We missed the Baltimore Oriole at Devils Den. Did hear two Hooded Warblers
at the Day Use area in the same place we saw one last spring. Yay, Warblers!
Angie Byrd Nichols
On Thu, Apr 18, 2024 at 3:19 PM Cynthia Patton <
<00000151b1cba27b-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Also seen today at Devils Den St Park, Washington county. Other FOS for
> us: Orchard & Baltimore Oriole; Eastern Kingbird; Scarlet & Summer Tanager;
> and adult male indigo bunting. Possible Blue Grosbeak.
> Cindy and Jonathan, Fayetteville
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Apr 18, 2024, at 12:25 PM, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
> >
> > Greatcrested Flycathers were in Cabot yesterday.
> >
> > Jerry Wayne Davis
> > Hot springs AR
> >
> >> On 2024-04-18 10:25 am, Robin Buff wrote:
> >> FOS Great-crested Flycatcher in Buff Woods, 3 days earlier than last
> >> year; I use to always hear them around May 1st.
> >> Robin Buff
> >> Just west of Fayetteville on Wheeler Road
> >> -------------------------
> >> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> >> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 > >
> > ############################
> >
> > To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> > write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > > or click the following link:
> > http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Great-Crested heard, but not seen, this evening at Knoop Park in Little Rock.
Holley White
Sent from my iPhone
> On Apr 18, 2024, at 3:19 PM, Cynthia Patton <00000151b1cba27b-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> Also seen today at Devils Den St Park, Washington county. Other FOS for us: Orchard & Baltimore Oriole; Eastern Kingbird; Scarlet & Summer Tanager; and adult male indigo bunting. Possible Blue Grosbeak.
> Cindy and Jonathan, Fayetteville
> Sent from my iPad
>
>> On Apr 18, 2024, at 12:25 PM, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
>>
>> Greatcrested Flycathers were in Cabot yesterday.
>>
>> Jerry Wayne Davis
>> Hot springs AR
>>
>>>> On 2024-04-18 10:25 am, Robin Buff wrote:
>>> FOS Great-crested Flycatcher in Buff Woods, 3 days earlier than last
>>> year; I use to always hear them around May 1st.
>>> Robin Buff
>>> Just west of Fayetteville on Wheeler Road
>>> -------------------------
>>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>> ############################
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
>> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> >> or click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
I still have white throated sparrows here along with a few pine siskins. But the red eyed vireos are singing the loudest.
I have summer tanagers now and had one hooded warbler land in my plum tree a couple of days ago. One blue grosbeak stopped by for a drink from my bird bath.
Debbie Balicki
Joplin Arkansas
Montgomery County.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Apr 18, 2024, at 3:50 PM, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
>
> I still have 10+ White-throates sparrows in Hot Springs. This is down from a high of 53 a couple of months ago. They are in their breeding colors and look good.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
>
>> On 2024-04-18 2:38 pm, Harriet Jansma wrote:
>> The most enthusiastic birdsongs around us this week are those of the
>> White-Throated Sparrow. It has been so warm that we are surprised they
>> are still here. Shouldn't they be heading for Canada by now?
>> Not complaining: this is one of the sweetest songs we ever hear.
>> p.s. Carolina wrens are again feeding their young in the flower-pot
>> nest on our chimney wall. We made a flat tin roof to keep them dry,
>> and they seem to love it there.
>> And a Robin seems to want to splash in our birdbath all the day long.
>> With this week's heat and today's humidity, we understand.
>> Harriet Jansma
>> South slope, Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville
>> -------------------------
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Date: 4/18/24 1:50 pm From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: White-Throated Sparrow(?)
I still have 10+ White-throates sparrows in Hot Springs. This is down from a high of 53 a couple of months ago. They are in their breeding colors and look good.
Jerry Wayne Davis Hot Springs, AR
On 2024-04-18 2:38 pm, Harriet Jansma wrote: > The most enthusiastic birdsongs around us this week are those of the > White-Throated Sparrow. It has been so warm that we are surprised they > are still here. Shouldn't they be heading for Canada by now? > > Not complaining: this is one of the sweetest songs we ever hear. > > p.s. Carolina wrens are again feeding their young in the flower-pot > nest on our chimney wall. We made a flat tin roof to keep them dry, > and they seem to love it there. > > And a Robin seems to want to splash in our birdbath all the day long. > With this week's heat and today's humidity, we understand. > > Harriet Jansma > South slope, Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville > > ------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link: > http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Date: 4/18/24 1:38 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: White-Throated Sparrow(?)
We had a period when there was not much White-throated Sparrow activity, but now it has livened up again. Guess they’re heading north.
On Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 03:35:41 PM CDT, Karen Konarski-Hart <karen...> wrote:
Still have white throats peabodying here in Hillcrest LR. Karen Hart
Get Outlook for iOSFrom: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Harriet Jansma <hjansma...>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2024 2:38:37 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: White-Throated Sparrow(?) The most enthusiastic birdsongs around us this week are those of the White-Throated Sparrow. It has been so warm that we are surprised they are still here. Shouldn't they be heading for Canada by now?
Not complaining: this is one of the sweetest songs we ever hear.
p.s. Carolina wrens are again feeding their young in the flower-pot nest on our chimney wall. We made a flat tin roof to keep them dry, and they seem to love it there.
And a Robin seems to want to splash in our birdbath all the day long. With this week's heat and today's humidity, we understand.
Harriet JansmaSouth slope, Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville
Still have white throats peabodying here in Hillcrest LR. Karen Hart
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Harriet Jansma <hjansma...>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2024 2:38:37 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: White-Throated Sparrow(?)
The most enthusiastic birdsongs around us this week are those of the White-Throated Sparrow. It has been so warm that we are surprised they are still here. Shouldn't they be heading for Canada by now?
Not complaining: this is one of the sweetest songs we ever hear.
p.s. Carolina wrens are again feeding their young in the flower-pot nest on our chimney wall. We made a flat tin roof to keep them dry, and they seem to love it there.
And a Robin seems to want to splash in our birdbath all the day long. With this week's heat and today's humidity, we understand.
Harriet Jansma
South slope, Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville
Also seen today at Devils Den St Park, Washington county. Other FOS for us: Orchard & Baltimore Oriole; Eastern Kingbird; Scarlet & Summer Tanager; and adult male indigo bunting. Possible Blue Grosbeak.
Cindy and Jonathan, Fayetteville
Sent from my iPad
> On Apr 18, 2024, at 12:25 PM, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
>
> Greatcrested Flycathers were in Cabot yesterday.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot springs AR
>
>> On 2024-04-18 10:25 am, Robin Buff wrote:
>> FOS Great-crested Flycatcher in Buff Woods, 3 days earlier than last
>> year; I use to always hear them around May 1st.
>> Robin Buff
>> Just west of Fayetteville on Wheeler Road
>> -------------------------
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
The most enthusiastic birdsongs around us this week are those of the White-Throated Sparrow. It has been so warm that we are surprised they are still here. Shouldn't they be heading for Canada by now?
Not complaining: this is one of the sweetest songs we ever hear.
p.s. Carolina wrens are again feeding their young in the flower-pot nest on our chimney wall. We made a flat tin roof to keep them dry, and they seem to love it there.
And a Robin seems to want to splash in our birdbath all the day long. With this week's heat and today's humidity, we understand.
Harriet Jansma
South slope, Mount Sequoyah, Fayetteville
I heard a chuck-wills-widow last night, west of Little Rock, around 9 PM.
My sister had heard it the previous night too around the same time.
On Thu, Apr 18, 2024, 9:28 AM Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
> Chuck-Will’s Widow was noted in Hot Springs yesterday by Larry Hedrick.
>
> Jerry
>
> Larry Hedrick – “I heard my first Chuck-Will's-Widow yesterday just before
> daylight. I haven't yet heard a whip-poor-Will. Years ago I had both near
> our neighborhood throughout the nesting season. In recent years I've only
> heard the Chucks passing through; no whips whatsoever”.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/18/24 10:25 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Great-Crested Flycatcher
Greatcrested Flycathers were in Cabot yesterday.
Jerry Wayne Davis Hot springs AR
On 2024-04-18 10:25 am, Robin Buff wrote: > FOS Great-crested Flycatcher in Buff Woods, 3 days earlier than last > year; I use to always hear them around May 1st. > > Robin Buff > Just west of Fayetteville on Wheeler Road > > ------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link: > http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Date: 4/18/24 10:16 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: Lights Out -- film
As I have gotten older I find more realities that cause me to tear up. I think maybe when I was younger, I was so busy trying to save Red-cockaded Woodpeckers or something like that I didnt notice other things. I just receive my copy of Cornell Labs Living Bird (Spring 2024 issue). Found this link on page 6:
The film features activity in neighboring Texas, but Arkansas is right there. It applies here, too. The birds in this film are the birds we find in Arkansas.
We all want to do something for people and for birds. This short beautifully produced film points the way toward projects we could and can do, and that could annually save hundreds of millions and possibly over a billion birds.
After so many years of this, I still believe, and want to believe, people can do better. That people would all be better off, rich and poor, regardless of belief or national original, if we as people did better by the world into which we have been born.
We can do better by the creatures with whom we share this planet. We will be better if we do so.
I recommend Cornell Labs 7-simple actions at: bit.ly/7-simple actions
Date: 4/18/24 9:49 am From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Whip- or-will
Heard a whip-or-will during ONSC campfire. He sang through the whole Lorax performance.
On Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 11:18:07 AM CDT, Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Whip-poor-will at Erbie last night (April 17)
JackNewton County
On Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 09:28:24 AM CDT, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
Chuck-Will’s Widow was noted in Hot Springs yesterday by Larry Hedrick. Jerry Larry Hedrick – “I heard my first Chuck-Will's-Widow yesterday just before daylight. I haven't yet heard a whip-poor-Will. Years ago I had both near our neighborhood throughout the nesting season. In recent years I've only heard the Chucks passing through; no whips whatsoever”.
Date: 4/18/24 9:18 am From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Chuck-Will's-Widow
Whip-poor-will at Erbie last night (April 17)
JackNewton County
On Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 09:28:24 AM CDT, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
Chuck-Will’s Widow was noted in Hot Springs yesterday by Larry Hedrick. Jerry Larry Hedrick – “I heard my first Chuck-Will's-Widow yesterday just before daylight. I haven't yet heard a whip-poor-Will. Years ago I had both near our neighborhood throughout the nesting season. In recent years I've only heard the Chucks passing through; no whips whatsoever”.
Date: 4/18/24 7:28 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Chuck-Will's-Widow
Chuck-Will’s Widow was noted in Hot Springs yesterday by Larry Hedrick.
Jerry
Larry Hedrick – “I heard my first Chuck-Will's-Widow yesterday just before daylight. I haven't yet heard a whip-poor-Will. Years ago I had both near our neighborhood throughout the nesting season. In recent years I've only heard the Chucks passing through; no whips whatsoever”.
Date: 4/17/24 7:32 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - April 17
It started off overcast and mild, turning partly cloudy and warm on the survey today. No wind to speak of. I missed the first half of the morning flight out of the heronry/roost when the Great and Snowy Egrets mainly leave so my numbers of them are low. The heronry on Pintail Lake is really taking off with bird numbers increasing daily and now the Little-blue Herons are starting to nest along with the Anhingas and Neotropic Cormorants. Cattle Egrets look like they are close behind them. A few new migrants were passing through and arriving such as Nashville Warblers and Indigo Bunting and Prairie Warbler. Gallinule numbers are really increasing fast. Saw a couple Purple Gallinules in a fight with their feet like roosters fight. The Brown Booby found on Monday this week was a one day wonder unfortunately. Here is my list for today:
Black-bellied Whistling Duck - 14
Canada Geese – 4
Wood Duck - 8
Blue-winged Teal - 86
Northern Shoveler - 6
Lesser Scaup - 1
Hooded Merganser - 2
Ruddy Duck - 2
Pied-billed Grebe – 41
Neotropic Cormorant - 25 (Many sitting on nests)
Double-crested Cormorant - 24
Anhinga - 163 (Many sitting on nests. Lots of males displaying.)
Date: 4/17/24 6:44 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: A 12 FOS Day.
I started the day at the Beaver Lake Nursery Pond. Yellow-rumps were thick! I know I didn't check every one, but I did gert my first Yellowthroat, and a couple of Orange-crowms. Other firsts were Eastern Kingbird, Gray Catbird, Orchard Oriole, and Indigo Bunting.
It was then off to Hobbes State Park. At the Sinking Stream trail, A Louisiana Waterthrush was singing loudly and often. I saw a pair of them, but no Ovenbird or Hooded Warblers. I saw Ovenbird there last year, to me the place looks very much overgrown for them. but they have already been seen there this year.
Hooded Warbler is my worst miss for Arkansas. I was wondering if any of the songs, I could not identify might be one. When I got back to the parking lot to start down the Van Winkle, trail a warbler flew into a small tree. I thought it looked good for a female Hooded, but in my life I had only seen three Hoodeds all male. Her mate sooon appeared beside her. A very bright male Hooded, and the seventh FOS of the day.
Then it was off to the Visitor Center, a male ruby-throated was perched next to, a bush with red tubular flowers, for number 8. The walk a the center yielded a pair of Swainson's Thrushes for number 9. Some very bright Paula's added much to the whole Hobbes experience
I thought I would end the day at the Charlie Craig. I did the western portion and then ran into Josh Matlock. The thing I found most interesting before I met Josh, were the numbers of Starlings actively hawking insects. I cannot remember seeing them do so. There were Purple Mountains around to be sure, but the starlings were easily separated from them.
Josh told me that someone had reported a Semipalmated Plover, which would be a life bird for him. I told him that there is a very good chance of an active birder seeing them. We approached a newly nearly-drained pond. Josh pointed out some large black-billed waders. I said they looked like Willets. When we got there the birds flew a short distance without leaving the bond, and called loudly. Josh has his life Willets, and I gad my 10rh FOS. I said the pond looked good for Semipalmated Plover, and soon I found it. A two-lifer day for Josh and my 11th FOS of the day.
There were also 28 Pectorals, at least 7 Lesser Yellowlegs, and a handful of Baird's. I had a strange experience. I looked at a bird next to a Lesser Yellowlegs, it looked very much like a Solitary to me, but when I looked again. It was obviously a Lesser. Inlooked a third time, and it looked again like a Solitary. I told Josh, "I'm trying to turn that bird into a Solitary". He said," I think you are right.", but less that a minute later it looked like a Lesser again. Josh had to leave. I found another bird, close by, and could even see the bar on the tail. I thought if thst'ds not a Solitary, I'm giving up. This one remained a Solitary. The thing is the other showed the bolder eye ring and the back markings, and greenish legs, and shorter bill, of a Solitary. Indeed , I think it was the same bird. It was almost as if while we glanced a way, a lesser replaced the Solitary a couple of times. Maybe some needed to study the use of of practical jokes, by Tringa Sandpiers.
Josh told me not to find anything too good, as he was leaving. A couple minutes later, I l was looking at the back of a American Avocet, flying over the last pond. They swim well, so perhaps it had been on the pond which is quite full. That was my 12th FOS of the day.
I think my best spring day ever. Now, I cannot get my camera to connect to my computer. my photos are far from prize-winning, but I'd like to see if I any at least make the bird identifiable.
Almsot forgot, there was also an American Golden-Plover on ther strip between the last ponds on the Southwest, It was quite tame, and I wanted to see what my pictures looked like.
Bobolink in Faulkner County on April 17. This is a breakthrough.
Previously this species was limited to the narrow window of April 24 to May
17 in Faulkner County.
Allan
On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 2:27 PM Patty McLean <plm108...> wrote:
> Nice! Michael and I heard one at Lollie Bottoms (Faulkner County) today
> too.
>
> Patty McLean
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
> Date: 4/17/24 10:27 AM (GMT-06:00)
> To: <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: Bobolink
>
> An early Bobolink was at Sunnymede Park this morning. I also picked up
> Lark Sparrows and an Orchard Oriole.
> There were the same huge numbers of sparrows as yesterday. So many
> Lincoln’s and Savannahs. And they were all singing. It’s crazy.
>
> Sandy
> Fort Smith
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
501-339-8071
*BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
Nice! Michael and I heard one at Lollie Bottoms (Faulkner County) today too. Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Date: 4/17/24 10:27 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Bobolink An early Bobolink was at Sunnymede Park this morning. I also picked up Lark Sparrows and an Orchard Oriole. There were the same huge numbers of sparrows as yesterday. So many Lincoln’s and Savannahs. And they were all singing. It’s crazy. SandyFort Smith
From Roger Massey: At least 16 more Uplands at Lollie here. 35.02789° N, 92.55231° WPatty
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 4/17/24 10:35 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Upland Sandpipers (Faulkner County) Lollie has been interesting this morning including several FOY birds. In addition to the Yellow-headed Blackbirds, we saw at least 7 Upland Sandpipers from Lollie Road. Approx here: 34.9953699, -92.5719471We also found an adult Great-horned Owl and newly fledged owlet, sitting in a tree way out in the farm fields. Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Lollie has been interesting this morning including several FOY birds. In addition to the Yellow-headed Blackbirds, we saw at least 7 Upland Sandpipers from Lollie Road. Approx here: 34.9953699, -92.5719471We also found an adult Great-horned Owl and newly fledged owlet, sitting in a tree way out in the farm fields. Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Date: 4/17/24 8:27 am From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Bobolink
An early Bobolink was at Sunnymede Park this morning. I also picked up Lark
Sparrows and an Orchard Oriole.
There were the same huge numbers of sparrows as yesterday. So many
Lincoln’s and Savannahs. And they were all singing. It’s crazy.
On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 9:55 AM Patty McLean <plm108...> wrote:
> There's a single male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Lollie Bottoms, found
> this morning by Roger Massey near the dog kennel farm operation. We had it
> on the roof of one of the implement barns before it flew to the field on
> the east side.
>
> Here's info on this eBird Hotspot:
> https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L365250 >
> Patty McLean and Michael Linz
> The Roadrunners
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/17/24 7:59 am From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Let's send Dr Kannon off to Malaysia with a suitcase full of binoclars
AAS is currently raising funds for a time-sensitive project. We aim to purchase binoculars to donate to underprivileged students and guides in Malaysia during Dr. Kannan's upcoming Fulbright Scholar program (July through September 2024). This initiative is not just about promoting citizen science ventures via eBird and iNaturalist but also about empowering local communities to document their rich biodiversity. As you may be aware, most of the eBird and iNaturalist data come from the developed world. Encouraging uploads from local people from species-rich tropical nations to use these apps and contribute to the global biodiversity database is crucial. The deadline for donating is May 4. Or if you have a spare pair of bins, bring them to the Spring AAS meeting at Petit Jean.
Be sure to mark the “Targeted Projects” box in the lower right-hand corner of the donation page.
Checks can be sent to the Arkansas Audubon Society, P. O. Box 241421, Little Rock, AR. 72223. Put “binoculars” on the memo line, or AAS Treasurer Stephanie Sexton will not know what the donation is for.
Thanks for your help!
Jack Stewart
There's a single male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Lollie Bottoms, found this morning by Roger Massey near the dog kennel farm operation. We had it on the roof of one of the implement barns before it flew to the field on the east side. Here's info on this eBird Hotspot: https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L365250Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Date: 4/16/24 7:00 pm From: Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> Subject: ASCA April Field Trip
Please see details below for our ASCA field trips for April and May. Currently there is a 50% chance of rain and some wind predicted for this Saturday. Not great birding conditions. But, that can easily change by Saturday, so monitor the weather. Possible high of 60° so a raincoat and layers are recommended. Also waterproof boots or shoes. It's spring migration so this front could push birds into our area. Good news is we won't melt and we'll be close to home to easily get back to dry clothes and a hot lunch. Stroud's is a great restaurant in Mayflower with home cooking and homemade pies. Yum!Come join us! Karen Holliday ASCA Field Trip Coordinator
All birders of any experience level are welcome to participate. You don't have to be a member of ASCA. It's a great way to meet other birders, enjoy seeing and learning about Arkansas's diverse avian species, and explore new birding spots. See below for field trip details. Feel free to contact me off-list if you have any questions. April 20Bell Slough South (Boardwalk entrance)Mayflower, Faulkner Co. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the main entrance to the Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area (WMA) off Hwy. 365. Our target birds will be spring migrants. Bell Slough is a mix of ecosystems consisting of 2,040 acres of woodlands and wetlands situated between Little Rock and the Mayflower/Conway region. There are 117 species of birds documented for the area, including the adjacent waterfowl resting habitat. The Bell Slough Kenny Vernon Nature Trail consists of three connecting trails, each ranging in length from about a half-mile to 2 1/4 miles. The WMA has a nice mix of wildflowers that attract numerous butterflies. Wear study walking shoes. This will be a morning trip. -Directions: From Little Rock, go west on I-40. Exit I-40 at Mayflower (Exit 135) and turn east (right) at the light onto Hwy. 89. Then turn south (right) just past the commuter parking lot onto the service road. Follow the service road paralleling I-40, then veer right at the fork. Follow this road until you cross the Palarm Creek bridge. Turn left into the WMA parking lot. GPS: 34.946164, -92.407896Below is information for the May field trip:May 11Gillam Park and Little Rock Audubon Center (LRAC)Little Rock, Pulaski Co. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at Gillam Park in the far parking lot. Join our field trip to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) and experience the excitement of spring migration. At least four thousand different species of birds are moving from their wintering grounds to their summer nesting sites. This is a great opportunity to add several new species to your year or life list. Gillam has excellent habitat for spring warblers. There will be moderate walking on fairly level, but possibly muddy trails. Once finished at Gillam, we’ll drive to the LRAC and walk the wildlife observation trail. Last, we’ll head to Industrial Harbor Road and Terry Lock & Dam to look for Western Kingbirds and Painted Buntings. Bring water and snacks, the trip can last into early afternoon. Wear sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots. -Directions: Gillam Park is in southeast Little Rock near the airport. Address is 5300 Gillam Park Road, Little Rock. Take I-30 West heading south from Little Rock. Then exit onto I-440 going towards the airport. Take Exit 1-Springer Road. At the bottom of the exit ramp, turn left onto Springer Road. Go approximately 1 mile to just past the LRAC. Turn right onto Gillam Park Road. Follow it into the park to the last parking lot. GPS: 34.698684, -92.264514Karen Holliday ASCA
During the past few days we’ve noticed the arrival of several breeding birds at Ninestone:
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
Common Yellowthroat
Kentucky Warbler
House Wren
Indigo Bunting
Orchard Oriole
Blooming:
Toadshade
Goldenseal
Dwarf Larkspur - only white flowers where there are usually also violet flowers
Orange Puccoon
Pawpaw
Spring Coral Root
Behavior:
Zebra Swallowtails checking out emerging Pawpaw leaves to lay their eggs
3 Big Brown Bats roosting in deck rafters
Carolina Wren babies all fledged but came back 2 days later to check out their big nesting gourd
American Toads singing in the amphibian pond
Western Rat Snake molting next to black water pipe
“Spider Ball" of newly hatched Orb Weaver spiderlings
Cecropia Moth still waiting to eclose from her cocoon
Date: 4/16/24 10:15 am From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Sparrow highway or when ebird doesn’t recognize your birding skills 😉
Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith was absolutely loaded with sparrows this
morning. Being right on the river makes it the perfect bird highway. We are
up to 212 species.
Lincoln’s Sparrows 26
White-crowned Sparrows 30
White-throated 8
Savannah Sparrows 12
Swamp Sparrows 4
Field Sparrow 1
Those were just the ones I eyeballed. There were many more zipping about in
the vetch.
Other notables were Scissor-tailed Flycatchers, Baltimore Oriole, Eastern
Kingbirds, a flock of 12 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 4 House Wrens.
Date: 4/16/24 7:44 am From: Shannon Kitchen <shannon.kitchen...> Subject: Pint Night Tomorrow Night- Supporting Northsong Wild Bird Rehab!
Hi Everyone,
Tomorrow night (4/17), Pack Rat Outdoor Center is hosting a Pint Night
event from 5:30-8:00pm, with proceeds benefiting Northsong Wild Bird
Rehabilitation. If anyone is interested in supporting NWA's new bird rehab,
we would really appreciate it! During the last volunteer shift I worked, we
had 12 nestlings being fed every 30m, and this is only the start of the
breeding season 😅 -- so the funds raised will definitely be put to good
use!
Also, if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, we are in need of new
recruits! This event would be a great way to discuss volunteering with Dr.
Warman, Madison (clinic manager), or some of the current volunteers.
Date: 4/16/24 6:39 am From: Krajcir, Kevin <KrajcirKJ...> Subject: STKI at Warren Prairie NA
Good morning,
Yesterday while doing field work, a coworker and I found a SWALLOW-TAILED KITE (STKI) at Warren Prairie Natural Area in Bradley Co. We watched the bird soar between the tree tops for a few minutes just north of Old Warren Road approximately here: 33.57695, -91,98271.
Our staff have found at least one STKI at Warren Prairie around this time for the last few years. Because of this, we suspect that there could be a breeding pair in the area. The seasonally wet and open habitats in the area seem ideal for this species. If folks go out to look for this bird, please note that documenting breeding activity of this species in Arkansas would be an amazing observation. This species is also one of greatest conservation need in Arkansas, so please keep its sensitive status in mind if you do happen to encounter the bird or its nest.
Happy birding,
Kevin Krajcir
############################
Date: 4/15/24 4:53 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
I have enjoyed all the bird behavior observations about the Eclipse. We were at Sharp Chapel, which was not dark very long, and I appreciate hearing from those of you who had a long totality. I think it is also interesting comparing the behavior of the birds with long vs. short dark times.
On Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 10:01:44 PM CDT, Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> wrote:
We had a big group of family and friends who came in from all over the U.S to experience totality. They insisted they had to be in the longest totality, one of which was at Mt. View, for 4 minutes and 14 seconds, almost the longest in Arkansas. So, I rented a couple of houses for several days outside Mt. View on the White River for our group.
Having done totality in Missouri in 2017, I knew what to expect. But totality was a little longer this time. It was definitely cooler a little longer and dusk a little longer. The tempeture drop was more noticeable this time. The birds did go from normal daytime chatter to quiet during both eclipses. But, this time we had a small group of Vultures come flying low over us, obviously heading to their roost, just before it got to totality. As soon as the sun came back out, the birds got noisy again, especially the big flock of Goldfinches in the nearby field, who went from loud chatter to completely quiet, then back to their loud chatter as soon as it got back to regular sunlight. Interesting how quickly they started back up again. So glad everyone got to experience this eclipse, since the next one in the U.S. isn't until 2044.Karen Holliday In rural Stone County for the eclipse
The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
I had 3 interesting bird observations.
During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
, Leif
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Date: 4/15/24 3:02 pm From: Jay Jones <jonesjay62...> Subject: Yard bird, April 15
This Barred Owl has been calling from the wooded area adjacent to our property in Siloam Springs for months. Today, without prompting, he perched next to our driveway with hwy 43 traffic zooming by within 30 yards! Allowed Linda to approach for this cell phone photo.
Date: 4/15/24 12:45 pm From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: FOS at Davis Lake
Today I saw my FOS Baltimore Oriole and Prothonotary Warbler at Davis Lake which is south of Altus. There is also a Bald Eagle nest here with at least one youngster.
FOS 4/14/24 at Wrightsville AR (southeast Pulaski County) at CALS Brooks
Library. Coral Honeysuckle is blooming. Small female.
FOS 4/14/24 at my home in Midtown/University District. My columbine is
blooming, also Wild Black Cherry, Lyre Leaf Sage, Carolina Jessamine.
Both areas also have Red-eyed Vireos as of 4/8/24.
On Sun, Apr 14, 2024 at 10:57 AM Hrishikesh More <
<hrishikesh.r.more...> wrote:
> The first hummingbird of the season showed up in our Bella Vista backyard
> today morning. Red-eyed Vireo has been calling for the last few days as
> well.
>
> Hrishikesh
> Bella Vista
>
> On Mon, Apr 1, 2024 at 3:48 PM Mary Ann King <office...>
> wrote:
>
>> First hummingbird of the season for me, the red buckeyes are blooming and
>> the red trumpet honeysuckle is as well.
>>
>> In the pine woods northwest of London
>>
>> MaryAnn King
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...>
>> *On Behalf Of *Lynn Foster
>> *Sent:* Monday, April 1, 2024 3:29 PM
>> *To:* <ARBIRD-L...>
>> *Subject:* FOS RTHU
>>
>>
>>
>> I have been waiting.
>>
>>
>>
>> Red buckeye not blooming yet but columbines are.
>>
>>
>>
>> And today, this afternoon--a male.
>>
>>
>>
>> NW of Pinnacle Mtn, in Pulaski County.
>>
>>
>>
>> Lynn Foster
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/14/24 6:44 pm From: Terry Tumlison <0000046d4e78aa5b-dmarc-request...> Subject: FOS this week
Had a few FOS this week: Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Scissortail, Yellow Crown Night Heron, Black and White Warbler, Eastern Kingbird and Snowy Egret in Arkadelphia.Terry Tumlison
Date: 4/14/24 5:03 pm From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: FOS Eastern Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Larry Hedrick reports that the Eastern Kingbird and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers have arrived at the Essex Park golf course in Hot Springs.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
Date: 4/14/24 10:53 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: COMMON LOONS, NORTHBOUND, ALL DRESSED FOR SUMMER
Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas City has not proven a reliable place to see Common Loons during mid-winter (roughly December-February). But migrating loons in fall, and now spring, are more likely.
We saw 5 loons this morning from the parking lot at Highway 12 bridge east of Rogers. The 4 seen best were all black-and-white, already best-dressed for upcoming nesting season. You can see them with bins, and even better with a scope.
Based upon past observations, we are most likely to see these migrating loons from late March into early May. A calm day during the week (fewer boats and flat water) works best.
Date: 4/14/24 8:57 am From: Hrishikesh More <hrishikesh.r.more...> Subject: Re: FOS RTHU
The first hummingbird of the season showed up in our Bella Vista backyard
today morning. Red-eyed Vireo has been calling for the last few days as
well.
Hrishikesh
Bella Vista
On Mon, Apr 1, 2024 at 3:48 PM Mary Ann King <office...>
wrote:
> First hummingbird of the season for me, the red buckeyes are blooming and
> the red trumpet honeysuckle is as well.
>
> In the pine woods northwest of London
>
> MaryAnn King
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...>
> *On Behalf Of *Lynn Foster
> *Sent:* Monday, April 1, 2024 3:29 PM
> *To:* <ARBIRD-L...>
> *Subject:* FOS RTHU
>
>
>
> I have been waiting.
>
>
>
> Red buckeye not blooming yet but columbines are.
>
>
>
> And today, this afternoon--a male.
>
>
>
> NW of Pinnacle Mtn, in Pulaski County.
>
>
>
> Lynn Foster
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/12/24 2:29 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: The Spring So Far
When I re-filled the feeders this morning, six Pine Siskins were waiting, I saw others on my neighborhood walk. It seems a good year for them. The other birds having what I think are better than average years are American Golden-Plover, Eastern Towhee, and Rusty Blackbird.
Mind you, my experience is limited. I had two towhees across from the fish hatchery today. I flushed them in the first copse. I included them on my fish hatchery list but I wonder how other people handle the area.
I had my usual spring problem with Merlin identifying birds I could not hear let alone see including Worm-eating Warbler. I removed the app. I’ll put it back on after migration. I know many want to know what’s around, but I find it frustrating to not be able to find what Merlin is hearing. I enjoy my outings more not using the app.
I had a nice time a Pea Ridge on Wednesday. I had planned to walk the whole route, but was worried about getting caught in heavy rain. So I walked from stop to stop and then walked back to get the car and drive what I had just walked. I don’t do well slow driving. A lot of heavy drizzle, but Yellow-throated Vireo, Black-and-White, Northern Parula, Yelllow-rumped, and Yellow-throated Warblers made for a nice day. Lot’s of singing Field Sparrows as well. Also Early Buttercups, Rose Mock Verbenia, Sassafras’s, Plantain Pussytoes, Round Leaf Ragwort, Northern Dewberry, the dogwood, and other native flowers, all identified by “Picture This”, added to the walk when the birding was slow.
We had a big group of family and friends who came in from all over the U.S to experience totality. They insisted they had to be in the longest totality, one of which was at Mt. View, for 4 minutes and 14 seconds, almost the longest in Arkansas. So, I rented a couple of houses for several days outside Mt. View on the White River for our group. Having done totality in Missouri in 2017, I knew what to expect. But totality was a little longer this time. It was definitely cooler a little longer and dusk a little longer. The tempeture drop was more noticeable this time. The birds did go from normal daytime chatter to quiet during both eclipses. But, this time we had a small group of Vultures come flying low over us, obviously heading to their roost, just before it got to totality. As soon as the sun came back out, the birds got noisy again, especially the big flock of Goldfinches in the nearby field, who went from loud chatter to completely quiet, then back to their loud chatter as soon as it got back to regular sunlight. Interesting how quickly they started back up again. So glad everyone got to experience this eclipse, since the next one in the U.S. isn't until 2044.Karen Holliday In rural Stone County for the eclipse
-------- Original message --------From: "Anderson, Leif - FS, AR" <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> Date: 4/9/24 6:32 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Eclipse Birding observations
Greetings all,
The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
I had 3 interesting bird observations.
During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
, Leif
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil
or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
I am new to this site, it has been an insightful pleasure to read posts.
These were my observations from April 8th.
Eclipse Time: Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, a duck paddled around the dock
close to totality time, then it took a roosting position on a nearby dock;
gnat-like insects started to weave around us then swallows, unseen since
sunrise, swirled above into the skies.
On Thu, Apr 11, 2024, 1:20 PM Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> wrote:
> In Conway, all bird song stopped during the totality, but an unidentified
> insect began calling.
>
> Allan Mueller
>
> On Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 12:14 AM Carol Joan Patterson <
> <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>> I was hoping to hear and owl, but no luck in that department - probably
>> not dark enough long enough. Still, it was a splendid experience! Yes -
>> let’s do it again!
>>
>> On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 01:28:53 PM CDT, Patty McLean <
>> <plm108...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> We were at Bald Knob NWR with a friend from Georgia and were eventually
>> joined by Ken Graves from Searcy. We noticed cars from a number of other
>> states and saw a few other birding friends who were kind to share their
>> Moon Pies and Milky Ways with us.
>>
>> The celestial event was stunning. The birds were interesting to watch
>> altho the amazement of the eclipse captured most of our attention.
>> Red-winged Blackbirds came in to a nearby roost and the ducks and
>> shorebirds huddled in a deeper water area. Bird songs decreased and the
>> frogs began their chorus. Then we heard the distinctive call of a Barred
>> Owl.
>>
>> Such a grand experience. Makes me want to do it again...and before 2044.
>>
>> And no traffic afterwards!
>>
>> Best to all.
>>
>> Patty McLean and Michael Linz
>> The Roadrunners Patty
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Jodi Morris <mjodimorris...>
>> Date: 4/10/24 11:42 AM (GMT-06:00)
>> To: <ARBIRD-L...>
>> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
>>
>> In Broadmoor Neighborhood in Little Rock, I had a Mockingbird that
>> wouldn’t shut up during totality and his song really seemed loud in the
>> absence of others’ voices. We do have a resident Great Horned Owl in the
>> POA Park bordering my yard. I did not hear him hoot, but he must have
>> stirred. His tree was mobbed by crows and jays as soon as Totality ended.
>>
>> On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 6:32 PM Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <
>> <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> Greetings all,
>>
>> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat
>> bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad
>> student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>>
>>
>>
>> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
>>
>> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows
>> stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed
>> on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding
>> behavior.
>>
>>
>>
>> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our
>> normal dawn chorus.
>>
>>
>>
>> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>>
>>
>>
>> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were
>> birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding
>> family from the Czech Republic.
>>
>>
>>
>> , Leif
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
>> for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message
>> or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law
>> and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you
>> have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
>> the email immediately.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
>
> --
> Allan Mueller (It)
> 20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
> Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
> 501-339-8071
> *BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
> Pura Vida
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/11/24 11:14 am From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
In Conway, all bird song stopped during the totality, but an unidentified
insect began calling.
Allan Mueller
On Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 12:14 AM Carol Joan Patterson <
<0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I was hoping to hear and owl, but no luck in that department - probably
> not dark enough long enough. Still, it was a splendid experience! Yes -
> let’s do it again!
>
> On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 01:28:53 PM CDT, Patty McLean <
> <plm108...> wrote:
>
>
> We were at Bald Knob NWR with a friend from Georgia and were eventually
> joined by Ken Graves from Searcy. We noticed cars from a number of other
> states and saw a few other birding friends who were kind to share their
> Moon Pies and Milky Ways with us.
>
> The celestial event was stunning. The birds were interesting to watch
> altho the amazement of the eclipse captured most of our attention.
> Red-winged Blackbirds came in to a nearby roost and the ducks and
> shorebirds huddled in a deeper water area. Bird songs decreased and the
> frogs began their chorus. Then we heard the distinctive call of a Barred
> Owl.
>
> Such a grand experience. Makes me want to do it again...and before 2044.
>
> And no traffic afterwards!
>
> Best to all.
>
> Patty McLean and Michael Linz
> The Roadrunners Patty
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Jodi Morris <mjodimorris...>
> Date: 4/10/24 11:42 AM (GMT-06:00)
> To: <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
>
> In Broadmoor Neighborhood in Little Rock, I had a Mockingbird that
> wouldn’t shut up during totality and his song really seemed loud in the
> absence of others’ voices. We do have a resident Great Horned Owl in the
> POA Park bordering my yard. I did not hear him hoot, but he must have
> stirred. His tree was mobbed by crows and jays as soon as Totality ended.
>
> On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 6:32 PM Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <
> <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> Greetings all,
>
> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat
> bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad
> student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>
>
>
> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
>
> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows
> stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed
> on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding
> behavior.
>
>
>
> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal
> dawn chorus.
>
>
>
> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>
>
>
> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were
> birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding
> family from the Czech Republic.
>
>
>
> , Leif
>
>
>
>
> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
> for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message
> or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law
> and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you
> have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
> the email immediately.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
501-339-8071
*BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
Date: 4/11/24 6:53 am From: hilltower12 <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Volunteers need for Fayetteville UArk window strike monitoring
Hello Erin,I know that I'm replying a bit late but I saw your call for volunteers last month while I was in Louisiana assisting Matt Courtman & the Mission Ivorybill search team & I have been wanting to contact you ever since. Last year I wasn't able to help your team but I helped you out back in 2022. I don't know if you remember me but I was with you the day you found the blackburnian warbler (my NW Arkansas Nemesis Bird!) near Waterman Hall at the UA Law School.Now that I'm back home in Fayetteville I would be available to help the rest of your monitoring sessions except for Friday April 26 & Monday April 29. I just had a cancelled physical therapist appointment for (Fri. 4-12) so I could start tomorrow if you need me. I live in downtown Fayetteville & I am within easy wallking distance from the UA campus.Barry BennettFayetteville
-------- Ursprüngliche Nachricht --------Von: Erin Sauer <erinsauer10...> Datum: 29.03.24 10:26 vorm. (GMT-06:00) An: <ARBIRD-L...> Betreff: Volunteers need for Fayetteville UArk window strike
monitoring Hi all,It is that time of year where I ask for volunteers to help monitor window strikes! I run a window strike monitoring program at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. We survey campus buildings three mornings a week for four weeks during spring and fall migration. I also have an incidental reporting form here that gets a couple reports each semester. There are a couple biology grad students who help me run the program but most of my volunteers are undergraduates who are not birders or biology majors. We always need more help though and I've really struggled to find volunteers who can commit to coming out regularly. So, if you are in Northwest Arkansas and looking to help with an ongoing effort to make buildings safer for birds, please reach out! We can really use the help. Spring monitoring schedule: We will be meeting at the fountain outside the union building at 8AM every Mon
day, Wednesday, and Friday from 4/8-5/3. Please let me know if you plan on coming so I know how many people to expect. Wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind wearing in grass and dirt.I've been using the data to make targeted mitigation suggestions to UArk admins. This has been going on for a few years now and there hasn't been any retrofitting yet. However, there are some plans in the works and the University admins I have spoken with do seem interested in improving buildings on campus. I've also been asked a couple times about expanding this to downtown Fayetteville but we simply do not have the manpower to expand beyond campus.Erin-- Erin L. Sauer, Ph.D. (she/they)Postdoctoral FellowDepartment of Biological SciencesUniversity of <Arkansaserinsauer10...>
Date: 4/11/24 5:57 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: In so many ways (Maysville)
A PERFECT SPRING MIGRATION IN NWA CITY (Wednesday, April 10). In many respects you couldnt ask for a more perfect day to see and hear northbound spring migrants passing through Northwest Arkansas City. Temp all day = 53 F. Modest N wind. 100% overcast.
These were my FOS Clay-coloreds. Up the graded county road, my FOS Lark Sparrows. Lots of Eastern Meadowlarks singing in that N wind.
Post Oaks have flowered and are starting to leaf out. Eastern Bluebirds were carrying food to a cavity somewhere among the oaks.
I heard a bunch of loud knocking coming from -- ??? There was a big cavity opening atop a wooden utility pole. I looked, saw nothing. Then from within, but still out-of-sight, calls from a Pileated Woodpecker.
Canada Geese families with young. I had good looks at two geese families escorting fuzzy yellow young around a farm pond.
Another smaller pond along State Line Road, near intersection with Highway 43, yielded Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, and my FOS Spotted Sandpiper.
On the way back to Fayetteville I stopped at Stump Prairie, along Highway 59 in Siloam Springs. Big blooming of Indian Paintbrush and Yellow Wood Betony. Chesney Prairie Natural Area is nearby. Wilsons Snipe and my FOS Solitary Sandpiper were in a wetland immediately north of Chesney.
Occasional slight mist but never rain until I was getting home. At that time, around 4 PM, slightly heavier rain, with thunder, accompanied by a rousing chorus of White-throated Sparrows in my neighborhood, now heading north in earnest. I took it all as welcome home.
So many beautiful realities. Such a day of wonders. So worth protecting.
Date: 4/10/24 10:14 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
I was hoping to hear and owl, but no luck in that department - probably not dark enough long enough. Still, it was a splendid experience! Yes - let’s do it again!
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 01:28:53 PM CDT, Patty McLean <plm108...> wrote:
We were at Bald Knob NWR with a friend from Georgia and were eventually joined by Ken Graves from Searcy. We noticed cars from a number of other states and saw a few other birding friends who were kind to share their Moon Pies and Milky Ways with us.
The celestial event was stunning. The birds were interesting to watch altho the amazement of the eclipse captured most of our attention. Red-winged Blackbirds came in to a nearby roost and the ducks and shorebirds huddled in a deeper water area. Bird songs decreased and the frogs began their chorus. Then we heard the distinctive call of a Barred Owl.
Such a grand experience. Makes me want to do it again...and before 2044.
And no traffic afterwards!
Best to all.
Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Jodi Morris <mjodimorris...> Date: 4/10/24 11:42 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
In Broadmoor Neighborhood in Little Rock, I had a Mockingbird that wouldn’t shut up during totality and his song really seemed loud in the absence of others’ voices. We do have a resident Great Horned Owl in the POA Park bordering my yard. I did not hear him hoot, but he must have stirred. His tree was mobbed by crows and jays as soon as Totality ended.
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 6:32 PM Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Greetings all,
The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
I had 3 interesting bird observations.
During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
, Leif
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Date: 4/10/24 10:11 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
We were on Sharp Chapel Road, where we could watch the fields and hear the forest birds. As the sun reached a thinner and thinner crescent forest conversation increased. Then as the crescent shrank, and soon after the amazing ring appeared, all birds grew quiet, except for a Bluejay, who vocalized throughout.
On our walk back, two deer suddenly dashed through one of the ponds, splashing wildly. Ducks flushed, shorebirds remained. The deer continued onto and over the berm, then through a field covered with buttercups. Incidentally, again, many (maybe 300) Golden Plovers, and large numbers of Greater Yellowlegs. Many were calling, some from distant ponds. The result was bizarre, interfering frequencies.
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 01:30:17 PM CDT, DAVID PARHAM <000004014062b2df-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Here in Woodlands Edge in West Little Rock, all birds stopped singing except for one persistent Robin. Guess he had to rock in the treetops all day long, as the song goes!
David Parham
On Apr 10, 2024, at 11:32 AM, Jodi Morris <mjodimorris...> wrote:
In Broadmoor Neighborhood in Little Rock, I had a Mockingbird that wouldn’t shut up during totality and his song really seemed loud in the absence of others’ voices. We do have a resident Great Horned Owl in the POA Park bordering my yard. I did not hear him hoot, but he must have stirred. His tree was mobbed by crows and jays as soon as Totality ended.
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 6:32 PM Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Greetings all,
The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
I had 3 interesting bird observations.
During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
, Leif
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Date: 4/10/24 8:51 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Fwd: Red Slough Bird Survey - April 10
From: <arbour...>
To: <OKBIRDS...>
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 10:47:16 PM
Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - April 10
Kendal Van Zanten (IA), Jamie Russell (WA), and I surveyed birds today at Red Slough and found 85 species. It was overcast and cool with on and off rain and some wind. Best highlights include the return of Purple Gallinules, a Tricolored Heron, and nesting Anhingas. Here is our list for today:
Black-bellied Whistling Duck - 29
Canada Geese – 4
Wood Duck - 7
Gadwall – 4
American Wigeon - 1
Blue-winged Teal - 94
Northern Shoveler - 31
Ring-necked Duck – 7
Hooded Merganser - 1
Ruddy Duck - 4
Pied-billed Grebe – 14
Neotropic Cormorant - 8 (Several sitting on nests)
Double-crested Cormorant - 35
Anhinga - 86 (Several sitting on nests. Several males displaying.)
Date: 4/10/24 2:36 pm From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: recent audubon action alert What you need to know
I received an Audubon Action alert concerning a bill to increase funding for on-the-ground conservation projects benefiting birds. It is called the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act (H.R. 4389/S). If you elect to respond to this alert, and I hope you will, you should know that our Senator Boozman has already co-signed the bill. In the case of Senator Boozman, a thank you is in order. This is not the first time Senator Boozman has helped Audubon advance a bill related to bird conservation.
Last week, my wife Pam and I visited Senator Boozman's office in Washington. Upon learning that our 12-year-old granddaughter accompanied us, the staff kindly offered a private tour of the Capital. Since young Alicia is studying civics at school this year, it was a valuable experience for her. I was pleased to learn that at least some schools are teaching civics!
Our guide was a young intern currently enrolled at UAR in Fayetteville. I only caught his first name- Whittiker.
Jack StewartNewton County
Date: 4/10/24 11:30 am From: DAVID PARHAM <000004014062b2df-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
Here in Woodlands Edge in West Little Rock, all birds stopped singing except for one persistent Robin. Guess he had to rock in the treetops all day long, as the song goes!
David Parham
> On Apr 10, 2024, at 11:32 AM, Jodi Morris <mjodimorris...> wrote:
>
> In Broadmoor Neighborhood in Little Rock, I had a Mockingbird that wouldn’t shut up during totality and his song really seemed loud in the absence of others’ voices. We do have a resident Great Horned Owl in the POA Park bordering my yard. I did not hear him hoot, but he must have stirred. His tree was mobbed by crows and jays as soon as Totality ended.
>
> On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 6:32 PM Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> <mailto:<000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...>> wrote:
>> Greetings all,
>>
>> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>>
>>
>>
>> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
>>
>> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
>>
>>
>>
>> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
>>
>>
>>
>> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>>
>>
>>
>> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
>>
>>
>>
>> , Leif
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
We were at Bald Knob NWR with a friend from Georgia and were eventually joined by Ken Graves from Searcy. We noticed cars from a number of other states and saw a few other birding friends who were kind to share their Moon Pies and Milky Ways with us. The celestial event was stunning. The birds were interesting to watch altho the amazement of the eclipse captured most of our attention. Red-winged Blackbirds came in to a nearby roost and the ducks and shorebirds huddled in a deeper water area. Bird songs decreased and the frogs began their chorus. Then we heard the distinctive call of a Barred Owl. Such a grand experience. Makes me want to do it again...and before 2044. And no traffic afterwards! Best to all.Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Jodi Morris <mjodimorris...> Date: 4/10/24 11:42 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations In Broadmoor Neighborhood in Little Rock, I had a Mockingbird that wouldn’t shut up during totality and his song really seemed loud in the absence of others’ voices. We do have a resident Great Horned Owl in the POA Park bordering my yard. I did not hear him hoot, but he must have stirred. His tree was mobbed by crows and jays as soon as Totality ended.On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 6:32 PM Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Greetings all,
The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
I had 3 interesting bird observations.
During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
, Leif
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil
or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
In Broadmoor Neighborhood in Little Rock, I had a Mockingbird that wouldn’t
shut up during totality and his song really seemed loud in the absence of
others’ voices. We do have a resident Great Horned Owl in the POA Park
bordering my yard. I did not hear him hoot, but he must have stirred. His
tree was mobbed by crows and jays as soon as Totality ended.
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 6:32 PM Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <
<000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Greetings all,
>
> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat
> bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad
> student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>
>
>
> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
>
> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows
> stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed
> on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding
> behavior.
>
>
>
> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal
> dawn chorus.
>
>
>
> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>
>
>
> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were
> birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding
> family from the Czech Republic.
>
>
>
> , Leif
>
>
>
>
> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
> for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message
> or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law
> and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you
> have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
> the email immediately.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/10/24 9:17 am From: Jeremy Cohen <jeremy3cohen...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
I was at Holla Bend NWR, where the birds noticeably quieted down during
totality and the activity picked back up after, even moreso than
pre-totality.
Haikubox analyzed data from their audio recording units across the country,
100 or so were within the totality zone. It showed a 60% decline in bird
calls for these units relative to before and after totality on April 8th.
They are going to follow up by looking at specific regions and species.
[image: unnamed.png]
On Wed, Apr 10, 2024 at 10:43 AM Anita Schnee <
<000003224553d416-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I was on a hillside in Pindall, Searcy County. The moment my little group
> got to the top of the hill, before the event began, we were heralded by an
> eastern meadowlark. As coolness rose, vultures we saw wheeling far away
> vanished. I tracked one to roost in a tree.
>
> And then -- coolness, of the actual and metaphorical kind, peaked. What an
> experience.
>
> (We will not discuss the traffic afterwards, even though I waited an hour
> and a half before setting out. It was awful, awful, awful. But everybody on
> the road -- all half-billion of them -- seemed well behaved and there were
> no accidents. So there was that.)
>
>
> ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`
>
> Anita Schnee
>
> http://catself.wordpress.com > http://afriqueaya.org >
> <http://afriqueaya.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/afriqueaya_eplogo.jpg> >
> ~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`
>
>
> On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 07:37:30 AM CDT, Adam Schaffer <
> <000000135bd342dd-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> At Lake Norfork near Mountain Home we stayed largely engrossed by the
> eclipse rather than the birds, though the cessation of birdsong was
> noticeable to all. Shortly before totality we did have our FOS White-eyed
> Vireo and shortly after totality a large flock of pelicans flew past.
> Maybe they were just staying for the day and decided a day had come and
> gone.
>
> Adam Schaffer
>
> On Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 06:32:37 PM CDT, Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <
> <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> Greetings all,
>
> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat
> bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad
> student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>
>
>
> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
>
> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows
> stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed
> on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding
> behavior.
>
>
>
> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal
> dawn chorus.
>
>
>
> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>
>
>
> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were
> birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding
> family from the Czech Republic.
>
>
>
> , Leif
>
>
>
>
> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
> for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message
> or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law
> and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you
> have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
> the email immediately.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
I was on a hillside in Pindall, Searcy County. The moment my little group got to the top of the hill, before the event began, we were heralded by an eastern meadowlark. As coolness rose, vultures we saw wheeling far away vanished. I tracked one to roost in a tree.
And then -- coolness, of the actual and metaphorical kind, peaked. What an experience.
(We will not discuss the traffic afterwards, even though I waited an hour and a half before setting out. It was awful, awful, awful. But everybody on the road -- all half-billion of them -- seemed well behaved and there were no accidents. So there was that.)
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 07:37:30 AM CDT, Adam Schaffer <000000135bd342dd-dmarc-request...> wrote:
At Lake Norfork near Mountain Home we stayed largely engrossed by the eclipse rather than the birds, though the cessation of birdsong was noticeable to all. Shortly before totality we did have our FOS White-eyed Vireo and shortly after totality a large flock of pelicans flew past. Maybe they were just staying for the day and decided a day had come and gone.
Adam Schaffer
On Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 06:32:37 PM CDT, Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Greetings all,
The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
I had 3 interesting bird observations.
During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
, Leif
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Date: 4/10/24 5:37 am From: Adam Schaffer <000000135bd342dd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
At Lake Norfork near Mountain Home we stayed largely engrossed by the eclipse rather than the birds, though the cessation of birdsong was noticeable to all. Shortly before totality we did have our FOS White-eyed Vireo and shortly after totality a large flock of pelicans flew past. Maybe they were just staying for the day and decided a day had come and gone.
Adam Schaffer
On Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 06:32:37 PM CDT, Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Greetings all,
The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
I had 3 interesting bird observations.
During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
, Leif
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
On the shores of Lake Dardanelle, the Cardinals started singing about 10
minutes before totality. The "dawn chorus" started immediately after
totality, but only lasted a few minutes. The cardinals, which I had not
heard until right before totality, continued singing the rest of the
afternoon until I started the 4 hour "2-hour" drive home. I wish I had
looked out onto the lake to see what cormorants and gulls were doing, but I
was too engrossed in the eclipse. Oh, and I can report that all of my
cousins' grandkids got quiet during totality, as well. It was quite
spectacular!
Karen Garrett, now back in Benton County, but I thank Pope County for
letting me view their 4 min, 12 sec of totality
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 8:17 PM Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
> I was near Mansfield where we had over three minutes of totality. All bird
> song stopped for the three minutes. Just before totality a small flock of
> Red-winged Blackbirds flew into the woods to roost presumably. As it got
> lighter more bird song was heard then than before the eclipse.
> I also had FOS Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Vireo, and Blue-gray
> Gnatcatcher.
>
> Sandy B
>
> On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 8:10 PM Jim Morgan <jlmm...> wrote:
>
>> Heard a Barred Owl as well.
>> Also heard Yellow-Throated Vireo call as the light dimmed. They had been
>> vocal while we were out between 8-10. am. We went back outside about noon
>> and didn’t hear them until light level dropped a fair bit. Not scientific
>> since I wasn’t outside listening the whole time. But it sure seemed the
>> Y-T vireo calls picked back up after light levels dropped.
>>
>> Locality was close tie the ghost town of Rush in the Buffalo River area,
>> but several hundred feet elevation above the river.
>>
>> Regards
>> Jim Morgan
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>> On Apr 9, 2024, at 6:32 PM, Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <
>> <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Greetings all,
>>
>> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat
>> bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad
>> student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>>
>>
>>
>> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
>>
>> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows
>> stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed
>> on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding
>> behavior.
>>
>>
>>
>> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our
>> normal dawn chorus.
>>
>>
>>
>> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>>
>>
>>
>> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were
>> birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding
>> family from the Czech Republic.
>>
>>
>>
>> , Leif
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
>> for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message
>> or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law
>> and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you
>> have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
>> the email immediately.
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
I was near Mansfield where we had over three minutes of totality. All bird
song stopped for the three minutes. Just before totality a small flock of
Red-winged Blackbirds flew into the woods to roost presumably. As it got
lighter more bird song was heard then than before the eclipse.
I also had FOS Common Yellowthroat, White-eyed Vireo, and Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher.
Sandy B
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 8:10 PM Jim Morgan <jlmm...> wrote:
> Heard a Barred Owl as well.
> Also heard Yellow-Throated Vireo call as the light dimmed. They had been
> vocal while we were out between 8-10. am. We went back outside about noon
> and didn’t hear them until light level dropped a fair bit. Not scientific
> since I wasn’t outside listening the whole time. But it sure seemed the
> Y-T vireo calls picked back up after light levels dropped.
>
> Locality was close tie the ghost town of Rush in the Buffalo River area,
> but several hundred feet elevation above the river.
>
> Regards
> Jim Morgan
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Apr 9, 2024, at 6:32 PM, Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <
> <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
>
> Greetings all,
>
> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat
> bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad
> student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>
>
>
> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
>
> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows
> stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed
> on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding
> behavior.
>
>
>
> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal
> dawn chorus.
>
>
>
> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>
>
>
> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were
> birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding
> family from the Czech Republic.
>
>
>
> , Leif
>
>
>
>
> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
> for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message
> or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law
> and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you
> have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
> the email immediately.
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Here in west Pulaski County, the siskins at my feeder gradually left as the
light dimmed, just as they would do at dusk, and the afternoon birdsong
(titmice, b&w warblers, pine warblers, etc) slowly died down too. During
totality I observed a couple of small birds flying overhead, including one
unidentified chip call from one of them. Unsure if they were starting
migration, heading to a roost, or just flying around like normal. They were
heading south if I remember correctly. The birdsong after totality was
definitely louder and more varied than typical afternoon song, so some
birds were likely singing their morning songs.
As for my domestic farm birds, I was wondering if the chickens would go
inside their coop since it resembled dusk, but they didn't. If I had to
guess, probably the "sunset" was too fast, since they normally head in just
when it's getting nearly dark, which is a period that the eclipse
completely skipped over. The chickens did seem a bit lethargic though, as
if they were getting tired and about to to head inside and roost. Our
mallard seemed agitated during totality and was quacking loudly, but also
sometimes he just does that so I can't be sure it was a response to the
eclipse. Lucy the emu didn't particularly care as far as I could tell.
Aster Droste (he/him)
PS: My favorite thing about the moments before totality (besides the
interesting shadows) was the complete silence coming from the road by our
house. It's usually a pretty significant source of noise pollution
throughout the day, but with just a few minutes until totality, I assume
most people found a place to stop and watch. With no noisy cars, I could
hear a black and white warbler way off in our neighbor's woods, which was
pretty cool.
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024, 6:32 PM Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <
<000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Greetings all,
>
> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat
> bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad
> student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>
>
>
> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
>
> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows
> stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed
> on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding
> behavior.
>
>
>
> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal
> dawn chorus.
>
>
>
> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>
>
>
> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were
> birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding
> family from the Czech Republic.
>
>
>
> , Leif
>
>
>
>
> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely
> for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message
> or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law
> and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you
> have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete
> the email immediately.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/9/24 6:10 pm From: Jim Morgan <jlmm...> Subject: Re: Eclipse Birding observations
Heard a Barred Owl as well.
Also heard Yellow-Throated Vireo call as the light dimmed. They had been vocal while we were out between 8-10. am. We went back outside about noon and didn’t hear them until light level dropped a fair bit. Not scientific since I wasn’t outside listening the whole time. But it sure seemed the Y-T vireo calls picked back up after light levels dropped.
Locality was close tie the ghost town of Rush in the Buffalo River area, but several hundred feet elevation above the river.
Regards
Jim Morgan
Sent from my iPad
> On Apr 9, 2024, at 6:32 PM, Anderson, Leif - FS, AR <000002b0bc8b0106-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> Greetings all,
> The last 3 days I ‘ve had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
>
> I had 3 interesting bird observations.
> During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the “roost” until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
>
> The end of totality “Dawn chorus” at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
>
> About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
>
> Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
>
> , Leif
>
>
>
>
> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Date: 4/9/24 4:58 pm From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Birds and Birding Trails
Arizona just released its Arizona Birding Trail site. Many people enjoy birding there. It will remain as an electronic version so it can be kept up to date and added to as needed. It is difficult to find by just searching online, so I have included the link below. Be sure to explore the heading at the top of the page. Tice Supplee with Audubon in Arizona was instrumental in getting this completed.
Greetings all,
The last 3 days I 've had the pleasure of being a volunteer for some neat bioacoustic eclipse research. Led by Douglas Barron and his undergrad student Colton Morris, from AR Tech University.
I had 3 interesting bird observations.
During the partial portion of the eclipse 2 White-throated Sparrows stopped feeding/calling/singing and flew up into a Cedar bush. They stayed on the "roost" until after totality then resumed their normal feeding behavior.
The end of totality "Dawn chorus" at 1:54pm was just as good as our normal dawn chorus.
About 4 min into totality a Barred Owl started calling.
Holla Bend NWR hosted about 800 eclipse visitors, many of whom were birders/ nature lovers from all over the country, Canada and even a birding family from the Czech Republic.
, Leif
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Date: 4/9/24 2:48 pm From: Ann Gordon <chesterann...> Subject: Re: Yellow-rumped Warblers
Same here in Crawford County. Those pollen sacks must be full of
nutrition. I guess they're bulking up for the journey north. I love
seeing Yellow-rumps in breeding plumage.
Ann Gordon
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 3:56 PM Art Weigand <aweigand13...> wrote:
> I’m seeing a huge increase in Yellow-rumped Warblers working the Oak
> catkins off my deck today, as many as 12 in one tree at a time. This has
> been happening all day. Also seeing more Orange-crowned Warblers and
> Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
>
> Art Weigand
> Oak Ridge Park
> Beaver Lake
>
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
I’m seeing a huge increase in Yellow-rumped Warblers working the Oak catkins off my deck today, as many as 12 in one tree at a time. This has been happening all day. Also seeing more Orange-crowned Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
Date: 4/8/24 4:41 pm From: Judy Griffith <9waterfall9...> Subject: Birds and Wildflowers from Easter to Eclipse
This morning while hunting morels I noticed the first Yellow-throated Warbler and Northern Rough-winged Swallows had arrived, and on his run Don heard a Yellow-throated Vireo. During the (99.2%) eclipse here we watched our first two male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds check out the Trumpet Honeysuckle and feeders that I put out in anticipation of their arrival.
Merlin app claims to have heard an Eastern Towhee and a Broad-winged Hawk which I missed, but never noticed the Louisiana Waterthrush chipping at the creek or the trills of Chipping Sparrows.
Pine Siskins have returned in vocal gatherings after leaving in late March, and Lincoln’s Sparrows, who usually display shy behavior out in the fields by diving quickly into the brush to hide, have started eating birdseed ON the deck and in areas next to the house with White-throated Sparrows and brightly crowned Chipping Sparrows for the first time that I have ever noticed.
By Easter both Northern Parula and Black & White Warblers were singing from treetops with Pine Warblers, and Eastern Bluebirds were considering which nest box or maybe cavity tree would work for them in the front yard - for the first time since the freeze in 2021. Louisiana Waterthrushes and Eastern Phoebes have gone pretty quiet because they are also nesting but of course Carolina Wrens sing to their eggs throughout the day as they come and go.
The first White-eyed Vireo announced its presence yesterday and Ruby-crowned Kinglets sing enthusiastically throughout the woods and fields. For some reason this spring there have not been as many Golden-crowned Kinglets as usual.
On Easter we observed docile honeybees entering and leaving their hollow tree that had fallen downhill toward the creek and we could see layers of honeycomb through the cracked trunk. On our way we flushed an observant Great Horned Owl sentry from a ledge in the bluff as we passed 70 feet below. Unfortunately a mob of American Crows mustered to chase the bird almost immediately, but a few minutes later the Owl returned to a hidden spot in the bluff and the Crows dispersed. The female GHOW may be nesting near the sentry in their ancestral grotto, but they are all carefully hidden from our view, as their plumage is extremely well camouflaged with the variations of hues in the geologic layers of stone.
This week the Robin’s Plantain began to bloom in the native plant gardens beside Woodland Phlox, Solomon’s Seal, Jacob’s Ladder, Wild Geranium, Virginia Bluebells, and Bloodroot. Mayapples are spreading in the fern garden and elsewhere with their wonderful patches of green umbrellas. Morels emerge here and there in the woods, one among creekside boulders where the Cottonmouths first come out to sun their winter bones in springtime.
Judith
Ninestone, Carroll County
############################
Date: 4/8/24 4:12 am From: Ragan Sutterfield <000003499a91e99c-dmarc-request...> Subject: ASCA Meeting Thursday: Eco Landscape Design with Hannah Keltner
Hi Friends,
Happy Eclipse Day! This is just a reminder that the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas will be hosting landscape designer Hannah Keltner this Thursday at 7 p.m. More details below.
April 11, 2024 – Landscaping for Ecological Health with Hannah Keltner
Hannah is a landscape designer for Ecological Design Group, a landscape architecture and civil engineering firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. Hannah grew up in Little Rock, where she developed a deep appreciation for nature through careful observation and gardening. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Horticulture as well as her Master of Landscape Architecture from Auburn University. Hannah spent much of her time in grad-school working as a graduate research assistant in experimental meadow research, which allowed her to explore the relationship between ecological restoration and design through hands-on fieldwork. She is passionate about supporting healthy ecosystems and engaging with the beauty and messiness of natural landscapes. Hannah will be sharing about her work for EDG in general, but especially the wetland restoration project she is designing for the Port of Little Rock.
Date: 4/7/24 7:01 am From: Adam Schaffer <000000135bd342dd-dmarc-request...> Subject: A First for Coler
Earlier this week I spent a morning birding the Coler Preserve in Bentonville. FOS Yellow-throated Warblers, Broad-winged Hawks, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were notable. Much nest building was evident as well including by an Accipiter in a large tree right next to the trail. The real first for Coler though was not a bird at all. In over a decade of noting the birds and blooming flowers evident at Coler this was the first time that I noted more wildflower species than birds. Favorite amongst these was a large sassafras nearly knocked over by a larger oak that left its beautiful flowers slightly above eye level and within easy smartphone distance. I also bent down for many other photos including abundant Ozark Green Trillium and unfortunately sparse Violet Wood Sorrel. I only allowed myself a single leaf to sample of those tasty treats. Giving the birds the unidentified Accipiter and the flowers the many I cannot narrow down to species level either, the wildflowers came through with a commanding 34-27 victory. This is obviously a sign that I've been watching too much basketball. Still, it's prescient to note that while we anxiously await the peak of spring bird migration, if we look down now (or up at the sassafras), spring wildflower season is at its absolute zenith.
Adam SchafferBentonville
Date: 4/6/24 3:11 pm From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: FOS Black-throated Green Warbler
My wife and I took a drive from Altus to Oark and back this afternoon. On the way there we headed to Ozark and then north on 23 before heading east toward Oark. We stopped at the Redding Campground area and I took a birding walk. Ebird list here:
Then on to Oark with a stop at the general store for a scoop of butter pecan ice cream. Then we headed south on HWY 103. We had the sunroof open and were driving slowly through some u-turns. I heard a warbler call that I had not heard for many years. It was a Black-throated Green. I had not seen one since leaving Michigan in 2021. I got a couple pics (far from my best) and a short video. Cool to see my old friend from my Michigan days. Ebird list with the pics here:
> Currently at Two Rivers in Little Rock. About 30 minutes ago I saw an > unusual waterbird on the Arkansas River, but I didn't have my scope. I > marked it as a Western/Clark's grebe on eBird but I'm not super confident > in that. ID help would be appreciated. Here's the note I wrote on eBird: > "best guess because I didn't have a scope. confirmation would be > appreciated if the bird sticks around, but it's a bit of a hike from any of > the parking areas. seen from 34.8151923, -92.3902254. perched on a dead > piece of wood, then swam around for a little bit, at approximately > 34.8196877, -92.3911665. > black body with black extending up the back of the neck and top of head. > white lower half of head and front of neck. the line between black and > white was fairly well-defined as far as I could tell. thick, fairly long, > pointy yellow bill. diving not observed. white color seemed too light and > extended too high for a juvenile double-crested cormorant." > I'm going to go home and get my scope to take another look at it before I > submit the checklist, but it'll probably be about an hour before I get back > to that spot with my scope, so hopefully it stays nearby. >
Date: 4/6/24 1:56 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: BUFFALO, HOPEFULLY FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
There's been too much change since I've been here, and since I've been birding - and in fact, every year more loveliness is GONE. I think all Arkansans love our naturalness - so this does not make sense. Donald and I do still see cool life on the Buffalo - haven't been yet this year.
On Friday, April 5, 2024 at 10:01:42 AM CDT, Joseph Neal <joeneal...> wrote:
An obvious problem of having lived a long time in Northwest Arkansas City is remembering 50 years ago when what is now burgeoning metropolis was small towns and an almost city. That’s right – when Fayetteville’s current 100,000 -- heading quickly for 200,000 -- was 25,000. A full third of that was University of Arkansas students, like me.
Yes, that’s right. I was part of the “madding crowd” circa 1964.
Now a lot of stuff gets pretty crowded. We old timers don’t like change, but the Rx is: change can also help. I’m consuming less salt and fat, eat more natural food. And if the sun is shining and temp moderate, I avoid the crowds.
Don’t go Buffalo on any holiday or any weekend. But mid-week often works. It is, to put it mildly, and borrowing from Thomas Hardy, “far from the madding crowd.”
Yesterday I was over at the ancient river with family visitors from Oregon: my daughter Ariel Kate and her partner Sean. We didn’t have it to ourselves, but there were not a lot of other visitors, either. You could hear the river think. If there was a madding crowd, it was just the blue skies, flowering Dogwoods, and Zebra Swallowtails.
They hiked Ponca low water bridge to Steel Creek. I went birding where below dramatic high bluffs Steel Creek flows into the Buffalo. They did the hike in one hour. Saw very few others on the trail. Among the few folks I encountered was a young man who was interested in what I was seeing.
Finally, if memory serves me, when Fayetteville was 25,000 there were folks who thought Fayetteville was already too big for its britches. Students like me were part of the problem back then.
Date: 4/6/24 1:18 pm From: Aster Droste <eviedroste...> Subject: Mystery grebe(?) at Two Rivers Park
Currently at Two Rivers in Little Rock. About 30 minutes ago I saw an unusual waterbird on the Arkansas River, but I didn't have my scope. I marked it as a Western/Clark's grebe on eBird but I'm not super confident in that. ID help would be appreciated. Here's the note I wrote on eBird: "best guess because I didn't have a scope. confirmation would be appreciated if the bird sticks around, but it's a bit of a hike from any of the parking areas. seen from 34.8151923, -92.3902254. perched on a dead piece of wood, then swam around for a little bit, at approximately 34.8196877, -92.3911665. black body with black extending up the back of the neck and top of head. white lower half of head and front of neck. the line between black and white was fairly well-defined as far as I could tell. thick, fairly long, pointy yellow bill. diving not observed. white color seemed too light and extended too high for a juvenile double-crested cormorant." I'm going to go home and get my scope to take another look at it before I submit the checklist, but it'll probably be about an hour before I get back to that spot with my scope, so hopefully it stays nearby.
Date: 4/6/24 10:57 am From: Daniel Mason <millipede1977...> Subject: Figures......
Some years ago, when the male vermilion flycatcher was visiting city
lake here in Siloam, I had already seen and photographed it a couple
times. But this one day I was there with another guy and we were able to
get significantly closer than I had previously... and, I forgot the
memory card. :(
This is how it goes sometimes. I guess...
Yesterday was one of those days. None of the birds were extraordinary as
far as rarities go... but, I got out to city lake and, before I even
grabbed the camera out of the van, I remembered I put the battery in the
charger for a while before I left the house that morning... of course,
forgetting it completely. I have a second battery, somewhere, but rarely
remember to have it somewhere convenient. :(
Oh well... birding is birding with our without a camera. Right?
A while later, an osprey showed up. I never got any spectacular views of
that bird that day, but, seeing one show up when your camera is not
ready, it's frustrating.
Other reasons I wish I had that battery...... Goslings. There were 4
goslings on the lake, not far from the blind. There's another pair still
sitting on a nest. And pairs of geese just all over that lake. I
estimated at least 20 birds. It's not a huge lake, so quarrels happen
with some frequency. Arguing over real estate, I assume.
First of season rough-winged swallow for me. I heard but did not see a
white-eyed vireo...
Both my ears and Merlin kept hearing a chimney swift... HOWEVER... based
on where I was and what else I was hearing, I'm leaning very heavily
toward the sound being random chatter coming from the numerous
goldfinches. I'd always hear that chatter in the same area, and never
saw a swift flying over. It's POSSIBLE one was there, but I'm not
betting on it.
Merlin also picked up a baltimore oriole, but I stopped and listened
when it showed that and, I don't know what it was hearing. I overruled
that ID. ha.
Most exciting, for me, and also most frustrating for not having the
camera in hand was a pileated woodpecker that was maybe 10 to 15 feet
away from me tearing up some dead wood near the ground. I was on the
boardwalk, and it was just below. I tried getting pictures with my
phone... wasn't happening well, trying to shoot between the boards from
the other side. At one point I managed to slowly lower myself to a
seated position... and then slowly scooched my behind to the side closer
to the bird... I got there, right in time for a couple of people walking
by to startle it. Oh well. I didn't get any FANTASTIC photo or video of
this encounter, but even without binoculars on the bird, it was just a
fantastic moment. It stayed there for a while, long enough that it was
satisfying. :)
Other year firsts for me included gnatcatchers and parulas.
At home, yesterday and today, high pitched whistles of a broad-winged
hawk... at one point seen landing in a tree in the yard... seen from
where I'm sitting on my bed typing right now.
Imagine a world without windows.... ack...
Date: 4/6/24 9:28 am From: Robin Buff <robinbuff...> Subject: Re: Uplifting Purple Martins (Fayetteville)
Such good news!
Robin Buff
On Thu, Apr 4, 2024, 6:43 PM Joseph Neal <joeneal...> wrote:
> February 24, 2024, featured the unveiling and actual, dramatic uplifiting
> of an array of Purple Martin gourds in a field in Lake Fayetteville Park
> that is part of Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. This is a project
> coordinated by Kelly Mulhollan and Michael Cockram.
>
> They previously worked together on creation of Mulhollan Waterfowl Blind
> at Lake Fayetteville, not far from BGO. They are both also musicians. Kelly
> and Donna Mulhollan are well known as Still on the Hill. Michael and Susan
> Shore are well known as the duo, Shore and Cockram.
>
> So today was a dramatic follow up. Kelly and Donna found four Purple
> Martins there this morning – two males and two females. Kelly thinks there
> may already be more than four. You can count too, and let someone know.
>
> You can see the array by parking in the lot south of BGO (for trail
> users), then walking sort of west, toward the lake. The gourds are white.
> Even though martins are famously not disturbed by humans, you can give them
> a little space if you decide to go out for a look. There are other birds in
> that area, too, so binoculars will be handy, but not required.
>
> Martins provide a good tonic for our world,
>
> So sadly over run with economic injustice,
>
> Homelessness, poverty, evils of war,
>
> Endless disasters, steady creep of climate change.
>
> Uplifiting to our spirits -- martins.
>
> Let them sing and fly.
>
> Let them so inspire.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/6/24 7:40 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: CANVASBACKS AND NUPTIAL CORMORANTS FROM MULHOLLAN BLIND AT LAKE FAYETTEVILLE
Mulhollan Blind at Lake Fayetteville is a short walk from trail-users parking lot (south of Botanical Garden of the Ozarks). We checked out the Purple Martin gourds first, then headed for the blind. All of this in the middle of a lot of urban busyness and accompanying noise, yet still birdy.
Even with reduced hearing capability typical of an older male, I can hear a Tufted Titmouse. I can hear fly-by calls of Tree Swallows. Its really quite energizing. You lose a lot with age. I once could hear many bird species a long ways away. I appreciate all that I can still hear.
And I shouldnt forget all the aquatic turtles, in full basking display. And old dead trees, fallen in the water. Doing due diligence to the future for a world with turtle diversity.
And swimming by, and mainly not too far out for our bins:
Blue-winged Teal, Gadwalls, and strikingly brilliant male Canvasbacks. All that white reflecting spring sunlight is stunning, even at distance.
Many of the Double-crested Cormorants sport double crests of their upcoming nuptial season. Watching them out in the lake, its easy to imagine those shallow lakes and ponds up north, just awaiting their arrival.
Finally, its Fish Crow season in Northwest Arkansas City. They found themselves a Barred Owl yesterday. We heard all the AW AW AWs, then the Barred Owl started calling. Then a second answered. Then the crows went silent, and flew over us, as we watched from Mulhollan Blind.
Date: 4/5/24 8:01 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: BUFFALO, HOPEFULLY FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
An obvious problem of having lived a long time in Northwest Arkansas City is remembering 50 years ago when what is now burgeoning metropolis was small towns and an almost city. Thats right when Fayettevilles current 100,000 -- heading quickly for 200,000 -- was 25,000. A full third of that was University of Arkansas students, like me.
Yes, thats right. I was part of the madding crowd circa 1964.
Now a lot of stuff gets pretty crowded. We old timers dont like change, but the Rx is: change can also help. Im consuming less salt and fat, eat more natural food. And if the sun is shining and temp moderate, I avoid the crowds.
Dont go Buffalo on any holiday or any weekend. But mid-week often works. It is, to put it mildly, and borrowing from Thomas Hardy, far from the madding crowd.
Yesterday I was over at the ancient river with family visitors from Oregon: my daughter Ariel Kate and her partner Sean. We didnt have it to ourselves, but there were not a lot of other visitors, either. You could hear the river think. If there was a madding crowd, it was just the blue skies, flowering Dogwoods, and Zebra Swallowtails.
They hiked Ponca low water bridge to Steel Creek. I went birding where below dramatic high bluffs Steel Creek flows into the Buffalo. They did the hike in one hour. Saw very few others on the trail. Among the few folks I encountered was a young man who was interested in what I was seeing.
Finally, if memory serves me, when Fayetteville was 25,000 there were folks who thought Fayetteville was already too big for its britches. Students like me were part of the problem back then.
Saw and heard at least two Prothonotary Warblers today, 04/04/24, at
Lorance Creek Natural Area in southeast Pulaski County.
On 3/29/31 saw an easter towhee on Cindy Miller’s Island on trail that goes
to right just after you cross the bridge on to this sandbar/island across
from 42 in the Clinton Library.
Date: 4/4/24 5:23 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas?
Fingers crossed!
On Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 08:22:13 AM CDT, Patty McLean <plm108...> wrote:
Michael and I have looked for them the last few years with no results BUT we've seen eBird reports during this time from others indicating they're still there. Hopefully these folks will chime in.
Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Date: 4/3/24 9:46 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas?
Donald and I looked about Christmas time, but alas! No luck.
On Friday, March 22, 2024 at 12:18:11 PM CDT, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
I cannot add to the validity of the continued existence of the Rufous-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas. At one time efforts were planned to try and improve the habitat on Mt Magazine for this bird. Many of those that religiously looked for this bird on an annual basis are now retired or gone. Is there anyone else taking their place? Jerry Wayne Davis From: Taylor Long Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 11:43 AMTo: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas? Greetings Ornithologists,
Someone reviewing range maps for the next update of Nat Geo field guides recently asked me if Rufous-crowned Sparrows are extirpated from Arkansas. I told them that there hadn't been a confirmed eBird report since the Fall of 2020 but that I couldn't say for sure if they were truly extirpated. Since 2020 is fairly recent in the grand scheme of things, they decided to leave the little purple dot over Mount Magazine for now. Still, I'm curious what others think about this question...
Do we believe there are still Rufous-crowned Sparrows somewhere up there on the mountain? If not, do we understand why they left? Would you consider them extirpated from Arkansas?
February 24, 2024, featured the unveiling and actual, dramatic uplifiting of an array of Purple Martin gourds in a field in Lake Fayetteville Park that is part of Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. This is a project coordinated by Kelly Mulhollan and Michael Cockram.
They previously worked together on creation of Mulhollan Waterfowl Blind at Lake Fayetteville, not far from BGO. They are both also musicians. Kelly and Donna Mulhollan are well known as Still on the Hill. Michael and Susan Shore are well known as the duo, Shore and Cockram.
So today was a dramatic follow up. Kelly and Donna found four Purple Martins there this morning two males and two females. Kelly thinks there may already be more than four. You can count too, and let someone know.
You can see the array by parking in the lot south of BGO (for trail users), then walking sort of west, toward the lake. The gourds are white. Even though martins are famously not disturbed by humans, you can give them a little space if you decide to go out for a look. There are other birds in that area, too, so binoculars will be handy, but not required.
Martins provide a good tonic for our world,
So sadly over run with economic injustice,
Homelessness, poverty, evils of war,
Endless disasters, steady creep of climate change.
Date: 4/4/24 6:22 am From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Subject: Re: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas?
Michael and I have looked for them the last few years with no results BUT we've seen eBird reports during this time from others indicating they're still there. Hopefully these folks will chime in. Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Date: 4/3/24 9:46 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas?
Donald and I looked about Christmas time, but alas! No luck.
On Friday, March 22, 2024 at 12:18:11 PM CDT, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
I cannot add to the validity of the continued existence of the
Rufous-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas. At one time efforts were planned to try and
improve the habitat on Mt Magazine for this bird. Many of those that religiously
looked for this bird on an annual basis are now retired or gone. Is there anyone
else taking their place?
Jerry Wayne Davis
From: Taylor Long
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 11:43 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in
Arkansas?
Greetings Ornithologists,Someone reviewing range maps for the next
update of Nat Geo field guides recently asked me if Rufous-crowned Sparrows are
extirpated from Arkansas. I told them that there hadn't been a confirmed eBird
report since the Fall of 2020 but that I couldn't say for sure if they were
truly extirpated. Since 2020 is fairly recent in the grand scheme of things,
they decided to leave the little purple dot over Mount Magazine for now. Still,
I'm curious what others think about this question...Do we believe there
are still Rufous-crowned Sparrows somewhere up there on the mountain? If not, do
we understand why they left? Would you consider them extirpated from
Arkansas?Thoughts appreciated,-Taylor Long
To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following
link:http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
It hasn’t been seen since Tuesday morning. Sunnymede is at the far east end
of Grand Ave past Jam Mart and Uhaul.
Sandy
On Thu, Apr 4, 2024 at 2:11 AM Carol Joan Patterson <
<0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Is the Vermillion Flycatcher still in Fort Smith? If so, I was a little
> confused by the directions. Is the park on Grand Avenue?
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/3/24 7:45 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas?
Donald and I looked about Christmas time, but alas! No luck.
On Friday, March 22, 2024 at 12:18:11 PM CDT, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
I cannot add to the validity of the continued existence of the Rufous-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas. At one time efforts were planned to try and improve the habitat on Mt Magazine for this bird. Many of those that religiously looked for this bird on an annual basis are now retired or gone. Is there anyone else taking their place? Jerry Wayne Davis From: Taylor Long Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 11:43 AMTo: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas? Greetings Ornithologists,
Someone reviewing range maps for the next update of Nat Geo field guides recently asked me if Rufous-crowned Sparrows are extirpated from Arkansas. I told them that there hadn't been a confirmed eBird report since the Fall of 2020 but that I couldn't say for sure if they were truly extirpated. Since 2020 is fairly recent in the grand scheme of things, they decided to leave the little purple dot over Mount Magazine for now. Still, I'm curious what others think about this question...
Do we believe there are still Rufous-crowned Sparrows somewhere up there on the mountain? If not, do we understand why they left? Would you consider them extirpated from Arkansas?
Date: 4/3/24 5:46 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Fw: Welcome back to WWF, Carol Joan!
This is a cute idea that might get folks working together in a positive way. Birders could donate an hour or more just birding. It’s something we all do anyway, but this might help raise awareness, hope, goodwill.
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: World Wildlife Fund <hello...>To: "<joanie.patterson...>" <joanie.patterson...>Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 at 08:19:50 AM CDTSubject: Welcome back to WWF, Carol Joan!
Thank you for taking action with us. Will you do one more quick thing to protect our planet?
|
|
| |
|
|
Carol Joan, thank you so much for taking action with WWF on Care2 and helping make a difference for wildlife and nature. Welcome back to our email community, where you can discover the latest conservation news and ways to protect our planet.
We hope you are excited to explore more ways to participate in our Give an Hour campaign and help us bank 100,000 hours for our planet before Earth Day on April 22!
|
|
|
|
|
| View email as a webpage |
|
|
|
|
|
| | | |
|
| GIVE AN HOUR |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Hi Carol Joan,
Ever wondered how an hour of your time can help nature? Whether you're whipping up a new recipe, going on a run, crafting something beautiful, or enjoying your favorite film, your passions can contribute to a greater cause.
I'm excited to welcome you to Give an Hour for Earth—an exciting way to do what you love and protect our planet. It's simple to be part of this global movement: select your interests, pick an activity that resonates with you, dedicate an hour (or more!) to making a difference, and be counted in our Hour Bank for Earth. Will you give an hour for the Earth?
|
|
|
|
|
Give an Hour for Earth ►
|
|
|
|
|
We have set an ambitious goal to reach 100,000 banked hours before Earth Day (April 22). Will you help us get there? Your participation can show the world how our collective actions can positively impact the planet.
Let's turn our passions into meaningful impact. Together, we have the power to create lasting change.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yours in conservation,
Jessica
Senior Director, Membership
World Wildlife Fund
P.S. Watch our Give an Hour for Earth video and see how millions of people around the world are uniting for the future of our planet.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact us | Update profile | Privacy policy | State disclosures | Unsubscribe
|
|
Date: 4/3/24 8:01 am From: Cheryl Johnson <cjbluebird...> Subject: Re: Sunnymede Park, Fort Smith
Sure do love that!!
Sent from cjbluebird
> On Apr 3, 2024, at 7:05 AM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
>
>
> With the sighting of the Vermillion Flycatcher, 211 species have been recorded at Sunnymede in the last eleven years. Just when you think nothing new can possibly show, something does.
> One of our birders is a nursing student at UAFS. He has convinced his fellow classmates to walk the park after one of their classes. You know, just to take a break. He birds while they walk. All ten of them got to see the flycatcher. Don’t you love it.
>
> Sandy B
> Fort Smith
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Vermilion Flycatcher from Fort Smith, AR, USA on April 1, 2024 at 01:14 PM by Ragupathy Kannan. Found by Sandy Berger
| |
|
|
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
On Monday, April 1, 2024, 3:29 PM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
Appreciate the update. I found it at 11:30 and it was still there at 2:30. At least 16 people saw it between noon and 2:00.
Sandy
On Mon, Apr 1, 2024 at 3:22 PM Kenneth Younger <kyounger...> wrote:
Just had the bird, but a Red-shouldered Hawk flew in and it dove into some of the pines. It was catching plenty of food before that. I have to head back to Fayetteville but figured the timely report would be appreciated.
Thanks,-Kenny
On Mon, Apr 1, 2024, 1:40 PM Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
On Monday, 1 April, 2024 at 12:27:02 pm GMT-5, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
Just now at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith. No, I don’t have my camera. Yes, I’m kicking myself. Hopefully my phone picked up something. It’s on the backside of the pond fence.
Sandy B
Date: 4/3/24 6:48 am From: Ann Gordon <chesterann...> Subject: Re: Sunnymede Park, Fort Smith
Maybe the Vermillion will be the Spark Bird for one of his "flock." It
certainly was one of mine.
On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 8:37 AM Dedra Gerard <
<000002df2472bba2-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Yes, that is so awesome!!!
>
>
> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
> <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661> >
> On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 7:05 AM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
> wrote:
>
> With the sighting of the Vermillion Flycatcher, 211 species have been
> recorded at Sunnymede in the last eleven years. Just when you think nothing
> new can possibly show, something does.
> One of our birders is a nursing student at UAFS. He has convinced his
> fellow classmates to walk the park after one of their classes. You know,
> just to take a break. He birds while they walk. All ten of them got to see
> the flycatcher. Don’t you love it.
>
> Sandy B
> Fort Smith
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/3/24 6:37 am From: Dedra Gerard <000002df2472bba2-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Sunnymede Park, Fort Smith
Yes, that is so awesome!!!
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 7:05 AM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
With the sighting of the Vermillion Flycatcher, 211 species have been recorded at Sunnymede in the last eleven years. Just when you think nothing new can possibly show, something does. One of our birders is a nursing student at UAFS. He has convinced his fellow classmates to walk the park after one of their classes. You know, just to take a break. He birds while they walk. All ten of them got to see the flycatcher. Don’t you love it.
Sandy BFort Smith
Date: 4/3/24 5:05 am From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Sunnymede Park, Fort Smith
With the sighting of the Vermillion Flycatcher, 211 species have been
recorded at Sunnymede in the last eleven years. Just when you think nothing
new can possibly show, something does.
One of our birders is a nursing student at UAFS. He has convinced his
fellow classmates to walk the park after one of their classes. You know,
just to take a break. He birds while they walk. All ten of them got to see
the flycatcher. Don’t you love it.
Date: 4/2/24 7:29 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - April 2
It started off partly cloudy and mild with a light wind, then turning overcast and cooler with a moderate wind about half way through the survey. 76 species were found. Almost overnight we have Black-bellied Whistling Ducks back, lots of freshly returned waders roosting in the heronry, Neotropic Cormorants sitting on nests, and duck numbers greatly decreased. Here is my list for today:
Date: 4/2/24 6:42 am From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Re: Conway Bird Club
I started the Birding In and Around Fort Smith page and it’s a hit. We’ve
started field trips again. There’s been lots of good input. There are new
friends being made. I especially love seeing new birders picking up life
birds. It’s so fun.
Sandy B
On Tue, Apr 2, 2024 at 8:27 AM Dedra Gerard <
<000002df2472bba2-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Thanks for sharing.
>
>
> Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
> <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aol-news-email-weather-video/id646100661> >
> On Monday, April 1, 2024, 1:12 PM, Patty McLean <plm108...>
> wrote:
>
> If you live, work or frequently bird anywhere in the Conway area, consider
> joining our newly formed Conway Bird Club on Facebook. Our main purpose is
> to share the joy of birds and birding with others in the area.
>
> The page is a friendly place to put photos, ask questions about local
> hotspots and join others for local outings.
>
> It is not intended to replace any existing page or process for sharing
> rare birds nor other groups in the central Arkansas area. Our hope is to
> expand the knowledge, awareness and experience of the birding community in
> Conway and to help others find local fellowship with other birders.
>
> We hope you'll consider joining. Here's the link:
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/2086164818413340/?ref=share >
> Patty McLean
> Conway, Arkansas
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/2/24 6:27 am From: Dedra Gerard <000002df2472bba2-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Conway Bird Club
Thanks for sharing.
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Monday, April 1, 2024, 1:12 PM, Patty McLean <plm108...> wrote:
If you live, work or frequently bird anywhere in the Conway area, consider joining our newly formed Conway Bird Club on Facebook. Our main purpose is to share the joy of birds and birding with others in the area.
The page is a friendly place to put photos, ask questions about local hotspots and join others for local outings.
It is not intended to replace any existing page or process for sharing rare birds nor other groups in the central Arkansas area. Our hope is to expand the knowledge, awareness and experience of the birding community in Conway and to help others find local fellowship with other birders.
We hope you'll consider joining. Here's the link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2086164818413340/?ref=share
Patty McLean Conway, Arkansas
Date: 4/1/24 4:28 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Vermilion male
There was a beautiful male at the City Lake in Siloam Springs a few years back.
On Monday, April 1, 2024 at 05:54:41 PM CDT, Jacque Brown <bluebird2...> wrote:
I know Vermilion Flycatchers have been seen a few times down around Pine Bluff. I went down one year to see one of them. Karen Garrett saw one at the Centerton fish hatchery one year, I don’t remember which year, but I don’t think she was able to get a photo. I seem to remember other sightings from before apps were being used but they may be in the rare bird records from Arkansas sightings. Jacque Brown, Centerton, Benton Co.
On Apr 1, 2024, at 4:04 PM, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
It was just the 3rd photo from Arkansas in iNaturalist. Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)
Vermilion Flycatcher from Fort Smith, AR, USA on April 1, 2024 at 01:14 PM by Ragupathy Kannan. Found by Sandy Berger
| |
|
|
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
On Monday, April 1, 2024, 3:29 PM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
Appreciate the update. I found it at 11:30 and it was still there at 2:30. At least 16 people saw it between noon and 2:00.
Sandy
On Mon, Apr 1, 2024 at 3:22 PM Kenneth Younger <kyounger...> wrote:
Just had the bird, but a Red-shouldered Hawk flew in and it dove into some of the pines. It was catching plenty of food before that. I have to head back to Fayetteville but figured the timely report would be appreciated.
Thanks,-Kenny
On Mon, Apr 1, 2024, 1:40 PM Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
On Monday, 1 April, 2024 at 12:27:02 pm GMT-5, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
Just now at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith. No, I don’t have my camera. Yes, I’m kicking myself. Hopefully my phone picked up something. It’s on the backside of the pond fence.
Sandy B
Date: 4/1/24 4:26 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Fw: 🚣 ONSC's free AEGIS summer camp for high schoolers!
This is truly a wonderful camp. For those of you with kids - this is THE camp! Good luck!
'
Ozark Natural Science Center is pleased to announce that registration is open for our 2024 AEGIS Summer Camp: Project Water & Wilderness
This FREE camp is for Arkansas students entering 10th and 11th grade in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Water & Wilderness: Plugged into Nature will be held at Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC), an outdoor science education facility located deep in the Ozark Plateau region. Students at Water & Wilderness camp will be able to unplug from electronic distractions and plug into the ever-changing and exciting world of field biology where evolving technology and field science merge.
This incredible opportunity offers students the chance to assist field scientists as they gather data and explore a variety of habitats in the Ozark Natural Division, including beautiful oak-hickory forests, glades, and the amazing free-flowing Kings River. Students will track reptiles using radio-telemetry, learn from ornithologists about how they catch and band birds, monitor bats acoustically, search for fish and other aquatic life in the pools and riffles of the Kings River, examine the night sky, and more as they spend beautiful summer days and star-filled nights among the forest and river life. A capstone glade field study, canoe trip, and an overnight camping experience on the Kings River will be the highlights of this two-week experience.
Learn more about the program, eligibility, and the application process at www.onsc.us/aegis
AEGIS Camp is made possible by Academic Enrichment for Gifted/Talented in Summer grant from Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Rose Brown, Executive Director
Liz Hill, Program Manager
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
|
| |
Ozark Natural Science Center, ONSC
Located in the heart of the Ozarks, ONSC has endless possibilities for making your next school program, facility...
|
|
|
Join us at ONSC for Project Water & Wilderness, an AEGIS camp funded by the AR Dept of Education
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Ozark Natural Science Center is pleased to announce that registration is open for our 2024 AEGIS Summer Camp: Project Water & Wilderness
This FREE camp is for Arkansas students entering 10th and 11th grade in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Water & Wilderness: Plugged into Nature will be held from July 15-28, 2024 at Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC), an outdoor science education facility located deep in the Ozark Plateau region. Students at Water & Wilderness camp will be able to unplug from electronic distractions and plug into the ever-changing and exciting world of field biology where evolving technology and field science merge.
This incredible opportunity offers students the chance to assist field scientists as they gather data and explore a variety of habitats in the Ozark Natural Division, including beautiful oak-hickory forests, glades, and the amazing free-flowing Kings River. Students will track reptiles using radio-telemetry, learn from ornithologists about how they catch and band birds, monitor bats acoustically, search for fish and other aquatic life in the pools and riffles of the Kings River, examine the night sky, and more as they spend beautiful summer days and star-filled nights among the forest and river life. A capstone glade field study, canoe trip, and an overnight camping experience on the Kings River will be the highlights of this two-week experience.
Learn more about the program, eligibility, and application process: www.onsc.us/aegis
AEGIS Camp is made possible by Academic Enrichment for Gifted/Talented in Summer grant from Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education. |
Date: 4/1/24 3:54 pm From: Jacque Brown <bluebird2...> Subject: Re: Vermilion male
I know Vermilion Flycatchers have been seen a few times down around Pine Bluff. I went down one year to see one of them. Karen Garrett saw one at the Centerton fish hatchery one year, I don’t remember which year, but I don’t think she was able to get a photo. I seem to remember other sightings from before apps were being used but they may be in the rare bird records from Arkansas sightings. Jacque Brown, Centerton, Benton Co.
I had a pair of White-winged Doves show up in my neighborhood in Centerton in May 2015. They hung around for two or three weeks and went away. I didn’t see them again until May 2018 when they stayed, mated in my trees, and nested and produced at least 3 young that they brought to my yard. They’ve returned every year and nested somewhere in the neighborhood since then and successfully produced young. Some years I see them frequently, other years I’ll not see them so much but I will hear them. They came April 5th 2021, I think that was the earliest. Although I seem to remember a late March date but I’d need to hook up the back up drive to search my photos to see for sure.
I know someone was reporting them in Bentonville last year at the same time I had them in Centerton. So at least 5 miles apart. I am awaiting their arrival this year.
I’ve been posting my vacation trips to eBird since 2014 or 2015 but haven’t posted to eBird for my local birding trips. I was almost always with someone else who did and shared the list but I started doing it in 2020. Except for my yard. It makes it much easier with the eBird mobile app so I do post to eBird now but am lazy when it comes to adding photos.
I went through all my photos and posted the sightings of the White-winged Doves at my house with the photos going back to 2018 to eBird. It took a while because I had to convert each photo from RAW to jpg but I got it done. Last year I heard them more than saw them but still posted them to eBird so not all posts had photos.
I hope they return to your yard. I just love listening to their long beautiful song. Jacque Brown, Centerton, Benton Co.
> On Apr 1, 2024, at 4:39 PM, Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> wrote:
>
> An adult White-winged Dove showed up at the seed feeders in my backyard around 3:30 pm today, Monday. It didn't stay long. Grackles flushed it. It may go over to the Maumelle city park across Lake Willastein from my house.
> My sister and sister-in-law from California just arrived with their dog. Bad timing. I doubt the Dove will return since the dog and several humans are currently out in the backyard. I did take several photos of the bird.
> This is the second occurrence of a White-winged Dove in our backyard. First occurrence was 5/11/2009.
> Karen Holliday
> Maumelle, Pulaski County
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 <http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1>
An adult White-winged Dove showed up at the seed feeders in my backyard around 3:30 pm today, Monday. It didn't stay long. Grackles flushed it. It may go over to the Maumelle city park across Lake Willastein from my house. My sister and sister-in-law from California just arrived with their dog. Bad timing. I doubt the Dove will return since the dog and several humans are currently out in the backyard. I did take several photos of the bird. This is the second occurrence of a White-winged Dove in our backyard. First occurrence was 5/11/2009.Karen Holliday Maumelle, Pulaski County
Vermilion Flycatcher from Fort Smith, AR, USA on April 1, 2024 at 01:14 PM by Ragupathy Kannan. Found by Sandy Berger
| |
|
|
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
On Monday, April 1, 2024, 3:29 PM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
Appreciate the update. I found it at 11:30 and it was still there at 2:30. At least 16 people saw it between noon and 2:00.
Sandy
On Mon, Apr 1, 2024 at 3:22 PM Kenneth Younger <kyounger...> wrote:
Just had the bird, but a Red-shouldered Hawk flew in and it dove into some of the pines. It was catching plenty of food before that. I have to head back to Fayetteville but figured the timely report would be appreciated.
Thanks,-Kenny
On Mon, Apr 1, 2024, 1:40 PM Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
On Monday, 1 April, 2024 at 12:27:02 pm GMT-5, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
Just now at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith. No, I don’t have my camera. Yes, I’m kicking myself. Hopefully my phone picked up something. It’s on the backside of the pond fence.
Sandy B
Just outside of Bald Knob, on Liberty Valley Road, between the wastewater treatment place and Mingo Creek Road is a Red-winged Blackbird and Brown-headed Cowbird mixed flock. There is also one male Yellow-headed Blackbird flying with them. Also, in the same field are 30+ American Golden Plovers and a bunch of Yellowlegs. Glenn Wyatt
Date: 4/1/24 1:48 pm From: Mary Ann King <office...> Subject: Re: FOS RTHU
First hummingbird of the season for me, the red buckeyes are blooming and the red trumpet honeysuckle is as well.
In the pine woods northwest of London
MaryAnn King
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> On Behalf Of Lynn Foster
Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 3:29 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: FOS RTHU
Appreciate the update. I found it at 11:30 and it was still there at 2:30.
At least 16 people saw it between noon and 2:00.
Sandy
On Mon, Apr 1, 2024 at 3:22 PM Kenneth Younger <kyounger...> wrote:
> Just had the bird, but a Red-shouldered Hawk flew in and it dove into some
> of the pines. It was catching plenty of food before that. I have to head
> back to Fayetteville but figured the timely report would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> -Kenny
>
> On Mon, Apr 1, 2024, 1:40 PM Ragupathy Kannan <
> <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>> Photographed!
>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S166841819 >>
>> On Monday, 1 April, 2024 at 12:27:02 pm GMT-5, Sandy Berger <
>> <sndbrgr...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Just now at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith. No, I don’t have my camera.
>> Yes, I’m kicking myself. Hopefully my phone picked up something. It’s on
>> the backside of the pond fence.
>>
>> Sandy B
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Just had the bird, but a Red-shouldered Hawk flew in and it dove into some
of the pines. It was catching plenty of food before that. I have to head
back to Fayetteville but figured the timely report would be appreciated.
> Photographed!
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S166841819 >
> On Monday, 1 April, 2024 at 12:27:02 pm GMT-5, Sandy Berger <
> <sndbrgr...> wrote:
>
>
> Just now at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith. No, I don’t have my camera. Yes,
> I’m kicking myself. Hopefully my phone picked up something. It’s on the
> backside of the pond fence.
>
> Sandy B
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
On Monday, 1 April, 2024 at 12:27:02 pm GMT-5, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
Just now at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith. No, I don’t have my camera. Yes, I’m kicking myself. Hopefully my phone picked up something. It’s on the backside of the pond fence.
Sandy B
Date: 4/1/24 11:12 am From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Subject: Conway Bird Club
If you live, work or frequently bird anywhere in the Conway area, consider joining our newly formed Conway Bird Club on Facebook. Our main purpose is to share the joy of birds and birding with others in the area. The page is a friendly place to put photos, ask questions about local hotspots and join others for local outings. It is not intended to replace any existing page or process for sharing rare birds nor other groups in the central Arkansas area. Our hope is to expand the knowledge, awareness and experience of the birding community in Conway and to help others find local fellowship with other birders. We hope you'll consider joining. Here's the link:https://www.facebook.com/groups/2086164818413340/?ref=sharePatty McLean Conway, Arkansas
Date: 4/1/24 10:27 am From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Vermilion male
Just now at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith. No, I don’t have my camera. Yes,
I’m kicking myself. Hopefully my phone picked up something. It’s on the
backside of the pond fence.
Date: 4/1/24 8:31 am From: JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> Subject: Re: Help ID Bird
Hi Terry,
I bet you've gotten lots of help already, but in case not, it's a female Red-winged Blackbird. You're sure right about the behavior not being finch- or sparrow-like!
Nice video!!
Best,Janine
On Monday, April 1, 2024 at 08:56:34 AM CDT, Terry Clark <terryclark247...> wrote:
I have this bird at my feeder and thought I knew what it was. But the behavior is not right. Please help.
Thanks
Date: 4/1/24 8:30 am From: Cheryl Johnson <cjbluebird...> Subject: Re: Help ID Bird
Female RWBL?
Sent from cjbluebird
> On Apr 1, 2024, at 10:17 AM, DAVID PARHAM <000004014062b2df-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> After playing the video, I don't think that's the answer - maybe a hybrid sparrow? It's an odd one.
> Sent from my iPad
>
>>> On Apr 1, 2024, at 10:11 AM, DAVID PARHAM <dparhamlr...> wrote:
>>>
>> Unless this is another April Fool's Joke, I would say Black and White Warbler.
>>
>> David Parham
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>>> On Apr 1, 2024, at 8:55 AM, Terry Clark <terryclark247...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>
>>> I have this bird at my feeder and thought I knew what it was. But the behavior is not right.
>>> Please help.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>>
>>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>>
>>> <Camera_0140501917110334200uluQ1m0Nqh.mp4>
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Date: 4/1/24 8:17 am From: DAVID PARHAM <000004014062b2df-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Help ID Bird
After playing the video, I don't think that's the answer - maybe a hybrid sparrow? It's an odd one.
Sent from my iPad
> On Apr 1, 2024, at 10:11 AM, DAVID PARHAM <dparhamlr...> wrote:
>
> Unless this is another April Fool's Joke, I would say Black and White Warbler.
>
> David Parham
> Sent from my iPad
>
>>> On Apr 1, 2024, at 8:55 AM, Terry Clark <terryclark247...> wrote:
>>>
>>
>> I have this bird at my feeder and thought I knew what it was. But the behavior is not right.
>> Please help.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>> <Camera_0140501917110334200uluQ1m0Nqh.mp4>
Date: 4/1/24 8:12 am From: DAVID PARHAM <000004014062b2df-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Help ID Bird
Unless this is another April Fool's Joke, I would say Black and White Warbler.
David Parham
Sent from my iPad
> On Apr 1, 2024, at 8:55 AM, Terry Clark <terryclark247...> wrote:
>
>
> I have this bird at my feeder and thought I knew what it was. But the behavior is not right.
> Please help.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> <Camera_0140501917110334200uluQ1m0Nqh.mp4>
Date: 4/1/24 6:31 am From: DAVID PARHAM <000004014062b2df-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Weird bird in my yard??
A good lesson to all to read the fine print!
Sent from my iPad
> On Apr 1, 2024, at 7:46 AM, Aster Droste <eviedroste...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi everyone! This morning I looked out my window and saw an absolutely bizarre bird that I can't find in my field guide. It was about 6 feet tall and dark grey with a long neck and long dark legs. Maybe it got blown off course during migration?? Not entirely sure it can fly though... I'll attach some photos, let me know what you think.
>
> Aster
>
>
> PS: happy April 1st to those who celebrate :)
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> <20240401_073525.jpg>
> <20240401_073528.jpg>
Date: 4/1/24 6:30 am From: Ed Laster <elaster523...> Subject: Re: Weird bird in my yard??
If this is not an April’s Fool gag, it looks like an Emu to me.
Ed Laster
> On Apr 1, 2024, at 7:44 AM, Aster Droste <eviedroste...> wrote:
>
> Hi everyone! This morning I looked out my window and saw an absolutely bizarre bird that I can't find in my field guide. It was about 6 feet tall and dark grey with a long neck and long dark legs. Maybe it got blown off course during migration?? Not entirely sure it can fly though... I'll attach some photos, let me know what you think.
>
> Aster
>
>
> PS: happy April 1st to those who celebrate :)
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> <20240401_073525.jpg><20240401_073528.jpg>
Date: 4/1/24 5:49 am From: Aster Droste <eviedroste...> Subject: Weird bird in my yard??
Hi everyone! This morning I looked out my window and saw an absolutely bizarre bird that I can't find in my field guide. It was about 6 feet tall and dark grey with a long neck and long dark legs. Maybe it got blown off course during migration?? Not entirely sure it can fly though... I'll attach some photos, let me know what you think.
Date: 3/31/24 5:24 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Merlin ID
Is there an accepted record for Black-capped Chickadee in Arkansas? I don’t see it mentioned on the state list at arbirds.org. Black-caps do sometimes wander when food is scarce, but I would expect multiple sightings outside their normal range.
Ian MacGregor Bella Vista
On Sun, Mar 31, 2024 at 6:59 PM, Daniel Mason <[<millipede1977...>](mailto:On Sun, Mar 31, 2024 at 6:59 PM, Daniel Mason <<a href=)> wrote:
> Please don't ever use that data to submit to eBird unless you can
> confirm the IDs by another method. Merlin is a lot like my ears.
> Depending on how far I am from the bird, what other birds are calling,
> and other factors, sometimes we hear something that isn't quite what
> Merlin reported.
> I've seen it give a towhee ID when it was hearing just a part of a
> Tennessee Warbler singing. I've watched it name several different
> sparrows(that weren't present) while listening to a very clear and
> obvious song sparrow.
> It is REALLY good software and it does pick up things I wasn't hearing
> yet(mostly because my ears were trained on something else) but it's
> still imperfect and, the number of people using it to report birds
> inaccurately is increasing rapidly.
> One big bird group I manage on FB, TONS of people are recommending the
> app to EVERYONE. And then when people are asking for IDs, instead of
> letting actual birders respond, they're pulling up various apps and
> google and then stating their IDs with some sense of authority. Ack... Ha.
>
> We're not horribly far from the black-capped/carolina line, and I've
> heard a few in person in my yard that I was SURE were black-capped...
> and, we do get black-crowned night herons in these parts sometimes...
> So, those ID's are possible.
> I question them though. I'd be surprised if it accurately picked up a
> night heron unless you were really close and it was calling frequently.
> You never know though.
>
> On 3/31/2024 5:52 PM, Lea Crisp wrote:
>> During a walk today at Tanyard Creek in Bella Vista, Merlin reported hearing a Black-capped Chickadee, along with the Carolina Chickadees. It also reported a Black-crowned Night-Heron.
>>
>> Lea Ann Crisp
>> Bella Vista
>> ############################
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
>> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> >> or click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> --
> Daniel Mason
>
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
> On Mar 31, 2024, at 5:59 PM, Daniel Mason <millipede1977...> wrote:
>
> Please don't ever use that data to submit to eBird unless you can confirm the IDs by another method. Merlin is a lot like my ears. Depending on how far I am from the bird, what other birds are calling, and other factors, sometimes we hear something that isn't quite what Merlin reported.
> I've seen it give a towhee ID when it was hearing just a part of a Tennessee Warbler singing. I've watched it name several different sparrows(that weren't present) while listening to a very clear and obvious song sparrow.
> It is REALLY good software and it does pick up things I wasn't hearing yet(mostly because my ears were trained on something else) but it's still imperfect and, the number of people using it to report birds inaccurately is increasing rapidly.
> One big bird group I manage on FB, TONS of people are recommending the app to EVERYONE. And then when people are asking for IDs, instead of letting actual birders respond, they're pulling up various apps and google and then stating their IDs with some sense of authority. Ack... Ha.
>
> We're not horribly far from the black-capped/carolina line, and I've heard a few in person in my yard that I was SURE were black-capped... and, we do get black-crowned night herons in these parts sometimes... So, those ID's are possible.
> I question them though. I'd be surprised if it accurately picked up a night heron unless you were really close and it was calling frequently. You never know though.
>
>> On 3/31/2024 5:52 PM, Lea Crisp wrote:
>> During a walk today at Tanyard Creek in Bella Vista, Merlin reported hearing a Black-capped Chickadee, along with the Carolina Chickadees. It also reported a Black-crowned Night-Heron.
>>
>> Lea Ann Crisp
>> Bella Vista
>> ############################
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
>> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> >> or click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> --
> Daniel Mason
>
Date: 3/31/24 3:59 pm From: Daniel Mason <millipede1977...> Subject: Re: Merlin ID
Please don't ever use that data to submit to eBird unless you can
confirm the IDs by another method. Merlin is a lot like my ears.
Depending on how far I am from the bird, what other birds are calling,
and other factors, sometimes we hear something that isn't quite what
Merlin reported.
I've seen it give a towhee ID when it was hearing just a part of a
Tennessee Warbler singing. I've watched it name several different
sparrows(that weren't present) while listening to a very clear and
obvious song sparrow.
It is REALLY good software and it does pick up things I wasn't hearing
yet(mostly because my ears were trained on something else) but it's
still imperfect and, the number of people using it to report birds
inaccurately is increasing rapidly.
One big bird group I manage on FB, TONS of people are recommending the
app to EVERYONE. And then when people are asking for IDs, instead of
letting actual birders respond, they're pulling up various apps and
google and then stating their IDs with some sense of authority. Ack... Ha.
We're not horribly far from the black-capped/carolina line, and I've
heard a few in person in my yard that I was SURE were black-capped...
and, we do get black-crowned night herons in these parts sometimes...
So, those ID's are possible.
I question them though. I'd be surprised if it accurately picked up a
night heron unless you were really close and it was calling frequently.
You never know though.
On 3/31/2024 5:52 PM, Lea Crisp wrote:
> During a walk today at Tanyard Creek in Bella Vista, Merlin reported hearing a Black-capped Chickadee, along with the Carolina Chickadees. It also reported a Black-crowned Night-Heron.
>
> Lea Ann Crisp
> Bella Vista
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
During a walk today at Tanyard Creek in Bella Vista, Merlin reported hearing a Black-capped Chickadee, along with the Carolina Chickadees. It also reported a Black-crowned Night-Heron.
Lea Ann Crisp
Bella Vista
############################
Date: 3/31/24 12:50 pm From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: FOS Nashville and Hooded
Happy Easter to all. After church I did some birding at Citadel Bluff Park and had my FOS Hooded and Nashville. Ebird asked for details as I guess the Nashville had not been reported there before and the Hooded was rare.
First of season Indigo bunting showed up around noon today, it looks like an immature male, my smart feeder camera picked him up first!
############################
Date: 3/31/24 9:40 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: Gnatcatchers are back (Pea Ridge NMP)
Pea Ridge National Military Park is full of spring arrivals. Among those we picked up yesterday: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Vesper Sparrow, Louisiana Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler. All while slow-driving-stopping on the tour road.
The park has undertaken major habitat restoration. Many acres have been restored to conditions more like those existing at time of the Civil War battle, March 7-8, 1862. Bird habitat greatly improved.
Fortunately, I saw the Cedar Waxwings, but unfortunately, couldnt hear them. But what a wonderful sight waxwings streaming through trees just now starting to bud and flower. And to see gnatcatchers probing tree flowers.
An Eastern Bluebird perched on a cannon is a reminder: the park is no accident. Here where we were watching Black-and-white Warblers, two armies collided, hundreds died, thousands maimed. This came about after 250 years of slavery.
Hanging in the balance: what President Lincoln described at dedication of the national cemetery at Gettysburg: that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom
Eastern Phoebes have a finished nest under the eave of the new solar-powered bathrooms associated with Elkhorn Tavern. Eastern Meadowlarks were singing yesterday in extensive fields now dotted by rail fencing and silent cannon, marking for us modern visitors the bloody climax of March 8, 1862.
Date: 3/31/24 7:58 am From: Judy Griffith <9waterfall9...> Subject: Spring events
In addition to all the familiar yard birds including Red-bellied, Downy, and Hairy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, remaining Juncos, and White-throated Sparrows with brilliant yellow lores singing about Canada, I’ve noticed some recent migrants, emergent herps, and nesting birds.
Fish Crows started flying over calling on March 23, Black-&-White Warblers sang throughout the woods on March 29th, on the same day Cottonmouths started to sun in boulder protected spots along the stream, and American Toads began trilling and breeding in the ephemeral garden pond.
The Pileated Woodpeckers have gone quiet possibly due to brooding in nest cavities, a pair of Barred Owls sometimes hoots from across the creek, and mated Wood Ducks swim and bathe on the new beaver pond during the female's breaks from sitting on eggs in an as yet unknown tree. Under the front porch eaves Carolina Wrens sit on speckled eggs in a favorite gourd, Louisiana Waterthrushes have settled in established nesting territories up and downstream, Mourning Doves are courting and perhaps building nests, and Don heard Snow Geese calling on their way north, and also saw Wild Turkeys in the fields near woods.
Native wildflowers are all blooming earlier than usual here as they are everywhere, and although I have yet to notice the first Yellow-throated Warbler or Parula Warbler, oddly there was a Great-crested Flycatcher ’shreeping’ from its usual arrival spot in the front yard yesterday evening. I did not see it and it moved out of sight across the creek still calling, so although I don’t know what else it could have been, it was about 2 weeks early.
Date: 3/31/24 7:21 am From: Hrishikesh More <hrishikesh.r.more...> Subject: FOS Black and white warbler
Since today morning I am hearing it continously in Bella Vista backyard. Also saw eastern phoebe. Waiting for hummingbirds to checkout the feeder anyday now !!
Thanks for your post, Jerry! I am shocked that I knew something about birds
that you did not. No more, though. :-)
On Sat, Mar 30, 2024 at 2:32 PM Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
> When I was entering the House Finch in my eBird report, of which I have
> had them nesting in my yard every year, a notification symbol popped up
> saying that this bird was an exotic Naturalized species. That was news to
> me and I started checking into it. The House Finch has been a part of my
> life and has been known to exist where I have been all of my life. It turns
> out that it is a Native to Western North America but introduced in the
> East. Further searching showed – the House Finches first expanded into
> the Columbia Basin from points south in 1885. They were introduced in the
> eastern United States when *“**illegal caged birds were released in New
> York in 1940”*. Here a note could be added that it seems those in New
> York are well noted for introducing exotic species. So it has been in the
> Eastern United States for 84 years and by definition, it is an exotic. So
> for all my years it has been part of my life and I may be the last to know
> that in the Eastern US the House Finch is an exotic. I always considered
> the House Sparrow, European Starling and Eurasian Collared Dove, as exotics
> and think this designation for the House Finch is a little foolish and
> extreme but now I know and if you did not know, now you know also.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
House finches are contributing to the decline of purple finches in some
areas since they compete for nesting spaces. So I think the designation
still fits (although I agree that they do feel like native birds).
Aster Droste
On Sat, Mar 30, 2024, 2:32 PM Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
> When I was entering the House Finch in my eBird report, of which I have
> had them nesting in my yard every year, a notification symbol popped up
> saying that this bird was an exotic Naturalized species. That was news to
> me and I started checking into it. The House Finch has been a part of my
> life and has been known to exist where I have been all of my life. It turns
> out that it is a Native to Western North America but introduced in the
> East. Further searching showed – the House Finches first expanded into
> the Columbia Basin from points south in 1885. They were introduced in the
> eastern United States when *“**illegal caged birds were released in New
> York in 1940”*. Here a note could be added that it seems those in New
> York are well noted for introducing exotic species. So it has been in the
> Eastern United States for 84 years and by definition, it is an exotic. So
> for all my years it has been part of my life and I may be the last to know
> that in the Eastern US the House Finch is an exotic. I always considered
> the House Sparrow, European Starling and Eurasian Collared Dove, as exotics
> and think this designation for the House Finch is a little foolish and
> extreme but now I know and if you did not know, now you know also.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 3/30/24 7:28 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Arrives In Hot Springs, March 29th
A male Hummingbird arrived at my feeders yesterday. This is five days later than previous years but I am happy to see him. The feeders have been up for two weeks and the Downy Woodpeckers have been enjoying them.
If you are looking for new places to explore in Arkansas, put Ozark Isle on Bull Shoals Lake on our list. This existing eBird hotspot https://ebird.org/hotspot/L469238 is located in Marion County. After the campground was shutdown in 2004, the maintenance of the site stopped and the paved roads became overgrown with weeds. A new group has formed this year to change that. On February 8th, the following was posted to the Ozark Isle Nature Preserve Facebook Page.
"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mountain Home office approved a plan submitted by two local nonprofit organizations to restore Ozark Isle as a day-use park for hikers, bicyclists, dog walkers, birders, and paddlers. Ozark Isle is a 462-acre island in Bull Shoals Lake, near Oakland. The island features almost five miles of roads (mostly paved), hardwood forests, and 8 miles of shoreline including two shallow lagoons that attract migrating waterfowl. There are no plans to reopen the former campground, closed in 2004. Ozark Isle Nature Preserve Inc. was founded in 2023 by Oakland residents to restore the island to public access. The north central Arkansas chapter of Arkansas Master Naturalists Inc., established in 2010, conducts a range of conservation and citizen-science volunteer programs for the past 14 years. The two groups will raise funds and enlist volunteers to eradicate/ mow invasive weeds, design and install signs, erect an ADA-suitable gate, provide a portable toilet, improve the parking area; and hang bluebird, bat, wood duck and owl boxes."
Date: 3/29/24 10:34 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE, ARKANSAS AND OKLAHOMA
According to Geological Survey of Arkansas (vol. 2, 1891), Beatie Prairie lies partly within Benton County, extending from the line of Indian Territory in a northeast direction its length within the state is about six miles over two miles wide This is mostly modern Highway 72, Maysville to Gravette. Former prairie then enters modern Oklahoma at todays Maysville Handistop and includes more extensive fields.
I know it must be spring, because one of the first things I saw on former Beatys Arkansas side was a pair of Greater Roadrunners. First they hugged a dense fencerow, then slowly walked across the graded county road in front of me, then disappeared into more thickets. I sat a while and was rewarded when one flew up into a huge mature Post Oak.
Pastures and hayfields are now all about singing Eastern Meadowlarks. Westerns of winter are mostly gone. Even once plentiful White-crowned Sparrows seem to have thinned-out, but they are still singing.
Big disappointment: Im still not seeing or hearing Northern Bobwhites. A few years back they were one of the joys of extensive fields along Leonard Ranch Road. In the same spots I used to stop for bobwhites: a new wind farm. Next to it, signs for an upcoming neighborhood.
Two ponds I can see from State Line Road were all about spring migration. Huge pond near intersection of Loux and State Line roads included a tight flock of American Golden-Plovers (93, 1 by 1 count), plus Greater Yellowlegs and Pectoral Sandpipers. Lots of puddle ducks (Blue-winged Teal, etc). Even at a fair distance away, white on the heads of American Wigeon stand out. 23 Fish Crows AWAW Awing away from a snag in the middle of the pond, ducks and plovers below.
My visits to former Beaty Prairie now involve four decades. I have made friends. Some folks know me as bird professor from Fayetteville. One fellow who works in Gary Chastains cattle operation pulled up next to me in his work truck with a question about a black hawk theyd been seeing.
Its in the Oklahoma side of former Beaty. I missed it when I went by the barn. They got a photo. Its being emailed to me.
Date: 3/29/24 8:26 am From: Erin Sauer <erinsauer10...> Subject: Volunteers need for Fayetteville UArk window strike monitoring
Hi all,
It is that time of year where I ask for volunteers to help monitor window strikes! I run a window strike monitoring program <https://uark.givepulse.com/group/563759-Bird-Safe-Glass-Initiative> at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. We survey campus buildings three mornings a week for four weeks during spring and fall migration. I also have an incidental reporting form here <https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeb2z1db0vf-jJ5NaGuwMiDYs_7N4MBQ0N2oBi7zKvSJLRqtw/viewform> that gets a couple reports each semester. There are a couple biology grad students who help me run the program but most of my volunteers are undergraduates who are not birders or biology majors. We always need more help though and I've really struggled to find volunteers who can commit to coming out regularly. So, if you are in Northwest Arkansas and looking to help with an ongoing effort to make buildings safer for birds, please reach out! We can really use the help.
*Spring monitoring schedule: We will be meeting at the fountain outside the union building at 8AM every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4/8-5/3. Please let me know if you plan on coming so I know how many people to expect. Wear comfortable shoes that you don't mind wearing in grass and dirt.*
I've been using the data to make targeted mitigation suggestions to UArk admins. This has been going on for a few years now and there hasn't been any retrofitting yet. However, there are some plans in the works and the University admins I have spoken with do seem interested in improving buildings on campus. I've also been asked a couple times about expanding this to downtown Fayetteville but we simply do not have the manpower to expand beyond campus.
Erin
-- Erin L. Sauer, Ph.D. (she/they) Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Biological Sciences University of Arkansas <erinsauer10...>
Date: 3/29/24 7:57 am From: Aster Droste <eviedroste...> Subject: Re: Help needed! Downtown LR collision monitoring project
After thinking a bit more on this, I realized that this doesn't have to be a super organized process like I proposed if that would take a lot of effort to coordinate. Really, if we're using iNaturalist, anyone with any level of bird identification skill can walk through downtown whenever they want to and post dead birds that they find. iNat is a community identification platform, so people with less identification knowledge can still contribute just as much as experts, especially with Arkansas' very active and skilled group of bird identifiers on there. Of course, if we wanted publication-quality data, we would certainly need assigned routes, teams, and schedules, but if we're just trying to locate hotspots and such, then it doesn't need to be quite so organized, as long as people are still regularly going out to check. We could make a schedule if it would help people monitor more consistently though.
On Thu, Mar 28, 2024, 9:02 PM Aster Droste <eviedroste...> wrote:
> Hi everyone! As some of you may know from previous discussions, I've been > trying to locate bird-window collision hotspots in Arkansas using > iNaturalist observations. If you'd like to check it out, here's the > project > <https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/arkansas-bird-window-collisions>. > (Warning that the observations contain many pictures of dead birds, > including some blood/gore.) There's also this document > <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XpGpgP6p8o0Y2knU7qwcdFbKoYsGyZw0eKTRRECqfo8/edit?usp=drivesdk> which > details my methods. It's still a work in progress, as I plan to add a > conclusions/recommendations section. > > Over the past few months I've been in discussion with Lynn Foster for her > webinar on bird-window collisions, and she suggested that I take this > further and try to start an on-the-ground monitoring team in Little Rock > for this spring migration. Ideally, this team would establish a series of > routes through downtown and patrol them once or twice a week in the morning > during April and May to look for collision victims and document them, > probably splitting up into pairs to cover more ground while staying safe. > If enough people respond with interest, we could probably try to start this > weekend, especially since the next weekend may be too chaotic to go > downtown with the eclipse travellers and such. > > If anyone in other cities wants to work on collision monitoring too, that > would be fantastic! The more data the better. Some smaller towns have > "downtowns"/city centers that could be easily be checked once a week by one > person with an iNaturalist account. With the data we collect about > dangerous areas/buildings and overall collision mortality, we can more > effectively petition for bird-safe glass and lighting policies. (Speaking > of which, I don't have the time to start a Lights Out Arkansas program > right now, but I think it's sorely needed if someone wants to take on that > project.) > > Let me know if you're in the LR area and interested in getting involved > with this effort!! > > > Aster Droste (he/him) >
Date: 3/29/24 7:21 am From: Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> Subject: Re: Help needed! Downtown LR collision monitoring project
Aster, thanks for your post. As far as I know, the only bird strike
monitoring being done right now is in Fayetteville by Erin Sauer's
students, and in Hot Springs around the mirrored tower that has been
erected in the Garvan Woodland Garden by Hot Springs birders. Is anyone
else around the state monitoring bird strikes?
It would be a very good thing if we could start a monitoring project in
downtown Little Rock.
Aster will be presenting at the Symposium in May--she's a last-minute
addition to the program, which I'll be revising and reposting today--and
I'm hoping we can have a brief discussion about monitoring after the
symposium.
One more thought--this project is one that probably will interest the
Central Arkansas Master Naturalists. They would get service credit, which
they need to be certified, for participating.
On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 9:03 PM Aster Droste <eviedroste...> wrote:
> Hi everyone! As some of you may know from previous discussions, I've been
> trying to locate bird-window collision hotspots in Arkansas using
> iNaturalist observations. If you'd like to check it out, here's the
> project
> <https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/arkansas-bird-window-collisions>.
> (Warning that the observations contain many pictures of dead birds,
> including some blood/gore.) There's also this document
> <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XpGpgP6p8o0Y2knU7qwcdFbKoYsGyZw0eKTRRECqfo8/edit?usp=drivesdk> which
> details my methods. It's still a work in progress, as I plan to add a
> conclusions/recommendations section.
>
> Over the past few months I've been in discussion with Lynn Foster for her
> webinar on bird-window collisions, and she suggested that I take this
> further and try to start an on-the-ground monitoring team in Little Rock
> for this spring migration. Ideally, this team would establish a series of
> routes through downtown and patrol them once or twice a week in the morning
> during April and May to look for collision victims and document them,
> probably splitting up into pairs to cover more ground while staying safe.
> If enough people respond with interest, we could probably try to start this
> weekend, especially since the next weekend may be too chaotic to go
> downtown with the eclipse travellers and such.
>
> If anyone in other cities wants to work on collision monitoring too, that
> would be fantastic! The more data the better. Some smaller towns have
> "downtowns"/city centers that could be easily be checked once a week by one
> person with an iNaturalist account. With the data we collect about
> dangerous areas/buildings and overall collision mortality, we can more
> effectively petition for bird-safe glass and lighting policies. (Speaking
> of which, I don't have the time to start a Lights Out Arkansas program
> right now, but I think it's sorely needed if someone wants to take on that
> project.)
>
> Let me know if you're in the LR area and interested in getting involved
> with this effort!!
>
>
> Aster Droste (he/him)
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Over the past few months I've been in discussion with Lynn Foster for her webinar on bird-window collisions, and she suggested that I take this further and try to start an on-the-ground monitoring team in Little Rock for this spring migration. Ideally, this team would establish a series of routes through downtown and patrol them once or twice a week in the morning during April and May to look for collision victims and document them, probably splitting up into pairs to cover more ground while staying safe. If enough people respond with interest, we could probably try to start this weekend, especially since the next weekend may be too chaotic to go downtown with the eclipse travellers and such.
If anyone in other cities wants to work on collision monitoring too, that would be fantastic! The more data the better. Some smaller towns have "downtowns"/city centers that could be easily be checked once a week by one person with an iNaturalist account. With the data we collect about dangerous areas/buildings and overall collision mortality, we can more effectively petition for bird-safe glass and lighting policies. (Speaking of which, I don't have the time to start a Lights Out Arkansas program right now, but I think it's sorely needed if someone wants to take on that project.)
Let me know if you're in the LR area and interested in getting involved with this effort!!
Date: 3/28/24 6:18 pm From: Charles Anderson <oborocks0...> Subject: Re: First hummingbird today
Yepper, it’s started. Ruth and I just heard our first ever Eastern
Whippoorwill in our back yard in the Western Hills area of Little Rock. We
get Chuck-will’s-widows pretty regularly later in the season, but not
Whippoorwills.
Chuck Anderson
On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 3:33 PM Debra Balicki <debandronb...>
wrote:
Date: 3/28/24 4:08 pm From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
Wonderful, thanks, Karen. We are looking into ways to donate through AAS so the funds can be tax-deductible.Jack
On Monday, March 25, 2024 at 10:39:44 PM EDT, Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> wrote:
Great idea Jack to start a mini fundraiser! Kannan, I too want to pledge $200 towards purchasing binoculars. I can bring the money to the AAS conference in May if that works for you. I too can offer suggestions for finding Bornean Bristleheads, having seen them in Borneo in 2022 on a birdwatching trip. Very cool bird! Karen Holliday Pulaski Co.
-------- Original message --------From: Jack and PamDate: 3/23/24 9:23 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
Exciting!! First, I’d like to suggest we take up a mini fund raiser to at least buy one pair of new bins for you to take along. If you are game I’ll start by pledging 200 Ringgit No, just kidding $ 200.
I have two pair which I’ll bring for you to look at but don’t get too excited they both have problems -mold inside a Zeiss 10X 40 and Leitz 8X 30. In the later case optics fine but eye cup missing. Pam and I lived in Malaysia for eight years from 1986. KL has any kind of food you could possibly desire. I can also introduce you electronically to one of Malaysia’s best birders. In Borneo the Danum Valley Research Station is highly recommended. I assume anyone I knew there has long since retired but I could try to locate one of them. Most. likely, given your credentials, you will have no trouble gaining access!
Anyway let’s talk in May. I know how to find the Bornean Bristelhead Jack StewartNewton County
Jack Stewart
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Saturday, March 23, 2024, 12:22 PM, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
That will be an amazing experience and we will miss you again and hope that this time you will not be trapped by Covid or another pandemic. You have a great reputation in making people aware of eBird and iNaturalist, and getting binoculars in the hands of those that it will do good for education, birds and the resources. I commend your efforts. I also think that you should post the address where binoculars can be shipped to you in case there are people that will not make the Spring Arkansas Audubon Society Meeting. Jerry Wayne DavisHot Springs, AR From: Ragupathy Kannan Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:35 AMTo: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars I will be spending July through September as a Fulbright Scholar in Malaysia, promoting biodiversity awareness among locals using eBird and iNaturalist. I will be based at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur but hope to spend a lot of time in Borneo. The state department gives me a book allowance but not a binocular allowance. If you have used binoculars to give away, please bring or send them to the Arkansas Audubon Society conference in Petit Jean May 3-4. I gave away 3 pairs to deserving Indian kids in January. Over the years I have found nice homes for about 30 pairs in India and Sri Lanka. KannanFt. Smith
Date: 3/28/24 6:14 am From: Dedra Gerard <000002df2472bba2-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Golden Plovers everywhere
Love it!
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 9:59 PM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
I birded the river bottoms from Kibler to Blackland road. There were 450 American Golden Plovers in the old oxbow on Crawford road. There were 200 plus that I could see on Sharp Chapel road. Blackland Road about 200 too. As extensive as Sharp Chapel is, I’m sure I missed some. I love Sharp Chapel road now with all of the new wet units that the AGFC built. It’s pretty amazing. There a big “potholes” full of water right now after all the rain. But I have 4 wheel drive so I got right through them. A spotting scope is most helpful because the units are quite large. There were five duck species. Hooded Mergansers, Blue and Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, and Wigeon. Ebird tagged the Wigeon as late and a high number. Hmmm. Other notable birds were a family of Bald Eagles on East Arnold road. Three recently fledged youngsters were playing as one adult watched from a tree and another adult soared overhead. Fun stuff to watch. And Great Egrets were back at Frog Bayou. Seven of them were in the wet unit on Dedham road. All were displaying their beautiful breeding plumage. It was a beautiful day to be out.
Sandy B.Fort Smith
Date: 3/28/24 5:58 am From: Jay Jones <jonesjay62...> Subject: Two FOS
This is Linda and my first Spring since moving to our Siloam Springs home. We have 2.5 acres of yard, well populated with oak and hickory trees, and a creek traverses our eastern property line.
We have erected two feeding stations within clear view of the house filled with no mess seed and suet cakes. One of the feeders transmits motion-triggered photos to my cell phone.
Last evening my attention was drawn by an aggressive American Robin asserting territorial claims against a thrush-like intruder...I grabbed my binocs and confirmed a Hermit Thrush!
This morning I heard a Brown Thrasher singing from our southside thickets.
Date: 3/27/24 8:29 pm From: Cheryl Johnson <cjbluebird...> Subject: Re: And now it begins- Version 2024.1
Love this yearly post! Thanks, Barry
Sent from cjbluebird
> On Mar 27, 2024, at 6:14 PM, Barry Haas <bhaas...> wrote:
>
> Dear ARBIRDers,
>
> I regularly post each year as we have the privilege to witness wood duck fledging events from our two nest boxes. Today was the first fledging of the year, a bit later than the March 22 first fledging last year and March 23 in 2022. But, as they say, better late than never.
>
> This morning as I was getting ready to head off to a fitness session I spotted an adult female woodie in the opening of our west nest box. It was about 9:40 a.m. which we have learned over the years is prime time to bring their young into the outside world. Before long the adult female dropped to the ground, and was shortly followed by a pair of fledglings which appeared to yell “Geronimo!” at the same time as they jumped to the ground near Mom. Soon a second pair mimicked the first, then a string of three single fledglings. I took my eye off the nest box opening just long enough for the eighth and final fledgling of the morning. My eyes caught a flash of movement which made me suspect I had almost missed #8. Down to our nearby pond Mom took her charges. With such a small number it was easy to confirm the exact count of eight. Last year when we had several fledging events with up to 16 or so individuals it was extremely hard to guarantee the exact head count. The young move about so fast in relation to each other, bunch together so tightly and a few always seem to be hiding from our view behind their Mom- or so it seems.
>
> Within minutes of the fledging a pair of woodies perched atop the just emptied nest box. No lost time there. They then flew down to the pond, and when they got too close to the eight fledglings their Mom let the outsider pair know they had better not get too close if they knew what was good for them. At one point the Mom chased both the male and female so her message was very clear- stay away from my young.
>
> Off I went to fitness while Susan took up watch until the clan disappeared off into our woods, most likely to a larger pond just over the hill to the north of us. Nice way to start the fledging season. I also realized our red-shouldered hawks have been mostly absent in recent days/weeks. After one or more red-shouldered hawks grabbed two of a group of just eight fledged young on our pond last year, I was glad the red-shouldered hawks were not around looking for a meal today.
>
> This afternoon I cleaned out the now empty nest box which had a whopping 11 unhatched eggs. Those were left for nature to attend to. I don’t recall there ever having been so many unhatched eggs in past years, but can’t say for sure. Last year we had two fledgings where there were zero unhatched eggs in the nest box. That is just as rare as having so many like this morning.
>
> When I started to type this, we had a total of 14 adult wood ducks on our pond- three females and 11 males. That matches our hight count at any one time so far this year. We had nine total this morning.
>
> We are pretty sure the east nest box is also occupied, and hope to see a second fledging event of the year in coming days.
>
> Again, it is such a privilege to be able to watch these splendid birds so up close and personal.
>
> From the deep woods just west of Little Rock,
> Barry Haas
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
I birded the river bottoms from Kibler to Blackland road. There were 450
American Golden Plovers in the old oxbow on Crawford road. There were 200
plus that I could see on Sharp Chapel road. Blackland Road about 200 too.
As extensive as Sharp Chapel is, I’m sure I missed some.
I love Sharp Chapel road now with all of the new wet units that the AGFC
built. It’s pretty amazing. There a big “potholes” full of water right now
after all the rain. But I have 4 wheel drive so I got right through them. A
spotting scope is most helpful because the units are quite large.
There were five duck species. Hooded Mergansers, Blue and Green-winged
Teal, Northern Shovelers, and Wigeon. Ebird tagged the Wigeon as late and a
high number. Hmmm.
Other notable birds were a family of Bald Eagles on East Arnold road. Three
recently fledged youngsters were playing as one adult watched from a tree
and another adult soared overhead. Fun stuff to watch.
And Great Egrets were back at Frog Bayou. Seven of them were in the wet
unit on Dedham road. All were displaying their beautiful breeding plumage.
It was a beautiful day to be out.
Date: 3/27/24 4:14 pm From: Barry Haas <bhaas...> Subject: And now it begins- Version 2024.1
Dear ARBIRDers,
I regularly post each year as we have the privilege to witness wood duck fledging events from our two nest boxes. Today was the first fledging of the year, a bit later than the March 22 first fledging last year and March 23 in 2022. But, as they say, better late than never.
This morning as I was getting ready to head off to a fitness session I spotted an adult female woodie in the opening of our west nest box. It was about 9:40 a.m. which we have learned over the years is prime time to bring their young into the outside world. Before long the adult female dropped to the ground, and was shortly followed by a pair of fledglings which appeared to yell “Geronimo!” at the same time as they jumped to the ground near Mom. Soon a second pair mimicked the first, then a string of three single fledglings. I took my eye off the nest box opening just long enough for the eighth and final fledgling of the morning. My eyes caught a flash of movement which made me suspect I had almost missed #8. Down to our nearby pond Mom took her charges. With such a small number it was easy to confirm the exact count of eight. Last year when we had several fledging events with up to 16 or so individuals it was extremely hard to guarantee the exact head count. The young move about so fast in relation to each other, bunch together so tightly and a few always seem to be hiding from our view behind their Mom- or so it seems.
Within minutes of the fledging a pair of woodies perched atop the just emptied nest box. No lost time there. They then flew down to the pond, and when they got too close to the eight fledglings their Mom let the outsider pair know they had better not get too close if they knew what was good for them. At one point the Mom chased both the male and female so her message was very clear- stay away from my young.
Off I went to fitness while Susan took up watch until the clan disappeared off into our woods, most likely to a larger pond just over the hill to the north of us. Nice way to start the fledging season. I also realized our red-shouldered hawks have been mostly absent in recent days/weeks. After one or more red-shouldered hawks grabbed two of a group of just eight fledged young on our pond last year, I was glad the red-shouldered hawks were not around looking for a meal today.
This afternoon I cleaned out the now empty nest box which had a whopping 11 unhatched eggs. Those were left for nature to attend to. I don’t recall there ever having been so many unhatched eggs in past years, but can’t say for sure. Last year we had two fledgings where there were zero unhatched eggs in the nest box. That is just as rare as having so many like this morning.
When I started to type this, we had a total of 14 adult wood ducks on our pond- three females and 11 males. That matches our hight count at any one time so far this year. We had nine total this morning.
We are pretty sure the east nest box is also occupied, and hope to see a second fledging event of the year in coming days.
Again, it is such a privilege to be able to watch these splendid birds so up close and personal.
From the deep woods just west of Little Rock,
Barry Haas
############################
Date: 3/27/24 3:55 pm From: Debbie Balicki <debandronb...> Subject: First black and white warbler!
Merlin has been hearing one for several days, but I hesitated to post anything until I actually saw one. This is a bird I look for every year and today I saw one on a black gum tree where I usually see them every year. Seeing one is always a treat for me.
I still have pine siskins, juncos, white throated sparrows and a LOT of house finches. I think the house finches are actually nesting in a huge holly tree that I have. They sing from that tree every day and today there were several sipping from a bird that that I have.
I have downy woodpeckers and , until a few days ago, I had hairy woodpeckers. I still have red-bellied woodpeckers and, of course, pileated woodpeckers.
This has been an unusual spring for me with the birds that are still hanging around.
My hummingbird feeders are up and I expect “Itsy and bitsy” any day now. According to my records, I usually see one on March 27th, but so far, no sighting.
Still, I am thrilled to have seen the black and white warbler today.
Date: 3/26/24 7:53 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - March 26
It was clear, cold, and windy turning warmer toward noon on the bird survey today. 64 species were found. The cold wind made finding Passerines difficult. Our returning breeders numbers are increasing with every survey. A flock of Snowy Egrets was interesting but was not an early date. Duck numbers are decreasing. On a sad note, Berlin Heck passed away today. He joined me on many bird surveys in the early days. He is missed! Here is my list for today:
Canada Geese – 3
Wood Duck - 23 (also a brood of freshly hatched ducklings)
Date: 3/26/24 6:36 pm From: John Redman <johnfredman...> Subject: UNUSUAL YARDBIRD IN URBAN PINE BLUUF
This morning at 9:00AM I observed a Louisiana Waterthrush bobbing on a fence in my backyard in downtown Pine Bluff. I ran inside to get my camera, but it was gone when I returned. There was no response to a call back. I supposed that the attractant was a large sugar kettle in the backyard that functions as a waterplant garden with a gurgling water pump. My assumption is that it sounded like a flowing stream. In the early evening (6:00PM) as I was sitting with my wife in the backyard, the Waterthrush reappeared. This time I was able to get my camera in timely manner and obtain several nice photos of my visitor.
John Redman
############################
Date: 3/26/24 7:56 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: FORMER LINDSLEY’S PRAIRIE ON A RAINY SPRING DAY
Geological Survey of Arkansas for 1891 has this to say about former Lindsleys Prairie: it lies north, northeast, east, and southeast of the town of Siloam Springs is between five and six miles its breadth over four miles.
Of this more than 20 square miles of original Tallgrass Prairie, only two parcels remain intact. State-owned Chesney Prairie Natural Area protects 82 acres. Nearby, privately-owned Stump Prairie protects 18 acres. Joe Woolbright, whose family roots are generations deep in this prairie area, manages both.
You run across bits and pieces of the old Lindsleys throughout. That is to say, its not easy to wipe out all of the Big Bluestem Grass. Osage Burrowing Crayfish still push up their mud chimneys in seasonal wetlands.
On a rainy day, one way I go birding in former Lindsleys is to slow-drive a variety of spots. Try to figure out how to position the car to avoid getting soaked. Usually I get soaked, at least in part. But the birding can be very good, though requires a lot of wiping.
Went out yesterday, after a big rain at night, and off and on light rain all day. I hoped to find flocks of American Golden-Plovers as I have in previous years just saw a single bird but they are still coming through. I did see many Killdeer, Wilsons Snipe, a few Rusty Blackbirds, and other interests, like CHERTs from a Western Meadowlark.
A couple stopped alongside me on Railway Alley (leading to Chesney Prairie NA). Wondered, in a friendly way, what I was doing. (He works for the Butler family that owns many poultry operations in the area). I explained my interest in migratory birds. I think theyd never met a bird person before not associated with Simmons poultry. Lots of smiles and friendliness.
Date: 3/25/24 7:39 pm From: Karen Holliday <ladyhawke1...> Subject: Re: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
Great idea Jack to start a mini fundraiser! Kannan, I too want to pledge $200 towards purchasing binoculars. I can bring the money to the AAS conference in May if that works for you. I too can offer suggestions for finding Bornean Bristleheads, having seen them in Borneo in 2022 on a birdwatching trip. Very cool bird! Karen Holliday Pulaski Co.
-------- Original message --------From: Jack and PamDate: 3/23/24 9:23 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
Exciting!! First, I’d like to suggest we take up a mini fund raiser to at least buy one pair of new bins for you to take along. If you are game I’ll start by pledging 200 Ringgit No, just kidding $ 200.I have two pair which I’ll bring for you to look at but don’t get too excited they both have problems -mold inside a Zeiss 10X 40 and Leitz 8X 30. In the later case optics fine but eye cup missing. Pam and I lived in Malaysia for eight years from 1986. KL has any kind of food you could possibly desire. I can also introduce you electronically to one of Malaysia’s best birders. In Borneo the Danum Valley Research Station is highly recommended. I assume anyone I knew there has long since retired but I could try to locate one of them. Most. likely, given your credentials, you will have no trouble gaining access!Anyway let’s talk in May. I know how to find the Bornean Bristelhead Jack StewartNewton CountyJack StewartSent from Yahoo Mail for iPhoneOn Saturday, March 23, 2024, 12:22 PM, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
That will be an amazing experience and we will miss you again and hope that
this time you will not be trapped by Covid or another pandemic. You have a great
reputation in making people aware of eBird and iNaturalist, and getting
binoculars in the hands of those that it will do good for education, birds and
the resources.
I commend your efforts. I also think that you should post the address where
binoculars can be shipped to you in case there are people that will not make the
Spring Arkansas Audubon Society Meeting.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
From: Ragupathy Kannan
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:35 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used
binoculars
I will be spending July through September as a
Fulbright Scholar in Malaysia, promoting biodiversity awareness among locals
using eBird and iNaturalist. I will be based at Sunway University in Kuala
Lumpur but hope to spend a lot of time in Borneo. The state department gives me
a book allowance but not a binocular allowance.
If you have used binoculars to give away,
please bring or send them to the Arkansas Audubon Society conference in Petit
Jean May 3-4. I gave away 3 pairs to deserving Indian kids in January. Over the
years I have found nice homes for about 30 pairs in India and Sri Lanka.
Kannan
Ft. Smith
To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following
link:http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
We received confirmation from Matt Young that the White County Crossbills are Type 2. We also heard from one of the local birders that a female crossbill was observed carrying food on Mar 20. This is interesting since there were 7 birds seen on Oct 12 and a few days later, the female was reportedly seen carrying nesting material.. To me, this suggests there's the possibility of two breeding pairs, especially considering the abundance of cones. We suspect the first female is not the same bird since the first one was carrying nest material over a 2-3 day period. I read online that incubation takes 10+ days and that the female stays on the nest until hatchlings emerge. The timing of a female carrying food would more likely suggest a different nest/female. Perhaps there's no way to really tell but important to continue to monitor. Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 3/14/24 6:05 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Breeding Red Crossbills?? We might have a first for Arkansas: documentation of a breeding pair of Red Crossbills. On March 10, Michael and I were "back road running" in White County. Over the crunching of gravel, I heard the unmistakable squeaking of a Brown-headed Nuthatch, so we stopped and got out of the car to see these rarely found White County birds. We got great looks at three of them along the roadside, staring at us from a healthy pine stand. The landowners have been making some great improvements to this acreage by clearing out some of the pines, providing a more open pine forest for wildlife. As we were standing there, a few birds flew into the pines near us. Michael got on them quickly and excitedly exclaimed, "Red Crossbills!" At least two of them, a male and a female. So we got the word out quickly and it wasn't long before others arrived to look for them.We went back the next day to see if they were still present. The pines had a large crop of cones, and it entered our minds that some of the SEVEN birds we saw that day might be breeding. The habitat is certainly suitable for breeding crossbills in spite of the fact that an official nest has not been documented. Joe Neal, please correct as needed. As other birders came to see these birds, a lifer for several, they've been seeing and photographing the birds interacting in a Courtship manner by "billing," a way the male and female bond during the breeding season. See Meredith Lusk's photos of this behavior on her eBird report here. https://ebird.org/checklist/S164728499Additionally giving strength to the high probability of nesting at this site, Roger Massey saw and got photos of the female carrying bark to a potential nest site. The previous day, Kenny and LaDonna Nichols saw a female carrying a twig. According to research on Birds of the World, the nests are built by the female. With the base built of twigs, the inner lining is made of pine needles, bark, fur and/feathers. See Roger's photos here of the female gathering bark on his eBird report. https://ebird.org/checklist/S164802829We have audio of the birds in hopes of determining to Type and will submit to Matt Young for confirmation. If you go, we kindly ask that you not use playback to attract the birds. They are most surely breeding here. You should be able to hear and see them as they come to the roadside trees to feed. Early afternoon has been a good time to observe them.Please keep in mind that this is private land and no one should trespass to see these birds. Fortunately they can be seen from the public road. Please leave further nest documentation to those already involved. This is an unfolding story and we do not want the birds to be unnecessarily disturbed, potentially causing nesting failure. Thank you for your delicate interaction with these special and wonderful treasures.Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Date: 3/24/24 5:59 am From: Harriet Jansma <hjansma...> Subject: Re: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
This sort of connection is a major benefit and joy of this list. I would love to know more about your experiences the past ones, and those to come. The comments will be about birds in another part of the world, but that's OK when they are about your discoveries there.
Harriet Jansma
Fayetteville
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:23 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
Exciting!! First, Id like to suggest we take up a mini fund raiser to at least buy one pair of new bins for you to take along. If you are game Ill start by pledging 200 Ringgit No, just kidding $ 200.
I have two pair which Ill bring for you to look at but dont get too excited they both have problems -mold inside a Zeiss 10X 40 and Leitz 8X 30. In the later case optics fine but eye cup missing.
Pam and I lived in Malaysia for eight years from 1986. KL has any kind of food you could possibly desire. I can also introduce you electronically to one of Malaysias best birders. In Borneo the Danum Valley Research Station is highly recommended. I assume anyone I knew there has long since retired but I could try to locate one of them. Most. likely, given your credentials, you will have no trouble gaining access!
Anyway lets talk in May. I know how to find the Bornean Bristelhead
Jack Stewart
Newton County
On Saturday, March 23, 2024, 12:22 PM, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
That will be an amazing experience and we will miss you again and hope that this time you will not be trapped by Covid or another pandemic. You have a great reputation in making people aware of eBird and iNaturalist, and getting binoculars in the hands of those that it will do good for education, birds and the resources.
I commend your efforts. I also think that you should post the address where binoculars can be shipped to you in case there are people that will not make the Spring Arkansas Audubon Society Meeting.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
From: Ragupathy Kannan
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:35 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
I will be spending July through September as a Fulbright Scholar in Malaysia, promoting biodiversity awareness among locals using eBird and iNaturalist. I will be based at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur but hope to spend a lot of time in Borneo. The state department gives me a book allowance but not a binocular allowance.
If you have used binoculars to give away, please bring or send them to the Arkansas Audubon Society conference in Petit Jean May 3-4. I gave away 3 pairs to deserving Indian kids in January. Over the years I have found nice homes for about 30 pairs in India and Sri Lanka.
On Friday, March 22, 2024, 2:38 PM, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Sandy Berger, Cheryl Childers, and I, along with two of my star students Le Nguyen and Karla Donas, explored Upper Buffalo Road in Ouachita National Forest near Waldron this morning. It was cool and overcast. We bagged two of the three marquee birds of this area, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Brown-headed Nuthatch. We tried hard for the Bachman's Sparrow but in vain. It is almost surely too early for them to start singing.
The two students just finished a manuscript on geographic variation in Bachman's songs. And they had heard everything about RCWs from my freshman biology course. So it was refreshing for them to be at ground zero and learn what pioneers like Joe Neal and Barb Raulston (both Doug James's students) did for the RCW conservation in that area.
Here is the eBird list for the day: https://ebird.org/checklist/S165611075 Thanks to iNaturalist, we identified the patches of purple and blue flowers scattered here and there as Bird's Foot Violets and Rose Vervains. Other splashes of color were from early flowering dogwoods, plums, and reindeer lichens (identities of the latter two yet to be confirmed).
KannanFt. Smith
Date: 3/23/24 7:23 pm From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
Exciting!! First, I’d like to suggest we take up a mini fund raiser to at least buy one pair of new bins for you to take along. If you are game I’ll start by pledging 200 Ringgit No, just kidding $ 200.
I have two pair which I’ll bring for you to look at but don’t get too excited they both have problems -mold inside a Zeiss 10X 40 and Leitz 8X 30. In the later case optics fine but eye cup missing. Pam and I lived in Malaysia for eight years from 1986. KL has any kind of food you could possibly desire. I can also introduce you electronically to one of Malaysia’s best birders. In Borneo the Danum Valley Research Station is highly recommended. I assume anyone I knew there has long since retired but I could try to locate one of them. Most. likely, given your credentials, you will have no trouble gaining access!
Anyway let’s talk in May. I know how to find the Bornean Bristelhead Jack StewartNewton County
Jack Stewart
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Saturday, March 23, 2024, 12:22 PM, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
That will be an amazing experience and we will miss you again and hope that this time you will not be trapped by Covid or another pandemic. You have a great reputation in making people aware of eBird and iNaturalist, and getting binoculars in the hands of those that it will do good for education, birds and the resources. I commend your efforts. I also think that you should post the address where binoculars can be shipped to you in case there are people that will not make the Spring Arkansas Audubon Society Meeting. Jerry Wayne DavisHot Springs, AR From: Ragupathy Kannan Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:35 AMTo: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars I will be spending July through September as a Fulbright Scholar in Malaysia, promoting biodiversity awareness among locals using eBird and iNaturalist. I will be based at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur but hope to spend a lot of time in Borneo. The state department gives me a book allowance but not a binocular allowance. If you have used binoculars to give away, please bring or send them to the Arkansas Audubon Society conference in Petit Jean May 3-4. I gave away 3 pairs to deserving Indian kids in January. Over the years I have found nice homes for about 30 pairs in India and Sri Lanka. KannanFt. Smith
Date: 3/23/24 12:37 pm From: Daniel Mason <millipede1977...> Subject: What was that?
Please be on the lookout north of city lake in siloam, towards the eagle watch, or in another state by now... Typing on my phone which I hate... The bird wasn't super high, 50 feet or so if I had to guess... but it got higher and just kept moving and I just didn't get the looks I wanted and my camera just didn't focus. I put it down as a falcon. Definitely not a merlin or kestrel. Much larger. The wings were long and sleek, sort of reminding me of a nighthawk, but a larger bird... and we'll just Definitely not a nighthawk. And the tail... long slender tail... on one maneuver it looked forked to me. It seemed so long and slender, what came to mind was a frigatebird... Steady wing beats with slightly erratic movements reminding me of a gull but not THAT erratic. This is one of the parts of birding I hate. Here and then gone and I may never know what it was. It was definitely not one of the regars here. Decent day birding... geese on nests, birds singing...
Date: 3/23/24 9:22 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Fw: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
That will be an amazing experience and we will miss you again and hope that this time you will not be trapped by Covid or another pandemic. You have a great reputation in making people aware of eBird and iNaturalist, and getting binoculars in the hands of those that it will do good for education, birds and the resources.
I commend your efforts. I also think that you should post the address where binoculars can be shipped to you in case there are people that will not make the Spring Arkansas Audubon Society Meeting.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
From: Ragupathy Kannan
Sent: Saturday, March 23, 2024 9:35 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
I will be spending July through September as a Fulbright Scholar in Malaysia, promoting biodiversity awareness among locals using eBird and iNaturalist. I will be based at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur but hope to spend a lot of time in Borneo. The state department gives me a book allowance but not a binocular allowance.
If you have used binoculars to give away, please bring or send them to the Arkansas Audubon Society conference in Petit Jean May 3-4. I gave away 3 pairs to deserving Indian kids in January. Over the years I have found nice homes for about 30 pairs in India and Sri Lanka.
Date: 3/23/24 7:35 am From: Sarah Morris <saraha.morris1...> Subject: Tons of Green-winged Teal Today
I decided to bird watch on Hwy 306 on my way to Wynne today. I only made it four miles northeast of Hunter before finding hundreds of Green-winged Teal mixed in with shorebirds, Northern Shovelers and blackbirds, including one Rusty. I was so busy looking at them that I almost missed the small group of Blue-winged Teal swimming past me in the ditch on the opposite side of the road.
Date: 3/23/24 7:35 am From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Fulbright in Malaysia-appeal for used binoculars
I will be spending July through September as a Fulbright Scholar in Malaysia, promoting biodiversity awareness among locals using eBird and iNaturalist. I will be based at Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur but hope to spend a lot of time in Borneo. The state department gives me a book allowance but not a binocular allowance.
If you have used binoculars to give away, please bring or send them to the Arkansas Audubon Society conference in Petit Jean May 3-4. I gave away 3 pairs to deserving Indian kids in January. Over the years I have found nice homes for about 30 pairs in India and Sri Lanka.
KannanFt. Smith
Sandy Berger, Cheryl Childers, and I, along with two of my star students Le Nguyen and Karla Donas, explored Upper Buffalo Road in Ouachita National Forest near Waldron this morning. It was cool and overcast. We bagged two of the three marquee birds of this area, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Brown-headed Nuthatch. We tried hard for the Bachman's Sparrow but in vain. It is almost surely too early for them to start singing.
The two students just finished a manuscript on geographic variation in Bachman's songs. And they had heard everything about RCWs from my freshman biology course. So it was refreshing for them to be at ground zero and learn what pioneers like Joe Neal and Barb Raulston (both Doug James's students) did for the RCW conservation in that area.
Here is the eBird list for the day: https://ebird.org/checklist/S165611075 Thanks to iNaturalist, we identified the patches of purple and blue flowers scattered here and there as Bird's Foot Violets and Rose Vervains. Other splashes of color were from early flowering dogwoods, plums, and reindeer lichens (identities of the latter two yet to be confirmed).
KannanFt. Smith
Date: 3/22/24 10:18 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas?
I cannot add to the validity of the continued existence of the Rufous-crowned Sparrow in Arkansas. At one time efforts were planned to try and improve the habitat on Mt Magazine for this bird. Many of those that religiously looked for this bird on an annual basis are now retired or gone. Is there anyone else taking their place?
Jerry Wayne Davis
From: Taylor Long
Sent: Friday, March 22, 2024 11:43 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas?
Greetings Ornithologists,
Someone reviewing range maps for the next update of Nat Geo field guides recently asked me if Rufous-crowned Sparrows are extirpated from Arkansas. I told them that there hadn't been a confirmed eBird report since the Fall of 2020 but that I couldn't say for sure if they were truly extirpated. Since 2020 is fairly recent in the grand scheme of things, they decided to leave the little purple dot over Mount Magazine for now. Still, I'm curious what others think about this question...
Do we believe there are still Rufous-crowned Sparrows somewhere up there on the mountain? If not, do we understand why they left? Would you consider them extirpated from Arkansas?
Date: 3/22/24 9:43 am From: Taylor Long <00000455b6b08e87-dmarc-request...> Subject: Are Rufous-crowned Sparrows extirpated in Arkansas?
Greetings Ornithologists,
Someone reviewing range maps for the next update of Nat Geo field guides recently asked me if Rufous-crowned Sparrows are extirpated from Arkansas. I told them that there hadn't been a confirmed eBird report since the Fall of 2020 but that I couldn't say for sure if they were truly extirpated. Since 2020 is fairly recent in the grand scheme of things, they decided to leave the little purple dot over Mount Magazine for now. Still, I'm curious what others think about this question...
Do we believe there are still Rufous-crowned Sparrows somewhere up there on the mountain? If not, do we understand why they left? Would you consider them extirpated from Arkansas?
Date: 3/21/24 6:40 pm From: Jeff Short <bashman...> Subject: Two Osprey
Two Osprey flew around and up the river this morning. We typically see Osprey on our stretch of the Ouachita River around the equinoxes. Wish they would stop and breed.
Date: 3/20/24 9:13 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - March 20
It started off overcast and cool, turning partly cloudy and warm with some wind by noon on the bird survey today. 66 species were found. Highlights include returning Common Gallinules, and increasing numbers of Anhingas and Neotropic Cormorants. Of note also is the continuing presence of a Cattle Egret which has been seen on and off all winter. Also of note is the return of Northern Parulas and a White-eyed Vireo. Here is my list for today:
Date: 3/20/24 8:55 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Fw: AEGIS Water & Wilderness Summer Camp at Ozark Natural Science Center
This is a wonderful camp. I highly recommend it to all of you with kids this age in your life. Campers are determined in part by the letters they write as part of their application. It truly is an outstanding opportunity.
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Rose Brown <rose.brown...>To: "<arbird-l...>" <arbird-l...>Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 04:03:16 PM CDTSubject: AEGIS Water & Wilderness Summer Camp at Ozark Natural Science Center
Ozark Natural Science Center is pleased to announce that registration is open for our 2024 AEGIS Summer Camp: Project Water & Wilderness
This FREE camp is for Arkansas students entering 10th and 11th grade in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Water & Wilderness: Plugged into Nature will be held at Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC), an outdoor science education facility located deep in the Ozark Plateau region. Students at Water & Wilderness camp will be able to unplug from electronic distractions and plug into the ever-changing and exciting world of field biology where evolving technology and field science merge.
This incredible opportunity offers students the chance to assist field scientists as they gather data and explore a variety of habitats in the Ozark Natural Division, including beautiful oak-hickory forests, glades, and the amazing free-flowing Kings River. Students will track reptiles using radio-telemetry, learn from ornithologists about how they catch and band birds, monitor bats acoustically, search for fish and other aquatic life in the pools and riffles of the Kings River, examine the night sky, and more as they spend beautiful summer days and star-filled nights among the forest and river life. A capstone glade field study, canoe trip, and an overnight camping experience on the Kings River will be the highlights of this two-week experience.
Learn more about the program, eligibility, and the application process at www.onsc.us/aegis
AEGIS Camp is made possible by Academic Enrichment for Gifted/Talented in Summer grant from Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Please help us spread the news far and wide. Thank you!
Rose Brown, Executive Director
Liz Hill, Program Manager
Rose Brown
Executive Director
Ozark Natural Science Center
479-202-8340
479-202-0692 (direct line)
https://www.onsc.us
Mission: to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 04:02:34 PM CDT, Harriet Jansma <hjansma...> wrote:
This is a wonderful obituary, telling the story of another legacy of Aldo Leopold: his five children, all natural scientists and outspoken advocates for environmental protection:
print edition, March 7 (I am reading late because ours is a mail subscription)
Estella Bergere Leopold, 97, Botanist Who Found Climate Clues in Ancient Pollen
Starker Leopold was a zoologist, Luna a hydrologist, Carl a plant physiologist, and Nina a conservationist. Three of them, including Estella were longtime members of the National Academy of Sciences. She mapped the fault line beneath Seattle and led the fight to protect the Florissant Valley, sw of Denver, now the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
I hope the Times still allows any reader (non-subscriber) to read a few articles a month so that you can all enjoy this story.
The wildflowers were great. The butterflies were great. The birds…not so
much. You know how it is on beautiful days. Quiet. But, I did get my FOS
Yellow-throated and Black and White Warblers. Yay.
There was a Common Loon on Lake Fort Smith.
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 04:02:34 PM CDT, Harriet Jansma <hjansma...> wrote:
This is a wonderful obituary, telling the story of another legacy of Aldo Leopold: his five children, all natural scientists and outspoken advocates for environmental protection:
print edition, March 7 (I am reading late because ours is a mail subscription)
Estella Bergere Leopold, 97, Botanist Who Found Climate Clues in Ancient Pollen
Starker Leopold was a zoologist, Luna a hydrologist, Carl a plant physiologist, and Nina a conservationist. Three of them, including Estella were longtime members of the National Academy of Sciences. She mapped the fault line beneath Seattle and led the fight to protect the Florissant Valley, sw of Denver, now the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
I hope the Times still allows any reader (non-subscriber) to read a few articles a month so that you can all enjoy this story.
Date: 3/20/24 2:02 pm From: Harriet Jansma <hjansma...> Subject: from the NYTimes
This is a wonderful obituary, telling the story of another legacy of Aldo Leopold: his five children, all natural scientists and outspoken advocates for environmental protection:
print edition, March 7 (I am reading late because ours is a mail subscription)
Estella Bergere Leopold, 97, Botanist Who Found Climate Clues in Ancient Pollen
Starker Leopold was a zoologist, Luna a hydrologist, Carl a plant physiologist, and Nina a conservationist. Three of them, including Estella were longtime members of the National Academy of Sciences. She mapped the fault line beneath Seattle and led the fight to protect the Florissant Valley, sw of Denver, now the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
I hope the Times still allows any reader (non-subscriber) to read a few articles a month so that you can all enjoy this story.
Date: 3/20/24 8:55 am From: Daniel Mason <millipede1977...> Subject: Maples
I have a maple tree(silver) right next to the house that I've decided either needs to go or just get trimmed down to house level once in a while. (Side note, I have lots if young trees in my unkempt yard, if anyone ever needs a maple, sycamore, cedar, elm, black cherry, etc... ha.) For now, I'm going to trim it back, but that will have to wait. When I was a kid, we played with different types of maple seeds. We'd fling "helicopters " in the air, or with certain ones we'd peel away and pull out the seed and stick the empty pods(?)to our noses. We had fun with them. Yesterday, I was outside making a phone call (house is too small for any privacy) when I found those maple seeds all over... only, most of them were missing the seeds. Something had ripped te seeds out. Squirrel? Rodents? There could be multiple guilty parties for all I know. However... while on the phone, a titmouse flew in right above me and started ripping some apart. I always find some level of interest or excitement when I learn Something this way. So, that tree is feeding birds right now... so, again, I'll wait to trim it. It's been weird. I'm still not birding a whole lot. My year needs reports from ebird is a lot longer than it should be. Feels so weird. But, I'm prioritizing other things in my life right now. Just don't let me miss any rare visitors to NWA, okay?
Date: 3/20/24 6:46 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: Brown Thrasher arrival (Fayetteville)
In honor of Ruth Thomas of Morrilton -- and her fine little book about a Brown Thrasher she named Crip (Crip, Come Home, 1950) -- I today (March 20, 2024) hereby announce this seasons first thrasher in my yard in central Fayetteville.
It is about on time when compared to previous arrival dates in my yard (March 12 to March 21). Some thrashers do winter in the Ozarks, but they are not in yard except during nest season. Typical range of occurrence in Northwest Arkansas City is mainly March through October.
Thomas wrote articles for Audubon magazine and a popular column, The Country Diary for the old Arkansas Gazette. Her writings were instrumental in founding of Arkansas Audubon Society in 1955.
Date: 3/19/24 3:18 pm From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
I was a Forest Wildlife Biologist in Arizona for 15 years and have seen the impacts of grazing on public western rangelands. Overgrazing there has converted 25 million acres to desert. On more than 250 million acres of public lands in the American West, grazing by domestic livestock constitutes by far the most widespread human-caused impact on fundamental range conditions, including habitat quality, riparian functioning, and endangered species. This land and resource abuse is subsidized by taxpayers. Western cattlemen pay about $1.35 per Animal Unit Month to overgraze and degrade Federal rangelands and habitat and is defended by politicians In Iowa it costs $98 per acre per year to graze private land and one county in Iowa could produce all of the beef of the 11 western states. You are paying to destroy habitat and rangelands in an effort to maintain the western culture and this like other subsidies has been going on for 100 years. It is not only the forage consumed but natural waters once available for wildlife and plants have been tapped for livestock production and no longer available for wildlife. Most would never know that Arizona was a desert grassland with grass coming up to the stirrups of a man on a horse and that the area that is now Phoenix was a wetland with 25,000 waterfowl wintering there and the streams were flowing in narrow banks with trout, beaver, and otters, and lined with cottonwoods and willows. In 1880 there were 30,000 head of livestock and by 1890, 1.5 million. Investors could buy cattle for $6.00 a head and turn them out on open range and sell them for $30 a head and that was when a dollar was worth something. In 1890 a 3 year drought came and the range grasses that had survived drought for eons of time had been grazed down to the root crown. When the rains came the topsoil was washed away and will never be replaced until Arizona is once again a tropical forest. The narrow streams became dry wide washes that you see today. The damage to the American west started with overgrazing 150 years ago and continues today and you are subsidizing it and the destruction of wildlife habitat and our grouse, grassland birds and other wildlife struggles to exist. Forty percent of the population does not want to be confused with facts and will remain in denial which is not a river in Egypt.
Jerry Wayne Davis
From: JANINE PERLMAN
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 4:10 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
Jack, I very much appreciate your work -- with National Audubon, and much else -- your work I know about, and all that I don't! I know I speak for many who feel the same way. And we all have our non-objective perspectives. They influence what science we attend to, and how we interpret it.
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 03:55:42 PM CDT, Jack and Pam <jackstewart_us...> wrote:
I'm swamped with other projects at the moment, but I must take a minute to point out that the link to "regenerative ranching is not good..." is an opinion piece. I'm aware of attempts at regenerative practices in Mexico and South American countries that have not demonstrated success. In most cases, the prototypes have been seriously flawed.
In an ideal world, we might want to turn our grasslands back to the bison. Audubon Conservation Ranching has demonstrated success in improving bird habitats, with individual plans for each ranch that enrolls in the program. Improved soil and bird habitat have followed. Below is a link to a broad picture of the program. (Warning: it downloads slowly).
Perhaps we should ask Audubon for a presentation on Conservation Ranching at an AAS meeting?
Again, let me know if you'd like more information on ACR. I was on the board committee that established the program -so maybe not entirely objective.
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 12:39:55 PM CDT, JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> wrote:
Jack, I must respectfully contribute a different perspective.
There is no possibility that "we will all" stop eating red meat.
Unfortunately, the great majority of people who eat it consume beef from industrial agriculture megacorporations such as JBS that do immense environmental harm here, in Central and South America, and across the globe.
And there's disagreement about the legitimacy of claims that "regenerative" ranching is good for grassland birds or ecosystems.
No, ‘regenerative ranching’ is not good for grassland birds (commentary) | Focusing on Wildlife
No, ‘regenerative ranching’ is not good for grassland birds (commentary)...
A staggering 3 billion birds, including 700 million grassland birds, have been lost in the last 50 years. Withou...
Re: row crops, most corn and soy goes to (extremely inefficiently) feed livestock. If we ate significantly less beef, chicken and pork, there would be far less demand for those crops.
Housing can and should of course be zoned; and regardless, it's hard to imagine sprawl consuming the nearly 200 million acres of corn and soy that are grown in this country---again, mostly for poultry, pork and beef.
Veganly,
Janine
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 11:11:29 AM CDT, Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
I agree with Kannon and Joanie. The question of meat consumption is harder. If we all stopped eating red meat, it would create a disaster for grassland birds because the land currently in production for beef would be used to grow row crops or for housing. Ranch owners would have to devise other strategies to earn a living, but it wouldn't be by creating a prairie! It is now possible to purchase beef that has been produced using conservation practices that are good for the soil, carbon sequestration, and good for birds. The gold standard is meat grown on Audubon Certified Ranches. Conservation Ranching
It is possible to order beef from Audubon-certified ranches online, but I'm told that soon ACR beef and bison will be available at stores in Arkansas. Ask stores like Ozarks Natural Foods in Fayetteville if they will carry meat with the Audubon certification.
If you'd like more information about this program, send me a note offline.
Please use
<fellowshipofthewings...>
Jack Stewart
Newton County
On Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 05:39:16 PM CDT, hilltower12 <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------
From: hilltower12 <hilltower12...>
Date: 17/03/2024 5:13 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...>
Subject: RE: How do you do it?
Hello Jonathan & ARbiders!
Harriet & Jay have some excellent ideas!
According to some of the climate scientists I follow such as Dr. Kevin Anderson at the U of Manchester, Peter Kalmus at the JPL & Stefan Rahmstorf at the Potsdam Centre of Climate Study, the only way to mitigate/compensate our GHGs is to not produce them in the first place!
Kevin Anderson says "buying carbon offsets is like paying somebody else to go on a calorie-slashing diet for you while you continue eating chocolate cake, ice cream & potato chips. And carbon offsets work against the laws of physics... Despite a huge worldwide system of offsets, GHGs keep rising."
According to the ecological economist Nico Paech (who quit flying in 2000), covering the roof of your home with solar panels & driving an EV is completely negated when one boards a plane even once a year. After taking a cruise, flying is by far the most carbon-intensive form of travel. What was your GHG/carbon footprint last year? If you boarded a plane, chances are that that flight constituted 40%-75% of your yearly footprint. People are shocked when they actually measure their GHG/carbon footprints!
Kevin Anderson quit flying in 2004. Peter Kalmus quit flying in 2009. Dr. Anderson travels all over Europe & Asia by train or his VW van. Dr. Kalmus travels all over the U.S & Canada with his wife & kids by car. They drive from So California to Chicago & back every summer & they have visited dozens of national parks by car. I took a no-fly pledge in 2014 & I gave up all meat & animal products. Those two measures cut my CO2 footprint from 20.5 tons in 2013 to 4.3 tons in 2014. The no-fly pledge hurts because I have family all over Germany & in Sweden. But I had to realize that my dozens of trans-atlantic & domestic flights have made me a big part of the climate problem. Tomorrow I am driving my 2013 Honda Fit to Louisiana to assist a team that is attempting to document the IBWO. This will be my fourth trip there in the past year. Would my bad back & injured legs prefer flying into Baton Rouge over driving? Probably.
Barry Bennett
Fayetteville
-------- Original message --------
From: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...>
Date: 15/03/2024 3:38 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: How do you do it?
Hi fellow birders,
I have a question which I suspect has some complicated answers. This is addressed to three groups of subscribers to this listserv: 1. Those of us who do a lot of driving around Arkansas in search of birds to be discovered and of those already reported on this list by others; 2. Those of us who take longer trips outside Arkansas (e.g., to other parts of the U.S. and to foreign destinations); 3. Those of us who do both. My partner and I don't do much of the first category, for a variety of reasons, unless those birds will be close to Fayetteville, where we live, but we do take longer trips to see more exotic avifauna (number 3). So here's my question: how do you mitigate/offset the carbon-emitting effects of your travel? Surely we want to prevent damage to birdish habitats, but I haven't figured out yet how to really do this. I'm assuming (hopefully) that some of you have come up with strategies to address this quandary--just as you describe other ways to protect habitat--and can suggest ways to prevent such dangers, without the decision to forego such travel (in all three of the above categories). Thanks in advance for your ideas.
Jonathan Perry, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Date: 3/19/24 2:11 pm From: JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
Jack, I very much appreciate your work -- with National Audubon, and much else -- your work I know about, and all that I don't! I know I speak for many who feel the same way. And we all have our non-objective perspectives. They influence what science we attend to, and how we interpret it.
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 03:55:42 PM CDT, Jack and Pam <jackstewart_us...> wrote:
I'm swamped with other projects at the moment, but I must take a minute to point out that the link to "regenerative ranching is not good..." is an opinion piece. I'm aware of attempts at regenerative practices in Mexico and South American countries that have not demonstrated success. In most cases, the prototypes have been seriously flawed.
In an ideal world, we might want to turn our grasslands back to the bison. Audubon Conservation Ranching has demonstrated success in improving bird habitats, with individual plans for each ranch that enrolls in the program. Improved soil and bird habitat have followed. Below is a link to a broad picture of the program. (Warning: it downloads slowly).
Perhaps we should ask Audubon for a presentation on Conservation Ranching at an AAS meeting?
Again, let me know if you'd like more information on ACR. I was on the board committee that established the program -so maybe not entirely objective.
https://media.audubon.org/2024-02/AudubonCertifiedBirdFriendlyImpactReport.pdf?_gl=1*7nh2gj*_ga*MTgwOTcyNjczNy4xNjk3NzM2NzMy*_ga_X2XNL2MWTT*MTcxMDg3ODAwNi4zNi4xLjE3MTA4NzgwMTYuNTAuMC4w.
<Jackfellowshipofthewings...>
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 12:39:55 PM CDT, JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> wrote:
Jack, I must respectfully contribute a different perspective.
There is no possibility that "we will all" stop eating red meat. Unfortunately, the great majority of people who eat it consume beef from industrial agriculture megacorporations such as JBS that do immense environmental harm here, in Central and South America, and across the globe.
And there's disagreement about the legitimacy of claims that "regenerative" ranching is good for grassland birds or ecosystems.No, ‘regenerative ranching’ is not good for grassland birds (commentary) | Focusing on Wildlife
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
|
| |
No, ‘regenerative ranching’ is not good for grassland birds (commentary)...
A staggering 3 billion birds, including 700 million grassland birds, have been lost in the last 50 years. Withou...
|
|
|
Re: row crops, most corn and soy goes to (extremely inefficiently) feed livestock. If we ate significantly less beef, chicken and pork, there would be far less demand for those crops.
Housing can and should of course be zoned; and regardless, it's hard to imagine sprawl consuming the nearly 200 million acres of corn and soy that are grown in this country---again, mostly for poultry, pork and beef.
Veganly,Janine
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 11:11:29 AM CDT, Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
I agree with Kannon and Joanie. The question of meat consumption is harder. If we all stopped eating red meat, it would create a disaster for grassland birds because the land currently in production for beef would be used to grow row crops or for housing. Ranch owners would have to devise other strategies to earn a living, but it wouldn't be by creating a prairie! It is now possible to purchase beef that has been produced using conservation practices that are good for the soil, carbon sequestration, and good for birds. The gold standard is meat grown on Audubon Certified Ranches. Conservation Ranching
It is possible to order beef from Audubon-certified ranches online, but I'm told that soon ACR beef and bison will be available at stores in Arkansas. Ask stores like Ozarks Natural Foods in Fayetteville if they will carry meat with the Audubon certification.If you'd like more information about this program, send me a note offline.Please use <fellowshipofthewings...>
Jack StewartNewton County On Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 05:39:16 PM CDT, hilltower12 <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------From: hilltower12 <hilltower12...> Date: 17/03/2024 5:13 PM (GMT-06:00) To: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...> Subject: RE: How do you do it?
Hello Jonathan & ARbiders!
Harriet & Jay have some excellent ideas!According to some of the climate scientists I follow such as Dr. Kevin Anderson at the U of Manchester, Peter Kalmus at the JPL & Stefan Rahmstorf at the Potsdam Centre of Climate Study, the only way to mitigate/compensate our GHGs is to not produce them in the first place!
Kevin Anderson says "buying carbon offsets is like paying somebody else to go on a calorie-slashing diet for you while you continue eating chocolate cake, ice cream & potato chips. And carbon offsets work against the laws of physics... Despite a huge worldwide system of offsets, GHGs keep rising."
According to the ecological economist Nico Paech (who quit flying in 2000), covering the roof of your home with solar panels & driving an EV is completely negated when one boards a plane even once a year. After taking a cruise, flying is by far the most carbon-intensive form of travel. What was your GHG/carbon footprint last year? If you boarded a plane, chances are that that flight constituted 40%-75% of your yearly footprint. People are shocked when they actually measure their GHG/carbon footprints!
Kevin Anderson quit flying in 2004. Peter Kalmus quit flying in 2009. Dr. Anderson travels all over Europe & Asia by train or his VW van. Dr. Kalmus travels all over the U.S & Canada with his wife & kids by car. They drive from So California to Chicago & back every summer & they have visited dozens of national parks by car. I took a no-fly pledge in 2014 & I gave up all meat & animal products. Those two measures cut my CO2 footprint from 20.5 tons in 2013 to 4.3 tons in 2014. The no-fly pledge hurts because I have family all over Germany & in Sweden. But I had to realize that my dozens of trans-atlantic & domestic flights have made me a big part of the climate problem. Tomorrow I am driving my 2013 Honda Fit to Louisiana to assist a team that is attempting to document the IBWO. This will be my fourth trip there in the past year. Would my bad back & injured legs prefer flying into Baton Rouge over driving? Probably.
Barry BennettFayetteville
-------- Original message --------From: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...> Date: 15/03/2024 3:38 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: How do you do it?
Hi fellow birders,
I have a question which I suspect has some complicated answers. This is addressed to three groups of subscribers to this listserv: 1. Those of us who do a lot of driving around Arkansas in search of birds to be discovered and of those already reported on this list by others; 2. Those of us who take longer trips outside Arkansas (e.g., to other parts of the U.S. and to foreign destinations); 3. Those of us who do both. My partner and I don't do much of the first category, for a variety of reasons, unless those birds will be close to Fayetteville, where we live, but we do take longer trips to see more exotic avifauna (number 3). So here's my question: how do you mitigate/offset the carbon-emitting effects of your travel? Surely we want to prevent damage to birdish habitats, but I haven't figured out yet how to really do this. I'm assuming (hopefully) that some of you have come up with strategies to address this quandary--just as you describe other ways to protect habitat--and can suggest ways to prevent such dangers, without the decision to forego such travel (in all three of the above categories). Thanks in advance for your ideas.
Jonathan Perry, Ph.D.Licensed PsychologistFayetteville, Arkansas
Date: 3/19/24 2:03 pm From: Rose Brown <rose.brown...> Subject: AEGIS Water & Wilderness Summer Camp at Ozark Natural Science Center
Ozark Natural Science Center is pleased to announce that registration is open for our 2024 AEGIS Summer Camp: Project Water & Wilderness
This FREE camp is for Arkansas students entering 10th and 11th grade in the 2024-2025 academic year.
Water & Wilderness: Plugged into Nature will be held at Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC), an outdoor science education facility located deep in the Ozark Plateau region. Students at Water & Wilderness camp will be able to unplug from electronic distractions and plug into the ever-changing and exciting world of field biology where evolving technology and field science merge.
This incredible opportunity offers students the chance to assist field scientists as they gather data and explore a variety of habitats in the Ozark Natural Division, including beautiful oak-hickory forests, glades, and the amazing free-flowing Kings River. Students will track reptiles using radio-telemetry, learn from ornithologists about how they catch and band birds, monitor bats acoustically, search for fish and other aquatic life in the pools and riffles of the Kings River, examine the night sky, and more as they spend beautiful summer days and star-filled nights among the forest and river life. A capstone glade field study, canoe trip, and an overnight camping experience on the Kings River will be the highlights of this two-week experience.
Learn more about the program, eligibility, and the application process at www.onsc.us/aegis
AEGIS Camp is made possible by Academic Enrichment for Gifted/Talented in Summer grant from Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Please help us spread the news far and wide. Thank you!
Rose Brown, Executive Director
Liz Hill, Program Manager
Rose Brown
Executive Director
Ozark Natural Science Center
479-202-8340
479-202-0692 (direct line)
https://www.onsc.us
Mission: to enhance the understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the Ozark natural environment.
Date: 3/19/24 1:56 pm From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
I'm swamped with other projects at the moment, but I must take a minute to point out that the link to "regenerative ranching is not good..." is an opinion piece. I'm aware of attempts at regenerative practices in Mexico and South American countries that have not demonstrated success. In most cases, the prototypes have been seriously flawed.
In an ideal world, we might want to turn our grasslands back to the bison. Audubon Conservation Ranching has demonstrated success in improving bird habitats, with individual plans for each ranch that enrolls in the program. Improved soil and bird habitat have followed. Below is a link to a broad picture of the program. (Warning: it downloads slowly).
Perhaps we should ask Audubon for a presentation on Conservation Ranching at an AAS meeting?
Again, let me know if you'd like more information on ACR. I was on the board committee that established the program -so maybe not entirely objective.
https://media.audubon.org/2024-02/AudubonCertifiedBirdFriendlyImpactReport.pdf?_gl=1*7nh2gj*_ga*MTgwOTcyNjczNy4xNjk3NzM2NzMy*_ga_X2XNL2MWTT*MTcxMDg3ODAwNi4zNi4xLjE3MTA4NzgwMTYuNTAuMC4w.
<Jackfellowshipofthewings...>
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 12:39:55 PM CDT, JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> wrote:
Jack, I must respectfully contribute a different perspective.
There is no possibility that "we will all" stop eating red meat. Unfortunately, the great majority of people who eat it consume beef from industrial agriculture megacorporations such as JBS that do immense environmental harm here, in Central and South America, and across the globe.
And there's disagreement about the legitimacy of claims that "regenerative" ranching is good for grassland birds or ecosystems.https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/no-regenerative-ranching-is-not-good-for-grassland-birds-commentary/
Re: row crops, most corn and soy goes to (extremely inefficiently) feed livestock. If we ate significantly less beef, chicken and pork, there would be far less demand for those crops.
Housing can and should of course be zoned; and regardless, it's hard to imagine sprawl consuming the nearly 200 million acres of corn and soy that are grown in this country---again, mostly for poultry, pork and beef.
Veganly,Janine
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 11:11:29 AM CDT, Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
I agree with Kannon and Joanie. The question of meat consumption is harder. If we all stopped eating red meat, it would create a disaster for grassland birds because the land currently in production for beef would be used to grow row crops or for housing. Ranch owners would have to devise other strategies to earn a living, but it wouldn't be by creating a prairie! It is now possible to purchase beef that has been produced using conservation practices that are good for the soil, carbon sequestration, and good for birds. The gold standard is meat grown on Audubon Certified Ranches. Conservation Ranching
It is possible to order beef from Audubon-certified ranches online, but I'm told that soon ACR beef and bison will be available at stores in Arkansas. Ask stores like Ozarks Natural Foods in Fayetteville if they will carry meat with the Audubon certification.If you'd like more information about this program, send me a note offline.Please use <fellowshipofthewings...>
Jack StewartNewton County On Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 05:39:16 PM CDT, hilltower12 <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------From: hilltower12 <hilltower12...> Date: 17/03/2024 5:13 PM (GMT-06:00) To: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...> Subject: RE: How do you do it?
Hello Jonathan & ARbiders!
Harriet & Jay have some excellent ideas!According to some of the climate scientists I follow such as Dr. Kevin Anderson at the U of Manchester, Peter Kalmus at the JPL & Stefan Rahmstorf at the Potsdam Centre of Climate Study, the only way to mitigate/compensate our GHGs is to not produce them in the first place!
Kevin Anderson says "buying carbon offsets is like paying somebody else to go on a calorie-slashing diet for you while you continue eating chocolate cake, ice cream & potato chips. And carbon offsets work against the laws of physics... Despite a huge worldwide system of offsets, GHGs keep rising."
According to the ecological economist Nico Paech (who quit flying in 2000), covering the roof of your home with solar panels & driving an EV is completely negated when one boards a plane even once a year. After taking a cruise, flying is by far the most carbon-intensive form of travel. What was your GHG/carbon footprint last year? If you boarded a plane, chances are that that flight constituted 40%-75% of your yearly footprint. People are shocked when they actually measure their GHG/carbon footprints!
Kevin Anderson quit flying in 2004. Peter Kalmus quit flying in 2009. Dr. Anderson travels all over Europe & Asia by train or his VW van. Dr. Kalmus travels all over the U.S & Canada with his wife & kids by car. They drive from So California to Chicago & back every summer & they have visited dozens of national parks by car. I took a no-fly pledge in 2014 & I gave up all meat & animal products. Those two measures cut my CO2 footprint from 20.5 tons in 2013 to 4.3 tons in 2014. The no-fly pledge hurts because I have family all over Germany & in Sweden. But I had to realize that my dozens of trans-atlantic & domestic flights have made me a big part of the climate problem. Tomorrow I am driving my 2013 Honda Fit to Louisiana to assist a team that is attempting to document the IBWO. This will be my fourth trip there in the past year. Would my bad back & injured legs prefer flying into Baton Rouge over driving? Probably.
Barry BennettFayetteville
-------- Original message --------From: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...> Date: 15/03/2024 3:38 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: How do you do it?
Hi fellow birders,
I have a question which I suspect has some complicated answers. This is addressed to three groups of subscribers to this listserv: 1. Those of us who do a lot of driving around Arkansas in search of birds to be discovered and of those already reported on this list by others; 2. Those of us who take longer trips outside Arkansas (e.g., to other parts of the U.S. and to foreign destinations); 3. Those of us who do both. My partner and I don't do much of the first category, for a variety of reasons, unless those birds will be close to Fayetteville, where we live, but we do take longer trips to see more exotic avifauna (number 3). So here's my question: how do you mitigate/offset the carbon-emitting effects of your travel? Surely we want to prevent damage to birdish habitats, but I haven't figured out yet how to really do this. I'm assuming (hopefully) that some of you have come up with strategies to address this quandary--just as you describe other ways to protect habitat--and can suggest ways to prevent such dangers, without the decision to forego such travel (in all three of the above categories). Thanks in advance for your ideas.
Jonathan Perry, Ph.D.Licensed PsychologistFayetteville, Arkansas
Date: 3/19/24 1:30 pm From: Anita Schnee <000003224553d416-dmarc-request...> Subject: Sage grouse comment period now open
Friends, the Biden administration has put forth a(nother) proposal to protect the sage grouse. This is the latest in an ongoing push-pull saga. The comment period on the proposal, ending June 13th, is now open.
Below is (1) a link to a NYT article, paywall removed. I follow this with (2) a link to the BLM site containing the environmental impact statement (EIS). I follow that by (3) what I think is the portal to post a comment.
On the BLM site No. (2), scroll down to the right of the article to find a long list, in blue, of the draft EIS.
Is there anybody on this list who has more science than I do, who can read the EIS and recommend the most sweeping of the options to protect?
The NYT article says BLM favors Alternative No. Five, which, the article says, is "a compromise between more restrictive and permissive propositions from previous administrations." I myself want to advocate for less compromise, but I just don't have the science to be able to sift through all the alternatives. Maybe the EIS executive summary at link (2) might be the most-efficient way to orient.
When you get to link (3) . . . . what a baffling list. Stopped me cold, even if I were to get past the EIS which I could not. Can anybody help with this? Here come the links:
LINK (1) NYT article
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/14/climate/sage-grouse-protection.html?<unlocked_article_code...>&smid=url-share
Date: 3/19/24 11:18 am From: Joseph Neal <joeneal...> Subject: Harris's Sparrows in a prairie playa
Here are some field notes from a birding trip yesterday in Benton County north of Maysville:
Western Benton County and its former Tallgrass Prairies has always been a good place to find wintering Harriss Sparrows. Its open country, with fencerows and thickets. Yesterday I found 4 Harriss in a field that seems to have experienced less than average plowing maybe because it is often wet. Too wet to plow, is an old saying.
There are prairie mounds. Between the mounds, and after rain, shallow saucers become playas. Yesterday, with Harriss and a single Song Sparrow.
This playa has briar tangles and small trees. I could see the sparrows foraging on the ground. These birds have come a long ways, from the semiforested tundra of northern Canada to what I call the chicken house former Tallgrass Prairies of Northwest Arkansas City.
Down the road, a Canada Goose was sitting tight on a nest in dense grass on a pond bank. We take Canadas for granted. Some consider them a nuisance. It was not very long ago they had all but disappeared from Arkansas. After a lot of hard work, they are back. We birders can be a gloomy bunch. This success is something to celebrate.
A few more notes from yesterday:
--American Kestrel with a small mammal in its talons.
--How extensive white plumage of a Kriders Red-tailed Hawk blended so well into the big white Sycamore where it perched.
--Sixteen meadowlark species flushed up into a tree by the low pass of a Turkey Vulture one CHERT call, indicating at least 1 of 16 is a Western Meadowlark.
--A male Pileated Woodpecker excavating a cavity in a fairly new utility pole.
--An Eastern Garter Snake, close to 2-feet in length, run over on a road that gets very little traffic. Maybe a snake slowed by the cold. Maybe a driver, blinded by anti-snake hysteria. Maybe something else.
When I got home yesterday I guess I had driven close to 100 miles. Looked on the ARBIRD list and read some of the posts about climate change what we can do about it, our personal responsibilities. I am not apologizing for yesterdays trip, but I am glad to be surrounded by so many conscientious people who weigh these things out and gesture toward better ways.
Date: 3/19/24 10:41 am From: JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> Subject: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
Jack, I must respectfully contribute a different perspective.
There is no possibility that "we will all" stop eating red meat. Unfortunately, the great majority of people who eat it consume beef from industrial agriculture megacorporations such as JBS that do immense environmental harm here, in Central and South America, and across the globe.
And there's disagreement about the legitimacy of claims that "regenerative" ranching is good for grassland birds or ecosystems.https://focusingonwildlife.com/news/no-regenerative-ranching-is-not-good-for-grassland-birds-commentary/
Re: row crops, most corn and soy goes to (extremely inefficiently) feed livestock. If we ate significantly less beef, chicken and pork, there would be far less demand for those crops.
Housing can and should of course be zoned; and regardless, it's hard to imagine sprawl consuming the nearly 200 million acres of corn and soy that are grown in this country---again, mostly for poultry, pork and beef.
Veganly,Janine
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 11:11:29 AM CDT, Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
I agree with Kannon and Joanie. The question of meat consumption is harder. If we all stopped eating red meat, it would create a disaster for grassland birds because the land currently in production for beef would be used to grow row crops or for housing. Ranch owners would have to devise other strategies to earn a living, but it wouldn't be by creating a prairie! It is now possible to purchase beef that has been produced using conservation practices that are good for the soil, carbon sequestration, and good for birds. The gold standard is meat grown on Audubon Certified Ranches. Conservation Ranching
It is possible to order beef from Audubon-certified ranches online, but I'm told that soon ACR beef and bison will be available at stores in Arkansas. Ask stores like Ozarks Natural Foods in Fayetteville if they will carry meat with the Audubon certification.If you'd like more information about this program, send me a note offline.Please use <fellowshipofthewings...>
Jack StewartNewton County On Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 05:39:16 PM CDT, hilltower12 <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------From: hilltower12 <hilltower12...> Date: 17/03/2024 5:13 PM (GMT-06:00) To: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...> Subject: RE: How do you do it?
Hello Jonathan & ARbiders!
Harriet & Jay have some excellent ideas!According to some of the climate scientists I follow such as Dr. Kevin Anderson at the U of Manchester, Peter Kalmus at the JPL & Stefan Rahmstorf at the Potsdam Centre of Climate Study, the only way to mitigate/compensate our GHGs is to not produce them in the first place!
Kevin Anderson says "buying carbon offsets is like paying somebody else to go on a calorie-slashing diet for you while you continue eating chocolate cake, ice cream & potato chips. And carbon offsets work against the laws of physics... Despite a huge worldwide system of offsets, GHGs keep rising."
According to the ecological economist Nico Paech (who quit flying in 2000), covering the roof of your home with solar panels & driving an EV is completely negated when one boards a plane even once a year. After taking a cruise, flying is by far the most carbon-intensive form of travel. What was your GHG/carbon footprint last year? If you boarded a plane, chances are that that flight constituted 40%-75% of your yearly footprint. People are shocked when they actually measure their GHG/carbon footprints!
Kevin Anderson quit flying in 2004. Peter Kalmus quit flying in 2009. Dr. Anderson travels all over Europe & Asia by train or his VW van. Dr. Kalmus travels all over the U.S & Canada with his wife & kids by car. They drive from So California to Chicago & back every summer & they have visited dozens of national parks by car. I took a no-fly pledge in 2014 & I gave up all meat & animal products. Those two measures cut my CO2 footprint from 20.5 tons in 2013 to 4.3 tons in 2014. The no-fly pledge hurts because I have family all over Germany & in Sweden. But I had to realize that my dozens of trans-atlantic & domestic flights have made me a big part of the climate problem. Tomorrow I am driving my 2013 Honda Fit to Louisiana to assist a team that is attempting to document the IBWO. This will be my fourth trip there in the past year. Would my bad back & injured legs prefer flying into Baton Rouge over driving? Probably.
Barry BennettFayetteville
-------- Original message --------From: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...> Date: 15/03/2024 3:38 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: How do you do it?
Hi fellow birders,
I have a question which I suspect has some complicated answers. This is addressed to three groups of subscribers to this listserv: 1. Those of us who do a lot of driving around Arkansas in search of birds to be discovered and of those already reported on this list by others; 2. Those of us who take longer trips outside Arkansas (e.g., to other parts of the U.S. and to foreign destinations); 3. Those of us who do both. My partner and I don't do much of the first category, for a variety of reasons, unless those birds will be close to Fayetteville, where we live, but we do take longer trips to see more exotic avifauna (number 3). So here's my question: how do you mitigate/offset the carbon-emitting effects of your travel? Surely we want to prevent damage to birdish habitats, but I haven't figured out yet how to really do this. I'm assuming (hopefully) that some of you have come up with strategies to address this quandary--just as you describe other ways to protect habitat--and can suggest ways to prevent such dangers, without the decision to forego such travel (in all three of the above categories). Thanks in advance for your ideas.
Jonathan Perry, Ph.D.Licensed PsychologistFayetteville, Arkansas
Date: 3/19/24 10:13 am From: Jeff Short <bashman...> Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
Apart from living entirely off-the-grid and eating a real paleo diet from your locale, our day-to-day lives create waste from all sectors we use or from which we consume. Even the AI used to correct my spelling consumes—collectively—tremendous amounts of energy which releases CO2 from fossil-fueled sources—or steals from the alternative energy sources. Soon the energy wasted will reach the levels of “crypto”.
I read recently that an airline seat in the back of the plane from London to San Diego releases one Kg of CO2. Aviation is a particularly dirty form of travel and there are many new innovations to reduce CO2 with sustainably produced fuels, efficient engines, new airfoils, etc, to overcome the effects of drag and gravity. Ships are more efficient to carry our loads, but time = money for commerce.
I bought an all-electric truck recently, and am having much buyers remorse. My electrons come from unknown sources and I have to stop frequently to make sure I don’t need a tow because of insufficient electrons. A true life-changing experience. Home charging is slow, and public quick-charging is getting better but still takes much of an hour to build a charge to get to the next destination. (I am able to catch up on my subscriptions, now.)
IMHO, plug-in hybrids are the best alternative until we can get hydrogen-powered (ICE) or fuel cell electrics. Hydrogen is safe, plentiful and only emits water when combusted. (FYI, water vapor is 44x more potent as a GHG than CO2--but that’s another story. ) Today’s costs to fill up a CRV-sized Honda with H2 are close to $200 for about 350 miles range. That is, if you can find a hydrogen station outside California. There are some semi-sized trucks that promise a better strategy for hydrogen. It becomes an environmental justice issue pretty quickly. Maybe a good use of my newfound time would be to start an eBird list for the recharging stations.
Best, and happy solstice
Jeff Short
Sent from Mail for Windows
From: Jack and Pam
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 11:11 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
I agree with Kannon and Joanie. The question of meat consumption is harder. If we all stopped eating red meat, it would create a disaster for grassland birds because the land currently in production for beef would be used to grow row crops or for housing. Ranch owners would have to devise other strategies to earn a living, but it wouldn't be by creating a prairie! It is now possible to purchase beef that has been produced using conservation practices that are good for the soil, carbon sequestration, and good for birds. The gold standard is meat grown on Audubon Certified Ranches. Conservation Ranching
It is possible to order beef from Audubon-certified ranches online, but I'm told that soon ACR beef and bison will be available at stores in Arkansas. Ask stores like Ozarks Natural Foods in Fayetteville if they will carry meat with the Audubon certification.
If you'd like more information about this program, send me a note offline.
Please use
<fellowshipofthewings...>
Jack Stewart
Newton County
On Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 05:39:16 PM CDT, hilltower12 <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------
From: hilltower12 <hilltower12...>
Date: 17/03/2024 5:13 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...>
Subject: RE: How do you do it?
Hello Jonathan & ARbiders!
Harriet & Jay have some excellent ideas!
According to some of the climate scientists I follow such as Dr. Kevin Anderson at the U of Manchester, Peter Kalmus at the JPL & Stefan Rahmstorf at the Potsdam Centre of Climate Study, the only way to mitigate/compensate our GHGs is to not produce them in the first place!
Kevin Anderson says "buying carbon offsets is like paying somebody else to go on a calorie-slashing diet for you while you continue eating chocolate cake, ice cream & potato chips. And carbon offsets work against the laws of physics... Despite a huge worldwide system of offsets, GHGs keep rising."
According to the ecological economist Nico Paech (who quit flying in 2000), covering the roof of your home with solar panels & driving an EV is completely negated when one boards a plane even once a year. After taking a cruise, flying is by far the most carbon-intensive form of travel. What was your GHG/carbon footprint last year? If you boarded a plane, chances are that that flight constituted 40%-75% of your yearly footprint. People are shocked when they actually measure their GHG/carbon footprints!
Kevin Anderson quit flying in 2004. Peter Kalmus quit flying in 2009. Dr. Anderson travels all over Europe & Asia by train or his VW van. Dr. Kalmus travels all over the U.S & Canada with his wife & kids by car. They drive from So California to Chicago & back every summer & they have visited dozens of national parks by car. I took a no-fly pledge in 2014 & I gave up all meat & animal products. Those two measures cut my CO2 footprint from 20.5 tons in 2013 to 4.3 tons in 2014. The no-fly pledge hurts because I have family all over Germany & in Sweden. But I had to realize that my dozens of trans-atlantic & domestic flights have made me a big part of the climate problem. Tomorrow I am driving my 2013 Honda Fit to Louisiana to assist a team that is attempting to document the IBWO. This will be my fourth trip there in the past year. Would my bad back & injured legs prefer flying into Baton Rouge over driving? Probably.
Barry Bennett
Fayetteville
-------- Original message --------
From: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...>
Date: 15/03/2024 3:38 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: How do you do it?
Hi fellow birders,
I have a question which I suspect has some complicated answers. This is addressed to three groups of subscribers to this listserv: 1. Those of us who do a lot of driving around Arkansas in search of birds to be discovered and of those already reported on this list by others; 2. Those of us who take longer trips outside Arkansas (e.g., to other parts of the U.S. and to foreign destinations); 3. Those of us who do both. My partner and I don't do much of the first category, for a variety of reasons, unless those birds will be close to Fayetteville, where we live, but we do take longer trips to see more exotic avifauna (number 3). So here's my question: how do you mitigate/offset the carbon-emitting effects of your travel? Surely we want to prevent damage to birdish habitats, but I haven't figured out yet how to really do this. I'm assuming (hopefully) that some of you have come up with strategies to address this quandary--just as you describe other ways to protect habitat--and can suggest ways to prevent such dangers, without the decision to forego such travel (in all three of the above categories). Thanks in advance for your ideas.
Jonathan Perry, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Date: 3/19/24 9:15 am From: Jeff Short <bashman...> Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
Apart from living entirely off-the-grid and eating a real paleo diet from your locale, our day-to-day lives create waste from all sectors we use or from which we consume. Even the AI used to correct my spelling consumes—collectively—tremendous amounts of energy which releases CO2 from fossil-fueled sources—or steals from the alternative energy sources. Soon the energy wasted will reach the levels of “crypto”.
I read recently that an airline seat in the back of the plane from London to San Diego releases one Kg of CO2. Aviation is a particularly dirty form of travel and there are many new innovations to reduce CO2 with sustainably produced fuels, efficient engines, new airfoils, etc, to overcome the effects of drag and gravity. Ships are more efficient to carry our loads, but time = money for commerce.
I bought an all-electric truck recently, and am having much buyers remorse. My electrons come from unknown sources and I have to stop frequently to make sure I don’t need a tow because of insufficient electrons. A true life-changing experience. Home charging is slow, and public quick-charging is getting better but still takes much of an hour to build a charge to get to the next destination. (I am able to catch up on my subscriptions, now.)
IMHO, plug-in hybrids are the best alternative until we can get hydrogen-powered (ICE) or fuel cell electrics. Hydrogen is safe, plentiful and only emits water when combusted. (FYI, water vapor is 44x more potent as a GHG than CO2--but that’s another story. ) Today’s costs to fill up a CRV-sized Honda with H2 are close to $200 for about 350 miles range. That is, if you can find a hydrogen station outside California. There are some semi-sized trucks that promise a better strategy for hydrogen. It becomes an environmental justice issue pretty quickly. Maybe a good use of my newfound time would be to start an eBird list for the recharging stations.
Best, and happy solstice
Jeff Short
Sent from Mail for Windows
From: Carol Joan Patterson
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2024 6:59 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
This is exactly true! Likewise plastic - well-known to harm turtles and others, in our bloodstreams. Only legislation can control this horror.
On Monday, March 18, 2024 at 02:44:58 PM CDT, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
While we all have to look at our own carbon footprint to reduce our emissions, please let us not shift focus from the ONE thing we all should do, which is to consistently elect climate conscious officials to public office. We can curb our meat consumption and air travel all we want, but that won't make a dent as long as there are leading candidates on a "drill baby drill" platform, who upon coming to office, will continue to subsidize the fossil fuel industry and scale back on clean energy initiatives. The climate crisis can only be solved by both grassroots and top down actions.
On Sunday, 17 March, 2024 at 05:39:18 pm GMT-5, hilltower12 <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------
From: hilltower12 <hilltower12...>
Date: 17/03/2024 5:13 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...>
Subject: RE: How do you do it?
Hello Jonathan & ARbiders!
Harriet & Jay have some excellent ideas!
According to some of the climate scientists I follow such as Dr. Kevin Anderson at the U of Manchester, Peter Kalmus at the JPL & Stefan Rahmstorf at the Potsdam Centre of Climate Study, the only way to mitigate/compensate our GHGs is to not produce them in the first place!
Kevin Anderson says "buying carbon offsets is like paying somebody else to go on a calorie-slashing diet for you while you continue eating chocolate cake, ice cream & potato chips. And carbon offsets work against the laws of physics... Despite a huge worldwide system of offsets, GHGs keep rising."
According to the ecological economist Nico Paech (who quit flying in 2000), covering the roof of your home with solar panels & driving an EV is completely negated when one boards a plane even once a year. After taking a cruise, flying is by far the most carbon-intensive form of travel. What was your GHG/carbon footprint last year? If you boarded a plane, chances are that that flight constituted 40%-75% of your yearly footprint. People are shocked when they actually measure their GHG/carbon footprints!
Kevin Anderson quit flying in 2004. Peter Kalmus quit flying in 2009. Dr. Anderson travels all over Europe & Asia by train or his VW van. Dr. Kalmus travels all over the U.S & Canada with his wife & kids by car. They drive from So California to Chicago & back every summer & they have visited dozens of national parks by car. I took a no-fly pledge in 2014 & I gave up all meat & animal products. Those two measures cut my CO2 footprint from 20.5 tons in 2013 to 4.3 tons in 2014. The no-fly pledge hurts because I have family all over Germany & in Sweden. But I had to realize that my dozens of trans-atlantic & domestic flights have made me a big part of the climate problem. Tomorrow I am driving my 2013 Honda Fit to Louisiana to assist a team that is attempting to document the IBWO. This will be my fourth trip there in the past year. Would my bad back & injured legs prefer flying into Baton Rouge over driving? Probably.
Barry Bennett
Fayetteville
-------- Original message --------
From: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...>
Date: 15/03/2024 3:38 PM (GMT-06:00)
To: <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: How do you do it?
Hi fellow birders,
I have a question which I suspect has some complicated answers. This is addressed to three groups of subscribers to this listserv: 1. Those of us who do a lot of driving around Arkansas in search of birds to be discovered and of those already reported on this list by others; 2. Those of us who take longer trips outside Arkansas (e.g., to other parts of the U.S. and to foreign destinations); 3. Those of us who do both. My partner and I don't do much of the first category, for a variety of reasons, unless those birds will be close to Fayetteville, where we live, but we do take longer trips to see more exotic avifauna (number 3). So here's my question: how do you mitigate/offset the carbon-emitting effects of your travel? Surely we want to prevent damage to birdish habitats, but I haven't figured out yet how to really do this. I'm assuming (hopefully) that some of you have come up with strategies to address this quandary--just as you describe other ways to protect habitat--and can suggest ways to prevent such dangers, without the decision to forego such travel (in all three of the above categories). Thanks in advance for your ideas.
Jonathan Perry, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Date: 3/19/24 9:11 am From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: How do you do it? Carbon Reduction Tips
I agree with Kannon and Joanie. The question of meat consumption is harder. If we all stopped eating red meat, it would create a disaster for grassland birds because the land currently in production for beef would be used to grow row crops or for housing. Ranch owners would have to devise other strategies to earn a living, but it wouldn't be by creating a prairie! It is now possible to purchase beef that has been produced using conservation practices that are good for the soil, carbon sequestration, and good for birds. The gold standard is meat grown on Audubon Certified Ranches. Conservation Ranching
It is possible to order beef from Audubon-certified ranches online, but I'm told that soon ACR beef and bison will be available at stores in Arkansas. Ask stores like Ozarks Natural Foods in Fayetteville if they will carry meat with the Audubon certification.If you'd like more information about this program, send me a note offline.Please use <fellowshipofthewings...>
Jack StewartNewton County On Sunday, March 17, 2024 at 05:39:16 PM CDT, hilltower12 <000001ab5bb2c0b4-dmarc-request...> wrote:
-------- Original message --------From: hilltower12 <hilltower12...> Date: 17/03/2024 5:13 PM (GMT-06:00) To: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...> Subject: RE: How do you do it?
Hello Jonathan & ARbiders!
Harriet & Jay have some excellent ideas!According to some of the climate scientists I follow such as Dr. Kevin Anderson at the U of Manchester, Peter Kalmus at the JPL & Stefan Rahmstorf at the Potsdam Centre of Climate Study, the only way to mitigate/compensate our GHGs is to not produce them in the first place!
Kevin Anderson says "buying carbon offsets is like paying somebody else to go on a calorie-slashing diet for you while you continue eating chocolate cake, ice cream & potato chips. And carbon offsets work against the laws of physics... Despite a huge worldwide system of offsets, GHGs keep rising."
According to the ecological economist Nico Paech (who quit flying in 2000), covering the roof of your home with solar panels & driving an EV is completely negated when one boards a plane even once a year. After taking a cruise, flying is by far the most carbon-intensive form of travel. What was your GHG/carbon footprint last year? If you boarded a plane, chances are that that flight constituted 40%-75% of your yearly footprint. People are shocked when they actually measure their GHG/carbon footprints!
Kevin Anderson quit flying in 2004. Peter Kalmus quit flying in 2009. Dr. Anderson travels all over Europe & Asia by train or his VW van. Dr. Kalmus travels all over the U.S & Canada with his wife & kids by car. They drive from So California to Chicago & back every summer & they have visited dozens of national parks by car. I took a no-fly pledge in 2014 & I gave up all meat & animal products. Those two measures cut my CO2 footprint from 20.5 tons in 2013 to 4.3 tons in 2014. The no-fly pledge hurts because I have family all over Germany & in Sweden. But I had to realize that my dozens of trans-atlantic & domestic flights have made me a big part of the climate problem. Tomorrow I am driving my 2013 Honda Fit to Louisiana to assist a team that is attempting to document the IBWO. This will be my fourth trip there in the past year. Would my bad back & injured legs prefer flying into Baton Rouge over driving? Probably.
Barry BennettFayetteville
-------- Original message --------From: jonathanperry24 <jonathanperry24...> Date: 15/03/2024 3:38 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: How do you do it?
Hi fellow birders,
I have a question which I suspect has some complicated answers. This is addressed to three groups of subscribers to this listserv: 1. Those of us who do a lot of driving around Arkansas in search of birds to be discovered and of those already reported on this list by others; 2. Those of us who take longer trips outside Arkansas (e.g., to other parts of the U.S. and to foreign destinations); 3. Those of us who do both. My partner and I don't do much of the first category, for a variety of reasons, unless those birds will be close to Fayetteville, where we live, but we do take longer trips to see more exotic avifauna (number 3). So here's my question: how do you mitigate/offset the carbon-emitting effects of your travel? Surely we want to prevent damage to birdish habitats, but I haven't figured out yet how to really do this. I'm assuming (hopefully) that some of you have come up with strategies to address this quandary--just as you describe other ways to protect habitat--and can suggest ways to prevent such dangers, without the decision to forego such travel (in all three of the above categories). Thanks in advance for your ideas.
Jonathan Perry, Ph.D.Licensed PsychologistFayetteville, Arkansas
Cornell Labs is migrating all the eBird, Merlin and other data to new (bigger and better) servers and will be out of service through Mar 21, 6 a.m. This update began early this morning. https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/product-outagesSome services are still accessible including the eBird app. However, you'll not be able to submit your lists until Mar 21, 6 a.m. Patience, Will Rogers. Patty McLean
