Re: [CT Birds] Gull Stuff
Re Gull Stuff
Hundreds, probably thousands, of gulls were feeding and roosting in the
Stamford Lighthouse area yesterday evening -- Feb 29. I had been out of
town a few days and I was surprised when I looked through my scope to see so
many gulls. They were too far away to ID anything beyond the Great Black
Backs -- although surely there were a gazillion herring gulls -- and I would
like to think a few rarities. They were roosting on the Stamford breakwater
by the lighthouse. High tide was around 5:30 pm but it was a relatively low
tide at 5.7 and much of the breakwater rock was exposed. Gulls were on
every bit of surface, nook & cranny. There was a lot of wave action since a
storm was rolling in. Some big boats were moving through and I thought
maybe the birds were feeding on stuff from the boats. I list my sightings
on ebird but don't know what to do when I see all the gulls, since I can't
give an accurate count, let alone identify the species. Since you are
interested in this phenomenon, maybe I will list a number in the 100s under
herring gull with a note on the ebird site explaining the situation.
Debby Ethridge
Tomac Cove
Old Greenwich
-----Original Message-----
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Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 12:01 PM
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Subject: CTBirds Digest, Vol 371, Issue 1
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Today's Topics:
- spring (Arthawks@aol.com)
- Re: injured mourning dove (COMINS, Patrick)
- cabin fever count (Carrier Graphics)
- Two alerts, protect raptors and protect Long Island Sound
habitats (COMINS, Patrick) - Blackbird with red/yellow wing marks (Diana Stephens)
- Re: Blackbird with red/yellow wing marks (Kathy Van Der Aue)
- Gull Stuff (Dennis Varza)
- February feeder birds (DBOBOLINK@aol.com)
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:14:12 EST
From: Arthawks@aol.com
Subject: [CT Birds] spring
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Message-ID: c59.2788a2dd.34f9ebc4@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
red Wings staging, White throats whistling, juncos trilling and titmice
doing the peter peter peter thing. Temp suggests otherwise but spring
SOUNDS
right around the corner in Wilton. Next up the Spring Peepers?...usually
March
15.
mike reese
**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-du
ffy/
2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 19:12:09 -0500
From: "COMINS, Patrick" PCOMINS@audubon.org
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] injured mourning dove
To: Jonathan Matthews matthews.jonathan@gmail.com, ctbirds
ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Message-ID:
ED5AF7FCB680574685E9B838706187150174A98018@cardinal.int.audubon.org
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
You aren't so far away from Southington, so you might want to try Jayne at
the Recovery Wing.
http://www.therecoverywing.org/
Also, there is a list of rehabbers in various categories, listed by town,
which can be found here:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=326228&depNav_GID=1655
Patrick Comins, Meriden
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:28:48 -0800 (PST)
From: Carrier Graphics carriergraphics@sbcglobal.net
Subject: [CT Birds] cabin fever count
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Message-ID: 475661.63088.qm@web81808.mail.mud.yahoo.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Well, I have had just 6 people report to me of their ONE day sightings of
bird species seen
in Feb 2008 from their yards and feeders.
Totals for one day at feeders were - 12 - 15 - 18 - 18 - 22 and 25 - can
anyone beat 25? name withheld on request - but was from Farmington.
Does anyone else want to play? Spring isn't here yet, so whataya say, want
to count?...
Here is my total for today in Harwinton,
the last leap year day in Feb - 29th.
From Feeders
Coopers hawk
Mourning dove
Red-b-woodpecker
Hairy
Downey
Blue jay
Am Crow
BC Chickadee
T Tit
Red-b-Nuthatch
White-b-nuthatch
Carolina wren - does eat often from upside down suet
Robin
Starling - first this year!
Cardinal
Tree Sparrow
White-t-Sparrow
House Sparrow
Junco
House Finch
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin..................= 22 species
Also from, and above Yard -
Ring billed gull
Rock dove
Barred Owl calling last night - count?
I know you south of here can do better...
Paul Carrier
Message: 4
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2008 07:42:22 -0500
From: "COMINS, Patrick" PCOMINS@audubon.org
Subject: [CT Birds] Two alerts, protect raptors and protect Long
Island Sound habitats
To: "ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org" ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Cc: "BRESLIN, Sandy" sbreslin@audubon.org, "Milan bull
(mbull@ctaudubon.org)" mbull@ctaudubon.org
Message-ID:
ED5AF7FCB680574685E9B838706187150174A98024@cardinal.int.audubon.org
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Dear Birders:
Below are two action alerts, one for the state legislature to help
protect key habitats on Long Island Sound and the other federal related to
enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Please consider taking time
to contact your federal legislators and to write a note in favor of the Long
Island Sound Stewardship legislation. Thanks!
Patrick Comins, Meriden
Here is some information on two important issues of interest to Audubon
members and birders:
(1) At the State Capitol, the Environment Committee is holding a hearing on
Long Island Sound Stewardship legislation Monday that would authorize $5M in
state funding.
(2) In Congress, your support is needed: Help Stop the Killing of Protected
Raptors
Please take a moment to read this message and respond!
Thanks,
Sandy Breslin
Director of Governmental Affairs
Audubon Connecticut
185 East Flat Hill Road
Southbury, CT 06488
(203) 264-5098 x307 phone
(203) 804-0488 cell
(203) 264-6332 fax
sbreslin@audubon.org
(1) LONG ISLAND SOUND STEWARDSHIP
On Monday, March 3, the Environment Committee will be hearing Raised Bill
511 - - AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR LONG ISLAND SOUND
STEWARDSHIP SITES.
Bill text: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2008/TOB/S/2008SB-00511-R00-SB.htm
This legislation would appropriate $5 million dollars for the improvement,
protection and acquisition of Long Island Sound Stewardship sites located
along the Connecticut coastline. This state funding would help provide the
40% match required for federal dollars now available through the Long Island
Sound Stewardship Act of 2006. Our coastal bird habitats are among the most
threatened in the state. They are also among the most expensive to protect.
The Stewardship Program will help us identify, acquire and manage key
ecological, open space and recreational sites along the coast, and help
ensure public access to the shoreline and waters of Long Island Sound.
Background information on the Stewardship Act is pasted below.
If you would like to testify in support of this legislation, please contact
me by Sunday evening so I can sign you up Monday morning. My cell number is:
(203) 804-0488.
If you cannot attend the hearing, but would like to comment, please email
your testimony to me by noon Monday. I will make the 50 copies and deliver
them to the Environment Committee for you. Thanks!
(2) HELP STOP THE KILLING OF PROTECTED RAPTORS!
Last spring, citizens across the country were appalled to learn that
thousands of protected raptors such as Cooper's Hawks, Peregrine Falcons,
and Red-tailed Hawks had been killed in Oregon, California and Texas.
The raptors were killed by hobbyists who breed pigeons to carry a genetic
trait that causes them to stop flying and tumble in the air before righting
themselves and carrying on. These "roller pigeons" are flown in competitions
and scored by judges who rate the birds on the quality of the "roll" and
other factors. Of course, the pigeon rolling through the air looks like
crippled and vulnerable prey to a hawk, falcon, or other bird of prey. Many
of these pigeon enthusiasts have been routinely killing raptors in an
attempt to protect their roller pigeons.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that as many as 2,000 to 3,000
raptors were being killed on the West Coast each year using methods
including poisoning, beating birds to death with clubs, and suffocation in
plastic bags. Even more troubling is the fact that the 13 men charged with
these crimes received little more than a slap on the wrist after pleading
guilty. Currently, killing a protected bird is a Class B Misdemeanor under
the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which puts suffocating a Peregrine Falcon in
the same category as unauthorized use of the image of Smokey Bear.
Please ask your U.S. Representative to co-sponsor HR 4093, the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act Penalty and Enforcement Act of 2007
http://audubonaction.org/campaign/hr4093/na2w3wwb7? to ensure raptors and
other migratory birds are given adequate protection.
Representative Peter DeFazio of Oregon has introduced legislation that would
amend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 so that the intentional killing
of protected bird species would be considered a felony, rather than the
current Class B Misdemeanor. HR 4093 would send a strong message to
prosecutors and courts that Congress takes these crimes seriously. It would
pave the way for significant fines (up to $50,000) and jail sentences (up to
1 year) for the most serious bird-related crimes.
We need your help to ensure passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Penalty
and Enforcement Act of 2007. Tell your House member that you support
stronger penalties for the intentional killing of protected raptors!
Do you know someone else who cares about protecting birds? Help us to spread
the word: Tell-a-friend! Please use Tell-a-Friend
http://audubonaction.org/campaign/hr4093/forward/na2w3wwb7? instead of
forwarding the message. The links in this message have been personalized for
you. Trouble with the "Take Action" links in the message? Try pasting this
link into your web browser: http://audubonaction.org/campaign/hr4093
LIS STEWARDSHIP INFO:
Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006
The Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006 (LISSA) was signed into law on
October 16, 2006 as Public Law 109-359 to identify, protect, and enhance
upland sites within the Long Island Sound ecosystem with significant
ecological, educational, open space, public access, or recreational value
through a bi-State network of sites best exemplifying these values. LISSA:
- Recognizes that Long Island Sound is a resource of national and regional
significance with 10% of the United States population living within 50 miles
of its shores and contributing more than an estimated $8.25 billion annually
to the regional economy. Furthermore, it recognizes that less than 20% of
the Sound's shoreline is accessible to the public and that approximately 1/3
of the Sound's tidal marshes have been ditched or impounded, greatly
reducing their ecological value. - Establishes a Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative (LISSI), to
identify, protect, and enhance sites within the Long Island Sound ecosystem. - Establishes a LIS Stewardship Initiative region whose boundary encompasses
the immediate coastal upland areas in the states of Connecticut and New
York, as well as the Peconic Bay Estuary. - Authorizes up to $25 million annually for each of the Fiscal Years 2007 to
2011 to help fund restoration and protection efforts. Requires at least a
40% local match for eligible projects. - Creates a Long Island Sound Stewardship Advisory Committee and lays out a
process to identify stewardship sites based on their open space,
recreational, and ecological significance. Public access is a key goal of
the Initiative. - Provides consistent criteria for selecting both recreational and
ecological sites. - Protects private property, and creates neither liability nor the
requirement for public access.
No property owner can be required to participate in the Initiative unless
they choose to do so voluntarily. Land may be purchased only from willing
sellers.
To achieve these goals, the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act of 2006: - Establishes a Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative Advisory Committee
under the leadership of the U.S. EPA Administrator. - Requires the Administrator to publish a report every other year
Link to list of LIS Stewardship Inaugural Sites:
http://www.longislandsoundstudy.net/stewardship/stewardship_sites.htm
Link to list of Audubon Important Bird Areas in CT:
http://iba.audubon.org/iba/stateIndex.do?state=US-CT
For additional information on the Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative,
visit the EPA Long Island Sound Study's website at:
http://www.longislandsoundstudy.net/stewardship/index.htm.
.,._
Message: 5
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2008 08:55:55 -0500
From: "Diana Stephens" rdbstephens1@sbcglobal.net
Subject: [CT Birds] Blackbird with red/yellow wing marks
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Message-ID: 000001c87ba3$f8a09ba0$e9e1d2e0$@net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Just saw a blackbird with red and yellow markings on its wings at my feeder.
Came and went several times. Wondering if anyone knows what this is. I'm
new to birding. I live in east granby.
Diana Stephens
Message: 6
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2008 09:21:32 -0430
From: Kathy Van Der Aue kvda@optonline.net
Subject: Re: [CT Birds] Blackbird with red/yellow wing marks
To: Diana Stephens rdbstephens1@sbcglobal.net,
ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Message-ID: 007101c87ba3$5c12c9c0$4ed97945@Kathy
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1;
reply-type=original
It's a male red-winged blackbird. They are migrating back in large numbers
now.
Kathy Van Der Aue, Southport, CT
kvda@optonline.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Diana Stephens" rdbstephens1@sbcglobal.net
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2008 9:25 AM
Subject: [CT Birds] Blackbird with red/yellow wing marks
Just saw a blackbird with red and yellow markings on its wings at my
feeder.
Came and went several times. Wondering if anyone knows what this is. I'm
new to birding. I live in east granby.
Diana Stephens
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Message: 7
Date: Sat, 01 Mar 2008 10:39:15 -0500
From: Dennis Varza dennisvz@optonline.net
Subject: [CT Birds] Gull Stuff
To: Posting Bird List ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Message-ID: 22EA8123-7FC4-4015-8FE2-446F6379FB76@optonline.net
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; delsp=yes;
format=flowed
Gull Stuff
Hi Folks
It is time to be aware of gulls again.
Topic 1 Gull Flocks
In the past there have been some exceptional gatherings of gulls at
this time of year. When the conditions are right thousands of gulls
can be found gathering off shore feeding. Mixed in with the flock are
often Brant, and Ducks. I have even seen Blue-winged and Green-winged
Teal feeding. What they feed on is a question. I believe it to be
barnacle larvae, but there are doubts. Reviewing my field notes it
seems that they occur mostly at the New or Full Moon between late
February and Early May.
Last year when I tried to make a concerted effort to study this, it
did not occur. What I and other did see were a number of isolated
small gatherings. Reflecting on past years, it may be that one needs
a period when the water is flat. The lack of wave action prevents the
larvae from dispersing.
This year there was a full moon on 21 February and saw some
indications of gulls feeding on larvae but again small and isolated.
and there was wave action. Again I would like any reports if one sees
anything like this phenomenon.
The phases of the moon for the next few months is:
New Moon: March 7, April 6, May 5
Full Moon: March 21, April 20, May 20
Water Temperature for the past several years is as follows:
2006 2007 2008
Feb 25 38.0 32.1 36.2
Mar 01 36.2 32.1 36.0
Mar 10 37.0 34.6
Mar 20 - 36.4
Mar 30 41.6 38.2
Apr 10 42.8 35.7
Apr 20 - 40.0
Apr 30 - 42.9
Topic 2 Small Gulls
It looks like the small gulls (Bonaparte?s, Black-headed, and Little)
are getting a head start. If it is not too much trouble It would be
nice to have counts/estimates of Bonaparte?s Gulls and well as the
?rare ones?
Bonaparte?s Gull 2008 2 19 50 Madison, Hammonasset
St. Pk. feeding
of the jetty at Meg?s P. (for larvae)
Bonaparte?s Gull 2008 2 29 91 Stamford, Holly Pond
roosting at low tide
Dennis Varza
Fairfield
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2008 10:50:06 EST
From: DBOBOLINK@aol.com
Subject: [CT Birds] February feeder birds
To: ctbirds@lists.ctbirding.org
Message-ID: c86.27c7f85e.34fad52e@aol.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Here is my best February feeder count.
Saturday February 23rd 2008
Cooper's Hawk
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tufted Titmouse
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Cardinal
American Tree Sparrow
Field Sparrow (since 1/14)
Chipping Sparrow (since 12/31)
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Brown-headed Cowbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House sparrow
26 species
Robert Dixon
179 Main St.
Sterling, Ct.
**************Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living.
(http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-du
ffy/
2050827?NCID=aolcmp00300000002598)
This list is provided by the Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA)
for the discussion of birds and birding in Connecticut.
For subscription information visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org
End of CTBirds Digest, Vol 371, Issue 1