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IN-BIRD for Thursday, January 24, 2002
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Subject: Northern Saw-whet Owls
From: Lee Sterrenburg <sterren(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 1:32am
Yesterday evening (January 23, 2002), Jim Hengeveld, Susan Hengeveld, and
I tried for Northern Saw-whet Owls on highway 446 south of Lake Monroe and
Tower Ridge Road in Hoosier National Forest, Monroe County. We started at
9:25 PM and stopped when the rains came at 11:00 PM.
Unseasonably warm, about 54 F; calm; overcast, humid; lots of lightning in
advance of the thunderstorm.
We played only Saw-whet Owl tape.
Our results (all owls heard only):
Great Horned Owl (1)
Barred Owl (4)
N. Saw-whet Owl (3 - two of them did extensive "tooting" and one gave a
two-phrase nasal snarling bark)
--Jim, Susan, and Lee
Bloomington
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Lakefront 23 Jan 02
From: Jeff McCoy <jeffmccoy(AT)MAIL.FWI.COM>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 2:42am
Wednesday, 23 Jan 02 - Ed Powers and I had one of those birding days that make
all of the other even mediocre days look really, really good. I guess you need
one of those every once in a while or your expectations get way too high.
Highlights were few and weather was nasty with a thick overcast and
intermittent drizzle. By the time the wind calmed down in the afternoon the
drizzle had become steady.
Calumet Park, IL (looking into Indiana waters) - Normally a very good spot for
waterfowl but very few today. Notable was the presence of at least 4 big Monk
Parakeet nests not more than 1/4 mile from the state line, though we saw no
birds. I believe this is a relatively recent colonization (recolonization?) of
this site and it makes one wonder whether places like Whiting or Forsythe Parks
are next for this "1st state record waiting to happen".
Bufflehead 15
Red Breasted Merganser 10
Hammond Marina - No sign of the hybrid merg x goldeneye or any of the other
recently reported rarities.
Canvasback 1
Lesser Scaup 25
Greater Scaup 45
Common Goldeneye 70
Red-breasted Merganser 20
Jeorse Park -
Greater Scaup 11
Common Goldeneye 45
Common Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 10
Great Black-backed Gull 1 (4th yr)
Michigan City Harbor - Ken Brock and Pete Grube joined us for lunch then we
birded the harbor until fog and drizzle forced us to end the day early.
Iceland/Thayer's intergrade 1 (1st yr)
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 (ad)
Whitley County - In a desperate attempt to salvage something from the day, Ed
and I visited the grassland area just NW of Columbia City (and 1 1/2 miles from
my home) at dusk. This is where Short-eared Owls sometimes winter (and have
nested at least once). We found (8) NORTHERN HARRIERS (6 female, 2 male),
indicating a good rodent population this season, but to our surprise no
Shortie's appeared to take over the evening shift.
Good birding,
Jeff McCoy
Columbia City, IN
jeffmccoy(AT)fwi.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Lakefront 23 Jan 02
From: Douglas Stotz <dstotz(AT)FIELDMUSEUM.ORG>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 9:11am
Dear Jeff,
The Monk Parakeets have been at Calumet Park for at least a
decade, although the nests in their current location date from last
year. Previously the nests were up at the northwest corner of the
Park. Closer to Indiana perhaps are the two nests at the Wolf Lake
headquarters on the Illinois side. I have seen birds within 100 yards of
the Indiana border near the south edge of Wolf Lake. There is also a big
population (100+ birds) along Burnham Avenue south of the South Shore train
tracks. This is a bit more than a 1/2 mile from the Indiana line.
I have not looked hard on the Indiana side, but have to think that
the parakeets at least occasionally use the residential areas of
Hammond. I'd probably look west of US 41, south of where I-90 crosses it,
but they could show up anywhere in there. My experience is spring is when
they seem to establish new nesting sites. So I'd probably look for scouts
once it starts warming up this spring.
Doug Stotz
At 06:51 AM 01/24/2002 +0000, you wrote:
>Wednesday, 23 Jan 02 - Ed Powers and I had one of those birding days that make
>all of the other even mediocre days look really, really good. I guess you
>need
>one of those every once in a while or your expectations get way too high.
>Highlights were few and weather was nasty with a thick overcast and
>intermittent drizzle. By the time the wind calmed down in the afternoon the
>drizzle had become steady.
>
>Calumet Park, IL (looking into Indiana waters) - Normally a very good spot for
>waterfowl but very few today. Notable was the presence of at least 4 big Monk
>Parakeet nests not more than 1/4 mile from the state line, though we saw no
>birds. I believe this is a relatively recent colonization
>(recolonization?) of
>this site and it makes one wonder whether places like Whiting or Forsythe
>Parks
>are next for this "1st state record waiting to happen".
>Bufflehead 15
>Red Breasted Merganser 10
>
>Hammond Marina - No sign of the hybrid merg x goldeneye or any of the other
>recently reported rarities.
>Canvasback 1
>Lesser Scaup 25
>Greater Scaup 45
>Common Goldeneye 70
>Red-breasted Merganser 20
>
>Jeorse Park -
>Greater Scaup 11
>Common Goldeneye 45
>Common Merganser 1
>Red-breasted Merganser 10
>Great Black-backed Gull 1 (4th yr)
>
>Michigan City Harbor - Ken Brock and Pete Grube joined us for lunch then we
>birded the harbor until fog and drizzle forced us to end the day early.
>Iceland/Thayer's intergrade 1 (1st yr)
>Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 (ad)
>
>Whitley County - In a desperate attempt to salvage something from the day, Ed
>and I visited the grassland area just NW of Columbia City (and 1 1/2 miles
>from
>my home) at dusk. This is where Short-eared Owls sometimes winter (and have
>nested at least once). We found (8) NORTHERN HARRIERS (6 female, 2 male),
>indicating a good rodent population this season, but to our surprise no
>Shortie's appeared to take over the evening shift.
>
>Good birding,
>Jeff McCoy
>Columbia City, IN
>jeffmccoy(AT)fwi.com
Douglas Stotz
Conservation Ecologist/Ornithologist
Environmental and Conservation Programs
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312)-665-7438
Fax: (312)-665-7440
e-mail: stotz(AT)fmnh.org
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Tar dumping
From: "Joan E. Tweedell" <joantweedell(AT)JUNO.COM>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 9:13am
Many thanks to all of you who wrote your suggestions for action.
I have sent them on to the farmer involved, with contact addresses and
phone #s.
Meanwhile a reporter from the South Bend Tribune got wind of the problem
and is going to check into it.
I will post news of results as I hear of them.
Joan in South Bend
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Lake Monroe
From: whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU
Date: 24 Jan 2002 9:27am
Very little at Paynetown and Cutright this morning - one Goldeneye and
a few Ring-billed Gulls, so I ventured on to Stillwater Marsh. A few
things there - no ice left. The highlights were:
Mallard - 8
Black Duck - 14
No. Pintail - 2
Ring-necked Duck - 57
Common Goldeneye - 7
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RPT-Sullivan Co-owl bonanza
From: "David C. Chaffin" <Davchaffin(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 10:34am
Many times owling pursuits garner no birds either seen or heard, so it is
rewarding to hit paydirt once in a while. The hours of darkness proved
fruitful this am.
Last night at 11pm upon finishing work at the hospital, I headed for the
Dugger Unit in Sullivan Co. As I drove south on hwy 41, the rain only
increased. About halfway there, I decided it was hopeless, turned around,
and went to bed, requesting a wakeup call at 5:30am. The one thing in life
that does not get easier with prectice is getting out of bed.
This am it was drizzling, but this time, it decreased as I went south. It
was only a light mist when I got to Dugger. I started on hwy 54 and turned
south at the Shiloh Church of Christ. This road begins as blacktop.
Proceeding south, I basically did a box route around Bass Lake, using the two
gravel roads that connect 350E and 450E. In the SE corner of this box
route(the junction of the gravel road and 450E, just before encountering Pump
Lake on your right) is where I had a BARN OWL fly just in front of my left
headlight. Was I pumped! I made the route a 2nd time, going in a
counterclockwise direction(same as before), and had the BARN OWL fly along
the right side of the car for a ways. Having made the decision that the barn
owl was a much better bird than the short-eared owl that really was my target
bird, I headed along the box route to head back to Terre Haute. Before
returning to the junction of 350E and 100S, I had 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS. Two
new birds for IN. It was neat to observe the two different flying styles.
The seow is more erratic, while the barn does a lot of gliding, with the body
profile being somewhat different.
When I got back to the Hampton, I couldn't get back to sleep. Imagine that!
Thanks to Mike Brown and Dan Leach for helpful info for this area.
David Chaffin
Cleveland TN
temporarily in Terre Haute
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: conundrum Barn Owls
From: Moore Jeffrey <merlin46783(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 1:35pm
> I wonder if others on the IN-BIRD list know this
> call from Great Horned?
Bill,
I have heard GHO give this raspy call you describe.
In fact, at one time I had a bird record that listed
this as the call of an imm. GHO. Either way I have
heard this call many times over the years, including
from the GHO family that lives behind my house. I
should have paid more attention to the time of year I
heard the calls. I remember one time it was late
spring or summer. Right now my two GHO are doing the
normal hoot back and forth to each other.
Jeff Moore
Roanoke, IN
__________________________________________________
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Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions!
http://auctions.yahoo.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Indiana State Park Pass
From: Don Gorney <dongorney(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 6:13pm
For those who didn't catch the news, the DNR will be raising state park
fees again to help cover budget shortfalls. State Park passes will
increase from $18 to $22 while daily entrance fees will increase from
$3 to $4 per carload. The price increases are effective February 1,
2002. So, if you want to save $4 go and buy a pass now at any state
park office or at the downtown DNR service center. (The passes can be
bought at gatehouses at state parks but many parks don't staff them
during the winter.)
All in all, $22 for a state park pass is still a bargain. It's good
all year at all state parks (Falls of Ohio interpretive center costs
money to enter). If you haven't bought a pass before, consider buying
one this year and bird some new state parks. An article discussing the
fee increase and written by George McLaren of the Indianpolis Star is
linked below.
http://www.indystar.com/article.php?dnrfeespm0122.html
=====
Don Gorney
Indianapolis, IN
dongorney(AT)yahoo.com
www.dongorney.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions!
http://auctions.yahoo.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Indiana State Park Pass
From: Brian Miller <vireo(AT)michiana.org>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 7:48pm
Personally, I will wait for February 1st. What better way to spend $4, than too
help our state parks!
Brian Miller
South Bend
-----Original Message-----
From: Don Gorney [SMTP:dongorney(AT)YAHOO.COM]
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 6:13 PM
To: IN-BIRD(AT)LIST.AUDUBON.ORG
Subject: [IN-BIRD] Indiana State Park Pass
For those who didn't catch the news, the DNR will be raising state park
fees again to help cover budget shortfalls. State Park passes will
increase from $18 to $22 while daily entrance fees will increase from
$3 to $4 per carload. The price increases are effective February 1,
2002. So, if you want to save $4 go and buy a pass now at any state
park office or at the downtown DNR service center. (The passes can be
bought at gatehouses at state parks but many parks don't staff them
during the winter.)
All in all, $22 for a state park pass is still a bargain. It's good
all year at all state parks (Falls of Ohio interpretive center costs
money to enter). If you haven't bought a pass before, consider buying
one this year and bird some new state parks. An article discussing the
fee increase and written by George McLaren of the Indianpolis Star is
linked below.
http://www.indystar.com/article.php?dnrfeespm0122.html
=====
Don Gorney
Indianapolis, IN
dongorney(AT)yahoo.com
www.dongorney.com
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions!
http://auctions.yahoo.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Great Backyard Bird Count, February 15 - 18 (no
sightings)
From: Alan Anderson <casresearch(AT)ATTBI.COM>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 8:03pm
Allison Wells asked me to pass on the information below about the Great =
Backyard Bird Count.
Alan Anderson, casresearch(AT)attbi.com , Des Plaines, IL
Chicago Audubon Society ( =
http://homepage.interaccess.com/~stephenc/index.html new web address)
>
> A reminder from Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that the =
Great
> Backyard Bird Count will take place this year February 15 - 18. As in
> previous years, we've continued to make improvements based on your =
good
> feedback and as our resources allow. For example, you'll see that the
> checklists have continued to be refined. In addition, we will now be =
able
> to map write-in species immediately. For an overview of this project, =
its
> evolution, and goals, please visit www.birdsource.org and read John
> Fitzpatrick and Frank Gill's "Letter from the Directors."
>
> We hope you all will participate. It's easy - just count the numbers =
and
> kinds of birds you see in your backyard, local park, wildlife refuge, =
or
> other area and send them in through the BirdSource website at
> www.birdsource.org. Keep track of the postal code and time spent =
birding.
> You'll be able to quickly see how your reports are contributing to the
> continent-wide picture. The primary purpose of the count is to create =
a
> massive database of North American birds so that researchers can track
> changes in bird distribution and abundance. However, we work hard to =
keep
> it fun and educational. This year, in response to the Harry Potter =
frenzy,
> we have put together an owl feature that we hope you and your family =
or
> school group will enjoy. In the next week or so, we hope to have up on =
the
> site some additional findings from the snow-depth data you provided =
(last
> year, we received about 52,000 snow depth reports!) You'll also find a
> variety of bird identification, conservation, and education materials.
>
> For more information about the GBBC, visit the web site. Feel free to =
print
> out any material from the site and send it along to others. Those not
> online who wish to participate can submit their data at their local
> library, they can call their local Audubon chapter for assistance, or =
they
> can contact their nearest Wild Birds Unlimited store (WBU sponsors the
> count), which may be submitting reports depending on the store. If all =
else
> fails, the Lab's volunteers will enter as many reports as possible.
> Reports can be sent to the Lab at GBBC, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., =
Ithaca, NY 14850.
> (To request an "offline packet," email cornellbirds(AT)cornell.edu)
>
> As always, we appreciate your participation!
>
> Allison Wells, Communications and Outreach Director, Cornell =
Lab of Ornithology =20
=20
> Sally Conyne, Citizen Science Director, Audubon
> www.birds.cornell.edu www.audubon.org >
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: conundrum Barn Owls
From: Thomas Leggett <tomleggett(AT)HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 8:37pm
I to have an owl tape that has rasping call of GHO and is similar to Barn=
owl so understand confusion. I have heard it and glad had remembered my =
tape, but when heard been in area in daylight and found nest. Tom Leggett=
,Argos,Indiana =20
=20
----- Original Message -----
From: Moore Jeffrey
Sent: Thursday, January 24, 2002 1:37 PM
To: IN-BIRD(AT)LIST.AUDUBON.ORG
Subject: Re: [IN-BIRD] conundrum Barn Owls
=20
> I wonder if others on the IN-BIRD list know this
> call from Great Horned?
Bill,
I have heard GHO give this raspy call you describe.
In fact, at one time I had a bird record that listed
this as the call of an imm. GHO. Either way I have
heard this call many times over the years, including
from the GHO family that lives behind my house. I
should have paid more attention to the time of year I
heard the calls. I remember one time it was late
spring or summer. Right now my two GHO are doing the
normal hoot back and forth to each other.
Jeff Moore
Roanoke, IN
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Great stuff seeking new owners in Yahoo! Auctions!
http://auctions.yahoo.comGet more from the Web. FREE MSN Explorer downlo=
ad : http://explorer.msn.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Summit Lake 1/24
From: Robert Kissel <bluesdoc(AT)BLUEMARBLE.NET>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 10:10pm
I stopped by Summit Lake (NE Henry Co) today from 9:30-11am. Conditions were
35, W wind around 10-15mph, and a fair amount of low fog over the water,
limiting visibility. Most of the lake was open water W of the main road in
the park but more ice E of the boat ramp. Highlights from the Beach
Concession and Sunset Shelter areas included:
Ruddy Ducks 8
Lesser Scaup 25
Ring-necked Ducks 30
Snow Geese 30, of which 12 were Blue Morph
Am Coot 70
Mallards 250+
Can Geese 700+
And on the E side of the property (Co Rd 500E):
N Mockingbird
Red-tailed Hawk
Kestrel
Juncos
Am Tree Sparrows
Bob Kissel
Solsberry
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Merrillville Barnes and Noble
From: Beth Misner and Barny Dunning <misner1(AT)gte.net>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 11:07pm
If anyone in the Merrillville area is interested in talking about The Sibley
Guide to Bird Life and Behavior (or on birds in general), I will be at the
Barnes and Noble store there from 1-3 on Saturday afternoon. Stop by and
say "hi" if you want to talk about birds. And, yes, I will sign any copies
of the Sibley Guide that you are interested in getting de-faced.
Barny
misner1(AT)gte.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Barred Owl, Tippecanoe County
From: Beth Misner and Barny Dunning <misner1(AT)gte.net>
Date: 24 Jan 2002 11:11pm
The highlight of my commute home was a nice Barred Owl sitting on a fence
post by the road as I drove by at 5:15 PM. Seems early for it to be
hunting, but we have seen Barred Owls in the late afternoon hunting in this
spot before. For those of you in Tippecanoe County, the bird was seen along
County Road 1000 South, where it intersects with CR 100 East.
Barny
misner1(AT)gte.net
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Bloomington
IN-BIRD