Date: 4/9/24 6:57 am From: Joan Collins <joancollins...> Subject: [nysbirds-l] Eclipse Bird (& more) Behavior
I am still on a high from experiencing the total solar eclipse! Talking with lots of birders, the decision for everyone was where to be located during this event. I made a decision by Sunday morning that my husband and I would boat 10 miles to the north end of Long Lake (Turtle Beach - one of my favorite places in the Adirondacks). I wanted a place with certain habitats and one where we might actually be alone so I could hear wildlife. My husband had to plow a path through the snow to where the boat was stored and then shovel snow out of the boat. It was a lot of work and I think he thought I was crazy, but it really worked out perfect. The forecast was for 75% clouds, so I didn't expect to see the eclipse. But as we boated north, I saw the cloud line end and it was sunny at Turtle Beach (right to the very end of the event when clouds moved in!). We ended up with a perfect view of the eclipse. Although.we were not alone. A surgeon from Albany (& two guests) flew his private plane (one that can land on water or land) to the beach! Like me, he said it is his favorite beach in the ADKs. (I had lyrics from Carly Simon's song running through my head as we arrived!) After the eclipse, a lot of private planes flew overhead and I guess that was one way to avoid congested roads (for those who happen to have private planes that is). It was 60 degrees with calm winds and there was no snow on the beach. The sand was warm so I took off my boots and socks to be barefoot, and rolled up my fleece pants, which is all very odd for April 8. And the fact that we could boat 10 miles on the lake that early is a first. Two days before the eclipse we heard there was still ice blocking the way to the north end, so we didn't know if we could actually get to that spot.
I have 4 pages of notes I took over 2.5 hours, but I'll summarize some wildlife observations:
Before totality:
Many birds vocalized: Pine Siskins, Brown Creeper (singing), Golden-crowned Kinglets, Black-capped Chickadees. About 25 minutes before totality, a calling Red Crossbill flew across the lake from east to west. There was a brief, two-minute interval of quiet about 20 minutes before totality which was a sudden change. But things started back up again after that brief, silent lull. A flew beaver splashes were heard in the marsh behind the beach peninsula. Pine Siskins and Black-capped Chickadees started up again. Common Ravens gave very loud calls and flew back and forth over the marsh behind the peninsula. A Song Sparrow began to sing (a second one began to sing also) and continued to sing.
During this time, I heard a rhythmic tapping sound (4 taps over and over again). It was leading me into the woods on the peninsula toward the river (in snow in bare feet!). When I could tell it was across the river, I gave up trying to walk to it. It will remain a mystery since I have no idea what it was. (Maybe a nuthatch or woodpecker, but the rhythmic nature was perplexing.)
A few minutes before totality:
Song Sparrows switched to calling from singing. An Amer. Robin began calling. A fish leapt out of the lake (not sure if this is significant or not!). Pine Siskins and Black-capped Chickadees continued to vocalize. A Northern Saw-whet Owl began tooting to the east of the spot where Long Lake empties into the Raquette River. But it did not continue tooting during totality.
Totality:
The Amer. Robin began singing. The Pine Siskins and Black-capped Chickadees continued to call, which surprised me. A Barred Owl hooted just south of us and west of the lake.
After totality:
It was really active after totality - and even my non-birder husband noticed the level of vocal activity, which was like dawn. American Robins were singing and calling, Red-breasted Nuthatches were very vocal, Common Grackles appeared in the marsh and vocalized, Common Ravens were vocal, a lot of Herring Gulls suddenly vocalized and were flying around, a Bald Eagle flew across the lake to the island where its mate is on eggs (we saw the top of the eagle's head and yellow bill sticking out of the nest as we boated by the island), a calling Red Crossbill flew across the lake from east to west (likely the same one from before totality?), a Bufflehead pair (migrants) were in the cove vocalizing and diving, Black-capped Chickadees vocalized, two Tree Swallows (FOS) flew low over the lake calling, Pine Siskins began vocalizing (about 20 minutes after totality) - at this point in my notes, I wrote that all the birds were chatty like at dawn! Golden-crowned Kinglets joined in about 30 minutes past totality. Another Red Crossbill flew across the lake 40 minutes past totality. Three Common Mergansers flew into the outlet about 50 minutes after totality. A Red-winged Blackbird began to call in the marsh. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (FOS) began drumming, also about 50 minutes past totality. A few minutes later I heard a Spring Peeper for the first time during the event. Nearly 70 minutes past totality I noted it had finally become quiet and we boated back. At our dock, there was a Common Loon across the lake (FOS).
This is the first total solar eclipse I've ever experienced and it is nearly impossible to describe how the light changed (and hard to capture in photos). It was fascinating! I expected it would get dark gradually, but it was really abrupt! And after the 3+ minutes of total darkness, it abruptly became light, but again, hard to describe the light. The surgeon noted that it was like someone suddenly shining a bright flashlight on us!
Here are a couple observations from our younger son and his family at their Willsboro home (near Lake Champlain): (the photo they sent me of their 3 small (one a baby) children in eclipse glasses was adorable!). They have a lot of chickens! They roam around outside all day and head into the coup when it begins to get dark. My son said the chickens started to head for the coup, but it got dark so fast, that they didn't make it and they looked lost! (I read a similar account of chicken behavior from a prior eclipse - not having enough time to actually get to the coup!) He said they also noted crickets started up during totality! My nearly 4-year old grandson was very animated about the whole event with me over the phone! I think he will actually remember it.
I did take photos with my cell phone and camera. If I get any up on Facebook, I'll send a link.
I hope everyone got to experience this remarkable event. I can now understand why people become eclipse chasers around the world!
Joan Collins
Long Lake, NY
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