[cayugabirds-l] fledglings, fledglings, fledglings

And fleeing avoidant parents! In the last 2 days, have watched tree swallow fledglings, cedar waxwing fledglings, bluebird fledglings, robin fledglings, redwinged blackbird fledglings, grackle fledglings, American crow fledglings and am currently listening to the incessant pleading of red taile

Re: [cayugabirds-l] seeking mockingbirds

There is often one at the East end of Stevenson road, around the house on the south side of the road, or somewhere roadside along that stretch between Turkey Hill Rd and the fields just beyond (west of) the south-of-road house. best, Anne Anne B Clark 147 Hile School Rd Freeville, NY 13068 607-

[cayugabirds-l] Raven needs help--near Trumansberg

I just got a message via Suzanne Broderick that there is a raven down and acting “dazed” in a yard on Enfield Center Rd West, near Trumansberg. I am currently finishing my day at Binghamton University and unable to get there in any reasonable time to try to capture and take to Wildlife Clinic.

[cayugabirds-l] "raven"--the rest of the story

Several people immediately offered help in retrieving the “raven” reported from the Enfield area. We were organizing capture, but after I got back from Binghamton around 630 pm, I called the homeowner, who went out to find that it was now dead. This morning Nancy Cusmano very kindly retrieved

[cayugabirds-l] Ash seeds and blackbirds

Another eager cluster of redwinged blackbirds is eating the ash seeds from the apparently still healthy ash trees. This has happened several times this month. Maybe this is well appreciated, but I had no idea that ash seeds were such a resource for fall feeding birds. Anne Anne B Clark 147

[cayugabirds-l] Rough-legged hawk W and E of Warren at Cherry la today 2 Feb 19

At approximately 1430, a rough-legged hawk was hunting the field that makes up the SW quadrat of Cherry La x Warren Rd. It sat watching from trees on N side of Cherry la, then (disturbed by my stopping car) it moved a bit W along Cherry, then East to sit on airport fencing along Warren’s E edge,

[cayugabirds-l] a solitary Common Redpoll--Stevenson Rd Compost drive

At 210 pm today, coming in on driveway from Stevenson Compost mounds, just N of the gateway to the pheasant pens, a single Common Redpoll sat in the sun as high as one can get in the small trees there. After giving me good looks and some distant pics, it flew S toward where a bunch of (technica

Re: [cayugabirds-l] odd Bufflehead

Just a thought, and an inference based on passerines (Red winged blackbirds): Late fledged males were also likely to turn up in spring with more juvenile plumage—orange-y epaulet, small epaulet, lots of light edging to the feathers or some downright brown. Naturally my sample is small because

[cayugabirds-l] HUGE flock of red-winged blackbirds

Maybe 2-3 K or more and I had no binocs (on a stool, cleaning a nest box) but they worked their way along the fields of Ed Hill Rd just S of Hile School rd, then west around the wood lot at the intersection of Ed Hill x Hile School to cross Hile School Rd going North toward Peruville Rd. They s

[cayugabirds-l] First House Wren this morning

At least the first prospectively assessing the nest boxes on Hile School Rd. This morning at 7am singing atop the empty feeder. Anne Clark -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirdi

Re: [cayugabirds-l] first ever here

HI all I just want to note that a) I have had more males than usual but that means 3, plus several females- in a rural area- and b) Bluewing bird listers in Broome have sent out 3 or 4 messages about unusual/rare/first time visits from RB grosbeaks at their in-town feeders. Hearing both lists

[cayugabirds-l] Backyard drama--Flicker escapes Cooper's Hawk attack

More than attack—the hawk had the flicker in its claws on our backyard lawn area where the attack apparently had taken place, but was struggling to get up. With Flicker flapping and “peep-peep-peeep”ing, they were sweeping at ground level across the lawn toward the “old field’ vegetation and t

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Turkey eggs question.

Depends on how old the embryos were when incubation was interrupted. Far along, they are probably dead. Very early, there’s a chance, especially since it is quite warm. Before the start of incubation, an excellent chance. Of course, it also depends on how many hours ago the nest was hit. Pr

[cayugabirds-l] Great Egret--Hile School Rd wetland pm 28Jul19

Seen S of Hile School Rd, central wetland, preening calmly in dead trees—two probably juvenile Great Blue Herons in tree next door. Found as light was low at 855 pm tonight—sans binocs, etc. Ran back home to get scope—not trusting my size estimates in deep dusk. Dark legs, marginally smaller

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Swallows eating mushrooms

Mushrooms almost immediately attract a range of small insects, some of which specialize on reproducting in them—tiny beetles, gnats (flies) and I am sure several other groups. I wonder if they were not picking these easy insects off, especially given their juvenile (klutzy predator) status? Th

Re: [cayugabirds-l] [nysbirds-l] Fwd: News Alert: North America has lost 29% of its birds since 1970, study finds. Experts blame habitat loss, pesticides, light pollution and cats.

a. Starlings are declining in Europe also, apparently due to farming practices (no grain lying around? hedgerows?). But if you want to look for some “black bird” related explanations, check out the USDA site to see how many “nuisance” birds were killed using Avitrol on big feedlots where a LOT

[cayugabirds-l] Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Stevenson Rd Compost

Apologies for not putting this out during the day, but there were two Lesser Black-backed gulls on the mounds at the Stevenson Road Composting Facility between 1120-130 today. They were with maybe 700 Ring-billed Gulls and 25 or so Herring Gulls. One was an adult, white head/neck, with very b

Re: [cayugabirds-l] US population trends; time frame for bird study

Just to say—what all of us really know—we don’t want our children to be the generation to have no one to come behind them, to care and innovate and compost for them as they age and become infirm. Demography is a complex thing and, as we in the west take longer to die on average, we must somehow

[cayugabirds-l] Screech owl trilling on a warm fall night

In between rain showers—Toward Ed Hill Rd and SSE of my house on Hile School Rd. Anne -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARC

Re: [cayugabirds-l] There male redwings

Not trying to compete, but late last week, had a flock of mostly young males (up to 19) and today a group of ca 50-60. A smaller subset came to feeders (25? they swooped in where I couldn’t see all on the ground) with a nice male Common Grackle. Again, it is interesting that a majority of t

Re: [cayugabirds-l] There male redwings, Mon West Danby area also

As someone studying redwing nesting and nestlings in the 89-2000 region, I can say they were incredibly variable 3 decades ago. They could easily show up in February when the winter was warm. We had actual females back in a marsh near Binghamton/Endicott as early as February. Usually females

[cayugabirds-l] singing House Finches

Not very organized song but trying out the old syringeal muscles after some down time. anne Anne B Clark 147 Hile School Rd Freeville, NY 13068 607-222-0905 anneb.cl...@gmail.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/C

Re: [cayugabirds-l] There male redwings, Mon West Danby area also

The early F-types I was referring to were very clearly female, being observed by my grad student who was working on them for his disseration. They had begun twittering, cattail to cattail by March. Their marsh was all unfrozen. We were starting to wonder if they would actually build nests in M

[cayugabirds-l] Barn swallow and VA rail-Hile school Rd Wetland

AMong the 25+ tree swallows, one Barn Swallow was swirling about over the open water, and a VA rail was heard tik-tik ing mostly, rather faintly, on the N side of the road. About 1030 am today. Counts and observations were abbreviated by the wind-rain coming in as I walked fast home. Also

[cayugabirds-l] Flicker taking refuge on a trunk face

A pair of flickers just followed one after other up trunk of large ash, on E side of tree. After one flew, the other has clung to the trunk, with its head folded back, bill down into its feathers, in “roosting” position, if you can imagine. A red v located very weirdly at the top off the body.,

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Cowbirds

I wonder if there has been some mis-intepretation either in the article or by subsequent readers. Cowbird young, like other passerines, leave the nest in the care of parents (foster or otherwise) and live outside the nest from then on. (OK individuals may hop outside during the day and return

Re: "Juvenile cowbirds sneak out at night" - RE: [cayugabirds-l] Cowbirds

bject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Cowbirds > > I, also, wonder about this report. I've had to handle nestlings for research > purposes, always with fear and the most care possible. Nestlings don't stay > in nests any longer than absolutely necessary because nests are depredated by &g

[cayugabirds-l] A disturbing report on a bird disease in Europe

Specifically through”Birdguides” about a mysterious illness affecting at least Blue Tits in Germany, but from the comments, it must be more widely spread. https://www.birdguides.com/news/mystery-illness-killing-off-german-blue-tits/

[cayugabirds-l] A flock of Rusty Blackbirds

Singing away in Hile School Rd wetland—estimated at 20+. Will count from pictures and get into eBird—phone battery limitations. Also small newish flock of Savannah Sparrows (6) today and last 2 days in upland field East of the unfinished wetland road. They particularly like the small sapling

[cayugabirds-l] Cliff swallows on HIle School Rd Wetland--Wed May 6

I haven’t rechecked today but the swallow species distribution has shifted as of yesterday, Wed May 6: more Barn Swallows but also 2-3 Cliff Swallows, looking a different shape, no tail streamers and with distinct light rumps clearly seen. At least one Rough-winged Swallow was still there, and

[cayugabirds-l] mango pits and eager eating

Worrying about something more substantial than orange to sustain the orioles, I put out a mango pit with some attached fruit, The adult male oriole reappears to appreciate it after hiding on Saturday, a young male came in today, but also catbirds have been using it. I think I may widen my frui

[cayugabirds-l] Sumac for catbirds and robins

A couple of sumac heads “saved” over winter in a dry bouquet are getting lots of attention from my catbirds and now a male robin. I just hung them at our feeders. I knew crows, jays and woodpeckers (hairy, downy) love them, but didn’t realize that they were quite so broadly popular. Maybe I

[cayugabirds-l] Prospective help: tips on Norway in September

I am going to Norway for a month 25 Aug-24 September. While we are based in Oslo (Univ of, and associated institutes), there will be some time for travel and birds and naturalist adventures. Off list, I would welcome any tips, opinions, or advice on where and what to see or do. Bird books for N

[cayugabirds-l] Lesser Black-backed gull at Stevenson Road compost

Maybe two—one was an adult, the other a 2nd cycle bird, I am uncertain of…very long wing projection, though. Among other birds from 1110-1215 today on Compost Mounds or in near vicinity. including 500-700 gulls, mostly Ring-billed Gulls mixed with Herring Gulls and 5-6 Great Black-backed Gulls

[cayugabirds-l] Pokeweed berries--Yum

Out of Area for both lists—but an observation on pokeweed berries as bird food: Waves of Cedar Waxings have been stripping the pokeweed berries on the huge plants I have left here and there around the yard here on Hile School Rd, Freeville. I know most people pull them out as a toxic plant

[cayugabirds-l] late night woodcock

At about 715 pm tonight, while tracking a radio-tagged crow to its roost site, I had an American Woodcock (seen very clearly in silhouette) hurtle across Genung Road going NE toward somewhere just a little N of the Ellis Hollow Nursery School. It didn’t have a lot of “air” and was descending,

Re: [cayugabirds-l] OT: bear scat at Niemi Rd ponds?

Possibly interesting: this morning, my neighbor found a large bear scat (with fruit stones, fur, and corn intermixed) well back from the road on N side of Hile School Road, about midway between Ed Hill Rd and 38. It had to have been left last night, between dusk and about 10 am today. this i

[cayugabirds-l] Waterfowl panic at dusk

At about 615 tonight, coming back from a walk N of Hile School Rd, just E of the old railroad, I noticed an unusual no. of ducks suddenly in the air, flying a bit erratically and scattering. Then a huge (they are all huge) maroon hot air balloon edged over the trees, going N above the dip/we

[cayugabirds-l] Sharp-shinned and Pileated Woodpecker

An unusual “predator-prey interaction” just now: an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk repeatedly chasing a male Pileated Woodpecker. The woodpecker was clearly zigging and zagging out of its way, but landed on a tree and began foraging as soon as it could…not so impressed? The hawk landed nearby and r

[cayugabirds-l] Golden Eagle (young) Oct 19

Was going West over mid Hile School Road, very high, at about 1230 pm. Clear silhouette, white patches, looked migratory, except it wasn’t exactly heading south. Anne -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULE

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Deer ticks

Oxpeckers and such birds on other continents could give us some purposes. Although apparently the story is muddy: see http://beheco.oxfordjournals.org/content/11/2/154.full Anne > On Oct 22, 2015, at 3:12 PM, Asher Hockett wrote: >

[cayugabirds-l] Lesser Black-backed Gull at Stevenson Road Compost

At about 1340 today, a Lesser Black-backed Gull was hangng out with some Herring Gulls, in the field E of the compost mounds, between the first two fences that run N-S. I had lost sight of it after a “flush of gulls” and also the arrival of a class (on composting??). The gull was adult, with l

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Crows vs TVs

Concerted attacks (vs a couple of young crows harrassing vultures) is unusual! But we are now very interested in where roosts are actually occuring! Our studies of roosts and Nitrogen cycling are ongoing. You are right, the “Migrants” did arrive…about 10 days ago. The roost in Auburn went f

[cayugabirds-l] 3 Brown-headed Cowbirds at the feeder today

2 males, one probably young, and a female were there this afternoon, with an American Tree Sparrow (and the regulars of woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, etc). I haven’t seen cowbirds in weeks, since late October, perhaps, when they were in mixed flocks with Redwinged and Rusty Blackbirds. Ann

[cayugabirds-l] Late birds

Not way late, but down to few and far between. Nov 27th 2015 One male Brown-headed Cowbird is still visiting my feeders on Hile School Road; a female and another male seen several days ago have moved on, apparently. A Belted Kingfisher dashed NE across Fall Creek Road just E of Freeville, head

[cayugabirds-l] cowbird invasion

15 cowbirds, 8 mature males, 7 females suddenly arrived below the feeders on a deck. Hile School Road, just out of basin. (Owasco Lake drainage) Anne Clark -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www

[cayugabirds-l] Crow Roosts and a new Crow Roost website

Greetings, fellow birders! Announcing a new website www.crowroosts.org that I hope will be of interest and use! As some of you are aware, we have an ongoing study of crow roosts as sources of nitrogen and agents of changes in N-cycling. Crow roosts are seen as cre

[cayugabirds-l] brown-headed cowbirds again--Hile School and Ed Hill Roads both

ABout 10 am, today 2 FEb 16, a brown-headed cowbird male was at my feeder and I thought I saw a small flock of them moving SE into the brushy areas around our house on Hile School Road…just out of the basin. But these are birds, with wings. At 330 pm today, several (or many) cowbird males flew

[cayugabirds-l] White-crowned sparrow--Hile School Rd feeders

>From just outside the Basin: Feb 11 2016. For the second time since yesterday am, a White-crowned Sparrow was investigating and feeding a little at my feeder on Hile School Road, ~0.2 mi W of Ed Hill Road. As yesterday, it didn’t stay long. Today, I have watched off and on all day, and it

[cayugabirds-l] Eagles "everywhere"

Feb 20 2016 1045 Freeville: Two adult Bald Eagles soared over 38 just S of the intersection with Hile School Road, one of which soared E up Hile School Rd and across Ed Hill RD (in and out and into the basin).. They stayed very high; an adult Red-tailed Hawk soared with them over Rt 38 and I t

[cayugabirds-l] very young and singing Blackbird

A young male Redwinged Blackbird, still in all stripy plumage with no visible red on wing, sat outside the house at 730 AM running through bits and pieces of Redwinged Blackbird songs and calls. I recorded a short bit. Regular very breathy “kr” of the conkereee-- identifiably male blackbir

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Audubon: The Film... needs 9 more to make happen, by 3/10, 7pm (8 more needed)

6 more—I just got two tickets. > On Mar 9, 2016, at 2:21 PM, Marie P. Read wrote: > > I just signed up. > 8 to go! > > Marie > > Marie Read Wildlife Photography > 452 Ringwood Road > Freeville NY 13068 USA > > Phone 607-539-6608 > e-mail m...@cornell.edu > > http://www.marieread.com >

[cayugabirds-l] feeder birds

Just outside of the Basin, Hile School Road: Since Thursday 17 March, only two rather than a dozen American Tree Sparrows have visited my feeders. They are here this morning, and one just did “crest-up" at the other, which kept crest feathers flat—I assume two males. This morning 19 Mar, the

[cayugabirds-l] Raven gets friendly?-and Crow 9U

As I was coming back to Freeville via Hanshaw Road (13 to West Dryden Road), there was a Raven just sitting in a tree along the road, basically in the front yard of the house or two on the W side of Hanshaw, just before getting to Niemi Road. Two crows came out from W of the house to call at t

[cayugabirds-l] Raven correction and update

Yesterday, 26 March, I reported watching a raven sitting beside a yard at junction of Neimi Road and Hanshaw Road. (I also spelled Neimi incorrectly). Actually it was on the S side of intersection of ETNA and Hanshaw, where there are actually houses. Today, 27 March, at about 11 am, just bare

[cayugabirds-l] a surfeit of urban vultures?

While checking on and looking for crow nests around Ithaca, mostly to NE side and Cayuga Heights, I am encountering numerous vultures swooping low through neighborhoods, just sailing around looking for your backyard carrion, I suppose. But my impression is that there are more than in years past

[cayugabirds-l] Cortland County--BUT Wild Turkeys in flight!

This is an out of county observation this morning at 815 am. (in Cortland county, south along 38 from Harford, and about a mile N of Morton Road, based on map. I thought it said Morey road. ). It was just so unusual to see, thought it worth sharing. Wild turkeys coming out of a roost along t

[cayugabirds-l] Raven forager--Freese x Hanshaw fields

I encountered a Common Raven alighting and foraging in the wettest spot in the NE corner of the field at Freese x Hanshaw (a spot just SW of the corner signs). The nearest pair of crows was quite upset at this, diving at it, but it didn’t even look at them while landing. It captured something

Re: [cayugabirds-l] osprey nest on Warren Rd.

That explains the flyover osprey when I was on Winthrop Dr. a couple of days ago. And on Tuesday also, a bald eagle and a raven (chased off by two resident crow families) over Muriel. The bald eagle was remarkably low! The raven looked distinctly young, brownish and broken primaries. Anne

[cayugabirds-l] Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Male--over my feeders this am. Yes, just a bit outside the basin, but the bird flew toward the boundary and Fall Creek…and of course, there were reports starting 25th April. :) Anne Hile School Rd -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.Northea

[cayugabirds-l] A not-quite-basin report-Boblink singing

147 Hile School Rd: First (in my irregular birding around the paths) bobolink singing hopefully over a patch of golden rod stalks that the red-winged blackbirds call their own. And first blue-winged warbler (or maybe 2) in the breaking tree buds, foraging and singing, and a first catbird, al

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Why larger predatory birds flee smaller birds

And the dangers are real: I saw Red-winged Blackbirds lose their nests to large bumbling goose families that, heads in the air, simply walked the nests over and into the swamp. It doesn’t require a predator to do damage! Anne > On Jul 18, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Asher Hockett wrote: > > I have see

Re: [cayugabirds-l] W-C sparrow-yes, today

“MY” white-crowned sparrow turned back up this morning, after I neglected to fill feeders Fri and Saturday, but refilled them midday Sunday. I have had one since late winter, got up to four recently (and thought I could tell the one apart by crown and also confident way it moved around the feed

[cayugabirds-l] migrating birds react to street level lights

I thought that this Conservation Mag article would be of interest to those on Cayuga and Bluewing lists, since it relates both to the nocturnal migrant calls people hear and raises some questions about why. Despite the url, I am not sure we can conclude they are disoriented by them. http://c

[cayugabirds-l] oriole nest, h-birds and cuckoo

Among other things on this clearly summer day: The Ruby-thoated Hummingbirds found the newly offered feeder and a male was doing U-shaped display flights not far from the feeder area within hours. An Baltimore Oriole nest is complete in clear view (nice for us, maybe not for the oriole) off a

[cayugabirds-l] a flight of ravens this morning

At around 730 am this morning, a flight of whoop-calling ravens flew SW to NE across land just S of us on Hile School Rd. First two birds, flying together, followed closely by a calling third, and then shortly after that, a strongly calling group of 3. All kept heading across Ed Hill Rd toward

[cayugabirds-l] Ravens and the new mown hay

Today, as the June mowing of the last few days was smelling good, but causing confusion among the previously nesting Red-winged Blackbirds and Bobolinks, a group of Ravens parked themselves on fields next to my house. I suspect this is the same group as flew through earlier in the week—there w

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Merlin(s) @ Cayuga Heights

Hi Suan and All Merlin Watchers, The Merlins on Christopher Circle have either gone completely silent or fledged (too soon?) or they have moved. I saw no birds around or visible on the nest by late last week. IS this related to the Highland Avenue pair? I have no idea how far they might move

Re:[cayugabirds-l] Merlin nesting update

I heard a merlin twittering on Christopher Circle/Christopher Lane yesterday evening, although hadn’t seen activity on it. I have not scoped it recently. > On Jun 16, 2016, at 6:26 PM, John Confer wrote: > > Not good news, overall, for Merlin nests. > > The Titus Ave. nest, and the Dryden ne

[cayugabirds-l] fledglings everywhere--Oriole today

Hile School Road-Freeville One of several Baltimore Oriole nestlings became a fledgling this morning, and is now giving new meaning to the adjective “incessant”. Its sibling(s) are still being fed in the nest and I am seeing relatively little parental attention going to it. But the parents co

[cayugabirds-l] 3 Great Egrets--Hile School Road

Just now, 12 Aug, in the marshland at Hile School Road and Rt 38, where the Common Gallinule, rails etc were earlier in the summer. My neighbor called me down and I got there in time to see them slow-flapping to the N visible end of the marshland where they disappeared downward. He also confi

[cayugabirds-l] Fate of Great Horned Owl--Hile School Rd

As some will recall, there was a sick young Great Horned Owl on Hile School Rd, at the marshy headwaters of the Owasco Lake, where some were finding rails, gallinules, marsh wren etc. As I promised at the time, I am passing along the news that I received from the Wildlife Clinic: sadly the owl

[cayugabirds-l] aggressive humming birds

Not only have the several hummingbirds visiting my feeders been displacing each other frequently, but I just watched a hummingbird in a long, high chase of a goldfinch nowhere near a feeder. Not sure what the precipitating event or state was…but of course, staying in good condition must be extr

[cayugabirds-l] Lesser Black-backed Gull--Stevenson Rd Compost

Adult with only very small amount of head flecking (i.e. close to breeding plumage). Today, 18 Sept, around 1030 am, on the mounds amidst a plethora of Ring-billed Gulls and maybe 7-8 Greater Black-backed Gulls, ca 120 crows (about 1/3 Fish Crows), plus pigeons, starlings and Turkey Vultures

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Snowy Owl

That would be just E of Ed Hill Rd, on Fall Creek rd. Heading out there now. Don’t be fooled by the wooden sculptured owl that is on the right, leaving Freeville, going E. Anne > On Oct 26, 2016, at 9:33 AM, W. Larry Hymes wrote: > > Just got a call from the manager of the Thompson Veg. Res

[cayugabirds-l] Snowy Owl=strikingly white Redtail Hawk

I checked out the Snowy Owl report and found the bird after getting conflicting directions from Thompson Veg farm workers. It is actually a strkingly beautiful Red-Tail Hawk, with markings that make no genetic sense to me. It has a brilliant adult-red tail, lots of dark streaking in head, a ni

[cayugabirds-l] tree sparrows all over (just oob)

In our various patches of acres on Hile School Rd, mixed with juncos, white-throated sparrows, robins, etc. These are the first I have seen this fall. They are looking very bright and beautiful. Anne -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.No

Re: [cayugabirds-l] just heard a Cardinal singing

On 31 Dec, I had two or three notes of a white-throated sparrow, and on 3rd Jan, an aborted beginning of a mourning dove “song”. Days are getting longer and sun makes them SEEM longer still. > On Jan 6, 2017, at 10:22 AM, Laurie Roe wrote: > > Just heard a Cardinal singing. Maybe the sun in

[cayugabirds-l] Fwd: FYI for nature photography lovers

> This was just sent around on the Broome Bluewing list and it seems > appropriate to alert Cayuga Bird list as well. Hope some of you get to see it! Anne > > Nature's Best Is Almost Here! > > We cannot overstate how incredibly excited we are for our newest exhibition, > Nature's Best Photog

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Robins

I had over 1000 robins fly over Hanshaw Rd S of intersection with W Dryden Rd on 15 Jan. There were flocks of about 200 or more in my field that same day, about the same time. Since then I have been routinely seeing 100-200 moving near dusk, in Freeville area…last weekend on Palmear Rd. The

[cayugabirds-l] foy feeder Song Sparrow

is eating seed this morning with other current consumers: chickadees, titmouse, downy and hairy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, nuthatch, flock of house finches, goldfinches, white-throated sparrows, tree sparrows, juncos, cardinals, bluejays. No sign of red-winged blackbirds and cowbird

[cayugabirds-l] Grey Catbird at Thomas Road

478 Thomas Road, second house on “W” side from Ellis Hollow Rd. Seen sitting fluffed in low rose bush not far from the feeders, with three similarly fluffed American robins, although they were more actively scoping all the rose bushes for hips. First time I have ever seen a robin hovering prot

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Phoebe!

Phoebes apparently arrived en masse. The first one I had was right across from the Frog Barn on Sapsucker Woods Rd, on Thursday 30 March, 12 noon. Sounded a bit out of practice. Then another was singing in my yard (oob) on HIle School Rd later that afternoon. Anne B Clark 147 Hile School

[cayugabirds-l] First nest building robin

Sharp looking female American Robin took long streamers of grasses and tried for log-sized goldenrod stalks to a nice solid crotch in an small ash this morning. I have seen more action in the nest site this evening. A Phoebe tried to fly into our garage, which I take as a nest site seeking sign

[cayugabirds-l] House wren serenade this morning

At about 630 am, “the” house wren sang near our house for the first time in 2017. He was answered and it appears that there are now at least 2, possibly 3 territories encircling the yard. “The” wren has resumed his singing position atop a spruce near the outdoor lamp (a street lamp style th

[cayugabirds-l] Creek/marsh at Hile School Rd-Herons

1045 am--First I’ve seen for 2017 and the most adults at one time ever—four Little Green Herons were croaking, hunting and flapping around together over the marsh, and among the Salix sp., etc quite near the road. I have never had closer looks. Not a great day for photos, but if they continue

[cayugabirds-l] Heads up from the Crow People: West Nile Virus and nests

Dear Cayuga-birders, WEST NILE VIRUS already diagnosed in our crows!!! :-(( We who follow the crows want to report that Vet Pathology has just diagnosed West Nile Virus as cause of death of a crow in Cayuga Heights, in late April. Another diagnosis is pending , but to be honest,

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Further info Yellow House Finch

I am not sure what specific berries we lacked during winter that would contribute, but of course, purple finches and house finches could have been influenced by diets south of here. On the other hand, it appears that carotenoids that end up purple-red are the result of conversion of yellower

[cayugabirds-l] E. Kingbird at Hile School Rd Wetland

May 6th evening—David saw our first E. Kingbird insect foraging on edges of the Hile School Rd Wetland/Marshes, along with Tree Swallows, at least. May 2—I had a Spotted Sandpiper skipping about on high points, near the road as it crosses. Water very high. Beavers keep rebuilding after tempora

[cayugabirds-l] White-crowned sparrows stop by-just out of basin

Four white-crowned sparrows are dining at our feeders this morning. It appears to be two males and two females, going purely on brightness and a bit of behavior (mild aggression between two brightest). Also a female purple finch, song sparrows, chipping sparrow(s), downy and hairy woodpeckers,

[cayugabirds-l] For List interests: FYI--Tick disease program from BU specialists

Julian has been working with Ralph Garruto on studies of ticks, lyme and other diseases around the campus of Binghamton University, and monitoring tick abundance patterns, infection patterns, etc. Not quite as abundant as in the scrubby areas of Ithaca, and notably, least infected in the Nature

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Gallinules climbing cattails for pollen

That is so cool! I recall hearing that during WWII, cattail pollen was explored as a protein source, a way to fortify breads, etc. We have used it in bread, although it wasn’t something that led me to spend time collecting it in quantity. So the gallinules might be making a very good choice!

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Gallimule tough love (I hope)

Hi John et al, this is well-known gallinule “parental” behavior. As many will know, birds often lay more eggs and hatch more young than they can rear. The theoretical explanation is that in a good year, when the healthiest as well as most young can be raised, parents benefit by being ready wit

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Bald Red-winged Blackbird

Could be molt, and it might be exacerbated by a fight with another male. Seems late in the year for this, but I have watched fights between males (typically in late April or early May) that resulted in chunks of feather pulled out and bald or partly bald males. > On Jul 19, 2017, at 6:33 PM

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Hungry youngsters!

If I may chime in: because our crow families do have known territories, and families include unbanded birds, it would be great to have anyone finding an UNbanded dead crow in the Cornell Campus-Cayuga Heights-Sapsucker Woods-Airport areas text or email Kevin or me before disposing of it entir

[cayugabirds-l] Virginia Rails being obvious (out of basin)

Virginia rails (2) that have been recently foraging in the Hile School Rd wetlands are very vocal and fairly fearless and picture ready this past week. I have found them along the S edge of unpaved road, on the east side of the wetlands, in mixed willow and grasses. The young green herons, ki

[cayugabirds-l] Kestrel, Barn Swallows and Crow (OOB)

I watched an interesting sequence around 7 am and got some of it in some really bad pictures. For Basin lovers, all birds in question also use the part of Ed Hill Road that is within the Basin. Indeed the Kestrel may be one of the young ones raised in house eaves on Ed Hill Road, and if not, a

[cayugabirds-l] Crows, WNV and another plea for information

HI Everyone, I hope this isn’t overuse of the List to ask for help:our banded crow population in and around Ithaca is suffering from the WNV plague—again, and strongly. We are losing tagged and untagged-but-known family members. Since birds also travel to forage at this time of year, we a

[cayugabirds-l] Not birds--Painted lady butterfly obs across Eastern US

Both Cayuglists are noting the painted lady explosion. And interestingly, if you type "painted lady butterfly" into a search engine right now, you will find that there are “wow—all the painted ladies” reports from Minnesota, Jamestown, and many more places. What kind of synchrony is this?

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Where are all my feeder birds

I think it is extremely reassuring that, when the wild foods are ample, the feeder-aware birds still prefer to use them. Superior nutrition and nutritional diversity, I am sure. Anne B Clark 147 Hile School Rd Freeville, NY 13068 607-222-0905 anneb.cl...@gmail.com > On Oct 25, 2017, at 11:

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