[nysbirds-l] Prothonotary Warbler - Connetquot River State Park, Suffolk NY

[David La Magna]

Continues today, same area east of mill as seen on Sunday, singing its head off.

Seen with Phil Uruburu.

-Dave

Sent from my iPhone
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[nysbirds-l] Senate Bill 1081 (trap -neuter - return of feral cats to the wild)

[Michael Galas]

I am
forwarding this important message for my colleague Gerry Rising.--Mike Galas A
bill (senate 1081) has passed the NY assembly and the senate agriculture
committee. Now it is before the senate finance committee. It is very important
for birders to understand what the bill means to wildlife. I urge readers to
contact their state senator to oppose this bill. Here's why: The
bill supports and provides funding for so-called TNR (trap-neuter-return) for
feral cats. The problem with this procedure lies in that R. Once the cats are
returned to where they were trapped, colonies are established for them at which
they are fed and sheltered, but they are still allowed to run wild. These
protected cats are killing thousands of songbirds and even more small mammals
at a time when songbird populations are already threatened. National estimates
of birds killed each year by feral cats are in the millions. TNR
proponents claim that over time their colonies will reduce the number of feral
cats, but the evidence is strong against them. Two other approaches offer a
better route to elimination of these animals in the wild: trap-and-euthanize or
trap-and-maintain, the latter in secure facilities. What
is so illogical about TNR is its contrast with our usual approach to wildlife.
We are encouraged not to feed wild animals. (In many urban and suburban areas
even bird feeding is discouraged because it attracts vermin.) Yet TNR and feral
cat communities are being established to feed and shelter an alien species. The
house cat, a wonderful pet when kept inside where it belongs, is not native to
the western hemisphere. I am
attaching to this message three documents: a copy of the senate bill, a draft
copy of my position paper on this issue, and Ted Williams' article about feral
cats that appeared in Audubon Magazine. PLEASE
MOVE QUICKLY TO HEAD OFF THIS DANGEROUS LEGISLATION BY COMMUNICATING YOUR
OPPOSITION TO YOUR STATE SENATOR. If you do not know who is your senator, you
can find out at www.nysenate.gov/senators using the search tool. Gerry
RisingAmherst,
NYinsr...@buffalo.edu 



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[nysbirds-l] Pelagic Trip Results?

[Hugh McGuinness]

Has anyone posted a trip list from the recent pelagic trip yet? Did I miss
it? If not, could someone do so, please?

Hugh

-- 
Hugh McGuinness
Washington, D.C.

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[nysbirds-l] Lincoln- Bryant Park

[Alan Drogin]

Among the newly planted begonias around the bird bath in the northeast corner 
lurks a Lincoln Sparrow.  Looks suspiciously like the light grey specimen 
spotted a couple of weeks back during a Gabriel walk.  Also present was a full 
breeding plumage Swamp Sparrow.  To round it off a remaining Common 
White-throated Sparrow was in the begonia patch behind the southeast patio.

Happy city birding,
Alan Drogin

Sent from my iPhone
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Senate Bill 1081 (trap -neuter - return of feral cats to the wild)

[Beverley Robertson]

The other problem may seem obvious but was not stated here. People who want to 
get rid of their pets see the colonies as places to drop them. 

Bev Robertson

Sent from my iPad

> On Jun 3, 2015, at 11:12 AM, Michael Galas  wrote:
> 
> I am forwarding this important message for my colleague Gerry Rising.--Mike 
> Galas
> 
>  
> 
> A bill (senate 1081) has passed the NY assembly and the senate agriculture 
> committee. Now it is before the senate finance committee. It is very 
> important for birders to understand what the bill means to wildlife. I urge 
> readers to contact their state senator to oppose this bill. Here's why:
> 
>  
> 
> The bill supports and provides funding for so-called TNR (trap-neuter-return) 
> for feral cats. The problem with this procedure lies in that R. Once the cats 
> are returned to where they were trapped, colonies are established for them at 
> which they are fed and sheltered, but they are still allowed to run wild. 
> These protected cats are killing thousands of songbirds and even more small 
> mammals at a time when songbird populations are already threatened. National 
> estimates of birds killed each year by feral cats are in the millions.
> 
>  
> 
> TNR proponents claim that over time their colonies will reduce the number of 
> feral cats, but the evidence is strong against them. Two other approaches 
> offer a better route to elimination of these animals in the wild: 
> trap-and-euthanize or trap-and-maintain, the latter in secure facilities.
> 
>  
> 
> What is so illogical about TNR is its contrast with our usual approach to 
> wildlife. We are encouraged not to feed wild animals. (In many urban and 
> suburban areas even bird feeding is discouraged because it attracts vermin.) 
> Yet TNR and feral cat communities are being established to feed and shelter 
> an alien species. The house cat, a wonderful pet when kept inside where it 
> belongs, is not native to the western hemisphere.
> 
>  
> 
> I am attaching to this message three documents: a copy of the senate bill, a 
> draft copy of my position paper on this issue, and Ted Williams' article 
> about feral cats that appeared in Audubon Magazine.
> 
>  
> 
> PLEASE MOVE QUICKLY TO HEAD OFF THIS DANGEROUS LEGISLATION BY COMMUNICATING 
> YOUR OPPOSITION TO YOUR STATE SENATOR. If you do not know who is your 
> senator, you can find out at www.nysenate.gov/senators using the search tool.
> 
>  
> 
> Gerry Rising
> 
> Amherst, NY
> 
> insr...@buffalo.edu
> 
>  
> 
> --
> NYSbirds-L List Info:
> Welcome and Basics
> Rules and Information
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
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> Please submit your observations to eBird!
> --
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

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FW: [nysbirds-l] Senate Bill 1081 (trap -neuter - return of feral cats to the wild)

[David Klauber]

The first attachment has a link to find your senator, and when his/her name 
comes up, there's already an elctronic form that makes this process easier.
That we will be paying for and encouraging these cat colonies is beyond insane
 
From: michael.gal...@gmail.com
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2015 11:12:08 -0400
Subject: [nysbirds-l] Senate Bill 1081 (trap -neuter - return of feral cats to 
the wild)
CC: insr...@buffalo.edu
To: nysbirds-l@cornell.edu
















I am
forwarding this important message for my colleague Gerry Rising.--Mike Galas A
bill (senate 1081) has passed the NY assembly and the senate agriculture
committee. Now it is before the senate finance committee. It is very important
for birders to understand what the bill means to wildlife. I urge readers to
contact their state senator to oppose this bill. Here's why: The
bill supports and provides funding for so-called TNR (trap-neuter-return) for
feral cats. The problem with this procedure lies in that R. Once the cats are
returned to where they were trapped, colonies are established for them at which
they are fed and sheltered, but they are still allowed to run wild. These
protected cats are killing thousands of songbirds and even more small mammals
at a time when songbird populations are already threatened. National estimates
of birds killed each year by feral cats are in the millions. TNR
proponents claim that over time their colonies will reduce the number of feral
cats, but the evidence is strong against them. Two other approaches offer a
better route to elimination of these animals in the wild: trap-and-euthanize or
trap-and-maintain, the latter in secure facilities. What
is so illogical about TNR is its contrast with our usual approach to wildlife.
We are encouraged not to feed wild animals. (In many urban and suburban areas
even bird feeding is discouraged because it attracts vermin.) Yet TNR and feral
cat communities are being established to feed and shelter an alien species. The
house cat, a wonderful pet when kept inside where it belongs, is not native to
the western hemisphere. I am
attaching to this message three documents: a copy of the senate bill, a draft
copy of my position paper on this issue, and Ted Williams' article about feral
cats that appeared in Audubon Magazine. PLEASE
MOVE QUICKLY TO HEAD OFF THIS DANGEROUS LEGISLATION BY COMMUNICATING YOUR
OPPOSITION TO YOUR STATE SENATOR. If you do not know who is your senator, you
can find out at www.nysenate.gov/senators using the search tool. Gerry
RisingAmherst,
nyinsr...@buffalo.edu 



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[nysbirds-l] ADMIN: Attachments

[Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes]

As a reminder, please do not post attachments to the NYSbirds-L eList.

Rules may be read here:

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Thanks!

Sincerely,
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[nysbirds-l] Hudson Canyon Pelagic 6/1

[jon]

I shared this recap on NJ Listserv yesterday, I figured some of the NY birders 
may like to read my brief recap as well...   
  I sailed with Paulagics from Brooklyn to the Hudson Canyon on the 
Sun/Mon trip. The forecast was looking treacherous and I almost 
convinced myself not to go although I handle rough seas pretty well. 6ft
 seas, 30 mph wind and up to 4" of rain was forecasted but the trip 
still sailed. I medicated myself with Dramamine when I got on the boat 
and quickly dosed into a restless half-conscious sleep until 4am. The boat
 was surprisingly steady when I awoke, seas were only about 2ft, a light
 sea breeze and a view of the moon setting over the water. Perfect 
pelagic birding conditions!

The first bird of the day was a Leach's Storm Petrel flying 
around within 20' of the back of the boat. Naked eye and lit only from 
the boats lights, this birds flight style is so distinctive from 
Wilson's it made for an easy Id. We had these birds with us for the 
entire portion of the offshore trip. Probably a dozen individuals. I 
appreciated the opportunity to familiarize myself with this species.

   Second bird of the day came powering up the slick before sunrise. 
"It's a Skua!!!", that got the blood flowing. What a hulking beast of a 
bird! We were graced with 6 individuals throughout the trip with a few 
coming so close you could, as Paul said, "smell the penguin on their 
breath". We had 3 at once that stayed in view for probably an hour. You 
know it's a good trip when it gets to the point when everyone says "oh 
it's just the Skuas coming around again", sarcastically of course.

  We had a Pomerine Jaeger and a Long-tailed pass by early in the 
day leaving us wanting more. An excellent showing of Cory's, Great, 
Sooty, Audubon's and Manx Shearwaters satiated our desire for seabirds. 
There weren't many moments during the trip that a shearwater wasn't in 
view. I made the most of this opportunity to study the difference in 
flight style, plumage and especially structure of these birds. I have 
distinguishable tan lines, or sunburn lines, around my eyes from holding
 my bins up to my face so much. Terns were flying by all day and we were
 able to discern at least 3 as being Arctic.

   The real excitement for me came on the way back to the dock when 
we were around 50 miles out. The conditions started deteriorating 
quickly. Rain was falling, the wind kicked up and the seas became VERY 
rough. Most folks headed into the cabin while some braved the elements 
for the shearwater show. We were passing groups of shearwaters that 
contained hundreds of birds. Sooty, Great and Cory's were everywhere! 
Slicing and dicing through the air propelling themselves through 40knot 
winds and 8ft+ seas. It was exhilarating watching these birds arcing and
 blasting past the boat. At one point I counted 26 Sootys around the 
boat that were identifiable by naked eye. Watching these birds harness 
the energy of the wind through their dynamic flight is mesmerizing. I 
wish there were more opportunities to get out to see and watch these 
avian acrobats.

   The boat we went out on was awesome too. I had a bacon, egg and 
cheese sandwich for breakfast and a cheeseburger for lunch. 
As always, Paul led an incredible trip and the leaders never cease to amaze me. 
Everyone on board was able to get on all the birds, with the exception of MASH, 
you have to be out of the cabin at the right time to catch these passers-by.
 Here's an approximation of the total, conservatively estimated(my list, not 
"official")


 
Sooty Shearwater- 90
 
Great Shearwater- 75
 
Cory's Shearwater- 125
 
Shearwater sp. - 450
 
Audobon's Shearwater- 3
 
Manx Shearwater- 4
 
Pomarine Jaeger- 1
 
Long-tailed Jaeger- 1
 
Arctic Tern- 3
 
Wilson's Storm-petrel- 100(maybe 3x this figure)
 
Leaches Storm-petrel- 8 (maybe 3x this figure)
 
South Polar Skua- 6


 
Jon Stippick
 
Newfield, NJ

jonstippick at gmaildotcom
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[nysbirds-l] 6/1 Pelagic Trip Report & Final Tally- SKUA-PALOOZA and More!

[Doug Gochfeld]

The See Life Paulagics overnight pelagic trip aboard the Brooklyn VI out of
Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, on Monday June 1, was a great success.

We left the dock Sunday night amid rain showers and dark overcast skies,
but the farther and farther we got from the dock, the better the weather
became. By the time we were stopped 120 miles from shore, at around 4 AM,
the seas and wind were calm, and the Big Dipper was shining over the boat
from a mostly clear sky.

Before the sun had risen we had already picked up two of the main target
birds for the trip: Leach's Storm-Petrel, and SOUTH POLAR SKUA. Little did
we know it at the time, but that Skua was indeed a strong harbinger of
things to come, as we would tally 5 more (4 definite South Polars, and one
that was a bit too far to definitively identify, but was most likely also a
South Polar). For an extended period of time, we had 3 South Polar Skuas
around the boat at once, making very close flight circuits, and at times
sitting on the water together.

The non-bird marine life was also excellent, and one of the biggest
highlights of the trip, for many, was a repeatedly breaching BASKING SHARK,
very close to the boat. In addition to that, we saw a group of Pilot Fish
amid the tentacles of a Portuguese Man O' War, several Mola mola (Ocean
Sunfish), Risso's Dolphins, a Blue Shark, and more.

The weather deteriorated markedly as we approached shore, but while we were
motoring back through the choppy seas and dreary skies (adjacent to Nassau
County), at 18+ knots, we passed a couple of very large aggregations of
Shearwaters, numbering around 800 birds. These were predominantly Sooty and
Cory's with a fair number of Greats, but we weren't able to stop to sort
through them due to time constraints. Either way, the flocks milling around
in the weather were a true spectacle.

Some photos, including the Basking Shark breaching, a bunch of Skuas, a
huge Mola mola, and the Pilot Fish, are here (and also embedded in the
various eBird checklists):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/29840397@N08


Without further ado, here is the pelagic list:

Birds:
*SOUTH POLAR SKUA*- *5*
*Skua sp*.- 1
*LONG-TAILED JAEGER*- 1 (2nd calendar year bird)
POMARINE JAEGER- 1 (adult)
LEACH'S STORM-PETREL- *26*
Wilson's Storm-Petrel- 215
Oceanodroma sp.- 3
*AUDUBON'S SHEARWATER*-* 5*
Manx Shearwater- 9
Sooty Shearwater- *465*
Cory's Shearwater- *310*
Great Shearwater- 70
Shearwater sp.- 250
ARCTIC TERN- 4 (Probably at least *10*, as one distant flock of 6 birds
were probably Arctics)
Common Tern- 14 (+75 around the Breezy Point Jetty)
Sterna sp.- 30
Common Loon- 2
Double-crested Cormorant- 3
BARN SWALLOW- 2 (separate individuals a mile apart, about 87 miles out from
the dock, and 75 miles from the closest point of land. One was fairly pale,
and the other was the expected rusty-bellied plumage)
PURPLE MARTIN- 1 (about 8 miles from shore on the way in, briefly following
the boat).
Surf Scoter- 1 drake alongside the Breezy Point jetty
Great Black-backed Gull- 1

Non-birds:
*BASKING SHARK*- 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/29840397@N08/18405240816
Blue Shark- 1
Risso's Dolphin- 6
Offshore Bottlenose Dolphin- 3
Common Dolphin- 15
Portuguese Man O' War- 25+
*Pilot Fish*- 40-50
Mola Mola (Ocean Sunfish)- 8
Pelagic barnacles (probably the genus *Lepas*)- 15-20


We left the dock with people on land saying "What are they thinking going
off shore on a day like this?"
As we approached land and got into the ugly on-shore weather, many people
on the boat must have been thinking "What was everybody thinking staying on
land on a day like this?!"

A huge thank you to Paul and Anita Guris for putting the trip together, and
to the crew on the Brooklyn VI (Mike, Matty, Philly, Jesus):
https://www.facebook.com/brooklynvi.fishing

Good Seabirding,
Doug Gochfeld. Brooklyn, NY.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/29840397@N08

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[nysbirds-l] Common nighthawk

[Beverley Robertson]

Common nighthawk flying along the edge of the bluff Peconic (Town of Southold) 
looking toward LI Sound 8:30 this evening as I watched the sunset.
Bev Robertson

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Senate Bill 1081 (trap -neuter - return of feral cats to the wild)

[Rob Bate]

This issue about TNR and Senate bill 1081 may have so much traction with
the people who follow this list that this thread will stay up for a while
in contrast with other off topic threads.  Bill 1081 has now passed out of
the Senate Finance committee but it does not as yet have a date for debate
and voting on the Senate floor.  There is much to disapprove of about this
bill sanctioning TNR but the talking points bandied about on birder sites
are just as misguided as the talking points in the TNR community.

The bill, if passed as it is (and should it be signed by Governor Cuomo),
contradicts already established law regarding the release of invasive
species back into the wild once they are in hand and, as such, is unlikely
to withstand a legal challenge.  There are also surely established health
codes that are violated by the state's sanctioning and funding of TNR
practices.  The bill, as written, is almost boilerplate TNR party line and
looks like it was handed to our legislators and put to votes without any
vetting whatsoever.

The efficacy of TNR as a means of reducing feral cat populations has never
been established - but the claim has never been disproven either.  Feral
cat colonies are not rigorously controlled for variables such as the
continued dumping of pets (the original cause of all colonies) or for an
accounting of the percentage of cats successfully trapped and neutered
(rarely if ever could an ideal state of 100% TNR be achieved due to the
inherent wariness of felines.)  The logic of TNR, however, is
unassailable.  A colony exists where people have been dumping unwanted pets
for years; along comes a caretaker who takes the time to trap these cats,
have them neutered, remove any kittens and "friendlys" and putting them up
for adoption, and also removing and euthanizing any seriously ill and
contagious cats.  What you now have is fewer cats who are no longer
multiplying and who are no longer acting out sexually by yowling and
spraying.  Neutered cats, though they still hunt, do so more close to home
where they are fed by colony caretakers, and so they don't range as far for
prey.  Though this situation is far from ideal, especially as far as birds
are concerned, surely it is a better situation than existed prior to the
arrival of a caretaker. That's the logic and it is fair to assume that
rarely is an ideal state achieved but it is, however, unfair to
characterize TNR and colony caretakers as the cause of the feral cat
problem, a problem that predated their involvement.

We birders would be well advised to push positive actions like the removal
or relocation of colonies on state land and in especially sensitive habitat
locations.  We could call for rigorous scientific study of feral cat
population control methods, including TNR, before any method is enshrined
in state law.  Advocating for the licensing of pet cats and regulations
concerning breeding of cats is also a good step and the monies raised can
go to educate the public on the need to protect wild creatures threatened
by free roaming cats.  Making TNR the issue is ill advised, misguided and
counter productive; TNR people could conceivably prove to be valuable
allies in any serious legislative efforts to protect wild birds and other
animals.

Rob Bate
Brooklyn


On Wed, Jun 3, 2015 at 11:12 AM, Michael Galas 
wrote:

> I am forwarding this important message for my colleague Gerry
> Rising.--Mike Galas
>
>
>
> A bill (senate 1081) has passed the NY assembly and the senate agriculture
> committee. Now it is before the senate finance committee. It is very
> important for birders to understand what the bill means to wildlife. I urge
> readers to contact their state senator to oppose this bill. Here's why:
>
>
>
> The bill supports and provides funding for so-called TNR
> (trap-neuter-return) for feral cats. The problem with this procedure lies
> in that R. Once the cats are returned to where they were trapped, colonies
> are established for them at which they are fed and sheltered, but they are
> still allowed to run wild. These protected cats are killing thousands of
> songbirds and even more small mammals at a time when songbird populations
> are already threatened. National estimates of birds killed each year by
> feral cats are in the millions.
>
>
>
> TNR proponents claim that over time their colonies will reduce the number
> of feral cats, but the evidence is strong against them. Two other
> approaches offer a better route to elimination of these animals in the
> wild: trap-and-euthanize or trap-and-maintain, the latter in secure
> facilities.
>
>
>
> What is so illogical about TNR is its contrast with our usual approach to
> wildlife. We are encouraged not to feed wild animals. (In many urban and
> suburban areas even bird feeding is discouraged because it attracts
> vermin.) Yet TNR and feral cat communities are being established to feed
> and shelter an alien species. The house cat, a wonderful pet when kept
> inside where it belongs

Re: [nysbirds-l] Senate Bill 1081 (trap -neuter - return of feral cats to the wild)

[Richard Guthrie]

Good thinking. But first we have to defeat this measure.

I introduced myself (again) to the person who was the main proponent behind
this bill with that thinking in mind. But undoing the rules and precedence
that would follow if TNR goes through will be much more difficult than
killing this bill and starting over with some conversation with the cat
people. I am not optimistic about a reasonable compromise, but it would be
better to try than to let this one slide.

The way it is right now is all one-sided with no good coming out of it.

They did their homework, planned a forceful strategy and moved ahead. They
caught us blindsided.

We don't have much time.

Richard Guthrie
New Baltimore



On Wed, Jun 3, 2015 at 9:16 PM, Rob Bate  wrote:

> This issue about TNR and Senate bill 1081 may have so much traction with
> the people who follow this list that this thread will stay up for a while
> in contrast with other off topic threads.  Bill 1081 has now passed out of
> the Senate Finance committee but it does not as yet have a date for debate
> and voting on the Senate floor.  There is much to disapprove of about this
> bill sanctioning TNR but the talking points bandied about on birder sites
> are just as misguided as the talking points in the TNR community.
>
> The bill, if passed as it is (and should it be signed by Governor Cuomo),
> contradicts already established law regarding the release of invasive
> species back into the wild once they are in hand and, as such, is unlikely
> to withstand a legal challenge.  There are also surely established health
> codes that are violated by the state's sanctioning and funding of TNR
> practices.  The bill, as written, is almost boilerplate TNR party line and
> looks like it was handed to our legislators and put to votes without any
> vetting whatsoever.
>
> The efficacy of TNR as a means of reducing feral cat populations has never
> been established - but the claim has never been disproven either.  Feral
> cat colonies are not rigorously controlled for variables such as the
> continued dumping of pets (the original cause of all colonies) or for an
> accounting of the percentage of cats successfully trapped and neutered
> (rarely if ever could an ideal state of 100% TNR be achieved due to the
> inherent wariness of felines.)  The logic of TNR, however, is
> unassailable.  A colony exists where people have been dumping unwanted pets
> for years; along comes a caretaker who takes the time to trap these cats,
> have them neutered, remove any kittens and "friendlys" and putting them up
> for adoption, and also removing and euthanizing any seriously ill and
> contagious cats.  What you now have is fewer cats who are no longer
> multiplying and who are no longer acting out sexually by yowling and
> spraying.  Neutered cats, though they still hunt, do so more close to home
> where they are fed by colony caretakers, and so they don't range as far for
> prey.  Though this situation is far from ideal, especially as far as birds
> are concerned, surely it is a better situation than existed prior to the
> arrival of a caretaker. That's the logic and it is fair to assume that
> rarely is an ideal state achieved but it is, however, unfair to
> characterize TNR and colony caretakers as the cause of the feral cat
> problem, a problem that predated their involvement.
>
> We birders would be well advised to push positive actions like the removal
> or relocation of colonies on state land and in especially sensitive habitat
> locations.  We could call for rigorous scientific study of feral cat
> population control methods, including TNR, before any method is enshrined
> in state law.  Advocating for the licensing of pet cats and regulations
> concerning breeding of cats is also a good step and the monies raised can
> go to educate the public on the need to protect wild creatures threatened
> by free roaming cats.  Making TNR the issue is ill advised, misguided and
> counter productive; TNR people could conceivably prove to be valuable
> allies in any serious legislative efforts to protect wild birds and other
> animals.
>
> Rob Bate
> Brooklyn
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 3, 2015 at 11:12 AM, Michael Galas 
> wrote:
>
>> I am forwarding this important message for my colleague Gerry
>> Rising.--Mike Galas
>>
>>
>>
>> A bill (senate 1081) has passed the NY assembly and the senate
>> agriculture committee. Now it is before the senate finance committee. It is
>> very important for birders to understand what the bill means to wildlife. I
>> urge readers to contact their state senator to oppose this bill. Here's why:
>>
>>
>>
>> The bill supports and provides funding for so-called TNR
>> (trap-neuter-return) for feral cats. The problem with this procedure lies
>> in that R. Once the cats are returned to where they were trapped, colonies
>> are established for them at which they are fed and sheltered, but they are
>> still allowed to run wild. These protected cats are killing thousands of
>> songbirds an