There may be more than one Chuck at West Mountain Ski Area outside of Queensbury, Warren County.
Location: 43.2918891,-73.7302002. The site is relatively easy to access by road from I-87 (The Northway), Exit 18. Two groups of us were listening to one each (presumably); one from down by the chair lift base, the other up the mountain road quite a distance away. The first bird (by the base) started singing at about 8:20 PM from a wood-edge across the way from the road. It (presumably) flew in closer and sang repeatedly from nearby. The second bird was singing up the road next to the car where the other group of observers was stationed. Later (8:40 PM), the lower bird (the first one) flew back across the ski slope base to the woods where it had first been heard. At the same time, the second (?) bird continued to sing next to the upper group's car. Will and I went up to the upper site and found that bird actively singing and feeding (perched on and launching from a large rock just off a driveway). Meanwhile, there was a plethora of Whip-poor-wills singing from various places up and down the slopes and roadway. One has to wonder if there may actually be more Chuck-will-widows in and around West Mountain. Last year, one was found on private property (limited access) 1/4 mile from the current site. Is there an enclave of Chucks in Warren County? And, are these (?) birds the progeny of a colony that has been in the area for any period of time prior to discovery? I spoke with the ski slope owner who stated that birders are welcome to go onto the ski slope trails and lift area anytime. The roadside chains are up to keep ATVs out. I would suggest that if done so, that access to the base areas and slopes be limited to daytime hours, not at dusk while the Chuck-wills-widow (s) and Whip-poor-wills are active. He is also open to bird friendly improvement suggestions to the site (bluebird nest boxes, etc). Just park off the road and don't block the maintenance vehicle access lanes. I would like to see an organized observer stake out (including last year's limited access private property site) to try to pin down the number of caprimugs in the area. Game on? -- Richard Guthrie <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=icon> Virus-free. www.avast.com <https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail&utm_term=link> <#m_-4381972747783288428_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
