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3 Jul Re: Lists [Cyndie Browning ] 3 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [John Couch ] 3 Jul Re: Opting out [ROBERT LAVAL ] 3 Jul Re: Listing philosphy [Laura Erickson ] 3 Jul Listing birds [doc garlind ] 3 Jul Re: Opting out ["Judge Rocklin D. Lyons" ] 3 Jul Re: Listing philosphy [Tim O'Connell ] 3 Jul Stinchcomb WR, 6/30-7/2 [Bill Diffin ] 3 Jul Re: new info is helpful [Oklahoma Lutzes ] 3 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Berlin Heck ] 3 Jul Re: sue.lutze wants you to see something [Laura Erickson ] 3 Jul Re: Stinchcomb WR West Side, 7/1, Brown Pelican [Bill Diffin ] 3 Jul Stinchcomb WR West Side, 7/1, Brown Pelican [Bill Diffin ] 2 Jul Re: campground confusion [David McNeely ] 2 Jul Re: campground confusion [David McNeely ] 2 Jul Re: Listing philosphy [Bob Fisher ] 2 Jul campground confusion [Pete Janzen ] 2 Jul Re: Lists [David McNeely ] 2 Jul Re: Lists [Steve Schafer ] 2 Jul Listing philosphy [Pete Janzen ] 2 Jul Re: sue.lutze wants you to see something ["mike. brewer" ] 2 Jul Re: Lists [Cyndie Browning ] 2 Jul Re: Wood Storks Tishomingo [Bill Adams ] 2 Jul Re: Lists [Steve Schafer ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [David McNeely ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Larry Mays ] 2 Jul Re: sue.lutze wants you to see something [JOS GRZYBOWSKI ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Richard Gunn ] 2 Jul Re: Fw: sue.lutze wants you to see something [David McNeely ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Larry Mays ] 2 Jul Fw: sue.lutze wants you to see something [Oklahoma Lutzes ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [selmanranch ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Jimmy Woodard ] 2 Jul Lists [Neland Hill ] 2 Jul Wood Storks Tishomingo [Doug Wood ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Steve Schafer ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Cyndie Browning ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [David McNeely ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [David McNeely ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Steve Schafer ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Cyndie Browning ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [David McNeely ] 2 Jul Re: Big Horns in Big Country [Berlin Heck ] 1 Jul Big Horns in Big Country [Pete Janzen ] 1 Jul Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican [FRANK SANDFORD ] 1 Jul Re: banded Rock Pigeon [Mia Revels ] 1 Jul Re: A book recommendation [Dan Hough ] 1 Jul Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds [Berlin Heck ] 1 Jul Hackberry Flat [ml2x ] 1 Jul book recommendation [Sandy Berger ] 1 Jul Re: banded Rock Pigeon [Pam ] 1 Jul Re: Bird Behavior [David McNeely ] 1 Jul Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds [John Fisher ] 1 Jul July Migration Report [Patricia Velte ] 1 Jul American Racing Pigeon Union | Homing Pigeons | Sport Flyers ["mike. brewer" ] 1 Jul Re: A book recommendation [David McNeely ] 1 Jul Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds [David McNeely ] 1 Jul Bird Behavior [Rebecca John ] 1 Jul A book recommendation [Sandy Berger ] 1 Jul Re: banded Rock Pigeon [Berlin Heck ] 1 Jul Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds [Doug Wood ] 1 Jul Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds [Richard Gunn ] 1 Jul Re: banded Rock Pigeon [Pam ] 1 Jul Re: banded Rock Pigeon [ROBERT LAVAL ] 1 Jul Re: banded Rock Pigeon [Cyndie Browning ] 1 Jul Re: banded Rock Pigeon ["Kennington, John" ] 1 Jul banded Rock Pigeon [Mia Revels ] 1 Jul Re: Hackberry Flats 6-27-09 plus unknown Duck [Brady Surber ] 1 Jul Black Mesa Cimarron County birds [Doug Wood ] 1 Jul Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican [David McNeely ] 1 Jul ON teh South Canadian River [Richard Gunn ] 1 Jul Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican [Larry Mays ] 1 Jul Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican [Mike B ] 1 Jul Lazulis Everywhere [Leslie Imboden ] 1 Jul Re: Alongside the Highway... [ROBERT LAVAL ] 30 Jun Re: Kettle of Kites in Norman [Richard Gunn ] Subject: Re: Lists From: Cyndie Browning <buteoswainsoni AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:53:20 -0700 Steve and others ~ I'll acknowledge there's some validity in your sermon on bird listing, to this point:  whenever I'm communicating with my birding community, I need to speak the common language and follow the accepted "rules" or else, as you say, chaos of some sort may ensue.  (Such was the lesson learned by the physicist Richard Feynman when he tried to disseminate a new language of his own design for the symbols used in physics; alas, his new language did not catch on.) BUT---and it's a big "but" in the point _I_ was making---if and when I'm out birding on my own and if I choose to list, say, Barn Swallows that I see from both sides of the road---the road being the county line---as county birds for each of those counties, that's really only up to me and my list and my conscience.  Assuming that Barn Swallows are common in both counties, and that I choose to list them in both counties that day, then I can and I will if I want to.  It's _my_ list, so the decision to list those Barn Swallows in both counties that day is only up to me.  That's all I'm sayin'.  You (and others) may not approve of that practice, but then your approval is not essential to my happiness. Take care, keep cool, and enjoy the holiday.  This is the first weekend since mid-May that I haven't had to be either moving or traveling out-of-town to bird so I'm goin' nowhere until Monday.  Hallelujah! and thank goodness for 3-day weekends!! Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK  ________________________________ From: Steve Schafer To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 6:09:49 PM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Lists On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:02:26 -0700, you wrote: >Well, I'm not sure I believe that, either.... at least, not as strictly >as you apparently do.  Lots of people enjoy watching birds, especially >in their own yards, who don't know anything about your "shared goals, >cooperation, and _standardization_." (emphasis added.)  Are they not >birders, too? or is being "a birder" like belonging to such an >exclusive club that if I don't follow your rules, I'm >disqualified??  Is my enjoyment of birds and birdwatching any less >valid simply because I don't follow your rules??  I don't think so. Whenever people organize themselves, they make rules. It's just human nature. For the most part, those rules aren't intended to prevent anyone from doing anything, they're there to help avoid misunderstandings, to make sure that everyone involved is on the same page, so to speak. When it's an essentially frivolous pursuit like birding, you are under no obligation to follow any of those rules (you are under no obligation to participate in the organization or activity, for that matter). But if you want to go beyond "solitary participation" and become part of a community, then yes, I do believe that you do have some obligation to follow the rules set by the community. Everyone has heard the term "community standards," and that's all we're talking about here. Every community has subcommunities, and the rules vary from one to the other. So you can pretty much choose to participate at whatever level you want to. But the "prime directive" still stands: To be a "good citizen" of the community, you have to abide by the rules for whatever level you choose to participate at. (Of course, part of your participation can be lobbying to change the rules, too.) A somewhat contrived example: Let's say you keep a list of the birds that you see on television programs. Let's further say that you put these birds on your "yard" list, along with the birds you see visiting your feeder. There's nothing wrong with that, and there's even a (slim) chance that there's someone else out there who does the same thing. So far so good. But when you're talking to others in the greater birding community, saying something like, "I have King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise on my yard list," is misleading, to say the least. As for standardization not being important to the backyard birder, I have to most emphatically disagree. The field guide in your pocket wouldn't exist without a cooperative community of birders whose goal is standardization. The invariable first question posed by the novice when seeing a bird for the first time is, "What is the name of that bird?" That question doesn't have an answer if there is no standardization. Just as making rules is part of human nature, so is categorizing and classifying things. And if people don't cooperate and standardize when they're doing their categorizing and classifying, the result is chaos. As the recent rat snake discussion demonstrates, when there are even as few as TWO different categorization schemes for something it creates confusion and frustration. So, bottom line: You can do whatever you want. But participating in a community means adhering to that community's standards. And considering how much we, as birders, have all benefited from the resources provided by the birding community as a whole, I don't think that it's unreasonable to "give back" to the community by acknowledging the existence and validity of its standards, even if we choose not to abide by one or more of them. -Steve Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: John Couch <jrcouch60 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:40:23 -0700 Last August there was a group of 30+ bighorn sheep just east of the end of Black Mesa. They were originally running in the road as I came over a hill, but they went over to a field and just cavorted while I watched. I had to look for quite a while to make sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. This was just after it finally rained out there, and after driving north to Baca County, I saw them again near some standing water off to the side of the road. I am glad that someone posted that they have been re-introduced onto the mesa in Colorado. It was hard to imagine how they had come that far from the Front Range. ________________________________ From: Pete Janzen To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 8:47:57 PM Subject: Big Horns in Big Country Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek.  This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies.  Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it.  A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out.  Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field.  For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick.  It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it.  I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere.  From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant.  Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon.  When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route.  Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types.  Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! Pete Janzen Wichita Subject: Re: Opting out From: ROBERT LAVAL <blaval AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:05:59 -0500 Type in: . Then send to: When you return and want to be included again type in and send to the same address. Subject: Re: Listing philosphy From: Laura Erickson <chickadee AT LAURAERICKSON.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:27:41 -0400 All I can say is, no one should go through life listlessly. Best, Laura -- -- Laura Erickson Science Editor Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-254-1114 If you've found this information useful, I hope you'll consider supporting our work on behalf of birds and other wildlife. In addition to knowing that you'll be making a difference for conservation, you'll receive our award-winning Living Bird magazine and informative BirdScope newsletter four times a year. We invite you to join our "force for nature." To sign up or watch our video about membership, visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/membership or call us at 1-800-843-2473. For the love, understanding, and protection of birds There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. --Rachel Carson Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Subject: Listing birds From: doc garlind <garlind AT OUTDRS.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:57:59 -0500 The reason one might adhere to an organization's rules is if you compare the number of birds on your list to someone else who adheres to those rules. You can conveintly drop a bird that was "not accepted " by the bird records committee and you will ave a true comparison. However, it doesn't say that a bird on the list was misidentified and the lister doesn't realize that or they are standing in their yard and counting a bird three yards away. Those are unknown variables. Since birders can now count a bird by hearing it then comes the ability of ID by another sense and thus differences in individuals who are comparing lists. Are the lists invalid because of exclusion of individuals and their abilities to ID birds? You decide. As one said it should be fun. Others think of listing as contribution to science. It is whatever one wants to do. Western birder Dr. Gene Logan Co. Subject: Re: Opting out From: "Judge Rocklin D. Lyons" <rocklyons AT AIROSURF.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:44:04 -0500 I am going to be out of touch for the next couple of months and want to be removed from the list. Please advise. Rock Lyons Subject: Re: Listing philosphy From: Tim O'Connell <tim.oconnell AT OKSTATE.EDU> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:32:49 -0500 > > Just to briefly revisit Mr. Schaefer's Gray Hawk scenario, if you see > one on the Mexico side of the river, well strictly for ABA purposes it > only "counts" for Mexico. Remember that THIS ONLY MATTERS IF ABA > LISTING > RULES ARE RELEVANT TO YOUR LIFE IN ANY WAY AT ALL. Now if flies > across > the Rio Grande into the land of free, then according to ABA rules you > can say you saw it in the USA. I haven't been following this thread, but this part of Pete's message struck a chord with me: This is EXACTLY the scenario in which I got my lifer Gray Hawk. It was a two-fer in that we observed it perched in a tree on the Mexican side and then a moment later it took off and flew over our heads on the American side. Personally, I do keep a list and try to stick to ABA rules, but I'm not competitive about it. I enjoy reaching particular milestones, as my very public "teetering at 499, who will be 500?" appeal earlier this year attests. I'm more concerned with working on being a better birder than amassing a bigger list, and those two things don't necessarily go hand in hand. By "better birder" I"m thinking of things like . . . birding more often improving my identification skills developing a better understanding of distributions more actively submitting data to eBird, the ODWC, state parks, etc. submitting records to the OBRC committing to volunteer monitoring projects like atlases, the BBS, etc. I know that if I work on these areas, I will be a better birder and, ultimately, my list will grow. Happy Independence Day y'all, ~Tim Subject: Stinchcomb WR, 6/30-7/2 From: Bill Diffin <WilliamDiffin AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:52:38 EDT Arrived at the refuge 4:30 am all three mornings with intentions of finding nightjars -- no luck. The first morning, walked the east side trail to the power line crossing. Mostly very quiet early, but there were Barred Owls hoots in several locations and some other unrecognized calls. Very nice Indigo Bunting songs started up a little after first light. The Painted Buntings were later and not as frequent or energetic. A Barred Owl was having an argument with another bird on top of the hill near the big culvert. Nearby a Red-eyed Vireo sang with almost no silent space between songs. A couple of other Red-eyed Vireos were encountered in other locations. Numerous White-eyed Vireos were singing throughout. They were more visible than is typical -- half a dozen were seen. There were two groups of Carolina Wrens with fledglings. The weak, garbled and hesitant singing of presumed juvenile male Carolina Wrens was heard in a number of other places. Went back to the east side the next morning to get a better listen on the early calls -- very quiet until dawn, no second chance at the early calls. The rest of the morning at the refuge was mostly a quiter version of the prior one except for one loud male Painted Bunting on top of a dead tree. The same morning, walked the east side of the Overholser-Hefner Canal from 50th St south to 39th St and then north of 50th to where the trees end. Eastern Bluebird, Red-shouldered Hawk, Baltimore Oriole, Brown Thrashers, Northern Mockingbirds, and House Finch were the most notable. The thrashers were making a lot of tsup calls, and the mockingbirds were making a lot of wheezy agression calls. A colorful male House Finch perched on a wire with three others in female/juvenile plumage. The male sang at one of the other birds and then made advances. The target of the advances was displaced by a larger female with a darker bill which nearly landed on top of it, causing it to leave. The new female called at the male and flicked her tail. The male looked at her. Both birds appeared to be vibrating their tails slightly and made a few calls. The male flew into the bushes down in the canal with the large female and two of the others close behind. On 7/1 walked the west side trail out to the end at Morgan Rd. Barred Owls were hooting across the main pond in the area where all was silent the prior morning. North of the power line crossing, three different Barred Owls were hooting along the trail. Further on, there was an apparent argument between two different pairs of Barred Owls or possibly a pair and two other males. Along with hooting, there was the heron-like sound which is captured in the recording on the allaboutbirds website for the Barred Owl. Where the trail breaks out of the woods, there was an interesting Indigo Bunting song which seemed to incorporate an imitation of an Eastern Wood Pewee. A few steps further along, the actual pewee became audible singing in a continous stream. On the return hike, the pewee was only singing occasionally, but an Eastern Phoebe had started up. The main pond was full of waders, Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets and Little Blue Herons, many in mixed light and dark juvenile plumage. One Black-crowned Night Heron was still there at 7:30 am. The north shore had eight Turkey Vultures walking around and the White and Brown Pelicans described in an earlier post. A group of around a dozen Killdeer was active at the east end. Went back to the area where the Hefner canal crosses 50th St and birded Ron Clark Park and the canal north to the end of the trees. A Green Heron was sitting in the large dead tree in the center of the park. A Great Crested Flycatcher was flying around and calling in the trees near the parking area. One Eastern Kingbird perched on the parking fence. Western Kingbirds were chasing in the larger trees south. An Eastern Phoebe was seen in the trees east of the canal. Mockingbirds were wheezing agressively as on the prior morning. Bill **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) Subject: Re: new info is helpful From: Oklahoma Lutzes <bslutze AT PLDI.NET> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 08:25:13 -0500 I so enjoy the comments made about my Brown Thrasher photos as I am learning more every day about the birds of Oklahoma. Thanks to all who commented. Sue Lutze bslutze AT Pldi.net Like Joe said, the bird wasn't begging--it was sunning itself. When birds do this, they tilt to one side, spread wing and tail, open their mouth, and raise their body feathers. There are lots of theories about why birds do this, and there may be some truth in most of them. Sunning allows sunlight to reach the bird's skin, necessary for birds to produce vitamin D. It raises the temperature of their feathers, making any mites or lice move about more--birds usually preen after sunning, and this may make it easier to dislodge the parasites. And it may just feel good. Best, Laura Erickson On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 6:33 PM, mike. brewer wrote: Joe & OK Lutzes: I noticed the yellow iris of the eye also. That is an indicator of the Brown Thrasher being an adult according to my many photos of a Brown Thrasher family with fledglings. Perhaps the begging behavior was difficult to tell ... who was begging and who was doing the feeding ? I have photos of that process also. It was difficult to see clearly, until I blew up the photos and then it was obvious. Thanks, Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: JOS GRZYBOWSKI To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 2:06 PM Subject: Re: [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see something Hello, This is an adult Brown Thrasher--note the yellow eye. Recent fledglings have a dull eye--think it is gray. This bird is sunning itself. CHEERS, JOE Grzybowski -------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Oklahoma Lutzes To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 11:04:02 AM Subject: Fw: [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see something  I took photos of what I think are Brown Thrasher fledglings and I am hoping to get someone to check this ID for me from my 3 photos posted on Flickr, please. Thanks. Sue bslutze AT pldi.net My photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/38014490 AT N07/ Some of my recent uploads (By the way, if the photostream link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it from this email into your browser's address bar.) Flickr is almost certainly the best photo management and sharing application in the world. If you'd like to see what I use it for you can check out my profile page or browse my photostream. -- -- Laura Erickson Science Editor Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-254-1114 If you've found this information useful, I hope you'll consider supporting our work on behalf of birds and other wildlife. In addition to knowing that you'll be making a difference for conservation, you'll receive our award-winning Living Bird magazine and informative BirdScope newsletter four times a year. We invite you to join our "force for nature." To sign up or watch our video about membership, visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/membership or call us at 1-800-843-2473. For the love, understanding, and protection of birds There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. --Rachel Carson Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Berlin Heck <baheck AT PINE-NET.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 08:17:45 -0500 You likely know that Ron Hill, Mgr of the State Park, photographed a Mountain Lion in the park several years ago. Two were there; the photograph was on display in the Community Center in Kenton the last time I was there. I feel a bit deprived as I have been to the Mesa country many times and have never seen a Mountain Lion, Bighorn Sheep, Wapiti, or Bear; but I have seen Black-throated Blue Warblers out there twice (a male at the park and a female at a ranch SE of Kenton). Who would have believed that? Glad there were other witnesses at the times. Berlin Heck Broken Bow On Jul 2, 2009, at 10:29 AM, Jimmy Woodard wrote: > > I've heard a few stories from the locals about Bighorn sheep and > elk being seen in the Rita Blanca > Grasslands near the NM border and also near the actual Black > Mesa. I've never seen either out there but > tend to believe them. > > also, Alan Griggs who used to own the Merc and lives just east of > Black Mesa, always claimed to hear > Mountain Lions from his property. Asa Jones told me that one had > been hit and killed years ago > on the steep hill on the main hwy near the easter pageant. I'm > still hoping to see my first mtn lion in OK > out there. I would consider it to be truly wild if I did see one > out there. > > I have seen one black bear from the mesas just south of the > Kenton cemetary. This is on the Apple's land > and they will let you drive the two-track road(high clearance > needed) and drive up into the mesas if you > stay at their Hitching Post B&B. > > Larry Mays related a story about startling a bear in Sutton's > Canyon years ago. He went one way and the > bear went the other way. > > > jimmy woodard > yukon, ok > > > -----Original Message----- > From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Pete Janzen > Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:48 PM > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Subject: Big Horns in Big Country > > Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas > friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" > and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ > bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be > about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest > Berlin accuse me of reporting > this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it. A couple > of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us > that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio > collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all > started to gallop across the field. For those familiar with the > area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood > Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was > in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved > on it. I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing > state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is > one of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near > the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it > winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are > incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and > follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning > Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back > in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma > ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route > really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the > region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister > types. > Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! > > Pete Janzen > Wichita > Subject: Re: sue.lutze wants you to see something From: Laura Erickson <chickadee AT LAURAERICKSON.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:03:47 -0400 Like Joe said, the bird wasn't begging--it was sunning itself. When birds do this, they tilt to one side, spread wing and tail, open their mouth, and raise their body feathers. There are lots of theories about why birds do this, and there may be some truth in most of them. Sunning allows sunlight to reach the bird's skin, necessary for birds to produce vitamin D. It raises the temperature of their feathers, making any mites or lice move about more--birds usually preen after sunning, and this may make it easier to dislodge the parasites. And it may just feel good. Best, Laura Erickson On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 6:33 PM, mike. brewer wrote: > Joe & OK Lutzes: > > I noticed the yellow iris of the eye also. > That is an indicator of the Brown Thrasher being an adult according to my > many photos of a Brown Thrasher family with fledglings. > > Perhaps the begging behavior was difficult to tell ... who was begging and > who was doing the feeding ? > I have photos of that process also. It was difficult to see clearly, until > I blew up the photos and then it was obvious. > > Thanks, > Mike > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* JOS GRZYBOWSKI > *To:* OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > *Sent:* Thursday, July 02, 2009 2:06 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see something > > Hello, > This is an adult Brown Thrasher--note the yellow eye. Recent fledglings > have a dull eye--think it is gray. > This bird is sunning itself. > CHEERS, JOE Grzybowski > > ------------------------------ > *From:* Oklahoma Lutzes > *To:* OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > *Sent:* Thursday, July 2, 2009 11:04:02 AM > *Subject:* Fw: [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see something > >  I took photos of what I think are Brown Thrasher fledglings and I am > hoping to get someone to check this ID for me from my 3 photos posted on > Flickr, please. Thanks. > > Sue > bslutze AT pldi.net > > > > *My photostream* > http://www.flickr.com/photos/38014490 AT N07/ > > *Some of my recent uploads* > > (By the way, if the photostream link doesn't work, try copying and pasting > it from this email into your browser's address bar.) > > *Flickr* is almost certainly the best photo management and sharing > application in the world. If you'd like to see what I use it for you can > check out my profile page or > browse my photostream . > > -- -- Laura Erickson Science Editor Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Road Ithaca, NY 14850 607-254-1114 If you've found this information useful, I hope you'll consider supporting our work on behalf of birds and other wildlife. In addition to knowing that you'll be making a difference for conservation, you'll receive our award-winning Living Bird magazine and informative BirdScope newsletter four times a year. We invite you to join our "force for nature." To sign up or watch our video about membership, visit http://www.birds.cornell.edu/NetCommunity/membership or call us at 1-800-843-2473. For the love, understanding, and protection of birds There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the migration of birds. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after the winter. --Rachel Carson Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. Subject: Re: Stinchcomb WR West Side, 7/1, Brown Pelican From: Bill Diffin <WilliamDiffin AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:12:13 EDT The date of the sighting was actually 7/2. Bill **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) Subject: Stinchcomb WR West Side, 7/1, Brown Pelican From: Bill Diffin <WilliamDiffin AT AOL.COM> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 03:04:38 EDT There was a Brown Pelican, 1st year plumage, with five White Pelicans on the west side pond this morning, 7/1, seen first around 7:30 am. One of the White Pelicans was also a juvenile with gray smudging on the white back. The Brown was much smaller and darker than the Whites, the juvenile White being essentially the same size as the adults. The group was standing on the far, i.e. north shore near the east end. Around 8:00 am they took off and flew directly east. The Brown Pelican showed light bands on its underwing coverts. Otherwise, the underwing was dark. The belly was light. The head, bill, back and upperwings were dark. The basic dark color was a grayish brown. The pond is mostly dried up and shallow. There were waders and dabbling ducks all over. The pond is to the north of the trail between where it first turns west and where it turns north at the power line crossing. Probably the same bird reported by Pat Velte on Lake Hefner, 6/29. Bill **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) Subject: Re: campground confusion From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 23:43:58 -0400 Sorry, this was meant for Pete Jantzen, not for the list. David McNeely On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 8:53 PM , David McNeely wrote: > Forgive me. In my previous email, I gave a link for some Colorado > birding locations, including Cottonwood Canyon. The link was > incorrect. It should be: > > > http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/county/bird_a_county.php?name+Baca > > Oh, hell. Something is wrong with my keyboard. The cap lock is stuck > for the key with the + sign. the + sign in the link should be an > "equals" sign. Everything else is correct. > > Sorry for the mess up. > > David Mc > > > On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 6:16 PM , Pete Janzen wrote: > >> Before I retreat to my Jayhawk cave.....Baca Co. hotspots from east >> to west are...Picture Canyon, Carrizo Picnic Area, Cottonwood Canyon. >> This corrects a glaring error in the post I just made. All are on >> Road M which is an east-west road that intersects US 287 a mile or >> two north of Campo, CO. To reach Kenton from Road M, you turn south >> at the Road 5Road M intersection (old stone schoolhouse at the >> corner) which eventually morphs into Road 8 and enters Oklahoma very >> close to the Tri-state marker. Group photos at the marker have long >> been a tradition with the Kansas crowd as well. Now that would be an >> interesting photo gallery to have all those in an album from all the >> various people over the years. Sorry again for stirring up trouble. >> >> PJ in DooDah Subject: Re: campground confusion From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:53:03 -0400 Forgive me. In my previous email, I gave a link for some Colorado birding locations, including Cottonwood Canyon. The link was incorrect. It should be: http://www.coloradocountybirding.com/county/bird_a_county.php?name+Baca Oh, hell. Something is wrong with my keyboard. The cap lock is stuck for the key with the + sign. the + sign in the link should be an "equals" sign. Everything else is correct. Sorry for the mess up. David Mc On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 6:16 PM , Pete Janzen wrote: > Before I retreat to my Jayhawk cave.....Baca Co. hotspots from east to > west are...Picture Canyon, Carrizo Picnic Area, Cottonwood Canyon. > This corrects a glaring error in the post I just made. All are on > Road M which is an east-west road that intersects US 287 a mile or two > north of Campo, CO. To reach Kenton from Road M, you turn south at > the Road 5Road M intersection (old stone schoolhouse at the corner) > which eventually morphs into Road 8 and enters Oklahoma very close to > the Tri-state marker. Group photos at the marker have long been a > tradition with the Kansas crowd as well. Now that would be an > interesting photo gallery to have all those in an album from all the > various people over the years. Sorry again for stirring up trouble. > > PJ in DooDah Subject: Re: Listing philosphy From: Bob Fisher <bobgfisher AT COMCAST.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:57:59 -0500 I recognize every one of Pete Janzen's 5 stereotypes among birders I have known. But he does not tell the whole story. Changes in listing philosophy can have a profound social impact. Consider, for example, the behavior of Kansas and Missouri birders during the 37 years that I have lived in this part of the country. For most of that time, birders who lived in western Missouri and in eastern Kansas birded together in both states. We went on each others' Christmas counts. We atlased in both states. We got together on weekend days to bird such local hotspots as Van Meter S. P., Squaw Creek NWR, Schell Osage CA and the old Trimble WMA in Missouri and Marais des Cygnes WMA, Leavenworth Bottoms and any of several "lake tours" (Clinton, Pomona, Melvern, Lyon Co. State Lake, Redmond & Wolf Creek; sometimes just Perry and Clinton) in Kansas. We regularly made trips to Morton County, Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira in Kansas and Roaring River S.P. and Greer Crossing in Missouri and shared the cost of gas and motel rooms. Some of us even made faraway birding trips together to Texas, Arizona, California and Alaska. Lots of good friendships were made. Then several things happened. Both states developed bird record committees. (Missouri's started in 1987, Kansas' soon afterward). Both also started listservs, which soon created new cyber communities focused on state list information. Several of the most avid Kansas birders began to compete for Kansas "Big Years;" their Kansas lists reached numbers previously undreamed, and they spent more and more time chasing Kansas rarities. The Audubon Society of Missouri began "COMAL" (Challenge of Missouri Annual List) on its web site. Smithville Lake in Missouri began to produce birds comparable to those found on Kansas lakes, and somebody discovered that Weston Bend S.P. on the Missouri side was as good as Leavenworth across the river. Soon a substantial percentage of Kansas birders were limiting their local birding almost exclusively to Kansas, while Missourians were focusing their attention almost entirely on Missouri. Active close friendships became inactive past friendships. Was it good or bad? That depends upon your point of view. My point is only that a change in listing philosophies brought about a significant social change. From my personal perspective, I regret that some of the warmth has gone out of several of my closer friendships with Kansas birders but am glad about new friendships I have developed in Missouri. Bob Fisher Independence, MO bobgfisher AT comcast.net Subject: campground confusion From: Pete Janzen <pete.janzen AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 18:16:14 -0500 Before I retreat to my Jayhawk cave.....Baca Co. hotspots from east to west are...Picture Canyon, Carrizo Picnic Area, Cottonwood Canyon. This corrects a glaring error in the post I just made. All are on Road M which is an east-west road that intersects US 287 a mile or two north of Campo, CO. To reach Kenton from Road M, you turn south at the Road 5Road M intersection (old stone schoolhouse at the corner) which eventually morphs into Road 8 and enters Oklahoma very close to the Tri-state marker. Group photos at the marker have long been a tradition with the Kansas crowd as well. Now that would be an interesting photo gallery to have all those in an album from all the various people over the years. Sorry again for stirring up trouble. PJ in DooDah Subject: Re: Lists From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:12:54 -0400 A substantial percentage of people who call themselves birders are very serious about their hobby. Many rival the 19th century naturalists who explored the world to provide us with our biogeographical knowledge in what they know about nature. Some DO make contributions to science -- and a fraction are in fact scientists who participate in the birding community in part to tap into the shared knowledge that exists there concerning what birds are where when and to share their expertise with others. The problem for folks like you and myself arises when SOME FEW folks begin to think that birding is only for the elites, and that if one doesn't participate in that aspect, then one is less than worthy. Those few folks are apt to answer questions, but only with techical terminology, for example, and then be put out if one queries further. But such are a minority. I have found almost all in the birding community to be fun, pleasant folks who want to help others learn. And, the more one knows about birds, the more fun birding is. BTW, I was a bit taken aback when the hobby began to be called "birding," rather than "birdwatching." I still think that "birdwatching" (spending time looking at and learning about birds) is much more satisfying than is "birding" (the collecting of bird encounters, specifically to keep lists of the kinds of birds encountered). All of that said, what kinds of birds are where when is a serious matter that is important for conservation concerns and for the pursuit of actual scientific questions. Details as to plumage and other matters that many of us less serious hobbyists often fail to recognise are also. Thankfully, there are folks who keep such matters straight, maintain the excellent records needed, and make their data available to others. The world is big enough for all kinds, and needs all kinds. David Mc On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 5:02 PM , Cyndie Browning wrote: > Well, I'm not sure I believe that, either.... at least, not as > strictly as you apparently do.  Lots of people enjoy watching birds, > especially in their own yards, who don't know anything about your > "shared goals, cooperation, and _standardization_." (emphasis > added.)  Are they not birders, too? or is being "a birder" like > belonging to such an exclusive club that if I don't follow your rules, > I'm disqualified??  Is my enjoyment of birds and birdwatching any less > valid simply because I don't follow your rules??  I don't think so. > > Anyway, birding is supposed to be fun.  If it's not, then why bother > doin' it at all?? > > Cyndie Browning > Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com > Tulsa, OK >   > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Steve Schafer To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 4:13:12 PM > Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Lists > > On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:20:13 EDT, you wrote: > >> So your saying that it takes a village to count a bird >] > > Absolutely. Like any sort of "collecting" hobby, birding wouldn't > exist > were it not for shared goals, cooperation and standardization. > -Steve > >   ________________________________ > > From: Neland Hill To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:20:13 AM > Subject: [OKBIRDS] Lists > >   >   >                  So your saying that it takes a village to count a > bird >] >   >                                                Nealand Hill >                                                Edmond OK >   ________________________________ > > From: Larry Mays To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 2:44:39 PM > Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country > > >   Amen,  but it is  a game,  and like all finite games,  rules must be > agreed upon,  so winners can be crowned,  and strut and crow. >   ________________________________ > > ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Gunn To: > OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 1:24 PM > Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country > > Cyndi >   > Damned good point. All the personal state lists or personal year bird > lists have very little to do with science and contributes only > marginally to the overall picture of bird distribution.  A > long personal year bird list or personal state bird list mostly > says, "I had the money, time, energy (and of course identification > skills) to go find these birds!" It is much more of a vanity deal than > an actual contribution to ornithology. It mostlly falls into the > category of what I call Ego-Driven Dickey Birding (EDDB). It is a lot > of fun and "playing tennis with the nets at a certain height" is > challenging, and don't get me wrong, I enjoy it too but getting pushed > out of shape because I chose to count birds the way I want to count > them is not a even a small sin.   > D. Subject: Re: Lists From: Steve Schafer <steve AT FENESTRA.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 19:09:49 -0400 On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:02:26 -0700, you wrote: >Well, I'm not sure I believe that, either.... at least, not as strictly >as you apparently do.  Lots of people enjoy watching birds, especially >in their own yards, who don't know anything about your "shared goals, >cooperation, and _standardization_." (emphasis added.)  Are they not >birders, too? or is being "a birder" like belonging to such an >exclusive club that if I don't follow your rules, I'm >disqualified??  Is my enjoyment of birds and birdwatching any less >valid simply because I don't follow your rules??  I don't think so. Whenever people organize themselves, they make rules. It's just human nature. For the most part, those rules aren't intended to prevent anyone from doing anything, they're there to help avoid misunderstandings, to make sure that everyone involved is on the same page, so to speak. When it's an essentially frivolous pursuit like birding, you are under no obligation to follow any of those rules (you are under no obligation to participate in the organization or activity, for that matter). But if you want to go beyond "solitary participation" and become part of a community, then yes, I do believe that you do have some obligation to follow the rules set by the community. Everyone has heard the term "community standards," and that's all we're talking about here. Every community has subcommunities, and the rules vary from one to the other. So you can pretty much choose to participate at whatever level you want to. But the "prime directive" still stands: To be a "good citizen" of the community, you have to abide by the rules for whatever level you choose to participate at. (Of course, part of your participation can be lobbying to change the rules, too.) A somewhat contrived example: Let's say you keep a list of the birds that you see on television programs. Let's further say that you put these birds on your "yard" list, along with the birds you see visiting your feeder. There's nothing wrong with that, and there's even a (slim) chance that there's someone else out there who does the same thing. So far so good. But when you're talking to others in the greater birding community, saying something like, "I have King of Saxony Bird-of-Paradise on my yard list," is misleading, to say the least. As for standardization not being important to the backyard birder, I have to most emphatically disagree. The field guide in your pocket wouldn't exist without a cooperative community of birders whose goal is standardization. The invariable first question posed by the novice when seeing a bird for the first time is, "What is the name of that bird?" That question doesn't have an answer if there is no standardization. Just as making rules is part of human nature, so is categorizing and classifying things. And if people don't cooperate and standardize when they're doing their categorizing and classifying, the result is chaos. As the recent rat snake discussion demonstrates, when there are even as few as TWO different categorization schemes for something it creates confusion and frustration. So, bottom line: You can do whatever you want. But participating in a community means adhering to that community's standards. And considering how much we, as birders, have all benefited from the resources provided by the birding community as a whole, I don't think that it's unreasonable to "give back" to the community by acknowledging the existence and validity of its standards, even if we choose not to abide by one or more of them. -Steve Subject: Listing philosphy From: Pete Janzen <pete.janzen AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:53:07 -0500 Ok well mea culpa for triggering a huge brouhaha about listing pros/cons. This causes flare-ups from time to time on listservs. The next time it comes on the Kansas listserv it will be at least our 5th time around the track on that one. The rough breakdown of positions on the matter seems to be as follows: 1)I'm a competitive sort and I like to report my lists to ABA. Since I submit my various lists for publication in their annual List Report, I follow their rules for reporting lists by state, continent, etc.. 2) I'm a professional scientist and such listing is beneath me but if it amuses the rabble, so be it. But please by all means submit a paper about it to The Auk! 3) I'll make my list any damn way I want and anyone who wants to change how I make my list will have to pry my cold, dead fingers off of my pencil! Nobody tells me how to make my list...you hear me boy? NOBODY. You got a problem with that? 4) I wouldn't dream of making a list of birds I've seen. Just seeing a robin in the morning makes my heart burst with joy and I want to sing along. That's what appreciating birds is all about. 5) I just enjoy birds and birdwatching and I don't understand why everyone is getting so wound up. Anyone seen any good warblers lately? I find merit in all of these viewpoints. Each to his own and all that. Now may we all gather 'round the campfire and sing "Kumbaya".................Where's my pitch pipe? As far as directions to Cottonwood Canyon I thought I was pretty specific in my post but Mr. McNeely if you would like me to mail you a map contact me off list at pete.janzen AT sbcglobal.net with your mailing address and I'll fire one off to you. Short version is that Picture Canyon is at the terminus of Road M about 20 miles west of Cottonwood Canyon on the Baca/Las Animas Co. line. But I do have some good maps. Come to think of it I can just scan it and e-mail it eh? Just to briefly revisit Mr. Schaefer's Gray Hawk scenario, if you see one on the Mexico side of the river, well strictly for ABA purposes it only "counts" for Mexico. Remember that THIS ONLY MATTERS IF ABA LISTING RULES ARE RELEVANT TO YOUR LIFE IN ANY WAY AT ALL. Now if flies across the Rio Grande into the land of free, then according to ABA rules you can say you saw it in the USA. Mostly my original comment was intended to nudge a few folks across the state line the next time they are out in Black Mesa country because it is well worth the trip. I again apologize for triggering an outbreak of the cyclical "listserv brouhaha syndrome" which typically occurs during the slowest birding seasons of the year as in mid-summer and mid-winter. Pete Janzen Wichita Subject: Re: sue.lutze wants you to see something From: "mike. brewer" <mike.brewer AT ATT.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:33:00 -0500 Joe & OK Lutzes: I noticed the yellow iris of the eye also. That is an indicator of the Brown Thrasher being an adult according to my many photos of a Brown Thrasher family with fledglings. Perhaps the begging behavior was difficult to tell ... who was begging and who was doing the feeding ? I have photos of that process also. It was difficult to see clearly, until I blew up the photos and then it was obvious. Thanks, Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: JOS GRZYBOWSKI To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 2:06 PM Subject: Re: [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see something Hello, This is an adult Brown Thrasher--note the yellow eye. Recent fledglings have a dull eye--think it is gray. This bird is sunning itself. CHEERS, JOE Grzybowski ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Oklahoma Lutzes To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 11:04:02 AM Subject: Fw: [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see something  I took photos of what I think are Brown Thrasher fledglings and I am hoping to get someone to check this ID for me from my 3 photos posted on Flickr, please. Thanks. Sue bslutze AT pldi.net My photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/38014490 AT N07/ Some of my recent uploads (By the way, if the photostream link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it from this email into your browser's address bar.) Flickr is almost certainly the best photo management and sharing application in the world. If you'd like to see what I use it for you can check out my profile page or browse my photostream. Subject: Re: Lists From: Cyndie Browning <buteoswainsoni AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 15:02:26 -0700 Well, I'm not sure I believe that, either.... at least, not as strictly as you apparently do.  Lots of people enjoy watching birds, especially in their own yards, who don't know anything about your "shared goals, cooperation, and _standardization_." (emphasis added.)  Are they not birders, too? or is being "a birder" like belonging to such an exclusive club that if I don't follow your rules, I'm disqualified??  Is my enjoyment of birds and birdwatching any less valid simply because I don't follow your rules??  I don't think so. Anyway, birding is supposed to be fun.  If it's not, then why bother doin' it at all?? Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com Tulsa, OK   ________________________________ From: Steve Schafer To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 4:13:12 PM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Lists On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:20:13 EDT, you wrote: > So your saying that it takes a village to count a bird >] Absolutely. Like any sort of "collecting" hobby, birding wouldn't exist were it not for shared goals, cooperation and standardization. -Steve   ________________________________ From: Neland Hill To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:20:13 AM Subject: [OKBIRDS] Lists                      So your saying that it takes a village to count a bird >]                                                  Nealand Hill                                                Edmond OK   ________________________________ From: Larry Mays To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 2:44:39 PM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country   Amen,  but it is  a game,  and like all finite games,  rules must be agreed upon,  so winners can be crowned,  and strut and crow.   ________________________________ ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Gunn To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 1:24 PM Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country Cyndi   Damned good point. All the personal state lists or personal year bird lists have very little to do with science and contributes only marginally to the overall picture of bird distribution.  A long personal year bird list or personal state bird list mostly says, "I had the money, time, energy (and of course identification skills) to go find these birds!" It is much more of a vanity deal than an actual contribution to ornithology. It mostlly falls into the category of what I call Ego-Driven Dickey Birding (EDDB). It is a lot of fun and "playing tennis with the nets at a certain height" is challenging, and don't get me wrong, I enjoy it too but getting pushed out of shape because I chose to count birds the way I want to count them is not a even a small sin.   D. Subject: Re: Wood Storks Tishomingo From: Bill Adams <ba1980 AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:26:22 -0700 I could not relocate them today at 12:30pm. Bill Adams Tishomingo, OK www.southernokphotography.com --- On Thu, 7/2/09, Doug Wood wrote: From: Doug Wood Subject: Wood Storks Tishomingo To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Thursday, July 2, 2009, 9:44 AM Hi All.  Drove to Tishomingo NWR yesterday and found the Wood Storks.  Counted 13, mostly juveniles.  They are still hanging around the Observation Tower with a bunch of other egrets and herons.  Doug.     Doug Wood, Ph.D. PMB 4068 1405 N. 4th Ave. Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OK 74701-0609 580.745.2272 dwood AT se.edu   Subject: Re: Lists From: Steve Schafer <steve AT FENESTRA.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:13:12 -0400 On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:20:13 EDT, you wrote: > So your saying that it takes a village to count a bird >] Absolutely. Like any sort of "collecting" hobby, birding wouldn't exist were it not for shared goals, cooperation and standardization. -Steve Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:02:17 -0400 Oh, I just thought I was enjoying birds and other aspects of nature. If there is a contest involved, I'm neither a participant, nor a spectator. If someone wants to know if I have seen a particular bird, or if I know a good place where they can go, I share. If someone shares with me, that's great, too. To hell with competition re natural history. I've never learned all the acronyms for AOU names, and see no reason to bother, either. If I make a mistake regarding an identification, I hope someone corrects me. If I miss finding a stray in an unusual location, well, gee. Maybe I'll get to see that bird where it really lives when I can make it there (or maybe I won't). David McNeely On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 2:44 PM , Larry Mays wrote: Amen, but it is a game, and like all finite games, rules must be agreed upon, so winners can be crowned, and strut and crow. ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Gunn To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 1:24 PM Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country Cyndi Damned good point. All the personal state lists or personal year bird lists have very little to do with science and contributes only marginally to the overall picture of bird distribution. A long personal year bird list or personal state bird list mostly says, "I had the money, time, energy (and of course identification skills) to go find these birds!" It is much more of a vanity deal than an actual contribution to ornithology. It mostlly falls into the category of what I call Ego-Driven Dickey Birding (EDDB). It is a lot of fun and "playing tennis with the nets at a certain height" is challenging, and don't get me wrong, I enjoy it too but getting pushed out of shape because I chose to count birds the way I want to count them is not a even a small sin. D. -- Original Message ----- From: Cyndie Browning To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:17 Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country Thanks, Steve. O'course, that rule only applies if I'm trying to get some bureaucracy (ABA, AOU, etc.) to approve my list for some silly reason. Meanwhile, it's MY list so only my rules matter..... ~:-) Have a good holiday weekend, everybody. Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK ___________________________________ From: Steve Schafer To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 9:06:16 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:59:44 -0700, you wrote: > Why can't you do that? I LOVE "border-birding," just for that > reason!!! According to standard listing rules, it's where the bird is that matters, not where you are when you observe it. For example, if you are in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, looking across the river into Mexico, and you see a Gray Hawk flying over the far shore, that bird goes on your Tamaulipas list, not your Texas list. -Steve From: Cyndie Browning To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 8:59:44 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country << ...explained to me why you can't do that. >> Why can't you do that? I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK How do migrating birds know which one to follow? What if the lead bird just wants to be alone? -- Bill Bryson, "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir" (2006) ___________________________________ From: Berlin Heck < baheck AT PINE-NET.COM > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 7:42:43 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country Pete--I don't want to go through all the paperwork to cross the line into Colorado--Maybe with my high-quality Kowa Scope I could spot the birds in Cottonwood Canyon from a good vantage point in Oklahoma? This reminds me of one time when a group of us visited the 3-state boundary monument north of the Black Mesa. Every time a group of us, including Jeri McMahon, went out to that area, Jeri would want a group photo at the monument. That day, I saw a Raven flying by so I jumped to the New Mexico side of the monument and said "got it for New Mexico!" Then I did the same for Colorado and Oklahoma. Jeri got a bit upset and explained to me why you can't do that. We always had good times on those trips. Berlin Heck On Jul 1, 2009, at 8:47 PM, Pete Janzen wrote: > Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas > friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three > Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of > 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would > be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. > Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we > have the photos to prove it. A couple of the bighorns had radio > collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were > introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to > bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop > across the field. For those familiar with the area this was > about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where > the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in the field > that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. I > realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state > lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one > of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near > the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it > winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are > incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and > follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning > Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting > back in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain > Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, > this route really offers some of the best access to the unique > habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities > of state-lister types. Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya > know! > Pete Janzen Wichita ___________________________________ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.2/2214 - Release Date: 07/02/09 05:54:00 Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Larry Mays <retrix AT ATLINKWIFI.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:44:39 -0500 Amen, but it is a game, and like all finite games, rules must be agreed upon, so winners can be crowned, and strut and crow. ----- Original Message ----- From: Richard Gunn To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 1:24 PM Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country Cyndi Damned good point. All the personal state lists or personal year bird lists have very little to do with science and contributes only marginally to the overall picture of bird distribution. A long personal year bird list or personal state bird list mostly says, "I had the money, time, energy (and of course identification skills) to go find these birds!" It is much more of a vanity deal than an actual contribution to ornithology. It mostlly falls into the category of what I call Ego-Driven Dickey Birding (EDDB). It is a lot of fun and "playing tennis with the nets at a certain height" is challenging, and don't get me wrong, I enjoy it too but getting pushed out of shape because I chose to count birds the way I want to count them is not a even a small sin. D. -- Original Message ----- From: Cyndie Browning To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:17 Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country Thanks, Steve. O'course, that rule only applies if I'm trying to get some bureaucracy (ABA, AOU, etc.) to approve my list for some silly reason. Meanwhile, it's MY list so only my rules matter..... ~:-) Have a good holiday weekend, everybody. Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Steve Schafer To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 9:06:16 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:59:44 -0700, you wrote: >Why can't you do that? I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! According to standard listing rules, it's where the bird is that matters, not where you are when you observe it. For example, if you are in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, looking across the river into Mexico, and you see a Gray Hawk flying over the far shore, that bird goes on your Tamaulipas list, not your Texas list. -Steve From: Cyndie Browning To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 8:59:44 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country << ...explained to me why you can't do that. >> Why can't you do that? I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK How do migrating birds know which one to follow? What if the lead bird just wants to be alone? -- Bill Bryson, "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir" (2006) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Berlin Heck To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 7:42:43 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country Pete--I don't want to go through all the paperwork to cross the line into Colorado--Maybe with my high-quality Kowa Scope I could spot the birds in Cottonwood Canyon from a good vantage point in Oklahoma? This reminds me of one time when a group of us visited the 3-state boundary monument north of the Black Mesa. Every time a group of us, including Jeri McMahon, went out to that area, Jeri would want a group photo at the monument. That day, I saw a Raven flying by so I jumped to the New Mexico side of the monument and said "got it for New Mexico!" Then I did the same for Colorado and Oklahoma. Jeri got a bit upset and explained to me why you can't do that. We always had good times on those trips. Berlin Heck On Jul 1, 2009, at 8:47 PM, Pete Janzen wrote: > Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it. A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field. For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types. Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! > > Pete Janzen > Wichita ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.2/2214 - Release Date: 07/02/09 05:54:00 Subject: Re: sue.lutze wants you to see something From: JOS GRZYBOWSKI <j_grzybowski AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:06:02 -0700 Hello,    This is an adult Brown Thrasher--note the yellow eye.  Recent fledglings have a dull eye--think it is gray.    This bird is sunning itself.  CHEERS,                 JOE Grzybowski ________________________________ From: Oklahoma Lutzes To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 11:04:02 AM Subject: Fw: [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see something  I took photos of what I think are Brown Thrasher fledglings and I am hoping to get someone to check this ID for me from my 3 photos posted on Flickr, please.  Thanks.    Sue bslutze AT pldi.net My photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/38014490 AT N07/ Some of my recent uploads (By the way, if the photostream link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it from this email into your browser's address bar.) Flickr is almost certainly the best photo management and sharing application in the world. If you'd like to see what I use it for you can check out my profile page or browse my photostream. Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Richard Gunn <rgunn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 13:24:46 -0500 Cyndi Damned good point. All the personal state lists or personal year bird lists have very little to do with science and contributes only marginally to the overall picture of bird distribution. A long personal year bird list or personal state bird list mostly says, "I had the money, time, energy (and of course identification skills) to go find these birds!" It is much more of a vanity deal than an actual contribution to ornithology. It mostlly falls into the category of what I call Ego-Driven Dickey Birding (EDDB). It is a lot of fun and "playing tennis with the nets at a certain height" is challenging, and don't get me wrong, I enjoy it too but getting pushed out of shape because I chose to count birds the way I want to count them is not a even a small sin. D. -- Original Message ----- From: Cyndie Browning To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:17 Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country Thanks, Steve. O'course, that rule only applies if I'm trying to get some bureaucracy (ABA, AOU, etc.) to approve my list for some silly reason. Meanwhile, it's MY list so only my rules matter..... ~:-) Have a good holiday weekend, everybody. Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Steve Schafer To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 9:06:16 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:59:44 -0700, you wrote: >Why can't you do that? I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! According to standard listing rules, it's where the bird is that matters, not where you are when you observe it. For example, if you are in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, looking across the river into Mexico, and you see a Gray Hawk flying over the far shore, that bird goes on your Tamaulipas list, not your Texas list. -Steve From: Cyndie Browning To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 8:59:44 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country << ...explained to me why you can't do that. >> Why can't you do that? I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK How do migrating birds know which one to follow? What if the lead bird just wants to be alone? -- Bill Bryson, "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir" (2006) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Berlin Heck To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 7:42:43 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country Pete--I don't want to go through all the paperwork to cross the line into Colorado--Maybe with my high-quality Kowa Scope I could spot the birds in Cottonwood Canyon from a good vantage point in Oklahoma? This reminds me of one time when a group of us visited the 3-state boundary monument north of the Black Mesa. Every time a group of us, including Jeri McMahon, went out to that area, Jeri would want a group photo at the monument. That day, I saw a Raven flying by so I jumped to the New Mexico side of the monument and said "got it for New Mexico!" Then I did the same for Colorado and Oklahoma. Jeri got a bit upset and explained to me why you can't do that. We always had good times on those trips. Berlin Heck On Jul 1, 2009, at 8:47 PM, Pete Janzen wrote: > Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it. A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field. For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types. Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! > > Pete Janzen > Wichita ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.375 / Virus Database: 270.13.2/2214 - Release Date: 07/02/09 05:54:00 Subject: Re: Fw: sue.lutze wants you to see something From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 13:11:36 -0400 Look like brown thrashers to me. We have fledglings now, too. We also have house wren fledlings. I have been trying to find the nest for weeks. Finally found it in my own yard, in really thick brush on the fence inside a "wren pot," which for some reason I'd failed to check earlier. Duh. David Mc On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 11:04 AM , Oklahoma Lutzes wrote: > [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see somethingI took photos of what I > think are Brown Thrasher fledglings and I am hoping to get someone to > check this ID for me from my 3 photos posted on Flickr, please. > Thanks. > Sue bslutze AT pldi.net > > > > > My photostream > http://www.flickr.com/photos/38014490 AT N07/ > > > Some of my recent uploads > > > (By the way, if the photostream link doesn't work, try > copying and pasting it from this email into your browser's address > bar.) Flickr is almost certainly the best photo > management and sharing application in the world. If you'd like to see > what I use it for you can check out my profile page or browse my > photostream. Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Larry Mays <retrix AT ATLINKWIFI.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:08:46 -0500 "He went one way and the bear went the other way." Hey, the bear went FIRST! Also saw my first eastern Oklahoma black bear on June 4 just south of Heavner in the Ouachita National Forest. I was on my way to see Cerulean Warblers (just to stay on topic). And there have been at least eleven sightings of Brown Pelican since the listserv began way, way back in 2000. Larry Mays Newcastle ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jimmy Woodard" To: Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 10:29 AM Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country I've heard a few stories from the locals about Bighorn sheep and elk being seen in the Rita Blanca Grasslands near the NM border and also near the actual Black Mesa. I've never seen either out there but tend to believe them. also, Alan Griggs who used to own the Merc and lives just east of Black Mesa, always claimed to hear Mountain Lions from his property. Asa Jones told me that one had been hit and killed years ago on the steep hill on the main hwy near the easter pageant. I'm still hoping to see my first mtn lion in OK out there. I would consider it to be truly wild if I did see one out there. I have seen one black bear from the mesas just south of the Kenton cemetary. This is on the Apple's land and they will let you drive the two-track road(high clearance needed) and drive up into the mesas if you stay at their Hitching Post B&B. Larry Mays related a story about startling a bear in Sutton's Canyon years ago. He went one way and the bear went the other way. jimmy woodard yukon, ok -----Original Message----- From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Pete Janzen Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:48 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Big Horns in Big Country Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it. A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field. For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types. Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! Pete Janzen Wichita Subject: Fw: sue.lutze wants you to see something From: Oklahoma Lutzes <bslutze AT PLDI.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:04:02 -0500 [Flickr] sue.lutze wants you to see somethingI took photos of what I think are Brown Thrasher fledglings and I am hoping to get someone to check this ID for me from my 3 photos posted on Flickr, please. Thanks. Sue bslutze AT pldi.net My photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/38014490 AT N07/ Some of my recent uploads (By the way, if the photostream link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it from this email into your browser's address bar.) Flickr is almost certainly the best photo management and sharing application in the world. If you'd like to see what I use it for you can check out my profile page or browse my photostream. Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: selmanranch <selmanranch AT WILDBLUE.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:59:59 -0500 While visiting Black Mesa during the birding festival at Woodward we had a nice meal and evening at the Hoot Owl Ranch. I visited with the owner and he said they do have Elk, Big Horn, Sheep, Bears and Mountain Lions. They had a lion take a pigmy goat out of their corral. sue buffalo ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jimmy Woodard" To: Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 10:29 AM Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country I've heard a few stories from the locals about Bighorn sheep and elk being seen in the Rita Blanca Grasslands near the NM border and also near the actual Black Mesa. I've never seen either out there but tend to believe them. also, Alan Griggs who used to own the Merc and lives just east of Black Mesa, always claimed to hear Mountain Lions from his property. Asa Jones told me that one had been hit and killed years ago on the steep hill on the main hwy near the easter pageant. I'm still hoping to see my first mtn lion in OK out there. I would consider it to be truly wild if I did see one out there. I have seen one black bear from the mesas just south of the Kenton cemetary. This is on the Apple's land and they will let you drive the two-track road(high clearance needed) and drive up into the mesas if you stay at their Hitching Post B&B. Larry Mays related a story about startling a bear in Sutton's Canyon years ago. He went one way and the bear went the other way. jimmy woodard yukon, ok -----Original Message----- From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Pete Janzen Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:48 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Big Horns in Big Country Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it. A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field. For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types. Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! Pete Janzen Wichita Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Jimmy Woodard <Jimmy.Woodard AT UNIVARUSA.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 08:29:43 -0700 I've heard a few stories from the locals about Bighorn sheep and elk being seen in the Rita Blanca Grasslands near the NM border and also near the actual Black Mesa. I've never seen either out there but tend to believe them. also, Alan Griggs who used to own the Merc and lives just east of Black Mesa, always claimed to hear Mountain Lions from his property. Asa Jones told me that one had been hit and killed years ago on the steep hill on the main hwy near the easter pageant. I'm still hoping to see my first mtn lion in OK out there. I would consider it to be truly wild if I did see one out there. I have seen one black bear from the mesas just south of the Kenton cemetary. This is on the Apple's land and they will let you drive the two-track road(high clearance needed) and drive up into the mesas if you stay at their Hitching Post B&B. Larry Mays related a story about startling a bear in Sutton's Canyon years ago. He went one way and the bear went the other way. jimmy woodard yukon, ok -----Original Message----- From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Pete Janzen Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:48 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Big Horns in Big Country Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it. A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field. For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types. Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! Pete Janzen Wichita Subject: Lists From: Neland Hill <BirdScoper AT AOL.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 11:20:13 EDT So your saying that it takes a village to count a bird >] Nealand Hill Edmond OK **************Make your summer sizzle with fast and easy recipes for the grill. (http://food.aol.com/grilling?ncid=emlcntusfood00000005) Subject: Wood Storks Tishomingo From: Doug Wood <DWood AT SE.EDU> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:44:55 -0500 Hi All. Drove to Tishomingo NWR yesterday and found the Wood Storks. Counted 13, mostly juveniles. They are still hanging around the Observation Tower with a bunch of other egrets and herons. Doug. Doug Wood, Ph.D. PMB 4068 1405 N. 4th Ave. Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OK 74701-0609 580.745.2272 dwood AT se.edu Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Steve Schafer <steve AT FENESTRA.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:35:01 -0400 On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 07:17:17 -0700, you wrote: >Meanwhile, it's MY list so only my rules matter..... ~:-) In some sense, that's true, but if you want to share your list with others, then it is not unreasonable to expect that the parties involved would also share a common definition of what "list" means. >O'course, that rule only applies if I'm trying to get some bureaucracy >(ABA, AOU, etc.) to approve my list for some silly reason. There is no such bureaucracy that "approves" anyone's list. Even the AOU's definitions of which species occur where, and what constitutes a species for that matter, are based on evidence presented in peer-reviewed publications (that is, work performed by individuals and reviewed by other individuals). In other words, it all works because there is a community, an ornithological community for "official" systematics, and a birding community for birders' lists (with a fair amount of overlap between the two communities). These communities rely on common definitions in order to minimize ambiguities. -Steve Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Cyndie Browning <buteoswainsoni AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 07:17:17 -0700 Thanks, Steve.  O'course, that rule only applies if I'm trying to get some bureaucracy (ABA, AOU, etc.) to approve my list for some silly reason. Meanwhile, it's MY list so only my rules matter..... ~:-) Have a good holiday weekend, everybody. Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK    ________________________________ From: Steve Schafer To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 9:06:16 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:59:44 -0700, you wrote: >Why can't you do that?  I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! According to standard listing rules, it's where the bird is that matters, not where you are when you observe it. For example, if you are in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, looking across the river into Mexico, and you see a Gray Hawk flying over the far shore, that bird goes on your Tamaulipas list, not your Texas list. -Steve From: Cyndie Browning To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 8:59:44 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country << ...explained to me why you can't do that. >> Why can't you do that?  I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK    How do migrating birds know which one to follow? What if the lead bird just wants to be alone? -- Bill Bryson, "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir" (2006) ________________________________ From: Berlin Heck To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 7:42:43 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country Pete--I don't want to go through all the paperwork to cross the line into Colorado--Maybe with my high-quality Kowa Scope I could spot the birds in Cottonwood Canyon from a good vantage point in Oklahoma?  This reminds me of one time when a group of us visited the 3-state boundary monument north of the Black Mesa.  Every time a group of us, including Jeri McMahon, went out to that area, Jeri would want a group photo at the monument.  That day, I saw a Raven flying by so I jumped to the New Mexico side of the monument and said "got it for New Mexico!"  Then I did the same for Colorado and Oklahoma.  Jeri got a bit upset and explained to me why you can't do that.  We always had good times on those trips. Berlin Heck On Jul 1, 2009, at 8:47 PM, Pete Janzen wrote: > Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek.  This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies.  Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it.  A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out.  Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field.  For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick.  It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it.  I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere.  From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant.  Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon.  When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route.  Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types.  Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! > > Pete Janzen > Wichita Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:12:01 -0400 Isn't it a good thing that birds have better sense than humans regarding geography? They follow natural dictates, not artificial ones. Ha! David Mc On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 8:59 AM , Cyndie Browning wrote: > Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:10:29 -0400 Pete, your message intrigues me. What is the name of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon? I've camped at the parking area/picnic ground at Picture Canyon, but that is a different canyon. Is the campground a Comanche National Grasslands Recreation Site? I will be going that way in the near future as I travel toward Spokane, Washington, and will almost certainly camp somewhere in the vicinity. I plan to visit these canyons on my way up. David McNeely On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 8:47 PM , Pete Janzen wrote: > Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas > friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" > and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns > in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be about 15-20 > miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest Berlin accuse me > of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove > it. A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up > who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as > the radio collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when they > all started to gallop across the field. For those familiar with the > area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood > Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in > the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. > I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state > lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of > my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near the > tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds > through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly > abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 > miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon. When > we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on > this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain > nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the > best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm > sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types. Hey ya gotta start > a Colorado list sometime ya know! > > Pete Janzen > Wichita Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Steve Schafer <steve AT FENESTRA.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 10:06:16 -0400 On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:59:44 -0700, you wrote: >Why can't you do that?  I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! According to standard listing rules, it's where the bird is that matters, not where you are when you observe it. For example, if you are in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, looking across the river into Mexico, and you see a Gray Hawk flying over the far shore, that bird goes on your Tamaulipas list, not your Texas list. -Steve Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Cyndie Browning <buteoswainsoni AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 06:59:44 -0700 << ...explained to me why you can't do that. >> Why can't you do that?  I LOVE "border-birding," just for that reason!!! Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK    How do migrating birds know which one to follow? What if the lead bird just wants to be alone? -- Bill Bryson, "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir" (2006)   ________________________________ From: Berlin Heck To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Thursday, July 2, 2009 7:42:43 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Big Horns in Big Country Pete--I don't want to go through all the paperwork to cross the line into Colorado--Maybe with my high-quality Kowa Scope I could spot the birds in Cottonwood Canyon from a good vantage point in Oklahoma?  This reminds me of one time when a group of us visited the 3-state boundary monument north of the Black Mesa.  Every time a group of us, including Jeri McMahon, went out to that area, Jeri would want a group photo at the monument.  That day, I saw a Raven flying by so I jumped to the New Mexico side of the monument and said "got it for New Mexico!"  Then I did the same for Colorado and Oklahoma.  Jeri got a bit upset and explained to me why you can't do that.  We always had good times on those trips. Berlin Heck On Jul 1, 2009, at 8:47 PM, Pete Janzen wrote: > Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek.  This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies.  Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it.  A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out.  Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field.  For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick.  It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it.  I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere.  From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant.  Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon.  When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route.  Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types.  Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! > > Pete Janzen > Wichita > Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:23:36 -0400 Berlin, please explain. You must be talking about making some sort of official survey, not routine birding. For me, working with fish, yes, there is paperwork filing for a permit, getting a depository (museum) for voucher specimens, and so on, then filing end of year reports. But for guys just out to look at fish by snorkeling, nothing involved. If they want to do some seining and put the fish back, they do need a fishing license, nothing else, unless listed species or preserves are involved. Then, of course, they would have to justify a permit based on scientific or conservation reasons. For ordinary birders, what paperwork would be involved? If there were, few would make the trips they do for personal enjoyment. I've birded in many states, and plan to do so many times more, and I have no intention of filing paperwork to do so. Thanks, David McNeely On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 7:42 AM , Berlin Heck wrote: > Pete--I don't want to go through all the paperwork to cross the line > into Colorado--Maybe with my high-quality Kowa Scope I could spot the > birds in Cottonwood Canyon from a good vantage point in Oklahoma? > This reminds me of one time when a group of us visited the 3-state > boundary monument north of the Black Mesa. Every time a group of us, > including Jeri McMahon, went out to that area, Jeri would want a group > photo at the monument. That day, I saw a Raven flying by so I jumped > to the New Mexico side of the monument and said "got it for New > Mexico!" Then I did the same for Colorado and Oklahoma. Jeri got a > bit upset and explained to me why you can't do that. We always had > good times on those trips. > > Berlin Heck > > On Jul 1, 2009, at 8:47 PM, Pete Janzen wrote: > >> Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas >> friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" >> and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns >> in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be about 15-20 >> miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest Berlin accuse me >> of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove >> it. A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove >> up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk >> as the radio collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when >> they all started to gallop across the field. For those familiar >> with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in >> Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. >> It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs >> carved on it. I realize that some birders are strongly averse to >> crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state >> line is one of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker >> house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with >> Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the >> pinyons are incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a >> left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning >> Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back >> in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma >> ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route >> really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the >> region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister >> types. Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! >> >> Pete Janzen >> Wichita >> Subject: Re: Big Horns in Big Country From: Berlin Heck <baheck AT PINE-NET.COM> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 07:42:43 -0500 Pete--I don't want to go through all the paperwork to cross the line into Colorado--Maybe with my high-quality Kowa Scope I could spot the birds in Cottonwood Canyon from a good vantage point in Oklahoma? This reminds me of one time when a group of us visited the 3-state boundary monument north of the Black Mesa. Every time a group of us, including Jeri McMahon, went out to that area, Jeri would want a group photo at the monument. That day, I saw a Raven flying by so I jumped to the New Mexico side of the monument and said "got it for New Mexico!" Then I did the same for Colorado and Oklahoma. Jeri got a bit upset and explained to me why you can't do that. We always had good times on those trips. Berlin Heck On Jul 1, 2009, at 8:47 PM, Pete Janzen wrote: > Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas > friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" > and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ > bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be > about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest > Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have > the photos to prove it. A couple of the bighorns had radio > collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were > introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to > bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across > the field. For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles > east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's > Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in the field that has the > huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. I realize that > some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that > area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite > places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near the tri-state > marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through > some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly > abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 > miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon. > When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a > group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall > remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers > some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, > although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types. > Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! > > Pete Janzen > Wichita > Subject: Big Horns in Big Country From: Pete Janzen <pete.janzen AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:47:57 -0500 Concerning the bighorns, two years ago this September some Kansas friends and I were on one of our rambles across the "Three Corners" and in Baca Co., CO we were startled to find a group of 30+ bighorns in a tilled field along Carrizo Creek. This would be about 15-20 miles due north of Kenton as the raven flies. Lest Berlin accuse me of reporting this well into "happy hour" we have the photos to prove it. A couple of the bighorns had radio collars on and a guy drove up who told us that yes these were introduced by Fish and Game folk as the radio collars would seem to bear out. Pretty cool sight when they all started to gallop across the field. For those familiar with the area this was about 3 miles east of the camping area in Cottonwood Canyon where the Lewis's Woodpeckers are always so thick. It was in the field that has the huge boulder with the petroglyphs carved on it. I realize that some birders are strongly averse to crossing state lines but that area just north of the Okla/Colo state line is one of my favorite places anywhere. From the old Tucker house near the tri-state marker, if you just stay northbound with Road 8, it winds through some of the ponderosa habitat and the pinyons are incredibly abundant. Take it on up to Road M, hang a left and follow the 10 miles loop around down through the stunning Cottonwood Canyon. When we attempted a joint OOS/KOS meeting back in 2000 I took a group on this route. Now that a certain Oklahoma ranch which shall remain nameless has become off limits, this route really offers some of the best access to the unique habitats of the region, although I'm sensitive to the priorities of state-lister types. Hey ya gotta start a Colorado list sometime ya know! Pete Janzen Wichita Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican From: FRANK SANDFORD <sprugr51 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:43:58 -0500 It was the 2007 Christmas bird count and Eric Beck, Jim Arterburn and I saw one sitting on one of the posts of the bridge that goes over the river just below the dam. Happy birding, Frank in Sand Springs -----Original Message----- From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU]On Behalf Of David McNeely Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:53 AM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican Someone reported brown pelican at Salt Plains last year. Sorry, can't remember who or when. David McNeely On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 9:14 AM , Mike B wrote: > I'll have to look through my notes, but there was a brown pelican at > Hefner probably about 4-5 years ago that hung around for quite a > while. Only other time I've seen them has been out of state. > > Mike Bellah > Choctaw > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: David McNeely To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:47:58 PM > Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican > > The warning light was installed in the nineteen eighties, long before > the bridge collapse. A colleague and I once told the Texas Parks and > Wildlife Department that the only way to really prevent pelican deaths > on the bridge was to station an officer on the bridge any time weather > conditions were right for pelican falls. The officer would drive the > length of the bridge, back and forth, stopping to rescue pelicans. Of > course, our advice was not taken. Private citizens are not allowed to > stop on the bridge. > > Dave Mc > > > ---- Berlin Heck wrote: >> I was down there last fall and saw that there is a Pelican warning >> system for motorists crossing the bridge which, as I recall, is a >> sign with a light on it as you enter the bridge--my memory is fuzzy >> on this, but I think the light goes on when weather conditions are >> right for the light and wrong for the Pelicans. >> >> Berlin Heck >> Broken Bow >> >> On Jun 30, 2009, at 10:51 AM, David McNeely wrote: >> >>> Brown pelicans were endangered (may still be on eht list) but have >>> recovered bountifully due to DDT ban and careful husbandry. Now, >>> they line up on the poles, docks, even wires at South Padre and >>> nearby mainland. Quite a beatiful site to see a line of them >>> flying low over the waves. One of the most graceful views in >>> nature. However, the bridge to South Padre from Port Isabel used >>> to be a pelican killer, due to vortices that form around it in >>> strong winds. The vortices cause the birds to lose lift and fall >>> onto the bridge, where cars then hit them. I don't know if anything >>> was done to improve the situation when the bridge was rebuilt after >>> its collapse in 2001. >>> >>> David McNeely >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 9:36 PM , mike. brewer wrote: >>> >>>> Well ... Will wonders ever cease ! >>>> Long ago during the late DDT Days of the 1960s -70s, >>>> I think I remember that Brown Pelicans were severely decimated ... >>>> if not 'endangered'. >>>> I'll have to check Sutton's and Baumgartner's Books about Oklahoma >>>> sightings. >>>> >>>> Visiting the Texas coast, during a two week period of daily >>>> constant observations ... to observe up to 3-5 total ( over the >>>> entire visit ), in their prime habitat along Padre Island ... and >>>> other parts of the Texas coast was a rare event. >>>> >>>> I never though there would be a Brown Pelican in Oklahoma during >>>> the summer ? >>>> In many ways ... a lot of situations ... for some birds ... are a >>>> lot better than in past times. >>>> >>>> Thank You, >>>> >>>> "The Future Belongs To Those Who Believe In The Beauty Of Their >>>> Dreams" >>>> >>>> Michael Brewer >>>> Pauls Valley, Oklahoma >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: Patricia Velte To: >>>> OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 8:22 PM >>>> Subject: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear OKBirders, >>>> >>>> >>>> I spotted an imm. Brown Pelican late this afternoon at Lake >>>> Hefner (OKC). The bird was floating on the lake, flexing its >>>> wings and then took off, headed west. I'd be very interested to >>>> learn if it is sighted at Lake Overholser. >>>> >>>> >>>> Happy birding, >>>> >>>> >>>> Pat Velte >>>> >>>> Oklahoma City >>>> >>>> pvelte AT cox.net >>> No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.13.1/2212 - Release Date: 07/01/09 05:53:00 Subject: Re: banded Rock Pigeon From: Mia Revels <revels AT NSUOK.EDU> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 19:55:35 -0500 Thanks to all who have responded to my query. I have collated and sent those responses to Cory. I found them very informative and I am sure that he will as well. Thank you all very much!Mia Revels T-quah On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 10:37 AM, Mia Revels wrote: > Hello All, > A former ornithology student sent me the following information. Any ideas? > > Mia Revels > Tahlequah OK > > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Hey Dr. Revels. I found a Rock Pigeon today that landed in our cabinet shop > near Hulbert. It was not afraid of us at all. I noticed the two bands on its > feet so I tried to get close enough to read them. With a little bread I got > close enough to read the tags. I was able to grab the tags and rotate them > without the bird flying off. The tag on the left foot was green in color > with the following wrote on it: AU 2008 IMOI 372 (plastic band) > The one on the right foot was: blue in color with BR2 pressed into the > plastic. > The bird is still hanging around after a couple of hours. I was thinking > you would know what to do with the information. > > Thanks, Cory > Subject: Re: A book recommendation From: Dan Hough <dhough AT OU.EDU> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 18:23:41 -0500 Sandy, Sounds like fun, but I would think most kids would have trouble taking seriously a science book that included a section on dragons. Dan Sandy Berger wrote: > The librarian at my church asked me to review a book he just ordered. It's pro-Creation, so, sorry ahead of time if I offend anyone. > > The book is called Exploring Creation with Zoology 1, Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day by Jeannie K. Fulbright. It not only covers birds but also all the other flying creatures like bats and insects. > > I am really impressed with the section devoted to birds. It is so thorough. You name it, the book covers it. Everything from how to write latin names to great vocabulary words to why birds do what they do and how they do it. There are also recommended experiments and building projects. > > There is a section on bird watching. I just love this paragraph explaining about birders. > > "Many people who are interested in birds become amateur ornithologists. They study ornithology even though they are not paid for it. People who enjoy watching and studying birds are often called birders. One birder might say to another birder, "Where did you bird last week?" or "Have you been birding lately?" If, after studying this book, you decide to make bird watching a hobby, you can call yourself a birder!" > > So cute. > > The sections of bats, flying reptiles (dinosaurs and dragons), and flying insects are equally informative. Very scientific. > > Personally, I think anyone can enjoy this book. > > Sandy B. > FS, AR > > > -- Dan Hough email:dhough AT ou.edu Oklahoma Biological Survey Norman, OK 73019 Subject: Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds From: Berlin Heck <baheck AT PINE-NET.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:37:13 -0500 Check with Asa Gray in Kenton. He and his wife Fannie, are the ones with the hummingbird feeders on their back porch at the NW corner of town (where we get Rufous, Caliope, Black-chinned, and maybe Broad- tailed--can't recall), and he runs the local museum. He had a Bighorn Sheep ram into the side of his truck for some reason several years ago. He told me that he was driving along and one started running with him. Then it simply ran into the door of his truck; because he drives a Dodge Ram with the ram hood ornament and it was mating season, he says (with a laugh) that he must have drove into its territory. He said that there are several that hang around in the area where visitors park to walk to the top of the mesa. I have looked carefully when out there, but never have been honored to see one or have one crunch my truck. Berlin Heck Broken Bow On Jul 1, 2009, at 3:40 PM, David McNeely wrote: > Black bear, huh? In 2002 Bonnie and I observed a bighorn ram that > sat on the mesa rim all the time that we were on the approach > trail. At first I thought it must be an audad, as they occur in > nearby Texas and New Mexico, but when we got close enough to see, > the horns clearly showed the mass and the curl of a bighorn. As we > approached the mesa top the rim where we'd seen the ram was out of > sight, and when we could see it again, the ram was gone. When I > mentioned it to a local resident, he simply said, "Oh yeah, they're > around." I asked Bill Caire (author of _Mammals of Oklahoma_) > about bighorns in the area, and he seemed to think that it must be > a recent stray, and not part of a resident population in the > Oklahoma portion of the mesa. But the local fella seemed to > consider it something normal. Bears are listed by both TNC and > ODWC for the mesa area. Bighorns are not, at least not as of my > last look. Congratulations on seeing your bear. I've yet to see > one in Oklahoma, though I have spent a fair amount of time in > LeFlore, McCurtain, and Pushmataha counties. > > Dave Mc > > > On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 11:37 AM , Richard Gunn wrote: > >> Wher and what time of day did you see the bear? >> ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug Wood To: >> OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:06 >> Subject: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds >> >> >> Hi All, got back from a trip out to Cimarron County yesterday. >> Birded with Bill Carter and joined up for some birding with John >> Shackford, Jack Tyler, Warren Harden, and Ron Harden. Great trip >> overall including a nice observation of my first black bear in >> Oklahoma (it was big and going the other way.). Got a few of the >> western specialties including Scaled Quail (near Hardesty), >> Mountain Plover (near Keyes), Long-billed Curlew (with young, near >> Keyes), Burrowing Owl (near Keyes), Common Poorwill (Hoot Owl >> Ranch), Ash-throated Flycatcher (lot of places), Western Scrub-Jay >> (Camp Billy Joe), Black-billed Magpie (Hoot Owl Ranch), Juniper >> Titmouse (Camp Billy Joe), Bushtits (Camp Billy Joe), Mountain >> Bluebird (near Black Mesa B&B), Spotted Towhee (Camp Billy Joe), >> Cassin's Sparrow (Hoot Owl Ranch), Black-throated Sparrow (Easter >> Pageant area), Lark Bunting (near Keyes), and Lesser Goldfinch >> (Kenton). Doug. >> >> >> Full List >> >> Canada Goose >> >> Wood Duck >> >> Mallard >> >> Ruddy Duck - Boise City Lagoons >> >> Ring-necked Pheasant >> >> Wild Turkey >> >> Scaled Quail >> >> N. Bobwhite >> >> Double-crested Cormorant >> >> Great Blue Heron >> >> Cattle Egret >> >> Black-crowned Night-Heron - Boise City Lagoons >> >> Turkey Vulture >> >> Mississippi Kite - 14 at Hoot Owl >> >> Bald Eagle - Lake Etling >> >> Swainson's Hawk >> >> Red-tailed Hawk >> >> Am. Kestrel >> >> Killdeer >> >> Mountain Plover >> >> Am. Avocet - Boise City Lagoons >> >> Long-billed Curlew >> >> Rock Pigeon >> >> E. Collared-Dove >> >> Mourning Dove >> >> Yellow-billed Cuckoo >> >> G. Roadrunner >> >> Burrowing Owl >> >> C. Nighthawk >> >> C. Poorwill >> >> Black-chinned Hummer >> >> Red-headed Woodpecker >> >> Ladder-backed Woodpecker >> >> Downy Woodpecker >> >> N. Flicker >> >> E. Phoebe >> >> Say's Phoebe >> >> Ash-throated Flycatcher >> >> Cassin's Kingbird >> >> W. Kingbird >> >> E. Kingbird >> >> Scissor-tailed Flycatcher >> >> Loggerhead Shrike >> >> Blue Jay - along "river" at Hoot Owl >> >> W. Scrub-Jay >> >> Black-billed Magpie >> >> Ch. Raven >> >> Common Raven >> >> Horned Lark >> >> N. Rough-winged Swallow - along "river" at Hoot Owl >> >> Cliff Swallow >> >> Barn Swallow >> >> Juniper Titmouse >> >> Bushtit >> >> Rock Wren >> >> Canyon Wren >> >> Bewick's Wren >> >> E. Bluebird >> >> Mountain Bluebird - female on wire near Black Mesa B&B >> >> Am. Robin >> >> N. Mockingbird >> >> Curve-billed Thrasher >> >> E. Starling >> >> Yellow Warbler >> >> Spotted Towhee >> >> Canyon Towhee >> >> Cassin's Sparrow >> >> Rufous-crowned Sparrow >> >> Lark Sparrow >> >> Black-throated Sparrow >> >> Lark Bunting >> >> Grasshopper Sparrow >> >> Blue Grosbeak >> >> Dickcissel >> >> Red-winged Blackbird >> >> E. Meadowlark >> >> W. Meadowlark >> >> C. Grackle >> >> Great-tailed Grackle >> >> Brown-headed Cowbird >> >> Orchard Oriole >> >> Bullock's Oriole >> >> House Finch >> >> Lesser Goldfinch >> >> House Sparrow >> >> >> Doug Wood, Ph.D. >> >> PMB 4068 >> >> 1405 N. 4th Ave. >> >> Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences >> >> Southeastern Oklahoma State University >> >> Durant, OK 74701-0609 >> >> 580.745.2272 >> >> dwood AT se.edu >> >> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------------- >> --------- >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus >> Database: 270.13.1/2212 - Release Date: 07/01/09 05:53:00 > Subject: Hackberry Flat From: ml2x <ml2x AT SBCGLOBAL.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 17:18:04 -0500 Hello Everyone, Mary and I birded Hackberry Flat today for a couple of hours. The number of Egrets and Herons are impressive. We had a Least Bittern and a Moorhen on a nest with at least 2 chicks peeking out. We had 2 LB Dowitchers, 7 G. Yellowlegs and 8 Am Avocet chicks at about 25% along with loads of BN Stilts. In the duck arena, we had 1 Cinnamon Teal drake, 1 Cinnamon Teal x Probably Blue Wing, 2 N. Pintails, 5 N. Shovelers, 2 GW Teal, Ruddy ducks, 2 Redheads and lots of PB Grebes with chicks in tow. 1 King Rail and 42 Ibis species. Goodest Birding, Mary and Lou Truex ml2x AT sbcglobal.net Lawton Subject: book recommendation From: Sandy Berger <fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 14:41:41 -0700 I neglected to say that the book is really designed for young people. Sandy B. FS, AR Subject: Re: banded Rock Pigeon From: Pam <pjd524 AT JUNO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 21:11:27 GMT Berlin, You may be correct on that point. If a bird is too far off track, they may not want it back, but at least may want to know where it ended up. According to what I found, that bird comes from a club member in Independence, MO, and since it was found in Tallequah...it's not very close to home. I know that in 1976 what you said was absolutley true, but since the advent of micorwaves and cell phones...things that certainly interfere with their natural homing instincts, a near miss might be acceptable for a maiden flight. My suggestion is to at least contact the club and let the owner know. For the original poster the club address is : Independence, MO, INV RPC IMOI Jerry MacLean Lone Jack, MO 816-456-0286 JMACLEAN AT KC.RR.net Call or email Jerry and be sure to give him the rest of the band number so that he can contact the owner. Sadly, I fear it may be as Berlin stated, 'You may be the proud new parents of a racing pigeon!' Pam Walker pjd524 AT juno.com ____________________________________________________________ Criminal Lawyers - Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOVoLAZcFQgi27eDpOhwMO83SkGbfzovmxE10TJFo2qFSPqTWpJEs/ Subject: Re: Bird Behavior From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:57:37 -0400 http://academic.emporia.edu/mooredwi/nathist/chap15.htm scroll down to the section on terrestrial locomotion. On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 3:32 PM , Rebecca John wrote: > Why do some birds hop and others walk? > Becky John > Skiatook > North Tulsa County Subject: Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds From: John Fisher <rgs455 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:59:40 -0500 According to what Ron at Black Mesa SP told me, Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep were re-introduced on the western end of the Mesa about ten or fifteen years ago by Colorado Fish & Game. If I remember correctly there is a herd of about 20 on our end on the Mesa. I've seen their tracks several times on the upper slopes but never been lucky enough to see one of the sheep. FWIW, the sheep are on the TNC preserve list for Black Mesa but bears aren't. John -----Original Message----- From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of David McNeely Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 2:41 PM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] Black Mesa Cimarron County birds << File: UTF-8.HTM >> Black bear, huh? In 2002 Bonnie and I observed a bighorn ram that sat on the mesa rim all the time that we were on the approach trail. At first I thought it must be an audad, as they occur in nearby Texas and New Mexico, but when we got close enough to see, the horns clearly showed the mass and the curl of a bighorn. As we approached the mesa top the rim where we'd seen the ram was out of sight, and when we could see it again, the ram was gone. When I mentioned it to a local resident, he simply said, "Oh yeah, they're around." I asked Bill Caire (author of _Mammals of Oklahoma_) about bighorns in the area, and he seemed to think that it must be a recent stray, and not part of a resident population in the Oklahoma portion of the mesa. But the local fella seemed to consider it something normal. Bears are listed by both TNC and ODWC for the mesa area. Bighorns are not, at least not as of my last look. Congratulations on seeing your bear. I've yet to see one in Oklahoma, though I have spent a fair amount of time in LeFlore, McCurtain, and Pushmataha counties. Dave Mc On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 11:37 AM , Richard Gunn wrote: > Wher and what time of day did you see the bear? > ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug Wood To: > OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:06 > Subject: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds > > > Hi All, got back from a trip out to Cimarron County yesterday. > Birded with Bill Carter and joined up for some birding with John > Shackford, Jack Tyler, Warren Harden, and Ron Harden. Great trip > overall including a nice observation of my first black bear in > Oklahoma (it was big and going the other way.). Got a few of the > western specialties including Scaled Quail (near Hardesty), Mountain > Plover (near Keyes), Long-billed Curlew (with young, near Keyes), > Burrowing Owl (near Keyes), Common Poorwill (Hoot Owl Ranch), > Ash-throated Flycatcher (lot of places), Western Scrub-Jay (Camp Billy > Joe), Black-billed Magpie (Hoot Owl Ranch), Juniper Titmouse (Camp > Billy Joe), Bushtits (Camp Billy Joe), Mountain Bluebird (near Black > Mesa B&B), Spotted Towhee (Camp Billy Joe), Cassin's Sparrow (Hoot Owl > Ranch), Black-throated Sparrow (Easter Pageant area), Lark Bunting > (near Keyes), and Lesser Goldfinch (Kenton). Doug. > > > Full List > > Canada Goose > > Wood Duck > > Mallard > > Ruddy Duck - Boise City Lagoons > > Ring-necked Pheasant > > Wild Turkey > > Scaled Quail > > N. Bobwhite > > Double-crested Cormorant > > Great Blue Heron > > Cattle Egret > > Black-crowned Night-Heron - Boise City Lagoons > > Turkey Vulture > > Mississippi Kite - 14 at Hoot Owl > > Bald Eagle - Lake Etling > > Swainson's Hawk > > Red-tailed Hawk > > Am. Kestrel > > Killdeer > > Mountain Plover > > Am. Avocet - Boise City Lagoons > > Long-billed Curlew > > Rock Pigeon > > E. Collared-Dove > > Mourning Dove > > Yellow-billed Cuckoo > > G. Roadrunner > > Burrowing Owl > > C. Nighthawk > > C. Poorwill > > Black-chinned Hummer > > Red-headed Woodpecker > > Ladder-backed Woodpecker > > Downy Woodpecker > > N. Flicker > > E. Phoebe > > Say's Phoebe > > Ash-throated Flycatcher > > Cassin's Kingbird > > W. Kingbird > > E. Kingbird > > Scissor-tailed Flycatcher > > Loggerhead Shrike > > Blue Jay - along "river" at Hoot Owl > > W. Scrub-Jay > > Black-billed Magpie > > Ch. Raven > > Common Raven > > Horned Lark > > N. Rough-winged Swallow - along "river" at Hoot Owl > > Cliff Swallow > > Barn Swallow > > Juniper Titmouse > > Bushtit > > Rock Wren > > Canyon Wren > > Bewick's Wren > > E. Bluebird > > Mountain Bluebird - female on wire near Black Mesa B&B > > Am. Robin > > N. Mockingbird > > Curve-billed Thrasher > > E. Starling > > Yellow Warbler > > Spotted Towhee > > Canyon Towhee > > Cassin's Sparrow > > Rufous-crowned Sparrow > > Lark Sparrow > > Black-throated Sparrow > > Lark Bunting > > Grasshopper Sparrow > > Blue Grosbeak > > Dickcissel > > Red-winged Blackbird > > E. Meadowlark > > W. Meadowlark > > C. Grackle > > Great-tailed Grackle > > Brown-headed Cowbird > > Orchard Oriole > > Bullock's Oriole > > House Finch > > Lesser Goldfinch > > House Sparrow > > > Doug Wood, Ph.D. > > PMB 4068 > > 1405 N. 4th Ave. > > Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences > > Southeastern Oklahoma State University > > Durant, OK 74701-0609 > > 580.745.2272 > > dwood AT se.edu > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: > 270.13.1/2212 - Release Date: 07/01/09 05:53:00 Subject: July Migration Report From: Patricia Velte <pvelte AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:55:43 -0500 Dear OKBirders, I've included both the arrival and departure lists in this message. Only two species are listed with DEPARTURE dates in JULY: Purple Gallinule July 28 - SE Swainson's Warbler July 26 - SE Below are the 31 species with ARRIVAL dates in JULY: White-faced Ibis July 26 - SW,C,SC,NE,SE Wood Stork July 17 - SC,SE Swainson's Hawk July 14 - NE,SE Snowy Plover July 19 - C,SC,NE Semipalmated Plover July 15 - ALL Piping Plover July 19 - NW,C,NE American Avocet July 14 - C,SC,NE,SE Solitary Sandpiper July 6 - ALL Willet July 1 - ALL Spotted Sandpiper July 12 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE,SE Upland Sandpiper July 19 - SE Marbled Godwit July 19 - PAN,NW,SW,C,SC,NE Sanderling July 28 - ALL Semipalmated Sandpiper July 6 - ALL Western Sandpiper July 6 - ALL Least Sandpiper July 1 - ALL Baird's Sandpiper July 7 - ALL Pectoral Sandpiper July 9 - ALL Stilt Sandpiper July 12 - ALL Buff-breasted Sandpiper July 30 - NW,SW,C,SC,NE Short-billed Dowitcher July 8 - NW,C,SC,NE,SE Long-billed Dowitcher July 10 - ALL Wilson's Phalarope July 23 - ALL Franklin's Gull July 23 - ALL Caspian Tern July 11 - C,SC,NE,SE Forster's Tern July 10 - ALL Rufous Hummingbird July 22 - PAN,NW,SW,C,NE Least Flycatcher July 15 - ALL Bank Swallow July 27 - ALL Sedge Wren July 25 - NE Yellow-headed Blackbird July 23 - PAN,NW,SW,C,SC,NE The information presented here comes from The Oklahoma Bird Records Committee of the Oklahoma Ornithological Society, which publishes a Date Guide to the Occurrences of Birds in Oklahoma. This booklet divides Oklahoma into 7 geographic regions, and lists the normal dates of occurrence for each Oklahoma bird species within each region. Observers are urged to report unusual species, or birds out of date or out of normal range in Oklahoma, based on the information given in this publication. The Oklahoma Ornithological Society and Oklahoma Bird Records Committee web site, http://www.okbirds.org/, includes ordering information for the Date Guide to the Occurrences of Birds in Oklahoma, information on documenting significant records, documentation forms, instructions, and a searchable database for Oklahoma bird migration information. Birders are cordially invited to join the Oklahoma Ornithological Society. Happy birding! Pat Velte pvelte AT cox.net Oklahoma City, OK Any errors in this monthly migration message are my responsibility and are unintentional. Please message me off the list with any/all corrections, etc. Subject: American Racing Pigeon Union | Homing Pigeons | Sport Flyers From: "mike. brewer" <mike.brewer AT ATT.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:51:00 -0500 This link will tell anyone what they need to know about banded Pigeons. http://www.pigeon.org/ Subject: Re: A book recommendation From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:46:58 -0400 Well, I'm glad you enjoyed the book. Thanks for the recommendation. All the scientific information on birds and other reptiles (including bats) and insects, is available in publications that do not present misinformation (at least not on purpose). But, wait, you said the book is pro-Creation, not pro-creationism. We are all pro-Creation. Let's all help care for it. David McNeely On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 2:35 PM , Sandy Berger wrote: > The librarian at my church asked me to review a book he just ordered. > It's pro-Creation, so, sorry ahead of time if I offend anyone. > > The book is called Exploring Creation with Zoology 1, Flying Creatures > of the Fifth Day by Jeannie K. Fulbright. It not only covers birds > but also all the other flying creatures like bats and insects. > > I am really impressed with the section devoted to birds. It is so > thorough. You name it, the book covers it. Everything from how to > write latin names to great vocabulary words to why birds do what they > do and how they do it. There are also recommended experiments and > building projects. > > There is a section on bird watching. I just love this paragraph > explaining about birders. > > "Many people who are interested in birds become amateur > ornithologists. They study ornithology even though they are not paid > for it. People who enjoy watching and studying birds are often called > birders. One birder might say to another birder, "Where did you bird > last week?" or "Have you been birding lately?" If, after studying > this book, you decide to make bird watching a hobby, you can call > yourself a birder!" > > So cute. > > The sections of bats, flying reptiles (dinosaurs and dragons), and > flying insects are equally informative. Very scientific. > > Personally, I think anyone can enjoy this book. > > Sandy B. > FS, AR Subject: Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:40:58 -0400 Black bear, huh? In 2002 Bonnie and I observed a bighorn ram that sat on the mesa rim all the time that we were on the approach trail. At first I thought it must be an audad, as they occur in nearby Texas and New Mexico, but when we got close enough to see, the horns clearly showed the mass and the curl of a bighorn. As we approached the mesa top the rim where we'd seen the ram was out of sight, and when we could see it again, the ram was gone. When I mentioned it to a local resident, he simply said, "Oh yeah, they're around." I asked Bill Caire (author of _Mammals of Oklahoma_) about bighorns in the area, and he seemed to think that it must be a recent stray, and not part of a resident population in the Oklahoma portion of the mesa. But the local fella seemed to consider it something normal. Bears are listed by both TNC and ODWC for the mesa area. Bighorns are not, at least not as of my last look. Congratulations on seeing your bear. I've yet to see one in Oklahoma, though I have spent a fair amount of time in LeFlore, McCurtain, and Pushmataha counties. Dave Mc On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 11:37 AM , Richard Gunn wrote: > Wher and what time of day did you see the bear? > ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug Wood To: > OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:06 > Subject: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds > > > Hi All, got back from a trip out to Cimarron County yesterday. > Birded with Bill Carter and joined up for some birding with John > Shackford, Jack Tyler, Warren Harden, and Ron Harden. Great trip > overall including a nice observation of my first black bear in > Oklahoma (it was big and going the other way.). Got a few of the > western specialties including Scaled Quail (near Hardesty), Mountain > Plover (near Keyes), Long-billed Curlew (with young, near Keyes), > Burrowing Owl (near Keyes), Common Poorwill (Hoot Owl Ranch), > Ash-throated Flycatcher (lot of places), Western Scrub-Jay (Camp Billy > Joe), Black-billed Magpie (Hoot Owl Ranch), Juniper Titmouse (Camp > Billy Joe), Bushtits (Camp Billy Joe), Mountain Bluebird (near Black > Mesa B&B), Spotted Towhee (Camp Billy Joe), Cassin's Sparrow (Hoot Owl > Ranch), Black-throated Sparrow (Easter Pageant area), Lark Bunting > (near Keyes), and Lesser Goldfinch (Kenton). Doug. > > > Full List > > Canada Goose > > Wood Duck > > Mallard > > Ruddy Duck - Boise City Lagoons > > Ring-necked Pheasant > > Wild Turkey > > Scaled Quail > > N. Bobwhite > > Double-crested Cormorant > > Great Blue Heron > > Cattle Egret > > Black-crowned Night-Heron - Boise City Lagoons > > Turkey Vulture > > Mississippi Kite - 14 at Hoot Owl > > Bald Eagle - Lake Etling > > Swainson's Hawk > > Red-tailed Hawk > > Am. Kestrel > > Killdeer > > Mountain Plover > > Am. Avocet - Boise City Lagoons > > Long-billed Curlew > > Rock Pigeon > > E. Collared-Dove > > Mourning Dove > > Yellow-billed Cuckoo > > G. Roadrunner > > Burrowing Owl > > C. Nighthawk > > C. Poorwill > > Black-chinned Hummer > > Red-headed Woodpecker > > Ladder-backed Woodpecker > > Downy Woodpecker > > N. Flicker > > E. Phoebe > > Say's Phoebe > > Ash-throated Flycatcher > > Cassin's Kingbird > > W. Kingbird > > E. Kingbird > > Scissor-tailed Flycatcher > > Loggerhead Shrike > > Blue Jay - along "river" at Hoot Owl > > W. Scrub-Jay > > Black-billed Magpie > > Ch. Raven > > Common Raven > > Horned Lark > > N. Rough-winged Swallow - along "river" at Hoot Owl > > Cliff Swallow > > Barn Swallow > > Juniper Titmouse > > Bushtit > > Rock Wren > > Canyon Wren > > Bewick's Wren > > E. Bluebird > > Mountain Bluebird - female on wire near Black Mesa B&B > > Am. Robin > > N. Mockingbird > > Curve-billed Thrasher > > E. Starling > > Yellow Warbler > > Spotted Towhee > > Canyon Towhee > > Cassin's Sparrow > > Rufous-crowned Sparrow > > Lark Sparrow > > Black-throated Sparrow > > Lark Bunting > > Grasshopper Sparrow > > Blue Grosbeak > > Dickcissel > > Red-winged Blackbird > > E. Meadowlark > > W. Meadowlark > > C. Grackle > > Great-tailed Grackle > > Brown-headed Cowbird > > Orchard Oriole > > Bullock's Oriole > > House Finch > > Lesser Goldfinch > > House Sparrow > > > Doug Wood, Ph.D. > > PMB 4068 > > 1405 N. 4th Ave. > > Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences > > Southeastern Oklahoma State University > > Durant, OK 74701-0609 > > 580.745.2272 > > dwood AT se.edu > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: > 270.13.1/2212 - Release Date: 07/01/09 05:53:00 Subject: Bird Behavior From: Rebecca John <becajohn_50 AT MSN.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:32:43 -0500 Why do some birds hop and others walk? Becky John Skiatook North Tulsa County Subject: A book recommendation From: Sandy Berger <fsbirdlady AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:35:07 -0700 The librarian at my church asked me to review a book he just ordered. It's pro-Creation, so, sorry ahead of time if I offend anyone. The book is called Exploring Creation with Zoology 1, Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day by Jeannie K. Fulbright. It not only covers birds but also all the other flying creatures like bats and insects. I am really impressed with the section devoted to birds. It is so thorough. You name it, the book covers it. Everything from how to write latin names to great vocabulary words to why birds do what they do and how they do it. There are also recommended experiments and building projects. There is a section on bird watching. I just love this paragraph explaining about birders. "Many people who are interested in birds become amateur ornithologists. They study ornithology even though they are not paid for it. People who enjoy watching and studying birds are often called birders. One birder might say to another birder, "Where did you bird last week?" or "Have you been birding lately?" If, after studying this book, you decide to make bird watching a hobby, you can call yourself a birder!" So cute. The sections of bats, flying reptiles (dinosaurs and dragons), and flying insects are equally informative. Very scientific. Personally, I think anyone can enjoy this book. Sandy B. FS, AR Subject: Re: banded Rock Pigeon From: Berlin Heck <baheck AT PINE-NET.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 12:58:22 -0500 Back in the old days, circa 1976, I had the same thing occur. The band is for racing pigeons, I found out. That group is very close- mouthed about their members and pigeons because they do not want to go the expense of retrieving the pigeons that fail to return home-- those pigeons are considered defective and not wanted in the gene pool of their pigeons. That is the message that I got from a local pigeon racer, and that left me with a problem because the pigeon liked to roost above my boat! I lived a Brigantine NWR in those olden days, near Atlantic City, NJ, so I took the pigeon to town and it did not return. In summary--I doubt that you will be able to trace the band numbers, and you are the proud owner of a pigeon. berlin Heck Broken Bow On Jul 1, 2009, at 10:37 AM, Mia Revels wrote: > Hello All, > > A former ornithology student sent me the following information. > Any ideas? > > Mia Revels > Tahlequah OK > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > --------------------------------------------------------------- > Hey Dr. Revels. I found a Rock Pigeon today that landed in our > cabinet shop near Hulbert. It was not afraid of us at all. I > noticed the two bands on its feet so I tried to get close enough to > read them. With a little bread I got close enough to read the tags. > I was able to grab the tags and rotate them without the bird flying > off. The tag on the left foot was green in color with the following > wrote on it: AU 2008 IMOI 372 (plastic band) > The one on the right foot was: blue in color with BR2 pressed into > the plastic. > The bird is still hanging around after a couple of hours. I was > thinking you would know what to do with the information. > > Thanks, Cory Subject: Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds From: Doug Wood <DWood AT SE.EDU> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:40:07 -0500 It was north of Black Mesa State Park, about halfway between the north end of the park and the highway on the east side of the road. Was ambling up a ridge. It was early evening, around 6:30-7 pm. DW ________________________________ From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Richard Gunn Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 11:37 AM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds Wher and what time of day did you see the bear? ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug Wood To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:06 Subject: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds Hi All, got back from a trip out to Cimarron County yesterday. Birded with Bill Carter and joined up for some birding with John Shackford, Jack Tyler, Warren Harden, and Ron Harden. Great trip overall including a nice observation of my first black bear in Oklahoma (it was big and going the other way...). Got a few of the western specialties including Scaled Quail (near Hardesty), Mountain Plover (near Keyes), Long-billed Curlew (with young, near Keyes), Burrowing Owl (near Keyes), Common Poorwill (Hoot Owl Ranch), Ash-throated Flycatcher (lot of places), Western Scrub-Jay (Camp Billy Joe), Black-billed Magpie (Hoot Owl Ranch), Juniper Titmouse (Camp Billy Joe), Bushtits (Camp Billy Joe), Mountain Bluebird (near Black Mesa B&B), Spotted Towhee (Camp Billy Joe), Cassin's Sparrow (Hoot Owl Ranch), Black-throated Sparrow (Easter Pageant area), Lark Bunting (near Keyes), and Lesser Goldfinch (Kenton). Doug. Full List Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Ruddy Duck - Boise City Lagoons Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey Scaled Quail N. Bobwhite Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cattle Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron - Boise City Lagoons Turkey Vulture Mississippi Kite - 14 at Hoot Owl Bald Eagle - Lake Etling Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Am. Kestrel Killdeer Mountain Plover Am. Avocet - Boise City Lagoons Long-billed Curlew Rock Pigeon E. Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo G. Roadrunner Burrowing Owl C. Nighthawk C. Poorwill Black-chinned Hummer Red-headed Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker N. Flicker E. Phoebe Say's Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird W. Kingbird E. Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Blue Jay - along "river" at Hoot Owl W. Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Ch. Raven Common Raven Horned Lark N. Rough-winged Swallow - along "river" at Hoot Owl Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Juniper Titmouse Bushtit Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren E. Bluebird Mountain Bluebird - female on wire near Black Mesa B&B Am. Robin N. Mockingbird Curve-billed Thrasher E. Starling Yellow Warbler Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Cassin's Sparrow Rufous-crowned Sparrow Lark Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow Lark Bunting Grasshopper Sparrow Blue Grosbeak Dickcissel Red-winged Blackbird E. Meadowlark W. Meadowlark C. Grackle Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Bullock's Oriole House Finch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Doug Wood, Ph.D. PMB 4068 1405 N. 4th Ave. Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OK 74701-0609 580.745.2272 dwood AT se.edu ________________________________ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.13.1/2212 - Release Date: 07/01/09 05:53:00 Subject: Re: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds From: Richard Gunn <rgunn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:37:09 -0500 Wher and what time of day did you see the bear? ----- Original Message ----- From: Doug Wood To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:06 Subject: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds Hi All, got back from a trip out to Cimarron County yesterday. Birded with Bill Carter and joined up for some birding with John Shackford, Jack Tyler, Warren Harden, and Ron Harden. Great trip overall including a nice observation of my first black bear in Oklahoma (it was big and going the other way.). Got a few of the western specialties including Scaled Quail (near Hardesty), Mountain Plover (near Keyes), Long-billed Curlew (with young, near Keyes), Burrowing Owl (near Keyes), Common Poorwill (Hoot Owl Ranch), Ash-throated Flycatcher (lot of places), Western Scrub-Jay (Camp Billy Joe), Black-billed Magpie (Hoot Owl Ranch), Juniper Titmouse (Camp Billy Joe), Bushtits (Camp Billy Joe), Mountain Bluebird (near Black Mesa B&B), Spotted Towhee (Camp Billy Joe), Cassin's Sparrow (Hoot Owl Ranch), Black-throated Sparrow (Easter Pageant area), Lark Bunting (near Keyes), and Lesser Goldfinch (Kenton). Doug. Full List Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Ruddy Duck - Boise City Lagoons Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey Scaled Quail N. Bobwhite Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cattle Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron - Boise City Lagoons Turkey Vulture Mississippi Kite - 14 at Hoot Owl Bald Eagle - Lake Etling Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Am. Kestrel Killdeer Mountain Plover Am. Avocet - Boise City Lagoons Long-billed Curlew Rock Pigeon E. Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo G. Roadrunner Burrowing Owl C. Nighthawk C. Poorwill Black-chinned Hummer Red-headed Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker N. Flicker E. Phoebe Say's Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird W. Kingbird E. Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Blue Jay - along "river" at Hoot Owl W. Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Ch. Raven Common Raven Horned Lark N. Rough-winged Swallow - along "river" at Hoot Owl Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Juniper Titmouse Bushtit Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren E. Bluebird Mountain Bluebird - female on wire near Black Mesa B&B Am. Robin N. Mockingbird Curve-billed Thrasher E. Starling Yellow Warbler Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Cassin's Sparrow Rufous-crowned Sparrow Lark Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow Lark Bunting Grasshopper Sparrow Blue Grosbeak Dickcissel Red-winged Blackbird E. Meadowlark W. Meadowlark C. Grackle Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Bullock's Oriole House Finch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Doug Wood, Ph.D. PMB 4068 1405 N. 4th Ave. Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OK 74701-0609 580.745.2272 dwood AT se.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.13.1/2212 - Release Date: 07/01/09 05:53:00 Subject: Re: banded Rock Pigeon From: Pam <pjd524 AT JUNO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:27:17 GMT Here is the link on how to read the band. http://www.pigeon.org/lostbirdinfo.htm One number will identify the club, and the other number identifies the owner. Simply email the club and they will contact the owner for you. Be sure and leave contact info in the email. Some clubs even list their phone numbers. It's probably a racing pigeon on it's maiden flight. Sometimes they will get lost by a mile or two. Actually, they say that cell phone signals confuse them. He probably is from somewhere very close, and I'm sure his owner would appreciate having him back! Hope this helps. Pam Walker pjd524 AT juno.com ____________________________________________________________ The difference is clear. Click now for a great laminating machine! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTG3HueHkbkEUsZcSxxVCVbsEZbgspMziZvjncXs9S5kz8M4RXSm8g/ Subject: Re: banded Rock Pigeon From: ROBERT LAVAL <blaval AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:07:21 -0500 I had this experience a few years ago with a banded Rock Pigeon found dead. I got on the internet and went to site of one of the racing pigeon clubs in the US. Some how I found out how to list a pigeon by number and it would tell me the owner of the bird and an address. I contacted her by phone and found out that racers become lost frequently and don't return, many times joining flocks of local birds. She was able to look up the band and tell me when the bird was last seen. It was from somewhere in TX. However, I can't remember the exact detail of how I found the correct site for the information but a little research on the internet should turn it up. Subject: Re: banded Rock Pigeon From: Cyndie Browning <buteoswainsoni AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:00:58 -0700 Mia and others ~ I'm surprised your student had to coax the pigeon in closer with bread; while running one of my Okla. breeding bird atlas plots years ago, we found a pigeon (or rather, were found by a pigeon) that apparently belonged to one of the residents on the road where we were birding.  That silly bird was so tame, it followed me/us around like a puppy!!  When another resident pointed out the house where the bird "lived," we led it home to its human mama, who was tickled to see it and picked it up and petted it just like a puppy! ~:-) Cyndie Browning Buteoswainsoni AT yahoo.com www.facebook.com/people/Cyndie-Browning/1463123476 www.adimview.com Tulsa, OK    How do migrating birds know which one to follow? What if the lead bird just wants to be alone? -- Bill Bryson, "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir" (2006)   ________________________________ From: "Kennington, John" To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:42:20 AM Subject: Re: [OKBIRDS] banded Rock Pigeon I get frequent calls about banded pigeons, and put a FAQ on the Tulsa Audubon site with links on how to read pigeon bands:   http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/pigeons.htm   John Kennington Bixby, OK   ________________________________ From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Mia Revels Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:37 AM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: banded Rock Pigeon Hello All, A former ornithology student sent me the following information.  Any ideas? Mia Revels Tahlequah OK ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey Dr. Revels. I found a Rock Pigeon today that landed in our cabinet shop near Hulbert. It was not afraid of us at all. I noticed the two bands on its feet so I tried to get close enough to read them. With a little bread I got close enough to read the tags. I was able to grab the tags and rotate them without the bird flying off. The tag on the left foot was green in color with the following wrote on it: AU 2008   IMOI   372   (plastic band) The one on the right foot was: blue in color  with BR2 pressed into the plastic.  The bird is still hanging around after a couple of hours. I was thinking you would know what to do with the information. Thanks, Cory  Subject: Re: banded Rock Pigeon From: "Kennington, John" <john.kennington AT EDS.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:42:20 -0500 I get frequent calls about banded pigeons, and put a FAQ on the Tulsa Audubon site with links on how to read pigeon bands: http://www.tulsaaudubon.org/pigeons.htm John Kennington Bixby, OK ________________________________ From: okbirds [mailto:OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU] On Behalf Of Mia Revels Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:37 AM To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Subject: banded Rock Pigeon Hello All, A former ornithology student sent me the following information. Any ideas? Mia Revels Tahlequah OK ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------- Hey Dr. Revels. I found a Rock Pigeon today that landed in our cabinet shop near Hulbert. It was not afraid of us at all. I noticed the two bands on its feet so I tried to get close enough to read them. With a little bread I got close enough to read the tags. I was able to grab the tags and rotate them without the bird flying off. The tag on the left foot was green in color with the following wrote on it: AU 2008 IMOI 372 (plastic band) The one on the right foot was: blue in color with BR2 pressed into the plastic. The bird is still hanging around after a couple of hours. I was thinking you would know what to do with the information. Thanks, Cory Subject: banded Rock Pigeon From: Mia Revels <revels AT NSUOK.EDU> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:37:06 -0500 Hello All, A former ornithology student sent me the following information. Any ideas? Mia Revels Tahlequah OK ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey Dr. Revels. I found a Rock Pigeon today that landed in our cabinet shop near Hulbert. It was not afraid of us at all. I noticed the two bands on its feet so I tried to get close enough to read them. With a little bread I got close enough to read the tags. I was able to grab the tags and rotate them without the bird flying off. The tag on the left foot was green in color with the following wrote on it: AU 2008 IMOI 372 (plastic band) The one on the right foot was: blue in color with BR2 pressed into the plastic. The bird is still hanging around after a couple of hours. I was thinking you would know what to do with the information. Thanks, Cory Subject: Re: Hackberry Flats 6-27-09 plus unknown Duck From: Brady Surber <supersurber1 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 08:33:29 -0700 The bird looks like a mallard to me. Granted a very funny mallard. I am going out there later today I will look for it.   Brady Surber Vernon, TX --- On Tue, 6/30/09, Bill Adams wrote: From: Bill Adams Subject: Hackberry Flats 6-27-09 plus unknown Duck To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009, 12:17 AM Went to Hackberry Flats this past weekend to see what baby birds I could find.  Found a couple.  The highlight was a pair of King Rails with 4 chicks.  Also had a duck that resembles a mallard, but not exactly.  Can anyone ID it, links to pictures are below?    Some birds are linked to pictures. King Rails (life) With Chicks Black-necked Stilts And nest American Avocets Killdeer Snowy Plover Red-winged Blackbird Unknown Duck 1st View 2nd View Little Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Great Blue Heron There could have been more, but that is all I remember. Bill Adams Tishomingo, OK www.southernokphotography.com Subject: Black Mesa Cimarron County birds From: Doug Wood <DWood AT SE.EDU> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:06:03 -0500 Hi All, got back from a trip out to Cimarron County yesterday. Birded with Bill Carter and joined up for some birding with John Shackford, Jack Tyler, Warren Harden, and Ron Harden. Great trip overall including a nice observation of my first black bear in Oklahoma (it was big and going the other way...). Got a few of the western specialties including Scaled Quail (near Hardesty), Mountain Plover (near Keyes), Long-billed Curlew (with young, near Keyes), Burrowing Owl (near Keyes), Common Poorwill (Hoot Owl Ranch), Ash-throated Flycatcher (lot of places), Western Scrub-Jay (Camp Billy Joe), Black-billed Magpie (Hoot Owl Ranch), Juniper Titmouse (Camp Billy Joe), Bushtits (Camp Billy Joe), Mountain Bluebird (near Black Mesa B&B), Spotted Towhee (Camp Billy Joe), Cassin's Sparrow (Hoot Owl Ranch), Black-throated Sparrow (Easter Pageant area), Lark Bunting (near Keyes), and Lesser Goldfinch (Kenton). Doug. Full List Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Ruddy Duck - Boise City Lagoons Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey Scaled Quail N. Bobwhite Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron Cattle Egret Black-crowned Night-Heron - Boise City Lagoons Turkey Vulture Mississippi Kite - 14 at Hoot Owl Bald Eagle - Lake Etling Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Am. Kestrel Killdeer Mountain Plover Am. Avocet - Boise City Lagoons Long-billed Curlew Rock Pigeon E. Collared-Dove Mourning Dove Yellow-billed Cuckoo G. Roadrunner Burrowing Owl C. Nighthawk C. Poorwill Black-chinned Hummer Red-headed Woodpecker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker N. Flicker E. Phoebe Say's Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird W. Kingbird E. Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Blue Jay - along "river" at Hoot Owl W. Scrub-Jay Black-billed Magpie Ch. Raven Common Raven Horned Lark N. Rough-winged Swallow - along "river" at Hoot Owl Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Juniper Titmouse Bushtit Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren E. Bluebird Mountain Bluebird - female on wire near Black Mesa B&B Am. Robin N. Mockingbird Curve-billed Thrasher E. Starling Yellow Warbler Spotted Towhee Canyon Towhee Cassin's Sparrow Rufous-crowned Sparrow Lark Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow Lark Bunting Grasshopper Sparrow Blue Grosbeak Dickcissel Red-winged Blackbird E. Meadowlark W. Meadowlark C. Grackle Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Bullock's Oriole House Finch Lesser Goldfinch House Sparrow Doug Wood, Ph.D. PMB 4068 1405 N. 4th Ave. Associate Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OK 74701-0609 580.745.2272 dwood AT se.edu Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican From: David McNeely <mcneely4 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:52:34 -0400 Someone reported brown pelican at Salt Plains last year. Sorry, can't remember who or when. David McNeely On Wed, Jul 1, 2009 at 9:14 AM , Mike B wrote: > I'll have to look through my notes, but there was a brown pelican at > Hefner probably about 4-5 years ago that hung around for quite a > while. Only other time I've seen them has been out of state. > > Mike Bellah > Choctaw > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: David McNeely To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:47:58 PM > Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican > > The warning light was installed in the nineteen eighties, long before > the bridge collapse. A colleague and I once told the Texas Parks and > Wildlife Department that the only way to really prevent pelican deaths > on the bridge was to station an officer on the bridge any time weather > conditions were right for pelican falls. The officer would drive the > length of the bridge, back and forth, stopping to rescue pelicans. Of > course, our advice was not taken. Private citizens are not allowed to > stop on the bridge. > > Dave Mc > > > ---- Berlin Heck wrote: >> I was down there last fall and saw that there is a Pelican warning >> system for motorists crossing the bridge which, as I recall, is a >> sign with a light on it as you enter the bridge--my memory is fuzzy >> on this, but I think the light goes on when weather conditions are >> right for the light and wrong for the Pelicans. >> >> Berlin Heck >> Broken Bow >> >> On Jun 30, 2009, at 10:51 AM, David McNeely wrote: >> >>> Brown pelicans were endangered (may still be on eht list) but have >>> recovered bountifully due to DDT ban and careful husbandry. Now, >>> they line up on the poles, docks, even wires at South Padre and >>> nearby mainland. Quite a beatiful site to see a line of them >>> flying low over the waves. One of the most graceful views in >>> nature. However, the bridge to South Padre from Port Isabel used >>> to be a pelican killer, due to vortices that form around it in >>> strong winds. The vortices cause the birds to lose lift and fall >>> onto the bridge, where cars then hit them. I don't know if anything >>> was done to improve the situation when the bridge was rebuilt after >>> its collapse in 2001. >>> >>> David McNeely >>> >>> >>> On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 9:36 PM , mike. brewer wrote: >>> >>>> Well ... Will wonders ever cease ! >>>> Long ago during the late DDT Days of the 1960s -70s, >>>> I think I remember that Brown Pelicans were severely decimated ... >>>> if not 'endangered'. >>>> I'll have to check Sutton's and Baumgartner's Books about Oklahoma >>>> sightings. >>>> >>>> Visiting the Texas coast, during a two week period of daily >>>> constant observations ... to observe up to 3-5 total ( over the >>>> entire visit ), in their prime habitat along Padre Island ... and >>>> other parts of the Texas coast was a rare event. >>>> >>>> I never though there would be a Brown Pelican in Oklahoma during >>>> the summer ? >>>> In many ways ... a lot of situations ... for some birds ... are a >>>> lot better than in past times. >>>> >>>> Thank You, >>>> >>>> "The Future Belongs To Those Who Believe In The Beauty Of Their >>>> Dreams" >>>> >>>> Michael Brewer >>>> Pauls Valley, Oklahoma >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: Patricia Velte To: >>>> OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 8:22 PM >>>> Subject: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican >>>> >>>> >>>> Dear OKBirders, >>>> >>>> >>>> I spotted an imm. Brown Pelican late this afternoon at Lake >>>> Hefner (OKC). The bird was floating on the lake, flexing its >>>> wings and then took off, headed west. I'd be very interested to >>>> learn if it is sighted at Lake Overholser. >>>> >>>> >>>> Happy birding, >>>> >>>> >>>> Pat Velte >>>> >>>> Oklahoma City >>>> >>>> pvelte AT cox.net >>> Subject: ON teh South Canadian River From: Richard Gunn <rgunn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:51:41 -0500 Cecil Johnson and I got a great look at a Solitary Sandpiper at the mouth of the creek at the end of S. Jenkins this morning. It is a little early but it had the yellow legs, white eye ring and dark spotted plumage on the back. Also it was near a convenient Killddeer for size comparison. D. Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican From: Larry Mays <retrix AT ATLINKWIFI.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 09:30:23 -0500 Mike, and everyone; Here's a useful trick: go to Http://lists.ou.edu and go to the "search archives" function. Type in "Brown Pelican" for your search word. You can then see all the sightings for this species for the entire history of the listserv. Cool, non? Larry Mays Newcastle ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike B" To: Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:14 AM Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican > I'll have to look through my notes, but there was a brown pelican at > Hefner probably about 4-5 years ago that hung around for quite a while. > Only other time I've seen them has been out of state. > > Mike Bellah > Choctaw > > > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: David McNeely > To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU > Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:47:58 PM > Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican > > The warning light was installed in the nineteen eighties, long before the > bridge collapse. A colleague and I once told the Texas Parks and Wildlife > Department that the only way to really prevent pelican deaths on the > bridge was to station an officer on the bridge any time weather conditions > were right for pelican falls. The officer would drive the length of the > bridge, back and forth, stopping to rescue pelicans. Of course, our > advice was not taken. Private citizens are not allowed to stop on the > bridge. > > Dave Mc > > > ---- Berlin Heck wrote: >> I was down there last fall and saw that there is a Pelican warning >> system for motorists crossing the bridge which, as I recall, is a >> sign with a light on it as you enter the bridge--my memory is fuzzy >> on this, but I think the light goes on when weather conditions are >> right for the light and wrong for the Pelicans. >> >> Berlin Heck >> Broken Bow >> >> On Jun 30, 2009, at 10:51 AM, David McNeely wrote: >> >> > Brown pelicans were endangered (may still be on eht list) but have >> > recovered bountifully due to DDT ban and careful husbandry. Now, >> > they line up on the poles, docks, even wires at South Padre and >> > nearby mainland. Quite a beatiful site to see a line of them >> > flying low over the waves. One of the most graceful views in >> > nature. However, the bridge to South Padre from Port Isabel used >> > to be a pelican killer, due to vortices that form around it in >> > strong winds. The vortices cause the birds to lose lift and fall >> > onto the bridge, where cars then hit them. I don't know if anything >> > was done to improve the situation when the bridge was rebuilt after >> > its collapse in 2001. >> > >> > David McNeely >> > >> > >> > On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 9:36 PM , mike. brewer wrote: >> > >> >> Well ... Will wonders ever cease ! >> >> Long ago during the late DDT Days of the 1960s -70s, >> >> I think I remember that Brown Pelicans were severely decimated ... >> >> if not 'endangered'. >> >> I'll have to check Sutton's and Baumgartner's Books about Oklahoma >> >> sightings. >> >> >> >> Visiting the Texas coast, during a two week period of daily >> >> constant observations ... to observe up to 3-5 total ( over the >> >> entire visit ), in their prime habitat along Padre Island ... and >> >> other parts of the Texas coast was a rare event. >> >> >> >> I never though there would be a Brown Pelican in Oklahoma during >> >> the summer ? >> >> In many ways ... a lot of situations ... for some birds ... are a >> >> lot better than in past times. >> >> >> >> Thank You, >> >> >> >> "The Future Belongs To Those Who Believe In The Beauty Of Their >> >> Dreams" >> >> >> >> Michael Brewer >> >> Pauls Valley, Oklahoma >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: Patricia Velte To: >> >> OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 8:22 PM >> >> Subject: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican >> >> >> >> >> >> Dear OKBirders, >> >> >> >> >> >> I spotted an imm. Brown Pelican late this afternoon at Lake >> >> Hefner (OKC). The bird was floating on the lake, flexing its >> >> wings and then took off, headed west. I'd be very interested to >> >> learn if it is sighted at Lake Overholser. >> >> >> >> >> >> Happy birding, >> >> >> >> >> >> Pat Velte >> >> >> >> Oklahoma City >> >> >> >> pvelte AT cox.net >> > > > > > > Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican From: Mike B <okcclimber AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 07:14:23 -0700 I'll have to look through my notes, but there was a brown pelican at Hefner probably about 4-5 years ago that hung around for quite a while. Only other time I've seen them has been out of state. Mike Bellah Choctaw ----- Original Message ---- From: David McNeely To: OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 4:47:58 PM Subject: Re: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican The warning light was installed in the nineteen eighties, long before the bridge collapse. A colleague and I once told the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department that the only way to really prevent pelican deaths on the bridge was to station an officer on the bridge any time weather conditions were right for pelican falls. The officer would drive the length of the bridge, back and forth, stopping to rescue pelicans. Of course, our advice was not taken. Private citizens are not allowed to stop on the bridge. Dave Mc ---- Berlin Heck wrote: > I was down there last fall and saw that there is a Pelican warning > system for motorists crossing the bridge which, as I recall, is a > sign with a light on it as you enter the bridge--my memory is fuzzy > on this, but I think the light goes on when weather conditions are > right for the light and wrong for the Pelicans. > > Berlin Heck > Broken Bow > > On Jun 30, 2009, at 10:51 AM, David McNeely wrote: > > > Brown pelicans were endangered (may still be on eht list) but have > > recovered bountifully due to DDT ban and careful husbandry. Now, > > they line up on the poles, docks, even wires at South Padre and > > nearby mainland. Quite a beatiful site to see a line of them > > flying low over the waves. One of the most graceful views in > > nature. However, the bridge to South Padre from Port Isabel used > > to be a pelican killer, due to vortices that form around it in > > strong winds. The vortices cause the birds to lose lift and fall > > onto the bridge, where cars then hit them. I don't know if anything > > was done to improve the situation when the bridge was rebuilt after > > its collapse in 2001. > > > > David McNeely > > > > > > On Mon, Jun 29, 2009 at 9:36 PM , mike. brewer wrote: > > > >> Well ... Will wonders ever cease ! > >> Long ago during the late DDT Days of the 1960s -70s, > >> I think I remember that Brown Pelicans were severely decimated ... > >> if not 'endangered'. > >> I'll have to check Sutton's and Baumgartner's Books about Oklahoma > >> sightings. > >> > >> Visiting the Texas coast, during a two week period of daily > >> constant observations ... to observe up to 3-5 total ( over the > >> entire visit ), in their prime habitat along Padre Island ... and > >> other parts of the Texas coast was a rare event. > >> > >> I never though there would be a Brown Pelican in Oklahoma during > >> the summer ? > >> In many ways ... a lot of situations ... for some birds ... are a > >> lot better than in past times. > >> > >> Thank You, > >> > >> "The Future Belongs To Those Who Believe In The Beauty Of Their > >> Dreams" > >> > >> Michael Brewer > >> Pauls Valley, Oklahoma > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- From: Patricia Velte To: > >> OKBIRDS AT LISTS.OU.EDU Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 8:22 PM > >> Subject: Lake Hefner: Brown Pelican > >> > >> > >> Dear OKBirders, > >> > >> > >> I spotted an imm. Brown Pelican late this afternoon at Lake > >> Hefner (OKC). The bird was floating on the lake, flexing its > >> wings and then took off, headed west. I'd be very interested to > >> learn if it is sighted at Lake Overholser. > >> > >> > >> Happy birding, > >> > >> > >> Pat Velte > >> > >> Oklahoma City > >> > >> pvelte AT cox.net > > Subject: Lazulis Everywhere From: Leslie Imboden <lesnpat AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 06:30:23 -0700     Lots of folks I know have seen Lazuli Buntings this past spring.  It's like they just came out of nowhere this year.  But that was nothing compared to what I saw in Idaho last week.  We were on the Salmon River, and when I was able to walk the bank I saw a Lazuli literally every 100 yards.  Sometimes more frequently than that.  I wonder if that is normal in that area, or if they are seeing unusual numbers like we have been.  Les Imboden Stillwater OK Subject: Re: Alongside the Highway... From: ROBERT LAVAL <blaval AT WINDSTREAM.NET> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 06:39:55 -0500 My golf buddies will appreciate this one. Subject: Re: Kettle of Kites in Norman From: Richard Gunn <rgunn1 AT COX.NET> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:39:29 -0500 I think they getting together to feed. I have seen them in bunches a mile or so from there on S. Jenkins earlier in the year. D.. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Debby Kaspari" To: Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 9:03 Subject: Kettle of Kites in Norman > Saw a kettle of 35-50 Mississippi kites at Chautauqua and Highway 9 > yesterday afternoon, circling and then slowly heading westward. Is > this early in the season for bunching up like that, or do you suppose > there was something going on like a termite or ant nuptial flight? > > Debby Kaspari > Norman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.13.1/2211 - Release Date: 06/30/09 11:37:00