimulgidae (1), Picidae (2), Tyrannidae (1),  
Hirundinidae (1), Troglodytidae (2), Regulidae (1), Sylviidae (1),  
Turdidae (1), Mimidae (1), Bombycillidae (1), Peucedramidae (1),  
Emberizidae (7), Fringillidae (5), and Estrildidae (1)."

As a result of consultation with others, the minimum bid for the  
complete set will be $200, and the first bid of $300 will take the  
set, but with a chance for any underbidders to respond. I prefer to  
avoid shipping them out. Consequently, I will hold bids open through  
the Spring SDOU meeting in Pickstown May 16-18, and will bring the set  
with me (unless it is sold here in the Sioux Falls area beforehand).

Please consider acquiring this valuable and fascinating set while  
supporting the excellent that is the SDOU organization.

Thanks for your support to SDOU and I'm sure all will join me in  
thanking the donor.

Doug Chapman
Sioux Falls, SD




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


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Subject: Minnehaha County May 3rd
From: "Tom Parliman" <tparliman AT qwest.net>
Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 09:21:34 -0500
Lee Schoenewe and Tom Parliman went out N and E of Sioux Falls. Birds
spotted include the following:

Great Bear area:
broad-winged hawk
YR warbler(at least 50)
palm  warbler
spotted towhee
osprey
wood duck

Big Sioux Rec Area:
broad-winged hawk(with cottontail in talons, perched in a tree)
brown thrashers(6)
solitary vireo(1)


Perry Nature Area:
YR warbler(at least 50)
spotted towhee
E towhee
E. bluebird
belted kingfisher
Thomas W. Parliman
141 N. Main, Suite 504
Sioux Falls, SD
57104
(605)336-2792

Subject: Pickstown Birds
From: "Ron & Marietta Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 22:40:19 -0500
The Whip-poor-wills have returned, just heard my first two tonight from my 
backyard. 


On a walk below town this evening was a FOY Eastern Towhee, which I have only 
seen here twice before. Also observed a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker defending its 
drilling tree against three Orange-crowned Warblers and a Downy Woodpecker. 


Ron Mabie
Pickstown, SD

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Sunday
From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 22:01:40 -0500
A run to Dewey Gevik and some feeder birds. 
Photo journal at: http://www.leifericson.org/sfbc/id33.html
Video of Phalaropes either trying to mate or just fighting: 
http://www.leifericson.org/sfbc/id32.html 

New FOY's today at the feeders: A first year RW Blackbird, and a Rose Breasted 
Grosbeak. 

At Dewey/Wall lake:
Pelicans
RB Gull
Mallards
L. Scaup
Ruddys
PB Grebe
Eared Grebe
Coot
Bufflehead
Gadwall
GB Heron
Wood Duck
BW Teal
C. Goose
Osprey (FOY)
Red-tailed Hawk
Yellow rumped Warbler
Grackle
RW Blackbird
Yellow-headed BB
N. Harrier
Kestrel
Song Sparrow
ALONG THE WAY TO DEWEY
Dowitchers
Yellowlegs
Wilson's Phalarope
Killdeer
Red-tailed hawk on nest
Chipping Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow

Mick
SFBC


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: orman dam, B-c Night-Heron
From: Scott Weins <sweins AT rushmore.com>
Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 18:56:48 -0600
This afternoon I saw a Black-crowned Night-Heron near the far end (north 
side) of Gaden's point. I also saw a Cinnamon Teal on Rocky Point, on 
the first road to the right past the park shop. 
It has been many years since I have seen this much water in the 
reservoir.  I may never get all of the mud off my boots!

Scott Weins
Spearfish, SD

Subject: Kyle Dam birds (Shannon Cty)
From: "Peter Hill" <petermhill AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 00:46:36 -0000
Visited some friends up in Kyle today and took some time to scope out 
the dam. It was swarming with waterfowl and other bird life. Species 
included:

Western Grebe
Eared Grebe
Pied-billed Grebe
D-c Cormorant
Gadwall
No. Pintail
Am. Wigeon
No. Shoveler
Blue-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Osprey (carrying a big fish!)
Am. Coot
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet
Long-billed Curlew (on the prairie)
Upland Sandpiper (on the prairie)
Semip'd Sandpiper
L-b Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Franklin's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Say's Phoebe
Loggerhead Shrike
Tree Swallow
Brown Thrasher
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow-headed Blackbird

Also checked out Wakpamni Lake SW of Batesland on my way home. 25 
avocets in the small lake was a pretty sight. Also, Wilson's 
Phalaropes darting all over the place. Not much else that was new, 
although I did watch two Short-eared Owls battling in mid-air over 
some poor rodent that was to become dinner.

Peter Hill
Oglala 
Shannon County
Subject: Weekend Birds
From: "Ron & Marietta Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 18:55:26 -0500
Around LAWNR: FOY Black-crowned Night-Heron, Western & Eastern Kingbirds, Marsh 
Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow and Bobolink. 


Ron Mabie
Pickstown, SD

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Dbl Crested Cormorants/Pennington Co
From: cbstafford <turkeyfeathrs AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 16:16:38 -0700 (PDT)
Checked my pond on Catron and 5th this afternoon, pair
of double crested cormorants in breeding plumage,
preening and swimming. Several Wilson's phalarope
ladies have returned, same ducks as Sat. plus 1 coot,
1 kestrel on overhead powerline.

I haven't seen cormorants around here in several
years. Plumage today shows why the moniker of double
crested.
Caroline Stafford


 
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Subject: Re: junco with rufous back
From: Jennifer Fowler <waterfowlerlover AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 14:00:02 -0700 (PDT)
Hello Anna and everyone,
   
 As I sit watching the 30+ white-winged juncos at my feeders, I cannot help but 
wish for a gray-headed too! Since my moving to the Black Hills, I have been 
fascinated with the timing and ranges of the different forms of the dark-eyed 
juncos. I feel that it is absolutely important to record the form and its 
location at all times, especially during winter and migration. Not for the 
potential of one day adding 4 new species to our county lists, but as an 
educational tool. We need to continue the study of natural history and 
phenology to then share with the public. Perhaps something seeming small is 
part of a bigger natural cycle or event. I spent the past two days at a 
teacher's workshop where I was joined by folks on early morning bird walks 
before our sessions. They were teachers who wanted 'oooh facts' for everything 
we saw on our walk. I shared the breeding range of the white-winged juncos that 
they were looking at and they were amazed and felt honored to be in 

 the presence of those birds. They went back to the meeting and they were 
anxious to share the information with others. Would those same non-birders I 
spent my mornings with care about seeing a gray-headed junco...yes, and with it 
our enthusiasm for diversity and and joy of sharing it with others, we birders 
can make a difference! With information we share, we bring awareness in 
classrooms and with those we meet in the field and beyond! Think of the person 
walking past you in a park as you are suspiciously peering through binoculars 
toward seemingly empty trees and they ask "What are you looking at?" We share 
facts with them. They go home and tell someone, and so on. So, be thorough, be 
accurate, and don't dismiss the details in the birds we see just because 
someone says they are not a unique SPECIES! 

   
  Happy Migration!  ...and enjoy all forms of juncos!  :)
   
  Jen Fowler
  Pactola Lake, SD
   
   
   
   
   
  

"Anna K. Ball"  wrote:
 Either a rufous-backed or grey-headed junco at my feeders just now. Definitely 
had a red back and I managed to get photos. However, the photos don't really 
show its flanks. I would guess by the range map it would be rufous-backed but I 
s'pose it doesn't really matter anyway since it is "only" a dark-eyed junco 
when it comes right down to it. 


Piedmont, Meade county

anna

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



                           

       
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Subject: Red-bellied Woodpecker - Spearfish
From: "Eric Davis" <ericdavis AT rushmore.com>
Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 18:40:08 -0000
A great morning for birding in Spearfish (if you don't mind foot-deep
snow.)  Two consecutive 65 degree days haven't put that big a dent
into our massive snowfall yet.

I birded the D.C. Booth Hatchery this morning and found:

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER
Crossbill
Goldfinch
Pine Siskin
Eastern Bluebird
Orange-crowned Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
Junco (lots)
RB Nuthatch
WB Nuthatch
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
BC Chickadee
Robin
Song Sparrow
GB Heron

-Eric Davis
Spearfish




Subject: white throated swifts...
From: "Anna K. Ball" <magpie AT rap.midco.net>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 11:44:09 -0600
...are my pesonal harbinger of Spring. I thought I heard them last week but 
could never see them. Today they were absolutely there, flying around the top 
of Little Elk Creek Canyon which, by the way, is FULL of water for those of you 
who might like a nice hike. 


anna in meade county

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: After the blizzard birds/Pennington Co.
From: cbstafford <turkeyfeathrs AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 06:59:27 -0700 (PDT)
Post blizzard calm, sunny day brought juncos back to
feeder area with wc sparrows,spotted towhees, siskins,
goldfinches, house finches, downy, hairy, rb
nuthatches, starlings, grackles, chipping sparrows,
blue jays, crows and even a robin to suet dough. Very
busy on Saturday. Juncos had disappeared to higher
elevations in the past week, about the time the
towhees arrived.

Check of Catron Blvd pond showed Wilson's phalaropes
had  moved on, willet, killdeer, mallards, Canada
geese, blue winged teal, gadwalls, Brewer's
blackbirds, w. meadowlark and rw blackbirds still
there. Now joined by 3 pair of green-winged teal and 1
barn swallow skimming water. No sign of basking
turtles today, overhead 1 red-tailed hawk. 

One other shorebird type, shorter, gray/brown color,
dark legs and about half body size of the willet it
was foraging with. Backlight revealed no discernable
field marks, so it remains unidentified for the
moment.
Caroline Stafford


 
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Subject: Black-necked Stilts and other shorebirds (Shannon Cty)
From: "Peter Hill" <petermhill AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 01:53:13 -0000
Well, my disappointment about Oglala Dam's being drained evaporated 
(no pun intended) with yesterday's blizzard. What had been a dry, 
pitiful expanse of sand and weeds has been transformed into a 
gorgeous expanse of mudflats and shallow channels. I walked over from 
my house (about 1/4 mile) to check it out this evening. Quite a few 
shorebirds out, and all of them surprisingly (to me) unwary. Most 
flocks allowed me to tramp across the mudflats to within 50 feet or 
so of them before they even acknowledged my presence. The only 
skittish birds appeared to be the Killdeer, which did their best to 
wreck my "birding mojo" by trying loudly to make all of the other 
shorebirds as alarmed as they were. Anyway, here's what was about:

5 Black-necked Stilts
3 American Avocets
5 Lesser Yellowlegs
10 or so Willets
1 (gorgeous) Dunlin
20 or so Semip-d Sandpipers
60+ L-b Dowitchers
1 stunning female Wilson's Phalarope

I'm sure there were more shorebirds out there. The lake area is 
pretty large, and I only covered a percentage of it on my walk/slog.

The stilts made my day. I was surprised to see one fly into view 
while I was checking a dowitcher flock. Imagine my further delight 
when it was joined by four others, all feeding about 30-40 feet in 
front of me in the evening sunlight. They really are lovely birds.

Also noticed that the Willets out here sound quite different (in my 
opinion) from those on the east coast where I grew up. 

Quite a few sparrows out too - in the brushy areas along what used to 
be the lakeshore. Mostly white-crowned and Lincoln's, with some clay-
coloreds, songs, and vespers mixed in as well. 

Peter Hill
Oglala
Shannon County
Subject: Sat
From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 20:36:00 -0500
A run to Big Sioux Rec by Brandon gave FOY (for me) White Crowned Sparrows, 
(many), and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. A dozen circling Turkey Vultures, and many 
Blue Jays. The pair of eaglets on the Redwood Blvd nest survived the hail, snow 
and wind. 


Mick
SFBC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: grey-headed junco
From: "Anna K. Ball" <magpie AT rap.midco.net>
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 19:06:17 -0600
I got a better look. Definitely a grey -headed. No bi-colored bill. pretty 
neat, 


anna in meade county

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: junco with rufous back
From: "Anna K. Ball" <magpie AT rap.midco.net>
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 17:00:23 -0600
Either a rufous-backed or grey-headed junco at my feeders just now. Definitely 
had a red back and I managed to get photos. However, the photos don't really 
show its flanks. I would guess by the range map it would be rufous-backed but I 
s'pose it doesn't really matter anyway since it is "only" a dark-eyed junco 
when it comes right down to it. 


Piedmont, Meade county

anna

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Silent Auction at Pickstown
From: douglas chapman <foodrev AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 10:23:54 -0500
Good Morning SD Birders,

As the Spring Meeting in Pickstown is but 2 weeks away, I want to  
request that any of you with items to donate to SDOU for auction  
please inform me ASAP. Also, how and when said items are to arrive in  
Pickstown.

I am making up auction stickers for items. The more I can get done  
BEFORE set-up in Pickstown the better.

All items must be received by 6 PM Friday, May 16, 2008 for inclusion.  
Donations received late will gladly be accepted for inclusion in the  
next auction.

I already have many good items. Bring your wallet and buy!

Silent Auction closes 15 minutes after the banquet ends. Cash and  
check (preferably good) only. All items won must be paid for after the  
banquet. If you win, but must leave, you are responsible to have  
someone there to pay and pick up. Otherwise, next highest bidder will  
be accepted.

No storage or delayed payments accepted.

Doug Chapman
SIoux Falls, SD
Subject: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
From: "Ron & Marietta Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net>
Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 19:20:07 -0500
A friend of mine had a RT Hummingbird at her farmplace east of Wagner 
yesterday. 


Ron Mabie
Pickstown, SD

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: (unknown)
From: Cheryl Wormstadt <cmlgworm AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 15:15:34 -0700 (PDT)
Two miles East of Custer we "only" had about 8" of snow. We have lots of 
Juncos, PInesiskins, Goldfinches, Brewer Black Birds, RB & WB Nuthatches, 
Chickadees, one M Downy, 1 M Hairy, and as usual, the turkeys. The highlight is 
we now have 4 Pygmy Nuthatches at the feeders. Leonard & Cheryl 

       
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Update on WRMC
From: "Addison Ball" <AddisonB AT enetis.net>
Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 13:20:50 -0600
Update on WRMC

Custer and Pennington counties will participate in the upcoming West River 
Migration Count May 9-12.  Coordinator for Custer county is Michael Melius 
(605-255-4766) and the Pennington county coordinator is Jocie Baker  
(605-388-0949).

Vic Fondy-WRMC Coordinator 

--Addison (for Vic)


Subject: East-river highlights
From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 13:52:20 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
I'm here in Faulk Co. Birds are everywhere. I say this for folks back in Rapid 
City and environs--it's quite a tonic to come over here this time of year and 
see so many birds of all kinds. 


I wrote a question about BROAD-WINGED HAWKS here yesterday, then went out and 
found a couple more, at Lake Faulkton. 


SWALLOWS were thick around here yesterday, May 1, as NE winds and lowering 
clouds apparently held them up. 


I saw 10 species of sparrow yesterday, including FOY Lark Sparrow. Also FOY B&W 
Warbler. 


Today just east of Faulkton two HUDSONIAN GODWITS flew right in front of me as 
I drove into town. They were heading north out of a small pond just south of 
the road. 


On April 30 I had a good look at an orange-faced sparrow in a grassy ravine, at 
sunset. A side view, and in flight, so I could see the boldly streaked back and 
orange rump, flat head...probably a SHARP-TAILED SPARROW, but was the nape 
unmarked, was the crown a wide or narrow stripe? I can't be sure. I couldn't 
relocate the bird, nor did it call--the kind of sighting that can drive you 
nuts with its rarity and uncertainty. I spent most of the next morning walking 
various grassy ravines in the county. 


No bluebirds!

Michael Melius
Subject: Blizzard birds
From: Elizabeth Krueger <ekrueger AT rushmore.com>
Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 12:18:47 -0600
Our bird feeders were mostly covered with ice this morning, so I threw 
out some seed on top of the 30" of new snow in the yard. Business has 
been brisk: house finches, goldfinches, siskins, red-winged blackbirds, 
robins, chipping sparrows, one Lincoln's sparrow, white-crowned 
sparrows, one yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon), and the grackle mafia.

Elizabeth Krueger
North of Spearfish (Lawrence County)
Subject: bird videos
From: "mick" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 22:32:16 -0500
If you could not access the Ovenbird and Lincoln's Sparrow video, you can see 
them at the SFBC website. at: 

http://www.leifericson.org/sfbc/id32.html

Mick
SFBC

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: New Sightings
From: "Ron & Marietta Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net>
Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 19:49:05 -0500
Today I saw a FOY Yellow Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak in my backyard.

Ron Mabie
Pickstown, SD

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Red-winged Blackbird east of Canton
From: douglas chapman <foodrev AT sio.midco.net>
Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 17:26:43 -0500
I posted a couple pictures of the unusual RW Blackbird Pat and Jim  
Dunn found east of Canton. I would call it a leucistic bird. But the  
yellowish buff around the lores and bill base ???

Opinions?

But whatever he is, he sure is pretty (especially in flight) and is  
very territorial.

Doug Chapman
Sioux Fals, SD

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8110372 AT N06/2458087608/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8110372 AT N06/2457257287
Subject: Broad-winged Hawk question
From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 15:24:37 -0500 (GMT-05:00)
I was birding NE of Miranda in Faulk Co. today, and looked up to see a couple 
buteos circling. One seemed to have prominent tail bands. Then I was distracted 
by a large flock of AW Pelicans above them, and higher still, more hawks. It 
was a swirling mass of 30 or so hawks. I'm not very experienced with 
Broad-winged Hawks, but these birds seemed different from other buteos I've 
seen in kettles, as they were moving fast in a relatively tight circular 
motion, more like a swarm than a loose group of "lazily" circling hawks. 


I'm wondering, is that the kind of flight pattern to expect from Broad-wings?

They were high, against clouds, and moving fast, so all I can say about their 
appearance is that they seemed dark overall and smaller than other buteos. The 
wind was strong out of the northeast and they moved quickly to the northwest. 
About 20 minutes later I did get a good look at an immature Broad-winged as it 
circled low over a tree stand I was walking through. 


Michael Melius