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CarolinaBirds for Tuesday, April 4, 2006
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Subject: Hilton Pond 03/22/06 (Spring Miscellany)
From: BILL HILTON JR The Piedmont Naturalist <hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 12:42am
With spring officially at hand, nature continues to unfold at Hilton
Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History. Of concern is the future of
a massive White Oak struck last summer by lighting. Another mystery
is what--if anything--is going on between our local populations of
Purple Finches and House Finches.
To view a "miscellany" photo essay about the oak, possible
interactions between the two finches, and the story of one of our
banded birds that was found far away from South Carolina, please
visit our "This Week at Hilton Pond" installment for 22-31 March 2006
at http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek060322.html
As always we include a tally of all birds banded, a list of
interesting recaptures, and assorted nature notes.
Happy Nature Watching!
BILL
--
BILL HILTON JR., Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845
The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to
conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of
the Piedmont Region of the eastern United States through observation,
scientific study, and education for students of all ages." Please
visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net) at
http://www.hiltonpond.org and http://www.rubythroat.org ("Operation
RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project").
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to
watch the sunset." BHjr.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Chuck-will's widow
From: "Susan Ladd Miller" <picoidesborealis(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 6:44am
When I opened the door this morning to let the dogs out I heard my first
chuck-will's widow of the year. Still waiting patiently to see a
ruby-throat.
Susan Miller
West End, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Birds Yesterday & the Storm
From: "John Ennis" <swampwolf(AT)thebusinessbirder.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 7:38am
I was more than a little worried about my hummingbird and the storm. We had
wind gusts of over 50 mph which, due to experience with hummers and
hurricanes, I was not worried about. The quarter-sized hail I was worried
about. No problem! He is having breakfast right now.
Speaking of eating, after all of the mice and the big pumpkin on Saturday,
the Gator dieted on Sunday and then woke up on Monday hungry enough to eat a
bear!
First of the year Chimney Swifts yesterday at home and got great pictures of
male & female Green-winged Teals at Sunset Beach.
John Ennis
Leland, NC
910-371-9729
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Is Cackling Goose possible at Pea Island NWR?
From: miaim(AT)mebtel.net
Date: 4 Apr 2006 8:12am
Sibley lists all 4 Cackling Goose subspecies as being strictly narrow range
West Coast birds.
http://www.sibleyguides.com/canada_cackling.htm
However, I suppose anything is possible, what with escapees from captivity,
etc.
Mike Swaim
Mebane, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Osprey nests
From: "Olwen Jarvis" <olwen(AT)coastalnet.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 9:06am
We experienced a severe storm last evening with very high winds. This
morning when I looked down North West Creek ( a tributary of the Neuse very
near New Bern NC) two active Osprey nests were gone. One nest has been
active and successful for the past 4 years to my knowledge. The other is a
new nest this year. The older nest had a sitting female already.
Is it likely these birds will attempt to rebuild?
Olwen Jarvis.
Craven Co. N C
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: revi's in mtns
From: "Kevin Caldwell" <kevin(AT)equinoxenvironmental.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 8:56am
Got the first red-eyed vireos last Thurs @ Barnardsville then again
Marshall, NC, along with B&W warblers (only 1) on the Ivy Creek east of the
French Broad confluence Sat & Sunday. I thought it might be too early, but
it was none other, by sight and song.
Kevin Caldwell
Barnardsville, NC (Mtns)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RFI: Bald Eagle sites along the Pee Dee River, NC
From: "Will Cook" <cwcook(AT)duke.edu>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 9:59am
If anyone knows about Bald Eagle nesting sites along the Pee Dee
River in Montgomery Co., North Carolina, please reply to Susan
Thebert (see below).
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent: Tue, 04 Apr 2006 09:17:35 -0400
From: Susan Thebert <sthebert(AT)dot.state.nc.us>
Organization: North Carolina Department of Transportation
I am an employee at the NCDOT working in Raleigh with the Natural
Environment Unit. I am working on the NC 24/27 widening project in Montgomery
County that begins at the east bank of the Pee Dee River and ends
west of Troy. I have to survey for bald eagles and have contacted
Mr. Gary Jordan of the US Fish and Wildlife Service to determine
the survey area. The survey area extends 1 mile north and south
of the NC 24/27 bridges to 1 mile inland both north and south of
NC 24/27.
I have access to the GIS database and have learned that several
known bald eagle sites are located along the Pee Dee River. The
Natural Heritage Program reports that the closest bald eagle
sites are approximately 7200 feet south of the project terminus
(EO 115, 2005 observation) and 15,100 feet north of the project
terminus (EO 47, 2005 observation). Both sites are along the Pee
Dee River.
Do you or any of the Carolina Bird Club members know of any
additional bald eagle sites that are within 2 miles of the NC 24/27
bridges along the Pee Dee River? I need the information by this
Thursday April 7 as I am going to survey for bald eagles next Monday
April 10.
Please feel free to contact me off-list at sthebert(AT)dot.state.nc.us
Thank you,
Susan Thebert
(919) 715-1461
------- End of forwarded message -------
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-5144
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook cwcook(AT)duke.edu
Box 90340, Biology Dept., Duke Univ., Durham, NC 27708
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: first hummer in East Charlotte
From: Sandy Cash <lcashjr(AT)nc.rr.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 10:46am
Louise Barden wrote:
> We had a first hummer of the season in East Charlotte, on the edge of
> Evergreen Nature Preserve at 7:45 this morning. It's 3 or 4 days earlier
> than usual. But it is right on schedule with the our native coral
> honeysuckle. The hummers always show up when the flowers start to open.
> Our first flowers opened Sunday.
>
>
> Louise Barden
> Charlotte, NC
>
>
>
I'm jealous - my flowers have been open for literally nearly two weeks,
but nary a bird in sight as of yet.
-Sandy
--
Sandy Cash
Durham, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: first hummer in East Charlotte
From: "Louise Barden" <louise(AT)lbarden.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 10:30am
We had a first hummer of the season in East Charlotte, on the edge of
Evergreen Nature Preserve at 7:45 this morning. It's 3 or 4 days earlier
than usual. But it is right on schedule with the our native coral
honeysuckle. The hummers always show up when the flowers start to open.
Our first flowers opened Sunday.
Louise Barden
Charlotte, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Hummingbirds--items of interest
From: "susan(AT)ncaves.com" <ncaves@earthlink.net>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 11:05am
Well, it sure looks like Saturday was The Day for returning Ruby-throateds
here in North Carolina!
I thought I'd mention that on Saturday I got my first look at the new
Parasol
brand hummingbird feeder that supports breast cancer education and research.
It is a very pretty feeder made out of good quality materials (featuring
hand-blown recycled glass) but still very practical. The Wild Birds
Unlimited in Durham is selling these and I understand that Tweet Things here
in Southern Pines will carry them soon too. I now have one myself and was
thinking that they would make a terrific gift idea.
I also learned that the Durham WBU also has two new hummingbird items. I
heard about both this winter from several hummingbird contacts. They are
produced by New Mexico hummer enthusiast Dan True. The first is a
Black-chinned Hummingbird video called "A Mother Hummingbird's Life" which
you can get the details of at:
http://www.thebirdshed.com/bmohulivh.html (need to scroll down a bit to
view the information)
It has amazing footage of the complete nesting cycle including nest
building, hatching, and fledging that also captures some very unusual
situations (do not want to give too much away here... ).
And second is nest platform ("The Hummingbird House") Dan has designed:
http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Hummingbird-House.html
I do not believe that there is any evidence (yet) of Ruby-throateds using
this gizmo for nesting but it has only just hit the market. I do not see
any reason why it might not be acceptable. I knwo folks with lots of
hummers who are going to give it a try this summer. I probably will too.
I will warn you that when you see the 'house', you might think that you
could easily make one yourself. But apparently Dan went through extensive
trial and error before finding the right size, shape and configuration for
his invention.
I would love to get feedback from folks who have
encountered any of these items recently--
Susan Campbell
Whispering Pines, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Is Cackling Goose possible at Pea Island NWR?
From: "Will Cook" <cwcook(AT)duke.edu>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 11:57am
These range maps indicate general areas where certain subspecies are
more common, not strict limits of where they might occur. Winter
range maps for Ross's Goose are quite similar to those for Cackling
Goose:
www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Rosss_Goose_dtl.html
Both Cackling and Ross's are more common in the western US (from
California to Louisiana), but they're not strictly "West Coast
birds".
Ross's Geese aren't common at Pea Island or other areas in the
Carolinas, but they are expected every winter. The same is likely
true of Cackling Geese. Perhaps 1 in 4000 white geese in NC is a
Ross's. I don't know what the Cackling:Canada ratio is, but it may be
on the same order of magnitude.
On 4 Apr 2006 at 8:37, miaim(AT)mebtel.net wrote:
> Sibley lists all 4 Cackling Goose subspecies as being strictly narrow range
> West Coast birds.
>
> http://www.sibleyguides.com/canada_cackling.htm
>
> However, I suppose anything is possible, what with escapees from captivity,
> etc.
>
> Mike Swaim
> Mebane, NC
>
>
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-5144
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook cwcook(AT)duke.edu
Box 90340, Biology Dept., Duke Univ., Durham, NC 27708
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Is Cackling Goose possible at Pea Island NWR?
From: miaim(AT)mebtel.net
Date: 4 Apr 2006 12:43pm
Thanks to all who corrected me on cackling geese in the Carolinas.
Mike Swaim
Mebane, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: birding at Isle of Palms, SC
From: "Andrew Laughlin" <pileatus(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 12:41pm
Hello -
We're visiting Isle of Palms, SC in early May, and I was hoping to get some
birding advice from someone on this list. I've never been birding on the
coast, and wondered if there was a good book or website that I could get to
for info on birding in this area.
Thanks for any advice, and please reply personally to: pileatus(AT)gmail.com
Andrew Laughlin
Asheville, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: First Ruby throat
From: "Lois Snavely" <lsnavely(AT)sccoast.net>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 1:52pm
Our first Ruby Throat came by this morning at 7:00 AM and took a very long
drink. We have seen him several times since then.
We also had our first Orchard Oriole for 2006 yesterday. He is coming to the
feeders by himself, not with the resident flock as the Orchards did last
year. We still have about ten Baltimore Orioles coming to the feeders. Most
of the mature male Baltimores seem to have left us.
The Eurasian Collared Dove came back for a quick trip last week. We see it
about once a month.
Ernie and Lois Snavely
Loris, SC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Hummingbirds--items of interest
From: mike <lists(AT)webfargo.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 1:47pm
I've had four "The Hummingbird House" units up for two full years with no
success. I'm certainly not saying they won't work I just haven't had any
luck with them. I sure do wish they would!
mike johnson
burlington, nc
At 11:03 AM 4/4/2006 -0400, susan(AT)ncaves.com wrote:
>Well, it sure looks like Saturday was The Day for returning Ruby-throateds
>here in North Carolina!
>
> I thought I'd mention that on Saturday I got my first look at the new
>Parasol
>brand hummingbird feeder that supports breast cancer education and research.
>It is a very pretty feeder made out of good quality materials (featuring
>hand-blown recycled glass) but still very practical. The Wild Birds
>Unlimited in Durham is selling these and I understand that Tweet Things here
>in Southern Pines will carry them soon too. I now have one myself and was
>thinking that they would make a terrific gift idea.
>
>I also learned that the Durham WBU also has two new hummingbird items. I
>heard about both this winter from several hummingbird contacts. They are
>produced by New Mexico hummer enthusiast Dan True. The first is a
>Black-chinned Hummingbird video called "A Mother Hummingbird's Life" which
>you can get the details of at:
>http://www.thebirdshed.com/bmohulivh.html (need to scroll down a bit to
>view the information)
>
>It has amazing footage of the complete nesting cycle including nest
>building, hatching, and fledging that also captures some very unusual
>situations (do not want to give too much away here... ).
>
>And second is nest platform ("The Hummingbird House") Dan has designed:
>http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Hummingbird-House.html
>
>I do not believe that there is any evidence (yet) of Ruby-throateds using
>this gizmo for nesting but it has only just hit the market. I do not see
>any reason why it might not be acceptable. I knwo folks with lots of
>hummers who are going to give it a try this summer. I probably will too.
>I will warn you that when you see the 'house', you might think that you
>could easily make one yourself. But apparently Dan went through extensive
>trial and error before finding the right size, shape and configuration for
>his invention.
>
>I would love to get feedback from folks who have
>encountered any of these items recently--
>Susan Campbell
>Whispering Pines, NC
---------------------------------------------------------------------
www.webfargo.com
CCDA CCNA CCSA CCSE MCP+I MCSE
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Recent Moore County, N.C. Happenings
From: Wayne Irvin <ephstop(AT)mindspring.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 5:29pm
With a flowering potted salvia as "bait", Fran and I noted the first
Rubythroated Hummingbird (a male) of 2006 in our yard in Southern
Pines (Moore County) on March 31. Late the following afternoon we
were startled to see a Western Tanager bathing in the small pool in
our back yard; possibly a first record for this species in the N. C.
Sandhills. This individual was not in adult male plumage.
On Sunday, April 2 I flushed 6 Vesper Sparrows, roadside in "horse
country", off Young's Road. In past years I have located individual
Vesper Sparrows in this area on Spring Bird Counts but have never
previously encountered such numbers.
When Fran and I moved to Southern Pines, N.C. in February of 1996, it
was heartening to find the numbers of Loggerhead Shrikes gave some
hope for the species future in south central North Carolina. Since, I
have watched the number of breeding shrikes spiral downward;
yesterday I managed to locate one bird, hunting along a horse paddock
fence. Egg collector diaries suggest that numbers for this species in
the eastern United States probably peaked around the beginning of the
Twentieth Century when the breeding range extended to the St.
Lawrence River. In just over one hundred years, the northern boundary
of the breeding range has "retreated" to the more southerly counties
of North Carolina. I predict this fascinating shrike species will no
longer be found to nest in North Carolina by 2020.
Wayne Irvin
145 Riding Lane
Southern Pines, NC 28387
910 695 7269
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Hilton Pond 03/22/06 (Spring Miscellany)
From: "Frederick Houk Jr" <woodthrush2263(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 6:52pm
Hi, Bill...
Can you tell me if you know the eating habits of hummingbirds well enough to
know how much/if hummingbirds eat mosquitoes? We have had far fewer
mosquitoes since we put up our dozen or so feeders on our porch, but it also
coincides, more or less, with a long drought we've experienced over the last
period of years.
Is there a relationship with hummingbirds, and reduced mosquitoes around the
area frequented by hummingbirds?
Thanks
Fred Houk
Chatham County
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RE: Hilton Pond 03/22/06 (Spring Miscellany)
From: BILL HILTON JR The Piedmont Naturalist <hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 7:37pm
FRED . . . .
Yes, hummingbirds are known to eat good numbers of mosquitoes, gnats,
aphids, and similar-sized insects--as well as those as big as or
slightly larger than fruit flies. (See
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek040808.html for my infamous photos
of hummingbird droppings.)
That said, I doubt a local hummingbird population would wipe out all
the local mosquitos, but even if hummers only ate a fraction of the
little bloodsuckers they would still be welcome in most yards.
Happy Hummingbird Watching!
BILL
=======
>Hi, Bill...
>
>Can you tell me if you know the eating habits of hummingbirds well
>enough to know how much/if hummingbirds eat mosquitoes? We have had
>far fewer mosquitoes since we put up our dozen or so feeders on our
>porch, but it also coincides, more or less, with a long drought
>we've experienced over the last period of years.
>
>Is there a relationship with hummingbirds, and reduced mosquitoes
>around the area frequented by hummingbirds?
>
>Thanks
>
>Fred Houk
>Chatham County
--
BILL HILTON JR., Executive Director
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road, York, South Carolina 29745 USA
hilton(AT)hiltonpond.org, (803) 684-5852, eFax: (503) 218-0845
The mission of Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is "to
conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of
the Piedmont Region of the eastern United States through observation,
scientific study, and education for students of all ages." Please
visit our web sites (courtesy of Comporium.net) at
http://www.hiltonpond.org and http://www.rubythroat.org ("Operation
RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Project").
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to
watch the sunset." BHjr.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: And...A mosquito hypothosis
From: Clyde Sorenson <clyde_sorenson(AT)ncsu.edu>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 10:16pm
To answer Fred's question about the paucity of mosquitoes this year- I
suspect it has much more to do with the drought than predation.
Clyde
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Birds as mosquito predators; martins and native Americans
From: Clyde Sorenson <clyde_sorenson(AT)ncsu.edu>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 10:14pm
All,
Since almost all mosquitoes (with some important and pernicious
exceptions) are primarily night or twilight flying, it is most unlikely
that martins or hummingbirds, etc. are likely to have much impact on the
adult flies. Since swifts typically forage above the tree tops on the
"aerial plankton," its unlikely that they, too, have much impact, even
when foraging at twilight. Even the night-flying goatsuckers are not
likely to have much impact- they prefer larger prey and don't forage at
the elevations most host seeking mosquitoes use. Even those masters of
night-time aerial predation, the bats, eat relatively few mosquitoes-
again, they generally prefer larger, meatier prey. Other insects and
spiders probably have much more impact on adult mosquitoes than any
other taxon.
Larval mosquitoes are sometimes important prey for birds, but
unfortunately, the relationship between adult mosquitoes and birds is
usually "diner" and "dinner." Mosquitoes are important vectors of avian
diseases (i.e. the infamous West Nile- actually a bird virus that
"accidentally" sickens us).
While I suspect there is some truth to the supposition that native
Americans put up gourds to assist in pest control in one way or another,
I think another possibility might also have been in play- don't y'all
think its likely the First Americans enjoyed simply having martins
around as much as we do?
Take care,
Clyde Sorenson
Clayton and Raleigh, NC
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Hummingbirds--items of interest
From: "Steve" <scompton(AT)sc.rr.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 11:32pm
Susan,
And here in Summerville,SC I heard, then saw my first Ruby-throated on
Saturday. He hummed his way to the feeder about 3 feet away as I was taking
pictures of my Goldfinch crowd.
Steve Compton
----- Original Message -----
From: "susan(AT)ncaves.com" <ncaves(AT)earthlink.net>
To: "Carolina Birds" <carolinabirds(AT)duke.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2006 11:03 AM
Subject: Hummingbirds--items of interest
> Well, it sure looks like Saturday was The Day for returning
> Ruby-throateds
> here in North Carolina!
>
> I thought I'd mention that on Saturday I got my first look at the new
> Parasol
> brand hummingbird feeder that supports breast cancer education and
> research.
> It is a very pretty feeder made out of good quality materials (featuring
> hand-blown recycled glass) but still very practical. The Wild Birds
> Unlimited in Durham is selling these and I understand that Tweet Things
> here
> in Southern Pines will carry them soon too. I now have one myself and was
> thinking that they would make a terrific gift idea.
>
> I also learned that the Durham WBU also has two new hummingbird items. I
> heard about both this winter from several hummingbird contacts. They are
> produced by New Mexico hummer enthusiast Dan True. The first is a
> Black-chinned Hummingbird video called "A Mother Hummingbird's Life"
> which
> you can get the details of at:
> http://www.thebirdshed.com/bmohulivh.html (need to scroll down a bit
> to
> view the information)
>
> It has amazing footage of the complete nesting cycle including nest
> building, hatching, and fledging that also captures some very unusual
> situations (do not want to give too much away here... ).
>
> And second is nest platform ("The Hummingbird House") Dan has designed:
> http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Hummingbird-House.html
>
> I do not believe that there is any evidence (yet) of Ruby-throateds using
> this gizmo for nesting but it has only just hit the market. I do not see
> any reason why it might not be acceptable. I knwo folks with lots of
> hummers who are going to give it a try this summer. I probably will too.
> I will warn you that when you see the 'house', you might think that you
> could easily make one yourself. But apparently Dan went through extensive
> trial and error before finding the right size, shape and configuration for
> his invention.
>
> I would love to get feedback from folks who have
> encountered any of these items recently--
> Susan Campbell
> Whispering Pines, NC
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Dog hair as nesting material
From: Helmut Mueller <hmuelle(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 4 Apr 2006 11:32pm
We have a German Shepherd who sheds copious amounts of hair.
when we comb him, we place some of the hair next to our feeder in a
large paper clamp, so that the wind does not blow it away. so far this
spring, we have had Chickadees, Titmice & Carolina wrens take hair for
nesting material. It is fun to watch, & since the birds fly directly to
their nests, it also helps in finding nests. If you don't have a dog,
they also use human hair trimmings.
Helmut C. Mueller
409 Moonridge Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
919-942-4937
hmueller(AT)email.unc.edu
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