Re: [cayugabirds-l] SFO Montezuma Sunday April 8, 2012
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.
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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Glossy Ibis and A. Bittern
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" -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Gully Road
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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[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. 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.
2 in lone tree between fields across from lab. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?
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" > > > > >-- > >Cayugabirds-L List Info: >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > >ARCHIVES: >1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > >-- > >-- > >Cayugabirds-L List Info: >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES >http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > >ARCHIVES: >1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html >2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds >3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > >Please submit your observations to eBird: >http://ebird.org/content/eb
[cayugabirds-l] Caspian Tern Knox Marcellus.
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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Broad-winged Hawk - Cornell Campus (4/8)
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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] RFI: Common birds nesting
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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re:[cayugabirds-l] (playback)Has birding ethics changed?
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 < > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?
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 -- "For those who fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know" -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
Re: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?
>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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Shorebirds continue Benning Marsh.
6 Pectoral Sandpiper 3 Dunlin Many Lesser and few Greater Yellowlegs. Several Wilson's Snipe. Dave Nicosia. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Swamp Sparrow
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 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Read-Wildlife-Photography/104356136271727 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
RE: [cayugabirds-l] Has birding ethics changed?
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" -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] eBird Report - Cayuga Nature Center, Apr 8, 2012
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) -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] Western Grebes continue south of Harris Park
Still near wheat st and lake rd. In with aythya rafts. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[cayugabirds-l] vireo, sapsucker fallout
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 -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
[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" -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
