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13 Mar NHBC 13 Mar 2010 trip report ["Gene " ] 13 Mar FOY Robins [Kim Kuper ] 13 Mar FT PIERRE ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 11 Mar Ruddy Duck ["R&M Mabie" ] 10 Mar Fox Sparrow! ["Jensen, Kent" ] 10 Mar Long-tailed Duck ["R&M Mabie" ] 10 Mar Nancy Drilling to speak at BH Area Botanist and Ecologist Workshop Thursday [Nancy Hilding ] 10 Mar Finches - Pennington [Richard Latuchie ] 8 Mar Horned Grebe ["R&M Mabie" ] 8 Mar NHBC Sturgis field trip ["Gene " ] 8 Mar FW: NHBC crane trip to NE ["Gene " ] 8 Mar FW: Color-marked Piping Plovers from The Bahamas [] 7 Mar Meade, Lawrence, Butte Counties [Richard Latuchie ] 7 Mar Iceland ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 06 Mar "Chickens 'One-Up' Humans in Ability to See Color" [Dick Kappedal ] 6 Mar Fort Randall Dam ["R&M Mabie" ] 6 Mar Roberts and Day ["Mark Otnes" ] 6 Mar Spring sightings ["mick zerr" ] 6 Mar FT PIERRE ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 6 Mar Redpolls [Nancy Dunn ] 05 Mar Bluebirds in Lawrence County [Elizabeth Krueger ] 5 Mar Bald Eagles/Rapid City/Canyon Lake [cbstafford ] 5 Mar bird blog ["dan&erika" ] 5 Mar Monday's raptor trip north of Pierre [David Graham ] 4 Mar Mtn. Bluebird, Haakon ["m. melius" ] 4 Mar mountain bluebird Rapid City [Maggie Engler ] 4 Mar Butte Cty.: Short-eared Owl and more ["Jocelyn Baker" ] 4 Mar FW: Whooping Crane update ["Jensen, Kent" ] 3 Mar newsletter ["mick zerr" ] 3 Mar PENNINGTON CTY.: Mountain Bluebird ["Jocelyn Baker" ] 3 Mar Gulls ["R&M Mabie" ] 2 Mar Reminder-$100.00 Alfred Hinds Memorial Award ["Jocelyn Baker" ] 28 Feb Started foggy-ended...not bad [David Graham ] 28 Feb Snowy Owl and Gyrfalcon ["Doug Backlund" ] 28 Feb NHBC Field Trip Report / Red-headed Woodpecker ["eric_t_davis" ] 28 Feb Snowy owl ["Jensen, Kent" ] 28 Feb RE: Pheasants ["Jensen, Kent" ] 28 Feb Horned Larks ["Jocelyn Baker" ] 28 Feb Pennington County - Evening Grosbeak [Richard Latuchie ] 28 Feb Re: Pileated Woodpecker [Douglas Prisbe ] 28 Feb RE: [SF-BC] Saturday field trip slides ["mick zerr" ] 28 Feb Pheasants [Susan Wismer ] 28 Feb First migrants ["m. melius" ] 28 Feb Feb 28th birds incl redpolls [Nancy Dunn ] 28 Feb Pileated Woodpecker ["Gary & Cindy Olson" ] 27 Feb Saturday field trip slides ["mick zerr" ] 27 Feb Fw: [SF-BC] Field Trip 2/27/2010 ["Todd Jensen" ] 26 Feb Capitol Lake [Bill Bossman ] 26 Feb RE: [SF-BC] GBBC ["mick zerr" ] 26 Feb Run-off! ["m. melius" ] 25 Feb NHBC March Meeting ["Gene " ] 25 Feb Winter Season Reports ["Palmer, Jeff" ] 25 Feb NHBC Saturday Field Trip ["eric_t_davis" ] 24 Feb Snowy Owl [Bill Bossman ] 23 Feb Golden-crowned Kinglet ["brdfsd AT sio.midco.net" ] 23 Feb Tuesday ["mick zerr" ] 23 Feb FT PIERRE ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 22 Feb FW: [waterbirdsnetwork] (no subject) [] 20 Feb Cassin's Finch: Pennington County [Richard Latuchie ] 20 Feb NHBC Field Trip - Saturday, February 27 ["Addison Ball" ] 20 Feb GBBC ["mick zerr" ] 18 Feb mergansers ["mick zerr" ] 14 Feb Gyrfalcon [Richard Latuchie ] 13 Feb GBBC ["Ricky D. Olson" ] 13 Feb NHBC trip report, 13 Feb 10 ["Gene " ] 13 Feb Goose in my driveway ["Terry Sohl" ] 12 Feb Friday ["mick zerr" ] 11 Feb Shot-eared Owl [Bill Bossman ] 11 Feb think spring - think nests! ["Nancy Drilling" ] 10 Feb Fwd: FYI Fwd: February 16th, scoping deadline New Planning Rule for the National Forest System [Nancy Hilding ] 10 Feb birding and hunting stats ["mick zerr" ] 09 Feb Northern Shrike? [] 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" ] Subject: NHBC 13 Mar 2010 trip report From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:27:11 -0700 Six members of the Northern Hills Bird Club participated in a 3-hour field trip in the Sturgis area on Saturday, March 13, 2010. It was a warm and sunny morning, but the only unfrozen water was Bear Butte Creek, which surely limited the number of species. After the trip ended two participants found Lewis' Woodpecker & Rock Pigeon near Whitewood. Seventeen species were observed. Blue Jay American Crow European Starling House Sparrow Mallard Rock Pigeon American Robin Northern Flicker Bald Eagle (3) Canada Goose Horned Lark Rough-legged Hawk Black-capped Chickadee Eurasian Collared-Dove American Goldfinch House Finch American Tree Sparrow Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: FOY Robins From: Kim Kuper <roddyhunt AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:27:18 -0800 (PST) We left White this morning around 8am in a dense cloud of fog.  The closer we got to Sioux Falls, the better visability we had.  By the time we left SF's the temp. reached somewhere around 47 degrees.  We kept looking for Robins with no luck.  We stopped in Dell Rapids to visit the in-laws around 4pm, and when we got out of the jeep, there were about 10 Robins in their yard.  It's a little late, but still a FOY for us. Also, the Cardinal vocals  were unbelievable in Dell Rapids!!  They were singing from EVERY direction!!!  (the closer we got to White, the more fog we had.............the neighbors told us the sun only came out around 2pm for 30 minutes, then the fog came back)     Hopefully the snow geese are on their way.   Kim in White, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FT PIERRE From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:36:59 -0600 There is a gorgeous breeding adult Lesser Black-backed Gull on LaFramboise Sandbar today. I also saw Herring Gulls. There was a Glaucous Gull earlier this week. Some waterfowl coming through but not large numbers yet. Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ruddy Duck From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:10:28 -0600 I saw a Ruddy Duck in the tailwaters of Fort Randall Dam this morning. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fox Sparrow! From: "Jensen, Kent" <kent.jensen AT sdstate.edu> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:23:02 -0600 I had a Fox Sparrow rummaging around under my feeders tonight as I got home from work. I also have about 6 - 7 Am. Tree Sparrows that have been here all winter. Also... No juncos for several months now.... I wonder where they went? Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Long-tailed Duck From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:37:32 -0600 I observed a Long-tailed Duck, earlier this afternoon, by the Intake Structure at Fort Randall Dam. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Nancy Drilling to speak at BH Area Botanist and Ecologist Workshop Thursday From: Nancy Hilding <nhilshat AT rapidnet.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:05:53 -0700 Nancy Hilding to SD birds & NHBC list serve, please note that Nancy Drilling of RMBO is the last speaker of the day at this workshop, speaking on their BHs bird monitoring ____________________________________________________________________________________ Black Hills Area Ecologist and Botanist Workshop - March 11 - Rapid City ____________________________________________________________________________________ Black Hills Area Ecologist and Botanist Workshop will be at Western Dakota Tech on Thursday, March 11, Located in Classroom CTC-A. WDT is at 800 Mickeson Drive , Rapid City. Meet and greet at 8:30 am - workshops 9 am-4 pm. Local scientific research are presented. For more info - Amy Symstad U.S.G.S., 605-745-1191, asymstad AT usgs.gov. ____________________________________________________________________________________ ------------------- Black Hills Area Botanist & Ecologist Workshop (BHABEW VIII) March 11, 2010 8:30 - 9:00 Coffee's on! This might be a good time to peruse the posters: o Amy Symstad and Leigh Welling - Is Scenario Planning a Good Tool for Incorporating Climate Change into Natural Resource Management Planning? o Joe Thomass and co-authors - Corallorhiza and Botrychium 9:00 - 9:10 Welcome and Introductions o BHABED (Black Hills Area Botanist and Ecologist Directory) - who's in it and how it's available. 9:10 - 10:20 Presentations and Discussion o Mark Gabel - Early botanical collections in SD and eastern WY (15 minutes) o Grace Kostel - A Database of Vascular Plants from the Missouri Plateau (20 minutes) o Steve Rolfsmeier - Addressing Biogeographic Gaps through Targeted Collecting: An Example from Kansas and Applications for the Black Hills (25 minutes) 10:20 - 10:30 Break 10:30 - 12:00 Presentations and Discussion o Scott Guffey - A Coordinated Approach to the Management of Invasive Species in South Dakota (15 minutes) o Milt Haar - Forb sensitivity to aminopyralid (Milestone), and a briefing on the spurge flax infestation found at Badlands National Park (20 minutes) o Kara Paintner - Climate change efforts in DOI and especially NPS (20 minutes) o John Stamm - Paleoclimate and Historic Climate Trends in the Missouri River Basin (20 minutes) 12:00 - 1:15 Lunch 1:15 - 2:30 Presentations and Discussion o Marcia Wilson - Monitoring Bird Populations at Wind Cave National Park (20 minutes) o Beth Burkhart - Wind Cave National Park: Vegetation-based work in 2009 and plans for 2010 (20 minutes) o Tanya Olson - When the Cows Go Home: Creek Restoration after Cattle Impacts (20 minutes) 2:30 - 2:40 Break 2:40 - 4:00 Presentations and Discussion o Chelsea Vollmer - 2010 Botany Update from the Black Hills National Forest (10 minutes) o Jill Larson - A Management Plan for Englewood Spring Botanical Area: Objectives and Process (20 minutes) o Daniel Uresk, Ted Benzon, and Daryl Mergen (presenter) - Using a Modified Robel Pole to Monitor and Measure Residual Vegetation as Related to Grazing, Wildlife Habitat, and Other Resources in the Black Hills, South Dakota (20 minutes) o Nancy Drilling - Monitoring the Birds of the Black Hills: 2001-2009 (20 minutes) 4:00 Wrap-up -- Nancy Hilding 6300 West Elm Black Hawk, SD 57718 605-787-6779 phone best to call me on 605-787-6466 phone and fax and voice mail and internet hook up I have call waiting and "no answer" may mean both "land lines" in use (call before faxing) cell phone 605-430-9230, I don't check cell messages regularly, thus do not rely on for ASAP calls nhilshat AT rapidnet.com nhilding AT rapidnet.com phas.wsd AT rapidnet.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Finches - Pennington From: Richard Latuchie <rlatuchie AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:31:08 -0700 After a few inches of snow last night the Cassin's Finches were back in numbers this morning at our feeders - about 25, along with the usual goldfinches, juncos, downy woodpeckers, etc. Dick Latuchie Rapid City [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Horned Grebe From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 15:31:39 -0600 I saw a (FOY) Horned Grebe by the Intake Structure at Fort Randall Dam this afternoon. According to the Birds of SD and the SDOU Seasonal Reporting System, this would be the earliest record. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC Sturgis field trip From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:17:21 -0700 NHBC Field Trip - Saturday, March 13 The Northern Hills Bird Club will conduct a field trip out of Sturgis on Saturday, March 13. Participants will meet at the Sturgis McDonald's at 7:30 AM for an 8:00 AM departure. Birders of all levels and non-members of NHBC are welcome to participate free of charge. For further information, please call Ernie Miller at 605-347-3354. ---------- Thank you, Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: FW: NHBC crane trip to NE From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:17:14 -0700 This is being sent early to allow folks to plan. The Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) will conduct a field trip to North Platte, NE on March 26-27 to view the Sandhill Crane migration along the North Platte River. Interested participants will meet at Motel 6 (308-534-6200) in North Platte at 5:30 PM (CDT) Friday March 26 to plan the next day's activities and may travel out to view the evening arrival of the Cranes. The plans for Saturday March 27 will be to travel out before sunrise to view the morning departure of cranes followed by birding in the local area then returning home in the afternoon. An optional part of the trip will be a trip to the Rowe Sanctuary near Kearney, NE to view more cranes and, possibly, concentrations of eagles. All interested birders are welcome to participate, but must register by calling the trip leader Gene Hess at 605-791-0630 for more information or in the event bad weather causes cancellation of the trip. ------------- Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: FW: Color-marked Piping Plovers from The Bahamas From: <eileen.dowdstukel AT state.sd.us> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 14:28:07 -0600 FYI. I'm not sure how likely a sighting in our area is, but you never know. Eileen Dowd Stukel, SDGFP -----Original Message----- From: Brad_Andres AT fws.gov [mailto:Brad_Andres AT fws.gov] Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 3:27 PM To: undisclosed-recipients Subject: Color-marked Piping Plovers from The Bahamas Greetings, All. While you are in the field this year, kindly keep a lookout for color-banded PIPL. Please report sightings per the notice below. Images of the birds marked in The Bahamas may be viewed at www.cvwo.org as noted below. During Jan-Feb 2010 fifty-seven Piping Plovers were color marked on three islands in The Bahamas. Kindly keep an eye out for these birds during the spring and fall migration and the breeding season. Sightings, including those about which the observer is uncertain (note: there a very few color-banded Piping Plovers in the Atlantic population so one with a black flag is likely from The Bahamas), may be reported per the instructions below. Additional information and pictures of The Bahamas Plovers may be found in the CVWO at First Landing blog of February 24, 2010 by visiting www.cvwo.org . PIPING PLOVERS COLOR-MARKED IN THE BAHAMAS - In an effort to determine where Piping Plovers wintering in The Bahamas are staging during migration, and breeding, 57 birds were uniquely color-marked this winter in The Bahamas for Environment Canada by Sidney Maddock and Peter Doherty, with help from The Bahamas National Trust. Each bird has a black flag (band with a tab sticking out slightly) on the upper left leg, nothing on the upper right, a single color band on one lower leg, and two color bands (which can be the same color on top of each other) on the other lower leg. Colors used included: red, orange, yellow, white, light green, dark green, dark blue, and black. Please report all sightings to CHERI GRATTO-TREVOR, Prairie and Northern Wildlife Research Centre, Environment Canada, 115 Perimeter Road, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X4 Canada (EM: cheri.gratto-trevor AT ec.gc.ca ), noting the color and location of each band on the bird, and location and behaviour of the bird (on nest or brood, foraging at migratory stop-over, etc.), as well as presumed sex of the bird, if possible. Thanks for any assistance! Best, Peter Peter Doherty leasttern AT hotmail.com 214-B 84th Street Virginia Beach, VA 23451 757-470-0774 (cell) 757-321-0255 (local) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Meade, Lawrence, Butte Counties From: Richard Latuchie <rlatuchie AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 15:16:28 -0700 Jocie Baker and I drove backroads in 3 counties yesterday. Light snow the night before. Highlights included 2 Cassin's Finches at a feeder in Piedmont (Meade), and likely another in St. Onge (Lawrence), good views of a Merlin along Mountain View Rd., in Lawrence County, hundreds of returning Red-winged Blackbirds, and 2 beautiful Lewis's Woodpeckers. I also had Cassin's Finches at my feeders this morning. Dick Latuchie Rapid City [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Iceland From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:11:19 -0600 Today I saw an adult Kumlien's (Iceland) Gull. Also saw an immature Glaucous Gull. Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: "Chickens 'One-Up' Humans in Ability to See Color" From: Dick Kappedal <roughrider AT sio.midco.net> Date: Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:41:56 -0600 I found this Science Daily Story on Chickens color vision very interesting. Birds have better color vison than Humans. Check out the link blow to read the complete story. Dick Kappedal Sioux Falls, SD Washington University School of Medicine. "Chickens 'One-Up' Humans in Ability to See Color" Science Daily (Feb. 17, 2010) http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216101159.htm Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have peered deep into the eye of the chicken and found a masterpiece of biological design. Scientists mapped five types of light receptors in the chicken's eye. They discovered the receptors were laid out in interwoven mosaics that maximized the chicken's ability to see many colors in any given part of the retina, the light-sensing structure at the back of the eye. "Based on this analysis, birds have clearly one-upped us in several ways in terms of color vision," says Joseph C. Corbo, M.D., Ph.D., senior author and assistant professor of pathology and immunology and of genetics. "Color receptor organization in the chicken retina greatly exceeds that seen in most other retinas and certainly that in most mammalian retinas." SNIP Corbo speculates that extra sensitivity to color may help birds in finding mates, which often involves colorful plumage, or when feeding on berries or other colorful fruit. SNIP**// Kram et al. *Avian Cone Photoreceptors Tile the Retina as Five Independent, Self-Organizing Mosaics*. /PLoS ONE/, 2010; 5 (2): e8992 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008992 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fort Randall Dam From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 18:55:28 -0600 A few of the wintering Common Mergansers and Goldeneyes remain at Fort Randall Dam. Large numbers of Canada Geese and Mallards also remain. The number of Ring-billed Gulls has increased to about 4 dozen over the last couple of days. Today I saw 5 Red-breasted Mergansers and a small flock of Lesser Scaup in the open water around the Intake Structure. Yesterday in this area there were a Ring-necked Duck and 7 Buffleheads. Ron Mabie Pickstown [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Roberts and Day From: "Mark Otnes" <markotnes AT cableone.net> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 14:27:49 -0600 I took a birding trip yesterday (3-5) through Roberts and a little of Day County starting from Peever, going to Pickerel Lake, to Waubay NWR, to Hartford Beach, north long Lake Traverse, and then finally to White Rock Dam. There was a tremendous amount of snow everywhere and it was very difficult to find a place to park at both Pickerel Lake and Hartford Beach. I got 29 species of birds on the day with nothing unusual. I'm assuming that the non Mallard ducks were migrants. The ducks were all seen below Reservation Dam at the north end of Lake Traverse. There was little open water below White Rock Dam and no ducks present there. There were numerous sharp-tailed grouse along the road west of Peever at sunrise. I assume they were looking for grit and food. Some of the highlights were: Gadwall - 3 Mallard - 8 Redhead - 8 Common Merganser - 3 Northern Shrike - 1 at Waubay American Robin - 3 at Pickerel Lake, common along north shore of Lake Traverse Snow Bunting - many flocks Northern Cardinal - 2 at Hartford Beach Red-winged Blackbird - 20+ at Mud Lake Purple Finch - 30+ at Pickerel Lake, heard at Hartford Beach Mark Otnes Fargo ND 701-241-4194 markotnes AT cableone.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Spring sightings From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 13:26:05 -0600 Birders, "Tis March, the month of spring. Most of us, and some birds, have survived the nasty winter. It is time to post your first sightings of spring migrants. Since some birds are both winter birds and migrants, we must be careful. For instance, some Mergansers, Goldeneyes, Morning Doves, Kingfishers and Robins seen in Sioux Falls did not migrate farther south than Sioux Falls. So it is tough to call that Robin you see tomorrow a migrant, but it probably is. (The big Robin wintering flock was located in the SW corner of town, plus some in Brandon)). The first reported definite migrant in the Sioux Falls region, (Minnehaha and adjacent counties) last year (other than Robins) was a BC Night Heron. In 2007 Snow Geese were seen overhead on March 8. If you take some early migrant photos, please post on the SFBC listserv at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SF-BC/?yguid=211975361 Or SDOU listserv at: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/sd-birds/?yguid=211975361 or a link to your favorite free photo storing/sharing site, such as Flickr, at: http://www.flickr.com/ or Photobucket, at: http://photobucket.com/ Good luck, and maybe we have a prize for the best first sighting in the SF area by a SFBC or SDOU member. Which reminds us, if you have not sent in your dues to the group(s) you wish to join, please do so. Dues for SFBC ($5) go to: Mary Braley, 104 E. 34th St. Sioux Falls, SD 57105 And for the SDOU, ($20) to Rosemary Draeger, 528 E. Lotta St., Sioux Falls, SD 57105 Mick SFBC _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 11:46 AM To: 'mick zerr'; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [sd-birds] RE: [SF-BC] Saturday field trip slides In case the slide show did not function for the Saturday SFBC field trip, here, hopefully, it is. http://s169. photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=89b71 1c6.pbw> ¤t=89b711c6.pbw A reminder that our feeders at Perry Nature Park were very active yesterday. Feel free to fill them whenever you want. Hopefully it will bring in the Fox sparrows that have not been seen since December. The feeders are located below the bridge on the northeast side of the creek. The bridge is 100 feet from the NE parking lot. There are 4 feeders, one girdled tree feeder, two suet feeders, and a metal ground feeder. See map- http://farm5. static.flickr.com/4063/4395659270_473d85086c_o.jpg Mick SFBC _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 9:20 PM To: 'mick zerr'; SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com Subject: [SF-BC] Saturday field trip slides See a few photos from our very productive SFBC field trip on Saturday. http://s169. photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view> photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=89b71 > photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=89b71 1c6.pbw> ¤t=89b711c6.pbw Mick SFBC _____ From: mick zerr [mailto:zerrm AT sio.midco . net] Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 6:06 PM To: 'mick zerr'; SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com Subject: RE: [SF-BC] GBBC Scouting today for tomorrow's SFBC field trip found a flock of 200+ Red-winged Blackbirds on E. 41st street south of Arrowhead Park. Reminder to meet tomorrow morning at the Outdoor Campus. We will leave at 8 AM. Wear boots, as the snow is deep if we do some walking. Mick SFBC _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:28 AM To: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com Subject: [SF-BC] GBBC Birders: South Dakota had great participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Our total species count was 91, down only one from last year. See the results by species, city, etc. at http://gbbc. birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport> birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport> birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateS > birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateS > birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateS ummary&state=US-SD> &reportName=StateSummary&state=US-SD Sioux Falls had the most checklists at 35, with 38 species reported. In S.D., Canada Goose had the most numbers. Rapid City won the unofficial competition with 47 species, ousting Ft.Pierre from last year's championship by only two species. Maybe we need to conjure up a traveling trophy for the yearly champions. Total cities taking part this year was 51, down from last year's 62. Disappointing was the participation in some of the state's biggest cities. Aberdeen and Watertown with only one report, while Huron, which is much smaller than either, had 15 check lists. Tiny Britton had 8 checklists, with 16 species, the most common being the A. Goldfinch. Note that Watertown and Aberdeen did not have participation in the CBC either. Fortunately, the reliable Sand Lake NWR staff came through with their CBC. For some reason, the Sioux Falls CBC totals did not show up on the Audubon CBC tally at: http://cbc.audubon. org/cbccurrent/current_table.html> org/cbccurrent/current_table.html> org/cbccurrent/current_table.html On the GBBC, Texas had the most species reported with 334. Of the top ten species reported nation wide, the most common was the Northern Cardinal, reported on 47,103 checklists, but the most numerous were the millions of American Robins seen. All of the top ten species except one, the Tufted Titmouse, were reported in the SD count. The most individual birds reported came from Florida, with 1,796,892. The biggy on that was 1,483,208 American Robins. The city with the most species reported was Tivoli, Texas, with 175. The most common species they reported was the American Coot. So, if any ever asks you what the Coot capital of the world is, you can say Tivoli, Texas. Our neighbors in North Dakota had 27 cities participate, with their high count at Fargo, with 23 species and 5 checklists. Their species count was 56, with the top species being the Canada Goose. Our friends In Iowa had 76 total species reported, with their top species being the DE Junco. 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: FT PIERRE From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 13:03:11 -0600 Several Ring-billed Gulls showed up today. Also saw a breeding adult Lesser Black-backed. Other gulls seen was the California,Herring and a Thayer's. Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Redpolls From: Nancy Dunn <dunn3 AT svtv.com> Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 10:55:42 -0600 10 miles east of Dell Rapids: Still have some redpolls around the feeders in the rain. Pat Dunn Subject: Bluebirds in Lawrence County From: Elizabeth Krueger <ekrueger AT rushmore.com> Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:53:31 -0700 There were 4 mountain bluebirds yesterday on Homestake Road west of Spearfish. I also saw a pair of Townsend's solitaires up in the hills with one singing. E Krueger Spearfish, SD Subject: Bald Eagles/Rapid City/Canyon Lake From: cbstafford <turkeyfeathrs AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 10:32:38 -0800 (PST) One of the adult bald eagles flew over my car on Park Drive, carrying stick and heading toward Canyon Lake this am (Friday) just before 10 AM.  I could not see ultimate destination (running a red light on Jackson Blvd. did not seem a wise choice!). I did find the pair a few minutes later sitting together in a snag along the cliff that runs along the southwest shore of the lake, quite visible from the Chophouse Restaurant Parking lot. I got pictures of the two just perching quietly together side by side. Not National Geographic quality because of foggy conditions, but pictures nonetheless. Very cool to see them like that. A Knology technician with camera along spotted them too, he played hooky from work for a few minutes while we just stood and admired. Made our day! Caroline Stafford [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: bird blog From: "dan&erika" <danerika AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 10:46:02 -0600 Hi All-- Greetings from Minnesota. Jocie Baker suggested that some of you folks might be interested in the bird blog I have been creating: http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com I have been having fun taking photos of banded birds in front of snow drifts with interesting results. The blog also contains a link to my ornithology course, which you are welcome to look through on a free, non-credit basis. Erika and I continue to enjoy retirement and to be 10 or 15 degrees warmer than you South Dakotans :-) dan -- Dan or Erika Tallman Northfield, Minnesota http://sites.google.com/site/tallmanorum http://picasaweb.google.com/danerika danerika AT gmail.com ".... the best shod travel with wet feet" "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes ...."--Thoreau [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Monday's raptor trip north of Pierre From: David Graham <uuglypher AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 01:18:08 -0600 Monday last I drove N from Pierre , then east toOneida, and back by the same route. Beautifully clear day with a cerulean to cobalt and minimally clouded sky; On the side road west to Peoria Flats an immature accipiter (male gos or female coopers) dashed out of a woodlot to my north and across the road in front of me as if the hounds of Hell were in pursuit. Indeed, one such hound materialized within yards of its tail in the form of an adult female (really big) goshawk. The chase continued west and south across a field to another woodlot in which the juvenile took refuge among the dense branches of the understory and the gos pitched up onto a more open perch in a big cottonwood. Both birds remained motionless for at least a half-hour when I left the scene. About 2 miles west of Oneida two adult bald eagles were copulating on a lower branch of a roadside tree ten yards from the north side of the road. By the time I stopped they were perched side-by-side (I was imagining the smell of their cigarettes...) and with my arrival they flew off to a tree about 200 yards from the road, where they resumed their side-by-side perch. No further copulatory behavior and I left the area after 45 minutes. Adorning the otherwise unadorned tops of poles along my route were: 7 rough-legged hawks one juv (ist year) bald eagle, one juvenile red-tailed hawk, and one ferruginous hawk. On Tuesday morning the fog had returned with a vengeance and I returned home to Estelline. Dave Graham -- "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir I love winters - best, those truly worthy of folks' usual complaints D.L.Graham, Jan 10, 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] Subject: Mtn. Bluebird, Haakon From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 20:01:24 -0600 (GMT-06:00) I saw a Mountain Bluebird west of Midland today along Hwy. 14. Michael Melius Hermosa Subject: mountain bluebird Rapid City From: Maggie Engler <spanishbarb2 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:30:02 -0800 (PST) One male was sighted 3-3-10 at the intersection of Deadwood Ave & Universal Drive in NW Rapid City.   Maggie Engler birdwoman AT q.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Butte Cty.: Short-eared Owl and more From: "Jocelyn Baker" <osprey AT hills.net> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:03:03 -0700 This morning, March 4, I observed a single Short-eared Owl on a fence post along Brookner Road in Butte County. 8 Lewis's Woodpeckers were present along Weisman Road in Lawrence Cty. 7 of them were near the ranch with the silos. And, a male Mountain Bluebird was on Jackson Rd. in Meade County southwest of Whitewood. Jocie Baker. JOCELYN LEE BAKER RAPID CITY, S.D. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FW: Whooping Crane update From: "Jensen, Kent" <kent.jensen AT sdstate.edu> Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 15:42:18 -0600 Thought this would be of interest to most... 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 ________________________________ The following report is forwarded with permission from Tom Stehn, USFWS biologist and US Whooping Crane Coordinator. ------------- begin report -------------- The sixth aerial census of the 2009-10 whooping crane season was conducted February 16, 2010 in a Cessna 210 piloted by Gary Ritchey of Air Transit Solutions of Castroville, Texas with USFWS observer Tom Stehn. Sighted on the flight were 237 adults and 19 juveniles = 256 total whooping cranes. No evidence of mortality was noted on the flight other than the one juvenile that had died earlier in the winter. The radioed family on Lamar Peninsula was overlooked on the flight, but GPS data indicates it was on Lamar before and after the census flight. Since it has not been documented leaving Lamar since being tagged in December, it is considered very unlikely that they had moved over to San Jose to account for the extra family found there during the census. The flight provided a firm tally of the 20 family groups currently at Aransas. With one juvenile last seen in Oklahoma December 25th that apparently separated from its parents during migration and is presumably okay and wintering in an unknown location, and the S. Sundown Island chick that has died at Aransas, this accounts for 22 of the 22 juveniles found in Canada during the mid-August fledging surveys. This is one more juvenile accounted for than on previous survey flights this winter. With the one documented mortality this winter, the current flock size is estimated at 242 + 21=263. February 16th - Recap of whooping cranes (256) found at Aransas: Adults + Young San Jose 55 + 5 = 60 Refuge 47 + 5 = 52 Lamar 16 + 0 = 16* Matagorda 93 + 7 = 100** Welder Flats 24 + 2 = 26 Hynes Bay 2 + 0 = 2 Total 237 + 19 = 256* * One family group was overlooked. ** Ties record high for Matagorda Island set during the 2008-09 winter. The territories of adult cranes remain difficult to figure out as many of the crane pairs have left their marsh and are searching for food on the uplands. Upland areas on the barrier islands are flooded, with numerous wet swales on the uplands up to the beach dunes. Three cranes on Matagorda Island were in one of these flooded swales next to the dunes. Overall habitat use documented included an unusually high 67 cranes (26%) on unburned uplands, 16 in open bays, two at a game feeder south of the Big Tree on Lamar, 0 on prescribed burns, and 171 (67%) in salt marsh. Blue crabs are at low levels and the cranes are having to look for other sources of food, although some cranes continue to catch a few crabs. This is a stressful time of winter for the whooping cranes as evidenced by all the cranes on uplands. No whooping cranes have been reported up the coast at Smith Marsh in Matagorda County located west of the Nature Conservancy's Mad Island Marsh Preserve since 1/17/10. Two whooping cranes are continuing to winter northwest of Austwell on the Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. I noted one thing on the flight that I had never observed previously. Twenty sandhill cranes on the southern end of the crane range on San Jose Island flushed from the census aircraft and flew a very short distance to stand in open bay habitat. I had never seen sandhill cranes before in open bay habitat. Flight Conditions: Visibility was excellent throughout the flight, though the sun angle on late afternoon transects made for difficult viewing conditions when heading into the sun at Welder Flats. Winds were light and flight conditions were smooth until mid-afternoon, enabling us to travel at approximately 130 knots for most of the flight. Due to reported crane movements, the search area was expanded further out into upland areas. This paid off, as cranes were found near the beach dunes on Matagorda Island, inland in a pasture at Welder Flats and on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge uplands. The largest group size observed was 9 birds seen on the uplands on San Jose and in the marsh on Matagorda Island. Post-Flight Update Food availability improved for the cranes during the last week in February with more cranes observed feeding on 2-3-inch blue crabs. Upland swales remain very wet and bay salinities remain moderate < 10 ppt. Spring Migration, 2010 A single white-plumaged whooping crane was confirmed present at Salt Plains NWR in northern Oklahoma on February 24th and 26th. Since we did not know of any other white-plumaged whooping cranes in the Flyway this winter, this must be a case of a whooper on the Texas coast getting influenced by sandhill cranes and starting the journey ahead of the normal time for whooping cranes. Except for birds that had a history of separating from their parents as juveniles, I think it would be the earliest migration start on record. - Tom Stehn, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: newsletter From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:12:01 -0600 _____ The March newsletter of the Sioux Falls Bird Club is now done on the SFBC website at www.leifericson.org/sfbc. Each issue has a birding location around Sioux Falls. This one has the quartzite quarry complex. Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: PENNINGTON CTY.: Mountain Bluebird From: "Jocelyn Baker" <osprey AT hills.net> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:35:13 -0700 I observed a male Mountain Bluebird along Highway #385 in the Black Hills today. Also, a Pygmy Nuthatch was present at the end of Schroeder Road (off of Nemo Road). Jocie Baker JOCELYN LEE BAKER RAPID CITY, S.D. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gulls From: "R&M Mabie" <rmmabie AT hcinet.net> Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 18:23:08 -0600 I saw 4 Herring Gulls in the tailwaters of Ft. Randall Dam this afternoon. This is the first gull species I have seen here this year. Ron Mabie Pickstown, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Reminder-$100.00 Alfred Hinds Memorial Award From: "Jocelyn Baker" <osprey AT hills.net> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 06:39:50 -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: Started foggy-ended...not bad From: David Graham <uuglypher AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:36:16 -0600 Got to Pierre yesterday (Satdy) and headed out early this am to catch the pre-dawn light for pics of the rime on the giant cottonwood groves below Oahe. When I got back to higher ground to start my quest for raptors the visibility thru the fog was at least 70- to 100 yards! So, back to Pierre for breakfast. That was a good move, because the fog was clearing as I restarted the trip. Summary, between Mission Ridge and I-90and back to Pierre observed: one gyr., adult grey..really big, prob a female one buteo so distant couldn't call it red-tailed or rough-leggeg or a dark ferrunginous four rough legs one golden eagle one bald eagle, adult Hoping for a clear day tomorrow to try some other areas. Dave Graham -- "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir I love winters - best, those truly worthy of folks' usual complaints D.L.Graham, Jan 10, 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] Subject: Snowy Owl and Gyrfalcon From: "Doug Backlund" <dougback AT pie.midco.net> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:30:33 -0600 There was a Snowy Owl and a juvenile Gyrfalcon about four miles south of Fort Pierre this afternoon. No photos of the Snowy Owl, but I did get some of the gyr: http://www.wildphotosphotography.com/WildPhotos/Gyrfalcons/gyr2_28_2010.htm Doug Backlund Pierre, SD www.wildphotosphotography.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC Field Trip Report / Red-headed Woodpecker From: "eric_t_davis" <ericdavis AT rushmore.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:28:32 -0000 Ten members of the Northern Hills Bird Club participated in a field trip Saturday morning in Spearfish. Birds of note included: Bald Eagle (Ad.) 4, Sharp-tailed Grouse (8), Magpie (4), Prairie Falcon, A. Robin (24) and Horned Lark (12). Also observed were EC Dove, Canada Goose, Mallard, A. Crow, BC Chickadee, Rough-legged Hawk, Rock Dove, Townsend's Solitaire, Wild Turkey, and Downy Woodpecker. The group was able to locate the Red-headed Woodpecker observed by Jocelyn Baker and me on the Spearfish CBC near Lookout Mountain Road. Its head is significantly more red than when it was first observed. Eric Davis Spearfish Subject: Snowy owl From: "Jensen, Kent" <kent.jensen AT sdstate.edu> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:12:03 -0600 Just saw a snowy owl sitting on a hay bale about 50 yds north of milepost 275 on I 90 westbound. About 10 mi E of Chamberlain. Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone. ________________________________ From: Jocelyn Baker Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 2:09 PM To: m. melius ; sd-birds2 Subject: [sd-birds] Horned Larks There were huge flocks of Horned Larks migrating in the fog this a.m. in the Wall area (E. Pennington County). Jocie Baker JOCELYN LEE BAKER RAPID CITY, S.D. ----- Original Message ----- From: m. melius To: sd-birds2 Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 8:11 AM Subject: [sd-birds] First migrants Horned Larks--a couple small flocks definitely flying north yesterday over the Folsom School Section in NE Custer Co. I flushed a Short-eared Owl in that school section yesterday afternoon. It flew just a little ways before landing and stood looking at me. It seemed nonplussed as I retreated. That school section is a reliable place to find Short-eareds in winter and early spring. Also heard Gray Partridge calling just before dark. One gave a drawn-out call I hadn't heard before, reminiscient of a Ring-necked Pheasant. Michael Melius [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Pheasants From: "Jensen, Kent" <kent.jensen AT sdstate.edu> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:19:16 -0600 I believe it is the 2nd - they are in very poor condition - looking for what food they can find on/near the road because the fields are snow covered and crusted over. Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone. ________________________________ From: Susan Wismer Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 11:26 AM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.c Subject: [sd-birds] Pheasants For those who don't get the opportunity to travel the northeast quadrant, if you go by the hundreds of pheasants loitering along the side of the road and assume they're healthy (until they get hit by a car), the pheasant numbers can't be suffering too much. Particularly north of Highmore on 45, north of Faulkton on the county paved road, 37 between Groton and Doland, along 212 west of Faulkton, and to a lesser extent on 83 between Onida and 12, there are miles and miles where you have to slow down frequently for pheasant flocks on the road. On the other hand, maybe they are there because it's the only place they can reach bare ground; the rest of the country is completely, and unusually, deeply covered with snow. Susan Wismer Britton [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: Horned Larks From: "Jocelyn Baker" <osprey AT hills.net> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:08:46 -0700 There were huge flocks of Horned Larks migrating in the fog this a.m. in the Wall area (E. Pennington County). Jocie Baker JOCELYN LEE BAKER RAPID CITY, S.D. ----- Original Message ----- From: m. melius To: sd-birds2 Sent: Sunday, February 28, 2010 8:11 AM Subject: [sd-birds] First migrants Horned Larks--a couple small flocks definitely flying north yesterday over the Folsom School Section in NE Custer Co. I flushed a Short-eared Owl in that school section yesterday afternoon. It flew just a little ways before landing and stood looking at me. It seemed nonplussed as I retreated. That school section is a reliable place to find Short-eareds in winter and early spring. Also heard Gray Partridge calling just before dark. One gave a drawn-out call I hadn't heard before, reminiscient of a Ring-necked Pheasant. Michael Melius [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pennington County - Evening Grosbeak From: Richard Latuchie <rlatuchie AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:35:21 -0700 Dense fog this morning, so I drove up into the hills, where it was better. Found 15 Evening Grosbeak in a tree, along with a few Robins, and Pine Siskins on Norris Peak Rd., just before it intersects with Nemo Rd. I had thought that the Fondy's didn't allow Grosbeaks anywhere other than their feeders! [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Pileated Woodpecker From: Douglas Prisbe <przybysz AT wildblue.net> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:14:45 -0700 Gary, First of all, congrats on the Pileated Woodpecker. Your message brought warm memories to mind. Back when i lived in Aberdab, Dan Tallman and i would do an annual Big Day - usually around the middle of May. Our route was always the same: Aberdeen to some of the sloughs north of town to SLNWR, to Sica Hollow, on to Hartford Beach SP (where we hoped for Pileated), then down to Waubay NWR and Pickerel Lake SP, before heading back to Aberdeen at sunset. This was back during a time when these Big Days were much more common among SD birders. Jeffrey Palmer and Robb Schenk had a major route, as well. However, the most insane was David Swanson, Eric Davis and Jay Carlisle, who started at Union Grove SP in Union County and worked there way all across the state, ending in the Black Hills. Tallman and i never were able to challenge those two groups for the record, but it was a great time, and much anticipated each year. George Prisbe On Sun, Feb 28, 2010 at 7:48 AM, Gary & Cindy Olson wrote: > > > A drive from Aberdeen to Sand Lake, to Ft. Sisseton to Waubay NWR turned up > many Horned Lark with some Lapland Longspurs and many R.N. Pheasants. > Perhaps the heavy snow this year has not yet taken a huge toll on the > Pheasant population. There was a large group of Snow Buntings just south of > the fort. The refuge had many A. Goldfinch and B.C, Chickadee's along with > Downy Woodpecker's, W.B. Nuthatch's and Brown Creeper's. But the highlight > of the day was the Pileated Woodpecker that Laura had mentioned back in > December. > > Gary Olson > Aberdeen > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > -- " I can handle reality in small doses, but as a life style, I find it too confining." from Jane Wagner's play, Searching for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe [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: RE: [SF-BC] Saturday field trip slides From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:45:37 -0600 In case the slide show did not function for the Saturday SFBC field trip, here, hopefully, it is. http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view ¤t=89b711c6.pbw A reminder that our feeders at Perry Nature Park were very active yesterday. Feel free to fill them whenever you want. Hopefully it will bring in the Fox sparrows that have not been seen since December. The feeders are located below the bridge on the northeast side of the creek. The bridge is 100 feet from the NE parking lot. There are 4 feeders, one girdled tree feeder, two suet feeders, and a metal ground feeder. See map- http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4395659270_473d85086c_o.jpg Mick SFBC _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 9:20 PM To: 'mick zerr'; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [SF-BC] Saturday field trip slides See a few photos from our very productive SFBC field trip on Saturday. http://s169. photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=89b71 1c6.pbw> ¤t=89b711c6.pbw Mick SFBC _____ From: mick zerr [mailto:zerrm AT sio.midco. net] Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 6:06 PM To: 'mick zerr'; SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com Subject: RE: [SF-BC] GBBC Scouting today for tomorrow's SFBC field trip found a flock of 200+ Red-winged Blackbirds on E. 41st street south of Arrowhead Park. Reminder to meet tomorrow morning at the Outdoor Campus. We will leave at 8 AM. Wear boots, as the snow is deep if we do some walking. Mick SFBC _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:28 AM To: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com Subject: [SF-BC] GBBC Birders: South Dakota had great participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Our total species count was 91, down only one from last year. See the results by species, city, etc. at http://gbbc. birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport> birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateS > birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateS ummary&state=US-SD> &reportName=StateSummary&state=US-SD Sioux Falls had the most checklists at 35, with 38 species reported. In S.D., Canada Goose had the most numbers. Rapid City won the unofficial competition with 47 species, ousting Ft.Pierre from last year's championship by only two species. Maybe we need to conjure up a traveling trophy for the yearly champions. Total cities taking part this year was 51, down from last year's 62. Disappointing was the participation in some of the state's biggest cities. Aberdeen and Watertown with only one report, while Huron, which is much smaller than either, had 15 check lists. Tiny Britton had 8 checklists, with 16 species, the most common being the A. Goldfinch. Note that Watertown and Aberdeen did not have participation in the CBC either. Fortunately, the reliable Sand Lake NWR staff came through with their CBC. For some reason, the Sioux Falls CBC totals did not show up on the Audubon CBC tally at: http://cbc.audubon. org/cbccurrent/current_table.html> org/cbccurrent/current_table.html On the GBBC, Texas had the most species reported with 334. Of the top ten species reported nation wide, the most common was the Northern Cardinal, reported on 47,103 checklists, but the most numerous were the millions of American Robins seen. All of the top ten species except one, the Tufted Titmouse, were reported in the SD count. The most individual birds reported came from Florida, with 1,796,892. The biggy on that was 1,483,208 American Robins. The city with the most species reported was Tivoli, Texas, with 175. The most common species they reported was the American Coot. So, if any ever asks you what the Coot capital of the world is, you can say Tivoli, Texas. Our neighbors in North Dakota had 27 cities participate, with their high count at Fargo, with 23 species and 5 checklists. Their species count was 56, with the top species being the Canada Goose. Our friends In Iowa had 76 total species reported, with their top species being the DE Junco. 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: Pheasants From: Susan Wismer <swismer AT brittonsd.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:25:35 -0600 For those who don't get the opportunity to travel the northeast quadrant, if you go by the hundreds of pheasants loitering along the side of the road and assume they're healthy (until they get hit by a car), the pheasant numbers can't be suffering too much. Particularly north of Highmore on 45, north of Faulkton on the county paved road, 37 between Groton and Doland, along 212 west of Faulkton, and to a lesser extent on 83 between Onida and 12, there are miles and miles where you have to slow down frequently for pheasant flocks on the road. On the other hand, maybe they are there because it's the only place they can reach bare ground; the rest of the country is completely, and unusually, deeply covered with snow. Susan Wismer Britton Subject: First migrants From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 09:11:41 -0600 (GMT-06:00) Horned Larks--a couple small flocks definitely flying north yesterday over the Folsom School Section in NE Custer Co. I flushed a Short-eared Owl in that school section yesterday afternoon. It flew just a little ways before landing and stood looking at me. It seemed nonplussed as I retreated. That school section is a reliable place to find Short-eareds in winter and early spring. Also heard Gray Partridge calling just before dark. One gave a drawn-out call I hadn't heard before, reminiscient of a Ring-necked Pheasant. Michael Melius Subject: Feb 28th birds incl redpolls From: Nancy Dunn <dunn3 AT svtv.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:54:02 -0600 Feb 28th 10 miles east of dell Rapids: 6º and calm, 1 1/2 " hard snow crow blue jay red-bellie woodpecker downy woodpecker rock doves juncos starling goldfinch common redpolls house sparrow Pat Dunn Subject: Pileated Woodpecker From: "Gary & Cindy Olson" <olsonfam AT nvc.net> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 08:48:17 -0600 A drive from Aberdeen to Sand Lake, to Ft. Sisseton to Waubay NWR turned up many Horned Lark with some Lapland Longspurs and many R.N. Pheasants. Perhaps the heavy snow this year has not yet taken a huge toll on the Pheasant population. There was a large group of Snow Buntings just south of the fort. The refuge had many A. Goldfinch and B.C, Chickadee's along with Downy Woodpecker's, W.B. Nuthatch's and Brown Creeper's. But the highlight of the day was the Pileated Woodpecker that Laura had mentioned back in December. Gary Olson Aberdeen [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Saturday field trip slides From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:19:45 -0600 See a few photos from our very productive SFBC field trip on Saturday. http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view ¤t=89b711c6.pbw Mick SFBC _____ From: mick zerr [mailto:zerrm AT sio.midco.net] Sent: Friday, February 26, 2010 6:06 PM To: 'mick zerr'; SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [SF-BC] GBBC Scouting today for tomorrow's SFBC field trip found a flock of 200+ Red-winged Blackbirds on E. 41st street south of Arrowhead Park. Reminder to meet tomorrow morning at the Outdoor Campus. We will leave at 8 AM. Wear boots, as the snow is deep if we do some walking. Mick SFBC _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:28 AM To: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [SF-BC] GBBC Birders: South Dakota had great participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Our total species count was 91, down only one from last year. See the results by species, city, etc. at http://gbbc. birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateS ummary&state=US-SD> &reportName=StateSummary&state=US-SD Sioux Falls had the most checklists at 35, with 38 species reported. In S.D., Canada Goose had the most numbers. Rapid City won the unofficial competition with 47 species, ousting Ft.Pierre from last year's championship by only two species. Maybe we need to conjure up a traveling trophy for the yearly champions. Total cities taking part this year was 51, down from last year's 62. Disappointing was the participation in some of the state's biggest cities. Aberdeen and Watertown with only one report, while Huron, which is much smaller than either, had 15 check lists. Tiny Britton had 8 checklists, with 16 species, the most common being the A. Goldfinch. Note that Watertown and Aberdeen did not have participation in the CBC either. Fortunately, the reliable Sand Lake NWR staff came through with their CBC. For some reason, the Sioux Falls CBC totals did not show up on the Audubon CBC tally at: http://cbc.audubon. org/cbccurrent/current_table.html On the GBBC, Texas had the most species reported with 334. Of the top ten species reported nation wide, the most common was the Northern Cardinal, reported on 47,103 checklists, but the most numerous were the millions of American Robins seen. All of the top ten species except one, the Tufted Titmouse, were reported in the SD count. The most individual birds reported came from Florida, with 1,796,892. The biggy on that was 1,483,208 American Robins. The city with the most species reported was Tivoli, Texas, with 175. The most common species they reported was the American Coot. So, if any ever asks you what the Coot capital of the world is, you can say Tivoli, Texas. Our neighbors in North Dakota had 27 cities participate, with their high count at Fargo, with 23 species and 5 checklists. Their species count was 56, with the top species being the Canada Goose. Our friends In Iowa had 76 total species reported, with their top species being the DE Junco. Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fw: [SF-BC] Field Trip 2/27/2010 From: "Todd Jensen" <gyrfalcon AT redwoodwireless.com> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 20:09:14 -0600 I am forwarding the report from Sioux Falls bird field trip today, which was in the Sioux Falls and Brandon, SD area. For those interested. Thanks. ----- Original Message ----- From: Todd Jensen To: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 7:48 PM Subject: [SF-BC] Field Trip 2/27/2010 Today we had our Sioux Falls Bird Club field trip. For those who did not come missed out on a good day of birding. It was sunny temperatures high 20's to low 30's. We started out at Outdoor campus and from the bridge we heard a Northern Saw-whet owl to start with from the other side of the channelized river. We tried to locate it visually but were unsuccessful and was not heard again. From there we went to spillway, then to redwood blvd. then Big Sioux Rec. Area, then to Beaver Creek Nature Center, then Perry Nature Area, then Arrowhead Park and lastly Mt. Pleasant Cementary. Field trip had six people, carpooled in 2 vehicles and total 34 species observed and 1 species heard for a total of 35 species of birds. Todd Jensen List of the bird species below, with rarities in Bold. Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch House Finch Mallard Canada Goose Dark-eyed Junco Northern Cardinal House Sparrow European Starling Ring-necked Pheasant Black-capped Chickadee American Crow American Tree Sparrow NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL - Heard Red-tailed Hawk Rock Pigeon Common Goldeneye Wild Turkey Bald Eagle - 5 adults seen Common Merganser HOODED MERGANSER Blue Jay American Kestrel Cedar Waxwing American Robin Red-bellied Woodpecker Cooper's Hawk Horned Lark White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Northern Flicker Golden-crowned Kinglet Red-breasted nuthatch WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Capitol Lake From: Bill Bossman <billbossman50 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:06:34 -0600 I walked around Capitol Lake in Pierre this afternoon. In addition to the usual birds that have been there all winter, I saw a single Greater White-fronted Goose among the thousands of Canada Geese. A handsome pair of Green-winged Teals was also on the lake, the first I have seen there this year. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: [SF-BC] GBBC From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:06:17 -0600 Scouting today for tomorrow's SFBC field trip found a flock of 200+ Red-winged Blackbirds on E. 41st street south of Arrowhead Park. Reminder to meet tomorrow morning at the Outdoor Campus. We will leave at 8 AM. Wear boots, as the snow is deep if we do some walking. Mick SFBC _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:28 AM To: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [SF-BC] GBBC Birders: South Dakota had great participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Our total species count was 91, down only one from last year. See the results by species, city, etc. at http://gbbc. birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateS ummary&state=US-SD> &reportName=StateSummary&state=US-SD Sioux Falls had the most checklists at 35, with 38 species reported. In S.D., Canada Goose had the most numbers. Rapid City won the unofficial competition with 47 species, ousting Ft.Pierre from last year's championship by only two species. Maybe we need to conjure up a traveling trophy for the yearly champions. Total cities taking part this year was 51, down from last year's 62. Disappointing was the participation in some of the state's biggest cities. Aberdeen and Watertown with only one report, while Huron, which is much smaller than either, had 15 check lists. Tiny Britton had 8 checklists, with 16 species, the most common being the A. Goldfinch. Note that Watertown and Aberdeen did not have participation in the CBC either. Fortunately, the reliable Sand Lake NWR staff came through with their CBC. For some reason, the Sioux Falls CBC totals did not show up on the Audubon CBC tally at: http://cbc.audubon. org/cbccurrent/current_table.html On the GBBC, Texas had the most species reported with 334. Of the top ten species reported nation wide, the most common was the Northern Cardinal, reported on 47,103 checklists, but the most numerous were the millions of American Robins seen. All of the top ten species except one, the Tufted Titmouse, were reported in the SD count. The most individual birds reported came from Florida, with 1,796,892. The biggy on that was 1,483,208 American Robins. The city with the most species reported was Tivoli, Texas, with 175. The most common species they reported was the American Coot. So, if any ever asks you what the Coot capital of the world is, you can say Tivoli, Texas. Our neighbors in North Dakota had 27 cities participate, with their high count at Fargo, with 23 species and 5 checklists. Their species count was 56, with the top species being the Canada Goose. Our friends In Iowa had 76 total species reported, with their top species being the DE Junco. Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Run-off! From: "m. melius" <mmelius AT earthlink.net> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:01:17 -0500 (EST) Spring run-off has begun here. I'm amazed, it doesn't seem like it's been that warm. It has been bright, though...and with the ground still frozen the thin snow melting on the hillsides glistens for a day and is gone. It heads south no less, filling the ravines, ready or not. I imagine it's a little farther along, south of the Hills. I think spring run-off is one of our great natural forces, like droughts and blizzards. It takes over the landscape, at least where lakes and rivers are concerned, and that counts for a lot. Here, where the early snowmelt flows north up the Cheyenne, what a difference that must make to a river's regime. How lucky am I, to catch the slush front two years in a row along School Section Draw, the Folsom school section where I find Baird's Sparrow in the spring. The slush front is where flowing water meets months-old snow. It's visually interesting, to see flowing water absorbed and crawling through the snow. Aurally too, as there's the sound of rippling water on one side and winter's silence on the other. Plus there's a strong sense of before and after, of no turning back, but in a pure natural setting of no harm done. It's spring in the steppe. Last year the slush front was in April, after the blizzards. This time it was by moonlight. Esp. when the ground is frozen, it's a high-yield water event. All winter I've seen both eagles, both rough-legged hawks, occasional falcons, ST grouse, occ. SE Owl, Horned larks. Michael Melius NE Custer County Subject: NHBC March Meeting From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:31:10 -0700 The Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) will meet at 7 PM on Thursday, March 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 March field trips, and individual reports on feeder and area sightings by the membership. The program will be a talk by Lauren Balyeat on cranes. Refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome. Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: Winter Season Reports From: "Palmer, Jeff" <Jeff.Palmer AT dsu.edu> Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:55:21 -0600 Dear Birders, Spring is coming (sometime) which means it must be time to submit your Winter Season sightings to the online database so that they can be included in the Winter Season Report for South Dakota Bird Notes. The online database can be found at http://homepages.dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/ New observers are always welcome and for those already registered - if you have misplaced your ID or PW just drop me a note and I can remind you. Feel free to enter as many sightings as you desire. For those who would prefer some guidelines I would like/love to have (at a minimum) * Your first sighting of each species during the first half of the season, 01 Dec - 15 Jan * Your last sighting of each species during the first half of the season, 01 Dec - 15 Jan * Your first sighting of each species during the second half of the season, 16 Jan - 28 Feb * Your last sighting of each species during the second half of the season, 16 Jan - 28 Feb As always, thanks for all of your contributions 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 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC Saturday Field Trip From: "eric_t_davis" <ericdavis AT rushmore.com> Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:32:49 -0000 Should be a fun-filled NHBC field trip this Saturday in Spearfish. The plan is to visit the City park looking for Bald Eagles, Waxwings, and Robins. Then on to Lookout Mountain Road looking for ducks on the river, Rusty, Red-winged, and Brewer's Blackbirds, Horned Larks, and Snow Buntings. A quick stop trying to spot the Redheaded Woodpecker seen on the CBC, then on towards McNenny looking for ducks, the Gyr(s), and various Raptors. If time and interest permit, we'll try for the Lewis's Woodpecker near Whitewood. I hope you'll think about joining us. See you at the Spearfish McDonald's at 7:30am on Saturday for coffee and an 8:00am departure. Eric Davis Spearfish 639-3173 Subject: Snowy Owl From: Bill Bossman <billbossman50 AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:50:40 -0600 I found an immature Snowy Owl on County Line Road, 1.3 miles east of Highway 83 in Stanley County about 4:00 this afternoon. That's roughly 12 miles south of Fort Pierre. The owl flew south across the road in front of me and then landed about 150 yards out in the field on the south side of County Line Road. Bill Bossman [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Golden-crowned Kinglet From: "brdfsd AT sio.midco.net" <brdfsd@sio.midco.net> Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:05:53 -0600 Yesterday, a Golden-crowned Kinglet visited the spruce tree outside my office window, and a Brown Creeper scavenged for awhile in the big honey locust in my front yard. The red-breasted Nuthatch that has been around since October has been missing for over two weeks. A Sharp-shinned Hawk has come by a few times over the last three months, and maybe more often than we are aware. Rosemary Draeger Sioux Falls brdfsd AT sio.midco.net Subject: Tuesday From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:49:13 -0600 Greeting cold birders: (it is 2 degrees as I type this) The drought of birds continues. Aside from the feeders, there is not much around the Sioux Falls area. Checked the quarry for Falcons or Redtails, found only the Rock Pigeon hoards. Checked the Outdoor Campus just in case. At their feeder complex were 25 Mallards, Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, and a nice flock of Tree Sparrows. See one at: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4384040744_77cc99beb6.jpg There was an influx of Goldfinch at my feeder complex, counted 20. Those of you, who have not seen the amazing photos of the Golden Eagle attacking the deer, see it at: http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=32809.0 Thanks to Tucker Lutter, SDOU member from Iowa, for sending the link. Mick SFBC _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:28 AM To: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Cc: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [SF-BC] GBBC Birders: South Dakota had great participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Our total species count was 91, down only one from last year. See the results by species, city, etc. at http://gbbc. birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport&reportName=StateS ummary&state=US-SD> &reportName=StateSummary&state=US-SD Sioux Falls had the most checklists at 35, with 38 species reported. In S.D., Canada Goose had the most numbers. Rapid City won the unofficial competition with 47 species, ousting Ft.Pierre from last year's championship by only two species. Maybe we need to conjure up a traveling trophy for the yearly champions. Total cities taking part this year was 51, down from last year's 62. Disappointing was the participation in some of the state's biggest cities. Aberdeen and Watertown with only one report, while Huron, which is much smaller than either, had 15 check lists. Tiny Britton had 8 checklists, with 16 species, the most common being the A. Goldfinch. Note that Watertown and Aberdeen did not have participation in the CBC either. Fortunately, the reliable Sand Lake NWR staff came through with their CBC. For some reason, the Sioux Falls CBC totals did not show up on the Audubon CBC tally at: http://cbc.audubon. org/cbccurrent/current_table.html On the GBBC, Texas had the most species reported with 334. Of the top ten species reported nation wide, the most common was the Northern Cardinal, reported on 47,103 checklists, but the most numerous were the millions of American Robins seen. All of the top ten species except one, the Tufted Titmouse, were reported in the SD count. The most individual birds reported came from Florida, with 1,796,892. The biggy on that was 1,483,208 American Robins. The city with the most species reported was Tivoli, Texas, with 175. The most common species they reported was the American Coot. So, if any ever asks you what the Coot capital of the world is, you can say Tivoli, Texas. Our neighbors in North Dakota had 27 cities participate, with their high count at Fargo, with 23 species and 5 checklists. Their species count was 56, with the top species being the Canada Goose. Our friends In Iowa had 76 total species reported, with their top species being the DE Junco. Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FT PIERRE From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:42:38 -0600 Gull update- 1 winter adult California Gull, 2-4 immature Glaucous Gulls around 40 Herring Gulls and an occasional adult or immature Thayer's. March is right around the corner-Yeah!. That means migrating waterfowl and GULLS! With this hard snow-packed winter I am sure there will be a winter-killed lake somewhere near. That is what I live for in the spring. Because it will bring a large concentration of gulls to eat the dead fish. The high numbers of gulls usually means a couple rare gulls. So if anybody seeks a winter-killed lake in March or April in my area please email me. Thanks Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: FW: [waterbirdsnetwork] (no subject) From: <eileen.dowdstukel AT state.sd.us> Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:21:16 -0600 FYI. Eileen, SDGFP -----Original Message----- From: waterbirdsnetwork-bounces AT lists.fws.gov [mailto:waterbirdsnetwork-bounces AT lists.fws.gov] On Behalf Of Suzanne_Fellows AT fws.gov Sent: Monday, February 22, 2010 11:17 AM To: waterbirdsnetwork AT lists.fws.gov Subject: [waterbirdsnetwork] (no subject) ************************************************************************ ******* This message comes to you via a group e-mail service created to communicate information related to waterbirds and waterbird conservation. Thank you for supporting the Waterbird Conservation for the Americas initiative. ************************************************************************ ******* Great Plains Nature Center has recently completed A Pocket Guide to Great Plains Waterbirds. It covers over 40 species commonly found in the Great Plains region of North America. An electronic version can be seen at < http://gpnc.org/waterbirds.htm>. Hard copies can be received by contacting Suzanne_Fellows AT fws.gov Suzanne D. Fellows Assistant Nongame Migratory Bird Coordinator US Fish & Wildlife Service P.O. Box 25486, DFC Denver, CO 80225 303-236-4417 Fax: 303-236-8680 E-mail: Suzanne_Fellows AT fws.gov ************************************************************************ ******* Members of the WaterbirdsNetwork list can write to all other members by sending email to waterbirdsnetwork AT lists.fws.gov. Any interested party can join the list if they send a blank email to waterbirdsnetwork-request AT lists.fws.gov with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. ************************************************************************ ******* Subject: Cassin's Finch: Pennington County From: Richard Latuchie <rlatuchie AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:59:30 -0700 Had a really interesting day at our feeders today, after a couple inches of snow last night. We had a group of 11 Cassin's Finches, which I've never had in our yard before. They came back several times; hopefully they'll be back tomorrow. Aside from the usual birds, we also had first Townsend's Solitaire of the year, Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, and 3 Flickers. Dick Latuchie Rapid City [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC Field Trip - Saturday, February 27 From: "Addison Ball" <AddisonB AT enetis.net> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:00:10 -0700 NHBC Field Trip - Saturday, February 27 The Northern Hills Bird Club (NHBC) will conduct a field trip out of Spearfish on Saturday, February 27. Participants will meet at the Spearfish McDonald's at 7:30 AM for an 8:00 AM departure. This will be a half-day trip. Birders of all levels are welcome as well as visiting birders. There is no charge for the field trip. Contact Eric Davis at 605-639-3173 for more information. -- posted by Addison Ball on behalf of Gene Hess [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: GBBC From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 10:27:40 -0600 Birders: South Dakota had great participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Our total species count was 91, down only one from last year. See the results by species, city, etc. at http://gbbc.birdsource.org/gbbcApps/report?cmd=showReport &reportName=StateSummary&state=US-SD Sioux Falls had the most checklists at 35, with 38 species reported. In S.D., Canada Goose had the most numbers. Rapid City won the unofficial competition with 47 species, ousting Ft.Pierre from last year's championship by only two species. Maybe we need to conjure up a traveling trophy for the yearly champions. Total cities taking part this year was 51, down from last year's 62. Disappointing was the participation in some of the state's biggest cities. Aberdeen and Watertown with only one report, while Huron, which is much smaller than either, had 15 check lists. Tiny Britton had 8 checklists, with 16 species, the most common being the A. Goldfinch. Note that Watertown and Aberdeen did not have participation in the CBC either. Fortunately, the reliable Sand Lake NWR staff came through with their CBC. For some reason, the Sioux Falls CBC totals did not show up on the Audubon CBC tally at: http://cbc.audubon.org/cbccurrent/current_table.html On the GBBC, Texas had the most species reported with 334. Of the top ten species reported nation wide, the most common was the Northern Cardinal, reported on 47,103 checklists, but the most numerous were the millions of American Robins seen. All of the top ten species except one, the Tufted Titmouse, were reported in the SD count. The most individual birds reported came from Florida, with 1,796,892. The biggy on that was 1,483,208 American Robins. The city with the most species reported was Tivoli, Texas, with 175. The most common species they reported was the American Coot. So, if any ever asks you what the Coot capital of the world is, you can say Tivoli, Texas. Our neighbors in North Dakota had 27 cities participate, with their high count at Fargo, with 23 species and 5 checklists. Their species count was 56, with the top species being the Canada Goose. Our friends In Iowa had 76 total species reported, with their top species being the DE Junco. Mick SFBC [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: mergansers From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:15:55 -0600 A run along the northeast edge of Sioux Falls along Rice Street to 6 mile road found the following: 12 Pheasants, 6 Wild Turkeys plodding in the deep snow, 100 Mallards, 200 Canada Geese, One Goldeneye, A pair, (male and female) of Hooded Mergansers at the bridge on N. Bahnson Ave., just north of Rice street, and the usual crows. No hawks were seen. Mick SFBC _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 4:33 PM To: 'mick zerr'; sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Cc: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [sd-birds] Friday Today, the first day of the Backyard Bird Count, the sun actually came out about 2:00 pm. Citizens were running around pointing to the sky. Some were screaming “What is it?” others were on their knees thanking their favorite deity for bringing the sun back. The birds also were enjoying the first full sun in weeks. On the east edge of Sioux Falls, Mrs. Bald Eagle was sitting on her nest, moving things around; maybe eggs. Two crows were watching her, probably debating whether they should try to steal the eggs if she leaves the nest. Down the road, 4 Blue Jays were having a scolding contest. A few more blocks eastward offered a large Cooper’s Hawk who landed on a citizen’s deck. There were probably feeders close by. For the first time in months, the Downy Woodpeckers were drilling on dead limbs, no doubt the woodpecker equivalent of sending a talking valentine to that potential mate. Another sound not heard for a long time, male Cardinals, all dressed up for Valentine’s Day weekend, were singing their spring songs, while the females ignored them. On the Big Sioux River, 15 Common Goldeneyes were having a group lunch at the spillway café. At the feeders, the bi-hourly visit of the Brown Creeper started the day off. Just now! This instant! A Sharpie flew right by my window. Hope he kept on going, otherwise the bird counting is over for the day. Checked the bushes, the Juncos, Chickadees and House Sparrows are very agitated. I think they saw him fly buy. Oh well, I can count the hawk also. There is always something going on in the realms of birding. Mick SFBC _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 12:57 PM To: 'mick zerr'; sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com Cc: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com Subject: [sd-birds] birding and hunting stats Folks, Here are some interesting facts from the FWS. (2006 report at http://www.census. gov/prod/2008pubs/fhw06-sd.pdf> gov/prod/2008pubs/fhw06-sd.pdf ) Total South Dakota Birders= 283 thousand (total wildlife watchers, including birders = 432 thousand) Total South Dakota Hunters = 171 thousand All levels of birding are up from the previous census, while hunting is down considerably Wild Bird Observers and Days of Observation in South Dakota by State Residents and Nonresidents: 2006 (Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands) OBSERVERS Total bird observers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 state residents 193 non residents *90 DAYS Total days observing birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,039 state residents 17,789 non residents*250 South Dakota 1996 and 2006 Comparison (Numbers in thousands) 1996 2006 Percent change Hunting Hunters in state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 171 * -15 In-state expenditures by U.S. hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $226,996 $185,258 * State resident hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 90 -18 Total expenditures by state residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $127,523 $87,120 * Away-From-Home Wildlife Watching Participants in state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318 270 * State resident participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 116 +57 Around-the-Home Wildlife Watching Total participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 257 + 66 Observers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 174 +57 Feeders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 208 + 56 Wildlife-Watching Expenditures In-state expenditures by U.S. wildlife watchers . . . . . . . . . . $194,740 $183,304 * Total expenditures by state residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $74,028 $98,224 * _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 8:47 PM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com Cc: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com Subject: [SF-BC] geese, etc. 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> photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view> photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=brown > photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=brown > photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=brown creeper.flv> ¤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.leiferic son.org/sfbc/id24.html> son.org/sfbc/id24.html> son.org/sfbc/id24.html is semi-working with at least one camera streaming. Think Spring Mick SFBC Hav _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 10:01 PM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.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/> com/photos/siouxfalls/sets/72157623331731110/> com/photos/siouxfalls/sets/72157623331731110/> com/photos/siouxfalls/sets/72157623331731110/ Don't forget the Great Backyard Bird count coming up Feb. 12-15. http://www.birdsour ce.org/gbbc/> ce.org/gbbc/> ce.org/gbbc/> ce.org/gbbc/ Make sure you also enter your sightings in the SDOU database: http://homepages. dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/> dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/> dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/> dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/ And the e-bird data base: http://ebird. org/content/ebird/> org/content/ebird/> org/content/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] [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: Gyrfalcon From: Richard Latuchie <rlatuchie AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:49:03 -0700 Well, after striking out several times since the first of the year, I got great looks at two Gyrfalcons today. From the previous discussions on this topic, I won't disclose the location here. I did run into Scott Weins. Anyone wanting more information, just send me an e-mail. This was a lifer for me, what a spectacular bird! Dick Latuchie Rapid City [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: GBBC From: "Ricky D. Olson" <tatanka40 AT pie.midco.net> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:59:00 -0600 As co-reviewer for SD, iIask people to submit their bird sightings this weekend to Cornell's Great Backyard Bird Count at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ Thanks Sharing is half the fun of birding. Ricky D. Olson Fort Pierre, SD [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: NHBC trip report, 13 Feb 10 From: "Gene " <gene AT neopaleo.net> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:57:23 -0700 Hi, Six members and one guest decided to carry on with the scheduled trip despite the snow and slightly icy conditions. We started by locating a Great Horned Owl nest near the Rushmore Mall. From there we covered Elk Vale/Valley View/Radar Hill/Hammerquist/ Antelope Creek roads and finished at Canyon Lake. A total of 24 species was found, including one flock of 25-30 Sharp-tailed Grouse feeding in a field near the road, six Bald Eagles (5 adult, 1 imm.), four Golden Eagles, one Ferruginous Hawk, six rough-legs, two harriers, three red-tails. Five species of ducks and Am. Coot were found at Canyon Lake. Gene K. Hess Rapid City, SD Subject: Goose in my driveway From: "Terry Sohl" <tlsohl AT alliancecom.net> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:27:55 -0600 I have a goose in my driveway. http://sdakotabirds.com/birdseyeview/2010/02/13/goose-in-my-driveway/ I live in a normal residential area. But yet, a goose has decided that my driveway, of all locations, is where he wants to spend the rest of the winter. THAT'S how bad a winter this has been.the animals are moving to the city. Terry Sohl Brandon [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Friday From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:32:35 -0600 Today, the first day of the Backyard Bird Count, the sun actually came out about 2:00 pm. Citizens were running around pointing to the sky. Some were screaming “What is it?” others were on their knees thanking their favorite deity for bringing the sun back. The birds also were enjoying the first full sun in weeks. On the east edge of Sioux Falls, Mrs. Bald Eagle was sitting on her nest, moving things around; maybe eggs. Two crows were watching her, probably debating whether they should try to steal the eggs if she leaves the nest. Down the road, 4 Blue Jays were having a scolding contest. A few more blocks eastward offered a large Cooper’s Hawk who landed on a citizen’s deck. There were probably feeders close by. For the first time in months, the Downy Woodpeckers were drilling on dead limbs, no doubt the woodpecker equivalent of sending a talking valentine to that potential mate. Another sound not heard for a long time, male Cardinals, all dressed up for Valentine’s Day weekend, were singing their spring songs, while the females ignored them. On the Big Sioux River, 15 Common Goldeneyes were having a group lunch at the spillway café. At the feeders, the bi-hourly visit of the Brown Creeper started the day off. Just now! This instant! A Sharpie flew right by my window. Hope he kept on going, otherwise the bird counting is over for the day. Checked the bushes, the Juncos, Chickadees and House Sparrows are very agitated. I think they saw him fly buy. Oh well, I can count the hawk also. There is always something going on in the realms of birding. Mick SFBC _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 12:57 PM To: 'mick zerr'; sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Cc: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [sd-birds] birding and hunting stats Folks, Here are some interesting facts from the FWS. (2006 report at http://www.census. gov/prod/2008pubs/fhw06-sd.pdf ) Total South Dakota Birders= 283 thousand (total wildlife watchers, including birders = 432 thousand) Total South Dakota Hunters = 171 thousand All levels of birding are up from the previous census, while hunting is down considerably Wild Bird Observers and Days of Observation in South Dakota by State Residents and Nonresidents: 2006 (Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands) OBSERVERS Total bird observers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 state residents 193 non residents *90 DAYS Total days observing birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,039 state residents 17,789 non residents*250 South Dakota 1996 and 2006 Comparison (Numbers in thousands) 1996 2006 Percent change Hunting Hunters in state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 171 * -15 In-state expenditures by U.S. hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $226,996 $185,258 * State resident hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 90 -18 Total expenditures by state residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $127,523 $87,120 * Away-From-Home Wildlife Watching Participants in state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318 270 * State resident participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 116 +57 Around-the-Home Wildlife Watching Total participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 257 + 66 Observers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 174 +57 Feeders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 208 + 56 Wildlife-Watching Expenditures In-state expenditures by U.S. wildlife watchers . . . . . . . . . . $194,740 $183,304 * Total expenditures by state residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $74,028 $98,224 * _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 8:47 PM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com Cc: SF-BC AT yahoogroups. com Subject: [SF-BC] geese, etc. 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> photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=brown > photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=brown creeper.flv> ¤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.leiferic son.org/sfbc/id24.html> son.org/sfbc/id24.html is semi-working with at least one camera streaming. Think Spring Mick SFBC Hav _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 10:01 PM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.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/> com/photos/siouxfalls/sets/72157623331731110/> com/photos/siouxfalls/sets/72157623331731110/ Don't forget the Great Backyard Bird count coming up Feb. 12-15. http://www.birdsour ce.org/gbbc/> ce.org/gbbc/> ce.org/gbbc/ Make sure you also enter your sightings in the SDOU database: http://homepages. dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/> dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/> dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/ And the e-bird data base: http://ebird. org/content/ebird/> org/content/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] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Shot-eared Owl From: Bill Bossman <billbossman50 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:10:18 -0600 A Short-eared Owl was hunting on the down-stream face of the east side of Oahe Dam about 4:00 this afternoon. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: think spring - think nests! From: "Nancy Drilling" <nancy.drilling AT rmbo.org> Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:54:15 -0700 Although it doesn't feel like it, spring is right around the corner and birds know it (at least some of them). Report your first-nest observations of the year - you can start looking now! Some Great Horned Owls are probably on nests; soon they will be joined by a host of other owls, woodpeckers, grouse, and urban hole-nesters. Nancy South Dakota Breeding Bird Atlas 2 Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory www.rmbo.org/SDBBA2 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fwd: FYI Fwd: February 16th, scoping deadline New Planning Rule for the National Forest System From: Nancy Hilding <nhilshat AT rapidnet.com> Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:42:19 -0700 Nancy Hilding President Prairie Hills Audubon Society to Various list serves I forward a reminder of FS scoping deadline on their planning regs, -- comments probably due on Tuesday Feb 16th. - that's 6 days from now. This is very important to FS management -- it's about the rules under which they create and amend forest/grassland plans. The Bush administration engaged in repeated attempts to gut the planning regulations, which attempts the environmentalists repeatedly took to court and won, thus the FS is back at the drawing board, with Obama in the presidency. A major issue of contention has always been the degree of protections provided to wildlife. What the FS chooses could have big impacts on the wildlife populations on all their lands; This is scoping, so you can express your wish list for things you want included in forest planning. 2. Also scroll down for CNE alert and pre-fab comments/petition. > >From: Joel Holtrop [mailto:jholtrop AT fs.fed.us] >Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 10:35 AM >Subject: Announcement of Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare a New >Planning Rule for the National Forest System >Importance: High > > > >Greetings, >The Forest Service is today announcing the beginning of the process >to develop a new land management planning rule that will guide >national forest management plans over the next generation. National >Forests and Grasslands are a vital part of the solution to a number >of environmental and social challenges facing the nation, including >addressing climate change, restoring forests, protecting watersheds >and habitat, building local economies, improving collaboration, and >working across landscapes. The time is ripe for us to come together >in a collaborative effort to develop a planning rule that will >address the future needs of the National Forest System. I am >writing to ask for your help in framing the content of the planning >rule. >The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact >statement to analyze the effects of a new land management planning >rule will be published in the Federal Register on Friday, December >18th, 2009. Included in the NOI are a set of principles that could >guide development of a new planning rule. We are seeking public >input on the proposed principles and on specific associated >questions. We are also asking for input on possible principles or >issues not mentioned in the NOI. Your input is both welcome and >needed. Please send your comments to >fspr AT contentanalysisgroup.com. > The comment period will last 60 days from the date published in the >Federal Register notice. >Over the next several months, we will continue to reach out to >engage in dialogue with you about the new planning rule. We will >use state-of-the-art new media tools in conjunction with >face-to-face interaction to facilitate wide public participation >throughout the nation. Please log onto to the planning rule website >at: > http://fs.usda.gov/planningrule > for information about the NOI and the public participation process. >For more information, contact Larry Hayden >(lhayden AT fs.fed.us) >or Brenda Halter-Glenn >(bhalterglenn AT fs.fed.us >) of the Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff in our Washington >Office at 202- 205-0895. > >********************************** >Joel D. Holtrop >Deputy Chief, National Forest System > (202) 205-1523 (202) 205-1523 >(202) 205-1758 (fax) > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITEM # 2 - CNE alert on planning rule scoping ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nancy to others, I forward this alert about forest planning regs. From: "Center for Native Ecosystems" Reply-To: "Center for Native Ecosystems" To: nhilshat AT rapidnet.com Subject: Your Comments Needed to Protect National Forests and Grasslands Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:05:32 +0000 Your Comments Needed to Our Protect National Forests and Grasslands The U.S. Forest Service is currently developing new regulations that will affect management plans for every National Forest and Grassland across the country. We have the opportunity to ensure that these regulations contain strong protections for wildlife habitat, preserve water quality, and contain provisions to help manage these public lands in the face of climate change. Visit our petition site by February 16 to submit the sample letter below. Please also customize the petition letter with the particular National Forests/Grasslands you visit (here's a map), the specific activities you like to do there, and anything else you'd like to add. Thank you! -The CNE Crew ____________________________________________________ Sample letter (If you'd like you can send this letter directly to fspr AT contentanalysisgroup.com) Dear Bear West Company, Re: Forest Service Planning NOI Protective management of our National Forests and Grasslands is important to me. I enjoy the solitude and beauty of our national forests, as well as the opportunity for quiet recreation, wildlife habitat, and water quality provided by these lands. The soon-to-be revised forest service planning regulations must require that the viability of all native wildlife and plant populations be assured through forest planning. The regulations must also require plans to contain clear standards which would ensure protection of resources and limit activities that would degrade air, water, soils, wildlife habitat, etc. The revised regulations must require national forests to zone areas of each national forest or grassland by what type of activities will be allowed. Without this, the public has little idea of what management will be emphasized and how resources will be protected. Further, plans must be required to address and be able to adapt to the possible effects of climate change. Management should err on the side of protecting resources by limiting logging, road construction, etc. so that wildlife and plans will be more likely to survive a warming climate. Finally, the impacts of every proposed forest management plan must be disclosed in an environmental impact statement. Since plans approve a program of management for the next 10-15 years, the impacts of such activities must be disclosed. Sincerely, (Your Name) _________________________________________________ Support Center for Native Ecosystems' work to protect and recover our National Forests and Grasslands and the species that depend on them for survival. Please donate today! Your comments will help protect: Canada lynx habitat in our National Forests Pronghorn habitat in our National Grasslands Water quality and scenic mountain landscapes Center for Native Ecosystems | 1536 Wynkoop St, Ste 303 | Denver, CO 80202 |303-546-0214 cne AT nativeecosystems.org | www.nativeecosystems.org Forward this message to a friend If you no longer wish to receive these emails, simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe Center for Native Ecosystems 1536 Wynkoop, Suite 303 Denver, Colorado 80202 US Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy. -- -- Nancy Hilding 6300 West Elm Black Hawk, SD 57718 605-787-6779 phone best to call me on 605-787-6466 phone and fax and voice mail and internet hook up I have call waiting and "no answer" may mean both "land lines" in use (call before faxing) cell phone 605-430-9230, I don't check cell messages regularly, thus do not rely on for ASAP calls nhilshat AT rapidnet.com nhilding AT rapidnet.com phas.wsd AT rapidnet.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: birding and hunting stats From: "mick zerr" <zerrm AT sio.midco.net> Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:56:55 -0600 Folks, Here are some interesting facts from the FWS. (2006 report at http://www.census.gov/prod/2008pubs/fhw06-sd.pdf ) Total South Dakota Birders= 283 thousand (total wildlife watchers, including birders = 432 thousand) Total South Dakota Hunters = 171 thousand All levels of birding are up from the previous census, while hunting is down considerably Wild Bird Observers and Days of Observation in South Dakota by State Residents and Nonresidents: 2006 (Population 16 years old and older. Numbers in thousands) OBSERVERS Total bird observers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 state residents 193 non residents *90 DAYS Total days observing birds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,039 state residents 17,789 non residents*250 South Dakota 1996 and 2006 Comparison (Numbers in thousands) 1996 2006 Percent change Hunting Hunters in state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 171 * -15 In-state expenditures by U.S. hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $226,996 $185,258 * State resident hunters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 90 -18 Total expenditures by state residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $127,523 $87,120 * Away-From-Home Wildlife Watching Participants in state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318 270 * State resident participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 116 +57 Around-the-Home Wildlife Watching Total participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 257 + 66 Observers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 174 +57 Feeders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 208 + 56 Wildlife-Watching Expenditures In-state expenditures by U.S. wildlife watchers . . . . . . . . . . $194,740 $183,304 * Total expenditures by state residents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $74,028 $98,224 * _____ From: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 8:47 PM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroups.com Cc: SF-BC AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [SF-BC] geese, etc. 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 photobucket.com/albums/u210/zerrmick/?action=view¤t=brown creeper.flv> ¤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.leiferic son.org/sfbc/id24.html is semi-working with at least one camera streaming. Think Spring Mick SFBC Hav _____ From: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com [mailto:sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.com] On Behalf Of mick zerr Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 10:01 PM To: sd-birds AT yahoogroup s.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/> com/photos/siouxfalls/sets/72157623331731110/ Don't forget the Great Backyard Bird count coming up Feb. 12-15. http://www.birdsour ce.org/gbbc/> ce.org/gbbc/ Make sure you also enter your sightings in the SDOU database: http://homepages. dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/> dsu.edu/palmerj/sdousbor/ And the e-bird data base: http://ebird. org/content/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] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Northern Shrike? From: tamicollins AT pie.midco.net Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:30:56 -0600 Two weeks ago I found a vole impaled on a tree branch near our house (minus the head.) I thought of a shrike right away, we usually have quite a few around in the summer but I've never seen one here in the winter. Tonight as I drove by the same tree a bird flew out that looked a lot like a shrike, but larger and darker than the Loggerhead Shrikes that summer here. It flew to a tree in our backyard. When I went back and looked I found another mouse impaled in that tree. I'm thinking it's possibly a northern shrike? Tami Collins 15 miles south of Lantry, SD 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