re: Bicknell's Thrush on breeding grounds Joan Collins and all, Regarding breeding Swainson's Thrush potentially moving upwards into the elevations and habitat zones for breeding Bicknell's Thrush, that is sobering and is in line with what I also have seen and others have been reporting, although I had not understood that the alarm was that strong among the scientists and researchers on this subject - this is potentially serious since in many of the areas of habitat for this very localized thrush (Bicknell's) the room is squeezed and no additional "room" is possible, unless they adapt en-masse to moving farther north to breed. In northern Maine there are some places where I've found Bicknell's well below 3,000 feet, but those are simply places of appropriate spruce-fir habitat and perhaps there are other factors as well allowing them to breed in such less-elevated places. It also can be stressed that in those few locations, it is the Bicknell's that are rare and very localized, while other thrush species are widespread and rather common, mainly Hermit Thrush and Swainson's Thrush - I am referring to locations in and north of Baxter State Park, and to the northern tip of Maine. Of course there are also potential threats in addition to the "big" one of climate change, such as wind-power and ski-run development, which latter threat has factored in some breeding areas in n. New England.
As for NY locations, I received a few messages remarking on how not all will venture up these trails, and it can be mentioned that Whiteface Mt. is a place where Bicknell's Thrush is found and is possible along the auto toll-road, although for best results, it would be best to get the permission or to join a club outing that has that permission to get up the road as early as possible, as the thrushes are always most active and vocal in the hour before, and immediately upon sunrise. Sunset hours may also do, but are a bit less definite. It's also possible for those not concerned specifically with having a Bicknell's sighting in NY, to get to a few sites in New England with the thrush, such as Mt. Mansfield (auto toll-road) in Vermont, and at Mt. Washington (auto toll-road) in New Hampshire, along with a few other possibilities in northern New England. Some sites in e. Canada are also somewhat accessible in a few places but I don't have details for them. Another way to see these thrushes is in the wintering grounds but that is not exactly a simple thing! Tom Fiore, Manhattan -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES 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://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
