[nysbirds-l] white-winged dove/cockatiel

[Andrew Block]

Had a funny experience today along the Taconic Parkway.  As I was nearing the 
northbound exit 8 I saw just above car level and along the side of the road a 
bird flying parallel to me that I at first thought was a white-winged dove.  It 
had the swift flight of a dove and was about the right size, but as I neared it 
and started to pass it It turned out to be a cockatiel!  Go figure.  It had the 
ancestral plumage with the white wing patches which is what through me off.  So 
if anyone in the Millwood area is missing a cockatiel, it was last seen flying 
north at exit 8 of the parkway:-)
Andrew
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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[nysbirds-l] white-winged dove/cockatiel

[Andrew Block]

Had a funny experience today along the Taconic Parkway.  As I was nearing the 
northbound exit 8 I saw just above car level and along the side of the road a 
bird flying parallel to me that I at first thought was a white-winged dove.  It 
had the swift flight of a dove and was about the right size, but as I neared it 
and started to pass it It turned out to be a cockatiel!  Go figure.  It had the 
ancestral plumage with the white wing patches which is what through me off.  So 
if anyone in the Millwood area is missing a cockatiel, it was last seen flying 
north at exit 8 of the parkway:-)
Andrew
Andrew v. F. Block
Consulting Naturalist
20 Hancock Avenue, Apt. 3
Yonkers, Westchester Co., New York 10705-4780 
www.flickr.com/photos/conuropsis/albums
--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L
3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Orhan Birol]

 Dr, Bill Zitek.who single handedly turned around theBluebird nesting
program, I starting eighteen years ago, and has been a beloved veterinarian
for the last forty or so years in the north fork of LI , requested me to
post on his behalf the following:

I could contribute to this but don’t know how to get in to the
conversation. 18 years on our nest box trail at Mashomack produced not only
Eastern Bluebirds but even more Tree Swallows. One of the treats for
volunteers was to watch a feather thrown up into the air and immediately
snapped up by a swooping tree swallow. One time one of our volunteers
brought a friend along, when told of this phenomena with tree swallows, he
scoffed at the idea and net me a lunch that it wouldn’t happen. To be on
the “up and up” I let him flip a white feather up into the air near a  tree
swallow nest box. I ablink a tree swallow swooped in and claimed the
feather and to make sure we understood it’s ability, passed the feather in
mid air to its mate. Our doubter looked rather sheepish realizing his
mis-calculation of tree Swallow prowess. I was ready for a free lunch but
our friend quickly left us when we got back to our drop-off point. As they
say : “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”.
Bill


On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 2:37 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> The choice of what feathers swallows choose, and how they reflect local
> conditions, is another interesting path! Given the size of the feather I
> observed, and the way the mix of fields/lawns and river's edge at Croton
> Point Park attracts Canada Geese, I'd guess that goose down might be a
> popular nest-liner there.
>
> On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 11:41 AM anneboby  wrote:
>
>> Further to Bob Paxton's comment about Tree Swallows' love affair with
>> feather lining of their nests,  I have found these birds very resourceful
>> with their feather gathering depending on the nature of their local
>> habitat.  For years I have monitored nest boxes in Upstate counties of
>> Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie and Montgomery.  Depending on location,
>> these swallows gather feathers of a wide range of species, as well as in
>> varying quantity.  Rural areas are more endowed with local fowl than are
>> suburban areas leading to easier gathering.
>>
>> For instance the nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum  in rural Schoharie
>> Co. with roosters crowing in the distance had much larger gatherings of
>> goose, duck and chicken feathers in general than did the boxes at West
>> Hill, a suburban residential area in the Town of Rotterdam in Sch'dy Co
>> where Great Horned Owl feathers made an almost annual appearance.
>>
>> In some areas the tan body feathers of barnyard geese are very popular,
>> but so can be white feathers from domestic ducks.  Less numerous are flank
>> feathers from male Mallard, Wood Duck and body feathers of Wild Turkey.
>>
>> Some of the rarer choices are from Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl
>> (body), No. Saw-whet Owl (primaries) and the strangest of all: Common
>> Nighthawk.  One nest in Montgomery Co contained 5-6 nighthawk feathers
>> including flight feathers (rectrix and wing) suggesting that this swallow
>> had found a dead nighthawk and was harvesting feathers from it.  Nighthawks
>> molt away from  the northeastern U.S. spring nesting season.
>>
>> Feathers, flight and body, from local passerines also show up in these
>> nests on rare occasion.  But far and away, body feathers of barnyard fowl
>> are the most common Tree Swallow nest lining material in these counties.
>>
>> Bob Yunick
>> Schenectady
>>
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Robert Paxton 
>> To: Joseph Wallace 
>> Cc: NYSBIRDS 
>> Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2021 8:35 am
>> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question
>>
>> Another element to the white feather game. Swallows (especially tree
>> swallows, but perhaps barns too) habitually decorate their nests with white
>> feathers.
>>Bob Paxton
>>
>> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:04 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>>
>> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
>> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
>> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
>> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
>> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
>> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
>> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>>
>> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
>> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
>> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
>> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
>> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>>
>> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
>> anything else. Has anyone else 

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Orhan Birol]

 Dr, Bill Zitek.who single handedly turned around theBluebird nesting
program, I starting eighteen years ago, and has been a beloved veterinarian
for the last forty or so years in the north fork of LI , requested me to
post on his behalf the following:

I could contribute to this but don’t know how to get in to the
conversation. 18 years on our nest box trail at Mashomack produced not only
Eastern Bluebirds but even more Tree Swallows. One of the treats for
volunteers was to watch a feather thrown up into the air and immediately
snapped up by a swooping tree swallow. One time one of our volunteers
brought a friend along, when told of this phenomena with tree swallows, he
scoffed at the idea and net me a lunch that it wouldn’t happen. To be on
the “up and up” I let him flip a white feather up into the air near a  tree
swallow nest box. I ablink a tree swallow swooped in and claimed the
feather and to make sure we understood it’s ability, passed the feather in
mid air to its mate. Our doubter looked rather sheepish realizing his
mis-calculation of tree Swallow prowess. I was ready for a free lunch but
our friend quickly left us when we got back to our drop-off point. As they
say : “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”.
Bill


On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 2:37 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

> The choice of what feathers swallows choose, and how they reflect local
> conditions, is another interesting path! Given the size of the feather I
> observed, and the way the mix of fields/lawns and river's edge at Croton
> Point Park attracts Canada Geese, I'd guess that goose down might be a
> popular nest-liner there.
>
> On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 11:41 AM anneboby  wrote:
>
>> Further to Bob Paxton's comment about Tree Swallows' love affair with
>> feather lining of their nests,  I have found these birds very resourceful
>> with their feather gathering depending on the nature of their local
>> habitat.  For years I have monitored nest boxes in Upstate counties of
>> Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie and Montgomery.  Depending on location,
>> these swallows gather feathers of a wide range of species, as well as in
>> varying quantity.  Rural areas are more endowed with local fowl than are
>> suburban areas leading to easier gathering.
>>
>> For instance the nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum  in rural Schoharie
>> Co. with roosters crowing in the distance had much larger gatherings of
>> goose, duck and chicken feathers in general than did the boxes at West
>> Hill, a suburban residential area in the Town of Rotterdam in Sch'dy Co
>> where Great Horned Owl feathers made an almost annual appearance.
>>
>> In some areas the tan body feathers of barnyard geese are very popular,
>> but so can be white feathers from domestic ducks.  Less numerous are flank
>> feathers from male Mallard, Wood Duck and body feathers of Wild Turkey.
>>
>> Some of the rarer choices are from Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl
>> (body), No. Saw-whet Owl (primaries) and the strangest of all: Common
>> Nighthawk.  One nest in Montgomery Co contained 5-6 nighthawk feathers
>> including flight feathers (rectrix and wing) suggesting that this swallow
>> had found a dead nighthawk and was harvesting feathers from it.  Nighthawks
>> molt away from  the northeastern U.S. spring nesting season.
>>
>> Feathers, flight and body, from local passerines also show up in these
>> nests on rare occasion.  But far and away, body feathers of barnyard fowl
>> are the most common Tree Swallow nest lining material in these counties.
>>
>> Bob Yunick
>> Schenectady
>>
>>
>> -Original Message-
>> From: Robert Paxton 
>> To: Joseph Wallace 
>> Cc: NYSBIRDS 
>> Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2021 8:35 am
>> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question
>>
>> Another element to the white feather game. Swallows (especially tree
>> swallows, but perhaps barns too) habitually decorate their nests with white
>> feathers.
>>Bob Paxton
>>
>> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:04 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>>
>> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
>> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
>> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
>> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
>> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
>> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
>> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>>
>> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
>> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
>> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
>> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
>> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>>
>> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
>> anything else. Has anyone else 

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

The choice of what feathers swallows choose, and how they reflect local
conditions, is another interesting path! Given the size of the feather I
observed, and the way the mix of fields/lawns and river's edge at Croton
Point Park attracts Canada Geese, I'd guess that goose down might be a
popular nest-liner there.

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 11:41 AM anneboby  wrote:

> Further to Bob Paxton's comment about Tree Swallows' love affair with
> feather lining of their nests,  I have found these birds very resourceful
> with their feather gathering depending on the nature of their local
> habitat.  For years I have monitored nest boxes in Upstate counties of
> Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie and Montgomery.  Depending on location,
> these swallows gather feathers of a wide range of species, as well as in
> varying quantity.  Rural areas are more endowed with local fowl than are
> suburban areas leading to easier gathering.
>
> For instance the nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum  in rural Schoharie
> Co. with roosters crowing in the distance had much larger gatherings of
> goose, duck and chicken feathers in general than did the boxes at West
> Hill, a suburban residential area in the Town of Rotterdam in Sch'dy Co
> where Great Horned Owl feathers made an almost annual appearance.
>
> In some areas the tan body feathers of barnyard geese are very popular,
> but so can be white feathers from domestic ducks.  Less numerous are flank
> feathers from male Mallard, Wood Duck and body feathers of Wild Turkey.
>
> Some of the rarer choices are from Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl
> (body), No. Saw-whet Owl (primaries) and the strangest of all: Common
> Nighthawk.  One nest in Montgomery Co contained 5-6 nighthawk feathers
> including flight feathers (rectrix and wing) suggesting that this swallow
> had found a dead nighthawk and was harvesting feathers from it.  Nighthawks
> molt away from  the northeastern U.S. spring nesting season.
>
> Feathers, flight and body, from local passerines also show up in these
> nests on rare occasion.  But far and away, body feathers of barnyard fowl
> are the most common Tree Swallow nest lining material in these counties.
>
> Bob Yunick
> Schenectady
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Robert Paxton 
> To: Joseph Wallace 
> Cc: NYSBIRDS 
> Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2021 8:35 am
> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question
>
> Another element to the white feather game. Swallows (especially tree
> swallows, but perhaps barns too) habitually decorate their nests with white
> feathers.
>Bob Paxton
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:04 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>
> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>
> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
> anything else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this?
> Thanks--Joe Wallace
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Joseph Wallace]

The choice of what feathers swallows choose, and how they reflect local
conditions, is another interesting path! Given the size of the feather I
observed, and the way the mix of fields/lawns and river's edge at Croton
Point Park attracts Canada Geese, I'd guess that goose down might be a
popular nest-liner there.

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 11:41 AM anneboby  wrote:

> Further to Bob Paxton's comment about Tree Swallows' love affair with
> feather lining of their nests,  I have found these birds very resourceful
> with their feather gathering depending on the nature of their local
> habitat.  For years I have monitored nest boxes in Upstate counties of
> Schenectady, Saratoga, Schoharie and Montgomery.  Depending on location,
> these swallows gather feathers of a wide range of species, as well as in
> varying quantity.  Rural areas are more endowed with local fowl than are
> suburban areas leading to easier gathering.
>
> For instance the nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum  in rural Schoharie
> Co. with roosters crowing in the distance had much larger gatherings of
> goose, duck and chicken feathers in general than did the boxes at West
> Hill, a suburban residential area in the Town of Rotterdam in Sch'dy Co
> where Great Horned Owl feathers made an almost annual appearance.
>
> In some areas the tan body feathers of barnyard geese are very popular,
> but so can be white feathers from domestic ducks.  Less numerous are flank
> feathers from male Mallard, Wood Duck and body feathers of Wild Turkey.
>
> Some of the rarer choices are from Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl
> (body), No. Saw-whet Owl (primaries) and the strangest of all: Common
> Nighthawk.  One nest in Montgomery Co contained 5-6 nighthawk feathers
> including flight feathers (rectrix and wing) suggesting that this swallow
> had found a dead nighthawk and was harvesting feathers from it.  Nighthawks
> molt away from  the northeastern U.S. spring nesting season.
>
> Feathers, flight and body, from local passerines also show up in these
> nests on rare occasion.  But far and away, body feathers of barnyard fowl
> are the most common Tree Swallow nest lining material in these counties.
>
> Bob Yunick
> Schenectady
>
>
> -Original Message-
> From: Robert Paxton 
> To: Joseph Wallace 
> Cc: NYSBIRDS 
> Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2021 8:35 am
> Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question
>
> Another element to the white feather game. Swallows (especially tree
> swallows, but perhaps barns too) habitually decorate their nests with white
> feathers.
>Bob Paxton
>
> On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:04 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t,
> but I watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton
> Point Park in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white
> drifting slowly towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I
> focused on it, a Barn Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I
> expected the bird to head off to its nest, but instead it dropped the
> feather...and then circled and snatched it out of the air again.
>
> For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the
> feather, do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and
> then pluck it out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass,
> retrieving it once while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally
> the swallow did head off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
>
> I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was
> anything else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this?
> Thanks--Joe Wallace
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>

--

NYSbirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[anneboby]

Further to Bob Paxton's comment about Tree Swallows' love affair with feather 
lining of their nests,  I have found these birds very resourceful with their 
feather gathering depending on the nature of their local habitat.  For years I 
have monitored nest boxes in Upstate counties of Schenectady, Saratoga, 
Schoharie and Montgomery.  Depending on location, these swallows gather 
feathers of a wide range of species, as well as in varying quantity.  Rural 
areas are more endowed with local fowl than are suburban areas leading to 
easier gathering.
For instance the nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum  in rural Schoharie Co. 
with roosters crowing in the distance had much larger gatherings of goose, duck 
and chicken feathers in general than did the boxes at West Hill, a suburban 
residential area in the Town of Rotterdam in Sch'dy Co where Great Horned Owl 
feathers made an almost annual appearance.

In some areas the tan body feathers of barnyard geese are very popular, but so 
can be white feathers from domestic ducks.  Less numerous are flank feathers 
from male Mallard, Wood Duck and body feathers of Wild Turkey.
Some of the rarer choices are from Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl (body), 
No. Saw-whet Owl (primaries) and the strangest of all: Common Nighthawk.  One 
nest in Montgomery Co contained 5-6 nighthawk feathers including flight 
feathers (rectrix and wing) suggesting that this swallow had found a dead 
nighthawk and was harvesting feathers from it.  Nighthawks molt away from  the 
northeastern U.S. spring nesting season.
Feathers, flight and body, from local passerines also show up in these nests on 
rare occasion.  But far and away, body feathers of barnyard fowl are the most 
common Tree Swallow nest lining material in these counties.
Bob YunickSchenectady


-Original Message-
From: Robert Paxton 
To: Joseph Wallace 
Cc: NYSBIRDS 
Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2021 8:35 am
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

Another element to the white feather game. Swallows (especially tree swallows, 
but perhaps barns too) habitually decorate their nests with white feathers.    
Bob Paxton
On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:04 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t, but I 
watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton Point Park 
in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white drifting slowly 
towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I focused on it, a Barn 
Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I expected the bird to head 
off to its nest, but instead it dropped the feather...and then circled and 
snatched it out of the air again. 

For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the feather, 
do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and then pluck it 
out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass, retrieving it once 
while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally the swallow did head 
off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was anything 
else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this? Thanks--Joe 
Wallace --  NYSbirds-L List Info:  Welcome and Basics   Rules and Information   
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave  Archives:  The Mail Archive  Surfbirds  ABA 
 Please submit your observations to eBird!  --
 --  NYSbirds-L List Info:  Welcome and Basics   Rules and Information   
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 Please submit your observations to eBird!  --
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http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
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3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[anneboby]

Further to Bob Paxton's comment about Tree Swallows' love affair with feather 
lining of their nests,  I have found these birds very resourceful with their 
feather gathering depending on the nature of their local habitat.  For years I 
have monitored nest boxes in Upstate counties of Schenectady, Saratoga, 
Schoharie and Montgomery.  Depending on location, these swallows gather 
feathers of a wide range of species, as well as in varying quantity.  Rural 
areas are more endowed with local fowl than are suburban areas leading to 
easier gathering.
For instance the nest boxes at the Landis Arboretum  in rural Schoharie Co. 
with roosters crowing in the distance had much larger gatherings of goose, duck 
and chicken feathers in general than did the boxes at West Hill, a suburban 
residential area in the Town of Rotterdam in Sch'dy Co where Great Horned Owl 
feathers made an almost annual appearance.

In some areas the tan body feathers of barnyard geese are very popular, but so 
can be white feathers from domestic ducks.  Less numerous are flank feathers 
from male Mallard, Wood Duck and body feathers of Wild Turkey.
Some of the rarer choices are from Great Blue Heron, Great Horned Owl (body), 
No. Saw-whet Owl (primaries) and the strangest of all: Common Nighthawk.  One 
nest in Montgomery Co contained 5-6 nighthawk feathers including flight 
feathers (rectrix and wing) suggesting that this swallow had found a dead 
nighthawk and was harvesting feathers from it.  Nighthawks molt away from  the 
northeastern U.S. spring nesting season.
Feathers, flight and body, from local passerines also show up in these nests on 
rare occasion.  But far and away, body feathers of barnyard fowl are the most 
common Tree Swallow nest lining material in these counties.
Bob YunickSchenectady


-Original Message-
From: Robert Paxton 
To: Joseph Wallace 
Cc: NYSBIRDS 
Sent: Mon, Jun 7, 2021 8:35 am
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

Another element to the white feather game. Swallows (especially tree swallows, 
but perhaps barns too) habitually decorate their nests with white feathers.    
Bob Paxton
On Sat, Jun 5, 2021 at 10:04 PM Joseph Wallace  wrote:

This is more about bird behavior than rarity, so apologies if it's o/t, but I 
watched a swallow engage in extraordinary (to me) behavior at Croton Point Park 
in Westchester today. It started when I spotted something white drifting slowly 
towards the ground: a large, downy feather. Just as I focused on it, a Barn 
Swallow snatched it out of the air with its beak. I expected the bird to head 
off to its nest, but instead it dropped the feather...and then circled and 
snatched it out of the air again. 

For the next few minutes, I watched the swallow repeatedly release the feather, 
do wide loops around it--sometimes feinting in its direction--and then pluck it 
out of the air. Twice it let the feather land on the grass, retrieving it once 
while on the wing and once by landing beside it. Finally the swallow did head 
off, I imagine to line its nest at last.
I'd never seen swallows engage in play, but I can't see how this was anything 
else. Has anyone else here ever witnessed something like this? Thanks--Joe 
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Jane Ross]

We usually have 9 or 10  pairs of tree swallows nesting in boxes in our yard. 
Several years ago I purchased a down pillow just for them, and toss some 
feathers in the air for them once they begin to settle on houses (after an 
initial period of fairly violent arguing over housing rights...we are in East 
Hampton, after all) They catch the feathers in the air, or swoop to snatch them 
off the ground, and yes, often do seem to be playing...dropping the feathers 
from high up and then flying low to grab them again.  I'm always amazed when I 
clean out the nests after fledging to see the impressive size of some of the 
white feathers they have managed to collect for the nests,  some from sea gulls 
I imagine, as well as some of the ones I have provided.


Jane F. Ross, PhD
Cove Hollow Farm, East Hampton, NY
mobile: 917-992-6708




From: bounce-125693328-3714...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Bruce Horwith 

Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 6:17 AM
To: Deborah Shapiro 
Cc: Joseph Wallace ; nysbirds-l 
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

And Carl Safina's Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel explores this 
dimension for the wider animal kingdom.

Bruce Horwith
16 Salt Marsh Path
East Hampton, NY 11937
(631) 599-0040 cell phone


On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:01 PM Deborah Shapiro 
mailto:dsni...@gmail.com>> wrote:
We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that she 
discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of Birds gives 
many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and unexpected.

Great discussion.

Deborah

On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace 
mailto:joew...@gmail.com>> wrote:


Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating. 
Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a long 
time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a creative kind 
of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also turn objects into 
toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder what other 
species/families might engage in play.  Warblers? Gnatcatchers? It's hard for 
me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe
--
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Jane Ross]

We usually have 9 or 10  pairs of tree swallows nesting in boxes in our yard. 
Several years ago I purchased a down pillow just for them, and toss some 
feathers in the air for them once they begin to settle on houses (after an 
initial period of fairly violent arguing over housing rights...we are in East 
Hampton, after all) They catch the feathers in the air, or swoop to snatch them 
off the ground, and yes, often do seem to be playing...dropping the feathers 
from high up and then flying low to grab them again.  I'm always amazed when I 
clean out the nests after fledging to see the impressive size of some of the 
white feathers they have managed to collect for the nests,  some from sea gulls 
I imagine, as well as some of the ones I have provided.


Jane F. Ross, PhD
Cove Hollow Farm, East Hampton, NY
mobile: 917-992-6708




From: bounce-125693328-3714...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Bruce Horwith 

Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 6:17 AM
To: Deborah Shapiro 
Cc: Joseph Wallace ; nysbirds-l 
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

And Carl Safina's Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel explores this 
dimension for the wider animal kingdom.

Bruce Horwith
16 Salt Marsh Path
East Hampton, NY 11937
(631) 599-0040 cell phone


On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:01 PM Deborah Shapiro 
mailto:dsni...@gmail.com>> wrote:
We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that she 
discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of Birds gives 
many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and unexpected.

Great discussion.

Deborah

On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace 
mailto:joew...@gmail.com>> wrote:


Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating. 
Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a long 
time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a creative kind 
of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also turn objects into 
toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder what other 
species/families might engage in play.  Warblers? Gnatcatchers? It's hard for 
me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe
--
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Basics
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Information
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ABA
Please submit your observations to 

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Orhan Birol]

About a dozen winters ago, when we had heavy accumulation of snow, I
observed three American Crows ski down from the top of a 20ft Blue Spruce,
fly back up  and ski down.
But the most unusual observation of playful or insane behavior was of a
female Baltimore Oriole's on the Hummingbird feeder.
I had a Hummingbird feeder since 1987, never had I seen an oriole on it.
This year in May I have seen a Male and Female Baltimore oriole use the
feeder 90% of the time to 10% for the hummingbird.
But the strange behavior was, when the female would take a few sips, would
fly away to the same spot 5ft away on the gutter and return immediately to
the feeder.
This would be repeated ten times within a minute or two. Playful or
intoxicated??
Orhan Birol
Shelter Island

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 6:18 AM Bruce Horwith 
wrote:

> And Carl Safina's Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel explores this
> dimension for the wider animal kingdom.
>
> *Bruce Horwith*
> *16 Salt Marsh Path*
> *East Hampton, NY 11937*
> *(631) 599-0040 cell phone*
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:01 PM Deborah Shapiro  wrote:
>
>> We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that
>> she discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of
>> Birds gives many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and
>> unexpected.
>>
>> Great discussion.
>>
>> Deborah
>>
>> On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>>
>> 
>> Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so
>> fascinating. Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and
>> tricksters) for a long time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already
>> adept at a creative kind of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on),
>> might also turn objects into toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made
>> me wonder what other species/families might engage in play.  Warblers?
>> Gnatcatchers? It's hard for me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't
>> happen.
>>
>> Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>> Welcome and Basics 
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>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>> 
>> *Archives:*
>> The Mail Archive
>> 
>> Surfbirds 
>> ABA 
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>> *!*
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>> --
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> --
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Orhan Birol]

About a dozen winters ago, when we had heavy accumulation of snow, I
observed three American Crows ski down from the top of a 20ft Blue Spruce,
fly back up  and ski down.
But the most unusual observation of playful or insane behavior was of a
female Baltimore Oriole's on the Hummingbird feeder.
I had a Hummingbird feeder since 1987, never had I seen an oriole on it.
This year in May I have seen a Male and Female Baltimore oriole use the
feeder 90% of the time to 10% for the hummingbird.
But the strange behavior was, when the female would take a few sips, would
fly away to the same spot 5ft away on the gutter and return immediately to
the feeder.
This would be repeated ten times within a minute or two. Playful or
intoxicated??
Orhan Birol
Shelter Island

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 6:18 AM Bruce Horwith 
wrote:

> And Carl Safina's Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel explores this
> dimension for the wider animal kingdom.
>
> *Bruce Horwith*
> *16 Salt Marsh Path*
> *East Hampton, NY 11937*
> *(631) 599-0040 cell phone*
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:01 PM Deborah Shapiro  wrote:
>
>> We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that
>> she discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of
>> Birds gives many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and
>> unexpected.
>>
>> Great discussion.
>>
>> Deborah
>>
>> On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>>
>> 
>> Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so
>> fascinating. Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and
>> tricksters) for a long time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already
>> adept at a creative kind of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on),
>> might also turn objects into toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made
>> me wonder what other species/families might engage in play.  Warblers?
>> Gnatcatchers? It's hard for me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't
>> happen.
>>
>> Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>> Welcome and Basics 
>> Rules and Information 
>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>> 
>> *Archives:*
>> The Mail Archive
>> 
>> Surfbirds 
>> ABA 
>> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
>> *!*
>> --
>>
>> --
>> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
>> Welcome and Basics 
>> Rules and Information 
>> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
>> 
>> *Archives:*
>> The Mail Archive
>> 
>> Surfbirds 
>> ABA 
>> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
>> *!*
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>>
> --
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> *Archives:*
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Bob Grover]

Also try Becoming Wild. Same author

Get Outlook for iOS

From: bounce-125693328-3714...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Bruce Horwith 

Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 6:17:29 AM
To: Deborah Shapiro 
Cc: Joseph Wallace ; nysbirds-l 
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

And Carl Safina's Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel explores this 
dimension for the wider animal kingdom.

Bruce Horwith
16 Salt Marsh Path
East Hampton, NY 11937
(631) 599-0040 cell phone


On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:01 PM Deborah Shapiro 
mailto:dsni...@gmail.com>> wrote:
We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that she 
discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of Birds gives 
many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and unexpected.

Great discussion.

Deborah

On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace 
mailto:joew...@gmail.com>> wrote:


Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating. 
Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a long 
time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a creative kind 
of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also turn objects into 
toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder what other 
species/families might engage in play.  Warblers? Gnatcatchers? It's hard for 
me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe
--
NYSbirds-L List Info:
Welcome and 
Basics
Rules and 
Information
Subscribe, Configuration and 
Leave
Archives:
The Mail 
Archive
Surfbirds
ABA
Please submit your observations to 
eBird!
--
--
NYSbirds-L List Info:
Welcome and 
Basics
Rules and 

Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Bob Grover]

Also try Becoming Wild. Same author

Get Outlook for iOS

From: bounce-125693328-3714...@list.cornell.edu 
 on behalf of Bruce Horwith 

Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2021 6:17:29 AM
To: Deborah Shapiro 
Cc: Joseph Wallace ; nysbirds-l 
Subject: Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

And Carl Safina's Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel explores this 
dimension for the wider animal kingdom.

Bruce Horwith
16 Salt Marsh Path
East Hampton, NY 11937
(631) 599-0040 cell phone


On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:01 PM Deborah Shapiro 
mailto:dsni...@gmail.com>> wrote:
We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that she 
discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of Birds gives 
many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and unexpected.

Great discussion.

Deborah

On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace 
mailto:joew...@gmail.com>> wrote:


Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating. 
Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a long 
time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a creative kind 
of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also turn objects into 
toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder what other 
species/families might engage in play.  Warblers? Gnatcatchers? It's hard for 
me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.

Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe
--
NYSbirds-L List Info:
Welcome and 
Basics
Rules and 
Information
Subscribe, Configuration and 
Leave
Archives:
The Mail 
Archive
Surfbirds
ABA
Please submit your observations to 
eBird!
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--
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Rules and 

[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC Monday, 6/7 - 10 lingering warbler spp., etc.

[Tom Fiore]

Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. CityMonday, June 7th -At least ten species of warbler were lingering in Central Park on Monday, including at least 8 of those within the Ramble and vicinity.  Those species included:N. Parula (ongoing singing male, since at least last Thursday)Black-throated Blue Warbler (female plumage)Black-throated Green Warbler (female plumage)Magnolia Warbler (male)Blackpoll Warbler (several, including females)American Redstart (at least several)Black-and-white Warbler (several)Yellow Warbler (several including singing males)Canada Warbler (female plumage)Common Yellowthroat (several)Additionally some of the above species have continued to be found elsewhere in New York County, with 2 of those at least potential breeders there, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat; also still being seen in some additional locations were Blackpoll Warbler and American Redstart. The latter is also a potential scarce breeder, perhaps more (relatively) likely to be found as such in the 4 other counties of N.Y. City.  And as an added note, some Mourning Warblers were still being found passing through states to the south of New Jersey in recent days (and thus also south of N.Y. State), although that last species is well-known to have an especially late-moving migration thru the mid to late parts of spring, and early June migration passage for it is not unusual.At all of Central Park on Monday 6/7, nearly fifty species of birds were present, including the few that are mostly visitors & fly-overs at various times of day &/or night (Chimney Swift, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, and Black-crowned Night Heron), particularly through mid-spring to late summer.good birding to all,Tom Fioremanhattan

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[nysbirds-l] Central Park, NYC Monday, 6/7 - 10 lingering warbler spp., etc.

[Tom Fiore]

Central Park, Manhattan, N.Y. CityMonday, June 7th -At least ten species of warbler were lingering in Central Park on Monday, including at least 8 of those within the Ramble and vicinity.  Those species included:N. Parula (ongoing singing male, since at least last Thursday)Black-throated Blue Warbler (female plumage)Black-throated Green Warbler (female plumage)Magnolia Warbler (male)Blackpoll Warbler (several, including females)American Redstart (at least several)Black-and-white Warbler (several)Yellow Warbler (several including singing males)Canada Warbler (female plumage)Common Yellowthroat (several)Additionally some of the above species have continued to be found elsewhere in New York County, with 2 of those at least potential breeders there, Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat; also still being seen in some additional locations were Blackpoll Warbler and American Redstart. The latter is also a potential scarce breeder, perhaps more (relatively) likely to be found as such in the 4 other counties of N.Y. City.  And as an added note, some Mourning Warblers were still being found passing through states to the south of New Jersey in recent days (and thus also south of N.Y. State), although that last species is well-known to have an especially late-moving migration thru the mid to late parts of spring, and early June migration passage for it is not unusual.At all of Central Park on Monday 6/7, nearly fifty species of birds were present, including the few that are mostly visitors & fly-overs at various times of day &/or night (Chimney Swift, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, and Black-crowned Night Heron), particularly through mid-spring to late summer.good birding to all,Tom Fioremanhattan

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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Bruce Horwith]

And Carl Safina's Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel explores this
dimension for the wider animal kingdom.

*Bruce Horwith*
*16 Salt Marsh Path*
*East Hampton, NY 11937*
*(631) 599-0040 cell phone*


On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:01 PM Deborah Shapiro  wrote:

> We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that
> she discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of
> Birds gives many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and
> unexpected.
>
> Great discussion.
>
> Deborah
>
> On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> 
> Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating.
> Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a
> long time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a
> creative kind of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also
> turn objects into toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder
> what other species/families might engage in play.  Warblers? Gnatcatchers?
> It's hard for me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
>
> Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>
> --
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> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
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> *!*
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Please submit your observations to eBird:
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Re: [nysbirds-l] Barn Swallow question

[Bruce Horwith]

And Carl Safina's Beyond Words: What Animals Think and Feel explores this
dimension for the wider animal kingdom.

*Bruce Horwith*
*16 Salt Marsh Path*
*East Hampton, NY 11937*
*(631) 599-0040 cell phone*


On Mon, Jun 7, 2021 at 10:01 PM Deborah Shapiro  wrote:

> We underestimate the mental capacity of birds. While I don’t recall that
> she discusses playful behavior, Jennifer Ackerman’s book The Genius of
> Birds gives many examples of bird cognition that are fascinated and
> unexpected.
>
> Great discussion.
>
> Deborah
>
> On Jun 7, 2021, at 9:46 PM, Joseph Wallace  wrote:
>
> 
> Thanks, everyone for the ongoing conversation. This is all so fascinating.
> Corvids and parrots have been known as game-players (and tricksters) for a
> long time, and it doesn't surprise me that gulls, already adept at a
> creative kind of tool-using (stationery rocks to drop clams on), might also
> turn objects into toys. But swallows did surprise me...and made me wonder
> what other species/families might engage in play.  Warblers? Gnatcatchers?
> It's hard for me to visualize, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
>
> Thanks again for making such thoughts possible--Joe
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
> --
>
> --
> *NYSbirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> ABA 
> *Please submit your observations to **eBird*
> *!*
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