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Updated on Monday, March 15 at 05:38 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.
Mongolian Ground Jay,©Tony Disley

15 Mar Spring stuff [Melvin Weber ]
14 Mar parulas in BR [Philip C Stouffer ]
14 Mar Grace Eyster [birdlists ]
14 Mar American Golden-Plover - Toney Bayou Road, West Monroe, LA , 3/14/10 [Stephen Pagans ]
14 Mar Sharp-Shinned Hawk ID [thomas finnie ]
14 Mar Raptor Road Convention [thomas finnie ]
14 Mar Re: Birding from Rapides Parish to Cameron and Back - 3-13-10 Jeff Davis Gulls and Cameron Godwits [thomas finnie ]
14 Mar Birding from Rapides Parish to Cameron and Back - 3-13-10 Jeff Davis Gulls and Cameron Godwits [Huner Jay V ]
14 Mar Re: Purple Finch [janine robin ]
14 Mar Purple Finch [Curt Sorrells ]
14 Mar Swallow-tailed Kites ["Harvey L. Patten" ]
14 Mar new state park in our area [Janine Robin ]
14 Mar Swallow tailed Kite - Baton Rouge [Angela Orgeron ]
14 Mar Swallow-tailed Kites and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds [Kaye Madden ]
13 Mar Fwd: eBird Report - Fort Jackson , 3/13/10 [Richard Temple ]
13 Mar Peveto Woods - Baton Rouge Audubon Society , 3/13/10 [Huner Jay V ]
13 Mar Northern Parulas and Virginia Rail - Black Bayou Lake NWR , 3/13/10 [Stephen Pagans ]
13 Mar lake martin rookery [Danny Dobbs ]
13 Mar Fabacher Rd...I mean "Raptor Rd. [Irvin Louque ]
13 Mar LOS spring meeting ["David J. L'Hoste" ]
13 Mar Say's Phoebe persists [John Dillon ]
13 Mar Say's Phoebe at South Farm [Cham & Mary Mehaffey ]
12 Mar Re: work story ["Jeffrey W. Harris" ]
12 Mar Shorebirds - Catfish Pond 2, Gilbert, LA , 3/12/10 [Stephen Pagans ]
12 Mar Shorebirds - Catfish Farm, S of Gilbert, LA , 3/12/10 [Stephen Pagans ]
12 Mar Jefferson Island rookery [Elias Landry ]
13 Mar SV: [LABIRD-L] work story [Trond Nilsen ]
12 Mar White Pelicans [Melvin Weber ]
12 Mar swallow-tailed kites [Bill Fontenot ]
12 Mar Fw: eBird Report - Pearl River WMA--Honey Island Swamp , 3/12/10 ["Harvey L. Patten" ]
12 Mar Re: work story [Terry Davis ]
12 Mar New yard bird - Northern Parula [thomas finnie ]
12 Mar Swallow-tailed Kites [Lainie Lahaye ]
12 Mar Re: Sharp-Shinned Hawks [Amy Stone ]
12 Mar Re: work story [Richard Greig ]
12 Mar Sharp-Shinned Hawks [Amy Stone ]
12 Mar Re: work story [Bill Fontenot ]
12 Mar Re: work story [Jonathan Clark ]
12 Mar Re: work story [Bill Fontenot ]
12 Mar Re: work story [John Dillon ]
12 Mar Re: work story [Jonathan Clark ]
12 Mar Re: White-Tailed Hawk Map [John Arvin ]
12 Mar FOS black-and-white warbler [Richard Greig ]
12 Mar Wintering and Migration Behavior of Waterfowl, Etc. - Cotile Recreation Area , 3/11/10 [Huner Jay V ]
11 Mar Say's Phoebe--Sherburne South Farm 3/11/10 [Josh Sylvest ]
11 Mar Heron/Egret Rookery - Cheniere Dam Road , 3/11/10 [Stephen Pagans ]
11 Mar White-Tailed Hawk this afternoon + Barn Swallows [thomas finnie ]
11 Mar Danny Dobbs What About Lake Martin? - Egrets in Bird City, Jungle Gardens [Huner Jay V ]
11 Mar New State of the Birds Report released ["DRISCOLL, Melanie" ]
11 Mar work story [Trond Nilsen ]
11 Mar Guste Island Directions Request - Long-tailed Duck [Cham & Mary Mehaffey ]
11 Mar Egrets in Bird City, Jungle Gardens [Elias Landry ]
11 Mar White-Tailed Hawk Map [thomas finnie ]
11 Mar first Yellow-crowned Night-Herons [Peter H Yaukey ]
11 Mar Re: Fw: eBird Report - Guste Island , 3/10/10 Longtail Duck; Inca Dove [Peter H Yaukey ]
11 Mar Re: Help on Hawk ID [John Dillon ]
11 Mar Dark Hawk Location [thomas finnie ]
11 Mar Re: Help on Hawk ID ["Steven W. Cardiff" ]
11 Mar Re: Help on Hawk ID [Cham & Mary Mehaffey ]
11 Mar Help on Hawk ID [thomas finnie ]
11 Mar Parula (finally) ["Brian O'Shea" ]
11 Mar Ruby-throated Hummer ["Harvey L. Patten" ]
11 Mar Re: First Hummingbird [Erik Johnson ]
11 Mar First Hummingbird [David Fox ]
10 Mar Fw: eBird Report - Guste Island , 3/10/10 Longtail Duck; Inca Dove [Cham & Mary Mehaffey ]
10 Mar Birding Trip to Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego []
10 Mar My first Barn Swallow fore N LA ["Ingold, James" ]
10 Mar Re: First Rubythroat [janine robin ]
10 Mar Re: First Rubythroat [Dave Patton ]
10 Mar Re: First Rubythroat [Nancy L Newfield ]
10 Mar Info requested for 1999 report of Rough-legged Hawk ["Steven W. Cardiff" ]
10 Mar Re: First Rubythroat [Bill Fontenot ]
10 Mar Re: Winter weather affecting bird migrations [Kelby Ouchley ]
10 Mar Re: First Rubythroat [Erik Johnson ]
10 Mar Re: Winter weather affecting bird migrations [Nancy L Newfield ]
10 Mar Re: [HUMNET-L] First Rubythroat [Beth Maniscalco ]

Subject: Spring stuff
From: Melvin Weber <mweber AT RTCONLINE.COM>
Date: Mon, 15 Mar 2010 05:38:42 -0500
Went to the Bonnet Carre Spillway yesterday looking for spring birds  
to match the weather.  Not bad.  The new spring birds I found  
included---13 Golden Plovers, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 4 Barn Swallows  
and 1 Yellow-throated Warbler.
Melvin Weber
Subject: parulas in BR
From: Philip C Stouffer <pstouffer AT LSU.EDU>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:00:36 -0500
Labirders,

I heard at least three parulas this am while running around the LSU
lakes.  I think they arrived since Friday, when I didn't hear them along
the same route.
I guess I'm preaching to the choir, but this morning I felt sorry for
all the runners, walkers, dog walkers, etc. going around the lakes
plugged into ipods.  It was a great morning to listen to birds.

In other news, a male Wilson's Warbler was a nice surprise by the Moore
Park soccer fields in Lafayette this afternoon.

Phil Stouffer
Subject: Grace Eyster
From: birdlists <birdlists AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:34:25 -0500
It is with sadness that I post the death of Grace Eyster in Lafayette. She has 
influenced many lives and we will all miss her. She was President of LOS in 
1977 - 79. 


Grace Loescher Eyster
 
 
Grace Marie Loescher Eyster of Lafayette, LA, died peacefully at Lafayette 
General Medical Center on March 13, 2010, at the age of 87. 

 
Survivors include her loving husband of 62 years, Dr. Marshall “Tom” B. 
Eyster, and 

their three children, Dr. Nancy Eyster-Smith and her husband Doug of Waltham, 
MA , Dr. Linda Eyster of Hyde Park, MA, and Kenneth Eyster and his wife Anita 
of Lafayette, LA., and 6 grandchildren (Jessica, Marshall and Kevin Eyster, 
Sheldon and Martin Smith, and Oliver Pechenik). 

 
She was preceded in death by her parents Washington and Elsa Loescher and her 
older sister Doris Emrath. 

 
Grace was born in Chicago in 1922, graduated from Sullivan H.S. (1940) in 
Chicago, and spent her summers working and making life-long friends at Camp 
Pinemere (WI), where she taught archery, swimming, sailing , and tennis. She 
received a four-year scholarship to Chicago Teacher’s College, where she 
graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor’s of Education. She was a teacher for the 
rest of her life in one way or another. She taught biology at Sullivan H.S. for 
three years before going to graduate school at the University of Illinois at 
Champaign-Urbana, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Botany in 1947. 
Although she never earned her PhD, before moving to Lafayette for her 
husband’s new professorship at ULL (then SLI), she had completed all her 
course work for a PhD in Botany. After raising her family, she studied library 
science and received a Master’s Degree in Library Science from LSU. At USL, 
Grace worked in the Stevens Library and later Dupre Library, where s 

 he was charged with the multiyear task of converting all the books in the 
library from the Dewey-decimal system to the newer Library of Congress system. 
She also taught Biology labs at ULL, General Biology lectures at LSU for 
several years, and published zoology lab manuals with Tom. Through 2009, Grace 
taught Gumbo U/Potpourri ULL continuing education for many years, sharing her 
knowledge about plants, gardening, birds, art, architecture, literature, and 
travel. She was proud to have been a teacher for over 65 years. 

 
For her, one of the most interesting jobs of her life was working for the 
Chicago Tribune, on the night shift during college. Long before internet 
searches, people would telephone the newspaper, and she and four other women 
would use a variety of reference books, stacked from floor to ceiling, to look 
up answers to questions about warships, song lyrics, recipes, science, and 
anything else people wanted to know. She was a “google girl,” long before 
Google. 

 
Grace and her family enjoyed traveling, especially to the West and to their 
cabin in the mountains of Colorado. She eventually visited all 50 states, and 
then later in life began traveling to other countries, discovered a love for 
it, and encouraged others to experience foreign travel. She conducted summer 
trips for about 20 years to over 25 countries. 

 
 Grace was a woman ahead of her time, always promoting women’s rights, 
conservation, and education. She was one of the very first women to serve on a 
jury trial in Lafayette Parish. She believed in the power of visual images and 
public television in education and helped her husband organize the Audubon 
Wildlife Films at USL for 25 years. For two years she even hosted a half-hour 
cable television show called “I’ve Always Wondered.” She also served as 
Director of the Louisiana Junior Academy of Sciences and Director of Region VI 
State Science Fair for several years. 


Grace enjoyed her years of work with conservation organizations, such as the 
Sierra Club, Audubon Society, and the Louisiana Ornithological Society, serving 
as its Secretary/Treasurer for over 10 years and as its President for 2 years. 
She was a member of University Women. She loved encouraging others to attend 
Community Concerts, and was an active member in the Book Club, the Lafayette 
Garden Club, and New Acadians. In 2009, Grace was honored in the Circle of 
Roses, Louisiana State Garden Club. 

 
When Grace was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 1963, she did not let 
it slow her down. As her friends have noted, she was “Amazing Grace” and 
moved forward, living life to the fullest, and helping others do so as well. 
Grace will be remembered with great fondness. 

 
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
 
Services are private and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
 
Remembrances may be posted at www.mourning.com.
Subject: American Golden-Plover - Toney Bayou Road, West Monroe, LA , 3/14/10
From: Stephen Pagans <slp_4-7 AT ATT.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:24:36 -0700
Location:  Toney Bayou Road, West Monroe, LA
Observation date:  3/14/10
Notes:  Weather was clear, breezy and cool. I started the survey at 10:20 
and went for 1 hr. I found the American Golden Plovers in a wet spot of a 
field next to some woods where backwater of the Ouachita River was draining 
off. 

Number of species:  20

Wood Duck  2
Blue-winged Teal  12
Double-crested Cormorant  2
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  30
Little Blue Heron  1
Cattle Egret  1
American Coot  2
American Golden-Plover  8
Killdeer  200
Lesser Yellowlegs  1
Ring-billed Gull  3
American Crow  1
Fish Crow  1
Tree Swallow  1
Tufted Titmouse  1
Carolina Wren  1
American Pipit  1
Northern Cardinal  1
Red-winged Blackbird  125

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: Sharp-Shinned Hawk ID
From: thomas finnie <finnie.tom AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:12:03 -0500
Labirders,

My bad, the 'Sharpie' is really a Merlin. I er, ugh ... knew it all along.
It was just a test to see if you noticed. :)

Thanks for the correct ID Paul. :)

Still waiting on a Sharpie ... ):

Have a Great Week,
Tom
Subject: Raptor Road Convention
From: thomas finnie <finnie.tom AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:24:13 -0500
Labirders,

In addition to nine Birds of Prey listed below that Irvin Loque observed
Saturday on Fabacher Road ...

1. Crested Caracara
2. White-Tailed Kite
3. Northern Harrier
4. Cooper's Hawk
5. Red-Tailed Hawk
6. American Kestrel
7. Merlin
8. Black Vulture
9. Turkey Vulture

10. You can also add the White-Tailed Hawk seen by two couples from Baton
Rouge on Saturday afternoon (whose names slip my mind) that I talked to
Sunday AM, making a total of 10 Birds of Prey.

11. You can also add a Sharp-Shinned Hawk seen and photographed today,
Sunday, on Fabacher Road making a total of 12 Birds of Prey for the weekend.

The picture of the 'Sharpie' can be found here ...
http://tfinnie.blogspot.com/

12. Additionally, a Peregrine Falcon was seen Thursday nearby on Gum Cove
Road.

Have a Good Week, :)
Tom
Subject: Re: Birding from Rapides Parish to Cameron and Back - 3-13-10 Jeff Davis Gulls and Cameron Godwits
From: thomas finnie <finnie.tom AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:35:31 -0500
Hi Jay,

Just a few more to get to triple digits. That is phenomenal !!!

Nice job,
Tom

On Sun, Mar 14, 2010 at 7:01 PM, Huner Jay V  wrote:

> LABIRD,
>
> A week ago Friday, I found a major concentration of Ring-billed Gulls off
> LA
> 99 in Jeff Davis Parish. The estimate of 10,000 birds was an impression. I
> went back yesterday to get a feel for the size of the field where I found
> the gulls shoulder to shoulder. Well, the field had not been drained for
> rice planting and there were many gulls present. Here is a discussion of my
> impressions.
>
> The gull roost is just off LA 99 about a mile north of the intersection of
> LA 14 and LA 99. I got there about 5:30 PM today. The birds were not
> concentrated in one field. The fields actually appear to be around 10-20
> acres in size. There were about a thousand gulls in the field close to the
> road and there appeared to be about 2000 gulls in the fields farthest from
> the road. I simply could not get very good pictures of anything. I
> estimated
> the number in the close field and extrapolated to the dense concentration
> of
> birds in the distant fields - not clear if they were in two adjacent
> distant
> fields or in one long field. Anywhere from 30-50 gulls were arriving per
> minute from the north very high and diving down to find places to land. I
> watched this behavior for half an hour. The birds were still arriving when
> I
> left at 6 PM.
>
> Almost all gulls were Ring-billed Gulls. I saw one very large gull that
> might have been a first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. However, it was a
> long way off and I didn't try to take any pictures of it.
>
> I have no reservations estimating 3,500 Ring-billed Gulls in the roost
> based
> on taking my time to watch the birds arriving and making a good faith
> estimate of the numbers present. I regret, however, that I did not take
> pictures last week.
>
> I went from NW Rapides Parish through Pitkin, Reeves, DeQuincy,
> Sulphur/Fabacher Road, Hackberry, Holly Beach, Johnson's Bayou, back
> through
> Holly Beach to Cameron to Creole, to Cameron Creole NWR, Sweet Lake, Hayes,
> and Welsh before I ran out of daylight. If my count of the list of birds
> below is correct, I managed 96 which is a pretty good day for someone at my
> skill level and no help. Some comments and the list follow. I previously
> reported the birds I found at Peveto Woods. It was well worth the visit
> despite the fact that the "sparrow" morphed into, most likely, a Swamp
> Sparrow!
>
> Jay Huner
>
> Fabacher Road - west of Sulphur/Carlyss and south of US 190/I10. Met Irvin
> Loque. Did find a Buteo far out in trees along a fence line but couldn't
> figure out what it was. Left Irvin with it figuring his optics were far
> better than mine and he'd be able to confirm an id if anyone could. Well,
> no
> luck. And I missed the White-tailed Hawk.
>
> Cameron Jetty Park - I counted 32 Marbled Godwits at the Cameron Jetty
> Park.
> They were clustered east of the beach side gazebo. I've been there now
> three
> times since it opened including the terribly cold day in early January when
> I found a couple of Cave Swallows. It is worth paying to get in and the fee
> -
>  2.50 or 5.00 is worth it as you have a day long pass and can come and go.
> Managed a couple of Whimbrels plus a number of seabirds.
>
> Cameron Creole NWR - There were plenty of ducks along Pintail Drive but
> diversity was lacking compared to a week ago. Some geese were still hanging
> around. But, I missed Common Moorhen and Anhinga. There is a small woodlot
> immediately south of the headquarters parking lot. It can be good for
> migrant songbirds and sparrows.
>
> Bird List: Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall,
> Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal,
> Lesser
> Scaup, Ruddy Duck, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Neotropic
> Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy
> Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, Yellow-crowned
> Night-Heron, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill,
> Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel,
> American Coot, American Golden Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer,
> Black-
> necked Stilt, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs,
> Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Least
> Sandpiper, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Laughing Gull,
> Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Gull-billed Gull, Royal Tern, Common Tern,
> Forster's Tern, Black Skimmer, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, White-
> winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker,
> Downy
> Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe,
> Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow,
> Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina
> Wren, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird,
> Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler,
> Yellow-throated Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow,
> Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow,
> White-
> crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird,
> Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Great-tailed
> Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, and House Sparrow.
>
Subject: Birding from Rapides Parish to Cameron and Back - 3-13-10 Jeff Davis Gulls and Cameron Godwits
From: Huner Jay V <jvh0660 AT LOUISIANA.EDU>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:01:17 -0500
LABIRD,

A week ago Friday, I found a major concentration of Ring-billed Gulls off LA 
99 in Jeff Davis Parish. The estimate of 10,000 birds was an impression. I 
went back yesterday to get a feel for the size of the field where I found 
the gulls shoulder to shoulder. Well, the field had not been drained for 
rice planting and there were many gulls present. Here is a discussion of my 
impressions.

The gull roost is just off LA 99 about a mile north of the intersection of 
LA 14 and LA 99. I got there about 5:30 PM today. The birds were not 
concentrated in one field. The fields actually appear to be around 10-20 
acres in size. There were about a thousand gulls in the field close to the 
road and there appeared to be about 2000 gulls in the fields farthest from 
the road. I simply could not get very good pictures of anything. I estimated 
the number in the close field and extrapolated to the dense concentration of 
birds in the distant fields - not clear if they were in two adjacent distant 
fields or in one long field. Anywhere from 30-50 gulls were arriving per 
minute from the north very high and diving down to find places to land. I 
watched this behavior for half an hour. The birds were still arriving when I 
left at 6 PM. 
 
Almost all gulls were Ring-billed Gulls. I saw one very large gull that 
might have been a first winter Lesser Black-backed Gull. However, it was a 
long way off and I didn't try to take any pictures of it.

I have no reservations estimating 3,500 Ring-billed Gulls in the roost based 
on taking my time to watch the birds arriving and making a good faith 
estimate of the numbers present. I regret, however, that I did not take 
pictures last week. 

I went from NW Rapides Parish through Pitkin, Reeves, DeQuincy, 
Sulphur/Fabacher Road, Hackberry, Holly Beach, Johnson's Bayou, back through 
Holly Beach to Cameron to Creole, to Cameron Creole NWR, Sweet Lake, Hayes, 
and Welsh before I ran out of daylight. If my count of the list of birds 
below is correct, I managed 96 which is a pretty good day for someone at my 
skill level and no help. Some comments and the list follow. I previously 
reported the birds I found at Peveto Woods. It was well worth the visit 
despite the fact that the "sparrow" morphed into, most likely, a Swamp 
Sparrow!

Jay Huner

Fabacher Road - west of Sulphur/Carlyss and south of US 190/I10. Met Irvin 
Loque. Did find a Buteo far out in trees along a fence line but couldn't 
figure out what it was. Left Irvin with it figuring his optics were far 
better than mine and he'd be able to confirm an id if anyone could. Well, no 
luck. And I missed the White-tailed Hawk.
 
Cameron Jetty Park - I counted 32 Marbled Godwits at the Cameron Jetty Park. 
They were clustered east of the beach side gazebo. I've been there now three 
times since it opened including the terribly cold day in early January when 
I found a couple of Cave Swallows. It is worth paying to get in and the fee -
 2.50 or 5.00 is worth it as you have a day long pass and can come and go. 
Managed a couple of Whimbrels plus a number of seabirds.

Cameron Creole NWR - There were plenty of ducks along Pintail Drive but 
diversity was lacking compared to a week ago. Some geese were still hanging 
around. But, I missed Common Moorhen and Anhinga. There is a small woodlot 
immediately south of the headquarters parking lot. It can be good for 
migrant songbirds and sparrows. 

Bird List: Snow Goose, Greater White-fronted Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall, 
Mottled Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Lesser 
Scaup, Ruddy Duck, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Neotropic 
Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy 
Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Cattle Egret, Yellow-crowned 
Night-Heron, White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, White-faced Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill, 
Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, 
American Coot, American Golden Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Black-
necked Stilt, American Avocet, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, 
Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, Least 
Sandpiper, Dunlin, Long-billed Dowitcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Laughing Gull, 
Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Gull-billed Gull, Royal Tern, Common Tern, 
Forster's Tern, Black Skimmer, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, White-
winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy 
Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, 
Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Jay, American Crow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow, 
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina 
Wren, House Wren, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, 
Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, 
Yellow-throated Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, 
Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, White-
crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, 
Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, Boat-tailed Grackle, Great-tailed 
Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, and House Sparrow.
Subject: Re: Purple Finch
From: janine robin <j-probin1982 AT PEOPLEPC.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:39:40 -0600
I live just south of you, Curt, and I also have several Purple Finches. 
Today I had at least 60 + gold finches, but they were mostly up in the oak 
trees singing and chirping. Only a few actually came down to the feeders. 
Also had about 40 to 50 Chipping Sparrows today, in the grass and at the 
feeders.
                    Janine Robin
              NW St Tammany Parish
                        Folsom
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Curt Sorrells" 
To: 
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2010 2:11 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] Purple Finch


Labird

I am late in getting this out, but last Sunday and Monday, May 7and 8, at 
our place on the Bogue Chitta
river in southern Washington Ph., I had 7 Purple Finches.  There  were 3 
males and 4 females.  Unfortunately
one of the females flew into the plate glass window and killed herself. 
I've had 2 or 3  for the last month or so
but nothing like this.  This is two weeks later than the latest spring date 
of April 25 in Lowery's.  After
having a flock of 30 to 40 Goldfinches all winter, they were down to 6 or 8.

Curt Sorrells
Subject: Purple Finch
From: Curt Sorrells <csorrells AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:11:10 -0500
Labird

I am late in getting this out, but last Sunday and Monday, May 7and 8, at our 
place on the Bogue Chitta 

river in southern Washington Ph., I had 7 Purple Finches. There were 3 males 
and 4 females. Unfortunately 

one of the females flew into the plate glass window and killed herself. I've 
had 2 or 3 for the last month or so 

but nothing like this. This is two weeks later than the latest spring date of 
April 25 in Lowery's. After 

having a flock of 30 to 40 Goldfinches all winter, they were down to 6 or 8.

Curt Sorrells
Subject: Swallow-tailed Kites
From: "Harvey L. Patten" <puffin AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:09:51 -0500
Around noon today I had one Swallow-tailed Kite near Lakeside Memorial Hospital 
and 2 more over my residence in Covington Country Club Estates. 


Harvey L. Patten
Subject: new state park in our area
From: Janine Robin <j-probin1982 AT PEOPLEPC.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:20:19 -0600
For those who haven't heard, Bogue Chitto State Park is opening in mid-April. 
It is off of Hwy 25 about 5 miles north of the Village of Folsom or 10 miles 
south of Franklinton. The first phase of the 1700+ acre park will open first. 
There is a boardwalk area and many trails. I live really close to it , so I am 
very excited about the opening. Have been waiting since I first heard about it 
back in 2005. 

Should be some decent birding there, I hope.
                                            Janine
Subject: Swallow tailed Kite - Baton Rouge
From: Angela Orgeron <amorgeron AT COX.NET>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:13:00 -0500
While stopped at the intersection of Highland Road and Bluebonnet Blvd., I
spotted a Swallow tailed Kite soaring over the Bluebonnet Swamp area at
about noon today. I live nearby so I'm having lunch outside in hopes of a
new yard bird.

 

Angie Orgeron

Baton Rouge, LA
Subject: Swallow-tailed Kites and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
From: Kaye Madden <sunnydayrain82 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 06:39:23 -0700
Some delayed sightings:
Had a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird visit my feeder near Scott on 3-11-10.
Spotted 2 Swallow-tailed Kites flying above Les Vieux Chenes golf course in 
Youngsville yesterday, 3-13-10. 


Kaye Madden
Subject: Fwd: eBird Report - Fort Jackson , 3/13/10
From: Richard Temple <rtempl7 AT TIGERS.LSU.EDU>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:07:01 -0800
Originally headed toward Venice in hopes of finding a Western Kingbird.  No
luck with a Kingbird but did find one adult Swainson's Hawk along Hwy 23.
 After that I decided to bird Fort Jackson for a while.  Mainly birded the
large tract of oaks to the south of the Fort. The wind made birding a bit
difficult but overall it was a decent day.  Found a single Live Oak that
hosted several species of warblers, a Brown Creeper, and two species of
woodpeckers all at the same time. Full list below for anyone interested.

Richard Temple

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: 
Date: Sat, Mar 13, 2010 at 7:47 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Fort Jackson , 3/13/10
To: rtempl7 AT lsu.edu




Location:     Fort Jackson
Observation date:     3/13/10
Notes:     Wind was terrible the entire time. 10-20 mph gust made birding a
bit difficult but otherwise a good day. Found a single Live oak tree towards
the middle that played host to a Northern Parula, 2 Yellow-throated
Warblers, 2 Black-and-White Warblers, and 1 brown creeper all at the same
time.
Number of species:     43

Mottled Duck     2
Lesser Scaup     4
Double-crested Cormorant     3
Anhinga     1
Great Egret     2
Snowy Egret     2
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron     1
Black Vulture     10
Turkey Vulture     10
Osprey     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Kestrel     1
Merlin     2
American Coot     5
shorebird sp.     1
Laughing Gull     1
Great Horned Owl     1
Belted Kingfisher     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker     2
Downy Woodpecker     2
Hairy Woodpecker     1
Northern Flicker     3
Eastern Phoebe     3
Blue-headed Vireo     1
crow sp.     6
Purple Martin     2
Tree Swallow     20
Carolina Chickadee     2
Brown Creeper     2
Golden-crowned Kinglet     1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     5
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     1
Northern Mockingbird     1
European Starling     15
Cedar Waxwing     50
Orange-crowned Warbler     1
Northern Parula     2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     25
Yellow-throated Warbler     3
Black-and-white Warbler     5
Eastern Towhee     1
Savannah Sparrow     5
Northern Cardinal     10
Red-winged Blackbird     20
American Goldfinch     15

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: Peveto Woods - Baton Rouge Audubon Society , 3/13/10
From: Huner Jay V <jvh0660 AT LOUISIANA.EDU>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:28:40 -0600
I am sending this report in the event someone is planning a trip to Peveto 
Woods tomorrow. The water pond was full of water but the mister was not 
working - battery probably dead. When I started walking down the trail into 
the rag weed south of the parking area, I was enveloped by mosquitos. Most 
must have been males as they weren't trying hard to bite. Was pleased to 
find a Yellow-throated Warbler and a Hooded Warbler in amongst the yellow-
rumps. 

Have referred the description of the sparrow referenced below to specialists 
for their consideration. If they feel that I am in error, the bird will be 
deleted from the ebird record. I simply could not get an image of the bird 
as it was foraging in dense ragweed and flushing and flying a long way off. 

I birded around the sanctuary area, along the beach and drove around the 
neighborhood on my way out.

Jay Huner

> Location:     Peveto Woods - Baton Rouge Audubon Society
> Observation date:     3/13/10
> Notes:     I saw a sparrow that was consistent with Clay-colored Sparrow. 
I was unable to secure an image as the bird was foraging in dense dead rag 
weed. The bird was consistent with a juvenile reddish auricular ear patch, 
some limited breast streaking and a reddish brown crown. It had a reddish 
brown crown and a white sub-moustacial stripe. Don't think it was a Song 
Sparrow. 

> Number of species:     37
> 
> Brown Pelican     4
> Yellow-crowned Night-Heron     1
> Turkey Vulture     1
> Killdeer     3
> Willet     3
> Laughing Gull     75
> Ring-billed Gull     30
> Forster's Tern     60
> Royal Tern     10
> White-winged Dove     1
> Mourning Dove     2
> Belted Kingfisher     1
> Downy Woodpecker     1
> Northern Flicker     1
> Eastern Phoebe     1
> Loggerhead Shrike     2
> Purple Martin     2
> Tree Swallow     4
> House Wren     1
> American Robin     1
> Northern Mockingbird     1
> Brown Thrasher     1
> European Starling     10
> Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     35
> Yellow-throated Warbler     1
> Hooded Warbler     1
> Eastern Towhee     1
> Clay-colored Sparrow     1
> Song Sparrow     4
> Swamp Sparrow     4
> White-throated Sparrow     2
> White-crowned Sparrow     6
> Northern Cardinal     3
> Red-winged Blackbird     30
> Boat-tailed Grackle     65
> Great-tailed Grackle     15
> Brown-headed Cowbird     2
Subject: Northern Parulas and Virginia Rail - Black Bayou Lake NWR , 3/13/10
From: Stephen Pagans <slp_4-7 AT ATT.NET>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:06:53 -0800
We were glad to hear and see two Northern Parulas at the observation deck which 
were FOS. Also glad to hear another Virginia Rail that answered to its song 
while were out on the pier. I think thatone was a new one for Joan. 



Location:  Black Bayou Lake NWR
Observation date:  3/13/10
Notes:  Weather was cloudy and then partly sunny, windy and cold. Joan Brown 
and I started this survey in the pier/boardwalk area at 8:12, went for 3 hr and 
covered 1.1 miles (0.8 mile walking). We also covered a part of the photo 
blind area and the observation deck. 

Number of species:  43

Wood Duck  3
Pied-billed Grebe  7
Double-crested Cormorant  8
Great Blue Heron  2
Great Egret  1
Northern Harrier  1
Red-shouldered Hawk  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Virginia Rail  1
American Coot  1
Killdeer  2
Red-bellied Woodpecker  4
Hairy Woodpecker  1
Pileated Woodpecker  2
Eastern Phoebe  2
Loggerhead Shrike  1
Blue-headed Vireo  1
Blue Jay  8
Fish Crow  2
Purple Martin  2
Tree Swallow  30
Barn Swallow  2
Carolina Chickadee  3
Tufted Titmouse  3
Carolina Wren  5
Golden-crowned Kinglet  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  3
Eastern Bluebird  3
Hermit Thrush  1
Northern Mockingbird  2
European Starling  2
Northern Parula  2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  22
Pine Warbler  1
Common Yellowthroat  1
Eastern Towhee  2
Field Sparrow  12
Song Sparrow  1
Swamp Sparrow  9
Northern Cardinal  6
Red-winged Blackbird  16
Common Grackle  9
American Goldfinch  3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: lake martin rookery
From: Danny Dobbs <DNTDOBBS AT AOL.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:47:18 EST
The rookery at Lake Martin seems to me to be a little late getting started  
for some sp. There have been great egrets in good numbers displaying and 
nest  building since early Feb and I would guess  4-500 visible with more out 
of  sight from the road and the number still increasing. Many appear to be  
sitting on eggs but are so far from the road and levee trail it is hard to 
tell.  This last week a few pairs have begun nest nearer the road. On Fri 
there were 5 or 6 of both night herons standing around the areas they normally 

nest and a  yellow crown was beginning to build. A few little blues have 
roosted in the  rookery area since early Jan and 60+ flew out Fri with 30 or 
so snowy egrets and  15+ cattle egrets but no nesting yet. No tricolored or 
green herons. There were  30 spoonbills, some roosting and some flying into 
the distant trees where they  have nested the past couple of years. Some 
displayed but no nest. I found a couple of anhingas standing around the rookery 

area and 50-75 neotropic  cormorants flying out each morning from back in 
the woods somewhere. Half a  dozen or so great blue herons are in and out of 
the area but no nest are  visible. In addition to the waders several pairs 
of wood ducks are around and a  loose flock of 50+ black bellied wh. ducks. 
Most winter sp are still findable.  Had my first no. parula on the llth and 
first no. roughwing swallow on the  12th.  Danny Dobbs
Subject: Fabacher Rd...I mean "Raptor Rd.
From: Irvin Louque <ilouque AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:14:45 -0800
Labirders,

Well i spent over 3 hours at Fabacher Rd. looking for the White-tailed Hawk. I 
could not conclusively identify any white-tailed hawks. There were a few 
red-tails, including several far unidentifiable red-tail sized raptors. As I 
was concentrating on a far off hawk, a White-tailed Kite flew directly over me. 
A welcome lifer. Another highlight is first of season Barn Swallows and 
Northern Rough-winged Swallows. Of the 40 species seen, 9 were birds of prey. 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4430123808_87cf741ce2_b.jpg

Location:    Fabacher Road
Observation date:    3/13/10
Number of species:    40

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias    1
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis    2
White Ibis - Eudocimus albus    1
White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi    60
Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus    8
Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura    5
White-tailed Kite - Elanus leucurus    1
Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus    3
Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii    1
Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis    3
Crested Caracara - Caracara cheriway    1
American Kestrel - Falco sparverius    2
Merlin - Falco columbarius    1
Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus    2
Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus    5
shorebird sp. - Charadriiformes sp.    100
Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto    1
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura    4
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus    1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe    3
Loggerhead Shrike - Lanius ludovicianus    2
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor    15
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx serripennis    3
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica    8
House Wren - Troglodytes aedon    5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula    1
Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis    1
Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos    6
European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris    6
Orange-crowned Warbler - Vermivora celata    1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata    6
Palm Warbler (Western) - Dendroica palmarum palmarum    2
Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis    5
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia    2
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana    6
White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys    2
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis    6
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus    15
Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna    3
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula    3
Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus    5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: LOS spring meeting
From: "David J. L'Hoste" <lhoste AT LHOSTELAW.COM>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:08:16 -0600
Meeting information now on LOS website.

Also check out the Gay Gomez article "Whooping Cranes in Southwest 
Louisiana" from the Winter 2001edition of the Journal of Louisiana 
Ornithology.

http://losbird.org

-- 
David J. L'Hoste
Law Offices of David J. L'Hoste, LLC
400 Lafayette Street, Suite 150
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
t 504.566.0056
f 504.525.7213
m 504.920.1505
Subject: Say's Phoebe persists
From: John Dillon <jdillon AT WEBSTERPSB.ORG>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:37:26 -0600
Got disappointed birding at Corney Lake this morning, so I left.  
Stopped by the Hill Farm on the way home to try for the Say's and got  
lucky almost right off the bat. Got more pics and video. Also had a  
female Merlin on a fence post by the highway this morning when I left.

John Dillon
Athens, LA

Sent from my iPhone
Subject: Say's Phoebe at South Farm
From: Cham & Mary Mehaffey <mehaffey_mary AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:51:37 -0800
LABIRDers,

Arrived at South Farm at 10:00 am and left the trailer area at 4:30 pm on 
Friday 3/12. I saw the Say's Phoebe in the early afternoon (about1:30)on the 
trail south of the trailer that turns east and leads tothe pondson top of 
asmall tree about 40 ft away. Saw it forabout 20seconds and then it 
flewfurther into the tree thicket and could not re-locate it. 


Mary
Subject: Re: work story
From: "Jeffrey W. Harris" <jwharris30 AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:49:17 -0600
Charlie Parker!

On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 4:30 PM, Trond Nilsen <
trond.nilsen AT larvik.kommune.no> wrote:

> Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
> None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of
> them travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a
> nice trip - and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and my
> ".. have you seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do and
> they never have, and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding extremely
> difficult, or B) find it extremely boring...
>
> It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how
> special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at
> the question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...?
>
> (I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)
>
> Trond
> SE Norway
>
Subject: Shorebirds - Catfish Pond 2, Gilbert, LA , 3/12/10
From: Stephen Pagans <slp_4-7 AT ATT.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:11:54 -0800
Location:  Catfish Pond 2, Gilbert, LA
Observation date:  3/12/10
Notes:  Weather was clear, breezy and cool. I started this survey at 11:40, 
went for 1 hr 35 min and covered 1.3 miles. 

Number of species:  9

Killdeer  4
Greater Yellowlegs  11
Lesser Yellowlegs  5
Least Sandpiper  270
Dunlin  28
Blue Jay  1
Northern Mockingbird  1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)  2
Red-winged Blackbird  6

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: Shorebirds - Catfish Farm, S of Gilbert, LA , 3/12/10
From: Stephen Pagans <slp_4-7 AT ATT.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:11:20 -0800
Location:  Catfish Farm, S of Gilbert, LA
Observation date:  3/12/10
Notes:  Weather was clear, chilly and windy. I started the survey at 9:55, 
went for 1 hr. 30 min, and covered 1.0 mile. 

Number of species:  17

Double-crested Cormorant  5
Great Blue Heron  14
Great Egret  1
Red-tailed Hawk  1
American Kestrel  1
Killdeer  32
Greater Yellowlegs  40
Lesser Yellowlegs  4
Stilt Sandpiper  2
Long-billed Dowitcher  500
Mourning Dove  2
Loggerhead Shrike  1
Purple Martin  10
American Robin  30
Red-winged Blackbird  24
Eastern Meadowlark  1
Brown-headed Cowbird  100

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: Jefferson Island rookery
From: Elias Landry <ejlandry AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:49:26 -0600
 

 Passed by the Jefferson Island rookery this evening around 6:00 pm. Every tree 
that I could see from the road was bare, not a single bird! I hope it's a late 
migration phenom and not an abandonment. 


 Also the smaller rookery on Avery Island had 6 Great Egrets that appeared to 
be scouting for nesting sites, so maybe there is something to this late 
migration theory. 


 

Elias Landry

Avery Island
 		 	   		  
_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail is redefining busy with tools for the New Busy. Get more from your 
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Subject: SV: [LABIRD-L] work story
From: Trond Nilsen <trond.nilsen AT LARVIK.KOMMUNE.NO>
Date: Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:48:23 +0100
HA HA HA..."....eh, well....ehh...you see, I`m a burger...!" - yeah, that would 
probably sound interesting - or scary..! Good one, Terry! 


trond
________________________________________
Fra: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds 
[LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] på vegne av Terry Davis [trdavis22 AT YAHOO.COM] 

Sendt: 12. mars 2010 20:44
Til: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Emne: Re: [LABIRD-L] work story

Hey y'all, That's what I also tell 'em- I'm conducting a BIRD SURVEY , with 
equal emphasis on both words- of course not screamed at them as this post might 
suggest, but loud enough to hear. Saying "birding" for me often doesn't work. 
When I say birding, they'll say "burging"....what's that?- along with the 
infamous you got 3 heads look. The word birder often becomes "burger" most of 
the time for some odd reason as well- with bird survey they just say 
"Cool!....okay, just was curious. 


Terry




________________________________
From: John Dillon 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Fri, March 12, 2010 8:22:23 AM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] work story

My standard answer to that question is that I'm doing a "bird survey."  It
sounds official to non-birders. Saying, "I'm birding," gets blank, confused
looks.  The survey response doesn't always work, though.  On the D'Arbonne
CBC, Gerry Click and I were told that we were "doing wrong by being here,"
were accused of looking into peoples' houses because we were going to come
back later to steal guns, and were told that we must feel like we had to
right to stop anywhere we wanted and look around.  Keep in mind this was on
a public road.  I'm considering some alternative answers now, though.
Things like, "I'm watching for the mother ship" or "I'm on a manhunt for D.
B. Cooper."

John Dillon
Athens, LA

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Clark
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:05 AM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] work story

I understand. When I'm out there birding along a road or around an area
where people fish or hunt or something and  a stranger stops and asks in a
friendly way "what's going on?", they seem shocked to hear me say that I'm
birdwatching. Its funny how that seems odd to some people. Oh, well, it
takes all kinds...





________________________________
From: Trond Nilsen 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 4:30:44 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] work story

Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of
them travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a
nice trip - and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and my
".. have you seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do and
they never have, and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding extremely
difficult, or B) find it extremely boring...

It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how
special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at
the question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...?

(I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)

Trond
SE Norway
Subject: White Pelicans
From: Melvin Weber <mweber AT RTCONLINE.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:34:01 -0600
Approximately 650 White Pelicans drifting NW (3-11-2010) over Reserve.
Melvin Weber
Subject: swallow-tailed kites
From: Bill Fontenot <natrldlite AT COX.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:24:32 -0600
on 10 march, a friend of mine spotted 3 swallow-tailed kites heading east over 
his home in southeastern evangeline parish (la. 29, ca. 3 mi. south of ville 
platte).......... 


as the kite flies, this location is about 20 miles due west of 
sherburne..............i know evangeline parish StKi reports are few & 
far-between, so i wanted to pass the message along............................. 


bill fontenot
lower prairie basse
upper lafayette parish, la.
Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Pearl River WMA--Honey Island Swamp , 3/12/10
From: "Harvey L. Patten" <puffin AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:48:32 -0600
For anyone planning a trip to Honey Island, note that Oil Well Rd. is now 
closed until September in order to minimize disturbance for the Wild Turkey 
nesting season.

All of the Red-headed Woodpeckers except 3 were observed along Old Hwy. 11 
between the check-in station and Po Boy Rd., a phenomenon not possible prior 
to hurricane Katrina.  One of the 3 was a "gray-headed" juvenile along 
Indian Bayou Rd.  Isn't it a bit early in the season for young of the year?

The expected vocalizing Yellow-throated Warblers were not present this 
morning.

Harvey L. Patten
Covington


----- Original Message ----- 
From: 
To: 
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 1:36 PM
Subject: eBird Report - Pearl River WMA--Honey Island Swamp , 3/12/10


>
>
> Location:     Pearl River WMA--Honey Island Swamp
> Observation date:     3/12/10
> Notes:     I birded from 5:45-11:00 a.m. while traveling along Old Hwy. 
> 11, Po Boy Rd. and Indian Bayou Rd. I also walked for about .5 miles along 
> the Po Boy ATV trail and the nature trail combined.
> Number of species:     43
>
> Wood Duck     4
> Great Egret     32
> Snowy Egret     7
> Black Vulture     8
> Turkey Vulture     26
> Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
> Red-shouldered Hawk     13
> Mourning Dove     3
> Barred Owl     1
> Belted Kingfisher     4
> Red-headed Woodpecker     17
> Red-bellied Woodpecker     37
> Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     7
> Downy Woodpecker     7
> Northern Flicker     10
> Pileated Woodpecker     6
> Eastern Phoebe     5
> White-eyed Vireo     5
> Blue-headed Vireo     2
> Blue Jay     8
> American Crow     2
> Fish Crow     7
> Purple Martin     1
> Carolina Chickadee     19
> Tufted Titmouse     20
> Brown Creeper     1
> Carolina Wren     60
> Ruby-crowned Kinglet     6
> Eastern Bluebird     1
> Hermit Thrush     1
> Gray Catbird     2
> Northern Mockingbird     1
> Brown Thrasher     1
> Orange-crowned Warbler     1
> Northern Parula     7
> Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     17
> Common Yellowthroat     2
> White-throated Sparrow     14
> Northern Cardinal     50
> Red-winged Blackbird     9
> Common Grackle     17
> Brown-headed Cowbird     3
> American Goldfinch     19
>
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
>
Subject: Re: work story
From: Terry Davis <trdavis22 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:44:33 -0800
Hey y'all, That's what I alsotell 'em-I'm conducting aBIRD SURVEY, with 
equalemphasis on both words- of course not screamed at them as this post might 
suggest,but loud enough to hear.Saying "birding" for meoften doesn't work. 
When I say birding, they'll say "burging"....what's that?- alongwiththe 
infamousyou got 3 heads look. The word birder often becomes "burger" most of 
the time for some odd reason as well- with bird survey they just say 
"Cool!....okay, just wascurious. 


Terry




________________________________
From: John Dillon 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Fri, March 12, 2010 8:22:23 AM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] work story

My standard answer to that question is that I'm doing a "bird survey." It
sounds official to non-birders. Saying, "I'm birding," gets blank, confused
looks. The survey response doesn't always work, though. On the D'Arbonne
CBC, Gerry Click and I were told that we were "doing wrong by being here,"
were accused of looking into peoples' houses because we were going to come
back later to steal guns, and were told that we must feel like we had to
right to stop anywhere we wanted and look around. Keep in mind this was on
a public road. I'm considering some alternative answers now, though.
Things like, "I'm watching for the mother ship" or "I'm on a manhunt for D.
B. Cooper." 

John Dillon
Athens, LA

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Clark
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:05 AM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] work story

I understand. When I'm out there birding along a road or around an area
where people fish or hunt or something and a stranger stops and asks in a
friendly way "what's going on?", they seem shocked to hear me say that I'm
birdwatching. Its funny how that seems odd to some people. Oh, well, it
takes all kinds...





________________________________
From: Trond Nilsen 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 4:30:44 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] work story

Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of
them travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a
nice trip - and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and my
".. have you seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do and
they never have, and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding extremely
difficult, or B) find it extremely boring...

It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how
special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at
the question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...?

(I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)

Trond
SE Norway
Subject: New yard bird - Northern Parula
From: thomas finnie <finnie.tom AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:59:55 -0600
Labirders,

I was just leaving home when a movement in a tree caught my eye. At first I
thought it was an American Goldfinch but then out popped a striking male
Northern Parula hanging upside down on a limb. It went merrily on its way
hopping through the trees. The migration must be nearing.

Pictured here ... http://tfinnie.blogspot.com/

Left click on the image to enlarge.

Have a Great Weekend,
Tom
Subject: Swallow-tailed Kites
From: Lainie Lahaye <sachristi23 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:59:57 -0800
Hello LABIRD,

I saw my FOS Swallow-tailed Kites this morning on the north side of I-10 at 
mile marker 136.5! 


Cheers,
Lainie LaHaye
Baton Rouge, Grand Coteau and Lafayette

Lainiebird's iPhone
Subject: Re: Sharp-Shinned Hawks
From: Amy Stone <gizhawk AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 11:44:45 -0600
After getting a nice email... I went to the Cornell bird site and listened
to both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's hawks... although they look alike in my
guide, I am amending my identification based on the calls. They are Cooper's
hawks.  I apologize if anyone got excited about a possible record; this
month is one year of birding so I'm sure I make lots of mistakes but I'll
keep doing my best.

Since I've never seen a hawk nest, I'm still excited. :-)

On Fri, Mar 12, 2010 at 10:53 AM, Amy Stone  wrote:

> A pair of sharp-shinned hawks has decided to nest one block from my house!
> :-)
>
> Photos at: http://blog.friendscript.com
>
>
>
Subject: Re: work story
From: Richard Greig <RGreig AT COASTALENV.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:53:56 -0600
The best I ever encountered was while doing a BBS near Kaplan (luckily my 
accent marks me as a semi-local). 

An elderly gentleman who wanted to know what I was doing....I replied counting 
birds. 

He asked where I was from, I said originally Abbeville/Erath but live in Baton 
Rouge now. 

He got a little fussy and said "Aren't there any birds to count over there?"
 


>>> On 3/12/2010 at 10:37 AM, Bill Fontenot  wrote:
I understand. When I'm out there birding along a road or around an area 
where people fish or hunt or something and a stranger stops and asks in a 
friendly way "what's going on?", they seem shocked to hear me say that I'm 
birdwatching. Its funny how that seems odd to some people. Oh, well, it 
takes all kinds...

i've come to enjoy those interactions.............it's just so 
hilarious.....bordering on absurdist.....................

     "hey, do you mind telling me what you're doing?"

     "oh, hi. heh. i'm watching birds. heh. s'all i'm doing."

     "watching BIRDS? (or, almost as often, "WATCHING birds?)

      "yep. heh..........................watching 'em."

     "what're you watching 'em for? (or, almost as often, "why are you 
watching 'em?)

at which point, you provide an impromptu summary  of whatever project --  
breeding bird survey, la. winter/summer bird atlas, cbc -- you're working 
on.....and lord help you if you're just out there without any official 
purpose......then you'll be forced to free form it............

many of them, especially landowners, continue: "why do you want to know 
this?"

     "well, for conservation purposes, it helps a lot to know which plants 
and animals are located where in the state, and also, you know, how they're 
doing & all. . ."

at which point, about 50% will actually look you in the eye for an instant, 
checking to see whether they might detect a bit of deception on your part. 
the other 50% will either smile broadly or laugh out loud at the thought of 
it: y'know........watching BIRDS!? or, counting BIRDS!?

if/when your answer happens to be "counting birds...." replies can get even 
funnier. like, "which ones are you counting?" and "WHY are you counting 
them?" and "HOW can you count them?"

perhaps the time has come for a reality birding show.

bill fontenot
lower prairie basse
upper lafayette parish, la.
Subject: Sharp-Shinned Hawks
From: Amy Stone <gizhawk AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:53:14 -0600
A pair of sharp-shinned hawks has decided to nest one block from my house!
:-)

Photos at: http://blog.friendscript.com
Subject: Re: work story
From: Bill Fontenot <natrldlite AT COX.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:51:20 -0600
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Trond Nilsen" 
To: 
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 4:30 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] work story


> Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
> None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of 
> them travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a 
> nice trip - and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and 
> my ".. have you seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do 
> and they never have, and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding 
> extremely difficult, or B) find it extremely boring...
>
> It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how 
> special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at 
> the question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...?
>
> (I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)
>
> Trond,

when it comes to hangin' with my non-birding friends or family, i go 
zealot/in-your-face on 'em..............i mercilessly point out every bird i 
see or hear, regardless of the occasion; and often attempt to extend each 
sighting with additional in-your-face commentary, like, "beautiful isn't it? 
ISN'T IT? that's a house finch. where else're you gonna hear a song so 
sweet?....y'know, house finch is not really supposed to be here ut that's 
another story........maybe later........." thereby forcing a reaction from 
them................................................

somehow i still have a few non-birding friends & family.

best to u, bro trond................today, temps here in sunny lower prairie 
basse are gonna top 70F...........we'll be thinkin of u (briefly 
y'understand...) during our 5pm "sit" on the back porch..........



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 




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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2734 - Release Date: 03/10/10 
07:33:00
Subject: Re: work story
From: Jonathan Clark <falloutbird_1 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:40:04 -0800
Yeah, Igot the ugliest, most suspicious looks from a guy on horseback! Like 
stopping by a bridge to do a little birdwatching is more eccentric than riding 
a horse down a public road. But I also get some possitive feedback. People 
telling me where they saw an eagle or asking if I can tell them what kind of 
bird they are describing. Its nice to get someone interested. 





________________________________
From: John Dillon 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Fri, March 12, 2010 10:22:23 AM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] work story

My standard answer to that question is that I'm doing a "bird survey." It
sounds official to non-birders. Saying, "I'm birding," gets blank, confused
looks. The survey response doesn't always work, though. On the D'Arbonne
CBC, Gerry Click and I were told that we were "doing wrong by being here,"
were accused of looking into peoples' houses because we were going to come
back later to steal guns, and were told that we must feel like we had to
right to stop anywhere we wanted and look around. Keep in mind this was on
a public road. I'm considering some alternative answers now, though.
Things like, "I'm watching for the mother ship" or "I'm on a manhunt for D.
B. Cooper." 

John Dillon
Athens, LA

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Clark
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:05 AM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] work story

I understand. When I'm out there birding along a road or around an area
where people fish or hunt or something and a stranger stops and asks in a
friendly way "what's going on?", they seem shocked to hear me say that I'm
birdwatching. Its funny how that seems odd to some people. Oh, well, it
takes all kinds...





________________________________
From: Trond Nilsen 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 4:30:44 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] work story

Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of
them travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a
nice trip - and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and my
".. have you seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do and
they never have, and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding extremely
difficult, or B) find it extremely boring...

It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how
special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at
the question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...?

(I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)

Trond
SE Norway
Subject: Re: work story
From: Bill Fontenot <natrldlite AT COX.NET>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:37:23 -0600
I understand. When I'm out there birding along a road or around an area 
where people fish or hunt or something and a stranger stops and asks in a 
friendly way "what's going on?", they seem shocked to hear me say that I'm 
birdwatching. Its funny how that seems odd to some people. Oh, well, it 
takes all kinds...

i've come to enjoy those interactions.............it's just so 
hilarious.....bordering on absurdist.....................

     "hey, do you mind telling me what you're doing?"

     "oh, hi. heh. i'm watching birds. heh. s'all i'm doing."

     "watching BIRDS? (or, almost as often, "WATCHING birds?)

      "yep. heh..........................watching 'em."

     "what're you watching 'em for? (or, almost as often, "why are you 
watching 'em?)

at which point, you provide an impromptu summary  of whatever project --  
breeding bird survey, la. winter/summer bird atlas, cbc -- you're working 
on.....and lord help you if you're just out there without any official 
purpose......then you'll be forced to free form it............

many of them, especially landowners, continue: "why do you want to know 
this?"

     "well, for conservation purposes, it helps a lot to know which plants 
and animals are located where in the state, and also, you know, how they're 
doing & all. . ."

at which point, about 50% will actually look you in the eye for an instant, 
checking to see whether they might detect a bit of deception on your part. 
the other 50% will either smile broadly or laugh out loud at the thought of 
it: y'know........watching BIRDS!? or, counting BIRDS!?

if/when your answer happens to be "counting birds...." replies can get even 
funnier. like, "which ones are you counting?" and "WHY are you counting 
them?" and "HOW can you count them?"

perhaps the time has come for a reality birding show.

bill fontenot
lower prairie basse
upper lafayette parish, la.

________________________________
From: Trond Nilsen 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 4:30:44 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] work story

Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of 
them travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a 
nice trip - and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and my 
".. have you seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do and 
they never have, and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding extremely 
difficult, or B) find it extremely boring...

It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how 
special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at 
the question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...?

(I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)

Trond
SE Norway







-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 




No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.5.436 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2741 - Release Date: 03/12/10 
09:42:00
Subject: Re: work story
From: John Dillon <jdillon AT WEBSTERPSB.ORG>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:22:23 -0600
My standard answer to that question is that I'm doing a "bird survey."  It
sounds official to non-birders. Saying, "I'm birding," gets blank, confused
looks.  The survey response doesn't always work, though.  On the D'Arbonne
CBC, Gerry Click and I were told that we were "doing wrong by being here,"
were accused of looking into peoples' houses because we were going to come
back later to steal guns, and were told that we must feel like we had to
right to stop anywhere we wanted and look around.  Keep in mind this was on
a public road.  I'm considering some alternative answers now, though.
Things like, "I'm watching for the mother ship" or "I'm on a manhunt for D.
B. Cooper." 

John Dillon
Athens, LA

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Jonathan Clark
Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 10:05 AM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] work story

I understand. When I'm out there birding along a road or around an area
where people fish or hunt or something and a stranger stops and asks in a
friendly way "what's going on?", they seem shocked to hear me say that I'm
birdwatching. Its funny how that seems odd to some people. Oh, well, it
takes all kinds...





________________________________
From: Trond Nilsen 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 4:30:44 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] work story

Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of
them travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a
nice trip - and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and my
".. have you seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do and
they never have, and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding extremely
difficult, or B) find it extremely boring...

It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how
special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at
the question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...?

(I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)

Trond
SE Norway
Subject: Re: work story
From: Jonathan Clark <falloutbird_1 AT YAHOO.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:05:14 -0800
I understand. When I'm out there birding along a road or around an area where 
people fish or hunt or something and a stranger stops and asks in a friendly 
way "what's going on?", they seem shocked to hear me say that I'm birdwatching. 
Its funny how that seems odd to some people. Oh, well, it takes all kinds... 






________________________________
From: Trond Nilsen 
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Sent: Thu, March 11, 2010 4:30:44 PM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] work story

Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of them 
travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a nice trip - 
and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and my ".. have you 
seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do and they never have, 
and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding extremely difficult, or B) find 
it extremely boring... 


It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how 
special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at the 
question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...? 


(I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)

Trond
SE Norway
Subject: Re: White-Tailed Hawk Map
From: John Arvin <jarvin AT GCBO.ORG>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:55:45 -0600
Judging from the range expansion of White-tailed Hawk onto the upper Texas
coast in the past couple of decades southwestern LA can probably look
forward to lots more records of these beautiful raptors. Watch especially
where sugar cane fields are being burned and harvested. Great gatherings of
White-tails appear at just-harvested sugar cane fields in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley. Apparently they home in on the smoke plumes which can be seen
for 20 - 30 miles.

John C. Arvin
Research Coordinator
Gulf Coast Bird Observatory
(979) 480-0999
jarvin AT gcbo.org
www.gcbo.org

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of thomas finnie
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 2:35 PM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: [LABIRD-L] White-Tailed Hawk Map

LaBirders,

You can find a map of the White-Tailed Hawk found today on Fabacher Road in
Calcasieu Parish here ... http://tfinnie.blogspot.com/ ... left click on the
map to enlarge.

Have a Good Day,
Tom
Subject: FOS black-and-white warbler
From: Richard Greig <rgreig AT COASTALENV.COM>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:24:13 -0600
Robins and brown thrashers have nests built and some eggs laid and I had a 
black and white warbler singing in the front yard this morning. Mid city baton 
rouge 


Richard Greig 
Coastal Environments, Inc.
Sent from wireless handheld.
Subject: Wintering and Migration Behavior of Waterfowl, Etc. - Cotile Recreation Area , 3/11/10
From: Huner Jay V <jvh0660 AT LOUISIANA.EDU>
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:30:14 -0600
The Cotile Recreation Area is an inland bird trail site in NW Rapiddes 
Parish more or less in the middle of the state.

I found a flock of 7 wigeon in mid-lake where depth is around 30 feet. They 
were likely just resting. But, more and more information is coming in about 
puddle ducks - tip up feeders - holding in very large rafts as much as 15 
miles off shore during the duck season during the day. Hunting pressure is 
so intense that the birds become nocturnal feeders searching out day time 
locations where they can safely rest. 

However, puddle ducks will feed in water too deep to tip up in at this time 
of year when they can find a dense concentration of plankton. This is the 
time of year where they need, especially hens, animal protein and lipids, to 
support breeding physiology. As water warms, plankton blooms occur. We 
always had Blue-winged Teal feeding in 3 feet of water at the ULL Farm's 
crawfish ponds at this time of year. They were chowing down on the animal 
plankton concentrations generated by wind generated currents. 

Finally found a pair of Greater Scaup. Got close enough to check out field 
marks and when the drake flushed, the white wing stripes were quite clear. 

Of interest was the lone Tree Swallow hanging around a large, hollow snag in 
mid-lake. I've found Tree Swallows nesting in such snags for the past 4-5 
years here, likely the southern most documented nesting of Tree Swallows in 
the North America. So, other folks who live in areas like this - reservoirs 
with snags need to check for Tree Swallow activity after mid-May to see if 
the birds are nesting southward of Rapides Parish. 

The robins may be local breeders. There were at least three nesting pairs in 
the neighborhood last spring/summer. 

Missed wading birds but didn't go to the Hoyt Road Causeway rookery where 
several Great Egrets seemed to be setting up territories earlier in the week 
now that there is water under the trees there.

Jay Huner

Location:     Cotile Recreation Area
> Observation date:     3/11/10
> Notes:     Single Tree Swallow on large, hollow snag in mid-lake. Breeder?
> Number of species:     32

> American Wigeon     7
> Greater Scaup     2
> Double-crested Cormorant     15
> Mourning Dove     9
> Inca Dove     3
> Belted Kingfisher     1
> Red-bellied Woodpecker     4
> Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     1
> Downy Woodpecker     3
> Northern Flicker     1
> Blue Jay     10
> American Crow     5
> Fish Crow     25
> Tree Swallow     1
> Carolina Chickadee     6
> Tufted Titmouse     6
> Carolina Wren     5
> Eastern Bluebird     2
> American Robin     2
> Northern Mockingbird     7
> Brown Thrasher     2
> Cedar Waxwing     100
> Orange-crowned Warbler     1
> Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     3
> Pine Warbler     3
> Chipping Sparrow     25
> White-throated Sparrow     3
> Dark-eyed Junco     1
> Northern Cardinal     10
> Brown-headed Cowbird     9
> House Finch     4
> American Goldfinch     35


--
Subject: Say's Phoebe--Sherburne South Farm 3/11/10
From: Josh Sylvest <joshuasylvest AT COX.NET>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:41:39 -0500
Labird,

Went looking for Northern Parulas at South Farm this afternoon and struck out. 
One Say's Phoebe was my consolation prize. The bird was at the NW corner of the 
complex near the beige trailer just off the gravel road. Quite tame and 
accommodating. 


Little Blues and Blue-winged Teal were all heading north and the Marsh Wrens 
were singing, but spring is otherwise still subtle, for now. eBird checklist 
below for those interested. 


Cheers,
Josh Sylvest


> > Location: Sherburne WMA Complex--South Farm
> > Observation date: 3/11/10
> > Notes: 1.5mi/foot; 2.5hrs.; Say's Phoebe at NW corner of South Farm near 
beige trailer. 

> > Number of species: 53
> > 
> > Wood Duck - Aix sponsa 10
> > Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors 150
> > Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps 6
> > Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus 5
> > Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias 1
> > Great Egret - Ardea alba 12
> > Snowy Egret - Egretta thula 15
> > Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea 8
> > Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura 12
> > Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus 2
> > Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus 3
> > Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis 2
> > American Coot - Fulica americana 300
> > Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus 5
> > Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca 2
> > Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon 1
> > Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus 1
> > Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens 4
> > Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus 1
> > Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 2
> > Pileated Woodpecker - Dryocopus pileatus 2
> > Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe 10
> > Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya 1
> > American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos 4
> > Fish Crow - Corvus ossifragus 12
> > Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Stelgidopteryx serripennis 1
> > Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis 6
> > Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor 3
> > Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus 5
> > House Wren - Troglodytes aedon 1
> > Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris 3
> > Golden-crowned Kinglet - Regulus satrapa 1
> > Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula 3
> > Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea 2
> > Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis 2
> > Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus 2
> > American Robin - Turdus migratorius 45
> > Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis 1
> > Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos 1
> > Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum 1
> > American Pipit - Anthus rubescens 80
> > Orange-crowned Warbler - Vermivora celata 3
> > Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata 10
> > Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas 1
> > Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus 3
> > Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis 12
> > Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia 5
> > Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana 15
> > White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis 40
> > Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis 25
> > Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus 250
> > Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna 1
> > American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis 15
> > 
> > This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
>  		 	   		  
> _________________________________________________________________
> Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection.
> http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/201469226/direct/01/
Subject: Heron/Egret Rookery - Cheniere Dam Road , 3/11/10
From: Stephen Pagans <slp_4-7 AT ATT.NET>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:55:57 -0800
Location:  Cheniere Dam Road
Observation date:  3/11/10
Notes:  Weather was clear and mild. These birds were in a rookery. The 
Great Blue Herons had 36 nests and the Great Egrets were working on 20 nests. 
Most of the Great Blue Heron nests had birds sitting on them. 

Number of species:  2

Great Blue Heron  51
Great Egret  42

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: White-Tailed Hawk this afternoon + Barn Swallows
From: thomas finnie <finnie.tom AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:49:25 -0600
Labirders,

I checked on the White-Tailed Hawk this afternoon. There were several
Red-Tailed Hawks around the perimeter of the cut field but no sign of the
White-Tailed Hawk. Perhaps he is a morning bird?

I saw about ten of these little rockets with no flight path perfoming their
aerial acrobats where Gum Island Road crosses a canal close to Hwy 108. They
are not the best images but recognizable at least.

http://i41.tinypic.com/23vbw4l.jpg

Have a Great Day, :)
Tom
Subject: Danny Dobbs What About Lake Martin? - Egrets in Bird City, Jungle Gardens
From: Huner Jay V <jvh0660 AT LOUISIANA.EDU>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:43:03 -0600
[Elias Landry wrote Finally!!The Great Egrets that nest on the platforms in 
Bird City in the Jungle Gardens have returned.  It was just a couple of 
weeks ago that there were only a couple of birds on the platforms; yesterday,
every platform had birds and quite a few had some that appeared to be 
setting on eggs.  It's time for these crazy weather patterns to end.  Still 
waiting for R. Spoonbills to begin nesting here, since we've been seeing 
them all around here.]

I don't know how long the Great Egrets and the few Roseate Spoonbills have 
been at Lake Martin. I was there Tuesday for the first time in a year. The 
rookery looked sort of like what I'd expect in mid-late February. But, Danny 
is at Lake Martin literally 3-7 days a week and can let interested folks 
know about nesting status - delayed nesting?

Danny can also provide input on the wintering flock of Cattle and Snowy 
Egrets and Little Blue Herons. They come in at dark and leave at daylight. I 
saw one Snowy Egret and two adult Little Blue Herons Tuesday.

Jay Huner
Subject: New State of the Birds Report released
From: "DRISCOLL, Melanie" <mdriscoll AT AUDUBON.ORG>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:45:38 -0500
Today there was a press release by Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar 
about the release of the new State of the Birds report by U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, and many other groups. This 
report focuses on the impacts of climate change on populations of birds in 
different biomes, and what needs to be done to help birds adapt to climate 
change. The report is available at 
www.stateofthebirds.org 


Best regards,

Melanie
______________________________
Melanie Driscoll

Director of Bird Conservation
Louisiana Coastal Initiative
6160 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
work:  225-768-2495
cell:    225-938-7209
mdriscoll AT audubon.org
www.audubon.org
Subject: work story
From: Trond Nilsen <trond.nilsen AT LARVIK.KOMMUNE.NO>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:30:44 +0100
Who else (than you) can I tell this to:
None of my co-workers are birders, but they know that I am. Quite a few of them 
travel a lot and over the years they`ve come to expect my "..have a nice trip - 
and try to write down the birds you see!" before they go and my ".. have you 
seen any birds...?" when they come back. But they never do and they never have, 
and I can`t figure out if they A) find birding extremely difficult, or B) find 
it extremely boring... 


It dawned on me the other day during our daily lunch hour quiz time, how 
special I am for having this odd interest, when everybody turned to me at the 
question: "What famous jazz artist was nicknamed "Bird"...? 


(I knew the answer of course, but............you know........)

Trond
SE Norway
Subject: Guste Island Directions Request - Long-tailed Duck
From: Cham & Mary Mehaffey <mehaffey_mary AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:21:11 -0800
Peter & LABIRDSers;

Guste Island Rd is in St. Tammany Parishand intersects Hwy 22 about4 miles 
west of Madisonvilleand leads toLake Ponchatrain. You can put the 
intersection into a GPS. There is a white fence which can be seen from Hwy 22 
at the subdivision entrance.The Long-tailed Duck was seen in a large body of 
wateron the right just passed the two ponds on either side of the gated 
subdivision entrance about 5 miles down Guste Island Rd. 


Additionalinfo: This roadhasa lot of lowlying undeveloped area which is 
often flooded and attracts shorebirds. You can pull off on the side to bird 
and scope the area.  


Mary M
Subject: Egrets in Bird City, Jungle Gardens
From: Elias Landry <ejlandry AT HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:17:31 -0600
Finally!!The Great Egrets that nest on the platforms in Bird City in the Jungle 
Gardens have returned. It was just a couple of weeks ago that there were only a 
couple of birds on the platforms; yesterday, every platform had birds and quite 
a few had some that appeared to be sitting on eggs. It's time for these crazy 
weather patterns to end. Still waiting for R. Spoonbills to begin nesting here, 
since we've been seeing them all around here. 


Elias Landry
Avery Island
 
 		 	   		  
_________________________________________________________________
Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free.
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Subject: White-Tailed Hawk Map
From: thomas finnie <finnie.tom AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:35:15 -0600
LaBirders,

You can find a map of the White-Tailed Hawk found today on Fabacher Road in
Calcasieu Parish here ... http://tfinnie.blogspot.com/ ... left click on the
map to enlarge.

Have a Good Day,
Tom
Subject: first Yellow-crowned Night-Herons
From: Peter H Yaukey <PYaukey AT UNO.EDU>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:32:51 -0600
Greetings Birders:

While dropping my teen off in River Ridge this AM, three Yellow-crowned flew 
over low together, presumably newly back from the tropics. 


Peter Yaukey
Subject: Re: Fw: eBird Report - Guste Island , 3/10/10 Longtail Duck; Inca Dove
From: Peter H Yaukey <PYaukey AT UNO.EDU>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:58:35 -0600
Where is Guste Island?

Peter Yaukey

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds 
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Cham & Mary Mehaffey 

Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 7:23 PM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: [LABIRD-L] Fw: eBird Report - Guste Island , 3/10/10 Longtail Duck; 
Inca Dove 


LABIRDers,

We started at 7:30 in very foggy weather; could not see very far on the water. 
Visibility improved by 9:00 and wasgood by 10:30. Highlight was a female 
Longtail Duck with Lesser Scaup. 


Mary M

--- On Wed, 3/10/10, do-not-reply AT ebird.org  wrote:


From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org 
Subject: eBird Report - Guste Island , 3/10/10
To: mehaffey_mary AT bellsouth.net
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 7:16 PM




Location: Guste Island
Observation date: 3/10/10
Notes: very foggy until 10:00; 60o; Mary Mehaffey, Janine Robin, Tom 
Trenchard, Connie and Curt; Guste Island road including ponds and Port Vincent 
subdivision 

Number of species: 60

Blue-winged Teal 3
Lesser Scaup 160
Long-tailed Duck 1 adult female in pond north of Guste Island gated 
subdivision with about 25 Scaup 

Horned Grebe 3
Brown Pelican 6
Double-crested Cormorant 9
Anhinga 3
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 17
Snowy Egret 16
Little Blue Heron 1
Tricolored Heron 2
White Ibis 10
Plegadis sp. 18
Black Vulture 3
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Common Moorhen 2
Killdeer 12
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Dunlin 8
Wilson's Snipe 20 back field of condo subdivision
Laughing Gull 3
Ring-billed Gull 3
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Inca Dove 2 2 on balcony of condo at end of road
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Purple Martin 25
Carolina Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
American Robin 20
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 7
European Starling 100
Cedar Waxwing 18
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 185
Palm Warbler (Western) 3
Common Yellowthroat 7
Eastern Towhee 3
Savannah Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 250
Common Grackle 2
Boat-tailed Grackle 12

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: Re: Help on Hawk ID
From: John Dillon <jdillon AT WEBSTERPSB.ORG>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:55:16 -0600
Strongly agree.  Looks a LOT like a White-tailed Hawk. If so, wonderful
find!

John Dillon
Athens,LA 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulletin Board for Dissemination of Information on Louisiana Birds
[mailto:LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Steven W. Cardiff
Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 12:32 PM
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] Help on Hawk ID

Tom/labird-
     Looks like a White-tailed Hawk!

Steve Cardiff

On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 12:21 PM, Cham & Mary Mehaffey <
mehaffey_mary AT bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Tom,
>
> I think it is a Red-tailed Hawk, not quite an adult yet.  But I am not an
> expert.  Wait and see what the more experienced say and let us know.
Great
> picture!
>
> Mary
>
> --- On Thu, 3/11/10, thomas finnie  wrote:
>
>
> From: thomas finnie 
> Subject: [LABIRD-L] Help on Hawk ID
> To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
> Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 12:13 PM
>
>
> Labirders,
>
> This is the darkest colored hawk that I have ever seen. Its tail is not
red
> as you can pictured. As I turned to see a car going down the road, the
hawk
> took off and I didn't see it fly away or get any in flight pictures.
>
> It is such a drastic change from the hawk posted yesterday.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> http://i39.tinypic.com/2eycfo5.jpg
>
> Thanks for your help,
> Tom
>
Subject: Dark Hawk Location
From: thomas finnie <finnie.tom AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:43:14 -0600
Labirders,

The dark hawk seen at 9:45 AM today was approximately mid way down Fabacher
Road between Gum Island Road and Hwy 108. It was on the east side of the
road. There is a large freshly plowed field to the east side of the road.
There were four hawks in a line of trees out in the field at one point.

Have a Good Day, :)
Tom
Subject: Re: Help on Hawk ID
From: "Steven W. Cardiff" <scardif AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:32:01 -0600
Tom/labird-
     Looks like a White-tailed Hawk!

Steve Cardiff

On Thu, Mar 11, 2010 at 12:21 PM, Cham & Mary Mehaffey <
mehaffey_mary AT bellsouth.net> wrote:

> Tom,
>
> I think it is a Red-tailed Hawk, not quite an adult yet.  But I am not an
> expert.  Wait and see what the more experienced say and let us know.  Great
> picture!
>
> Mary
>
> --- On Thu, 3/11/10, thomas finnie  wrote:
>
>
> From: thomas finnie 
> Subject: [LABIRD-L] Help on Hawk ID
> To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
> Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 12:13 PM
>
>
> Labirders,
>
> This is the darkest colored hawk that I have ever seen. Its tail is not red
> as you can pictured. As I turned to see a car going down the road, the hawk
> took off and I didn't see it fly away or get any in flight pictures.
>
> It is such a drastic change from the hawk posted yesterday.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> http://i39.tinypic.com/2eycfo5.jpg
>
> Thanks for your help,
> Tom
>
Subject: Re: Help on Hawk ID
From: Cham & Mary Mehaffey <mehaffey_mary AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:21:44 -0800
Tom,

I think it is a Red-tailed Hawk, not quite an adult yet. But I am not an 
expert. Wait and see what the more experienced say and let us know. Great 
picture! 


Mary

--- On Thu, 3/11/10, thomas finnie  wrote:


From: thomas finnie 
Subject: [LABIRD-L] Help on Hawk ID
To: LABIRD-L AT LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010, 12:13 PM


Labirders,

This is the darkest colored hawk that I have ever seen. Its tail is not red
as you can pictured. As I turned to see a car going down the road, the hawk
took off and I didn't see it fly away or get any in flight pictures.

It is such a drastic change from the hawk posted yesterday.

Any ideas?

http://i39.tinypic.com/2eycfo5.jpg

Thanks for your help,
Tom
Subject: Help on Hawk ID
From: thomas finnie <finnie.tom AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:13:34 -0600
Labirders,

This is the darkest colored hawk that I have ever seen. Its tail is not red
as you can pictured. As I turned to see a car going down the road, the hawk
took off and I didn't see it fly away or get any in flight pictures.

It is such a drastic change from the hawk posted yesterday.

Any ideas?

http://i39.tinypic.com/2eycfo5.jpg

Thanks for your help,
Tom
Subject: Parula (finally)
From: "Brian O'Shea" <boshea2 AT TIGERS.LSU.EDU>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:48:10 -0600
Hi Labird -

Just heard my first Parula of the year while walking through Spanish Town.

Cheers,

Brian O'Shea
Baton Rouge
Subject: Ruby-throated Hummer
From: "Harvey L. Patten" <puffin AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:33:01 -0600
Yesterday afternoon about 2:45 p.m. the first of spring migrant adult male 
Ruby-throated Hummingbird appeared at my residence between Covington and 
Mandeville. 


Harvey L. Patten
Covington
Subject: Re: First Hummingbird
From: Erik Johnson <ejohn33 AT TIGERS.LSU.EDU>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:11:47 -0600
LAbird:

For those who haven't seen this site, you can submit your first
hummingbird sightings here:

http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html


You can do the same for Chimney Swift sightings:

http://www.chimneyswifts.org/


Go Apodidae!
Erik Johnson
S Lafayette, LA
ejohn33 AT lsu.edu
Subject: First Hummingbird
From: David Fox <thedavefox AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:14:53 -0600
Late report, on Tues., 8 March, at about 10am I observed a humming bird
flying over marsh about 2 miles south of the Myrtle Grove Marina.  The bird
was silhouetted, but it was a hummingbird flying NNW.
Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Guste Island , 3/10/10 Longtail Duck; Inca Dove
From: Cham & Mary Mehaffey <mehaffey_mary AT BELLSOUTH.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:22:56 -0800
LABIRDers,

We started at 7:30 in very foggy weather; could not see very far on the water. 
Visibility improved by 9:00 and wasgood by 10:30. Highlight was a female 
Longtail Duck with Lesser Scaup. 


Mary M

--- On Wed, 3/10/10, do-not-reply AT ebird.org  wrote:


From: do-not-reply AT ebird.org 
Subject: eBird Report - Guste Island , 3/10/10
To: mehaffey_mary AT bellsouth.net
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 7:16 PM




Location: Guste Island
Observation date: 3/10/10
Notes: very foggy until 10:00; 60o; Mary Mehaffey, Janine Robin, Tom 
Trenchard, Connie and Curt; Guste Island road including ponds and Port Vincent 
subdivision 

Number of species: 60

Blue-winged Teal 3
Lesser Scaup 160
Long-tailed Duck 1 adult female in pond north of Guste Island gated 
subdivision with about 25 Scaup 

Horned Grebe 3
Brown Pelican 6
Double-crested Cormorant 9
Anhinga 3
Great Blue Heron 5
Great Egret 17
Snowy Egret 16
Little Blue Heron 1
Tricolored Heron 2
White Ibis 10
Plegadis sp. 18
Black Vulture 3
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Northern Harrier 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Common Moorhen 2
Killdeer 12
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 3
Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs 10
Dunlin 8
Wilson's Snipe 20 back field of condo subdivision
Laughing Gull 3
Ring-billed Gull 3
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Inca Dove 2 2 on balcony of condo at end of road
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Purple Martin 25
Carolina Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 6
House Wren 1
Marsh Wren 2
American Robin 20
Gray Catbird 2
Northern Mockingbird 7
European Starling 100
Cedar Waxwing 18
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 185
Palm Warbler (Western) 3
Common Yellowthroat 7
Eastern Towhee 3
Savannah Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 8
White-throated Sparrow 4
Northern Cardinal 9
Red-winged Blackbird 250
Common Grackle 2
Boat-tailed Grackle 12

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Subject: Birding Trip to Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego
From: jacoulson AT AOL.COM
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:17:37 -0500
All are invited to this Orleans Audubon Society and Crescent Bird Club field 
trip: 


Saturday, March 20th, 2010 
Bayou Segnette State Park-Half Day Trip
Time: 7:30 a.m. 
Meet at the entrance to the state park, 7777 West Bank Expressway, Westwego.
                                    
Leader: Denise McKinney Cell: 504-453-2919
Subject: My first Barn Swallow fore N LA
From: "Ingold, James" <James.Ingold AT LSUS.EDU>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:59:12 -0600
 
On my way this afternoon I saw my first Barn Swallow this spring near the LSUS 
campus. 

 
Jim Ingold

 
This message is intended only for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain 
information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE 
under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby 
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information 
contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in 
error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard 
copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by 
replying to this email.
Subject: Re: First Rubythroat
From: janine robin <j-probin1982 AT PEOPLEPC.COM>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:57:40 -0600
Had my FOS Ruby-throated hummer today. Lovely male. Starting back in 2003, 
first sightings range from 3/04 to 3/16.
Janine in Folsom, La. St Tammany parish.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tracey Banowetz" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 7:43 AM
Subject: [LABIRD-L] First Rubythroat


> Despite the delay in the arrival of spring, the first adult male 
> rubythroat hummingbird showed up at a feeder in my garden yesterday, 
> pretty much on schedule.  For comparison, previous first sightings  since 
> we've lived here are as follows:
>
> 2001 - March 7
> 2002 - March 15
> 2003 - March 8
> 2004 - March 10
> 2005 - March 12
> 2006 - March 12
> 2007 - March 11
> 2008 - March 9
> 2009 - March 7
>
> I have to say that given the delayed arrival of spring this year, I  was a 
> bit surprised to see him.  Flowers are not yet open on the red  buckeye 
> and I haven't heard or seen any parulas yet.  Both usually  preceed the 
> hummers by a couple of days.
>
> Kind regards,
> Tracey Banowetz
> Weyanoke, LA
> northern West Feliciana Parish
Subject: Re: First Rubythroat
From: Dave Patton <wdpatton AT COX.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:35:04 -0600
Erik, Toddy, and Elaine,
I am almost sure Erik's adult male Ruby-throated with a band must be a 
winter return to Toddy or Elaine's yard. I do not band summer residents 
there, just winter hummers. You guys were my richest resource for winter 
hummers with 15 caught between your 3 yards this winter, and are within a 
half mile of each other. Also one my favorite winter banding events that 
always involves good food. It always involves having to go back on several 
different days.
I know I missed some at Toddy's and this guy must be one. Together you all 
produced 2 Buff-bellied returns, 1 Buff-bellied new, 2 Rufous returns, 6 
Rufous new, 1 Calliope new, 1 Ruby-throated return, 1 Ruby-throated new, and 
last but certainly not least a return female Allen's.
Now I might have to come back again (around lunch time).

Mr. Bill,
I'll be glad to try for your female Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Many of our 
winter Ruby-throats will stick around a while longer as most still have 
primary molt left to complete.

Also,
I have a newly arrived Chipping Sparrow in my downtown yard that seldom gets 
them, and a molting male Indigo Bunting that arrived Saturday. I suspect 
both are winter residents in the area rather than migrants.

Good birding,
Dave Patton
Lafayette
Subject: Re: First Rubythroat
From: Nancy L Newfield <nancy AT CASACOLIBRI.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:49:48 -0600
Bill,

At 10:42 AM 3/10/2010, Bill Fontenot wrote:

>.........i've had a ruby-throated hummer all 
>winter.....how am i gonna be able to report her 
>departure once the neotrop ruby-throats arrive? 
>don't know if dave patton would drive all the 
>way out here to band/mark just one ruby-throated hummer..........

I am truly shocked that Dave let your 
Ruby-throated go all winter without banding 
it.  I chased after one just yesterday!

It will be difficult to distinguish that winterer 
from the newly arriving girls if she isn't marked.

NLN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nancy L Newfield
  Casa Colibr
  Metairie, Louisiana USA
  nancy AT casacolibri.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subject: Info requested for 1999 report of Rough-legged Hawk
From: "Steven W. Cardiff" <scardif AT GMAIL.COM>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:08:56 -0600
Labirders-
     Back in early 1999, a Rough-legged Hawk was reported in the Powhatan
area of Natchitoches Parish.  The bird was reportedly seen by many observers
and possibly photographed during the period 10 Jan-21 Feb.  Joe Kleiman was
the only observer who submitted the observation (based on his sightings on
23 & 31 Jan 1999) to the LBRC.  The report has never been reviewed,
primarily because it was initially hoped that more write ups as well as
photo documentation would be provided.  There is only one other LA record
supported by hard evidence (a specimen taken at Grand Isle back in 1933 and
on display at LSUMNS).  If anyone has photos of the Powhatan bird and can
submit those along with a long form, then it would be much appreciated.  If
there actually aren't any identifiable photos, then it would still be
helpful to receive additional long forms from other observers who saw the
bird and took notes or made sketches.

Thanks,

Steve Cardiff
Subject: Re: First Rubythroat
From: Bill Fontenot <natrldlite AT COX.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:42:26 -0600
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Erik Johnson" 
To: 
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 10:12 AM
Subject: Re: [LABIRD-L] First Rubythroat


>I also had an adult male Ruby-throat Hummingbird show up this morning.
> Yes!  A migrant!  Or...?  It had a band on its right leg but no
> paintmark on the crown.  Was this a bird that overwinters locally and
> wasn't captured this year by Dave P.?  Maybe this is the same bird
> that Toddy Guidry has been seeing at his place down the road for the
> last few weeks (suggesting an over-winter-er).
>
> In other news a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher made an appearance in my yard
> this morning - the first one in weeks and the second since Jan 5.
>
> Ahh, the mysteries of March.  Cheers,
> Erik Johnson
> S Lafayette, LA
> ejohn33 AT lsu.edu


mysteries of march, indeed.............and don't forget 
february..............it's those late-"nearctic" movements merging with 
spring migration.........i've had a ruby-throated hummer all winter.....how 
am i gonna be able to report her departure once the neotrop ruby-throats 
arrive? don't know if dave patton would drive all the way out here to 
band/mark just one ruby-throated hummer.................................and 
where did those darn white-eyed vireos that spent all winter with us get to? 
last i saw of them was early february.............

presently up at our place, chickadees are singing their 
i'm-seriously-in-love-with-you "see-see...see-sue" songs, and woodpeckers 
have come out of the woodwork and are pecking all over the 
place...............ha......................goldfinch are still around, but 
in fractional numbers....................southern crabapple (Malus 
angustifolia) has just begun leafing out, and mayhaws (Crataegus opaca) are 
in full bloom.............

bill fontenot
lower prairie basse
upper lafayette parish, la.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 




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07:33:00
Subject: Re: Winter weather affecting bird migrations
From: Kelby Ouchley <rockybranch AT CENTURYTEL.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:38:35 -0600
Interesting weather data from the New Orleans paper:

"At 46.3 degrees Fahrenheit, the average temperature statewide for the three 
winter months of December, January and February was the fifth-coldest in 
records dating back to 1895 and the coldest in the past 32 years. That 
compares to the longterm average of 51.2 degrees for those three months over 
the past 115 years.

In New Orleans, there were 16 days with below-normal average daily 
temperatures in December, 14 days below normal in January and 22 days below 
normal in February. Every day has been below normal in March, Keim said.

It's also been an unusually wet three months, with 25.92 inches of rain 
recorded at Louis Armstrong International Airport in December setting the 
record for rainfall in any month since records have been kept."

Kelby Ouchley

Rocky Branch, La.
Subject: Re: First Rubythroat
From: Erik Johnson <ejohn33 AT TIGERS.LSU.EDU>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:12:53 -0600
I also had an adult male Ruby-throat Hummingbird show up this morning.
 Yes!  A migrant!  Or...?  It had a band on its right leg but no
paintmark on the crown.  Was this a bird that overwinters locally and
wasn't captured this year by Dave P.?  Maybe this is the same bird
that Toddy Guidry has been seeing at his place down the road for the
last few weeks (suggesting an over-winter-er).

In other news a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher made an appearance in my yard
this morning - the first one in weeks and the second since Jan 5.

Ahh, the mysteries of March.  Cheers,
Erik Johnson
S Lafayette, LA
ejohn33 AT lsu.edu
Subject: Re: Winter weather affecting bird migrations
From: Nancy L Newfield <nancy AT CASACOLIBRI.NET>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:01:56 -0600
Tom, LABIRD,

At 11:35 PM 3/9/2010, Tom Rohrer wrote:

>Hi LABIRD.  I'm new to the list and may be 
>coming into the middle of the conversation on 
>this... anyway, I wonder to what extent the 
>weather on the gulf coast is really causing late 
>migration of neotropical migrants.  It seems 
>that to delay migration, the weather would have 
>to impact the places of departure.  (Birds don't 
>watch the weather channel to decide when to 
>leave, and they probably don't turn around once 
>they decide to head north.)  The cold weather 
>may in fact extend to the points of departure, 
>or more birds may be migrating and dropping into 
>the gulf than usual.  In any case, the weather 
>may make for some interesting fallouts this year.

I agree that birds wintering in the tropics don't 
watch the Weather Channel and they don't likely 
turn around once they've begun heading 
north.  There may be some confusion about the 
term 'migration' as opposed to 'movement'.

A lot of birds may move around on their wintering 
ranges producing 'abundances' and 'shortages' in 
local areas.  American Goldfinches and Cedar 
Waxwings are good examples of species that move 
around to take advantage of local 
resources.  Goldfinches typically don't crowd our 
feeders until native seed crops are 
depleted.  The number at my feeders this winter 
was several times larger than usual for my urban 
location.  I still have a few.  Similarly, Cedar 
Waxwings will eat a lot of things before they lay 
into Savannah Holly and Tree Ligustrum.  These 
birds have not necessarily migrated out of our 
area.  They are just following natural food supplies.

The onset of spring growth seems to be tardy by 
about 10 days this year.  Ordinarily, I see green 
sprouts on the Bald Cypress in my yard by 25 
February.  This year though, the first green was 
not until about 4 days ago.  I have seen other 
trees sprouting earlier though.

As yet, I have not heard a singing 
Yellow-throated Warbler or a singing Northern 
Parula.  Those are true migrants.  Maybe they are 
delayed returning, but it is also possible they just aren't in my neighborhood.

We've just had a couple of reports of returning 
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and I have received a 
few privately.  I have yet to see one.  Average 
for Casa Colibr is 10 March.  There is always 
some fluctuation in first arrival dates - and one 
should not judge an entire region by just one 
tiny, little spot on the landscape.

Indeed, this winter was colder than we have been 
used to in recent years.  However, some of us 
have short memories.  When I first began studying 
hummingbirds in the mid-1970s, nearly every 
winter was like this one.  It was unusual to go 
through the season without a hard freeze [and 
often 2 or 3 of them].  Recent mild winters have 
made us forget that we are not in the tropics and 
our weather is heavily influenced by climatic 
events going on far north and west of Louisiana.

NLN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Nancy L Newfield
  Casa Colibr
  Metairie, Louisiana USA
  nancy AT casacolibri.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] First Rubythroat
From: Beth Maniscalco <Beth.Maniscalco AT NICHOLLS.EDU>
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:45:06 -0600
Hi, Humnetters and Labirders:

Not as efficient as Tracey, with first arrival dates all in a row, but we had 
our first adult male Ruby-throated here at the feeders this morning. 


Only things blooming are winter honeysuckle and coral honeysuckle (and sweet 
olive!), but no irises or anything else hummer enticing 'CAUSE IT'S ALL DEAD! 


Good birding,
Beth Maniscalco
Thibodaux, LA
(Approx. 60 miles SW of New Olreans)