Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Alabama Birds > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, February 2 at 08:42 AM EST The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Red-breasted Merganser,©Julie Zickefoose

2 Feb New Species At Our Place [] 02 Feb Wanted: Birders Orange Beach area ["mjoancam66" ] 01 Feb Baby eagles at Guntersville Dam ["SoupySue" ] 31 Jan Re: Local Hummingbirds [] 31 Jan Local Hummingbirds [] 31 Jan Eufaula meeting was wonderful, but refuges need help ["Kenneth Wills" ] 30 Jan Stephzen's Backyard Bird Paradise - new photos ["iamthesteph" ] 30 Jan hooded crane ["pemburung" ] 29 Jan Photos from AOS winter meeting posted to Flickr page ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 29 Jan RE: Fort Morgan Comments [] 29 Jan Fort Morgan Comments [] 28 Jan Alabama Ornithological Society meeting - Eufaula - Golden Eagle & Indigo Bunting [] 27 Jan banding [] 27 Jan Purple Sandpiper ["sptrout01" ] 26 Jan AOS Winter Meeting at Lake Point SP ["bjay35215" ] 25 Jan Many Thanks Guys [] 25 Jan Courting On The Wing [] 24 Jan Re: Clay, Alabama & SargentsQ [Harriett Wright ] 23 Jan New email address [Ron Cogen ] 24 Jan Re: Birds and bridges ["Kenneth Wills" ] 23 Jan New email address [Ron Cogen ] 23 Jan Clay, Alabama & SargentsQ ["Lucy and Bob Duncan" ] 23 Jan Eagles at Guntersville Dam ["orm091101" ] 23 Jan Waterloo 1/22 ["Jud Johnston" ] 22 Jan Purple Sandpiper, Dauphin Island NO. ["J. Allen Burrows" ] 22 Jan Re: Hooded Crane at Hiwassee ["Harry Roach" ] 22 Jan Re: Hooded Crane at Hiwassee ["Harry Roach" ] 21 Jan Hooded Crane at Hiwassee ["Harry Roach" ] 20 Jan No Subject [] 20 Jan Birds and bridges ["Lucy and Bob Duncan" ] 19 Jan Dauphin is. today ["Lucy and Bob Duncan" ] 19 Jan Re: A new field mark for Selasphorus hummingbirds?.... ["Howard Horne" ] 19 Jan Mockingbird! [Chawkswrth ] 19 Jan Re: A new field mark for Selasphorus hummingbirds?.... [] 19 Jan A new field mark for Selasphorus hummingbirds?.... ["Howard Horne" ] 18 Jan Operation Migration, continues in Franklin Co, AL [J C Allen ] 18 Jan 1st year Glaucous Gull at Cedar Point ["Lucy and Bob Duncan" ] 18 Jan Re: Egyptian Goose Fairhope Park, AL ["Howard Horne" ] 17 Jan Cackling Geese [] 16 Jan Re: Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 17 Jan Re: Egyptian Goose Fairhope Park, AL ["orm091101" ] 17 Jan Egyptian Goose Fairhope Park, AL [Jan Kerr ] 17 Jan Interesting... [Chawkswrth ] 17 Jan We are pleased with the time and fuel spent to get to Wheeler 1.16.12 ["Kathryn" ] 16 Jan Re: Hooded Crane Thoughts [Harold Peterson ] 16 Jan RE: Hooded Crane Thoughts [] 16 Jan RE: Hooded Crane Thoughts ["James F Holmes" ] 16 Jan Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district ["Howard Horne" ] 16 Jan PURPLE SANDPIPER Update: Easy Viewing... ["Howard Horne" ] 15 Jan Hooded Crane [] 14 Jan Re: Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 14 Jan Hooded Crane Thoughts [] 16 Jan PURPLE SANDPIPER still present (January 16, 2012) ["Howard Horne" ] 16 Jan FW: Check out The Saga of the Hooded Crane(s): The Plot Thickens [] 15 Jan Common Nighthawk at Oak Mountain State Park ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 16 Jan Dauphin Island PURPLE SANDPIPER Update (LONG)... ["Howard Horne" ] 15 Jan Purple Sandpiper photos [] 15 Jan Wheeler NWR Sunday [Harold Peterson ] 15 Jan Waterloo area - Possible Glaucous Gull [] 15 Jan BIRD ALERT: Purple Sandpiper, Katrina Cut rip-rap, Dauphin Island, Jan 15 [] 14 Jan Re: Possible Clark's Grebe [] 15 Jan Great Start to Conserving East Lake Rookery ["Kenneth Wills" ] 14 Jan Wheeler NWR today [Harold Peterson ] 14 Jan Possible Clark's Grebe ["shirley wayland" ] 14 Jan RE: Shoals Audubon Society ["shirley wayland" ] 14 Jan Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district ["Eric Soehren" ] 14 Jan Painted Redstart Ocean Springs MS Continues ["Claire English" ] 13 Jan Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district ["Gregory J. Harber" ] 13 Jan Shoals Audubon Society ["shirley wayland" ] 13 Jan Re: Cooper's Hawk - Florence - Mars Hill Rd ["orm091101" ] 13 Jan Hooded Crane [] 13 Jan Cooper's Hawk - Florence - Mars Hill Rd ["iamthesteph" ] 11 Jan Hummingbird Program & Discussion [] 11 Jan New Respect for Ring-billed Gulls [] 10 Jan Wilson's Warbler - Birmingham ["scotduncan26" ] 10 Jan A story about a male Black-throated Blue Warbler ["Debbie" ] Subject: New Species At Our Place From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Thu, 2 Feb 2012 08:32:37 -0500 (EST) Albirders Two days ago here at our place we had four Hooded Mergansers on our tiny overflowing pond down the hill from our home. We regular see Wood Ducks, which have nested here. I am guessing that the Hooded Mergansers were simply passing through. They once nested in a small never-go-dry pond that was ruined when the land was cleared for Deerfoot Parkway. That project was a plagued by some unknown person who taunted and harrassed the workers as the pond regularly flooded the work in progress and the machines being used. That person has grown older now and promises not to do that kind of stuff again. He was a bi rder from Clay, Alabama. Bob Sargent An old birder who lives in Clay, Alabama [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Wanted: Birders Orange Beach area From: "mjoancam66" <mjoancam66 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:53:52 -0000 Hello I am staying for a month at Orange Beach Ala and wondered if there is a birding club or birders in the area. I would very much like to attend any lectures or tag along on any birding excursions, walks, etc. Any information would be much appreciated joan ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Baby eagles at Guntersville Dam From: "SoupySue" <soupysue AT mchsi.com> Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:11:16 -0000 Was at Guntersville dam over the weekend. I did not see the eaglets while at the nest site, but on Saturday the naturalist told us she had seen two thus far. Adults are still on the nest, so hopefully there'll be another one. Sue Peters-Ferree ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Local Hummingbirds From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:17:14 -0500 (EST) That should have read "set her free". Bob In a message dated 1/31/2012 5:14:51 P.M. Central Standard Time, RubyThroat AT aol.com writes: Albirders Today Martha and I banded 3 more wintering hummers in the Birmingham area. All were Rufous and all were immature birds. One in Leeds just off Highway 119. One in Hoover not far from Riverchase. One in Irondale at the Rick Remy residence. Apparent there is only this hummer left at Rick's fine yard. The particular witch is one that I have cussed and fussed at for a couple of months. Today after getting set up properly, it jumped in my cage-wire trap like and Olympic long jumper. After giving it a thorough tongue lashing, I banded it, kissed her on her long skinny aggravating lips, fed her and set her friend. Within a few minutes she was back on the feeder. I noticed as I backed out of Rick's driveway, she was watching from a small bare-limbed shrub. As I glared at her with some sense of victory, she extended her right wing and flipped me off with her middle primary. Defiant to the end, even in defeat. God how I do love hummingbirds! Bob Sargent Clay, Alabama [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Local Hummingbirds From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:14:41 -0500 (EST) Albirders Today Martha and I banded 3 more wintering hummers in the Birmingham area. All were Rufous and all were immature birds. One in Leeds just off Highway 119. One in Hoover not far from Riverchase. One in Irondale at the Rick Remy residence. Apparent there is only this hummer left at Rick's fine yard. The particular witch is one that I have cussed and fussed at for a couple of months. Today after getting set up properly, it jumped in my cage-wire trap like and Olympic long jumper. After giving it a thorough tongue lashing, I banded it, kissed her on her long skinny aggravating lips, fed her and set her friend. Within a few minutes she was back on the feeder. I noticed as I backed out of Rick's driveway, she was watching from a small bare-limbed shrub. As I glared at her with some sense of victory, she extended her right wing and flipped me off with her middle primary. Defiant to the end, even in defeat. God how I do love hummingbirds! Bob Sargent Clay, Alabama [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Eufaula meeting was wonderful, but refuges need help From: "Kenneth Wills" <Memontei AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2012 02:33:22 -0000 Hello all, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the AOS winter meeting at Eufaula. The leadership planned a fine event with a great mix of people, birds and even some alligators and otters. I realize folks were disappointed regarding the new special access policy at the refuge, but the national wildlife refuge system is still one of our greatest allies in conserving birds and they need our help. Around the Eufaula refuge's wildlife drive I noticed significantly less land planted and/or flooded for wildlife than a few years ago. This means less habitat for cranes and white fronted geese among other things. I get the feeling Eufaula is not one of the higher priority refuges so recent funding cuts in the overall system is probably affecting that refuge more than others. If funding is further cut, it could get worse with even some possible refuge closings. There is an easy way to help the Eufaula refuge and all the others in the system, let your U.S. Rep and Senators know you oppose funding cuts for the National Wildlife Refuge System. If you have not already contacted them on this issue please do so. The National Wildlife Refuge Association has an almost push button way to contact your legislators through free email alerts you can sign up for. See http://refugeassociation.org/action/ If you live relatively close, the Eufaula refuge also needs volunteers to help take up the shortage of funding slack. Wished I lived closer. Take care, Ken Wills Birmingham AL ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Stephzen's Backyard Bird Paradise - new photos From: "iamthesteph" <iamthesteph AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:33:28 -0000 My tentative IDs are in the comments. ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: hooded crane From: "pemburung" <pemburung AT naturetravelspecialists.com> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:57:16 -0000 Not about the TN Hooded Crane per se, but a wild Common Crane (due to a number of sightings of Common Cranes in NE over the years the provenance is not questioned) has just been reported with a flock of Sandhills in Nebraska. Given this year of unusual bird movements - Snowy Owls in many states including Arkansas, 2 Purple Sandpipers along the gulf coast and now a Common Crane in Nebraska within a flock of the first wintering Sandhills locals can remember - the provenance of the TN Hooded Crane could be looking better. Especially when a Hooded Crane was seen with Sandhills last April only about 20 miles from the same place. Andrew Haffenden Alabaster ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Photos from AOS winter meeting posted to Flickr page From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:58:28 -0600 (GMT-06:00) Hello All- I have posted a few photos from this weekend's AOS Winter Meeting held at Lakepoint Resort State Park near Eufaula, AL. The majority of the photos were taken at the nearby Eufaula NWR, Houston Unit. Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregharber/sets/72157629092647109/with/6786957567/ if you wish to view the photos. Take care all, Greg Gregory J. Harber Birmingham, AL gharber AT mindspring.com "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Tom Robbins ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: RE: Fort Morgan Comments From: lgardellabirds AT charter.net Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:32:24 -0500 (EST) Thank you, Bob, for the good report. Was there any discussion of a drop box for people to pay an entrance fee when they want to bird before normal Fort hours? Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL On Sun, Jan 29, 2012 at 3:32 PM, RubyThroat AT aol.com wrote: Albirders Friday Martha and I met with the new Director at Fort Morgan. He is Mr. Brian Hill. We met at his invitation at his office at the Fort. The meeting was an exchange of ideas and an update on what he hopes to accomplish as the new Director. The discussions were friendly and in my opinion productive. For Martha and I, our objective was to reaffirm the importance of Fort Morgan as a stopover site for neotropical migrant birds and to discuss our 20 plus year bird banding efforts at this very special location. One item at the top of Mr. Hill's list was that parking will no longer be allowed along the sides of the road, Highway 180 inside the Fort. The parking area is scheduled to be directly across the road from our Stable banding site location at the eastern end of the old runway. This parking area has long been discussed for our guests and for birders who wish to spend time on the Fort. I personally think it is a super idea since we have long advocated that parking along the road by the Stable is a very dangerous situation. We have made suggestions that the speed limit on Highway 180 be lowered for traffic entering the Fort property. As usual, we ask that visitors to the Stable site not block the brick road leading into our tent area. A new system for collecting entrance fees for visitors to the Fort will hopefully be in place by April as well. Our own Dr. Greg Jackson and Mr. Steve McConnell have long urged our birding community to pay when birding at the Fort. This new system, when in place, will make that much easier to do. I expect there to be some easier way to buy inexpensive season passes for those of us that visit the Fort regularly. A special decal system in being considered. I urge all of our fellow birders and our guests to pay their fair share when birding on the Fort. We have always asked our guests at the banding sites to pay the entrance fee. The new fee schedule and other details will be announced in the near future. The Stable area will remain our primary location for visitors. At the present time, I am very impressed with the Mr. Brian Hill and his straightforward approach to protecting the existing structures at the Fort while allowing our banding operation and birding activities to continue. Fort Morgan is one of my favorite places on earth. You knew that already!!! Bob and Martha Sargent The Hummer/Bird Study Group Clay, Alabama 205-681-2888 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Fort Morgan Comments From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2012 16:32:56 -0500 (EST) Albirders Friday Martha and I met with the new Director at Fort Morgan. He is Mr. Brian Hill. We met at his invitation at his office at the Fort. The meeting was an exchange of ideas and an update on what he hopes to accomplish as the new Director. The discussions were friendly and in my opinion productive. For Martha and I, our objective was to reaffirm the importance of Fort Morgan as a stopover site for neotropical migrant birds and to discuss our 20 plus year bird banding efforts at this very special location. One item at the top of Mr. Hill's list was that parking will no longer be allowed along the sides of the road, Highway 180 inside the Fort. The parking area is scheduled to be directly across the road from our Stable banding site location at the eastern end of the old runway. This parking area has long been discussed for our guests and for birders who wish to spend time on the Fort. I personally think it is a super idea since we have long advocated that parking along the road by the Stable is a very dangerous situation. We have made suggestions that the speed limit on Highway 180 be lowered for traffic entering the Fort property. As usual, we ask that visitors to the Stable site not block the brick road leading into our tent area. A new system for collecting entrance fees for visitors to the Fort will hopefully be in place by April as well. Our own Dr. Greg Jackson and Mr. Steve McConnell have long urged our birding community to pay when birding at the Fort. This new system, when in place, will make that much easier to do. I expect there to be some easier way to buy inexpensive season passes for those of us that visit the Fort regularly. A special decal system in being considered. I urge all of our fellow birders and our guests to pay their fair share when birding on the Fort. We have always asked our guests at the banding sites to pay the entrance fee. The new fee schedule and other details will be announced in the near future. The Stable area will remain our primary location for visitors. At the present time, I am very impressed with the Mr. Brian Hill and his straightforward approach to protecting the existing structures at the Fort while allowing our banding operation and birding activities to continue. Fort Morgan is one of my favorite places on earth. You knew that already!!! Bob and Martha Sargent The Hummer/Bird Study Group Clay, Alabama 205-681-2888 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Alabama Ornithological Society meeting - Eufaula - Golden Eagle & Indigo Bunting From: lgardellabirds AT charter.net Date: Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:44:14 -0500 (EST) I left Montgomery before 5:30 this morning to get to Eufaula early enough to do some birding before the Board meeting - and then leaving the meeting by 5 to make it back to Montgomery by 6:30. On the way to Eufaula I stopped briefly and saw an American Woodcock fly up. At the refuge, I did a lot of walking between 7 am and 3 pm, covering all the Kennedy Unit and all the closed-off part of the summer route. At the Kennedy Unit, I saw a King Rail and Marsh and Sedge Wrens. I didn't go to the unit across from Kennedy, where Eric Soehren saw an Indigo Bunting. At the Houston Unit, the best bird I saw was an adult Golden Eagle. When I ran into some AOS birders, I learned that Bob Reed had seen one yesterday. It apparently was the same bird, with the gold more prominent on the back than on the head. A lot of walking, but it was so pleasant on a warm day with good birds around. And I got home in time for wine and a nice dinner. Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: banding From: <flabirder AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:38:29 -0700 Dear birding friends, Today was a very happy day for me. Fred Bassett came and banded my little immature male Rufous Hummingbird! I got to hold him in the palm of my hand and I swear he turned on his side saying "See how pretty I am!"before flying away,only to return later back to a feeder. I guess he wasn't mad at us for all the manipulations Fred put him through. Happy birding....Pat -- Pat Baker Niceville, Fl. When not interfered with by outside influences,everything nature does is done to perfection. Worry about nothing,Pray about everything ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Purple Sandpiper From: "sptrout01" <stephjc AT auburn.edu> Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:08:35 -0000 Anyone seen the Purple Sandpiper lately at Dauphin Island? ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: AOS Winter Meeting at Lake Point SP From: "bjay35215" <brdnrd1022 AT bellsouth.net> Date: Thu, 26 Jan 2012 01:55:00 -0000 For those attending the AOS Winter meeting at Lake Point SP beginning Friday, January 27th - The Friday night social hour will begin at 6:30pm rather than 6:00pm as published in the Yellowhammer. The program will still begin at 7:30pm as planned. We hope to see you there. Bianca (bj) Allen, President, AOS [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Many Thanks Guys From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:48:22 -0500 (EST) Fellow Albirders Martha and I would like to thank all of you for your very kind notes of concern for our welfare after the awful tornado that devastated a part of our community. Martha and I are fine and suffered no injury or damage from this monster storm. I must confess that I somehow lost track of how many wonderful friends we have and how much I love them all. Forgive me for that shortcoming. Say a prayer for those neighbors of ours that lost so much in this monster storm. Bob and Martha Sargent Clay, Alabama [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Courting On The Wing From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:33:38 -0500 (EST) Albirders Today, for the first time this year, we had an apparent pair of Red-shouldered Hawks vocalizing from on high. Their antics are punctuated with a series of screaming, death defying dives toward the old nest site from last year. This behavior has been played out here ever year that I can remember for the past 35 years or so. In addition, the last four days has brought a swelling of the numbers of American Goldfinches at our thistle and sunflower seed feeders. We estimate we are feeding 500 or more daily now. Our population of Purple Finches remains steady at two or three seen on most days. This is not a great year so far for these beautiful finches. Pine Siskins are no longer being seen in our yard. Sparrow numbers remain the lowest in years. Right now Northern Saw-whet Owls are nowhere to be found by my owl hunter Martha Sargent and her army of mobbing song birds. We continue as weather permits to run our nets all night long. The goal now is to define a time line, if that is possible, to detect the northbound migration of owls headed back to their main breeding grounds. So you will know, Martha and I intend to rest and sleep more when we are dead. This stuff is too much fun to do otherwise. Bob and Martha Sargent Clay, Alabama [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Clay, Alabama & SargentsQ From: Harriett Wright <hdove118 AT bellsouth.net> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:31:54 -0600 Dear Martha Gail and Bob, Thankful to have your message that you are safe and damage limited to trees, mostly. I know from the April 27th and again Setpt 5, "Lee"how devastating these tornadoes can be. We can be so thankful that we still have our"Shirts on" and a house, when so many lost everything. Is it possible the Man upstairs is trying to tell us something about the way we are punishing His Earth????????? these disasters around our Earth seem to be coming all too fequently. Love and prayers , Harriett On Jan 23, 2012, at 4:21 PM, Lucy and Bob Duncan wrote: > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: RubyThroat AT aol.com > To: tomndar AT ms.metrocast.net ; missbird AT willow.olemiss.edu > Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 4:14 PM > Subject: Re: [MISSBIRD] Clay, Alabama & SargentsQ > > Tom and Darlene and Fellow Missbirders > Martha Gail and I dodged a bullet this morning as this awful > tornado ripped through our small town of Clay, Alabama. We were > awakened by screaming sirens before 3:00 AM Central time. We > quickly looked at the great coverage on our local TV stations. The > consensus of these fine forecasters was TAKE COVER! > > Half dressed (not a pretty sight) we immediately took up residence > at a prearranged hallway clothes closet. It's hard to be brave when > sitting on small chair, half naked and in a dark house with the > wind howling outside. The reassuring part of the ordeal was I had > my love to keep me safe. Color me the luckiest man on earth. > > The tornado ripped our small town to pieces, with heavy damage and > some loss of life. At our home we had almost no damage except to > some trees. We are fine, but have heavy hearts for those less > fortunate. > > Please do say those prayers for those who are struggling as > darkness approaches soon. Go hug somebody that you care about. It > occurs to me that perhaps we should do that today since tomorrow is > not guaranteed. > > More blessed than we could ever deserve. > Bob and Martha Sargent > Clay, Alabama > > In a message dated 1/23/2012 3:32:33 P.M. Central Standard Time, > tomndar AT ms.metrocast.net writes: > > There are breaking news reports this afternoon of major tornado > damage and > fatalities in Clay, Alabama. Prayers for friends Bob and Martha > Sargent, who > live there, and for everyone affected by these storms... > > Tom & Darlene Hoar > College Hill > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: New email address From: Ron Cogen <rcogen AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:39:12 -0600 Hi All, Please note that Ron Cogen's new email address is: rcogen AT bham.rr.com I will no longer be able to receive email at rcogen AT bellsouth.net. Thanks, Ron "If a man speaks in the forest, and there's no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?" -Earle Hitchner [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Birds and bridges From: "Kenneth Wills" <Memontei AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:15:42 -0000 Thanks for bringing this destructive project to our attention. Who do we write to oppose it? Putting a new highway through one of our last protected coastal habitat areas is something we need to discourage. Ken Wills --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Lucy and Bob Duncan" wrote: > > Alabama DOT has plans to put an "elevated roadway" through GULF STATE PARK from The Wharf due south to Hwy 182 crossing the Middle Lake that's just east of Lake Shelby. The plan will impact birds and other wildlife, as well as contribute significant traffic noise to families camping in the park. > > You can read more about this at http://blog.al.com/live/2012/01/bridge_plan_for_state_park_in.html#incart_hbx . > > I believe that this plan will severely impact birdlife and the aesthetics of the park, and will go far to undermine the intended purpose of a park as a nature sanctuary. The project deserves the scrutiny of the birding community. > > Lucy Duncan > Gulf Breeze, FL > (south of Pensacola) > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: New email address From: Ron Cogen <rcogen AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:03:30 -0600 Hi All, Please note that Ron Cogen's new email address is: RCOGEN AT bham.rr.com I will no longer be able to receive email at rcogen AT bellsouth.net. Thanks, Ron "It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing that happens every so often." -Randy Moss [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Clay, Alabama & SargentsQ From: "Lucy and Bob Duncan" <town_point AT bellsouth.net> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:21:32 -0600 ----- Original Message ----- From: RubyThroat AT aol.com To: tomndar AT ms.metrocast.net ; missbird AT willow.olemiss.edu Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 4:14 PM Subject: Re: [MISSBIRD] Clay, Alabama & SargentsQ Tom and Darlene and Fellow Missbirders Martha Gail and I dodged a bullet this morning as this awful tornado ripped through our small town of Clay, Alabama. We were awakened by screaming sirens before 3:00 AM Central time. We quickly looked at the great coverage on our local TV stations. The consensus of these fine forecasters was TAKE COVER! Half dressed (not a pretty sight) we immediately took up residence at a prearranged hallway clothes closet. It's hard to be brave when sitting on small chair, half naked and in a dark house with the wind howling outside. The reassuring part of the ordeal was I had my love to keep me safe. Color me the luckiest man on earth. The tornado ripped our small town to pieces, with heavy damage and some loss of life. At our home we had almost no damage except to some trees. We are fine, but have heavy hearts for those less fortunate. Please do say those prayers for those who are struggling as darkness approaches soon. Go hug somebody that you care about. It occurs to me that perhaps we should do that today since tomorrow is not guaranteed. More blessed than we could ever deserve. Bob and Martha Sargent Clay, Alabama In a message dated 1/23/2012 3:32:33 P.M. Central Standard Time, tomndar AT ms.metrocast.net writes: There are breaking news reports this afternoon of major tornado damage and fatalities in Clay, Alabama. Prayers for friends Bob and Martha Sargent, who live there, and for everyone affected by these storms... Tom & Darlene Hoar College Hill [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Eagles at Guntersville Dam From: "orm091101" <justadude80 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:53:51 -0000 As many of you know, the pair of bald eagles are Guntersville Dam are using the same nest as last year. We suspect/guess that they hatched one or more chinks around Jan 8th. We did see at least one chick stick its head up for food on Saturday the 21st. The adults seem to be very cooperative by sitting in the "posing tree" quite often, including a few instances where both eagles sat there in that tree together allowing some real good photography. Here are a few pictures: www.flickr.com/photos/justadude80/ If all goes well we should know how many chikcs are in the nest within the next two weeks. If you guys are not aware, the good people at Lake Guntersville State Park have special activities in their "Eagle Awareness" weekend programs on weekends in January and the first two weekends in February. That is always lots of fun. They guide groups to the Dam on Sat and Sun mornings, but also have lots of good activities at the park at other times during the weekend. If you want to learn about how Bald Eagles and other raptors live in north Alabama that is the place to be. If you want to hang out with cool people who are interested in eagles and outdoor activities and nature photogrpahy that is the place to be. Rocky Baker Athens Alabama ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Waterloo 1/22 From: "Jud Johnston" <rivendell AT tds.net> Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:08:45 -0600 Cut myself loose for a day of birding today and drove down to Waterloo, sort of in pursuit of the reported Clark's grebe, but not really expecting to find it. I saw no large grebes, only pied-billeds and horneds dotted around, along with common loons. Best bird was an immature bald eagle drying its wings near the entrance to Brushy Creek Park. Second Creek had tons of Bonaparte's and buffleheads, not much else. A nice little raft of goldeneye was noted about a quarter mile upstream from the Natchez Trace bridge, maybe 15 or so. Is the TVA Reservation pond being drained? A big chunk has been taken out of the north end of the dike, and the water level is way down. More buffleheads and Canada geese there. Jud Johnston Waynesboro, TN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Purple Sandpiper, Dauphin Island NO. From: "J. Allen Burrows" <rotteral AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:19:06 -0600 I walked goodly portion of the rock breakwater at the west end of Dauphin Island this morning January 22, 2012 at about 10:00 AM. I did find the flock of Sanderlings and Turnstones that were working this area but did not find a darker companion among them. So no Purple Sandpiper for me, alas. The Turnstones and Sanderlings were on the calm north side and I may not have been careful enough in my examination of the more active south side. It was foggy, the waves were crashing and the rocks were interesting to walk on. I did see the Greater Black Backed Gull on the way out and the Glaucous Gull on the way back. There were members of the wading guild in the flats north of the breakwater. Dunlins, Short-billed Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Piping Plovers, and Western Sandpipers. J. Allen Burrows Jackson MS ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Hooded Crane at Hiwassee From: "Harry Roach" <hcroachmd AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:08:13 -0600 Jerry You are there at the parking lot. 100 feet max. There are two toilets (port-a-potties), last time fortunately relatively clean. Brings me to a fond memory of one of my ob/gyn professors who told us about a truck load of port-a-potties with the slogan, "We are #1, in #2." These potties were in dire need of cleaning when first there, and if you were a woman you wouldn't have been any better off had you pooped in your pants. Last time, OK, but you girls always get the shaft when it comes to public toilet facilities. That's another reason why I know God is a man! On the platform you can look to the slough in the NW to NE. Looking directly west is a corn field where I saw the albino Sandhill and the lonely Whooper. Directly in front of the platform (to the NW) is a building and a large tree, but one can look around them and see the slough and the fields beyond. In the distance is a large sycamore tree wilth a nest. Looks like the Great Blues are guarding it against the two adult Bald Eagles as both perch in the trees in that area. Looking to the NE there is a path (driveway) out of bounds and a woods directly east where one sees a variety of birds - lots of Robin and often Cedar Waxwings. Around the building and the obseration platform is a resident Mockingbird and Phoebe, lots of Bluebirds and Meadowlarks and Field Sparrows and a few Yellow Rumps (in my days, Myrtle Warblers). There's a resident Kingfisher on the slough. The second day there we all saw a Ross's Goose with two blue phase Snow Geese - no question about the Ross Goose as it was a good 1/3rd smaller than its companions. Lots of Canada Geese. Mostly Ring Billed Gulls. A few Mallards, some Gadwall. It's fun looking for other birds, but someone has to be constantly on the outlook for the Hooded Crane as it may come and go within less than ten seconds. Or you may be lucky, get there, immediately see it and turn around and go home. Not me, though. Again, recently last week and this week it was seen in the morning, as early as 8:55. However, Andrew Haffenden reports to me he saw it around 3:45 local Eastern time sometime two or more weeks ago. At that time it was up on the hilltop across the slough with the Sandhills. Watch the Sandhills as they come in as it may arrive with them, but in the two sightings Thursday and Friday it was flying by itself. Harry Roach ----- Original Message ----- From: Jerry Green To: Harry Roach Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 2:35 PM Subject: Re: [ALBIRDS] Hooded Crane at Hiwassee Thanks for the directions and other info. How far is it from the parking lot to the observation platform? Are there restrooms there? When you are on the observation platform which direction do you look to see the birds? Jerry Green [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Hooded Crane at Hiwassee From: "Harry Roach" <hcroachmd AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:06:54 -0600 Phyllis, You are certainly welcome. Let me add some bits of advice. Firstly, there's a BP station at Exit 25 which sells gas at $3.17/gallon - cheapest gas I've seen in years! It's immediately past the I-25/SR 60 intersection heading north to Hiwassee. Secondly, unless you get there by 8:00 AM you better plan on staying at least two if not three days. Three times the bird was seen on the days I was there. The first time two weeks ago at 11:30 AM, the next time this past Thursday at 8:50 AM (or thereabouts) and the last time at 9:25 AM on Friday, the time I saw it. All three times it was seen only fleetingly as it flew by. The first time reportedly northeast from the sycamore tree area across the slough to the northwest. Both other times it was seen flying across the slough from the east to the west. Let me add, however, that it's a "catch is as catch can" situation. It has been seen numerous times intermingled with the Sandhills, often for long periods of times. Attached is a photo a professional photographer (Coomer) gave to me (he didn't specify that it was copywrited): Note that I cropped the image to center the bird. Note too that there is no mistaking the possible identity of this bird. A local who lives in Birchwood comes every day to check on the sign-in sheet. He says there is no set time nor no set pattern to when and where the bird can be seen. This is what I saw, except he was flying with typical crane like behavior, legs and neck extended, and while watching through the binoculars, viewed from the side, with feet outstretched and wings stationary he glided to his landing site. There are Whooping Cranes in the area. I saw one Monday afternoon in the field west of the observation platform. Additionally there is an albino Sandhill Crane in that same vicinity. This bird is entirely white, with no black on its face, but with a typical Sandhill Crane red topknot. Whooping Crane During the other three days I spent there I did not see again either the albino Sandhill nor any of the Whoopers. If you want to see Whooping Cranes for sure visit the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge observation building off CR 67 near Decatur, several miles west of the I-65/SR 67 intersection. If you wish to see Bald Eagles nesting the same pair is occupying the same nest at Guntersville Dam off of US-431 11 miles north of Guntersville. There are at least two adult Bald Eagles and two immature Bald Eagles at Hiwassee. Reportedly there are four Whooping Cranes there, as well. For you, Phyllis, the drive to Hiwassee should take you about three hours from the I-65/I-565 (US-72) intersection via US-72 to I-24 to I-25 north to Exit 25 in Cleveland, TN. Drive north on TN SR 60, pass the SR 58 intersection and continue past downtown Birchwood for approximately another 1 1/2 miles. There is a cemetery on the right at that intersection immediately after entering Meigs County. Turn right onto that road (Shadden Rd), and turn right again at the next intersection, 1 mile, (Blythe Ferry Rd), and shortly thereafter turn left onto Priddly Ln. When you come to a fork in the road bear right to the observation platform. It can be windy and chilly, even if 50 degrees, so dress warmly. If you leave Florence, AL by 5:00 AM you can surely get there by 8:00. For those coming from Birmingham and further south the shortest route would be I-59 which intersects with I-25 just west of Chattanooga. The first night there I stayed at the Comfort Inn. Relatively expensive ($70 +) but has a great breakfast. The last time I stayed at EconoLodge ($50 +), but the breakfast leaves much to be desired. Knights Inns tend to be relatively inexpensive too, and there is one of these at that intersection. Both the motels I stayed at had free wifi, important for me as I never travel anywhere without my laptop. There is a Mexican Restaurant, Las Margaritas, near that intersection. Steak fajitas were decent. The beef noodle soup at Cracker Barrel is outstanding, as is nearly all their food. Neither restaurant is very expensive. Each of us has our own "druthers" and mine in small towns is not to have to pay a high price to eat. When in New York, there's no way out of pricey food, even in the deli's and unknown restaurants. And in the big cities at the high priced hotels one has to pay for anything extra, including wifi. Why is that? It seems to me that for $150 to $250 per night one should get free wifi. Never happens! The more expensive the lodging, the extras are always ala carte pricey. Can't think of any other comments to make. Good luck in seeing Mr Hooded Crane. When the Snow Bunting was here last winter in Guntersville it took me more than ten trips to where it was observed before I finally spotted it. It never failed. It was seen just before I got there or inevitably just after I left. For Mr Hooded it took me four trips. Harry Roach ----- Original Message ----- From: Phyllis Nofzinger To: Harry Roach Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2012 1:53 PM Subject: Re: [ALBIRDS] Hooded Crane at Hiwassee Harry, Thanks for your report. It gives me hope that we too can find the crane when we go next week. Phyllis Nofzinger Florence, AL ----- Original Message ----- From: Harry Roach To: Alabama Birds Sent: Saturday, January 21, 2012 5:39 AM Subject: [ALBIRDS] Hooded Crane at Hiwassee I went to Hiwassee last week on Monday & Tuesday. The Hooded Crane was seen Monday approx 1 1/2 hours before I got there and never returned. I returned home mid afternoon on Tuesday. The bird was not seen that day at all. Thursday, a couple of days ago, I decided to give it another go so left around 9:00 AM and got there early afternoon. The bird was seen fleetingly by a number of observers who saw it for just a few seconds as it flew across the slough westerly and disappeared. It did not return. I spent the night, got up early and got to the refuge just before 8:00 AM. I was the first there yesterday morning, but there were some 8 to 10 people shortly thereafter. It was a tad warmer, temperature mid 40's. It started to sprinkle, and at 9:25 Mr Hooded Crane obliging flew by, again flying east. It landed in the cornfield to the right of the road just behind the trees and out of sight. The sighting was again only momentary, but the identification was unmistakable, through the binoculars a large black bird with an extended long white neck. Hey, made my day! So, my 3 1/2 hour drive there was worth it. I packed up and returned home, arriving early afternoon. May not be official but it's a lifer for me! Harry Roach Logan, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Hooded Crane at Hiwassee From: "Harry Roach" <hcroachmd AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:39:47 -0600 I went to Hiwassee last week on Monday & Tuesday. The Hooded Crane was seen Monday approx 1 1/2 hours before I got there and never returned. I returned home mid afternoon on Tuesday. The bird was not seen that day at all. Thursday, a couple of days ago, I decided to give it another go so left around 9:00 AM and got there early afternoon. The bird was seen fleetingly by a number of observers who saw it for just a few seconds as it flew across the slough westerly and disappeared. It did not return. I spent the night, got up early and got to the refuge just before 8:00 AM. I was the first there yesterday morning, but there were some 8 to 10 people shortly thereafter. It was a tad warmer, temperature mid 40's. It started to sprinkle, and at 9:25 Mr Hooded Crane obliging flew by, again flying east. It landed in the cornfield to the right of the road just behind the trees and out of sight. The sighting was again only momentary, but the identification was unmistakable, through the binoculars a large black bird with an extended long white neck. Hey, made my day! So, my 3 1/2 hour drive there was worth it. I packed up and returned home, arriving early afternoon. May not be official but it's a lifer for me! Harry Roach Logan, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: No Subject From: cpriceuab AT aol.com Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:40:37 -0500 (EST) http://www.redrose.uk.net/wp-content/uploads/fgallery/photo.php?enough45.img ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Birds and bridges From: "Lucy and Bob Duncan" <town_point AT bellsouth.net> Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:10:29 -0600 Alabama DOT has plans to put an "elevated roadway" through GULF STATE PARK from The Wharf due south to Hwy 182 crossing the Middle Lake that's just east of Lake Shelby. The plan will impact birds and other wildlife, as well as contribute significant traffic noise to families camping in the park. You can read more about this at http://blog.al.com/live/2012/01/bridge_plan_for_state_park_in.html#incart_hbx . I believe that this plan will severely impact birdlife and the aesthetics of the park, and will go far to undermine the intended purpose of a park as a nature sanctuary. The project deserves the scrutiny of the birding community. Lucy Duncan Gulf Breeze, FL (south of Pensacola) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Dauphin is. today From: "Lucy and Bob Duncan" <town_point AT bellsouth.net> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:52:16 -0600 Hi folks, Lucy and I joined son Scot and his ornithology class from Birmingham Southern College today. We arrived around 9 am and went to the west end. There was a first cycle Glaucous Gull, first cycle, third cycle and adult Great Black-backed Gull out there which Scot and his class had seen yesterday. We tried for the Purple Sandpiper without success, though walking the rocks was a bit daunting with a fairly high east wind. So Lucy and I went only as far as the first post and retreated. There were loads of plovers of four species out there as well. Scot had found a Lark Sparrow at the Coast Guard Rec area, now abandoned, so we drove in and promptly found it exactly where he described it to be, that is, the extreme SW corner of the facility near the beach. It was actually perched on a dead tree branch near the beach when we arrived. Bob Duncan Gulf Breeze, in the w. Panhandle of FL. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: A new field mark for Selasphorus hummingbirds?.... From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 21:30:56 -0000 Thanks Bob, Good to hear your opinion. It is greatly appreciated and highly valued. Regarding Calliope... There is a very good 2009 phylogenetics paper published in the Journal of Ornithology by McGuire et al. that discusses the higher level taxonomy of hummingbirds based on molecular DNA data (including several mitochondrial and nuclear markers). In this study (I can send a PDF if requested) and others, the genus Stellula is clearly nested within Selasphorus. If one continues to recognize Stellula as a separate genus it renders the genus Selasphorus paraphyletic. Merging Stellula into Selasphorus fixes the problem by making the group a monophyletic clade. The authors (one of which is J. V. Remsen from LSU) thus propose that Stellula be placed in synomony under Selasphorus which has nomenclatural priority. I believe this proposal has just been made to the American Ornithologists' Union's North American Checklist Committee and is before them now (they should be voting prior to the July issue of the Auk). The proposal will also involve several other changes to genera to be more in line with the South American Checklist Committee generic classification of the Trochilidae. Cheers, Howard Horne Mobile, AL --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com, RubyThroat AT ... wrote: > > Howard > So far as I can determine, I find nothing of real value in this new > information/suggestion that will help in ID'ing these often difficult to separate > species of hummingbirds. In many cases, in hand measurements and PHOTOS > are a must for ID'ing hummers. This is why passerine banders require > additional training and a special permit to band hummingbirds. > > This discussion probably came about because of the misidentification of a > Rufous as a Broad-tailed in Illinois recently. It was an unfortunate story > that made the newspapers and TV up that way. Instead of consulting with > folks with more expertise in these matters, someone opted to go public with > it as though it was fact. This rapidly expanding farce (my opinion) > resulted in DNA work done on feces or feathers to determine that it was indeed a > Rufous. Hybrids do occur regularly among hummers in the western United > States. > > I can be persuaded if any of our Albirders can take time to show me how > this helps in the process. The fact that the "discovery" mentioned Calliope > hummingbird in the wrong genus is very suspect to me and may indicate the > credibility of the comments involved. The value of a skilled bander in such > matters is that critical measurements of such things as wing length, tail > length, bill length and feather width are sometimes crucial in making > positive identification. > > The above opinion is mine alone. I am very interested in the opinion of > others. > > Bob Sargent > Clay, Alabama > > > In a message dated 1/19/2012 9:38:53 A.M. Central Standard Time, > hhorne AT ... writes: > > Hi all, > > I came across this interesting piece on the ID-Frontiers list server last > night. It offers what may possibly be a new and useful field mark for > Selasphorus hummingbirds, especially in helping sort out Broad-tailed > Hummingbird from Rufous Hummingbird. > > Here's the link: > > _http://www.nabirding.com/2012/01/18/a-new-way-to-identify-selasphorus-hummi > ngbirds/_ > (http://www.nabirding.com/2012/01/18/a-new-way-to-identify-selasphorus-hummingbirds/) > > I'm sure that our resident expert hummingbird banders can comment and > perhaps provide some good insight on this observation. > > There is still much more to be explored and this potential new character > may not ultimately pan out in the end. More study is needed to understand > the amount of variation within the various Selasphorus species and also > Calliope Hummingbird (which phylogenetically is most likely a Selasphorus > species). However, I've looked at a few photos I have of Selasphorus hummers and > from my small sample size it looks promising. > > I find it amazing how much we still do not know about these wonderful > creatures and how we continue to make new and exciting discoveries with well > studied birds. > > Good Birding, > > Howard Horne > Mobile, AL > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Mockingbird! From: Chawkswrth <chawkswrth AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:42:01 -0500 (EST) Granted, I haven't had many birds coming to the feeders, this year. I could tell that there was a good bit of Natural food still out there, but, seriously...the numbers are fewer then I have had historically. Last year, at this time, I could easily count a dozen Cardinals, their spouses, chickadees, several Sparrows, woodpeckers and other usual wintering birds. What I have out, ready and waiting, are feeders loaded with good wintering food, with black oil Sunflower seeds, a feeder with sunflower chips, a feeder with Peanuts, a ground feeder with corn, sunflower seeds, whole peanuts, rye seed, and ground corn. I have three different suet feeders...in front of the house, I have a feeder with a no-mess mix and a niger seed feeder. Trust me, I have food for all comers, including hummers. (no, sorry, Mr. Sargent, I haven't seen any of the latter, even though I did move it next to a Camellia Bush) I have kept a close eye over the last three days to try and figure out the mystery...and this morning, I watched a rag-taggled Mockingbird chasing away everything but the crows! Since that would have been a 6 to 1 battle, the Mocker just stood his ground on top of one of the pole systems, glared and fussed. Now, I know this is very early for a Mocker to show behavior this aggressive. It isn't breeding season for his kind. What can I do to make him STOP picking on the other birds...or do I just hope that the Broadwing Hawk family in residence takes care of him? 8-\ Thanks from a Frustrated Beak Feeder! Carol Knight Trussville ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: A new field mark for Selasphorus hummingbirds?.... From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:25:51 -0500 (EST) Howard So far as I can determine, I find nothing of real value in this new information/suggestion that will help in ID'ing these often difficult to separate species of hummingbirds. In many cases, in hand measurements and PHOTOS are a must for ID'ing hummers. This is why passerine banders require additional training and a special permit to band hummingbirds. This discussion probably came about because of the misidentification of a Rufous as a Broad-tailed in Illinois recently. It was an unfortunate story that made the newspapers and TV up that way. Instead of consulting with folks with more expertise in these matters, someone opted to go public with it as though it was fact. This rapidly expanding farce (my opinion) resulted in DNA work done on feces or feathers to determine that it was indeed a Rufous. Hybrids do occur regularly among hummers in the western United States. I can be persuaded if any of our Albirders can take time to show me how this helps in the process. The fact that the "discovery" mentioned Calliope hummingbird in the wrong genus is very suspect to me and may indicate the credibility of the comments involved. The value of a skilled bander in such matters is that critical measurements of such things as wing length, tail length, bill length and feather width are sometimes crucial in making positive identification. The above opinion is mine alone. I am very interested in the opinion of others. Bob Sargent Clay, Alabama In a message dated 1/19/2012 9:38:53 A.M. Central Standard Time, hhorne AT earthlink.net writes: Hi all, I came across this interesting piece on the ID-Frontiers list server last night. It offers what may possibly be a new and useful field mark for Selasphorus hummingbirds, especially in helping sort out Broad-tailed Hummingbird from Rufous Hummingbird. Here's the link: _http://www.nabirding.com/2012/01/18/a-new-way-to-identify-selasphorus-hummi ngbirds/_ (http://www.nabirding.com/2012/01/18/a-new-way-to-identify-selasphorus-hummingbirds/) I'm sure that our resident expert hummingbird banders can comment and perhaps provide some good insight on this observation. There is still much more to be explored and this potential new character may not ultimately pan out in the end. More study is needed to understand the amount of variation within the various Selasphorus species and also Calliope Hummingbird (which phylogenetically is most likely a Selasphorus species). However, I've looked at a few photos I have of Selasphorus hummers and from my small sample size it looks promising. I find it amazing how much we still do not know about these wonderful creatures and how we continue to make new and exciting discoveries with well studied birds. Good Birding, Howard Horne Mobile, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: A new field mark for Selasphorus hummingbirds?.... From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:38:45 -0000 Hi all, I came across this interesting piece on the ID-Frontiers list server last night. It offers what may possibly be a new and useful field mark for Selasphorus hummingbirds, especially in helping sort out Broad-tailed Hummingbird from Rufous Hummingbird. Here's the link: http://www.nabirding.com/2012/01/18/a-new-way-to-identify-selasphorus-hummingbirds/ I'm sure that our resident expert hummingbird banders can comment and perhaps provide some good insight on this observation. There is still much more to be explored and this potential new character may not ultimately pan out in the end. More study is needed to understand the amount of variation within the various Selasphorus species and also Calliope Hummingbird (which phylogenetically is most likely a Selasphorus species). However, I've looked at a few photos I have of Selasphorus hummers and from my small sample size it looks promising. I find it amazing how much we still do not know about these wonderful creatures and how we continue to make new and exciting discoveries with well studied birds. Good Birding, Howard Horne Mobile, AL ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Operation Migration, continues in Franklin Co, AL From: J C Allen <ssallen1 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:32:46 -0800 (PST) I don't know how many of you are following the migration now downed in Franklin Co, AL, but it is certainly testing those faithful people trying to move those birds. It seems as though they are getting pretty good cooperation from locals on whose property the birds land . Below is the url reporting the day-to-day exasperating experiences. I know it's been posted before, but I certainly forget to check it from time to time.. http://www.operationmigration.org/Field_Journal.html Jane Allen Huntsville, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: 1st year Glaucous Gull at Cedar Point From: "Lucy and Bob Duncan" <town_point AT bellsouth.net> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:47:52 -0600 Scot Duncan just called to report that a first year Glaucous Gull had just sailed 12 feet over the heads of his Birmingham Southern College Field Ornithology class and hovered into the wind at Cedar Point. This was at 11:35 a.m. today (Wed. Jan 18). He and his class will be on Dauphin Island through Thursday, so look out! Lucy Duncan Gulf Breeze [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Egyptian Goose Fairhope Park, AL From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:04:53 -0000 Hi Jan, Domesticated individuals of Egyptian Goose are frequently kept in captivity and free-flying or escaped birds are occasionally encountered in Alabama, especially around parks, but they may also be seen in more "wild" situations. The species is found throughout tropical sub-Saharan Africa and largely non-migratory except for some seasonal dispersal during its wet season. The chances of this being a wild bird from Africa are basically nil. Escaped or feral Egyptian Geese in North America are not countable following the American Birding Association's listing rules (note however, one's personal list is their own to add whatever species they choose). This species, along with many other feral waterfowl and other domesticated species (e.g. Emu, Indian Peacock, Ring-necked Pheasant, Guinea Fowl, Red Jungle Fowl, aka. the chicken, parrots, parakeets, etc...) can often be seen outside of captivity in the state, but are not treated by the Alabama Checklist Committee. A neat bird nonetheless. Thanks for sharing the sighting. Cheers, Howard Horne Mobile, AL --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com, Jan Kerr wrote: > > Last Wednesday January 11 I photographed a goose I could not identify. I posted it to the Cornell "We Love Birds" site and it was ID'd as an Egyptian Goose. I would like to know if this is an unusual bird for Alabama. > > Also is it okay to attach pictures to emails to this group list. > > Jan Kerr > ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Cackling Geese From: TNbarredowl AT aol.com Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:31:30 -0500 (EST) I made a quick stop at Church and Walker Ponds this afternoon after the flood. At Church Pond, I counted 28 Canada Geese and 2 Cackling Geese (a great size, neck length and bill shape comparison). They flew away while I was there. Also present were 13 Gadwall, 2 Wigeon and 1 Lesser Scaup. Surprisingly, no G White-fronted Geese were seen (they have been there all winter). I then went by Walker Pond and found 30 Canada Geese and 2 Cackling Geese (I found out where they went) as well as 5 Snow (white) Geese and 1 Ross's Goose. Still no G White-fronted, so I couldn't make the sweep. Also present there were about 150 Mallard, 50 Gadwall, 12 Green-winged Teal, 8 Wigeon and 2 Pintail. As I headed toward Florence on CR2, I also found about 1000 Ring-billed Gulls in the pasture adjacent to the Florence Sports Complex. Damien Simbeck Killen, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:51:06 -0600 (GMT-06:00) Thanks for the information, Howard. There certainly are some remote mountain ridges in north Georgia, so if that is any contributing factor that might entice them to breed, I can where that would be the case. -----Original Message----- From: Howard Horne Sent: Jan 16, 2012 12:07 PM To: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [ALBIRDS] Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district Hi Greg, Here's the pertinent information on the historic breeding distribution of Golden Eagle from the Birds of North America Online Website (References follow below) "Historical nesting suspected in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, N. Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, W. Virginia, Virginia, S. Carolina, and Georgia (Smith 1982, Palmer 1988, Todd 1989, C. Todd pers. comm.). " =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Palmer, R. S. 1988. Handbook of North American birds, Vol. 5: diurnal raptors. Pt. 2. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, CT. Smith, J. L. 1982. The Golden Eagle in eastern West Virginia. Redstart 49:94-97. Todd, C. S. 1989. Golden Eagle. Pages 65-70 in Proceedings of the northeast raptor management symposium and workshop. (Pendleton, B. G., M. N. LeFranc, Jr., M. B. Moss, C. E. Ruibal, M. A. Knighton, and D. L. Krahe, Eds.) Natl. Wildl. Fed. Washington, D.C. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cheers, Howard Horne Mobile, AL > Hey Eric- > > Thanks for the additional background on the Golden Eagle project. Do you > know, or does the group know, of the origins of these eagles? The reason I > ask is that several years ago now the state of Georgia had a Golden Eagle > hacking program, based at the Pigeon Mountain WMA in NW Georgia. On my > occasional trips to the area back then the eagles were fairly reliable to > see. I can also recall seeing a Golden Eagle on a BAS trip to Coleman Lake > about ten years ago, shortly after the Red Crossbills were first discovered > there by Dr. Summerour. I also witnessed a pair of eagles at Pigeon > Mountain about four years ago engaging each other in flight and locking > talons. I had always assumed that these and other sightings were likely > birds released as part of the hacking program, or their offspring, perhaps? > IÂım also curious as to why GA felt the need to initiate the hacking program > in the first place. Certainly not to establish a breeding population? Did > they ever historically breed in the state? > > Sorry for the 101 questions, but it is an interesting project! Many thanks, > and take care all. Greg > > > On 1/14/12 9:00 AM, Eric Soehren at esoehren AT ... wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Greg and ALBirders, > > > > Thanks for passing along this information. This record is part of a much > > larger Golden Eagle survey effort in the eastern United States that is > > currently taking place from Maine to Alabama, accounting for over 100 survey > > sites. AL DCNR was approached this past fall by researchers associated with > > the Eastern Golden Eagle Technical Working Group to participate. As a result, > > collaboration between state and federal wildlife biologists (AL DCNR, USFS, > > USFWS, and DOD) agreed to establish 5 sampling sites (as a pilot effort) in > > areas where historic records exist in Alabama. As Greg mentioned below, one > > site is at Shoal Creek Ranger District; other sites are in Madison, Jackson, > > Bullock, and Barbour counties. The sampling period officially began at the > > start of January and will continue through February. However, several of the > > sites in Alabama were initiated earlier to expand sampling effort. The site > > at Shoal Creek was initiated during the 2nd week of December and they got > > their first Golden Eagle detection on 19 December. Last report was that the > > bird was continuing at the site into early January. Other survey sites have > > yet to get detections. > > > > Golden Eagles are attracted to carrion and researchers developed a sampling > > methodology using roadkill deer and game cameras. This is a sampling design > > that is passive and doesn't require a lot of time or expense. The limiting > > factor is the availability of roadkill deer. Harvested deer are not used to > > avoid lead poisoning. > > > > Since this is an ongoing survey, specific site locations will not be released > > to avoid any unnecessary disturbances. The site at Shoal Creek is essentially > > inaccessible, so any visits made to Shoal Creek will not have any affects of > > this effort. More information about the results of this project will be > > released after the sampling period is completed. > > > > But what I can say is that the recent detections at Shoal Creek has generated > > a lot of excitement by many folks involved in this project. > > > > Good Birding, > > > > Eric Soehren > > Shorter, AL > > > > --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com , "Gregory > > J. Harber" wrote: > >> > > >> > Hey All- > >> > > >> > I thought IÂıd pass along a report of a Golden Eagle that was photographed > >> > using a ³game cam² set up by the Forest Service District Ranger. The > >> photos > >> > sent to me have date stamps ranging from 12/20/11 to 12/28/11. The bird >> > was > >> > apparently attracted to the camera site by the carcass of a White-tailed > >> > Deer. I do not know the specific location, other than it was in the > >> > Talladega NF, Shoal Creek District (northern part). > >> > > >> > Anyone heading to look for Red Crossbills this winter should keep their > >> eyes > >> > to the skies for this beauty as well. IÂım happy to forward the photos if > >> > anyone desires to view them. > >> > > >> > Take care all, Greg > >> > -- > >> > Greg Harber > >> > Birmingham, AL > >> > > >> > ³ItÂıs never too late to have a happy childhood.² > >> > Tom Robbins > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Greg Harber > Birmingham, AL > > ³ItÂıs never too late to have a happy childhood.² > Tom Robbins > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Gregory J. Harber Birmingham, AL gharber AT mindspring.com "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Tom Robbins ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Egyptian Goose Fairhope Park, AL From: "orm091101" <justadude80 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:58:52 -0000 Hi Jan and congratulations on your sighting. I don't know anything about Egyptian Geese, but I do know about attaching pictures here. Sometimes people include a link to a photo page in their message. Plus this site has a gallery for photos if you want to post pictures there. Rocky Baker Athens Alabama --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com, Jan Kerr wrote: > > Last Wednesday January 11 I photographed a goose I could not identify. I posted it to the Cornell "We Love Birds" site and it was ID'd as an Egyptian Goose. I would like to know if this is an unusual bird for Alabama. > > Also is it okay to attach pictures to emails to this group list. > > Jan Kerr > ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Egyptian Goose Fairhope Park, AL From: Jan Kerr <jandonkerr AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:58:51 -0600 Last Wednesday January 11 I photographed a goose I could not identify. I posted it to the Cornell "We Love Birds" site and it was ID'd as an Egyptian Goose. I would like to know if this is an unusual bird for Alabama. Also is it okay to attach pictures to emails to this group list. Jan Kerr ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Interesting... From: Chawkswrth <chawkswrth AT aol.com> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:47:53 -0500 (EST) We have an influx of new members this month, mostly College Students. Fresh, new minds and eyes are always welcome! But, today's new members have mentioned something new that they have spotted. I am going to request these new members to tell us what they have seen, and we would welcome your photographs as new additions to our gallery. If you need any help uploading them to the page, just let me know. We have some nationally known experts on this list, and they would welcome the oppurtunity to assist you in confirming the identity of your find! Thank you for joining in the fun! Carol Knight ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: We are pleased with the time and fuel spent to get to Wheeler 1.16.12 From: "Kathryn" <klo_day AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:55:54 -0000 Wow. Even found the adult w 2 juv Whooping Cranes, thanks to the ranger's advice. Eagle, northern Shoveler right outside the center window. What a day! ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Hooded Crane Thoughts From: Harold Peterson <pinkfloyd137 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:23:15 -0800 (PST) Given the large distance over which this bird had to travel, it would be a difficult sighting for me to accept as a truly wild bird without a scientific explanation for how it got here.  Hurricane Irene wasn't sufficiently strong to carry a bird like this until close to the Lesser Antilles, and the current jet stream pattern has not favored transport of birds from Siberia to the contiguous U.S., let alone the Southeast.  There does not appear to be anything in the current evidence to support "vagrant" over "escapee" (or vice versa, to be fair).  The "number of birders" argument is scientifically irrelevant. Just my opinions, -Harold Peterson Huntsville, AL >________________________________ > From: "lgardellabirds AT charter.net" >To: James F Holmes >Cc: albirds AT yahoogroups.com >Sent: Monday, January 16, 2012 2:39 PM >Subject: RE: [ALBIRDS] Hooded Crane Thoughts > > >  >I thank James for the discussion of the California Demoiselle Crane >record, since the California RBC had to consider the same factors that >the Tennessee BRC will have to. With respect to that record, the >discussion by Don Roberson is instructive, explaining his early >reservations. See > >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/central_valley_birds/message/1693 > >But Don Roberson’s reference to “muscle mass” (“The muscle mass of these >regularly-flown birds was compared to that of captive birds which were >not flown. The surprising preliminary results are that >there is not much difference in muscle mass between the two sets of >cranes.”) was incorrect. Don later said: > >Here are Tori Kaldenberg's clarifying comments after reading my post >earlier today: > >"Don, > >This information is correct. About the banding in private hands-banding >is the only easy way to tell birds apart in a group so if a private >breeder raised more than one bird of a species, they should be banded. >Then about the muscle mass difference. Just so you know, there never was >"research" quality data here. One person mentioned that the body >condition seemed similar in both groups. So, "body condition index" >might be a better way of putting it. We never really calculated muscle >mass even though >that is the terminology I used during our last talk. > >Tori" > >I appreciate the fine-tuning of these points. > >Cheers, Don Roberson > >In his blog, a member of the Tennessee Bird Records Committee discussed >vagrancy patterns for Hooded Crane and some of the research he had >already done as of late December: > >http://bbill.blogspot.com/2011/12/hooded-crane-origins.html > >Larry Gardella >Montgomery, AL > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: RE: Hooded Crane Thoughts From: lgardellabirds AT charter.net Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:39:33 -0500 (EST) I thank James for the discussion of the California Demoiselle Crane record, since the California RBC had to consider the same factors that the Tennessee BRC will have to. With respect to that record, the discussion by Don Roberson is instructive, explaining his early reservations. See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/central_valley_birds/message/1693 But Don Roberson’s reference to “muscle mass” (“The muscle mass of these regularly-flown birds was compared to that of captive birds which were not flown. The surprising preliminary results are that there is not much difference in muscle mass between the two sets of cranes.”) was incorrect. Don later said: Here are Tori Kaldenberg's clarifying comments after reading my post earlier today: "Don, This information is correct. About the banding in private hands-banding is the only easy way to tell birds apart in a group so if a private breeder raised more than one bird of a species, they should be banded. Then about the muscle mass difference. Just so you know, there never was "research" quality data here. One person mentioned that the body condition seemed similar in both groups. So, "body condition index" might be a better way of putting it. We never really calculated muscle mass even though that is the terminology I used during our last talk. Tori" I appreciate the fine-tuning of these points. Cheers, Don Roberson In his blog, a member of the Tennessee Bird Records Committee discussed vagrancy patterns for Hooded Crane and some of the research he had already done as of late December: http://bbill.blogspot.com/2011/12/hooded-crane-origins.html Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: RE: Hooded Crane Thoughts From: "James F Holmes" <jfholmes AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 10:21:16 -0800 I would add the story of the Demoiselle Crane in California (fall 2001). I would guess a Hooded Crane in Tennessee would be as likely (perhaps more It was not accepted. It spent the winter and was seen by lots of people from all over the USA. I would guess most of the California Checklist committee saw the bird. See comments below from the committee regarding its decision to not accept it: DEMOISELLE CRANE Anthropoides virgo. The Committee unanimously endorsed the identity of an adult with wintering Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) near Lodi and on Staten Island, SJ, 30 Sep 2001–18 Feb 2002 (CP; KMB, KH‡, LL, KMcK†, JM, DEQ, MMR, DGY; 2001-173; Figure 10). But only three members considered it a genuine vagrant. This easily identified crane breeds across central Asia and migrates to the Indian subcontinent and sub-Saharan Africa to winter (Cramp 1980). Vagrants have been recorded well to the north of this range in N Europe (Lewington et al. 1991, Beaman and Madge 1998) and NE Siberia (Dement’ev et al. 1951). Since Sandhill Cranes nest well into NE Siberia (Flint et al. 1984), there is a possibility of a vagrant Demoiselle Crane joining up with Sandhill Cranes breeding in Siberia, then migrating south with those cranes into North America. Indeed, what was probably the California Demoiselle Crane was photographed with migrant Sandhill Cranes near Smithers, British Columbia, 2 May 2002 (Bain 2002) and at Gustavus, Alaska, 13–14 May 2002 (Daniel D. Gibson pers. com.). Because the Sandhill Cranes breeding in Siberia are all believed to winter in the Great Plains rather than California, and because Demoiselle Cranes are relatively common in captivity, with documented records of escapees in North America, a majority of CBRC members questioned the bird’s origin, though all agreed it may have been a genuine vagrant. James F. Holmes, MD, MPH Professor Department of Emergency Medicine UC Davis School of Medicine office: (916) 734-1533 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:07:14 -0000 Hi Greg, Here's the pertinent information on the historic breeding distribution of Golden Eagle from the Birds of North America Online Website (References follow below) "Historical nesting suspected in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, N. Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, W. Virginia, Virginia, S. Carolina, and Georgia (Smith 1982, Palmer 1988, Todd 1989, C. Todd pers. comm.). " =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Palmer, R. S. 1988. Handbook of North American birds, Vol. 5: diurnal raptors. Pt. 2. Yale Univ. Press, New Haven, CT. Smith, J. L. 1982. The Golden Eagle in eastern West Virginia. Redstart 49:94-97. Todd, C. S. 1989. Golden Eagle. Pages 65-70 in Proceedings of the northeast raptor management symposium and workshop. (Pendleton, B. G., M. N. LeFranc, Jr., M. B. Moss, C. E. Ruibal, M. A. Knighton, and D. L. Krahe, Eds.) Natl. Wildl. Fed. Washington, D.C. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cheers, Howard Horne Mobile, AL > Hey Eric- > > Thanks for the additional background on the Golden Eagle project. Do you > know, or does the group know, of the origins of these eagles? The reason I > ask is that several years ago now the state of Georgia had a Golden Eagle > hacking program, based at the Pigeon Mountain WMA in NW Georgia. On my > occasional trips to the area back then the eagles were fairly reliable to > see. I can also recall seeing a Golden Eagle on a BAS trip to Coleman Lake > about ten years ago, shortly after the Red Crossbills were first discovered > there by Dr. Summerour. I also witnessed a pair of eagles at Pigeon > Mountain about four years ago engaging each other in flight and locking > talons. I had always assumed that these and other sightings were likely > birds released as part of the hacking program, or their offspring, perhaps? > Iım also curious as to why GA felt the need to initiate the hacking program > in the first place. Certainly not to establish a breeding population? Did > they ever historically breed in the state? > > Sorry for the 101 questions, but it is an interesting project! Many thanks, > and take care all. Greg > > > On 1/14/12 9:00 AM, Eric Soehren at esoehren AT ... wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Greg and ALBirders, > > > > Thanks for passing along this information. This record is part of a much > > larger Golden Eagle survey effort in the eastern United States that is > > currently taking place from Maine to Alabama, accounting for over 100 survey > > sites. AL DCNR was approached this past fall by researchers associated with > > the Eastern Golden Eagle Technical Working Group to participate. As a result, > > collaboration between state and federal wildlife biologists (AL DCNR, USFS, > > USFWS, and DOD) agreed to establish 5 sampling sites (as a pilot effort) in > > areas where historic records exist in Alabama. As Greg mentioned below, one > > site is at Shoal Creek Ranger District; other sites are in Madison, Jackson, > > Bullock, and Barbour counties. The sampling period officially began at the > > start of January and will continue through February. However, several of the > > sites in Alabama were initiated earlier to expand sampling effort. The site > > at Shoal Creek was initiated during the 2nd week of December and they got > > their first Golden Eagle detection on 19 December. Last report was that the > > bird was continuing at the site into early January. Other survey sites have > > yet to get detections. > > > > Golden Eagles are attracted to carrion and researchers developed a sampling > > methodology using roadkill deer and game cameras. This is a sampling design > > that is passive and doesn't require a lot of time or expense. The limiting > > factor is the availability of roadkill deer. Harvested deer are not used to > > avoid lead poisoning. > > > > Since this is an ongoing survey, specific site locations will not be released > > to avoid any unnecessary disturbances. The site at Shoal Creek is essentially > > inaccessible, so any visits made to Shoal Creek will not have any affects of > > this effort. More information about the results of this project will be > > released after the sampling period is completed. > > > > But what I can say is that the recent detections at Shoal Creek has generated > > a lot of excitement by many folks involved in this project. > > > > Good Birding, > > > > Eric Soehren > > Shorter, AL > > > > --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com , "Gregory > > J. Harber" wrote: > >> > > >> > Hey All- > >> > > >> > I thought Iıd pass along a report of a Golden Eagle that was photographed > >> > using a ³game cam² set up by the Forest Service District Ranger. The > >> photos > >> > sent to me have date stamps ranging from 12/20/11 to 12/28/11. The bird >> > was > >> > apparently attracted to the camera site by the carcass of a White-tailed > >> > Deer. I do not know the specific location, other than it was in the > >> > Talladega NF, Shoal Creek District (northern part). > >> > > >> > Anyone heading to look for Red Crossbills this winter should keep their > >> eyes > >> > to the skies for this beauty as well. Iım happy to forward the photos if > >> > anyone desires to view them. > >> > > >> > Take care all, Greg > >> > -- > >> > Greg Harber > >> > Birmingham, AL > >> > > >> > ³Itıs never too late to have a happy childhood.² > >> > Tom Robbins > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Greg Harber > Birmingham, AL > > ³Itıs never too late to have a happy childhood.² > Tom Robbins > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: PURPLE SANDPIPER Update: Easy Viewing... From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:02:48 -0000 Hi all, I just received a phone call from birders on Dauphin Island. The PURPLE SANDPIPER is now resting on the tidal mudflats immediately adjacent to the rock jetty and in easy view. Sounds like the perfect viewing opportunity for those wanting to try for the bird. Cheers, Howard Horne Mobile, AL ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Hooded Crane From: lgardellabirds AT charter.net Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:39:22 -0500 (EST) Yesterday, I sent out an email that apparently got lost in cyberspace. So, I am trying again. After I posted about seeing the Hooded Crane, Ken Archambeau asked me to post the following information about the crane: ...but they really ought to put the word out that the Hooded Crane is usually always quite distant, gets picked on and chased away by the sandhills, and is often in view only briefly. Then there is the question of its origins. i've not seen any detailed information on the release of several hooded cranes in Idaho before hooded crane was seen there and then subsequently in Nebraska. If after all this carbon footprinting by hundreds, if not thousands, of folk (42 states and 10 foreign countries), the Hooded Crane is not accepted as being of natural/wild origin, it would be scandalous. (That alone, I suspect, will be a significant factor in whether the bird is ultimately accepted as "countable.") I sort of feel snookered spending time and gas to get the view I got. It was in view so briefly that I chose (wisely, in hindsight) to enjoy the scope view, and did without any video, which was the whole purpose of my driving all that way. Unless you had a scope, you missed the bird when I was there, and it was only visible for all of 2 minutes that day! The day before it was not seen at all. So, it's also not reliable. I think it's been a no-show for only 2 days since it was first discovered, though. Also relevant: there were several bald eagles and whooping cranes as some small consolation, and a stunning yellow-bellied sapsucker that was struck by a birder's vehicle and then run over in traffic as it flopped in the road before I could get to it. If you go, please allow time to drive slowly and watch for wildlife. It was interesting to see my first "wild" (i.e., free-ranging) Hooded Crane in the U.S., but rather disappointing due to distance, brevity, and provenance. I make these comments for those thinking of going up. If you go, you have the best chance by taking your OWN scope and continuously scanning even the flocks a mile away and refraining from idle chit-chat. Most of the other birders seemed intent on socializing and consequently were not prompt in getting on the bird and missed it when it flew in only to walk behind trees). p.s. I apologize for not carpooling but I continued on to the Carolinas to visit with college friends and their families. Good birding. -ken archambault, homewood I agree with Ken that the Hooded Crane is often, although not always, a good distance from the observation deck. It is sometimes out in the open for well over an hour, but it also sometimes shows for only a very short time, as it did when I was the only one to see it drop down to the inlet Friday. But that scope view was a wonderful moment. The question of provenance will not be answered for some time. However, it does appear that there is a good chance that the Hooded Crane is a true vagrant and not an escape. I expect both the Tennessee Bird Records Committee and the ABA to make the decision on origin in a straightforward and objective manner - and not consider the number of people who came to see the bird as any factor whatsover. While I was at Hiwassee, it turns out that an ABA blog made some interesting comments on the likely origins of the Hooded Crane. I recommend that you read "The Saga of the Hooded Crane(s) at http://blog.aba.org/2012/01/hooded-crane-tennessee.html Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:56:41 -0600 Hey Eric- Thanks for the additional background on the Golden Eagle project. Do you know, or does the group know, of the origins of these eagles? The reason I ask is that several years ago now the state of Georgia had a Golden Eagle hacking program, based at the Pigeon Mountain WMA in NW Georgia. On my occasional trips to the area back then the eagles were fairly reliable to see. I can also recall seeing a Golden Eagle on a BAS trip to Coleman Lake about ten years ago, shortly after the Red Crossbills were first discovered there by Dr. Summerour. I also witnessed a pair of eagles at Pigeon Mountain about four years ago engaging each other in flight and locking talons. I had always assumed that these and other sightings were likely birds released as part of the hacking program, or their offspring, perhaps? Iım also curious as to why GA felt the need to initiate the hacking program in the first place. Certainly not to establish a breeding population? Did they ever historically breed in the state? Sorry for the 101 questions, but it is an interesting project! Many thanks, and take care all. Greg On 1/14/12 9:00 AM, Eric Soehren at esoehren AT gmail.com wrote: > > > > > > Hi Greg and ALBirders, > > Thanks for passing along this information. This record is part of a much > larger Golden Eagle survey effort in the eastern United States that is > currently taking place from Maine to Alabama, accounting for over 100 survey > sites. AL DCNR was approached this past fall by researchers associated with > the Eastern Golden Eagle Technical Working Group to participate. As a result, > collaboration between state and federal wildlife biologists (AL DCNR, USFS, > USFWS, and DOD) agreed to establish 5 sampling sites (as a pilot effort) in > areas where historic records exist in Alabama. As Greg mentioned below, one > site is at Shoal Creek Ranger District; other sites are in Madison, Jackson, > Bullock, and Barbour counties. The sampling period officially began at the > start of January and will continue through February. However, several of the > sites in Alabama were initiated earlier to expand sampling effort. The site > at Shoal Creek was initiated during the 2nd week of December and they got > their first Golden Eagle detection on 19 December. Last report was that the > bird was continuing at the site into early January. Other survey sites have > yet to get detections. > > Golden Eagles are attracted to carrion and researchers developed a sampling > methodology using roadkill deer and game cameras. This is a sampling design > that is passive and doesn't require a lot of time or expense. The limiting > factor is the availability of roadkill deer. Harvested deer are not used to > avoid lead poisoning. > > Since this is an ongoing survey, specific site locations will not be released > to avoid any unnecessary disturbances. The site at Shoal Creek is essentially > inaccessible, so any visits made to Shoal Creek will not have any affects of > this effort. More information about the results of this project will be > released after the sampling period is completed. > > But what I can say is that the recent detections at Shoal Creek has generated > a lot of excitement by many folks involved in this project. > > Good Birding, > > Eric Soehren > Shorter, AL > > --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com , "Gregory > J. Harber" wrote: >> > >> > Hey All- >> > >> > I thought Iıd pass along a report of a Golden Eagle that was photographed >> > using a ³game cam² set up by the Forest Service District Ranger. The >> photos >> > sent to me have date stamps ranging from 12/20/11 to 12/28/11. The bird >> was >> > apparently attracted to the camera site by the carcass of a White-tailed >> > Deer. I do not know the specific location, other than it was in the >> > Talladega NF, Shoal Creek District (northern part). >> > >> > Anyone heading to look for Red Crossbills this winter should keep their >> eyes >> > to the skies for this beauty as well. Iım happy to forward the photos if >> > anyone desires to view them. >> > >> > Take care all, Greg >> > -- >> > Greg Harber >> > Birmingham, AL >> > >> > ³Itıs never too late to have a happy childhood.² >> > Tom Robbins >> > >> > >> > >> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >> > > > > > > -- Greg Harber Birmingham, AL ³Itıs never too late to have a happy childhood.² Tom Robbins [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Hooded Crane Thoughts From: lgardellabirds AT charter.net Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:40:31 -0500 (EST) Ken Archambault asked me to post his response to my post about the Hooded Crane in Tennessee. Ken said: ...but they really ought to put the word out that the Hooded Crane is usually always quite distant, gets picked on and chased away by the sandhills, and is often in view only briefly. Then there is the question of its origins. i've not seen any detailed information on the release of several hooded cranes in Idaho before hooded crane was seen there and then subsequently in Nebraska. If after all this carbon footprinting by hundreds, if not thousands, of folk (42 states and 10 foreign countries), the Hooded Crane is not accepted as being of natural/wild origin, it would be scandalous. (That alone, I suspect, will be a significant factor in whether the bird is ultimately accepted as "countable.") I sort of feel snookered spending time and gas to get the view I got. It was in view so briefly that I chose (wisely, in hindsight) to enjoy the scope view, and did without any video, which was the whole purpose of my driving all that way. Unless you had a scope, you missed the bird when I was there, and it was only visible for all of 2 minutes that day! The day before it was not seen at all. So, it's also not reliable. I think it's been a no-show for only 2 days since it was first discovered, though. Also relevant: there were several bald eagles and whooping cranes as some small consolation, and a stunning yellow-bellied sapsucker that was struck by a birder's vehicle and then run over in traffic as it flopped in the road before I could get to it. If you go, please allow time to drive slowly and watch for wildlife. It was interesting to see my first "wild" (i.e., free-ranging) Hooded Crane in the U.S., but rather disappointing due to distance, brevity, and provenance. I make these comments for those thinking of going up. If you go, you have the best chance by taking your OWN scope and continuously scanning even the flocks a mile away and refraining from idle chit-chat. Most of the other birders seemed intent on socializing and consequently were not prompt in getting on the bird and missed it when it flew in only to walk behind trees). p.s. I apologize for not carpooling but I continued on to the Carolinas to visit with college friends and their families. Good birding. -ken archambault, homewood I must agree with Ken that most sightings of the Hooded Crane are distant and many are short. For all I know, my brief observation of the Hooded Crane dropping into the inlet was the only sighting yesterday, and no one else present got to see the bird then - although I hope it did move up the hill later in the afternoon and show for more people. Some very interesting research has already been done on captive Hooded Cranes in the US. Unless the Hiwassee bird is an undocumented escape, which is rather unlikely in the well-documented world of captive cranes, an ABA blog makes a good case that this is indeed a wild bird. See http://blog.aba.org/2012/01/hooded-crane-tennessee.html I strongly disagree with Ken's suggestion that the ABA would choose to accept the sighting in order to validate the many people who traveled far to see the crane. Most, including both Ken and I, went knowing that there was a very good chance that this bird would not be accepted. All in all, I would recommend the trip to those who can go, preferably by carpool. The thousands of Sandhill Cranes, the Bald Eagles and the setting all add to the show. Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: PURPLE SANDPIPER still present (January 16, 2012) From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:58:53 -0000 Hi all, I received a phone call this morning that Bill Summerour refound the PURPLE SANDPIPER seen yesterday on Dauphin Island. The bird was with a flock of approximately 10 Ruddy Turnstones on the north side of the Katrina Cut rock jetty about halfway down its length. This was around 9 AM. Several other birders have just arrived and are now on the lookout. Good Luck, Howard Horne Mobile, AL ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: FW: Check out The Saga of the Hooded Crane(s): The Plot Thickens From: lgardellabirds AT charter.net Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 11:27:50 -0500 (EST) Since both my attempts to post about the Hooded Crane failed (without notification), perhaps I was trying to get too much into one message. Ken Archambault had asked me to post his response to my report from Friday. To save space, I will summarize. Ken wanted to be sure that people realize that most of the views are distant, that the bird usually is present for a relatively short time - and sometimes does not show at all. He also expressed doubt about the origin of the Hooded Crane, although he thought that ABA might be prompted by the number of viewers to lean toward acceptance of the record. I will agree with Ken about the distance at which the bird is likely to be from the observation deck. A scope is definitely helpful to get a good luck of the bird. While it sometimes lands in view and remains there for a considerable length of time (sometimes hours), it also can appear in flight and drop behind a hill blocking the view of much of an inlet, so that if you do not spot it in flight you may not see it. I was very fortunate to be scanning and have the bird pop into view in my scope before dropping out of sight. But the bird has shown most days, so perseverence is likely to be rewarded. As to origin, it is too early to know what the Tennessee Bird Records Committee and ABA will decide, but it is very unlikely that the reviewers will be influenced by the number of viewers. Instead, they will look at patterns of vagrancy for the Hooded Crane and other cranes, and they will evaluate the possibilities of the bird having escaped from a zoo or collection. For some initial thoughts based on checking one ABA member has already done, read the following most interesting blog: Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL Click here: The Saga of the Hooded Crane(s): The Plot Thickens - ABA Blog [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Common Nighthawk at Oak Mountain State Park From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:59:57 -0500 (EST) Hello All- Just a very quick note to let you know of a Common Nighthawk that was observed late this afternoon (about 4:40) flying over the Alabama Wildlife Center at Oak Mountain State Park. A group of us who had gathered to see the Auburn raptor team off were standing outside the center when Sandra Allinson spotted the bird overhead and called our attention to it. I think we all had "hawks" on the mind and she asked me which type of hawk it was, and I replied "Common Nighthawk." I guess a more appropriate response, give the time of year, would have been "Uncommon Nighthawk." Common or uncommon, seeing its jaunty flight against the clear, fading light brought the day to a wonderful conclusion. Take care all, Greg Gregory J. Harber Birmingham, AL gharber AT mindspring.com "It's never too late to have a happy childhood." Tom Robbins ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Dauphin Island PURPLE SANDPIPER Update (LONG)... From: "Howard Horne" <hhorne AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 16 Jan 2012 01:51:59 -0000 Hi all, I specifically set out early this morning with my kayak strapped to the top of my truck with the sole intention of paddling the Katrina Cut rock jetty at Dauphin Island to find a Purple Sandpiper. Ever since the jetty was constructed in 2010 in response to the BP oil spill, I've fully anticipated that this rock-loving denizen would be eventually be found there. With nearly 7,000 feet of rocky breakwater, the man-made feature would most certainly be an irresistible draw, especially compared to the miniscule amount of rocks that dotted Alabama's coastline prior to its construction. I met up with Tom and Joan Seigwald at the West End Beach around 9:30 AM. Before going straight to the kayak though, I decided to try the easiest method first -searching for the bird through the scope. We walked to the end of the beach where the rocks started and I scoped the Gulf/South side of the jetty first. Not seeing any birds I then carefully walked up and over to the north side and nestled my scope into the rocks. I saw a small flock of Sanderlings way down on the rocks that immediately flushed up. In flight I could instantly see a slightly larger dark sandpiper I instantly recognized as my target bird. The flock unfortunately flew away from me and well out of view through the scope. I left Tom and Joan and the scope and started the long hike out on the rock jetty with binoculars to hopefully get a view of the bird actually sitting on the rocks. As I got closer to the flock the birds flushed again, flying farther away. I could see the Purple Sandpiper in flight mixed with the white Sanderlings. After this time the birds were more than halfway down the long jetty. I started off again and eased up to where I could more easily see the flock of Sanderlings.... and then in a distant view it appeared. An absolutely stunning a PURPLE SANDPIPER. I hurried back to the starting point as best I could with the rocks. Tired and exhausted, I needed to figure out how best to get Tom and Joan out to the bird. It was decided that walking the rocks was probably not the best approach, since it require both physical stamina and a good sense of balance. After some discussion, we decided my kayak would be the only way for them to see the bird. By then Patsy Russo and Michele Steber had arrived. Tom and Joan wanted a break from the long morning and the long hike, so I offered to start out with Patsy and Michele in the kayak and then return afterwards to take Joan and Tom out. Patsy, Michele and I crammed into my cramped two-person kayak and began to paddle out. After a short distance from where the rocks began (~300-400 ft) we located the flock of Sanderlings. After a brief wait, the Purple Sandpiper appeared and Patsy was able to fire off some great photos of the bird. We paddled back and by then Tom and Joan had arrived at the parking lot. We loaded up the kayak and started off. This time however we didn't see the flock of Sanderlings where the bird was earlier. We continued to paddle, and paddled some more, and then some more, and some more until we were more than 3/4ths the way down the jetty and almost to the island on the opposite side. Finally, we could see the flock of Sanderlings. As we eased up we easily found the Purple Sandpiper on the rocks. I'm not sure what the best approach is to see this bird. We parked at the West End Beach which is currently open with free parking (Don't know if this is weekends only or also during the week???). The easiest method would be to hike out to where the rocks start and try scoping the length of jetty on the north side. I believe the bird could have probably been seen with a scope where we first encountered it. However, if it is beyond that it will be nearly impossible to see at that distance. I do suspect that this bird will likely overwinter so there may be some chance to get it unlike the bird 13 years ago which was a one-day-wonder. Good luck. Here's wishing everyone a very purple day in their future! Cheers, Howard Horne Mobile, AL ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Purple Sandpiper photos From: Swmavocet AT aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:16:25 -0500 (EST) Patsy Russo has shared some photos taken today of the rare rock-hopper. These were taken from a kayak at a point much farther west down the berm than probably could be seen from the east end, even with a scope. I've posted to the following site for all to share: http://www.pbase.com/swmavocet/purple_sand Also, Mary Porter was kind enough to pick up on my comment about west end parking and forwarded the Nov 2011 issue of the island newsletter, The Town Crier. In it Mayor Jeff Collier announces the west end parking area will be open this winter from 7 am - dusk daily. Entry is free. Note there are no services such as bathrooms, vendors, or lifeguards. Good luck if you try, Steve McConnell Hartselle, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Wheeler NWR Sunday From: Harold Peterson <pinkfloyd137 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:22:10 -0800 (PST) Headed out toward Wheeler again this afternoon, as yesterday we were short on cameras with properly charged batteries.  We took a slightly longer way over there, crossing the US 72/31 bridge over the TN river.  On the north side of the river headed south, next to the park there along the river there was at least one Common Goldeneye- the other ducks further out may have been the same thing.  The visitor center still had the one adult and two young W------- C----- in good view of the observation building.  The ducks were basically the same as yesterday: fewer American Wigeons, several Northern Shovelers, and two Hooded Mergansers instead of just one.  There were still Greater White-fronted Geese next to the pond, and I could hear Canada Geese somewhere nearby.  No accipiters today, just the American Kestrel.  Several of the Sandhill Cranes on the south side of the observation building were doing their display dancing- lots of fun to watch. :) -Harold Peterson Huntsville, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Waterloo area - Possible Glaucous Gull From: TNbarredowl AT aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:33:19 -0500 (EST) I joined Bala Chennupati and Sue Moske this afternoon in Waterloo, but we were not successful with our search for the Clark's Grebe. We did have a probable Glaucous Gull, seen from a distance at Brush Creek Park. Bala got some photos and I am going to wait until I can study them to be certain of the ID. The bird was LARGE and appeared, from the distance, all white. Looking at the photos on his camera's viewing screen, some of the images appear all white, but two appear to have some black at the wing tips. I'll wait and study larger images before I make a definite ID. Damien Simbeck Killen, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: BIRD ALERT: Purple Sandpiper, Katrina Cut rip-rap, Dauphin Island, Jan 15 From: Swmavocet AT aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:56:51 -0500 (EST) I am posting this for Howard Horne and those happy birders in his morning group. These folks found Alabama's 2nd PURPLE SANDPIPER this morning on the north (sound) side of the rip-rap rock "bridge" at the west end of Dauphin Island. The bird was with a few dozen sanderlings and turnstones. When first found it was about 1/2 the way down the cut between the end of the D.I. sand and the west "island". It was later found about 100-150 yards from the main Dauphin Island end. Photos have been taken. This appearance is 13 years after the 1st in 1999. That bird only stayed a couple days at Alabama Point in Orange Beach. Hopefully this one will find more secluded accomodations and stay for a while. The gate to the parking area at the west end of Bienville Blvd is open today so you may apparently park and walk out the 0.5 mile or so to the rocks. This will likely change as parking access at this spot seems to always be in a state of flux. You are not allowed to park at the turnaround or in private driveways. The local constables have been known to issue tickets. One option is to take the island 'taxi' to the west end and walk in from there. Updates on searches for this bird would be much appreciated. Good luck, Steve McConnell Hartselle, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Possible Clark's Grebe From: Swmavocet AT aol.com Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:25:33 -0500 (EST) Folks, I made it to the spot at 3 pm and stayed until almost sunset. The wind was howling over the river and made distance viewing with the scope next to impossible. I did not see any large grebes while there. Steve McConnell Hartselle, AL -----Original Message----- From: shirley wayland To: ALbirds Sent: Sat, Jan 14, 2012 1:28 pm Subject: [ALBIRDS] Possible Clark's Grebe Shoals Audubon Field Trip this morning (around 9:00AM) spotted a large grebe in the middle of the channel on the Tennessee River at Brushy Creek in Waterloo. We all agreed that the markings were that of a Clark's rather than a Western. Steve McConnell is going to try to check for it this afternoon. Damien said he could not get there until Monday. Others might want to check it out also. Shirley Wayland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Great Start to Conserving East Lake Rookery From: "Kenneth Wills" <Memontei AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:03:07 -0000 Hello all, I thought you all might want to know about a new conservation project the Birmingham Audubon Society(BAS)has initiated. It may be something that can be repeated elsewhere. Many of you may be familiar with East Lake Park in the City of Birmingham, but others may not so here is some background. The lake formerly served as winter habitat for a small number waterfowl (ex canvasback), but grass carp stocking by the state eliminated that habitat. The lake still produces some decent migratory and accidental birds (ex. Ross Goose), but the star attraction of lake in recent years has been the island heron rookery composed mostly of black crowned night herons. While rookeries can kill trees and move from time to time, the East Lake Rookery has alwasy been small (maybe 5 nests)and seems to be very stable. Unfortunately, the trees which support the nests have been facing several nonheron related threats including beavers cutting the trees and erosion. If things continued as they were progressing over the last year, the herons would soon have no trees left to nest in, an we would lose this easily viewable urban wildlife wonder. About a year ago I started posting my concerns on Birmingham Audubon's forum and encouraging all of us to do something. Over that time, Hans Paul took up the challenge and obtained funding from National Audubon to help BAS address the problem. Kathy Freeland was able to obtain matching funding from a local community group. Dick Mills has become our point person on the project as well. We worked with the city and airport authority to get permission to undertake this project. We finally received the final approvals this week. Today, Dick, Hans and I took supplies out to the island by canoe. We are probably few of the people in the world who can say they canoed on East Lake. The island has 11 living trees, and we protected those trees from the beavers with hardware cloth and a tar/sand mixture on exposed roots. The beavers had been recently gnawing on several of the trees, so we fill the protection will make a difference. Further phases of the project will involve planting future nest trees and plants to stop erosion along the shoreline as well as some interpretive signs around the lake. The herons will start nesting soon so some of those things may have to wait until Fall, but we can all feel good that the trees used by the black crowned night herons to nest in have been protected as best we can from further beaver predation. While the island has lost many trees in the last few years, we think sufficient trees of the right type remain for the black crowned night herons to nest in including most of the trees used for nesting last year. A pair of great blue herons lost their nest and eggs/young when their nest tree toppled into the lake last year due to erosion, but we hope they will come back as well. While East Lake has lost much of its special bird features over the years, we can be proud that we have helped stop this decline and helped insure the future of one of the most easily viewable rookeries in Alabama as well as enhance a park in an inner city area. We will let you know more as the project progresses. Thanks again to all who made this project happen. Take care, Ken Wills ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Wheeler NWR today From: Harold Peterson <pinkfloyd137 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:25:41 -0800 (PST) Lots of people were out at Wheeler today, so there may be other, more detailed posts besides mine.  We stopped by the visitor center area earlier this afternoon, and encountered a nearly 100% full parking lot.  The highlight was seeing three of the birds we're not supposed to post on (so no one can find out info from my post via internet search) right near the observation building- one adult and two young.  Also good numbers of American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Gadwall, and one Hooded Merganser (female), and several Greater White-fronted Geese near the observation building.  Besides ducks there were two flyover accipiters- one with a square tail (Sharp-shinned Hawk), the other unidentified.  Along AL 67 there were still Great Egrets in the ponds east of the turn for the visitor center, though further from the road due to high water. -Harold Peterson Huntsville, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Possible Clark's Grebe From: "shirley wayland" <waylands AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:28:45 -0600 Shoals Audubon Field Trip this morning (around 9:00AM) spotted a large grebe in the middle of the channel on the Tennessee River at Brushy Creek in Waterloo. We all agreed that the markings were that of a Clark's rather than a Western. Steve McConnell is going to try to check for it this afternoon. Damien said he could not get there until Monday. Others might want to check it out also. Shirley Wayland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: RE: Shoals Audubon Society From: "shirley wayland" <waylands AT bellsouth.net> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:01:08 -0600 Please forgive me for the Shoals Audubon meeting info. I hit the wrong To button. However, if I had not seen it on AlBirds I would never have known I sent it to the wrong people. Maybe I am getting too old for these new info systems. Shirley Wayland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district From: "Eric Soehren" <esoehren AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:00:50 -0000 Hi Greg and ALBirders, Thanks for passing along this information. This record is part of a much larger Golden Eagle survey effort in the eastern United States that is currently taking place from Maine to Alabama, accounting for over 100 survey sites. AL DCNR was approached this past fall by researchers associated with the Eastern Golden Eagle Technical Working Group to participate. As a result, collaboration between state and federal wildlife biologists (AL DCNR, USFS, USFWS, and DOD) agreed to establish 5 sampling sites (as a pilot effort) in areas where historic records exist in Alabama. As Greg mentioned below, one site is at Shoal Creek Ranger District; other sites are in Madison, Jackson, Bullock, and Barbour counties. The sampling period officially began at the start of January and will continue through February. However, several of the sites in Alabama were initiated earlier to expand sampling effort. The site at Shoal Creek was initiated during the 2nd week of December and they got their first Golden Eagle detection on 19 December. Last report was that the bird was continuing at the site into early January. Other survey sites have yet to get detections. Golden Eagles are attracted to carrion and researchers developed a sampling methodology using roadkill deer and game cameras. This is a sampling design that is passive and doesn't require a lot of time or expense. The limiting factor is the availability of roadkill deer. Harvested deer are not used to avoid lead poisoning. Since this is an ongoing survey, specific site locations will not be released to avoid any unnecessary disturbances. The site at Shoal Creek is essentially inaccessible, so any visits made to Shoal Creek will not have any affects of this effort. More information about the results of this project will be released after the sampling period is completed. But what I can say is that the recent detections at Shoal Creek has generated a lot of excitement by many folks involved in this project. Good Birding, Eric Soehren Shorter, AL --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com, "Gregory J. Harber" wrote: > > Hey All- > > I thought Iıd pass along a report of a Golden Eagle that was photographed > using a ³game cam² set up by the Forest Service District Ranger. The photos > sent to me have date stamps ranging from 12/20/11 to 12/28/11. The bird was > apparently attracted to the camera site by the carcass of a White-tailed > Deer. I do not know the specific location, other than it was in the > Talladega NF, Shoal Creek District (northern part). > > Anyone heading to look for Red Crossbills this winter should keep their eyes > to the skies for this beauty as well. Iım happy to forward the photos if > anyone desires to view them. > > Take care all, Greg > -- > Greg Harber > Birmingham, AL > > ³Itıs never too late to have a happy childhood.² > Tom Robbins > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Painted Redstart Ocean Springs MS Continues From: "Claire English" <english4 AT datasync.com> Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:52:34 -0600 Cross posting... Yesterday afternoon (Friday, 13 Jan at 3:50) , the Painted Redstart was reported present in Ocean Springs, MS. See previous posts for location. Regards, Claire English Vancleave, MS / Lafayette, LA ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Golden Eagle in Talladega NF - Shoal Creek district From: "Gregory J. Harber" <gharber AT mindspring.com> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:57:39 -0600 Hey All- I thought Iıd pass along a report of a Golden Eagle that was photographed using a ³game cam² set up by the Forest Service District Ranger. The photos sent to me have date stamps ranging from 12/20/11 to 12/28/11. The bird was apparently attracted to the camera site by the carcass of a White-tailed Deer. I do not know the specific location, other than it was in the Talladega NF, Shoal Creek District (northern part). Anyone heading to look for Red Crossbills this winter should keep their eyes to the skies for this beauty as well. Iım happy to forward the photos if anyone desires to view them. Take care all, Greg -- Greg Harber Birmingham, AL ³Itıs never too late to have a happy childhood.² Tom Robbins [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Shoals Audubon Society From: "shirley wayland" <waylands AT bellsouth.net> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:41:38 -0600 The Shoals Audubon Society will meet at 7:00PM, Thursday, Feb. 2, in the Conference Room of the Florence Public Library. George Petty will have a program on Bhutan. The public is invited. Shirley Wayland [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Re: Cooper's Hawk - Florence - Mars Hill Rd From: "orm091101" <justadude80 AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:32:48 -0000 Hi Steph, No need to make excuses for getting excited over seeing a cool bird, especially if you get a good picture. Cooper's Hawks are interesting and pretty birds. Any day I can get a good picture of a hawk, an owl, or an eagle, it is a good day. Rocky Baker Athens, Alabama --- In albirds AT yahoogroups.com, "iamthesteph" wrote: > > I know this isn't an unusual sighting, but it excited me. It let me get close enough to make a fairly good photo with an entry level pocket digital camera. > ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Hooded Crane From: lgardellabirds AT charter.net Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:59:10 -0500 (EST) Andrea and I are going to Atlanta this weekend. And I had to visit our Huntsville Office. It just made sense for me to go to Atlanta from Huntsville via Hiawassee. It was rather cold and windy this morning, but there were several other birders looking for the Hooded Crane. We all got to see thousands of Sandhills, at least 5 Bald Eagles and the largest group of Wild Turkeys (more than 100) anyone could recall. Around 12:15 as I was scoping out a group of Sandhills, the Hooded appeared in the bottom of my scope view and I watched him drop out of sight at the inlet. Last I know it has not been seen since. It's a striking bird, whether a true vagrant or not. Larry Gardella Montgomery, AL [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Cooper's Hawk - Florence - Mars Hill Rd From: "iamthesteph" <iamthesteph AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:29:14 -0000 I know this isn't an unusual sighting, but it excited me. It let me get close enough to make a fairly good photo with an entry level pocket digital camera. ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Hummingbird Program & Discussion From: RubyThroat AT aol.com Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:34:57 -0500 (EST) Fellow Albirders (with permission from the list owner) Martha Sargent and I will be doing a PowerPoint presentation on hummingbirds on January 26, 2012 at the City Hall in Moody, Alabama. This program is free and open to the public. This program is being sponsored by the St. Clair County Master Gardeners Associateion. If you have questions contact Martha or me, or Ms Patricia Peoples at _patriciaapeoples AT gmail.com_ (mailto:patriciaapeoples AT gmail.com) or 205-467-0281 Moody is located just north of the city of Leeds. The program will begin sharply at 10:00 AM and will include a Question and Answer session after the PowerPoint session ends. We will have a drawing for some neat hummingbird-related door prizes at the end of the program. Bring that list of questions that you always wanted to ask someone that lives and breathes hummers! That will be the Sargents. The Moody City Hall is located at: 670 Park Avenue Moody, Alabama, 35005 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: New Respect for Ring-billed Gulls From: OLCOOT1 AT aol.com Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:44:25 -0500 (EST) Jan. 11, 2012 If you spend as much time as I do searching through seas of Ring-billed Gulls, you see so much diversity, but soon the numbers tend to overwhelm and dull your senses. Watching the hordes on lakes, and rivers, in fields gleaning farming left overs, plus thousands at landfills grubbing through human refuse, you know they are survivors but now I have new respect for that trait. I recently was told by a gull researcher about a banded Ring-billed Gull that was recently collected, that had done just that, survived for 27 years and 6 months breaking the standing record by 2 years. I will scan these birds with a new respect and know they must be loved or God would not have made so many. Good Birding!!! Jeff R. Wilson / TLBA 6300 Memphis-Arlington Rd. Bartlett, TN. 38135_http://WWW.pbase.com/ol_coot/_ (http://www.pbase.com/ol_coot/) What is this feathered thing that lifts my heart to the heavens. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: Wilson's Warbler - Birmingham From: "scotduncan26" <sduncan AT bsc.edu> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:58:08 -0000 My field ornithology class found a Wilson's Warbler (male) at Roebuck Spring yesterday Jan 9th. It was in a privet thicket at the spring pool margin. There's a good chance it will stick around for the winter, though it may wander in the area. The site can be accessed from Don Hawkins Recreational Center at 8920 Roebuck Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35206. THis is a public facility. THe spring pool is adjacent to the tennis courts. Do not walk the perimeter of the spring pool on the north side of the pool. That property belongs to a youth correctional facility and the guards will not like to find you lurking in the bushes with binoculars. Dr. Scot Duncan Birmingham-Southern College ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service. Subject: A story about a male Black-throated Blue Warbler From: "Debbie" <DMCKEN9341 AT AOL.COM> Date: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:36:08 -0000 Hi, Albirders, If you have not already notice, most of the southward migrating birds that comes through my yard are only two to five months old. I would guess that about 85% to 95% are first fall birds. I am not sure what you call the outer lining on the baby birds beak that are yellow in color. I just know that it is not present when they are an adult. That is one way I determine that they were born that year. Also most of the adult birds that comes through are molting and therefore losing their breeding plumage's which is much prettier then their fall and or winter plumage's. I was excited to see a female Black-throated Blue warbler last fall. I took a couple of shots and called my husband to let him know that we have a new species in our yard. One of the first thing I do after seeing a new bird species is to thanks God for allowing me to see it. One day after seeing one, I said thanks you to God and asked if it would be too much for him to send me a male Black-throated Blue warbler. Would you believe that a few minutes later a male Black-throated Blue showed up for about two to three-second. I knew in an instant what I had just seen but I could not believe my luck. I then thanks God for bringing him to me and leaned back in my chair in amazement. I then asked God if it would be too much to have him come back so that I could get a picture of him. I also prayed that my camera setting was setup right for wherever he might land. Within three minutes the male showed up again and went to the pond for a bath. I had to move my tripod to get a shots of him but when I did, the tripod hit the side of my gazebo and made a sound that scared him away. I would have normally been upset but I was so happy to see him as he still had his beautiful breeding plumage. Anyway there is always next year. Debbie (BirdLady) Sorry, that this is so long! ------------------------------------ IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Post message: albirds AT yahoogroups.com Subscribe: albirds-subscribe AT yahoogroups.com List owner: albirds-owner AT yahoogroups.com AOS website: http://www.aosbirds.org/ This list is sponsored by the Alabama Ornithological Society (AOS) and is provided as a service to the birding community. AOS does not endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Nor does AOS support or endorse the advertising provided by the Yahoo Groups list service.