Re: [cayugabirds-l] SFO Montezuma Sunday April 8, 2012

2012-04-08 Thread david nicosia
Our Common Gallinule may have been an American Coot.
It is still a bit early for gallinule (formerly moorhen) and
we only heard it. There has been a report of american coot(s)
in Marten's Tract that sound very much like a gallinule. 
We did see a few coots up there, so it probably was just that. 



 From: david nicosia 
To: Cayugabirds- L ; Bluewing 
 
Sent: Sunday, April 8, 2012 7:35 PM
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] SFO Montezuma Sunday April 8, 2012
 

Had another spectacular SFO field trip. Was planning on
just a short day, 7-11 am, but no one showed up for just the
1/2 day trip. So, I more than willingly, volunteered to lead a group
for the whole day! I had a small group, just 4 of us, including
me so we had one car. What a day! 1 student got 6 life birds
and the other got 3! We hit pretty much all of the "target"
birds that the group wanted, many with excellent looks at
field marks, behavior etc. The weather cooperated very nicely.
Chilly in the morning but excellent for scoping on Cayuga Lake.
Afternoon was breezy but not as windy as Saturday. Still good
viewing. We totaled an amazing 82 species!! 

Some photos... 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/sets/72157629406612342/

Began at Ladoga Park and got 3 COMMON LOONS, 

8 RING-NECKED DUCKS and a few BUFFLEHEAD.  

Next was Myer's point...picked up 5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS,
KILLDEER, NORTHERN FLICKER, and many RING-BILLED
GULLS and 2 fly-by HERRING GULLS. 

Then we headed up toward Union Springs/Harris Park to get the
western grebe and others. But, on the way up, we hit the jackpot
on field birds. First we saw a few AMERICAN PIPITS right next 
to the road, some were in the ditch on Lake Road in King Ferry.
We stopped and got great looks and estimated about 30. We also
saw a HORNED LARK and a NORTHERN HARRIER 
who perched on the ground for us. Then a SAVANNAH
SPARROW was singing from the top of a post on the other side
of the road. Got great views and the students took some great photos.
Very cooperative! Then before Lake Road merges with Rte 90
in King Ferry, we saw flock after flock of AMERICAN PIPITs 
fly by. There were all over...we estimated 75-100! awesome views
of these cool birds. Also some good photos were taken (not by me!). 

Near Union Springs there was a COMMON RAVEN being mobbed
by AMERICAN CROWS not far from the lake. 

Then we stopped to see an OSPREY sitting on one of the nests

along Route 90 near Union Springs before Harris Park turn off. 
Of course got great views and then an EASTERN MEADOWLARK
visited us pretty close singing and offering great looks. The
bird was doing its classic hover and glide flight. He also landed
close by for killer looks. But I don't think he was still enough
for anyone to get photos.  

Then we hit the WESTERN GREBE spot on Lake Street

right by where Wheat Street meets it, south of Harris Park.
Like yesterday, all of our usual aythya species were present
with RUDDY DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON
MERGANSER. Had 4 RED BREASTED MERGANSERS
fly-by as well here. Then after some searching both WESTERN
GREBES showed up within an aythya raft. We also had
PIED-BILLED and HORNED GREBES here too. The rafts 
by the way are thinning down. 

Next stop was the Mud Lock BALD EAGLE nest. 2 chicks
visible, 1 adult perched in the tree and the other soaring
overhead...perfect lighting. 

Then we hit the Montezuma vistor's center...teal species continue
dominate. Many many GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
several BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a few NORTHERN SHOVELERS
and several GADWALL. Also TREE SWALLOWS. Did not
get PURPLE MARTINS. 

Wildlife drive yielded more ducks that we had already seen giving
the group a chance to practice id. Also got an excellent view of
a SWAMP SPARROW singing from the top of a reed by the road. 
We then stopped at Benning Marsh and the shorebirds that were
seen yesterday were very cooperative. Got 6 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, 3 DUNLIN, several LESSER and GREATER 
YELLOWLEGS and several WILSON'S SNIPE. The 
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were close so we got some 
excellent photos. Awesome birds. 

Next stop was Marten's Tract. Highlight was a SANDHILL
CRANE that was flying but then landed out of sight. We
walked on the trails but did not relocate. But we had
more waterfowl. We also got AMERICAN COOT and
COMMON GALLINULE (formerly MOORHEN). 

There was not too much on Morgan Road so next stop
was East Road over Knox-Marcellus Marsh. Many many
birds there. We were kind of tired and probably could have
spent a very long time there. But birds were distant and
we got only fair scope views of most species. Highlights
were 1 CASPIAN TERN which was distant but the large
size (much bigger than the ring-billed gulls with it), very light
wings that were pointed and tern-like flight were very diagnostic. 
Also go some black on the head. Was hard to see the bill
due to the heat shimmer and shear distance...60x on scope. 
The bird eventually landed and was loafing with a bunch
of gulls too far to see good enough from east road. 
Un

[cayugabirds-l] MAC Purple Martin, Myers black scoters, etc.

2012-04-08 Thread Suan Yong
It was a great two days of birding for SFO overnight group 1, seeing many of 
the highlights already described. Sighting I don't remember seeing already 
mentioned are a male purple martin at the MAC today at noon, and Saturday 
morning's first stop at the marina with a female goldeneye reasonably close and 
in the distance to the WSW a row of ~10 black scoters swimming slowly north in 
a nice neat row.

The highlight of the trip was eating lunch at Mud Lock, when the lone adult 
that had been perched for much of the time suddenly flew south towards the 
causeway and returned with a healthy catch (must've been a foot and a half 
long), struggling to fly with the heavy load against the headwind. Returning to 
the nest, it patiently picked bite-sized morsels to feed the two young in turn.

Other shows on the trip included crow-redtail mobbings, with the crow making 
contact; a male kestrel hover-hunting at the MAC; and a sizeable flock (~100?) 
of A. Wigeons at Carncross flushed by kayakers and flying about about in a 
disorganized cloud in pairs like parrots.

FYI, a stop at the Empire Farm Days lot in mid-morning found no upland 
sandpipers, just meadowlark and kestrel and savannah sparrow.

Suan



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[cayugabirds-l] Glossy Ibis and A. Bittern

2012-04-08 Thread John and Sue Gregoire
We took a ride up Cayuga Lake today and along the road at Sheldrake saw a single
Bonaparte's Gull interacting with a Killdeer. At Wyers point under the docks
to the
south we found a Glossy Ibis! At Montezuma NWR we saw many species of
waterfowl and
shorebirds previously described by the many birders there this weekend. Enroute
Martens Tract we photographed Trumpeter Swans 206 and 207 who are starting to
look
more adult (banded last year as young). At Martens we turned the first corner
in the
Phrags and saw an American Bittern not ten feet away and trying desperately to 
do
the "I'm not here" look! Fun day with over 70 spp.

Photos of Ibis and Swans on our listserv and available upon request. Too 
awestruck
to snap the bittern.
John

-- 
John and Sue Gregoire
Field Ornithologists
Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory
5373 Fitzgerald Road
Burdett,NY 14818-9626
 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/
"Conserve and Create Habitat"




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[cayugabirds-l] Gully Road

2012-04-08 Thread Diana
Hi all,
 There were a pair of Ring-necked ducks in the pond. It's nice to have some 
water in it.

Diana

Diana Whiting
dianawhitingphotography.com
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[cayugabirds-l] SFO Montezuma Sunday April 8, 2012

2012-04-08 Thread david nicosia
Had another spectacular SFO field trip. Was planning on
just a short day, 7-11 am, but no one showed up for just the
1/2 day trip. So, I more than willingly, volunteered to lead a group
for the whole day! I had a small group, just 4 of us, including
me so we had one car. What a day! 1 student got 6 life birds
and the other got 3! We hit pretty much all of the "target"
birds that the group wanted, many with excellent looks at
field marks, behavior etc. The weather cooperated very nicely.
Chilly in the morning but excellent for scoping on Cayuga Lake.
Afternoon was breezy but not as windy as Saturday. Still good
viewing. We totaled an amazing 82 species!! 

Some photos... 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davenicosia/sets/72157629406612342/

Began at Ladoga Park and got 3 COMMON LOONS, 

8 RING-NECKED DUCKS and a few BUFFLEHEAD.  

Next was Myer's point...picked up 5 LONG-TAILED DUCKS,
KILLDEER, NORTHERN FLICKER, and many RING-BILLED
GULLS and 2 fly-by HERRING GULLS. 

Then we headed up toward Union Springs/Harris Park to get the
western grebe and others. But, on the way up, we hit the jackpot
on field birds. First we saw a few AMERICAN PIPITS right next 
to the road, some were in the ditch on Lake Road in King Ferry.
We stopped and got great looks and estimated about 30. We also
saw a HORNED LARK and a NORTHERN HARRIER 
who perched on the ground for us. Then a SAVANNAH
SPARROW was singing from the top of a post on the other side
of the road. Got great views and the students took some great photos.
Very cooperative! Then before Lake Road merges with Rte 90
in King Ferry, we saw flock after flock of AMERICAN PIPITs 
fly by. There were all over...we estimated 75-100! awesome views
of these cool birds. Also some good photos were taken (not by me!). 

Near Union Springs there was a COMMON RAVEN being mobbed
by AMERICAN CROWS not far from the lake. 

Then we stopped to see an OSPREY sitting on one of the nests

along Route 90 near Union Springs before Harris Park turn off. 
Of course got great views and then an EASTERN MEADOWLARK
visited us pretty close singing and offering great looks. The
bird was doing its classic hover and glide flight. He also landed
close by for killer looks. But I don't think he was still enough
for anyone to get photos.  

Then we hit the WESTERN GREBE spot on Lake Street

right by where Wheat Street meets it, south of Harris Park.
Like yesterday, all of our usual aythya species were present
with RUDDY DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON
MERGANSER. Had 4 RED BREASTED MERGANSERS
fly-by as well here. Then after some searching both WESTERN
GREBES showed up within an aythya raft. We also had
PIED-BILLED and HORNED GREBES here too. The rafts 
by the way are thinning down. 

Next stop was the Mud Lock BALD EAGLE nest. 2 chicks
visible, 1 adult perched in the tree and the other soaring
overhead...perfect lighting. 

Then we hit the Montezuma vistor's center...teal species continue
dominate. Many many GREEN-WINGED TEAL,
several BLUE-WINGED TEAL, a few NORTHERN SHOVELERS
and several GADWALL. Also TREE SWALLOWS. Did not
get PURPLE MARTINS. 

Wildlife drive yielded more ducks that we had already seen giving
the group a chance to practice id. Also got an excellent view of
a SWAMP SPARROW singing from the top of a reed by the road. 
We then stopped at Benning Marsh and the shorebirds that were
seen yesterday were very cooperative. Got 6 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, 3 DUNLIN, several LESSER and GREATER 
YELLOWLEGS and several WILSON'S SNIPE. The 
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were close so we got some 
excellent photos. Awesome birds. 

Next stop was Marten's Tract. Highlight was a SANDHILL
CRANE that was flying but then landed out of sight. We
walked on the trails but did not relocate. But we had
more waterfowl. We also got AMERICAN COOT and
COMMON GALLINULE (formerly MOORHEN). 

There was not too much on Morgan Road so next stop
was East Road over Knox-Marcellus Marsh. Many many
birds there. We were kind of tired and probably could have
spent a very long time there. But birds were distant and
we got only fair scope views of most species. Highlights
were 1 CASPIAN TERN which was distant but the large
size (much bigger than the ring-billed gulls with it), very light
wings that were pointed and tern-like flight were very diagnostic. 
Also go some black on the head. Was hard to see the bill
due to the heat shimmer and shear distance...60x on scope. 
The bird eventually landed and was loafing with a bunch
of gulls too far to see good enough from east road. 
Unfortunately only one of the students was able to see this
bird in my group before it landed. Also had
WOOD DUCK, a couple left-over SNOW GEESE, 
small rafts of aythya species, RUDDY DUCK,
NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON, 
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and a few others. 

We drove back to the lab and decided to head to Freese
Road and see if we could find the VESPER SPARROWS
that have been seen last few days. And bingo, 2 appeared
for us in the lone tree between fields across from the 

[cayugabirds-l] Vesper sparrow Freese Road.

2012-04-08 Thread daven1024
2 in lone tree between fields across from lab. 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry


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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?

2012-04-08 Thread Regi Teasley
Fellow birders.

   Of course, the earth was created for our pleasure and 
everything in and on it is here to entertain us.
We are superior and able to devise clever things that affect these 
creatures; if something enhances our enjoyment, what else matters?
It is of little concern to us that our calling them may expose them 
to predation, tire them or otherwise interfere with their lives.  Who cares?

  If a bird is killed in the forest, it is not real unless we see 
it.   And, if we see it, that is of interest to us and therefore it 
is as it should be.
Animals may readily be used for experimentation of various sorts to 
benefit us.  We may take specimens and study their dead bodies.
After all, any suffering is theirs, not ours.  They are not as real as we are.

   We will continue to entertain ourselves, read our magazines, 
gather their calls so that once they are extinct, we can still amuse 
ourselves by seeing photos and hearing their sounds.

  Let the chips, creatures, etc. fall where they may.  We can 
think of endless reasons to justify our actions.   It's all about us.
-

Anthropocentrism is the Achilles' heel of our species and may well 
seal our own fate.  However, we will probably still be congratulating 
ourselves as we step into the void.

Regi









At 11:39 AM 4/8/2012, Marie P Read wrote:
>My 2 cents worth,
>
>And using playbacks is now used by bird photographers everywhere to 
>entice in birds, especially the small hard-to-see ones such as 
>warblers. I am somewhat hypocritical here, because I do use this 
>technique myself on occasion, but what has happened in bird 
>photography is that EVERYONE can now do it, and EVERYONE does in 
>fact do it. It's raised the bar all over, but this means that more 
>and more birds are being harassed because everyone wants those 
>pretty, close-up warbler images. One appalling example is the 
>several well-known Barred Owl spots in Florida where the owls get 
>bugged over and over again by photographers to get flight shots. One 
>might argue (not my argument) that a few well-known owls being the 
>subject of annoyance is better that a lot of owls being bugged 
>everywhere. One could debate this whole issue at length and never 
>get consensussame with the owl-baiting discussions. It's out 
>there...it will not go away.
>
>Anyway, in the long term while using playbacks as a matter of course 
>is unfortunate, in my opinion, it will not go away at this point in time.
>
>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
>
>Now on FaceBook
>https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Read-Wildlife-Photography/104356136271727
>
>From: bounce-46014034-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
>[bounce-46014034-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John and Sue 
>Gregoire [k...@empacc.net]
>Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2012 9:36 AM
>To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
>Cc: KHAMOLISTSERV
>Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?
>
>Perhaps I misunderstand the CayugaBirds posts of late but in the 
>last couple of
>years I have seen many references to birders using electronic calls 
>to enhance their
>personal or group birding experience.
>
>It used to be a condemned practice and very strictly limited to 
>research, and then
>light usage only, as well as a part of the ABA Birding Code of 
>Ethics. I thought
>that perhaps these posts were new birders who hadn't been taught the 
>ethical code
>but now I see the use of calls somewhat codified by its use in SFO trips.
>
>While the proliferation of electronic devices may make this easier, 
>I don't see the
>need or the justification.
>
>Comments appreciated.
>John
>
>
>--
>John and Sue Gregoire
>Field Ornithologists
>Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory
>5373 Fitzgerald Road
>Burdett,NY 14818-9626
>  Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/
>"Conserve and Create Habitat"
>
>
>
>
>--
>
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>
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>
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>
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[cayugabirds-l] Caspian Tern Knox Marcellus.

2012-04-08 Thread daven1024
Just had 1 flying around with some gulls. Distant. Landed and loafing with 
gulls now very distant and impossible to see from east rd. Better view would be 
from towpath rd but lighting wud be bad.   Dave Nicosia. 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry


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[cayugabirds-l] Broad-winged Hawk - Cornell Campus (4/8)

2012-04-08 Thread Brendan Fogarty
Hi everyone,

A brief hawkwatch (1:30 PM-2:20PM) from the Ecology House on Cornell's North 
Campus by Eric Gulson, Ben Barkley, and myself  produced an adult Broad-winged 
Hawk along with some American Kestrels and Sharp-shinned Hawks along with the 
usual Red-tailed Hawks and vultures. Apart from hawks, we had 11 Common Loons 
going over to the north and northwest.

Cheers, 
Brendan Fogarty
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[cayugabirds-l] RFI: Common birds nesting

2012-04-08 Thread Marie P Read
Hi Cayugabirders,

I'm embarking on a major multi-media project with Lang Elliott this spring, and 
would like to enlist the help of local birders to locate nests of a variety of 
common species. Admittedly it's very early for most of these, so please keep us 
in mind as the season progresses. We plan to obtain video coverage of various 
behaviors, to add to our existing stills and sound-recordings, to be 
incorporated into a series of ebooks. We're interested in the nests of any 
species people would share, but we're particularly interested in the following 
species:

White-breasted Nuthatch
Killdeer
Barn Swallow
Baltimore Oriole
Cedar Waxwing
House Finch
House Wren
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
Any woodpeckers other than flicker/sapsucker. (would LOVE Pileated!)
Any owls.

Tree Swallow in tree hole only
Eastern Bluebird in tree hole only

As always, I offer you a beautiful print suitable for framing if the 
photography is successful.

Thanks in advance for any leads...and we'll keep you all posted about our 
forthcoming ebooks!

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

Now on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Read-Wildlife-Photography/104356136271727
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Re:[cayugabirds-l] (playback)Has birding ethics changed?

2012-04-08 Thread Lee Ann van Leer
I've heard this debated by many birders at many levels.  Many pros and cons 
have been argued. It is worthy of more research in to what if any negative or 
positive impact playback  has on individual birds, bird populations, bird 
conservation & funding.  Ecotourism in general has pros and cons but 
researchers  have to be willing to do the research to find out  what human 
impacts have on wildlife. 

Certainly one should adhere to some kind of guidelines regarding playback.  I'm 
including links to several articles that outline this debate and propose such 
guidelines. 

I know playback has been used as a teaching tool for decades. Mobbing & 
chickadee tapes in addition to a stuffed owl were used on most of the graduate 
level Ornithology (in North Carolina) field trips when I was a student in 1990. 
Instructors usually give playback  guidelines. 

As far as SFO (Spring Field Ornithology) playback is used very infrequently. 
Most field trips it is used not at all and the times it is used averages 
perhaps just a couple minutes total per trip. So fear not, playback used very 
conservatively in SFO in my opinion as a former student.  I  attended every SFO 
trip possible from 2008-2011 including all the full weekend trips. 

I'm glad someone reminds us all to be mindful about playback. I consider myself 
a moderate on the issue as I see definite pros and potential cons for the 
birds. Looking forward to research that gives us more answers.  I'd be willing 
to help conduct any such research if anyone is brave enough to want to find out 
the truth and there were funders. :-) Surely someone must be working on this 
already?

http://1birds.com/playback-of-bird-calls-benefits-some-birds.htm

http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/04/the-proper-use-of-playback-in-birding/

http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~smithsm/Impact%20of%20Playback%20on%20Birds.pdf


Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 8, 2012, at 9:36 AM, John and Sue Gregoire <
> 
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> 
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> 
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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?

2012-04-08 Thread Carl Steckler
Marie is right, as more birders also want to photograph birds it is 
going to increase. I too am guilty of this behavior. I will not count a 
bird on my life list unless I have a recognizable photo of it.  It is 
hard enough to find a bird when you can hear it, but in my case with 
most of my high frequency hearing gone I can't hear most birds so I 
supplement that by using calls.


However having said that I also have done some research on how much this 
alters the behavior of the birds to actually be harmful. From what I 
have read and the "experts" I have talked to there seems to be no real 
consensus. My own background, being educated as a wildlife biologist 
tells me that even stepping into the habitat alters behavior. The 
question, still unanswered is how much and is it harmful?


Take an example. I wanted to photograph a Woodcock. I could go tramping 
around in possible locations during the day hoping to flush one, or I 
could go out at night when they are doing their mating flights. Find a 
bird and shine a spotlight to locate the bird and take the photo. I did 
some research from others who used this method and the general consensus 
was that after spotlighting the bird and taking flash photos the bird 
went right on as if nothing had happened. Indeed this is exactly what 
happened when I photographed a Woodcock. the bird continued his mating 
flights even during my attempts to photograph him and continued after I 
stopped.


Was the bird harmed?  The bird didn't even seem frightened when lighted 
and exposed to the flash of my camera. It didn't try to hide or fly 
away, it stopped for a few seconds and then went back to it's mating 
flights. In fact it took several flights to get a good photo and the 
bird came back to the same spot while we stood there several feet away.


I think that we tend to give our selves too much credit for disturbing 
wildlife. Unless we really try to harm the bird or destroy it's habitat 
I feel that the bird or other wildlife simply goes away from us, hides 
or goes about it's business with little regard for us.  I guess the real 
question is how far we go and what we are willing to allow in our 
pursuit of birding. Remember what was acceptable in Audubon's time? At 
least we only shoot with cameras.

Carl Steckler


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"For those who fought for it,
Freedom has a flavor the
protected will never know"



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Re: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?

2012-04-08 Thread geokloppel
>From the ABA code:
"Limit the use of recordings and other methods of attracting birds, and never 
use such methods in heavily birded areas, or for attracting any species that is 
Threatened, Endangered, or of Special Concern, or is rare in your local area"
So, the code implicitly recognizes these attraction techniques as birding 
tools, and just calls for us to use situationally appropriate judgement and 
restraint. The two "never" clauses declare cases that are beyond the bounds of 
appropriateness, but otherwise the community of American birders is enjoined to 
educate, judge and police itself through ongoing debate about the topic.
Geo 
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[cayugabirds-l] Shorebirds continue Benning Marsh.

2012-04-08 Thread daven1024
6 Pectoral Sandpiper
3 Dunlin
Many Lesser and few Greater Yellowlegs. 
Several Wilson's Snipe. 

Dave Nicosia. 
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry


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[cayugabirds-l] Swamp Sparrow

2012-04-08 Thread Marie P Read
This species has probably already been reported elsewhere, but there was a 
singing Swamp Sparrow in the beaver meadow next to my property an hour or so 
ago.

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

Now on FaceBook
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RE: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?

2012-04-08 Thread Marie P Read
My 2 cents worth,

And using playbacks is now used by bird photographers everywhere to entice in 
birds, especially the small hard-to-see ones such as warblers. I am somewhat 
hypocritical here, because I do use this technique myself on occasion, but what 
has happened in bird photography is that EVERYONE can now do it, and EVERYONE 
does in fact do it. It's raised the bar all over, but this means that more and 
more birds are being harassed because everyone wants those pretty, close-up 
warbler images. One appalling example is the several well-known Barred Owl 
spots in Florida where the owls get bugged over and over again by photographers 
to get flight shots. One might argue (not my argument) that a few well-known 
owls being the subject of annoyance is better that a lot of owls being bugged 
everywhere. One could debate this whole issue at length and never get 
consensussame with the owl-baiting discussions. It's out there...it will 
not go away.

Anyway, in the long term while using playbacks as a matter of course is 
unfortunate, in my opinion, it will not go away at this point in time.

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

Now on FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Read-Wildlife-Photography/104356136271727

From: bounce-46014034-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-46014034-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John and Sue Gregoire 
[k...@empacc.net]
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2012 9:36 AM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Cc: KHAMOLISTSERV
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?

Perhaps I misunderstand the CayugaBirds posts of late but in the last couple of
years I have seen many references to birders using electronic calls to enhance 
their
personal or group birding experience.

It used to be a condemned practice and very strictly limited to research, and 
then
light usage only, as well as a part of the ABA Birding Code of Ethics. I thought
that perhaps these posts were new birders who hadn't been taught the ethical 
code
but now I see the use of calls somewhat codified by its use in SFO trips.

While the proliferation of electronic devices may make this easier, I don't see 
the
need or the justification.

Comments appreciated.
John


--
John and Sue Gregoire
Field Ornithologists
Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory
5373 Fitzgerald Road
Burdett,NY 14818-9626
 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/
"Conserve and Create Habitat"




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[cayugabirds-l] eBird Report - Cayuga Nature Center, Apr 8, 2012

2012-04-08 Thread Nancy W Dickinson
Sunday morning birding has begun at Cayuga Nature Center, and we had a good 
time this morning, with good looks at a number of birds including Brown 
Creeper, Carolina Wren, Bluebird, and Towhee.  Heard Sapsucker and Field 
Sparrow repeatedly.

This is an easy walk through varied habitat, in a small group with an 
experienced guide with scope.  Great fun!  New birds arriving soon.  Sunday 
mornings through mid-May, 7:30 to 9:30.

Nancy Dickinson

From: do-not-re...@ebird.org [do-not-re...@ebird.org]
Sent: Sunday, April 08, 2012 10:59 AM
To: Nancy W Dickinson
Subject: eBird Report - Cayuga Nature Center, Apr 8, 2012

Cayuga Nature Center, Tompkins, US-NY
Apr 8, 2012 7:30 AM - 9:45 AM
Protocol: Area
12.0 ac
34 species

Mallard  2
Wild Turkey  5
Great Blue Heron  2
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Killdeer  1
Mourning Dove  4
Red-bellied Woodpecker  2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Downy Woodpecker  3
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Northern Flicker  1
Eastern Phoebe  3
Blue Jay  2
American Crow  4
Tree Swallow  10
Black-capped Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  2
White-breasted Nuthatch  1
Brown Creeper  1
Carolina Wren  2
Golden-crowned Kinglet  4
Eastern Bluebird  6
American Robin  20
Eastern Towhee  1
Field Sparrow  1
Song Sparrow  8
White-throated Sparrow  2
Dark-eyed Junco  3
Northern Cardinal  4
Red-winged Blackbird  8
Common Grackle  2
Brown-headed Cowbird  6
American Goldfinch  1
House Sparrow  1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

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[cayugabirds-l] Western Grebes continue south of Harris Park

2012-04-08 Thread daven1024
Still near wheat st and lake rd. In with aythya rafts.  
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry


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[cayugabirds-l] vireo, sapsucker fallout

2012-04-08 Thread Susan Fast
I walked Leonard Rd. and Bald Hill School Rd.(state forest part, town of
Caroline) early today.  Heard a BLUE-HEADED VIREO along Leonard.  Listened
to it for a while; finally got a visual;   it was in a tall treetop and the
breast looked like the morning star in the rising sun.  I've taken this walk
twice in the past week and have recorded 1 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER each
time.  Today there were 14 in about a 2-mile stretch of woods.

Also in the 2 earlier walks, there have been 2 WINTER WRENS each time-today
I saw 4.  The odd thing is I have yet to hear a winter wren song from this
location.

 

Steve Fast

Brooktondale

 

 


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[cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?

2012-04-08 Thread John and Sue Gregoire
Perhaps I misunderstand the CayugaBirds posts of late but in the last couple of
years I have seen many references to birders using electronic calls to enhance 
their
personal or group birding experience.

It used to be a condemned practice and very strictly limited to research, and 
then
light usage only, as well as a part of the ABA Birding Code of Ethics. I thought
that perhaps these posts were new birders who hadn't been taught the ethical 
code
but now I see the use of calls somewhat codified by its use in SFO trips.

While the proliferation of electronic devices may make this easier, I don't see 
the
need or the justification.

Comments appreciated.
John


-- 
John and Sue Gregoire
Field Ornithologists
Kestrel Haven Avian Migration Observatory
5373 Fitzgerald Road
Burdett,NY 14818-9626
 Website: http://www.empacc.net/~kestrelhaven/
"Conserve and Create Habitat"




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