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LABIRD-L for Wednesday, January 3, 2001
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Subject: Re: Bird Feeding with Cats
From: Russ Allor <RAllor(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 4:15am
In a message dated 1/2/01 10:40:24 PM Central Standard Time,
conover(AT)TALSTAR.COM writes:
<< correct. if you shoot the goldfinches, it makes it easier for the shrikes
to eat them.*
>>
I was thinking about shooting the shrike along with the cat.
Russ
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Feeding Cat: Poetry in Motion
From: Paul Dickson <Paul(AT)MORRISDICKSON.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 8:36am
Elaine and Labird: Though not a cat lover, I agree in part with some things
that Elaine says here. I have terrible problems with rats at my farm. I
store tons of seed and livestock feed and rats come for it droves. I feed a
dozen species of sparrows in the road near the barns, the BSG has a banding
day there every year. This conflict of uses led me through a myriad of
failed attempts to control rats with out a cat. My sister, who is a cat
lover, told me the same thing that Elaine says here, that some cats hunt
birds and others don't. To make a long story short, I hit upon a farm cat
that kills rats but not birds. He is a neutered male from a farm cat
linage. In his 3 years of life he has killed only 5 birds: 1 house sparrow,
3 brown headed cowbirds, and 1 sick red winged blackbird despite living
freely right in front of my feeding area. He hunts rats that feed on the
bird seed spread in the road. Its really amazing but true, he is a rat
specialist and just doesn't seem interested in birds. I keep him fed and
he eats his rat kills only occasionally. If I didn't feed him he probably
would eat the prey, maybe birds but he gets free choice Purina Cat Chow. I
also have a barn owl in my barn that seems to coexist with him, I suppose on
the same supply of rats. I now have very little rat problem and do not need
to use poison or traps.
All cats are not bird killers; I can testify to it.
Paul Dickson
Caddo Parish
(where there's still snow on the ground)
-----Original Message-----
From: Elaine Kilgore [mailto:freespark(AT)HOTMAIL.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, January 02, 2001 11:14 PM
To: LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu
Subject: Feeding Cat: Poetry in Motion
Gee it isn't hard to figure out that ya'll don't like cats. I've owned cats
ever since I was a kid.- a lot of cats. I spay them, give them their shots
and when I live in the country I throw them outside. They've eaten a few
birds but no way the numbers of one a day. Give me a break.
Send that cat to the Olympics! If you watch your cat and he's stalking the
birds and you find feathers in the yard well just lock the beast up.
I figure the good a feeder does in the winter outweighs the damage my cat
will do.
If you do own a cat that will eat a bird a day there are people who are
overrun with starlings and house sparrows. Maybe you could sell him on EBay.
Probably a real high dollar item.
Some cats are hunters - some aren't. My parakeets used to sit on my cat.
Actually roaches, lizards ,rats, mice - if you have an attachment to those
critters you just might want to keep you cat inside. Unless of course you
have those inside and then you have other "problems" that I can't help you
with.
I don't shoot other peoples cats, dogs, or people driving cars that hit
birds. I don't even think it's funny. I hang my feeder in a tree.
Keep it filled. Feed the cat. And then I find something really important to
worry about.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Hovering Orange-crowned warbler
From: "Dennis K. Demcheck" <ddemchec(AT)USGS.GOV>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 9:46am
This winter I have enjoyed watching an Orange-crowned warbler coming to
hummingbird feeders. It has been using a 3-oz. Perky Pet Little Beginner
tube feeder. It has a maximum hover time of about 1 second, but it's a
darn good hover, nevertheless. Ever since Christmas, however, it has been
feeding more leisurely, perched on a 4 Fountains feeder, rather than
hovering.
Considering how much I've eaten this holiday season, I don't blame him.
Dennis Demcheck
Baton Rouge
Aside to Paul Dickson --- Sluggo wants to give you a big hug. He is an
18-lb Maine Coon, so his hugs are no trivial matter. Just imagine a furry
Bob Sargent!
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: bird feeder rats
From: Ron Rovansek <Rovansek.Ronaldj(AT)EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 10:32am
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May be the rats up here are less bold or the squirrels more vicious, but
when I used to feed birds in my backyard in Edison, NJ, the occasional rat
that came by was terrified of grey squirrels, and would not come into the
yard when a squirrel was present (I counted up to 17 squirrels in my
20x20 ft backyard). Kinda makes you wonder why we are all afraid of rats,
but think squirrels are cute.
If your squirrels aren't doing the job, perhaps a screech owl box could be
erected.
Ron Rovansek
New Jersey - land of the scaredy-rat
copied message:
BIRD FEEDING WITH RATS
I was sitting on the patio this evening and saw one scurry from the
direction of the bird feeders under the wood deck. Geeze, I'm a live and
let live kinda guy but RATS!!! A couple of years ago they found their way
up the corner molding of the exterior siding and into the walls of the
house. Trapping, poisoning and general harrassment seemed to turn the
trick that time. Do ya'll have similiar problems with rattus norvegicus?
Dave Purvis
Mandeville , La
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Feeding Cat: Poetry in Motion
From: Paul Conover <conover(AT)TALSTAR.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 10:33am
elaine,
i love cats. that's why i take such good care of mine, including never
letting her go where traffic could kill her, or where she could kill yard
animals--including lizards, which i am very attached to, but which for some
reason you seem to dismiss as noxious pests. i love cats, i don't get them
and think 'how cute,' then throw them outside so i won't have to clean a
litter box. 'love' to me doesn't just mean 'own, then treat with utter
negligence'.
my wife always gets on me for shooting at cats. she says it's not the
cat's fault, it's the owners, and she's right.
owners who make such a big noise about how they love their cats, then
do
the pet owner equivalent of locking the baby in the car while they gamble
in the casino are the real culprits. unfortunately, i can't shoot the
owners-- who deserve it-- with a pellet gun. i couldn't sell a cop on it
'just being instinct--i'm a hunter', or, 'it's her fault for not being
faster, i only shoot a few each year!'
i think of all the kitties i used to feed on my porch. they all
belonged
to people, but they were always hungry. they were all fat as could be, and
old, but somehow they must have been the bruce jenners of the cat world,
because they would bring home dead birds all the time. amazing how much
faster an old fat cat is than a hopping baby thrasher! amazing how sad it
is to watch a disemboweled baby thrasher go through death spasms because
some ignorant misguided cat 'lover' thinks that the whole world wants to
share mr. whiskers with her!
'lock the beast up,' is right. do it when you get them, never let them
out. if they get mad, tough. we don't let kids play in the street, even if
they get mad at us.
please take care of your cats. i'm sure there are classes for people
who
don't know how. i truly don't enjoy shooting at cats, it makes me sick.
paul conover
tallahassee, fl
----------
> From: Elaine Kilgore <freespark(AT)HOTMAIL.COM>
> To: LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu
> Subject: Feeding Cat: Poetry in Motion
> Date: Tuesday, January 02, 2001 11:14 PM
>
> Gee it isn't hard to figure out that ya'll don't like cats. I've owned
cats
> ever since I was a kid.- a lot of cats. I spay them, give them their
shots
> and when I live in the country I throw them outside. They've eaten a few
> birds but no way the numbers of one a day. Give me a break.
> Send that cat to the Olympics! If you watch your cat and he's stalking
the
> birds and you find feathers in the yard well just lock the beast up.
> I figure the good a feeder does in the winter outweighs the damage my cat
> will do.
> If you do own a cat that will eat a bird a day there are people who are
> overrun with starlings and house sparrows. Maybe you could sell him on
EBay.
> Probably a real high dollar item.
> Some cats are hunters - some aren't. My parakeets used to sit on my
cat.
> Actually roaches, lizards ,rats, mice - if you have an attachment to
those
> critters you just might want to keep you cat inside. Unless of course you
> have those inside and then you have other "problems" that I can't help
you
> with.
> I don't shoot other peoples cats, dogs, or people driving cars that hit
> birds. I don't even think it's funny. I hang my feeder in a tree.
> Keep it filled. Feed the cat. And then I find something really important
to
> worry about.
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: feeder cat
From: Ron Rovansek <Rovansek.Ronaldj(AT)EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 10:41am
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Elaine,
I doubt bird feeders do any good, and overall do considerable harm. Native
birds get along just fine without feeders, and I am certain that, at least
in northern towns, there would be far fewer house sparrows (which keep
native cavity nesters out of areas near houses) without bird feeders. If
we are going to feed birds, I think we should all understand that we are
doing so for our enjoyment, not for the good of the birds.
Hey, this is just my opinion,
Ron Rovansek
Easton, PA
Elaine K. wrote:
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001 23:14:05 -0600
From: Elaine Kilgore <freespark(AT)HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Feeding Cat: Poetry in Motion
...I figure the good a feeder does in the winter outweighs the damage my cat
will do....
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Vegetable Garden Birds
From: "Beth H. Maniscalco" <cone-bhm(AT)NICH-NSUNET.NICH.EDU>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 11:08am
Labirders:
Yesterday morning, neighbor and good friend, Bob Simons, called to
report __a lot of little birds in his garden__. Sammy and I went
over to check and sure nuf, there were __a lot of little birds in his
garden__.
Foraging in the turnips, carrots, lettuces, and cabbages were:
6-8 Orange-crowned warblers
1 Wilson's warbler
3 Blue-gray gnatcatchers
4 Ruby-crowned kinglets (one male displaying his ruby crown)
1 Dark-eyed Junco
1 Pine warbler
From his report, they stayed for 2-3 hours eating worms, bugs, aphids, etc.
All
responded to phishing with a Ruby-crowned kinglet flying right up to
Sammy. Also, we were able to get within two feet of the garden fence
without them scattering. Several of the birds were also foraging in
a patch of hot peppers and shrimp plant which was interplanted and
not totally frozen.
Beth Maniscalco
Thibodaux, La
(Approx. 60 miles SW of New Orleans)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: venice CBC
From: "R. D. Purrington" <rdp(AT)ROSEBUD.PHY.TULANE.EDU>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 11:28am
I will try to get the Venice results posted on my website tomorrow
http://www.tulane.edu/~danny/venice.html
In the meantime, 7 observers in 3 parties got 145 species, with the
following boldface species:
Green Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Broad-winged Hawk (2)
Groove-billed Ani (it's sad this needs to be bf)
Chuck-will's Widow--3
selasphorus sp. (Rufous/Allen's)--3
Say's Phoebe--Phillip and Mac (#400 for Phillip and me)
Vermilion Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher (subject to further scrutiny0
Great Kiskadee
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher--4
Swainson's Thrush (!)
Wood Thrush
Yellow-th Warbler--3
Prairie Warbler
Ovenbird--2
N. Waterthrush
Summer Tanager
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Bullock's Oriole
oriole sp.
Not bad....Come join us next year. In future, the saturday after christmas,
unless it conflicts with New Orleans, e.g., 2005, when Christmas is on a
Sunday.
dan purrington
(participants: muth, ousset, myers, wallace, beck, ellis, purrington)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Rats
From: Roselie Overby <rosebird(AT)BAYOU.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 1:32pm
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Don, Labirders,
Yes, I have rats out there right now enjoying the birdfood. They =
are mainly cotton rats. I've seen wood rats out in an old shed, but no =
Norway rats. Mice are common also--house mice, cotton mice, deer mice. =
At least those are the ones I've trapped. I hate to interfer with them =
at all, but they are so destructive in my house. I've lost several =
articles of clothing to the bold ones that think my furniture is the =
perfect place for a nest. I'd much rather leave the rodents to the =
hawks, owls, and snakes. But never cats! I agree with Paul C.
=
Roselie Overby
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Help!
From: "Maurice Duvic Sr." <jsb8(AT)WEBTV.NET>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 2:06pm
Need help to preserve my reputation as bird authority! :-) Friend
reports having at his sunflower seed feeder: "Little smaller than
cardinal; RED bill; long tail; yellowish breast." Escapee? Expect
better description if it reappears.
Vic
Jackson, MS 392ll
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Last year's Mallard Harvest
From: JINGOLD <JINGOLD(AT)PILOT.LSUS.EDU>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 2:13pm
I received my Ducks Unlimited magazine today. A short blurb in the front
about Mallards says that 415,000 Mallards were shot in Louisiana during the
1999-2000 season. This was the largest harvest for LA since the mid-70s.
It also mentions that in Arkansas hunters "bagged a record 1.1 million
Mallards."
Jim Ingold
LSU-Shreveport
jingold(AT)pilot.lsus.edu
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Help!
From: Lita Pinter <apinter(AT)UNO.EDU>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 2:34pm
female cardinal?
At 02:06 PM 1/3/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>Need help to preserve my reputation as bird authority! :-) Friend
>reports having at his sunflower seed feeder: "Little smaller than
>cardinal; RED bill; long tail; yellowish breast." Escapee? Expect
>better description if it reappears.
>
> Vic
> Jackson, MS 392ll
>
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: SV: Rats
From: Trond Nilsen <trond.nilsen(AT)LARVIK.KOMMUNE.NO>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 3:19pm
Rosie/LABIRD:
You wrote:
...but no Norway rats
Jeeez, I HATE that name! And it`s no pretty sight either!
Who ever came up whith a name like that in the first place, sure ain`t no
friend of our tribe!
On behalf of all Norwegians,
Trond( SE Norway)
-----Opprinnelig melding-----
Fra: Roselie Overby [SMTP:rosebird(AT)BAYOU.COM]
Sendt: 3. januar 2001 20:34
Til: LABIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Emne: Rats
Don, Labirders,
Yes, I have rats out there right now enjoying the birdfood.
They are mainly cotton rats. I've seen wood rats out in an old shed, but no
Norway rats. Mice are common also--house mice, cotton mice, deer mice. At
least those are the ones I've trapped. I hate to interfer with them at all,
but they are so destructive in my house. I've lost several articles of
clothing to the bold ones that think my furniture is the perfect place for a
nest. I'd much rather leave the rodents to the hawks, owls, and snakes.
But never cats! I agree with Paul C.
Roselie Overby
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: SV: Rats - Trond's "Norway Rats"
From: "Maurice Duvic Sr." <jsb8(AT)WEBTV.NET>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 3:49pm
Trond: I'm not sure of the derivation of the derogatory term but I
offer this as a possible explanation:
Vic
Jackson, MS 392ll
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: SV: Rats
From: Bill Fontenot <bbboy(AT)NATURESTATION.ORG>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 3:59pm
At 10:15 PM 1/3/2001 +0100, you wrote:
>Rosie/LABIRD:
>
>You wrote:
>...but no Norway rats
>
>Jeeez, I HATE that name! And it`s no pretty sight either!
>Who ever came up whith a name like that in the first place, sure ain`t no
>friend of our tribe!
>
>On behalf of all Norwegians,
>Trond( SE Norway)
a good point, trond. allow me to quote from geo. lowery jr's The Mammals of
Louisiana and Adjacent Waters:
"The Norway Rat has also been called brown rat, wharf rat, house rat, and
sewer rat. The name Norway Rat and the specific name norvegicus, the Latin
word for the country of Norway, are both misnomers, for the species is of
Asiatic origin. After spreading into western Europe, it was probably first
brought to America from England. Though sometimes alleged to have come from
Norway, the material [specimens] from which the original [scientific]
description was based was from England..."
uh-huh...
bill fontenot
acadiana park nature station
lafayette, la.
>
> -----Opprinnelig melding-----
> Fra: Roselie Overby [SMTP:rosebird(AT)BAYOU.COM]
> Sendt: 3. januar 2001 20:34
> Til: LABIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
> Emne: Rats
>
> Don, Labirders,
> Yes, I have rats out there right now enjoying the birdfood.
>They are mainly cotton rats. I've seen wood rats out in an old shed, but no
>Norway rats. Mice are common also--house mice, cotton mice, deer mice. At
>least those are the ones I've trapped. I hate to interfer with them at all,
>but they are so destructive in my house. I've lost several articles of
>clothing to the bold ones that think my furniture is the perfect place for a
>nest. I'd much rather leave the rodents to the hawks, owls, and snakes.
>But never cats! I agree with Paul C.
>
>Roselie Overby
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: SV: Rats
From: Lita Pinter <apinter(AT)UNO.EDU>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 4:05pm
Trond -
At 10:15 PM 1/3/2001 +0100, you wrote:
>Who ever came up whith a name like that in the first place,
Berkenhout, 1769 (actually it was _Mus norvegicus_ originally)
Lita Pinter
sure ain`t no
>friend of our tribe!
>
>On behalf of all Norwegians,
>Trond( SE Norway)
>
> -----Opprinnelig melding-----
> Fra: Roselie Overby [SMTP:rosebird(AT)BAYOU.COM]
> Sendt: 3. januar 2001 20:34
> Til: LABIRD-L(AT)LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
> Emne: Rats
>
> Don, Labirders,
> Yes, I have rats out there right now enjoying the birdfood.
>They are mainly cotton rats. I've seen wood rats out in an old shed, but no
>Norway rats. Mice are common also--house mice, cotton mice, deer mice. At
>least those are the ones I've trapped. I hate to interfer with them at all,
>but they are so destructive in my house. I've lost several articles of
>clothing to the bold ones that think my furniture is the perfect place for a
>nest. I'd much rather leave the rodents to the hawks, owls, and snakes.
>But never cats! I agree with Paul C.
>
>Roselie Overby
>
>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Yellow Rail
From: Jennifer Coulson <Jacoulson(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 4:21pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Hi folks.
Tom, Christie Reihl and I were banding grassland birds on the Crescent Acres
Landfill today and we herded a juvenile Yellow Rail into a mist net and
banded it (photos too). We also banded 6 LeConte's and 1 Henslow's Sparrow.
Jennifer Coulson
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: SV: Rats. Trond's "Norway Rats" cont'd
From: "Maurice Duvic Sr." <jsb8(AT)WEBTV.NET>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 4:41pm
Page II (Sorry; hit the wrong button.)
In New Orleans - and no doubt other ports - it was necessary to put
conical metal devices on the mooring lines (ropes) to stop rats from
getting to the wharf. Probably, since most of the shipping was
Norwegian operated, the rats were called "Norwegian." (Just
guessing.) I'm sure there was no offense meant!
Vic
Jackson, MS 392ll
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: venice CBC
From: "R. D. Purrington" <rdp(AT)ROSEBUD.PHY.TULANE.EDU>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 5:07pm
Two things I forgot re Venice:
1) boldface bird: Painted Bunting
2) 0 House Sparrows!
dan purrington
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Help!
From: Roselie Overby <rosebird(AT)BAYOU.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 6:37pm
I vote for female cardinal, too. Some of the females at my feeders are
quite colorful. Roselie
-----Original Message-----
From: Maurice Duvic Sr. <jsb8(AT)WEBTV.NET>
To: LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu <LABIRD-L(AT)listserv.lsu.edu>
Date: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 2:08 PM
Subject: Help!
Need help to preserve my reputation as bird authority! :-) Friend
reports having at his sunflower seed feeder: "Little smaller than
cardinal; RED bill; long tail; yellowish breast." Escapee? Expect
better description if it reappears.
Vic
Jackson, MS 392ll
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: SMITH'S LONGSPURS
From: James Beck <buteo(AT)WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 6:55pm
LABIRD,
George Domas, Doug O'Bannon and I had TEN SMITH'S LONGSPURS yesterday
on
the Reserve CBC. An individual was flushed from the ground first, light
buffy with white outer tail feathers, and gave a dry rattle. After about
45 minutes, two more flew over us in great sunlight, one having remnants of
what appeared to be leftover alternate plumage on the head. Beautiful
individuals. Later we had another flock of six, with NO Laplands. Every
longspur I laid my eyes on had no trace of "red" in the wings or otherwise,
and was this buffy color mentioned above. All the birds were heading
northwest, respectively and were not found in any fields we birded. A few
people were supposedly going to look for them today so, more later.
Good birding,
James
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Horned Larks at UL Lafayette Farm - Western St. Martin
Parish, Louisiana - South-central Louisiana
From: "Jay V. Huner" <jjhuner(AT)MINDSPRING.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 6:57pm
Got to the Farm this morning at about 7:30 AM - "slept in"! Had to
open the gate but saw a lot of activity nearby and assumed it was the
American Pipit flock that greets me most mornings these days. Instead
and much to my surprise, it was a flock of about 30 Horned Larks -
Bird No. 237 for the Farm!
So, who knows maybe a junco or a creeper or a nuthatch will show up to
make No. 238?!
Jay Huner
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Cedar Waxwings Arrive
From: Janelle Breaux <JANTIQ125(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 6:53pm
Scores of Cedar Waxwings and Robins in my trees today. Also a Yellow Rumped
Warbler eating under the feeders, along with my regular winter resident White
Throated and House Sparrows.
Janelle Breaux
Lafayette, off K. Saloom Rd.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Western Tanager..question
From: Peggy Siegert <PEGSIEGERT(AT)CS.COM>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 8:37pm
LaBird,
The Western Tanager was easy to find most of this afternoon feeding on
sunflower seeds on either of our platform feeders. She and a flock of robins
have eaten nearly all the berries in the privot. She had no interest in meal
worms.
How unusual is it for a Western Tanager to be here in January...or
anytime...Hope some of you will fill me in on this.
Peggy Siegert
Slidell, LA
zone 8b
****************
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: HARRIS' HAWK, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, SAY'S PHOEBE
From: "R. Martin Guidry" <guidryrm(AT)home.com>
Date: 3 Jan 2001 11:07pm
Today (1/3/01) Karen Fay, Bruce Crider and I sought several of the birds
recently reported on LABIRD.
HARRIS' HAWK
Immediately after exiting I-10 north (toward Sorrento/Gonzales) onto
US 61 at the Sorrento exit (Exit 187) we found the Harris' Hawk perched
in a tree alongside US 61. The Harris' Hawk was on the east (New
Orleans side) of US 61 at Highway 3140 which is about 1/4 mile north of
I-10. There is a sign that says "Sorrento Gas Storage Facility" at this
intersection. The hawk has been seen perched in trees and on power
poles on both sides of US 61 from this point until about 1 mile before
LA 22 at Sorrento. After we observed the hawk for 15-20 seconds it flew
past us about 40 yards and perched in a second tree. During the flight
its underwings and tail pattern were clearly visible. The bird's
feathers appeared fresh and undamaged. We saw the Harris' Hawk about
8:15 am.
To find this location take I-10 to Exit 187 (Sorrento Exit). If
traveling from New Orleans, exit north (toward Sorrento/Gonzales) onto
US 61 and begin scanning the trees and power poles. If traveling from
Baton Rouge, exit south onto US 61 (toward Grammercy; there is no north
exit) and proceed to the first turn-around about 1/2 mile ahead on the
left. Make a U-turn at the turn-around and proceed under I-10. Begin
scanning the trees and power poles on both sides of US 61.
LAPLAND LONGSPURS
After observing the Harris' Hawk, we went to the Bonnet Carre spillway
to look for longspurs. Take I-10 to LaPlace and exit south (right) at
Highway 51 (Exit 209). Take Highway 51 to US 61 and turn east (left).
Stay on US 61 for several miles until the small rise at the spillway.
This is just past Evangeline Street. At the small rise turn right onto
CC Road. Stay on CC Road until just before the sharp bend to the right
at the Mississippi River. Just before the bend turn left and go up the
levee. At the top of the levee bear left onto the asphalt road at the
base of the levee. Once on the asphalt road you'll see the spillway
structure on your right. We found LAPLAND LONGSPURS between the asphalt
road and the spillway structure in the short grass. Exactly where Ron
Stein had them on the Reserve CBC 1/2/01. We saw 6-8 winter-plumaged
Lapland Longspurs intermingled with a flock of 50-70 Savannah Sparrows
and 3-5 Horned Larks.
We found that the best way to find the longspurs was to drive slowly
down the asphalt road until the flock of sparrows, etc. flew a short
distance. We then parked a short distance ahead of the flow and moved
into the grassy area so that we were directly in front of the flock. In
this position we could look down the 'furrows' (or flattened grassy
areas where it appeared vehicles may have driven). The longspurs and
sparrows were more easily seen if viewed down these relatively low-grass
areas than trying to look across the higher grasses where they hid
easily. Persistence is needed as the sparrows greatly outnumbered the
longspurs. Listening for the longspur 'rattle' is also helpful in
identifying where the longspurs are. We saw the longspurs between 9:30
- 11:15 am.
We also tried for SMITH'S LONGSPURS without success. We looked on both
sides of the spillway structure. On the river side we walked the grassy
area near the structure for about 1/3 mile from the LaPlace end and then
walked the first grassy field from the structure to the river. We only
found a few American Pipits. On the lake side of the spillway structure
Bruce and Karen periodically heard a two-noted longspur 'rattle' of a
single bird, but we could never find the bird despite 45 minutes of
searching the flock. [Those that know my auditory capabilities know why
I excluded myself from hearing this call note. Very frustrating.]
Maybe others will have better success.
SAY'S PHOEBE
We then proceeded toward Venice, LA and the woods across from Ft.
Jackson (about 6 miles above Venice). Just as cited by David Muth from
the Venice CBC, we found the Say's Phoebe alongside the first pond on
the last dirt road south of the fort. (I believe this is the 3rd dirt
road on the right after reaching the southern end of the fort as you
head toward Venice.) Heading toward Venice on LA 23 this road is on your
right and just past the fort. Park in the grassy area alongside the LA
23 shoulder and walk along the dirt road the short distance to the pond.
The Say's Phoebe was seen perched on the dirt and in the low vegetation
(about 1 foot above ground level) at the very edge of the water. This
was the eastern edge of the pond (the side closest to Ft Jackson). It
would periodically fly out over the water about 20 feet from the perch,
snag something off the water and return to the perch area. In the
immediate area repeating the same perch and flycatching behavior were
four Eastern Phoebes. Occasionally the Say's Phoebe and the Eastern
Phoebes would fly across the pond to the shore adjoining the second pond
to the west. We observed the Say's Phoebe about 2:00 pm. Patient helps
with this bird as our first route around the pond produced only Eastern
Phoebes, but on the second trip Bruce spotted the Say's Phoebe among the
Eastern Phoebes. Also, it is best to be very near the water's edge
(scanning far ahead as you walk) as opposed to staying several feet back
on the bank of the pond.
We also found an immature Painted Bunting in the scrubby area on the
east edge of the first pond and two American Bitterns near the northeast
and northwest shores of the second (western) pond.
Thanks,
Marty Guidry
Baton Rouge, LA
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