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CarolinaBirds for Sunday, April 2, 2006
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Subject: First Rubythroat of the Year
From: nljsharp(AT)att.net (Linda Sharp)
Date: 2 Apr 2006 1:10am
I had my first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year on Thursday a gorgeous
male. Much earlier than usual. I normally get my first one around April 10th.
--
Linda Sharp
Greenville, SC
nljsharp(AT)worldnet.att.net
(864) 268-9409
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Hummingbird
From: "Frederick Houk Jr" <woodthrush2263(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 4:37am
We got our first hummingbird of the year today, April 1...no foolin'!
It was a female, oddly enough (most often the first ones to return have been
males for us).
The date of first hummingbird sighting (which may, of course differ from
first day of actual return) has varied over the last ten years, but only
slightly, from a day or two before the first of April on the early end, up
to the sixth of April on the late-arrival end, here in Chatham County woods.
Also finally saw a bluebird pair moving into our BB box...and a house finch
is building in the never-used-by martins martin house. (I know, that martin
house was a real reach, here in the woods, but I do have a clearing...lol).
The martin box had attracted, of all things, a yellow billed cuckoo last
year, but as the house was too shallow to deny hawks from attacking, I
finally did as instructed, and blocked the openings on one side, removed the
interior wall, thus leaving two large/deep nesting areas that should be
safe...for those who can do this, and don't get martins in their fancy
martin houses, I would suggest trying this expansion, as this has been the
first year that any birds other than the lone yellow billed cuckoo have ever
shown any interest, whatsoever, in this very exposed, high up on a pole two
story martin house.
Fred Houk
Chatham County
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Recording bird sounds
From: "Frederick Houk Jr" <woodthrush2263(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 4:56am
Could you recommend a good starter setup for such digital recordings?
(Mike, type of recorder, etc.)?
Thanks
Fred Houk
Chatham County
>From: Doug Pratt <Doug.Pratt(AT)ncmail.net>
>To: carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu>
>Subject: Recording bird sounds
>Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 16:25:56 -0500
>
>Hi birders:
>
> I have enjoyed the recent thread about ways to learn bird voices,
>because it brings up several things that have been on my mind ever since I
>moved back to NC last year. I have many years' experience as a birdsong
>recordist in far-away places with strange-sounding names, and plan to
>continue that work, but I am also interested in recording closer to home
>(if I ever find the time!). So one of the first things I did in my work at
>the museum here was to find out what recordings were available in the
>Macaulay Library (Cornell Lab) from NC. I was amazed and appalled that
>they had only a couple hundred samples representing only a small subset of
>species and even smaller geographic coverage. We also have a small
>collection here at the museum (in need of curation, if I ever get around to
>it), and there are a few NC recordings in other archives, but there is
>certainly a lot of work to be done. Birders could be a great source of
>recordings, and goodness knows we few professionals could use the help. We
>are at the stage with bird recording that we were at with bird specimen
>collecting 200 years ago! The need for documenting geographic, seasonal,
>and other variation in vocalizations is immense. And the nice thing is that
>collecting bird sounds is completely nonconsumptive and nonintrusive, and
>requires no permit.
>
> Also, there is, in my opinion, no better way to learn bird songs than
>recording them. Modern recording gear, whether a shotgun mike or a
>parabolic setup, is like binoculars for your ears. You pick up on
>subtleties of the sounds that you never heard before, just as you pick up
>subtle field marks visually with binos. Once you are back home and
>analyzing/editing what you recorded, you hear the same sounds over and
>over. Then when you are back in the field, you somehow pick up on the
>distinctiveness of otherwise similar sounds because you have heard the
>"details," in much the same way that you can identify familiar birds by
>sight without actually being aware of seeing the field marks. Of course,
>good state-of-the-art recording gear will cost you about what
>top-of-the-line optics will, but it's worth every penny for opening up a
>world of wonderful birding experiences you may have not have even thought
>about before. I'd love to see some competition for the most
>species/localities recorded in the state.
>
> One thing to remember, though, is that you are only making a
>contribution to science if you make your recordings available to the
>community at large by archiving them in some major sound collection, such
>as the Macaulay Library or the Borror Lab. I am constantly annoyed to find
>out that someone is sitting on a collection of bird sounds without making
>any effort to treat them the way they should, as scientific specimens every
>bit as important as study skins. Fortunately, archiving your recordings
>(especially if they are digital to start with) is now very easy because you
>can do it electronically without even leaving home. Cornell has software
>available for the process. And if you contribute to the collection, you
>can earn the right to sample it for free, and you can restrict any
>commercial use of your recordings. Eventually, the entire bird sound
>archive at Cornell will be available online, and won't that be a rich
>birding resource?! If I can do anything to encourage any of you to get
>into bird recording, please let me know. And for those already interested
>in this aspect of birding/ornithology, I can point you to some good sources
>of information and training. But I warn you, it's addictive!
>
>Doug Pratt
>
>--
>H. Douglas Pratt, Curator of Birds
>Research and Collections
>North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
>11 West Jones Street
>Raleigh, NC 27601-1029
>Phone: (919)733-7450 ext. 728
>E-mail: doug.pratt(AT)ncmail.net
>
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Fw: Hummer in Raleigh
From: "Frederick Houk Jr" <woodthrush2263(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 7:18am
We always put ours up on March 23rd, my wife's birthday, and that seems
"about right" for central NC.
Fred Houk
Chatham County
>From: "M Kodroff" <seacraft1(AT)earthlink.net>
>Reply-To: "M Kodroff" <seacraft1(AT)earthlink.net>
>To: <carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu>
>Subject: Fw: Hummer in Raleigh
>Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2006 20:09:47 -0500
>
>When we moved from Richmond Virginia to Greenville N.C. on May 1st in 1984,
>the first thing I unpacked was the hummingbird feeders. The previous owner
>of the house came by the next day and saw the feeders up, and said we
>should have them, and we did. The following year I hung the feeders out on
>April 1 (April fools day) and minutes later the hummingbird was there, so
>the following year I hung them out on April 15 (Income taxes due) and
>again the birds had already arrived and were waiting for it. So the next
>year I moved the date again March 17 (ST. Patrick's Day) and then waited
>for them to arrive a few days or weeks later. I can't remember how long it
>took for them to show up, but I was making sure that they were not
>disappointed when they showed up.
>
>>Never put up Hummer feeder until May...except this year...and he showed up
>>this morning.
> > -Ralph Waldo Emerson
>>----------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Bluebirds vs Chickadees
From: "Frederick Houk Jr" <woodthrush2263(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 7:16am
In my experience, the bluebirds will always win this battle. Once they have
picked "their" house, the chicakdees must then "make other arrangements",
which they always seem to do in my woods.
Maybe others have seen chickadees "win" these battles, but I surely have
not.
Fred Houk
Chatham County
>From: "KC Foggin" <KCFoggin(AT)sc.rr.com>
>To: "kaye fenlon" <ktfenlon(AT)hotmail.com>, <carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu>
>Subject: Re: Bluebirds vs Chickadees
>Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2006 10:18:26 -0500
>
>I had this problem last year though the Chickadees were able to keep them
>at bay until the young ones fledged. Immediately after, the Bluebirds went
>in and built a nest right on top of the moss covered Chickadee nest.
>
>Don't know if the Chickadee's learned a lesson as the Bluebirds are the
>first to build in that particular box this year.
>
>KC Foggin
>Socastee
>Myrtle Beach SC
>www.birdforum.net
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "kaye fenlon" <ktfenlon(AT)hotmail.com>
>To: <carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu>
>Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2006 9:02 AM
>Subject: Bluebirds vs Chickadees
>
>
> > Hello Springbirders
> >
> > A battle is going on in my backyard. A pair of Chickadees have an
> > established nest with 5 eggs in one of my birdhouses. A pair of
>Bluebirds
> > are trying to take it over and have not let the Chickadees near it for
>more
> > than 2 days now...even though we put up 2 more Bluebird boxes nearby in
> > almost identical habitat and location. I even put an adaptor on the
>Chickdee
> > house to make the hole smaller allowing only the Chickdees in. The
> > Bluebirds are still sitting on the Chickadee house this morning and
>trying
> > to get in as they did yesterday...also chasing the Chickadees away.
> >
> > Should I let nature take its course and remove the adaptor?
> > Does anyone know how long the Chickdee eggs are viable?
> > Do I remove the Chickadee nest?
> >
> > This happened last year also. Although I did not know it until I cleaned
>out
> > the Bluebird nest after the first nestlings fledged. I found a Chickadee
> > nest with 3 eggs in it underneath the Bluebird nest.
> > The Bluebirds have used this box for at least 5 years now... so I am
> > guessing this is the same pair. They had 2 successful broods last year
>and
> > 3 the year before.
> >
> >
> > Also of note....I did see a pair of Chickdees for the fisrt time in and
>out
> > of a box this morning on the other side of the back yard...maybe 60 ft.
> > away.
> >
> > How big of a territory do Chickdees require? I also have a nesting pair
>in
> > my front yard that have been in a box for more than 2 weeks.
> >
> > 6 or 7 years ago a pair of Brown-headed Nuthatches established a nest
>in a
> > Bluebird house in my
> > front yard. They also roosted in it all winter. I would check it once
>in
> > awhile when coming back from an evening walk and they were always there.
>It
> > was great! Come Spring a pair of Bluebirds tried to take it over for
>more
> > than a week....and believe it or not the little feisty Nuthatches won.
> > Fortunately, the Bluebirds nested just across the street in my neighbors
> > birdbox.
> >
> >
> > If anyone has some suggestions that would be great.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Katie Fenlon
> > Clemson,SC
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's
>FREE!
> > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: First Ruby-throated
From: "susan(AT)ncaves.com" <ncaves@earthlink.net>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 10:14am
Our fist Ruby-throated has arrived! It is using the Salvia karwinskii-- not
the feeders--as has been the case with the first for the past two years.
Susan Campbell
Whispering Pines, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Spring yard arrivals- Ovenbird..
From: Shelley Theye <veery(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 10:28am
Heard an Ovenbird from the screened porch this AM,
April 2nd.
In 2004 and 2005, arrived on April 1, so this guy's right
on time.
Had an N. Parula on March 30, and La. Waterthrush, too.
Shelley Theye
northern Chatham County, NC
veery(AT)bellsouth.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Waterthrush song question
From: <ginger_travis(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 10:24am
Good morning. My neighbors and I just heard our first La. Waterthrush down along
the creek (Orange Co., NC). Actually, two of them. While we were listening for
them, one obligingly flew up to a tree right where we were standing. It bobbed
and sang. Then another flew in to another nearby tree and it sang also. There
was another back-and-forth between the two before they flew away. The songs
sounded identical to me. So here's the question: were these two males
contending for territory or were these a male and a female? They were not giving
call notes -- both were singing. Do female waterthrushes answer with song? For
some reason, I thought not.
On another note: I've been covered with ticks every time I've gone into the
woods for the last 3 weeks: I found 5 on me yesterday, 2 already this morning.
I think there are a lot more of them than usual this spring. Anyone else think
so?
Ginger Travis
near Hillsborough
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Audubon Swamp Garden (SC) bird photos
From: "Dorothy Pugh" <DorothyPugh(AT)aol.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 10:31am
Karl Gottschalk and I got a real treat visiting the Audubon Swamp Garden
(Charleston, SC area) on 3/28/06, where we saw anhingas, great egrets,
white ibises, blue-winged teals (including ducklings), a common moorhen,
an adult little blue heron, (I think) a swamp sparrow, and probably
hundreds of boat-tailed grackles.
We also saw several alligators, each accompanied by several yellowbelly
sliders, resting on boards.
Audubon Swamp Garden used to be a rice plantation, as was the I'on Swamp
in Francis Marion National Forest, but the wildlife in these two places
couldn't have been more different.
To see photos of all of the above except for the grackles, go to my home
page (www.dpughphoto.com), click on "Latest Photos," and you'll see the
Audubon Swamp Garden links.
Dorothy Pugh
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Blackpoll Wblr in Davidson
From: "Tomm Lorenzin" <tomm(AT)1000plus.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 12:02pm
Heard the distinctive call of a BLPW in the Pecans of our Davidson bkyd this
a.m.. but couldn't locate him for a visual.
Cheers!
Tomm "The Uncertainty Principal" Lorenzin
Mooresville (Lake Norman), NC
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Quantum Mechanics Probability Amplitude:
"The dreams stuff is made on."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
visit me @ http://www.1000plus.com/Cataract/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Saluda Shoals Warblers
From: Jerrold Griggs <griggs(AT)math.sc.edu>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 2:01pm
Inspired by Steve's nice list yesterday, I checked out Saluda Shoals this
lovely morning. I couldn't find all of his birds, of course, though if
I had arrived sooner it could have been better. I did find
Palm Warbler (yellowish race)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (many)
Pine Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
N. Parula
as well as
Blue-headed Vireo (a pair, so not 'solitary')
White-eyed Vireo
Many singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets!
On the other hand, the Carolina Wrens were not so obvious.
The highlight was watching many frogs jump into the water (in the marshy
area near the service shed).
>
> Had a nice morning at Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo, SC this morning. In
> particular, a good variety of warblers (for April 1 anyway) including:
>
> N. Parula
> Orange-crowned Warbler
> Yellow-rumped Warbler
> Pine Warbler
> Yellow-throated Warbler
> Louisiana Waterthrush (pair)
> Common Yellowthroat
> Hooded Warbler (my first of the year)
>
> Steve Tracey
> Irmo, SC
Jerry Griggs j(AT)sc.edu
Columbia, SC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: tips for birding on the Outer Banks
From: rupp <rupp(AT)wfu.edu>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 2:26pm
I'm heading to the Outer Banks with my family next week, and was
wondering if folks might offer some suggestions for the best birding
spots for this time of year -- where I should go and what I'd expect to
see. I'm an enthusiastic if relatively uninformed birder, so any advice
is much appreciated!
Sue Rupp
Winston-Salem, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: WARBLER ARRIVALS
From: "Bev Hudson" <bevhudson9(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 3:04pm
Today we saw and heard the Black and White warbler and also the Black
Throated Green in our yard. But no hummingbirds as yet.
Bev Hudson
Hendersonville, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Early April in the Spruce/Fir Zone
From: mjwestphal <mjwestphal(AT)unca.edu>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 3:39pm
I'll bet you think there's not much going on up there yet. Actually, while
there wasn't a lot of variety, there were a lot of very active birds up above
5000 feet on this beautiful spring morning. Most of the year-round residents
up there are singing up a storm and in heated territorial battle already. It
was pretty cold when I first got up there and I was glad I had my winter coat
and gloves. There were even a few patches of snow and ice left at the base of
some of the cliffs. It did warm up nicely, though, and I had fifteen species
between Balsam Gap up to about a mile beyond Mount Mitchell on the BRP and on
the Big Butt trail at Balsam Gap. This is about mile marker 359 to 354. FYI,
the parkway is closed passed Mount Mitchell, but it's a great walk with no
traffic.
The biggest surprises were the number of Blue-headed Vireos that were already
up there, and two Hermit Thrushes already there. One of the Hermit Thrushes
was singing near Balsam Gap and the other was about a quarter of a mile beyond
Mount Mitchell along the parkway. I'm surprised they were there already.
These areas are known to be breeding areas of the Hermit Thrush, so I'm
guessing they recently arrived and are already establishing territories.
Still, that's awfully early for any kind of thrush to be up there.
Other birds were as follows:
Turkey Vulture - 2
Ruffed Grouse - 4 (two drumming, and two hens just poking around)
Wild Turkey - 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1
Blue Jay - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - about 10
Brown Creeper - about 15 - they seem to be very active at this time of year
Winter Wren - about 6-8
Golden-crowned Kinglet - numerous
Hermit Thrush - 2
American Robin - numerous
Brown Thrasher - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 8-10
Dark-eyed Junco - numerous
Pine Siskin - about 10
No warblers up there yet, they are just starting to arrive at the lower
elevations. Oh, I also surprised a couple of lovebirds of the human kind
along the Big Butt trail. I'll bet they weren't expecting anyone along there
on an early April morning!
Marilyn
Marilyn Westphal
Environmental Quality Institute
University of North Carolina-Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
828/251-6823
mjwestphal(AT)unca.edu
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Golden Eagle in Alleghany Co
From: "Eric Dean" <wolfpackdeans(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 3:38pm
Hi all,
Celia's uncle just called from near Sparta, NC to tell me he was
watching a Golden Eagle. He knows from the many trips I have made up there
that it is a bird I still need to see in NC. He had gone to feed his horses
and spooked the bird from a big tree in the top of the pasture. He thought
it had been watching a flock of turkeys that were nearby. I know James Coman
has had Golden Eagle not far from here on his sheep farm, and several more
have been seen along the parkway near here in past years. Oh well, I'll keep
trying!
Eric & Celia Dean
112 Armstrong Dr
Goldsboro NC 27530
919-736-7264 (home)
919-920-1542 (cell)
wolfpackdeans(AT)earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~wolfpackdeans/
".... I realized that if I had to choose, I would rather have birds than
airplanes." Charles Lindbergh
.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Recording bird sounds
From: "Robin Carter" <rcarter(AT)sc.rr.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 4:12pm
Fred (and C-Birders),
There is a lot of information available on the Internet -- the Macaulay
Library web site, the Naturesongs web site
http://www.naturesongs.com/
the Nature Recordists email group (a Yahoo! group), etc. etc. Snoop around a
bit.
Here is a rough overview:
The most important single thing in your system is the microphone. Get the
best microphone you can afford. I recommend the Sennheiser ME 66 or ME 67
shotgun mics, in conjunction with the K6 power module and a good windscreen.
See http://www.mineroff.com/nature/
For a recorder you have lots of options, depending on how much you want to
spend.
Cheapest -- get an older minidisc recorder off of eBay, preferably a Sharp
rather than a Sony. The down side of this is that you will have to digitize
the recordings yourself in real time by running them from the minidisc
recorder through a good computer sound card. Make sure that the recorder has
a microphone input plug. The really cheap ones do not. A cheap minidisc
recorder will record using ATRAC compression, not too bad, but not great,
either. You want to record uncompressed wave files, either 16 bit or 24 bit.
Do not record directly into MP3. This format loses a lot of information. You
can convert to MP3 later, if you need to.
Mid range -- get a Sony HiMD recorder (Sony MZ M100). This will record in a
wave file (better that ATRAC on cheap minidisc) and you can upload the
resulting digital recording to your computer using Sony's software
More expensive -- get a recorder that records onto a compact flash card or
to an internal hard disc. A CF card recorder is preferable. Look at the
Marantz PMD 660 (which is what I use) or the new Edirol recorder, or an
Edirol R-1. The advantage of the Marantz over the Edirol models is that it
uses the professional style XLR connectors rather than cheaper TRS (a.k.a.
1/8 inch minijack connectors). The XLR connection does not make noise and it
seldom fails. The cheaper connections do fail from time to time.
Once you get the recordings on your computer you will need software. The
good stuff is expensive (Abobe Audition), but you can get by with freeware
such as Audacity and Raven Lite. I think that Audacity and Raven run on Macs
as well as on Windows machines.
This stuff is not cheap. What I would consider a basic kit would be the
following:
1. A Sennheiser ME 66 mic, with the obligatory K6 power module and a
professional wind screen and a short cable to connect it to the recorder. I
got mine from Saul Mineroff (see above for URL).
2. Cheap headphones from any audio store (if you do not already have some).
Some recordists like to invest in really good headphones. I do not bother
with this.
3. A Marantz PMD 660 recorder with the special low noise preamp modification
from http://www.oade.com
4. A special carrying case for the PMD 660. I got mine from
http:www.bswusa.com Look for Marantz PCR 660.
5. Two 1 GB compact flash cards. One gigabyte will store about 3.5 hours of
mono recordings or half that in stereo. You can get these from an office
products store or you may already have them for your digital camera.
6. A USB compact flash reader from a camera store or an office products
store (if you don't already have one).
7. Audacity and Raven Lite (Windows freeware)
8. A bunch of AA rechargable batteries and recharger. The PMD 660 takes 4 AA
batteries. You will need at least 14 rechargables in all -- 3 sets of 4 for
the recorder, plus two sets of one for the K6 power module to power the ME
66. The PMD 660 uses up batteries readily, but the K6 power source does not
use up much. If the batteries are fully charged I usually can get about 2 to
3 hours out of them with the Marantz PMD 660 before I have to put in a fresh
set. Keep the batteries charged. Rechargable lose power if they sit around
for a few days. I also have 4 regular alkaline AA's in my kit, as a backup
if all of the rechargables fail at once, which can happen.
With this you are in business, but it will cost you well over $1,000. You
can cut corners by getting the Sony Hi MD recorder and a cheaper mic, but
you will soon outgrow the cheap stuff. If you are sure that you will be
continuing with sound recording you might as well get good equipment up
front, even if it is expensive.
The top recorders go for over $2000 each. The top mics are also in the $2000
price range. If you have $5000 for your kit then you can make some really
profesional quality recorings. This stuff is out of my price range. The kit
I have outlined above is good enough for serious scientific recording, and
it is flexible enough to add better mics, etc. down the road.
I can't overemphasize how important the XLR connection is. The minijack
connectors are cheap, noisy, and they can break off in the field. If you buy
a professional mic it will have an XLR connection. You can still use it,
since you can easily get a cable to connect XLR to minijack, but it's like
drinking a fine wine from a paper cup.
Doug and other recordists, do you have anything to add? I'm sure you do.
Every recordist has their own opinion about equipment and techniques.
Robin Carter
Columbia, SC USA
mailto:rcarter(AT)sc.rr.com
-----Original Message-----
From: carolinabirds-owner(AT)acpub.duke.edu
[mailto:carolinabirds-owner(AT)acpub.duke.edu]On Behalf Of Frederick Houk
Jr
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 4:57 AM
To: carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu
Subject: RE: Recording bird sounds
Could you recommend a good starter setup for such digital recordings?
(Mike, type of recorder, etc.)?
Thanks
Fred Houk
Chatham County
>From: Doug Pratt <Doug.Pratt(AT)ncmail.net>
>To: carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu>
>Subject: Recording bird sounds
>Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 16:25:56 -0500
>
>Hi birders:
>
> I have enjoyed the recent thread about ways to learn bird voices,
>because it brings up several things that have been on my mind ever since I
>moved back to NC last year. I have many years' experience as a birdsong
>recordist in far-away places with strange-sounding names, and plan to
>continue that work, but I am also interested in recording closer to home
>(if I ever find the time!). So one of the first things I did in my work at
>the museum here was to find out what recordings were available in the
>Macaulay Library (Cornell Lab) from NC. I was amazed and appalled that
>they had only a couple hundred samples representing only a small subset of
>species and even smaller geographic coverage. We also have a small
>collection here at the museum (in need of curation, if I ever get around to
>it), and there are a few NC recordings in other archives, but there is
>certainly a lot of work to be done. Birders could be a great source of
>recordings, and goodness knows we few professionals could use the help. We
>are at the stage with bird recording that we were at with bird specimen
>collecting 200 years ago! The need for documenting geographic, seasonal,
>and other variation in vocalizations is immense. And the nice thing is that
>collecting bird sounds is completely nonconsumptive and nonintrusive, and
>requires no permit.
>
> Also, there is, in my opinion, no better way to learn bird songs than
>recording them. Modern recording gear, whether a shotgun mike or a
>parabolic setup, is like binoculars for your ears. You pick up on
>subtleties of the sounds that you never heard before, just as you pick up
>subtle field marks visually with binos. Once you are back home and
>analyzing/editing what you recorded, you hear the same sounds over and
>over. Then when you are back in the field, you somehow pick up on the
>distinctiveness of otherwise similar sounds because you have heard the
>"details," in much the same way that you can identify familiar birds by
>sight without actually being aware of seeing the field marks. Of course,
>good state-of-the-art recording gear will cost you about what
>top-of-the-line optics will, but it's worth every penny for opening up a
>world of wonderful birding experiences you may have not have even thought
>about before. I'd love to see some competition for the most
>species/localities recorded in the state.
>
> One thing to remember, though, is that you are only making a
>contribution to science if you make your recordings available to the
>community at large by archiving them in some major sound collection, such
>as the Macaulay Library or the Borror Lab. I am constantly annoyed to find
>out that someone is sitting on a collection of bird sounds without making
>any effort to treat them the way they should, as scientific specimens every
>bit as important as study skins. Fortunately, archiving your recordings
>(especially if they are digital to start with) is now very easy because you
>can do it electronically without even leaving home. Cornell has software
>available for the process. And if you contribute to the collection, you
>can earn the right to sample it for free, and you can restrict any
>commercial use of your recordings. Eventually, the entire bird sound
>archive at Cornell will be available online, and won't that be a rich
>birding resource?! If I can do anything to encourage any of you to get
>into bird recording, please let me know. And for those already interested
>in this aspect of birding/ornithology, I can point you to some good sources
>of information and training. But I warn you, it's addictive!
>
>Doug Pratt
>
>--
>H. Douglas Pratt, Curator of Birds
>Research and Collections
>North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
>11 West Jones Street
>Raleigh, NC 27601-1029
>Phone: (919)733-7450 ext. 728
>E-mail: doug.pratt(AT)ncmail.net
>
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Waterthrush song question
From: miaim(AT)mebtel.net
Date: 2 Apr 2006 4:44pm
Quoting ginger_travis(AT)bellsouth.net:
> So here's the question: were
> these two males contending for territory or were these a male and a female?
> They were not giving call notes -- both were singing. Do female waterthrushes
> answer with song? For some reason, I thought not.
It's coincidental timing that you should ask that, Ginger. I just looked that
up as a result of hearing dueling LA Waterthrushes down at White Pines
yesterday. I guess several of us are starting to see LA Waterthrushes come
back. According to Ken Kaufman's "Lives of North American Birds", it's the
males that defend territory by singing. Oddly, the book says the males sing
persistantly only until the eggs are laid. Then he sings only infrequently.
It seems like all of a sudden, our spring birds are back in force. Today at
University Lake, we had numerous YT warblers, a few B&W warblers, many, many
BG Gnatcatchers. And up in the cypress area on the left-most fork, there were
hundreds of E.T. Swallowtail butterflies, apparently mating in the mud. It was
quite a sight. All these are exactly consistant with I've seen in other areas
over the past couple days. It's like somebody threw a switch and Spring came
right on schedule. Buh-bye mundane March, hello awesome April!
I still haven't heard woodthrushes. When I do, I'll know Spring is here for
real, and Summer won't be far away. My thinking is not to plant the veggie
garden until wood thrush calls fill the woods. We've got about 2 weeks were a
frost is still theoretically possible. But, if the wood thrushes tell me
differntly, I'll heed their message. ;-)
Mike Swaim
Mebane, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Bird recording rig for sale: $200
From: miaim(AT)mebtel.net
Date: 2 Apr 2006 5:34pm
I hope it's not considered poor form to mention this here. But, given the
recent posts inquiring about rigs for recording bird sounds, I thought I'd
mention it. (Will, if this is a problem area, delete without hesitation.)
I've got a Sharp MD-MT190W minidisc recorder, with Audio Technica ATR55
Telemike Shotgun microphone with windsock that I bought to record and learn
birdsongs with. I find that it's a fascinating aspect of this hobby, but like
so much else, I've just got to pick what areas I spend time on, and this is an
area that I would be willing to let go of.
This gear has come down radically in price since I first bought it. Basically,
I've got about $400 worth of gear and accessories that I'd sell for $200 or
so. Here's the kit:
*Sharp MD-MT190W mini-disc recorder/player (very tiny, only about 3"x3.25")
*recharger and adapter
*Nimh battery
*manual
*computer interlink cable
*(2) soft cases for minidisc player & accessories
*Audio Technica ATR55 Shotgun mic with wind sock and pistol grip and tripod
adaptor
*super sturdy collapsible Leitz Wetzlar table/field tripod for mic
*UNused ear buds in little carry case
*used cheap GE ear phones
*hard plastic carry case
All this stuff fits in a thermo molded plastic case that measures under 16" x
11". (And if you see the case I keep it in, you'll die laughing when you see
the brand.)
I've only used this a handful of times in the yard and at Mason Farm. However,
I can say that the quality of the recordings may very pleasantly surprise
those who think it necessary to spend thousands for mere personal use. This
setup is lightyears ahead of previous audiotape rigs. It's very compact, very
field portable, and to me, pretty decent. I'll let others more qualified to
judge, decide whether it rises to the level of scientifically desirable. But,
it would definitely get somebody started for not much $$$. I'll toss in the
first few Minidiscs. To me, the minidisc is the format that should've made the
CD obsolete. But, it didn't. Be warned of that right from the start. It's not
a popular format, but has better quality than MP3 or cassette. Discs were
still available at WalMart, inexpensively, last time I checked.
Mike Swaim
Mebane, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Waterthrush song question
From: Norman Budnitz <norman.budnitz(AT)duke.edu>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 6:37pm
According to the La. Waterthrush account in Birds of North America:
"Females give same call note as males and sing a recognizable, though
poor rendition, of male song; introductory notes are not as clearly and
sharply delivered as by males, and complex ending is greatly
abbreviated. May function to attract unattendant mate during incubation
phase. Of 5 instances of female song by 3 different individuals in s.
Illinois, all were given when female left nest for incubation recess.
After females uttered song, males responded by flying in to meet females
in all 5 cases."
Since I doubt our newly arrived birds are incubating yet, I suspect you
were seeing two males trying to decide who gets to use your piece of the
creek.
Norm
--
Norman Budnitz--GSK
NTH-M2451
2512 S. TriCenter Blvd.
Durham NC 27713
919-315-4768 (TASC main line)
919-483-9889 (direct line)
919-315-4796 (fax)
norman.budnitz(AT)duke.edu
http://www.ciblearning.org
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: First RTH of 2006!
From: "Randy Dunson" <trdunson(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 6:38pm
I'm happy to report the first RTH at my feeders for 2006, a solitary male.
Regards,
Randy Dunson
Hillsborough, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Waccamaw NWR on 4-2-06
From: "Jack" <ppaw(AT)sccoast.net>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 7:54pm
Hi Carolinabirders,
This morning I birded solo on the upstream (PeeDee R) side of the
Yauhanna landing trail of the Waccamaw NWR for some birding and
butterflying. Great weather along the river Clear, sunny, & temps in
the 70's. Only 18 species.
Turkey Vulture-1
Osprey-2 on the nest on the other side of the river
Cooper's Hawk-1
Red-shouldered Hawk-1
Large Owl sp-1 flying away either Great Horned or Barred. I must have
disturbed this bird which flew directly away from me.
Hairy Woodpecker-1
Purple Martin-3 flying over the river
Tree Swallow-2 flying over the river
Fish Crow-3 heard only
Carolina Chickadee-1 heard only
Tufted Titmouse-4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-8
Hermit Thrush-1
White-eyed Vireo-1
N. Parula-20 singing all along the trail
Yellow-throated Warbler-3
N. Cardinal-2
Jack Peachey
Conway, SC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RT Hummingbird Returns
From: "John Ennis" <swampwolf(AT)thebusinessbirder.com>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 8:59pm
I took my HB feeder in at the end of January, having failed to attract a
winter hummer...
Based on all the recent e-mails, I put it back out today roughly a month
earlier than previous years.
Approximately 12 hours later I had a male RT
John Ennis
Leland, NC
910-371-9729
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: MORE MIGRANTS
From: "Bev Hudson" <bevhudson9(AT)bellsouth.net>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 9:51pm
This afternoon a red-eyed vireo, blue-grey gnatcatcher and two yellow
rumps arrived. Today has been a good one
with the black and white warbler and black-throated green as I reported
earlier. Can't wait until tomorrow
morning!
Bev Hudson
Hendersonville, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: RT Hummingbird Returns
From: Jerrold Griggs <griggs(AT)math.sc.edu>
Date: 2 Apr 2006 11:26pm
Similar to other reports, we rehung our Hummingbird feeders yesterday,
on April 1 (we took them down a month ago after months of inactivity).
A bright male Ruby-throated made an appearance late this afternoon!
He may be just passing through--we don't usually get regular feeders
for several more weeks.
Other signs of spring last evening were a Green Treefrog in our mailbox,
an early Firefly, and Eastern Mockingbirds singing after midnight.
Jerry Griggs j(AT)sc.edu
Columbia, SC
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