Chickadee Chatter 13

President’s Message

By Harry Ainsworth

As I write this in late January, we have been enjoying a spring thaw for the last few days and it looks like we will be in for more winter shortly. What the heck, it’s New England and it’s winter. I have been feeding the birds for the last several weeks and have tremendous activity at the feeders.

I recently purchased a large thistle feeder for the American Goldfinches but have been sur-prised to see that they tend to focus on the feeder with the sunflower hearts. I guess I should not have been surprised but I was. Looks like I may have a lot of thistle left over this season. Does anyone need some thistle?

I love watching the activity at the feeders. I put the feeders out every morning right after setting up the coffee pot. It’s fun to look out the bedroom window first thing to see what is waiting for a snack. This year it seems that we have an enor-mous number of American Gold-finches; maybe it is because of the

food I provide them. I don’t recall seeing this many last year.

We have two pairs of cardinals, some of my favorite birds, in the area. I’ve been working on getting photos of all the species at the feeders and will admit, again, that the cardi-nals are probably my favorites. We’ve had lots of woodpeck-ers — Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied — as well as Dark-eyed Juncos, Tufted Titmice, and a plethora of Black-capped Chickadees. We have something like two dozen Mourning Doves in the area. I think they have found shelter under my deck. When I bring the feeders out, I am normally greeted

by a flock of doves flying out into the trees. By the time I get back in the house to my coffee pot, they are scurrying around under the feeders picking up the fallen tidbits.

I have found that I am much less productive in the morning due to my need to watch these wonderful creatures feed. I don’t plan on doing anything about this, however. Productiv-ity be damned.

Yesterday we took a ride to the Shepaug Dam in Southbury to look for eagles. As good luck would have it, we managed to see five immature birds probably three to four years old. We saw two of them quite close performing aerial stunts over the reservoir. If you have never been there, you should try to check it out before March 12 — that’s when it closes for the season. Until then, the observation area is open Wednes-days, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You must make an online reservation; go to shepaugeagles.info. If you venture out there, dress for cold weather.

In the event you are unaware, LHAS is having its Annual Appeal. The donations are coming in nicely. If you did not receive an appeal letter, please feel free to send a tax-deduct-ible donation to LHAS, P.O. Box 861, Litchfield, CT 06759. I will send you a receipt for your records.

There are lots of activities scheduled over the next few months; check out the Calendar on pages 6 and 7. You can also go to lhasct.org for the latest information on what is going to take place. We have some very interesting speakers

See Calendar, pages 6-7, for our Upcoming Meetings & Field Trips

Northern CardinalPhoto: Harry Ainsworth

March/April 2017 Volume 62/Issue 2

C h i c k a d e e C h a t t e r

The mission of the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitats, for the benefit of the community, through conservation, education, and research.

Litchfield Hills Audubon Society Newsletter

(continued on page 2)

New! See page 5 for important Conservation News

Chickadee Chatter2

The Chickadee Chatter is published in January, March, May, July, September, and November. For the May/June 2017 issue, all articles must be received by the editor by April 1. Please email items for publication in the newsletter to Di-ane Edwards at edwardsd68@charter.net or mail them to her at 68 Shingle Mill Road, Harwinton, CT 06791. Send other business to the appropriate chairperson at LHAS, P.O. Box 861, Litchfield, CT 06759-0861 or lhasct@me.com.

March/April 2017

LHAS OfficersPresident Harry Ainsworth 860-777-8012Vice President vacantTreasurer Marie Kennedy 860-567-5487Rec. Secretary Janet Baker 860-567-8427Corresp. Secretary Pam Hicks smilesmyles@yahoo.comBoard of DirectorsTerri Bianchi 2017 860-489-8821Jay Coles 2017 860-354-3802Rich Martin 2017 860-584-5706Janet Baker 2018 860-567-8427Ed Goodhouse 2018 860-689-6884Fran Zygmont 2018 860-379-4461Angela Dimmitt 2019 860-355-3429Keith Johnson 2019 860-618-5720Nancy Nichols 2019 860-354-5114Director at LargeJohn Baker 860-567-8427Committee ChairpeopleBoyd Sanctuary Debbie & Rich Martin 860-819-7462Conservation Diane Edwards 860-485-9319Education Donna Rose Smith 203-706-0474Facebook Diane Edwards 860-485-9319Field Trips David Zomick 860-584-2824Fundraising Harry Ainsworth 860-777-8012Historian vacantHospitality Carol Perrault 860-589-8023Junior Audubon Donna Rose Smith 203-706-0474 Kalmia Sanctuary Bob & Doreen Orciari 860-485-1347Membership Doreen Orciari 860-485-1347Newsletter Diane Edwards 860-485-9319Programs Angela Dimmitt 860-355-3429Publicity Shirley Gay 860-482-0819Scholarships Carol Kearns & Harry Schuh 860-485-9018Website Rich Martin 860-584-5706Wigwam Brook Sanctuary John Baker 860-567-8427ResearchChristmas Count Ray Belding 860-482-4046Summer Count Dave Tripp 860-693-6524

NEW MEMBERSBy Doreen Orciari, Membership Chair

Anne Austin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LitchfieldLisa Bahr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PlymouthRobert Bennison* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BethlehemLinea Benson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LitchfieldGeorge Bossers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GaylordsvilleDavid Callegari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TorringtonJoseph Damiano* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ThomastonFrank & Caroline Dealy* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New MilfordLeila Edwards* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New MilfordRobin Eisenman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WarrenGina Garofano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LitchfieldFaith Heering* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TorringtonKen Hopkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MorrisJames Kolesar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MonroeKaren Laplante* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BethlehemCatherine Lavoie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BethlehemVictoria Magaraci* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WatertownKristine Murdick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New HartfordBrian Noell* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BethlehemDorothy Nomelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New HartfordJohn Peloso III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WinstedPatricia Pickard* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HarwintonBrendan Reilly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TorringtonTricia Ricci* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NorthfieldJoal Santoro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TerryvilleMark Shaw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TorringtonBen Sonneberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LitchfieldTracey Wiles* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LitchfieldHarry Winchenbaugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Riverton

LHAS membership is at 580.

* Welcome back

If your newsletter is addressed incorrectly or if you fail to receive one, send a postcard to LHAS, P.O. Box 861, Litchfield, CT 06759-0861 or send an email to Doreen Orciari at doreen.orciari@gmail.com.

lined up for our general meetings. The program schedule is also listed on page 6.

In the meantime, keep feeding our birds and enjoying their activity — that is, until the bears come out of their dens.

I hope to see you at a future general meeting or out in the field.

President’s Message (continued from page 1)

Chickadee Chatter 3

Bird activity has been slow at the feeders, a predictable number of locals coming at similar times each day. At first light, White-throated Spar-rows, lots of juncos and goldfinches, followed by the pair of cardinals, then tit-mice, chickadees, and Downy Woodpeckers. Later Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and House Finches (sad to say, one has the eye disease). Mourning Doves come and go, usually just three but sometimes more than a dozen — won-der where they go at other times? In the evening at dusk, it’s the cardinals and White-throated Sparrows again. Today the

Red-shouldered Hawk was here — I wonder if it and its mate will nest again in my woods. It was exciting to watch the two babies growing up, visible from the road.

So I have once again been doing a Big January, trying to find as many species as possible in Connecticut during the month. This involves lots of driving and walking, from the hills to the shore — often to the shore, because that’s where the most birds can be found now, ducks, geese, waterfowl of all kinds. And lots of rarities show up where the water is open, and of course, most of it has been open this balmy month. I’ve seen Ross’s Goose, Iceland Gull, European Tufted Duck in a flotilla of scaup (seen by several LHASers on our trip to the shore — see page 9 for Russ Naylor’s article on that); Eared Grebe from the West; a flock of Evening Grosbeaks up in Canaan. And winter specials like Snow Bunting and Horned Lark, Rough-legged Hawk and Northern Harrier. Sadly, no Snowy Owls this year. A Big Month is really fun to do, because peo-ple share information about what has been seen where, and you meet old friends and make new ones in odd places, and a day out is never without surprises — and even a bitterly cold day on the beach scoping the waves for whatever might be out there, the wind chilling you to the bone, ice piling up around you, well, one surprise bird and you are ecstatic. And go out again the next day for more …

Wonder what the Ground Hog will think shortly!

The next LHAS Board Meeting will be onTuesday, March 21, at 7:15 PM

in the Litchfield Community Center’s Education Room.

March/April 2017

A Horned Lark at Long Beach in Stratford.Photo: Angela Dimmitt

In My Garden (And Beyond)A Journal — January 2017

By Angela Dimmitt

About the most excitement I’ve had in my garden this month — a Great Blue Heron just landed and took off from the stream, which is wide open now. Actually, it was here a week or so ago when there was a foot of snow. I was here at the computer and looked up to see a strange lump on the bank, like a large rock or tree stump. So I grabbed my ev-er-handy bins just as the lump moved its beak — totally hunkered down. The kingfisher has also been visiting now the water is higher.

One day I was alerted to another creature I see only in winter, a mink. Titmice were mobbing something in a big pile of rocks. Then I saw a slinky dark creature with a long tail dashing in and out — a friend with me thought it was a fisher, but it was too small. I like to think it is my old Siamese cat Putu who disappeared one afternoon 10 years ago and reincarnated as the mink I saw sitting near her favorite watering hole in the stream. So Putu’s replacement, Lucy, has been with me 10 years — she still hates Star and has never tamed him, the Little Monster.

Star is really attached to me, as Lucy never was. He loves to help on the computer, but if I’m lucky, as now, he’s just sitting on my lap watching. He is a very rewarding cat. Except when he isn’t! And he’s too big for my lap and slides off.

I was here at the computer and looked up to see a strange lump on the bank, like a large rock or tree stump. So I grabbed my

ever-handy bins just as the lump moved its beak ...

Immature Iceland Gull at Long Beach in Stratford.Photo: Angela Dimmitt

Chickadee Chatter4 March/April 2017

Results of Our 2016 CBC

By Ray Belding, Compiler

On Sunday, December 18, I awoke at 3:30 a.m., tossed and turned for what seemed like an eternity and finally pulled myself out of bed at 4.

Opening the garage door, I noticed a fine mist. Not too bad. I should get some owls to respond to my calls. Headlights pav-

ing my way up Route 4, I arrived at my destination around 4:20. The fine mist had transformed into a steady downpour! I could wait it out.

Fifteen minutes later, I was heading back down Route 4 to my condo. Hot coffee and the morning paper awaited me. I’d go for owls next year.

This is how the 2016 Christmas Bird Census began for me.

At 8, I met my team of Teri Bianchi, Patty Pickard, and Ron-

nie Santo at Scarpelli’s for breakfast.

The day was pretty miserable and not particularly conducive to counting birds. Fog and rain prevailed during the morning and mostly rain during the afternoon hours.

In spite of the poor conditions, the 16 teams came up with 85 species, not bad at all.

Most of the teams didn’t go for owls due to the weather. However, the intrepid team of Tripp and Zygmont had a record morning. They counted 15 Eastern Screech Owls,

4 Great-horned Owls, 3 Barred Owls, and 8 Northern Saw-whet Owls! It must not have been raining where they were!

Weather be damned, we did set records for Red-shouldered Hawk (14), Red-breasted Merganser (3), and Long-eared Owl (3). We

also tied two existing records, Golden Eagle (1) and Bona-parte’s Gull (1), thanks, again, to Tripp and Zygmont. We also added a new species to our count, with 2 Cackling Geese.

This brings our cumulative CBC species total since the 1950s to 150.

A big thanks to all captains and participants, and a special “gracias” to Janet Baker and the food crew.

Weather be damned, we did set records for Red-shouldered Hawk (14), Red-breasted Merganser (3), and Long-eared Owl (3). ... We also added a new species to our count, with 2 Cackling Geese.

Can You Help With Our Nest Boxes?

By Marie Kennedy

I’m happy to report the nest boxes on our three sanctuaries have been very successful. These boxes provide suitable environments for our cavity-nesting birds. For continued success of this pro-gram, we need your help.

There are a number of boxes we need to remove, repair, or relocate. We’ll also build new boxes for other cavity nesters, including a few duck boxes. I would like to have this work done before this spring’s breeding season, which can begin as early as April 1st, depending on weather, food supply, etc. If woodwork and installation is not your thing, perhaps you would like to be a nest box monitor. This would involve carefully opening the boxes and recording your findings. This ideally needs to be done every week or every other week throughout the breeding season — April through early

This newsletter and other LHAS features can be seen IN LIVING COLOR on the LHAS website: www.lhasct.org.

Scan the QR code at left with your smartphone to go to www.lhasct.org.

Follow us on Facebook:facebook.com/LitchfieldHillsAudubonSocietyLHAS

Chickadee Chatter was printed by Photo Arts Printing Company, 44 Putter Lane, Torrington, CT 06790; 860-489-1170; www.photoarts-ct.com.

Special thanks to Janet Baker and Doreen Orciari for helping to proofread this newsletter!

August. There will be a training session where we can set up a monitoring schedule. If you have interest in being on the building or the monitoring team, please email me at mariekennedy226@gmail.com or call my cell phone, 914-393-6270.

Chickadee Chatter 5March/April 2017

Our conservation mission faces big challenges. State bud-get problems may mean sharp cutbacks at the already strapped Department of Energy and Environmental Pro-tection (DEEP). And the president has nominated a long-time foe of the EPA to head that agency. Meanwhile, he has begun halting some EPA programs. Meanwhile, a bill in the U.S. House, HR 861, would terminate the EPA. And last year Congress considered a record 135 proposals to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Attacks on the ESA will likley continue. But there are things we can do to help.

1. Keep informed. Since LHAS is a chapter of National Audubon, we are connected to a large and influential group of advocates for the environment. Check out Na-tional’s website, audubon.org, for the latest news as well as great information on birds. Also check Audubon CT’s website, ct.audubon.org, for statewide news and info. And if you want me to send you periodic emails about crucial developments, send an email to me at edwardsd68@charter.net.

2. Let lawmakers know of your concerns. The more phone calls, letters, emails, or personal visits they get on an issue, the more effective lawmakers will be in representing your views. Contact them on one issue at a time. Contact them even if they’re pro-environment!

Supporting ‘Project Green Space’

Audubon CT says that every year, our state has less and less wildlife habitat and fewer green spaces where we can enjoy nature. That’s why they’re advocating at the state legislature for Project Green Space. This law will allow (not require) towns and cities to acquire, preserve, and protect open space through imposing a conveyance fee of up to 1% on the purchase of residential real estate, if they so choose.

Steep DEEP Budget Cuts Possible

CT DEEP may see its budget cut by 10% if proposals at the state legislature are approved. That would hurt efforts to

protect birds and other wildlife, ensure clean air and water, and promote clean energy and climate protection, accord-ing to Audubon CT. The cuts could also mean closed state parks, beaches, and campsites — great places to enjoy birds and nature. Audubon CT is asking lawmakers to allow for new revenue-generating mechanisms to adequately fund programs affecting wildlife and our environment.

Protecting Public Lands in Connecticut

More than 125 organizations have joined forces to ask the CT legislature to pass a resolution (for the second time) that would place a proposal on the 2018 ballot to amend the CT constitution to protect our public land. Amending the constitution is the only way to protect CT state parks, forests, and other public lands from being sold, swapped, or given away without an open, public process. For example, in 2015 the state’s annual Conveyance Act would have given (with no public hearing) more than 4 acres of Silver Sands State Park to the town of Milford. Fortunately, the Silver Sands giveaway was deleted from the final bill. This and previous land giveaways prompted environmental groups to push for the state constitutional amendment.

Good and Bad News on Piping Plovers

A record 63 pairs of Piping Plovers nested in Connecticut last year, said CT DEEP’s January 2017 “Wildlife Highlights” e-newsletter. They fledged 87 chicks, down from 112 in 2015. In 1986, only 20 pairs nested on Connecticut beaches. Now for the bad news: Hundreds of Atlantic Piping Plovers disappeared after Hurricane Matthew hit the Bahamas last fall, according to an article at audubon.com. Before the storm, about 50% of the entire Atlantic Coast population of these birds — about 1,400 — had overwintered there. After the storm, an informal survey found only about 120 Piping Plovers. A bright note: Although the hurricane destroyed plover habitat in some areas, it created habitat in others by uprooting invasive trees that had taken over beaches and by depositing massive amounts of sand on some beaches.

Conservation News By Diane Edwards, Conservation Chair

ContactsU.S. Sen. Dick Blumenthal: . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hartford: 860-258-6940 . . . . . . . . .www.blumenthal.senate.govU.S. Sen. Chris Murphy: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hartford: 860-549-8463 . . . . . . . . .www.murphy.senate.govU.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Britain: 860-223-8412 . . . . .www.esty.house.govGov. Dannel Malloy: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-406-1527 (toll-free) . . . . . . . . .portal.ct.gov/governorState Senators and Representatives: . . www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/cgafindleg.asp

Chickadee Chatter6

Meetings, Bird Walks and ActivitiesLHAS Calendar — Winter/Spring 2017

NOTES: Unless otherwise indicated, General Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at the Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Road (Rt. 202), Litchfield, CT. When the first Monday of the month falls on a holiday, the meeting is held on the second Monday. Refreshments are served at 7 p.m. The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. and the program follows. The April and October meetings are Potluck Dinners starting at 6:30 p.m. The June meeting is the Annual Meeting and Dinner held at a local restaurant; it begins at 6 p.m. Our August meeting is the annual Picnic at Boyd Woods Sanctuary; it begins at 6 p.m. Board of Directors Meetings are held the third Tuesday of every other month at 7:15 p.m. in the Education Room at the Litchfield Community Center.

MEETINGSMarch 6 . . . . . . . . Connecticut’s Native Americans and Their Natural World . . . . . . . . . Monday, 7 PM

Dr. Lucianne Lavin, director of research and collections at the Institute of American Indian Studies in Washington, CT, will describe how Connecticut’s Native Americans became experts in their natural environments, a necessity for their physical survival. Dr. Lavin is an anthropologist and archaeologist who has more than 40 years of research and field experience in Northeastern archaeology and anthropology. She is a founding member of the state’s Native American Heritage Advisory Council and editor of the journal of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut.

April 3 . . . . . . . . . Potluck Dinner; Program: ‘Wanderers On My Native Shores’ . . . . . Monday, 6:30 PMFrank Mantlik, well-known to many of us as an avid birder, naturalist, photographer, and leader of bird walks, will talk about how, when birders become proficient at identifying common birds, they find it challenging to search for rare or unusual species. Frank will discuss the hows and whys of finding rare or uncommon birds in Connecticut, as well as common species, recounting noteworthy “finds” of his past 30 or so years in the field. He will also touch on the workings of the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut. His photos will dazzle! Before Frank’s presentation, we will enjoy a Potluck Dinner: Bring your own place setting and a dish to share. And please note the 6:30 p.m. start time!

May 1 . . . . . . . . . A “Big Day” of Birding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monday, 7 PMEver read the book or see the movie “The Big Year”? Starring Steve Martin, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson, the movie follows the characters as they perform their birding Big Year. LHAS’s Dave Tripp, a team member of the Raven Luna-tics, will entertain you with tales about a Big Day (a one-calendar-day event). He will explain everything you have to do to accomplish a Big Day: what a Big Day is and how to do a Big Day. He will also share stories about his experi- ences doing Big Days from New Jersey to Connecticut. He may share some secrets about how the Raven Lunatics (which also includes team member Fran Zygmont) took over the longstanding Connecticut record of 186 species on one Big Day, as well as besting the New England record for the most species recorded in one day.

BIRDING EVENTS AND FIELD TRIPSMarch 4 . . . . . . . . Walk at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area . . . . . . . . . . . . .Saturday, 10 AM

Sessions Woods WMA in Burlington is a great place to hike and observe nature. Enjoy the woodlands with Diane Edwards, followed by lunch at a nearby pub or pizza place. For more information, contact Diane at 860-309-5139 or edwardsd68@charter.net. In the event of bad weather, contact Diane to see if the trip is a go.

MEETING CHANGES

Bad weather? Meeting and event cancellations or postponements are broadcast on WFSB TV Channel 3 in Hartford and on radio station WZBG at 97.3 FM. To get added to our email notification list, send an email to berryledges@optonline.net.

March/April 2017

Chickadee Chatter 7

Wednesday Morning Birding with Ray

Ray Belding will lead his popular Wednesday morning bird walks April 26 through May 31. For information on locations and meeting times, email Ray at turaco3000@gmail.com.

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

PLEASE GIVE US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS ... ... if you want to get trip notices, special club announcements, etc. Contact David Zomick at 860-584-2824 or

dzsurtudo@gmail.com. You can also check our website, www.lhasct.org.

March/April 2017

March 5 . . . . . . . . Birding at Sachuest Point, Rhode Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sunday, time TBA Contact Ray Belding for details about this trip. Email Ray at turaco3000@gmail.com.

March 25. . . . . . . Exploring ‘Important Bird Areas’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Saturday, 8 AM Explore Litchfield and New Haven Counties’ IBAs (Important Bird Areas) and other exciting birding sites with Russ Naylor. Meet at the Canfield Pharmacy parking lot at 2 Main Street North in Woodbury. For more information, con-tact Russ at 203-263-2502.

April 15 . . . . . . . . Woodcock Walk at Boyd Woods Sanctuary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturday, 7 PM Every spring several woodcock faithfully perform their amazing courtship flights over the forest openings at Boyd Woods. Join us to witness this interesting display. Bring binoculars and a flashlight. Dress warmly and wear sturdy walking shoes. Meet at the Boyd Woods parking area on Route 254 in Litchfield. No dogs allowed! Rain date: April 22. For more information contact Debbie Martin, barnowl524@hotmail.com or 860-819-7462.

April 22 . . . . . . . . Earth Day Paddling Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturday, 1 PM Let’s celebrate Earth Day by paddling the Bantam River and Butternut Brook in Litchfield. Meet at the Bantam River bridge on North Shore Road. Please let Diane Edwards know in advance if you will be joining us. For more informa-tion, contact Diane at 860-309-5139 or edwardsd68@charter.net.

April 26 . . . . . . . . Wednesday Morning Birding with Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, TBA Join Ray Belding for a morning of birding. For meeting time and location, email Ray at turaco3000@gmail.com and ask him to put you on his email list.

April 30 . . . . . . . . Walk at Kalmia Sanctuary and Roraback WMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sunday, 7:45 AM David Zomick will lead this walk at the LHAS Kalmia Sanctuary and Roraback Wildlife Management Area in Harwin-ton. Meet in the Kalmia parking lot. Directions from the flagpole on Rt. 4 in Harwinton: Go east on Route 4. Take next right onto Locust Road. Take second right onto Laurel Road. Go to the end of Laurel Road. Pass the Kalmia sign and the house on your right and then turn right into the parking lot. For more information contact David at dzsurtudo@gmail.com.

May 3 . . . . . . . . . Wednesday Morning Birding with Ray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wednesday, TBA Join Ray Belding for a morning of birding. For meeting time and location, email Ray at turaco3000@gmail.com and ask him to put you on his email list.

May 6 . . . . . . . . . Wildflower Wanderings at Boyd Woods Sanctuary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Saturday, 9 AM Delicate, beautiful wildflowers are plentiful at Boyd Woods during spring. On a similar walk at this time last year, we saw 24 species. We’ll also hear, see, and identify many songbirds, so bring your binoculars. This will be an easy walk that allows time for picture-taking. Meet at the Boyd Woods parking area on Route 254 in Litchfield. No dogs allowed! Rain date: May 13. For more information contact Debbie Martin, barnowl524@hotmail.com or 860-819-7462.

Chickadee Chatter8

Junior Audubon Update

By Donna Rose Smith, Junior Audubon Chair

Kids Count Birds During CBC 4 Kids

The first-ever Litchfield Hills Audubon CBC 4 Kids (Christmas Bird Census) event was held on January 8 at White Memorial Conservation Center. This international event is open to youngsters 7–16 years old. It is held between the second weekend in December and the third weekend in January. It is a half-day event to involve young people inter-ested in birds. The chosen day happened to be one of the coldest days we had all winter. This, however, did not deter five kids and their parents from counting birds. The kids counted 12 species of birds around the center’s buildings and bird feeders. The best birds we saw were American Robin and Red-breasted Nuthatch. After doing a great job of identifying birds and enduring the cold, everyone enjoyed hot cocoa and pizza.

Eagles, Owls, Kestrels, and More

We held our much-anticipated eagle watch event at the Shepaug Dam Bald Eagle Observation Area in Southbury on January 28. Five participants got to see great close-up views of eagles flying directly overhead. A total of four immature and two adult eagles were observed. In addition, the bird feeders near the eagle blind had Northern Cardinals, White-breasted Nuthatches, and other birds coming in very close to the visitors. A staff member from Connecticut Audubon gave a raptor demonstration, showing a Barn Owl and an American Kestrel. After the eagle watch, we all went to a local pancake house for breakfast.

Junior Audubon Calendar — Winter/Spring 2017Junior Audubon provides an opportunity for grade-school children to learn about nature, the environment, and the crea-tures that live there. It is sponsored by the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society and it is FREE. Children of all ages and their parents have enjoyed Junior Audubon activities, but we plan events for children in grades 2 through 5. To get on our email list or for more information, contact Donna Rose Smith at 203-706-0474 or lhasjunior@gmail.com.

March 25 (Rain date: April 1) . . . .Vernal Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2:30 PMVernal pools are wetland wonderlands full of amazing species of frogs, toads, salamanders, egg masses, beetles, bugs, assorted birds, and possibly even a snake or turtle. Put on your water boots and get ready to get a bit wet and dirty while we discover the wonders of vernal pools with naturalist Donna Rose Smith. Meet at the Boyd Woods Sanctuary parking area on Route 254 in Litchfield.

April 22 (Rain date: April 29) . . . .Woodcock Walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 PMCome listen as the American Woodcock winds up for take-off and see if you can track his course to the sky and back down to the ground! Not an easy task at first! As darkness sets in, we will listen and see if we can spot any owls that may be wandering about the woods. Naturalist Donna Rose Smith, and possibly a few other assistants, will be there to guide your steps through the night. Meet at the Boyd Woods Sanctuary parking area on Route 254 in Litchfield.

Check our website, lhasct.org, for other upcoming Junior Audubon activities.

March/April 2017

A Connecticut Audubon staff member shows a Barn Owl during a raptor demonstration.Photo: Donna Rose Smith

Kids count birds from the blind at White Memorial.Photo: Marie Kennedy

Chickadee Chatter 9March/April 2017

Angela’s January Jaunt

By Russ Naylor

On January 22, a flight of LHAS feather afficionados joined ardent aviophile Angela Dimmitt on a foray to coastal Fairfield County in search of winter residents and rarities. On an almost subtropical day, the only “snowflakes” seen were flitting flocks of Snow Buntings on the wing wherever we went. We dipped on the dabchick (an Eared Grebe); the Shovelers we sought dug themselves into cover somewhere; and the Orange-crowned Warbler waxed so drab that it remained totally anonymous.

Nevertheless, our merry band of birders tallied 69 species for the day. We began our itinerary at the local donut shop, where a well-fed Northern Mockingbird gorged on a bumper crop of small crab- apples — his own private larder. The first pond on Access Road in Stratford turned up four Black-crowned Night Herons — a loitering gang of young hooligans — plus a fly-by Pipit and plenty of Gadwalls, escorted by Hooded Mergansers. This began a pageant of avian plentitude dominated by various water birds — ducks, loons, gulls, geese, and others. Sev-eral species showed themselves in numbers not seen for several years — Gadwalls by the dozen, large gatherings of Red-breasted Mergansers (230 at Frash Pond itself!), and at nearly every stop, roving bands of Snow Buntings adding a touch of the Arctic to our day. We enjoyed scores of Buffle-heads, Common Goldeneyes, American Black Ducks, Com-mon Loons, and Hooded Mergansers, some already going into courtship mode in anticipation of spring.

Captain’s Cove in Bridgeport produced a mixed raft of both scaups — enabling good field comparisons — plus a bonus: three female Redheads and a demure hen Tufted Duck sport-ing her characteristic ponytail.

Frash Pond hosted Canvasback drakes plus our first Ruddy Duck of the day. At Long Beach in Stratforfd, a Peregrine Fal-con popped up on pest patrol (feeding on a House Sparrow for breakfast — yum!). Meanwhile we enjoyed viewing an Iceland Gull, Horned Larks, flocks of Brant, an Ipswich Sa-vannah Sparrow, and calling Common Loons. Scattered sco-ters, Long-tailed Ducks, and Northern Harriers added spice to our sightings, as did a Great Cormorant and a clowder of coots at Short Beach. Even the return trip added to our day’s tally: Common Mergansers on the Housatonic and a roost-site gathering of both vulture species in Derby.

Kudos to Angela for giving us bird-hungry avian addicts a healthy dose of feathered medicine in the great outdoors — this whets our appetite to see more, more, more!

Anticipation is sweet — our “Frostbite Special” (Dave Tripp’s trip to Newburyport and environs February 24–26) awaits in the wings, as does Ray Belding’s Sachuest Point trip (March 5), and beyond that, spring migration. So keep those binocs ever handy!

Top: Snow Buntings. Middle: Birders at work! Bottom: Peregrine Falcon with prey.Photos: Paul Edwards

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Wildlife Alliance) and included a host of naturalists, scien-tists, and birders. We were told about one-third of the group were birders.

The vessel was a 108-foot boat specially designed for sight-seeing, and owned and operated by 7 Seas Whale Watch out of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The boat can hold 300 people,

but they never take more than 149 onboard. On this trip we had 90, so there was plenty of room to move about and to periodically get warm in the spacious cabin — equipped with a full galley for food and drink and much-needed hot coffee. We set off at 8 a.m. sharp and headed south out of Gloucester,

toward Cape Cod and the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. This sanctuary, created in 1992, encompasses 842 square miles of highly productive marine life.

The sanctuary was named for its main geological feature, the Stellwagen Bank — essentially a very large underwater sandbar some 24 miles long, 3.5 miles wide at the southern tip, and 14 miles wide at its northern end. It rises from the seafloor more than 100 feet, with the waters on top of the bank ranging from 65 to 120 feet deep. The surrounding wa-ters run approximately 250 to 350 feet deep. The Stellwagen Bank is a frequent site and habitat for Humpback, Finback, and Right whales, as well as many endangered species of fish that depend on these warmer waters for their food and basic sustenance.

The weather offshore was a bit overcast, with fog in the morning but clearing later in the day. We had some pretty big swells, rolling seas, and light wind. Fabienne and I managed to stay well with the help of motion-sickness drugs. We were escorted constantly by gulls of all sorts, and after an hour or two spotted our first whales — about 12 to 15 Humpback, Minke, and Finback whales. The marine biologists onboard

Trip Report

Whales, Seabirds, & Marine Science — Ocean Exploration Cruise 2016They said we would see pelagics! Who doesn’t want to see pelagics?

By Michael Audette

What the heck are pelagics? Being an educated, active member of an Audubon group and many other nature centers, I figured I should know this. But it’s not a word you use in common language, spoken or tweeted. Too embarrassed to ask, I just nodded my head as if I were well informed. “Yeah, I had a pelagic when I was growing up. Tough to house-train those critters!” I know at least one of you is looking up “pe-lagic” right now. Well, for sure, I did. Since the announcement for this trip said “Ocean Exploration Cruise,” I figured it had something to do with the ocean. Clever fellow I am.

Here’s what I found when I checked the American Heritage Science Dictionary: “adj. pertaining to the sea.” “Relating to or living in or on oceanic waters. The pelagic zone of the ocean begins at the low tide mark and includes the entire

oceanic water column. The pelagic ecosystem is largely dependent on the phytoplankton inhabiting the upper, sunlit regions, where most ocean organisms live. Biodiversity decreases sharply in the unlit zones where water pressure is high, temperatures are cold, and food sources scarce. Pelagic waters are divided, in descending order, into the epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic, abyssopelagic, and hadopelagic zones.”

As it turns out, the main focus of the cruise was why sea-birds and whales concentrate in some parts of the ocean (hotspots) and not in others. This all being said, the title “Whales, Seabirds & Marine Science Ocean Exploration Cruise 2016” now started to sound pretty interesting. They had me at “Whales”!

Originally scheduled for October 1 but cancelled due to “dan-gerous weather” conditions, the trip was rescheduled for October 22.* Once again it was threatened with the forecast of gale winds. Fortunately, the winds did not develop until later in the day when we were safely in port.

This was a fundraising trip for NECWA (New England Coastal

As a Humpback Whale scoops up plankton and krill, a brave gull swoops by in search of tasty morsels.Photo: Michael Audette

The most exciting spotting was the Sabine Gull — an artic gull rarely seen in these waters at this time of year. The birders on the

boat nearly jumped overboard trying to catch a glimpse!

Chickadee Chatter 11March/April 2017

knew many of the whales by name: Hancock, Crisscross, Rocker, Bandit, and the most famous, Salt, with her 14th calf, Sriracha. Whales are identified by the unique markings on the underside of their tails — no two are alike. Salt is one of the most well-known whales in the world. First observed in the mid-1970s, she has played an important role in scientific studies ever since. Besides being sighted off the Maine coast every year but one, she was also observed on her breeding grounds in the West Indies.

I had seen a few whales many years ago on a sailing trip, but this was the first time I had seen them this close and per-sonal — and for such an extended period of time. They were all around the boat. We moved cautiously closer (without disturbing them) and were treated to their “bubble feeding” — which is quite something to witness. I was able to capture some good photos of the whales, a half dozen at a time, with their mouths open, gulping down plankton and krill. While they did this, gulls would just about perch on their noses or fly in, out, and about their outstretched jaws. Whale tails

were abundant and easy to photograph. I have many shots of tails! However, the shot I wanted most — that of a breaching whale — eluded me. I often heard shouts (from the other side of wherever I was) of “whale breaching!” and just as I turned, saw the splash. I have some good shots of splashes but no breaching whale. Maybe next time.

The greatest challenge on a boat like this, in rolling seas, is photographing birds in flight — “BIF” to photographers. In this case it’s “BIFOB” (Birds In Flight On Boat). Just when you think you have a good shot in the viewfinder and are ready to press the shutter, the bow of the boat drops suddenly by 10 feet or so. It was still fun and I was able to get some “keepers” — especially of the gannets flying and taking off from the water.

It was a great adventure. The sightings ranged from the more than a dozen whales to four or five Harbor Porpoises, and even an Ocean Sunfish. This is a monster of a fish; the largest known weighed about 5,000 pounds. They often float on their sides near the surface to get warm after cold, deep- water feeding.

As for birds, we counted about 16 species: many shearwa-ters, including Great, Cory’s, Sooty, and Manx, as well as Northern Gannets and jaegers. These birds, in great quanti-ties, followed our boat as we followed the whales. The most exciting spotting was the Sabine Gull — an arctic gull rarely viewed in these waters at this time of year. The birders on the boat nearly jumped overboard trying to catch a glimpse! It is a very striking gull with long, pointed wings and bold black wing edges.

Here is the official birding list from the cruise:

Common Eiders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

White-winged Scoter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Surf Scoter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3, plus 9 in harbor

Common Loon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Northern Fulmar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Cory’s Shearwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,200

Great Shearwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400

Sooty Shearwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Manx Shearwater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Northern Gannet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164

Pomarine Jaeger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Black-legged Kittiwake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Sabine’s Gull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 juvenile

Bonaparte’s Gull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Herring Gull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Great Black-backed Gull . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

A pretty impressive number of birds!

It was a great day and a great adventure. Plenty of science, new information, and education — not to mention beauty.

We were on the water for seven and a half hours and trav-eled 97 miles.

I highly recommend this cruise to anyone interested in birds — pelagic or not — and of course, whales.

* Other LHAS members besides the Audettes had signed up for the original pelagics trip but were unable to attend because the new date coincided with our Cape May trip.

A Northern Gannet takes off from the water.Photo: Michael Audette

Chickadee Chatter12

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More Work on Our NEC Habitat at Boyd Woods

On Dec. 8, 2016, Green and Beyond Landscaping from Bristol came out to the early successional area at Boyd Woods to cut trees greater than 4 inches in diameter at chest height in accordance with the treatment schedule for our New England Cottontail initiative. Pictured at right is Debbie Martin, co-chair of Boyd Woods Sanctuary; Curtis Martin; and Mario from Green and Beyond Landscaping.

Photos: Joe Bianci