schenectady christmas count 2009 december 19, 2009 by bill lee · 2019-02-03 · by bill lee 11,000...
TRANSCRIPT
Schenectady Christmas Count 2009 December 19, 2009 by Bill Lee
11,000 individuals of 67 species plus one hybrid were tallied by the twenty-four observers in eleven field parties and five feeder watchers for the 2009 Schenectady Christmas Count, compared with 10,500 birds of 62 species during last year’s count. No species new to the count were recorded, but seven new high counts were – Bald Eagle, Eastern Screech Owl, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, and White-breasted Nuthatch. While previous Eagle and Screech Owl high counts increased by one and three, Red-bellied Woodpecker continued its explosive growth rate of 50% over a second year up to 47 from 32 in 2008 and 21 in 2007. Pied-billed Grebe appeared for only the 2nd time, not seen since 1998, and Barred Owl was observed for the 3rd, last seen (or heard) in 2007. Gulls and waterfowl counts were very low because of a hard freeze of the Mohawk. Only one Great Black-backed Gull was found. No winter finches were recorded. Seen (or heard) during Count Week, but not on Count Day, were Snow Goose and Marsh Wren.
Time and Effort 6:45 am to 4:45 p.m. 24 observers in 11 field parties plus 5 feeder observers
Party hours and distance 34.5 hours and 46 miles by foot 34.75 hours and 430.3 miles by car
12.5 hours at feeders 12 hours and 3.25 miles owling
Weather Temperature 6 – 24 degrees Wind Northwest 2 – 7 mph Snow Depth 2.0 – 6 inches Still water – frozen, Moving water – partly open Skies – Cloudy, a.m. and p.m.
Group A – Bob Yunick, Ted Hicks, T. (Tom) Lloyd Williams; South shore of Mohawk River, Rexford Bridge to former Colonie boat launch at Wide Waters, Balltown Road from Rexford Bridge to River Road, Rosendale Road to Old Niskayuna Railroad Station, Blatnick Park, Lock 7; 38 species; Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Duck, Northern Goshawk, Great Black-backed Gull; Count week, Snow Goose
Group B – Gregg Recer; Albany County Airport, Ann Lee Pond, Lake Rensselaer, Albany Landfill, portions of Pine Bush; 25 species
Group C – Larry Alden, John and Josselyn (age 11, 1½ hour) Roosenberg; Meadowdale, Black Creek Marsh, portions of Altamont, Guilderland, and Voorheesville; 44 species; Rough-legged Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Shrike
April 2010 Volume 72 No. 2
Bi-monthly publication of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club, Inc.
President’s Corner ...................14
Southern Rensselaer Christmas Count ...................17
HMBC Field Trip Reports .......19
Upcoming HMBC Programs ...23
Upcoming Audubon Programs .25
Birds Are Singing, But What Are They Saying? ........26
Feathered Friends Bypass Albany Airport Planes ...27
Need for Volunteers ................27
Upcoming Field Trips ..............28
Inside This Issue…
– Continued on Page 15
President’s CornerHMBC BOARD Officers
President: Gary Goodness 15 Kelly Avenue Albany NY 12203 862-9260 [email protected]
Vice-President: Jackie Bogardus 303 North Pole Road Melrose, NY 12121 588-5736 [email protected]
Secretary: John Hershey 15 Carriage Road Clifton Park , NY 12065 371-3114 [email protected]
Treasurer: Ellen Pemrick 298 Vly Rd. Niskayuna, NY 12309 452-4384 [email protected]
Directors
Don Gresens 370-3923 [email protected]
Bernie Grossman 399-9159 [email protected]
John Kent 426-7919 [email protected]
Patti Packer 399-4843 [email protected]
Elayne Ryba 312-7384 [email protected]
Committee Chairs
Birdline: Phil Whitney 477-9050 [email protected]
Conservation: Patti Packer 399-4843 [email protected]
Field Trips: Donna Zimmerman 869-6624 [email protected]
Jr. Activities: Steve Mesick [email protected]
Membership: Dan Welch 477-2980 [email protected]
Programs: Scott Stoner 785-6760 [email protected]
Publications: Chris Grossman 399-9159 [email protected]
Publicity: Ann B’Rells 355-5615 [email protected]
Raptor Migration: Gary Goodness 862-9260 [email protected]
Records: (vacant)
Reist Sanctuary: Michael Gann 377-2560 [email protected]
Social: Denise Hackert-Stoner 785-6760
HMBC Contact Information
BIRDLINE of EASTERN NEW YORK: (518) 439-8080
E-mail: [email protected]
HMBC website: http://hmbc.net
HMBC Board Meetings
HMBC Board meetings are open to all Club members. Meetings are held at Five Rivers Center or other
local venues at 7:00 PM, usually on the second Monday of odd-numbered months.
Newsletter Contributions Desired
• Have anything you think other birders would be interested in?
• Have a favorite birding spot you want to share?
• Are there any stories or photos that would inspire others?
Share them with the HMBC membership by submitting them to the addresses below:
Please send all electronic submissions via e-mail to: Chris Grossman at [email protected]
Send all paper submissions to:
Chris Grossman
7 Nott Rd.
Rexford, NY 12148
Dear Members,
It has been a year since you voted in the current board of directors and the officers to guide the HMBC for
another year. Through conscientious effort and hard work many good things evolved.
A major improvement is being made in our website. Check it regularly and very soon you will be treated to a site that will expand
your horizons in the birding community. When you walk the Reist you will be treated to a safer environment, if the weather permits.
Our Field Trip committee has put together an exciting number of trips in various habitats to optimize the species of birds we see. Donna Zimmerman we thank you.
Scott and Denise Stoner put together an outstanding array of programs. Our last program in coordination with the local Audubon Society was a great success. Both groups thank Peter Nye for a terrific program on Eagles of New York State.
Please put April 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. on your calendar. We will meet at the Italian Community Center for our Annual. The meeting dinner and program will be very worthwhile. Please bring a potential member to show them what a great organization we are.
See you on the 19th
Best Regards,
— Gary Goodness
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2009 Schenectady Christmas Count — continued
Group D – Joan Cipriani, Peggy Rudis; Watervliet Reservoir, Glass Pond, portion of western Pine Bush, Guilderland; 28 species; Hooded Merganser
Group E – Tom and Coleen Williams; Albany Pine Bush, west of Route 155; 21 species
Group F – Al Mapes; Settlers Hill, Bozenkill, portions of Black Creek and Watervliet Reservoir; 26 species; Brown-headed Cowbird
Group G – Michael Crevier; Settles Hill, portions of Altamont; 27 species
Group H – Bill Lee, Janet Betlejeski, Stan Blanchard, Jaime Taft; Vale Park and Cemetery, Mohawk River from Lock 8 to Gateway Landing, West Hill and portions of Princetown and Rotterdam to US Route 20 and north, NY Route 158 and east; 34 species; Barred Owl, Fish Crow
Group I – Carl George, Kathleen LoGuidice, David Nally, Hank Stebbins; Mohawk River, Scotia shore from Lock 8 to Freemans Bridge, Collins Creek and Lake, Maalwyck Park; 33 species; American Wigeon, Northern Harrier
Group J – Bernard and Christine Grossman, John Hershey; Mohawk River, Freemans Bridge to Vischer Ferry, west of the Nature and Historic Preserve, Alplaus, Rexford, portions of Glenville and Clifton Park, south of Maple Avenue, Grooms Road and Riverview Road; 32 species plus one hybrid; Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye; Count Week, Marsh Wren
Group K Feeder Watchers – Don Gresens, Jean and Samuel Katz, Barbara Lewis, Ellen Pemrick; 12.5 8 hours; 18 species
A B C D E F G H I J K TotalSnow Goose CW CWCanada Goose 1 45 40 52 136 274Wood Duck 1 1American Wigeon 1 1American Black Duck 4 35 5 3 47Mallard 61 119 21 11 51 18 245 526Northern Pintail 1 1Common Goldeneye 1 1Hooded Merganser 1 1Common Merganser 18 1 19American Black Duck x Mallard 1 1Ruffed Grouse 2 2Wild Turkey 4 44 4 1 53Pied-billed Grebe 1 1Great Blue Heron 1 1 1 6 9Bald Eagle 1 1 1 2 5Northern Harrier 1 1Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1 2 4Cooper’s Hawk 1 1Northern Goshawk 1 1Red-tailed Hawk 11 9 18 7 3 11 1 20 10 8 98Rough-legged Hawk 1 1American Kestrel 1 1 2Ring Billed Gull 7 7 25 3 42Herring Gull 3 22 1 26Great Black-backed Gull 1 1Rock Pigeon 93 108 166 52 71 60 71 88 43 752
– Table continues on Page 16
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2009 Schenectady Christmas Count — continued
A B C D E F G H I J K TotalMourning Dove 27 9 90 40 10 15 4 69 5 34 16 319Eastern Screech Owl 7 7 14Great Horned Owl 3 3Barred Owl 1 1Belted Kingfisher 1 1 1 3Red-bellied Woodpecker 8 10 3 1 5 1 4 1 11 3 47Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 1Downy Woodpecker 23 4 24 4 4 10 8 16 27 13 5 138Hairy Woodpecker 3 6 3 2 2 3 2 3 5 4 2 35Northern Flicker 1 3 2 1 2 2 11Pileated Woodpecker 1 1 1 1 4Northern Shrike 1 1Blue Jay 80 20 46 63 21 25 25 23 15 74 6 398American Crow 128 1200 288 115 35 70 24 474 18 238 2 2592Fish Crow 1 1Common Raven 1 1Black-capped Chickadee 67 21 118 20 31 12 50 40 43 78 18 498Tufted Titmouse 24 6 33 6 5 11 13 12 31 40 13 194Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 3 1 2 3 2 14White breasted Nuthatch 43 10 38 6 1 6 5 10 7 12 5 143Brown Creeper 3 1 2 2 4 6 18Carolina Wren 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 9Winter Wren 1 1Marsh Wren CW CWGolden-crowned Kinglet 4 4 1 13 22Eastern Bluebird 3 26 16 8 5 58American Robin 29 95 57 8 22 26 37 274Northern Mockingbird 1 5 1 2 9European Starling 223 1260 463 94 115 38 71 270 116 89 4 2743Cedar Waxwing 25 35 14 74American Tree Sparrow 9 18 38 1 19 22 30 16 17 170Song Sparrow 11 2 1 4 3 17 8 46Swamp Sparrow 1 1White-throated Sparrow 17 88 8 21 30 22 32 26 12 256Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 28 21 44 33 34 9 66 13 14 20 14 296Snow Bunting 9 60 69Northern Cardinal 39 7 29 6 14 9 10 32 11 35 11 203Red Winged Blackbird 1 4 1 6Brown-headed Cowbird 4 4House Finch 37 4 4 4 4 12 4 69American Goldfinch 11 4 75 5 19 20 18 16 10 168House Sparrow 42 14 53 19 6 3 18 34 27 216
ToTals 67 species, plus 2 count week 38 25 44 28 21 26 27 34 33 32 18 67
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Southern Rensselaer Christmas Count — December 28 2009
A B C E G H J TotalSnow Goose 1 1Canada Goose 175 3 44 167 121 50 560American Black Duck 12 2 15 29Mallard 107 84 6 15 44 62 52 370Common Merganser 16 4 23 43Ruffed Grouse 1 1Wild Turkey 1 13 8 32 18 35 107Bald Eagle 1 1Northern Harrier 6 6Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 1 1 4Cooper’s Hawk 3 1 1 1 6Northern Goshawk 2 2Red-tailed Hawk 12 11 11 5 5 16 11 71American Kestrel 1 1Peregrine Falcon 2 2American Coot 1 1Ring-billed Gull 45 40 29 20 134Herring Gull 8 9 15 150 182Iceland Gull 1 1Glaucous Gull 1 1Great Black-backed Gull 3 1 1 56 61Rock Pigeon 1750 54 9 30 6 148 22 2019Mourning Dove 13 14 32 4 41 8 17 129Eastern Screech-Owl 1 1Great Horned Owl 1 1Belted Kingfisher 1 2 3Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 2 5 3 3 17Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 1Downy Woodpecker 5 1 28 4 25 4 11 78Hairy Woodpecker 3 5 10 1 2 21Northern Flicker 2 1 3Pileated Woodpecker 1 1 3 5Blue Jay 38 2 23 11 57 4 48 183American Crow 117 772 140 50 52 3100 145 4376Fish Crow 1 1Common Raven 2 2Horned Lark 500 500Black-capped Chickadee 40 11 117 42 172 16 71 469Tufted Titmouse 20 2 18 6 43 3 24 116White-breasted Nuthatch 4 21 3 35 1 5 69Brown Creeper 1 1 3 5Carolina Wren 3 3Golden-crowned Kinglet 3 4 7Eastern Bluebird 5 3 6 14 5 33American Robin 245 136 29 514 78 507 1509Northern Mockingbird 2 2European Starling 4170 962 172 230 728 421 787 7470
– Table continues on Page 18
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A B C E G H J Total
Cedar Waxwing 11 16 17 44American Tree Sparrow 34 7 1 23 1 3 69Savannah Sparrow 1 1Song Sparrow 1 3 14 2 20White-throated Sparrow 12 7 3 1 1 2 26Dark-eyed Junco 39 30 94 25 104 9 50 351Northern Cardinal 6 5 15 3 12 12 53Red-winged Blackbird 4 4 8Brown-headed Cowbird 7 2 9Purple Finch 2 2House Finch 5 8 2 13 1 29Common Redpoll 3 3American Goldfinch 1 11 12 20 2 7 53House Sparrow 35 100 18 30 4 13 200
Total Individuals 6952 2241 806 1008 2244 4298 1926 19475Total Species 41 21 26 25 42 34 32 61
Participants
Section A Rich Guthrie, Jory Langner
Section B Joan Cipriani, Peggy Rudis
Section C Phil Whitney, Marjorie Whitney, Carol Blackwell, Jim deWaal Malefyt
Section E Gary Goodness, Don Gresens, Jim Ries
Section G Will Yandik, Steve Yandik
Section H Bill Lee, Gregg Recer
Section J Nancy Kern, Debbie Shaw
Submitted by Phil Whitney
Southern Rensselaer Christmas Count — continued
19HMBC Field Trip Reports
Most people think that bird migration means all birds leave
the area for the south. This is true for most species that migrate from the Capital District or from the North. Some species, however, consider the Capital District’s latitude (~42oN) to be their “South.” Thus, we see Rough-legged Hawks, Bald Eagles, certain gull species, Snow Buntings, winter finches and the occasional Snowy Owl and Northern Shrike in the winter. Waterfowl from the north also congregate on open waters on the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers.
Other species of waterfowl and water-loving birds are more attracted to salt water, and they congregate along the coasts. Particularly important eastern zones are the south shore of Long Island to Montauk Point and the New England coast from Rhode Island to Southern Maine. For 2009-2010 Winter, the Club Trip Committee scheduled a trip to Cape Ann and the Newburyport, MA, area for the first time in several years to take in what could be seen there.
We based our stay at the Fairfield Inn in Amesbury, MA, which is off I-95
near the New Hampshire border. The motel is near Newburyport and is very birder friendly. It was decided to bird Cape Ann on Saturday, the Newburyport/Plum Island area on Sunday, and use Monday morning to
fill in any missed locations. Starting in Gloucester, one chooses going in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the Cape. We went with the latter.
A productive area in Gloucester is Niles Beach where we saw Horned
Figure 1. Harlequin Duck Pair
Figure 2. Purple Sandpiper Quartet, Halibut Point
Cape Ann and Plum Island - February 13-15, 2010 Grebe, Gadwall, Common Eider, Bufflehead, Common Loon, Common Goldeneye, and Red-breasted Merganser. While the Gadwall is not frequently seen in the winter, the other listed species are, and they were seen at many other locations. The three common gull species, Herring, Ring-billed, and Greater Black-backed were also common here.
Driving further along the shore, we reached Eastern Point, a conservation area as well as the location of a Coast Guard lighthouse. While some of us walked out the long rock breakwater that protects the Gloucester harbor, others scanned the water near the lighthouse where they spotted a Glaucous Gull, the only white-winged gull seen during the entire
trip. Those on the breakwater located both a winter and a breeding plumage Black Guillemot and a Black Scoter. Great scope views of both species were seen by all. Later we climbed the rocks at its base to look around the other side of the
20 HMBC Field Trip Reports — continued
lighthouse. Several Great Cormorant were resting on a rock island just off shore. The white flank patch seen through the scopes confirmed the identification. In the winter, this species replaces the Double-crested Cormorant that has moved south. As we returned to the cars, a local birder pointed out a Northern Shrike in the marsh near the parking area. We were able to see it through scopes as it perched on tall shrubs at a distance in the wetlands.
Further along at Brace’s Cove, we spot-ted Mute Swan, White-winged and Surf Scoters, and Red-necked Grebe.
Much of the travel around Cape Ann between Gloucester and Rockport requires one to wind through residential streets along the land’s edge stopping at overlooks or walking over rocky ledges to the water’s edge. In one case, we stopped at a cove while
driving along Marmion Way where we were able to spot a small flock of beautiful Harlequin Ducks. Small numbers of this species have been seen on previous trips, but, this year, we saw hundreds of them in large flocks in several places riding the waves crashing onto the rocky shore.
Halibut Point is a large park that features a quarry pit, a high ocean overlook, and a rocky shore. After descending to the water edge, we saw more Harlequins (Figure 1. Gregg Recer, Photographer) and a small flock of Purple Sandpipers (Figure 2 & 3. Recer). These shorebirds come
Figure 3. Purple Sandpiper, Halibut Point
Figure 4. The Group at Deer Island
21HMBC Field Trip Reports — continued
south at wintertime and feed among the seaweed and barnacles at the tide line. In the woods near the parking lot, we found White-throated Sparrow, American Robin and Black-capped Chickadee.
We finished the day by driving along Cape Ann’s shore and then returning to the hotel. We were surprised to find a small flock of Cedar Waxwings feeding in a fruit tree at the driveway entrance.
The next morning, we stopped at Deer Island (Figure 4, B. Grossman), a small park in the Merrimack River, before proceeding to Newburyport and Plum Island. As we walked around the island, we spotted Common Mergansers and a mature Bald Eagle.
Newburyport was originally a fishing and whaling port, but, like Rockport on Cape Ann, has been gentrified into a tourist destination. The waterfront offers excellent birding. Here we were given excellent close up looks at a Red-throated Loon and a male Long-tailed Duck (Figure 5. Grossman) both of which were in winter plumage. Further along the waterfront was the wastewater treatment plant which has been an excellent place to find white-winged gulls. While large numbers of the three common gull species were seen, no white-winged ones were found.
After a stop at the Mass Audubon Nature Center at Joppa Flats, we drove onto Plum Island.
The northern end of the island is residential, while much of the rest is a National Wildlife Refuge. The southern tip is a state park. A Snowy Owl had been reported at the Refuge
maintenance area, but we were unable to find it. A short distance beyond the garage area, we spotted the owl on a berm in the distance, and good scope views were obtained. The bird was very white making it an adult male. Gregg Recer also spotted a small flock of Horned Larks in the marsh near the road.
A cold front had passed through during the night, and a strong wind reduced the quality of birding for the rest of the day. However, we were able to see a Northern Harrier that had been grounded by the wind. We finished the day with a walk along the sand near the Merrimack River’s mouth.
Monday morning we returned to Gloucester to finish the southern shore of Cape Ann. A pair of Brant (Figure 6. Grossman) were seen on some rocks near the water line in Magnolia. Our final productive stop was at Fort Stage Park in Gloucester.
As we were getting out of the cars in the parking lot, a Sharp-shinned Hawk landed in a tree. Then Bill Lee spotted a Turkey Vulture soaring in the distance. Looking into the harbor from the Park, we were able to add both Greater and Lesser Scaup to our list.
We were disappointed not to have seen the King Eider and Barrow’s Goldeneye that had been reported in the area. Further white-winged gulls and alcids were very scarce. Still we had a great time with a congenial group of Club members.
Cape Ann and the Newburyport/Plum Island area are great winter birding sites. The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and Mass Audubon sponsor a winter birding weekend near the end of January and provides guided birding tours and an excellent detailed guide (maps and directions) to the Cape’s birding spots. Check the web in the fall for next year’s dates if you are interested.
Figure 5. Winter Plumage Male Long-tailed Duck, Newburyport, MA
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Note: Color versions of the included figures are available in the Web edition of Feathers
15 participants
Species (55) - Brant; Canada Goose; Mute Swan; Gadwall; Black Duck; Mallard; Greater Scaup; Lesser Scaup; Surf Scoter; White-winged Scoter; Black Scoter; Long-tailed Duck; Bufflehead; Common Goldeneye; Red-breasted
Figure 6. Brant, Magnolia, MA
HMBC Field Trip Reports — continued
Merganser, Common Merganser; Common Eider; Harlequin Duck; Red-throated Loon; Common Loon; Black Guillemot; Horned Grebe; Red-necked Grebe; Great Cormorant; Turkey Vulture; Bald Eagle; Northern Harrier; Sharp-shinned Hawk; Red-tailed Hawk; Peregrine Falcon; Purple Sandpiper; Ring-billed Gull; Herring Gull; Greater Black-backed Gull; Glaucous Gull; Rock Pigeon;
Mourning Dove; Snowy Owl; Northern Flicker; Northern Shrike; Blue Jay; American Crow; Horned Lark; Black-capped Chickadee; Tufted Titmouse; American Robin; Northern Mockingbird; Starling; Cedar Waxwing; Eastern Towhee; Song Sparrow; White-throated Sparrow; Northern Cardinal; American Goldfinch; House Sparrow
— Bill Lee and Bernie Grossman
23Upcoming HMBC Programs
Workshop on technology for birding Monday, April 5, 2010 7:00 p.m. at the Colonie Library
Although the birds look the same as they did 20 or 30 years ago, the tools available to birders are advancing at a rapid pace. This includes both birder-to-birder communications, and the recording of bird songs. Join us on April 5 as some of the Club’s more tech-savvy members share some of the latest tools and techniques!
HMBC’s Annual Dinner, Business Meeting, and Special Presentation Pornithology: The birds and the birds and the bees George Armistead (tour leader with Field Guides) Monday, April 19, 2010 Italian-American Community Center, 257 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany
HMBC members will receive a special mailing about this event.
The birds, and the birds and the bees are the subject of this talk, and so we will explore unusual and entertaining breeding strategies employed by birds the world over. We’ll examine a variety of species and discuss their methods for reproduction, how these strategies evolved, why they are successful, and how they are unusual. In the process we may choose to examine some interesting vocalizations used to attract mates or establish territories, and also talk about sexual dimorphism. We’ll try to keep the anthropomorphism to a minimum, but no guarantees on that! Please come join us for what should be an entertaining and educational talk about how birds create more birds.
George Armistead has been birding for more than twenty years and hails from Philadelphia, where he attended the University of Pennsylvania and completed both a B.A. and an M.A. in environmental studies. He worked for seven years in the ornithology department of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and remains an associate there. He spends much of his free time birding his favorite haunts along the coast between Cape May, New Jersey, and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
He has also traveled extensively elsewhere in North America and abroad to places ranging from Central and South America to the Caribbean, Europe, northern Africa, Asia, and most recently to the subantarctic islands of New Zealand and Australia. Field Guides Alaska participants may recognize George from his stint on St. Paul in the Bering Sea, where he directed the TDX St. Paul Island tour program.
His writing and photographs have appeared in a number of ornithological publications, and George has served on the Pennsylvania Ornithological Records Committee, the Delaware Bird Records Committee, and the Virginia Avian Records Committee.
He enjoys all types of birding but is especially fond of seabirds and shorebirds. George has a great way with people and birds alike and has become an integral member of the Field Guides staff since his first tour in 2002.
24 Upcoming HMBC Programs — continued
Northern Adventures III: In search of the Last Chickadee Bernie Grossman
Monday, May 3, 2010 7:00 p.m. at the William K. Sanford (Colonie) Town Library
In June, 2009, Chris and I took a trip to Alaska to join a tour in search of the difficult to see Gray-headed Chickadee completing a quest to see all the North American chickadee species in a year. The search required an eight day raft trip down the Marsh Fork of the Canning River in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. We also took a bus trip into Denali National Park. I will discuss the seven chickadee species found in North America and show pictures of the flora and fauna and the sights seen on our travels.
Bernie Grossman has lived in the Capital District for more than 35 years and worked as a chemist at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory for 32 years. He is a past president of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club.
75 Years In The Bird Business Craig Thompson, Director, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center Monday, June 7, 2010 7:00 p.m. Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, Delmar
What we now call Five Rivers Center started out in 1933 as the Delmar Experimental Game Farm, dedicated to the propagation and the study of upland game birds and waterfowl. Innovative techniques developed here, such as perfecting the cannon net, revolutionized the wildlife management profession nationwide and put New York in the forefront of a growing conservation movement. Though the primary focus has changed from raising game birds in pens to raising environmental awareness in visitors, today the Center is still working to promote the conservation of our precious natural heritage, using bird study as a touchstone to deeper stewardship values.
Craig Thompson has been an environmental educator in New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Public Affairs for over 30 years. He has been the Director of Five Rivers Center since 1995. He did his undergraduate work at SUNY Buffalo and graduate work at Columbia University. In his other life, he is he is President of the Audubon Society of the Capital Region and Vice Chair of the Audubon Council of New York State.
Costa Rica Gregg Recer Monday, September 13, 2010 7:00 p.m. at the Colonie Library
Details to come
Birds of Fort Drum Jeff Bolsinger Monday, November 1, 2010 7:00 p.m.
Details to come
25
Scott Stoner took this photo of the Ivory Gull on February 21, 2010 on Lake Champlain in Rouses Point, NY.
Upcoming Audubon Programs
Unless Otherwise Specified, All Programs To Be Held At: William K. Sanford Colonie Town Library 629 Albany-Shaker Road, Loudonville, NY 12211 2nd Thursday Of Every Month, Monthly: September - June, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.For the latest information, check the Audubon Society of the Capital Region website at http://www.capitalregionaudubon.org
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Terry Sprague, from Prince Edward County, Ontario, is the host of the NatureStuff website. Reprinted with the author’s permission.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Robins are singing right now, and those that arrived as migrants
this past week, may very well be singing with a southern accent. Sound a little anthropomorphic? It has been well documented through electronic analysis that breeding populations of certain species do differ somewhat in song delivery from one area to another. And it has been further documented that migrants breeding in this area often bring with them dialects picked up from their counterparts where they wintered. We don’t always hear these subtle differences, but they are present. If you have a bird song CD, you may have even heard these differences yourself with certain species, and while their songs may be near enough that they can be readily identified, there is something not quite right about them. Some are different from what we usually hear in this area. I have heard differences in the towhees that nest here and those that nest at Point Pelee.
Others, like robins, all sound the same to us. However, the song of a robin is intended for ears other than ours. For many years, people experienced in the field of ornithology have known that in most bird songs, there existed a concurrent melody pitched far too high for the human ear to receive.
It is impossible for the human ear to decipher a song from any species of bird. The only way that one is able to pry detailed information from a bird’s song is to record it electronically, and then play it back at one-tenth the original speed. Even then it is necessary to further analyze it through electronic machines that reduce sound to a pen-line graph, similar to the cardiograph machine. The beautiful and melodious song of the robin we hear each spring is really only a highly distorted blur of what the bird is really saying.
It has even been found that the seemingly unimportant clicks, chucks and churrs, uttered so often by certain species of birds, hold considerable content. Slowed down to one-tenth speed, the “churr’ of a male robin is no longer a blur of sound but one that contains an intricate pattern of modulation. So intricate that each bird has individual twists to the pattern, individual enough to identify him not only as a species, but also as a particular individual of a species.
It is also a common misconception that a robin’s apparent joyous caroling is a sort of sing for happy. While this may have been partly the case during this week’s warm weather, the truth of the matter is that a robin’s singing is really a powerful message and may have little to do with romance or ecstasy, but plenty to do with an inbuilt programmed instinct evolved to claim a little piece of land.
There is so much that can be learned about bird songs. Why certain birds sing at particular times of the year and others do not. Song is generally seasonal, and the opening and closing dates of these songs varies from one species to the next. On the other hand, the song sparrow seems satisfied with singing any day of the year. Others like the brown thrasher or rose-breasted grosbeak sing for just a short time. The unhurried phrases of the red-eyed vireo and even the warbling vireo go throughout the hot, sultry days of July when most bird songs are at a standstill.
Most migratory birds sing while on migration, especially upon arriving to their nesting grounds, while others are completely silent and do not commence singing until long after their arrival. The greatest volume of singing is usually in the morning - hence, the so-called “dawn chorus”, with the next greatest in the evening. Also interesting is the order in which birds sing. As a rule, thrushes commence early, warblers a little later, and vireos later still.
For now, until other migrants arrive later this month, we’ll have to be content with the occasional robin song, even if we don’t have a clue what they’re saying. There are conversations going on, the exact content of which will always remain a secret.
— Terry Spraque
Please visit Terry Sprague’s NatureStuff website at http://naturestuff.net
Birds Are Singing, But What Are They Saying?
27Feathered Friends Bypass Albany Airport Planes
Bird strikes were cut nearly in half at the Albany International
Airport in 2009 compared to the previous year, following stepped-up efforts to keep potentially dangerous birds and wildlife away from aircraft during takeoffs and landings.
There were 28 reported bird strikes last year compared to 47 in 2008, none serious enough to cause any injuries or to disable a plane.
“We’ve taken a lot of steps to help reduce the hazards of bird strikes,” said airport spokesman Doug Myers.
The issue of bird strikes became major news on Jan. 15, 2009, when moments after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport in New York City the pilot of US Airways flight 1549, Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger III radioed air traffic control and said the plane had suffered a “double bird strike” and had become disabled.
Sullenberger became a national hero for ditching the loaded plane into the Hudson River, averting tragedy.
There were more than 108,000 bird strikes reported nationwide between 1990 and 2009, equivalent to about one strike for every 10,000 flights, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA said 92 percent of the bird strikes occurred below 3,000 feet.
Albany International Airport in Colonie uses an arsenal of noise to harass and divert birds and other wildlife, including a dozen propane-fueled cannons that fire random booms of air; pistols that fire Screamer Siren and Bird Banger cartridges, which resemble fireworks; and the occasional shotgun with live rounds. Going lethal is a last resort.
In addition to increased patrols, airport workers regularly consult with USDA Wildlife Services
officials. That collaboration led to a change in allowing the grass along runways to grow longer, up to 8 inches tall, to discourage birds of prey from swooping down to snatch unsuspecting rodents because the long grass snags on their wings.
Despite a downward trend of bird strikes, there were some increases in wildlife reports from 2008 to 2009: Ducks (from 4 to 14); geese (from 56 to 96); gulls (from 33 to 40); and hawks (from 5 to 14).
Coyote sightings dropped from 32 to 4.
— Paul Grondahl
First published in the Albany Times Union, Sunday, March 14, 2010
http://www.timesunion.com/
Need for Volunteers
Eastern Mountain Sports is having its club day Saturday,
April 24 at the EMS store in the Mohawk Commons. HMBC will have a booth from 12:00 noon until 3 p.m. Encourage your friends who are not members of HMBC to join our club and get an extra 10% discount at EMS.
The Albany Pine Bush Preserve is planning its annual Lupine Festival to be held Saturday, June 5, 2010. They would be grateful for any volunteers that would like to come to the Pine Bush and help run the event that day. The event is planned for 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and is free to the public. Volunteer duties include:
Set-up – 8:30 - 10 a.m. Assisting at the game area – shifts are 9 - 11 a.m., 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., and 1 – 3:30 p.m. Assisting at the registration table – shifts are 9 – 11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., and 2 – 4 p.m. Clean-up – 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
The theme this year is “The Karner Blue Goes Green!”
28 Upcoming Field Trips
APRIL
VISCHER FERRY (Saratoga County; evening) Sunday, April 3
Coordinator: John Hershey 371-3114 [email protected]
We will start out on this trip searching foe spring waterfowl such as American Wigeon, Green & Blue-winged Teal, Gadwall, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Wood Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser and Pied-billed Grebe. Possible migrant songbirds include Palm Warbler and Rusty Blackbird. We will linger till after dusk to listen for American Woodcock. With a little luck we may get to see one displaying in the moonlight. Bring a flashlight and meet at the main entrance at 5:15 p.m.
RESERVATIONS FOR CORNELL LAB & MONTEZUMA NWR Monday, April 19
WOODCOCK AT FIVE RIVERS (Albany County; evening) Thursday, April 22
Coordinator: Craig Thompson 475-0291 (Daytime)
During a meandering to the Woodcock site, we will look for other early spring birds. Woodcock flight time is expected to be around 8pm. Bring binoculars and a flashlight. Meet at 7:00 p.m. at the Five Rivers Interpretive Building.
FOUR MILE POINT AND VOSBURGH MARSH (Greene County; morning) Saturday, April 24
Coordinator: Al Mapes 439-4086 [email protected]
On this morning trip, we will hike to the marsh for waterfowl and migrant land birds. We will also check the Hudson River for waterfowl and Bald Eagles. Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Coxsackie Boat Launch and car caravan to Four Mile Point Rd.
CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY AND MONTEZUMA WETLANDS COMPLEX (weekend) Saturday, April 24 - Sunday, April 25 Coordinator: John Hershey 371-3114 [email protected]
Reservations by April 19
On Saturday we will visit the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, NY. We will view some of the public exhibits at the lab including a video presentation and the paintings of Louis Aggasiz Fuertes. In addition, we’ll receive a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the lab facilities for the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds, the Bioacoustics Program, the Evolutionary Biology Program and the Citizen Science Program. A favorite spot on our last trip was the birding store that includes a wide selection of binoculars and scopes available in very few places in the northeastern US. We will also spend part of the day birding on the excellent trails of Sapsucker Woods.
On Sunday, we will travel to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and the larger Montezuma Wetlands Complex about 45 miles north of Ithaca. We can expect to see a wide variety of dabbling and diving ducks – 20 different species are possible. Other species we will look for include Trumpeter Swan, Common Moorhen, Sandhill Crane, Bonaparte’s Gull, Caspian & Black Terns and Purple Martin.
Call or e-mail the coordinator for further details and information about carpooling, travel and lodging.
MAY
PEEBLES ISLAND STATE PARK (Saratoga County; morning) Saturday, May 1
Coordinator: Gary Goodness 862-9260 [email protected]
Peebles Island in early May is an ideal environment to watch the spring migration. The variety of habitat insures a plethora of birds; expect to see songbirds, sandpipers, waterfowl and the rest of an early mix of migrants. Meet in the parking lot on Peebles Island at 8:30 a.m. There may be a State Park $6 parking fee, so ride with a friend if you can.
29Upcoming Field Trips — continued
BIRDS & BREAKFAST AT FIVE RIVERS (Albany County; morning) Saturday, May 8
Coordinators: Scott Stoner & Denise Hackert –Stoner 785-6760 [email protected]
Our annual celebration of the arrival of spring will be held at Five Rivers on Game Farm Rd. in Delmar. The center has an excellent trail system through a variety of habitats. You can expect to see and hear a number of resident and migrant species including Canada Geese with their newly hatches goslings, Eastern Bluebirds feeding their young and (hopefully), a number of different warblers. An early group will meet in the parking lot at 6:00 a.m. The building will open at 6:45 a.m. with coffee flowing. Groups will leave at 7:00 a.m. & 8:00 a.m. You may join one of these groups or go out on your own as we try to find as many species as possible. We’ll rally at 10:30 a.m. for coffee, doughnuts, bagels, fresh fruit and a list compilation. The breakfast is free, but donations will be accepted.
VISCHER FERRY MIGRANTS (Saratoga County; morning) Sunday, May 9
Coordinators: Gregg Recer & Cathy Graichen 899-2678 [email protected]
This is one of the club’s most popular spring trips. We will explore this varied site for warblers and other songbirds as well as marsh species including rails and bitterns. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the main entrance next to the Whipple Bridge.
H.G. REIST SANCTUARY (Schenectady County; morning) Saturday, May 15
Coordinator: Don Gresens 370-3923 [email protected]
Join us at the club’s sanctuary to look and listen for summer and year-round resident species and to try to add new species to the sanctuary’s bird list. The sanctuary is a woodland habitat, so woodland species are the highlight of this trip. Several species of thrushes, flycatchers, vireos and warblers as well as woodpeckers, wrens, Scarlet Tanagers, Tufted Titmice & Black-capped Chickadees have been observed here. The walk is on easy, level trails. Meet at the parking lot at the Hummingbird Manor entrance on Oakmont St. in Niskayuna at 8:00 a.m.
CENTURY RUN (all day) Saturday, May 22
Compiler: Bob Yunick 1527 Myron. St. Schenectady, NY 12309 377-0146
Coordinator: Larry Alden 861-6087 [email protected]
Each group must stay together and jointly identify species reported. Reports must be mailed to the compiler by May 29 in order to be counted. Also, please call or e-mail Birdline with the total species and highlights for your group.
Note: You can contact Larry Alden if you have any questions or need suggestions. Also let Larry know if you need people to fill out a group or are interested in joining a group; he may be able to make a match.
NOTE: The compiler must have your results by Saturday, May 29 in order to be counted and published in Feathers.
RESERVATIONS FOR DOODLETOWN ROAD Wednesday, May 26
30 Upcoming Field Trips — continued
BENNETT HILL PRESERVE (Albany County; morning) Saturday, May 29
Coordinators: David &
765-4985 [email protected]
Bennett Hill Preserve is near the hamlet of Clarksville in south central Albany County. It’s a good spot for woodland birds including Hooded Warbler, which has been found regularly at Bennett Hill for the past two years. Worm-eating Warbler is another possibility; in 2009 it was found near the summit among the many singing Dark-eyed Juncos. Open country birds can be seen in the fields around the preserve. The walk will be a pleasant two to three miles long with a 400-foot elevation change. The trail is good and usually dry.
We will meet in the parking lot at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center at 7:00 a.m. and carpool to the preserve from there. If you plan to attend, call or e-mail the coordinators.
DOODLETOWN ROAD (Rockland County; morning – early afternoon) Sunday, May 30
Coordinator: Tom Williams 857-2176 [email protected]
Trip Leader: Bill Lee 374-3426 [email protected]
Doodletown was an isolated hamlet in the town of Stony Point, NY. Purchased by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission during the 1960s, it is now part of Bear Mountain State Park. For birders, it is renowned for the diversity and abundance of its species, especially warblers. Cerulean, Hooded, Blue-winged and Worm-eating are all present here along with the more common warblers. You might also expect both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager, Wood thrush and several species each of vireos, flycatchers and swallows.
We should be at Doodletown between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. We will meet at 5:30 a.m. at Colonie Center in Colonie with a return time of approximately 2:00 p.m. Registration is required for this trip. Please contact Tom, the trip coordinator by May 26 in order to participate.
JUNE
PAPSCANEE ISLAND PRESERVE (Rensselaer County; morning) Saturday, June 5
Coordinator: Don Gresens 370-3923 [email protected]
This field trip will take us to the different habitats of Papscanee Island Preserve consisting of deciduous forest, cultivated farmland and freshwater marshes where we will see a variety of bird species. Swallows, herons and Wood Ducks can be observed in the wetland areas. Titmice, nuthatches and woodpeckers are found in the forest as well as Eastern Wood –Peewee and Great-crested Flycatcher. Veery, wood Thrush and American Redstarts are common. Other summer birds include Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Black and White and Blue-winged Warblers, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Meet at 7:00 a.m. in the Kmart parking lot on Routes 9 & 20 in East Greenbush to carpool since parking at the preserve is limited.
Sandy Martin
31Upcoming Field Trips — continued
RHEINSTROM HILL AUDUBON SANCTUARY & CENTER (Columbia County; morning) Saturday, June 12
Coordinator: Larry Federman 678-3248 birderlarry
@verizon.net
The Rheinstrom Hill Audubon Sanctuary and center is located in Craryville, Columbia County. The property offers moss-covered trails through old woods and there are also a couple of small meadows on “the Hill”. Blackburnian Warbler is found nesting here, as is the usual suite of forest birds including Scarlet Tanager, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and raptors such as Red-tailed & Cooper’s Hawks. If time permits, we may walk the old railroad bed along Route 23 in search of warblers, flycatchers and other wetland species. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the parking area on the right at the top of the long sanctuary driveway.
EMMA TREADWELL THACHER NATURE CENTER (Albany County; morning) Saturday, June 19
Coordinator: Ellen Pemrick 425-4384 [email protected]
The Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center is located near Thompson’s Lake State Park in Albany County. The property offers trails through diverse habitats including woodlands, meadows and fields. Nesting Tree Swallows and House Wrens are usually among the first birds we see. We also have found Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting and Bobolink in past years. Depending on weather conditions, we will walk multiple trails in search of warblers, flycatchers, thrushes and other species. Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the larger parking area to the right of the main building.
CHERRY PLAINS STATE PARK (Rensselaer County; morning) Saturday, June 26
Coordinators: Phil & Marge Whitney 477-9050 philandmarjwhitney @earthlink.net
Cherry Plains is situated on the Rensselaer Plateau of the Capital District. The relatively high elevation, cool climate and a variety of forested and wetland habitats make this a good area for northern species. Nesting species include Least Flycatcher, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Common Raven, Broad-winged Hawk, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Black and White and Yellow-rumped Warblers. Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Veery, Hermit Thrush and Winter Wren also nest here. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the Hannaford parking lot on the right side of Route 43 just past the intersection of Route 150 in West Sand Lake to carpool to the park.
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