From a Red Creek Wildlife Rehab Center publication on the subject of baby birds and animals:
MOTHERS WILL NOT REJECT THEIR BABIES BECAUSE THEY WERE TOUCHED BY HUMANS!
Baby birds should be returned to the nest if possible. If the baby is not injured, every attempts must be made to reunite the baby with its parents. If the nest can be reached, simply plop the baby bird back in the nest. If the nest is damaged or has fallen the nest can be placed in a wicker basket, kitchen colander, or even a berry basket in the same tree or as close to the original location as possible. The kind of container doesn't matter as long as it has good drainage.
Denise Donmoyer
Sweet Arrow Lake
Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co.
<nightowl57...>
-----Original Message-----
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania [mailto:<PABIRDS...>] On Behalf Of jerry Kruth
Sent: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 7:17 PM
To: <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Great Crested Flycatcher babies
Nice post Lee,
There is a lot of sentiment about "replacing" fledglings to a box. Most voices say no.
We recently had a little Screech Owlet sitting in the middle of our street. It had obviously fallen from one of the several boxes we have. First thoughts were to put it in a tree and leave it. Our city street has prowling cats (from owners who foolishly allow them out), raccoons and other varmits and dangers. We were able to replace the owlet in the box, and hope all was for the best.
Jerry Kruth
Pittsburgh
--------------------
On Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 04:24:56 PM EDT, Lee Wells <0000013cfc732202-dmarc-request...> wrote:
We had a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers nest for the second year at our home. Today while mowing grass the adults were very agitated and I thought it was because of the mower. Then I saw a baby in the grass and called my wife (Audrey) to come see it. I put the mower away and went back to our house when Audrey opened the door and yelled that there was a snake going for the baby. I quickly ran for the bird and got there about one second before a Black Racer did and saved the baby. Audrey thought that the baby was too small to be out so she put it back in the box. Then we saw the adults were flying around one of our wild patches near where the box was and Audrey found another baby and put it back in the box. I was against putting them back but about 20 minutes later a hard storm hit with pouring rain and I reluctantly I agreed that it was a good idea.Lee & AudreyPine Grove, Schuylkill County
Date: 7/1/25 4:16 pm From: jerry Kruth <00000005ead0dac6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Great Crested Flycatcher babies
Nice post Lee,
There is a lot of sentiment about "replacing" fledglings to a box. Most voices say no.
We recently had a little Screech Owlet sitting in the middle of our street. It had obviously fallen from one of the several boxes we have.
First thoughts were to put it in a tree and leave it. Our city street has prowling cats (from owners who foolishly allow them out), raccoons and other varmits and dangers. We were able to replace the owlet in the box, and hope all was for the best.
Jerry Kruth
Pittsburgh
--------------------
On Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at 04:24:56 PM EDT, Lee Wells <0000013cfc732202-dmarc-request...> wrote:
We had a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers nest for the second year at our home. Today while mowing grass the adults were very agitated and I thought it was because of the mower. Then I saw a baby in the grass and called my wife (Audrey) to come see it. I put the mower away and went back to our house when Audrey opened the door and yelled that there was a snake going for the baby. I quickly ran for the bird and got there about one second before a Black Racer did and saved the baby. Audrey thought that the baby was too small to be out so she put it back in the box. Then we saw the adults were flying around one of our wild patches near where the box was and Audrey found another baby and put it back in the box. I was against putting them back but about 20 minutes later a hard storm hit with pouring rain and I reluctantly I agreed that it was a good idea.Lee & AudreyPine Grove, Schuylkill County
Date: 7/1/25 1:24 pm From: Lee Wells <0000013cfc732202-dmarc-request...> Subject: Great Crested Flycatcher babies
We had a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers nest for the second year at our home. Today while mowing grass the adults were very agitated and I thought it was because of the mower. Then I saw a baby in the grass and called my wife (Audrey) to come see it. I put the mower away and went back to our house when Audrey opened the door and yelled that there was a snake going for the baby. I quickly ran for the bird and got there about one second before a Black Racer did and saved the baby. Audrey thought that the baby was too small to be out so she put it back in the box. Then we saw the adults were flying around one of our wild patches near where the box was and Audrey found another baby and put it back in the box. I was against putting them back but about 20 minutes later a hard storm hit with pouring rain and I reluctantly I agreed that it was a good idea.Lee & AudreyPine Grove, Schuylkill County
Date: 6/28/25 3:42 pm From: Edwin Barrell <ebarrell5...> Subject: Re: Red Tail Hawk Fledged Bucks County
Thats awesome.
On Fri, Jun 27, 2025, 9:50 PM Linda Rowan <
<000001476b4df963-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> On Wed. June 25 our 1 baby Red Tail Hawk fledged unseen.
>
> The nest was on a power tower.
>
> The good news is that today around noon, I heard a Red Tail calling.
>
> I went out back and heard the call from the direction of the power tower.
>
> I located the young Red Tail low on the tower structure. What a good
> feeling to know it survived the first two days out of the nest.
>
>
>
> So here is the rest of the story. We can easily see this nest with a
> spotting scope from our living room. It is more challenging when the trees
> leaf out.
>
> We have watched the nest for 9 years.
>
> At one point this spring we thought the nest had failed because we did not
> see any activity.
>
> Then at the end of April we started to see a Red Tail in the nest.
>
> Finally on May 22 I saw tiny fuzzy white wings flap.
>
> This is the first time that there has only been one young bird.
>
>
>
> Linda Rowan,
>
> Levittown Bucks County
>
>
>
Date: 6/28/25 3:53 am From: K Springer <springer0707...> Subject: 5 Savannah Sparrows - Mercer County
I live very close to a dairy farm/grassland area where (yesterday) I could see 5 individual Savannahs sitting on five different fence posts at the same time. I could also hear 3 or 4 vocalizing at the same time. These have been singing here now for months. I'm so happy to see 5!
The usual Meadowlarks are here too, but recently I've heard Bobolinks this year for the first time. Fingers crossed for some Harriers and Short-eared Owls. I did see a Harrier briefly here once in the past.
Date: 6/27/25 6:50 pm From: Linda Rowan <000001476b4df963-dmarc-request...> Subject: Red Tail Hawk Fledged Bucks County
On Wed. June 25 our 1 baby Red Tail Hawk fledged unseen.
The nest was on a power tower.
The good news is that today around noon, I heard a Red Tail calling.
I went out back and heard the call from the direction of the power tower.
I located the young Red Tail low on the tower structure. What a good feeling to know it survived the first two days out of the nest.
So here is the rest of the story. We can easily see this nest with a spotting scope from our living room. It is more challenging when the trees leaf out.
We have watched the nest for 9 years.
At one point this spring we thought the nest had failed because we did not see any activity.
Then at the end of April we started to see a Red Tail in the nest.
Finally on May 22 I saw tiny fuzzy white wings flap.
This is the first time that there has only been one young bird.
Patches of monarda are just about to open and it’s always around this time that I begin to see more hummingbird activity. Two females are in and out of the yard every so often, but for half an hour tonight I watched a male. He first went to Roman Red salvias and two different cupheas before he chased a female away from a feeder. But then perched on a dead tree branch and constantly flew out to grab gnats from the air. He was successful every time as he “flycatched” from the branch for most of the 30 minutes. I know this is no big deal but it was just nice to watch.
Sent from my iPhone
Date: 6/26/25 7:34 am From: Franklin Haas <fhaasbirds...> Subject: Pennsylvania Conservation Collectibles Expo
Sorry for the late notice, but the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area (Lancaster County) is hosting a Pennsylvania Conservation Collectibles Expo <https://www.facebook.com/events/1322249292219503> this Saturday (June 28) from 9 AM to 1 PM at the visitor center.
The PSO will be present and we will be selling t-shirts, caps, patches, and more!
A great opportunity to purchase PSO merchandise for less (no shipping fee).
Come visit us.
Frank Haas PSO Sales Manager
-- Frank Haas
Wisdom begins with putting the right name to a thing.
Date: 6/26/25 7:24 am From: R.L. Cleary <0000007585bc7975-dmarc-request...> Subject: Summer tanager, York Co.
The summer tanager that had been reported by others earlier was located again this morning about 9:15 along Furnace rd. on the Chimney Rock side of the road a few yards south of Chimney Rock rd. in York Co. It was singing from an exposed perch in a pine until it flew across Furnace rd. where we lost sight of it. Thanks to those who reported it on ebird yesterday.
Dick Cleary
Date: 6/26/25 5:51 am From: Sally Zaino <szaino...> Subject: Thank you
Hi all,
On behalf of Manada Conservancy, I just wanted to send out a huge thank you to all the PA birders (and non-birder friends) who donated to the PSO Breeding Bird Blitz so far this year. As you know, Manada Conservancy is fortunate to be one of the recipients of the funds this year, so the birds will benefit in an area along the Swatara Creek, in Dauphin County, that is being restored for riparian habitat. It is so cool when we can all come together to support these organizations to help bird habitat, while having participants help us gather data. It’s a win-win, and we really appreciate everyone who chipped in. If you want to see the purpose of the funds that will go to Manada Conservancy that you helped to raise, it can be found here: https://www.breedingbirdblitz.org/partners-projects
Our birding team (Manada Bird Brains, we like that name, because actually though it started out as sort of self-deprecation, now we know that birds are actually pretty smart, maybe smarter than some humans, but we won’t go there). We braved some rain, and also mosquitoes that were almost as big as the birds, and though our list of 54 for that day was modest, we had a lot of fun doing it.
Thanks to you and also to PSO for sponsoring this fun event.
Contributors: Marc Behr, Ron Burkert, Martin Carlin, Ankur Dave, Michael David, Mike Fialkovich, Brooke Goodman, Ripley Kindervater, Dan McGuire, Russell Rogers, Mark Strittmatter, Shannon Thompson, Mark Vass, Dan Wyrostek, Cassandra Ziegler.
Compiler: Amy Taracido
Tuesday, 10 June 2025 through Tuesday, 17 June 2025
**This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact AMYTARACIDO@ YAHOO.COM
Transcript-
NOTE: TRUMPETER SWAN, BLACK VULTURE continue to be reported.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY:
At Emsworth lock & dams on 6/15, 1 COMMON TERN (MV et. al.).
On 6/17 in Squirrel Hill, 2 MERLINS (AD).
BEAVER COUNTY:
On 6/11 along Tuscarawas Road, 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (CZ).
BUTLER COUNTY:
On 6/12 at Moraine State Park, 1 COMMON TERN; on 6/17, 9 COMMON TERNS (MC).
During a Breeding Bird Survey on 6/14 between Chicora and Sarver, sightings included WILLOW FLYCATCHERS, COMMON RAVEN (MF).
CLARION COUNTY:
At Piney Tract on 6/12, 2 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS (RR); on 6/14-6/15, 4 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS (DW et. al.).
CRAWFORD COUNTY:
Along Route 285 on 6/12-6/17, 1 WHITE-TAILED KITE (BG, ST et. al.).
On 6/13 at Miller's Ponds, 1 UPLAND SANDPIPER, 1 SANDHILL CRANE, 18 PURPLE MARTINS, 3 BOBOLINKS (MS); on 6/15, 1 PEREGRINE FALCON (MB).
ERIE COUNTY:
At Presque Isle State Park this week, sightings included
In East Springfield on 6/11, YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, CONNECTICUT WARBLER (RK et. al.).
FAYETTE COUNTY:
On 6/12 at Bear Run Nature Reserve, 2 SWAINSON'S WARBLERS (RB).
Date: 6/25/25 11:18 am From: Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> Subject: RBA western Pennsylvania, 10 June 2025
RBA
*Pennsylvania
*Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania
*PAWE06.10.25
Highlights:
CACKLING GOOSE (Mercer County)
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER (Fayette County)
WILSON'S PHALAROPE
MARBLED GODWIT (Erie County)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Erie County)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Erie County)
LITTLE BLUE HERON (Allegheny County)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Beaver and Erie Counties)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
ALDER FLYCATCHER
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
WILSON'S WARBLER
SWAINSON'S WARBLER (Fayette County)
BLUE GROSBEAK (Washington County)
SUMMER TANAGER (probable, Greene County)
Contributors: David Argent, Haley Buchanan, John Campbell, Liam & Anna Donnelly, Mike Evans, Mike Fialkovich, Steve Gosser, Deborah Kalbfleisch, Michelle Kienholz, Theresa Konzel, Julie Leonard, Geoff Malosh, Dan McGuire, Linda Olczak, Keri Ronacher, Joe Sebastiani, Becky Shifflett, Shawn Sowers, Mark Vass, Grace Vesho, Bill Winkler, Aisha Yousuf.
Compiler: Amy Taracido
Tuesday, 3 June 2025 through Tuesday, 10 June 2025
**This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact AMYTARACIDO@ YAHOO.COM
Transcript-
NOTE: COMMON LOON, BLACK VULTURE, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER continue to be reported.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY:
In Allison Park on 6/5, 1 LITTLE BLUE HERON (HB).
On 6/5 in Squirrel Hill, 1 MERLIN (MK).
Near East McKeesport on 6/7, 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER (MF).
On 6/7 in North Park, 1 LITTLE BLUE HERON (DK et. al.).
At Imperial Grasslands on 6/7, 1 BLUE GROSBEAK (MV).
BEAVER COUNTY:
On 6/4 in Rochester, 11 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (KR).
At McRoberts Road marsh on 6/8, 2 flyover SANDHILL CRANES (via Ebird).
On 6/8 near New Galillee, 1 SANDHILL CRANE (GM).
CLARION COUNTY:
In Piney Tract on 6/7, 1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (BS).
CRAWFORD COUNTY:
At Pymatuning on 6/7, 1 MERLIN (SS).
ERIE COUNTY:
At Presque Isle State Park this week, sightings included WILSON'S PHALAROPE (GV), 1 MARBLED GODWIT (LD et. al.), 1 AMERICAN AVOCET (AY).
Along Carter Hill Road on 6/5, 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (TK).
On 6/8 in Glenwood Park, 1 WILSON'S WARBLER (JC).
In Erie on 6/10, 9 flyover AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (JL).
FAYETTE COUNTY:
On 6/4 in Spring Valley, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER; on 6/6, 1 flyover AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER; on 6/9, 1 MERLIN (DMcG).
At Fort Necessity National Battlefield on 6/3, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (via Ebird).
On 6/7 at Bear Run Nature Reserve, 1 SWAINSON'S WARBLER (SG).
GREENE COUNTY:
In Holbrook on 6/2, 1 MARSH WREN (LO).
On 6/9 near Brave, 2 probable SUMMER TANAGERS (DA).
MERCER COUNTY:
From last week: on 6/2 near Jackson Center, 1 CACKLING GOOSE (BW).
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
At Greencove Wetlands on 6/9, 1 MARSH WREN (JS).
WESTMORELAND COUNTY:
Near Jones Mills on 6/3, 2 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS (ME).
Date: 6/23/25 7:34 am From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: Fw: new breeding species in PA
Although photos cannot be posted, here is the information. Found by Carl Engstrom.
Deborah S. Grove
________________________________
From: State College (PA) Bird Club <SCBIRDCL...> on behalf of Grove, Gregory William <gwg2...>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 8:59 AM
To: <SCBIRDCL...> <SCBIRDCL...>
Subject: new breeding species in PA
A recent post, with photos, on Facebook of a new (to best of my knowledge) breeding species for Pennyslania - Wilson's Phalarope at Gull Point at Presque Isle SP, Erie Co. Note - Gull Point is off limits during the shorebird and tern nesting season,
Date: 6/21/25 12:42 pm From: K Springer <springer0707...> Subject: Calling All Birders: Ask eBird to Restore Checklist Editing Options
For anyone who IS using eBird and is extremely frustrated by not being able
to edit the date and time features, I highly recommend sending the letter
below to eBird.
I’m writing as a long-time eBird user who truly appreciates the platform
and what it’s done for both birders and science. However, I’m extremely
frustrated by the recent change that prevents users from editing the
duration and distance of a checklist after submission.
There are many legitimate reasons why users might need to adjust these
values:
Forgetting to stop tracking on time
Entering a checklist manually without using GPS
Stopping a checklist prematurely by accident
Fixing honest typos or corrections after reviewing the checklist
Trying to maintain data accuracy after the fact
Preventing edits to effort information actually makes it harder to ensure
accurate data, especially for those of us who take that responsibility
seriously. It’s frustrating to have no way to fix small mistakes that we
notice later — and this is already causing people to avoid submitting
checklists or abandon eBird altogether.
Please consider reinstating the option to edit time and distance. Even a
limited window for corrections, or allowing changes with a confirmation or
reason, would be a huge improvement.
Thanks for all the great work you do — and I hope you’ll take this feedback
to heart.
Date: 6/21/25 4:17 am From: jerry Kruth <00000005ead0dac6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Bank Swallow colony, Crawford Co.
Nice post Kendall,
"The harder you work' the luckier you get."
Jerry KruthPgh
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 02:10:32 PM EDT, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
Reading this on the way home from atlassing at Cambria county blocks prompted Greg and I to check the New Enterprise quarry in Huntingdon county for BANS.
None to be seen. I did find some last year.
Deb
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
To: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Bank Swallow colony, Crawford Co.
Great find!
I am always happy to hear about Bank Swallow colonies. It pays to explore.
Mike Fialkovich
Pittsburgh Area
Allegheny County
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 11:04:52 AM EDT, Kendall Zook <kendallzook98...> wrote:
Hello all,
I've been suspicious for some time that Bank Swallows have a nest near the
vicinity of the Seneca District of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge. I do
landbird surveys for the refuge and I regularly get them on my survey
routes, too regularly to be simply passing through. But I didn't know of any
active colonies, and a search on eBird didn't shed any light either. Today
after I finished my survey route I decided to nose around and see if I could
find a colony at any of the local gravel pits. The first pit I checked was
abandoned, and no swallows, so I kept nosing along. I was pretty sure I was
on the right track because I saw several Bank Swallows flying over the
fields as I drove. I found an unmarked gravel pit on Mackey Hill Rd. that I
didn't even know about, but I knew immediately I had found what I was
looking for because I could see swallows circling and diving over the pit. I
didn't have time to watch for long, so my estimates were very quick, but a
cloud of at least 50 Bank Swallows was circling around a colony with an
estimated 150 holes. I observed birds entering and exiting nesting holes, so
I assume they are feeding young. Obviously birds are foraging far from the
colony, so I didn't see all the adults, but there could easily be a 75-100
pairs nesting. I'm so excited because I didn't know if Bank Swallows nested
in Crawford Co. anymore. I certainly didn't know of any active colonies in
the past years.
Allegheny County, Allegheny RiverTrail Park in Aspinwall
Active osprey nest on abandoned railroad bridge that crosses the Allegheny River from Aspinwall to the city of Pittsburgh. The nest is close to the Pittsburgh side of the river on the upper span, visible when looking upriver. It's difficult to see with binoculars. On Sunday an adult osprey brought it to my attention by responding to insistent, repeated begging calls. An adult flew in with a fish and deposited in the nest. A second bird tore into it while the first bird flew off.
It was difficult to determine the size and plumage of the bird on the nest. A recently fledged bird or an adult mate? There has been a bird at the nest most mornings. Today I spotted a single bird in the nest area. 30 minutes later, I was upstream from the bridge and saw 2 adult ospreys landing on the bridge at the same time. The nest was not visible to me. Any ideas about whether there may be offspring already or is this courtship behavior?
Date: 6/20/25 6:51 pm From: A. Liebner <000000d98121eaef-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
This is the first chance I have to add my "thanks to everyone who makes this listserve possible and keeps it going".(I've been very busy this week- I'm an "uber" for my grandchildren getting them to basketball camp, day camp, soccer camp, etc....add weeding & prepping to plant now that the rain eased up.)
I do manage to get some backyard birding in. A nest of 5 Bluebird eggs is due to hatch soon. Tree Swallows are in another box and will also be hatching soon. A third box is empty since House Sparrows took over a nest of 5 Bluebird eggs.
Recent birds on our two acres: Robin (many), Eastern Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Mockingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Tufted Titmouse, Mourning Dove, House Finch, Goldfinch, RT Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Thrasher, Gray Catbird, Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Blue Jay, Indigo Bunting, Cedar Waxwing, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, European Starling, Field Sparrow, Barn Swallow,Other birds around the valley- Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Black Vulture, American Kestrel, Killdeer, Common Raven and two woodland birds made an appearance this past week but both moved on - a Pileated Woodpecker and and Eastern Wood-Pewee.Early on there were two pair of Brown Thrashers, but now it seems that there is only one nesting pair. On a positive note, just over the hill from our property, I spotted Brown Thrashers several times when passing by.
Good summer birding,
Ann M. Liebner
Wayne Twp, Schuylkill County
On Friday, June 20, 2025 at 04:45:55 PM EDT, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
I was glad to see that there are so many that still read posts on the listserve. I apologize for not posting all of my observations on this listserve.
I will say that as long as Audubon provides the Listserve for free that there is no danger of losing it.
I checked the number of subscribers and there are 1489. That said, it looks like half are set to no mail. That is just an estimate eyeing the scroll line as to where the no mail command begins.
Deb
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of Amy Taracido <amytaracido...>
Date: Friday, June 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
To: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
[Some people who received this message don't often get email from <amytaracido...> Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
Thank you Karyn, Lisa, Kim, Becky, and all who replied. I'm glad there are many of you who still prefer the Listservs too!
Amy Taracido
________________________________
From: Karyn Delaney <delaneykaryn...>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2025 9:52 PM
To: Amy Taracido <amytaracido...>
Cc: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
I would miss them, Amy! The ebird lists are way too cumbersome
Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
"up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for
our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
for all your past reports.
Date: 6/20/25 5:31 pm From: K Springer <springer0707...> Subject: Merlin - Mercer County
I've been documenting a Merlin nest site in Greenville, PA, since I discovered two adults, three young, and the nest back in 2023. I visited the site again today and stayed for about an hour. The only activity I observed was a single Merlin perched in the usual cherry tree snag. It briefly left its perch to aggressively chase off a Blue Jay that came too close to the nest area.
Date: 6/20/25 1:45 pm From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
I was glad to see that there are so many that still read posts on the listserve. I apologize for not posting all of my observations on this listserve.
I will say that as long as Audubon provides the Listserve for free that there is no danger of losing it.
I checked the number of subscribers and there are 1489. That said, it looks like half are set to no mail. That is just an estimate eyeing the scroll line as to where the no mail command begins.
Deb
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of Amy Taracido <amytaracido...>
Date: Friday, June 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
To: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
[Some people who received this message don't often get email from <amytaracido...> Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
Thank you Karyn, Lisa, Kim, Becky, and all who replied. I'm glad there are many of you who still prefer the Listservs too!
Amy Taracido
________________________________
From: Karyn Delaney <delaneykaryn...>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2025 9:52 PM
To: Amy Taracido <amytaracido...>
Cc: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
I would miss them, Amy! The ebird lists are way too cumbersome
Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
"up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for
our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
for all your past reports.
Date: 6/20/25 1:36 pm From: Anne Annibali <anneanni...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
I'm another old school user and I've been wondering why there are so few posts nowadays. Since I don't follow any of the "new and improved???" apps, the Listserv is my only source for updates and observations and I will be greatly disappointed if it disappears completely. I've learned a lot over the years and always enjoy reading about other birders' sightings and experiences, and have felt privileged to share a few of my own stories as well. And I suspect there are a lot of people like me who only post rarely or not at all but still follow along regularly so I sincerely hope there's a way to keep it going.
Anne Annibali,
Mt. Gretna, Lebanon County
________________________________
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of <becard...> <becard...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
Hi Amy,
I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
"up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for
our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
for all your past reports.
Take care and Good birding,
Dave DeReamus
Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA
becard -at- rcn.com
Blog: http://becard.blogspot.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> On
Behalf Of Amy Taracido
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
To: <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts
sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my
reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even with
them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates,
unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but NOT a
Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over into
each eBird reporter's entire list.
Amy Taracido
________________________________
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on
behalf of Michael Fialkovich
<0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
Hi Dave,
The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced
with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to
report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the
listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it, but
usage is way down.
Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 07:43:06 PM EDT, Dave Inman
<mercer.county.bird.guy...> wrote:
We moved out of Pennsylvania several years ago but I still enjoy the posts
and discussions on the listserve. The amount of posts I'm seeing has slowly
gotten to be fewer and fewer until a few days ago when I got no new ones and
4 days later I've gotten nothing new at all which is strange since it's
spring migration. Can someone look into this please?
Date: 6/20/25 1:27 pm From: K Springer <springer0707...> Subject: Baby Sandhill Crane - Mercer County
Today in Greenville, PA I found two Sandhill Cranes foraging in an overgrown field. While I was watching them, I noticed a colt pop up in between them. I was so excited, because I don't think I've ever seen a young one in Mercer County!
Contributors: Laura Aron, Kimberly Berry, Jean Black, Bill Blauvelt, Dave Brooke, Alan Buriak, Martin Carlin, Chapin Czarnecki, Bill Dell, Adrian Fenton, Joseph Franckiewicz, Eric Hall, Jacob Hall, James R. Hill III, Sue Hunter, Michelle Kienholz, Ripley Kindervater, Mary Alice Koenecke, Meg Kolodick, Malcolm Kurtz, Patrick Lister, Doug Massey, Mindy McClister, Michael McDevitt, Dan McGuire, Brian Miller, Jeff Moore, Ted Nichols II, Richard Nugent, Theo Rickert, Izzie Rogerson, Barry Saylor, Kim Springer, Mark Vass, Stacy Waltenbaugh, Ezra White, Ken Woolston.
Compiler: Amy Taracido
Tuesday, 27 May 2025 through Tuesday, 3 June 2025
**This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact AMYTARACIDO@ YAHOO.COM
Transcript-
NOTE: COMMON NIGHTHAWK, BLACK VULTURES, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER continue to be reported.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY:
On 5/29 at Hampton Community Park, 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (RN).
In the Point State Park area on 5/29, ALDER FLYCATCHER (PL).
At North Park on 5/29, MARSH WREN (SW).
In Imperial on 5/30-6/1, 1 BLACK TERN (MV et. al.); also on 5/31, NORTHERN HARRIER (MKi).
ARMSTRONG COUNTY:
From last week: along Sportsman Road on 5/24, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (TR).
On 5/31 in the Adams/Chicora area, 1 MISSISSIPPI KITE (KB).
In Adrian on 6/2, 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (MMcC).
On 6/2 south of West Valley, 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (AB).
BEAVER COUNTY:
Along Rogers Drive on 5/29, 1 WORM-EATING WARBLER (JM).
On 5/31 at Raccoon Creek State Park, 1 WORM-EATING WARBLER heard (JF).
BUTLER COUNTY:
On 5/29 at Moraine State Park, 6 COMMON TERNS (MC).
In Portersville on 6/1, 1 BLACK TERN (MC).
On 6/1 at Glade Run Lake, 1 possible SPOTTED TOWHEE (SH et. al.).
CLARION COUNTY:
At Piney Tract on 5/28-5/29, 4 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS (DB, AF).
On 6/1 in the Curllsville Strips area, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (BS).
CRAWFORD COUNTY:
At Hartztown Marsh on 5/27, 1 TRUMPETER SWAN (BM).
On 5/30 at Conneaut Marsh, 1 BLACK TERN (CC).
At Espyville Marina on 6/3, 1 WILSON'S WARBLER (IR).
ERIE COUNTY:
At Presque Isle State Park this week, sightings included WHIMBRELS, WILSON'S PHALAROPE (TN), FISH CROW (MKo), ICELAND GULL (RK), 4 RED KNOTS (5/31), 21 RUDDY TURNSTONES, REDHEAD, SANDHILL CRANE, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (5/31), 2 PIPING PLOVERS (5/31), DUNLIN, CASPIAN TERNS, COMMON TERNS, MARSH WREN (DMa).
On 6/2 at Edinboro Lake, 1 BLACK TERN, 30 PURPLE MARTINS (JRH).
FAYETTE COUNTY:
At Mill Run Reservoir on 5/28, 1 RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (KW).
On 5/29 and 6/1-6/2 at Bear Run Nature Reserve, 1 SWAINSON'S WARBLER (MMcD, EW, et. al.).
In Spring Valley on 5/29, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER; on 6/1, 1 SUMMER TANAGER (DMc).
At Greenlick Run Lake on 5/30, 2 COMMON TERNS; on 6/1, 1 COMMON TERN (EH).
LAWRENCE COUNTY:
At the Three Rivers Gravel pond on 6/1, 1 TRUMPETER SWAN (MV).
MERCER COUNTY:
In Transfer on 5/29, 1 MOURNING WARBLER (KS).
On 5/29 at Pennsy Swamp, 2 TRUMPETER SWANS (MAK).
SOMERSET COUNTY:
On 5/29 at State Gamelands #271, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (BB).
Along Lohr Road on 5/30-6/2, 1 DICKCISSEL (AF, JH, et. al.).
VENANGO COUNTY:
On 5/30 at Oil Creek State Park, 1 BREWSTER'S WARBLER (reported to MKo).
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
In the West Middletown area on 5/30, MARSH WREN (JB).
WESTMORELAND COUNTY:
At Tarentum Bridge on 5/29-5/30, PEREGRINE FALCONS (DB).
On 6/1 in Latrobe, 2 flyover SANDHILL CRANES (via Ebird).
At Chestnut Ridge Park on 6/1, 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL (BD).
On 6/3 near Jones Mills, 2 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS (LA).
Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
"up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for
our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
for all your past reports.
Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
"up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for
our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
for all your past reports.
Date: 6/20/25 8:13 am From: ED BARRELL <000001f43b353a93-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: American White Pelicans, Berks county
They were seen yesterday.
On June 20, 2025 11:07:34 AM EDT, David Long <dblong2007...> wrote:
>Hello:
>
>Are the American White Pelicans still being seen on Lake Ontelaunee?
>Please advise if you have any updates.
>
>Thanks
>
>Dave
>Trenton, NJ
>
>
>On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM Pamela Fisher
><000000233af33264-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> I made the trip to Lake Ontelaunee this morning. I'd never been there before, but I was hoping to find the American White Pelicans that had been seen there earlier. It took me a bit, but I was successful. They were on the Lakeshore Drive side of the lake, just hanging out.
>>
>> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
Date: 6/20/25 8:07 am From: David Long <dblong2007...> Subject: Re: American White Pelicans, Berks county
Hello:
Are the American White Pelicans still being seen on Lake Ontelaunee?
Please advise if you have any updates.
Thanks
Dave
Trenton, NJ
On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 8:38 PM Pamela Fisher
<000000233af33264-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> I made the trip to Lake Ontelaunee this morning. I'd never been there before, but I was hoping to find the American White Pelicans that had been seen there earlier. It took me a bit, but I was successful. They were on the Lakeshore Drive side of the lake, just hanging out.
>
> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
Date: 6/20/25 4:14 am From: Darwin Evangelista <000001f862a9bc86-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Fw: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
Just to chime in, I too enjoy this list serve. I know there are far fewer posts than there used to be, but I look forward to reading them. I use eBird, but I don’t look at that unless I’m going to a specific location. It’s fun to see what others are seeing in their neck of the woods.
Huey Evangelista
Laureldale, Berks County
> On 06/19/2025 1:33 PM EDT Becky Szabo <000000077d56e4ca-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> I enjoy the listserv and I access my email on my phone. I rarely look at ebird.
> Becky Szabo
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Jun 19, 2025, at 12:05 PM, Denise Donmoyer <000001e955117cc8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> >
> > I have never understood why things like this listserv become more obsolete in favor of other similar reporting sites any more than I understand why the same thing seems to have happened to e-mail in favor of social media. I can do the same things with e-mail that they do with social media. I have gone to the e-bird site and the first thing I saw was the words "Let's Get Started" which sends and immediate adverse reaction up my spine! I really don't like to sit in front of the computer any longer than I have to and phrases like that signal that I'm about to be asked to jump through electronic hoops that I'm not interested in. Maybe people find these sites easier to use because they are accessing them on a phone. I don't use a cell phone. When I tell people this it they have a reaction akin to anaphylactic shock.. There's a simple reason why I don't use a cell phone....I don't get a cell signal where I live and I'm at home 90% of the time so a cell phone wouldn't make sense. I have noticed, however, that when the other reporting sites are experiencing problems some birders turn back to this old tried and true listserv. Just sayin'
> >
> > Sweet Arrow Lake 6/19/25
> >
> > Lots of Woodthrush
> > Veery
> > Scarlet Tanager
> > Green Heron
> > Kingfisher
> > Pileated Woodpecker
> > Flicker
> > Double-crested Cormorant
> > Bald Eagle
> > Oriole
> > Great Horned Owl
> >
> > Denise Donmoyer
> > Sweet Arrow Lake
> > Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co.
> > <nightowl57...>
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania [mailto:<PABIRDS...>] On Behalf Of R.L. Cleary
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 8:00 PM
> > To: <PABIRDS...>
> > Subject: [PABIRDS] Fw: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
> >
> > I'm with those who miss the listserve and/or want to keep it going.
> > ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Sally Zaino <szaino...>To: "<pabirds...>" <pabirds...>Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 04:01:37 PM EDTSubject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts Putting in my two cents for not giving up the listserv. It’s simple and to the point. So many different social media out there, I vote to keep the listserv as a clearing house for everyone.
> >
> >
> >
> >> On Jun 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM, Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> wrote:
> >>
> >> Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
> >>
> >> Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
> >>
> >> Amy Taracido
> >>
> >>
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: <becard...> <becard...>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
> >> To: 'Amy Taracido' <amytaracido...>; Address PABIRDS
> >> <PABIRDS...>
> >> Subject: RE: Not getting any posts
> >>
> >> Hi Amy,
> >>
> >> I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
> >> "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
> >> basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of
> >> reports from several different sources in order to write up the
> >> Sightings Report for our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know
> >> how tedious it is. Thanks for all your past reports.
> >>
> >> Take care and Good birding,
> >> Dave DeReamus
> >> Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA becard -at- rcn.com
> >> Blog:
> >> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbecard > >> .blogspot.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C581cab7f364c4e50a30508ddae99351d%7C
> >> 84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638858695218741753%7CUnknow
> >> n%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW
> >> 4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6Vtrt69qInga
> >> kl0X0FOjFRzaRN%2FRnKTvTWCGGedxC4I%3D&reserved=0<http://becard.blogspot > >> .com/>
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...>
> >> On Behalf Of Amy Taracido
> >> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
> >> To: <PABIRDS...>
> >> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
> >>
> >> I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any
> >> posts sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
> >> I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for
> >> my reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because
> >> even with them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with
> >> many duplicates, unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often
> >> include a grackle but NOT a Piping Plover which is so odd and
> >> unhelpful. So I often have to go over into each eBird reporter's entire list.
> >>
> >> Amy Taracido
> >> ________________________________
> >> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...>
> >> on behalf of Michael Fialkovich
> >> <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
> >> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
> >> To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
> >> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
> >>
> >> Hi Dave,
> >> The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been
> >> replaced with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People
> >> use those to report rare birds and other observations, so there is
> >> very little on the listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
> >> Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss
> >> it, but usage is way down.
> >> Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
> >>
> >>
> >
Date: 6/19/25 6:53 pm From: Karyn Delaney <delaneykaryn...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
I would miss them, Amy! The ebird lists are way too cumbersome
On Wed, Jun 18, 2025, 3:30 PM Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> wrote:
> Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I
> took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
>
> Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like
> having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending
> them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
>
> Amy Taracido
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: <becard...> <becard...>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
> To: 'Amy Taracido' <amytaracido...>; Address PABIRDS <
> <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: RE: Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Amy,
>
> I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
> "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
> basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
> from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report
> for
> our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
> for all your past reports.
>
> Take care and Good birding,
> Dave DeReamus
> Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA
> becard -at- rcn.com
> Blog:
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbecard.blogspot.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C581cab7f364c4e50a30508ddae99351d%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638858695218741753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6Vtrt69qIngakl0X0FOjFRzaRN%2FRnKTvTWCGGedxC4I%3D&reserved=0 > <http://becard.blogspot.com/> >
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> On
> Behalf Of Amy Taracido
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
>
> I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts
> sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
> I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my
> reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even
> with
> them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates,
> unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but NOT
> a
> Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over
> into
> each eBird reporter's entire list.
>
> Amy Taracido
> ________________________________
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on
> behalf of Michael Fialkovich
> <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Dave,
> The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced
> with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to
> report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the
> listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
> Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it, but
> usage is way down.
> Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
>
>
>
Date: 6/19/25 10:34 am From: Becky Szabo <000000077d56e4ca-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Fw: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
I enjoy the listserv and I access my email on my phone. I rarely look at ebird.
Becky Szabo
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 19, 2025, at 12:05 PM, Denise Donmoyer <000001e955117cc8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> I have never understood why things like this listserv become more obsolete in favor of other similar reporting sites any more than I understand why the same thing seems to have happened to e-mail in favor of social media. I can do the same things with e-mail that they do with social media. I have gone to the e-bird site and the first thing I saw was the words "Let's Get Started" which sends and immediate adverse reaction up my spine! I really don't like to sit in front of the computer any longer than I have to and phrases like that signal that I'm about to be asked to jump through electronic hoops that I'm not interested in. Maybe people find these sites easier to use because they are accessing them on a phone. I don't use a cell phone. When I tell people this it they have a reaction akin to anaphylactic shock.. There's a simple reason why I don't use a cell phone....I don't get a cell signal where I live and I'm at home 90% of the time so a cell phone wouldn't make sense. I have noticed, however, that when the other reporting sites are experiencing problems some birders turn back to this old tried and true listserv. Just sayin'
>
> Sweet Arrow Lake 6/19/25
>
> Lots of Woodthrush
> Veery
> Scarlet Tanager
> Green Heron
> Kingfisher
> Pileated Woodpecker
> Flicker
> Double-crested Cormorant
> Bald Eagle
> Oriole
> Great Horned Owl
>
> Denise Donmoyer
> Sweet Arrow Lake
> Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co.
> <nightowl57...>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania [mailto:<PABIRDS...>] On Behalf Of R.L. Cleary
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 8:00 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: [PABIRDS] Fw: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
>
> I'm with those who miss the listserve and/or want to keep it going.
> ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Sally Zaino <szaino...>To: "<pabirds...>" <pabirds...>Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 04:01:37 PM EDTSubject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts Putting in my two cents for not giving up the listserv. It’s simple and to the point. So many different social media out there, I vote to keep the listserv as a clearing house for everyone.
>
>
>
>> On Jun 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM, Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
>>
>> Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
>>
>> Amy Taracido
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: <becard...> <becard...>
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
>> To: 'Amy Taracido' <amytaracido...>; Address PABIRDS
>> <PABIRDS...>
>> Subject: RE: Not getting any posts
>>
>> Hi Amy,
>>
>> I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
>> "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
>> basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of
>> reports from several different sources in order to write up the
>> Sightings Report for our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know
>> how tedious it is. Thanks for all your past reports.
>>
>> Take care and Good birding,
>> Dave DeReamus
>> Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA becard -at- rcn.com
>> Blog:
>> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbecard >> .blogspot.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C581cab7f364c4e50a30508ddae99351d%7C
>> 84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638858695218741753%7CUnknow
>> n%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW
>> 4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6Vtrt69qInga
>> kl0X0FOjFRzaRN%2FRnKTvTWCGGedxC4I%3D&reserved=0<http://becard.blogspot >> .com/>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...>
>> On Behalf Of Amy Taracido
>> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
>> To: <PABIRDS...>
>> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
>>
>> I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any
>> posts sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
>> I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for
>> my reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because
>> even with them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with
>> many duplicates, unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often
>> include a grackle but NOT a Piping Plover which is so odd and
>> unhelpful. So I often have to go over into each eBird reporter's entire list.
>>
>> Amy Taracido
>> ________________________________
>> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...>
>> on behalf of Michael Fialkovich
>> <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
>> To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
>> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
>>
>> Hi Dave,
>> The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been
>> replaced with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People
>> use those to report rare birds and other observations, so there is
>> very little on the listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
>> Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss
>> it, but usage is way down.
>> Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
>>
>>
>
Date: 6/19/25 9:05 am From: Denise Donmoyer <000001e955117cc8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Fw: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
I have never understood why things like this listserv become more obsolete in favor of other similar reporting sites any more than I understand why the same thing seems to have happened to e-mail in favor of social media. I can do the same things with e-mail that they do with social media. I have gone to the e-bird site and the first thing I saw was the words "Let's Get Started" which sends and immediate adverse reaction up my spine! I really don't like to sit in front of the computer any longer than I have to and phrases like that signal that I'm about to be asked to jump through electronic hoops that I'm not interested in. Maybe people find these sites easier to use because they are accessing them on a phone. I don't use a cell phone. When I tell people this it they have a reaction akin to anaphylactic shock.. There's a simple reason why I don't use a cell phone....I don't get a cell signal where I live and I'm at home 90% of the time so a cell phone wouldn't make sense. I have noticed, however, that when the other reporting sites are experiencing problems some birders turn back to this old tried and true listserv. Just sayin'
Sweet Arrow Lake 6/19/25
Lots of Woodthrush
Veery
Scarlet Tanager
Green Heron
Kingfisher
Pileated Woodpecker
Flicker
Double-crested Cormorant
Bald Eagle
Oriole
Great Horned Owl
Denise Donmoyer
Sweet Arrow Lake
Pine Grove, Schuylkill Co.
<nightowl57...>
-----Original Message-----
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania [mailto:<PABIRDS...>] On Behalf Of R.L. Cleary
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 8:00 PM
To: <PABIRDS...>
Subject: [PABIRDS] Fw: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
I'm with those who miss the listserve and/or want to keep it going.
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Sally Zaino <szaino...>To: "<pabirds...>" <pabirds...>Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 04:01:37 PM EDTSubject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts Putting in my two cents for not giving up the listserv. It’s simple and to the point. So many different social media out there, I vote to keep the listserv as a clearing house for everyone.
> On Jun 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM, Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
>
> Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
>
> Amy Taracido
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: <becard...> <becard...>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
> To: 'Amy Taracido' <amytaracido...>; Address PABIRDS
> <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: RE: Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Amy,
>
> I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
> "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
> basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of
> reports from several different sources in order to write up the
> Sightings Report for our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know
> how tedious it is. Thanks for all your past reports.
>
> Take care and Good birding,
> Dave DeReamus
> Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA becard -at- rcn.com
> Blog:
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbecard > .blogspot.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C581cab7f364c4e50a30508ddae99351d%7C
> 84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638858695218741753%7CUnknow
> n%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW
> 4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6Vtrt69qInga
> kl0X0FOjFRzaRN%2FRnKTvTWCGGedxC4I%3D&reserved=0<http://becard.blogspot > .com/>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...>
> On Behalf Of Amy Taracido
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
>
> I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any
> posts sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
> I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for
> my reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because
> even with them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with
> many duplicates, unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often
> include a grackle but NOT a Piping Plover which is so odd and
> unhelpful. So I often have to go over into each eBird reporter's entire list.
>
> Amy Taracido
> ________________________________
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...>
> on behalf of Michael Fialkovich
> <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Dave,
> The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been
> replaced with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People
> use those to report rare birds and other observations, so there is
> very little on the listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
> Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss
> it, but usage is way down.
> Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
>
>
Date: 6/19/25 8:52 am From: Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...> Subject: Allegheny County Blue Jay Antics
Hi,
The other day I looked out my upstairs window to see a Blue Jay land on the porch roof. This part of the roof is a popular perch for the neighborhood birds.
The jay was carrying a large cracker. It held it in its feet and broke off a small piece and placed it on the peak of the roof. It then ate a few bites of the cracker, then flew off with it, leaving the small piece on the roof. I don't know why it broke off one piece and left it but it was interesting to watch.
A few years ago a Blue Jay landed on that same roof with a large cracker (someone in the neighborhood must put out large fancy crackers) and it placed it whole in the gutter and left it there. It was gone after a day or so but I didn't see if the jay took it.
Fun behavior to watch. I wonder what was going through its mind.
Date: 6/18/25 5:38 pm From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: Re: Moving out of PA - Thank you everyone!
Wow! I will miss seeing you at sites when notable birds show up!
Of course SE AZ is one of my favorite places and you will have a lot to enjoy.
Who knows! I may see you and Molly there some time!
Deb
Deborah S. Grove
________________________________
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of Michael David <michaeltdavid...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 8:07:21 PM
To: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
Subject: [PABIRDS] Moving out of PA - Thank you everyone!
Hi Everyone,
Some of you may have heard that I have some exciting news to share. In a
couple weeks I will be moving to Tucson, AZ with my partner, Molly!
While I am looking forward to birding and exploring a new part of the
country, it is really difficult to say goodbye to the PA birding community.
My time birding in PA has held some of the best memories of my life and I
have met so many friendly and knowledgeable people! I wanted to thank
everyone who's accompanied me birding, and all of you who helped make this
community special by sharing observations, information, and enthusiasm for
birds.
Date: 6/18/25 5:38 pm From: Pamela Fisher <000000233af33264-dmarc-request...> Subject: American White Pelicans, Berks county
I made the trip to Lake Ontelaunee this morning. I'd never been there before, but I was hoping to find the American White Pelicans that had been seen there earlier. It took me a bit, but I was successful. They were on the Lakeshore Drive side of the lake, just hanging out.
This morning I headed to SGL 43, to try for the Mississippi Kites. I was privileged to be able to get great looks, and some decent photographs. Later I traveled to Struble Lake, where the Least Bittern has been reported. It started calling from the Phragmites soon after I arrived, which shocked me. I didn't expect it to do that in broad daylight!
Date: 6/18/25 5:07 pm From: Michael David <michaeltdavid...> Subject: Moving out of PA - Thank you everyone!
Hi Everyone,
Some of you may have heard that I have some exciting news to share. In a couple weeks I will be moving to Tucson, AZ with my partner, Molly!
While I am looking forward to birding and exploring a new part of the country, it is really difficult to say goodbye to the PA birding community. My time birding in PA has held some of the best memories of my life and I have met so many friendly and knowledgeable people! I wanted to thank everyone who's accompanied me birding, and all of you who helped make this community special by sharing observations, information, and enthusiasm for birds.
Date: 6/18/25 5:00 pm From: R.L. Cleary <0000007585bc7975-dmarc-request...> Subject: Fw: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
I'm with those who miss the listserve and/or want to keep it going.
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Sally Zaino <szaino...>To: "<pabirds...>" <pabirds...>Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 04:01:37 PM EDTSubject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
Putting in my two cents for not giving up the listserv. It’s simple and to the point. So many different social media out there, I vote to keep the listserv as a clearing house for everyone.
> On Jun 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM, Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
>
> Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
>
> Amy Taracido
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: <becard...> <becard...>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
> To: 'Amy Taracido' <amytaracido...>; Address PABIRDS <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: RE: Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Amy,
>
> I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
> "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
> basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
> from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for
> our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
> for all your past reports.
>
> Take care and Good birding,
> Dave DeReamus
> Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA
> becard -at- rcn.com
> Blog: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbecard.blogspot.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C581cab7f364c4e50a30508ddae99351d%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638858695218741753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6Vtrt69qIngakl0X0FOjFRzaRN%2FRnKTvTWCGGedxC4I%3D&reserved=0<http://becard.blogspot.com/> >
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> On
> Behalf Of Amy Taracido
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
>
> I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts
> sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
> I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my
> reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even with
> them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates,
> unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but NOT a
> Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over into
> each eBird reporter's entire list.
>
> Amy Taracido
> ________________________________
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on
> behalf of Michael Fialkovich
> <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Dave,
> The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced
> with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to
> report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the
> listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
> Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it, but
> usage is way down.
> Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
>
>
Date: 6/18/25 1:22 pm From: Grant Stevenson <stevensongrant03...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
The listserv has also been a great forum for discussion of bird biology and
ecology, ie natural history. I particularly enjoy some of the experts like
Scott Weidensaul. I really appreciate everyone's "two cents". Education
equals conservation.
Grant Stevenson
West Bethlehem, Lehigh County
On Wed, Jun 18, 2025, 4:01 PM Sally Zaino <szaino...> wrote:
> Putting in my two cents for not giving up the listserv. It’s simple and to
> the point. So many different social media out there, I vote to keep the
> listserv as a clearing house for everyone.
>
>
>
> > On Jun 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM, Amy Taracido <amytaracido...>
> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since
> I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
> >
> > Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like
> having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending
> them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
> >
> > Amy Taracido
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: <becard...> <becard...>
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
> > To: 'Amy Taracido' <amytaracido...>; Address PABIRDS <
> <PABIRDS...>
> > Subject: RE: Not getting any posts
> >
> > Hi Amy,
> >
> > I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
> > "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
> > basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
> > from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report
> for
> > our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is.
> Thanks
> > for all your past reports.
> >
> > Take care and Good birding,
> > Dave DeReamus
> > Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA
> > becard -at- rcn.com
> > Blog:
> https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbecard.blogspot.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C581cab7f364c4e50a30508ddae99351d%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638858695218741753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6Vtrt69qIngakl0X0FOjFRzaRN%2FRnKTvTWCGGedxC4I%3D&reserved=0 > <http://becard.blogspot.com/> > >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...>
> On
> > Behalf Of Amy Taracido
> > Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
> > To: <PABIRDS...>
> > Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
> >
> > I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts
> > sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
> > I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my
> > reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even
> with
> > them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates,
> > unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but
> NOT a
> > Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over
> into
> > each eBird reporter's entire list.
> >
> > Amy Taracido
> > ________________________________
> > From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...>
> on
> > behalf of Michael Fialkovich
> > <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
> > Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
> > To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
> > Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
> >
> > Hi Dave,
> > The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced
> > with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to
> > report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the
> > listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
> > Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it,
> but
> > usage is way down.
> > Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
> >
> >
>
Contributors: David Avery, Chelsea Beck, Cole Bishop, Jeff Brinker, Martin Carlin, Richard Chirichiello, Lani Fritz, Andy Georgeson, Steve Gosser, Eric Hall, Ryan Hamilton, Steve Hass, Amy Henrici, Bryan Kaldorf, Michelle Kienholz, Ripley Kindervater, Gordon Klingensmith, Malcolm Kurtz, Annie L. via Ebird, Chris Liazos, Renee Lubert, Chris Lundberg, Doug Massey, Mindy McClister, Jerry McWilliams, Dan Mendenhall, Trent Millum, Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan, Jeff Payne, Amber Pertz, Sigurdur Petursson, Sebastian Picardi, Don Snyder, Kim Springer, Kate St. John, Jerry Stanley, John Taylor, Carl Thomson, Mark Vass, Mike Weible, Michael Williams, Atlee Wise, David Yeany II, Beth Young, Wenting Zheng, Anna Zizak, Kendall Zook, Dante Zuccaro.
Compiler: Amy Taracido
Tuesday, 20 May 2025 through Tuesday, 27 May 2025
**This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact AMYTARACIDO@ YAHOO.COM
Transcript-
NOTE: LESSER YELLOWLEGS, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, GREAT EGRET, BLACK VULTURES, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, PINE SISKIN, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, PINE WARBLER continue to be reported.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY:
At Frick Park on 5/18 and 5/24-5/27, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (KSJ et. al.); on 5/21 and 5/26-5/27, 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (MKi et. al.).
On 5/29-5/24 at Bellevue Memorial Park, 1 CONNECTICUT WARBLER (EPH et. al.).
On 5/21 and 5/25 near Beechwood Farms, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (DM et. al.); on 5/24, 1 SUMMER TANAGER (SP).
Near McLaughlin Run on 5/22, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (SP).
On 5/22 at Sharpsburg Marina, 2 FORSTER'S TERNS (AP et. al.).
At Schenley Park on 5/23-5/24, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (AG et. al.).
On 5/24 at Boyce Park, 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (EH).
In Squirrel Hill on 5/24, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (WZ).
On 5/24 in Upper St. Clair, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (AZ).
At Deer Lakes Park on 5/24, 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER (AH).
On 5/24 at Wingfield Pines, 1 MARSH WREN (DA).
In North Park on 5/25, 2 flyover SANDHILL CRANES (BK).
At Imperial on 5/26, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS (EPH et. al.).
ARMSTRONG COUNTY:
On 5/26 in Adrian, 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (MM).
BEAVER COUNTY:
In Brighton Township on 5/25, 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (LF).
On 5/25 west of Hoosktown, 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER (MV).
At Rocky Bend Nature Preserve on 5/27, 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER (DZ).
BUTLER COUNTY:
On 5/22 at Moraine State Park, 1 BLACK TERN, 2 COMMON TERNS (MV); on 5/25, 5 COMMON TERNS (MC).
In Cranberry Township on 5/24 and 5/26, 1 MERLIN (MC, SG).
CLARION COUNTY:
In Piney Tract on 5/26, 3 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS (DM).
CRAWFORD COUNTY:
In Pymatuning on 5/23, 2 FORSTER'S TERNS (BY).
Near Conneautville this week, 2 COMMON RAVENS (KZ).
On 5/24 at Greendale Cemetery, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS (SH).
At Woodcock Lake Park on 5/24, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (SH).
At Erie National Wildlife Refuge on 5/25, 1 TRUMPETER SWAN (RH).
ERIE COUNTY:
At Presque Isle State Park this week, sightings included numerous WHIMBRELS (MKu et. al.), 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (PIA), ALDER FLYCATCHER (RL), WILSON'S PHALAROPES (RK et. al.), WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, RED-THROATED LOON (JM), LAUGHING GULL (DS et. al.), 1 ICELAND GULL (5/24) (JB et. al.), 2 PIPING PLOVERS (5/24), DUNLIN, CASPIAN TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, 2 PURPLE MARTINS, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, CANADA WARBLER (JB), SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, RUDDY TURNSTONE (5/24), 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS (5/24), 4 SANDERLINGS, BONAPARTE'S GULL, PEREGRINE FALCON, BANK SWALLOWS (CLi), FISH CROW (CLu).
FAYETTE COUNTY:
At Bear Run Nature Reserve on 5/21 and 5/24-5/27, SWAINSON'S WARBLERS (DY et. al.).
On 5/25-5/26 at Ohiopyle State Park, 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (CT et. al.).
At Mill Run Reservoir on 5/25, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (AW et. al.).
FOREST COUNTY:
In West Hickory on 5/24, 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER (KS).
INDIANA COUNTY:
At Yellow Creek State Park on 5/20, 1 CONNECTICUT WARBLER (MWie); on 5/24, RUDDY TURNSTONE (TM).
On 5/24 at Blue Spruce County Park, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS (MW); on 5/25, 1 GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH (JT).
LAWRENCE COUNTY:
On 5/21 and 5/26 at Three Rivers Gravel Pond, 1 TRUMPETER SWAN (MV).
MERCER COUNTY:
On 5/27 in Transfer, 1 MERLIN (MWil).
SOMERSET COUNTY:
At Lake Somerset on 5/21, 7 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER; on 5/22, 6 FORSTER'S TERNS (JP); on 5/24, MERLIN (AW et. al.).
Along Conn Road on 5/24, 1 BREWSTER'S WARBLER (AW et. al.).
On 5/24 along Lohr Road, 1 DICKCISSEL, PURPLE MARTIN, SAVANNAH SPARROW (AW et. al.).
VENANGO COUNTY:
At Kahle Lake on 5/24, 1 BLACK TERN (JS).
On 5/24 at Buttermilk Hill, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (JS).
In the Kennerdell area on 5/26, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (CBi).
WARREN COUNTY:
On 5/24 at Chapman State Park, 1 FORSTER'S TERN (CBe).
WESTMORELAND COUNTY:
On 5/20-5/21 and 5/27 at Powdermill Nature Reserve, LINCOLN'S SPARROW (GK); on 5/24, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS (AL).
Near Bear Rocks Road on 5/23, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (RC).
On 5/25 at Morosini Reserve, 1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (via Ebird).
Date: 6/18/25 1:01 pm From: Sally Zaino <szaino...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
Putting in my two cents for not giving up the listserv. It’s simple and to the point. So many different social media out there, I vote to keep the listserv as a clearing house for everyone.
> On Jun 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM, Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> wrote:
>
> Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
>
> Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
>
> Amy Taracido
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: <becard...> <becard...>
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
> To: 'Amy Taracido' <amytaracido...>; Address PABIRDS <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: RE: Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Amy,
>
> I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
> "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
> basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
> from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for
> our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
> for all your past reports.
>
> Take care and Good birding,
> Dave DeReamus
> Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA
> becard -at- rcn.com
> Blog: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbecard.blogspot.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7C581cab7f364c4e50a30508ddae99351d%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638858695218741753%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6Vtrt69qIngakl0X0FOjFRzaRN%2FRnKTvTWCGGedxC4I%3D&reserved=0<http://becard.blogspot.com/> >
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> On
> Behalf Of Amy Taracido
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
>
> I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts
> sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
> I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my
> reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even with
> them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates,
> unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but NOT a
> Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over into
> each eBird reporter's entire list.
>
> Amy Taracido
> ________________________________
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on
> behalf of Michael Fialkovich
> <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Dave,
> The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced
> with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to
> report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the
> listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
> Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it, but
> usage is way down.
> Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
>
>
Date: 6/18/25 12:30 pm From: Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
Thanks Dave! I too won't give up yet 🙂, no one has said to "stop" since I took the reins of this RBA decades ago.
Not even sure who would continue it or notice if it stopped, but I like having a western PA compilation/history even if I get behind on sending them out. I've also never heard of 'Discord' or 'GroupMe'!
Amy Taracido
________________________________
From: <becard...> <becard...>
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:51 PM
To: 'Amy Taracido' <amytaracido...>; Address PABIRDS <PABIRDS...>
Subject: RE: Not getting any posts
Hi Amy,
I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
"up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for
our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
for all your past reports.
-----Original Message-----
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> On
Behalf Of Amy Taracido
Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
To: <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts
sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my
reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even with
them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates,
unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but NOT a
Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over into
each eBird reporter's entire list.
Amy Taracido
________________________________
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on
behalf of Michael Fialkovich
<0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
Hi Dave,
The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced
with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to
report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the
listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it, but
usage is way down.
Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
Date: 6/18/25 12:02 pm From: Mary Phalan <ma.phalan1...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
My emails have been going to spam. Have you looked there?
On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 2:52 PM <becard...> wrote:
> Hi Amy,
>
> I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when
> "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts
> basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports
> from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report
> for
> our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks
> for all your past reports.
>
> Take care and Good birding,
> Dave DeReamus
> Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA
> becard -at- rcn.com
> Blog: http://becard.blogspot.com >
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> On
> Behalf Of Amy Taracido
> Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
>
> I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts
> sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
> I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my
> reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even
> with
> them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates,
> unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but NOT
> a
> Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over
> into
> each eBird reporter's entire list.
>
> Amy Taracido
> ________________________________
> From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on
> behalf of Michael Fialkovich
> <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
> To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
>
> Hi Dave,
> The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced
> with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to
> report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the
> listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
> Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it, but
> usage is way down.
> Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
>
>
> On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 07:43:06 PM EDT, Dave Inman
> <mercer.county.bird.guy...> wrote:
>
> We moved out of Pennsylvania several years ago but I still enjoy the posts
> and discussions on the listserve. The amount of posts I'm seeing has slowly
> gotten to be fewer and fewer until a few days ago when I got no new ones
> and
> 4 days later I've gotten nothing new at all which is strange since it's
> spring migration. Can someone look into this please?
>
> Thank-you
> Dave Inman
> Formerly from Mercer, PA
>
Date: 6/18/25 11:52 am From: <becard...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
Hi Amy,
I feel your pain. I had given up on my Eastern PA Birdline when "up-to-the-second" eBird and text alert reports made my weekly posts basically "old news", but I still slog through pages and pages of reports from several different sources in order to write up the Sightings Report for our local Audubon Society newsletter, so I know how tedious it is. Thanks for all your past reports.
Take care and Good birding, Dave DeReamus Palmer Township, Northampton County, PA becard -at- rcn.com Blog: http://becard.blogspot.com
-----Original Message----- From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> On Behalf Of Amy Taracido Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 2:36 PM To: <PABIRDS...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because: I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even with them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates, unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but NOT a Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over into each eBird reporter's entire list.
Amy Taracido ________________________________ From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
Hi Dave, The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs. Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it, but usage is way down. Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 07:43:06 PM EDT, Dave Inman <mercer.county.bird.guy...> wrote:
We moved out of Pennsylvania several years ago but I still enjoy the posts and discussions on the listserve. The amount of posts I'm seeing has slowly gotten to be fewer and fewer until a few days ago when I got no new ones and 4 days later I've gotten nothing new at all which is strange since it's spring migration. Can someone look into this please?
Date: 6/18/25 11:36 am From: Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> Subject: Re: Not getting any posts
I'm late in replying to this topic, but I still am grateful for any posts sent here to the Listserv, for my Rare Bird Alert reporting. Because:
I've had to rely more and more on eBird's weekly summaries lately for my reports, and it takes way more time to sift through those; because even with them being summaries of highlights, they are filled with many duplicates, unconfirmed rarities, and the summary will often include a grackle but NOT a Piping Plover which is so odd and unhelpful. So I often have to go over into each eBird reporter's entire list.
Amy Taracido
________________________________
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:52 PM
To: <PABIRDS...> <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Not getting any posts
Hi Dave,
The reason you are not receiving messages is the liserv has been replaced with text postings using Discord and GroupMe apps. People use those to report rare birds and other observations, so there is very little on the listerv these days. It's the same with most if not all listservs.
Some of us try to continue to post some information because we miss it, but usage is way down.
Mike FialkovichAllegheny County
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 07:43:06 PM EDT, Dave Inman <mercer.county.bird.guy...> wrote:
We moved out of Pennsylvania several years ago but I still enjoy the posts
and discussions on the listserve. The amount of posts Im seeing has slowly
gotten to be fewer and fewer until a few days ago when I got no new ones
and 4 days later Ive gotten nothing new at all which is strange since its
spring migration. Can someone look into this please?
Date: 6/18/25 11:10 am From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: Re: Bank Swallow colony, Crawford Co.
Reading this on the way home from atlassing at Cambria county blocks prompted Greg and I to check the New Enterprise quarry in Huntingdon county for BANS.
None to be seen. I did find some last year.
Deb
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...>
Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
To: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Bank Swallow colony, Crawford Co.
Great find!
I am always happy to hear about Bank Swallow colonies. It pays to explore.
Mike Fialkovich
Pittsburgh Area
Allegheny County
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 11:04:52 AM EDT, Kendall Zook <kendallzook98...> wrote:
Hello all,
I've been suspicious for some time that Bank Swallows have a nest near the
vicinity of the Seneca District of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge. I do
landbird surveys for the refuge and I regularly get them on my survey
routes, too regularly to be simply passing through. But I didn't know of any
active colonies, and a search on eBird didn't shed any light either. Today
after I finished my survey route I decided to nose around and see if I could
find a colony at any of the local gravel pits. The first pit I checked was
abandoned, and no swallows, so I kept nosing along. I was pretty sure I was
on the right track because I saw several Bank Swallows flying over the
fields as I drove. I found an unmarked gravel pit on Mackey Hill Rd. that I
didn't even know about, but I knew immediately I had found what I was
looking for because I could see swallows circling and diving over the pit. I
didn't have time to watch for long, so my estimates were very quick, but a
cloud of at least 50 Bank Swallows was circling around a colony with an
estimated 150 holes. I observed birds entering and exiting nesting holes, so
I assume they are feeding young. Obviously birds are foraging far from the
colony, so I didn't see all the adults, but there could easily be a 75-100
pairs nesting. I'm so excited because I didn't know if Bank Swallows nested
in Crawford Co. anymore. I certainly didn't know of any active colonies in
the past years.
Date: 6/18/25 9:52 am From: Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Bank Swallow colony, Crawford Co.
Great find!
I am always happy to hear about Bank Swallow colonies. It pays to explore.
Mike Fialkovich
Pittsburgh Area
Allegheny County
On Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 11:04:52 AM EDT, Kendall Zook <kendallzook98...> wrote:
Hello all,
I've been suspicious for some time that Bank Swallows have a nest near the
vicinity of the Seneca District of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge. I do
landbird surveys for the refuge and I regularly get them on my survey
routes, too regularly to be simply passing through. But I didn't know of any
active colonies, and a search on eBird didn't shed any light either. Today
after I finished my survey route I decided to nose around and see if I could
find a colony at any of the local gravel pits. The first pit I checked was
abandoned, and no swallows, so I kept nosing along. I was pretty sure I was
on the right track because I saw several Bank Swallows flying over the
fields as I drove. I found an unmarked gravel pit on Mackey Hill Rd. that I
didn't even know about, but I knew immediately I had found what I was
looking for because I could see swallows circling and diving over the pit. I
didn't have time to watch for long, so my estimates were very quick, but a
cloud of at least 50 Bank Swallows was circling around a colony with an
estimated 150 holes. I observed birds entering and exiting nesting holes, so
I assume they are feeding young. Obviously birds are foraging far from the
colony, so I didn't see all the adults, but there could easily be a 75-100
pairs nesting. I'm so excited because I didn't know if Bank Swallows nested
in Crawford Co. anymore. I certainly didn't know of any active colonies in
the past years.
Date: 6/18/25 8:04 am From: Kendall Zook <kendallzook98...> Subject: Bank Swallow colony, Crawford Co.
Hello all,
I've been suspicious for some time that Bank Swallows have a nest near the vicinity of the Seneca District of the Erie National Wildlife Refuge. I do landbird surveys for the refuge and I regularly get them on my survey routes, too regularly to be simply passing through. But I didn't know of any active colonies, and a search on eBird didn't shed any light either. Today after I finished my survey route I decided to nose around and see if I could find a colony at any of the local gravel pits. The first pit I checked was abandoned, and no swallows, so I kept nosing along. I was pretty sure I was on the right track because I saw several Bank Swallows flying over the fields as I drove. I found an unmarked gravel pit on Mackey Hill Rd. that I didn't even know about, but I knew immediately I had found what I was looking for because I could see swallows circling and diving over the pit. I didn't have time to watch for long, so my estimates were very quick, but a cloud of at least 50 Bank Swallows was circling around a colony with an estimated 150 holes. I observed birds entering and exiting nesting holes, so I assume they are feeding young. Obviously birds are foraging far from the colony, so I didn't see all the adults, but there could easily be a 75-100 pairs nesting. I'm so excited because I didn't know if Bank Swallows nested in Crawford Co. anymore. I certainly didn't know of any active colonies in the past years.
Date: 6/15/25 6:51 am From: Michael Fialkovich <0000012b4af48ab0-dmarc-request...> Subject: Butler County Breeding Bird Survey
Hi,
Yesterday morning I ran my Butler County BBS. The route starts just outside the town of Chicora and goes south along the eastern part of the county ending in Sarver.
Light rain during most of the survey made things a bit difficult trying to keep the forms and myself dry, but the birds remained active. Getting a rain free day has been challenging.
Willow Flycatchers were at the usual locations and I had few Acadians. One Least Flycatcher was calling at a stop where I never recall having them. This species is often hit or miss on the route. Warblers included Ovenbird, American Redstart, Yellow, Blue-winged, Chestnut-sided and Common Yellowthroat. I missed Hooded this year. The Black-and-white I sometimes get was not heard this year. It's always hit or miss for them. Easy to miss when only at a stop for three minutes.
For the second year in a row I had a Common Raven. I'm sure that is a resident species now with the expansion away from the mountains.
After last year's first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker for the route, I was unable to duplicate it this year.
Date: 6/13/25 7:08 am From: jerry Kruth <00000005ead0dac6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Yellow-throated Warbler, Crawford Co.
The wise old ones always advised: "To find Yellow-throated Wobblers, look among the Sycamore along the streams."
Good luck, (btw -- the harder you work, the luckier you get.
:)
Jerry Kruth
Pgh
On Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 08:23:47 PM EDT, Kendall Zook <kendallzook98...> wrote:
Nathan Schlabaugh found a Yellow-throated Warbler in Saegertown and Daryl
Nolt told me about it. This morning I stopped to hear it as well. It is
singing just south of the second round-about, across from the old factory
building that has a café and a mechanic shop in it. I parked in the parking
lot there and heard it singing across the creek after only a few minutes.
Alternatively, you could walk down Jordan Drive on the opposite side of the
creek from 6&19 as it was singing on that side of the creek. Makes me
curious how many other Yellow-throated Warblers we could find in Crawford
Co. if we followed French Creek south.
Nathan Schlabaugh found a Yellow-throated Warbler in Saegertown and Daryl
Nolt told me about it. This morning I stopped to hear it as well. It is
singing just south of the second round-about, across from the old factory
building that has a caf and a mechanic shop in it. I parked in the parking
lot there and heard it singing across the creek after only a few minutes.
Alternatively, you could walk down Jordan Drive on the opposite side of the
creek from 6&19 as it was singing on that side of the creek. Makes me
curious how many other Yellow-throated Warblers we could find in Crawford
Co. if we followed French Creek south.
Contributors: David Argent, Jeff Brinker, Martin Carlin, Jane Clark, Ankur Dave, Brittany Davis, Kristin Fuoco, Sarah Grey, Eric Hall, Daniel Hinnebusch, Linda Houghton, Marilyn Jenkins, Michelle Kienholz, Ripley Kindervater, Annie L. via Ebird, Tim Lenz, Chris Lituma, Renee Lubert, Andrew M. via Ebird, Ben McGrew, Jerry McWilliams, Jeff Moore, Joshua Penderville, Amber Pertz, Kenneth Pinnow, Theo Rickert, Sarah Sato, Michael Saylor, Roberta Shaner, Brittney Sheridan, Shawn Sowers, Rosemary Spreha, Joao Tavares, Clark Teeman, Shannon Thompson, Dennis Trapnell, Mark Vass.
Compiler: Amy Taracido
Tuesday, 13 May 2025 through Tuesday, 20 May 2025
**This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact AMYTARACIDO@ YAHOO.COM
Transcript-
NOTE: TUNDRA SWAN, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GALLINULE, BLACK VULTURES continue to be reported.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY:
On 5/14-5/15 at North Park, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (JP et. al.).
At Chapel Harbor on 5/14, 1 PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (SG).
On 5/15 at Larsen Park, 1 PHILADELPHIA VIREO (ST).
At Hilltop Park on 5/17, 1 possible DICKCISSEL (MJ).
At Frick Park on 5/18 and 5/20, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER (AD, MK); also on 5/18, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (AP).
On 5/18-5/20 at Bellevue Memorial Park, 1 CONNECTICUT WARBLER (CL et. al.).
ARMSTRONG COUNTY:
On 5/18 near North Buffalo Sportsmen's Club, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (TR).
BEAVER COUNTY:
At Raccoon Creek State Park on 5/14, 1-2 WORM-EATING WARBLERS (JMo); on 5/20, 1 DUNLIN (JMo).
On 5/18 at Seibel Farm, 1 DUNLIN (MV).
BUTLER COUNTY:
Near Callery on 5/15, 1 PHILADELPHIA VIREO (CT).
At Moraine State Park on 5/19, 2 COMMON TERNS (MC).
CLARION COUNTY:
In the Piney Tract on 5/15 and 5/18, 2+ CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS (RS et. al.).
CRAWFORD COUNTY:
At PymatunIng State Park on 5/15, 1 MERLIN (SS); on 5/17, 4 COMMON TERNS (JB).
On 5/19 in Meadville, 1 MERLIN (KP).
ERIE COUNTY:
At Presque Isle State Park this week, sightings included BANK SWALLOW, WHIMBREL (JMc), RUSTY BLACKBIRD (SS et. al.), LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL (TL et. al.), OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (BS et .al.), YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (JT), 1 FRANKLIN'S GULL (5/16 TL et. al.), RED-THROATED LOON (AM et. al.), 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (MK et. al.), CERULEAN WARBLER, 1 LAUGHING GULL (ST), 1 WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 1 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (RK et. al.), 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER (RL)
On 5/14 and 5/16 in North Springfield, 1 CERULEAN WARBLER (MS).
In Erie on 5/16, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (BD).
FAYETTE COUNTY:
On 5/15 and 5/18-5/19 in the Fallingwater area, SWAINSON'S WARBLERS (LH, DT et. al.).
At Greenlick Run Lake on 5/17, 1 BLACK TERN (EH).
At Ohiopyle on 5/19, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (JC).
MERCER COUNTY:
At Pennsy Swamp on 5/18, 2 TRUMPETER SWANS (KF).
On 5/18 at Shenango Wildlife Area, 1 possible WESTERN TANAGER (DH).
SOMERSET COUNTY:
Along Lohr Road on 5/15, 1 DICKCISSEL (BM).
At Lake Somerset on 5/16, 1 MARSH WREN (RS).
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
At Mingo Creek Park on 5/14-5/15, 1 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (DA et. al.).
WESTMORELAND COUNTY:
On 5/15 at Powdermill Avian Research Center, 4 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS (AL).
At Pleasant Valley Park on 5/20, 2 YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHERS (EH).
Contributors: Nate B. via Ebird, James Baker, Hope Bennett, W. Biggs via Ebird, Cole Bishop, Donald Briggs, Jeff Brinker, Kyle Brubaker, Ron Burkert, Anna Carlson, Sandy Cline, Thomas Connor, Alexander DeBarros, Gigi Gerben, Steve Gosser, Linda Greble, Maggie Griffith, Ashley Harold, Amy Henrici, James Hill III, Rob Hodgson, Ripley Kindervater, Scott Kinzey, Gordon Klingensmith, Mary Alice Koeneke, Malcolm Kurtz, Katherine Lutton, Mike Lyden, Ben McGrew, Jerry McWilliams, Avi Marshall, Doug Massey, Dan Mendenhall, Thomas Nicolls, Daryl Nolt, MC O'Neil via Ebird, Meghan Oberkircher, Jim Offhaus, Elizabeth Pagel-Hogan, Jeff Payne, Amber Pertz, Eric Schill, Samuel Schmidt, Donald Snyder, Joao Tavares, Carl Thomson, David de Rivera Tønnessen, Mark Vass, Steve Wagner, Carole Winslow, David Yeany II.
Compiler: Amy Taracido
Tuesday, 6 May 2025 through Tuesday, 13 May 2025
**This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact AMYTARACIDO@ YAHOO.COM
Transcript-
NOTE: NORTHERN PINTAIL, BLACK VULTURES, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, PINE SISKIN continue to be reported.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY:
From last week: on 4/25 at Sharpsburg Marina, 1 FORSTER'S TERN (AHe et. al.), NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (DMe). At Wingfield Pines on 4/25, 1 MARSH WREN (GG). At Harrison Hills Park on 4/25, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (MG). In Pittsburgh's Frick Park on 5/4, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (DMe et. al.).
On 5/6 at Richland Township Park, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (RB), 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (5/5-5/6) (SK, TC).
In Sewickley Heights Park on 5/7, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (EPH).
On 5/8 in Bridgeville, 1 RUSTY BLACKBIRD (JO).
At North Park on 5/8, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (AP).
On 5/8-5/9 in Frick Park, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (AP, ES).
In Fox Chapel on 5/10, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (MCO).
At Schenley Park on 5/10, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (WB).
On 5/12 at Knob Hill Park, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (SS).
BUTLER COUNTY:
On 5/7 and 5/11 in Cranberry Township, 2 MERLINS (AHa, MV).
Near Cabot on 5/8, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (MAK).
CLARION COUNTY:
From last week: in Strattanville on 4/25, 1 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE continued (ES).
On 5/13 in Piney Tract, 1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (CW).
CRAWFORD COUNTY:
From last week: on 5/4 at Erie National Wildlife Refuge, 1 TRUMPETER SWAN (KB). On 5/5 in Meadville, 1 MERLIN (RH).
On 5/6 at Pymatuning State Park, 5 COMMON TERNS (SGo); on 5/13, 1 COMMON TERN (JH).
At Cussewago Bottoms IBA on 5/9, 2 TRUMPETER SWANS (TN).
Along Adamsville Road on 5/11, 1 LARK SPARROW (reported to DN).
ERIE COUNTY:
From last week: on 5/4-5/5 at Presque Isle, RED-THROATED LOON (MK), ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 5/5, PRAIRIE WARBLER 5/5 (AC). In State Gamelands #192 on 5/4, 1 MOURNING WARBLER (DMa).
At Presque Isle State Park this week, sightings included BREWSTER'S WARBLER (JT, KL), RED-THROATED LOON (DT et. al.), 1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (DS), NORTHERN HARRIER, CASPIAN TERN, RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, PURPLE MARTIN (JM), GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (KL), 1 BLACK TERN (RK), OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (ML et. al.), YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (ML).
On 5/6 in Erie, 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER (RK).
FAYETTE COUNTY:
From last week: on 5/2 near Normalville, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (DY). Near McClellandtown on 5/5, 1 possible FISH CROW (NB via Ebird).
On 5/9 and 5/11 in the Fallingwater area, 1 SWAINSON'S ARBLER (AD, CT).
Near Normalville on 5/12, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (DY).
INDIANA COUNTY:
From last week: on 4/24-4/25 at Yellow Creek State Park, 1 COMMON TERN (AM).
On 5/9 at Yellow Creek State Park, 17 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (JBa).
MERCER COUNTY:
From last week: on 5/3 at Mallard Lake, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (JBr).
On 5/10 at Shenango Wildlife Area, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER (JBr).
At Pennsy Swamp on 5/10, TRUMPETER SWAN (HB).
SOMERSET COUNTY:
From last week: on 5/3-5/4 in Meyersdale, 1 BLACK-NECKED STILT (BM, SC); on 5/8-5/9, 1 DICKCISSEL (JP, LG).
On 5/9 in Glenmoor, 1 MERLIN (LG).
In Berlin on 5/10, 1 TRUMPETER SWAN (JP).
VENANGO COUNTY:
On 5/10 in the Kennderdell area, 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (CB).
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
From last week: on 4/25 at Conemaugh River Lake, 1 VEERY (SW).
On 5/12-5/13 at Mingo Creek Park, 1 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (GG et. al.).
WESTMORELAND COUNTY:
At Powdermill Nature Reserve on 5/6 and 5/8-5/10, LINCOLN'S SPARROW (GK, MO et. al.); on 5/7, 1 PHILADELPHIA VIREO (AD).
Date: 6/9/25 11:55 am From: Amy Taracido <amytaracido...> Subject: RBA western Pennsylvania, 6 May 2025 (two weeks)
RBA
*Pennsylvania
*Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania
*PAWE05.06.25twoweeks
Highlights:
BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO
EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Erie County)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Somerset County)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Crawford and Erie Counties)
WILLET (Erie and Fayette Counties)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Erie County)
LEAST BITTERN
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Allegheny County)
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Washington County)
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
FISH CROW (Beaver County)
ALDER FLYCATCHER
VEERY
AMERICAN PIPIT
CANADA WARBLER
CERULEAN WARBLER
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (Allegheny County)
BREWSTER'S WARBLER (Erie and Fayette Counties)
HENSLOW'S SPARROW
LINCOLN'S SPARROW
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
WORM-EATING WARBLER
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
BOBOLINK
Contributors: KM Andersen, David Argent, Melissa Augustine, Nate B. via Ebird, Connor Bamrick, Kerry Bell, Brady Blackburn, Evan Brantner, Nathaniel Bowler, Jeff Brinker, John Campbell, Michele Carlson, Richard Chirichiello, Donna Collett, Chapin Czarnecki, Ankur Dave, Brittany Davis, Miranda Day, Kathy Dinsmore, Carl Engstrom, Lauren Eureka, Adrian Fenton, Andy Georgeson, Gigi Gerben, Barbara Griffith, Eric Hall, Marc Hanneman, Ashley Harold, Gene Henderson, Amy Henrici, Margaret Higbee, James R. Hill III, Dave Keith, Ripley Kindervater, Gordon Klingensmith, Meg Kolodick, Annie L via Ebird, Hannah Leabhart, Richard Love, Chris Lundberg, Doug Massey, Dan McGuire, Jerry McWilliams, Ben Meredyk, Ron Mumme, Thomas Nicolls, Ken Ostermiller, Jeff Payne, Amber Pertz, Tristan Phillips, Nathan Rees, Henry Rummel, Barry Saylor, Bolana Schofield, Jerry Stanley, Russ States, Randy Stringer, Carl Thomson, Dennis Trapnell, Mark Vass, Michael Williams, Carole Winslow, Kendall Zook.
Compiler: Amy Taracido
Tuesday, 22 April 2025 through Tuesday, 6 May 2025 (two weeks)
**This report is distributed by e-mail only. Compiler is not responsible for errors on websites who reproduce/reprint these reports. If you would like to receive western PA RBAs, contact AMYTARACIDO@ YAHOO.COM
Transcript-
NOTE: NORTHERN PINTAIL, SORA, BLACK VULTURE, COMMON NIGHTHAWK, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, PINE SISKIN continue to be reported.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY:
Through 4/28 at Wingfield Pines, 1 MARSH WREN continued (AG et. al.); on 5/3, 1 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (MD).
At Frick Park on 4/26-5/4, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (CC et. al.); on 5/2, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (AP et. al.).
On 4/26-4/27 at Crouse Run Valley, 1 PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (AP et. al.).
In Allison Park on 4/26-4/27, PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (NB et. al.).
On 4/26 at East Deer Recreational Park, 1 FORSTER'S TERN (AP).
In Squirrel Hill on 4/30, 2 MERLINS (AD).
On 4/30 at North Park, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (AF).
At Duck Hollow on 5/2, 1 PROTHONOTARY WARBLER (via Ebird).
On 5/4 at Imperial grasslands, 1 WILLOW FLYCATCHER (AHe).
BEAVER COUNTY:
In Hopewell Park on 4/24, 1 FISH CROW (LE).
BUTLER COUNTY:
Near Cranberry Township Dog Park on 5/1, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (AHa).
CLARION COUNTY:
In Sligo this week, WINTER WRENS, PRAIRIE WARBLERS (CW).
In an unspecified gamelands location this week, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS (CW).
On 4/27 along Armstrong Trail, 2 WORM-EATING WARBLERS (BSa).
In Piney Tract on 5/3, 1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW (BS).
CRAWFORD COUNTY:
Near Little's Corners on 4/22, 2 AMERICAN AVOCETS (reported to KZ).
On 4/22 at Meadville Country Club, 6 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (RM).
At Linesville Fish Hatchery on 4/24, 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (DA).
On 4/24 at Millers Ponds, 1 BOBOLINK (DA); on 4/30, 2 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (CL).
On 4/25 at Pymatuning, 1 COMMON TERN (TN); on 4/26, 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (MH).
Near Ernst Bike Trail on 4/28, 2 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (CL).
At Conneaut Marsh on 4/28, 1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER; on 4/30, 2 PROTHONOTARY WARBLERS (CL).
ERIE COUNTY:
At Presque Isle State Park this week, sightings included BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (JB, DMa), AMERICAN AVOCET (4/22) (RK), WILLET (JM, RK, KO), NORTHERN HARRIERS, PURPLE MARTIN, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (JM), 8 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (HL), BREWSTER'S WARBLER (4/29) (KMA).
On 4/23 in Waterford, 1 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH; on 4/28, 4 TRUMPETER SWANS (JH).
In Erie on 4/24, 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER (BD); on 5/2, 1 WORM-EATING WARBLER (JC), 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (MA).
FAYETTE COUNTY:
On 4/22 at Greenlick Run Lake, 3 WILLETS (BSc); on 4/26, 1 FORSTER'S TERN (KB).
In Farmington on 4/23, 1-2 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS (DMc, DT); on 4/27, 1 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO (DMc).
On 4/25 in the Laurel Ridge area, VEERY (EB).
At Mill Run Reservoir on 4/27, 1 BREWSTER'S WARBLER (DM, CT).
On 4/30 near Wharton Iron Furnace, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (CT).
GREENE COUNTY:
Along Drift Ridge Road on 4/23, 1 HENSLOW'S SPARROW (NR).
At Enlow Fork on 4/29, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (BG).
INDIANA COUNTY:
On 4/22 at Conemaugh River Lake, 1 CERULEAN WARBLER (MC).
At Yellow Creek State Park on 4/24, 1 COMMON TERN (HR).
On 4/26, 4/30, and 5/2 at IUP, 1 KENTUCKY WARBLER (BB, BM).
On 4/29 at Waterworks Conservation Area, 1 MARSH WREN (RL).
Near Two Lick Creek Reservoir on 5/2, 1 KENTUCKY WARBLER (MH).
JEFFERSON COUNTY:
Near Punxutawney on 4/22, 1 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (KD).
On 4/25 west of Brockway, 1 BOBOLINK (DK).
LAWRENCE COUNTY:
At the Volant Strips on 4/29, 4 BOBOLINKS (RS).
MERCER COUNTY:
At Great Lake Estates on 4/26, 2 TRUMPETER SWANS (MV).
On 4/28 along the Jamestown Trail, 2 LEAST BITTERNS (MW).
SOMERSET COUNTY:
In Meyersdale on 5/2-5/3, 1 BLACK-NECKED STILT (JP et. al.).
VENANGO COUNTY:
On 4/23 at Two Mile Run Park, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL (RS); on 4/25, sightings included 4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 AMERICAN PIPIT (MK).
At Kahle Lake on 4/26, 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 10 LESSER YELLOWLEGS (JS).
In Senaca on 5/1, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW and others (MK).
WARREN COUNTY:
Near Sandstone Springs on 4/24, 1 EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL (reported to CW).
WASHINGTON COUNTY:
On 4/24 near Midway, 3 HENSLOW'S SPARROWS (DC).
At Canonsburg Lake on 4/26, 1 MARSH WREN (DA).
On 4/30 at Peterswood Softball Complex, 1 MARSH WREN (DA).
On 5/1 in Ginger Hill near a silt pond, 1 MARSH WREN (DA).
At Mingo Creek Park on 5/3, 1 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (GG).
WESTMORELAND COUNTY:
On 4/22 at Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1 CANADA WARBLER (GK); on 4/30, 1 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW (AL).
At Saint Vincent College on 4/27, 1 PURPLE GALLINULE (NB).
Date: 6/4/25 5:12 am From: jerry Kruth <00000005ead0dac6-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: PABIRDS Digest - 1 Jun 2025 to 2 Jun 2025 (#2025-138)
I'll second that Lisa -- thanks Deb for that lovely detailed post on your survey. I too still find text on this format much more interesting than merely posting an Ebird List, although they are helpful and valuable as well.
Jerry KruthPgh (now in Cape May)
-----------------
On Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 07:01:34 AM EDT, Lisa Dziuban <dziubanlisa...> wrote:
Deb,
THANK YOU for all of your hard work, dedication and inspiration. A pleasure to read your post and others today. I look forward to reading more.
Lisa Dziuban
“Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne” - James Russell Lowell, The Present Crisis
> On Jun 3, 2025, at 12:00 AM, PABIRDS automatic digest system <LISTSERV...> wrote:
>
> There are 5 messages totaling 543 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county (3)
> 2. Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county. (2)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 11:12:34 +0000
> From: "Grove, Deborah Shuey" <dsg4...>
> Subject: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
> Wild Turkey
> 1
> Mourning Dove
> 4
> Downy Woodpecker
> 1
> Pileated Woodpecker
> 8
> Great Crested Flycatcher
> 1
> Eastern Wood-Pewee
> 15
> Acadian Flycatcher
> 18
> Least Flycatcher
> 2
> Eastern Phoebe
> 8
> Blue-headed Vireo
> 3
> Red-eyed Vireo
> 63
> Blue Jay
> 6
> American Crow
> 7
> Common Raven
> 12
> Black-capped Chickadee
> 7
> Tufted Titmouse
> 11
> Cedar Waxwing
> 10
> White-breasted Nuthatch
> 3
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
> 3
> Gray Catbird
> 9
> Veery
> 8
> Wood Thrush
> 21
> American Robin
> 9
> American Goldfinch
> 4
> Chipping Sparrow
> 6
> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
> 5
> Song Sparrow
> 1
> Eastern Towhee
> 32
> Brown-headed Cowbird
> 2
> Ovenbird
> 100
> Worm-eating Warbler
> 5
> Louisiana Waterthrush
> 4
> Black-and-white Warbler
> 8
> Common Yellowthroat
> 13
> Hooded Warbler
> 32
> American Redstart
> 13
> Blackburnian Warbler
> 9
> Chestnut-sided Warbler
> 6
> Black-throated Blue Warbler
> 9
> Black-throated Green Warbler
> 11
> Canada Warbler
> 2
> Scarlet Tanager
> 14
> Northern Cardinal
> 4
> Indigo Bunting
> 2
> Eastern Screech-Owl
> 1
> Baltimore Oriole
> 1
> Red-winged Blackbird
> 1
> Northern Waterthrush
> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 19:41:27 -0400
> From: SCOTT WEIDENSAUL <scottweidensaul...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> Just to follow up on Deb’s comment below, that the BBS (and all manner of other, essential conservation work, from the federal Bird Banding Lab to the Bee Lab to 63 USGS science and research centers around the country and Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Units at 43 colleges and universities that train the next generation of conservation professionals) are at risk because of the proposed budget now before the Senate, which completely eliminates the Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS that houses all of this essential work and the 1,200 scientists who make it happen.
>
> If you care about birds, *now* is the time to call Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators and urge them to restore funding for the EMA. Do it now, while the memory of spring migration is fresh — and so that those birds don’t become simply a memory.
>
> Scott Weidensaul
> Milton, NH (formerly Schuylkill County)
>
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 20:16:12 -0400
> From: Arlene Koch <davilene...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> Great great post. Thanks so much Deb. Reports and info like this are why I continue to value this list.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
>> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
>> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
>> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
>> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
>> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
>> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
>> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
>> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>> Wild Turkey
>> 1
>> Mourning Dove
>> 4
>> Downy Woodpecker
>> 1
>> Pileated Woodpecker
>> 8
>> Great Crested Flycatcher
>> 1
>> Eastern Wood-Pewee
>> 15
>> Acadian Flycatcher
>> 18
>> Least Flycatcher
>> 2
>> Eastern Phoebe
>> 8
>> Blue-headed Vireo
>> 3
>> Red-eyed Vireo
>> 63
>> Blue Jay
>> 6
>> American Crow
>> 7
>> Common Raven
>> 12
>> Black-capped Chickadee
>> 7
>> Tufted Titmouse
>> 11
>> Cedar Waxwing
>> 10
>> White-breasted Nuthatch
>> 3
>> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
>> 3
>> Gray Catbird
>> 9
>> Veery
>> 8
>> Wood Thrush
>> 21
>> American Robin
>> 9
>> American Goldfinch
>> 4
>> Chipping Sparrow
>> 6
>> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
>> 5
>> Song Sparrow
>> 1
>> Eastern Towhee
>> 32
>> Brown-headed Cowbird
>> 2
>> Ovenbird
>> 100
>> Worm-eating Warbler
>> 5
>> Louisiana Waterthrush
>> 4
>> Black-and-white Warbler
>> 8
>> Common Yellowthroat
>> 13
>> Hooded Warbler
>> 32
>> American Redstart
>> 13
>> Blackburnian Warbler
>> 9
>> Chestnut-sided Warbler
>> 6
>> Black-throated Blue Warbler
>> 9
>> Black-throated Green Warbler
>> 11
>> Canada Warbler
>> 2
>> Scarlet Tanager
>> 14
>> Northern Cardinal
>> 4
>> Indigo Bunting
>> 2
>> Eastern Screech-Owl
>> 1
>> Baltimore Oriole
>> 1
>> Red-winged Blackbird
>> 1
>> Northern Waterthrush
>> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 20:17:34 -0400
> From: Grant Stevenson <stevensongrant03...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> The Capitol switchboard is 1-202-224-3121
> Grant Stevenson
> Lehigh County
>
>> On Mon, Jun 2, 2025, 7:41 PM SCOTT WEIDENSAUL <
>> <000001343b2dd726-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> Just to follow up on Deb’s comment below, that the BBS (and all manner of
>> other, essential conservation work, from the federal Bird Banding Lab to
>> the Bee Lab to 63 USGS science and research centers around the country and
>> Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Units at 43 colleges and universities that
>> train the next generation of conservation professionals) are at risk
>> because of the proposed budget now before the Senate, which completely
>> eliminates the Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS that houses all of this
>> essential work and the 1,200 scientists who make it happen.
>>
>> If you care about birds, *now* is the time to call Pennsylvania's U.S.
>> Senators and urge them to restore funding for the EMA. Do it now, while the
>> memory of spring migration is fresh — and so that those birds don’t become
>> simply a memory.
>>
>> Scott Weidensaul
>> Milton, NH (formerly Schuylkill County)
>>
>>
>>>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS
>> routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they
>> will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the
>> agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2025 01:00:15 +0000
> From: "Grove, Deborah Shuey" <dsg4...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> I will post my Naginey route thru Mifflin and Snyder when I finish it. Crossing my fingers, no cicada noise.
> I finished two routes in southeastern Ohio last week. One is a nonrandomized completely in Zaleski State Forest. The other has been run since 1967 and starts just west of Athens and goes south. It sometimes has more WEVI than REVI. Chats and usually one Summer Tanager.
> Since it was first run in 1967, houses and farms have been abandoned and replaced by woods and shrubby fields.
> I grew up just north of there near Zanesville. The hills draw me back.
> Deb
>
> Deborah S. Grove
>
> ________________________________
> From: Arlene Koch <davilene...>
> Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 8:16:12 PM
> To: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...>
> Cc: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> Great great post. Thanks so much Deb. Reports and info like this are why I continue to value this list.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
>> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
>> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
>> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
>> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
>> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
>> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
>> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
>> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>> Wild Turkey
>> 1
>> Mourning Dove
>> 4
>> Downy Woodpecker
>> 1
>> Pileated Woodpecker
>> 8
>> Great Crested Flycatcher
>> 1
>> Eastern Wood-Pewee
>> 15
>> Acadian Flycatcher
>> 18
>> Least Flycatcher
>> 2
>> Eastern Phoebe
>> 8
>> Blue-headed Vireo
>> 3
>> Red-eyed Vireo
>> 63
>> Blue Jay
>> 6
>> American Crow
>> 7
>> Common Raven
>> 12
>> Black-capped Chickadee
>> 7
>> Tufted Titmouse
>> 11
>> Cedar Waxwing
>> 10
>> White-breasted Nuthatch
>> 3
>> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
>> 3
>> Gray Catbird
>> 9
>> Veery
>> 8
>> Wood Thrush
>> 21
>> American Robin
>> 9
>> American Goldfinch
>> 4
>> Chipping Sparrow
>> 6
>> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
>> 5
>> Song Sparrow
>> 1
>> Eastern Towhee
>> 32
>> Brown-headed Cowbird
>> 2
>> Ovenbird
>> 100
>> Worm-eating Warbler
>> 5
>> Louisiana Waterthrush
>> 4
>> Black-and-white Warbler
>> 8
>> Common Yellowthroat
>> 13
>> Hooded Warbler
>> 32
>> American Redstart
>> 13
>> Blackburnian Warbler
>> 9
>> Chestnut-sided Warbler
>> 6
>> Black-throated Blue Warbler
>> 9
>> Black-throated Green Warbler
>> 11
>> Canada Warbler
>> 2
>> Scarlet Tanager
>> 14
>> Northern Cardinal
>> 4
>> Indigo Bunting
>> 2
>> Eastern Screech-Owl
>> 1
>> Baltimore Oriole
>> 1
>> Red-winged Blackbird
>> 1
>> Northern Waterthrush
>> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of PABIRDS Digest - 1 Jun 2025 to 2 Jun 2025 (#2025-138)
> ************************************************************
Date: 6/3/25 1:33 pm From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: Re: PABIRDS Digest - 1 Jun 2025 to 2 Jun 2025 (#2025-138)
Thanks so much! I am glad people like reading them and hearing about bird species in different areas of the state.
i like looking at the data and seeing the trends.
Deb
Deborah S. Grove
________________________________
From: Bird discussion list for Pennsylvania <PABIRDS...> on behalf of Lisa Dziuban <dziubanlisa...>
Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2025 7:01:19 AM
To: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] PABIRDS Digest - 1 Jun 2025 to 2 Jun 2025 (#2025-138)
Deb,
THANK YOU for all of your hard work, dedication and inspiration. A pleasure to read your post and others today. I look forward to reading more.
Lisa Dziuban
“Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne” - James Russell Lowell, The Present Crisis
> On Jun 3, 2025, at 12:00 AM, PABIRDS automatic digest system <LISTSERV...> wrote:
>
> There are 5 messages totaling 543 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county (3)
> 2. Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county. (2)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 11:12:34 +0000
> From: "Grove, Deborah Shuey" <dsg4...>
> Subject: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
> Wild Turkey
> 1
> Mourning Dove
> 4
> Downy Woodpecker
> 1
> Pileated Woodpecker
> 8
> Great Crested Flycatcher
> 1
> Eastern Wood-Pewee
> 15
> Acadian Flycatcher
> 18
> Least Flycatcher
> 2
> Eastern Phoebe
> 8
> Blue-headed Vireo
> 3
> Red-eyed Vireo
> 63
> Blue Jay
> 6
> American Crow
> 7
> Common Raven
> 12
> Black-capped Chickadee
> 7
> Tufted Titmouse
> 11
> Cedar Waxwing
> 10
> White-breasted Nuthatch
> 3
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
> 3
> Gray Catbird
> 9
> Veery
> 8
> Wood Thrush
> 21
> American Robin
> 9
> American Goldfinch
> 4
> Chipping Sparrow
> 6
> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
> 5
> Song Sparrow
> 1
> Eastern Towhee
> 32
> Brown-headed Cowbird
> 2
> Ovenbird
> 100
> Worm-eating Warbler
> 5
> Louisiana Waterthrush
> 4
> Black-and-white Warbler
> 8
> Common Yellowthroat
> 13
> Hooded Warbler
> 32
> American Redstart
> 13
> Blackburnian Warbler
> 9
> Chestnut-sided Warbler
> 6
> Black-throated Blue Warbler
> 9
> Black-throated Green Warbler
> 11
> Canada Warbler
> 2
> Scarlet Tanager
> 14
> Northern Cardinal
> 4
> Indigo Bunting
> 2
> Eastern Screech-Owl
> 1
> Baltimore Oriole
> 1
> Red-winged Blackbird
> 1
> Northern Waterthrush
> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 19:41:27 -0400
> From: SCOTT WEIDENSAUL <scottweidensaul...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> Just to follow up on Deb’s comment below, that the BBS (and all manner of other, essential conservation work, from the federal Bird Banding Lab to the Bee Lab to 63 USGS science and research centers around the country and Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Units at 43 colleges and universities that train the next generation of conservation professionals) are at risk because of the proposed budget now before the Senate, which completely eliminates the Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS that houses all of this essential work and the 1,200 scientists who make it happen.
>
> If you care about birds, *now* is the time to call Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators and urge them to restore funding for the EMA. Do it now, while the memory of spring migration is fresh — and so that those birds don’t become simply a memory.
>
> Scott Weidensaul
> Milton, NH (formerly Schuylkill County)
>
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 20:16:12 -0400
> From: Arlene Koch <davilene...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> Great great post. Thanks so much Deb. Reports and info like this are why I continue to value this list.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
>> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
>> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
>> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
>> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
>> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
>> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
>> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
>> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>> Wild Turkey
>> 1
>> Mourning Dove
>> 4
>> Downy Woodpecker
>> 1
>> Pileated Woodpecker
>> 8
>> Great Crested Flycatcher
>> 1
>> Eastern Wood-Pewee
>> 15
>> Acadian Flycatcher
>> 18
>> Least Flycatcher
>> 2
>> Eastern Phoebe
>> 8
>> Blue-headed Vireo
>> 3
>> Red-eyed Vireo
>> 63
>> Blue Jay
>> 6
>> American Crow
>> 7
>> Common Raven
>> 12
>> Black-capped Chickadee
>> 7
>> Tufted Titmouse
>> 11
>> Cedar Waxwing
>> 10
>> White-breasted Nuthatch
>> 3
>> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
>> 3
>> Gray Catbird
>> 9
>> Veery
>> 8
>> Wood Thrush
>> 21
>> American Robin
>> 9
>> American Goldfinch
>> 4
>> Chipping Sparrow
>> 6
>> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
>> 5
>> Song Sparrow
>> 1
>> Eastern Towhee
>> 32
>> Brown-headed Cowbird
>> 2
>> Ovenbird
>> 100
>> Worm-eating Warbler
>> 5
>> Louisiana Waterthrush
>> 4
>> Black-and-white Warbler
>> 8
>> Common Yellowthroat
>> 13
>> Hooded Warbler
>> 32
>> American Redstart
>> 13
>> Blackburnian Warbler
>> 9
>> Chestnut-sided Warbler
>> 6
>> Black-throated Blue Warbler
>> 9
>> Black-throated Green Warbler
>> 11
>> Canada Warbler
>> 2
>> Scarlet Tanager
>> 14
>> Northern Cardinal
>> 4
>> Indigo Bunting
>> 2
>> Eastern Screech-Owl
>> 1
>> Baltimore Oriole
>> 1
>> Red-winged Blackbird
>> 1
>> Northern Waterthrush
>> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 20:17:34 -0400
> From: Grant Stevenson <stevensongrant03...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> The Capitol switchboard is 1-202-224-3121
> Grant Stevenson
> Lehigh County
>
>> On Mon, Jun 2, 2025, 7:41 PM SCOTT WEIDENSAUL <
>> <000001343b2dd726-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> Just to follow up on Deb’s comment below, that the BBS (and all manner of
>> other, essential conservation work, from the federal Bird Banding Lab to
>> the Bee Lab to 63 USGS science and research centers around the country and
>> Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Units at 43 colleges and universities that
>> train the next generation of conservation professionals) are at risk
>> because of the proposed budget now before the Senate, which completely
>> eliminates the Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS that houses all of this
>> essential work and the 1,200 scientists who make it happen.
>>
>> If you care about birds, *now* is the time to call Pennsylvania's U.S.
>> Senators and urge them to restore funding for the EMA. Do it now, while the
>> memory of spring migration is fresh — and so that those birds don’t become
>> simply a memory.
>>
>> Scott Weidensaul
>> Milton, NH (formerly Schuylkill County)
>>
>>
>>>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS
>> routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they
>> will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the
>> agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2025 01:00:15 +0000
> From: "Grove, Deborah Shuey" <dsg4...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> I will post my Naginey route thru Mifflin and Snyder when I finish it. Crossing my fingers, no cicada noise.
> I finished two routes in southeastern Ohio last week. One is a nonrandomized completely in Zaleski State Forest. The other has been run since 1967 and starts just west of Athens and goes south. It sometimes has more WEVI than REVI. Chats and usually one Summer Tanager.
> Since it was first run in 1967, houses and farms have been abandoned and replaced by woods and shrubby fields.
> I grew up just north of there near Zanesville. The hills draw me back.
> Deb
>
> Deborah S. Grove
>
> ________________________________
> From: Arlene Koch <davilene...>
> Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 8:16:12 PM
> To: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...>
> Cc: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> Great great post. Thanks so much Deb. Reports and info like this are why I continue to value this list.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
>> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
>> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
>> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
>> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
>> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
>> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
>> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
>> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>> Wild Turkey
>> 1
>> Mourning Dove
>> 4
>> Downy Woodpecker
>> 1
>> Pileated Woodpecker
>> 8
>> Great Crested Flycatcher
>> 1
>> Eastern Wood-Pewee
>> 15
>> Acadian Flycatcher
>> 18
>> Least Flycatcher
>> 2
>> Eastern Phoebe
>> 8
>> Blue-headed Vireo
>> 3
>> Red-eyed Vireo
>> 63
>> Blue Jay
>> 6
>> American Crow
>> 7
>> Common Raven
>> 12
>> Black-capped Chickadee
>> 7
>> Tufted Titmouse
>> 11
>> Cedar Waxwing
>> 10
>> White-breasted Nuthatch
>> 3
>> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
>> 3
>> Gray Catbird
>> 9
>> Veery
>> 8
>> Wood Thrush
>> 21
>> American Robin
>> 9
>> American Goldfinch
>> 4
>> Chipping Sparrow
>> 6
>> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
>> 5
>> Song Sparrow
>> 1
>> Eastern Towhee
>> 32
>> Brown-headed Cowbird
>> 2
>> Ovenbird
>> 100
>> Worm-eating Warbler
>> 5
>> Louisiana Waterthrush
>> 4
>> Black-and-white Warbler
>> 8
>> Common Yellowthroat
>> 13
>> Hooded Warbler
>> 32
>> American Redstart
>> 13
>> Blackburnian Warbler
>> 9
>> Chestnut-sided Warbler
>> 6
>> Black-throated Blue Warbler
>> 9
>> Black-throated Green Warbler
>> 11
>> Canada Warbler
>> 2
>> Scarlet Tanager
>> 14
>> Northern Cardinal
>> 4
>> Indigo Bunting
>> 2
>> Eastern Screech-Owl
>> 1
>> Baltimore Oriole
>> 1
>> Red-winged Blackbird
>> 1
>> Northern Waterthrush
>> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of PABIRDS Digest - 1 Jun 2025 to 2 Jun 2025 (#2025-138)
> ************************************************************
Date: 6/3/25 10:21 am From: Donna Collett <dcollett57...> Subject: Re: Koch property, Northampton County
Paradise!
On Tue, Jun 3, 2025, 9:35 AM DAVID KOCH <
<0000012d74227426-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> As has been the case for years now, rose-breasted grosbeaks are in the
> yard at feeders every day. They come down from our wooded property (60+
> acres) across the road and go back up after feeding. Sometimes there are
> several here at the same time, both males and females. I've differentiated
> 6 different males, although there may be more, because of the differences
> in their red breasts. Other species include a willow flycatcher in the
> bottom fields that's almost certainly going to nest, as one has for several
> years. A female hummingbird is in and quickly out of the front yard flowers
> daily, telling me that she's probably nesting somewhere nearby. Accumulated
> water at the eastern end of our bottom fields has been drawing in both
> spotted and semipalmated sandpipers occasionally. Thrashers are present as
> are cedar waxwings, common yellowthroats, house wrens, etc. We have 10 nest
> boxes out and at least 8 or them are occupied. Three have bluebirds, one
> has a house wren, and the rest have tree swallows. Yesterday a rough-winged
> swallow passed overhead, as did a nighthawk. A pileated woodpecker has been
> drilling a hole in a post in the back yard. But the most species I'm
> currently seeing are coming in to feed on mulberries on a tree in the back
> yard. All the common species are eating the berries, and last night a
> kingbird joined them. So we'll see what else that tree may attract. And two
> different female Baltimore orioles are using the unwound baler twine I put
> out for nesting material.
> Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County <davilene...>
>
Date: 6/3/25 6:35 am From: DAVID KOCH <0000012d74227426-dmarc-request...> Subject: Koch property, Northampton County
As has been the case for years now, rose-breasted grosbeaks are in the yard at feeders every day. They come down from our wooded property (60+ acres) across the road and go back up after feeding. Sometimes there are several here at the same time, both males and females. I've differentiated 6 different males, although there may be more, because of the differences in their red breasts. Other species include a willow flycatcher in the bottom fields that's almost certainly going to nest, as one has for several years. A female hummingbird is in and quickly out of the front yard flowers daily, telling me that she's probably nesting somewhere nearby. Accumulated water at the eastern end of our bottom fields has been drawing in both spotted and semipalmated sandpipers occasionally. Thrashers are present as are cedar waxwings, common yellowthroats, house wrens, etc. We have 10 nest boxes out and at least 8 or them are occupied. Three have bluebirds, one has a house wren, and the rest have tree swallows. Yesterday a rough-winged swallow passed overhead, as did a nighthawk. A pileated woodpecker has been drilling a hole in a post in the back yard. But the most species I'm currently seeing are coming in to feed on mulberries on a tree in the back yard. All the common species are eating the berries, and last night a kingbird joined them. So we'll see what else that tree may attract. And two different female Baltimore orioles are using the unwound baler twine I put out for nesting material.
Arlene Koch Easton, PA Northampton County <davilene...>
Date: 6/3/25 4:01 am From: Lisa Dziuban <dziubanlisa...> Subject: Re: PABIRDS Digest - 1 Jun 2025 to 2 Jun 2025 (#2025-138)
Deb,
THANK YOU for all of your hard work, dedication and inspiration. A pleasure to read your post and others today. I look forward to reading more.
Lisa Dziuban
“Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne” - James Russell Lowell, The Present Crisis
> On Jun 3, 2025, at 12:00 AM, PABIRDS automatic digest system <LISTSERV...> wrote:
>
> There are 5 messages totaling 543 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county (3)
> 2. Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county. (2)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 11:12:34 +0000
> From: "Grove, Deborah Shuey" <dsg4...>
> Subject: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
> Wild Turkey
> 1
> Mourning Dove
> 4
> Downy Woodpecker
> 1
> Pileated Woodpecker
> 8
> Great Crested Flycatcher
> 1
> Eastern Wood-Pewee
> 15
> Acadian Flycatcher
> 18
> Least Flycatcher
> 2
> Eastern Phoebe
> 8
> Blue-headed Vireo
> 3
> Red-eyed Vireo
> 63
> Blue Jay
> 6
> American Crow
> 7
> Common Raven
> 12
> Black-capped Chickadee
> 7
> Tufted Titmouse
> 11
> Cedar Waxwing
> 10
> White-breasted Nuthatch
> 3
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
> 3
> Gray Catbird
> 9
> Veery
> 8
> Wood Thrush
> 21
> American Robin
> 9
> American Goldfinch
> 4
> Chipping Sparrow
> 6
> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
> 5
> Song Sparrow
> 1
> Eastern Towhee
> 32
> Brown-headed Cowbird
> 2
> Ovenbird
> 100
> Worm-eating Warbler
> 5
> Louisiana Waterthrush
> 4
> Black-and-white Warbler
> 8
> Common Yellowthroat
> 13
> Hooded Warbler
> 32
> American Redstart
> 13
> Blackburnian Warbler
> 9
> Chestnut-sided Warbler
> 6
> Black-throated Blue Warbler
> 9
> Black-throated Green Warbler
> 11
> Canada Warbler
> 2
> Scarlet Tanager
> 14
> Northern Cardinal
> 4
> Indigo Bunting
> 2
> Eastern Screech-Owl
> 1
> Baltimore Oriole
> 1
> Red-winged Blackbird
> 1
> Northern Waterthrush
> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 19:41:27 -0400
> From: SCOTT WEIDENSAUL <scottweidensaul...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> Just to follow up on Deb’s comment below, that the BBS (and all manner of other, essential conservation work, from the federal Bird Banding Lab to the Bee Lab to 63 USGS science and research centers around the country and Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Units at 43 colleges and universities that train the next generation of conservation professionals) are at risk because of the proposed budget now before the Senate, which completely eliminates the Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS that houses all of this essential work and the 1,200 scientists who make it happen.
>
> If you care about birds, *now* is the time to call Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators and urge them to restore funding for the EMA. Do it now, while the memory of spring migration is fresh — and so that those birds don’t become simply a memory.
>
> Scott Weidensaul
> Milton, NH (formerly Schuylkill County)
>
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 20:16:12 -0400
> From: Arlene Koch <davilene...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> Great great post. Thanks so much Deb. Reports and info like this are why I continue to value this list.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
>> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
>> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
>> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
>> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
>> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
>> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
>> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
>> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>> Wild Turkey
>> 1
>> Mourning Dove
>> 4
>> Downy Woodpecker
>> 1
>> Pileated Woodpecker
>> 8
>> Great Crested Flycatcher
>> 1
>> Eastern Wood-Pewee
>> 15
>> Acadian Flycatcher
>> 18
>> Least Flycatcher
>> 2
>> Eastern Phoebe
>> 8
>> Blue-headed Vireo
>> 3
>> Red-eyed Vireo
>> 63
>> Blue Jay
>> 6
>> American Crow
>> 7
>> Common Raven
>> 12
>> Black-capped Chickadee
>> 7
>> Tufted Titmouse
>> 11
>> Cedar Waxwing
>> 10
>> White-breasted Nuthatch
>> 3
>> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
>> 3
>> Gray Catbird
>> 9
>> Veery
>> 8
>> Wood Thrush
>> 21
>> American Robin
>> 9
>> American Goldfinch
>> 4
>> Chipping Sparrow
>> 6
>> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
>> 5
>> Song Sparrow
>> 1
>> Eastern Towhee
>> 32
>> Brown-headed Cowbird
>> 2
>> Ovenbird
>> 100
>> Worm-eating Warbler
>> 5
>> Louisiana Waterthrush
>> 4
>> Black-and-white Warbler
>> 8
>> Common Yellowthroat
>> 13
>> Hooded Warbler
>> 32
>> American Redstart
>> 13
>> Blackburnian Warbler
>> 9
>> Chestnut-sided Warbler
>> 6
>> Black-throated Blue Warbler
>> 9
>> Black-throated Green Warbler
>> 11
>> Canada Warbler
>> 2
>> Scarlet Tanager
>> 14
>> Northern Cardinal
>> 4
>> Indigo Bunting
>> 2
>> Eastern Screech-Owl
>> 1
>> Baltimore Oriole
>> 1
>> Red-winged Blackbird
>> 1
>> Northern Waterthrush
>> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2025 20:17:34 -0400
> From: Grant Stevenson <stevensongrant03...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
>
> The Capitol switchboard is 1-202-224-3121
> Grant Stevenson
> Lehigh County
>
>> On Mon, Jun 2, 2025, 7:41 PM SCOTT WEIDENSAUL <
>> <000001343b2dd726-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>> Just to follow up on Deb’s comment below, that the BBS (and all manner of
>> other, essential conservation work, from the federal Bird Banding Lab to
>> the Bee Lab to 63 USGS science and research centers around the country and
>> Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Units at 43 colleges and universities that
>> train the next generation of conservation professionals) are at risk
>> because of the proposed budget now before the Senate, which completely
>> eliminates the Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS that houses all of this
>> essential work and the 1,200 scientists who make it happen.
>>
>> If you care about birds, *now* is the time to call Pennsylvania's U.S.
>> Senators and urge them to restore funding for the EMA. Do it now, while the
>> memory of spring migration is fresh — and so that those birds don’t become
>> simply a memory.
>>
>> Scott Weidensaul
>> Milton, NH (formerly Schuylkill County)
>>
>>
>>>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS
>> routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they
>> will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the
>> agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2025 01:00:15 +0000
> From: "Grove, Deborah Shuey" <dsg4...>
> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> I will post my Naginey route thru Mifflin and Snyder when I finish it. Crossing my fingers, no cicada noise.
> I finished two routes in southeastern Ohio last week. One is a nonrandomized completely in Zaleski State Forest. The other has been run since 1967 and starts just west of Athens and goes south. It sometimes has more WEVI than REVI. Chats and usually one Summer Tanager.
> Since it was first run in 1967, houses and farms have been abandoned and replaced by woods and shrubby fields.
> I grew up just north of there near Zanesville. The hills draw me back.
> Deb
>
> Deborah S. Grove
>
> ________________________________
> From: Arlene Koch <davilene...>
> Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 8:16:12 PM
> To: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...>
> Cc: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
> Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
>
> Great great post. Thanks so much Deb. Reports and info like this are why I continue to value this list.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>>
>> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
>> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
>> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
>> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
>> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
>> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
>> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
>> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
>> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>> Wild Turkey
>> 1
>> Mourning Dove
>> 4
>> Downy Woodpecker
>> 1
>> Pileated Woodpecker
>> 8
>> Great Crested Flycatcher
>> 1
>> Eastern Wood-Pewee
>> 15
>> Acadian Flycatcher
>> 18
>> Least Flycatcher
>> 2
>> Eastern Phoebe
>> 8
>> Blue-headed Vireo
>> 3
>> Red-eyed Vireo
>> 63
>> Blue Jay
>> 6
>> American Crow
>> 7
>> Common Raven
>> 12
>> Black-capped Chickadee
>> 7
>> Tufted Titmouse
>> 11
>> Cedar Waxwing
>> 10
>> White-breasted Nuthatch
>> 3
>> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
>> 3
>> Gray Catbird
>> 9
>> Veery
>> 8
>> Wood Thrush
>> 21
>> American Robin
>> 9
>> American Goldfinch
>> 4
>> Chipping Sparrow
>> 6
>> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
>> 5
>> Song Sparrow
>> 1
>> Eastern Towhee
>> 32
>> Brown-headed Cowbird
>> 2
>> Ovenbird
>> 100
>> Worm-eating Warbler
>> 5
>> Louisiana Waterthrush
>> 4
>> Black-and-white Warbler
>> 8
>> Common Yellowthroat
>> 13
>> Hooded Warbler
>> 32
>> American Redstart
>> 13
>> Blackburnian Warbler
>> 9
>> Chestnut-sided Warbler
>> 6
>> Black-throated Blue Warbler
>> 9
>> Black-throated Green Warbler
>> 11
>> Canada Warbler
>> 2
>> Scarlet Tanager
>> 14
>> Northern Cardinal
>> 4
>> Indigo Bunting
>> 2
>> Eastern Screech-Owl
>> 1
>> Baltimore Oriole
>> 1
>> Red-winged Blackbird
>> 1
>> Northern Waterthrush
>> 1
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of PABIRDS Digest - 1 Jun 2025 to 2 Jun 2025 (#2025-138)
> ************************************************************
Date: 6/2/25 6:00 pm From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
I will post my Naginey route thru Mifflin and Snyder when I finish it. Crossing my fingers, no cicada noise.
I finished two routes in southeastern Ohio last week. One is a nonrandomized completely in Zaleski State Forest. The other has been run since 1967 and starts just west of Athens and goes south. It sometimes has more WEVI than REVI. Chats and usually one Summer Tanager.
Since it was first run in 1967, houses and farms have been abandoned and replaced by woods and shrubby fields.
I grew up just north of there near Zanesville. The hills draw me back.
Deb
Deborah S. Grove
________________________________
From: Arlene Koch <davilene...>
Sent: Monday, June 2, 2025 8:16:12 PM
To: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...>
Cc: pabirds <PABIRDS...>
Subject: Re: [PABIRDS] Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county.
Great great post. Thanks so much Deb. Reports and info like this are why I continue to value this list.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>
> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
> Wild Turkey
> 1
> Mourning Dove
> 4
> Downy Woodpecker
> 1
> Pileated Woodpecker
> 8
> Great Crested Flycatcher
> 1
> Eastern Wood-Pewee
> 15
> Acadian Flycatcher
> 18
> Least Flycatcher
> 2
> Eastern Phoebe
> 8
> Blue-headed Vireo
> 3
> Red-eyed Vireo
> 63
> Blue Jay
> 6
> American Crow
> 7
> Common Raven
> 12
> Black-capped Chickadee
> 7
> Tufted Titmouse
> 11
> Cedar Waxwing
> 10
> White-breasted Nuthatch
> 3
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
> 3
> Gray Catbird
> 9
> Veery
> 8
> Wood Thrush
> 21
> American Robin
> 9
> American Goldfinch
> 4
> Chipping Sparrow
> 6
> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
> 5
> Song Sparrow
> 1
> Eastern Towhee
> 32
> Brown-headed Cowbird
> 2
> Ovenbird
> 100
> Worm-eating Warbler
> 5
> Louisiana Waterthrush
> 4
> Black-and-white Warbler
> 8
> Common Yellowthroat
> 13
> Hooded Warbler
> 32
> American Redstart
> 13
> Blackburnian Warbler
> 9
> Chestnut-sided Warbler
> 6
> Black-throated Blue Warbler
> 9
> Black-throated Green Warbler
> 11
> Canada Warbler
> 2
> Scarlet Tanager
> 14
> Northern Cardinal
> 4
> Indigo Bunting
> 2
> Eastern Screech-Owl
> 1
> Baltimore Oriole
> 1
> Red-winged Blackbird
> 1
> Northern Waterthrush
> 1
Date: 6/2/25 5:17 pm From: Grant Stevenson <stevensongrant03...> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
The Capitol switchboard is 1-202-224-3121
Grant Stevenson
Lehigh County
On Mon, Jun 2, 2025, 7:41 PM SCOTT WEIDENSAUL <
<000001343b2dd726-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Just to follow up on Deb’s comment below, that the BBS (and all manner of
> other, essential conservation work, from the federal Bird Banding Lab to
> the Bee Lab to 63 USGS science and research centers around the country and
> Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Units at 43 colleges and universities that
> train the next generation of conservation professionals) are at risk
> because of the proposed budget now before the Senate, which completely
> eliminates the Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS that houses all of this
> essential work and the 1,200 scientists who make it happen.
>
> If you care about birds, *now* is the time to call Pennsylvania's U.S.
> Senators and urge them to restore funding for the EMA. Do it now, while the
> memory of spring migration is fresh — and so that those birds don’t become
> simply a memory.
>
> Scott Weidensaul
> Milton, NH (formerly Schuylkill County)
>
>
> > On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
> >
> > Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS
> routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they
> will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the
> agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
>
Great great post. Thanks so much Deb. Reports and info like this are why I continue to value this list.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>
> I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every ½ mile starting ½ hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
> It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
> AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
> After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
> However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these “northern” birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
> I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 – others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
> No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
> Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Cooper’s Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
> Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
> Wild Turkey
> 1
> Mourning Dove
> 4
> Downy Woodpecker
> 1
> Pileated Woodpecker
> 8
> Great Crested Flycatcher
> 1
> Eastern Wood-Pewee
> 15
> Acadian Flycatcher
> 18
> Least Flycatcher
> 2
> Eastern Phoebe
> 8
> Blue-headed Vireo
> 3
> Red-eyed Vireo
> 63
> Blue Jay
> 6
> American Crow
> 7
> Common Raven
> 12
> Black-capped Chickadee
> 7
> Tufted Titmouse
> 11
> Cedar Waxwing
> 10
> White-breasted Nuthatch
> 3
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
> 3
> Gray Catbird
> 9
> Veery
> 8
> Wood Thrush
> 21
> American Robin
> 9
> American Goldfinch
> 4
> Chipping Sparrow
> 6
> (Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
> 5
> Song Sparrow
> 1
> Eastern Towhee
> 32
> Brown-headed Cowbird
> 2
> Ovenbird
> 100
> Worm-eating Warbler
> 5
> Louisiana Waterthrush
> 4
> Black-and-white Warbler
> 8
> Common Yellowthroat
> 13
> Hooded Warbler
> 32
> American Redstart
> 13
> Blackburnian Warbler
> 9
> Chestnut-sided Warbler
> 6
> Black-throated Blue Warbler
> 9
> Black-throated Green Warbler
> 11
> Canada Warbler
> 2
> Scarlet Tanager
> 14
> Northern Cardinal
> 4
> Indigo Bunting
> 2
> Eastern Screech-Owl
> 1
> Baltimore Oriole
> 1
> Red-winged Blackbird
> 1
> Northern Waterthrush
> 1
Date: 6/2/25 4:41 pm From: SCOTT WEIDENSAUL <000001343b2dd726-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
Just to follow up on Deb’s comment below, that the BBS (and all manner of other, essential conservation work, from the federal Bird Banding Lab to the Bee Lab to 63 USGS science and research centers around the country and Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Units at 43 colleges and universities that train the next generation of conservation professionals) are at risk because of the proposed budget now before the Senate, which completely eliminates the Ecosystems Mission Area at USGS that houses all of this essential work and the 1,200 scientists who make it happen.
If you care about birds, *now* is the time to call Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators and urge them to restore funding for the EMA. Do it now, while the memory of spring migration is fresh — and so that those birds don’t become simply a memory.
Scott Weidensaul
Milton, NH (formerly Schuylkill County)
> On Jun 2, 2025, at 7:12 AM, Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> wrote:
>
> Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
Date: 6/2/25 4:12 am From: Grove, Deborah Shuey <dsg4...> Subject: Broad Mountain BBS route in Huntingdon county
I ran my Broad Mountain USGS Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route on Friday morning May 30. A BBS route consists of 50 stops every mile starting hour before sunrise and counting birds for 3 minutes. This is one of three non-randomized routes that Greg set up in 1993 in Rothrock Forest. The route starts in Huntingdon county at the maintenance yard at Greenwood at Rag Hollow Rd and goes up Broad Mtn to Alan Seeger and then over to Cooper Hollow roads and then back to Stone Creek Rd, entering Mifflin and Centre counties along the way.
It was a clear morning and no breeze on top of Broad Mtn that increased the number of birds I could hear.
AND NO CICADA NOISE!! We have seen some but maybe only early emergent.
After 33 years there are definite trends. Forty-eight species for this year is also my average over the last 19 years when I took over. 516 individuals are above my average of 467. Unfortunately, some stops had a lot of noise because the creeks were roaring from recent rain!
However, there were some new records. Twelve Common Ravens echo records of the increase seen in Christmas Bird Counts in the area. At one point I had 3 sounding an alarm as they flew above me. Tufted Titmouse had a modest 11 individuals but still an increase. Gray Catbirds tied other records at 9. There were 10 Cedar Waxwings this year, a species that can be variable as some of these were flyovers. Although a modest number, there were 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and I always am amazed that these northern birds breed on Broad Mtn. However, the BIG new record was 100 Ovenbirds! This was up from 88 in 2022. The clear quiet morning might have contributed to this but there were several stops that lowered counts because they were so noisy that I could only hear very close birds.
I enjoy the warblers that pop up especially Canada Warblers which were only noticed at 2 stops. These birds were near the very loud areas at the high streams with lots of rhododendrons. The 32 Hooded Warbler were only 4 below the record 36 last year. This bird has shot up from about 5 or 6 in early years, supporting a trend of increasing across the Appalachians in PA. Worm-eating was at 5, Louisiana Waterthrush 4 others probably lost in the noise, Black-and-White down from 16 to 8, and other species heard are below in the list. However, missed are some that are variable from year to year such as Cerulean, Yellow-rumped (on top of Broad Mtn), Northern Parula, and even less often, Pine and Magnolia. BUT at stop 49, I heard a different song and having only 3 minutes to count, I strained to get it and it was a Northern Waterthrush! This species is what I consider a migrant and non-breeder for this northern breeder because the habitat was not right even though the stop is less than 2 miles away from Bear Meadows at a higher elevation where they have occasionally nested.
No cuckoos this year. No Whip-poor-wills that are usually heard at some of the first 3 stops. Flycatchers were well-represented with even 3 Least Flycatchers. 3 Blue-headed Vireos but 63 Red-eyes. No Winter Wrens at the overlooks as I came down Broad Mtn on the Alan Seeger side. And no Hermit Thrush in this area either. Wood Thrush at 21 are still higher than early years which were at an average of 10. Towhees holding steady as well as Chipping Sparrows. Tanagers holding steady although down slightly this year.
Another new species was a Red-winged Blackbird. There is a spot on Coopers Gap Rd that has cattails and one was loudly declaring its presence. I have also had a Blue-winged Warbler here before which was very unexpected! A Baltimore Oriole was also heard at this stop and has only been heard once before on this route but at another site in 2021. Checking eBird, I see that Jon Kauffman also had one close by the cattail stop in 2022.
Here is the Trip Report. Because the USGS has had funds cut, this may be the last year for BBS routes. Most have been run since the late 60s, nearly 60 years. But, they will probably be considered non-essential. It was touch and go for the agency to get money for postage to mail our packets. So so sad.
Wild Turkey
1
Mourning Dove
4
Downy Woodpecker
1
Pileated Woodpecker
8
Great Crested Flycatcher
1
Eastern Wood-Pewee
15
Acadian Flycatcher
18
Least Flycatcher
2
Eastern Phoebe
8
Blue-headed Vireo
3
Red-eyed Vireo
63
Blue Jay
6
American Crow
7
Common Raven
12
Black-capped Chickadee
7
Tufted Titmouse
11
Cedar Waxwing
10
White-breasted Nuthatch
3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
3
Gray Catbird
9
Veery
8
Wood Thrush
21
American Robin
9
American Goldfinch
4
Chipping Sparrow
6
(Slate-colored Junco) Dark-eyed Junco
5
Song Sparrow
1
Eastern Towhee
32
Brown-headed Cowbird
2
Ovenbird
100
Worm-eating Warbler
5
Louisiana Waterthrush
4
Black-and-white Warbler
8
Common Yellowthroat
13
Hooded Warbler
32
American Redstart
13
Blackburnian Warbler
9
Chestnut-sided Warbler
6
Black-throated Blue Warbler
9
Black-throated Green Warbler
11
Canada Warbler
2
Scarlet Tanager
14
Northern Cardinal
4
Indigo Bunting
2
Eastern Screech-Owl
1
Baltimore Oriole
1
Red-winged Blackbird
1
Northern Waterthrush
1
