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9 Feb Re: WW Crossbills & shrike [John Lowry ] 9 Feb No on WWCrossbills near Beal Ave. Fire Stn. Ann Arbor [Heidi Dodson ] 9 Feb If you photographing the Crossbills yesterday [Pat Brandon ] 9 Feb RE: WW Crossbills [Pat Brandon ] 9 Feb WW Crossbills & shrike [Anna ] 9 Feb RE: WW Crossbills ["Bond, Melody" ] 9 Feb RE: WW Crossbills [Pat Brandon ] 9 Feb Detroit River Hawk Watch trend analyses available ["Greg Norwood" ] 9 Feb Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged [Barbara ] 09 Feb Bald Eagle by Maple and Huron River Drive [Rick Neubig ] 09 Feb OT - Re: Fwd: [BIRDCHAT] Hooded Crane in Indiana! ["Bruce M. Bowman" ] 9 Feb red polls [Sherri Smith ] 9 Feb Fwd: [BIRDCHAT] Hooded Crane in Indiana! [Pat Burden ] 09 Feb Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged [George Hammond ] 9 Feb Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged [Laurent Fournier ] 9 Feb RE: Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers [Ray Stocking ] 9 Feb Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged [] 9 Feb RE: Crossbills - NO ["Bond, Melody" ] 9 Feb RE: North Campus conifers ["Bond, Melody" ] 9 Feb Crossbills - NO [linda ar ] 9 Feb RE: Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers ["Bond, Melody" ] 09 Feb Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged ["Bruce M. Bowman" ] 08 Feb Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged [George Hammond ] 8 Feb Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged [Roger Kuhlman ] 8 Feb North Campus conifers [Sherri Smith ] 8 Feb Re: no redpolls for me [Karen ] 8 Feb Re: Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers [Sue ] 8 Feb Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers [Ray Stocking ] 8 Feb Gallup Redpolls [Karl Krause ] 8 Feb Put your birding skills to good use at Detroit River IWR ["Greg Norwood" ] 8 Feb Off Topic -- Photo Request [Cody Porter ] 8 Feb Ww crossbills Tecumseh yes [Gregg Perez ] 8 Feb WW Crosbills [Pat Brandon ] 8 Feb North Campus conifers (OT) [Sherri Smith ] 8 Feb Tundra Swams [Pat Burden ] 8 Feb Re: no redpolls for me [Laurent Fournier ] 8 Feb Trumpeter Swan [Phyllis Voorheis ] 8 Feb N Shrike Request [Roger Kuhlman ] 8 Feb Livonia Birds [j fisher ] 8 Feb RE: birders digest: February 07, 2012 ["Hartz, Andrew (DEQ)" ] 8 Feb Re: Owl calls [] 07 Feb Snowy Owls... [Bruce Tanner ] 7 Feb Re: Owl Calls [] 7 Feb Is it because we are outside more? [] 07 Feb Lenawee County Snowy Owl... pics [Bruce Tanner ] 07 Feb test [Bruce Tanner ] 7 Feb March birds in Feb.:Portage Lk, etc., Washtenaw Co. [] 7 Feb River Bend Park and OT ["Kevin R" ] 7 Feb Recent stuff - Spring sprang and now springing Spring broken? ["Robert Setzer" ] 07 Feb Re: Owl calls [Rick Neubig ] 7 Feb Re: Owl calls [Allen Chartier ] 7 Feb Re: no redpolls for me [Allen Chartier ] 7 Feb Re: White wing Crossbills (YES) Ann Arbor [chris mccreedy ] 7 Feb White wing Crossbills (YES) Ann Arbor [Ray Stocking ] 7 Feb Snowy Owl Lenawee County ["Nancy Bogart" ] 7 Feb Re: Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers [Daniel Blower ] 07 Feb WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in Nichols Arboretum this morning [] 7 Feb Re: Sandhill Cranes ["KALUZA, FRED" ] 7 Feb Re: Sandhill Cranes [John Lowry ] 7 Feb Re: Sandhill Cranes [Barbara ] 7 Feb Mergansers [Anna ] 07 Feb Re: Owl calls [Rick Neubig ] 07 Feb ADMIN - photo sharing album ["Bruce M. Bowman" ] 07 Feb Unusual gull-goldeneye interaction: picture [Eric Arnold ] 7 Feb Re: Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers [jochen roeder ] 07 Feb Unusual gull-goldeneye interaction (was: Re: no redpolls for me) [Eric Arnold ] 07 Feb Re: no redpolls for me ["Bruce M. Bowman" ] 7 Feb Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers [chris mccreedy ] 7 Feb Redpolls [Pat Brandon ] 7 Feb no redpolls for me ["Bond, Melody" ] 7 Feb Re: Owl Calls [] 7 Feb RE: birders digest: February 06, 2012 ["Hartz, Andrew (DEQ)" ] 07 Feb Re: Sandhill Cranes [George Hammond ] 6 Feb Re: Sandhill Cranes [Barbara ] 6 Feb Fwd: WPBO Spring Fling [Mike Sefton ] 6 Feb RE: Owl calls ["Cendra" ] Subject: Re: WW Crossbills & shrike From: John Lowry <john AT kingbird.org> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:39:13 -0500 Anna, Loggerhead Shrike would be exceedingly rare in Michigan in the spring through fall. In the winter it would be even less likely. We only have a few records for Loggerhead in the state in the past ten or twenty years. In the Midwest overall, they have drastically declined in the past century - it's somewhat of a puzzle in fact, although with the increase in pesticides, intense industrial farming, etc., I would be more surprised if they were doing well. Perhaps it's lazy birding, but we assume all winter shrikes are Northerns (although you can tell them apart via a few field marks - check your favorite guide). I think both shrikes use their tails for balance quite a bit in windy conditions, and I'm not really sure about flight differences. I rely on structural and plumage details if I'm ever in a situation where it's possible to see either. Range maps in field guides are extensively researched and immeasurably useful, so don't ignore their advice. However, birds do occur out of range and season, so if you think you have something as rare as a Loggerhead Shrike in the winter, you would do well to document it as thoroughly as possible with photographs and field notes after learning all the details of identifying both species. That's part of the fun, though, isn't it, learning about the finer points of identifying birds? I enjoyed it thoroughly when I first started birding and then went through a series of frustrating stages along the way as I was challenged by each new puzzle and now I'm enjoying the challenge again. (Although I'm currently conveniently ignoring field ID of dowitchers, gulls and a few other advanced groups.) Hope to see you out in our birdy county soon! John Lowry john AT kingbird.org Hamburg Twp, Livingston County, MI On Feb 9, 2012, at 12:57 PM, Anna wrote: > There were 6 white-winged crossbills and a shrike (and a red fox) near Parshallville Pond early this morning. > I have a question about the shrike. In Michigan I have only seen the Northern shrike, and have not seen the Loggerhead shrike since we lived in California where it was common. This shrike did not pump its tail when perched, and when flying had bursts of quick wingbeats. So it had to be a Loggerhead in my opinion. Any comments welcome. > Thanks. > Anna > Hartland > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: No on WWCrossbills near Beal Ave. Fire Stn. Ann Arbor From: Heidi Dodson <heidi.dodson AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 14:14:11 -0500 Walked the area for 30 minutes or so at 1:30-2:00 and didn't see them. As we know from redpolls, they could be there later. Heidi Dodson On Feb 9, 2012, at 11:39 AM, Pat Brandon wrote: > > I went to see the Crossbills yesterday and did not really know the area. When you get there it will fairly obvious where to go. > There is an area of trees right across the street along Beal that the station faces. This is where we found them, though in the hour before they arrived, we checked the trees on the other side of Beal. Good luck. > My question would be: where is the proper place to park? > > Pat Brandon > Sent from my iPhone > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: If you photographing the Crossbills yesterday From: Pat Brandon <sandiapat AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 13:15:25 -0500 Hi, If you were out at noon yesterday photographing the Crossbills with me and are moving to the Northville area soon, please send me an email. I am sorry that we never got each other's names. Pat --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: WW Crossbills From: Pat Brandon <sandiapat AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:57:51 -0500 Melody, Look in the trees on the right. I think that this is the section where they have been seen every time. There is one tree "shorter" then most others that has "cones" on it's branches all the way to the ground. I don't know if this is the hemlock that was mentioned in a previous post. When they fly in they often vocalize and it will be different than what you have heard before. We searched for over an hour and were just about to leave when they showed up. Pat Brandon Sent from my iPhone --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: WW Crossbills & shrike From: Anna <awmtngal AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:57:29 -0500 There were 6 white-winged crossbills and a shrike (and a red fox) near Parshallville Pond early this morning. I have a question about the shrike. In Michigan I have only seen the Northern shrike, and have not seen the Loggerhead shrike since we lived in California where it was common. This shrike did not pump its tail when perched, and when flying had bursts of quick wingbeats. So it had to be a Loggerhead in my opinion. Any comments welcome. Thanks. Anna Hartland --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: WW Crossbills From: "Bond, Melody" <mbond AT med.umich.edu> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 17:44:47 +0000 Okay, so if you have your back to the firestation standing in the middle of Beal, which side? -----Original Message----- From: Pat Brandon [mailto:sandiapat AT comcast.net] Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 11:40 AM To: birders AT umich.edu Subject: [birders] RE: WW Crossbills I went to see the Crossbills yesterday and did not really know the area. When you get there it will fairly obvious where to go. There is an area of trees right across the street along Beal that the station faces. This is where we found them, though in the hour before they arrived, we checked the trees on the other side of Beal. Good luck. My question would be: where is the proper place to park? Pat Brandon Sent from my iPhone --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. ********************************************************** Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used for urgent or sensitive issues --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: WW Crossbills From: Pat Brandon <sandiapat AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 11:39:39 -0500 I went to see the Crossbills yesterday and did not really know the area. When you get there it will fairly obvious where to go. There is an area of trees right across the street along Beal that the station faces. This is where we found them, though in the hour before they arrived, we checked the trees on the other side of Beal. Good luck. My question would be: where is the proper place to park? Pat Brandon Sent from my iPhone --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Detroit River Hawk Watch trend analyses available From: "Greg Norwood" <Greg_Norwood AT fws.gov> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 10:43:24 -0500 The Detroit River Hawk Watch (www.drhawkwatch.org) has contributed all of its data collected since 1991 to the HawkCount database, which is a project of the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA; http://www.hmana.org/). These data serve a pivotal role in the Raptor Population Index (http://www.rpi-project.org/index.php), which provides accurate knowledge of population status and change in raptors of North America. Both of these services are free from HMANA to participating counts and uses sophisticated and peer-reviewed analytical techniques. We are delighted to report that Detroit River Hawk Watch data from Lake Erie Metropark has been analyzed and is available with methodology at this link: http://www.rpi-project.org/2011/ The trend graphs are also available on our website through the generous help from Roy Bohling: http://www.drhawkwatch.org/trend-analysis-graphs The Detroit River Hawk Watch is extremely fortunate to have these resources provided to us by HMANA and its partners, and the commitment of donors to the Detroit River Hawk Watch through the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance (http://www.iwralliance.org/home). In addition to these trend graphs, you can find the following at this link: http://www.drhawkwatch.org/resources A) Detroit River Hawk Watch (DRHW) summary statistics from 1991-2008 (Panko and Battaly 2010) B) all DRHW season reports from 2008 C) DRHW protocol (consistent with HMANA) DRHW is a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and its Friends Group, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance. DRHW is fully committed to scientific monitoring of the raptor migration of the lower Detroit River. Sincerely, Greg Norwood, Wildlife Biologist Detroit River IWR 9311 Groh Rd. Grosse Ile, MI 48138 office: 734-692-7611 cell: 734-341-3858 fax: 734-692-7603 "The mission of the Refuge System is to manage a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats." --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged From: Barbara <nuthatch1961 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 07:28:34 -0800 (PST) Matthaei used to have free days once a week and they should stick with that, even if it's once a month.  It's a good way to really see the people who show up that can't otherwise afford it. I don't know what to say about the parking, I'm po'd too & not likely to stop in anymore. Barb Brighton --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Bald Eagle by Maple and Huron River Drive From: Rick Neubig <rneubig AT umich.edu> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:16:57 -0500 By the Maple Bridge overlooking the Huron River, there was an adult bald eagle perched and scanning the water. Made my day on the drive in to work. Rick -- Richard Neubig Professor of Pharmacology University of Michigan Ph: 734 764-8165 http://warbler.med.umich.edu Co-director - Center for Chemical Genomics http://lsi.umich.edu/ccg Michigan Drug Discovery http://sitemaker.umich.edu/michigandrugdiscovery --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: OT - Re: Fwd: [BIRDCHAT] Hooded Crane in Indiana! From: "Bruce M. Bowman" <bbowman99 AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:58:43 -0500 It's being assumed that this Hooded Crane is the same one that was in Tennessee for a while. Goose Pond/Beehunter Marsh is 1 hr 45 min south of Indianapolis near Linton, Indiana. It's a six-hour drive from Ann Arbor. Bruce To: birders AT umich.edu Subject: [birders] Fwd: [BIRDCHAT] Hooded Crane in Indiana! From: Pat Burden Date sent: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 08:07:06 -0500 (EST) Send reply to: Pat Burden > I thought I might pass this on in case anyone is interested in a wild > crane chase! (sorry, just had to do it!) > > Pat Burden > tallerpat AT aol.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: B.G. Sloan > To: BIRDCHAT > Sent: Wed, Feb 8, 2012 5:08 pm > Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Hooded Crane in Indiana! > > > See the following post from an Indiana birding list. > > Could this be the same Hooded Crane that was hanging out in Tennessee > recently? > > Bernie Sloan > Milwaukee, WI > > --- On Wed, 2/8/12, Lee Sterrenburg wrote: > > From: Lee Sterrenburg > Subject: [B-BIRDS] Hooded Crane at GPFWA Beehunter Marsh > To: BLOOMINGTON-BIRDS-L AT LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU > Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 3:11 PM > > I got a call a while ago from John Hartley describing what sounded like > the Hooded Crane at Goose Pond FWA Beehunter Marsh Unit BH5S, in the field > north of the driveway turnaround at the former farmhouse site.  > > Brad Feaster went to check out the report and says the bird is indeed the > HOODED CRANE. > > Be careful when driving there because commotion near that field could > spook the cranes.  John said the Hooded Crane flew in with two Sandhill > Cranes and that a lot of Sandhills are currently in the field. > > --Lee Sterrenburg, Bloomington, for Brad Feaster, Linton > > BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksbirds.org/birdchat/ > Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html > > > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject > line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: red polls From: Sherri Smith <grackle AT umich.edu> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 08:54:27 -0500 I have been stopping by Gallup Park hoping to see the redpolls with no success until this morning. I pulled into a parking place and took the keys out of the ignition. I saw a flock of small birds that i didn't recognize from their flight. They landed in the trees right in front of me, and were the redpolls. It was a miracle. The sun had just come up, so everything was washed with pink. Sherri Smith --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Fwd: [BIRDCHAT] Hooded Crane in Indiana! From: Pat Burden <tallerpat AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 08:07:06 -0500 (EST) I thought I might pass this on in case anyone is interested in a wild crane chase! (sorry, just had to do it!) Pat Burden tallerpat AT aol.com -----Original Message----- From: B.G. Sloan To: BIRDCHAT Sent: Wed, Feb 8, 2012 5:08 pm Subject: [BIRDCHAT] Hooded Crane in Indiana! See the following post from an Indiana birding list. Could this be the same Hooded Crane that was hanging out in Tennessee recently? Bernie Sloan Milwaukee, WI --- On Wed, 2/8/12, Lee Sterrenburg wrote: From: Lee Sterrenburg Subject: [B-BIRDS] Hooded Crane at GPFWA Beehunter Marsh To: BLOOMINGTON-BIRDS-L AT LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 3:11 PM I got a call a while ago from John Hartley describing what sounded like the Hooded Crane at Goose Pond FWA Beehunter Marsh Unit BH5S, in the field north of the driveway turnaround at the former farmhouse site.  Brad Feaster went to check out the report and says the bird is indeed the HOODED CRANE. Be careful when driving there because commotion near that field could spook the cranes.  John said the Hooded Crane flew in with two Sandhill Cranes and that a lot of Sandhills are currently in the field. --Lee Sterrenburg, Bloomington, for Brad Feaster, Linton BirdChat Guidelines: http://www.ksbirds.org/birdchat/ Archives: http://listserv.arizona.edu/archives/birdchat.html --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged From: George Hammond <worldsmith AT me.com> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 07:46:10 -0500 On Feb 9, 2012, at 12:08 AM, Bruce M. Bowman wrote: > George- > > Is this correct? The last time I went to the indoor conservatory, there > was no admission fee. That was many years ago, so maybe things changed, > but at that time there was a donations box at the door and a sign > indicating the suggested donation amounts for adults and children--i.e., > no fee. > > Bruce That's what their website says. I'm pretty sure that a few years ago they started actually charging admission to the Conservatory. The last time I was at the Gardens I only entered the lobby, but there was a turnstyle in front of the entrance to the Conservatory and a cashier nearby, so I took them at their word. George --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged From: Laurent Fournier <poecile.cinctus AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 07:37:00 -0500 Bruce There was indeed an admission fee for the indoor conservatory until now. Can't remember the exact amount, though, but for 2 adults and a young child, it was around $12. On Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 12:08 AM, Bruce M. Bowman wrote: > Subject:                [birders] Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the >        Financially Privileged > From:                   George Hammond > Date sent:              Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:59:54 -0500 > To:                     birders AT umich.edu > Send reply to:          George Hammond > >> >> On Feb 8, 2012, at 10:06 PM, Roger Kuhlman wrote: >> >> > The Botanical Gardens has started charging a steep admission price to >> > just view the natural areas along Flemming Creek. This practice >> > discriminates against those with limited financial means. Isn't that >> > great? I bet it never occurs to institutional elites that not every >> > person in Ann Arbor or Washtenaw County who wants to visit Bot Gardens >> > regularly belongs to a household with incomes of $50,000 to $200,000 per >> > year or more and the hourly parking rates or the $45 membership are a >> > significant financial burden for many. >> >> Roger posted pretty much the same point on November 11th, and there were >> many responses at that time. If you would like to read them, you can view >> the list archives here: >> https://listserver.itd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=birders you don't >> need to bother with a password, you can just click the "visiting without >> joining" button to see the list archives. >> >> If list readers would like more information about this policy change, a >> good place to start would be this page from the Botanic Gardens: >> http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/plan/parking.asp They are imposing parking >> charges, but removing the admission fee to the indoor conservatory. Hard >> on people who just want to visit the grounds, but much cheaper for folks >> who want to see the enormous indoor collection, from tropical to desert. >> >> regards, >> >> George >> > > George- > > Is this correct?  The last time I went to the indoor conservatory, there > was no admission fee.  That was many years ago, so maybe things changed, > but at that time there was a donations box at the door and a sign > indicating the suggested donation amounts for adults and children--i.e., > no fee. > > Bruce > > > > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers From: Ray Stocking <rstocking AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 07:34:30 -0500 Sorry.... Lenawee County On Feb 9, 2012 7:07 AM, "Bond, Melody" wrote: > WHAT Livingston snowy?? Where?**** > > ** ** > > *From:* Ray Stocking [mailto:rstocking AT gmail.com] > *Sent:* Wednesday, February 08, 2012 7:18 PM > *To:* birders AT umich.edu > *Subject:* [birders] Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers**** > > ** ** > > After dipping on the Livingston Snowy Owl late this afternoon, I decided > to head over to Godfredson/Vreeland intersection to see if I can pull in a > Short-eared Owl or two. Weather conditions were darn near perfect tonight > with blue skies and low winds. > > I thought I arrived a bit too early given the setting sun still had > another 30 minutes left in the sky, but I was wrong in a big way. Within > seconds of parking my car I found the first of SIX Short-eared Owls sitting > just 100 yards out in the open field. I put my scope on this bird and kept > it there for the next 25-30 minutes until he flew away. During this time I > also scanned the fields with my binocs and counted five Northern Harriers. > Once all six owls were out, it was maddening trying to keep up with the 11 > birds chasing each other around. > > The highlight of the evening was a slow and low fly-by over my head from a > Short-eared Owl who looked down at me from just 20 feet up. It was a scene > I will not forget anytime soon. > > Go get 'em (again) while this weather lasts! > Ray > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html* photo sharing site - > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe > from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject > line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. **** > ********************************************************** > Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not > be used for urgent or sensitive issues > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged From: <kjser AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 07:20:23 -0500 The cost is $1.20 per hour or max of $5.00 per day visitors can then enter the conservatory at no cost all parking money goes directly to Matthei to support them ----- Original Message ----- From: Roger Kuhlman To: birders AT umich.edu Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 10:06 PM Subject: [birders] Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged The Botanical Gardens has started charging a steep admission price to just view the natural areas along Flemming Creek. This practice discriminates against those with limited financial means. Isn't that great? I bet it never occurs to institutional elites that not every person in Ann Arbor or Washtenaw County who wants to visit Bot Gardens regularly belongs to a household with incomes of $50,000 to $200,000 per year or more and the hourly parking rates or the $45 membership are a significant financial burden for many. Roger Kuhlman Ann Arbor, Michigan --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: Crossbills - NO From: "Bond, Melody" <mbond AT med.umich.edu> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:18:31 +0000 Linda, was that you I spoke with? We all really need to introduce ourselves from now on! At least I'm getting my birder life list going if not my feathered friends... From: linda ar [mailto:birdar101 AT hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, February 09, 2012 7:11 AM To: birders AT umich.edu Subject: [birders] Crossbills - NO I went to look for the crossbills yesterday around 4pm. I found none. I saw (and heard) one male house finch flying back and forth between the trees where some other birders were looking for the crossbills. There was also a female house finch on the other side of the road. I did see a few chickadees and a red-breasted nuthatch (FOS for me) nearer to the apartments (NW of the fire station). I also saw a red-tailed hawk soaring above Plymouth rd. near the fire station. Maybe one of the two Sherri Smith had mentioned. I really hope someone is able to spot them again. I've only seen them once before in the UP from a distance. Linda Ar Ann Arbor "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal" ~Albert Pike~ --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. ********************************************************** Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used for urgent or sensitive issues --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: North Campus conifers From: "Bond, Melody" <mbond AT med.umich.edu> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:14:46 +0000 I was there at 4pm. Met Bruce and another chatmember-gentleman, but had to leave. Saw a house finch, crows and 9 deer, and a very perky woman trotting thru telling me I'm seeing a house finch, not a crossbill at the top of one of the pines. AARRGGH. Perhaps this evening... ~Melody Drive-thru birder. -----Original Message----- From: Sherri Smith [mailto:grackle AT umich.edu] Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 8:04 PM To: birders AT umich.edu Subject: [birders] North Campus conifers Early this afternoon I went to look for the crossbills. Two other birders appeared too. We eventually saw three birds fly into the top of a tree. they had red heads and may have been the crossbills. I left, they may have seen more. Also of interest there was red tail hawk activity. One stayed perched on a streetlight for a log time, even when we were quite close. the other one flew way up into one of the very tall Douglas Firs (the same tree that grows with redwoods on the west coast) and messed around for a while. I believe they are nesting there, near the fire station. Two of them could never be so close to each other unless they were a pair. I hope the nest will be visible because these birds are well habituated to people, being residents of a campus. Sherri Smith --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. ********************************************************** Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used for urgent or sensitive issues --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Crossbills - NO From: linda ar <birdar101 AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:11:23 +0000 I went to look for the crossbills yesterday around 4pm. I found none. I saw (and heard) one male house finch flying back and forth between the trees where some other birders were looking for the crossbills. There was also a female house finch on the other side of the road. I did see a few chickadees and a red-breasted nuthatch (FOS for me) nearer to the apartments (NW of the fire station). I also saw a red-tailed hawk soaring above Plymouth rd. near the fire station. Maybe one of the two Sherri Smith had mentioned. I really hope someone is able to spot them again. I've only seen them once before in the UP from a distance. Linda Ar Ann Arbor "What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal" ~Albert Pike~ --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers From: "Bond, Melody" <mbond AT med.umich.edu> Date: Thu, 9 Feb 2012 12:07:04 +0000 WHAT Livingston snowy?? Where? From: Ray Stocking [mailto:rstocking AT gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2012 7:18 PM To: birders AT umich.edu Subject: [birders] Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers After dipping on the Livingston Snowy Owl late this afternoon, I decided to head over to Godfredson/Vreeland intersection to see if I can pull in a Short-eared Owl or two. Weather conditions were darn near perfect tonight with blue skies and low winds. I thought I arrived a bit too early given the setting sun still had another 30 minutes left in the sky, but I was wrong in a big way. Within seconds of parking my car I found the first of SIX Short-eared Owls sitting just 100 yards out in the open field. I put my scope on this bird and kept it there for the next 25-30 minutes until he flew away. During this time I also scanned the fields with my binocs and counted five Northern Harriers. Once all six owls were out, it was maddening trying to keep up with the 11 birds chasing each other around. The highlight of the evening was a slow and low fly-by over my head from a Short-eared Owl who looked down at me from just 20 feet up. It was a scene I will not forget anytime soon. Go get 'em (again) while this weather lasts! Ray --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. ********************************************************** Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used for urgent or sensitive issues --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged From: "Bruce M. Bowman" <bbowman99 AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:08:21 -0500 Subject: [birders] Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged From: George Hammond Date sent: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:59:54 -0500 To: birders AT umich.edu Send reply to: George Hammond > > On Feb 8, 2012, at 10:06 PM, Roger Kuhlman wrote: > > > The Botanical Gardens has started charging a steep admission price to > > just view the natural areas along Flemming Creek. This practice > > discriminates against those with limited financial means. Isn't that > > great? I bet it never occurs to institutional elites that not every > > person in Ann Arbor or Washtenaw County who wants to visit Bot Gardens > > regularly belongs to a household with incomes of $50,000 to $200,000 per > > year or more and the hourly parking rates or the $45 membership are a > > significant financial burden for many. > > Roger posted pretty much the same point on November 11th, and there were > many responses at that time. If you would like to read them, you can view > the list archives here: > https://listserver.itd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=birders you don't > need to bother with a password, you can just click the "visiting without > joining" button to see the list archives. > > If list readers would like more information about this policy change, a > good place to start would be this page from the Botanic Gardens: > http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/plan/parking.asp They are imposing parking > charges, but removing the admission fee to the indoor conservatory. Hard > on people who just want to visit the grounds, but much cheaper for folks > who want to see the enormous indoor collection, from tropical to desert. > > regards, > > George > George- Is this correct? The last time I went to the indoor conservatory, there was no admission fee. That was many years ago, so maybe things changed, but at that time there was a donations box at the door and a sign indicating the suggested donation amounts for adults and children--i.e., no fee. Bruce --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged From: George Hammond <worldsmith AT me.com> Date: Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:59:54 -0500 On Feb 8, 2012, at 10:06 PM, Roger Kuhlman wrote: > The Botanical Gardens has started charging a steep admission price to just view the natural areas along Flemming Creek. This practice discriminates against those with limited financial means. Isn't that great? I bet it never occurs to institutional elites that not every person in Ann Arbor or Washtenaw County who wants to visit Bot Gardens regularly belongs to a household with incomes of $50,000 to $200,000 per year or more and the hourly parking rates or the $45 membership are a significant financial burden for many. Roger posted pretty much the same point on November 11th, and there were many responses at that time. If you would like to read them, you can view the list archives here: https://listserver.itd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=birders you don't need to bother with a password, you can just click the "visiting without joining" button to see the list archives. If list readers would like more information about this policy change, a good place to start would be this page from the Botanic Gardens: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/mbg/plan/parking.asp They are imposing parking charges, but removing the admission fee to the indoor conservatory. Hard on people who just want to visit the grounds, but much cheaper for folks who want to see the enormous indoor collection, from tropical to desert. regards, George --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Limiting Access to Public Natural Areas to the Financially Privileged From: Roger Kuhlman <rkuhlman AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 22:06:17 -0500 The Botanical Gardens has started charging a steep admission price to just view the natural areas along Flemming Creek. This practice discriminates against those with limited financial means. Isn't that great? I bet it never occurs to institutional elites that not every person in Ann Arbor or Washtenaw County who wants to visit Bot Gardens regularly belongs to a household with incomes of $50,000 to $200,000 per year or more and the hourly parking rates or the $45 membership are a significant financial burden for many. Roger KuhlmanAnn Arbor, Michigan --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: North Campus conifers From: Sherri Smith <grackle AT umich.edu> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 20:03:42 -0500 Early this afternoon I went to look for the crossbills. Two other birders appeared too. We eventually saw three birds fly into the top of a tree. they had red heads and may have been the crossbills. I left, they may have seen more. Also of interest there was red tail hawk activity. One stayed perched on a streetlight for a log time, even when we were quite close. the other one flew way up into one of the very tall Douglas Firs (the same tree that grows with redwoods on the west coast) and messed around for a while. I believe they are nesting there, near the fire station. Two of them could never be so close to each other unless they were a pair. I hope the nest will be visible because these birds are well habituated to people, being residents of a campus. Sherri Smith --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: no redpolls for me From: Karen <kjser AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 20:01:36 -0500 Late post, but saw large flock of redpolls near the dam at Barton Nature area, below the dam ( where small trail meets the riverbank, couple hundred yards below the dam Sent from my iPad On Feb 8, 2012, at 9:06 AM, Laurent Fournier wrote: > I dipped 4 times in 4 days on the redpolls, if it makes anyone > feeling better. I even ran the whole length of Gallup Park sunday > morning, no luck > > > > > > On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 7:40 PM, Allen Chartier wrote: >> Bruce, >> >> On Sunday morning (around 9-9:15 a.m.) a few of us had the redpolls near the >> bridge. When they took off, there was a group of about 35 quickly followed >> by another 20 that we had not seen deeper in the trees. They landed briefly >> in the maples and fed a little on the flowers before all flew off to the >> east (toward the Arb). I find it odd that nobody has reported redpolls from >> the Arb... >> >> -- >> Allen T. Chartier >> Inkster, Michigan >> Email: amazilia3 AT gmail.com >> Website: www.amazilia.net >> Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> >> On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 8:16 AM, Bruce M. Bowman >> wrote: >>> >>> Melody- >>> >>> I have tried five times and have not yet seen redpoll number one. I'm >>> sure that you and I are not the only ones who have dipped on these birds. >>> You have to be lucky and be at the footbridge at the right time--and the >>> right time has been at all different times through the day. Being there >>> at the right time can mean waiting around for a couple of hours. Just >>> about everone who has seen the flock of redpolls has simply stood on the >>> footbridge that joins Gallup Park and Furstenberg Nature Area. The flock >>> has been seen at at least three other locations in Gallup Park, but the >>> G-F footbridge location has been the best spot. It's my understanding >>> that when the flock does show up, it usually stays for 60 to 90 minutes. >>> I expect duration of stay is decreasing, though, as a fewer and fewer >>> seeds remain. >>> >>> Pat Brandon reported a few minutes ago that she saw about 30 redpolls at >>> the footbridge location at about 10:00 yesterday (Monday). Before that, >>> I know that a flock of 30+ was seen there at 4:00 or so on Sunday. >>> >>> Bruce >>> >>> From: "Bond, Melody" >>> To: birders AT umich.edu >>> Subject: [birders] no redpolls for me >>> Date sent: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:11:24 +0000 >>> Send reply to: "Bond, Melody" >>> >>>> Left work early yesterday to try to see these guys that are so >>>> cooperative. In heels and dress, I walked the path and it was SO quiet >>>> and SO empty I couldn't believe my (bad) luck. This was between 4-4:30. >>>> Anyone go there yesterday? I saw no reports. I saw a pair of Canada >>>> geese... >>>> >>>> ********************************************************** >>>> Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not >>>> be used for urgent or sensitive issues >>>> >>>> >>>> --- >>>> * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html >>>> * photo sharing site - >>>> http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html >>>> >>>> * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to >>>> lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject >>>> line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> --- >>> * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html >>> * photo sharing site - >>> http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html >>> >>> * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to >>> lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject >>> line. To >>> resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. >>> >> >> >> --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * >> photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html >> * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to >> lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. >> To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers From: Sue <sueparus AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 19:25:59 -0500 nice . . . On Feb 8, 2012, at 7:18 PM, Ray Stocking wrote: > After dipping on the Livingston Snowy Owl late this afternoon, I decided to head over to Godfredson/Vreeland intersection to see if I can pull in a Short-eared Owl or two. Weather conditions were darn near perfect tonight with blue skies and low winds. > > I thought I arrived a bit too early given the setting sun still had another 30 minutes left in the sky, but I was wrong in a big way. Within seconds of parking my car I found the first of SIX Short-eared Owls sitting just 100 yards out in the open field. I put my scope on this bird and kept it there for the next 25-30 minutes until he flew away. During this time I also scanned the fields with my binocs and counted five Northern Harriers. Once all six owls were out, it was maddening trying to keep up with the 11 birds chasing each other around. > > The highlight of the evening was a slow and low fly-by over my head from a Short-eared Owl who looked down at me from just 20 feet up. It was a scene I will not forget anytime soon. > > Go get 'em (again) while this weather lasts! > Ray > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Godfredson SE Owls and Harriers From: Ray Stocking <rstocking AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 19:18:04 -0500 After dipping on the Livingston Snowy Owl late this afternoon, I decided to head over to Godfredson/Vreeland intersection to see if I can pull in a Short-eared Owl or two. Weather conditions were darn near perfect tonight with blue skies and low winds. I thought I arrived a bit too early given the setting sun still had another 30 minutes left in the sky, but I was wrong in a big way. Within seconds of parking my car I found the first of SIX Short-eared Owls sitting just 100 yards out in the open field. I put my scope on this bird and kept it there for the next 25-30 minutes until he flew away. During this time I also scanned the fields with my binocs and counted five Northern Harriers. Once all six owls were out, it was maddening trying to keep up with the 11 birds chasing each other around. The highlight of the evening was a slow and low fly-by over my head from a Short-eared Owl who looked down at me from just 20 feet up. It was a scene I will not forget anytime soon. Go get 'em (again) while this weather lasts! Ray --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Gallup Redpolls From: Karl Krause <krausefamily836 AT msn.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 15:06:48 -0800 I found the Redpoll flock this morning about 11:00 am near the parking lot at the end of the road across the single lane bridge. They were very cooperative and I got a couple of pretty good looks at the Hoary. Followed them as they went tree to tree west toward the highway bridge. When the trees started to thin out, they all got up and flew to the island that is east of the highway bridge and not accessible from either side of the river. Went to the parking lot on Geddes Rd. Scoped from shore as they went from tree to tree on the island. Got one more view of the Hoary. Then went to find the White-winged Crossbills but dipped. Went to lunch, went back to dip again on the crossbills and returned to Gallup. Flock was still on the island. Must have been there for at least five hours. So if you do not find along the shore line, you might want to check this island. Karl KrauseSanta Paula, CA --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Put your birding skills to good use at Detroit River IWR From: "Greg Norwood" <Greg_Norwood AT fws.gov> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 17:20:57 -0500 Birders, The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge is seeking committed field observers (at least 2 hours per week) to join a small team for inventorying and monitoring breeding birds across 5,000 acres of Refuge land along Lake Erie. The Refuge is piloting the monitoring of marsh birds within a range of diked and undiked Great Lakes coastal marsh habitat while ongoing Phragmites and cattail control occurs. 2012 applicants will be selected based on experience and time availability. This is a competitive application process. The work will occur in physically demanding environments with very(!) early mornings and some evening work. Equipment and training will be provided. Surveyors will join a small inter-disciplinary ecosystem monitoring team investigating a range of questions. http://www.iwralliance.org/news/becomeavolunteerbiologicalassistant Greg Norwood Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Off Topic -- Photo Request From: Cody Porter <skipper_dv AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 14:03:47 -0800 (PST) Birders,   I'm putting together a short slideshow on irruptive bird species of Michigan for Darwin Discover Day this Sunday at the Michigan State University Museum (for more information click here).  Unfortunately, I'm a bit short on good photos of many of these species, so if anyone is willing to send me pictures that I can use, I would greatly appreciate a private email.  Specifically, I'm in need of photos of both crossbill and redpoll species, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskin, Bohemian Waxwings, Snowy Owls, Northern Hawk Owls, Great Gray Owls, etc.   Good birding, -Cody Porter --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Ww crossbills Tecumseh yes From: Gregg Perez <pajarogoyo AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 16:07:33 -0500 I just relocated the flock of 15-20 White-winged Crossbills at the Brookside Cemetery in Tecumseh. But I dipped on the Merlin. Gregg Perez Tecumseh, MI --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: WW Crosbills From: Pat Brandon <sandiapat AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 11:42:53 -0500 Present across from fire station. Just flew up into taller tree. About six of them low and on the ground in front of is. Pat Brandon Sent from my iPhone --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: North Campus conifers (OT) From: Sherri Smith <grackle AT umich.edu> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:38:15 -0500 Those North Campus Conifers used to be the site of a cemetery, which is why there is such an interesting collection of tree species, many weeping trees. When the University bought the land all the graves were moved to the Wastenong Cemetery up Whitmore Lake Road. Sherri Smith --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Tundra Swams From: Pat Burden <tallerpat AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 10:29:49 -0500 (EST) I had a phone call about Tundra Swans in fields up in Ruth, MI (in the thumb, a few miles southwest of Harbor Beach. The caller said that there were several hundred (she said at least 200) in three fields at an intersection there on Sunday. They just pulled the car over and stopped. The swans were actively feeding, flying across the roads one by one, from one field to another. Several cars had to hit their brakes to avoild hitting them as they flew across the road. Is this early for Swan migration? It seems to me that I have seen them in large groups in fields in late March when the fields were thawed and muddy, but I could be wrong. Pat Burden tallerpat AT aol.com --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: no redpolls for me From: Laurent Fournier <poecile.cinctus AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 09:06:56 -0500 I dipped 4 times in 4 days on the redpolls, if it makes anyone feeling better. I even ran the whole length of Gallup Park sunday morning, no luck On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 7:40 PM, Allen Chartier wrote: > Bruce, > > On Sunday morning (around 9-9:15 a.m.) a few of us had the redpolls near the > bridge. When they took off, there was a group of about 35 quickly followed > by another 20 that we had not seen deeper in the trees. They landed briefly > in the maples and fed a little on the flowers before all flew off to the > east (toward the Arb). I find it odd that nobody has reported redpolls from > the Arb... > > -- > Allen T. Chartier > Inkster, Michigan > Email: amazilia3 AT gmail.com > Website: www.amazilia.net > Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/ > > > > > On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 8:16 AM, Bruce M. Bowman > wrote: >> >> Melody- >> >> I have tried five times and have not yet seen redpoll number one.  I'm >> sure that you and I are not the only ones who have dipped on these birds. >>  You have to be lucky and be at the footbridge at the right time--and the >> right time has been at all different times through the day.  Being there >> at the right time can mean waiting around for a couple of hours.  Just >> about everone who has seen the flock of redpolls has simply stood on the >> footbridge that joins Gallup Park and Furstenberg Nature Area.  The flock >> has been seen at at least three other locations in Gallup Park, but the >> G-F footbridge location has been the best spot.  It's my understanding >> that when the flock does show up, it usually stays for 60 to 90 minutes. >> I expect duration of stay is decreasing, though, as a fewer and fewer >> seeds remain. >> >> Pat Brandon reported a few minutes ago that she saw about 30 redpolls at >> the footbridge location at about 10:00 yesterday (Monday).  Before that, >> I know that a flock of 30+ was seen there at 4:00 or so on Sunday. >> >> Bruce >> >> From:                   "Bond, Melody" >> To:                     birders AT umich.edu >> Subject:                [birders] no redpolls for me >> Date sent:              Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:11:24 +0000 >> Send reply to:          "Bond, Melody" >> >> > Left work early yesterday to try to see these guys that are so >> > cooperative.  In heels and dress, I walked the path and it was SO quiet >> > and SO empty I couldn't believe my (bad) luck. This was between 4-4:30. >> > Anyone go there yesterday?  I saw no reports.  I saw a pair of Canada >> > geese... >> > >> > ********************************************************** >> > Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not >> > be used for urgent or sensitive issues >> > >> > >> > --- >> > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html >> > * photo sharing site - >> > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html >> > >> > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to >> > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject >> > line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. >> > >> >> >> >> --- >> * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html >> * photo sharing site - >> http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html >> >> * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to >> lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject >> line. To >> resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. >> > > > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * > photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. > To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Trumpeter Swan From: Phyllis Voorheis <phyllisvoorheis AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 06:00:16 -0800 (PST) Our small gravel pit lake finally almost totally thawed - one little edge in the shadows still has ice.  Anyways, I sat  here this morning watching the sunrise over the lake, and in flew "our" trumpeter swan.  He looks so regal on the lake.  The ducks are giving him a wide berth!  Is this early for them to start the nesting process?  Maybe the female is out scouting locations or hasn't arrived yet?  I don't know much about swan behavior . . . --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: N Shrike Request From: Roger Kuhlman <rkuhlman AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 08:27:40 -0500 I would like to ask anybody who finds a Northern Shrike within 20 miles of Ann Arbor to shoot me an email or call me immediately at 734-663-8667 and let me know where one is. Shrikes are my favorite winter birds but I have not found one this winter. Thanks, Roger KuhlmanAnn Arbor, Michigan --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Livonia Birds From: j fisher <biggrinnell AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:30:26 -0500 Today brought depressing shades of grey... Brightened by two surprises in Suburbia. I saw a single Horned Lark (at the large, grassy flat east of the entrance). I also had the chance to see and hear some White winged Crossbills... Which were at the western end of Curtis Road, the "alternate, underground, members only dogs-off-lead entrance". There are plentiful mature conifers on the periphery of the park and in surrounding neighborhoods. Have also had a pair of Carolina Wrens hitting the suet daily, winterlong. Anybody see the Great Horned Owls this year at Rotary? I havent seen or heard one. A first, in nearly a decade. Anyway, just sharing. Love, Jeff --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: birders digest: February 07, 2012 From: "Hartz, Andrew (DEQ)" <HARTZA AT michigan.gov> Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 00:09:45 -0500 I am away at a two day training school in Lansing until Thursday February 9, 2012. I will respond to your email when I return. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Owl calls From: birdeland AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2012 04:35:49 +0000 (UTC) As Allen tells it here is exactly as I've learned over the years! Russ Emmons, Casco Twp. St. Clair county ----- Original Message ----- From: "Allen Chartier" To: birders AT umich.edu Cc: birders AT umich.edu Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 7:48:20 PM Subject: [birders] Re: Owl calls Rick,   Great Horned Owls start nesting in February usually, so there would not be any "little ones" around and even so once they leave the nest they are the same size as their parents. By June, young Great Horned Owls are not distinguishable in the field from adults.   Calling screech-owls will often arouse the curiousity of Great Horned Owls, which will be looking for a meal... Even Barred Owls might go after a screech. -- Allen T. Chartier Inkster, Michigan Email: amazilia3 AT gmail.com Website: www.amazilia.net Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/ On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM, Rick Neubig < rneubig AT umich.edu > wrote: Thanks to all for the comments. Don Chalfant gave the best explanation of what we heard. I think it was two adults and an immature great-horned owl. The small bird that flew from the flashlight beam was quite light and was probably the immature. The Who calls didn't have the usual cadence of GHO so I wonder if communication with the little one had them doing something different than usual. From a distance you could only hear 3 hoo's.  I recorded it on my Android phone but the quality is bad. I got a new recorder app so maybe that will work better next time. Rick On 2/6/2012 8:46 PM, screech-owl AT comcast.net wrote: Rick, Your description sounds like it was an adult GHO calling"hoo-ho-hoo-hoo-hoo" and an immature (newborn) GHO making a screeching call. Don Chalfant -- Richard Neubig Professor of Pharmacology University of Michigan Ph: 734 764-8165 http://warbler.med.umich.edu Co-director - Center for Chemical Genomics http://lsi.umich.edu/ccg Michigan Drug Discovery http://sitemaker.umich.edu/ michigandrugdiscovery --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/ birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/ birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Snowy Owls... From: Bruce Tanner <bet110 AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:08:04 -0500 AT JRhodo: I don't know about other species but with regard to the Snowy Owls... there has been a major 'Irruption'' going on for most of the season. It is believed that there was a greater than usual birthrate among the Snowy Owls in the Arctic last year with concurrent heavy snowfall this year which seems to be driving the owls farther South than usual in search of food for survival. If you Google 'Snowy Owl Irruption' you will find enough info about that to last you well into the morning trying to read it all! This is a relatively rare occurrence but not unique. In any case it is a rare opportunity to watch for Snow Owls all around the Great Lakes region, especially along the coastal areas, this year and some even farther South. Perhaps this is the case with some other species as well but I suspect the local weather patterns have more to do with those. Just an uneducated and humble opinion... Bruce T. Okemos, MI --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Owl Calls From: JRhodo AT aol.com Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 22:53:39 -0500 (EST) Thanks Allan, You are so right! --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Is it because we are outside more? From: JRhodo AT aol.com Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 22:51:10 -0500 (EST) We are seeing all sorts of birds that we don't expect until spring. Is it because of the mild winter, or is it because we are more likely to be outside and seeing them? Are Snowy Owls more likely to be spotted when there is no snow on the trees? What the heck is going on? --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Lenawee County Snowy Owl... pics From: Bruce Tanner <bet110 AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:14:40 -0500 If you can access Face Book I have a set of photos there on 'The Great Back Yard Bird Count Group' of the Lenawee County Owl near Britton, MI. Use the URL below and do a search of the group for "Bruce". These were listed a few days ago so they are way down the list but the search will get you fast. https://www.facebook.com/groups/49535001197/ Bruce Tanner Okemos, MI --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: test From: Bruce Tanner <bet110 AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:03:14 -0500 test message --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: March birds in Feb.:Portage Lk, etc., Washtenaw Co. From: ssbenjey AT chartermi.net Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 21:56:33 -0500 (EST) I checked Upper or Little Portage Lake 2x in the past week, and found several waterfowl species present that are listed as usually not around here til March: Am. Wigeon, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck. Had Tundra Swan earlier in January. Saw 3 Sandhill Cranes in field near corner of Mast & N. Territorial Roads last Friday. Have a regular Brown Creeper on my suet tree this winter, and usually I only get one sighting all winter. White-winged Crossbills seen in spruce row south of Walsh Rd, between Huron R. Dr. & Mast Rds. this winter. Sharon of Dexter area --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: River Bend Park and OT From: "Kevin R" <kevin.rysiewski AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 21:39:23 -0500 Recreation Area (near the bridge) - Notable Species: Carolina Wren (lifer) Not a whole lot of activity. Lots of squirrels barking at each other. OT: I was in my front yard two days ago when I noticed the daffodils were poking up from the ground (~1-2 inch long). Just curious to see if anyone else has observed this... --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Recent stuff - Spring sprang and now springing Spring broken? From: "Robert Setzer" <doctorbass AT att.net> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 20:53:31 -0500 Many great days recently! My indicator of spring - the Red-winged Blackbird - appeared twice. Yes, Allen I really appreciated your note to me (relative to robins and my spring RWBB indicator) about your sighting of so many RWBB at Erie Marsh this January and I see some postings on the list about RWBB recently and so maybe I need to revise my spring indicator. So, maybe - like Robins - some RWBB hang around. Or is this a weird year? So if not Robins, RWBB, Bluebirds (Stoney recently and Kensington most years), Sandhill Cranes (most recently at Stoney and I am sure Kensington as in most years) and the Kinglets and "butter butts" also being reported this year, what bird is the true indicator of Spring? At Holland Ponds we were rewarded with the sighting (and backlit pics) of American Widgeon male and female. (Thanks listers! We rarely go there in winter). This is only the second time we ever saw a Widgeon and never so close! As we were walking the main road to Waterfowl Pond to see the ducks, four Red-winged Blackbirds ("tik", "chuck", or whatever the familiar sound issuing forth) flew overhead. Huh? Spring? The next day a RWBB appeared on my deck! Spring! Geez, it was 50 degrees - could have been spring! There were a few more back in the woods making beautiful "here I am" noises at Streamwood. Silly birds. And at Holland Ponds, I heard some other weird noises - short whistles! Seemed like the older bird-watching couple across the pond was whistling, but the noise did not seem to come from them. From my books, I learned Widgeons make a whistle. Interesting. It was sure strange! Geez, I sure would love to see a Fulvous Whistling Duck (not in Michigan) just to be able to say I saw one! It is in the books and its name sticks in my memory and just rolls off the tongue enough to make it so fascinating! Well anyway, I think I heard a whistling duck (Widgeon), but not the unrelated Whistling Duck. Or was it just the older couple on the other side throwing their whistles and messing with me? We later saw them walking back to their car holding hands. That sight was a true treasure and a lasting memory of a beautiful day birding! Also while I was watching the Widgeons, I heard some new sounds. Mallards for sure, but very weird - Judy pointed me to the source and I managed to get a few pics of a male Mallard pushing a female under water while biting her neck. First time we ever saw that. Quick!!! Ah, spring! (Is this the time they DO that? What's the gestation?) At Stoney Creek Nature Center, we were lucky to get two Common Redpolls (male and female) and a Pine Siskin - both FOY for us. Again, thanks to the list for steering us there! By chance (binocs are good for people too!) we saw my former best bass tournament fishing buddy Terry across from the observation deck where we started and called him over to the Nature Center. He has now traded his bass boat for optics and is hooked on birding. It sure makes sense! Fishing and birding are not so different - seeking, finding, capturing (pics). Both are addictive! And, it is a heck of a lot cheaper considering the amount of gas the 250 hp engines on a bass boat eat, and also more convenient considering that you can "bird" anywhere at any time! It is cool that Terry is now birding! Anyway, the siskin and redpolls were "lifers" for Terry. On another recent day, while walking the Stoney Creek West Branch Trails, we were fortunate to meet up with Kevin again. On the phone while I asked about the last location of my nemesis PIWO, he had asked me if we saw the Barred Owl. No, I said. I knew exactly where it was supposed to be, and we looked and did not see it as we had walked by. After we met up with Kevin (Thanks, Kevin for meeting us there!), we looked with "new eyes" on the same tree. There it was! It looks like a "bump on a log"! The streaking on the owl's breast blends perfectly with the bark pattern of the tree! A beautiful "bump on a log"! Go see: http://www.pbase.com/doctorbass/image/141279901 (do "next" for one more pic) Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone for reporting your sightings and to pass along a new "ramble" of the brief spring we enjoyed. I suspect from the weather reports I may finally be able to get "doing" what I need to do at home instead of impulsively birding every nice day. (Hey, in Michigan in winter we take any great day as an opportunity!) Well, if the brief "Spring spring" is rewound and winter cometh, then bring on more Redpolls, Siskins, and Crossbills - and a few Lapland Longspurs would be nice as well! That would be wonderful! And, for sure the Snowy Owls are amazing! Let's hope they find food and stay healthy! BTW, I am going to repost this on my blog. I notice I never posted anything since last summer. "Doing" sure beats blogging. and as much as I would like, it seems harder as I age to do both. I sure heartily applaud the people who can do both!!! "Dr. Bob" Setzer Streamwood Estates, Rochester Hills (Crooks & Hamlin), Oakland County "Give a man a fish, and he will eat for a day." Teaching a man to "bird" is much harder! Blog: http://drbobsbirdblog.blogspot.com/ --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Owl calls From: Rick Neubig <rneubig AT umich.edu> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:54:11 -0500 Thanks! On 2/7/2012 7:48 PM, Allen Chartier wrote: > Rick, > Great Horned Owls start nesting in February usually, so there would > not be any "little ones" around and even so once they leave the nest > they are the same size as their parents. By June, young Great Horned > Owls are not distinguishable in the field from adults. > Calling screech-owls will often arouse the curiousity of Great Horned > Owls, which will be looking for a meal... Even Barred Owls might go > after a screech. > > -- > Allen T. Chartier > Inkster, Michigan > Email: amazilia3 AT gmail.com > Website: www.amazilia.net > Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/ > > > > On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM, Rick Neubig > wrote: > > Thanks to all for the comments. > Don Chalfant gave the best explanation of what we heard. I think > it was two adults and an immature great-horned owl. The small bird > that flew from the flashlight beam was quite light and was > probably the immature. > > The Who calls didn't have the usual cadence of GHO so I wonder if > communication with the little one had them doing something > different than usual. From a distance you could only hear 3 hoo's. > I recorded it on my Android phone but the quality is bad. I got a > new recorder app so maybe that will work better next time. > Rick > > On 2/6/2012 8:46 PM, screech-owl AT comcast.net > wrote: > > > Rick, > > Your description sounds like it was an adult GHO > > calling"hoo-ho-hoo-hoo-hoo" and an immature > > (newborn) GHO making a screeching call. > > Don Chalfant > > > -- > Richard Neubig > Professor of Pharmacology > University of Michigan > > Ph: 734 764-8165 > http://warbler.med.umich.edu > > Co-director - Center for Chemical Genomics > http://lsi.umich.edu/ccg > > Michigan Drug Discovery > http://sitemaker.umich.edu/michigandrugdiscovery > > > --- > * birders FAQ - > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > > * photo sharing site - > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu > send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu > with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS > as the Subject line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > > > -- Richard Neubig Professor of Pharmacology University of Michigan Ph: 734 764-8165 http://warbler.med.umich.edu Co-director - Center for Chemical Genomics http://lsi.umich.edu/ccg Michigan Drug Discovery http://sitemaker.umich.edu/michigandrugdiscovery --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Owl calls From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 19:48:20 -0500 Rick, Great Horned Owls start nesting in February usually, so there would not be any "little ones" around and even so once they leave the nest they are the same size as their parents. By June, young Great Horned Owls are not distinguishable in the field from adults. Calling screech-owls will often arouse the curiousity of Great Horned Owls, which will be looking for a meal... Even Barred Owls might go after a screech. -- Allen T. Chartier Inkster, Michigan Email: amazilia3 AT gmail.com Website: www.amazilia.net Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/ On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 10:00 AM, Rick Neubig wrote: > Thanks to all for the comments. > Don Chalfant gave the best explanation of what we heard. I think it was > two adults and an immature great-horned owl. The small bird that flew from > the flashlight beam was quite light and was probably the immature. > > The Who calls didn't have the usual cadence of GHO so I wonder if > communication with the little one had them doing something different than > usual. From a distance you could only hear 3 hoo's. I recorded it on my > Android phone but the quality is bad. I got a new recorder app so maybe > that will work better next time. > Rick > > On 2/6/2012 8:46 PM, screech-owl AT comcast.net wrote: > >> >> Rick, >> >> Your description sounds like it was an adult GHO >> >> calling"hoo-ho-hoo-hoo-hoo" and an immature >> >> (newborn) GHO making a screeching call. >> >> Don Chalfant >> >> > -- > Richard Neubig > Professor of Pharmacology > University of Michigan > > Ph: 734 764-8165 > http://warbler.med.umich.edu > > Co-director - Center for Chemical Genomics > http://lsi.umich.edu/ccg > > Michigan Drug Discovery > http://sitemaker.umich.edu/**michigandrugdiscovery > > > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/**birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/** > birds/se_mich/photos.html > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject > line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: no redpolls for me From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 19:40:09 -0500 Bruce, On Sunday morning (around 9-9:15 a.m.) a few of us had the redpolls near the bridge. When they took off, there was a group of about 35 quickly followed by another 20 that we had not seen deeper in the trees. They landed briefly in the maples and fed a little on the flowers before all flew off to the east (toward the Arb). I find it odd that nobody has reported redpolls from the Arb... -- Allen T. Chartier Inkster, Michigan Email: amazilia3 AT gmail.com Website: www.amazilia.net Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/ On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 8:16 AM, Bruce M. Bowman wrote: > Melody- > > I have tried five times and have not yet seen redpoll number one. I'm > sure that you and I are not the only ones who have dipped on these birds. > You have to be lucky and be at the footbridge at the right time--and the > right time has been at all different times through the day. Being there > at the right time can mean waiting around for a couple of hours. Just > about everone who has seen the flock of redpolls has simply stood on the > footbridge that joins Gallup Park and Furstenberg Nature Area. The flock > has been seen at at least three other locations in Gallup Park, but the > G-F footbridge location has been the best spot. It's my understanding > that when the flock does show up, it usually stays for 60 to 90 minutes. > I expect duration of stay is decreasing, though, as a fewer and fewer > seeds remain. > > Pat Brandon reported a few minutes ago that she saw about 30 redpolls at > the footbridge location at about 10:00 yesterday (Monday). Before that, > I know that a flock of 30+ was seen there at 4:00 or so on Sunday. > > Bruce > > From: "Bond, Melody" > To: birders AT umich.edu > Subject: [birders] no redpolls for me > Date sent: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:11:24 +0000 > Send reply to: "Bond, Melody" > > > Left work early yesterday to try to see these guys that are so > > cooperative. In heels and dress, I walked the path and it was SO quiet > > and SO empty I couldn't believe my (bad) luck. This was between 4-4:30. > > Anyone go there yesterday? I saw no reports. I saw a pair of Canada > > geese... > > > > ********************************************************** > > Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not > > be used for urgent or sensitive issues > > > > > > --- > > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > > * photo sharing site - > > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject > > line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > > > > > > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject > line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: White wing Crossbills (YES) Ann Arbor From: chris mccreedy <cristofolos AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 17:53:44 -0500 It was pretty spectacular, Dan and I found them AT 3:00, and we each took 200-300 photos at as little as three feet's distance. They were foraging in a mad fashion under what appears to be a large hemlock (you can never be certain on campus grounds) across from the fire station. They must have been quite hungry, and I wonder if they are finding enough of what they need. I put up a few photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/69515167 AT N03/ This is the same spot that I thought I had them on 2/6, it seems reasonable to hazard that they will show up tomorrow as well. McCreedy Ann Arbor On Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 4:05 PM, Ray Stocking wrote: > There were four very tame WW Crossbills forging on the gtound on Beal rd > across tbe street from the fire station at 4pm today. This just off > Plymouth Rd in Ann Arbor. > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html* photo sharing site - > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe > from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject > line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: White wing Crossbills (YES) Ann Arbor From: Ray Stocking <rstocking AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 16:05:25 -0500 There were four very tame WW Crossbills forging on the gtound on Beal rd across tbe street from the fire station at 4pm today. This just off Plymouth Rd in Ann Arbor. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Snowy Owl Lenawee County From: "Nancy Bogart" <zgwenithz AT prodigy.net> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:49:52 -0500 At 11:00 AM, Snowy Owl continues to be in same general location. Today, he is between Downing Rd. and Rixon Rd., South of M-50, approximately 400 yards in middle of field, sitting near white post! --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers From: Daniel Blower <dfblower AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:24:36 -0500 I took at noon over my lunch hour and found a small number of white-winged crossbills in the conifers just across the road from the firehouse on North Campus. I didn't have my good binocs and the lighting was not great, so it was hard to get a full survey. This would be near the intersection of Beal and Plymouth Road. There were also at least three red-breasted nuthatches. Great find, Chris and thanks!Dan Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 06:25:21 -0800 From: joroeder AT yahoo.com Subject: [birders] Re: Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers To: birders AT umich.edu Chris, I suppose you are referring to the conifers at Bishop Ave / Plymouth Rd? That is indeed a very fine stand, and I used to visit it almost every week in the winter of 2006/07 on my way to get groceries at Ply Mall. I've never had much luck there though and your Red-breasted Nuthatches are better than anything I ever found. But just like you, I think the place has great potential! Additionally, it was always nice watching the deer that spend the day there at close range, and woodchucks in summer. I've actually (shortly) blogged about it back in early 2007: http://belltowerbirding.blogspot.com/2007/02/announcement-and-little-treasure.html Sweet sweet memories. Cheers! Jochen From: chris mccreedy To: birders AT umich.edu Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 2:10 PM Subject: [birders] Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers I've been watching a good stand of conifers at the North Campus entrance off Plymouth for a month now, on my way to get coffee in the mornings. Yesterday I finally decided to bird it. I just may have had 2-3 crossbills calling from near the top of one of the conifers, but they launched before I could get to within 100 metres. For anyone with green year aspirations, there were two Red-breasted Nuthatches lurking. McCreedy Ann Arbor --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in Nichols Arboretum this morning From: ddarm AT umich.edu Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:44:51 -0500 This morning at 9:10 am, in Nichols Arboretum, near the Geddes Gate, I and 23 students and teachers from Angel School enjoyed a flock of 20 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS.Both adult and first year males in the flock The birds fed in conifers about 50-60 feet into the Arb from the gate and then "moved on" into the neighborhood east and south of the Arb (maybe off to Chris McCreedy's conifer stand?) It took me a few moments to move everyone off of the Red-bellied Woodpecker and onto the Crossbill flock as it fed as the Red-bellied Woodpecker was very front and center and for the Crossbills we had to move down the hill to get better looks. Even with their small binoculars, some were able to see the colors, all saw the white wing bars, and a lucky few got to see some bills well. All of them eventually got the idea that these were pretty cool and uncommon birds to see. And we eventually found another Red-bellied Woodpecker that we were able to spend some time on. Enjoy the birds. Dea **************************************************** Deaver D. Armstrong City Ornithologist Natural Area Preservation Field Operations Service Unit Public Services Area City of Ann Arbor 1831 Traver Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48105 734-794-6627 **************************************************** --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes From: "KALUZA, FRED" <fk2751 AT att.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 16:43:30 +0000 I've tried Komatsu and Alllingham and only got a chipped tooth for my efforts. :( From: John Lowry [mailto:john AT kingbird.org] Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 11:21 AM To: birders AT umich.edu Cc: birders AT umich.edu Subject: [birders] Re: Sandhill Cranes Were? Are. There are hunting seasons in several southern states for Sandhill Crane, and there are rumblings from time to time about creating more crane hunting opportunities here in the Midwest. I would be opposed to this based on their natural history, as well as the disruption of our viewing opportunities. I don't think we need to go off on a long crane-hunting thread, but I did want to clarify the situation. For more info, and access to the many crane societies, etc., Google is your friend. PS. Someone whom we all know (on this list) has tasted crane, and says it's delicious! John Lowry john AT kingbird.org Hamburg Twp, Livingston County, MI On Feb 7, 2012, at 11:10 AM, Barbara wrote: Thanks George for all the info! I can't believe they were hunted. I wonder what they taste like or if any recipes exist! The pair of birds that are still here didn't produce any offspring that I know of and I'm thinking they may have been an immature pair or had a failed nest along the Huron River wetlands. I hope they can nest successfully this season. It's a strange sight to see them walking among gravestones at the cemetery but they hang out there frequently. Barb Brighton The DNR page says it was habitat loss and hunting that reduced the population in Michigan. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_12202-60858--,00.html Birds of North America says pesticides have not been a major problem for the species. However, they only lay 2 eggs (rarely 3), don't start breeding until they are 2 or 3 years old at the earliest, and then only rarely succeed in fledging young the first year they breed. So even in ideal circumstances their populations grow slowly compared to most other birds. I imagine they were hit hard by the commercial hunting that happened in the 1800's. BNA also reports the population of the species as a whole is stable or growing, and is estimated to be over half a million. The species as a whole is not Federally-listed as Endangered or Threatened, nor is it listed by the State of Michigan. There are two small non-migratory sub-populations that are Federally listed as Endangered, one in Mississippi and one on Cuba, and a third non-migrating population in Florida that I think is state-listed there. Regarding population limits, Birds of North America says: > The single, most important factor regulating Sandhill Crane populations is habitat availability. Nesting effort and success, as well as survival of young, correlate directly with the amount and quality of nesting habitat. Mortality associated with hunting also regulates size of the mid-continent population (Sharp and Vogel 1992). They nest in wetlands, usually in standing water with emergent vegetation (plants growing up out of the water, like cattails or rushes). The majority of the migrants nest in Canada and Alaska (even eastern Siberia) and winter in Texas, New Mexico, and central and northern Mexico. Nearly all of them (which amounts to around 80% of the entire species) stop over along a stretch of the Platte River in Nebraska in the spring. Our eastern population nests from Minnesota east to southern Ontario, and winters in Florida and southern Georgia. Historically they also nested in Illinois and northern Ohio. Given the way the population is growing, they might get back there if they can find wetlands to nest in. Here's more information: http://www.savingcranes.org/sandhillcrane.html http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/lifehistory/ac http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall%2003%20project/sandhillcrane.htm Birds of North America is only available by subscription. Some public libraries, including Ann Arbor's, I think, can provide access. Cheers, George --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes From: John Lowry <john AT kingbird.org> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 11:21:15 -0500 Were? Are. There are hunting seasons in several southern states for Sandhill Crane, and there are rumblings from time to time about creating more crane hunting opportunities here in the Midwest. I would be opposed to this based on their natural history, as well as the disruption of our viewing opportunities. I don't think we need to go off on a long crane-hunting thread, but I did want to clarify the situation. For more info, and access to the many crane societies, etc., Google is your friend. PS. Someone whom we all know (on this list) has tasted crane, and says it's delicious! John Lowry john AT kingbird.org Hamburg Twp, Livingston County, MI On Feb 7, 2012, at 11:10 AM, Barbara wrote: > Thanks George for all the info! > I can't believe they were hunted. I wonder what they taste like or if any recipes exist! > The pair of birds that are still here didn't produce any offspring that I know of and I'm thinking they may have been an immature pair or had a failed nest along the Huron River wetlands. I hope they can nest successfully this season. > It's a strange sight to see them walking among gravestones at the cemetery but they hang out there frequently. > > Barb > Brighton > > > The DNR page says it was habitat loss and hunting that reduced the population > in Michigan. > > http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_12202-60858--,00.html > > Birds of North America says pesticides have not been a major problem for the > species. However, they only lay 2 eggs (rarely 3), don't start breeding until > they are 2 or 3 years old at the earliest, and then only rarely succeed in > fledging young the first year they breed. So even in ideal circumstances their > populations grow slowly compared to most other birds. I imagine they were hit > hard by the commercial hunting that happened in the 1800's. > > > BNA also reports the population of the species as a whole is stable or growing, > and is estimated to be over half a million. The species as a whole is not > Federally-listed as Endangered or Threatened, nor is it listed by the State of > Michigan. There are two small non-migratory sub-populations that are Federally > listed as Endangered, one in Mississippi and one on Cuba, and a third > non-migrating population in Florida that I think is state-listed there. > > > Regarding population limits, Birds of North America says: > > The single, most important factor regulating Sandhill Crane populations is > habitat availability. Nesting effort and success, as well as survival of young, > correlate directly with the amount and quality of nesting habitat. Mortality > associated with hunting also regulates size of the mid-continent population > (Sharp and Vogel 1992). > > > They nest in wetlands, usually in standing water with emergent vegetation > (plants growing up out of the water, like cattails or rushes). The majority of > the migrants nest in Canada and Alaska (even eastern Siberia) and winter in > Texas, New Mexico, and central and northern Mexico. Nearly all of them (which > amounts to around 80% of the entire species) stop over along a stretch of the > Platte River in Nebraska in the spring. > > > Our eastern population nests from Minnesota east to southern Ontario, and > winters in Florida and southern Georgia. Historically they also nested in > Illinois and northern Ohio. Given the way the population is growing, they might > get back there if they can find wetlands to nest in. > > > Here's more information: > http://www.savingcranes.org/sandhillcrane.html > > http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/lifehistory/ac > > http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall%2003%20project/sandhillcrane.htm > > Birds of North America is only available by subscription. Some public > libraries, including Ann Arbor's, I think, can provide access. > > > Cheers, > > George > > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes From: Barbara <nuthatch1961 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 08:10:22 -0800 (PST) Thanks George for all the info! I can't believe they were hunted. I wonder what they taste like or if any recipes exist! The pair of birds that are still here didn't produce any offspring that I know of and I'm thinking they may have been an immature pair or had a failed nest along the Huron River wetlands. I hope they can nest successfully this season. It's a strange sight to see them walking among gravestones at the cemetery but they hang out there frequently. Barb Brighton The DNR page says it was habitat loss and hunting that reduced the population in Michigan. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_12202-60858--,00.html Birds of North America says pesticides have not been a major problem for the species. However, they only lay 2 eggs (rarely 3), don't start breeding until they are 2 or 3 years old at the earliest, and then only rarely succeed in fledging young the first year they breed. So even in ideal circumstances their populations grow slowly compared to most other birds. I imagine they were hit hard by the commercial hunting that happened in the 1800's. BNA also reports the population of the species as a whole is stable or growing, and is estimated to be over half a million. The species as a whole is not Federally-listed as Endangered or Threatened, nor is it listed by the State of Michigan. There are two small non-migratory sub-populations that are Federally listed as Endangered, one in Mississippi and one on Cuba, and a third non-migrating population in Florida that I think is state-listed there. Regarding population limits, Birds of North America says: > The single, most important factor regulating Sandhill Crane populations is habitat availability. Nesting effort and success, as well as survival of young, correlate directly with the amount and quality of nesting habitat. Mortality associated with hunting also regulates size of the mid-continent population (Sharp and Vogel 1992). They nest in wetlands, usually in standing water with emergent vegetation (plants growing up out of the water, like cattails or rushes). The majority of the migrants nest in Canada and Alaska (even eastern Siberia) and winter in Texas, New Mexico, and central and northern Mexico. Nearly all of them (which amounts to around 80% of the entire species) stop over along a stretch of the Platte River in Nebraska in the spring. Our eastern population nests from Minnesota east to southern Ontario, and winters in Florida and southern Georgia. Historically they also nested in Illinois and northern Ohio. Given the way the population is growing, they might get back there if they can find wetlands to nest in. Here's more information: http://www.savingcranes.org/sandhillcrane.html http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/lifehistory/ac http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall%2003%20project/sandhillcrane.htm Birds of North America is only available by subscription. Some public libraries, including Ann Arbor's, I think, can provide access. Cheers, George --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Mergansers From: Anna <awmtngal AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 10:46:19 -0500 Monday there were 10 common mergansers and a herring gull among the Canada geese, mallards and ring-billed gulls in N. Ore Creek just south of Faussett Rd. And Sunday morning I had 88 cedar waxwings in the trees near my house. I've never had that number here. Anna Hartland --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Owl calls From: Rick Neubig <rneubig AT umich.edu> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:00 -0500 Thanks to all for the comments. Don Chalfant gave the best explanation of what we heard. I think it was two adults and an immature great-horned owl. The small bird that flew from the flashlight beam was quite light and was probably the immature. The Who calls didn't have the usual cadence of GHO so I wonder if communication with the little one had them doing something different than usual. From a distance you could only hear 3 hoo's. I recorded it on my Android phone but the quality is bad. I got a new recorder app so maybe that will work better next time. Rick On 2/6/2012 8:46 PM, screech-owl AT comcast.net wrote: > > Rick, > > Your description sounds like it was an adult GHO > > calling"hoo-ho-hoo-hoo-hoo" and an immature > > (newborn) GHO making a screeching call. > > Don Chalfant > -- Richard Neubig Professor of Pharmacology University of Michigan Ph: 734 764-8165 http://warbler.med.umich.edu Co-director - Center for Chemical Genomics http://lsi.umich.edu/ccg Michigan Drug Discovery http://sitemaker.umich.edu/michigandrugdiscovery --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: ADMIN - photo sharing album From: "Bruce M. Bowman" <bbowman99 AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:27:26 -0500 Eric- See photo sharing info at http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/index.html#photos (the second and third green dots). Use the first green dot for going to the Birders AT umich Photos album with display parameters automatically set for best layout of the album. You will need username and password to add photos. I'll email them to you in a separate email. As this album is for the use of subscribers to birders AT umich.edu, I do not include username and password in posts to the list, the archives of which are public and thus viewable by anyone. List members who want to post bird photos that would be of interest to the list may write me for username and password--but first read the information at the link above!! This album is not a place for you to put your collection of bird photos. Also, please do not post photos larger than 1 MB. Normally, a photo for the album does not need to be larger than 500 kb. If you need a photo resizer, you might want to get the very good, and free, one at http://www.faststone.org. It's called FastStone Photo Resizer 3.1. (You might get the free FastStone Image Viewer 4.6 there, too. It's also very good.) Bruce birders ADMIN --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Unusual gull-goldeneye interaction: picture From: Eric Arnold <eba AT umich.edu> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:26:01 -0500 I have just posted a photo of this interaction on the UM birders site: http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html Eric Arnold --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers From: jochen roeder <joroeder AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 06:25:21 -0800 (PST) Chris, I suppose you are referring to the conifers at Bishop Ave / Plymouth Rd? That is indeed a very fine stand, and I used to visit it almost every week in the winter of 2006/07 on my way to get groceries at Ply Mall. I've never had much luck there though and your Red-breasted Nuthatches are better than anything I ever found. But just like you, I think the place has great potential! Additionally, it was always nice watching the deer that spend the day there at close range, and woodchucks in summer. I've actually (shortly) blogged about it back in early 2007: http://belltowerbirding.blogspot.com/2007/02/announcement-and-little-treasure.html   Sweet sweet memories.   Cheers! Jochen From: chris mccreedy To: birders AT umich.edu Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 2:10 PM Subject: [birders] Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers I've been watching a good stand of conifers at the North Campus entrance off Plymouth for a month now, on my way to get coffee in the mornings.  Yesterday I finally decided to bird it.  I just may have had 2-3 crossbills calling from near the top of one of the conifers, but they launched before I could get to within 100 metres. For anyone with green year aspirations, there were two Red-breasted Nuthatches lurking. McCreedy Ann Arbor --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Unusual gull-goldeneye interaction (was: Re: no redpolls for me) From: Eric Arnold <eba AT umich.edu> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:40:43 -0500 I looked for the redpoll flock at the bridges to Furstenburg from Gallup around 11:15 and again briefly sometime after 12:15 but saw no activity there. In between I went down to the picnic/play area near the eastern parking lot and saw a pair of common goldeneye diving perhaps 100' out in the general direction of the boat launch on the other side of the river. As I tried to practice my photographic skills on them, an adult ring-billed gull became interested in them and began to approach them from behind (flying), and then appearing to try to land on one of them with a posture suggestive of a raptor. By chance I captured one dramatic moment with the gull about to land on where the male goldeneye had just been, and a large splash of water where the goldeneye had just departed. I was using the electronic viewfinder on the camera as this happened so I didn't see much of the detail of this action, and whether the goldeneye dived or took off is a matter of speculation, but it is a remarkably big splash, and from the shape of the water flung into the air, I would guess a hasty dive perhaps with a deliberate screen of water thrown up rather than the disturbance from a takeoff. Their normal dive from the surface seems to be a much subtler dive, producing little more than a ripple as they duck under the surface. After the gull had landed, the female goldeneye remained in the vicinity of the gull briefly and there seemed to be no aggression between them, and the female continued to dive normally. I wonder if this might have been an attempt to get the male goldeneye to drop whatever it had brought up on its previous dive so that the gull might steal it. I didn't really see enough of what was going on because of the distance and the fact that I was using the camera instead of binocs at the time, and this pursuing behavior was the first that I had observed and I didn't have a sense of what to watch for at the beginning. I'll post a couple of photos if someone will remind me how to do that. Is that behavior familiar to others? There also was a female hooded merganser close to the shore with several mallards and some swans, and in the eastern part of Gallup lake below thepicnic area I saw one female common merganser some distance out in the direction of Concordia. Eric Arnold On 2/7/2012 7:11 AM, Bond, Melody wrote: > Left work early yesterday to try to see these guys that are so cooperative. In heels and dress, I walked the path and it was SO quiet and SO empty I couldn't believe my (bad) luck. > This was between 4-4:30. Anyone go there yesterday? I saw no reports. I saw a pair of Canada geese... > > ********************************************************** > Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used for urgent or sensitive issues > > > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To > resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > > > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: no redpolls for me From: "Bruce M. Bowman" <bbowman99 AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:16:41 -0500 Melody- I have tried five times and have not yet seen redpoll number one. I'm sure that you and I are not the only ones who have dipped on these birds. You have to be lucky and be at the footbridge at the right time--and the right time has been at all different times through the day. Being there at the right time can mean waiting around for a couple of hours. Just about everone who has seen the flock of redpolls has simply stood on the footbridge that joins Gallup Park and Furstenberg Nature Area. The flock has been seen at at least three other locations in Gallup Park, but the G-F footbridge location has been the best spot. It's my understanding that when the flock does show up, it usually stays for 60 to 90 minutes. I expect duration of stay is decreasing, though, as a fewer and fewer seeds remain. Pat Brandon reported a few minutes ago that she saw about 30 redpolls at the footbridge location at about 10:00 yesterday (Monday). Before that, I know that a flock of 30+ was seen there at 4:00 or so on Sunday. Bruce From: "Bond, Melody" To: birders AT umich.edu Subject: [birders] no redpolls for me Date sent: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:11:24 +0000 Send reply to: "Bond, Melody" > Left work early yesterday to try to see these guys that are so > cooperative. In heels and dress, I walked the path and it was SO quiet > and SO empty I couldn't believe my (bad) luck. This was between 4-4:30. > Anyone go there yesterday? I saw no reports. I saw a pair of Canada > geese... > > ********************************************************** > Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not > be used for urgent or sensitive issues > > > --- > * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html > * photo sharing site - > http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html > > * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to > lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject > line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Ann Arbor / North Campus conifers From: chris mccreedy <cristofolos AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 08:10:34 -0500 I've been watching a good stand of conifers at the North Campus entrance off Plymouth for a month now, on my way to get coffee in the mornings. Yesterday I finally decided to bird it. I just may have had 2-3 crossbills calling from near the top of one of the conifers, but they launched before I could get to within 100 metres. For anyone with green year aspirations, there were two Red-breasted Nuthatches lurking. McCreedy Ann Arbor --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Redpolls From: Pat Brandon <sandiapat AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 07:54:44 -0500 I went out to look yesterday morning about 10am. There were about 30 in the tree right next to the foot bridge. They were skittish and went from tree to tree around the bridge before heading across the river and then upstream. This was my third try for a Horay and I finally got to see it. Sorry I didn't post yesterday but I ended up going to bed for the afternoon. I guess that I must have the Birding Bug bad if I am going out when sick :-) Pat Sent from my iPhone --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: no redpolls for me From: "Bond, Melody" <mbond AT med.umich.edu> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 12:11:24 +0000 Left work early yesterday to try to see these guys that are so cooperative. In heels and dress, I walked the path and it was SO quiet and SO empty I couldn't believe my (bad) luck. This was between 4-4:30. Anyone go there yesterday? I saw no reports. I saw a pair of Canada geese... ********************************************************** Electronic Mail is not secure, may not be read every day, and should not be used for urgent or sensitive issues --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Owl Calls From: JRhodo AT aol.com Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 07:08:33 -0500 (EST) I used these sites to learn the different owl calls: _http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php_ (http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php) _http://www.enature.com/birding/audio.asp_ (http://www.enature.com/birding/audio.asp) --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: birders digest: February 06, 2012 From: "Hartz, Andrew (DEQ)" <HARTZA AT michigan.gov> Date: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 00:10:03 -0500 I am away at a two day training school in Lansing until Thursday February 9, 2012. I will respond to your email when I return. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes From: George Hammond <worldsmith AT me.com> Date: Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:06:16 -0500 On Feb 6, 2012, at 10:18 PM, Barbara wrote: > The pair of Sandhill Cranes that spent the summer in the cemetery near my home are still here which got me wondering what caused them to become so endangered in the first place. Was it DDT use from 1945-1972 which directly caused the Bald Eagles decline or was it habitat loss & hunting? > Are records kept that can tell us the last time they stayed throughout a winter? > I believe 2.5 million yrs. of fossil evidence exists for them which is pretty amazing. > > Barb > Brighton The DNR page says it was habitat loss and hunting that reduced the population in Michigan. http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_12202-60858--,00.html Birds of North America says pesticides have not been a major problem for the species. However, they only lay 2 eggs (rarely 3), don't start breeding until they are 2 or 3 years old at the earliest, and then only rarely succeed in fledging young the first year they breed. So even in ideal circumstances their populations grow slowly compared to most other birds. I imagine they were hit hard by the commercial hunting that happened in the 1800's. BNA also reports the population of the species as a whole is stable or growing, and is estimated to be over half a million. The species as a whole is not Federally-listed as Endangered or Threatened, nor is it listed by the State of Michigan. There are two small non-migratory sub-populations that are Federally listed as Endangered, one in Mississippi and one on Cuba, and a third non-migrating population in Florida that I think is state-listed there. Regarding population limits, Birds of North America says: > The single, most important factor regulating Sandhill Crane populations is habitat availability. Nesting effort and success, as well as survival of young, correlate directly with the amount and quality of nesting habitat. Mortality associated with hunting also regulates size of the mid-continent population (Sharp and Vogel 1992). They nest in wetlands, usually in standing water with emergent vegetation (plants growing up out of the water, like cattails or rushes). The majority of the migrants nest in Canada and Alaska (even eastern Siberia) and winter in Texas, New Mexico, and central and northern Mexico. Nearly all of them (which amounts to around 80% of the entire species) stop over along a stretch of the Platte River in Nebraska in the spring. Our eastern population nests from Minnesota east to southern Ontario, and winters in Florida and southern Georgia. Historically they also nested in Illinois and northern Ohio. Given the way the population is growing, they might get back there if they can find wetlands to nest in. Here's more information: http://www.savingcranes.org/sandhillcrane.html http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Sandhill_Crane/lifehistory/ac http://bss.sfsu.edu/holzman/courses/Fall%2003%20project/sandhillcrane.htm Birds of North America is only available by subscription. Some public libraries, including Ann Arbor's, I think, can provide access. Cheers, George --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Re: Sandhill Cranes From: Barbara <nuthatch1961 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 19:18:26 -0800 (PST) The pair of Sandhill Cranes that spent the summer in the cemetery near my home are still here which got me wondering what caused them to become so endangered in the first place. Was it DDT use from 1945-1972 which directly caused the Bald Eagles decline or was it habitat loss & hunting? Are records kept that can tell us the last time they stayed throughout a winter?  I believe 2.5 million yrs. of fossil evidence exists for them which is pretty amazing. Barb Brighton --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: Fwd: WPBO Spring Fling From: Mike Sefton <mseft AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 22:06:39 -0500 Begin forwarded message: > From: janisch AT wpbo.org > Date: February 6, 2012 4:00:35 PM EST > To: UP Bird List > Subject: WPBO Spring Fling > > Registration is now open for the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory's annual Spring Fling, April 27-29. Richard Crossley, author of The Crossley ID Guide, will be the keynote speaker at Saturdays banquet. > > Check out this link for more details and information. > http://wpbo.org/node/26632 > > Tony Janisch > Whitefish Point Bird Observatory > Director > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: birdnet-unsubscribe AT upbirders.org > For additional commands, e-mail: birdnet-help AT upbirders.org > --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. Subject: RE: Owl calls From: "Cendra" <cendra AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 6 Feb 2012 21:10:24 -0500 I assume that screeches could have different voices, just as we do, but I've never heard, at least not knowingly, a screech owl say, Who. First one I ever heard I tracked in my neighborhood hunting for someone's cell phone on a window ledge. When I got to the ledge, I realized the sound was coming from up in a tree. It was when leaves were out so I couldn't see it, but the online bird sounds clued me in. Last week I kept thinking it was strange that truck engines on I-94 all had the same pitch. A little thought clued me in again: it's a screech owl, dummy! There's never been any who in their hoots. It's more of a trill like you can do with your tongue, but slower. However, I've only heard the ones I've heard. Certainly not all of them. So WHO knows? Cendra Lynn, Screech-Owl Fan OWS, A2 -----Original Message----- From: Rick Neubig [mailto:rneubig AT umich.edu] Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 8:31 PM To: birders AT umich.edu Subject: [birders] Owl calls Hi all, We had several owls calling in our yard this evening. I am not sure what they might be though possibly sceech. The basic call was: Whoo - - Who Who. Pretty low pitched. When I went outside I could hear a couple more quick hoots in the break Whoo who who Whoo Whoo. I also heard at least one whinny call making me think they were screech owls or at least that one was out here. When I tried to put the spotlight on the location, I saw one fly and it was pretty small. Moving to get closer either flushed or silenced them so I never really got a look. Could all of that been screech? We did hear a Barred Owl "Whoaa" call about 10 days ago and I am very familiar with the typical barred owl call so I don't think it was that. Also didn't sound like great horned. Any hints welcome. Rick -- Richard Neubig Professor of Pharmacology University of Michigan Ph: 734 764-8165 http://warbler.med.umich.edu Co-director - Center for Chemical Genomics http://lsi.umich.edu/ccg Michigan Drug Discovery http://sitemaker.umich.edu/michigandrugdiscovery --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name. --- * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html * photo sharing site - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html * To unsubscribe from birders AT umich.edu send a blank message to lyris AT listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject line. To resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.