Date: 4/19/24 10:48 am From: Teresa Michelsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
All of the links could be put in one e-mail rather than successive one? Best of both worlds?
Just a suggestion 😊
Teresa Michelsen
Hoodsport, WA
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Constance Sidles via Tweeters
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2024 8:05 AM
To: Ruby Newton <mojaveruby...>
Cc: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
Hey tweets, with something like 8 billion people on the planet, and thousands of articles published every day 365 days a year, year after year, there is way too much information being generated on a daily basis for any one human being to keep up with. I for one am grateful to those like Dan who sift through the mountainous sand dunes of facts to highlight the most consequential for birders and conservationists. Tweeters, unlike so many other listserves for birders, has always been a forum that is about so much more than where to find rare birds. It is really a community of people who share a love of birds, nature, and conservation. In any community, there are bound to be people with different interests, some of whom like science, others who like art or rare bird locations, or almost any other aspect of the avian world. Birding is a big tent, another reason I am grateful to Tweeters and to everybody who takes the time to share bird-related information that expands my horizons. - Connie, Seattle
On Apr 19, 2024, at 7:51 AM, Ruby Newton via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Some of us find his posts very interesting. Surely it is not that difficult to delete ?
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...><mailto:<tweeters-bounces...>> on behalf of Robert Gray via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> Sent: Friday, April 19, 2024 7:47 AM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>>; Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...><mailto:<dan.owl.reiff...>> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
I would like to see a voluntary ban on multiple emails in a single day from a single person. I'm getting carpal tunnel issues from deleting.
On Friday, April 19, 2024 at 01:58:45 AM PDT, Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...><mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
Date: 4/19/24 8:53 am From: Doug Santoni via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Multiple Posts
Connie — Thank you for your thoughtful reply! I agree 100%. Today’s article about Woodcocks brought a smile to my face; two of my favorite childhood early birding encounters were with Woodcocks in Maryland! I delete some of the articles that don’t hold as much interest, but I do enjoy the occasional treasures and I’m grateful that they’re provided.
Doug Santoni
Seattle, WA
> On Apr 19, 2024, at 8:04 AM, Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hey tweets, with something like 8 billion people on the planet, and thousands of articles published every day 365 days a year, year after year, there is way too much information being generated on a daily basis for any one human being to keep up with. I for one am grateful to those like Dan who sift through the mountainous sand dunes of facts to highlight the most consequential for birders and conservationists. Tweeters, unlike so many other listserves for birders, has always been a forum that is about so much more than where to find rare birds. It is really a community of people who share a love of birds, nature, and conservation. In any community, there are bound to be people with different interests, some of whom like science, others who like art or rare bird locations, or almost any other aspect of the avian world. Birding is a big tent, another reason I am grateful to Tweeters and to everybody who takes the time to share bird-related information that expands my horizons. - Connie, Seattle
>
>> On Apr 19, 2024, at 7:51 AM, Ruby Newton via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>> Some of us find his posts very interesting. Surely it is not that difficult to delete ?
>> From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> <mailto:<tweeters-bounces...>> on behalf of Robert Gray via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> >> Sent: Friday, April 19, 2024 7:47 AM
>> To: Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>>; Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> <mailto:<dan.owl.reiff...>> >> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
>>
>> I would like to see a voluntary ban on multiple emails in a single day from a single person. I'm getting carpal tunnel issues from deleting.
>>
>> On Friday, April 19, 2024 at 01:58:45 AM PDT, Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> <mailto:<tweeters...>> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> https://www.newscientist.com/article/2426749-see-inside-an-endangered-california-condor-egg-just-before-it-hatches/ >>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...> <mailto:<Tweeters...> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/19/24 8:09 am From: Constance Sidles via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
Hey tweets, with something like 8 billion people on the planet, and thousands of articles published every day 365 days a year, year after year, there is way too much information being generated on a daily basis for any one human being to keep up with. I for one am grateful to those like Dan who sift through the mountainous sand dunes of facts to highlight the most consequential for birders and conservationists. Tweeters, unlike so many other listserves for birders, has always been a forum that is about so much more than where to find rare birds. It is really a community of people who share a love of birds, nature, and conservation. In any community, there are bound to be people with different interests, some of whom like science, others who like art or rare bird locations, or almost any other aspect of the avian world. Birding is a big tent, another reason I am grateful to Tweeters and to everybody who takes the time to share bird-related information that expands my horizons. - Connie, Seattle
Date: 4/19/24 7:55 am From: Ruby Newton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
Some of us find his posts very interesting. Surely it is not that difficult to delete ?
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Robert Gray via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Friday, April 19, 2024 7:47 AM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>; Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
I would like to see a voluntary ban on multiple emails in a single day from a single person. I'm getting carpal tunnel issues from deleting.
On Friday, April 19, 2024 at 01:58:45 AM PDT, Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Date: 4/19/24 7:51 am From: Robert Gray via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
I would like to see a voluntary ban on multiple emails in a single day from a single person. I'm getting carpal tunnel issues from deleting.
On Friday, April 19, 2024 at 01:58:45 AM PDT, Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Date: 4/19/24 2:02 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] See inside an endangered California condor egg just before it hatches | New Scientist
Date: 4/19/24 1:34 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Age 72: “World's oldest wild bird is 'actively courting' after losing long-term mate | Live Science”
Date: 4/19/24 1:21 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Team finds direct evidence of 'itinerant breeding' in East Coast shorebird species
Date: 4/19/24 1:08 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Mountain chickadees have remarkable memories. A new study explains why | ScienceDaily
Date: 4/18/24 8:44 pm From: John Riegsecker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Banded Caspian Terns at Port Orchard
All,
Last summer a flock of Caspian Terns that numbered close to 300 at one time hung out near Etta Turner Park in Port Orchard. Three of the birds were banded:
I reported all three birds, but the only one reported back to me was F649 which was banded in 2013 in Walla Walla. Today there were 59 birds present, 3 of which were banded:
None of these birds were present last year, and none of last years birds are here now. Only one of the birds had a color coded band which I have reported.
John Riegsecker Gig Harbor, WA jriegsecker at pobox.com
Date: 4/18/24 4:48 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-04-18
Tweets - It started out a frosty 32 degrees, but once the sun came up, so did the temperature. By the end, it was about 56 degrees, so a huge swing in a few hours. It was pretty birdy, though we haven't hit the big push of spring migration yet.
Highlights: Cackling Goose - One flock (maybe two) of about 50 Cinnamon Teal - Very nice looking drake just below the weir. First of Year (FOY) Eurasian Collared-Dove - One near the Pea Patch at 7:00 a.m. (FOY) Osprey - Either 2 or 4 birds. Geese are nesting on all of the old OSPR nests, so one pair is building a new nest in the NE Sharp-shinned Hawk - One seen from our cars at 6:30 a.m. Pileated Woodpecker - Pair at snag nest in Big Cottonwood Forest Hutton's Vireo - Singing away near the windmill Hermit Thrush - One heard on edge of Dog Meadow, unseen (FOY) Fox Sparrow - Only one, singing near the madrona along the slough Western Meadowlark - One in the East Meadow BREWER'S BLACKBIRD - One male near the Viewing Mound (FOY) Common Yellowthroat - Quite a few heard, a couple seen Orange-crowned Warbler - One, singing, heard-only Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dozens
Kathy Kuyper photographed two male and one female BREWER'S BLACKBIRD on Sunday. It was nice to get one on the survey today, as we only get about one report a year for them.
Misses today included Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, House Finch, and Lincoln's Sparrow.
For the day, 67 species. We're up to 100 species for the year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 4/18/24 4:33 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-04-18
Tweets - It started out a frosty 32 degrees, but once the sun came up, so did the temperature. By the end, it was about 56 degrees, so a huge swing in a few hours. It was pretty birdy, though we haven't hit the big push of spring migration yet.
Highlights: Cackling Goose - One flock (maybe two) of about 50 Cinnamon Teal - Very nice looking drake just below the weir. First of Year (FOY) Eurasian Collared-Dove - One near the Pea Patch at 7:00 a.m. (FOY) Osprey - Either 2 or 4 birds. Geese are nesting on all of the old OSPR nests, so one pair is building a new nest in the NE Sharp-shinned Hawk - One seen from our cars at 6:30 a.m.
Date: 4/18/24 11:54 am From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 4/17/2024
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 35 of us had a lovely spring day at the Refuge with cool
temperatures in the 30's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit and a steady north
breeze. There was a Low 6' Tide at 9:40am and a High 9' Tide at 1:30pm so
we did our regular walk. We had several out-of-towners from Minnesota and
Virginia, so many nice west coast bird sightings to share. Highlights
included a female RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD building a nest in the Orchard,
Audubon's x Myrtle Intergrade Yellow-rumped Warbler spotted by Jason along
the Access Road across from the Ed Center entrance road, FOY BLUE-WINGED
TEAL in the flooded fields south of the Twin Barns along with nice looks of
LESSER YELLOWLEGS, FOY WHIMBREL on the mudflats west of Leschi Slough, and
FOY YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD in the freshwater marsh along the Nisqually
Estuary Trail or new dike. We have numerous nesting birds we are observing
in addition to the Rufous Hummingbird including BUSHTIT, BROWN CREEPER,
CANADA GOOSE, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, TREE SWALLOW, MARSH WREN, and ANNA'S
HUMMINGBIRD. We had a great goose day with nice looks of SNOW GOOSE,
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, BRANT GEESE, and both Minima and Taverner's
CACKLING GEESE. Overall, duck numbers are decreasing as expected with
migration. A nice morning chorus with a good diversity of songs.
For the day we observed 87 species, and with FOY BWTE, LEYE, WHIM, and YHBL
we've seen 124 species this year. Other nice sightings included River
Otter, Pacific Tree Frog, Puget Sound Garter Snake and Harbor Seal. See
our eBird list pasted below with details and embedded photos.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center, happy
birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Apr 17, 2024 6:34 AM - 5:45 PM
Protocol: Traveling
9.191 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Sunny skies with temperatures in
the 30’s-50’s degree’s Fahrenheit. A light breeze from the north. There was
a Low 6’0” Tide at 9:40am and a High 9’1” Tide at 1:34pm. Mammals seen
Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, River Otter,
Harbor Seal, and Eastern Gray Squirrel. Others seen included Pacific Tree
Frog, NW Salamander Egg Cluster, and Puget Sound Garter Snake.
87 species (+8 other taxa)
Snow Goose 1 With Cackling Geese.
Greater White-fronted Goose 2
Brant (Black) 65 Nisqually Reach, mouth of Madrone Slough.
Cackling Goose (minima) 500
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 30
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 25 Nest Visitor Center Pond and old owl
tree nest north section of Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Wood Duck 9
Blue-winged Teal 3 Flooded fields south of Twin Barns and Twin Barns
Observation Platform.
Cinnamon Teal 6 Flooded fields south of Twin Barns and Twin Barns
Observation Platform.
Northern Shoveler 200
Gadwall 35
American Wigeon 300
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 50
Green-winged Teal (American) 400
Ring-necked Duck 15
Greater Scaup 1 McAllister Creek off the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk
Trail.
Lesser Scaup 1 Visitor Center Pond.
Surf Scoter 20 McAllister Creek.
Bufflehead 80
Common Goldeneye 20
Hooded Merganser 6
Red-breasted Merganser 24
Pied-billed Grebe 1 Freshwater marsh.
Horned Grebe 4 Breeding plumage in McAllister Creek.
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 24
Band-tailed Pigeon 3 Orchard.
Mourning Dove 2 Orchard
Anna's Hummingbird 2 Nest four planks north of Riparian Forest cut-off
on Twin Barns Loop Trail. On inside of trail, most right Alder, on 8th
branch up on right side, 6 feet from main trunk, on small horizontal branch
just of main branch. Approximately 20 feet high.
Rufous Hummingbird 8 7 males, one female. Nest building in Pear Tree
at entrance to Technician Building.
Virginia Rail 2 Heard in Freshwater Marsh. Male’s gidik, gidik, gidik,
call.
American Coot 175
Black-bellied Plover 3 Mudflats west of Leschi Slough.
Killdeer 1
Whimbrel (Hudsonian) 1 Mudflats west of Leschi Slough.
Wilson's Snipe 5 Flooded fields south of Twin Barns, Twin Barns
Observation Platform, Freshwater Marsh.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West Bank of McAllister Creek from Puget Sound
Observation Platform.
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 FOY, with Greater Yellowlegs north of old
McAllister Creek Access Road in flooded field. Seen from closure gate on
Access Road west of west end parking lot.
Greater Yellowlegs 40
Dunlin 4
Least Sandpiper 25
Bonaparte's Gull 100 10 plus birds foraging close over channels on
reach adjacent to Madrone Slough, another 100 birds foraging in deep water
channel between reach and Anderson Island 1 mile out.
Short-billed Gull 200
Ring-billed Gull 25
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 10
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 50
Larus sp. 200
Caspian Tern 2
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 15
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Being chased by Swallows while flying over west
end parking lot.
Bald Eagle 18 Four occupied nests: 1)West Bank of Nisqually River in
tall Cottonwood north of Nisqually Estuary Trail; 2) West Bank of
McAllister Creek south of McAllister Creek Observation Platform; 3)West
Bank of McAllister Creek across from Puget Sound Observation Platform; 4)
south of I5 in tall Cottonwood.
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1 Nest cavity/hole in Maple Tree in Twin Barn
Picnic Table Area.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 4
Northern Flicker 2
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 10
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 10
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 70
Violet-green Swallow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 30
Cliff Swallow 20 Good numbers observed at entrance ramp to south bound
I5 at overpass of McAllister Creek.
Bushtit (Pacific) 3 Four nests: 1) Orchard; 2) east side of
Maintenance Building Entrance Road 30 feet off road in Doug Fir; 3) outside
of north section of Twin Barns Loop Trail across from old owl nest tree; 4)
east entrance to Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Heard only.
Brown Creeper 4 Nest in Alder in median on southeast side of Ed Center
parking lot entrance road.
Marsh Wren 10 Freshwater marsh
Bewick's Wren 5
European Starling 50
American Robin 20
American Pipit 4 Fly over dike and Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Purple Finch (Western) 3 Orchard.
Pine Siskin 6 Twin Barns and east side of Loop Trail.
American Goldfinch 2
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 2
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 30
White-throated Sparrow 1 Seen by Lin in Orchard with GCSP.
Savannah Sparrow (Savannah) 10 Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 25
Spotted Towhee 2
Yellow-headed Blackbird 1 Freshwater Marsh along Nisqually Estuary
Trail.
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Orange-crowned Warbler 3 Orchard and Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1
Common Yellowthroat 16
Yellow-rumped Warbler 73
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle x Audubon's) 2 Two males identified.
Initially spotted by Jason at green gate on access road across from
Education Center. Observed at 30-50 feet in Cottonwood Tree with 10x
binoculars for several minutes. Seen by numerous birders. A yellow throated
Yellow-rumped Warbler with white demarcation behind auricles, white trim
around yellow throat, black facial mask and white supercillium or eyebrow.
Not unexpected given the large numbers of migrating Yellow-rumped Warblers
on this day.
On Thu, Apr 18, 2024 at 9:59 AM Gary Bletsch via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Dear Tweeters,
>
> This is a somewhat recondite question for anyone in the Tweeterverse who
> is still using AviSys bird listing software.
>
> Once again, an HP laptop of mine has begun to fail after a relatively
> short time, so I've bought a new laptop, a Lenovo Yoga 7. I'm not too
> impressed with their online support, which seems to consist mainly of links
> to YouTube videos.
>
> I have AviSys up and running just fine on the new machine, but I've
> realized that the laptop does not have the same keyboard as my previous
> ones. The new keyboard appears to have the same quantity of keys, but the
> function keys in the top row have different labels. The four keys in the
> top-right corner have different functions from the functions of those keys
> on my last two HP laptops. The new functions are all geared toward either
> gaming or media.
>
> There are just three functions that I am missing when using AviSys, and
> would like to get them going.
>
> 1. The handiest of these was CTRL + f11. This is a shortcut that lets the
> AviSys user get an instant list of all of his sightings of one species. For
> example, right now, on my old HP laptop--on which everything works except
> for Internet access--I have the Chestnut-backed Chickadee highlighted.
> Simply by pressing CTRL + f11, AviSys gives me all 2506 of my lifetime
> sightings of this species. Without this shortcut, I have to go to List
> Records, Species, put CBCH in there, then click D for date, L for list, and
> then hit Enter, just to get a chronological list of those 2506 sightings.
> That is way too much work, compared to CTRL + f11.
>
> 2 and 3. The other two functions involve moving through lists of data, or
> List Records in AviSys parlance. For example, when I bring up a list all of
> those 2506 records of CBCH, I often want to go to the last record. On every
> previous laptop I've owned, all I had to do was press CTRL + end, and I go
> right to the last record in the set. If I want to go back up to the very
> first record again, I would press CTRL + home, and I am taken right back to
> that first Chestnut-backed Chickadee that I saw in 1978. So easy!
>
> There are two other functions that work similarly, CTRL + pg up, and CTRL
> + pg dn, but those are two that I rarely used, since they are not much
> different in efficiency than just pressing the up or down arrow, in order
> to move to the top or bottom of one page, which contains just 10 of those
> 2506 records.
>
> Well, I did a little reading online about this sort of thing. One website
> suggests that one use a program called Auto Hotkey. However, another
> website stated that Auto Hotkey leaves a computer more vulnerable to
> hacking.
>
> Several other websites recommended Microsoft Power Toys. That is a free
> product of Microsoft itself, so I'd feel safer using that. It is a program
> for "Power Users," a level of expertise that I don't claim even to
> approach.
>
> I have now installed Microsoft Power Toys, but I can't really understand
> the complicated instructions. I have tried to follow them, but the results
> have been zero.
>
> If anyone has any tips on making this work, I'd love to hear them.
>
> Yours truly,
>
> Gary Bletsch
>
> PS obligatory bird sighting for this e-mail is a flock of six Chipping
> Sparrows at my feeder just now!
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/18/24 10:03 am From: Gary Bletsch via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] quasi-off-topic question re AviSys shortcut keys (long)
Dear Tweeters,
This is a somewhat recondite question for anyone in the Tweeterverse who is still using AviSys bird listing software.
Once again, an HP laptop of mine has begun to fail after a relatively short time, so I've bought a new laptop, a Lenovo Yoga 7. I'm not too impressed with their online support, which seems to consist mainly of links to YouTube videos.
I have AviSys up and running just fine on the new machine, but I've realized that the laptop does not have the same keyboard as my previous ones. The new keyboard appears to have the same quantity of keys, but the function keys in the top row have different labels. The four keys in the top-right corner have different functions from the functions of those keys on my last two HP laptops. The new functions are all geared toward either gaming or media.
There are just three functions that I am missing when using AviSys, and would like to get them going.
1. The handiest of these was CTRL + f11. This is a shortcut that lets the AviSys user get an instant list of all of his sightings of one species. For example, right now, on my old HP laptop--on which everything works except for Internet access--I have the Chestnut-backed Chickadee highlighted. Simply by pressing CTRL + f11, AviSys gives me all 2506 of my lifetime sightings of this species. Without this shortcut, I have to go to List Records, Species, put CBCH in there, then click D for date, L for list, and then hit Enter, just to get a chronological list of those 2506 sightings. That is way too much work, compared to CTRL + f11.
2 and 3. The other two functions involve moving through lists of data, or List Records in AviSys parlance. For example, when I bring up a list all of those 2506 records of CBCH, I often want to go to the last record. On every previous laptop I've owned, all I had to do was press CTRL + end, and I go right to the last record in the set. If I want to go back up to the very first record again, I would press CTRL + home, and I am taken right back to that first Chestnut-backed Chickadee that I saw in 1978. So easy!
There are two other functions that work similarly, CTRL + pg up, and CTRL + pg dn, but those are two that I rarely used, since they are not much different in efficiency than just pressing the up or down arrow, in order to move to the top or bottom of one page, which contains just 10 of those 2506 records.
Well, I did a little reading online about this sort of thing. One website suggests that one use a program called Auto Hotkey. However, another website stated that Auto Hotkey leaves a computer more vulnerable to hacking.
Several other websites recommended Microsoft Power Toys. That is a free product of Microsoft itself, so I'd feel safer using that. It is a program for "Power Users," a level of expertise that I don't claim even to approach.
I have now installed Microsoft Power Toys, but I can't really understand the complicated instructions. I have tried to follow them, but the results have been zero.
If anyone has any tips on making this work, I'd love to hear them.
Yours truly,
Gary Bletsch
PS obligatory bird sighting for this e-mail is a flock of six Chipping Sparrows at my feeder just now!
- *The Ecology of Hummingbirds from Ecuador to Washington* by Gregory
Green
- *Counting Seabirds in Puget Sound: How Difficult Could It Be?* by
Matthew Farr
- *Seattle’s Adaptable Urban Cooper’s Hawks* by Ed Deal
- *Marking Waterfowl in Washington: Insights from Banding and Telemetry
Projects* by Kyle Spragens
For those who have attended in the past, you'll notice we've moved the
festival to June from its usual scheduling in September. When the festival
started 20 years ago, it was actually a spring festival. With the return to
its original timing, we hope this will make for better birding
opportunities with our spring migrants.
For any questions related to the event, please contact me.
Date: 4/18/24 7:42 am From: Kersti Muul via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Extensive Oil Spill along Duwamish River
FYI there was a pretty extensive Oil Spill near the bridge and marina in the Duwamish River on Tuesday. It wasn't completely contained yesterday morning and no visible booms in areas where it is concentrating, so I escalated it with Ecology. Also due to the wildlife that use the area - including the imperiled Caspian terns who just arrived, marbled murrelets, and several several marine mammal species.
Ecology told me it was an oil spill from a tug boat and they would be facing repercussions.
I have pictures from an anonymous source that are pretty shocking. Email me if you'd like to see them.
And please look for oiled or sick wildlife if in the area. Hopefully it's getting cleaned up more vigorously and that won't be an issue.
*Kersti E. MuulSALISH WILDLIFE WATCH Urban Conservation & Wildlife Biologist/Specialist - Response and RescueWASART referral, MMSN and BCSWildlife Field Biologist IV Marbled murrelet forest certified and USFWS marine certified Birds ConnectNeighborhood Bird Project Site Leader Climate Watch CoordinatorAnimal Care Specialist/Animal & Off the Grid First Aid Certified *
Date: 4/18/24 7:15 am From: Kersti Muul via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Rae: Bonaparte's gulls
There have been hundreds of Bonaparte's off Point No point over the last week or so. I thought maybe a herring spawn or something similar happening in the area.
The last time we had them here (West Seattle) en mass was the 4/2020 herring spawn that stretched along Beach Drive, around Constellation Point and up Alki ave.
Love them!!
Here's a short clip of the near shore at Me Kw Mooks 4/23/2020:
Date: 4/17/24 11:55 pm From: Lin Stern via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] 4/21 Black Hills Audubon Shorebird Trip
Hello All,
I have three spots available for my all-day shorebird trip to Bottle Beach, Tokeland, and Westport. This will be a great opportunity with a focus on shorebird ID help. It'll also be a wonderful chance to appreciate migration with fellow birders. Please send me an email if you're interested in attending.
Hello, Tweeters. For anyone who's annoyed at having to look up scientific Latin names, here's a translation of Tom Benedict's posting about Bonaparte's Gulls:
"Bonaparte's Gulls are found in varying numbers throughout the Sound in fall/winter/spring. They are supposed to be common but for me they are always uncommon and a treat to see them flitting about.
Constellation Park is a wonderful location for seeing seabirds. Harlequin Ducks are regulars in the fall/winter/early spring in the rocky near shore, as well as Brant browsing the kelp beds. And the brass constellation maps in the sidewalk are a bonus."
Date: 4/17/24 10:40 pm From: Dan McDougall-Treacy via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Montlake Fill in Seattle
Nice sightings at the Farm this morning:
Oregon Junco (slate-colored)
Lincoln’sSparrows 2-3
Western Meadowlark
Also, flying west from Union Bay:
American Bittern
Date: 4/17/24 5:15 pm From: Scott Downes via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Two spots open for May WOS Yakima County weekend trip
Thank you for the interest. The two spots have been filled and there is now a wait list as well.
Scott Downes
<Downess...>
Yakima Wa
> On Apr 16, 2024, at 8:28 PM, Scott Downes <downess...> wrote:
>
>
> Tweeters,
> Two spots have opened for the May WOS Yakima County weekend trip. Details below. Contact me if you want to sign up.
>
> Field trip details:
> Yakima County Weekend. May 18-19.
>
> The birding will start on Saturday at White Pass and spend the rest of Saturday covering the varied habitats of the east slope of the Cascades where an amazing variety of birds, including up to 10 species of woodpecker can be encountered! We’ll finish Saturday covering the Wenas Creek drainage before ending in Yakima. Sunday will have an early start to beat the heat and will head into the lower Yakima Valley covering areas like Toppenish NWR, Sunnyside Wildlife Area and Fort Simcoe. The Lower Yakima Valley is often alive with birds of the marsh during May. The trip will end in early afternoon to allow time for people to travel home and beat at least some of the heat. The weekend trip should be a great exposure to the breeding birds of Yakima County and at least 120 species are expected over the weekend, likely more. Participants should be prepared with lunch, water and snacks both days as we’ll be birding on the run. A scope will be helpful if you have it. Drivers should have the Discover Pass and ideally a Northwest Forest Pass. Weather can vary from needing layers at White Pass to bug spray and sunscreen in the Lower Valley. Expect to meet both days in Yakima at dawn or just before.
>
> Scott Downes
> <Downess...>
> Yakima Wa
Date: 4/16/24 9:52 pm From: Denis DeSilvis via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] BLM Eagle's Pride Golf Course Monthly Birdwalk - Thursday, April 18
Hi Tweeters,
The Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) birdwalk is scheduled for Thursday, April 18. The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM<outlook-data-detector://2>. Starting point is the Driving Range Tee, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. When you turn into the course entrance, take an immediate left onto the road to the driving range - that's where we meet.
Also, to remind folks that haven't been here before, even though Eagle's Pride is a US Army recreational facility, you don't need any ID to attend these birdwalks. Hope you're able to make it!
The forecast looks as if we're REALLY going to have a spring outing - warm weather is on it's way!
Date: 4/16/24 9:21 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Northbound Canada Geese over Burien?
Sorry this is a little late, but I noticed my first of season northbound skein of Canada Geese high over the Seahurst neighborhood of Burien, a week ago Sunday. I assume they were migratory rather than locals. There were over 100 and they were quite high. I could hear them but didn’t have binocs to definitely id. Is it too early?
Date: 4/16/24 8:31 pm From: Scott Downes via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Two spots open for May WOS Yakima County weekend trip
Tweeters,
Two spots have opened for the May WOS Yakima County weekend trip. Details below. Contact me if you want to sign up.
Field trip details:
Yakima County Weekend. May 18-19.
The birding will start on Saturday at White Pass and spend the rest of Saturday covering the varied habitats of the east slope of the Cascades where an amazing variety of birds, including up to 10 species of woodpecker can be encountered! We’ll finish Saturday covering the Wenas Creek drainage before ending in Yakima. Sunday will have an early start to beat the heat and will head into the lower Yakima Valley covering areas like Toppenish NWR, Sunnyside Wildlife Area and Fort Simcoe. The Lower Yakima Valley is often alive with birds of the marsh during May. The trip will end in early afternoon to allow time for people to travel home and beat at least some of the heat. The weekend trip should be a great exposure to the breeding birds of Yakima County and at least 120 species are expected over the weekend, likely more. Participants should be prepared with lunch, water and snacks both days as we’ll be birding on the run. A scope will be helpful if you have it. Drivers should have the Discover Pass and ideally a Northwest Forest Pass. Weather can vary from needing layers at White Pass to bug spray and sunscreen in the Lower Valley. Expect to meet both days in Yakima at dawn or just before.
Date: 4/16/24 7:43 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Bonaparte's gull
Larus philadelphia are found in varying numbers throughout the Sound in fall/winter/spring. They are supposed to be ‘common’ but for me they are always ‘uncommon’ and a treat to see them flitting about.
Constellation Park is a wonderful location for seeing seabirds. Histrionicus histrionicus are regulars in the fall/winter/early spring in the rocky near shore, as well as Branta bernicla browsing the kelp beds. And the brass constellation maps in the sidewalk are a bonus.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA
> On Apr 16, 2024, at 18:08, Mary Metz via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> I don't know how unusual they are locally, but I was excited to see three Bonaparte's gulls off Constellation Park in West Seattle while I was out Tuesday afternoon. Definitely a first for me.
>
> -Mary
> 16 April 24
Date: 4/16/24 6:12 pm From: Mary Metz via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bonaparte's gull
I don't know how unusual they are locally, but I was excited to see three Bonaparte's gulls off Constellation Park in West Seattle while I was out Tuesday afternoon. Definitely a first for me.
Date: 4/16/24 5:35 pm From: Roger Moyer via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Lewis County Black-bellied Plovers
I was out this afternoon attempting to photograph some Red-winged Blackbirds with my new camera gear. They weren't very cooperative. So I went on a little drive on Tune Road just outside Chehalis. And I happened upon a pair if Black-bellied Plovers. This is a county first for me. Pictures to follow.
Date: 4/16/24 2:57 pm From: Jane Hadley via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Suggestions for birding in Eastern Washington
Eric Hoffman of Bainbridge Island said in a Tweeters post several says ago that he is planning a birding weekend across the mountains in early May. He asked for suggestions of places to bird, especially places with good habitat and short walks or hikes.
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) and the American Birding Association published A Birder's Guide to Washington, 2nd edition, in 2015. The entire content of the book is available online for free at https://wabirdguide.org.
This is a site guide that describes the best places to bird around the entire state.
Places I've enjoyed birding in Eastern Washington include:
Ahtanum Road to Ahtanum Ridge, Hardy Canyon and Fort Simcoe in Yakima County
In Grant County, North Potholes Reserve, Potholes Reservoir and Potholes State Park, Gloyd Seeps
Further east, Calispell Lake in Pend Oreille County, the Colville River Valley, including Waitts Lake and vicinity. Also Chamokane Creek in Stevens County.
Date: 4/16/24 12:40 pm From: Hubbell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Union Bay Watch } Kingfisher Quest
Tweeters,
In the PNW we have just one kingfisher species, the Belted Kingfisher. If you have not traveled much, you might not realize there are over a hundred different species <https://nhpbs.org/wild/Alcedinidae.asp#:~:text=Classification&text=There%20are%20around%20120%20species,found%20in%20the%20New%20World> around the world. Someday, I hope a scientist researches all their DNA and determines the relationships among all the different Kingfisher species. Did they start out in Africa or Australia? Where was their second stop after they left their first continent? What caused their numbers of species to multiple in some locations and not others? Why did one species become nocturnal but none of the others? So much to learn.
This post focuses on a much simpler question. Will a local pair nest nearby?
Date: 4/14/24 5:23 pm From: Rob Faucett via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] question
Hi Diane (et al) - There should always be a “sent by” email address in the message. Depending on how your email reader thing (technically called a “CLIENT”) is set up.
In the old days it was considered rude or invasive to reply directly to the senders address respondingto something sent to a LISTSERV.
Call anytime if you don’t see any senders address or need more info. I’m happy to help.
Good birding!!
Rob
—
Rob Faucett
+1(206) 619-5569
<robfaucett...>
Seattle, WA 98105
> On Apr 14, 2024, at 11:20 AM, Diann MacRae via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi. Tweets
>
> Evidently I missed the boat sometime in the recent past. I did notice the "via Tweeters" on emails but didn't think much of it. Now, I realize there is no email so that we can answer someone's posting. That makes it difficult for people like me collecting data of some sort or the other. Not everyone posts their email at the end of their posting
>
> It would be nice to know why this change was made.
>
> Cheers, Diann
>
> Diann MacRae
> Olympic Vulture Study
> 22622 - 53rd Avenue S.E.
> Bothell, WA 98021
> <tvulture...>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/14/24 5:05 pm From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] And Jefferson
Hey Tweets,
Less rambling, and more pictures - from last Monday in Jefferson County. The best finds of the day: Sora on Marrowstone Island, and Cackling Geese on Gardiner Beach Road. Kitsap - 98 species for the year; Jefferson - 116. Excited to see what spring brings! If you're on your way back from the Olympic Bird Festival this weekend, feel free to stop in Jefferson and Kitsap to leave me some bread crumbs, please and thankya!
Date: 4/14/24 3:07 pm From: B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hwy 10 East of Cle Elum
Friday more than a dozen eac Mountain and Western Bluebirds on Durr Road and Umptanum N. Wenas roads south of Ellensburg. 5 or 6 White Headed Woodpeckers Observatory Road.
On Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 12:07:08 PM PDT, Marcy D'Addio via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Predicted 70s, light wind near Ellensburg so we drove to see the bluebirds and balsam root.
The Arrowleaf BalsamRoot was peak along Hwy 10, Yakima River and on Hayward Rd. Early boom near Cle Elum.But where are the bluebirds? I visit this area every 2-3 years to see both Western and Mountains on the bluebird boxes on Hayward. Numbers seem down during my last 2 visits.
WA 10/WA9704/13 11:00amWild Turkey
Taylor Rd, Hart Rd 11:15 -12:153 White Crown SparrowsAmerican Robin2 Black'billed Magpie Western MeadowlarkNorther HarrierTurkey VultureAmerican KestrelYellow rumped Warbler, Audubon's4 Western Blue BirdsNorthern FlickerHouse FINCHPurple FINCHSpotted Towhee16 deer6 squirrels on road munching gravel, Western Gray Squirrels? Very long, bushy tail
12:15-1:30Hwy 10, near Thorp/Hayward corner2 crowMeadowlark 2Violet green swallow - so manySteller Jay2 raven
Ground hog/marmot ?
2-3pHayward Rd in the Kittitas Valley Wind FarmNo Mountain Bluebirds4 Western Bluebirds
Marcy D'Addio Redmond, WA_______________________________________________
Tweeters mailing list
<Tweeters...>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/14/24 12:26 pm From: Kersti Muul via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Osprey nest questions
Can't find the original questions.. FWIW, hopefully this helps- regarding nests on utility towers - if the utility wants them removed, they must obtain an inactive nest destruction permit from DFW. These permits are not typically approved past February.
Kersti E. Muul
SALISH WILDLIFE WATCH Urban Conservation & Wildlife Biologist/Specialist - Response and Rescue WASART, MMSN and BCS referral
Wildlife Field Biologist IV Marbled murrelet forest certified and USFWS marine certified
Birds Connect Neighborhood Bird Project Site Leader Climate Watch Coordinator
Animal Care Specialist/Animal & Off the Grid First Aid Certified
Date: 4/14/24 12:11 pm From: Marcy D'Addio via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hwy 10 East of Cle Elum
Predicted 70s, light wind near Ellensburg so we drove to see the bluebirds and balsam root.
The Arrowleaf BalsamRoot was peak along Hwy 10, Yakima River and on Hayward Rd. Early boom near Cle Elum. But where are the bluebirds? I visit this area every 2-3 years to see both Western and Mountains on the bluebird boxes on Hayward. Numbers seem down during my last 2 visits.
WA 10/WA970 4/13 11:00am Wild Turkey
Taylor Rd, Hart Rd 11:15 -12:15 3 White Crown Sparrows American Robin 2 Black'billed Magpie Western Meadowlark Norther Harrier Turkey Vulture American Kestrel Yellow rumped Warbler, Audubon's 4 Western Blue Birds Northern Flicker House FINCH Purple FINCH Spotted Towhee 16 deer 6 squirrels on road munching gravel, Western Gray Squirrels? Very long, bushy tail
12:15-1:30 Hwy 10, near Thorp/Hayward corner 2 crow Meadowlark 2 Violet green swallow - so many Steller Jay 2 raven
Ground hog/marmot ?
2-3p Hayward Rd in the Kittitas Valley Wind Farm No Mountain Bluebirds 4 Western Bluebirds
Date: 4/14/24 11:53 am From: Tim Brennan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Kitsap and Jefferson County birding
Hey Tweets!
I made a trip, now a week back, to Kitsap and Jefferson Counties - continuing to do monthly-ish trips to see what birds I can see out there this year.
Day one (all Kitsap) has been blogged at the link below. Lordy, it's a ramble. Solitaires, grouse, auklets, stooping, shooting, petrichor, lighthouses, and maybe some Siberian Miner's lettuce have all been sprinkled around in there, along with the usual brushes with death and flubbed directions.
Date: 4/14/24 10:16 am From: Eric Hoffman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Suggestions for birding in Eastern Wash
I'm planning a birding weekend across the mountains in early May and would appreciate any suggestions. I'm thinking somewhere in Okanogan county but I'm open to other options. Priorities are good habitat and short walks/hikes. I haven't been birding in that area for 15 years so I'm sure things have changed.
Date: 4/14/24 9:43 am From: pan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] King Cty. Loggerhead Shrike -- no
Several birders started at Marymoor Park this morning before dawn. No shrikes were detected through mid-morning (one having been seen much of yesterday).
Date: 4/14/24 9:31 am From: jgretten via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
Hi Blair,We were just in Galapagos a week ago, and had a great trip, although not specifically birding, with Enchanted Expeditions. However, you should be aware there are currently restrictions on visiting some islands, including Genovesa, due to Avian Influenza.John GrettenbergeOlympia, WASent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message --------From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Date: 4/6/24 10:08 AM (GMT-08:00) To: B B <birder4184...> Cc: Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info Blair, we had a great tour there with Wings in 2007, led by Rich Hoyer. Great because they visited all the islands necessary to give a broad picture of the birds and other features. Some of the general tour companies don’t visit Genovesa, far up in the northeast corner, and I think that’s one of the best islands to visit.Sadly, their upcoming trip in November is already full, with a waitlist. But any tour company that visits Genovesa as part of their itinerary is probably fine, as you don’t really need a specialized bird guide.Dennis PaulsonSeattleOn Apr 6, 2024, at 9:38 AM, B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:Cindy and I are looking at a trip/cruise to the Galapagos. Does not have to be bird-centric. We would welcome recommendations from folks in Tweeterdom who have visited these islands - especially about ships/tour companies. Email to me or share with tweeters - thank you Blair Bernson_______________________________________________Tweeters mailing <listTweeters...>://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/14/24 1:01 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Great news: “House Passes Bill to Reauthorize Funding for Migratory Bird Conservation - American Bird Conservancy”
Date: 4/14/24 12:51 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Scientists find blue light makes buildings more deadly to migrating birds
Date: 4/13/24 2:50 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Thanks for Osprey platform comments
Hello tweeters,
I hadn't realized that Tweeters doesn't publish a contributer's email anymore, so no one who might have wanted to write to me directly about my Osprey platform query (why don't we have many in western WA as opposed to eastern WA) could do so. So thank you to Nancy Morrison, Meredith Spencer and Marilyn Shearling for your comments today. There were some yesterday too. It appears that county offices of Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife may be responsible for erecting Osprey nesting platforms. Apparently ours in King and Snohomish don't feel a need to do that. So many of our Ospreys are obliged to nest in cell phone towers!
Ronda Stark and Tom Benedict also had comments. Ronda said that some platforms constructed in our area are so poorly designed that Ospreys can't use them NOAA did a good job, however.
Since I wrote my original post, I have seen one good Osprey platform in western WA. It is on PUD land above Sultan at the hydroelectric plant that they operate there. The Ospreys are already on the nest and seem happy!
Date: 4/13/24 12:45 pm From: Karen Wosilait via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Whimbrel and Purple Martins at English Boom County Park on Camaro
Still counting Whimbrel (scope view) but in the 60s foraging on the mudflats. Purple Martins singing and checking out the nest boxes. Sunshine. Gorgeous day! Karen Wosilait (she/her) Seattle, WA <karen.w.mobile...> _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/12/24 8:24 pm From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Olympic Pen BirdFest -- Vesper Sparrow and others
We enjoyed a good day in Port Angeles today for the Olympic Peninsula
BirdFest.
My group had the following highlights:
VESPER SPARROW at Ediz Hook, only the 9th Clallam Co record on eBird. It
was just east of the radio tower. There is also a Lapland Longspur and a W
Meadowlark in that area. See eBird for pics by others.
The Elwha River Mouth featured a female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD and 3 species of
loons feeding very near shore at the river mouth.
A YELLOW-BILLED LOON just off the tidepool rocks, very near shore, at Salt
Creek/Tongue Point.
Looking forward to a beautiful day out there again tomorrow!
Date: 4/12/24 4:39 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Nesting Platforms for Osprey
I live in Douglas County, and the PUD puts up platforms, to keep them off the high transmission lines. I don't know if they have a wildlife division, but probably do. Meredith Spencer, Bridgeport _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/12/24 3:05 pm From: Marilyn Sherling via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Nesting Platforms for Osprey
Hello Tweeters,
This is in response to the question that was asked as to why there seem to
be many more Osprey nesting platforms in eastern Washington than in the
Seattle area. I can’t speak for the rest of eastern Washington, but in
Chelan County, maintaining Osprey nests is part of the responsibilities of
the Fish and Wildlife department of Chelan County PUD. As of last July,
CCPUD maintained 56 Osprey platforms in the county. Here is a page from
their web site that tells a bit about it.
https://www.chelanpud.org/about-us/news/2023/07/10/osprey-geese-keep-chelan-pud-biologists-crews-on-their-toes
Date: 4/12/24 2:02 pm From: Carrie Frederick Frost via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Zimbabwe
Hello all,
I am headed to Zimbabwe for research at the beginning of May and am looking to hire a local guide for a half day or day of birding. Does anyone have any leads or suggestions?
Thanks!
Carrie
-- Carrie Frederick Frost, PhD Instructor, Global Humanities and Religions, Western Washington University Book Reviews Editor, *Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies* _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/12/24 12:25 pm From: Nancy Morrison via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] nesting platforms for Osprey
Last year I very much wanted to get an Osprey nesting platform built at the newly refurbished Tl' awh-ah-dees Park (formerly Squires Landing in Kenmore). The Osprey are currently nesting across the street in a cell tower. I connected with two organizations here in Seattle and got permission from the City of Kenmore, but I could not get a response from the cell tower company. They even have a bird division, but after emails and phone calls, I got no response. Very frustrating!!
Date: 4/12/24 9:23 am From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Nesting platforms for Ospreys
Hi Tom,
I am trying to respond to Charlotte but it is not showing her email as
recipient. I have been working on Osprey nest platforms for the Seattle
area and the results are not encouraging. Even when the Seattle Parks
department puts up a platform, it is often not a good situation for the
Osprey because it is not properly constructed.
Two examples: First, there was an excellent nest built by the Osprey at
Dahl Field one of the light poles. It was removed during the off- season--
it is illegal to remove nests from towers when actively in use. But the
"replacement" on top on the light pole is a small metal grid with no depth
or sides to prevent sticks from rolling off and no protection for
hatchlings. It is truly a terrible site now and even lacks a parallel pole
to allow the male to protect the female and young chicks from predators.
Similarly, Nathan Hale High School removed the excellent Osprey nest from
the light pole there and replaced it with an undersized box at the top of
the pole. Last year the dismayed parents did not know what to do. They
would come and stare at the box and even tried to bring sticks but the box
was too small to fit the sticks in. I guess due to site fidelity, they did
not leave but I don't know whether they produced any chicks. This had been
a productive nest for about 10 years.
NOAA put up the only well constructed platform in this area. It is
surprisingly expensive to do the work correctly. I have not seen the
platforms in eastern Washington but you might want to look at the website
for Sandpoint, Idaho as this nest is a total community wide effort and now
has a state of the art webcam as well.
Ronda
On Thu, Apr 11, 2024 at 10:07 PM Tom Benedict via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> I’ve wondered the same thing around here in not so affluent Burien we had
> Osprey nesting on a cell phone tower next to Highway 509 for a number of
> years, but I haven’t seen it for at least 10 years.
>
> Tom Benedict
> Seahurst, WA
>
> On Apr 11, 2024, at 17:05, via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello Tweeters,
> Today I drove over to a cell tower near Hwy 99, where, for
> the past number of years, Ospreys have had nests. I have attached a photo
> showing a prospective parent on the tower with a bunch of sticks already on
> the tower.
>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/29258421@N07/53648198239/in/dateposted-public/ > I have been pondering this question: why is it that in
> eastern WA and probably other places in western WA there are lots of
> platforms erected for Ospreys to use during nesting season, yet around here
> in affluent Edmonds, for instance, we have none that I know of? My
> understanding is that the cell tower owners may need to clean off the
> debris from the nest, possibly interrupting the nesting season for these
> birds. I wish we had some platforms around here in Edmonds! I think there
> are several pairs of Ospreys that nest here every year, but all on things
> like cell phone towers. Eastern WA appears to be way ahead of us here.
> I’d love to hear from some of you that are better informed than me about
> why this is the case. Best regards, Charlotte Byers, Edmonds
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/12/24 3:59 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] “A Hanuman plover, previously identified as a subspecies of the Kentish plover,”: “Newly identified shorebird species takes its name from Hanuman, a mythical Hindu ape god”
Date: 4/11/24 10:10 pm From: Tom Benedict via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Nesting platforms for Ospreys
I’ve wondered the same thing around here in not so affluent Burien we had Osprey nesting on a cell phone tower next to Highway 509 for a number of years, but I haven’t seen it for at least 10 years.
Tom Benedict
Seahurst, WA
> On Apr 11, 2024, at 17:05, via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Hello Tweeters,
> Today I drove over to a cell tower near Hwy 99, where, for the past number of years, Ospreys have had nests. I have attached a photo showing a prospective parent on the tower with a bunch of sticks already on the tower.
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/29258421@N07/53648198239/in/dateposted-public/ > I have been pondering this question: why is it that in eastern WA and probably other places in western WA there are lots of platforms erected for Ospreys to use during nesting season, yet around here in affluent Edmonds, for instance, we have none that I know of? My understanding is that the cell tower owners may need to clean off the debris from the nest, possibly interrupting the nesting season for these birds. I wish we had some platforms around here in Edmonds! I think there are several pairs of Ospreys that nest here every year, but all on things like cell phone towers. Eastern WA appears to be way ahead of us here. I’d love to hear from some of you that are better informed than me about why this is the case. Best regards, Charlotte Byers, Edmonds
Date: 4/11/24 7:04 pm From: Jim Danzenbaker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Clark County Spring Migration location this morning
Hi Tweeters,
With Birdcast reporting that 1.259 million birds ( https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-WA-011) had passed through Clark County from 7:50 last night through 6:30 this morning, I decided I had to check the migration location on Larch Mountain in eastern Clark County. While not bowled over by the volume of birds, my visit still yielded some good results and a few county rarities too!
Cassin's Finch - 1 (not recorded every year but probably occurs every year along the eastern edge of the county) Pine Grosbeak - 1 (not annual in this county) Townsend's Solitaire - 2 (one bird presumably on territory) Yellow-rumped Warbler - 74 (the first push of warblers this season) Golden-crowned Kinglet - 47 (surprisingly common migrant here)
Date: 4/11/24 5:09 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Nesting platforms for Ospreys
Hello Tweeters,
Today I drove over to a cell tower near Hwy 99, where, for the past number of years, Ospreys have had nests. I have attached a photo showing a prospective parent on the tower with a bunch of sticks already on the tower.
I have been pondering this question: why is it that in eastern WA and probably other places in western WA there are lots of platforms erected for Ospreys to use during nesting season, yet around here in affluent Edmonds, for instance, we have none that I know of? My understanding is that the cell tower owners may need to clean off the debris from the nest, possibly interrupting the nesting season for these birds. I wish we had some platforms around here in Edmonds! I think there are several pairs of Ospreys that nest here every year, but all on things like cell phone towers. Eastern WA appears to be way ahead of us here. I'd love to hear from some of you that are better informed than me about why this is the case. Best regards, Charlotte Byers, Edmonds
Date: 4/11/24 1:13 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-04-11
Tweets - We had dark overcast for most of the morning today. There was lots of singing, but bird sightings were in short supply. About 8 species were heard-only, with another two seen pre-dawn only, and two more seen only on a late scan of the lake.
Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - The two hung out with Canadas near the Viewing Mound Cackling Goose - Two flocks of ~75 each, flying north Mourning Dove - Tony photographed one before sunrise, First of Year (FOY) Great Blue Heron - A low chorus of "grum grum grum", indicating multiple young in the nests Osprey - They're Back - Probably at least 4 birds (FOY). Canada Geese continue to occupy the nests, though Cooper's Hawk - One flyby, first in a month Purple Martin - Male and female, each in a gourd (FOY), and the 3rd-earliest we've had them in spring Northern Rough-winged Swallow - Perhaps four, seen from the Lake Platform (FOY) Barn Swallow - Two, one at the lake, one at the Pea Patch (FOY) Yellow-rumped Warbler - Quite numerous, and the only warbler seen. Heard about 7 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and 1 ORANGE-CROWNED
The only sightings of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE later in the spring than today's are three times that large flocks were seen flying overhead. Dates of these late flyovers were 4/17/2014, 4/24/2023, and 5/2/2010. So today's were the latest seen on the ground at the park.
Excluding Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco, sparrow numbers were notably low. We had fewer than 5 each of FOX, WHITE-CROWNED, and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, and of SPOTTED TOWHEE. SAVANNAH SPARROWS might have been fewer than 10. We did not find the White-throated Sparrow that has been with the flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows that we also did not find.
A late scan of the lake turned up the only VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and PIED-BILLED GREBES.
Mammals seen today included two COYOTE near the model airplane field just before sunrise.
Misses today included Common Goldeneye, Virginia Rail, Glaucous-winged Gull, Red-tailed Hawk, American Goldfinch, and Lincoln's Sparrow.
For the day, 62 species. Adding 5 species, we're at 96 species for the year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 4/11/24 12:13 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk for Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 4/10/2024
Hi Tweets,
Approximately 30 of us had a nice spring day at the Refuge with
temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a High
14'7" Tide at 6:15am and a Low -0'11" Tide at 12:59pm. So we skipped the
Orchard, Access Roads, and west entrance to the Twin Barns Loop Trail in
the morning and headed out to the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail to catch
the falling tide. Highlights included WILSON SNIPE in the flooded field
south of the Twin Barns, Twin Barns Observation Platform, and freshwater
marsh; RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in the Maple Trees at the Twin Barns Picnic
area, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER on the mudflats west of Leschi Slough; MARSH
WREN nest in the cattails of the freshwater marsh just east of the entrance
to the Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail; and First of Year NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW at the northern section of the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail along McAllister Creek. We had a high count of 100 plus
BALD EAGLE with two occupied nests. With the low tide, exposed reach and
distant waterfowl, there must be plenty of food along with migration. We
are monitoring nests of CANADA GOOSE, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, BUSHTIT and BROWN
CREEPER. Other FOY included BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and reports of CASPIAN
TERN on the high tide at 8am.
For the day we observed 79 species and have seen 120 species this year.
Mammals seen included Townsend's Chipmunk, Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit,
Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel, River Otter, and Harbor
Seal. We also observed Pacific Tree Frog, Common or NW Garter Snake,
Painted Turtle and Red-eared Slider.
See eBird report below with additional details and embedded photos.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am, happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Apr 10, 2024 6:59 AM - 5:03 PM
Protocol: Traveling
8.015 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Mostly sunny with temperatures in
the 40’s to 60’s degrees Fahrenheit. A High 14’7” Tide at 6:15am and a Low
-0’11” Tide at 12:59pm. Mammals seen River Otter, Townsend’s Chipmunk,
Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray
Squirrel, Harbor Seal. Other seen Pacific Tree Frog, Northwest or Common
Gartersnake, Painted Turtle, and Red-eared Slider.
79 species (+8 other taxa)
Cackling Goose (minima) 400
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 10
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 35
Wood Duck 5 Visitor Center Pond and Maple Trees at Twin Barns Picnic
Area.
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 20
Eurasian Wigeon 1 Female spotted by Craig in flooded field south of
Twin Barns.
American Wigeon 125
Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid) 1 Male observed from Twin Barns
Overlook.
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 50
Green-winged Teal (American) 500
dabbling duck sp. 1000 Many waterfowl out on the reach flushed by area
Bald Eagle. Suspect predominently Green-winged Teal do to the lack of white
markings on the wing and tight fast flying formation comparable to
shorebirds.
Ring-necked Duck 20
Greater Scaup 2 One seen in freshwater marsh, the other seen in
McAllister Creek.
Bufflehead 100
Common Goldeneye 45
Hooded Merganser 6 Visitor Center Pond and Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Common Merganser 3 Nisqually River Overlook.
Red-breasted Merganser 25
Pied-billed Grebe 2 Freshwater Marsh.
Horned Grebe 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 20
Band-tailed Pigeon 3 Orchard and West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Mourning Dove 1
Anna's Hummingbird 1 Seen by Louis and Alec.
Rufous Hummingbird 4
American Coot (Red-shielded) 125
Black-bellied Plover 2 Mudflats west of Leschi Slough and north of
Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike.
Long-billed Dowitcher 1 Freshwater marsh.
Wilson's Snipe 4
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Greater Yellowlegs 30
Dunlin 7 Seen by Louis and Alec at the start of the Nisqually Estuary
Boardwalk Trail between 8-9am.
Least Sandpiper 20
Short-billed Gull 100
Ring-billed Gull 10
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 22
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 20
Larus sp. 50
Caspian Tern 1 Seen by Louis and Alec between 8-9am north of the
Nisqually Estuary Trail or dike.
Brandt's Cormorant 1 Channel Marker mouth of Nisqually River.
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 15
Bald Eagle 100 High Count.
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2 West Bank of McAllister Creek
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 Twin Barns Picnic Area and east side of Twin
Barns Loop Trail.
Downy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1 Heard only.
Northern Flicker 1
Merlin 1 Spotted by Louis and Alec.
Steller's Jay 2
American Crow 8
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 2
Tree Swallow 75
Violet-green Swallow 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3 Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Barn Swallow 4
Bushtit 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
Brown Creeper 4
Pacific Wren 1
Marsh Wren 8
Bewick's Wren 4
European Starling 50
American Robin 20
Purple Finch 1
Pine Siskin 6
American Goldfinch 4
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1
White-crowned Sparrow (pugetensis) 6
Golden-crowned Sparrow 30
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 22
Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Spotted by Whittier north of the dike.
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 1
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Orange-crowned Warbler (lutescens) 1 Twin Barns picnic area.
Common Yellowthroat 8
Yellow-rumped Warbler 30
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 4
Date: 4/10/24 11:22 am From: Douglas Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birding Panama
Chirp,
I couple people have asked.
The oufit is “Birding Panama”, not Panama Birding.
Here is a link to their tours….. if Tweeters allows….
I’m happy to answer any questions. Probably best asked via PM, not on this list.
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Douglas Brown via Tweeters
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 9:07 AM
To: <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Off Topic - Panama Trip
Chirp,
Marion and I visited Panama for two weeks in March. It was a guided trip through Panama Birding.
We were picked up at the airport. From that moment until we were dropped off at the airport two weeks later, all accommodations, transportation, and meals were provided.
Our guide was outstanding and every aspect of the trip was Excellent !
I have created an album of photos from the trip. Many of these birds were life birds for me. Hopefully I correctly identified most of the birds. Corrections welcome. The album can be viewed here …
Date: 4/10/24 9:11 am From: Douglas Brown via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Off Topic - Panama Trip
Chirp,
Marion and I visited Panama for two weeks in March. It was a guided trip through Panama Birding.
We were picked up at the airport. From that moment until we were dropped off at the airport two weeks later, all accommodations, transportation, and meals were provided.
Our guide was outstanding and every aspect of the trip was Excellent !
I have created an album of photos from the trip. Many of these birds were life birds for me. Hopefully I correctly identified most of the birds. Corrections welcome. The album can be viewed here …
Date: 4/9/24 3:03 pm From: tina cohen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] RFI South Padre Island TX
Hi Tweets,
I’m starting to research South Padre Island for next February. Can anyone recommend the best birding areas for that time of year? Guides? Any other tips? My plan is to stay two weeks.
Please respond to me directly, not to the list. Thanks for your help!
Tina
<treesyes...>
Date: 4/9/24 12:44 pm From: jimullrich via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Sequim Spring Bird Fest
Howdy Tweets:
Hope to see everyone this weekend at the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society OPAS
“Olympic Birdfest” 4/12-14.
Special Optiks presentation from 1-3 at the Dungeness River Nature Center this Friday 4/12.
Visit: https://OlympicBirdFest.org Yours for the Birds n’ the Bees
Jim
Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/9/24 7:07 am From: bill shelmerdine via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] WOS Pelagic Saturday April 27
Greetings Tweeters,
My brother Tim asked me to post this note to Tweeters. There are spaces available for the pelagic trip out of Ilwaco during the WOS Conference on Saturday April 27 and run by Oregon Pelagic Tours. Fridays trip is full and Saturdays trip has been opened up to the general public in addition to WOS members. If the boat does not fill up soon the Saturday trip will be cancelled, so if you are thinking about it dont wait. Please see Tims note below and contact him directly if interested.
"If you have been wanting to see pelagic birds in Pacific County, you have a great opportunity this month. There are spaces available on the Saturday, April 27 pelagic out of Ilwaco. This 8-hour trip is offered in conjunction with the Washington Ornithological Society conference. Your guides will be Bill Shelmerdine and Jim Danzenbaker. Cost is $257 for non-WOS Conference attendees, or $200 if you have signed up for the WOS conference. If you are interested, please contact Tim Shelmerdine at <tim.oregonpelagictours...><mailto:<tim.oregonpelagictours...> or visit the Oregon Pelagic Tours website (www.oregonpelagictours.com<http://www.oregonpelagictours.com/>).
Date: 4/8/24 8:30 am From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Roundup - March 2024
Hi Tweeters,
With March additions we have reach 120 species for our 2024 year list. In taxonomic order, the new species are:
Long-tailed Duck (code 3), 1 at Water Street (ID photos), 3-31-24
California Quail (code 3), 1 at private yard in Edmonds Bowl, 3-16-24
Western Gull (code 4), 1 at Water Street (ID photos), 3-11-24
Caspian Tern (code 2), 1 at waterfront, 3-31-24
Turkey Vulture (code 3), 1 in flight over a Pine Ridge Park neighborhood (ID photo), 3-17-24
Say’s Phoebe (code 4), 1 at Edmonds marsh (ID photos), 3-10-24
Violet-green Swallow (code 1), 2 in a Pine Ridge Park neighborhood, 3-16-24
Purple Finch (code 3), 1 singing in Southwest County Park, 3-19-24
Chipping Sparrow (code 4), 1 at a Puget Drive yard (ID photo), 3-23-24
Savannah Sparrow (code 2), 1 at waterfront, 3-22-24
There were several code 3 or rarer species reported in eBird with no or inadequate documentation. We will wait to review any subsequent reports that are evidence based. These include Ring-billed Gull, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and Red Crossbill.
As always, I appreciate it when birders get in touch with me to share sightings, photos, or recordings. It helps us build our collective year list. If you would like a copy of our 2024 city checklist, with 281 species, please request it from checklistedmonds at gmail dot com. The 2024 checklist, with sightings through March, is in the bird information box at the Olympic Beach Visitor Station at the base of the public pier.
Good birding,
Carol Riddell
Edmonds, WA
Abundance codes: (1) Common, (2) Uncommon, (3) Harder to find, usually seen annually, (4) Rare, 5+ records, (5) Fewer than 5 records
Good birding,
Date: 4/8/24 6:46 am From: Kathleen Snyder via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Bird Song – Thursday, Apr 11, 7 pm via Zoom or in person
Naturalist, guide, and author David Lukas will introduce us to the joyful world of bird song. We will explore how and why birds sing and how to understand what birds are saying to each other. This free program from Black Hills Audubon can be accessed from Zoom (registration link below) or you can join us at Temple Beth Hatfiloh at 201 8th Ave SE in Olympia to view the presentation on a big screen. Social time begins at 6:30 pm at the Temple.
Eagle kills adult Osprey
Many years ago a Bainbrdige Island member of Kitsap Audubon emailed me that he had witnessed an eagle killing an Osprey in Manzanita Bay. The Osprey had a very large fish in its talons and was struggling to get airborne. The eagle landed on top of the osprey and held it under until it drowned. The eagle then “swam” the Osprey and fish to shore to finish eating them. I don’t remember the name of the observer.
Gene Bullock
Kitsap Audubon Society
Date: 4/6/24 2:47 pm From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
My wife and I visited the Galapagos in April 2018 through the tour company, Adventure Life. A friend of mine used this company in January. Both he and us were very pleased with the arrangements. We toured with a small group of 18 passengers and 7 crew on a small yacht. We were often by ourselves on island or snorkeling tours. They did provide wet suits for a modest charge. The tours were great and so was the food. Due to our time constraints, we had a short tour of 4-5 days, but we saw many of the main islands and didn’t feel rushed. I would go again and book a longer tour and therefore allow travel to some of the outlying islands. To anyone visiting the Galapagos, I would highly recommend a cruise versus staying on the islands themselves. My preference is a smaller ship as you receive more personal attention and get to know your fellow passengers well.
Best wishes,
Don Aupperlee, DVM
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of B B via Tweeters
Sent: Saturday, April 6, 2024 9:38 AM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
Cindy and I are looking at a trip/cruise to the Galapagos. Does not have to be bird-centric. We would welcome recommendations from folks in Tweeterdom who have visited these islands - especially about ships/tour companies. Email to me or share with tweeters - thank you
Date: 4/6/24 1:30 pm From: Trileigh Tucker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
Blair, we have always had fantastic experiences with Cheesemans’. Here’s the link to their Galápagos expedition<https://cheesemans.com/trips/galapagos-may2025>, which we took in 2017. Their itinerary is extensive and in-depth, with visits to 15 islands. The trip leader, Juan Manuel Salcedo, is known throughout the islands and in high demand abroad as a top trip leader. He’s a Galápageño with deep knowledge of the whole ecosystem, and a real leader in environmental awareness in the islands and is particularly focused on helping young Galápageños treasure their natural heritage. We learned so much and saw so much and had an absolutely wonderful time doing it. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
In every trip we’ve taken with them—we’re heading out soon on our fourth adventure with them, this time to Costa Rica—we have had a deeply immersive experience, with long field days that often last from predawn to dusk, with optional nightwalks where appropriate. (Lunch typically in the field, dinner at the lodging.) They prioritize time with wildlife instead of relaxing by the pool, though of course anyone is welcome to sit out a morning’s or day’s excursion at will. I come home every time both exhausted and unremittingly grateful for every moment.
I’d be happy to share any additional thoughts if you like.
Cheers,
Trileigh
From: B B via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 9:38 AM
To: Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
Cindy and I are looking at a trip/cruise to the Galapagos. Does not have to be bird-centric. We would welcome recommendations from folks in Tweeterdom who have visited these islands - especially about ships/tour companies. Email to me or share with tweeters - thank you
Date: 4/6/24 1:24 pm From: HAL MICHAEL via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
My wife and I went on the MV Grace, run by Quasar. Small ship with about a dozen guests and ample crew. Excellent guides. Very rarely were we in the same place at the same time as other tours. Saw a pretty good number and diversity of birds in addition to the iguanas (marine and terrestrial), herds of Green Turtles, and lots of sharks and rays. A highlight of them was the Hammerheads. Excellent food; in all fine time..
They do two loops. The first covers the more northern islands and the second is the southern islands. There is some overlap but the northern loop seems most popular and covers "most" of the highlights.
Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) <ucd880...>
> On 04/06/2024 9:38 AM PDT B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: > > > Cindy and I are looking at a trip/cruise to the Galapagos. Does not have to be bird-centric. We would welcome recommendations from folks in Tweeterdom who have visited these islands - especially about ships/tour companies. Email to me or share with tweeters - thank you > > Blair Bernson > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/6/24 11:21 am From: B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
Thanks Penny, we will look into that company. This is a trip with kids (old non-birding kids) so some creature comforts may be needed. Comparing size of ships and length of stay are factors. Definitely don't want or need a giant ship but how small is too small. Everyone who has gone raves...
Blair
On Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 11:02:38 AM PDT, PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Blair, Way back in the day (2004) David and I went to the Galapagos with a local company, ecoventura. I checked and they are still going strong. Their ships were built for cruising in the islands, so you are not on a converted fishing boat, or a big cruise ship. Each of their ships holds 20 people and about 11 staff. They stayed on mainland time, so they were at each stop an hour before any other boat. You don't need a guide, as all of the boats are required to have National Park Guides on board and they know everything, including birds. We had 2 guides, and always broke into 2 groups going in opposite directions. Their food was great and they had an upper deck with both exposed and shaded lounge chairs. And they supplied wetsuits, so we shorkeled every day. Good time to go is after the Waved Albatross are in--we went in July. You won't see them until they come in from Anarctica to nest. Contact me if you want to look at/borrow our stuff--they give you a nice cruise guide, which I still have. Really, it's the trip of a lifetime, and in July we were stepping around fluffy baby boobies. Penny Koyama, Bothell On 04/06/2024 10:07 AM PDT Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Blair, we had a great tour there with Wings in 2007, led by Rich Hoyer. Great because they visited all the islands necessary to give a broad picture of the birds and other features. Some of the general tour companies don’t visit Genovesa, far up in the northeast corner, and I think that’s one of the best islands to visit. Sadly, their upcoming trip in November is already full, with a waitlist. But any tour company that visits Genovesa as part of their itinerary is probably fine, as you don’t really need a specialized bird guide.
Dennis Paulson Seattle
On Apr 6, 2024, at 9:38 AM, B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
Cindy and I are looking at a trip/cruise to the Galapagos. Does not have to be bird-centric. We would welcome recommendations from folks in Tweeterdom who have visited these islands - especially about ships/tour companies. Email to me or share with tweeters - thank you Blair Bernson _______________________________________________
Tweeters mailing list
<Tweeters...>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________
Tweeters mailing list
<Tweeters...>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________
Tweeters mailing list
<Tweeters...>
http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/6/24 11:06 am From: PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
Blair,
Way back in the day (2004) David and I went to the Galapagos with a local company, ecoventura. I checked and they are still going strong. Their ships were built for cruising in the islands, so you are not on a converted fishing boat, or a big cruise ship. Each of their ships holds 20 people and about 11 staff. They stayed on mainland time, so they were at each stop an hour before any other boat. You don't need a guide, as all of the boats are required to have National Park Guides on board and they know everything, including birds. We had 2 guides, and always broke into 2 groups going in opposite directions. Their food was great and they had an upper deck with both exposed and shaded lounge chairs. And they supplied wetsuits, so we shorkeled every day.
Good time to go is after the Waved Albatross are in--we went in July. You won't see them until they come in from Anarctica to nest. Contact me if you want to look at/borrow our stuff--they give you a nice cruise guide, which I still have. Really, it's the trip of a lifetime, and in July we were stepping around fluffy baby boobies.
Penny Koyama, Bothell
On 04/06/2024 10:07 AM PDT Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Blair, we had a great tour there with Wings in 2007, led by Rich Hoyer. Great because they visited all the islands necessary to give a broad picture of the birds and other features. Some of the general tour companies don’t visit Genovesa, far up in the northeast corner, and I think that’s one of the best islands to visit.
>
> Sadly, their upcoming trip in November is already full, with a waitlist. But any tour company that visits Genovesa as part of their itinerary is probably fine, as you don’t really need a specialized bird guide.
>
> Dennis Paulson
> Seattle
>
>
> > On Apr 6, 2024, at 9:38 AM, B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> mailto:<tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> > Cindy and I are looking at a trip/cruise to the Galapagos. Does not have to be bird-centric. We would welcome recommendations from folks in Tweeterdom who have visited these islands - especially about ships/tour companies. Email to me or share with tweeters - thank you
> >
> > Blair Bernson
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...> mailto:<Tweeters...> > > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/6/24 10:11 am From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
Blair, we had a great tour there with Wings in 2007, led by Rich Hoyer. Great because they visited all the islands necessary to give a broad picture of the birds and other features. Some of the general tour companies don’t visit Genovesa, far up in the northeast corner, and I think that’s one of the best islands to visit.
Sadly, their upcoming trip in November is already full, with a waitlist. But any tour company that visits Genovesa as part of their itinerary is probably fine, as you don’t really need a specialized bird guide.
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Apr 6, 2024, at 9:38 AM, B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Cindy and I are looking at a trip/cruise to the Galapagos. Does not have to be bird-centric. We would welcome recommendations from folks in Tweeterdom who have visited these islands - especially about ships/tour companies. Email to me or share with tweeters - thank you
>
> Blair Bernson
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/6/24 9:42 am From: B B via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Galapagos Info
Cindy and I are looking at a trip/cruise to the Galapagos. Does not have to be bird-centric. We would welcome recommendations from folks in Tweeterdom who have visited these islands - especially about ships/tour companies. Email to me or share with tweeters - thank you
Blair Bernson
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/6/24 1:21 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Gregg Thompson Memorial Today, Saturday
Hello Tweeters community,
A reminder that my friend Gregg Thompson’s memorial is this afternoon.
Dan Reiff
“ Date, time and place for Gregg Thompson memorial: Saturday, April 6, between 2:00 and 5:00 PM, the Swedish Club (1920 Dexter Ave. N.) Seattle. Hope to see you there.”
Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/5/24 2:06 pm From: Matt Bartels via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] County Year List Project update for Jan/Feb 2024, up at WA Birder
Hi all -
Here’s the first [and a bit belated] bi-monthly update of the 2024 county year lit project. We’re received updates from all county compilers to get a snapshot of the birds seen in WA in the first two months of the year.
The state total [264] was 15 higher than our total at this point last year and the year before. We’re off to a good start.
The Western WA total [230] came in eight higher than last year, and 14 lower than 2021
The Eastern WA total [200] was nine higher than last year’s total and seven higher than 2022 at this point..
Highlights for the start of the year would include the Clallam Co apparent state-first Song Thrush, the Snohomish Co White Wagtail, and the Skagit Whooper Swan among others. About 15 species had already been found in all 39 counties by the end of February.
It will be fun to see how this year stacks up as we move into Spring migration and new surprises across the state.
If you'd like to take a look at where things stand, the list and many other interesting files are at the Washington Birder website:
Date: 4/5/24 10:39 am From: David Kreft via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Colville Waste Water Ponds access
Greetings on a wet Friday in April. Several folks have worked with the City
of Colville to regain access to the wastewater treatment ponds for birding.
Two of us have keys and can access Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 3:00pm. Access
for spring migration is now into the first week of May. We will have access
again last week of July to early September for fall shorebird migration.
I am planning on being available the next couple of Fridays to escort
birders (by our agreement with the City). You need to let me know ahead of
time if you’ll be coming. I’ll have waiver forms for each person to sign.
No pets. No one under age 18. Meet up is at the waste water plant office
located at 353 S Louis Perras Rd, Colville, WA 99114.
We walk in , about 100-300 yds to view the ponds. During spring be ready
for a little mud (not much really) on the first part of the walk in.
If you want to try a different day M-Th, let me know and I will see if the
other person with a key is available.
Today’s list. No shorebirds yet, not much exposed mud. One late Trumpeter
Swan (unusual).
Date: 4/5/24 10:11 am From: Vicki via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Band Tail and Varied Thrush this morning
Hello,
Just looked out and saw one Band-Tailed Pigeon in the stream of my pond,
and a varied thrush poking around under my sunflower chip feeder. A bit
late for me to have the thrush, and a bit early for the pigeon. I’m hoping
I don’t have a large flock of pigeons this year. I think they’re the reason
I’ve not had my larger flocks of Evening Grosbeaks this past spring.
Vicki Biltz
<Vickibiltz...>
Buckley, WA.
Date: 4/5/24 10:08 am From: Tom and Carol Stoner via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] FOS Osprey pair
On my way south on I-5 yesterday, I spotted a pair of Osprey at a nest on a cell phone tower, west of the freeway between the 320 and 348 exits to Federal Way. I haven't seen any at the nest platform along the Duwamish River near the power substation in South Park yet this season.
Date: 4/5/24 12:46 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] THE WASHINGTON POST: Birds, bees, and even plants might act weird during the solar eclipse
Date: 4/5/24 12:42 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] No laughing matter: “Small birds spice up the already diverse diet of spotted hyenas in Namibia”
Date: 4/5/24 12:42 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] After 10 years of work, landmark study reveals new 'tree of life' for all birds living today
Date: 4/4/24 5:20 pm From: BRAD Liljequist via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Lots o Marbled Godwits at Iron Springs Resort, Moclips area
Hi all,
Enjoying a little family time on the coast and was treated to 300 Marbled Godwits (counted up close) on the beach just north of Boone Creek. Feeding like crazy. About 20 Dunlin mixed in. Fun!!!
Also, one tenacious Orange Crowned Warbler singing up a storm - could hear all the way down on the beach even with the wind. You go!
Date: 4/4/24 3:03 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-04-04
Tweets - It was a special day today at Marymoor, though the weather was NOT the special part. It was especially dark all morning, and quite chilly. Many birds were singing, but good looks were scarce.
We started off with donuts and bagels to celebrate the 30th birthday of the Marymoor surveys. That's about 1500 surveys, and I've made nearly that many additional visits to the park over the last 30 years. Some might ask if I might be getting tired of going to the same place over and over and over and over.
Well, it may be the same place, but there's always something new to see. In fact, today we had A NEW BIRD FOR MARYMOOR PARK, the 245th species! Just north of Fields 7-8-9 was a male WESTERN BLUEBIRD! The survey needs to continue at least until that number is up to 250!
Other highlights: Canada Goose - Appear to be attempting to nest on two Osprey nests and on the eagle nest visible from the Lake Platform Northern Pintail??? - Flock of about 20 ducks that were almost certainly NOPI but could have been wigeon Lesser Scaup - One female seen from the Lake Platform - First of Year (FOY) Bushtit - Three nests observed, but no activity noted at any of them Purple Finch - Singing constantly heard, several birds, two seen White-throated Sparrow - Continuing, this time near the Dog Area portapotties Western Meadowlark - 3-5 seen, including 3 near the Western Bluebird Orange-crowned Warbler - Two singing near the east end of the boardwalk (FOY) Common Yellowthroat - At least one singing, heard from the Viewing Mound. Two seen on Monday (FOY) Yellow-rumped Warbler - Widespread and numerous, both Myrtle and Audubon's, some singing
On my brief visit Monday afternoon, I had several birds not seen today: BAND-TAILED PIGEON, TURKEY VULTURE (FOY), SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK (a pair doing a courtship flight), and BELTED KINGFISHER.
Missed both days: Wilson's Snipe, Osprey (should arrive any day now), Red-breasted Sapsucker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, and Lincoln's Sparrow.
For the day, 59 species plus the mystery flying ducks. Adding Lesser Scaup, Turkey Vulture, Western Bluebird, Orange-crowned Warbler, and Common Yellowthroat, we're at 91 species for the year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 4/4/24 12:44 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin Sound ID
From Dennis Paulson: "When Merlin tells you you have heard a very unlikely bird, please be skeptical and if you list it on eBird, make sure you add that the ID was based on AI, not AK (actual knowledge).”
I strongly endorse Dennis's urge for skepticism. It does appear that many (perhaps newer?) birders are entering eBird checklists based on whatever Sound ID lists. This results in many erroneous additions to hotspot lists. Cornell describes Sound ID as a tool. (It’s a good tool.) It should be used as a tool, not as the Ten Commandments etched in stone. If you know your local birds, you should have a good idea when Sound ID lists a species that is unlikely, either due to location or season. It is then time to do two things. First, save the recording and then click on that special bird. It will take you to the place in the recording where Sound ID detected the possible species. You can listen and compare what you hear to the multiple recordings below that species. Frequently I don’t even have to do that because Sound ID has offered a possible species based on artifact sounds such as the swish of my movement or the clink of my binocular lens cover as I move about. Second, if the recording seems valid, then look around to see if you can find this special species. If you can’t, don’t put it in a public data base. Just remember that Sound ID is offering the best possible matches based on its data. A best possible match is not a conclusive match. It is a flag for the birder to start birding, to corroborate or discount the possible match. If you add an unlikely bird to an eBird checklist that you have not corroborated, please note Sound ID in the details box for that species. This is very helpful to other birders who might want to try to see your possible bird.
Date: 4/4/24 12:07 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR 4/3/2024
Hi Tweets,
We had a mixed weather day with partly cloudy skies and nice sunbreaks, but
around noon we had a short rain and hail squall which split up the day and
sent some of our birders home. We started with approximately 25 birders
and ended the day with 7, some of them joining us in the afternoon after
the squall blew through. Temperatures were in the 40's to 50's degrees
Fahrenheit and there was a high Low 8'2" Tide at 8:51am and a low High
10'5" Toide at 12:21pm. Highlights included First of Year CLIFF SWALLOW,
SNOW GOOSE, BONAPARTE'S GULL, CALIFORNIA GULL, and CINNAMON TEAL. We also
enjoyed the nice looks of three BUSHTIT nests, and an unidentified
hummingbird species (ANHU or RUHU) nest. There were nice sightings of
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, WILSON'S SNIPE, COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT, COMMON LOON and SAVANNAH SPARROW.
Bushtit nests (3) were observed in the Orchard, off the Maintenance
Building Road just northeast of the Entrance Road, and on the outside of
the north section of the Twin Barns Loop Trail across from the Canada Goose
nest in the old owl nest tree. There were BROWN CREEPERS building a nest
in an Alder Tree with bark shingles across the parking lot from the
Education Center. We had Wilson Snipe in the flooded field south of the
Twin Barns and the Visitor Center Pond. A pair of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER
are likely nesting in the large Maple Trees around the Twin Barns. Both
Common Yellowthroat Warbler and Savannah Sparrow were singing on territory
on either side of the Nisqually Estuary Trail dike. Both male and female
Cinnamon Teal were seen in the freshwater marsh. We had great looks of
perhaps three breeding plumage Common Loons foraging in McAllister Creek.
A hummingbird sp. nest, either ANHU or RUHU, was observed 4 railing planks
north of the Riparian Forest cut-off on the inside of the trail in an Alder
on the right hand side, 8 branches up, and 6 feet out on the right,
approximately 20 feet high.
For the day we observed 84 species, with FOY CLSW, SNGO, BOGU, CAGU, and
CITE, we have seen 117 species this year. See eBird report copied below
with details and embedded photos.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am at the Visitor Center Pond
Overlook, happy birding.
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Apr 3, 2024 7:15 AM - 5:04 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.376 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Mostly cloudy skies with sun
breaks, breezy conditions, and short period of rain and hail. Temperatures
in the 40’s to 50’s degrees Fahrenheit. A high Low 8’2” Tide at 8:51am and
a low High 10’5” Tide at 12:21pm. Mammals seen Townsend’s Chipmunk, Eastern
Cotton-tailed Rabbit, Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Gray Squirrel,
and Harbor Seal. Other reports of Pacific Tree Frog, Red-legged Frog,
Bullfrog, and NW Salamander Egg clusters.
84 species (+10 other taxa)
Snow Goose 1 Continuing. With migrating flock of minima Cackling
Geese. Freshwater marsh in the afternoon.
Brant (Black) 50 Nisqually Reach.
Cackling Goose (minima) 400
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 30
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 30 Nest in Visitor Center Pond and old
owl tree nest on inside of north section of Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Wood Duck 4
Cinnamon Teal 2
Northern Shoveler 125
Gadwall 20
Eurasian Wigeon 2
American Wigeon 250
Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid) 1
Mallard 100
Northern Pintail 75
Green-winged Teal 600
Ring-necked Duck 10
Greater Scaup 1 Freshwater Marsh
Greater/Lesser Scaup 100 Off Luhr Beach.
Surf Scoter 40
Bufflehead 200
Common Goldeneye 30
Hooded Merganser 4 Visitor Center Pond.
Common Merganser 6 Nisqually River.
Red-breasted Merganser 20 McAllister Creek. One observed in Nisqually
River.
duck sp. 400
Pied-billed Grebe 2 Freshwater marsh.
Horned Grebe 4
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 25
Band-tailed Pigeon 2 Orchard.
Mourning Dove 4 Orchard.
Anna's Hummingbird 2
Rufous Hummingbird 3
hummingbird sp. 1 Nest. Could not determine species. Photos. Four
railing planks north of Riparian Forest cut-off on the inside of the trail.
Alder farthest to the right, 8 branches up on the right side, 6 feet out on
the right side from the trunk on a small horizontal branch below the main
branch. Tall cup. Possibly it could be ANHU or RUHU.
American Coot 100
Black-bellied Plover 1 Heard from McAllister Creek viewing platform.
Wilson's Snipe 3 Twin Barns Loop Trail Visitor Center Pond. Along
access road in flooded field south of Twin Barns, flooded field adjacent to
Twin Barns.
Spotted Sandpiper 1 West Bank of McAllister Creek
Greater Yellowlegs 20
Dunlin 200 Mudflats around McAllister Creek Viewing Platform.
Least Sandpiper 25 Mudflats along Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail
between McAllister Creek Viewing Platform and Puget Sound Viewing Platform.
Western Sandpiper 3 Three observed in flock of 100 plus Dunlin.
Previously reported. Observed at 300-500 feet with 60x spotting scope
foraging on mudflats for 1 minute. Smaller and shorter billed then area
Dunlin, white throat in contrast to other non breeding small shorebirds in
the area. Lighter gray back than Dunlin.
Bonaparte's Gull 1 Roosting briefly with SBGU on mudflats along north
Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail.
Short-billed Gull 100
Ring-billed Gull 25
California Gull 1
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 15
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 100
Larus sp. 100
Common Loon 3
Brandt's Cormorant 7
Double-crested Cormorant 10
Great Blue Heron 15
Northern Harrier 1
Bald Eagle 12 Two occupied nests. One in tall Cottonwood West Bank of
Nisqually River north of dike. The other west and across the McAllister
Creek from Puget Sound Viewing Platform. Did not see bird this week on nest
across creek and south of McAllister Creek Viewing Platform.
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 2 Burrows in bank on west side of McAllister Creek.
Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 Maples around Twin Barns.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 4
Northern Flicker 2
Steller's Jay 1
American Crow 30
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 6
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3
Tree Swallow 50 Nest boxes by Twin Barns.
Violet-green Swallow 75
Barn Swallow 3
Cliff Swallow 1 Spotted by Heather over flooded field south of Twin
Barns.
Bushtit (Pacific) 6 Three occupied nests: 1) Orchard; 2) east side of
Maintenance Building Road just north of entrance road and 50 off road at
eye level in Douglas Fir Tree; 3) outside of Twin Barns Loop Trail across
from old owl nest tree with Cañada Goose at eye level in mixed small
Cottonwood and Himalayan BlackBerry.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Brown Creeper 6 Across parking lot from Entrance to Education Center
in Alder with bark shingles.
Pacific Wren 1
Marsh Wren 8
Bewick's Wren 6
European Starling 30
Varied Thrush 1 Orchard.
American Robin 30
Purple Finch 2
Pine Siskin 2
American Goldfinch 4
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 2
Golden-crowned Sparrow 6
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow (rufina Group) 24
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee 3
Red-winged Blackbird 50
Orange-crowned Warbler 3
Common Yellowthroat 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 5
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 20
Date: 4/4/24 9:28 am From: Gary Bletsch via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Merlin App fallibility
Dear Tweeters, Kudos to Kevin Lucas for bringing this up again. Unfortunately, Tweeters is probably no longer reaches as big a part of the birding community as formerly, so this discussion may not reach as many birders as it ought to. Here in Western New York, I was amazed to hear a Rufous-sided Towhee the other day. I searched and searched for it, but could not see it, although the "chewink" call was reaching my ears loud and clear from somewhere across the street. It's rather early for towhees here right now; they desert the area when winter sets in, and it's still quite wintery here. I pulled out the mobile phone and tried the Merlin App's "Sound ID" function, which immediately ID'd the bird as an Eastern Towhee. "Nice to have some corroboration," I thought. Imagine my surprise when the calling bird popped out of a bush and called one more time, before flying off--it was a Common Grackle! I don't remember hearing mimicry from a grackle before, so it was probably just an individual with an oddball call note. Just for fun, I tried the Merlin App a bunch of times in Namibia recently. The "Sound ID" function was remarkably unsound, identifying zero point zero percent of the bird vocalizations correctly. After about 20 tries, I gave up. I had had hopes that it might be of use with some of the tricky vocalizatons, such as those of the cisticolas. At one point, the app suggested both Pileated Woodpecker and Chiguanco Thrush for one call. Hmm, a North American Woodpecker and a South American Thrush calling away in southwestern Africa! Yours truly, Gary Bletsch
Date: 4/3/24 9:25 pm From: Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Magic man fowls it up again
Nagi,
Thank you for expanding my perspective.
In my case the bird packs weren't obviously the issue. Once I got home from
the Merlin Wood Thrush "identification", after finding Wood Thrush
vocalizations on websites, I downloaded a pack having a Wood Thrush, to see
Cornell's information about the species.
It would be helpful to have lots more species "loaded" if needed to have
Merlin recognize them if they're indeed present though quite wayward, and
detrimental if "loading" more bird packs does reduce Merlin's accuracy. I'd
love to hear more from the designers and developers and contributors to
Merlin. I truly am amazed and fascinated with how it works and how well it
works so much of the time. It will peg a bird whose song or call I know
well but have not noticed in the din, alerting me to listen for and to it.
It makes me realize how often I have notch and noise filters active in my
ears/brain. And it's doing this with the cruddy miniscule microphone in my
cellphone, not with my 32-bit recorder with a low-noise, highly sensitive,
highly directional microphone handled well. The best part -- Playing with
Merlin hasn't lessened my love for listening and seeing with open ears and
mind, it has added more wonder.
On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 7:20 PM Nagi Aboulenein via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> The totally bonkers out-of-range recording misidentifications can
> sometimes occur when you have multiple bird packs downloaded and all are
> enabled (enabling specific regional bird packs is done via the “Explore”
> page, and carries over to the Sound ID). For example if you happen to have
> the Palearctic bird pack downloaded and “all” bird packs enabled, Merlin
> Sound ID can get confused and do crazy things like identifying a
> Yellowhammer in New Mexico. To eliminate these kinds of
> mis-identifications, it helps to narrow down the enabled bird packs to the
> one specific to the actual region you’re in. Then at least out-of-range
> birds won’t be considered by the Sound ID AI in trying to find a match.
>
> Having said that, Merlin Bird ID is still easily confused - we had Nathan
> Pieplow give a keynote talk at one of the Oregon Birding Association
> membership meetings a few years back, and he explained back then that for
> every 10,000 photos that Merlin’s Photo AI gets trained on, there is a
> single sound recording available for training the Sound ID AI. As more and
> more correctly identified sound recordings get uploaded and verified by
> local experts the AI will improve. But I don’t think it will ever be
> fool-proof against excellent mimics such as the Starling and the
> Mockingbird. Cornell Labs has at various times hired folks in Costa Rica,
> Panama and Colombia to both do recordings, as well as to go over other
> folks’ recording to verify correctness.
>
> All best,
>
> Nagi
> On Apr 3, 2024 at 15:19 -0700, PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...>, wrote:
>
> Ha, ha. I still laugh about the time Merlin "recorded" a Yellowhammer
> (Eurpean bird) when birding in New Mexico, and another time last spring
> when Barb Webster and I were at Stillwater near Carnation, WA and Merlin
> claimed American Robin rather than the Bullock's Oriole we watched calling.
>
> I do admire your persistence as a Merlin detective!
> Penny Koyama, Bothell
>
> On 04/03/2024 10:12 AM PDT Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings
> as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a
> starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path
> at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two
> places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read
> out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely
> to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there.
>
> In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin.
> I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling
> like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin
> failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly
> indicates Starling.
>
> During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an
> unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all
> of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't
> know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush
> vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin
> recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters,
> and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer,
> and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it --
> Song Sparrow.
>
> Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater
> White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of
> them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed
> with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether
> Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but
> wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard
> some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I
> pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling,
> right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese.
>
> Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd
> trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.
>
> I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year
> while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes
> I find him incredible.
>
> Good Birding,
> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ > Kevin Lucas
> Yakima County, WA
>
> *Qui tacet consentire videtur*
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/3/24 8:56 pm From: Steve Hampton via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Magic man fowls it up again
Some other common Merlin sound mistakes around here to be alert for:
1) junco vs Chipping Sparrow; sometimes Merlin will call out both from one
song!
2) Townsend's vs Hermit vs Black-thr Gray Warblers; it often calls these
Hermit, though Hermit x Townsend's hybrid is far more common.
3) Red Crossbill vs House Finch; there's one call note that House Finches
do that sounds like a crossbill, and I've seen Merlin get fooled as well as
me.
If you're back East, Merlin often mistakes Red-eyed Vireo for the much less
common Philadelphia Vireo.
That said, I'm overjoyed that my son is now learning bird songs via
Merlin! It's a game changer.
good birding,
On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 7:20 PM Nagi Aboulenein via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> The totally bonkers out-of-range recording misidentifications can
> sometimes occur when you have multiple bird packs downloaded and all are
> enabled (enabling specific regional bird packs is done via the “Explore”
> page, and carries over to the Sound ID). For example if you happen to have
> the Palearctic bird pack downloaded and “all” bird packs enabled, Merlin
> Sound ID can get confused and do crazy things like identifying a
> Yellowhammer in New Mexico. To eliminate these kinds of
> mis-identifications, it helps to narrow down the enabled bird packs to the
> one specific to the actual region you’re in. Then at least out-of-range
> birds won’t be considered by the Sound ID AI in trying to find a match.
>
> Having said that, Merlin Bird ID is still easily confused - we had Nathan
> Pieplow give a keynote talk at one of the Oregon Birding Association
> membership meetings a few years back, and he explained back then that for
> every 10,000 photos that Merlin’s Photo AI gets trained on, there is a
> single sound recording available for training the Sound ID AI. As more and
> more correctly identified sound recordings get uploaded and verified by
> local experts the AI will improve. But I don’t think it will ever be
> fool-proof against excellent mimics such as the Starling and the
> Mockingbird. Cornell Labs has at various times hired folks in Costa Rica,
> Panama and Colombia to both do recordings, as well as to go over other
> folks’ recording to verify correctness.
>
> All best,
>
> Nagi
> On Apr 3, 2024 at 15:19 -0700, PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...>, wrote:
>
> Ha, ha. I still laugh about the time Merlin "recorded" a Yellowhammer
> (Eurpean bird) when birding in New Mexico, and another time last spring
> when Barb Webster and I were at Stillwater near Carnation, WA and Merlin
> claimed American Robin rather than the Bullock's Oriole we watched calling.
>
> I do admire your persistence as a Merlin detective!
> Penny Koyama, Bothell
>
> On 04/03/2024 10:12 AM PDT Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings
> as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a
> starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path
> at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two
> places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read
> out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely
> to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there.
>
> In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin.
> I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling
> like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin
> failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly
> indicates Starling.
>
> During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an
> unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all
> of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't
> know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush
> vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin
> recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters,
> and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer,
> and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it --
> Song Sparrow.
>
> Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater
> White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of
> them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed
> with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether
> Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but
> wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard
> some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I
> pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling,
> right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese.
>
> Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd
> trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.
>
> I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year
> while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes
> I find him incredible.
>
> Good Birding,
> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ > Kevin Lucas
> Yakima County, WA
>
> *Qui tacet consentire videtur*
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/3/24 7:42 pm From: Nagi Aboulenein via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Magic man fowls it up again
The totally bonkers out-of-range recording misidentifications can sometimes occur when you have multiple bird packs downloaded and all are enabled (enabling specific regional bird packs is done via the “Explore” page, and carries over to the Sound ID). For example if you happen to have the Palearctic bird pack downloaded and “all” bird packs enabled, Merlin Sound ID can get confused and do crazy things like identifying a Yellowhammer in New Mexico. To eliminate these kinds of mis-identifications, it helps to narrow down the enabled bird packs to the one specific to the actual region you’re in. Then at least out-of-range birds won’t be considered by the Sound ID AI in trying to find a match.
Having said that, Merlin Bird ID is still easily confused - we had Nathan Pieplow give a keynote talk at one of the Oregon Birding Association membership meetings a few years back, and he explained back then that for every 10,000 photos that Merlin’s Photo AI gets trained on, there is a single sound recording available for training the Sound ID AI. As more and more correctly identified sound recordings get uploaded and verified by local experts the AI will improve. But I don’t think it will ever be fool-proof against excellent mimics such as the Starling and the Mockingbird. Cornell Labs has at various times hired folks in Costa Rica, Panama and Colombia to both do recordings, as well as to go over other folks’ recording to verify correctness.
All best,
Nagi
On Apr 3, 2024 at 15:19 -0700, PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <tweeters...>, wrote:
> Ha, ha. I still laugh about the time Merlin "recorded" a Yellowhammer (Eurpean bird) when birding in New Mexico, and another time last spring when Barb Webster and I were at Stillwater near Carnation, WA and Merlin claimed American Robin rather than the Bullock's Oriole we watched calling.
>
> I do admire your persistence as a Merlin detective!
> Penny Koyama, Bothell
> > On 04/03/2024 10:12 AM PDT Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there.
> >
> > In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin. I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly indicates Starling.
> >
> > During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters, and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer, and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it -- Song Sparrow.
> >
> > Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling, right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese.
> >
> > Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.
> >
> > I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes I find him incredible.
> >
> > Good Birding,
> > https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ > > Kevin Lucas
> > Yakima County, WA
> >
> > Qui tacet consentire videtur
> > _______________________________________________
> > Tweeters mailing list
> > <Tweeters...>
> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters > _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
On April 3, 2024 4:34:59 PM Preston Mui via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
> Here's the Cornell Lab's > <https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/2021/06/22/behind-the-scenes-of-sound-id-in-merlin/> > article on how they built Merlin bird ID. They didn't accept recordings > willy-nilly, they had a team of experts go through and manually tag hours > of audio recordings. > > Preston Mui > <prestonmui...> > http://prestonmui.github.io/ > (425) 223-8450 > > > On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 4:26 PM ck park via Tweeters < > <tweeters...> wrote: > >> i'm surprised merlin's database is populated by junk data. did they >> accept any/all recordings just to get something to market, or have they at >> least vetted the audio with experts in bird calls / songs? one would >> think, where confusing audio is possible, it would take nothing for them to >> post that you MIGHT be hearing X, Y, or Z, depending, and to verify >> visually if possible... >> >> On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 3:19 PM PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters < >> <tweeters...> wrote: >> >>> Ha, ha. I still laugh about the time Merlin "recorded" a Yellowhammer >>> (Eurpean bird) when birding in New Mexico, and another time last spring >>> when Barb Webster and I were at Stillwater near Carnation, WA and Merlin >>> claimed American Robin rather than the Bullock's Oriole we watched >>> calling. >>> >>> I do admire your persistence as a Merlin detective! >>> Penny Koyama, Bothell >>> >>> On 04/03/2024 10:12 AM PDT Kevin Lucas via Tweeters < >>> <tweeters...> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings >>> as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a >>> starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path >>> at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two >>> places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read >>> out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely >>> to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there. >>> >>> In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin. >>> I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling >>> like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin >>> failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly >>> indicates Starling. >>> >>> During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an >>> unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all >>> of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't >>> know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush >>> vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin >>> recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters, >>> and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer, >>> and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it -- >>> Song Sparrow. >>> >>> Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater >>> White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of >>> them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed >>> with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether >>> Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but >>> wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard >>> some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I >>> pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling, >>> right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese. >>> >>> Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd >>> trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up. >>> >>> I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year >>> while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes >>> I find him incredible. >>> >>> Good Birding, >>> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ >>> Kevin Lucas >>> Yakima County, WA >>> >>> *Qui tacet consentire videtur* >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Tweeters mailing list >>> <Tweeters...> >>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Tweeters mailing list >>> <Tweeters...> >>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Tweeters mailing list >> <Tweeters...> >> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >> > > > > ---------- > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 4:26 PM ck park via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> i'm surprised merlin's database is populated by junk data. did they
> accept any/all recordings just to get something to market, or have they at
> least vetted the audio with experts in bird calls / songs? one would
> think, where confusing audio is possible, it would take nothing for them to
> post that you MIGHT be hearing X, Y, or Z, depending, and to verify
> visually if possible...
>
> On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 3:19 PM PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>> Ha, ha. I still laugh about the time Merlin "recorded" a Yellowhammer
>> (Eurpean bird) when birding in New Mexico, and another time last spring
>> when Barb Webster and I were at Stillwater near Carnation, WA and Merlin
>> claimed American Robin rather than the Bullock's Oriole we watched
>> calling.
>>
>> I do admire your persistence as a Merlin detective!
>> Penny Koyama, Bothell
>>
>> On 04/03/2024 10:12 AM PDT Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <
>> <tweeters...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings
>> as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a
>> starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path
>> at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two
>> places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read
>> out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely
>> to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there.
>>
>> In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin.
>> I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling
>> like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin
>> failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly
>> indicates Starling.
>>
>> During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an
>> unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all
>> of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't
>> know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush
>> vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin
>> recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters,
>> and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer,
>> and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it --
>> Song Sparrow.
>>
>> Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater
>> White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of
>> them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed
>> with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether
>> Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but
>> wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard
>> some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I
>> pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling,
>> right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese.
>>
>> Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd
>> trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.
>>
>> I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year
>> while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes
>> I find him incredible.
>>
>> Good Birding,
>> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ >> Kevin Lucas
>> Yakima County, WA
>>
>> *Qui tacet consentire videtur*
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tweeters mailing list
>> <Tweeters...>
>> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/3/24 4:30 pm From: ck park via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Magic man fowls it up again
i'm surprised merlin's database is populated by junk data. did they accept
any/all recordings just to get something to market, or have they at least
vetted the audio with experts in bird calls / songs? one would think,
where confusing audio is possible, it would take nothing for them to post
that you MIGHT be hearing X, Y, or Z, depending, and to verify visually if
possible...
On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 3:19 PM PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Ha, ha. I still laugh about the time Merlin "recorded" a Yellowhammer
> (Eurpean bird) when birding in New Mexico, and another time last spring
> when Barb Webster and I were at Stillwater near Carnation, WA and Merlin
> claimed American Robin rather than the Bullock's Oriole we watched
> calling.
>
> I do admire your persistence as a Merlin detective!
> Penny Koyama, Bothell
>
> On 04/03/2024 10:12 AM PDT Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <
> <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings
> as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a
> starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path
> at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two
> places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read
> out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely
> to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there.
>
> In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin.
> I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling
> like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin
> failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly
> indicates Starling.
>
> During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an
> unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all
> of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't
> know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush
> vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin
> recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters,
> and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer,
> and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it --
> Song Sparrow.
>
> Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater
> White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of
> them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed
> with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether
> Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but
> wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard
> some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I
> pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling,
> right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese.
>
> Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd
> trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.
>
> I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year
> while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes
> I find him incredible.
>
> Good Birding,
> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ > Kevin Lucas
> Yakima County, WA
>
> *Qui tacet consentire videtur*
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/3/24 3:38 pm From: PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Magic man fowls it up again
Ha, ha. I still laugh about the time Merlin "recorded" a Yellowhammer (Eurpean bird) when birding in New Mexico, and another time last spring when Barb Webster and I were at Stillwater near Carnation, WA and Merlin claimed American Robin rather than the Bullock's Oriole we watched calling.
I do admire your persistence as a Merlin detective! Penny Koyama, Bothell
> On 04/03/2024 10:12 AM PDT Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote: > > > Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there. > > In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin. I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly indicates Starling. > > During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters, and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer, and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it -- Song Sparrow. > > Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling, right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese. > > Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up. > > I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes I find him incredible. > > Good Birding, > https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ > Kevin Lucas > Yakima County, WA > > Qui tacet consentire videtur > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/3/24 1:57 pm From: Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Magic man fowls it up again
Thanks for the itemized list, Kevin. The offshoot of this is that people are sending in list after list to eBird with sound identifications based on Merlin, which we know are by no means always correct.
When Merlin tells you you have heard a very unlikely bird, please be skeptical and if you list it on eBird, make sure you add that the ID was based on AI, not AK (actual knowledge).
Dennis Paulson
Seattle
> On Apr 3, 2024, at 10:12 AM, Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
> Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there.
>
> In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin. I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly indicates Starling.
>
> During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters, and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer, and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it -- Song Sparrow.
>
> Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling, right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese.
>
> Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.
>
> I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes I find him incredible.
>
> Good Birding,
> https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/ <https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/> > Kevin Lucas
> Yakima County, WA
>
> Qui tacet consentire videtur
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/3/24 10:22 am From: Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Magic man fowls it up again
Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there.
In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin. I was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly indicates Starling.
During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters, and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer, and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it -- Song Sparrow.
Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling, right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese.
Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.
I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes I find him incredible.
Date: 4/3/24 8:25 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Eleonora's falcon: The raptor that imprisons birds live by stripping their feathers and stuffing them in rocks | Live Science
Date: 4/3/24 8:14 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] After 10 years of work, landmark study reveals new 'tree of life' for all birds living today
Date: 4/2/24 11:15 am From: Ronda Stark via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] bald eagle nests
Hi David,
I would recommend you look for the numbers posted in the January 2024
Audubon count for King County. As best I recall, there were 45
active nests identified in that survey or 45 mating pairs.
Ronda
On Tue, Apr 2, 2024 at 9:08 AM David B. Williams via Tweeters <
<tweeters...> wrote:
> Greetings. Does anyone have an estimate for the number of bald eagle nests
> in King County? I know that WDFW no longer tracks this information.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
> David Williams
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> *David B. Williams*
> www.geologywriter.com
> *Free newsletter: *https://streetsmartnaturalist.substack.com/ > I live and work on the land of the Coast Salish peoples and am trying to
> honor with gratitude the land and those who have inhabited it since time
> immemorial. I know that I have much more to learn and hope to continue that
> journey.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 4/2/24 9:11 am From: David B. Williams via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] bald eagle nests
Greetings. Does anyone have an estimate for the number of bald eagle nests in King County? I know that WDFW no longer tracks this information.
Any help would be appreciated.
Sincerely,
David Williams
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
David B. Williams
www.geologywriter.com
Free newsletter: https://streetsmartnaturalist.substack.com/ I live and work on the land of the Coast Salish peoples and am trying to honor with gratitude the land and those who have inhabited it since time immemorial. I know that I have much more to learn and hope to continue that journey.
Date: 4/1/24 10:49 pm From: Joe Buchanan via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Found car key at Bottle Beach
Tweets -
I visited Bottle Beach today and noted a car key placed atop the sign at the restroom at the parking area. Thought I'd share that in case one of you lost a key.
Highlights included 8,300 Dunlins (my highest tally there this winter), 40 Greater Yellowlegs (highest tally since the fall), and 31 Semipalmated Plovers (first sighting there since fall migration).
Date: 4/1/24 4:03 pm From: Patricia Quyle Grainger via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummingbird mama protecting her chicks from the rain
I can’t answer if this is expected behavior, but it was a wonderful video to watch!
Pat Grainger
Port Townsend
> On Apr 1, 2024, at 3:01 PM, Nancy Morrison via Tweeters <tweeters...> wrote:
>
>
> I normally do not like to shoot in the rain, but I made an exception to go see a Hummoingbird nest that I thought was going to fledge on that day. It was pouring rain, and I was very surprised to see the mama climb on top of the very large chicks to keep them warm. I am wondering if this is an expected behavior, or something new that this mama decided to do? Attached is my YouTube video of this event.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsWtpl_yvGk >
> Nancy Morrison
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 4/1/24 3:39 pm From: Teresa Michelsen via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Hummingbird mama protecting her chicks from the rain
That was interesting and fun to watch!!
Teresa Michelsen
Hoodsport
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Nancy Morrison via Tweeters
Sent: Monday, April 1, 2024 3:00 PM
To: <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Hummingbird mama protecting her chicks from the rain
I normally do not like to shoot in the rain, but I made an exception to go see a Hummoingbird nest that I thought was going to fledge on that day. It was pouring rain, and I was very surprised to see the mama climb on top of the very large chicks to keep them warm. I am wondering if this is an expected behavior, or something new that this mama decided to do? Attached is my YouTube video of this event.
Date: 4/1/24 3:04 pm From: Nancy Morrison via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Hummingbird mama protecting her chicks from the rain
I normally do not like to shoot in the rain, but I made an exception to go see a Hummoingbird nest that I thought was going to fledge on that day. It was pouring rain, and I was very surprised to see the mama climb on top of the very large chicks to keep them warm. I am wondering if this is an expected behavior, or something new that this mama decided to do? Attached is my YouTube video of this event.
Date: 3/31/24 6:57 pm From: Blythe Horman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Sprague’s Pond Mini Park
Apologies, I meant Gadwall, not Wigeon.
On Sun, Mar 31, 2024 at 6:22 PM Blythe Horman <blythe.horman...>
wrote:
> Hi Tweeters,
>
> Lots of feeding activity going on in the pond right now. New visitors:
> -There are now 3 instead of 1 female (or nonbreeding male) American
> Shovelers feeding in synchronized parallel transects.
> -There are 7 pairs of Ring-necked Ducks, rather than four! All were
> actively feeding and now engaging in courtship behavior.
> -There is one lone coot.
> -There are numerous female robins.
>
> Numbers of Canada Geese and Mallards are greatly reduced, to about 8 geese
> and 3 mallards.
>
> Also seen:
> American Widgeon, 2 male and female pairs
> Bufflehead, male and female pair.
> Gull, sp? They looked like a herring gulls to me, but perhaps larger.
> Juvenile gull, sp? I’m hopeless when it comes to juvenile gulls.
>
> Happy birding,
> Blythe Horman, Lynnwood
>
>
Heard by ear were: Red-winged Blackbird Black-capped Chickadee (Probably also Chestnut-sided Chickadee) Song Sparrow Killdeer House Finch Dark-eyed Junco Possible Pine Siskin
Date: 3/31/24 6:26 pm From: Blythe Horman via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Sprague’s Pond Mini Park
Hi Tweeters,
Lots of feeding activity going on in the pond right now. New visitors:
-There are now 3 instead of 1 female (or nonbreeding male) American
Shovelers feeding in synchronized parallel transects.
-There are 7 pairs of Ring-necked Ducks, rather than four! All were
actively feeding and now engaging in courtship behavior.
-There is one lone coot.
-There are numerous female robins.
Numbers of Canada Geese and Mallards are greatly reduced, to about 8 geese
and 3 mallards.
Also seen:
American Widgeon, 2 male and female pairs
Bufflehead, male and female pair.
Gull, sp? They looked like a herring gulls to me, but perhaps larger.
Juvenile gull, sp? I’m hopeless when it comes to juvenile gulls.
Date: 3/31/24 11:52 am From: Patty Cheek via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Thomas Bancroft Birding by Ear starts April 2
Register now for a great course with Thomas Bancroft. It will be recorded so even if you can have to miss one of the classes, you’ll still get the course.
Zoom Course
Birds sing, and their songs are music to our ears. All through spring and summer, their sounds add a special sense to our time outside. Learning to identify birds by song is a skill that will allow you to find more species on your outings. With this knowledge, you will notice species on your walks to the mailbox or in your neighborhood that you might not have realized were around. Learning to identify birds by sound should enhance your outdoor experience and contribute to your sense of joy.
This course will build your skills in song and call identification. We will start with identifying song types, how to describe songs, and recognizing different patterns. We will explore this both through the ear and visually with sonograms. Second, we will tackle 30 or so common species found in suburban neighborhoods and local parks. This part will allow you to learn songs of species you might see regularly. Third, we will explore difficult species groups like flycatchers, warblers, and sparrows. Finally, we will look at similar-sounding songs and what species might be found in specific habitats. Distribution and habitat information can enhance your ability to identify a species.
Throughout the course, we will explore various tools, including Merlin, that might help you identify species. The course will consist of four presentations over Zoom, a series of self-grading quizzes, access to sound recordings made in Washington and Oregon, and additional material, including copies of the PowerPoint and video recordings of the presentation.
You will leave this course with a much better understanding of bird songs, how to identify them, tools to help you learn them, and how to build your abilities with practice. Most importantly, this will be fun and add to your enjoyment of birds.
Classes on Zoom – Tuesdays – 7:00-8:30 - ALL RECORDED for participants
April 2 - Listening to and understanding bird songs and calls
April 9 - Working through Suburban Bird Songs
April 16 - Species Groups
April 23 - Habitats and Similar Sounding Songs
Date: 3/31/24 10:41 am From: via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] REMINDER: WOS Monthly Meeting, April 1, 2024 (tomorrow)
The Washington Ornithological Society (WOS) is pleased to announce our next Monthly Meeting: on Monday, April 1, Julia Parrish will present, "What's Washed In: Seabirds and Citizen Science.”
Marine biologist, conservation biologist and specialist in animal aggregation, Julia Parrish has conducted research on seabirds for more than 30 years, focusing on the natural and human-caused factors causing population decline. Julia is Executive Director of the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) housed at the University of Washington.
For 25 years, the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) has organized local citizens to track the patterns of seabird mortality on local beaches. This "citizen science” effort deploys hundreds of participants monthly to collect data on the identity and abundance of beach-cast birds and marine debris. It also provides the opportunity for program participants and partners to learn at multiple scales: from seasonal shifts in the distribution of local species to dramatic changes in the ecosystem. These collected environmental data offer the opportunity to learn about natural history, over time and space, something no research lab could hope to attain on its own.
This meeting will be conducted virtually, via Zoom (no in-person attendance). Sign-in will begin at 7:15 pm, and the meeting commences at 7:30 pm. Please go to the WOS Monthly Meetings page: https://wos.org/monthly-meetings/ for instructions on participation and to get the Zoom link.
When joining the meeting, we ask that you mute your device and make certain that your camera is turned off.
This meeting is open to all as WOS invites everyone in the wider birding community to attend. Thanks to the generosity of our presenters, recordings of past programs are available at the following link to the WOS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@washingtonornithologicalso7839/videos
If you are not yet a member of WOS, we hope you will consider becoming one at https://wos.org
Date: 3/31/24 3:16 am From: Dan Reiff via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] How the H5N1 bird flu threatens the very existence of birds and mammals | Explained News - The Indian Express
“Then in winter 2021/22 on the Solway Firth, bird flu killed a third of the Svalbard breeding population of Barnacle Geese – at least 13,200 birds. In winter 2022/23, up to 5,000 Greenland Barnacle Geese died on Islay,”
Date: 3/30/24 10:30 am From: Sarah Bowers via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Vivian Gross
Hi Carolyn,
One of Vivians friends is having a BBQ for Vivians friends on Saturday June 29. Can you make it? I hope so. If there are other friends from you group who would like to attend, they are welcome. I just need contact info so that we can details out to people as they become available.
Thanks. Be well,
Sarah
________________________________
From: Sarah Bowers <yazzidog...>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 8:30:03 PM
To: Carolyn Heberlein <coheberlein...>; <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: Vivian Gross
There will be memorial gathering, hopefully in January or February. I will share the details when I have them.
________________________________
From: Carolyn Heberlein <coheberlein...>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 5:59:39 PM
To: <yazzidog...> <yazzidog...>; <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Vivian Gross
Vivian was also very active in the Washington Butterfly Association in its early days - 1999 to 2003. She planned the first weekend conferences for WBA. I lost track of her the past 10 years or so. Sorry to hear of her passing. Are there any services planned?
--
Carolyn Finder Heberlein / Nana, Fremont Neighborhood, Seattle, Washington
Date: 3/30/24 9:56 am From: Patty Cheek via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Thomas Bancroft Birding by Ear course
Register now for a great course with Thomas Bancroft. It will be recorded so even if you can have to miss one of the classes, you’ll still get the course.
Zoom Course
Birds sing, and their songs are music to our ears. All through spring and summer, their sounds add a special sense to our time outside. Learning to identify birds by song is a skill that will allow you to find more species on your outings. With this knowledge, you will notice species on your walks to the mailbox or in your neighborhood that you might not have realized were around. Learning to identify birds by sound should enhance your outdoor experience and contribute to your sense of joy.
This course will build your skills in song and call identification. We will start with identifying song types, how to describe songs, and recognizing different patterns. We will explore this both through the ear and visually with sonograms. Second, we will tackle 30 or so common species found in suburban neighborhoods and local parks. This part will allow you to learn songs of species you might see regularly. Third, we will explore difficult species groups like flycatchers, warblers, and sparrows. Finally, we will look at similar-sounding songs and what species might be found in specific habitats. Distribution and habitat information can enhance your ability to identify a species.
Throughout the course, we will explore various tools, including Merlin, that might help you identify species. The course will consist of four presentations over Zoom, a series of self-grading quizzes, access to sound recordings made in Washington and Oregon, and additional material, including copies of the PowerPoint and video recordings of the presentation.
You will leave this course with a much better understanding of bird songs, how to identify them, tools to help you learn them, and how to build your abilities with practice. Most importantly, this will be fun and add to your enjoyment of birds.
Classes on Zoom – Tuesdays – 7:00-8:30 - ALL RECORDED for participants
April 2 - Listening to and understanding bird songs and calls
April 9 - Working through Suburban Bird Songs
April 16 - Species Groups
April 23 - Habitats and Similar Sounding Songs
Date: 3/30/24 8:40 am From: Nancy Crowell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Four Goshawk sightings in a fortnight!
Nice to see your name Gary. Sounds like youre on an amazing trip.
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Gary Bletsch via Tweeters <tweeters...>
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2024 7:28:18 AM
To: Tweeters Tweeters <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Four Goshawk sightings in a fortnight!
Dear Tweeters,
It's wonderful when birds "cooperate." I don't think I've ever had such a run of good luck in seeing Goshawks as I have enjoyed over the past month or so. It is an amusing manifestation of entropy, the way species that normally elude observation can suddenly start popping up here and there, almost to the point of appearing common!
The first Goshawk showed up in an open area, perched conspicuously on top of a shrub. Ten days later, in a suburban area, I saw another Goshawk, perched in a tree right behind a house. A few hours later, I saw yet another as it was soaring above a popular park. All three were adults.
Finally, four days afterwards, I spotted a juvenile Goshawk carrying prey. The prey item appeared to be a dove or pigeon. This bird flew into an area of dense brush, and seemed to disappear into the thicket, presumably to devour the prey in secure seclusion.
Wow!
Yours truly,
Gary Bletsch
PS Looking back over the above message, I realized that I neglected to state the locations of the above observations. The first bird, a Gabar Goshawk, was in Etosha National Park, Namibia. The second and third were Black Goshawks, one in Tokai Forest, Cape Town, the other a Black Goshawk at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The last was an African Goshawk, also at Kirstenbosch. Sorry for any confusion--and it isn't even the first of April yet!
Date: 3/30/24 7:32 am From: Gary Bletsch via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Four Goshawk sightings in a fortnight!
Dear Tweeters, It's wonderful when birds "cooperate." I don't think I've ever had such a run of good luck in seeing Goshawks as I have enjoyed over the past month or so. It is an amusing manifestation of entropy, the way species that normally elude observation can suddenly start popping up here and there, almost to the point of appearing common! The first Goshawk showed up in an open area, perched conspicuously on top of a shrub. Ten days later, in a suburban area, I saw another Goshawk, perched in a tree right behind a house. A few hours later, I saw yet another as it was soaring above a popular park. All three were adults. Finally, four days afterwards, I spotted a juvenile Goshawk carrying prey. The prey item appeared to be a dove or pigeon. This bird flew into an area of dense brush, and seemed to disappear into the thicket, presumably to devour the prey in secure seclusion. Wow! Yours truly, Gary Bletsch PS Looking back over the above message, I realized that I neglected to state the locations of the above observations. The first bird, a Gabar Goshawk, was in Etosha National Park, Namibia. The second and third were Black Goshawks, one in Tokai Forest, Cape Town, the other a Black Goshawk at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. The last was an African Goshawk, also at Kirstenbosch. Sorry for any confusion--and it isn't even the first of April yet!
Date: 3/29/24 3:30 pm From: Jim Danzenbaker via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Clark County Spring Migration location
Hi Tweeters,
Just wanted to let everyone know of a new migration location on Larch Mountain in Clark County. We have named it "Larch Mountain - Spring Migration Viewpoint". I found this spot last May when I noticed massive numbers of neotropical migrants flowing through on days with a strong north/northeast/east breeze/wind. This year is the first year that the site is being visited in March and April. So far, the results have been mixed but the raptor migration is interesting. No huge numbers but the quality is good. This morning there was an adult AMERICAN GOSHAWK that flew through and we've already had two Golden Eagles (March 15 and 23). Both of these are great birds in Clark County. We've had tooting Northern Pygmy Owls on each of the 7 visits so far. Western Bluebirds have been nice to watch and just up the road are booming Sooty Grouse. We've had 40 species so far at this location this year.
I've attached a few ebird reports which show the location of this ebird hotspot and will give you an idea of the birds..
In late April into May, be prepared to see passerines zipping through that have no interest in being identified.
If you visit, please know that a Discover Pass is required. The last third of a mile is uphill on a dirt road (after an open gate) which currently is in good condition. The spot is right after the second telephone pole on the right after the telephone wires cross from the left side of the road to the right.
Good birding to you and remember to keep your eyes and ears skyward!
Jim -- Jim Danzenbaker Battle Ground, WA 360-702-9395 <jdanzenbaker...>
Date: 3/29/24 2:25 pm From: Alan Knue via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Back issues of Forktail Journal of Asian Ornithology
Hello Tweeters Folk,
I am looking for a new home for some back issues of the Forktail: Journal of Asian Ornithology, Issues 13-35 from 1998-2019. Many are in excellent condition with a few that were damaged in the mail when delivered.
Free to anyone who can meet me in Edmonds or nearby. If you would like to pay the postage (USPS Media Mail), I would be happy to ship them to you.
Date: 3/29/24 12:59 pm From: Ed Newbold via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Thanks Carol YB Loon parking: There are two Loons we think
Hi all,
Thanks Carol on the heads up and warning about Yellow-billed Loon parking.
Delia and I suspect there are might be two up there.
Our bird from yesterday which we posted photos of from Ocean Ave was not nearly as far along in its moult as the bird Carol posted from about the same time, which was already showing the handsome black and white pattern of alternate plumage. It looks like Kelly Sagan saw the bird we saw.
Date: 3/28/24 3:25 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-03-28
Tweets - We mostly dodged the rain this morning, though it was overcast, a touch breezy, and changeable, with temps spanning the 40's. Seemed pretty birdy, but the bird list was very similar to last week's. There was no sign of Say's Phoebe (seen 3/23-3/26) nor Black Phoebe (photographed 3/24).
Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - The two remain at the park. Seen on grass soccer fields, and later at the lake Anna's Hummingbird - Found a female on a nest above the Rowing Club parking lot Short-billed Gull - Adults and juveniles on grass soccer fields. First in 4 weeks. A few tend to turn up through April Great Horned Owl - Again heard calling just pre-dawn from the southeast. Tony saw a large owl from the boardwalk earlier, probably the same Merlin - Quick flyby - our 5th survey this year (5 of 13 weeks) Hutton's Vireo - Again, heard singing near the windmill Violet-Green/Tree Swallows - Very numerous, mostly VGSW White-crowned Sparrow - First singing of the year - Pugetensis song White-throated Sparrow - STILL near Dog Swim Beaches 2-3 Savannah Sparrow - First singing of the year Brown-headed Cowbird - Tony heard and photographed a male, First of Year (FOY)
I was at the park briefly yesterday, and had KILLDEER and WESTERN MEADOWLARK, both of which we missed today.
Missed both days: Common Goldeneye, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Shrike, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Purple Finch.
For the day, 62 species. Adding BHCO, we're at 86 species for the year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/28/24 3:17 pm From: Michael Hobbs via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-03-28
Tweets - We mostly dodged the rain this morning, though it was overcast, a touch breezy, and changeable, with temps spanning the 40's. Seemed pretty birdy, but the bird list was very similar to last week's. There was no sign of Say's Phoebe (seen 3/23-3/26) nor Black Phoebe (photographed 3/24).
Highlights: Greater White-fronted Goose - The two remain at the park. Seen on grass soccer fields, and later at the lake
Date: 3/28/24 2:47 pm From: PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Winter Birds Still Here
Tweets. Yard-birders have been writing about White-throated Sparrows lately. We usually have one that appears off and on for a few months each winter. This year, however, our WTSP showed up on 10/31/23 and has appeared almost daily since then. On 12/19, the sparrow was joined by a Varied Thrush to make the 2023 yard list. During the cold weather we spread seed on the ground (in addition to what's dropped from the tube feeder) and it was joined by 3 more VATHs, which made a beautiful scene. A couple of birds are still ground feeding here, and they sing in the a.m.
We live in a condo more-or-less across from Yakima Fruit Market on Bothell Way, but our unit faces several trees, including conifers, and a shrubby/grassy wetland. Penny Koyama, Bothell
Date: 3/28/24 1:17 pm From: Carol Riddell via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Edmonds Yellow Billed Loon Parking
Hi Tweeters,
The Yellow-billed Loon has been continuing intermittently for a little more than three months now. It is molting into alternate plumage so will probably remain until its molt is complete. Please be aware of parking issues at the Water Street public access (called Ocean Avenue in eBird). There is designated parking for about four vehicles on that road. All the rest of it is signed “No Parking.” The neighbors can be testy about illegally parked vehicles and when they call the Edmonds Police, they get a quick response. The parking ticket is $40. If you are scoping in a no parking area for an hour or two at a time, you will make it difficult for those few of us who regularly bird from that location and will be doing so long after the loon has moved on. So please be respectful of the neighborhood and the parking signage. Thanks.
Date: 3/28/24 10:12 am From: Patty Cheek via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Thomas Bancroft - Birding by Ear - Hurry register now
Zoom Course
Birds sing, and their songs are music to our ears. All through spring and summer, their sounds add a special sense to our time outside. Learning to identify birds by song is a skill that will allow you to find more species on your outings. With this knowledge, you will notice species on your walks to the mailbox or in your neighborhood that you might not have realized were around. Learning to identify birds by sound should enhance your outdoor experience and contribute to your sense of joy.
This course will build your skills in song and call identification. We will start with identifying song types, how to describe songs, and recognizing different patterns. We will explore this both through the ear and visually with sonograms. Second, we will tackle 30 or so common species found in suburban neighborhoods and local parks. This part will allow you to learn songs of species you might see regularly. Third, we will explore difficult species groups like flycatchers, warblers, and sparrows. Finally, we will look at similar-sounding songs and what species might be found in specific habitats. Distribution and habitat information can enhance your ability to identify a species.
Throughout the course, we will explore various tools, including Merlin, that might help you identify species. The course will consist of four presentations over Zoom, a series of self-grading quizzes, access to sound recordings made in Washington and Oregon, and additional material, including copies of the PowerPoint and video recordings of the presentation.
You will leave this course with a much better understanding of bird songs, how to identify them, tools to help you learn them, and how to build your abilities with practice. Most importantly, this will be fun and add to your enjoyment of birds.
Classes on Zoom – Tuesdays – 7:00-8:30 - ALL RECORDED for participants
April 2 - Listening to and understanding bird songs and calls
April 9 - Working through Suburban Bird Songs
April 16 - Species Groups
April 23 - Habitats and Similar Sounding Songs
Date: 3/27/24 8:08 pm From: Shep Thorp via Tweeters <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk at Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 3/27/2024
Hi Tweets,
We had a wet and windy Wednesday as approximately 18 intrepid birders
endured light rain in the morning and breezy conditions in the afternoon
with temperatures in the 40's to 50's degrees Fahrenheit. There was a High
13'1" Tide at 7:17am and a Low 0'8" Tide at 2:00pm. Highlights included
nice looks at RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, both an AMERICAN WIGEON X EURASIAN
WIGEON hybrid and a AMERICAN WIGEON X NORTHERN PINTAIL hybrid from the Twin
Barns Overlook, we picked up First Of Year TURKEY VULTURE at the Twin Barns
and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was heard along the dike, a continuing CANVASBACK
in the freshwater marsh, and three occupied BALD EAGLE nests on the Refuge.
Over the weekend, the GREAT HORNED OWL had been spotted on the inside of
the Twin Barns Loop Trail from the Twin Benches just south of the Beaver
Deceiver on the east side of the trail. With the rainy conditions we
decided to do the Twin Barns Loop Trail backwards to search for the GHOW
and seek refuge from the rain. We had lots of early morning activity with
nice sightings of numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER,
and COMMON MERGANSER at the Nisqually River Overlook.
The North side of the Twin Barns Loop Trail was good for two male RUFOUS
HUMMINGBIRDs, each near the bridge on either the NE corner or the NW
corner. A CANADA GOOSE is nesting in the old Owl Nest Tree along the north
side of the loop trail.
The Twin Barns picnic area was good for RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and the
overlook was great for observing ducks and swallows. Ken spotted an AMWI X
EUWI hybrid and Rob spotted an AMWI x NOPI hybrid which made for some good
discussions about what we were seeing and why.
On the Nisqually Estuary Trail Whittier heard a FOY COMMON YELLOWTHROAT,
and a CANVASBACK was relocated from last week in the freshwater marsh.
There were good numbers of RING-NECKED DUCK in the marsh, along with a
GREATER SCAUP.
The Nisqually Estuary Boardwalk Trail was great for dabbling and diving
ducks. We had nice looks of EURASIAN WIGEON, had good views of
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, and relocated a BELTED KINGFISHER by a nest borrow
on the West Bank of McAllister Creek. We were able to relocate black BRANT
GEESE on the reach despite seeing high numbers of 25 plus BALD EAGLE.
There are three eagle nests that are occupied on the Refuge, and another
just south of I5.
We observed 72 species for the day, with FOY TUVU and COYE, and have now
seen 112 species this year. Please see eBird report pasted below. Until
next week, when we meet again at 8am, happy birding!
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Mar 27, 2024 7:29 AM - 3:44 PM
Protocol: Traveling
6.979 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Light rain in the morning, breezy
in the afternoon with Temperatures in the 40’s to 50’s. A High 13’1” Tide
at 7:17am and a Low 0’8” Tide at 2:00pm. Mammals seen Columbian
Black-tailed Deer, Harbor Seal, and Eastern Cotton-tailed Rabbit. Other
sightings are Pacific Tree Frog, Garter Snake, and egg clusters of Pacific
Northwest Salamander.
72 species (+9 other taxa)
Brant (Black) 35
Cackling Goose (minima) 140
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 10
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 40
Wood Duck 6 Visitor Center and Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Northern Shoveler 150
Gadwall 50
Eurasian Wigeon 1 Spotted by Ellen at the McAllister Creek Viewing
Platform in Shannon Slough.
American Wigeon 500
Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid) 1 Continuing at the Twin Barns
Overlook.
Mallard 125
Northern Pintail 150
American Wigeon x Northern Pintail (hybrid) 1 Spotted by Rob at the
Twin Barns Overlook. Observed at 200-300 feet with 60x spotting scope. An
irregularly plumaged American Wigeon with a white stripe up the back of
neck on either side. Head darker than normal male AMWI.
Green-winged Teal 750
Canvasback 1 Continuing from last week. This week in the freshwater
marsh.
Ring-necked Duck 35
Greater Scaup 1 Freshwater marsh.
Greater/Lesser Scaup 1
Surf Scoter 2
Bufflehead 250
Common Goldeneye 50
Hooded Merganser 8 Twin Barns Loop Trail.
Common Merganser 14 Nisqually River Overlook.
Red-breasted Merganser 16 McAllister Creek from Estuary Boardwalk
Trail.
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Horned Grebe 3
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 17
Anna's Hummingbird 1
Rufous Hummingbird 4 Twin Barns Loop Trail and Orchard.
American Coot 200
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 10
Dunlin 2000
Least Sandpiper 1
Short-billed Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 15
Glaucous-winged Gull 2
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 6
Western/Glaucous-winged Gull 20
Iceland Gull (Thayer's) 1 McAllister Creek.
Brandt's Cormorant 2 Nisqually River channel marker.
Pelagic Cormorant 2
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron (Great Blue) 15
Turkey Vulture 1
Bald Eagle 25 Occupied nest on West Bank of Nisqually River north of
dike, occupied nest on McAllister Hill west side of McAllister Creek south
of McAllister Creek Viewing Platform, occupied nest on McAllister Hill West
Bank of McAllister Creek at mouth across from Puget Sound Viewing Platform.
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-breasted Sapsucker 2 East side of Twin Barns Loop Trail and Twin
Barns Picnic Area.
Downy Woodpecker (Pacific) 3
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1
American Crow 50
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 10
Tree Swallow 30
Violet-green Swallow 10
Tree/Violet-green Swallow 40
Barn Swallow 2
Bushtit (Pacific) 4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 10
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren 3
Marsh Wren 11
Bewick's Wren 5
European Starling 80
Varied Thrush 1
American Robin 30
Purple Finch 2
American Goldfinch 1
Fox Sparrow (Sooty) 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 6
Golden-crowned Sparrow 6
Savannah Sparrow 1 Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Song Sparrow 19
Spotted Towhee 3
Red-winged Blackbird 40
Common Yellowthroat 1 Pointed out by Whittier, heard only, singing
male along the Nisqually Estuary Trail.
Yellow-rumped Warbler 66
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 30
Date: 3/27/24 10:35 am From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] Surprising and good news: “Hydroelectricity is a hidden source of methane. These people want to solve that”
Date: 3/27/24 3:44 am From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] Truly stunning video clip of this beautiful hummingbird: “New Research Reveals Habitat, Range, and Behavior of Recently Rediscovered Hummingbird Species - American Bird Conservancy”
Date: 3/27/24 3:38 am From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] Parrots love playing tablet games, and it's helping researchers understand them
Interesting observations and research.
Dan Reiff
“The latest research further bolsters the case that touchscreens can enrich parrots' Last year, the team showed a group of parrots how to video call one another, finding that the birds both overwhelmingly enjoyed the activity and could make the calls themselves, when given Last year, the team showed a group of parrots how to video call one another, finding that the birds both overwhelmingly enjoyed the activity and could make the calls themselves, when given the option.”
Date: 3/27/24 3:14 am From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wild bird gestures 'after you' | ScienceDaily
Interesting finding.
Dan Reiff
“ By analyzing over 320 nest visitations in detail, the researchers saw that the wing-fluttering display prompted the mate who was being fluttered at to enter the nest box first, while the one who fluttered entered second, determining the order of nest entry and mirroring the "after you" gesture observed in human communication.”
Date: 3/27/24 3:11 am From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] “Statue of Liberty Officers on Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island), picked up “1375 downy little dead bodies” in 1887, soon after Lady Liberty opened. One account reported: “The torch-bearing goddess ... does not trim her hat wit
Well that was an unexpected fact:
“Statue of Liberty
Officers on Bedloe’s Island (now Liberty Island), picked up “1375 downy little dead bodies” in 1887, soon after Lady Liberty opened. One account reported: “The torch-bearing goddess ... does not trim her hat with humming-birds, nor adorn her robes with the bright plumage of feathered creatures. She is, nevertheless, an innocent cause of death to a great many birds, of all sizes and colors, and representing numerous species, without discrimination. The fatal instrument of decoy and destruction is the vast cluster of electric lights which she holds aloft in her right hand.”
Date: 3/25/24 7:42 pm From: Duke Tufty <dukedt...> Subject: [Tweeters] Dean Hale Woodpecker Festival: field trips are live on the ECAS website and registration opens on April 2nd
Happy spring birding Washington Birders!
We are excited to announce that the field trip schedule for the 2024 Dean
Hale Woodpecker Festival is now posted on our website. This year, the
festival will run from May 30 to June 2 and will offer field trips all over
Central Oregon. We hope you will consider joining us. Our festival is a
great chance for you to come down to Central Oregon and enjoy everything
that makes it a special place, including the birds!
We are lucky to have Paul Bannick as the Festival’s keynote presenter this
year. Paul is an award-winning author and wildlife photographer
specializing in the natural history of North America with a focus on birds
and habitat. He will be sharing his talk entitled “The Owl and the
Woodpecker Revisited” at the Festival’s keynote dinner on Saturday, June 1
at the Belfry in Sisters, Oregon. Paul will also be offering two
photography workshops on Saturday. For more about Paul, please visit his
website <https://paulbannick.com/>.
In more big news, we will be offering all Woodpecker Festival field trips
free of charge this year. There will be a fee for our festival dinner and
Paul’s photography workshops.
The field trip schedule
<https://www.ecaudubon.org/dean-hale-woodpecker-festival/field-trip-schedule-registration-2024/> is posted on the ECAS website. Registration opens on April 2 at 8:00am
PST, which is coming up soon. With field trips being free this year, we
anticipate that many trips will fill quickly. Registration will be through
EventBrite. We should have a live Eventbrite page soon along with a
Registration FAQ.
In addition to the Woodpecker Festival, ECAS continues to support the
vibrant birding community in Central Oregon and is rolling out some
wonderful new programs this year. First, ECAS will be donating birding
backpacks to all Deschutes County libraries in the coming months to help
make optics and birding available to more people. In the near future, ECAS
plans to extend the birding backpack program to libraries in Crook and
Jefferson Counties. This fall, ECAS also will be introducing a youth
scholarship program in which a recipient will be able to attend an American
Birding Association birding camp in 2025. We will provide more details
about that program in the ECAS newsletters over the course of the year.
You can sign up for our free newsletter here
<https://www.ecaudubon.org/newsletter-sign-up/>.
ECAS also continues to support a wide range of conservation projects,
including the Greater Sage-Grouse project and a variety of bird survey,
nest monitoring, and habitat enhancement projects. And, when you are
planning to bird anywhere in Oregon, please don’t forget to use our Oregon
Birding Site Guide <https://www.ecaudubon.org/oregon-birding-guide/> that
includes details on over 1,200 birding locations within Oregon.
If all of this sounds good to you, we would greatly appreciate your
support. Please consider joining
<https://www.ecaudubon.org/become-a-member/> ECAS or making a donation
<https://www.ecaudubon.org/donate/>. We look forward to seeing you out
birding soon and hope you are ready for a fantastic spring full of birding
and adventures!
Duke Tufty, President and on behalf of the ECAS Board
Date: 3/25/24 4:38 pm From: <jimbetz...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf
Ken,
Thanks for this. I had never realized how close JBLM is to Nisqually. It is essentially directly next door.
I've been to Nisqually - once - but didn't figure out that I was driving right by Eagle's Pride on the way to Nisqually. DOH!
I have had both of these activities on my "I want to do this some day" list for quite some time - so you may see me joining one or the other of them. If you do I hope you will step up and introduce yourself. I often wear some kind of hat and always will be carrying my Canon R7 camera. - Jim
P.S. I was just in Olympia yesterday (Sunday) visiting the home of a friend not a long ways from Nisqually (he lives near Margaret McKenny Park).
Quoting Kenneth Brown <kenbrownpls...>:
> Jim, I attend that walk pretty regularly and we seldom see Eagles or > Harriers there. I would guess that is because it is only a mile or > so east of the Nisqually River and the refuge which has much more > attractive habitat (food sources). We do see RT Hawks routinely, > Great Horned owls occasionally, and at least once a Barred Owl, but > it is not one of the better local spots for raptor species. A couple > miles south on I-5 takes you to NNWR and greater opportunity. > > Ken Brown (Olympia morph)
HOWDY TWEETS: As a follow up to Hal MIchaels great comments on picking the right Optiks for ones eyes, you can see three different manufacturers of Scopes, Binoculars and accessories at the following Birding Festivals. The brands available are Swarovski, KOWA and Vortex. --- "Olympic BirdFest" April 11-14. There will be a presentation on using Optics presented by OPAS's Christi Lassen and Jim Ullrich, Friday April 12th 1-3pm. Dungeness River Nature Center-Rainshadow Hall. https://olympicbirdfest.org --- "Shorebird & Nature Festival" Hoquiam Washington May 3-5 Hoquiam Middle School headquarters. https://shorebirdfestival.com --- "Puget Sound Bird Fest" Edmonds Washington June 1-2. Presented by Pilchuck Audubon Society, https://pilchuckaudubon.org or www.pugetsoundbirdfest.com Jim Ullrich
Swarovski Optiks 7075 Corfu Blvd NE Bremerton, WA 98311
Date: 3/25/24 1:07 pm From: Kenneth Brown <kenbrownpls...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf
Jim, I attend that walk pretty regularly and we seldom see Eagles or Harriers there. I would guess that is because it is only a mile or so east of the Nisqually River and the refuge which has much more attractive habitat (food sources). We do see RT Hawks routinely, Great Horned owls occasionally, and at least once a Barred Owl, but it is not one of the better local spots for raptor species. A couple miles south on I-5 takes you to NNWR and greater opportunity.
Ken Brown (Olympia morph)
> On 03/25/2024 12:15 PM PDT <jimbetz...> wrote: > > > Denis, > > I always read your posts and look forward to them. I have intended - for a > couple of years now - to come down for one of these. > I'm surprised by the lack of any raptors or owls in this checklist. Do you > share that surprise or is Eagle's Pride not a place for raptors this > time of year? > Perhaps - because I live in Skagit County - I am so used to seeing eagles and > hawks that I don't understand the "micro habitat" that is Eagle's Pride? > > - Jim > > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters _______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/25/24 12:19 pm From: <jimbetz...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf
Denis,
I always read your posts and look forward to them. I have intended - for a couple of years now - to come down for one of these. I'm surprised by the lack of any raptors or owls in this checklist. Do you share that surprise or is Eagle's Pride not a place for raptors this time of year? Perhaps - because I live in Skagit County - I am so used to seeing eagles and hawks that I don't understand the "micro habitat" that is Eagle's Pride?
Date: 3/25/24 10:33 am From: Patty Cheek <pattyricia2002...> Subject: [Tweeters] Birding by Ear - starts NEXT WEEK
If possible, I would appreciate you’re posting this each day through April 2. Thanks. Patty
Hi, Everyone,
Whidbey Audubon is having a Zoom class with Thomas Bancroft on Birding by Ear. It’s a 4-week class and begins on April 2. Cost is $120 for 4 classes. He’s an excellent teacher and birder.
If you haven’t attended a program or had a class with Tom before, you are in for a treat. His amiable style keeps things fun, and the material is always accessible for all levels of birders.
Date: 3/25/24 7:42 am From: David Kreft <dkreft052...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Recommendations for binoculars
I’m a Vortex fan. Two sets of bins and a scope.
Dave Kreft
Kettle Falls, WA
On Mon, Mar 25, 2024 at 7:33 AM Larry Marsh <larrydmarsh...> wrote:
> I agree on the Vortex! We have two pair and they are excellent,
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Mar 24, 2024, at 10:01 PM, Scott Downes <downess...> wrote:
>
>
> I’d recommend looking at Vortex Razor HDs. For mid priced binoculars their
> quality is great and the Vortex service policy is about the best in the
> business.
>
> Scott Downes
> <Downess...>
> Yakima Wa
>
> On Mar 24, 2024, at 11:34 AM, Steve Loitz <steveloitz...> wrote:
>
>
> +1 to Tom's reco of 8x42 Nikon M7, which to my eye has the best optics of
> any full size bins at that price point. The wide FOV is great. Note that
> Tom's link is about the previous Monarch 7, which the M7 replaced. I'm a
> Zeiss guy (8x32 FL is my #1 bin), but I'd surely rank the 8x42 M7 over the
> 8x42 Terra.
>
> Steve Loitz
> Ellensburg, WA
>
> On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 10:46 AM Tom Benedict <benedict.t...>
> wrote:
>
>> It’s hard to beat the Nikon Monarch line. M5 or M7 8x42. I have both. The
>> M7 have an especially wide field of view. And they are not too heavy.
>> Here’s link to a bird forum compare which may help, although it’s from
>> 2015.
>> https://www.birdforum.net/threads/8x42-zeiss-terra-ed-vs-nikon-monarch-7-detailed-comparison-from-an-optical-engineer.316696/ >>
>> HTH,
>>
>> Tom Benedict
>> Seahurst, WA
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/24/24 8:39 pm From: Cynthia Simonsen <csimonsen52...> Subject: [Tweeters] Sunday, March 24 Trip through Skagit Valley
Sunday afternoon my husband and I decided to drive through the Samish flats
and parts of Fir Island to see what was left of the winter birds. We saw
lots of what we expected, not much, and some lovely surprises.
Samish Flats
-Bayview all the way to Bow: some ducks
-Hwy 11 (Chuckanut) north out of Bow: a flock of snow geese, around 2000
just south of Colony Creek
-Hwy 11 south out of Bow at Sunset Rd: another flock of snow geese,
probably between one and two thousand (east side of road)
-Heading west at Sunset Rd and meandering to Field Rd: just past Church Rd
we starting seeing eagles lots, so turned around to get a good count…
4 eagles soaring
7 eagles in the field
12 eagles in the trees
-south on Farm to Market just past Field: 100’s of widgens and some
shovelers, green winged teals, mallards (could explain the eagles:)
Headed down to Bayview then toward Hwy 20 and Fir Island.
- La Conner Rd: about half way to LaConner we see a very large flock of
snow geese on the east side of the road.
- Fir Island WDFW unit:
12 gadwalls in the ditch before the parking lot
1 short eared owl! New for us at this location!
- Maupin Rd (east of snow goose produce) a small flock of snow geese, a few
hundred
So, even though winter is over we still had some wonderful birding in
Skagit Valley! 4 flocks of snow geese, a gathering of eagles and short
eared owls in an unexpected location!
Although there are -many- who say "just use an 8 power - it's easier to find the bird and hold the bins steady" ... I have a different opinion. I got 8x40, 10x40, and 12x40 (all Nikon Monarch with the same coatings) and found that I consistently reach for the 12x40 over either of the others. And so does my wife. Yes, when I use the 8 or 10 power they are easier to use in terms of 'finding the bird' ... but if you can find the bird with the 12 power the view is outstanding. One man's opinion ... - Jim
Date: 3/24/24 7:50 pm From: Roger Moyer <rogermoyer1...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Recommendations for binoculars
This is good advice. I did that abut 10 years ago when I was in the market for a new pair. Also consider looking at 10x42s. The extra magnification can make a difference on a bird that's a bit far away.
Roger Moyer
Chehalis, WA
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Kevin Lucas <vikingcove...>
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2024 12:57 PM
To: HAL MICHAEL <ucd880...>
Cc: Christina T bean 4 ever <joannabird413...>; <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Recommendations for binoculars
On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 12:32 PM HAL MICHAEL <ucd880...><mailto:<ucd880...>> wrote:
In my experience the best option is to go to a store and try them out side by side. Cabela's, Bass Pro, Wild Birds Unlimited and I am sure there are others that sell lots of binos. When my wife and I tried out new ones we found that, for our particular eyes, price was not the determinant of what was best. Seemed that each pair, even superficially of the same power, worked differently.
Hal Michael
Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders<http://ecowb.org/> Olympia WA
360-459-4005
360-791-7702 (C)
<ucd880...><mailto:<ucd880...>
Date: 3/24/24 5:03 pm From: Bruce LaBar <blabar...> Subject: [Tweeters] WESTPORT PELAGIC TRIP, March 23, 2024. First trip of year. Parakeet Auklets and Fin Whales.
Starting with rain as we departed and rain as we came back, the rest of day was fabulous with excellent viewing conditions! With 18 birders, mostly from Washington, we had a great first trip of the year.
Record numbers for the month of March included: 15 Humpback Whales, 2,357 Common Murres, 4 Pink-footed Shearwaters, 7 Pomarine Jaegers, and the highlight for most of birders, 78 PARAKEET AUKLETS (probable record).
The Parakeets kept everyone on the watch because they’re often spotted flying away as we near them on the water. However, with excellent observations by several of the birders on board, most everyone got to see them with even a couple close to the boat. In the past few years, we’ve found that this species is not that uncommon in the winter waters off Washington.
Large numbers have been recorded recently by research ships and are now expected on our early spring trips.
Winter and early spring can be hard to find Albatross, Shearwaters, Storm-Petrels and Northern Fulmars. However, we did manage to see Pink-footed, Short-tailed, Sooty and a Manx Shearwater (seen by only a few).
We also saw 5 Black-footed Albatross, 4 Northern Fulmars and no Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels. The alcids, in March, seem to be the most prevalent of the seabirds. Common Murre-2357, Pigeon Guillemot-7, Marbled Murrelets-3, Ancient Murrelets-50, Cassin’s Auklets-7, Rhinoceros Auklet-79 and the Parakeet Auklets kept us busy throughout the day.
The other highlight was the whale show! Great views of 4 Fin Whales, 15 Humpback Whales and 5 Gray Whales were crowd pleasers for all.
Many thanks to everyone who helped make this trip so great. Spotters included Scott Mills, Ryan Merrill and myself. Phil and Chris Anderson were Captain and First Mate.
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of <jstewart...> Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2024 4:26 PM To: 'Tweeters' <tweeters...> Subject: [Tweeters] bins
I have 2 pair of M5s and 1 pair of M8s(42). IMHO they are better than my Leicas.
A visit to the nature shop, or other palace where you can try different
models in your price range might be a good idea.
Happy Birding! Steve
On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 10:35 AM Christina T bean 4 ever <
<joannabird413...> wrote:
> Happy spring fellow birders,
> I am considering a purchase of new binoculars and have about $450 to
> spend. I was looking at Zeiss terra Ed 8x42. Would like some input
> regarding those bins or any suggestions for other options. Also, not
> wanting to go to Audubons nature shop for input as the drive is a little
> long
> Thanks so much in advance for your help Christina Tacoma
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/24/24 4:13 pm From: Tom Benedict <benedict.t...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Binos for about 500.00 Unconventional Recommendation
I hadn’t realized that the price of IS binocs had dropped so much. Last time I checked they were around $1500.
One potential benefit with IS is their ability to make make higher powers (12x, 15x, 18x+) usable without a tripod.
> On Mar 24, 2024, at 12:55, Mark Borden <markbordenmd...> wrote:
>
> I definitely like those new, expensive Swarovski 10x40’s my buddy bought, but on our boat trips they just sit there on the console.
>
> We pass my 400.00 Cannon Image Stabilizer Binos back and forth. The lens quality is great, though not as good as the expensive glass, but the fact is that the image stabilizer feature adds a few thousand in value on most days.
>
> My pair is the lighter mid sized version, which I love, but I might buy the waterproof, heavier version next time.
>
> Use either Energizer Max (supposedly leakproof) or lithium batteries. I changed the batteries for the first time last week in Panama after 2 years of regular use.
>
> Mark Borden
> Coupeville
I know that you have already gotten a lot of responses already......
I myself use Swarovski (8.5 x 42) but my husband swears by his (less expensive) Zeiss (Terra ED 10 x 42).
I was at the Costco in Gig Harbor yesterday and was surprised to see that they are carrying Zeiss 10 x 40 binoculars! I've never seen them there before.
I wasn't in the market, just surprised to see them, so didn't note all of the specifications, but I do remember that they were mid-$400. range - definitely less than $500.
You might try the Costco in Tacoma before crossing the bridge....
Happy Birding,
Faye
Belfair, WA
Faye McAdams Hands
Life is Simple -- Eat, Sleep, Bird.
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Christina T bean 4 ever <joannabird413...>
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2024 10:34 AM
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Recommendations for binoculars
Happy spring fellow birders,
I am considering a purchase of new binoculars and have about $450 to spend. I was looking at Zeiss terra Ed 8x42. Would like some input regarding those bins or any suggestions for other options. Also, not wanting to go to Audubons nature shop for input as the drive is a little long
Thanks so much in advance for your help Christina Tacoma
Date: 3/24/24 1:32 pm From: Teresa Michelsen <teresa...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Binos for about 500.00 Unconventional Recommendation
One thing about Swarovski's, they last forever. I have an old pair that I must have bought 25 years ago. They have banged around in cars, boats, tents, random dusty and hot/cold environments, been all over the world, and moved with me many times and are still as good as new. Well, one of the rubber caps finally came off the eyepiece after all that time but it was easily reattached! I've compared them with guides on tours and they had to admit they were comparable to what they were using. They are slender and fit my small hands as a bonus. I'm a fan.
Teresa Michelsen
Hoodsport
-----Original Message-----
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> On Behalf Of Mark Borden
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2024 12:56 PM
To: <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Binos for about 500.00 Unconventional Recommendation
I definitely like those new, expensive Swarovski 10x40’s my buddy bought, but on our boat trips they just sit there on the console.
We pass my 400.00 Cannon Image Stabilizer Binos back and forth. The lens quality is great, though not as good as the expensive glass, but the fact is that the image stabilizer feature adds a few thousand in value on most days.
My pair is the lighter mid sized version, which I love, but I might buy the waterproof, heavier version next time.
Use either Energizer Max (supposedly leakproof) or lithium batteries. I changed the batteries for the first time last week in Panama after 2 years of regular use.
On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 12:32 PM HAL MICHAEL <ucd880...> wrote:
> In my experience the best option is to go to a store and try them out side
> by side. Cabela's, Bass Pro, Wild Birds Unlimited and I am sure there are
> others that sell lots of binos. When my wife and I tried out new ones we
> found that, for our particular eyes, price was not the determinant of what
> was best. Seemed that each pair, even superficially of the same power,
> worked differently.
> Hal Michael
> Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders <http://ecowb.org/> > Olympia WA
> 360-459-4005
> 360-791-7702 (C)
> <ucd880...>
>
>
>
> On 03/24/2024 10:34 AM PDT Christina T bean 4 ever <
> <joannabird413...> wrote:
>
>
> Happy spring fellow birders,
> I am considering a purchase of new binoculars and have about $450 to
> spend. I was looking at Zeiss terra Ed 8x42. Would like some input
> regarding those bins or any suggestions for other options. Also, not
> wanting to go to Audubons nature shop for input as the drive is a little
> long
> Thanks so much in advance for your help Christina Tacoma
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/24/24 12:59 pm From: Mark Borden <markbordenmd...> Subject: [Tweeters] Binos for about 500.00 Unconventional Recommendation
I definitely like those new, expensive Swarovski 10x40’s my buddy bought, but on our boat trips they just sit there on the console.
We pass my 400.00 Cannon Image Stabilizer Binos back and forth. The lens quality is great, though not as good as the expensive glass, but the fact is that the image stabilizer feature adds a few thousand in value on most days.
My pair is the lighter mid sized version, which I love, but I might buy the waterproof, heavier version next time.
Use either Energizer Max (supposedly leakproof) or lithium batteries. I changed the batteries for the first time last week in Panama after 2 years of regular use.
Date: 3/24/24 12:35 pm From: HAL MICHAEL <ucd880...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Recommendations for binoculars
In my experience the best option is to go to a store and try them out side by side. Cabela's, Bass Pro, Wild Birds Unlimited and I am sure there are others that sell lots of binos. When my wife and I tried out new ones we found that, for our particular eyes, price was not the determinant of what was best. Seemed that each pair, even superficially of the same power, worked differently. Hal Michael Board of Directors, Ecologists Without Borders http://ecowb.org/ Olympia WA 360-459-4005 360-791-7702 (C) <ucd880...>
> On 03/24/2024 10:34 AM PDT Christina T bean 4 ever <joannabird413...> wrote: > > > Happy spring fellow birders, > I am considering a purchase of new binoculars and have about $450 to spend. I was looking at Zeiss terra Ed 8x42. Would like some input regarding those bins or any suggestions for other options. Also, not wanting to go to Audubons nature shop for input as the drive is a little long > Thanks so much in advance for your help Christina Tacoma > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/24/24 11:37 am From: Steve Loitz <steveloitz...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Recommendations for binoculars
+1 to Tom's reco of 8x42 Nikon M7, which to my eye has the best optics of
any full size bins at that price point. The wide FOV is great. Note that
Tom's link is about the previous Monarch 7, which the M7 replaced. I'm a
Zeiss guy (8x32 FL is my #1 bin), but I'd surely rank the 8x42 M7 over the
8x42 Terra.
Steve Loitz
Ellensburg, WA
On Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 10:46 AM Tom Benedict <benedict.t...>
wrote:
Date: 3/24/24 11:28 am From: Hubbell <ldhubbell...> Subject: [Tweeters] Union Bay Watch } The Early Birds
Tweeters,
Egg laying, hatching and fledging, among our Union Bay Bald Eagles, sometimes seems amazingly consistent and at other times is surprisingly different from year to year and nest to nest. In this post, find out which of the three local pairs appear to be this year's early birds:
Date: 3/24/24 11:01 am From: John R. Yearsley <jyearsle...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Winter is over
Not quite yet, Jim. On a rainy Saturday, we found eagles, kestrels, northern harriers, short-eared owls and red-tailed hawks and even many swan in the Samish Flats, Fir Island and west of Mount Vernon (no snow geese, however). --------------------------------------------------------------- John Yearsley Affiliate Professor UW-Hydro|Computational Hydrology University of Washington
> On Mar 24, 2024, at 10:34, Christina T bean 4 ever <joannabird413...> wrote:
>
> Happy spring fellow birders,
> I am considering a purchase of new binoculars and have about $450 to spend. I was looking at Zeiss terra Ed 8x42. Would like some input regarding those bins or any suggestions for other options. Also, not wanting to go to Audubons nature shop for input as the drive is a little long
> Thanks so much in advance for your help Christina Tacoma
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/24/24 10:38 am From: Christina T bean 4 ever <joannabird413...> Subject: [Tweeters] Recommendations for binoculars
Happy spring fellow birders, I am considering a purchase of new binoculars and have about $450 to spend. I was looking at Zeiss terra Ed 8x42. Would like some input regarding those bins or any suggestions for other options. Also, not wanting to go to Audubons nature shop for input as the drive is a little long Thanks so much in advance for your help Christina Tacoma
Date: 3/23/24 4:33 pm From: Dee Dee <deedeeknit...> Subject: [Tweeters] Chipping Sparrow in March—early Edmonds yard bird
I had the good fortune to spot and photograph a Chipping Sparrow in our Edmonds yard late this Saturday morning. First noticed it on one of the tube seed feeders in the garden apple tree, just before it kindly flew to our deck railing briefly, for a picture.
Had to turn on the rare birds list feature to submit an e-Bird checklist, as well as submit the photo. If anyone wants to see the photo, here’s the link to it in my Flickr account…
https://flickr.com/photos/danenewarnock/53606896475/in/datetaken/
Hello Tweets:
Western Field Ornithologists offers 10 scholarships for students in grades 6 through 12 (up to 8) and in college (up to two) that cover most of the costs of attending their annual conference. The conference will be held in San Diego from October 9-13, 2024. The deadline for applying for a scholarship is May 15. Visit westernfieldornithologists.org website for complete information and scholarship application instructions. Joyce MeyerGig Harbor, <WAmeyer2j...>
_______________________________________________ Tweeters mailing list <Tweeters...> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/22/24 10:27 pm From: Blythe Horman <blythe.horman...> Subject: [Tweeters] Possible Female Gadwall with Ducklings, North Mercer Slough
Hi Tweeters,
I was at the Bellefields Office Park today, which is situated at the north
end of the Mercer Slough. There by the outdoor seating adjacent to the
water (near Dilettante Cafe), I spied what I believe was a female Gadwall
with three ducklings.
Reasons I think they were Gadwall and not Mallards: they were extremely
shy, the female had a narrow bill, and the chicks were notably different
(“more yellow”) than the many Mallard ducklings I’ve seen over the years.
Unfortunately, I was unable to get photos because they paddled away so
quickly at my approach and hid in the weeds overhanging the bank.
Additionally, there was a lone male Gadwall about 100 feet away, seeming to
be alert to my presence. He was definitely watching me.
I know this is a fairly tenuous ID, but I thought I would share in case
anyone nearby wants to take a look.
Date: 3/22/24 9:05 pm From: Thomas Einberger <teinberger...> Subject: [Tweeters] Swainson's Hawk in Seattle?
What large bird of prey puts its wings below its body for a full second to glide? I looked away after it casually brought its wings back up, so I don't know what happened next. Swainson's Hawks do and apparently Ospreys do. Anything else? According to Sibley Birds, no. But I just want to make sure before I report a Swainson's Hawk in Seattle. This Swainson's matches my visual description: https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/450716 But I need a second confirmation to make absolutely sure.
Date: 3/22/24 5:36 pm From: Denis DeSilvis <avnacrs4birds...> Subject: [Tweeters] Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) Eagle's Pride Golf Course (GC) monthly bird walk - 3-21-2024
Tweeters,
Eight of us showed up at the JBLM Eagle's Pride GC, all of us dressed for rainy weather. The sun was out when we started, and we never had a drop of rain during our entire outing. Temp range 42degF - 54degF start to finish, with partly sunny skies starting out and clouding over toward the finish. Besides some of the numbers of individual species, one highlight was a flyover of a GREATER YELLOWLEGS. The only mammals were three black-tailed deer on the 13th hole. (Pete found 48 golf balls to donate to the VA center at American Lake.)
At the driving range tee, the first-of-season (FOS) TREE SWALLOWS were present, with more at Hodge Lake. (The nest boxes at Hodge Lake have been repaired and Tree Swallows were already claiming housing.) The only WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were also at the driving range area, along with GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, HOUSE FINCHES, and the first of three RED-TAILED HAWKS.
The 9th hole pond held RING-NECKED DUCKS and a flyover of FOS BAND-TAILED PIGEONS. A pair of WOOD DUCKS were at the maintenance pond, which is an unusual place to see them, and a couple of MALLARDS were also there, along with AMERICAN WIDGEONS. Besides another WOOD DUCK pair, Hodge Lake had more Mallards, a pair (?) of PIED-BILLED GREBES, and a handful of BUFFLEHEADS.
Relatively abundant songbirds included PINE SISKINS, PACIFIC WRENS, BEWICK'S WRENS, AMERICAN ROBINS (!), and SPOTTED TOWHEES.
The JBLM Eagle's Pride GC birders meet the third Thursday of each month at 8:00AM starting in March. Starting point is the Driving Range building, Eagle's Pride Golf Course, I-5 Exit 116, Mounts Road Exit. (Turn left immediately after entering the parking lot to take the road leading to the driving range building.) Upcoming walks include the following:
* April 18
* May 16
* June 20
From the eBird PNW report:
39 species
Wood Duck 4
American Wigeon 2
Mallard 5
Ring-necked Duck 5
Bufflehead 7
Pied-billed Grebe 2 Hodge Lake
Band-tailed Pigeon 3
Mourning Dove 7
Anna's Hummingbird 5
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Northern Flicker 7
Steller's Jay 9
California Scrub-Jay 4
American Crow 4
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 16
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 22
Tree Swallow 17
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 12
Red-breasted Nuthatch 5
Brown Creeper 1
Pacific Wren 15
Bewick's Wren 12
European Starling 28
Varied Thrush 11
American Robin 110 Located in nearly every fairway we passed by.
Hi all, I'm a long time Tweeter (since the 90s!). Hopefully it is ok for me to share this - a personal web project called Climate Responsible<http://climateresponsible.org/>.
* because I think you’ll be interested in the site;
* to ask you to please share it with your networks as you feel is appropriate;
* to let me know if you’d like to hear from me about climate issues on a monthly basis; if so, sign up on the website.
As I’ve worked in this field, I have felt a growing need for a thorough, systematic information source about how to radically reduce personal climate impact. Many others have also expressed an interest in such a resource.
I have found the personal decarbonization information typically available on the web too superficial, or too inaccessible and detailed, too broadly targeted, or focused on only some aspects of decarbonization. Climate Responsible seeks to fill this need: a thorough, accessible source to guide individuals and families in the process of significantly reducing their climate impact.
My audience for this site is pretty targeted—the five to ten percent of truly climate-motivated/concerned North Americans (recognizing their massive impact and specific lifestyles) who want to act but aren’t sure what to focus on and what to prioritize. I believe it is now imperative for this group to lead by action, helping drive the market, norming, and reducing cost and barriers to entry for the broader society.
I hope you find this website to be helpful. Again, if you would like to hear from me monthly on climate topics, please sign up at on the website. And thank you for sharing this site with whatever networks you are in.
Date: 3/22/24 2:56 pm From: Dan Reiff <dan.owl.reiff...> Subject: [Tweeters] Watch woodpecker evict starling that stole its nest by yanking it out with its beak | Live Science
Date: 3/22/24 12:40 pm From: <dcsimonsen...> Subject: [Tweeters] WDFW seeks public input on draft management plan for Skagit Wildlife Area
From WDFW News release Mar 20, 2024 re: Skagit Wildlife Area
"The public is invited to ask questions and share feedback on the draft plan at the workshop on March 27. Members of the public can also submit comments online <https://publicinput.com/SkagitWLAPlan> , by email <mailto:<SkagitWLAPlan...> , or by mail to Lisa Wood, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA, 98504. The draft plan and additional materials are available at WDFW <https://wdfw.wa.gov/licenses/environmental/sepa/open-comments> 's State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) website. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on April 22."
Date: 3/22/24 11:55 am From: Kathy Kaplan <katinak7...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Othello Sandhill Crane Festival 03/22-24
Today saw a lot (currently about 100?) Sandhill cranes. Standing in the
field at 262 and rd 11 se lots of cranes currently hanging out at 11:50am.
On Thu, Mar 21, 2024, 4:06 PM Jim Ullrich <jimullrich...> wrote:
> Howdy Tweets:
> Hope to see you all at this weekends Othello Sandhill Crane Festival in
> Othello WA.
> Visit https://othellosandhillcranefestival.org for events, classes, and
> trips.
> PS: Sandhill Cranes still in good viewing position along Hwy 26 around
> Royal City area.
>
> Jim Ullrich
>
> SWAROVSKI OPTIKS
> 7075 Corfu Blvd NE
> Bremerton, WA 98311
>
> 360-908-0817
>
> www.knoxcellarsmasonbees.com
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/22/24 9:10 am From: Shep Thorp <shepthorp...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wednesday Walk for Billy Frank Jr Nisqually NWR for 3/20/2024
Hi Tweets,
approximately 25 of us had a cool down day at the Refuge after the glorious
weather over the weekend. Skies were cloudy with temperatures in the 40's
to 50's. There was a Low 6"5" Tide at 10:45am and a High 10'4" Tide at
3:04pm. Highlights included FOY CANVASBACK at the mouth of the Nisqually
River and SAVANNAH SPARROW along the dike or Nisqually Estuary Trail. We
also had really cool looks of displaying MOURNING DOVE around the Orchard,
male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD feeding on the SalmonBerry flowers, hybrid AMERICAN
X EURASIAN WIGEON at the Twin Barns Overlook, BELTED KINGFISHERs visiting a
burrow in a bank on the west side of McAllister Creek, and great looks of
black BRANT GEESE in Madrone Slough from the Puget Sound Observation
Platform.
For the day we observed 75 species, and with FOY CANVASBACK, SAVANNAH
SPARROW and EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE, we have observed 110 species this year.
See eBird report pasted below, many nice photos embedded by our regular
walkers.
Until next week when we meet again at 8am, happy birding!
Shep
--
Shep Thorp
Browns Point
253-370-3742
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually NWR, Thurston, Washington, US
Mar 20, 2024 7:35 AM - 5:07 PM
Protocol: Traveling
7.086 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Wednesday Walk. Cloudy skies with temperatures in
the 40’s to 50’s degrees Fahrenheit. A Low 6’5” Tide at 10:45am and a High
10’4” at 3:04pm. Mammals seen Columbian Black-tailed Deer, Eastern Cotton
Tailed Rabbit, Eastern Gray Squirrel, and Harbor Seal. Pacific Tree Frog,
Northwest Salamander Egg Masses.
75 species (+8 other taxa)
Brant (Black) 32
Cackling Goose (minima) 500
Cackling Goose (Taverner's) 45
Canada Goose (moffitti/maxima) 40 1287-47512. Upside down metal tag
left leg. Canada Goose
Wood Duck 8
Northern Shoveler 200
Gadwall 50
Eurasian Wigeon 3
American Wigeon 700
Eurasian x American Wigeon (hybrid) 1
Mallard 125
Northern Pintail 300
Green-winged Teal (American) 1000
Canvasback 1
Ring-necked Duck 10
Greater/Lesser Scaup 1
Surf Scoter 80
Bufflehead 150
Common Goldeneye 75
Hooded Merganser 12
Common Merganser 5
Red-breasted Merganser 25
Pied-billed Grebe 1
Horned Grebe 20
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 10
Band-tailed Pigeon 3
Eurasian Collared-Dove 1
Mourning Dove 8
Rufous Hummingbird 3 Males only
American Coot 160
Wilson's Snipe 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 15
Dunlin 1200
Least Sandpiper 100
Short-billed Gull 150
Ring-billed Gull 50
Glaucous-winged Gull 1
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid) 75
Larus sp. 100
Common Loon 3
Brandt's Cormorant 12
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 15
Northern Harrier 2
Bald Eagle 15 Nest on West Bank of Nisqually River north of dike
occupied.
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Belted Kingfisher 3 Across from north section of Nisqually Estuary
Trail Boardwalk on West Bank of McAllister Creek.
Red-breasted Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 4
Steller's Jay (Coastal) 2
American Crow 75
Common Raven 3
Black-capped Chickadee 18
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4
Tree Swallow 80
Violet-green Swallow 80
Barn Swallow 2 continuing/seen by I think everyone in the group, I
guess accidentally left off the master group list
Bushtit 8 Paired up for two weeks.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 20
Golden-crowned Kinglet 4
Brown Creeper 6
Pacific Wren 4
Marsh Wren 6
Bewick's Wren 8
European Starling 50
Varied Thrush 8
American Robin 30
Purple Finch 1
Pine Siskin 8
Fox Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 6
Golden-crowned Sparrow 20
Savannah Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 26
Spotted Towhee (oregonus Group) 4
Spotted Towhee (maculatus Group) 1 Previously reported the week
before. Spotted by Teri, crisply heavily white spotted towhee with white
rachi on flight feathers. Observed foraging at Education Center for several
minutes with bins. Much brighter, whiter and crisper than other area
Towhee’s.
Red-winged Blackbird 53
Yellow-rumped Warbler 25
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 15
Date: 3/22/24 8:35 am From: Ronda Stark <rondastark18...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Northern Pygmy-Owl sighting - to report or not report?
Hi Lukas,
I am glad you are fully considering the ramifications of reporting the
owl's location. I have never seen a Northern Pygmy Owl and although I would
love to see one, I have seen
what happens to other owls whose location is fully identified. I recommend
you do not publish the exact location of the owl!
Ronda
On Thu, Mar 21, 2024 at 10:06 PM Lukas Evans <LukasEvans...> wrote:
> Hi everybody,
>
> I've been following tweeters for a while but this is my first time
> posting. Yesterday, I had an extremely exciting encounter with a Northern
> Pygmy-Owl in a local park where I live in Sammamish. I relocated it again
> this morning, so it's still around. This is pretty unusual for my area, I
> think there are only one or two eBird records of Pygmy-Owl in all of
> Sammamish. They're usually restricted to the cascade foothills farther
> east, but this one appears to have spent the winter here.
>
> But now I'm faced with a dilemma - do I report it to eBird now, or wait
> until after the bird has likely left for the spring? I would love to share
> this sighting and help others have a chance to see this owl, but I'm also
> nervous about the potential for people disturbing it by using playback or
> other invasive methods.
>
> My understanding is that Pygmy-Owls are one of the owl species least
> vulnerable to human disturbance. The owl was hanging out up in the forest
> canopy, and didn't seem alarmed by my presence. It feels like a good
> location for the owl to have personal space if people do come to look for
> it. Am I correct in this assessment, or should I hold off on reporting the
> owl to keep it off the eBird alerts? Or at least not provide detailed
> information in the checklist about where I found the bird? Am I
> overthinking this and being too cautious?
>
> An additional note - this was in a public park with parking lots, so
> access isn't a problem. Thanks,
>
>
> Lukas Evans
> Sammamish, WA
> <Lukasevans...>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> <Tweeters...>
> http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters >
Date: 3/22/24 5:05 am From: j baker <hikenbird...> Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Northern Pygmy-Owl sighting - to report or not report?
Hi Lukas,
Thank you for hesitating before exposing this owl to social media attention. I would urge that you not report this. Especially this time of year, when the bird most likely has a nest nearby, it is important to avoid pinpointing that nest to crows and other corvids who would eat the young.
Joan Baker On Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 10:06:30 PM PDT, Lukas Evans <lukasevans...> wrote:
Hi everybody,
I've been following tweeters for a while but this is my first time posting. Yesterday, I had an extremely exciting encounter with a Northern Pygmy-Owl in a local park where I live in Sammamish. I relocated it again this morning, so it's still around. This is pretty unusual for my area, I think there are only one or two eBird records of Pygmy-Owl in all of Sammamish. They're usually restricted to the cascade foothills farther east, but this one appears to have spent the winter here.
But now I'm faced with a dilemma - do I report it to eBird now, or wait until after the bird has likely left for the spring? I would love to share this sighting and help others have a chance to see this owl, but I'm also nervous about the potential for people disturbing it by using playback or other invasive methods.
My understanding is that Pygmy-Owls are one of the owl species least vulnerable to human disturbance. The owl was hanging out up in the forest canopy, and didn't seem alarmed by my presence. It feels like a good location for the owl to have personal space if people do come to look for it. Am I correct in this assessment, or should I hold off on reporting the owl to keep it off the eBird alerts? Or at least not provide detailed information in the checklist about where I found the bird? Am I overthinking this and being too cautious?
An additional note - this was in a public park with parking lots, so access isn't a problem. Thanks,
Date: 3/21/24 10:09 pm From: Lukas Evans <LukasEvans...> Subject: [Tweeters] Northern Pygmy-Owl sighting - to report or not report?
Hi everybody,
I've been following tweeters for a while but this is my first time posting. Yesterday, I had an extremely exciting encounter with a Northern Pygmy-Owl in a local park where I live in Sammamish. I relocated it again this morning, so it's still around. This is pretty unusual for my area, I think there are only one or two eBird records of Pygmy-Owl in all of Sammamish. They're usually restricted to the cascade foothills farther east, but this one appears to have spent the winter here.
But now I'm faced with a dilemma - do I report it to eBird now, or wait until after the bird has likely left for the spring? I would love to share this sighting and help others have a chance to see this owl, but I'm also nervous about the potential for people disturbing it by using playback or other invasive methods.
My understanding is that Pygmy-Owls are one of the owl species least vulnerable to human disturbance. The owl was hanging out up in the forest canopy, and didn't seem alarmed by my presence. It feels like a good location for the owl to have personal space if people do come to look for it. Am I correct in this assessment, or should I hold off on reporting the owl to keep it off the eBird alerts? Or at least not provide detailed information in the checklist about where I found the bird? Am I overthinking this and being too cautious?
An additional note - this was in a public park with parking lots, so access isn't a problem. Thanks,
Date: 3/21/24 8:37 pm From: Ed Newbold <ednewbold1...> Subject: [Tweeters] Thank you Michael Scuderi and Jim Betz for raising questions about the Wiley Slough project
Hi all,
I’d like to thank Michael Scuderi and Jim Betz for raising questionsabout the Wiley Slough project, particularly the treecutting.
I have no expertise on the subject and don’t want to be seenas posing as someone who does.
But there’s reason to be worried. For one thing, Wiley hadbecome a major stronghold for Tree Swallows and I guess this project will bethe end of that at a time when most Hirundine populations are under stress orcollapsing or have already collapsed in the Westside lowlands.
While I can’t add to the debate I have noticed a tendency ofbureaucracies to want to cut down trees regardless of whether it is justified.
The public wants to know what are the costs and what are thebenefits of a project. For a bureaucracy-- in a purely economic sense--the costis the benefit.
One of the starkest examples was Seattle Public Utilities’original plan for Deadhorse Canyon in South Seattle. That original preferred planinvolved a major removal of old-growth trees in the heart of the Canyonincluding very large Western Red Cedar and Douglas Fir.
SPU has backed off on that apparently, but the whole idea ofremoving old-growth trees along a stream corridor in an effort to “improve” itgot me curious. I happen to have astream scientist brother, J. Denis Newbold, PhD from Berkeley, 40 years asenior scientist with the Stroud Water Research Foundation in SE Pennsylvania,author of many papers, has been involved with the Clean Water Act etc. He toldme no, there would never be a scientific basis for removing trees for thepurpose of reducing stream sedimentation. “If it does involve taking trees Iwould get up in arms to try to fight it. Whatever they are proposing they can’tprove that it is better than leaving the trees.”
That reminded me of the paper Michael Scuderi’s cited that apparently could not find a scientific justification for removing trees from a dike.
In case anyone is interested in looking into this further, here is the link Michael originallyprovided for that research in his post to Tweeters:
Beacon Hill, where, thankfully Buty Creek is up and running and serving many customers afterbeing down with its first mainstem leak in 20 years, and where our darlingWhite-throated Sparrow continues.
Date: 3/21/24 7:58 pm From: Thomas Einberger <teinberger...> Subject: [Tweeters] Large hawk with white underside
What large Seattle hawk could look snow-white below (even with the Sun behind some clouds) from wing-to-wing except for a thick black line along the back of the wings and around the tail making the small tail white/black? Head and face looked white from below with maybe some small dark splotches. Brief small looks at the top revealed medium-brown on the wings in the area that I could see. All it did was soar low. No wingbeats or calls to go by. Harlan's Red-Tailed Hawk and Rough-Legged Hawk have the thick black outline, but they have other noteworthy black marks on the bottom. Harlan's looks like it can lack other marks if the black line is faint. Very rare Ferruginous Hawk has the snow-white but not the stand-out black outline. No Gyrfalcon morph matches top and bottom coloration.
Date: 3/21/24 7:44 pm From: <byers345...> Subject: [Tweeters] A late White-throated Sparrow
Hello Tweeters,
On Tweeters recently Eric Snyder asked if he could have seen a White-throated Sparrow near his home in Issaquah (I think). I was pleasantly surprised to have a WTSP show up in my backyard this afternoon. So they are still around. I have included a link to Flickr with this bird's photo.
Date: 3/21/24 4:53 pm From: <jimbetz...> Subject: [Tweeters] Winter is over ...
... and the White Birds of Winter are "gone".
Let me explain why I say this. I did a 'survey' of the Skagit and Samish and Butler Flats today. This was not a scientific process - I simply drove my normal routes in those areas - and saw just one small group of Snow Geese (less than 200), and -no- swans and just 2 Canada Geese. Were there other small groups here and there? Quite probably. But compared to just 3 or 4 days ago the lack of swans and geese was highly noticeable - it was even noticeable when compared to just 2 days ago. Also noted - far fewer Bald Eagles, only a few RTH (4?), no Harriers, only a couple of SEOW (at the East 90). No Kestrels, no other hawks. A few crows. And almost no ducks - one small group of about 200 and a couple of here and there clusters of under 10 birds. And the number of birders at the East 90 was less than half of what it was on Tuesday. And many of the "regulars" were missing.
So, as far as Skagit County goes and from this birder's viewpoint ... they are gone. Just one day after the Equinox (and not unrelated).
- looking forward to next fall ... Jim in Burlington
Date: 3/21/24 4:14 pm From: Jim Ullrich <jimullrich...> Subject: [Tweeters] Othello Sandhill Crane Festival 03/22-24
Howdy Tweets: Hope to see you all at this weekends Othello Sandhill Crane Festival in Othello WA. Visit https://othellosandhillcranefestival.org for events, classes, and trips. PS: Sandhill Cranes still in good viewing position along Hwy 26 around Royal City area.
Jim Ullrich
SWAROVSKI OPTIKS 7075 Corfu Blvd NE Bremerton, WA 98311
Date: 3/21/24 2:19 pm From: Michael Hobbs <birdmarymoor...> Subject: [Tweeters] Marymoor Park (Redmond, King Co.) 2024-03-21
Our equinox survey started with sleepy birders and sleepy birds under dark grey skies, but the day became quite pleasant and birdy by 8 or 8:30.
Highlights: Northern Shoveler - Flyby of 5 birds - First of Year (FOY) Gadwall - Perhaps 30, a pretty high count for Marymoor Northern Pintail - One flock flying north, followed by a seemingly larger (~35) flying south (FOY) Twelve species of duck total! Rufous Hummingbird - Three males, including one doing a J-display (FOY) Great Blue Heron - At least one eggshell under the heronry Great Horned Owl - One calling pre-dawn from the SE (FOY) Pileated Woodpecker - Excavating a hole in a snag in the Big Cottonwood Forest, right next to the trail Merlin - A rather pale individual ENE of the mansion Hutton's Vireo - Finally saw one. Like our other two reports this year, it was singing southwest of the windmill Violet-green Swallow - Probably well over 100 (FOY) Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Ubiquitous. Really. Somewhere between 30 and 50 Varied Thrush - Probably at least 3, including good looks at the south end of the Dog Area Purple Finch - At least two heard, in full song. First in a month White-throated Sparrow - Continues near 2nd/3rd Dog Swim Beach, with Golden-crowned Sparrows
I was also at the park yesterday and had 5 species that we didn't have today: BAND-TAILED PIGEON, RING-BILLED GULL, HAIRY WOODPECKER, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (one male, singing below the weir) amazingly (FOY), and SAVANNAH SPARROW (about a dozen, most at the Model Airplane Field (FOY).
Missed both today and yesterday: Short-billed Gull, Cooper's Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Shrike, and Pacific Wren.
I had 55 species yesterday, we had 62 species today, with a combined total of 67 species. With 7 new species this week, we're at 85 species for the year.
= Michael Hobbs = <BirdMarymoor...> = www.marymoor.org/birding.htm
Date: 3/21/24 10:23 am From: Hank Heiberg <hank.heiberg...> Subject: [Tweeters] Fwd: Cle Elum to Othello CORRECTION
CORRECTION: The Great Horned Owl was at Potholes State Park, not Ginkgo as
originally stated.
The highlights included beautiful weather, a herd of Bighorn Sheep at
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park plus excellent birding including…
1. Thousands of Snow Geese on Potholes Reservoir.
2. Great Horned Owl at Potholes State Park.
3. Sandhill Cranes along highway 26 near Royal City.
4. Northern Saw-whet Owl at Gingko (thanks to a group of birders that
included Shep Thorp and Jon Anderson)
Date: 3/21/24 9:43 am From: Hank Heiberg <hank.heiberg...> Subject: [Tweeters] Cle Elum to Othello
Last week we birded from Cle Elum to Othello. The highlights included
beautiful weather, a herd of Bighorn Sheep at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State
Park plus excellent birding including…
1. Thousands of Snow Geese on Potholes Reservoir.
2. Great Horned Owl at Ginkgo.
3. Sandhill Cranes along highway 26 near Royal City.
4. Northern Saw-whet Owl at Gingko (thanks to a group of birders that
included Shep Thorp and Jon Anderson)
Date: 3/20/24 10:04 pm From: Judith A. Howard <jhoward...> Subject: [Tweeters] rufous sightings
Our first rufous was on February 27. For the past few days we have had several dozen, massing at the feeders just before dark. Even more of them than Anna’s!
Nancy
"Images for the imagination."
www.crowellphotography.com
________________________________
From: Tweeters <tweeters-bounces...> on behalf of Marcus Donner <donnerpix...>
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 7:38:47 PM
To: <tweeters...> <tweeters...>
Subject: [Tweeters] Wing tagged Red Tailed hawk
Hello Tweeters,
I was in Anacortes, in Skagit County, yesterday and saw a winged tagged hawk (pretty sure it is a Red Tailed). It had two blue wing tags and one was clearly marked 6D. Does any one have an idea of what the story is with those tags? Is it a research project or some other program? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Date: 3/20/24 7:48 pm From: Marcus Donner <donnerpix...> Subject: [Tweeters] Wing tagged Red Tailed hawk
Hello Tweeters,
I was in Anacortes, in Skagit County, yesterday and saw a winged tagged hawk (pretty sure it is a Red Tailed). It had two blue wing tags and one was clearly marked 6D. Does any one have an idea of what the story is with those tags? Is it a research project or some other program? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
> On Mar 20, 2024, at 08:55, Michelle Landis <asmalllife...> wrote: > > I heard a rumor there is someone looking at Ferruginous Hawks in Washington. If anyone is interested, I have a sighting I can report near Wilson Creek, Washington. No photo unfortunately, if that is required, but observed by me and another falconer for SEVERAL minutes sitting still. We're sure. > > Michelle Landis > Coupeville > _______________________________________________ > Tweeters mailing list > <Tweeters...> > http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
Date: 3/20/24 8:59 am From: Michelle Landis <asmalllife...> Subject: [Tweeters] Query on Feeruginous
I heard a rumor there is someone looking at Ferruginous Hawks in Washington. If anyone is interested, I have a sighting I can report near Wilson Creek, Washington. No photo unfortunately, if that is required, but observed by me and another falconer for SEVERAL minutes sitting still. We're sure.
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