Date: 4/25/24 5:12 pm From: Jennifer Outlaw Coulson via groups.io <jenniferocoulson...> Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April 2024
Wish I had been there!
Off topic, but I noticed that a few photos were uploaded to the wrong
species.
Jennifer Coulson
Pearl River, LA
On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 9:01 PM Johnson, Erik via groups.io <Erik.Johnson=
<audubon.org...> wrote:
> LAbird,
>
> I looked up cuckoo continental population estimates in the Partners in
> Flight Database, which is largely based on USGS Breeding Bird Survey data.
> About 8.4 million Yellow-billed Cuckoos in the U.S. and Canada versus about
> 0.9 million Black-billed Cuckoos, or a 10:1 ratio.
> (https://pif.birdconservancy.org/population-estimate-database-scores/)
>
> So why the 100:1 ratio detected in migration per Van (I'm inclined to
> agree with that). Interesting that with a low sample, Robb got more of a
> 10:1 ratio in nocturnal flight - would be interesting to know how that
> stacks up across a season, or multiple seasons.
>
> In the eBird weekly abundance maps, Black-billed Cuckoo all but disappears
> in migration.
>
> https://science.ebird.org/en/status-and-trends/species/bkbcuc/abundance-map-weekly >
> My hunch is that Black-billed Cuckoo is more of a long-distance jumper
> than Yellow-billed Cuckoo, which may be better described as a
> short-distance skipper. The corollary is that Black-billed would pass
> through faster, thus is less available for detection.
>
> An alternative (or contributing factor) is that Black-bills are a lot less
> easy to detect, but I just don't believe that Yellow-billed Cuckoo is 10x
> as likely to be detected as a Black-billed. Black-bills do seem to be a lot
> less vocal, however, so maybe that's some of it.
>
> Someone needs to do a migration tracking study on Black-billed Cuckoos!
> Only 3 Motus tags ever deployed, and no other tracking information seems to
> be published.
>
> Happy migration!
> Erik Johnson
> Sunset, LA
> Erik.Johnson AT Audubon.org
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Robb Brumfield via
> groups.io
> Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 8:22 PM
> To: James V Remsen <najames...>; Jack Rogers <jack...>
> Cc: LABIRD <labird...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April
> 2024
>
> From my nocturnal flight call station in Baton Rouge the evening of April
> 22nd was a season high for migrating cuckoos. Between 9:30 pm and 3:30 am
> (April 23rd) I had 24 individual yellow-billed and 2 black-billed.
>
> Robb
>
>
>
> Robb T. Brumfield, PhD
> Associate Dean of Research & Administration, College of Science Roy Paul
> Daniels Professor of Biological Sciences Curator of Genetic Resources,
> Museum of Natural Science Louisiana State University | lsu.edu |
> science.lsu.edu/
> office: 225-578-4206|mobile: 225-202-8892|fax: 225-578-8826 <robb...>
> <mailto:<robb...> >
>
>
>
> From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of James V Remsen via
> groups.io <najames...>
> Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 7:49 PM
> To: Jack Rogers <jack...>
> Cc: LABIRD <labird...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April
> 2024 Jack et al. — wow, what an experience! Fascinating.
>
> As for the cuckoo prevalence …. Another hypothesis is that it was just one
> of those “cuckoo waves”. Spring waves are often dominated by one taxonomic
> category. For example, sometimes there are “cardinaline days" with
> buntings, grosbeaks, and Dickcissels making up the bulk of the migrants.
> Rarely there are “thrush days, with Catharus species and Wood Thrush
> predominating. Sometimes warblers steal the show. Sometimes Catbirds or
> R-e Vireos are way over-represented.
>
> As fo YB vs. BB cuckoos — indeed it’s pretty clear that YB is a common
> bird with a huge overall population, and BB is generally scarce. Although
> YB has a larger breeding distribution, the difference is small compared to
> the ratio of migrants detected, which I suspect is at least 100:1. Why the
> disparity is so great is a mystery to me and to my buddies with whom I’ve
> discussed this on long birding trips. My personal high count for BB is 5,
> way back in April 1979, and nowadays, seeing more than 1 in day is a big
> deal. There have been years when I’ve not seen one at all.
>
> Van Remsen
>
> ===================
>
> Dr. J. V. Remsen
> Emeritus Prof. of Natural Science and Curator of Birds Museum of Natural
> Science/Dept. Biological Sciences LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
> najames<at>LSU.edu
>
> > On Apr 24, 2024, at 5:01 PM, Jack Rogers via groups.io <jack=
> <4rogers.com...> wrote:
> >
> > [You don't often get email from <jack...> Learn why
> > this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
> >
> > LaBird
> > I hope you all have been having a birdy spring! Hopefully we get one
> > more front before the end of the month--these south winds have been
> killing me!
> > I wanted to write to talk about the crazy day on the Chandeleurs that
> > we had yesterday. As part of an ongoing survey by SEG Environmental,
> > we bird the island once a month looking to assess the numbers of
> > several target species (Red Knot, Chandeleur Gull, Wilson's/Piping/Snowy
> Plovers, etc.).
> > I think that we have all been most excited for the April survey, and
> > it definitely lived up to expectations.
> >
> > For those that have not had the pleasure of visiting the Chandeleurs,
> > it is an amazing place. Most (I would estimate over 90%) of the
> > island's vegetation is Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora); in
> > some of the slightly higher elevation areas, there is also Phragmites
> > and Groundsel as well. Matt Conn and I surveyed the northern tip of
> > Chandeleur Island, which has almost no vegetation except for Spartina.
> > The birding was nothing short of excellent-we had 81 species (+1
> > Chandeleur Gull), which I think is pretty great considering there is
> > only 1 tree in that section (a 6 ft tall Mangrove). There were about
> > 7 small mounds in the saltmarsh that had small groundsel bushes or
> > Phragmites stands. Each bush or stand of Phragmites was astoundingly
> > full of migrants. Take a look at our eBird checklist here
> > <https://ebird.org/checklist/S170012706<https://ebird.org/checklist/S1 > > 70012706>> for the full rundown. My personal highlight was the best
> > Black-billed Cuckoo looks I can ask for! I know several other groups
> > had great birds as well: Cape May Warbler (x2), Yellow Rail (!!), and
> Blackpoll Warblers were seen by other surveyors on their more southerly
> transects.
> >
> > I was most interested by the incredible density of Cuckoos compared to
> > smaller migrants (e.g. warblers, buntings, etc). The only thing I can
> > think of is that there is really nothing for cuckoos to eat on the
> islands:
> > there is no fruit, no insects much larger than saltmarsh moths or
> > horseflies, nothing that Cuckoos could theoretically refuel themselves
> > with after a trans-Gulf flight. Whereas there are plenty of tiny
> > insects (aphids, mosquitos, miniscule beetles and saltmarsh flies) for
> > warblers to eat, and plenty of seeds for INBUs etc. I also found the
> > ratio of Yellow- to Black-billed Cuckoos interesting. I believe that
> > Matt and I had a 100% detection rate of Cuckoos within our section,
> > and am pretty positive in a 100% correct identification rate as well.
> > I have always thought that my lack of mainland BB Cuckoos was a
> > detection error, but now I am wondering if it is more of a disparity in
> population sizes.
> >
> > I wrote this in my eBird comments, but this was really one of the most
> > exciting days of birding in my life. Small groundsel bushes (2 feet
> > high with a diameter of 18 inches) were holding ridiculous totals of
> > birds such as one that held 7 Y-b Cuckoos, 3 Catbirds, 2 Ovenbirds, 1
> > Swainson's Thrush, and 2 Yellow Warblers. An absolutely incredible
> > experience, and just wanted to share that with you all.
> > Thanks for reading this monologue and good birding to y'all, Jack
> > Rogers
> >
> > --
> > Jack Rogers
> > LSU Renewable Natural Resources
> > Baton Rouge, Louisiana/Mt Pleasant, SC My Flickr page
> > <http://www.flickr.com/photos/90726323@N05/<http://www.flickr.com/phot > > os/90726323@N05/>>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/25/24 5:39 am From: joan garvey via groups.io <joanmgarvey1...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Great Job Dave!!!
-----Original Message-----
From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Karen Terrell via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 5:50 PM
To: Katherine Gividen <gividen.katherine...>
Cc: <mark900...>; LABIRD <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Thanks, Dave. This is wonderful!!!
> On Apr 24, 2024, at 4:55 PM, Katherine Gividen <gividen.katherine...> wrote:
>
> This is FANTASTIC! Thank you for sharing!
>> On Apr 24, 2024, at 3:17 PM, mark900 via groups.io <mark900...> wrote:
>>
>> Congratulations on both a great camera set up and excellent editing.
>>
>> Mark Hefter
>> <mark900...>
>> (917) 860-9323
>>>> On Apr 24, 2024, at 1:20 PM, Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It
>>> took a while to figure out the settings I like best as far as
>>> frequency and duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a
>>> compromise between battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting,
>>> rain, etc.... I think posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without
>>> all the ads and I think is accessible easily by the public. The
>>> Images are pretty good, but need a monitor bigger than most cell
>>> phones. On my desk top monitor, the species are pretty easy to ID.
>>> These are almost all birds, but I have other critters I can feature in clips to come.
>>> This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th.
>>> https://vimeo.com/938652025 >>>
>>> Dave Patton
>>> Baton Rouge Audubon
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 9:01 pm From: Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122...> Subject: [labird] Peveto Dish 3, birds and mammals
I put together another video from a different dish. This one is Dish 3, and is in the open woods behind the mister and water hole dishes. The woods in view behind the dish include a travel lane for many animals not often seen in the sanctuary. I spare you a full 20 minute visit by a roaming group of Common Grackles, but it can be interesting to watch as they arrive, drink, and feed among the leaf litter. Then they are gone. Dave Patton BRAS
Date: 4/24/24 7:01 pm From: Johnson, Erik via groups.io <Erik.Johnson...> Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April 2024
LAbird,
I looked up cuckoo continental population estimates in the Partners in Flight Database, which is largely based on USGS Breeding Bird Survey data. About 8.4 million Yellow-billed Cuckoos in the U.S. and Canada versus about 0.9 million Black-billed Cuckoos, or a 10:1 ratio.
(https://pif.birdconservancy.org/population-estimate-database-scores/)
So why the 100:1 ratio detected in migration per Van (I'm inclined to agree with that). Interesting that with a low sample, Robb got more of a 10:1 ratio in nocturnal flight - would be interesting to know how that stacks up across a season, or multiple seasons.
My hunch is that Black-billed Cuckoo is more of a long-distance jumper than Yellow-billed Cuckoo, which may be better described as a short-distance skipper. The corollary is that Black-billed would pass through faster, thus is less available for detection.
An alternative (or contributing factor) is that Black-bills are a lot less easy to detect, but I just don't believe that Yellow-billed Cuckoo is 10x as likely to be detected as a Black-billed. Black-bills do seem to be a lot less vocal, however, so maybe that's some of it.
Someone needs to do a migration tracking study on Black-billed Cuckoos! Only 3 Motus tags ever deployed, and no other tracking information seems to be published.
Happy migration!
Erik Johnson
Sunset, LA
Erik.Johnson AT Audubon.org
-----Original Message-----
From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Robb Brumfield via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 8:22 PM
To: James V Remsen <najames...>; Jack Rogers <jack...>
Cc: LABIRD <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April 2024
From my nocturnal flight call station in Baton Rouge the evening of April 22nd was a season high for migrating cuckoos. Between 9:30 pm and 3:30 am (April 23rd) I had 24 individual yellow-billed and 2 black-billed.
Robb
Robb T. Brumfield, PhD
Associate Dean of Research & Administration, College of Science Roy Paul Daniels Professor of Biological Sciences Curator of Genetic Resources, Museum of Natural Science Louisiana State University | lsu.edu |science.lsu.edu/
office: 225-578-4206|mobile: 225-202-8892|fax: 225-578-8826 <robb...><mailto:<robb...>
From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of James V Remsen via groups.io <najames...>
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 7:49 PM
To: Jack Rogers <jack...>
Cc: LABIRD <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April 2024 Jack et al. — wow, what an experience! Fascinating.
As for the cuckoo prevalence …. Another hypothesis is that it was just one of those “cuckoo waves”. Spring waves are often dominated by one taxonomic category. For example, sometimes there are “cardinaline days" with buntings, grosbeaks, and Dickcissels making up the bulk of the migrants. Rarely there are “thrush days, with Catharus species and Wood Thrush predominating. Sometimes warblers steal the show. Sometimes Catbirds or R-e Vireos are way over-represented.
As fo YB vs. BB cuckoos — indeed it’s pretty clear that YB is a common bird with a huge overall population, and BB is generally scarce. Although YB has a larger breeding distribution, the difference is small compared to the ratio of migrants detected, which I suspect is at least 100:1. Why the disparity is so great is a mystery to me and to my buddies with whom I’ve discussed this on long birding trips. My personal high count for BB is 5, way back in April 1979, and nowadays, seeing more than 1 in day is a big deal. There have been years when I’ve not seen one at all.
Van Remsen
===================
Dr. J. V. Remsen
Emeritus Prof. of Natural Science and Curator of Birds Museum of Natural Science/Dept. Biological Sciences LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 najames<at>LSU.edu
> On Apr 24, 2024, at 5:01 PM, Jack Rogers via groups.io <jack...> wrote:
>
> [You don't often get email from <jack...> Learn why
> this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
>
> LaBird
> I hope you all have been having a birdy spring! Hopefully we get one
> more front before the end of the month--these south winds have been killing me!
> I wanted to write to talk about the crazy day on the Chandeleurs that
> we had yesterday. As part of an ongoing survey by SEG Environmental,
> we bird the island once a month looking to assess the numbers of
> several target species (Red Knot, Chandeleur Gull, Wilson's/Piping/Snowy Plovers, etc.).
> I think that we have all been most excited for the April survey, and
> it definitely lived up to expectations.
>
> For those that have not had the pleasure of visiting the Chandeleurs,
> it is an amazing place. Most (I would estimate over 90%) of the
> island's vegetation is Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora); in
> some of the slightly higher elevation areas, there is also Phragmites
> and Groundsel as well. Matt Conn and I surveyed the northern tip of
> Chandeleur Island, which has almost no vegetation except for Spartina.
> The birding was nothing short of excellent-we had 81 species (+1
> Chandeleur Gull), which I think is pretty great considering there is
> only 1 tree in that section (a 6 ft tall Mangrove). There were about
> 7 small mounds in the saltmarsh that had small groundsel bushes or
> Phragmites stands. Each bush or stand of Phragmites was astoundingly
> full of migrants. Take a look at our eBird checklist here
> <https://ebird.org/checklist/S170012706<https://ebird.org/checklist/S1 > 70012706>> for the full rundown. My personal highlight was the best
> Black-billed Cuckoo looks I can ask for! I know several other groups
> had great birds as well: Cape May Warbler (x2), Yellow Rail (!!), and Blackpoll Warblers were seen by other surveyors on their more southerly transects.
>
> I was most interested by the incredible density of Cuckoos compared to
> smaller migrants (e.g. warblers, buntings, etc). The only thing I can
> think of is that there is really nothing for cuckoos to eat on the islands:
> there is no fruit, no insects much larger than saltmarsh moths or
> horseflies, nothing that Cuckoos could theoretically refuel themselves
> with after a trans-Gulf flight. Whereas there are plenty of tiny
> insects (aphids, mosquitos, miniscule beetles and saltmarsh flies) for
> warblers to eat, and plenty of seeds for INBUs etc. I also found the
> ratio of Yellow- to Black-billed Cuckoos interesting. I believe that
> Matt and I had a 100% detection rate of Cuckoos within our section,
> and am pretty positive in a 100% correct identification rate as well.
> I have always thought that my lack of mainland BB Cuckoos was a
> detection error, but now I am wondering if it is more of a disparity in population sizes.
>
> I wrote this in my eBird comments, but this was really one of the most
> exciting days of birding in my life. Small groundsel bushes (2 feet
> high with a diameter of 18 inches) were holding ridiculous totals of
> birds such as one that held 7 Y-b Cuckoos, 3 Catbirds, 2 Ovenbirds, 1
> Swainson's Thrush, and 2 Yellow Warblers. An absolutely incredible
> experience, and just wanted to share that with you all.
> Thanks for reading this monologue and good birding to y'all, Jack
> Rogers
>
> --
> Jack Rogers
> LSU Renewable Natural Resources
> Baton Rouge, Louisiana/Mt Pleasant, SC My Flickr page
> <http://www.flickr.com/photos/90726323@N05/<http://www.flickr.com/phot > os/90726323@N05/>>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 6:36 pm From: Robb Brumfield via groups.io <robb...> Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April 2024
From my nocturnal flight call station in Baton Rouge the evening of April 22nd was a season high for migrating cuckoos. Between 9:30 pm and 3:30 am (April 23rd) I had 24 individual yellow-billed and 2 black-billed.
Robb
Robb T. Brumfield, PhD
Associate Dean of Research & Administration, College of Science
Roy Paul Daniels Professor of Biological Sciences
Curator of Genetic Resources, Museum of Natural Science
Louisiana State University | lsu.edu |science.lsu.edu/
office: 225-578-4206|mobile: 225-202-8892|fax: 225-578-8826
<robb...><mailto:<robb...>
From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of James V Remsen via groups.io <najames...>
Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 7:49 PM
To: Jack Rogers <jack...>
Cc: LABIRD <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April 2024
Jack et al. — wow, what an experience! Fascinating.
As for the cuckoo prevalence …. Another hypothesis is that it was just one of those “cuckoo waves”. Spring waves are often dominated by one taxonomic category. For example, sometimes there are “cardinaline days" with buntings, grosbeaks, and Dickcissels making up the bulk of the migrants. Rarely there are “thrush days, with Catharus species and Wood Thrush predominating. Sometimes warblers steal the show. Sometimes Catbirds or R-e Vireos are way over-represented.
As fo YB vs. BB cuckoos — indeed it’s pretty clear that YB is a common bird with a huge overall population, and BB is generally scarce. Although YB has a larger breeding distribution, the difference is small compared to the ratio of migrants detected, which I suspect is at least 100:1. Why the disparity is so great is a mystery to me and to my buddies with whom I’ve discussed this on long birding trips. My personal high count for BB is 5, way back in April 1979, and nowadays, seeing more than 1 in day is a big deal. There have been years when I’ve not seen one at all.
Van Remsen
===================
Dr. J. V. Remsen
Emeritus Prof. of Natural Science and Curator of Birds
Museum of Natural Science/Dept. Biological Sciences
LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najames<at>LSU.edu
> On Apr 24, 2024, at 5:01 PM, Jack Rogers via groups.io <jack...> wrote:
>
> [You don't often get email from <jack...> Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
>
> LaBird
> I hope you all have been having a birdy spring! Hopefully we get one more
> front before the end of the month--these south winds have been killing me!
> I wanted to write to talk about the crazy day on the Chandeleurs that we
> had yesterday. As part of an ongoing survey by SEG Environmental, we bird
> the island once a month looking to assess the numbers of several target
> species (Red Knot, Chandeleur Gull, Wilson's/Piping/Snowy Plovers, etc.).
> I think that we have all been most excited for the April survey, and it
> definitely lived up to expectations.
>
> For those that have not had the pleasure of visiting the Chandeleurs, it is
> an amazing place. Most (I would estimate over 90%) of the island's
> vegetation is Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora); in some of the
> slightly higher elevation areas, there is also Phragmites and Groundsel as
> well. Matt Conn and I surveyed the northern tip of Chandeleur Island,
> which has almost no vegetation except for Spartina. The birding was
> nothing short of excellent-we had 81 species (+1 Chandeleur Gull), which I
> think is pretty great considering there is only 1 tree in that section (a 6
> ft tall Mangrove). There were about 7 small mounds in the saltmarsh that
> had small groundsel bushes or Phragmites stands. Each bush or stand of
> Phragmites was astoundingly full of migrants. Take a look at our eBird
> checklist here <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Febird.org%2Fchecklist%2FS170012706&data=05%7C02%<7Crobb...>%7C6ab44a30300647816c8208dc64c1816f%7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8%7C0%7C0%7C638496029467060427%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DkykcKYhuuKtKRpw2GKr0HzQ%2B17vi6WKxQlSE5fTGNE%3D&reserved=0<https://ebird.org/checklist/S170012706>> for the full
> rundown. My personal highlight was the best Black-billed Cuckoo looks I
> can ask for! I know several other groups had great birds as well: Cape May
> Warbler (x2), Yellow Rail (!!), and Blackpoll Warblers were seen by other
> surveyors on their more southerly transects.
>
> I was most interested by the incredible density of Cuckoos compared to
> smaller migrants (e.g. warblers, buntings, etc). The only thing I can
> think of is that there is really nothing for cuckoos to eat on the islands:
> there is no fruit, no insects much larger than saltmarsh moths or
> horseflies, nothing that Cuckoos could theoretically refuel themselves with
> after a trans-Gulf flight. Whereas there are plenty of tiny insects
> (aphids, mosquitos, miniscule beetles and saltmarsh flies) for warblers to
> eat, and plenty of seeds for INBUs etc. I also found the ratio of Yellow-
> to Black-billed Cuckoos interesting. I believe that Matt and I had a 100%
> detection rate of Cuckoos within our section, and am pretty positive in a
> 100% correct identification rate as well. I have always thought that my
> lack of mainland BB Cuckoos was a detection error, but now I am wondering
> if it is more of a disparity in population sizes.
>
> I wrote this in my eBird comments, but this was really one of the most
> exciting days of birding in my life. Small groundsel bushes (2 feet high
> with a diameter of 18 inches) were holding ridiculous totals of birds such
> as one that held 7 Y-b Cuckoos, 3 Catbirds, 2 Ovenbirds, 1 Swainson's
> Thrush, and 2 Yellow Warblers. An absolutely incredible experience, and
> just wanted to share that with you all.
> Thanks for reading this monologue and good birding to y'all,
> Jack Rogers
>
> --
> Jack Rogers
> LSU Renewable Natural Resources
> Baton Rouge, Louisiana/Mt Pleasant, SC
> My Flickr page
> <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F90726323%40N05%2F&data=05%7C02%<7Crobb...>%7C6ab44a30300647816c8208dc64c1816f%7C2d4dad3f50ae47d983a09ae2b1f466f8%7C0%7C0%7C638496029467070123%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BZEIl6DHVvrvOdaI9VDJCBJQx79SKybpbmgf1LLwXY8%3D&reserved=0<http://www.flickr.com/photos/90726323@N05/>> >
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 5:49 pm From: James V Remsen via groups.io <najames...> Subject: Re: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April 2024
Jack et al. — wow, what an experience! Fascinating.
As for the cuckoo prevalence …. Another hypothesis is that it was just one of those “cuckoo waves”. Spring waves are often dominated by one taxonomic category. For example, sometimes there are “cardinaline days" with buntings, grosbeaks, and Dickcissels making up the bulk of the migrants. Rarely there are “thrush days, with Catharus species and Wood Thrush predominating. Sometimes warblers steal the show. Sometimes Catbirds or R-e Vireos are way over-represented.
As fo YB vs. BB cuckoos — indeed it’s pretty clear that YB is a common bird with a huge overall population, and BB is generally scarce. Although YB has a larger breeding distribution, the difference is small compared to the ratio of migrants detected, which I suspect is at least 100:1. Why the disparity is so great is a mystery to me and to my buddies with whom I’ve discussed this on long birding trips. My personal high count for BB is 5, way back in April 1979, and nowadays, seeing more than 1 in day is a big deal. There have been years when I’ve not seen one at all.
Van Remsen
===================
Dr. J. V. Remsen
Emeritus Prof. of Natural Science and Curator of Birds
Museum of Natural Science/Dept. Biological Sciences
LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803
najames<at>LSU.edu
> On Apr 24, 2024, at 5:01 PM, Jack Rogers via groups.io <jack...> wrote:
>
> [You don't often get email from <jack...> Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
>
> LaBird
> I hope you all have been having a birdy spring! Hopefully we get one more
> front before the end of the month--these south winds have been killing me!
> I wanted to write to talk about the crazy day on the Chandeleurs that we
> had yesterday. As part of an ongoing survey by SEG Environmental, we bird
> the island once a month looking to assess the numbers of several target
> species (Red Knot, Chandeleur Gull, Wilson's/Piping/Snowy Plovers, etc.).
> I think that we have all been most excited for the April survey, and it
> definitely lived up to expectations.
>
> For those that have not had the pleasure of visiting the Chandeleurs, it is
> an amazing place. Most (I would estimate over 90%) of the island's
> vegetation is Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora); in some of the
> slightly higher elevation areas, there is also Phragmites and Groundsel as
> well. Matt Conn and I surveyed the northern tip of Chandeleur Island,
> which has almost no vegetation except for Spartina. The birding was
> nothing short of excellent-we had 81 species (+1 Chandeleur Gull), which I
> think is pretty great considering there is only 1 tree in that section (a 6
> ft tall Mangrove). There were about 7 small mounds in the saltmarsh that
> had small groundsel bushes or Phragmites stands. Each bush or stand of
> Phragmites was astoundingly full of migrants. Take a look at our eBird
> checklist here <https://ebird.org/checklist/S170012706> for the full
> rundown. My personal highlight was the best Black-billed Cuckoo looks I
> can ask for! I know several other groups had great birds as well: Cape May
> Warbler (x2), Yellow Rail (!!), and Blackpoll Warblers were seen by other
> surveyors on their more southerly transects.
>
> I was most interested by the incredible density of Cuckoos compared to
> smaller migrants (e.g. warblers, buntings, etc). The only thing I can
> think of is that there is really nothing for cuckoos to eat on the islands:
> there is no fruit, no insects much larger than saltmarsh moths or
> horseflies, nothing that Cuckoos could theoretically refuel themselves with
> after a trans-Gulf flight. Whereas there are plenty of tiny insects
> (aphids, mosquitos, miniscule beetles and saltmarsh flies) for warblers to
> eat, and plenty of seeds for INBUs etc. I also found the ratio of Yellow-
> to Black-billed Cuckoos interesting. I believe that Matt and I had a 100%
> detection rate of Cuckoos within our section, and am pretty positive in a
> 100% correct identification rate as well. I have always thought that my
> lack of mainland BB Cuckoos was a detection error, but now I am wondering
> if it is more of a disparity in population sizes.
>
> I wrote this in my eBird comments, but this was really one of the most
> exciting days of birding in my life. Small groundsel bushes (2 feet high
> with a diameter of 18 inches) were holding ridiculous totals of birds such
> as one that held 7 Y-b Cuckoos, 3 Catbirds, 2 Ovenbirds, 1 Swainson's
> Thrush, and 2 Yellow Warblers. An absolutely incredible experience, and
> just wanted to share that with you all.
> Thanks for reading this monologue and good birding to y'all,
> Jack Rogers
>
> --
> Jack Rogers
> LSU Renewable Natural Resources
> Baton Rouge, Louisiana/Mt Pleasant, SC
> My Flickr page
> <http://www.flickr.com/photos/90726323@N05/> >
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 4:23 pm From: Sandra Barbier via groups.io <sandabar10...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Thank you very much. Enjoyed that!
On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 5:50 PM Karen Terrell via groups.io <karen710=
<cox.net...> wrote:
> Thanks, Dave. This is wonderful!!!
> > On Apr 24, 2024, at 4:55 PM, Katherine Gividen <
> <gividen.katherine...> wrote:
> >
> > This is FANTASTIC! Thank you for sharing!
> >> On Apr 24, 2024, at 3:17 PM, mark900 via groups.io <mark900=
> <me.com...> wrote:
> >>
> >> Congratulations on both a great camera set up and excellent editing.
> >>
> >> Mark Hefter
> >> <mark900...>
> >> (917) 860-9323
> >>>> On Apr 24, 2024, at 1:20 PM, Dave Patton via groups.io
> <davepatton122...> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It
> took a
> >>> while to figure out the settings I like best as far as frequency and
> >>> duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a compromise between
> >>> battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting, rain, etc.... I think
> >>> posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without all the ads and I think is
> >>> accessible easily by the public. The Images are pretty good, but need a
> >>> monitor bigger than most cell phones. On my desk top monitor, the
> species
> >>> are pretty easy to ID. These are almost all birds, but I have
> >>> other critters I can feature in clips to come.
> >>> This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th.
> >>> https://vimeo.com/938652025 > >>>
> >>> Dave Patton
> >>> Baton Rouge Audubon
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 3:50 pm From: Karen Terrell via groups.io <karen710...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Thanks, Dave. This is wonderful!!!
> On Apr 24, 2024, at 4:55 PM, Katherine Gividen <gividen.katherine...> wrote:
>
> This is FANTASTIC! Thank you for sharing!
>> On Apr 24, 2024, at 3:17 PM, mark900 via groups.io <mark900...> wrote:
>>
>> Congratulations on both a great camera set up and excellent editing.
>>
>> Mark Hefter
>> <mark900...>
>> (917) 860-9323
>>>> On Apr 24, 2024, at 1:20 PM, Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122...> wrote:
>>>
>>> I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It took a
>>> while to figure out the settings I like best as far as frequency and
>>> duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a compromise between
>>> battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting, rain, etc.... I think
>>> posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without all the ads and I think is
>>> accessible easily by the public. The Images are pretty good, but need a
>>> monitor bigger than most cell phones. On my desk top monitor, the species
>>> are pretty easy to ID. These are almost all birds, but I have
>>> other critters I can feature in clips to come.
>>> This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th.
>>> https://vimeo.com/938652025 >>>
>>> Dave Patton
>>> Baton Rouge Audubon
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 3:01 pm From: Jack Rogers via groups.io <jack...> Subject: [labird] SEG Environmental Chandeleur Islands Trip 23 April 2024
LaBird I hope you all have been having a birdy spring! Hopefully we get one more front before the end of the month--these south winds have been killing me! I wanted to write to talk about the crazy day on the Chandeleurs that we had yesterday. As part of an ongoing survey by SEG Environmental, we bird the island once a month looking to assess the numbers of several target species (Red Knot, Chandeleur Gull, Wilson's/Piping/Snowy Plovers, etc.). I think that we have all been most excited for the April survey, and it definitely lived up to expectations.
For those that have not had the pleasure of visiting the Chandeleurs, it is an amazing place. Most (I would estimate over 90%) of the island's vegetation is Saltmarsh Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora); in some of the slightly higher elevation areas, there is also Phragmites and Groundsel as well. Matt Conn and I surveyed the northern tip of Chandeleur Island, which has almost no vegetation except for Spartina. The birding was nothing short of excellent-we had 81 species (+1 Chandeleur Gull), which I think is pretty great considering there is only 1 tree in that section (a 6 ft tall Mangrove). There were about 7 small mounds in the saltmarsh that had small groundsel bushes or Phragmites stands. Each bush or stand of Phragmites was astoundingly full of migrants. Take a look at our eBird checklist here <https://ebird.org/checklist/S170012706> for the full rundown. My personal highlight was the best Black-billed Cuckoo looks I can ask for! I know several other groups had great birds as well: Cape May Warbler (x2), Yellow Rail (!!), and Blackpoll Warblers were seen by other surveyors on their more southerly transects.
I was most interested by the incredible density of Cuckoos compared to smaller migrants (e.g. warblers, buntings, etc). The only thing I can think of is that there is really nothing for cuckoos to eat on the islands: there is no fruit, no insects much larger than saltmarsh moths or horseflies, nothing that Cuckoos could theoretically refuel themselves with after a trans-Gulf flight. Whereas there are plenty of tiny insects (aphids, mosquitos, miniscule beetles and saltmarsh flies) for warblers to eat, and plenty of seeds for INBUs etc. I also found the ratio of Yellow- to Black-billed Cuckoos interesting. I believe that Matt and I had a 100% detection rate of Cuckoos within our section, and am pretty positive in a 100% correct identification rate as well. I have always thought that my lack of mainland BB Cuckoos was a detection error, but now I am wondering if it is more of a disparity in population sizes.
I wrote this in my eBird comments, but this was really one of the most exciting days of birding in my life. Small groundsel bushes (2 feet high with a diameter of 18 inches) were holding ridiculous totals of birds such as one that held 7 Y-b Cuckoos, 3 Catbirds, 2 Ovenbirds, 1 Swainson's Thrush, and 2 Yellow Warblers. An absolutely incredible experience, and just wanted to share that with you all. Thanks for reading this monologue and good birding to y'all, Jack Rogers
Date: 4/24/24 2:55 pm From: Katherine Gividen via groups.io <gividen.katherine...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
This is FANTASTIC! Thank you for sharing!
> On Apr 24, 2024, at 3:17 PM, mark900 via groups.io <mark900...> wrote:
>
> Congratulations on both a great camera set up and excellent editing.
>
> Mark Hefter
> <mark900...>
> (917) 860-9323
>> On Apr 24, 2024, at 1:20 PM, Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122...> wrote:
>>
>> I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It took a
>> while to figure out the settings I like best as far as frequency and
>> duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a compromise between
>> battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting, rain, etc.... I think
>> posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without all the ads and I think is
>> accessible easily by the public. The Images are pretty good, but need a
>> monitor bigger than most cell phones. On my desk top monitor, the species
>> are pretty easy to ID. These are almost all birds, but I have
>> other critters I can feature in clips to come.
>> This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th.
>> https://vimeo.com/938652025 >>
>> Dave Patton
>> Baton Rouge Audubon
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 1:17 pm From: mark900 via groups.io <mark900...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Congratulations on both a great camera set up and excellent editing.
Mark Hefter
<mark900...>
(917) 860-9323
> On Apr 24, 2024, at 1:20 PM, Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122...> wrote:
>
> I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It took a
> while to figure out the settings I like best as far as frequency and
> duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a compromise between
> battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting, rain, etc.... I think
> posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without all the ads and I think is
> accessible easily by the public. The Images are pretty good, but need a
> monitor bigger than most cell phones. On my desk top monitor, the species
> are pretty easy to ID. These are almost all birds, but I have
> other critters I can feature in clips to come.
> This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th.
> https://vimeo.com/938652025 >
> Dave Patton
> Baton Rouge Audubon
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 1:13 pm From: Shae via groups.io <23joules...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Thank you for the link, this is fantastic! Great speed ID practice too!
Shae
> On Apr 24, 2024, at 13:20, Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122...> wrote:
>
> I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It took a
> while to figure out the settings I like best as far as frequency and
> duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a compromise between
> battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting, rain, etc.... I think
> posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without all the ads and I think is
> accessible easily by the public. The Images are pretty good, but need a
> monitor bigger than most cell phones. On my desk top monitor, the species
> are pretty easy to ID. These are almost all birds, but I have
> other critters I can feature in clips to come.
> This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th.
> https://vimeo.com/938652025 >
> Dave Patton
> Baton Rouge Audubon
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 12:59 pm From: Roselie via groups.io <rosebird49...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Ok, thanks.
On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 2:55 PM Dave Patton <davepatton122...> wrote:
> Roselie,
> Viewing this and others I will post should be free viewing to the public.
> You would pay if you want to create an account and upload your videos. This
> video is made up of fifty-five, 5 second clips. The camera recorded 710
> clips activated by motion over this time period. Lots of Grackles and
> Catbirds. I edited them together into one video and it does jump from one
> to the next. If I get better with video editing, I will work on
> transitions. I think you have a slide bar to pause and advance forward and
> back, but I am not sure exactly what the public view is. I suspect the
> video quality and playback will vary with internet connection and playback
> device. It can be expanded to full screen which looks pretty good on my
> monitor.
> Dave Patton
>
> On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 2:11 PM Roselie Overby <rosebird49...>
> wrote:
>
>> Does it just jump from one view to another? And did I read correctly
>> that I'll have to pay $12 a month for Vimeo?
>> Roselie Overby
>>
>
Date: 4/24/24 12:55 pm From: Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Roselie,
Viewing this and others I will post should be free viewing to the public.
You would pay if you want to create an account and upload your videos. This
video is made up of fifty-five, 5 second clips. The camera recorded 710
clips activated by motion over this time period. Lots of Grackles and
Catbirds. I edited them together into one video and it does jump from one
to the next. If I get better with video editing, I will work on
transitions. I think you have a slide bar to pause and advance forward and
back, but I am not sure exactly what the public view is. I suspect the
video quality and playback will vary with internet connection and playback
device. It can be expanded to full screen which looks pretty good on my
monitor.
Dave Patton
On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 2:11 PM Roselie Overby <rosebird49...> wrote:
> Does it just jump from one view to another? And did I read correctly that
> I'll have to pay $12 a month for Vimeo?
> Roselie Overby
>
Date: 4/24/24 12:11 pm From: Roselie via groups.io <rosebird49...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Does it just jump from one view to another? And did I read correctly that
I'll have to pay $12 a month for Vimeo?
Roselie Overby
On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 1:26 PM Harriett Pooler via groups.io
<harriett.pooler...> wrote:
> Dave,
> I love this footage! Thank you for taking the time to put in a camera at
> Peveto. So cool seeing those warblers from inside my house :-)
> Harriett
>
> On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 1:20 PM Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> > I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It took a
> > while to figure out the settings I like best as far as frequency and
> > duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a compromise between
> > battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting, rain, etc.... I think
> > posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without all the ads and I think is
> > accessible easily by the public. The Images are pretty good, but need a
> > monitor bigger than most cell phones. On my desk top monitor, the species
> > are pretty easy to ID. These are almost all birds, but I have
> > other critters I can feature in clips to come.
> > This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th.
> > https://vimeo.com/938652025 > >
> > Dave Patton
> > Baton Rouge Audubon
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 11:26 am From: Harriett Pooler via groups.io <harriett.pooler...> Subject: Re: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
Dave,
I love this footage! Thank you for taking the time to put in a camera at
Peveto. So cool seeing those warblers from inside my house :-)
Harriett
On Wed, Apr 24, 2024 at 1:20 PM Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It took a
> while to figure out the settings I like best as far as frequency and
> duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a compromise between
> battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting, rain, etc.... I think
> posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without all the ads and I think is
> accessible easily by the public. The Images are pretty good, but need a
> monitor bigger than most cell phones. On my desk top monitor, the species
> are pretty easy to ID. These are almost all birds, but I have
> other critters I can feature in clips to come.
> This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th.
> https://vimeo.com/938652025 >
> Dave Patton
> Baton Rouge Audubon
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/24/24 11:20 am From: Dave Patton via groups.io <davepatton122...> Subject: [labird] Peveto water feature camera
I have been playing with trail cams at Peveto since last fall. It took a while to figure out the settings I like best as far as frequency and duration etc. I settled on 5 second video clips as a compromise between battery life, lots of clips of nothing, lighting, rain, etc.... I think posting on Vimeo is a good way to go without all the ads and I think is accessible easily by the public. The Images are pretty good, but need a monitor bigger than most cell phones. On my desk top monitor, the species are pretty easy to ID. These are almost all birds, but I have other critters I can feature in clips to come. This first video is at the mister dishes from April 11 thru 17th. https://vimeo.com/938652025
Date: 4/23/24 9:49 am From: John Dillon via groups.io <kisforkryptonite...> Subject: [labird] Big Day Fundraiser
LABIRD,
Many of you have supported the Minden High School Nature Club over the years, and we desperately need your support now.
The 6th Annual Minden High School Nature Club’s Bird-a-thon fundraiser is this Sunday, 28 April. Two club members will assist me with a Birding Big Day in Claiborne Parish to document as many species as possible. You can pledge an amount per species or make a donation outright.
Will you help the club meet its pledge goals?
Currently, we are about $3000 below our goal of meeting last year’s total! Every pledge or donation makes a HUGE difference!
Your money isn’t wasted! Each year, we give a deserving, graduating senior club member a $1000 college scholarship!
It takes about $195 to cover the cost of one student to go to our four-day trip to Petit Jean State Park. $220 for a student to go on our four-day trip to Southwest Louisiana.
A pledge of 50 cents or a dollar per species from a few more people helps these kids tremendously!
If you’re able to help, please reply with a pledge amount or donation amount. I’ll send you the mailing address for a check payment, or you can Venmo me if you prefer.
Thank you so much!!
John Dillon
Minden High School
Nature Club Founder and Co-Sponsor since 2007
Reminds me of the yellow morph Northern Cardinal, possibly a very similar mutation.
________________________________
From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of Alicia Plotkin via groups.io <tess...>
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2024 9:55 PM
To: Paul Conover <zoiseaux...>; LABIRD <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] Strange Scarlet Tanager
WARNING: This email originated outside of the University of New Orleans system. The sender of this email could not be validated and may not actually be the person in the From field. Do NOT click links or open attachments if the message seems suspicious in any way. Never provide your user ID or password.
NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!
Date: 4/22/24 8:06 pm From: Paul Conover via groups.io <zoiseaux...> Subject: Re: [labird] Strange Scarlet Tanager
Very cool, thanks! -------- Original message --------From: <tess...> Date: 4/22/24 9:55 PM (GMT-06:00) To: Paul Conover <zoiseaux...>, LABIRD <labird...> Subject: Re: [labird] Strange Scarlet Tanager See https://www.sibleyguides.com/2020/07/scarlet-tanagers-are-bright-red-but-this-one-is-yellow/On 4/22/2024 10:48 PM, Paul Conover wrote:> Labird,>> Mac Myers and I came across a Scarlet Tanager the color of a> Prothonotary Warbler while birding Willow Island yesterday. Photos at>> https://ebird.org/checklist/S169745933#>>> Paul Conover>> Lafayette>>>> >>
On 4/22/2024 10:48 PM, Paul Conover wrote: > Labird, > > Mac Myers and I came across a Scarlet Tanager the color of a > Prothonotary Warbler while birding Willow Island yesterday. Photos at > > https://ebird.org/checklist/S169745933# > > > Paul Conover > > Lafayette > > > > > >
Date: 4/22/24 5:38 am From: Katie Percy via groups.io <katiepercy...> Subject: [labird] BRAS Program - Wed, April 24th @ EBR Parish Main Library
*REMINDER*
The Baton Rouge Audubon Society will host our next program this
Wednesday, April 24th at the East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library on
Goodwood Blvd.
TITLE: "A Century of Conservation: The Legacy and Future of the Paul J.
Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary"
DESCRIPTION: Join us as we celebrate a pivotal milestone—the centennial of
the Paul J. Rainey Sanctuary, a beacon of conservation and natural heritage
nestled in the heart of Louisiana's coastal marshlands. This presentation
will delve into the sanctuary's storied past, exploring its establishment
as the first National Audubon Society sanctuary in 1924 and its pivotal
role in avian research and habitat protection. Through a rich tapestry of
historical anecdotes, ecological insights, and compelling imagery, we will
honor the visionaries and stewards whose efforts have safeguarded this
precious landscape for future generations.
PRESENTERS: Karen Westphal, Center Manager and Jeffery Stephens, Senior
Assistant, Audubon Delta
LOCATION: East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library on Goodwood Blvd; Room 102
(first floor)
DATE: Wednesday, April 24th
TIME: 7:00 - 8:00 PM (in-person social 6:30-7:00)
Although we encourage everyone to attend in person, we do still offer a
virtual option via Zoom.
Date: 4/20/24 7:43 pm From: Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird...> Subject: [labird] Green-tailed Towhee in Laf parish
If anyone is interested, the homeowner who has hosted a Green-tailed Towhee (photo confirmed) at her feeders in southern Lafayette parish is willing to allow some birders to come try for it tomorrow. Please reply to this email and I'll give you contact info.
Date: 4/18/24 6:43 pm From: Colette Dean via groups.io <colette_dean...> Subject: Re: [labird] Birdinglouisiana.com = Louisiana’s new birding trails?
Beautiful website!!
Jeeze - would be nice to announce it to birding organizations in the state. 🤔
> On Apr 18, 2024, at 3:04 PM, Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird...> wrote:
>
> I just accidentally found this website via Facebook. I see familiar names
> on the photos. I guess this is the new state office of tourism website?
>
> https://www.birdinglouisiana.com/ >
> —Jane Patterson
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/18/24 12:47 pm From: rebeccagrieser via groups.io <rebeccagrieser...> Subject: Re: [labird] Sandhill crane photographed at NOLA City Park south course today
Hi all,
This is definitely a different bird than the one from the previous winter at the Survival Center, just based on behavior alone (that bird was extremely skittish and it would take a lot of work to make it as tame as this one is). I do want to comment that the appropriate government authorities are aware of the bird and may be taking action, but I do not know the outcome of where this bird will end up (whether in a rehab sense or a relocation).
Overall, the bird does physically appear in good health. They (should) roost in ponds overnight, they cannot perch.
I do want to remind everyone that despite this bird being very habituated, it is still wildlife and you should maintain a safe distance from it. They were exhibiting stress responses yesterday (salivating and loose stool) from people being close.
Please do not feed them! Cranes are generalists and will eat everything, they can find enough tubers, bugs, herps, and small mammals in the area it is in to survive. If you see anyone feeding them please kindly ask them not to!
Cranes are also extremely dangerous animals! They can flip their moods quickly to become defensive. And they are fast! They have extremely sharp nails and beaks that do a lot damage and I wouldn’t want anyone getting injured because of this bird.
Please enjoy this crane from a distance and ask others to do the same. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me off list.
Thanks,
Rebecca
> On Apr 18, 2024, at 1:51 PM, Shae via groups.io <23joules...> wrote:
>
> Steve-
> Can confirm it has been seen flying by staff at the golf course and by a New Orleans birder, Lisa, who saw it fly into a tree to roost last night. I cannot speak to the the possibility of it being the same bird at the Audubon Species Center. I can personally confirm that the bird let me get within about 2 feet of it without even flinching.
> -Shae
>
>> On Apr 18, 2024, at 12:44, Steven W. Cardiff via groups.io <scardif...> wrote:
>>
>> Labirder-ebirders-
>> Before I take action on reviewing eBird observations, I was wondering
>> if anyone has seen this crane fly or been able to determine that it has a
>> complete set of primary feathers.... Given the behavior, it's difficult to
>> believe that this bird has not been in captivity or is not somehow
>> imprinted on humans..... Could it conceivably be the same individual that
>> was at Audubon Species Survival Center/Wilderness Park back in winter
>> 2021-22?
>>
>> Steve Cardiff
>>
>>> On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:53 PM Joelle Finley via groups.io <jjf1946=
>>> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear LABIRDERS,
>>>
>>> The crane was allowing very close contact, had grabbed some bacon out of a
>>> golf club employee's hand and had tapped on the window of that same
>>> employee's car window when he was inside the car. Yesterday that same
>>> employee fed the crane bread.
>>>
>>> Joelle Finley, New Orleans
>>>
>>> On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:47 PM Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird=
>>> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Photo by Tommy Harold posted in Louisiana Birds group on Facebook
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/18/24 12:30 pm From: Paul Dickson via groups.io <paul...> Subject: Re: [labird] Sandhill crane photographed at NOLA City Park south course today
Mississippi sandhill crane reintroduction program was based on a captive breeding flock and ended some years ago. Perhaps this is one out of that program one way or another. Whatever the case, it’s not a wild one based on the behavior and season. On Apr 18, 2024, at 12:45 PM, Steven W. Cardiff via groups.io <scardif...> wrote:
Labirder-ebirders- Before I take action on reviewing eBird observations, I was wondering if anyone has seen this crane fly or been able to determine that it has a complete set of primary feathers.... Given the behavior, it's difficult to believe that this bird has not been in captivity or is not somehow imprinted on humans..... Could it conceivably be the same individual that was at Audubon Species Survival Center/Wilderness Park back in winter 2021-22?
Steve Cardiff
On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:53 PM Joelle Finley via groups.io<http://groups.io> <jjf1946= <gmail.com...> wrote:
> Dear LABIRDERS, > > The crane was allowing very close contact, had grabbed some bacon out of a > golf club employee's hand and had tapped on the window of that same > employee's car window when he was inside the car. Yesterday that same > employee fed the crane bread. > > Joelle Finley, New Orleans > > On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:47 PM Jane Patterson via groups.io<http://groups.io> <seejanebird= > <gmail.com...> wrote: > > > Photo by Tommy Harold posted in Louisiana Birds group on Facebook > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Date: 4/18/24 11:51 am From: Shae via groups.io <23joules...> Subject: Re: [labird] Sandhill crane photographed at NOLA City Park south course today
Steve-
Can confirm it has been seen flying by staff at the golf course and by a New Orleans birder, Lisa, who saw it fly into a tree to roost last night. I cannot speak to the the possibility of it being the same bird at the Audubon Species Center. I can personally confirm that the bird let me get within about 2 feet of it without even flinching.
-Shae
> On Apr 18, 2024, at 12:44, Steven W. Cardiff via groups.io <scardif...> wrote:
>
> Labirder-ebirders-
> Before I take action on reviewing eBird observations, I was wondering
> if anyone has seen this crane fly or been able to determine that it has a
> complete set of primary feathers.... Given the behavior, it's difficult to
> believe that this bird has not been in captivity or is not somehow
> imprinted on humans..... Could it conceivably be the same individual that
> was at Audubon Species Survival Center/Wilderness Park back in winter
> 2021-22?
>
> Steve Cardiff
>
>> On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:53 PM Joelle Finley via groups.io <jjf1946=
>> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>>
>> Dear LABIRDERS,
>>
>> The crane was allowing very close contact, had grabbed some bacon out of a
>> golf club employee's hand and had tapped on the window of that same
>> employee's car window when he was inside the car. Yesterday that same
>> employee fed the crane bread.
>>
>> Joelle Finley, New Orleans
>>
>> On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:47 PM Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird=
>> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>>
>>> Photo by Tommy Harold posted in Louisiana Birds group on Facebook
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/18/24 11:47 am From: Joelle Finley via groups.io <jjf1946...> Subject: Re: [labird] Sandhill crane photographed at NOLA City Park south course today
Steve, the bird was seen flying toward some oak trees last evening. As of
this morning, it was still hanging around the golf club house. The US Fish
and Wildlife Service is supposed to try to capture it and the Species
Survival Center has agreed to accept it. John Nelson should have all of the
details.
Joelle
On Thu, Apr 18, 2024 at 12:44 PM Steven W. Cardiff via groups.io <scardif=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Labirder-ebirders-
> Before I take action on reviewing eBird observations, I was wondering
> if anyone has seen this crane fly or been able to determine that it has a
> complete set of primary feathers.... Given the behavior, it's difficult to
> believe that this bird has not been in captivity or is not somehow
> imprinted on humans..... Could it conceivably be the same individual that
> was at Audubon Species Survival Center/Wilderness Park back in winter
> 2021-22?
>
> Steve Cardiff
>
> On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:53 PM Joelle Finley via groups.io <jjf1946=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> > Dear LABIRDERS,
> >
> > The crane was allowing very close contact, had grabbed some bacon out of
> a
> > golf club employee's hand and had tapped on the window of that same
> > employee's car window when he was inside the car. Yesterday that same
> > employee fed the crane bread.
> >
> > Joelle Finley, New Orleans
> >
> > On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:47 PM Jane Patterson via groups.io
> <seejanebird=
> > <gmail.com...> wrote:
> >
> > > Photo by Tommy Harold posted in Louisiana Birds group on Facebook
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/18/24 10:44 am From: Steven W. Cardiff via groups.io <scardif...> Subject: Re: [labird] Sandhill crane photographed at NOLA City Park south course today
Labirder-ebirders-
Before I take action on reviewing eBird observations, I was wondering
if anyone has seen this crane fly or been able to determine that it has a
complete set of primary feathers.... Given the behavior, it's difficult to
believe that this bird has not been in captivity or is not somehow
imprinted on humans..... Could it conceivably be the same individual that
was at Audubon Species Survival Center/Wilderness Park back in winter
2021-22?
Steve Cardiff
On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:53 PM Joelle Finley via groups.io <jjf1946=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Dear LABIRDERS,
>
> The crane was allowing very close contact, had grabbed some bacon out of a
> golf club employee's hand and had tapped on the window of that same
> employee's car window when he was inside the car. Yesterday that same
> employee fed the crane bread.
>
> Joelle Finley, New Orleans
>
> On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:47 PM Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> > Photo by Tommy Harold posted in Louisiana Birds group on Facebook
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/17/24 7:51 pm From: Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird...> Subject: [labird] Brewster's type warbler at Grilletta this evening
Hello labird, A nice little push of migrants arrived on Grand Isle after 5pm today. In one group, I had Blue-winged, Black-and-white, Prothonotary, Blackpoll warblers and a passel of WEVI and what I am pretty sure is a Brewster's-type warbler. Poor pic attached. There was another photographer there and he may have better pics. The group was in the oaks on the east side at the back of Grilletta...but who knows if they'll still be there tomorrow!
Date: 4/17/24 1:53 pm From: Joelle Finley via groups.io <jjf1946...> Subject: [labird] Sandhill crane photographed at NOLA City Park south course today
Dear LABIRDERS,
The crane was allowing very close contact, had grabbed some bacon out of a
golf club employee's hand and had tapped on the window of that same
employee's car window when he was inside the car. Yesterday that same
employee fed the crane bread.
Joelle Finley, New Orleans
On Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 3:47 PM Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Photo by Tommy Harold posted in Louisiana Birds group on Facebook
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/17/24 1:47 pm From: Jane Patterson via groups.io <seejanebird...> Subject: [labird] Sandhill crane photographed at NOLA City Park south course today
Photo by Tommy Harold posted in Louisiana Birds group on Facebook
Date: 4/17/24 1:06 pm From: Jay V Huner via groups.io <jay.huner1...> Subject: Re: [labird] Swimming upstream. In light of the US movement toward removing eponymous bird names...
Well what about scientific names? It is common to use a persons name for the specific name and not altogether unusual to do so with genus name!!
Jay Huner
________________________________
From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of Ned Piper via groups.io <nedpiper...>
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2024 5:24 AM
To: 'LABIRD' <labird...>; Matthew Dell <matthewdell...>
Subject: Re: [labird] Swimming upstream. In light of the US movement toward removing eponymous bird names...
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
I just hope, when this turmoil dies down, someone with the appropriate knowledge will be merciful enough to cross-reference the new names and old names so the rest of us can understand who is who and what is what.
On Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 12:51:57 PM CDT, Matthew Dell <matthewdell...> wrote:
Should we suggest an immediate and careful review of all of the characters of the individuals whose names are being used for these new species or do we need to wait a few decades before subjecting them to a thorough analyses for character perfection?
But seriously, what a contrast in naming policy and practice!
Date: 4/17/24 10:24 am From: Ned Piper via groups.io <nedpiper...> Subject: Re: [labird] Swimming upstream. In light of the US movement toward removing eponymous bird names...
I just hope, when this turmoil dies down, someone with the appropriate knowledge will be merciful enough to cross-reference the new names and old names so the rest of us can understand who is who and what is what.
On Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 12:51:57 PM CDT, Matthew Dell <matthewdell...> wrote:
Should we suggest an immediate and careful review of all of the characters of the individuals whose names are being used for these new species or do we need to wait a few decades before subjecting them to a thorough analyses for character perfection?
But seriously, what a contrast in naming policy and practice!
Date: 4/16/24 12:08 pm From: Harriett Pooler via groups.io <harriett.pooler...> Subject: Re: [labird] Swimming upstream. In light of the US movement toward removing eponymous bird names...
Matthew,
As a reptile enthusiast, I enjoyed reading this article -thank you for
sharing. It does seem interesting that the uproar over using eponymous
names for new species only applies to bird species. It isn't that
surprising really, given that 98% of the population are phobic about snakes
and don't care what they are named. Still, it seems there would be some
protocol in place for naming new species that applied to all species,
whether birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, etc.
Harriett Pooler
On Tue, Apr 16, 2024 at 12:51 PM Matthew Dell via groups.io <matthewdell=
<hotmail.com...> wrote:
> ...this is an interesting bit of news:
>
>
> https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article285392252.html?fbclid=IwAR19iHfbwxo3Ry8CUeROqZgIChbYs8r3KN2iTk1_3EI90eBIEYcTroWvvzs >
> Just take a look at these new names.
>
> Should we suggest an immediate and careful review of all of the characters
> of the individuals whose names are being used for these new species or do
> we need to wait a few decades before subjecting them to a thorough analyses
> for character perfection?
>
> But seriously, what a contrast in naming policy and practice!
>
> M. Dell
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/16/24 10:51 am From: Matthew Dell via groups.io <matthewdell...> Subject: [labird] Swimming upstream. In light of the US movement toward removing eponymous bird names...
Should we suggest an immediate and careful review of all of the characters of the individuals whose names are being used for these new species or do we need to wait a few decades before subjecting them to a thorough analyses for character perfection?
But seriously, what a contrast in naming policy and practice!
Date: 4/16/24 6:16 am From: tadskelton via groups.io <tadskelton...> Subject: Re: [labird] FOS Mississippi Kite
Three Mississippi kites this morning!
Terri
> On Apr 15, 2024, at 9:39 PM, James Taylor via groups.io <howisjames...> wrote:
>
> I saw one soaring over the Shenandoah neighborhood in EBR Parish around 3:00 this afternoon. FOS for me.James Taylor
> On Monday, April 15, 2024, 5:28 PM, Missy Bowen <missybowen...> wrote:
>
> A bunch over Algiers at 3 this afternoon!
>
>> On Mon, Apr 15, 2024, 5:18 PM tadskelton via groups.io <tadskelton=
>> <aol.com...> wrote:
>>
>> First Mississippi Kite over my block this morning at 11:00 am, 41524,
>> Metairie near Kenner line.
>> Whoo hoo!
>> Terri Skelton
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/16/24 5:58 am From: Shively, Steve- FS via groups.io <Stephen.Shively...> Subject: [labird] CWWI
OK, so this was the first morning this year I've gotten out for my pre-dawn walk up Castor Plunge Road into the national forest, so maybe I'm late to the party, but I heard 2 chuck-will's-widows singing this morning in the pineywoods west of Woodworth, Rapides Parish.
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Date: 4/15/24 7:39 pm From: James Taylor via groups.io <howisjames...> Subject: Re: [labird] FOS Mississippi Kite
I saw one soaring over the Shenandoah neighborhood in EBR Parish around 3:00 this afternoon. FOS for me.James Taylor
On Monday, April 15, 2024, 5:28 PM, Missy Bowen <missybowen...> wrote:
A bunch over Algiers at 3 this afternoon!
On Mon, Apr 15, 2024, 5:18 PM tadskelton via groups.io <tadskelton=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> First Mississippi Kite over my block this morning at 11:00 am, 41524,
> Metairie near Kenner line.
> Whoo hoo!
> Terri Skelton
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/14/24 9:14 am From: Elizabeth Wiggins via groups.io <wiggieb1...> Subject: [labird] Merlin
Had a pleasant surprise yesterday when a Merlin made a stop in my neighbor’s big pine tree. Had one fly over in Nov 2009, but this one stopped for a bit till a gang of Blue Jays made it clear it wasn’t welcome.
4:15 today, crossing I-12, heading roughly south, 1 1/2 mi east of hwy 190 mandeville/ covington interchange. Was doing some funny twisting tail moves. Couldn't see anything else at 70 mph.
Date: 4/7/24 2:47 pm From: Harriett Pooler <harriett.pooler...> Subject: Re: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
Someone from Hilltop Arboretum rooted a couple twigs with roots from a tree
I had using the Marcotting technique which is air layering. If you google
it there are many videos showing how to use air layering. I think it took 6
months and we had 2 out of 3 take.
Harriett Pooler
Baton Rouge
On Sun, Apr 7, 2024 at 2:22 PM William Fontenot <
<william.fontenot...> wrote:
> Good on ya Paul!
>
> I’ve never rooted mulberry but Joseph Vallee (Abbeville) told me that he
> sticks 2-3’ twigs in a deep pot (can’t remember if his potting mix was soil
> or soil-less) in late fall. They’d be rooted by the following spring.
>
> Bill Fontenot
> > On Apr 7, 2024, at 6:37 AM, Paul Dickson via groups.io <paul=
> <morrisdickson.com...> wrote:
> >
> > Bill, labird,
> > ‘Illinois Everbearing” is not that for me, it just ripens a little later
> but still has a short ripening window. I’ve heard that Mulberry is hard to
> root but for those who can clone (root?, graft?, tissue culture?) are
> welcome to scion wood from a mulberry that sprang up in my yard long ago
> that beats any other seedling in my experience and any mulberry I have ever
> bought for the long bearing trait. A blind hog finds an acorn every now and
> then. It is truly “everbearing”, a couple of weeks behind the others, its
> berries are now still small, hard and green, it begins ripening in mid to
> late April continuing to ripen berries through June. I have a purple
> stained hammock strung under it to watch birds from. They stream to it like
> a cafeteria. After the migrants leave the tree keeps pumping the berries
> out to the locals. I don’t have starlings in my yard except in that tree in
> June.
> > Since this thread began as the annual pre-northern-migrant-“dang those
> waxwings” lament, I will say that I don’t think anything has changed,
> timing of mulberries or behavior of waxwings. Mulberry may respond to
> temperature from year to year as most plants do growing faster when its
> warm, slowing when it’s cold thus a few days early or late from year to
> year, region to region. Waxwings have had this pattern down for a several
> hundred thousand years. The only way I have found to have plenty of fruit
> is to grow a lot of mulberry trees. When I am asked for introduction
> material prior to giving a talk I describe myself as a gardener of small
> beds and large forests. You will find mulberry in all of those that I can
> manage to affect.
> > Paul Dickson
> > Caddo Parish
> >
> > From: <labird...> [mailto:<labird...>] On Behalf Of Bill
> Fontenot via groups.io
> > Sent: Friday, April 5, 2024 8:34 AM
> > To: Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...>
> > Cc: LABIRD list <labird...>
> > Subject: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
> >
> > We might also consider selecting the latest fruiting mulberries —
> perhaps specimens from the mid-south/upper south
> > and begin cloning them.
> >
> > Also, black mulberry (Morus nigra) tends to fruit later than red or
> white. It’s tough to find in nurseries. but it’s a deep-urban weed in
> Houston; and I’ve seen specimens here around downtown Lafayette as well.
> >
> > bf
> >> On Apr 5, 2024, at 8:21 AM, Bill Fontenot <natrldlite...><mailto:
> <natrldlite...>> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hey Jody —
> >>
> >> You bring up an important point for bird conservationists. If spring
> and fruiting phenology is shifting to earlier dates, birds will either
> adapt (i.e. natural selection will favor birds which initiate northbound
> migration earlier) or die.
> >>
> >> As for local folks presently planting fruiting plants for birds,
> including spring migrants, we might need to move toward plants that have
> traditionally fruited a tad later but are now fruiting within the spring
> migration sweet spot (April). A prime example would be black cherry. Those
> of us within the I-10 corridor might also consider loquat,
> blackberry/dewberry, and blueberry.
> >>
> >> Additionally, some yaupon holly and hackberry
> >> tend to hold fruits well into March, which is probably helpful to both
> early migrants as well as CEWA (which tend to linger down here well into
> May). Such trees should probably be selected and cloned.
> >>
> >> Other folks may have additional ideas.
> >>
> >> Bill Fontenot
> >> Lafayette, LA
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> cSent from my iPhone
> >>
> >>>> On Apr 4, 2024, at 11:52 AM, Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...>
> <mailto:<jodyshugart...>> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I have 10 red mulberry trees in my yard (2 male, 8 female) with a
> bumper
> >>> crop of berries. Sometime between Monday and today, a flock of cedar
> >>> waxwings have nearly picked them clean.
> >>>
> >>> I saw this last year too, where the wax wings had Peveto nearly cleared
> >>> before the huge push of neotropical migrants arrived at the end of
> April.
> >>>
> >>> Does this new normal have any historic precedent? The berries are
> coming
> >>> earlier but are the wax wings staying later?
> >>> What replacement berry crop could be planted for the late April/early
> May
> >>> birds?
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/7/24 12:42 pm From: Paul Dickson via groups.io <paul...> Subject: Re: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
Timing is surely everything.
From: <labird...> [mailto:<labird...>] On Behalf Of William Fontenot via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, April 7, 2024 2:23 PM
To: Paul Dickson <Paul...>
Cc: <natrldlite...>; LABIRD list <labird...>
Subject: Re: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
Good on ya Paul!
I’ve never rooted mulberry but Joseph Vallee (Abbeville) told me that he sticks 2-3’ twigs in a deep pot (can’t remember if his potting mix was soil or soil-less) in late fall. They’d be rooted by the following spring.
Bill Fontenot
> On Apr 7, 2024, at 6:37 AM, Paul Dickson via groups.io<http://groups.io> <paul...><mailto:<paul...>> wrote:
>
> Bill, labird,
> ‘Illinois Everbearing” is not that for me, it just ripens a little later but still has a short ripening window. I’ve heard that Mulberry is hard to root but for those who can clone (root?, graft?, tissue culture?) are welcome to scion wood from a mulberry that sprang up in my yard long ago that beats any other seedling in my experience and any mulberry I have ever bought for the long bearing trait. A blind hog finds an acorn every now and then. It is truly “everbearing”, a couple of weeks behind the others, its berries are now still small, hard and green, it begins ripening in mid to late April continuing to ripen berries through June. I have a purple stained hammock strung under it to watch birds from. They stream to it like a cafeteria. After the migrants leave the tree keeps pumping the berries out to the locals. I don’t have starlings in my yard except in that tree in June.
> Since this thread began as the annual pre-northern-migrant-“dang those waxwings” lament, I will say that I don’t think anything has changed, timing of mulberries or behavior of waxwings. Mulberry may respond to temperature from year to year as most plants do growing faster when its warm, slowing when it’s cold thus a few days early or late from year to year, region to region. Waxwings have had this pattern down for a several hundred thousand years. The only way I have found to have plenty of fruit is to grow a lot of mulberry trees. When I am asked for introduction material prior to giving a talk I describe myself as a gardener of small beds and large forests. You will find mulberry in all of those that I can manage to affect.
> Paul Dickson
> Caddo Parish
>
> From: <labird...><mailto:<labird...> [mailto:<labird...>] On Behalf Of Bill Fontenot via groups.io<http://groups.io> > Sent: Friday, April 5, 2024 8:34 AM
> To: Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...><mailto:<jodyshugart...>> > Cc: LABIRD list <labird...><mailto:<labird...>> > Subject: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
>
> We might also consider selecting the latest fruiting mulberries — perhaps specimens from the mid-south/upper south
> and begin cloning them.
>
> Also, black mulberry (Morus nigra) tends to fruit later than red or white. It’s tough to find in nurseries. but it’s a deep-urban weed in Houston; and I’ve seen specimens here around downtown Lafayette as well.
>
> bf
>> On Apr 5, 2024, at 8:21 AM, Bill Fontenot <natrldlite...><mailto:<natrldlite...><mailto:<natrldlite...>%3cmailto:<natrldlite...>>> wrote:
>>
>> Hey Jody —
>>
>> You bring up an important point for bird conservationists. If spring and fruiting phenology is shifting to earlier dates, birds will either adapt (i.e. natural selection will favor birds which initiate northbound migration earlier) or die.
>>
>> As for local folks presently planting fruiting plants for birds, including spring migrants, we might need to move toward plants that have traditionally fruited a tad later but are now fruiting within the spring migration sweet spot (April). A prime example would be black cherry. Those of us within the I-10 corridor might also consider loquat, blackberry/dewberry, and blueberry.
>>
>> Additionally, some yaupon holly and hackberry
>> tend to hold fruits well into March, which is probably helpful to both early migrants as well as CEWA (which tend to linger down here well into May). Such trees should probably be selected and cloned.
>>
>> Other folks may have additional ideas.
>>
>> Bill Fontenot
>> Lafayette, LA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> cSent from my iPhone
>>
>>>> On Apr 4, 2024, at 11:52 AM, Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...><mailto:<jodyshugart...><mailto:<jodyshugart...>%3cmailto:<jodyshugart...>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I have 10 red mulberry trees in my yard (2 male, 8 female) with a bumper
>>> crop of berries. Sometime between Monday and today, a flock of cedar
>>> waxwings have nearly picked them clean.
>>>
>>> I saw this last year too, where the wax wings had Peveto nearly cleared
>>> before the huge push of neotropical migrants arrived at the end of April.
>>>
>>> Does this new normal have any historic precedent? The berries are coming
>>> earlier but are the wax wings staying later?
>>> What replacement berry crop could be planted for the late April/early May
>>> birds?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/7/24 12:22 pm From: William Fontenot <william.fontenot...> Subject: Re: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
Good on ya Paul!
I’ve never rooted mulberry but Joseph Vallee (Abbeville) told me that he sticks 2-3’ twigs in a deep pot (can’t remember if his potting mix was soil or soil-less) in late fall. They’d be rooted by the following spring.
Bill Fontenot
> On Apr 7, 2024, at 6:37 AM, Paul Dickson via groups.io <paul...> wrote:
>
> Bill, labird,
> ‘Illinois Everbearing” is not that for me, it just ripens a little later but still has a short ripening window. I’ve heard that Mulberry is hard to root but for those who can clone (root?, graft?, tissue culture?) are welcome to scion wood from a mulberry that sprang up in my yard long ago that beats any other seedling in my experience and any mulberry I have ever bought for the long bearing trait. A blind hog finds an acorn every now and then. It is truly “everbearing”, a couple of weeks behind the others, its berries are now still small, hard and green, it begins ripening in mid to late April continuing to ripen berries through June. I have a purple stained hammock strung under it to watch birds from. They stream to it like a cafeteria. After the migrants leave the tree keeps pumping the berries out to the locals. I don’t have starlings in my yard except in that tree in June.
> Since this thread began as the annual pre-northern-migrant-“dang those waxwings” lament, I will say that I don’t think anything has changed, timing of mulberries or behavior of waxwings. Mulberry may respond to temperature from year to year as most plants do growing faster when its warm, slowing when it’s cold thus a few days early or late from year to year, region to region. Waxwings have had this pattern down for a several hundred thousand years. The only way I have found to have plenty of fruit is to grow a lot of mulberry trees. When I am asked for introduction material prior to giving a talk I describe myself as a gardener of small beds and large forests. You will find mulberry in all of those that I can manage to affect.
> Paul Dickson
> Caddo Parish
>
> From: <labird...> [mailto:<labird...>] On Behalf Of Bill Fontenot via groups.io
> Sent: Friday, April 5, 2024 8:34 AM
> To: Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...>
> Cc: LABIRD list <labird...>
> Subject: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
>
> We might also consider selecting the latest fruiting mulberries — perhaps specimens from the mid-south/upper south
> and begin cloning them.
>
> Also, black mulberry (Morus nigra) tends to fruit later than red or white. It’s tough to find in nurseries. but it’s a deep-urban weed in Houston; and I’ve seen specimens here around downtown Lafayette as well.
>
> bf
>> On Apr 5, 2024, at 8:21 AM, Bill Fontenot <natrldlite...><mailto:<natrldlite...>> wrote:
>>
>> Hey Jody —
>>
>> You bring up an important point for bird conservationists. If spring and fruiting phenology is shifting to earlier dates, birds will either adapt (i.e. natural selection will favor birds which initiate northbound migration earlier) or die.
>>
>> As for local folks presently planting fruiting plants for birds, including spring migrants, we might need to move toward plants that have traditionally fruited a tad later but are now fruiting within the spring migration sweet spot (April). A prime example would be black cherry. Those of us within the I-10 corridor might also consider loquat, blackberry/dewberry, and blueberry.
>>
>> Additionally, some yaupon holly and hackberry
>> tend to hold fruits well into March, which is probably helpful to both early migrants as well as CEWA (which tend to linger down here well into May). Such trees should probably be selected and cloned.
>>
>> Other folks may have additional ideas.
>>
>> Bill Fontenot
>> Lafayette, LA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> cSent from my iPhone
>>
>>>> On Apr 4, 2024, at 11:52 AM, Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...><mailto:<jodyshugart...>> wrote:
>>>
>>> I have 10 red mulberry trees in my yard (2 male, 8 female) with a bumper
>>> crop of berries. Sometime between Monday and today, a flock of cedar
>>> waxwings have nearly picked them clean.
>>>
>>> I saw this last year too, where the wax wings had Peveto nearly cleared
>>> before the huge push of neotropical migrants arrived at the end of April.
>>>
>>> Does this new normal have any historic precedent? The berries are coming
>>> earlier but are the wax wings staying later?
>>> What replacement berry crop could be planted for the late April/early May
>>> birds?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/7/24 4:37 am From: Paul Dickson via groups.io <paul...> Subject: Re: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
Bill, labird,
‘Illinois Everbearing” is not that for me, it just ripens a little later but still has a short ripening window. I’ve heard that Mulberry is hard to root but for those who can clone (root?, graft?, tissue culture?) are welcome to scion wood from a mulberry that sprang up in my yard long ago that beats any other seedling in my experience and any mulberry I have ever bought for the long bearing trait. A blind hog finds an acorn every now and then. It is truly “everbearing”, a couple of weeks behind the others, its berries are now still small, hard and green, it begins ripening in mid to late April continuing to ripen berries through June. I have a purple stained hammock strung under it to watch birds from. They stream to it like a cafeteria. After the migrants leave the tree keeps pumping the berries out to the locals. I don’t have starlings in my yard except in that tree in June.
Since this thread began as the annual pre-northern-migrant-“dang those waxwings” lament, I will say that I don’t think anything has changed, timing of mulberries or behavior of waxwings. Mulberry may respond to temperature from year to year as most plants do growing faster when its warm, slowing when it’s cold thus a few days early or late from year to year, region to region. Waxwings have had this pattern down for a several hundred thousand years. The only way I have found to have plenty of fruit is to grow a lot of mulberry trees. When I am asked for introduction material prior to giving a talk I describe myself as a gardener of small beds and large forests. You will find mulberry in all of those that I can manage to affect.
Paul Dickson
Caddo Parish
From: <labird...> [mailto:<labird...>] On Behalf Of Bill Fontenot via groups.io
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2024 8:34 AM
To: Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...>
Cc: LABIRD list <labird...>
Subject: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
We might also consider selecting the latest fruiting mulberries — perhaps specimens from the mid-south/upper south
and begin cloning them.
Also, black mulberry (Morus nigra) tends to fruit later than red or white. It’s tough to find in nurseries. but it’s a deep-urban weed in Houston; and I’ve seen specimens here around downtown Lafayette as well.
bf
> On Apr 5, 2024, at 8:21 AM, Bill Fontenot <natrldlite...><mailto:<natrldlite...>> wrote:
>
> Hey Jody —
>
> You bring up an important point for bird conservationists. If spring and fruiting phenology is shifting to earlier dates, birds will either adapt (i.e. natural selection will favor birds which initiate northbound migration earlier) or die.
>
> As for local folks presently planting fruiting plants for birds, including spring migrants, we might need to move toward plants that have traditionally fruited a tad later but are now fruiting within the spring migration sweet spot (April). A prime example would be black cherry. Those of us within the I-10 corridor might also consider loquat, blackberry/dewberry, and blueberry.
>
> Additionally, some yaupon holly and hackberry
> tend to hold fruits well into March, which is probably helpful to both early migrants as well as CEWA (which tend to linger down here well into May). Such trees should probably be selected and cloned.
>
> Other folks may have additional ideas.
>
> Bill Fontenot
> Lafayette, LA
>
>
>
>
> cSent from my iPhone
>
>> On Apr 4, 2024, at 11:52 AM, Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...><mailto:<jodyshugart...>> wrote:
>>
>> I have 10 red mulberry trees in my yard (2 male, 8 female) with a bumper
>> crop of berries. Sometime between Monday and today, a flock of cedar
>> waxwings have nearly picked them clean.
>>
>> I saw this last year too, where the wax wings had Peveto nearly cleared
>> before the huge push of neotropical migrants arrived at the end of April.
>>
>> Does this new normal have any historic precedent? The berries are coming
>> earlier but are the wax wings staying later?
>> What replacement berry crop could be planted for the late April/early May
>> birds?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
Date: 4/5/24 7:53 am From: Katie Percy <katiepercy...> Subject: [labird] BRAS Program - Wed, April 24th @ EBR Parish Main Library
The Baton Rouge Audubon Society will host our next program on
Wednesday, April 24th at the East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library on
Goodwood Blvd.
TITLE: "A Century of Conservation: The Legacy and Future of the Paul J.
Rainey Wildlife Sanctuary"
DESCRIPTION: Join us as we celebrate a pivotal milestone—the centennial of
the Paul J. Rainey Sanctuary, a beacon of conservation and natural heritage
nestled in the heart of Louisiana's coastal marshlands. This presentation
will delve into the sanctuary's storied past, exploring its establishment
as the first National Audubon Society sanctuary in 1924 and its pivotal
role in avian research and habitat protection. Through a rich tapestry of
historical anecdotes, ecological insights, and compelling imagery, we will
honor the visionaries and stewards whose efforts have safeguarded this
precious landscape for future generations.
Date: 4/5/24 6:34 am From: Bill Fontenot <natrldlite...> Subject: Oh, and Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
We might also consider selecting the latest fruiting mulberries — perhaps specimens from the mid-south/upper south
and begin cloning them.
Also, black mulberry (Morus nigra) tends to fruit later than red or white. It’s tough to find in nurseries. but it’s a deep-urban weed in Houston; and I’ve seen specimens here around downtown Lafayette as well.
bf
> On Apr 5, 2024, at 8:21 AM, Bill Fontenot <natrldlite...> wrote:
>
> Hey Jody —
>
> You bring up an important point for bird conservationists. If spring and fruiting phenology is shifting to earlier dates, birds will either adapt (i.e. natural selection will favor birds which initiate northbound migration earlier) or die.
>
> As for local folks presently planting fruiting plants for birds, including spring migrants, we might need to move toward plants that have traditionally fruited a tad later but are now fruiting within the spring migration sweet spot (April). A prime example would be black cherry. Those of us within the I-10 corridor might also consider loquat, blackberry/dewberry, and blueberry.
>
> Additionally, some yaupon holly and hackberry
> tend to hold fruits well into March, which is probably helpful to both early migrants as well as CEWA (which tend to linger down here well into May). Such trees should probably be selected and cloned.
>
> Other folks may have additional ideas.
>
> Bill Fontenot
> Lafayette, LA
>
>
>
>
> cSent from my iPhone
>
>> On Apr 4, 2024, at 11:52 AM, Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...> wrote:
>>
>> I have 10 red mulberry trees in my yard (2 male, 8 female) with a bumper
>> crop of berries. Sometime between Monday and today, a flock of cedar
>> waxwings have nearly picked them clean.
>>
>> I saw this last year too, where the wax wings had Peveto nearly cleared
>> before the huge push of neotropical migrants arrived at the end of April.
>>
>> Does this new normal have any historic precedent? The berries are coming
>> earlier but are the wax wings staying later?
>> What replacement berry crop could be planted for the late April/early May
>> birds?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
Date: 4/5/24 6:21 am From: Bill Fontenot <natrldlite...> Subject: Re: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
Hey Jody —
You bring up an important point for bird conservationists. If spring and fruiting phenology is shifting to earlier dates, birds will either adapt (i.e. natural selection will favor birds which initiate northbound migration earlier) or die.
As for local folks presently planting fruiting plants for birds, including spring migrants, we might need to move toward plants that have traditionally fruited a tad later but are now fruiting within the spring migration sweet spot (April). A prime example would be black cherry. Those of us within the I-10 corridor might also consider loquat, blackberry/dewberry, and blueberry.
Additionally, some yaupon holly and hackberry
tend to hold fruits well into March, which is probably helpful to both early migrants as well as CEWA (which tend to linger down here well into May). Such trees should probably be selected and cloned.
Other folks may have additional ideas.
Bill Fontenot
Lafayette, LA
cSent from my iPhone
> On Apr 4, 2024, at 11:52 AM, Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...> wrote:
>
> I have 10 red mulberry trees in my yard (2 male, 8 female) with a bumper
> crop of berries. Sometime between Monday and today, a flock of cedar
> waxwings have nearly picked them clean.
>
> I saw this last year too, where the wax wings had Peveto nearly cleared
> before the huge push of neotropical migrants arrived at the end of April.
>
> Does this new normal have any historic precedent? The berries are coming
> earlier but are the wax wings staying later?
> What replacement berry crop could be planted for the late April/early May
> birds?
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/4/24 9:52 am From: Jody Shugart <jodyshugart...> Subject: [labird] Mulberries and Waxwings
I have 10 red mulberry trees in my yard (2 male, 8 female) with a bumper crop of berries. Sometime between Monday and today, a flock of cedar waxwings have nearly picked them clean.
I saw this last year too, where the wax wings had Peveto nearly cleared before the huge push of neotropical migrants arrived at the end of April.
Does this new normal have any historic precedent? The berries are coming earlier but are the wax wings staying later? What replacement berry crop could be planted for the late April/early May birds?
Date: 4/2/24 4:03 pm From: Jack Rogers <jack...> Subject: [labird] LSU Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society BioBlitz Fundraiser
LaBird,
I hope you all have been enjoying the early bouts of spring migration!
Hopefully the weather will be more conducive for fallouts in the coming
weeks, but the birding in Grand Isle last weekend was very fun after a slow
March!
Today I am writing to you all a plea for help! For those who do not know
me, my name is Jack Rogers. I am currently in my final semester of a B.S.
in Wildlife Ecology from LSU, and am the President of our student chapter
of The Wildlife Society. For those unfamiliar with The Wildlife Society,
we are an international professional group of more than 11,000 ecologists,
biologists, etc. (learn more here <https://wildlife.org/who-we-are/>). The
student chapter's mission statement is that of the whole organization: "“To
inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife
populations and habitats through science-based management and
conservation.” We have monthly meetings on LSU's campus and monthly field
trips to get students out of the classroom and into the field; Dr. Van
Remsen was one of our keynote speakers this year, and students took field
trips to observe Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, assist Audubon Delta in
conducting rail drag surveys, several herping trips, local birding trips,
and plenty more!
Now for my plea: it is time for our annual fundraising event, and I am
calling on your support to help LSU TWS continue to inspire, enlighten, and
allow students to enjoy the natural world. Between feeding club members,
field trip gas expenses, and expenses to the annual Southeastern TWS
conclave event, we are in need of fundraising! This year, club members
will be conducting a BioBlitz at LSU's Burden Museum and Gardens from 6 PM
on April 12th until 6PM on April 13th. For those who don't know, a
BioBlitz is when we attempt to identify as many organisms (birds, plants,
etc.; it all counts!) in a 24 hour period. Where you come in is by
pledging a certain dollar amount per species. At the Google Form here
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZ8dMFf4ojkbskdQh4jHdMBhYFXo1UDK-m6a6Qcbyd7U-Fsg/viewform?usp=sharing>,
you will be able to pledge per species that we document. If you don't wish
to pledge per organism, and just want to pledge for each bird or fish or
herp, etc., species that we identify, that is an option too! For
reference, 169 species are recorded at the Burden eBird hotspot, and we
hope to be able to document at least 70 species over the 24 hour period.
If you would like to participate, you are more than welcome to join us!
However, only species identified by club members will count towards the
pledge amounts.
If you have any questions for me or simply can't get my Google Form for
pledging to work, please feel free to contact me! And, if you read this
monolith of an email, thank you for your time! Finally, if you are
donating, I am forever grateful for your assistance in inspiring blossoming
naturalists, ecologists, birders, botanists, and too many more.
Good birding everyone,
Jack Rogers
Date: 4/1/24 1:23 pm From: Jane Patterson <seejanebird...> Subject: [labird] BR Audubon 50th anniversary in 2024
Hello LABIRD!
Baton Rouge Audubon celebrates the 50th anniversary of its charter with the National Audubon society this year. Five decades of birding and conservation work! We are planning a celebration for this summer, so stay tuned. I've only been involved with the organization since 2007, shortly after I started birding. I imagine there are some of you out there that have been involved with BRAS and/or Peveto Woods for much longer and I'd love to hear from you. I'd like to compile a timeline of activities (such as the acquisition of Peveto Woods) with which the organization has been involved. If you have stories to share or know people I should contact to ask, please reply to me off list (<seejanebird...>)
Date: 3/30/24 3:20 pm From: Colette Dean via groups.io <colette_dean...> Subject: Re: [labird] NYTIMES: When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
Thanks for sharing!
> On Mar 30, 2024, at 3:15 PM, Peter H Yaukey via groups.io <pyaukey...> wrote:
>
> Agreed! A joy to read.
>
> ________________________________
> From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of Sandra Barbier via groups.io <sandabar10...>
> Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2024 1:30 PM
> To: glenn ousset <gousset...>
> Cc: LABIRD <labird...>; David P. Muth <muthdp...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] NYTIMES: When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
>
> [You don't often get email from <sandabar10...> Learn why this is important at https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification ]
>
> WARNING: This email originated outside of the University of New Orleans system. The sender of this email could not be validated and may not actually be the person in the “From” field. Do NOT click links or open attachments if the message seems suspicious in any way. Never provide your user ID or password.
>
>
>
> David,
> Very moving. Thanks
> Sandy
>
>> On Sat, Mar 30, 2024 at 12:39 PM glenn ousset <gousset...> wrote:
>>
>> David,Thank you for posting. Excellent article.
>> Glenn Ousset
>> On Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 10:19:13 AM CDT, David P. Muth <
>> <muthdp...> wrote:
>>
>> OPINION
>> GUEST ESSAY
>>
>> When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
>> March 30, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET
>>
>> By Ed Yong
>>
>> Last September, I drove to a protected wetland near my home in Oakland,
>> Calif., walked to the end of a pier and started looking at birds.
>> Throughout the summer, I had been breaking in my first pair of binoculars,
>> a Sibley field guide and the Merlin song-identification app, but always
>> while hiking or walking the dog. On that pier, for the first time, I had
>> gone somewhere solely to watch birds.
>>
>> In some birding circles, people say that anyone who looks at birds is a
>> birder — a kind, inclusive sentiment that also overlooks the forces that
>> create and shape subcultures. Anyone can dance, but not everyone would
>> identify as a dancer because the latter suggests if not skill then at least
>> effort and intent. Similarly, I’ve cared about birds and other animals for
>> my entire life, and I’ve written about them throughout my two decades as a
>> science writer, but I mark the moment when I specifically chose to devote
>> time and energy to them as the moment I became a birder.
>>
>> Since then, my Birder Derangement Syndrome has progressed at an alarming
>> pace. Seven months ago, I was still seeing very common birds for the first
>> time. Since then, I’ve seen 452 species, including 337 in the United
>> States, and 307 this year alone. I can reliably identify a few dozen
>> species by ear. I can tell apart greater and lesser yellowlegs, house and
>> purple finches, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks. (Don’t talk to me about
>> gulls; I’m working on the gulls.) I keep abreast of eBird’s rare bird
>> alerts and have spent many days — some glorious, others frustrating —
>> looking for said rare birds. I know what it means to dip, to twitch, to
>> pish. I’ve gone owling.
>>
>> I didn’t start from scratch. A career spent writing about nature gave me
>> enough avian biology and taxonomy to roughly know the habitats and
>> silhouettes of the major groups. Journalism taught me how to familiarize
>> myself with unfamiliar territory very quickly. I crowdsourced tips on the
>> social media platform Bluesky. I went out with experienced birders to learn
>> how they move through a landscape and what cues they attend to.
>>
>> I studied up on birds that are famously difficult to identify so that when
>> I first saw them in the field, I had an inkling of what they were without
>> having to check a field guide. I used the many tools now available to
>> novices: EBird shows where other birders go and reveals how different
>> species navigate space and time; Merlin is best known as an identification
>> app but is secretly an incredible encyclopedia; Birdingquiz.com lets you
>> practice identifying species based on fleeting glances at bad angles.
>>
>> This all sounds rather extra, and birding is often defined by its excesses.
>> At its worst, it becomes an empty process of collection that turns living
>> things into abstract numbers on meaningless lists. But even that style of
>> birding is harder without knowledge. To find the birds, you have to know
>> them. And in the process of knowing them, much else falls into place.
>>
>> Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors. It has pushed me to explore
>> Oakland in ways I never would have: Amazing hot spots lurk within
>> industrial areas, sewage treatment plants and random residential parks. It
>> has proved more meditative than meditation. While birding, I seem
>> impervious to heat, cold, hunger and thirst. My senses focus resolutely on
>> the present, and the usual hubbub in my head becomes quiet. When I spot a
>> species for the first time — a lifer — I course with adrenaline, while
>> being utterly serene.
>>
>> I also feel a much deeper connection to the natural world, which I have
>> long written about but always remained slightly distant from. I knew that
>> the loggerhead shrike — a small but ferocious songbird — impales the bodies
>> of its prey on spikes. I’ve now seen one doing that with my own eyes. I
>> know where to find the shrikes and what they sound like. Countless
>> fragments of unrooted trivia that rattled around my brain are now grounded
>> in place, time and personal experience.
>>
>> When I step out my door in the morning, I take an aural census of the
>> neighborhood, tuning in to the chatter of creatures that were always there
>> and that I might previously have overlooked. The passing of the seasons
>> feels more granular, marked by the arrival and disappearance of particular
>> species instead of much slower changes in day length, temperature and
>> greenery. I find myself noticing small shifts in the weather and small
>> differences in habitat. I think about the tides.
>>
>> So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I
>> started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species
>> in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and Western bluebirds
>> would be easy, but not black skimmers, or peregrine falcons or loggerhead
>> shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the
>> province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the last
>> six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned
>> owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons,
>> all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into
>> “Where can I find that?”
>>
>> Of course, having the time to bird is an immense privilege. As a
>> freelancer, I have total control over my hours and my ability to get out in
>> the field. “Are you a retiree?” a fellow birder recently asked me. “You’re
>> birding like a retiree.” I laughed, but the comment spoke to the idea that
>> things like birding are what you do when you’re not working, not being
>> productive.
>>
>> I reject that. These recent years have taught me that I’m less when I’m not
>> actively looking after myself, that I have value to my world and my
>> community beyond ceaseless production, and that pursuits like birding that
>> foster joy, wonder and connection to place are not sidebars to a fulfilled
>> life but their essence.
>>
>> It’s easy to think of birding as an escape from reality. Instead, I see it
>> as immersion in the true reality. I don’t need to know who the main
>> characters are on social media and what everyone is saying about them, when
>> I can instead spend an hour trying to find a rare sparrow. It’s very clear
>> to me which of those two activities is the more ridiculous. It’s not the
>> one with the sparrow.
>>
>> More of those sparrows are imminent. I’m about to witness my first spring
>> migration as warblers and other delights pass through the Bay Area. Birds
>> I’ve seen only in drab grays are about to don their spectacular breeding
>> plumages. Familiar species are about to burst out in new tunes that I’ll
>> have to learn. I have my first lazuli bunting to see, my first blue
>> grosbeak to find, my first least terns to photograph. I can’t wait.
>>
>> Ed Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,”
>> investigates animal perception.
>>
>> The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor.
>> We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here
>> are some tips. And here’s our email: <letters...>
>>
>> Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,
>> WhatsApp, X and Threads.
>>
>> --
>> David P. Muth
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Sandra Barbier
> LaPlace, LA
>
>
>
>
>
>
> NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!
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>
>
>
>
Date: 3/30/24 1:15 pm From: Peter H Yaukey <pyaukey...> Subject: Re: [labird] NYTIMES: When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
Agreed! A joy to read.
________________________________
From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of Sandra Barbier via groups.io <sandabar10...>
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2024 1:30 PM
To: glenn ousset <gousset...>
Cc: LABIRD <labird...>; David P. Muth <muthdp...>
Subject: Re: [labird] NYTIMES: When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
WARNING: This email originated outside of the University of New Orleans system. The sender of this email could not be validated and may not actually be the person in the “From” field. Do NOT click links or open attachments if the message seems suspicious in any way. Never provide your user ID or password.
David,
Very moving. Thanks
Sandy
On Sat, Mar 30, 2024 at 12:39 PM glenn ousset <gousset...> wrote:
> David,Thank you for posting. Excellent article.
> Glenn Ousset
> On Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 10:19:13 AM CDT, David P. Muth <
> <muthdp...> wrote:
>
> OPINION
> GUEST ESSAY
>
> When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
> March 30, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET
>
> By Ed Yong
>
> Last September, I drove to a protected wetland near my home in Oakland,
> Calif., walked to the end of a pier and started looking at birds.
> Throughout the summer, I had been breaking in my first pair of binoculars,
> a Sibley field guide and the Merlin song-identification app, but always
> while hiking or walking the dog. On that pier, for the first time, I had
> gone somewhere solely to watch birds.
>
> In some birding circles, people say that anyone who looks at birds is a
> birder — a kind, inclusive sentiment that also overlooks the forces that
> create and shape subcultures. Anyone can dance, but not everyone would
> identify as a dancer because the latter suggests if not skill then at least
> effort and intent. Similarly, I’ve cared about birds and other animals for
> my entire life, and I’ve written about them throughout my two decades as a
> science writer, but I mark the moment when I specifically chose to devote
> time and energy to them as the moment I became a birder.
>
> Since then, my Birder Derangement Syndrome has progressed at an alarming
> pace. Seven months ago, I was still seeing very common birds for the first
> time. Since then, I’ve seen 452 species, including 337 in the United
> States, and 307 this year alone. I can reliably identify a few dozen
> species by ear. I can tell apart greater and lesser yellowlegs, house and
> purple finches, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks. (Don’t talk to me about
> gulls; I’m working on the gulls.) I keep abreast of eBird’s rare bird
> alerts and have spent many days — some glorious, others frustrating —
> looking for said rare birds. I know what it means to dip, to twitch, to
> pish. I’ve gone owling.
>
> I didn’t start from scratch. A career spent writing about nature gave me
> enough avian biology and taxonomy to roughly know the habitats and
> silhouettes of the major groups. Journalism taught me how to familiarize
> myself with unfamiliar territory very quickly. I crowdsourced tips on the
> social media platform Bluesky. I went out with experienced birders to learn
> how they move through a landscape and what cues they attend to.
>
> I studied up on birds that are famously difficult to identify so that when
> I first saw them in the field, I had an inkling of what they were without
> having to check a field guide. I used the many tools now available to
> novices: EBird shows where other birders go and reveals how different
> species navigate space and time; Merlin is best known as an identification
> app but is secretly an incredible encyclopedia; Birdingquiz.com lets you
> practice identifying species based on fleeting glances at bad angles.
>
> This all sounds rather extra, and birding is often defined by its excesses.
> At its worst, it becomes an empty process of collection that turns living
> things into abstract numbers on meaningless lists. But even that style of
> birding is harder without knowledge. To find the birds, you have to know
> them. And in the process of knowing them, much else falls into place.
>
> Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors. It has pushed me to explore
> Oakland in ways I never would have: Amazing hot spots lurk within
> industrial areas, sewage treatment plants and random residential parks. It
> has proved more meditative than meditation. While birding, I seem
> impervious to heat, cold, hunger and thirst. My senses focus resolutely on
> the present, and the usual hubbub in my head becomes quiet. When I spot a
> species for the first time — a lifer — I course with adrenaline, while
> being utterly serene.
>
> I also feel a much deeper connection to the natural world, which I have
> long written about but always remained slightly distant from. I knew that
> the loggerhead shrike — a small but ferocious songbird — impales the bodies
> of its prey on spikes. I’ve now seen one doing that with my own eyes. I
> know where to find the shrikes and what they sound like. Countless
> fragments of unrooted trivia that rattled around my brain are now grounded
> in place, time and personal experience.
>
> When I step out my door in the morning, I take an aural census of the
> neighborhood, tuning in to the chatter of creatures that were always there
> and that I might previously have overlooked. The passing of the seasons
> feels more granular, marked by the arrival and disappearance of particular
> species instead of much slower changes in day length, temperature and
> greenery. I find myself noticing small shifts in the weather and small
> differences in habitat. I think about the tides.
>
> So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I
> started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species
> in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and Western bluebirds
> would be easy, but not black skimmers, or peregrine falcons or loggerhead
> shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the
> province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the last
> six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned
> owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons,
> all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into
> “Where can I find that?”
>
> Of course, having the time to bird is an immense privilege. As a
> freelancer, I have total control over my hours and my ability to get out in
> the field. “Are you a retiree?” a fellow birder recently asked me. “You’re
> birding like a retiree.” I laughed, but the comment spoke to the idea that
> things like birding are what you do when you’re not working, not being
> productive.
>
> I reject that. These recent years have taught me that I’m less when I’m not
> actively looking after myself, that I have value to my world and my
> community beyond ceaseless production, and that pursuits like birding that
> foster joy, wonder and connection to place are not sidebars to a fulfilled
> life but their essence.
>
> It’s easy to think of birding as an escape from reality. Instead, I see it
> as immersion in the true reality. I don’t need to know who the main
> characters are on social media and what everyone is saying about them, when
> I can instead spend an hour trying to find a rare sparrow. It’s very clear
> to me which of those two activities is the more ridiculous. It’s not the
> one with the sparrow.
>
> More of those sparrows are imminent. I’m about to witness my first spring
> migration as warblers and other delights pass through the Bay Area. Birds
> I’ve seen only in drab grays are about to don their spectacular breeding
> plumages. Familiar species are about to burst out in new tunes that I’ll
> have to learn. I have my first lazuli bunting to see, my first blue
> grosbeak to find, my first least terns to photograph. I can’t wait.
>
> Ed Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,”
> investigates animal perception.
>
> The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor.
> We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here
> are some tips. And here’s our email: <letters...>
>
> Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,
> WhatsApp, X and Threads.
>
> --
> David P. Muth
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
Sandra Barbier
LaPlace, LA
NOTICE: This message, including all attachments transmitted with it, is intended solely for the use of the Addressee(s) and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL, and/or EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is STRICTLY PROHIBITED. If you received this communication in error, please destroy all copies of the message, whether in electronic or hard copy format, as well as attachments and immediately contact the sender by replying to this email or contact the sender at the telephone numbers listed above. Thank you!
Date: 3/30/24 11:31 am From: Sandra Barbier <sandabar10...> Subject: Re: [labird] NYTIMES: When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
David,
Very moving. Thanks
Sandy
On Sat, Mar 30, 2024 at 12:39 PM glenn ousset <gousset...> wrote:
> David,Thank you for posting. Excellent article.
> Glenn Ousset
> On Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 10:19:13 AM CDT, David P. Muth <
> <muthdp...> wrote:
>
> OPINION
> GUEST ESSAY
>
> When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
> March 30, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET
>
> By Ed Yong
>
> Last September, I drove to a protected wetland near my home in Oakland,
> Calif., walked to the end of a pier and started looking at birds.
> Throughout the summer, I had been breaking in my first pair of binoculars,
> a Sibley field guide and the Merlin song-identification app, but always
> while hiking or walking the dog. On that pier, for the first time, I had
> gone somewhere solely to watch birds.
>
> In some birding circles, people say that anyone who looks at birds is a
> birder — a kind, inclusive sentiment that also overlooks the forces that
> create and shape subcultures. Anyone can dance, but not everyone would
> identify as a dancer because the latter suggests if not skill then at least
> effort and intent. Similarly, I’ve cared about birds and other animals for
> my entire life, and I’ve written about them throughout my two decades as a
> science writer, but I mark the moment when I specifically chose to devote
> time and energy to them as the moment I became a birder.
>
> Since then, my Birder Derangement Syndrome has progressed at an alarming
> pace. Seven months ago, I was still seeing very common birds for the first
> time. Since then, I’ve seen 452 species, including 337 in the United
> States, and 307 this year alone. I can reliably identify a few dozen
> species by ear. I can tell apart greater and lesser yellowlegs, house and
> purple finches, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks. (Don’t talk to me about
> gulls; I’m working on the gulls.) I keep abreast of eBird’s rare bird
> alerts and have spent many days — some glorious, others frustrating —
> looking for said rare birds. I know what it means to dip, to twitch, to
> pish. I’ve gone owling.
>
> I didn’t start from scratch. A career spent writing about nature gave me
> enough avian biology and taxonomy to roughly know the habitats and
> silhouettes of the major groups. Journalism taught me how to familiarize
> myself with unfamiliar territory very quickly. I crowdsourced tips on the
> social media platform Bluesky. I went out with experienced birders to learn
> how they move through a landscape and what cues they attend to.
>
> I studied up on birds that are famously difficult to identify so that when
> I first saw them in the field, I had an inkling of what they were without
> having to check a field guide. I used the many tools now available to
> novices: EBird shows where other birders go and reveals how different
> species navigate space and time; Merlin is best known as an identification
> app but is secretly an incredible encyclopedia; Birdingquiz.com lets you
> practice identifying species based on fleeting glances at bad angles.
>
> This all sounds rather extra, and birding is often defined by its excesses.
> At its worst, it becomes an empty process of collection that turns living
> things into abstract numbers on meaningless lists. But even that style of
> birding is harder without knowledge. To find the birds, you have to know
> them. And in the process of knowing them, much else falls into place.
>
> Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors. It has pushed me to explore
> Oakland in ways I never would have: Amazing hot spots lurk within
> industrial areas, sewage treatment plants and random residential parks. It
> has proved more meditative than meditation. While birding, I seem
> impervious to heat, cold, hunger and thirst. My senses focus resolutely on
> the present, and the usual hubbub in my head becomes quiet. When I spot a
> species for the first time — a lifer — I course with adrenaline, while
> being utterly serene.
>
> I also feel a much deeper connection to the natural world, which I have
> long written about but always remained slightly distant from. I knew that
> the loggerhead shrike — a small but ferocious songbird — impales the bodies
> of its prey on spikes. I’ve now seen one doing that with my own eyes. I
> know where to find the shrikes and what they sound like. Countless
> fragments of unrooted trivia that rattled around my brain are now grounded
> in place, time and personal experience.
>
> When I step out my door in the morning, I take an aural census of the
> neighborhood, tuning in to the chatter of creatures that were always there
> and that I might previously have overlooked. The passing of the seasons
> feels more granular, marked by the arrival and disappearance of particular
> species instead of much slower changes in day length, temperature and
> greenery. I find myself noticing small shifts in the weather and small
> differences in habitat. I think about the tides.
>
> So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I
> started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species
> in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and Western bluebirds
> would be easy, but not black skimmers, or peregrine falcons or loggerhead
> shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the
> province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the last
> six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned
> owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons,
> all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into
> “Where can I find that?”
>
> Of course, having the time to bird is an immense privilege. As a
> freelancer, I have total control over my hours and my ability to get out in
> the field. “Are you a retiree?” a fellow birder recently asked me. “You’re
> birding like a retiree.” I laughed, but the comment spoke to the idea that
> things like birding are what you do when you’re not working, not being
> productive.
>
> I reject that. These recent years have taught me that I’m less when I’m not
> actively looking after myself, that I have value to my world and my
> community beyond ceaseless production, and that pursuits like birding that
> foster joy, wonder and connection to place are not sidebars to a fulfilled
> life but their essence.
>
> It’s easy to think of birding as an escape from reality. Instead, I see it
> as immersion in the true reality. I don’t need to know who the main
> characters are on social media and what everyone is saying about them, when
> I can instead spend an hour trying to find a rare sparrow. It’s very clear
> to me which of those two activities is the more ridiculous. It’s not the
> one with the sparrow.
>
> More of those sparrows are imminent. I’m about to witness my first spring
> migration as warblers and other delights pass through the Bay Area. Birds
> I’ve seen only in drab grays are about to don their spectacular breeding
> plumages. Familiar species are about to burst out in new tunes that I’ll
> have to learn. I have my first lazuli bunting to see, my first blue
> grosbeak to find, my first least terns to photograph. I can’t wait.
>
> Ed Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,”
> investigates animal perception.
>
> The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor.
> We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here
> are some tips. And here’s our email: <letters...>
>
> Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,
> WhatsApp, X and Threads.
>
> --
> David P. Muth
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/30/24 10:39 am From: glenn ousset <gousset...> Subject: Re: [labird] NYTIMES: When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
David,Thank you for posting. Excellent article.
Glenn Ousset
On Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 10:19:13 AM CDT, David P. Muth <muthdp...> wrote:
OPINION
GUEST ESSAY
When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
March 30, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET
By Ed Yong
Last September, I drove to a protected wetland near my home in Oakland,
Calif., walked to the end of a pier and started looking at birds.
Throughout the summer, I had been breaking in my first pair of binoculars,
a Sibley field guide and the Merlin song-identification app, but always
while hiking or walking the dog. On that pier, for the first time, I had
gone somewhere solely to watch birds.
In some birding circles, people say that anyone who looks at birds is a
birder — a kind, inclusive sentiment that also overlooks the forces that
create and shape subcultures. Anyone can dance, but not everyone would
identify as a dancer because the latter suggests if not skill then at least
effort and intent. Similarly, I’ve cared about birds and other animals for
my entire life, and I’ve written about them throughout my two decades as a
science writer, but I mark the moment when I specifically chose to devote
time and energy to them as the moment I became a birder.
Since then, my Birder Derangement Syndrome has progressed at an alarming
pace. Seven months ago, I was still seeing very common birds for the first
time. Since then, I’ve seen 452 species, including 337 in the United
States, and 307 this year alone. I can reliably identify a few dozen
species by ear. I can tell apart greater and lesser yellowlegs, house and
purple finches, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks. (Don’t talk to me about
gulls; I’m working on the gulls.) I keep abreast of eBird’s rare bird
alerts and have spent many days — some glorious, others frustrating —
looking for said rare birds. I know what it means to dip, to twitch, to
pish. I’ve gone owling.
I didn’t start from scratch. A career spent writing about nature gave me
enough avian biology and taxonomy to roughly know the habitats and
silhouettes of the major groups. Journalism taught me how to familiarize
myself with unfamiliar territory very quickly. I crowdsourced tips on the
social media platform Bluesky. I went out with experienced birders to learn
how they move through a landscape and what cues they attend to.
I studied up on birds that are famously difficult to identify so that when
I first saw them in the field, I had an inkling of what they were without
having to check a field guide. I used the many tools now available to
novices: EBird shows where other birders go and reveals how different
species navigate space and time; Merlin is best known as an identification
app but is secretly an incredible encyclopedia; Birdingquiz.com lets you
practice identifying species based on fleeting glances at bad angles.
This all sounds rather extra, and birding is often defined by its excesses.
At its worst, it becomes an empty process of collection that turns living
things into abstract numbers on meaningless lists. But even that style of
birding is harder without knowledge. To find the birds, you have to know
them. And in the process of knowing them, much else falls into place.
Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors. It has pushed me to explore
Oakland in ways I never would have: Amazing hot spots lurk within
industrial areas, sewage treatment plants and random residential parks. It
has proved more meditative than meditation. While birding, I seem
impervious to heat, cold, hunger and thirst. My senses focus resolutely on
the present, and the usual hubbub in my head becomes quiet. When I spot a
species for the first time — a lifer — I course with adrenaline, while
being utterly serene.
I also feel a much deeper connection to the natural world, which I have
long written about but always remained slightly distant from. I knew that
the loggerhead shrike — a small but ferocious songbird — impales the bodies
of its prey on spikes. I’ve now seen one doing that with my own eyes. I
know where to find the shrikes and what they sound like. Countless
fragments of unrooted trivia that rattled around my brain are now grounded
in place, time and personal experience.
When I step out my door in the morning, I take an aural census of the
neighborhood, tuning in to the chatter of creatures that were always there
and that I might previously have overlooked. The passing of the seasons
feels more granular, marked by the arrival and disappearance of particular
species instead of much slower changes in day length, temperature and
greenery. I find myself noticing small shifts in the weather and small
differences in habitat. I think about the tides.
So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I
started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species
in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and Western bluebirds
would be easy, but not black skimmers, or peregrine falcons or loggerhead
shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the
province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the last
six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned
owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons,
all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into
“Where can I find that?”
Of course, having the time to bird is an immense privilege. As a
freelancer, I have total control over my hours and my ability to get out in
the field. “Are you a retiree?” a fellow birder recently asked me. “You’re
birding like a retiree.” I laughed, but the comment spoke to the idea that
things like birding are what you do when you’re not working, not being
productive.
I reject that. These recent years have taught me that I’m less when I’m not
actively looking after myself, that I have value to my world and my
community beyond ceaseless production, and that pursuits like birding that
foster joy, wonder and connection to place are not sidebars to a fulfilled
life but their essence.
It’s easy to think of birding as an escape from reality. Instead, I see it
as immersion in the true reality. I don’t need to know who the main
characters are on social media and what everyone is saying about them, when
I can instead spend an hour trying to find a rare sparrow. It’s very clear
to me which of those two activities is the more ridiculous. It’s not the
one with the sparrow.
More of those sparrows are imminent. I’m about to witness my first spring
migration as warblers and other delights pass through the Bay Area. Birds
I’ve seen only in drab grays are about to don their spectacular breeding
plumages. Familiar species are about to burst out in new tunes that I’ll
have to learn. I have my first lazuli bunting to see, my first blue
grosbeak to find, my first least terns to photograph. I can’t wait.
Ed Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,”
investigates animal perception.
The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor.
We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here
are some tips. And here’s our email: <letters...>
Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,
WhatsApp, X and Threads.
Date: 3/30/24 8:19 am From: David P. Muth <muthdp...> Subject: [labird] NYTIMES: When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
OPINION
GUEST ESSAY
When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place
March 30, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET
By Ed Yong
Last September, I drove to a protected wetland near my home in Oakland,
Calif., walked to the end of a pier and started looking at birds.
Throughout the summer, I had been breaking in my first pair of binoculars,
a Sibley field guide and the Merlin song-identification app, but always
while hiking or walking the dog. On that pier, for the first time, I had
gone somewhere solely to watch birds.
In some birding circles, people say that anyone who looks at birds is a
birder — a kind, inclusive sentiment that also overlooks the forces that
create and shape subcultures. Anyone can dance, but not everyone would
identify as a dancer because the latter suggests if not skill then at least
effort and intent. Similarly, I’ve cared about birds and other animals for
my entire life, and I’ve written about them throughout my two decades as a
science writer, but I mark the moment when I specifically chose to devote
time and energy to them as the moment I became a birder.
Since then, my Birder Derangement Syndrome has progressed at an alarming
pace. Seven months ago, I was still seeing very common birds for the first
time. Since then, I’ve seen 452 species, including 337 in the United
States, and 307 this year alone. I can reliably identify a few dozen
species by ear. I can tell apart greater and lesser yellowlegs, house and
purple finches, Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks. (Don’t talk to me about
gulls; I’m working on the gulls.) I keep abreast of eBird’s rare bird
alerts and have spent many days — some glorious, others frustrating —
looking for said rare birds. I know what it means to dip, to twitch, to
pish. I’ve gone owling.
I didn’t start from scratch. A career spent writing about nature gave me
enough avian biology and taxonomy to roughly know the habitats and
silhouettes of the major groups. Journalism taught me how to familiarize
myself with unfamiliar territory very quickly. I crowdsourced tips on the
social media platform Bluesky. I went out with experienced birders to learn
how they move through a landscape and what cues they attend to.
I studied up on birds that are famously difficult to identify so that when
I first saw them in the field, I had an inkling of what they were without
having to check a field guide. I used the many tools now available to
novices: EBird shows where other birders go and reveals how different
species navigate space and time; Merlin is best known as an identification
app but is secretly an incredible encyclopedia; Birdingquiz.com lets you
practice identifying species based on fleeting glances at bad angles.
This all sounds rather extra, and birding is often defined by its excesses.
At its worst, it becomes an empty process of collection that turns living
things into abstract numbers on meaningless lists. But even that style of
birding is harder without knowledge. To find the birds, you have to know
them. And in the process of knowing them, much else falls into place.
Birding has tripled the time I spend outdoors. It has pushed me to explore
Oakland in ways I never would have: Amazing hot spots lurk within
industrial areas, sewage treatment plants and random residential parks. It
has proved more meditative than meditation. While birding, I seem
impervious to heat, cold, hunger and thirst. My senses focus resolutely on
the present, and the usual hubbub in my head becomes quiet. When I spot a
species for the first time — a lifer — I course with adrenaline, while
being utterly serene.
I also feel a much deeper connection to the natural world, which I have
long written about but always remained slightly distant from. I knew that
the loggerhead shrike — a small but ferocious songbird — impales the bodies
of its prey on spikes. I’ve now seen one doing that with my own eyes. I
know where to find the shrikes and what they sound like. Countless
fragments of unrooted trivia that rattled around my brain are now grounded
in place, time and personal experience.
When I step out my door in the morning, I take an aural census of the
neighborhood, tuning in to the chatter of creatures that were always there
and that I might previously have overlooked. The passing of the seasons
feels more granular, marked by the arrival and disappearance of particular
species instead of much slower changes in day length, temperature and
greenery. I find myself noticing small shifts in the weather and small
differences in habitat. I think about the tides.
So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I
started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species
in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and Western bluebirds
would be easy, but not black skimmers, or peregrine falcons or loggerhead
shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the
province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the last
six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned
owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons,
all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into
“Where can I find that?”
Of course, having the time to bird is an immense privilege. As a
freelancer, I have total control over my hours and my ability to get out in
the field. “Are you a retiree?” a fellow birder recently asked me. “You’re
birding like a retiree.” I laughed, but the comment spoke to the idea that
things like birding are what you do when you’re not working, not being
productive.
I reject that. These recent years have taught me that I’m less when I’m not
actively looking after myself, that I have value to my world and my
community beyond ceaseless production, and that pursuits like birding that
foster joy, wonder and connection to place are not sidebars to a fulfilled
life but their essence.
It’s easy to think of birding as an escape from reality. Instead, I see it
as immersion in the true reality. I don’t need to know who the main
characters are on social media and what everyone is saying about them, when
I can instead spend an hour trying to find a rare sparrow. It’s very clear
to me which of those two activities is the more ridiculous. It’s not the
one with the sparrow.
More of those sparrows are imminent. I’m about to witness my first spring
migration as warblers and other delights pass through the Bay Area. Birds
I’ve seen only in drab grays are about to don their spectacular breeding
plumages. Familiar species are about to burst out in new tunes that I’ll
have to learn. I have my first lazuli bunting to see, my first blue
grosbeak to find, my first least terns to photograph. I can’t wait.
Ed Yong is a science writer whose most recent book, “An Immense World,”
investigates animal perception.
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For whats it worth, while driving down to the coast today I saw a Caracara
carrying nest material about mile north of the hwy 82 bridge ( the big
bridge) over the Intracoastal Canal in Forked Island, flying over the
highway heading east.
I couldnt really stop and when I came back thru we did search for a nest
near the road for a little while with no luck.
Just an FYI if someone in that area wants to do a little better search.
Date: 3/29/24 9:09 am From: Joseph Kennedy <jkennedy366...> Subject: Re: [labird] American Crow
A note on merlin errors. When it is wrong it is always wrong over several
months
I use it occasionally to try and pick up an odd warbler call when the herd
of yellow-rumps is here. When a cardinal sings merlin says it is a cardinal,
Carolina wren and mockingbird when only a cardinal is singing.
When a Carolina wren is singing alone merlin says it is a wren, mockingbird
and cardinal. This has been true starting in January and continuing until
pre-dawn today.
Merlin has picked up some warbler chips I did not hear before I saw the
birds.
Date: 3/29/24 7:55 am From: Bill Vermillion <bill.gcjv...> Subject: Re: [labird] American Crow
While on the crow thread - last year I kept track of my year list and I
thought I noticed a pattern with American and Fish Crows around Lafayette,
specifically that during the winter months detections were dominated by
American Crows, with Fish Crows appearing and becoming more common around
spring and into summer-fall.
And regarding Mickey the crow, around the turn of the 20th century, my
grandfather and great uncles had at least one pet crow they obtained by
identifying nests and then climbing the trees to capture nestlings.
Supposedly some of these pets were taught English words. Today you can't
have a pet crow though you could possess a dead one depending on your state
hunting seasons or nuisance wildlife depredation laws.
Bill Vermillion
On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 9:05 AM Johnson, Erik <Erik.Johnson...>
wrote:
> Michael/LAbird,
>
> There's never any shame in reporting a bird to eBird as "Fish/American
> Crow." Or "hummingbird sp." Or "sparrow sp." Or "tern sp." Or "white egret
> sp." Uncertainty is completely embedded within birding, and no one can
> identify everything that's around them.
>
> Merlin is a useful tool, but as others have said, not to be used for
> generating eBird lists.
>
> As far as the Fish/American ID conundrum, there are subtle differences in
> shape and flight style, which with practice can be helpful. Fish are
> longer-tailed and pointier-winged, and often have more of a rowing style of
> flight. Both species give nasal calls, such that Americans are more likely
> to be mis-identified as Fish than the other way around. About a year ago, I
> became aware of a recording of an individual crow clearly giving both Fish
> ("eh-eh") and American ("caw") calls. I think we know little about
> hybridization, and these are smart birds that have the ability to mimic.
> Mickey, a captive crow in the National Aviary in Pittsburgh years ago, was
> able to say various English words and phrases that he learned from a keeper.
>
> Birding is an endless pursuit, and "experts" may be best distinguished as
> realizing the depth of what they don't know, rather than by what they do
> know.
>
> Happy birding,
> Erik Johnson
> Sunset, LA
> Erik.Johnson AT Audubon.org
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Steven W. Cardiff
> via groups.io
> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 8:43 AM
> To: <labird...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] American Crow
>
> As I told the beginning birder from Gonzales (who, by the way, is a she,
> not a he....), please refrain from reporting anything flagged as rare by
> Merlin sound app unless you get a visual confirmation and you include the
> recording in the list. So, no "Merlin-heard-only" rare birds, please.
> Reporting "expected" species based on Merlin sound app is a whole 'nother
> can of worms as pointed out several times by Dr. Remsen and others over the
> past couple years. Almost no way to detect misidentifications of expected
> species, which happens frequently.....
>
> Steve Cardiff
>
> On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 8:08 AM Michael Cavanaugh via groups.io
> <michaelcav= <aol.com...> wrote:
>
> > Friends, I'm as skeptical of Merlin as anyone (I think it calls SOME
> > bird every time our neighbor's air conditioner kicks on), AND I
> > realize that the vast majority of crows in our area are Fish Crows
> > (which Merlin calls correctly, mostly). But the other day a group of
> > crows flew over, the caw wasn't as nasal as usual, and Merlin called it
> an American Crow.
> > My question is about the use of Merlin as a tool. Do you COMPLETELY
> > ignore it, do you consider it as SOME evidence, or do you only use it
> > as a hint that a bird you'd like to see MIGHT be nearby?
> > Thanks,Michael In a message dated 3/29/2024 8:00:46 AM Central
> > Daylight Time, <jay.huner1...> writes:
> > Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in
> > Louisiana much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state
> > record. “Merlin Says”!!
> > ________________________________
> > From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of John Romano via
> > groups.io <birderjuan...>
> > Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
> > To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
> > Cc: <labird...> <labird...>
> > Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
> >
> > CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not
> > click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and
> > know the content is safe.
> >
> >
> > I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was
> > identified by Merlin.
> > John Romano
> > > On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on
> > Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's
> > way off with his use of the app!
> > >
> > > Jay H.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/29/24 7:05 am From: Johnson, Erik <Erik.Johnson...> Subject: Re: [labird] American Crow
Michael/LAbird,
There's never any shame in reporting a bird to eBird as "Fish/American Crow." Or "hummingbird sp." Or "sparrow sp." Or "tern sp." Or "white egret sp." Uncertainty is completely embedded within birding, and no one can identify everything that's around them.
Merlin is a useful tool, but as others have said, not to be used for generating eBird lists.
As far as the Fish/American ID conundrum, there are subtle differences in shape and flight style, which with practice can be helpful. Fish are longer-tailed and pointier-winged, and often have more of a rowing style of flight. Both species give nasal calls, such that Americans are more likely to be mis-identified as Fish than the other way around. About a year ago, I became aware of a recording of an individual crow clearly giving both Fish ("eh-eh") and American ("caw") calls. I think we know little about hybridization, and these are smart birds that have the ability to mimic. Mickey, a captive crow in the National Aviary in Pittsburgh years ago, was able to say various English words and phrases that he learned from a keeper.
Birding is an endless pursuit, and "experts" may be best distinguished as realizing the depth of what they don't know, rather than by what they do know.
Happy birding,
Erik Johnson
Sunset, LA
Erik.Johnson AT Audubon.org
-----Original Message-----
From: <labird...> <labird...> On Behalf Of Steven W. Cardiff via groups.io
Sent: Friday, March 29, 2024 8:43 AM
To: <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] American Crow
As I told the beginning birder from Gonzales (who, by the way, is a she, not a he....), please refrain from reporting anything flagged as rare by Merlin sound app unless you get a visual confirmation and you include the recording in the list. So, no "Merlin-heard-only" rare birds, please.
Reporting "expected" species based on Merlin sound app is a whole 'nother can of worms as pointed out several times by Dr. Remsen and others over the past couple years. Almost no way to detect misidentifications of expected species, which happens frequently.....
Steve Cardiff
On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 8:08 AM Michael Cavanaugh via groups.io <michaelcav= <aol.com...> wrote:
> Friends, I'm as skeptical of Merlin as anyone (I think it calls SOME
> bird every time our neighbor's air conditioner kicks on), AND I
> realize that the vast majority of crows in our area are Fish Crows
> (which Merlin calls correctly, mostly). But the other day a group of
> crows flew over, the caw wasn't as nasal as usual, and Merlin called it an American Crow.
> My question is about the use of Merlin as a tool. Do you COMPLETELY
> ignore it, do you consider it as SOME evidence, or do you only use it
> as a hint that a bird you'd like to see MIGHT be nearby?
> Thanks,Michael In a message dated 3/29/2024 8:00:46 AM Central
> Daylight Time, <jay.huner1...> writes:
> Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in
> Louisiana much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state
> record. “Merlin Says”!!
> ________________________________
> From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of John Romano via
> groups.io <birderjuan...>
> Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
> To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
> Cc: <labird...> <labird...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not
> click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and
> know the content is safe.
>
>
> I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was
> identified by Merlin.
> John Romano
> > On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
> wrote:
> >
> > The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on
> Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's
> way off with his use of the app!
> >
> > Jay H.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/29/24 6:43 am From: Steven W. Cardiff <scardif...> Subject: Re: [labird] American Crow
As I told the beginning birder from Gonzales (who, by the way, is a she,
not a he....), please refrain from reporting anything flagged as rare by
Merlin sound app unless you get a visual confirmation and you include the
recording in the list. So, no "Merlin-heard-only" rare birds, please.
Reporting "expected" species based on Merlin sound app is a whole 'nother
can of worms as pointed out several times by Dr. Remsen and others over the
past couple years. Almost no way to detect misidentifications of expected
species, which happens frequently.....
Steve Cardiff
On Fri, Mar 29, 2024 at 8:08 AM Michael Cavanaugh via groups.io <michaelcav=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> Friends, I'm as skeptical of Merlin as anyone (I think it calls SOME bird
> every time our neighbor's air conditioner kicks on), AND I realize that the
> vast majority of crows in our area are Fish Crows (which Merlin calls
> correctly, mostly). But the other day a group of crows flew over, the caw
> wasn't as nasal as usual, and Merlin called it an American Crow.
> My question is about the use of Merlin as a tool. Do you COMPLETELY
> ignore it, do you consider it as SOME evidence, or do you only use it as a
> hint that a bird you'd like to see MIGHT be nearby? Thanks,Michael
> In a message dated 3/29/2024 8:00:46 AM Central Daylight Time,
> <jay.huner1...> writes:
> Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in Louisiana
> much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state record. “Merlin
> Says”!!
> ________________________________
> From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of John Romano via
> groups.io <birderjuan...>
> Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
> To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
> Cc: <labird...> <labird...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click
> links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the
> content is safe.
>
>
> I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified
> by Merlin.
> John Romano
> > On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
> wrote:
> >
> > The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on
> Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way
> off with his use of the app!
> >
> > Jay H.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/29/24 6:28 am From: Kevin Colley <Kcolley71...> Subject: Re: [labird] American Crow
I think it’s a great tool. Not 100% accurate obviously. But a wise person once said “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”.
> On Mar 29, 2024, at 8:08 AM, Michael Cavanaugh via groups.io <michaelcav...> wrote:
>
> Friends, I'm as skeptical of Merlin as anyone (I think it calls SOME bird every time our neighbor's air conditioner kicks on), AND I realize that the vast majority of crows in our area are Fish Crows (which Merlin calls correctly, mostly). But the other day a group of crows flew over, the caw wasn't as nasal as usual, and Merlin called it an American Crow.
> My question is about the use of Merlin as a tool. Do you COMPLETELY ignore it, do you consider it as SOME evidence, or do you only use it as a hint that a bird you'd like to see MIGHT be nearby? Thanks,Michael
> In a message dated 3/29/2024 8:00:46 AM Central Daylight Time, <jay.huner1...> writes:
> Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in Louisiana much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state record. “Merlin Says”!!
> ________________________________
> From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of John Romano via groups.io <birderjuan...>
> Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
> To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
> Cc: <labird...> <labird...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
>
>
> I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified by Merlin.
> John Romano
>> On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...> wrote:
>>
>> The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with his use of the app!
>>
>> Jay H.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/29/24 6:08 am From: Michael Cavanaugh via groups.io <michaelcav...> Subject: [labird] American Crow
Friends, I'm as skeptical of Merlin as anyone (I think it calls SOME bird every time our neighbor's air conditioner kicks on), AND I realize that the vast majority of crows in our area are Fish Crows (which Merlin calls correctly, mostly). But the other day a group of crows flew over, the caw wasn't as nasal as usual, and Merlin called it an American Crow.
My question is about the use of Merlin as a tool. Do you COMPLETELY ignore it, do you consider it as SOME evidence, or do you only use it as a hint that a bird you'd like to see MIGHT be nearby? Thanks,Michael
In a message dated 3/29/2024 8:00:46 AM Central Daylight Time, <jay.huner1...> writes:
Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in Louisiana much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state record. “Merlin Says”!!
________________________________
From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of John Romano via groups.io <birderjuan...>
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
Cc: <labird...> <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified by Merlin.
John Romano
> On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...> wrote:
>
> The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with his use of the app!
>
> Jay H.
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/29/24 6:06 am From: Kevin Colley <Kcolley71...> Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
Maybe they are a beginner.
> On Mar 29, 2024, at 8:00 AM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...> wrote:
>
> Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in Louisiana much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state record. “Merlin Says”!!
> ________________________________
> From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of John Romano via groups.io <birderjuan...>
> Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
> To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
> Cc: <labird...> <labird...>
> Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
>
> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
>
>
> I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified by Merlin.
> John Romano
>> On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...> wrote:
>>
>> The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with his use of the app!
>>
>> Jay H.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/29/24 6:00 am From: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...> Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
Clearly, the person has no knowledge about bird distribution in Louisiana much less North America. Black Phoebe would be first state record. “Merlin Says”!!
________________________________
From: <labird...> <labird...> on behalf of John Romano via groups.io <birderjuan...>
Sent: Thursday, March 28, 2024 4:04 PM
To: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
Cc: <labird...> <labird...>
Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of UL Lafayette. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified by Merlin.
John Romano
> On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...> wrote:
>
> The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with his use of the app!
>
> Jay H.
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/28/24 9:04 pm From: John Romano <birderjuan...> Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
I saw that too. Documentation was - I did not see it but it was identified by Merlin.
John Romano
> On Mar 28, 2024, at 8:13 PM, Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...> wrote:
>
> The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with his use of the app!
>
> Jay H.
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/28/24 6:27 pm From: Steven W. Cardiff <scardif...> Subject: Re: [labird] Black Phoebe!
Jay/labird-
Duh. That was done some time ago (by me), and the observer seemed to
understand. But, obviously, that was wishful thinking. All we reviewers can
do is unconfirm the observations and/or make the lists not public. if the
problem persists much longer, then I will ask ebird to take action,
although I doubt they would do anything.
Steve Cardiff
On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 8:13 PM Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...>
wrote:
> The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin
> sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with
> his use of the app!
>
> Jay H.
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 3/28/24 6:13 pm From: Jay V Huner <jay.huner1...> Subject: [labird] Black Phoebe!
The person from the Gonzales area reported a Black Phoebe based on Merlin sound ID. Too bad someone can't find him and explain that he's way off with his use of the app!
Date: 3/28/24 8:16 am From: Bill Fontenot <natrldlite...> Subject: Re: [labird] wood storks
Man that seems early. Guess I’m still stuck in regular times.
Bill Fontenot
> On Mar 28, 2024, at 7:53 AM, Shively, Steve- FS via groups.io <Stephen.Shively...> wrote:
>
> Tried to send this message via ipad on Monday but don't think it worked. Monday, March 25, around 1030 hours, 5 wood storks flew low over my house on the west end of Woodworth, Rapides Parish, flying west to east.
>
> [Forest Service Shield]
> Stephen Shively
> Wildlife Biologist
> Forest Service
> Kisatchie National Forest, Calcasieu Ranger District
> p: 318-969-3050
> c: 318-880-7822
> <Stephen.Shively...><mailto:<Stephen.Shively...> > 9912 Hwy 28 West
> Boyce, LA 71409
> www.fs.fed.us<https://www.fs.fed.us/> > [USDA Logo]<https://usda.gov/> [Forest Service Twitter] <https://twitter.com/forestservice> [USDA Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Forest-Service/1431984283714112> > Caring for the land and serving people
>
>
>
>
>
>
> This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
>
>
>
>
>
> <image001.png>
> <image002.png>
> <image003.png>
> <image004.png>
Date: 3/28/24 5:53 am From: Shively, Steve- FS via groups.io <Stephen.Shively...> Subject: [labird] wood storks
Tried to send this message via ipad on Monday but don't think it worked. Monday, March 25, around 1030 hours, 5 wood storks flew low over my house on the west end of Woodworth, Rapides Parish, flying west to east.
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
I had three swallow tailed kites flying together over I-10 as I approached Blind River traveling westbound on Wednesday March 27, 2024, at approximately 830 am.
Terri Skelton
Date: 3/26/24 7:55 am From: Jennifer Outlaw Coulson <jenniferocoulson...> Subject: [labird] Birding Trip to Bayou Sauvage on Saturday
*Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge* – half-day birding trip Saturday,
March 30, 8:00 a.m.
Meet at the Bayou Ridge Trail entrance located on the left side of U.S. 90
(Chef Menteur Highway). Take the I-510 Exit off of I-10, turn left on Chef
Hwy and proceed about 4 miles. Address: 20876 Chef Menteur Hwy, New
Orleans, LA 70129
Leader: Peter Yaukey, (504) 400-3286, <pyaukey...>
For trip updates and more information visit: https://jjaudubon.net/events/
All are welcome.
Jennifer Coulson
President
Orleans Audubon Society
