Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Iowa Birding > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, July 2 at 09:10 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Ovenbird,©David Sibley

2 Jul Sandhill Crane [Carl Kurtz ] 2 Jul Iowa RBA: 7-2-09 [John and Anna Bissell ] 2 Jul White-winged Dove [] 1 Jul Behavior of Indigo Bunting and Baltimore Oriole [Kevin Healy ] 1 Jul BBA work today. ["Stephen J. Dinsmore" ] 1 Jul stereo Vireos ["Bill Scheible" ] 1 Jul RFI: BBA Gray Partridge ["Patrick Harrison \(Home\)" ] 01 Jul Yard birds-Clarke Co. [Steve Harvey ] 30 Jun BBA work. ["Stephen J. Dinsmore" ] 30 Jun Website Move ["Ann Johnson" ] 30 Jun Atlas work ["tom.lawson" ] 29 Jun Dallas County BBA wprk. ["Stephen J. Dinsmore" ] 29 Jun Western Kingbirds nesting in Fremont County ["Scott Schmidt" ] 29 Jun Pileated Woodpecker-Ames ["Curtiss P. Fisher" ] 28 Jun Mississippi Kite [Aaron Brees ] 28 Jun Re: NW Iowa. ["Doug & Nina" ] 28 Jun Re: Request for Info - posted for a friend (Holly Reinhard) ["Bruce and Georgeann Morrison" ] 28 Jun Re: NW Iowa. [douglas chapman ] 28 Jun NW Iowa. ["Stephen J. Dinsmore" ] 28 Jun Web Services Down ["Ann Johnson" ] 28 Jun Request for Info - posted for a friend (Holly Reinhard) [Jennifer Vogel ] 27 Jun built in birdbath [ERobb ] 27 Jun First Whooping Cranes of the "Class of 2009" Arrive at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge [Ric Zarwell ] 27 Jun Arctic Breeding Conditions in 2009 [Ric Zarwell ] 27 Jun gray partridge [] 26 Jun Iowa RBA: 6-26-09 [John and Anna Bissell ] 26 Jun Cranes with colt at Riverton ["Stuart Sparkman" ] 25 Jun Wall Street Journal article on Birding in Columbia ["Hank Zaletel" ] 24 Jun Killdeer & family at east end of Oakdale Blvd north of Iowa City/Coralville ["Gail McLure" ] 24 Jun North Iowa Birding ["Rita Goranson" ] 24 Jun Cedar Rapids Audubon reminders ["DALE FYE" ] 24 Jun Recent central Iowa sightings. ["Stephen J. Dinsmore" ] 24 Jun begging cowbird ["Linda & Robert Scarth" ] 23 Jun Quad City Audubon Society - Sierra Club - Prairie Rose Farm ["Walt Zuurdeeg" ] 23 Jun Neal Smith NWR birds ["Karen Viste-Sparkman" ] 23 Jun Western Kingbird/ Snowy Egrets - Carroll Co. ["matt AT naturebymatt.com" ] 23 Jun Dickinson County Blockbusting THIS WEEKEND! ["Nichole Nagl" ] 23 Jun Kestresl in my Schreech Owl box ["Bruce and Georgeann Morrison" ] 23 Jun House Wren in my kestrel box nest [Dan Dorrance ] 22 Jun Shimek SF, Lee Co. ["Chris Edwards" ] 21 Jun FW: no Red-necked Grebes ["Rita Goranson" ] 21 Jun Saturday's ICBC Atlas trip to blocks [Rick Hollis ] 21 Jun Looking for Yellow Crowned Night Herons (no sighting) ["Matthew Torres" ] 21 Jun Re: Red-necked Grebes [P Hertzel ] 20 Jun Lucas Co. Chuck-will's-widows ["Denny Thompson" ] 20 Jun Chuck will's widow [Art Check ] 19 Jun Iowa RBA: 6-19-09 [] 19 Jun Black Hawk County Magpie ["Dan Mehner" ] 18 Jun Chuck Will's Widow [Art Check ] 18 Jun chestnut sided warbler [Dick Stilwell ] 18 Jun WWDO in Story Co. [] 17 Jun Spring Warbler Images ["Ty Smedes" ] 17 Jun Northern Bobwhite - Decatur County ["Matthew Torres" ] 17 Jun Prothonotary Warbler-Woodbury Co-June 17, 2008 ["Tucker J. Lutter" ] 17 Jun "Bald" Cardinal in Johnson County [Lorinda Hoover ] 16 Jun Loggerhead Shrikes/Cedar Falls ["David Eastman" ] 16 Jun Summer Tanager and Red-shouldered Hawk ["Don Brown" ] 16 Jun immature loon north of Marengo, Iowa County ["Bergstrom, Paula M" ] 16 Jun Whooping Cranes - Wisconsin Flock ["Larry Dau" ] 16 Jun Cooper's Hk, UI Campus [Rick Hollis ] 15 Jun question about Olympic National Park ["Mary Ann Gregory" ] 15 Jun Submission of photographs for Iowa Bird Life ["Kayleen A Niyo" ] 15 Jun Credit I.- Davenport ["Walt Zuurdeeg" ] 15 Jun Monday in Eastern Iowa [Diana Pesek ] 15 Jun Unexepected Carolina Wren [Rick Hollis ] 15 Jun Re: chimney swifts ["tom.lawson" ] 15 Jun Chuck-wills Widow [Reid Allen ] 15 Jun Re: chimney swifts ["Drake Larsen" ] 15 Jun Red-necked Grebe ["Rita Goranson" ] 14 Jun Mills County (Willow Slough Trumpeter) [Dan Dorrance ] 14 Jun Orpaned Bird [Karla Pfaff ] 14 Jun Summer count on sat and BBS survey on Sun. [T J ] 14 Jun Clay, Dickinson, and Buena Vista Co-June 14 ["Tucker J. Lutter" ] 14 Jun Sunday's bicycle birding - Great Western Trail [Carol & Jim Sinclair ] 14 Jun BBA Site Update ["Ann Johnson" ] 14 Jun Re: Black-necked Stilt [Paul Roisen ] Subject: Sandhill Crane From: Carl Kurtz <cpkurtz AT netins.net> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:09:40 -0500 Wednesday morning I observed a pair of adult sandhill cranes and a colt a couple of miles east of Chelsea south of county road E-66 in Tama County. Carl Kurtz Marshall County. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Iowa RBA: 7-2-09 From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:57:43 -0500 Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, June 27, through Friday, July 2, 2009: -RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required) -Additional Species Mentioned Gray Partridge Western Grebe Red-necked Grebe Least Bittern Black-crowned Night-Heron Mississippi Kite WHITE-WINGED DOVE Least Flycatcher ALDER FLYCATCHER (Record late) Western Kingbird White-eyed Vireo Northern Mockingbird Kentucky Warbler Clay-colored Sparrow Blue Grosbeak ***NEW!**************** For more up to date information on rarities in the state of Iowa, visit the Iowa Birds and Birding website at www.iowabirds.org. A list of rare birds is placed on the home page with the location of the rarity and most recent date of observation. This is updated several times per day. This is a handy tool for anyone making a birding trip or otherwise into the state of Iowa. ************************ Species in ALL CAPS can be classified into three categories in the state of Iowa: 1) UNRECORDED, ACCIDENTAL or Casual; 2) A RARE but regular species; or 3) record early or late date or unusual for time of year. Any species with three asterisks (***species***) would represent a first record for Iowa (UNRECORDED) and should be observed and documented very carefully. Species with two asterisks (**species**) are species that are either ACCIDENTAL, CASUAL, or a rare regular species, and should also be documented. Species with one asterisk (*species) should have some details of the observation provided. NORTH CENTRAL: HANCOCK COUNTY: A RED-NECKED GREBE and 2 WESTERN GREBES were seen at Eagle Lake on the 27th. EAST: LINN COUNTY: A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at the SW arm of Pleasant Creek SP on the 1st. SOUTHEAST: DES MOINES COUNTY: A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was last seen at a feeding station in Burlington on the 27th. CENTRAL: STORY COUNTY: A GRAY PARTRIDGE was seen running from east to west across 610th Avenue in Story County about a quarter mile north of 260th Street on the 26th. BOONE COUNTY: A KENTUCKY WARBLER was seen on private property on the 27th. POLK COUNTY: A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen soaring east of Fleur Ave in south Des Moines on the 28th.  It was just north of the Fleur Cinema and the HyVee. DALLAS COUNTY: An apparent territorial male ALDER FLYCATCHER was seen in a BBA block on the 29th. SOUTHWEST: FREMONT COUNTY: A pair of WESTERN KINGBIRDS were seen in Farragut on the 29th. The nest is located on a utility pole near the intersection of Dupont St. and Mobile Ave. NORTHWEST: DICKINSON COUNTY: 7 RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Grover Lake on the 26th. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen along the entrance road to Kettleson Hogsback WA on the 27th. A BLUE GROSBEAK was seen in some roadside brush west of Cayler Prairie on the 27th. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and LEAST BITTERNS were seen at West Hottes Lake on the 27th. LEAST BITTERNS were observed at Spring Run WA on the 27th. HUMBOLDT COUNTY: A LEAST FLYCATCHER was seen near Bradgate on the 26th. LYON COUNTY: A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD and a WESTERN KINGBIRD were seen at Gitchie Manitou Preserve on the 26th. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, July 10, 2009 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted. John Bissell Grimes, Iowa john.annabissell AT gmail.com 515-986-9796 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: White-winged Dove From: CFuller989 AT aol.com Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:42:37 EDT A White-winged Dove was coming to a feeder in Burlington through last Sat. The person took pictures and it is a White-winged Dove. Today was the first I heard about the bird. If it returns I will post it along with directions. Chuck Fuller **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Behavior of Indigo Bunting and Baltimore Oriole From: Kevin Healy <kevin.j.healy AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 21:44:39 -0500 I saw a male Indigo Bunting chasing a male Baltimore Oriole this afternoon. The oriole flew across the road and into some bushes with the bunting in hot pursuit. Do Baltimore Orioles rob nests? -- Kevin Healy 2427 Waterford Drive Ames IA 50010-9661 M: 515-231-2479 O: 515-239-2151 ...everyone must be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: BBA work today. From: "Stephen J. Dinsmore" <cootjr AT iastate.edu> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:11:59 -0500 (CDT) I spent this morning working some BBA blocks in Poweshiek and Mahaska counties and then made a quick swing by Red Rock Reservoir on the way home. I didn't find anything really good in the BBA blocks, but some of the highlights included: 1 Upland Sandpiper near New Sharon, Mahaska Co. 2 Caspian Terns at Diamond L. many Bell's Vireos good numbers of grassland birds like Sedge Wren, Henslow's Sparrow, and Bobolink Red Rock water levels were high and the only birds of note were an overhead flock of 37 American White Pelicans. Steve Stephen J. Dinsmore Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management 339 Science II, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50014 515-294-1348 (office) cootjr AT iastate.edu --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: stereo Vireos From: "Bill Scheible" <drbeel AT mchsi.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:57:24 -0500 Birders Along the SW arm of Pleasant Creek ( Linn County ) today, I enjoyed the simultaneous vocal renderings of two of my favorite songsters ( using the term loosely ). On my right, the vigorous chatter of a White-eyed Vireo. Although this "song" is sometimes represented by the phonetic "Take me to the railroad, quick", to my ear it sounds much more like "Oh Roy. Oh Roy. Is that your hat?". Very close by, to my left, the energetic rattle of a Bell's Vireo, interpreted by my ears as "Waiter, there's a fly in my soup". Other birds in the area, which I believe to be in a BBA block, included No. Bobwhite (3), Henslow's Sparrow (5), Sedge Wren (7), Yellow-breasted Chat and Orchard Oriole. Usually here but not today: Grasshopper Sparrow and Bobolink. Travel alert: Usual approaches to Pleasant Creek from the north and east ( Lewis Bottoms Rd. and Blair's Ferry Rd., respectively ) are closed for road construction, evidently through the end of July. Bill Scheible Cedar Rapids --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: RFI: BBA Gray Partridge From: "Patrick Harrison \(Home\)" <saxman AT marktwain.net> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:06:18 -0500 If during your surveys anyone finds a groupd of Gray Partridges that might be "repeatable", I'd appreciate knowing about it. I'd like to come north and view this species. It would be a lifer for me! Thanks, Patrick :ASM::::ASM::::ASM::::ASM::::ASM::::ASM: * * * Patrick Harrison * * Shelbyville, Shelby County, Missouri * * saxman AT marktwain.net A * pharrison AT hannibal.k12.mo.us S * webmaster AT mobirds.org M * http://mobirds.org * * http://www.patrickdharrison.com A * ,_ S * >' ) M * ( ( \ * * "|\ * * * *****The Audubon Society of Missouri**** --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Yard birds-Clarke Co. From: Steve Harvey <saharvey AT lyrixl2s.net> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:52:44 -0500 Less than normal sightings: 2 pair of House Finches have started visiting my BOSS feeders, the first I've seen since last summer/fall. A Yellow-Throated Vireo was heard then seen high in a Maple tree. A Yellow-Billed Cuckoo can be heard in the oak/hickory timber adjoining the yard. Juvi House Wren flitting about the Apricot tree chattering for food, with a parent not far away, but not feeding it. Steve Harvey SE of Osceola Clarke Co. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: BBA work. From: "Stephen J. Dinsmore" <cootjr AT iastate.edu> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:55:34 -0500 (CDT) Today, Jim Moreland and I worked a block in Hamilton County and confirmed American Bittern (an adult with a large rail-like fledgling) and Virginia Rail (adult with 3 chicks). Earlier, I confirmed Eurasian Collared-Dove in Randall. Otherwise, the birding was pretty slow in the wind. Steve Stephen J. Dinsmore Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management 339 Science II, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50014 515-294-1348 (office) cootjr AT iastate.edu --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Website Move From: "Ann Johnson" <aj AT hologrambirds.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:49:20 -0500 Folks, I have once again moved our web applications with great hope this may solve some of the frustrations many of you have been having entering BBA data. Like any major change, this one will probably have its share of little glitches I've forgotten about, so please shoot me an e-mail if you discover something that is not working correctly. I will be especially interested in hearing from you who enter BBA trips to see if this change is making a difference. Things may be a bit flaky over the next few hours, both with the sites and this list, as the changes get replicated around the world. Please bear with us... Ann Johnson Norwalk, IA 50211 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Atlas work From: "tom.lawson" <tom.lawson AT mchsi.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:02:41 -0500 Atlasers, FYI I have been working in blocks 470 and 471 this season in Dallas County, and since the site is down I wanted to let you know 471 is "complete", 470 has about 15 hours in on it. I will enter data when the site is running. This you of course doesn't preclude you from entering your data for said blocks if you have it. On a side note, I discovered a gray phase Eastern Screech Owl with a red phase partner along the Middle Raccoon River, not sure what phase the owlets will be. It is fun!! Tom Lawson Adel --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Dallas County BBA wprk. From: "Stephen J. Dinsmore" <cootjr AT iastate.edu> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:18:27 -0500 I spent a few hours this morning doing BBA work in Dallas County. The biggest surprise was an apparent territorial male Alder Flycatcher. I've seen this species in Iowa in early and mid-June many times (always presumed migrants), but this is the first time I've encountered an individual that might be thinking of nesting. On my way home I found a Least Sandpiper and 3 Franklin's Gulls at Saylorville and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs at Moeckley Prairie. Steve Stephen J. Dinsmore Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management 339 Science II, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011 515-294-1348 (office) cootjr AT iastate.edu http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cootjr/ --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Western Kingbirds nesting in Fremont County From: "Scott Schmidt" <scott_w_schmidt AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:07:57 -0400 A pair of Western Kingbirds are nesting in the town of Farragut. The nest is located on a utility pole near the intersection of Dupont St. and Mobile Ave. Scott Schmidt Farragut, IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Pileated Woodpecker-Ames From: "Curtiss P. Fisher" <cfisher AT winnelson.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:17:14 -0400 I was at Homewood Golf Course in Ames saturday morning for a golf tournament, when on the par 3 #4 hole, a friend of mine pointed out this loud woodpecker call. We stopped for awhile and listened, I told him it sounded like a Pileated and that I'd never seen one in person. Next thing you know it popped out and flew from one end of the hole to another. We both got good looks at the very large woodpecker as well as getting a new lifer for both of us as well. I wish I could have stayed to watch it longer, but I had more golf to be played. I'll try to return to watch it again, but it being on a public golf course might make that a bit of a challenge. I doubt they want people walking willy nilly around the course with bino's when people are trying to play golf....that's just a guess! Those that want to try, the #4 hole at Homewood is the furthest north hole on the course and runs east/west along a bluff overlooking the Skunk River. Good luck and goog birding! Curt Fisher Roland,Ia. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Mississippi Kite From: Aaron Brees <abrees AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:14:19 -0500 This afternoon at around 3:30 an adult Mississippi Kite was soaring east of Fleur Ave in south Des Moines. It was just north of the Fleur Cinema and the HyVee. This is the first time I have seen one down in that part of town since late in the summer of 2007. Aaron Brees Des Moines, IA http://www.angelfire.com/ab6/birdpics/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/abrees/sets/ _________________________________________________________________ Lauren found her dream laptop. Find the PC that’s right for you. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/choosepc/?ocid=ftp_val_wl_290 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: NW Iowa. From: "Doug & Nina" <dharr AT netins.net> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:50:55 -0500 I also spent the 26th & 27th in NW Iowa doing several BBA blocks, To add to some of those species Steve Dinsmore reported, I found a singing Clay-colored Sparrow along the entrance road to Kettleson Hogsback Wildlife Area (just west of Big Spirit Lake) and a Blue Grosbeak in some roadside brush west of Cayler prairie (almost exactly the same location I'd seen one a few times before leaving NW Iowa nearly 9 years ago!). Black Terns were seen on at least three different wetlands around Spirit Lake. I spent a couple of hours birding by kayak on West Hottes Lake, finding some probable nesting Black-crowned Night Herons, American Bittern and Least Bittern. There were at least 47 singing Marsh Wrens at the north end of the lake. Steve didn't mention the two islands of nesting Ring-billed Gulls at the Meinking Marsh Tract of Spring Run WMA, just SW of Waste Management's Dickinson Co. landfill--believed to be the only such nesting colony in Iowa (it's a made-to-order bed & breakfast for gulls). Steve saw them Friday and I checked them out Saturday. DOUG HARR Ogden, IA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephen J. Dinsmore" To: "IA-BIRD" Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 4:14 PM Subject: [ia-bird] NW Iowa. I enjoyed a couple of days in NW Iowa as part of the Breeding Bird Atlas weekend. I worked in a total of 11 BBA blocks on 26-27 June and had the following birding highlights for the trip: 26 June -------- 3 Common Loons at Spirit L. 7 adult Red-necked Grebes at Grover L. (no evidence of any chicks) 4 Upland Sandpipers in Pocahontas Co. 1 singing male Least Flycatcher near Bradgate A., Humboldt Co. 1 Bell's Vireo at Buena Vista County Conservation P. (rare in NW Iowa) Prothonotary Warblers in Humboldt and Pocahontas counties 27 June -------- 1 Red-necked Grebe and 2 Western Grebes at Eagle L., Hancock Co. American and Least bitterns at Spring Run W.A. single Eur. Collared-Doves in Kossuth and Winnebago counties 1 Kentucky Warbler on private property in Boone Co. (my first in this county in many years) Steve Stephen J. Dinsmore Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management 339 Science II, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50014 515-294-1348 (office) cootjr AT iastate.edu --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: dharr AT NETINS.NET --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: Request for Info - posted for a friend (Holly Reinhard) From: "Bruce and Georgeann Morrison" <crazcoot AT evertek.net> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:18:58 -0500 Holly, try giving the NW Iowa Watchable Wildlife website a try...it has a Prairie Pothole Birding loop page...just click on it and it'll bring up lots of sites in your area. (Hales Slough, Yager Slough, Spring Run Wetlands complex, Christopherson Slough, Lost Island, Dan Greene Slough, and many more...) The site gives GPS and Google maps for driving instructions...each site also gives a short video...some just for a "hint" of what the area is like, and some with narration from folks that are familiar with the location....there's also basic written info on the sites and birds. Go to - http://www.watchablewildlifenwia.org/ and decide where to go first! P.S. we're in the process of adding 70 more sites this summer and fall so it's one worth bookmarking. Good luck! ...Bruce Morrison, S.E. O'Brien County http://www.morrisons-studio.com http://prairiepainter.blogspot.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Jennifer Vogel To: IA-BIRD Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 1:19 PM Subject: [ia-bird] Request for Info - posted for a friend (Holly Reinhard) Hello Birders, I cannot access Iowabirds.org, as its link is broken, and thus I am having my friend, who is suscribed to this listserve, post this for me. Please reply directly to me at holly.reinhard AT gmail.com I am a visiting birder from western Oregon, working in grasslands in Dickinson county (living in Estherville) as an avian field technician for the summer. I have no vehicle; however, a friend of mine who does have a vehicle will be coming to pick me up and hopefully do some birding. I am at a loss for where to go, though. This is my first time in the midwest, though I have birded Florida and some of Virginia before, so I have the basics such as Cardinal, Bluejay, Tufted Titmouse, etc., out of the way. However, I still have a lot of "target" birds, including most Eastern warblers, vireos, and flycatchers, Woodcock, Least Bittern, Upland Sandpiper, and others. Unfortunately, it will only be a day trip, and he will be driving from southern Minnesota, so we probably won't be able to go too far. Any ideas for great birding places not too far from Emmet or Dickinson counties? Because I work in the grasslands, I have gotten Dickcissel out of the way, and hope to see Henslow's Sparrow soon on the job....But I am thinking there are probably not a lot of grassland birds left for me to see that I haven't already....? Or if anyone has some spare time on his or her hands and would like to take me birding on the weekends, I'd be up for that as well! Thanks for any information, -Holly Reinhard Estherville, Iowa holly.reinhard AT gmail.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. Check it out. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: crazcoot AT evertek.net --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: NW Iowa. From: douglas chapman <shannonfound AT sio.midco.net> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:39:16 -0500 I went looking for Regal Fritillaries at Gitchie Manitou in the extreme Northwestern corner of Iowa on Friday and meant to post my results. So much for time allotments working very well. Anyway, I, too found a singing Bell's Vireo at his usual territory there. He's been there--with one exception--since 2004. Also seen: Green Heron, Swainson's Hawk, Western KIngbird, Ovenbird, Eastern Phoebe, both orioles (Baltimore and Orchard), Grasshopper Sparrow (MANY!), Bobolink, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Scarlet Tanager, Brown Thrasher, E Bluebird, Field Sparrow (MANY!) and N Mockingbird. PLus the usual suspects. No fritillaries or any other butterflies as there were no flowers blooming here. The reason I went is that Makoce Washte (Nature Conservancy) near Sioux Falls has no Regals as of yet either--also, no flowers at all blooming? So I wanted to see if nearby Iowa had similar results. But there are even few birds there. Besides Marsh and Sedge Wren and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Oh, Dickcissels have showed up. Doug Chapman SIoux Falls, SD On Jun 28, 2009, at 4:14 PM, Stephen J. Dinsmore wrote: > I enjoyed a couple of days in NW Iowa as part of the Breeding Bird > Atlas > weekend. I worked in a total of 11 BBA blocks on 26-27 June and had > the > following birding highlights for the trip: > > 26 June > -------- > 3 Common Loons at Spirit L. > 7 adult Red-necked Grebes at Grover L. (no evidence of any chicks) > 4 Upland Sandpipers in Pocahontas Co. > 1 singing male Least Flycatcher near Bradgate A., Humboldt Co. > 1 Bell's Vireo at Buena Vista County Conservation P. (rare in NW Iowa) > Prothonotary Warblers in Humboldt and Pocahontas counties > > 27 June > -------- > 1 Red-necked Grebe and 2 Western Grebes at Eagle L., Hancock Co. > American and Least bitterns at Spring Run W.A. > single Eur. Collared-Doves in Kossuth and Winnebago counties > 1 Kentucky Warbler on private property in Boone Co. (my first in > this county > in many years) > > Steve > > Stephen J. Dinsmore > Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management > 339 Science II, Iowa State University > Ames, IA 50014 > 515-294-1348 (office) > cootjr AT iastate.edu > > > > > --- > Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as > members make it! > --- > Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: > Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 > --- > This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. > Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp > . > ----- > You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: shannonfound AT sio.midco.net > --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: NW Iowa. From: "Stephen J. Dinsmore" <cootjr AT iastate.edu> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 16:14:36 -0500 (CDT) I enjoyed a couple of days in NW Iowa as part of the Breeding Bird Atlas weekend. I worked in a total of 11 BBA blocks on 26-27 June and had the following birding highlights for the trip: 26 June -------- 3 Common Loons at Spirit L. 7 adult Red-necked Grebes at Grover L. (no evidence of any chicks) 4 Upland Sandpipers in Pocahontas Co. 1 singing male Least Flycatcher near Bradgate A., Humboldt Co. 1 Bell's Vireo at Buena Vista County Conservation P. (rare in NW Iowa) Prothonotary Warblers in Humboldt and Pocahontas counties 27 June -------- 1 Red-necked Grebe and 2 Western Grebes at Eagle L., Hancock Co. American and Least bitterns at Spring Run W.A. single Eur. Collared-Doves in Kossuth and Winnebago counties 1 Kentucky Warbler on private property in Boone Co. (my first in this county in many years) Steve Stephen J. Dinsmore Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management 339 Science II, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50014 515-294-1348 (office) cootjr AT iastate.edu --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Web Services Down From: "Ann Johnson" <aj AT hologrambirds.com> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:40:48 -0500 Apparently the listserv is still working so I will give it a shot. This morning I had a message that we had exceeded our bandwidth by over 10% and the account had been suspended. I immediately purchased more bandwidth but the response was that it may take up to 24 hours to resume service. Sorry for the problems but things should be back up by morning I would think. Ann Johnson Norwalk, IA 50211 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Request for Info - posted for a friend (Holly Reinhard) From: Jennifer Vogel <vogel812 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:19:11 -0500 Hello Birders, I cannot access Iowabirds.org, as its link is broken, and thus I am having my friend, who is suscribed to this listserve, post this for me. Please reply directly to me at holly.reinhard AT gmail.com I am a visiting birder from western Oregon, working in grasslands in Dickinson county (living in Estherville) as an avian field technician for the summer. I have no vehicle; however, a friend of mine who does have a vehicle will be coming to pick me up and hopefully do some birding. I am at a loss for where to go, though. This is my first time in the midwest, though I have birded Florida and some of Virginia before, so I have the basics such as Cardinal, Bluejay, Tufted Titmouse, etc., out of the way. However, I still have a lot of "target" birds, including most Eastern warblers, vireos, and flycatchers, Woodcock, Least Bittern, Upland Sandpiper, and others. Unfortunately, it will only be a day trip, and he will be driving from southern Minnesota, so we probably won't be able to go too far. Any ideas for great birding places not too far from Emmet or Dickinson counties? Because I work in the grasslands, I have gotten Dickcissel out of the way, and hope to see Henslow's Sparrow soon on the job....But I am thinking there are probably not a lot of grassland birds left for me to see that I haven't already....? Or if anyone has some spare time on his or her hands and would like to take me birding on the weekends, I'd be up for that as well! Thanks for any information, -Holly Reinhard Estherville, Iowa holly.reinhard AT gmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: built in birdbath From: ERobb <erobb AT mchsi.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:02:00 -0500 I watched a goldfinch use the water in the leaf base of a cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum) as a birdbath tonight. This had never occurred to me as a likely scenario ....... Eileen --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: First Whooping Cranes of the "Class of 2009" Arrive at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge From: Ric Zarwell <ric.zarwell AT mchsi.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:42:41 -0500 News Release provided below. Ric <") ( \ / |`` Ric Zarwell SHOW UP.... SPEAK UP.... ANTE UP.... for Birds, for Natural Habitats, for All Biodiversity > > ------------------------------------------------ > > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Joan Garland, ICF, 608-381-1262 > June 26, 2009 Dan Peterson, FWS, 608-565-4412 > Ashley Spratt, FWS, 612-713, 5314 > > > First Whooping Cranes of the "Class of 2009" > Arrive at Necedah National Wildlife Refuge > > Eight whooping crane chicks arrived June 25 at Necedah National > Wildlife Refuge in central Wisconsin to begin preparation for their > fall migration behind ultralight aircraft. > > The eight chicks are members of the “Class of 2009”, which will be > the ninth group of endangered whooping cranes to take part in a > project conducted by the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership (WCEP), > a coalition of public and private organizations that is > reintroducing a migratory flock of whooping cranes in eastern North > America, part of their historic range. Thanks to WCEP’s efforts, > there are now 80 wild cranes in this population. > > The chicks comprise the first cohort of young whooping cranes to > arrive by private aircraft from the U.S. Geological Survey’s > Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md., where the birds > hatched and learned to follow costumed biologists and ultralight > aircraft on the ground. Following a veterinarian checkup that showed > that all of the birds were healthy, they were shipped to Necedah NWR > in large crates, in aircraft provided by Windway Capital Corp. A > quick check by veterinarians upon arrival showed that the birds were > ready for their new home on Necedah NWR. Two more cohorts of chicks > will be shipped from Patuxent to Necedah NWR in a few weeks. > > A field team from Operation Migration, Inc. and the Patuxent > Wildlife Research Center will spend the summer strengthening the > social cohesion of the flock and teaching them to fly behind the > ultralights. This fall, Operation Migration will use ultralights to > guide the young cranes on their first southward migration to > Florida, the cranes’ winter home. > > "Training and husbandry of the whooping crane chicks went very > smoothly this year, thanks to all the help we received from Patuxent > volunteers and from Operation Migration folks,” said John French, > research manager for the whooping crane program at the Patuxent > Wildlife Research Center. “Things look good for a large group of > chicks for the ultralight migration in 2009." > > In addition to the ultralight-led birds, biologists from the > International Crane Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife > Service rear whooping crane chicks at Necedah NWR and release them > in the company of older cranes from whom the young birds learn the > migration route. This is the fifth year WCEP has used this Direct > Autumn Release method. > > In 2001, WCEP project partner Operation Migration’s pilots led the > first whooping crane chicks, conditioned to follow their ultralight > aircraft surrogates, south from Necedah NWR to Chassahowitzka NWR in > Florida. Each subsequent year, WCEP biologists and pilots have > conditioned and guided additional groups of juvenile cranes to > Florida. Having been shown the way once, the young birds initiate > their return migration in the spring, and in subsequent years, > continue to migrate on their own. > > In 2008, in addition to wintering at Chassahowitzka NWR, half of the > ultralight-led cranes spent the winter at the St. Marks NWR along > Florida’s Gulf Coast. The decision to split the cohort came after > the loss in February 2007 of 17 of the 18 Class of 2006 whooping > cranes in a severe storm at Chassahowitzka NWR. WCEP hopes the two > wintering locations will help reduce the risk of another > catastrophic loss. > > Whooping cranes that take part in the ultralight and Direct Autumn > Release reintroductions are hatched at the U.S. Geological Survey’s > Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md., and at the > International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, Wis. Chicks are raised > under a strict isolation protocol and to ensure the birds remain > wild, handlers adhere to a no-talking rule and wear costumes > designed to mask the human form. > > In the spring and fall, project staff from the International Crane > Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service track and monitor > the released cranes in an effort to learn as much as possible about > their unassisted journeys and the habitat choices they make both > along the way and on their summering and wintering grounds. > > Most graduated classes of whooping cranes spend the summer in > central Wisconsin, where they use areas on or near the Necedah NWR, > as well as other public and private lands. > > Whooping cranes were on the verge of extinction in the 1940s. Today, > there are only about 515 birds in existence, approximately 360 of > them in the wild. Aside from the 80 WCEP birds, the only other > migrating population of whooping cranes nests at the Wood Buffalo > National Park in Alberta, Canada and winters at the Aransas National > Wildlife Refuge on the Texas Gulf Coast. A non-migrating flock of > approximately 30 birds lives year-round in the central Florida > Kissimmee region. > > Whooping cranes, named for their loud and penetrating unison calls, > live and breed in wetland areas, where they feed on crabs, clams, > frogs and aquatic plants. They are distinctive animals, standing > five feet tall, with white bodies, black wing tips and red crowns on > their heads. > > WCEP asks anyone who encounters a whooping crane in the wild to > please give them the respect and distance they need. Do not approach > birds on foot within 200 yards; remain in your vehicle; do not > approach in a vehicle within 100 yards. Also, please remain > concealed and do not speak loudly enough that the birds can hear > you. Finally, do not trespass on private property in an attempt to > view or photograph whooping cranes. > > Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership founding members are the > International Crane Foundation, Operation Migration, Inc., Wisconsin > Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the > U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and > National Wildlife Health Center, the National Fish and Wildlife > Foundation, the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, and the > International Whooping Crane Recovery Team. > > Many other flyway states, provinces, private individuals and > conservation groups have joined forces with and support WCEP by > donating resources, funding and personnel. More than 60 percent of > the project’s budget comes from private sources in the form of > grants, public donations and corporate sponsors. > To report whooping crane sightings, visit the WCEP whooping crane > observation webpage at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/whoopingcrane/sightings/sightingform.cfm > . > > For more information on the project, its partners and how you can > help, visit the WCEP website at http://www.bringbackthecranes.org. > > The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with > others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and > their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We > are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife > conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of > lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment > to public service. For more information on our work and the people > who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. > > --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Arctic Breeding Conditions in 2009 From: Ric Zarwell <ric.zarwell AT mchsi.com> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:00:16 -0500 This report is specific to shorebirds and covers 5 Canadian Provinces and Alaska. See below. Ric <") ( \ / |`` Ric Zarwell SHOW UP.... SPEAK UP.... ANTE UP.... for Birds, for Natural Habitats, for All Biodiversity Begin forwarded message: > From: Brad_Andres AT fws.gov > Date: June 26, 2009 11:55:19 AM CDT > To: undisclosed-recipients:; > Subject: Arctic Breeding Conditions in 2009 > > > Subject: Arctic Breeding Conditions in 2009 > > Yesterday we saw an adult Lesser Yellowlegs near Toronto and on > Wednesday there was an adult Least Sandpiper in Hamilton at the west > end of Lake Ontario. These are the first "fall migrant" shorebirds > in southern Ontario and they are right on schedule. > > Several people asked us to comment about recent reports of a > "Disastrous breeding season in the Arctic". The Arctic is huge; it > is 3500 km from southern James Bay (subarctic) to northern Ellesmere > Island. Most shorebirds have large breeding ranges and even in late > years many birds breed successfully and rarely does the entire > Arctic experience the same climatic conditions. We checked with > northern researchers and summarized their comments below. Shorebird > nesting in> 2009 is poor in some regions but normal to good elsewhere. > > Ontario: Ken Abraham reports that conditions in the Hudson Bay > Lowlands were about 10 days late from Attawapiskat south on James > Bay, including Akimiski Island, with Canada Geese and Snow Geese > hatching in mid June, more like the 1990s average than the 2000s > average and within the overall norms. Other species on Akimiski > Island were correspondingly late. His guess is that for those > species that require shorter time there will be some reduction but > not huge. Perhaps the predation effect will be somewhat greater if > alternate species are less available. Because coastal snow, ice and > water inundation conditions were similar from Cape Henrietta Maria > to the Manitoba border, Ken expects that for Canada Geese nesting > within 40-60 km from the coast, a much reduced effort and > productivity will be the norm. Snow Geese at Cape Henrietta Maria > were greatly down and the suggestion of a 90% reduction seems to fit > what they saw on their survey. However, beyond 40-60 km inland, he > thinks conditions will be different. Mark Peck said that species > nesting away from the Hudson Bay Coast in boreal bogs and fens such > as yellowlegs should not be severely impacted because much of the > freeze took place near the coast. > > Manitoba: The situation is worse in northern Manitoba at Churchill > where temperatures were well below normal until recently and the > snow cover melted late. However, Erica Nol reports that birds have > started to nest, just very late, and it won't be a complete bust for > shorebirds if there are enough bare spots. Whimbrels and Hudsonian > Godwits are nesting, but overall nesting success should be below > average for most shorebirds in northern Manitoba. > > Nunavut: Snow melt was up to three weeks late in mainland Nunavut > north of Manitoba. Recent temperatures have been close to normal. > Much of Baffin Island is now snow free and conditions there and on > Bylot Island are about normal. High Arctic breeders should have a > good breeding year. > > Northwest Territories: Vicky Johnston suspects it will be a poor > breeding year in parts of the Western Arctic. Spring was roughly > three weeks late in Yellowknife on Great Slave Lake based on leaf- > out. The Mackenzie Valley and Delta warmed early but then cooled off > again. The Delta flooded slowly and the water receded slowly, so > some prime shorebird breeding areas were subject to heavy predation. > > Yukon: Cameron Eckert reports a late spring, but once the heat came, > everything shifted into high gear. > > Alaska: Declan Troy reports from the North Slope that the snow on > the tundra is long gone. It was much warmer earlier in the month and > his guess is that the breeding season has been early there. > > We will be recording the arrivals and numbers of adult and juvenile > shorebirds in southern Ontario and may post updates. > > Acknowledgements: We thank Ken Abraham, Bruce Di Labio, Cameron > Eckert, Michel Gosselin, Vicky Johnston, Erica Nol, Mark Peck, Ken > Ross, Don Sutherland, and Declan Troy. > > Ron Pittaway and Jean Iron > > > Brad A. Andres, Ph.D. > National Coordinator, U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan > U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service > PO Box 25486, DFC > Denver, CO 80225-0486 USA > courier address: > 755 Parfet St., Suite 496B > Lakewood, CO 80215 > 303/275-2324 (ph) > 303/275-2384 (fax) > --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: gray partridge From: Grantridge AT aol.com Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:52:42 EDT This afternoon (6/26) I saw a single gray partridge run from east to west across 610th Avenue in Story County about a quarter mile north of 260th Street. I think it joined another partridge on the west side, but I couldn't see well enough to be certain. That location is southwest of Nevada, and I've seen partridges in that general area before. ch Cindy Hildebrand grantridge AT aol.com 57439 250th St. Ames, IA 50010 "The earth laughs in flowers." (Ralph Waldo Emerson) **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Iowa RBA: 6-26-09 From: John and Anna Bissell <john.annabissell AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:57:54 -0500 Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, June 20, through Friday, June 26, 2009: -RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required) NONE -Additional Species Mentioned Red-necked Grebe Western Grebe Least Bittern Cattle Egret Sandhill Crane CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW ALDER FLYCATCHER (Record late) White-eyed Vireo Veery Northern Mockingbird Cerulean Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Kentucky Warbler Hooded Warbler Louisiana Waterthrush ***NEW!**************** For more up to date information on rarities in the state of Iowa, visit the Iowa Birds and Birding website at www.iowabirds.org. A list of rare birds is placed on the home page with the location of the rarity and most recent date of observation. This is updated several times per day. This is a handy tool for anyone making a birding trip or otherwise into the state of Iowa. ************************ Species in ALL CAPS can be classified into three categories in the state of Iowa: 1) UNRECORDED, ACCIDENTAL or Casual; 2) A RARE but regular species; or 3) record early or late date or unusual for time of year. Any species with three asterisks (***species***) would represent a first record for Iowa (UNRECORDED) and should be observed and documented very carefully. Species with two asterisks (**species**) are species that are either ACCIDENTAL, CASUAL, or a rare regular species, and should also be documented. Species with one asterisk (*species) should have some details of the observation provided. NORTH CENTRAL: HANCOCK COUNTY: Highlights from Eagle Lake on the 21st included several LEAST BITTERNS, and a family of 3 RED-NECKED GREBES. 2 LEAST BITTERNS and a RED-NECKED GREBE were seen on the 24th. A late ALDER FLYCATCHER was seen near Hutchins on the 24th. Highlights from Pilot Knob on the 24th included VEERY and CERULEAN WARBLER. SOUTHEAST: LEE COUNTY: Highlights from the Croton Unit of Shimek SF on the 22nd included 3 WHITE-EYED VIREOS, 1 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, 1 WORM-EATING WARBLER, 2 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, and 3 KENTUCKY WARBLERS. Highlights from the Donnelson Unit of Shimek SF on the 22nd included a WHITE-EYED VIREO, 3 KENTUCKY WARBLERS, and a HOODED WARBLER. SOUTH CENTRAL: LUCAS COUNTY: Highlights from the Whitebreast Unit of Stephens SF included 2 CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOWS and 3 KENTUCKY WARBLERS. CENTRAL: STORY COUNTY: The CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW continues in a wooded area in rural Nevada, and was last heard on the 19th. HAMILTON COUNTY: 2 WESTERN GREBES were seen at Little Wall Lake on the 24th. A CATTLE EGRET was seen at Little Wall Lake on the 20th. SOUTHWEST: FREMONT COUNTY: An adult SANDHILL CRANE with a colt were seen at Riverton WA on the 24th. PAGE COUNTY: A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen in the southwest part of the county on the 24th. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, July 3, 2009 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted. John Bissell Grimes, Iowa john.annabissell AT gmail.com 515-986-9796 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Cranes with colt at Riverton From: "Stuart Sparkman" <kingbird AT mchsi.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:11:33 -0500 Hi I-Birders, I accompanied Karen as driver on Wednesday morning as she did her 25-mile BBS route through Page and Fremont Counties. Nothing too remarkable was detected along the route other than a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in SW Page County, however we had a pleasant surprise as we stopped after completing the route for a dog walk and early lunch at the small overlook deck with benches found on the east side of Riverton Wildlife Area. As we were eating, I noticed some movement on a distant pond. At first glance we were able to rule out deer in favor of birds, then rule out geese, then conclude they were Sandhill Cranes. Sadly, we had left our scope at home, which some birding version of Murphy's Law may explain why we saw these birds in the first place. They disappeared into the marsh vegetation, then reappeared some minutes later in a slightly closer pond. We could now clearly see that they were cranes- two adults and a colt about half their size. As we watched for another few minutes the family wandered through the marsh, the colt always remaining somewhere between the adults. A very pleasant surprise on a pleasant summer morning. The overlook area also was populated with numerous vocal BELL'S VIREOS, ORCHARD ORIOLES, and FIELD SPARROWS. Good birding, Stuart Sparkman NW Des Moines "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." M. K. Gandhi --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Wall Street Journal article on Birding in Columbia From: "Hank Zaletel" <madowl AT midiowa.net> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:20:02 -0400 Go to: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124588082038850031.html If url is too long, copy and paste into your browser's address line. Hank Zaletel Nevada --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Killdeer & family at east end of Oakdale Blvd north of Iowa City/Coralville From: "Gail McLure" <mclure AT mchsi.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:40:11 -0400 I was driving along Oakdale Blvd from Coralville to north of Iowa City at East end of Oakdale Blvd this evening. I was near the closed Gold's Gym and Dovetail Park at the east deadend of Oakdale Blvd. I had a great view of a Killdeer walking near the street. Sometimes it walked directly toward my car and I could see its white and black bands as it approached. I sat watching but didn't have my camera. The car didn't seem to bother him. I went home then went back an hour or more later. Both parents were closer to the Gold's Gym parking area & DoveTail Park. I got out of the car, but that provoked their displays of broken wing and walking away, no matter where I walked. No photos possible. I saw two small ones walking across the driveway inside the Gold's Gym/Dovetail parking area and the parents tried to distract me by walked away in different directions. It was too dark by then to get good view of coloration, but the earlier view was close and beautiful. I could get a much better view from the car than when walking. Gail McLure North of Iowa City --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: North Iowa Birding From: "Rita Goranson" <ritag AT mchsi.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:31:36 -0500 At Eagle Lake, Hancock County, this early a.m. there were two Least Bitterns calling and one Red-necked Grebe on the water. Black Terns were in the air. At a Breeding Bird block near Hutchins, Hancock County, there was a late migrant Alder Flycatcher. At Myre Slough, Winnebago County, there were Black Terns; the slough has very high water. At Pilot Knob, Winnebago County, there was a Pileated Woodpecker, a Veery and a Cerulean Warbler among the birds noted. Mallard Marsh has high water also. Rita Goranson Mason City, Iowa --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Cedar Rapids Audubon reminders From: "DALE FYE" <fye34 AT msn.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:05:08 -0500 June 27, Saturday Ham Marsh & Cortright Wildlife Area in Buchanan Co. near Independence. Naturalist led tour (at 9 a.m.) Meet at Bobbie Shaffer’s at 8:00 a.m. Picnic tables at Cortright. This is a reminder of the field trip this Saturday. Please RSVP to Bobbie Shaffer; if we do not have enough interest we want to let the naturalist know. Linda and Bob Scarth will be making a presentation about their recent trip to the Falkland Islands on Thursday, June 25, at 7 p.m., at People's Church, 600 3rd Ave SE, in Cedar Rapids. This event is being hosted by the Cedar-Wapsi Group of the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huge Savings on Popular Laptops only at Dell.com. Shop Now! --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Recent central Iowa sightings. From: "Stephen J. Dinsmore" <cootjr AT iastate.edu> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:48:10 -0500 (CDT) This morning at Little Wall Lake there were 2 Western Grebes and a Franklin's Gull. Little Wall Lake is certainly not a spectacular wetland and sees lots of human use, so these sightings reminded me that waterbirds are wandering around even in mid-summer. On Saturday, there were 8 Great and 1 Cattle Egret at Little Wall. On my way home this morning I saw my first real sign of "fall" migration - a Solitary Sandpiper north of Ames. I hope to see some of you this weekend in NW Iowa for the Breeding Bird Atlas blockbusting event. It should be a great time for confirming nesting by many wetland birds, and you never know what other goodies might show up. Steve Stephen J. Dinsmore Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management 339 Science II, Iowa State University Ames, IA 50014 515-294-1348 (office) cootjr AT iastate.edu --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: begging cowbird From: "Linda & Robert Scarth" <scarth AT infionline.net> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:17:11 -0500 This morning while out at Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center northwest of Cedar Rapids, I saw a begging juvenile cowbird following an American Tree Sparrow about. The tree sparrow, followed by the cowbird, walked close to a bullfrog sunning on the path. They circled the frog several times before fluttering off. Linda Scarth Cedar Rapids --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Quad City Audubon Society - Sierra Club - Prairie Rose Farm From: "Walt Zuurdeeg" <kaisersosa AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:26:38 -0500 Saturday, June 27, the Quad City Audubon Society and Sierra Club will get together at Marilyn Andress' Prairie Rose Farm near Illinois City, Rock Island County, Illinois. Activities will begin at 10:00 am. The group will take a tour of the Andress restored farm including prairies, wetland, woods and observation of birds along the bluffs of the Mississippi. At noon we will gather in the yard for a potluck. We ask everyone to bring a dish to share, plus your own table service and beverage. After lunch we will work off the extra calories and "pay" for the Andress Family's hospitality by helping remove some invasive species. Please bring a pair of work gloves and your own sun screen, mosquito repellant and camera. If you wish, you can also bring a folding chair. To make reservations and get directions to the farm contact (Audubon) Carol Rogers at (563) 324.8897 or (Sierra Club) Sheri Colman at (309) 786-8504. Walt Zuurdeeg Davenport www.quadcityaudubon.org --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Neal Smith NWR birds From: "Karen Viste-Sparkman" <k.vistesparkman AT mchsi.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:45:19 -0500 The heat today didn't seem to bother the birds while I did bird surveys at Neal Smith NWR. Some of the more interesting birds were two GREEN HERONS flying over the south end of the refuge, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT that I was able to see at the back of the Savanna, and several RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS. Also BELL'S VIREO and EASTERN TOWHEE in a couple of locaitons. Of course there are still plenty of the grassland birds that are easy to find at Neal Smith, including HENSLOW'S SPARROWS, GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, and SEDGE WRENS. And it's never too hot for DICKCISSELS to sing. Karen Viste-Sparkman Des Moines --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Western Kingbird/ Snowy Egrets - Carroll Co. From: "matt AT naturebymatt.com" <matt@naturebymatt.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:25:33 -0400 Birders, My new intern, a former California birder, informed me this morning that she found a WESTERN KINGBIRD in Swan Lake SP last week. Also, she found a pair of SNOW EGRETS in the park in the last two weeks. It's fun to have more snooping eyes around! Sweat, I mean, BIRD on... matt Matthew T. Wetrich Carroll County Naturalist Swan Lake State Park Carroll, Iowa (712)792-4614 - w www.naturebymatt.com (641)919-6061 - c Jefferson,IA Greene County Nature by Matt Wetrich --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Dickinson County Blockbusting THIS WEEKEND! From: "Nichole Nagl" <nichole.nagl AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:51:53 -0400 Greetings Everyone! Our next Blockbusting Weekend will be THIS weekend, June 26-28 in Dickinson County. I highly encourage anyone who’s interested to come and join us. Blockbusting is a great way to get a lot of blocks visited in a short time frame, an excuse to hang out with old friends, and a great reason to be outdoors! If you, or anyone you know, are interested in helping with the Dickinson county Blockbusting Weekend, please let me know ASAP. We could definitely use the help as there is a high concentration of blocks in the Spirit Lake/Okoboji area. Please remember, the more data we collect in the first years of the project, the easier it will be in the final years to complete all the blocks. There isn’t a time requirement for the weekend, so you can help whenever you have some time. If you live in the area, you more than likely live in a block. If you do decide to help last minute, please give me a call so I can keep track of what is being done and where. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you! PROPOSED SCHEDULE: FRIDAY -7 PM- Meet at Templar Park (2 miles north of Spirit Lake on 240th Ave./ Hwy 276) at the shelter for a brief overview of the BBA project. Field cards and maps will be available for volunteers to pick up and they can sign up for any blocks they wish to visit. PLEASE NOTE: There will not be a sign-in table set up for this weekend. If you do not attend the Friday meeting and wish to survey on Saturday or Sunday, I encourage you to print off some field cards and let me know which blocks you would like to visit. This will help me keep track of where everyone is surveying. I could also meet with you during the weekend if you are unable to attain field cards and maps. SATURDAY -ALL DAY- Surveying of blocks. -6 PM- Meet at Pizza Ranch for dinner and share your findings with the group. The Pizza Ranch is located in Spirit Lake along Hwy 9/71. (Pizza Ranch is located just east of the Dairy Queen on the end of a little strip mall on the South side of the road.) Bring your field cards with you! SUNDAY -ALL DAY- Surveying of blocks. -12 PM – Meet at Templar Park at the shelter for a final collaboration of data. NOTE: If you are unable to be at this meeting, call me at some point in the weekend so I can share your findings with others. Take Care and Happy Birding, Nicki Nagl BBA Volunteer Coordinator O: 515-432-2823 ext. 117 C: 515-298-3072 Email: bbacoordinator AT iowabirds.org Website: http://bba.iowabirds.org --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Kestresl in my Schreech Owl box From: "Bruce and Georgeann Morrison" <crazcoot AT evertek.net> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:34:17 -0500 We had Kestrels in in our Screech Owl box this spring...right now they have at least two chicks...we can hear them but they're still too small to make an appearance yet. I have not been able to photograph the adults as I have too many deadlines to sit in a blind in the back grove all day! When the adults do enter the box, it's at a straight swoop...into the box, no lollygagging around for a look or photo opp! They leave just as fast too. Maybe when the chicks emerge they'll be a little more visually accessible?? Bruce Morrison, S.E. O'Brien County http://www.morrisons-studio.com http://prairiepainter.blogspot.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: House Wren in my kestrel box nest From: Dan Dorrance <dancdorrance AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:09:50 -0700 (PDT) This hand crafted kestrel box nest went up on a phone pole near our home in February in hopes of attracting a kestrel. After a few starlings snooping around, it appears to have attracted the interest of two house wrens. I have seen more activity in the last two days and on Sunday one wren picked up the tiniest twig and flew over to the box nest. Strange but true. Dan Dorrance Red Oak --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Shimek SF, Lee Co. From: "Chris Edwards" <credwards AT aol.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:35:59 -0500 Today while doing a butterfly count at Shimek State Forest I found the following birds: Croton Unit (surprisingly not in an atlas block): Pileated Woodpecker 2 Acadian Flycatcher 2 White-eyed Vireo 3 Carolina Wren 1 Blue-winged Warbler 1 Northern Parula 5 Yellow-throated Warbler 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Worm-eating Warbler 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 2 Kentucky Warbler 3 Yellow-breasted Chat 3 Donnellson Unit: Broad-winged Hawk 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Acadian Flycatcher 1 White-eyed Vireo 1 Blue-winged Warbler 2 Kentucky Warbler 3 Hooded Warbler 1 Yellow-breasted Chat 2 Chris Edwards Solon, IA credwards AT aol.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: FW: no Red-necked Grebes From: "Rita Goranson" <ritag AT mchsi.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:08:12 -0500 This afternoon, five o'clock=ish, there were no Red=necked Grebes visible, no calling Bitterns, close to 200 Pelicans, many Black Terns, eight Ruddy ducks, a female Hooded Merganser and a male Red-headed Duck. The wind was blowing just enough that we had no problems with mosquitoes. Rita Goranson Mason City, Iowa -----Original Message----- From: bounce-ia-bird-7843 AT lists.iowabirds.org [mailto:bounce-ia-bird-7843 AT lists.iowabirds.org] On Behalf Of P Hertzel Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 1:41 PM To: IA-BIRD Subject: [ia-bird] Re: Red-necked Grebes At Eagle Lake this morning there were three Red-necked Grebes. Both adults, and one tiny juvenile were clustered together on the surface of the main pool pretty much straight out from the viewing platform. Also present were several calling Least Bitterns, close to 200 pelicans, many Black Terns, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Ring-necked Duck, and many other expected forms of life including mosquitos. Paul Hertzel Mason City --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: ritag AT mchsi.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Saturday's ICBC Atlas trip to blocks From: Rick Hollis <xiboia AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:26:40 -0500 This was billed as a club trip, but the leader [myself] was the only one present. This has been a recurring problem on club atlas trips. All birds were singing or scolding. The veg was very wet [2.5" of rain in the 18 hours preceding. The foliage, in the woods and even from roads, was so thick that visibility was very short. It was almost like birding in the fog. The field trip was cut very short due to the dampness. Block Common Name Seen Note 527 Eastern Bluebird 1 singing American Redstart 2 singing 529 Mourning Dove 2 singing Yellow-billed Cuckoo 2 singing Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 calling Red-eyed Vireo 1 singing Blue Jay 1 singing American Crow 10 serious scolding, 2 juv sounds Black-capped Chickadee 2 singing White-breasted Nuthatch 1 singing House Wren 4 singing and scolding American Robin 1 singing American Redstart 1 singing Scarlet Tanager 1 singing Chipping Sparrow 1 singing Northern Cardinal 4 singing Indigo Bunting 4 chipping & singing American Goldfinch 1 singing After returning home, I kept an eye on my feeders. My feeders and house is in block 529. All of these birds most are breeders or potential breeders in Block 529: Mourning Dove 2 at feeders Ruby-throated Hummingbird 6++ at feeders Red-headed Woodpecker 1 at feeders, earlier in week Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 at feeders Downy Woodpecker 5 at feeders, juv, on 6/21 and adult was feeding a juv at feeders. Hairy Woodpecker 2 at feeders Blue Jay 1 singing Black-capped Chickadee 2 singing Tufted Titmouse 3 at feeders House Wren 4 singing, entering house Chipping Sparrow 1 at feeders Northern Cardinal 4 at feeders Indigo Bunting 4 at feeders American Goldfinch 1 at feeders -- Rick Hollis North Liberty, IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Looking for Yellow Crowned Night Herons (no sighting) From: "Matthew Torres" <matthewt34 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:00:55 -0400 Jeff Livingston is looking to help his wife, Jenia, break 400 for her life list. Yellow Crown Night Heron is one of the birds she needs. Are there any that can be found in Iowa right now? Thanks, Matthew Torres Leon, IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: Red-necked Grebes From: P Hertzel <phertzel AT rconnect.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:40:57 -0500 At Eagle Lake this morning there were three Red-necked Grebes. Both adults, and one tiny juvenile were clustered together on the surface of the main pool pretty much straight out from the viewing platform. Also present were several calling Least Bitterns, close to 200 pelicans, many Black Terns, 2 Ruddy Ducks, 1 Ring-necked Duck, and many other expected forms of life including mosquitos. Paul Hertzel Mason City --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Lucas Co. Chuck-will's-widows From: "Denny Thompson" <cndthomps AT acm.org> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:26:36 -0400 The Armstrong's amd I had two Chuck-will's-widows in the Whitebreast unit of Stephens State Forest last night around 9:00. The first was along 127th Trail as previously reported by the Allen's (at the 2nd Turkey Restoration sign). A more vocal bird was just east along 467th, near the abandoned house with a yard light. We also had four Whip-poor-wills in the area. Common Nighthawks in Johnston completed our goatsucker trifecta. Other birds of note included: Cooper's Hawk, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, and Kentucky Warbler (3). Denny Thompson Johnston --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Chuck will's widow From: Art Check <artsbirdbrain AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:28:57 -0700 (PDT) Last night Rita Goranson and Steve Dinsmore came by and we heard what Steve determined was most likely an alternative call of the chuck will's widow in the woods south of my house.  (Correct me if my wording is wrong Steve)..  Mark Proescholdt just missed hearing it.  It did not give its classic call; perhaps the change in weather affected its willingness to be outgoing.  After listening to the call on CD again we all felt it was what we had heard.  Hopefully it will stick around and give more the chance to hear it.  My home # is 515-382-6718 if anyone is interested; just please call and leave a message if you want to come by for a listen.  Good luck   art check nevada --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Iowa RBA: 6-19-09 From: <jabissell AT mchsi.com> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:29:38 -0500 Iowa RBA birds reported from Saturday, June 13, through Friday, June 19, 2009: -RARE Species Mentioned (documentation required) ACCIDENTAL: **BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE** (Possible) -Additional Species Mentioned Red-necked Grebe Sandhill Crane Common Moorhen Black-bellied Plover (3rd latest) Ruddy Turnstone (3rd latest) SANDERLING (Record late) Dunlin (2nd latest tie) BLACK-NECKED STILT Common Tern WHITE-WINGED DOVE Black-billed Cuckoo CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW Western Kingbird White-eyed Vireo Veery Northern Mockingbird Black-and-white Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Northern Waterthrush (3rd latest) Louisiana Waterthrush ***NEW!**************** For more up to date information on rarities in the state of Iowa, visit the Iowa Birds and Birding website at www.iowabirds.org. A list of rare birds is placed on the home page with the location of the rarity and most recent date of observation. This is updated several times per day. This is a handy tool for anyone making a birding trip or otherwise into the state of Iowa. ************************ Species in ALL CAPS can be classified into three categories in the state of Iowa: 1) UNRECORDED, ACCIDENTAL or Casual; 2) A RARE but regular species; or 3) record early or late date or unusual for time of year. Any species with three asterisks (***species***) would represent a first record for Iowa (UNRECORDED) and should be observed and documented very carefully. Species with two asterisks (**species**) are species that are either ACCIDENTAL, CASUAL, or a rare regular species, and should also be documented. Species with one asterisk (*species) should have some details of the observation provided. NORTH CENTRAL: A RED-NECKED GREBE, 6 COMMON TERNS, and a late NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH were seen at Eagle Lake on the 14th. EAST: JOHNSON COUNTY: Highlights of a BBA trip to the eastern portion of Hawkeye WA on the 13th included BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, WHITE-EYED VIREO, and VEERY. There were still some late shorebirds at the Sand Point area of Hawkeye WA on the 13th. Highlights included 2 late BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, a late RUDDY TURNSTONE, a record late SANDERLING, and 50 late DUNLIN. The RUDDY TURNSTONE, 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, and DUNLIN were still present on the 14th. 15 DUNLIN and a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were still present on the 15th. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen on the path heading out to Sand Point at Hawkeye WA on the 15th. This bird was on the west side of the path about 1/3 of the way out. NORTHEAST: BLACK HAWK COUNTY: A possible BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE was seen in south Waterloo on the on the 19th. Specifically, it was seen 50 feet west of the Kimball overpass and was last seen headed south. SOUTH CENTRAL: WARREN COUNTY: 2 WHITE-EYED VIREOS were seen along the Great Western Trail on the 14th. WAYNE COUNTY: A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen at Goodwater Marsh on the 13th. APPANOOSE COUNTY: A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen on the Rathbun Lake Bird Club summer count on the 13th. 3 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS were seen on a BBS route on the 14th. LUCAS COUNTY: A CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW was heard at the Whitebreast Unit of Stephens SF on the 14th. Directions are as follows: From Highway 65, two miles south of the intersection with Highway 34, take 467th Street westward. After about two miles, there will be a turn to the south and the street becomes 127th Trail. Shortly after this turn, there will be a sign stating that the area is a Turkey Restoration Habitat. A little further, there is a second sign with the same message. We parked just beyond the second sign and heard the bird calling from the east. A KENTUCKY WARBLER was seen at the Whitebreast Unit of Stephens SF on the 14th. Specifically, this bird was observed at the Mine Pond area. CENTRAL: POLK COUNTY: 2 pairs of nesting COMMON MOORHENS were seen at Errington Marsh on the 13th. 3 COMMON TERNS were seen at Jester Park on the 13th. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was seen in at a nursery in Johnston by the gravel pits on the 13th. An either late or summering CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was seen in a yard in West Des Moines on the 18th. STORY COUNTY: A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was seen at the intersection of 290th St and 564th Ave about 4 miles south of Ames on the 18th. A CHUCK-WILLS-WIDOW was heard in a rural Nevada backyard on the 18th. SOUTHWEST: PAGE COUNTY: A SANDHILL CRANE was seen near Hepburn on the 13th. NORTHWEST: CLAY COUNTY: A BLACK-NECKED STILT and a few late DUNLIN were at Dan Green Slough on the 13th. The BLACK-NECKED STILT along with a COMMON TERN were seen at this location on the 14th. KOSSUTH COUNTY: A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was seen at Riverview Cemetery in Algona on the 14th. DICKINSON COUNTY: 2 RED-NECKED GREBES were seen at Grover's Lake on the 14th. WOODBURY COUNTY: 2 LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSHES were seen at Stone State Park on the 17th. These birds were seen at Pammel Valley and the Elk Run Trail. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next scheduled report of the Iowa Rare Bird Alert will be for Friday, June 26, 2009 for the weekly report. Should any UNRECORDED or ACCIDENTAL species be reported, an update will be posted. John Bissell Grimes, Iowa jabissell AT mchsi.com 515-986-9796 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Black Hawk County Magpie From: "Dan Mehner" <danmehner AT mchsi.com> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:27:27 -0400 Thursday at 6 PM I saw a Magpie while driving East on Hw 20 (South Waterloo). This was 50 ft West of the Kimball overpass and the bird was heading South. It was flying so low it could already be hit by a semi. One ID problem though. This pie did not have a long tail but everything else was perfect, as I remember them 40 years ago. Dan Mehner Gilbertville, IA 319-296-2037 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Chuck Will's Widow From: Art Check <artsbirdbrain AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:10:35 -0700 (PDT) Birders-   I was very pleasantly surprised to hear a calling Chuck Will's Widow in the woods next to my house tonight around 9:15 when I was putting my kids to bed.  It was the first time I have ever heard one--what a treat for my own back yard!  It did not call for long but it was so close by it was unmistakable.  It would have been even better had it not been for the stifling humidity and swarms of mosquitos.    Art Check Nevada --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: chestnut sided warbler From: Dick Stilwell <dickstilwell AT msn.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:03:00 -0500 I was outside cleaning debris from lasts nights storms off the deck when I heard a familiar high pitched warbler call. I was finally able to get a good look at a male chestnut sided warbler. Tried to get some photos but the ones I got were good enough for ID but won't win any photo contests. Dick Stilwell W Des Moines --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: WWDO in Story Co. From: wolf AT iastate.edu Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:54:16 -0500 (CDT) Just got a call (11:45am) from Jeff Nichols. He has found a White-winged Dove at the intersection of 564th Ave. (runs parallel to I-35, on the west side) and 290th St. (approximately 4 miles south of Ames). Wolf Wolfgang Oesterreich Ames --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Spring Warbler Images From: "Ty Smedes" <ty.smedes AT smedesphoto.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:27:18 -0500 I just finished updating my "Warblers" webpage, which now includes publication quality photos of 22 species, including females of several species. For those who would like to take a peek, the link is http://www.smedesphoto.com/warblers.htm . Ty C. Smedes www.smedesphoto.com Ty Smedes Nature Photography 4732 72nd Street Urbandale Iowa 50322-1148 phone: 515-270-9086 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Northern Bobwhite - Decatur County From: "Matthew Torres" <matthewt34 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:11:48 -0400 I've a least a pair of Northern Bobwhite that have taken up residence in and around my property. They can be heard calling every day and I've seen as many as two come scrounging around at my feeders. Matthew Torres Leon, IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Prothonotary Warbler-Woodbury Co-June 17, 2008 From: "Tucker J. Lutter" <lutter AT netins.net> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:45:56 -0400 While hiking at Stone State Park today with my friend I heard a singing PROTHONOTARY WARBLER by Turtle Lake. It stopped calling as we approached and I couldn't locate it. That is a nice bird for our area. I also had Northern Parula, the first one that I had seen in the park so far this year. * a quick side note-a pair of Prothonotary Warblers is nesting on the Iowa-South Dakota Border near Akron as reported on the SD bird list serv. Turtle Lake: Prothonotary Warbler 1 singing Northern Parula 1 Pammel Valley (up stream from Turtle Lake): Summer Tanager 1 Louisiana Waterthrush 1 also heard yesterday Elk Run Trail: Louisiana Waterthush 1 NO Cerulean Warbler Good Birding, Tucker J. Lutter Bronson, IA www.birdingwithtucker.blogspot.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: "Bald" Cardinal in Johnson County From: Lorinda Hoover <hoovmoss AT iowatelecom.net> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:19:21 -0500 Apologies for the late report Yesterday I saw a bald male cardinal appear at my parents' feeders several times. By bald I mean no feathers on it's head; maybe there's a more technical terms? My parents live between Iowa City and Solon, along the edge of a wooded ravine. This is not a good time for them to have additional visitors, so I will not provide any more specifics about location. I will try to take a picture if it appears again. Other birds seen at the feeders in the last couple of days: Mourning Doves Cardinals ("normal" male and female) White-breasted nuthatches Rose breasted Grosbeaks (male and female) House finches (male and female) chickadees American Goldfinch (male only) Catbird (who loves the oriole feeder) ruby throated hummingbird. Downy woodpeckers Lorinda Hoover --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Loggerhead Shrikes/Cedar Falls From: "David Eastman" <daveeastman AT cfu.net> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:36:16 -0400 Tom Stone mentioned earlier in the month that he had seen a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes on the Pheasant Ridge Golf Course while golf/bird watching. Today, about 12 days after Tom's report, I relocated the pair plus two juveniles begging food from the adults. With all of todays rain the course was quite empty. Usually there is a good bit of traffic on this public course. Dave Eastman Cedar Falls --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Summer Tanager and Red-shouldered Hawk From: "Don Brown" <donbrown34 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:21:22 -0500 The past few days a 1st year male summer tanager has been hanging out, calling and singing in our yard (1855 S. 9th Lane, West Des Moines, adjacent to Brown's Woods). The Red-shouldered Hawk reported early this spring continues to be seen and heard almost daily over the northwest section of Brown's Woods. --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: immature loon north of Marengo, Iowa County From: "Bergstrom, Paula M" <paula-bergstrom AT uiowa.edu> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:20:51 -0500 Hi, This year is the first year I've seen an immature (first year) loon at South Pond, Gateway Park, just north of Marengo. A local fisherman told me that it's probably going after shad. On Sunday afternoon I saw it in pursuit of a school of small fish. They would ruffle the water as they fled from the loon, sometimes jumping out of the water entirely. The loon would surface, shake its head, then dive and pursue them again. This went on for about 5-10 minutes. South Pond is quite small, with fishermen in boats, but this didn't seem to bother the loon. I think it's a Common Loon. Paula Bergstrom paula-bergstrom AT uiowa.edu Rm. 430 BB Ph 335-1321 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Whooping Cranes - Wisconsin Flock From: "Larry Dau" <LGDAU AT NETINS.NET> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:16:34 -0400 I noticed on the Wisconsin site that a pair of the re-introduced Whooping Cranes nested and successfully produced young. Several other pairs nested, but abandoned the nest and eggs earlier this year. Sounds like at least one more pair is still incubating. Here is the news release link if you have interest. It is a long link you may need to cut and paste. Exciting news for midwest birders! Larry Dau http://cs.birdersworld.com/brdcs/blogs/field_of_view/2009/06/13/wisconsin-whooping-cranes-hatch-chick.aspx --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Cooper's Hk, UI Campus From: Rick Hollis <xiboia AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:02:34 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Yesterday after noon, walking from my office to my car, at Burlington and Madison -- near the Lindquist Center --- I observed a Cooper's Hawk fly over. Rick Hollis North Liberty, IA "How paramount the future is to the present when one is surrounded by children. " Charles Darwin --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: question about Olympic National Park From: "Mary Ann Gregory" <magreg0ry AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:04:11 -0400 Dear Birders, I'll be in Olympic National Park in Sept. Have you seen a spotted owl there? What are my chances of seeing one? Thank you. Mary Ann Gregory --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Submission of photographs for Iowa Bird Life From: "Kayleen A Niyo" <kay AT kayniyo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:58:32 -0600 Birders, I have been receiving more requests from photographers about how to submit photographs for possible use in Iowa Bird Life. Directions are on the IOU web site at http://www.iowabirds.org/IOU/ibl_author_instructions.asp It is extremely important to follow these directions and NOT to over-process your photos in PhotoShop or whatever software you use. Doing so may render them unusable for publication. Also, for each issue, I use photos taken during that particular field reports season. For example, the issue in the mail to you this week is the spring issue, 79(2), which contains the winter field reports. So it contains photos taken from 1 Dec to the end of Feb. Thank you for all your contributions to Iowa Bird Life. I welcome articles and photographs of interest to Iowa birders. Kay Kayleen A. Niyo, Ph.D. Niyo Scientific Communications Editor, Iowa Bird Life Kay AT KayNiyo.com www.KayNiyo.com ______________________________ 5651 Garnet Street Golden, CO 80403 Phone: (303) 679-6646 Fax: (866) 849-8013 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Credit I.- Davenport From: "Walt Zuurdeeg" <kaisersosa AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:45:32 -0500 This morning I did some breeding bird atlasing in southwest Davenport. At Credit Island I saw a Brown Creeper and Red-headed Woodpecker in the back woods. A Purple Martin was in one of the martin houses by the Credit Island lodge. This year I have only seen one martin between the 4 martin houses there - the rest of the spaces are occupied by house sparrows, starlings or are empty. In past years there have been 10-25 martins. Walt Zuurdeeg Davenport --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Monday in Eastern Iowa From: Diana Pesek <keesiemom AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:52:53 -0700 (PDT) Hi all, Did a little birding before work today. At Hawkeye Wildlife Area (Johnson County), shorebird numbers at Sand Point are down from the weekend numbers but there are a few remaining: ~15 Dunlin 1 Pectoral 1 peep (probably one of the SemiP Sandpipers; it did not have long wing projection but I was not close enough to be sure of ID) 1 Black-bellied Plover (non-breeding plumage) 3 Spotted Sandpipers These birds were often right along the edge of the mud and in the grass (west-side cove) so I certainly could have missed some birds. On the path walking out to Sand Point a Black-billed Cuckoo perched obligingly in the willows on the west side about 1/3rd of the way down the path. Along W Ave. south of Homestead in Iowa County, an Upland Sandpiper was perched on a fencepost on the west side of the road. Diana Pesek Cedar Rapids keesiemom AT yahoo.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Unexepected Carolina Wren From: Rick Hollis <xiboia AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:48:26 -0500 (GMT-05:00) We had a Carolina Wren at our feeders yesterday. Rather surprising as I have not heard them in the neighborhod for some time. Rick Hollis North Liberty, IA "How paramount the future is to the present when one is surrounded by children. " Charles Darwin --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: chimney swifts From: "tom.lawson" <tom.lawson AT mchsi.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:21:54 -0500 After reading Matt's post I took a quick survey around town here in Adel last evening. We normally have a strong population of c. swifts in the summer, thanks in great part to the no longer used brick kilns here. But I agree with Matt the swifts are still migrating or hunting for homes, since I counted over 100 going into one kiln last night at dusk. Tom Lawson Adel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Matt Kenne" To: "IA-BIRD" Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 3:03 PM Subject: [ia-bird] chimney swifts > Hi all, > > I was standing uptown last evening with some folks, and had a perfect line > of sight to a Chimney Swift chimney where I counted 136 going to roost > three weeks ago. Last night, about 70 still entered at dusk, seemingly a > large number given that swifts regularly nest one pair to a chimney. They > sometimes have a couple of helpers with the young (non-breeding friends > and relatives), and small non-breeding flocks are sometimes found roosting > in nesting areas, but 70 is an awful lot of non-nesters. Makes me think > that some Chimney Swifts are still migrating to other nest areas. Makes me > want to see if the number roosting in this particular chimney continues to > go down. > > Breaking up the field reports compilation process, > > Matthew Kenne > Algona, Iowa > mkenne AT netamumail.com > > --- > Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as > members make it! > --- > Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: > Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 > --- > This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. > Membership available on-line at > http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. > ----- > You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: tom.lawson AT mchsi.com > --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Chuck-wills Widow From: Reid Allen <2birders AT hickorytech.net> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:01:04 -0500 Last night, at 9:20PM, a single Chuck-wills Widow began calling in the Whitebreast Unit of Stephen's State Forest in Lucas County. The location was the same as in the past two years. Directions: From Highway 65, two miles south of the intersection with Highway 34, take 467th Street westward. After about two miles, there will be a turn to the south and the street becomes 127th Trail. Shortly after this turn, there will be a sign stating that the area is a Turkey Restoration Habitat. A little further, there is a second sign with the same message. We parked just beyond the second sign and heard the bird calling from the east. The Whip-poor-wills were calling as early as 8:50PM, which was sunset time yesterday. Wood Thrushes were also calling at that time. Mosquitoes were not bad, but we stayed in the car. Earlier in the evening, at Mine Pond in the Lucas Unit, a Kentucky Warbler was calling from the east side of Mine Pond. We usually hear White-eyed Vireos in the same location, but not last night. Reid & Pam Allen West Des Moines --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: chimney swifts From: "Drake Larsen" <dlarsen AT iastate.edu> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:50:37 -0500 (CDT) There is a roost of similar size in downtown Ames, where 2 weeks ago I saw greater than 100 birds circling the roost near dusk. I haven't been back to watch for them specifically since then, but see and hear them in good numbers all around. I'll go check on them again....fortunately they are pretty close to the best bar in town! --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Red-necked Grebe From: "Rita Goranson" <ritag AT mchsi.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:43:56 -0500 At Eagle Lake yesterday the Red-necked Grebe was seen later in the day. No Western Grebes were seen, twelve Black Terns, six Common Terns , Pelicans, Cormorants and the chink of a Northern Waterthrush. Last Friday the BBS route I did had an Upland Sandpiper by Walsh Preserve in Cerro Gordo County. Otherwise it was common farm land birds. Rita Goranson Mason City, Iowa --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Mills County (Willow Slough Trumpeter) From: Dan Dorrance <dancdorrance AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:25:29 -0700 (PDT) This evening, Ava and I stopped out to Willow Slough and found a Trumpeter Swan sitting on a nest. From the boat ramp and looking east the nest in at the 2:00 o'clock position on the far shore. Also present were: American White Pelican- 20 Black Tern- 8 Green Heron-2 Double Crested Cormorant-4 Dan Dorrance Red Oak  --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Orpaned Bird From: Karla Pfaff <sailingkelso AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:07:19 -0500 I realize this is not recommended, but I found a baby bird in dire need of rescue today. We were sailing at Saylorville and someone had a nest of baby birds in their anchor hatch. Instead of taking care of the birds, they opened the hatch to the sunlight and 4 of the birds were already dead from exposure by the time I walked by. One baby was still 'cheeeping' so knowing that the Mom was back somewhere in a barn where the boat had been stored for the winter, and gone for good, I now have the baby bird. I have been feeding it water soaked (till spongy, not dripping) puppy chow, about 1 small bite every 20 min one site said. I have tried calling a bird rescue, but the calls are not being returned. So, I have no idea of what type of bird it is, or really what to do with it. I cannot and will not destroy it. If it dies then so be it, so please if you want to tell me to destroy it, please do not reply, you will just make me feel bad. As far as description, it is just losing it's down, growing black feathers and has a huge yellow mouth. I do not think it is a Robin, well, pretty sure, I think it is a Starling, or a grackle or something like that. So, any suggestions as to what to do? Does anyone know who might take care of the bird? I have 2 domesticated birds and am getting tired of washing my hands! (Really, just kidding, I guess you do what you have to do.) Again, any help would be appreciated. Karla _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_BR_life_in_synch_062009 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Summer count on sat and BBS survey on Sun. From: T J <stsparrow47 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:10:09 -0500 The Rathbun Lake Bird Club had its annual summer count, which is mainly breeding bird survey. We 9 birders including one , Candace, from Colorado but who summers in Bentonsport. We had a total of 105 species and hope to add some info. to the BBA. Highlights included 9 Upland Sandpipers - one pair defending a nest, two Coopers's Hawk, Black Terns, Bald Eagles, 11 Yellow-billed Cuckoo and one Black-billed. The Black-billed was at Goodwater Marsh in Wayne County.We also foumd Pileated W.P., all swallows, Prothonotary Warbler, Henslow Sparrow, and White-eyed Vireo. Sunday Dan T and I did our BBS survey with its 50 stops across Appanoose and part of Davis county.Highlighs included 3 N.Mockingbirds, one Loggerhead Shrike and a Yellow-breasted Chat (first for this 30 year old survey). We also had 11 Bobwhite, which is dismal compared to the early years but up from the last couple. -- Tom Johnson Mystic --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Clay, Dickinson, and Buena Vista Co-June 14 From: "Tucker J. Lutter" <lutter AT netins.net> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:59:16 -0400 Hello Birders, My dad and I took a combination fishing-birding trip to the Iowa great lakes today. We relocated the stilt at Dan Green Slough which was a lifer for me (309) and the Common Tern that was there was the first one that I have ever seen in Iowa. Trip Highlights: Dan Green Slough (Clay Co): Black-necked Stilt 1 Common Tern 1 Grover's Lake (Dickinson Co): Red-necked Grebe 2 Redhead 5 Lesser Scaup 3 Storm Lake (Buena Vista Co): Caspian Tern 3 Good Birding, Tucker J. Lutter Bronson, IA www.birdingwithtucker.blogspot.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Sunday's bicycle birding - Great Western Trail From: Carol & Jim Sinclair <caroljimsinclair AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:43:30 -0700 (PDT) A  ride on the Great Western Trail, with Rick Trieff, from Martensdale to Gray's Lake and back produced 79 species.  Good birds included:   Cooper's Hawk - 3 White-eyed Vireo - 2 Bell's Vireo - 2 Carolina Wren - 1 Prothonatory Warbler - 1 Pine Sisken - 2   Jim --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: BBA Site Update From: "Ann Johnson" <aj AT hologrambirds.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:24:10 -0500 After a lot of searching for answers, I MAY have found a solution to the recent problems we've been having. However, I need someone who has been having trouble to try entering some records now and see if things are better. Please let me know if you continue to have difficulty. Also, if you did some surveys in Madison County this spring (Badger Creek and Clanton Creek), please contact me off-line. Ann Johnson Norwalk, IA 50211 --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net Subject: Re: Black-necked Stilt From: Paul Roisen <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:41:10 -0700 (PDT) Black-necked Stilt still at Dan Green Slough. Thanks, Lee for another IOWA first for me. Also, a single Common Tern (first seen by Tucker Lutter) was an FOY for me. God Bless, Paul Roisen Sioux City, IA Woodbury County 712-276-0371(H) 712-301-2817(C) --- On Sat, 6/13/09, Lee Schoenewe wrote: From: Lee Schoenewe Subject: [ia-bird] Black-necked Stilt To: "IA-BIRD" Date: Saturday, June 13, 2009, 5:30 PM At 4:00 PM this afternoon a Black-necked Stilt was discovered actively feeding at Dan Green Slough in Clay county.  At 5:00 PM as I checked again I did not find it at first but then located it resting on the ground at the west end of the rock jetty dike that is visible from the pump house on the curve in the blacktop road.   There were also over a hundred White-rumpled Sandpipers, a handful of Dunlin and a Pectoral Sandpiper still in the area.   Lee A. Schoenewe Spencer --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/membership.asp. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: jsiler AT birdingonthe.net