Date: 12/11/25 6:41 pm From: mike rader <mike_rader...> Subject: Wilson Lake and Quivira CBCs
All,
Anyone that wants to participate in the Wilson Lake CBC ib Sunday, 12/14/25 or the Quivira NWR CBC on Tuesday, 12/16/2025 please reply to me at: <mike_rader...>
We'll meet at the Wilson State Park permit office on Sunday morning at 7:30 and back again for lunch at noon (lunch will be provided). We will meet at the Quivira NWR headquarters at 7:30 am and back there at noon. Lunch will not be provided, so participants will need to bring their own.
Date: 12/9/25 1:02 pm From: Chuck Otte <cotte...> Subject: Herring Gull in County Check-lists
I just realized that I had overlooked the name change of Herring Gull to American Herring Gull. All 105 county check-lists still say Herring Gull. I may just ride this one out and make that change on the spring updates. There always has to be something slipping through the cracks! My apologies. For what it's worth, everything is updated now except the county dot maps. I'm starting to work on those now!
Date: 12/9/25 12:30 pm From: Sebastian Patti <sebastianpatti...> Subject: Re: GREAT KISKADEE - PRATT
That'd be a fairly decent CBC bird!
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on behalf of mike rader <mike_rader...>
Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 12:22:56 PM
To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: GREAT KISKADEE - PRATT
You beat me to it! Yes, it's still seen east of the KDWP headquarters at 1:30 pm. Thanks for posting Malcolm!
________________________________
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on behalf of Malcolm Gold <malcolmgold...>
Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 2:16 PM
To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: GREAT KISKADEE - PRATT
Mike Rader found a Great Kiskadee east of the KDWP headquarters in Pratt.
Simply passing along the information :)
Malcolm Gold (Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas)
Date: 12/9/25 12:23 pm From: mike rader <mike_rader...> Subject: Re: GREAT KISKADEE - PRATT
You beat me to it! Yes, it's still seen east of the KDWP headquarters at 1:30 pm. Thanks for posting Malcolm!
________________________________
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on behalf of Malcolm Gold <malcolmgold...>
Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2025 2:16 PM
To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: GREAT KISKADEE - PRATT
Mike Rader found a Great Kiskadee east of the KDWP headquarters in Pratt.
Simply passing along the information :)
Malcolm Gold (Overland Park, Johnson County, Kansas)
Date: 12/8/25 2:06 pm From: Chuck Otte <cotte...> Subject: County Check-lists are updated
The fall update to the county check-lists has been completed. County dot maps and other associated pages are in the process of being updated but it may take another week or two. I will post a message when the dot maps and these associated pages are updated.
These updates are through November 1st so recent additions like the Jefferson County King Eider are not on the lists. That will be in the spring update. As the Kansas Bird Records Committee has yet to have an opportunity to review potential Western Warbling Vireo records all the current Warbling Vireos (which is all 105 counties) were changed to Eastern Warbling Vireos. Once KBRC has reviewed records there will likely be Western Warbling Vireo added to a county or two.
All 105 county check-lists were updated to reflect current taxonomic changes by the American Ornithological Society (AOS) which is the taxonomy that the Kansas Ornithological Society (KOS) follows. All checklists should have a date at the end of the check-list of November 1, 2025.
The following list shows what new records were added in each county. The number following the county name shows the current species now on that county's check-list. Any species name followed by an asterisk (*) indicates a new confirmed breeding record for that species in that county.
As always, if you have any issues accessing the checklists or anything on that page, please let me know!
I'm not claiming the earliest Western Warbling Vireo for the state, but it is already on my yard list here in northern Pawnee County. A few years ago there was a singing male here for several hours during migration. I'll have to find the date in notebooks.
I suspect that for most Kansas listers Western Warbling Vireo will be easier to add to one's list than those other 'new' vireo species Plumbeous and Cassin's. The trick will be learning the song.
Scott Seltman Larned, Kansas
-----Original Message----- From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> On Behalf Of <chobbs.f1...> Sent: Friday, December 5, 2025 1:34 PM To: <KSBIRD-L...> Subject: Warbling Vireo split
Thoughtful commentary by Tony Leukering on the Colorado birding listserv. Worth sharing with western KS birders.
Date: 12/5/25 11:37 am From: <chobbs.f1...> Subject: Warbling Vireo split
Thoughtful commentary by Tony Leukering on the Colorado birding listserv. Worth sharing with western KS birders.
Chris Hobbs Lenexa <chobbs.f1...>
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From: '<greatgrayowl...>' via Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2025 8:59:38 PM To: Colorado Birds <cobirds...> Cc: Kathy Mihm Dunning <mihmdunning...>; Scott Somershoe <ssomershoe...> Subject: [cobirds] Warbling vireos and Colorado eBird
All:
With the split of Warbling Vireo into two species (Eastern Warbling Vireo [EWVI] and Western Warbling Vireo [WWVI]), eBirding has become much more difficult and problematic, and we Colorado birders get to be the guinea pigs for learning about the distributions of the two species on the Colorado plains. While there are pre-existing data, there are nowhere near enough, as few birders cared about the subspecies Warbling Vireo (Eastern) and Warbling Vireo (Western). The first and most intractable problem is that there are NO consistent plumage color or pattern differences between the two species. Western TENDS toward the grayer end with a darker crown, and Eastern TENDS toward the brighter end with a paler crown, but the overlap in plumage tone is virtually complete. Western has a shorter, thinner bill than does Eastern, but the usable in-hand differences are in the half-millimeter range, something that will be nearly useless in field conditions. The primary take-home message from this post: Recordings of SINGING birds provide the only truly definitive documentation. Not calling birds. Not whining birds. Singing birds, and singing birds singing full songs. That means that all of our phones' audio recorders will be getting a workout come May. That also means that non-singing birds are essentially unidentifiable, and should be recorded as "Eastern/Western Warbling Vireo" (or some such entry). Because there are relatively few definitively identified records of either species on the Colorado plains, where the two species meet and overlap, we don't know the true extent of either species' breeding distributions there. Yes, the farther east one goes, the more likely it is that EWVI is the breeding species, and WWVI is more likely as one approaches the foothill edge. West of the foothill edge, all breeders are WWVI. probably. Both species are suspected to breed at Barr Lake S.P., and if they hybridize there or elsewhere where the two species meet, then virtually all bets are off when it comes to definitively identifying even singing warbling vireos. Additionally, the extremities of the two species' breeding ranges probably differ greatly between the South Platte drainage and the Arkansas drainage. The same is true for many "eastern" species of birds, such as Red-bellied Woodpecker, Bell's Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, and Indigo Bunting, all of which breed much farther west in the South Platte drainage than in the Arkansas drainage. More on this, below. As I noted in the first sentence, the reason I am posting in this venue is to give everyone birding on the Colorado plains next spring and summer a heads-up as to how the Colorado eBird filters will be dealing with this worst-ever bird-ID conundrum to visit the state's birders. eBird filters provide a framework for the abundance (or lack thereof) for all species occurring in a given filter region (e.g., Adams County, Crowley and Otero counties, and the San Luis Valley's five counties). Those filters are what cause entries to flag or not (see <https://ebird.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/articles/48000795278-ebird -data-quality> eBird Data Quality : Help Center for more on that eBird process). Individual species have upper limits on the number of individuals that can be submitted to eBird from a particular location, beyond which the entry will flag for relatively atypical abundance for limits of 1 or greater, or will flag for rarity for a limit of zero.
[Those interested in a deeper dive into the hows and wherefors of Colorado eBird filters, check out <https://cowyebird.blogspot.com/2015/02/stone-age-to-industrial-age-evolutio n.html> Colorado & Wyoming eBird: Stone Age to Industrial Age: The evolution of eBird's filter system. For other aspects of eBird relative to Colorado, check out the blog housing the above-linked essay: <https://cowyebird.blogspot.com/> Colorado & Wyoming eBird
Stone Age to Industrial Age: The evolution of eBird's filter system
Did you ever wonder why eBird asks for details about a report of American Dipper from Adams County, Colorado, bu...
Colorado & Wyoming eBird
Everything eBird for Colorado and Wyoming, from the keyboards of the region's eBird reviewers .]
I return you to our regularly scheduled programming. Front Range, Wet Mountains, and Sangre de Cristos and west - This is the only portion of the state that is/has been simple to create the eBird filter limits that will govern which species will be available on filters: All filters from these areas will allow Western Warbling Vireo at various limits of >0 during the seasons of typical occurrence (on a gross scale, May through September). Somewhat unfortunately, all foothill-edge counties in Colorado straddle the foothill edge, so those counties (Larimer, Boulder, Jefferson, Douglas, El Paso, Pueblo, Huerfano, and Las Animas) will also have Eastern Warbling Vireo on those filters, but with the limit set to zero on each. That means that any reports of Eastern Warbling Vireo in those counties will require documentation of the occurrence. Colorado's eastern edge (Sedgwick, Phillips, Yuma, Cheyenne, Kit Carson, Kiowa, Prowers, and Baca counties): These filters will have limits of >0 for Eastern Warbling Vireo from arrival to the end of the breeding season (probably May through mid-August), but will have 0 limits for Western Warbling Vireo (the species may be a casual or rare migrant through these counties, as the species breeds in the Black Hills of South Dakota and may traverse eastern Colorado to and fro). Western portions of the Arkansas River drainage on the plains (Elbert, El Paso, Lincoln, Crowley, and Otero counties): Eastern Warbling Vireo will have limits of 0 in all seasons and all counties. Because we CO birders are not sure of the distributions of the two species in Crowley and Otero, BOTH species will have a limit of 0 all year; documentation will be required, even in migration, when Western Warbling Vireo is probably a fairly common spring (and fall) migrant. Eastern portions of the South Platte River drainage on the plains (Logan, Morgan, and Washington counties): The expected breeding species here is Eastern Warbling Vireo, but in Washington, possibly only along the South Platte and at Prewitt Reservoir. Western Warbling Vireo is probably of reasonably regular occurrence as a spring migrant. EWVI will have non-zero filter limits from May through early August, but WWVI will have filter limits of 0. The problem children (Weld, Adams, and Arapahoe counties): As I noted earlier, both warbling vireo species have been noted singing at Barr Lake (Adams Co.) during the breeding season. Thus, in Adams County, both species will have filter limits >0 from May to early August, but both filters will have 0 limits in the fall (essentially after 7 August). I strongly suggest providing recordings for reports of either species in the county so we can begin to fully understand the breeding distributions and the relative abundances of the two species. In both Weld and Arapahoe counties, the filter limits of both species will be 0, so documentation for both will be required. Hopefully, eBirders will provide a lot of recordings this coming spring and summer, so that the various Colorado eBird reviewers can better understand the two species' spring and summer occurrence patterns. That would provide those reviewers the opportunity to refine filters for subsequent breeding seasons.
Date: 12/3/25 7:09 pm From: Ted Cable <tcable...> Subject: California Gull at Tuttle tubes
Manhattan area birders might be interested in knowing that I had a first-year California Gull at the Tuttle Creek Lake tubes late this afternoon. It was sitting on the cement wall between the outlets with some Ring-bill Gulls. Hezekiah Swihart was able to get there before dark to see it as well.-- Ted
Date: 11/19/25 7:55 am From: Chuck Otte <cotte...> Subject: Web page of scheduled Christmas Bird Counts
I have posted the web page of Kansas (mostly) Christmas Bird Counts for the upcoming 2025-26 CBC season. I'm still waiting to hear back from about a half dozen compilers but most have confirmed their dates and contact information. The link is https://ksbirds.org/kos/2025CBC.htm
Compilers - if I have made any errors on your count or you want to change anything that is there, please let me know! OR if you have to make last minute changes due to weather just keep me advised. I'm working on your report forms and should start sending those out very soon. PLEASE do not use old forms as the form changes slightly every year.
I will be updating this page as I receive additional information.
Good birding and wishing all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Date: 11/17/25 7:15 am From: Chuck Otte <cotte...> Subject: CBC Compilers take note
If you are a Christmas Bird Count (CBC) compiler, please send me your date and contact information for the Kansas CBC web page that I will be posting around Thanksgiving time. Several of you have already sent me your information and I have those dates that are on the Wichita Audubon website. If you don't wish to have your CBC information on the website, that's fine - jus tlet me know. But I still would like to confirm the date and compiler information.
If you have a new compiler please let me know that (Hays - I have your information) as I will be sending out the report forms the end of the month also (Hopefully!)
Date: 11/14/25 7:11 am From: Brandon Magette <averbirder...> Subject: Re: King Eider at Perry Lake
If it weren't for the eBird Rare Bird Alerts coming to my Inbox I wouldn't have a clue what was flying (or swimming) around Kansas anymore!
Brandon Magette of St Marys, mobile @ 785-844-0139
On Fri, Nov 14, 2025, 09:02 Chuck Otte <cotte...> wrote:
> Just realized that no one has posted this here. A female King Eider has > been > at Perry Lake (Jefferson County) for about a week now. It was still > present as > of this morning. It has been near the Rock Creek boat ramp and has been > hanging out with a flock of American Coots. > > And while you are there, look for a Western Grebe and a couple of Pacific > Loons that have been reported! > > Chuck > > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > Chuck Otte mailto:<cotte...> > 11319 Dundon Rd > Milford Kansas USA 66514 > 785-463-5485 > > For KSBIRD-L archives or to change your subscription options, go to > https://listserv.ksu.edu/ksbird-l.html > For KSBIRD-L guidelines go to > http://www.ksbirds.org/KSBIRD-LGuidelines.htm > To contact a listowner, send a message to > mailto:<ksbird-l-request...> >
Date: 11/14/25 7:03 am From: Chuck Otte <cotte...> Subject: King Eider at Perry Lake
Just realized that no one has posted this here. A female King Eider has been at Perry Lake (Jefferson County) for about a week now. It was still present as of this morning. It has been near the Rock Creek boat ramp and has been hanging out with a flock of American Coots.
And while you are there, look for a Western Grebe and a couple of Pacific Loons that have been reported!
Date: 11/14/25 6:58 am From: Chuck Otte <cotte...> Subject: Milford Lake Bird Walk tomorrow, November 15
Got too wrapped up chasing an eider this week and almost forgot to send this out! Our last Milford Lake Bird Walk of the year will be tomorrow, Saturday, November 15. Meet at the parking lot at the south end of the Milford Lake Dam at 8:00 a.m. Walks usually last 2 to 3 hours, birds and weather dependent. Walks usually involve moderate walking! Contact me if you have any questions! If you're a first timer and using GPS to find the meeting place, please use this address, 5203 North K-57 Junction City, NOT just Milford Lake.
Milford Lake Bird Walks will resume in March 2026. The first walk is tentatively set for March 21, 2026!
Date: 11/12/25 9:44 am From: Malcolm Gold <malcolmgold...> Subject: 2026 KOS Calendars available
A big thank you to everyone that sent in photos for the 2026 KOS calendar and by doing so also volunteered to look over my text and formatting for any glaring errors. This coming year's calendar is now available for purchase. If you order online they are $15 each. Click the link below for a full preview as well as ability to add to cart and order via PayPal.
I think they make great gifts. They have prompted discussions about nature and birds with many acquaintances and colleagues at work. Moreover, the calendars always remind everyone at work of me rather than something else and allows us to have great conversations about what they saw in their backyard rather than other office politics.
If you are near Overland Park (Kansas City), send me an email as we can meet to save on shipping costs. I will be at the Burrough's Audubon Meeting this coming Monday Nov 17th at Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse if you want to pick them up there.
In addition, if you want to order more than calendars please send me an email as I will combine the items and get you a quote for actual shipping.
*MONDAY, November 17 at 6:30 p.m. - "A Changing World for Kansas Birds"* - Presented by Bob Gress, former director of the Great Plains Nature Center (GPNC) in Wichita, KS and naturalist, photographer, and wildlife tour leader. Join us for this special *in-person* meeting at Johnson County Park & Recreation District's Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse <https://maps.app.goo.gl/LP2Sqdk3qZBkZ9XYA>! Bob will have copies of his and Pete Janzen's *The Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots - Second Edition* to sell and personally sign. Sincerely,
Malcolm Gold (Overland Park, volunteer KOS Business Manager, Kansas)
