s rensselaer christmas bird countjohn bates is an associate curator of birds and head of the life...
TRANSCRIPT
February 2017
Volume 77 No 1
Bi-monthly publication of the
Hudson-Mohawk
Bird Club, Inc.
SOUTHERN RENSSELAER CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
by Naomi Lloyd
The 48th annual Southern Rensselaer Christmas Bird Count (hereafter referred to as SoRensCoCBC) was held on December 26, just in time for some post-holiday fresh air. Nine teams covered the seven sectors centered around Routes 53/56 in West Sand Lake. The day began chilly but not unpleasant and we were able to get a good area covered before freezing rain drove some teams to seek cover. Waterfowl numbers were average, with most standing water frozen and the Hudson icy. Fortunately one small spot on Snyder’s Lake remained open and held a few notable species: RING-NECKED and RUDDY DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, and one AMERICAN COOT. For count week it also had GREEN-WINGED TEAL, LESSER SCAUP, and SNOW GOOSE. One COMMON LOON was seen on the river. Raptor numbers were decent with the expected hawks and all three falcons seen. Two BARRED OWLS were reported, one while owling in darkness and the other posing at the roadside. All members of the Woodpecker six-pack made an appearance. Passerine numbers were average with some exceptions. AMERICAN ROBIN and CEDAR WAXWING were both low and many fruit sources appeared to already have been stripped. The winter irruptives were absent except for one SNOW
BUNTING on its own – who ever sees one SNOW BUNTING? Despite a good push earlier in the winter, few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were seen. SAVANNAH
SPARROW was a good sighting on American Oil Road. Sector H hit the icterid jackpot with a single female RUSTY BLACKBIRD on Staats Island Road associating with a flock of MOURNING DOVES. (continued on page 11)
Inside This Issue …
President’s
Corner……………….….....2
HMBC Birding Guide……..3
Field Trip Reports…….......4
Upcoming HMBC Programs
….………………....….……4
Upcoming Audubon
Programs………....….……5
On Nature…….…….…..….6
Feathers In The Beginning:
1939……………………… 10
Troy Christmas Bird Count 13
Upcoming Field
Trips………..……...............17
2
(continued on p 9)
It's January in New York's Capital District, which could mean skiing or perhaps
an escape to FL or AZ. But, despite the potentially unpleasant winter weather
conditions, it can also mean some interesting local birding. We've already
started the new year with some good "winter bird" activity -- think white-
winged gulls, snow buntings, longspurs, and short-eared owls. A Ross's Goose in
Stillwater has made a very good showing for about a week now. And we've had
a pretty diverse mix of other waterfowl for this time of year, given a fair
amount of open water that is still present on streams and major rivers in the
area.
So, even here in the depths of winter, there's incentive to go out and search for
birds. As a further inducement, I'll put in a plug for the Region 8 Fun Run. This
will be the Fun Run's 9th year. It's a non-competitive pursuit where participants
keep a running tally of the species seen by each person in the calendar year in
our 11-county region. Records Committee Chair Will Raup has been the
organizer the last few years and maintains the central sightings spreadsheet
that participants all use to record their regional ticks. As of January 15, 2017 the
group has collectively already identified 82 species in the region for the year,
and the cumulative species total for the 9 years is a remarkable 281. This is just
my third year doing the formal group activity, and I can attest to the fact that,
while not really a competition, the Fun Run does give an added impetus to get
out in the field and look for birds to add to your own cumulative list.
Contact Will Raup directly (see email elsewhere in Feathers or on hmbc.net) if
you're interested in joining us.
Switching gears briefly to a couple of Club reminders:
1. Our membership years ends at the end of February, Be looking for 2017
Membership renewal notices (by email) coming in mid-February.
2. The HMBC Annual Meeting is tentatively set for April 19th, 2017. Formal
announcements should be arriving (again by email) in early March.
Gregg Recer, President
HMBC BOARD
Officers
President:
Gregg Recer
23 Scotch Mist Way
Malta, NY 12020
899-2678 [email protected]
Vice-President::
Ron Harrower
4 Franklin Square Apt 1
Saratoga, NY 12866
744-2637 [email protected]
Secretary:
Debra Ferguson
106 Marsdale Ct
Selkirk, NY 12158
221-3857 [email protected]
Treasurer:
Ellen Pemrick
117 Western Ave
West Charlton, NY 12010
882-9163 [email protected]
Directors
Angelika Beckman
607-220-8070 [email protected]
Carol Blackwell
238-3086 [email protected]
Bruce Dudek
452-4938 [email protected]
Eric Molho
439-6592 [email protected]
Jenny Murtaugh
322-7460 [email protected]
Committee Chairs
Audit: vacant
Conservation: Kathy Schneider
Field Trips: Bernie Grossman 399-9159
Membership: Gregg Recer
899-2678 [email protected]
Outreach: George Steele
842-9305 [email protected]
Programs: Scott Stoner
785-6760 [email protected]
Publications: Chris Grossman
399-9159 [email protected]
Records: Will Raup 944-8711 [email protected]
Reist Sanctuary: vacant Michael Gann
Social: vacant
Technology: John Kent
424-2234 [email protected]
Youth: George Steele
842-9305 [email protected]
President’s Corner
3
Chris and Bernie Grossman will be moving to Florida in the spring or summer of 2017, so HMBC needs someone to
replace Chris as Publications Chair and someone to replace Bernie as Field Trips Chair in the 2017/ 2018 year.
You, too, can contribute to Feathers!
Do you have a birding story or photos that might be of interest to other birders?
Did you take a birding vacation?
Do you have a favorite birding spot?
SHARE them with HMBC members by submitting them to:
HMBC Contact Information
BIRDLINE of EASTERN NEW YORK:
E-mail: [email protected]
HMBC website: http//hmbc.net
Please send all electronic submissions for Feathers via e-mail to:
Chris Grossman at [email protected].
Send all paper submissions to:
Chris Grossman
7 Nott Rd.
Rexford, NY 12148
New printing of Birding New York’s Hudson Mohawk Region is now available
Birding New York’s Hudson Mohawk Region, a new printing of HMBC’s classic book, is now available. A copy is
$20 for HMBC members and $25 for non-members. An additional charge of $5 for postage and handling will be
added to the price per book. Contact Chris Grossman [email protected] or (518) 399-9159 if you are
interested in purchasing a copy. Checks should be made out to Hudson Mohawk Bird Club and should be sent to:
Chris Grossman
7 Nott Rd
Rexford, NY 12148
4
Field Trip Reports
There are no Field Trip Reports
Upcoming HMBC Programs
Bringing Back the Bald Eagle
Speaker: George Steele
February 6, 2017 – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
William K Sanford (Colonie Town) Library 629 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville, N.Y.
In the spring of 2015 the oldest known bald eagle was recovered dead as a road kill. It was one of the first bald
eagles released in the reintroduction program conducted by the NYSDEC. George Steele worked on the hacking
team that worked with that bird. Join him as he tells the story of the decline and reestablishment of the bald eagle
in those early years through a slide illustrated presentation.
George Steele has a BS in Forest Biology/Wildlife Management from SUNY College of ESF in Syracuse. He worked
with the NYSDEC Endangered Species Unit for two years and then for the Environmental Education Unit for
thirteen years running the DEC's summer environmental education camps. For the last 24 years, George has
worked as an independent environmental education program provider/consultant working with schools, nature
centers, museums, summer camps and various organizations. He is an active member of the HMBC and the NYS
Outdoor Education Association and posts cool experiences and discoveries in work as an environmental educator
and naturalist on Facebook. He can be reached at www.georgesteele.webs.com.
Birding Chile
Speaker: Bernie Grossman
March 6, 2017 – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
William K Sanford (Colonie Town) Library 629 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville, N.Y.
Chris and Bernie Grossman birded Chile in November of last year traveling from Tierra del Fuego in the far south to
Arica and the Atacama Desert in the north and from sea level to 15,000 feet above. While Chile does not have the
rich numbers of birds as do most other South American countries, its list is filled with many interesting and exciting
species. The talk will describe the trip and the birds and animals they saw.
5
Upcoming HMBC Programs……….. (continued)
HMBC Annual Meeting, Banquet and Program
Speaker: John Bates
April 19, 2017 - 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Location: TBA
The wonders and tribulations of Africa's Albertine Rift: Biodiversity, science and people in a war zone.
The Albertine Rift in central Africa possesses some of the richest biodiversity and highest endemism on the
continent and yet it is still poorly known. It is has also been a region of tremendous human conflict. Despite these
issues, biodiversity lives on and John Bates and his Field Museum colleagues have, for the last 10 years, worked
with Congolese scientists to increase knowledge about and understanding of biodiversity in the region and build
regional capacity to study and conserve that biodiversity. Bates will introduce this incredible region and the
dedicated people who live there, along with discoveries from ongoing research he and his colleagues are doing.
John Bates is an Associate Curator of Birds and head of the Life Sciences section of Integrated Research at the Field
Museum in Chicago. Bates grew up in Tucson, Arizona, the son of university professor and birder. He fell in love
with the tropics at an early age and has worked extensively in both Africa and South America. He did his doctorate
at Louisiana State University and was a post-doctoral fellow at the American Museum of Natural History. Over the
last twenty-two years in Chicago, he and his students have studied genetic structure in the tropics to understand
the patterns and processes underlying diversification at the tips of the tree of life: the realm of species and
populations.
Upcoming Audubon Programs
No Audubon Programs at this time.
6
On Nature
Valley of Birds
by Scott Stoner
The Valley. More specifically, the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The dividing line between the US and Mexico.
Includes larger cities of Brownsville, Harlingen, McAllen; and smaller towns such as Weslaco, Alamo, Pharr, Rio
Grande City, Salineno, Zapata, and San Ygnacio. Birding hotspots such as South Padre Island, Frontera Audubon,
Quinta Mazatlan, Santa Ana NWR, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, the DeWind’s trailer, and more. Places
you will recognize if you have birded there. Places to learn about if you haven’t, because the valley is hot. Not only
the weather, but a a hotspot for rarities, and the place to go to see a couple dozen species of birds found nowhere
else in the US.
The Rio Grande Valley is truly a Valley of Birds.
Birds like Green Jay, Least Grebe, Long-billed Thrasher, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Common Pauraque, White-
tailed Hawk and now Aplomado Falcon. Olive Sparrow, Clay-colored Thrush, Ringed Kingfisher , Plain Chachalaca,
Great Kiskadee, and White-tipped Dove. And these are just the expected species. It has also been host to mega-
rarities such as Crimson-collared Grosbeak, Blue Bunting, Gray-crowned Yellowthroat and Amazon Kingfisher.
Green Jay
7
On Nature……….. (continued)
Plain Chachalaca
I have made four trips to the Valley. First in the blistering heat of summer in 1984, when a buddy and I camped and
birded, then tours in 1987 and 2005. Most recently, 10 full days in November of 2016.
A few facts. First, it is not a valley, but an agricultural plain along the Rio Grande. It stretches some 200 miles from
the mouth of the river east of Brownsville a couple hundred miles toward Laredo. The Valley is both geographically
and seemingly politically isolated from the rest of Texas, from which it is separated by hundreds of miles of mostly
open ranchland.
At its east end is the Gulf of Mexico, with South Padre Island a major birding spot. Watch for all the large wading
birds you might see in Florida or along the gulf coast in between. Ten miles or so inland is part of the Laguna
Atascosa NWR, specifically the Bahia Grande Unit, where we observed at great distance, two now-countable
Aplomado Falcons on a nest platform. Much closer to the road were white-tailed kite and white-tailed Hawk!
Heading upriver are some birding spots around Brownsville and Harlingen, and then on to Weslaco which was our
base of a recent 10-day exploration. Weslaco boasts three major birding spots, Frontera Audubon, Valley Nature
Center, and Estero Llano Grande State Park. Frontera is dense thicket, and the place where Denise and I had Clay-
colored Thrush and White-throated Thrush in view at the same time in the winter of 2005, during a super-outbreak
8
On Nature……….. (continued)
of rarities. We didn't plan for this, just happened to be on a tour at a fortunate time. We didn’t see White-throated
Thrush this time, but Clay-colored Thrush has gone from a chase bird to a reliable albeit uncommon regular
presence in 10 years. Estero Llano Grande, which translates to large estuary plain, is a brand new (for us) birding
site. Its large impoundments contained both Black-bellied (large numbers) and a few Fulvous Whistling-Ducks. Its
woods are also a very reliable spot for Pauraque, which we were able to photograph at close range.
Common Pauraque
An old reliable spot remains Santa Ana NWR in Alamo, a bit
southeast of McAllen, located on aptly-named Green Jay Rd.
Although wet and muddy trails limited our exploration this
time, we were able to walk to a pond that was literally full of
Least Grebes. And we soon learned why – the air above the
pond was full of dragonflies, many of which were quite large,
and the grebes were leaping out of the water to grab them right
from the air. Catching them seemed easy compared to the task
of getting them down; as we watched these diminutive grebes
struggle to consume the huge odonates. One grebe worked for
many minutes on a single dragon, drowning it repeatedly,
dropping it, picking it back up, and struggling to get it down.
The one in the photo below was
more successful (and the prey
smaller). If you look closely you
will see that this grebe has one
dragon firmly in its grasp and on
its way to consumption, with
another one almost all the way
down.
Least Grebe
In the heart of the city of
McAllen lies a true urban gem of
a birding place, Quinta
Mazatlan. We spent our first
and full day of our recent trip
there and returned for our last
9
On Nature……….. (continued)
day as well, visiting and revisiting every path, every
feeder, and every patch of woods. Another well-known hotspot is Bentsen-Rio Grande State Park, which has
undergone a lot of change since I first camped there in the
1980s. Access is more limited, and there is a new visitor complex before you get to the main part of the park. A
tram (free, with admission) brings you around to various locations, including some well-stocked feeders at the old
entrance station. There we enjoyed some of our best photo opps, for Great Kiskadee, Clay-colored Thrush, and
Green Jay (all of which were present throughout the trip).
Great Kiskadee
As one travels upriver, the habitat gets both drier and a bit hilly, and a smattering of more desert species start to
mix in. It also gets much more remote. There is a new interstate now, I-2, which speeds travel between Harlingen
and Mission (near Bentsen, west of McAllen). West of that is US 83, which continues through Rio Grande City, past
Salineno, thru Zapata and San Ygnacio, and up to Laredo.
10
Birders might remember the DeWind’s trailer and feeders at the end of a small road in Salineno, right by the river.
We were there in 2005 and these gracious hosts pointed out the bullet hole in their trailer from a late night
gunfight. At that time, it was a reliable place for Brown Jay, which is now highly elusive (to the point that we
missed it on our recent trip). It is now maintained as a birding location, with new hosts, and the feeders and
nearby thicket attract a plethora of Valley specialties!
FEATHERS IN THE BEGINNING: 1939
Several years ago Wayne B’Rells had the opportunity to scan and archive all the back issues of Feathers, the official
newsletter of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club (HMBC, originally the Schenectady Bird Club). Most back issues –
including the initial year of 1939 – were located and the resulting archived volumes can be found on the HMBC
web site at https://hmbc.net/content/feathers .
While editing the 1939 issues of Feathers he was startled to read of birding locations that no longer seem to exist
or have drastically changed over the years. In addition, the distributions and even the names of the birds Hve
altered so much that it is hard to believe that it is the Schenectady area that is being discussed.
This look back at birding in 1939 may prove to be quite an “eye opener”, particularly for younger birders. For older,
long-time residents of the Capital District this book may, he hopes, bring back many fond memories of an earlier
day.
Ordering Copies of FEATHERS - In the Beginning:1939
1. Bring up your web browser (Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, etc.) and enter www.lulu.com/content/20291977.
You should now see detailed information about the book.
2. Click on the Add to Cart button. Your Shopping Cart will then be displayed and should contain just this book. If
necessary, adjust the number of copies desired.
3. Click on the Continue to Checkout> button.
4. On the next page click on Continue to Checkout> again and provide your shipping and billing information.
Please let me know if you have any ordering problems!
Wayne B'Rells
1205 Red Oak Drive
Hendersonville, NC 28791
Tel: (828) 393-5828
Email: [email protected]
11
SOUTHERN RENSSELAER CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT……….. (continued)
My thanks to all who participated, both old and new counters, for making my first year as Compiler easier than I expected. I hope you’ll join us again next time on Saturday, December 23, 2017. See you where the birds are – Naomi Lloyd
SPECIES SECTOR A SECTOR B SECTOR C SECTOR E SECTOR G SECTOR H SECTOR J TOTAL OR CW
Snow Goose cw CW
Canada Goose 249 201 57 82 2490 94 3173
American Black Duck 4 13 2 19
Mallard 48 162 6 18 26 36 9 305
Green-winged Teal cw CW
Ring-necked Duck 1 1
Lesser Scaup cw CW
Hooded Merganser 3 3
Common Merganser 7 2 11 18
Ruddy Duck 1 1
Wild Turkey 60 12 12 84
Common Loon 1 1
Bald Eagle 1 3 4
Northern Harrier 1 1 1 1 4
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1 1 3
Cooper's Hawk 2 1 1 1 2 7
Red-tailed Hawk 9 20 7 10 15 14 5 80
American Coot 1 1
Ring-billed Gull 120 23 1 2 107 253
Herring Gull 16 1 2 21 40
Great Black-backed Gull 8 8
Rock Pigeon 835 61 15 75 161 37 1184
Mourning Dove 18 26 36 23 88 162 22 375
Barred Owl 1 1 2
Belted Kingfisher 1 2 3
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 6 6 1 7 5 4 33
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 1
Downy Woodpecker 19 13 10 2 8 6 12 70
Hairy Woodpecker 2 2 5 8 2 2 23
Northern Flicker 1 1 2 4
12
Pileated Woodpecker 2 2 1 5
American Kestrel 1 1
Merlin 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 2 2
Blue Jay 5 27 14 35 6 4 10 101
American Crow 4003 700 57 1500 56 770 32 7118
Fish Crow 16 1 17
Common Raven 1 2 3
Black-capped Chickadee 37 62 54 33 177 21 18 342
Tufted Titmouse 7 12 24 6 32 4 13 98
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 1 1 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 4 18 9 4 20 7 4 66
Brown Creeper 2 2
Carolina Wren 3 2 5
Eastern Bluebird 8 9 11 29 1 58
American Robin 9 4 4 1 38 8 6 70
Northern Mockingbird 1 1 1 1 1 3 8
European Starling 1767 173 355 637 182 137 3251
Cedar Waxwing 10 10
Snow Bunting 1 1
American Tree Sparrow 37 14 4 14 57 10 136
Savannah Sparrow 1 1
Song Sparrow 3 4 1 11 3 1 22
White-throated Sparrow 2 1 2 4 24 3 36
Dark-eyed Junco 27 103 89 16 89 70 154 548
Northern Cardinal 12 27 18 18 22 19 20 136
Red-winged Blackbird 122 122
Rusty Blackbird 1 1
Common Grackle 4 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 5 2 7
House Finch 2 4 16 2 28 18 12 82
American Goldfinch 10 13 16 7 18 14 15 93
House Sparrow 302 65 52 20 43 9 43 534
Total Species - 60 +3 count week
A: Will Raup, Tristan Lowery
B: Naomi Lloyd, Lindsey Duval, Kate Storms, Jeanette Roundy
C: Philip Whitney, Marge Whitney, Eric Molho, Ronald Allen
E: Gary Goodness, Jesse Jaycox, Bernice Gawron
G: Steve Mesick, Jackson Mesick, Richard White, Jaclyn White, Elisabeth Grace, Kathryn Conway
H: Bill Lee, Gregg Recer, Mark Fitzsimmons
J: Debbie Shaw, Nancy Kern
13
TROY CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2016
This was the 68th running of the Troy CBC, not counting two that were done in the 1920s, starting in December 1949.
Twenty-one birders were afield in 7 field parties covering the Troy count circle. The Troy count circle covers some notable
areas, including the Hudson, Mohawk, and Hoosic rivers as well as the Colonie Landfill, Stillwater, Cohoes Falls, and the
Tomhannock Reservoir. Habitat ranges from straight-up urban to rural, with solid suburbia in many places in between. There
are even a few farms on the outskirts.
Weather leading up to count day was not particularly notable, although there was a quick snowstorm on Thursday that
dropped a few inches across the area. The early part of the week was above freezing for much of the time, and Friday
brought windy conditions. Temperatures during count day started at 20° and rose steadily throughout the day to a high of
37°. Clouds covered the sky although there were a few brief bouts of sunshine as well as a snow shower in the mid-morning.
Winds ranged from 3-20 mph with some variation depending on the exact location. Two inches of snow covered the area
and most running water was open, as was a portion of Tomhannock Reservoir. Birders were in the field from 5:15 a.m. to
5:00 p.m.
This effort yielded 67 species, about the average for the preceding ten years, but below the high count of 74 from December
2005. The only species found less than ten times before was RUSTY BLACKBIRD, found in only three previous counts. Bumping
up to fifteen or fewer counts only adds BARRED OWL (13th occurrence), YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER (14th), LAPLAND LONGSPUR (13th),
and SAVANNAH SPARROW (13th).
Record numbers were found for COMMON GOLDENEYE (previous high of 270), MERLIN (2), FISH CROW (35), HORNED LARK (797),
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (45), and tied for RUSTY BLACKBIRD (4).
Notable species, and ones that surely helped account for the decent count total, included SNOW GOOSE, RING-NECKED DUCK, and
LESSER SCAUP. Singles of GREAT BLUE HERON, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, and ICELAND GULL were good, too. Gull numbers overall were
down from previous years, perhaps reflecting better housekeeping practices at the Colonie Landfill.
BALD EAGLES were practically abundant, with a record number of adults present (21), many seemingly paired up and on
nesting territories. Surprisingly, there was only one EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, but that was counterbalanced by 8 GREAT HORNED
OWLS and 2 BARRED OWLS. All three area falcons were represented for the first time since 2007-08.
With large numbers of HORNED LARKS and SNOW BUNTINGS came small numbers of LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Savannah Sparrows,
once very common on this count then largely absent, seem to be having a resurgence, now having been found on 5 of the
last ten counts.
A total of four blackbird species were found for the first time since the winter of 1963-64. But as with the rest of the area,
there were no winter finches. Other often-found species that were missed this year were Red-breasted Nuthatch and Hermit
Thrush.
The cumulative total of species for the count stands at 144, with four additional species that have been seen only on count
week. Next year’s count will be on December 30, 2017, which avoids conflicts with New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day,
something this compiler is happy to look forward to. My thanks go to the people who take part in these counts year in and
year out, as well as people new to CBCs. CBCs are an important citizen science project that generates hard data to identify
important trends in bird populations all over the world.
Larry Alden – Compiler
14
117th CBC - Troy Count Circle – December 31, 2016
A B C D E F G Total
Snow Goose 1 1
Canada Goose 2008 846 1183 230 970 330 100 5667
American Black Duck 4 1 52 58 16 131
Mallard 203 40 74 331 383 40 1071
Ring-necked Duck 1 1
Lesser Scaup 3 3
Common Goldeneye 15 196 41 2 18 272
Hooded Merganser 3 11 1 15
Common Merganser 2 26 43 41 54 58 224
Wild Turkey 52 25 11 8 1 97
Great Blue Heron 1 1
Bald Eagle 3 10 9 12 4 1 27
Northern Harrier 1 1 1 3
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 1 1 1 4
Cooper’s Hawk 1 1 1 1 4
Red-tailed Hawk 7 16 14 13 7 18 14 89
Rough-legged Hawk 1 1
Ring-billed Gull 18 13 57 107 175 90 460
Herring Gull 3 2 140 5 4 180 334
Iceland Gull 1 1 1
Great Black-backed Gull 3 1 83 10 9 90 196
Rock Pigeon 75 312 168 177 51 162 36 981
Mourning Dove 41 78 88 41 14 41 26 329
Eastern Screech-Owl 1 1
15
Great Horned Owl 2 4 2 8
Barred Owl 1 1 2
Belted Kingfisher 1 1 1 1 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 12 11 8 3 8 7 55
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 1 2
Downy Woodpecker 4 22 4 9 5 7 16 67
Hairy Woodpecker 1 5 2 6 1 1 7 23
Northern Flicker 7 2 2 1 12
Pileated Woodpecker 4 3 1 1 2 1 5 17
American Kestrel 1 1
Merlin 1 2 1 4
Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1 3
Blue Jay 20 45 75 9 11 17 55 232
American Crow 146 1019 672 2133 233 829 50 5082
Fish Crow 8 32 1 6 1 48
Common Raven 1 2 3
Horned Lark 225 12 372 42 250 4 905
Black-capped Chickadee 26 158 55 18 31 39 80 407
Tufted Titmouse 5 38 13 9 6 15 38 124
White-breasted Nuthatch 7 22 7 10 8 8 11 73
Brown Creeper 3 3
Winter Wren 1 1
Carolina Wren 1 2 2 1 5 11
Eastern Bluebird 4 21 12 8 5 17 67
American Robin 22 22 12 25 11 44 136
Northern Mockingbird 2 2 1 1 3 3 12
European Starling 358 256 505 1066 64 469 68 2786
16
Cedar Waxwing 3 2 10 15
Lapland Longspur 2 2
Snow Bunting 112 4 2 118
American Tree Sparrow 9 19 16 26 23 16 49 158
Savannah Sparrow 3 3
Song Sparrow 2 1 5 3 1 2 6 20
White-throated Sparrow 26 6 6 2 15 6 61
Dark-eyed Junco 114 202 171 96 62 81 72 798
Northern Cardinal 7 76 26 8 5 17 24 163
Red-winged Blackbird 1 50 51
Rusty Blackbird 4 4
Common Grackle 1 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 2 25 27
House Finch 1 28 9 57 1 96
American Goldfinch 23 33 16 33 8 50 163
House Sparrow 11 80 195 68 93 73 31 551
Total Birds 3406 3626 4013 4814 2344 2843 1197 22231
Total Species 38 45 49 44 37 42 40 66
Count Week Species 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A B C D E F G Total
CW = Denotes species found during the Count Week (3 days on each side of count day) but not on count day.
* Some species totals do not match the total reported by each individual party (e.g., Bald Eagle, Iceland Gull). I adjusted to
account for birds which might have been seen by two or more parties.
Bold = record number or tied record for the count.
Group A: Alison VanKeuren, John Kent. 6:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (7.0 hours, 51 miles by car. Also 0.5 hours, 3.0 miles owling.)
Group B: Larry Alden, Steve Chorvas, Jackie Bogardus. 5:15 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. (1.0 hour, 1.0 mile on foot; 8.25 hours, 73.7 miles
by car. Also 1.75 hours, 14.3 miles owling.)
17
Group C: Rich Guthrie, Jocelyn Cole, Jeff Cukrovany. 7:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. (1.0 hour, 1.0 mile on foot; 8.0 hours, 46.3 miles by
car.)
Group D: George Steele, Alan Mapes, John Loz. 6:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (6.0 hours, 2.0 miles on foot; 3.5 hours, 38.6 miles by
car. Also 1.0 hour, 0.5 miles owling.)
Group E: Bill Lee, Jamie Taft, Mark Fitzsimmons. 7:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. (3.5 hours, 4.2 miles on foot; 5.25 hours, 65.0 miles by
car.)
Group F: Kathryn Schneider, Jim de Waal Malefyt, Naomi Lloyd, Eric Molho. 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (1.5 hours, 0.5 miles on
foot; 7.5 hours, 89 miles by car.)
Group G: Steve Mesick, Jackson Mesick, Richard White. 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., less 0.5 hour not birding (2.0 hours, 2.5 miles
on foot, 6.75 hours, 80.2 miles by car. Also 1.25 hours, 18.8 miles owling.)
Notes: Hours and times rounded to the nearest quarter hour.
Upcoming Field Trips
FEBRUARY
Saturday, February 4, BIRDING BY SNOWSHOE AT FIVE RIVERS (Albany County; morning)
Coordinator: Ray Perry 475-0291 [email protected] Joint trip with the Audubon Society of the Capital Region Join Ray for a special outing of birding by snowshoe. Meet at the Visitor Center at 9 a.m. for a brief introduction to snowshoeing, then strap on the waffle stompers and go over the meadow and through the woods in search of winter specialties. The program is geared for the birding/snowshoeing novice and is open to the public, but space is limited. The snowshoes are provided through the Friends of Five Rivers. They have changed their policy on snowshoe rentals. There must be at least 8 inches of snow and a $5 per pair rental charge for non-members of Friends of Five Rivers. Please call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, February 4th to register. If there is insufficient snow, we will go on foot. In the event of severe weather, this program may be cancelled.
Saturday, February 11, STISSING MOUNTAIN FOR GOLDEN EAGLES Coordinator: Bill Lee 374-3426 [email protected]
This Nature Conservancy Preserve of more than 500 acres in the northeast corner of Dutchess County in the town of Pine Plains was dedicated in 1975 as a National Nature Landmark and designated as an Important Birding Area by the National Audubon Society. The high point of the preserve is Stissing Mountain at an elevation of 1400 feet. The mountain has been a wintering site for Golden Eagles for decades. The eagles are frequently visible from the pond's causeway, perching in white pines while waiting rising thermals from the morning sun on the mountain's eastern slope before taking flight and coursing above the mountain and along Stissing Ridge.
Meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Schodack Capital District Transportation Authority's (CDTA) commuter parking lot near the intersection of Route 151 and Route 20. From I-90, take Exit 11E to U.S. Rt. 20; proceed east on Rt. 20 to the 1st
traffic light and turn left on Rt. 150. The CDTA park and ride lot is a short distance on the right.
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Saturday, February 18, DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS, FORT EDWARD GRASSLANDS Washington County; afternoon through dusk) Coordinators: Scott Stoner & Denise Hackert-Stoner 785-6760 [email protected]
Saturday, February 18, MOHAWK RIVER/COHOES TO CRESCENT (Albany County; morning)
Coordinator: Bill Lee 374-3426 [email protected] This area, including Cohoes Falls and Simmons Island, offers a great opportunity to study gulls and waterfowl that winter along the Mohawk River. We will look for Glaucous, Iceland and Lesser Black-backed Gulls often present in small numbers in the winter. This trip will be a good introduction to the many fine vantage points along the Mohawk. Wintering Bald Eagles are likely. Meet at the NY State Dam Recreation area behind the U-Haul Rental in Cohoes at 8:30 a.m. From 787 going north, turn right onto Route 470 (Ontario Street) in Cohoes. Then turn left onto Clark Ave and proceed to the end. In case of snow, trip will be held on Sunday, February 25.
Saturday, February 25, FORT EDWARD GRASSLANDS (Washington County; afternoon through dusk) Coordinators: Scott Stoner & Denise Hackert-Stoner 785-6760 [email protected] Short-eared Owls are seen most winters in the Fort Edward Grasslands, an Important Bird Area in Washington County. This area is also known for other wintering raptors such as Rough-legged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, and Northern Harriers. Wintering field birds including Horned Lark, Snow Bunting, and Eastern Bluebird are good possibilities, while Lapland Longspur and Northern Shrike are less likely. If Snowy Owl has been reported, we will make a special effort to see it. Snow date: Sunday, February 26
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED; Contact the coordinators no later than Feb, 18, to sign up and get the meeting time and place. Space is limited and carpooling will be necessary.
MARCH
Saturday, March 4, NEWCOMB, LONG LAKE, AND SABATTIS BOG FOR BOREAL BIRDS Coordinator: Bernie Grossman 399-9159 [email protected] We will make an early start to travel north to the Newcomb area to look for wintering boreal species such as Pine Siskins, Crossbills and Common Redpolls. From there, we will continue on passing through Long Lake and finally to Sabattis Bog south of Tupper Lake to continue the search. Gray Jays and Black-backed Woodpeckers are likely. Be prepared for a long day, snow under foot, and cold weather. There is a Stewart’s in Long Lake. Meet at the Park & Ride lot at Firehouse Rd. at Exit 9 (Route 146) in Clifton Park at 7:00 AM. Firehouse Rd. is just east of the Northway overpass and straight ahead if taking the exit ramp going north.
Sunday, March 12, WATERFOWL OF THE HUDSON RIVER SOUTH (Greene County; morning)
Coordinator: Bill Cook (518) 851-2678 [email protected] This is a joint trip with the Alan DeVoe Bird Club. We will search the Hudson River from Coxsackie to Catskill where waterfowl usually congregate on their way north. There is a good chance of seeing Bald Eagles. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Coxsackie boat launch. From the intersection of 9W and 385 in Coxsackie go east on 385 (Mansion St.) and continue straight to the Hudson River where the road bears left to the boat launch site.
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Sunday, March 19, WASHINGTON COUNTY WATERFOWL (morning)
Coordinator: Mona Bearor [email protected] Register by 7 p.m. on March 13 Joint trip with Southern Adirondack Audubon Join us as we search the Hudson for migrant waterfowl such as Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Ring-necked Ducks and Mergansers. In recent years, Horned Grebe, Canvasbacks and Tundra Swans have been life birds for many. Meet at the Schuylerville Central School at Routes 29 and 4. The trip is limited to the first 12 who register. Contact the leader before 7 p.m. on March 13 to register and for meeting time. Dress warmly and bring a beverage/snack, your binoculars and a scope if you have one. We will carpool. Trip will end late morning. You will be contacted if the trip is cancelled due to weather.
APRIL
Saturday, April 1, VOSBURGH MARSH (Greene County; morning)
Coordinator: Al Mapes 439-4086 [email protected] On this morning trip, we will hike to the marsh for waterfowl and migrant land birds. We will also check the Hudson River for waterfowl and Bald Eagles. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Coxsackie boat launch. From the intersection of 9W and 385 in Coxsackie go east on 385 (Mansion St.) and continue straight to the Hudson River where the road bears left to the boat launch site.
Sunday, April 2, RESERVATIONS DUE FOR BRIGANTINE AND GREAT SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES Coordinators: Gregg Recer and Cathy Graichen 899-2678 [email protected]
2017 Field Trip List Corrections Bernie Grossman
HMBC Field Trip Chair
It has been pointed out that a few errors have crept into the recently issued 2017 Field Trip schedule. Here is a list of those received to date:
The December trip to Niagara Falls to search for gulls and other wintering birds will take place on Friday thru Sunday, December 1-3. The dates published previously are incorrect. The information about leaders and their contact is correct.
The date of the Southern Renns CBC is Saturday, December 23. Contact information is correct.
The Saturday, July 1, Leader’s Choice trip has a starting time of 7 AM at the listing meeting place. Please make note of these corrections on your printed or emailed trip lists. The Committee regrets any inconvenience caused by these errors.
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Feathers
Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club
c/o Five Rivers EEC
Game Farm Road
Delmar, NY 12054