OneidaBirds for February 9-15, 2003

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Date   Time   No Chittenango Hawk Owl or Fenner Snowy Owl   Tony Shrimpton    Sun, 9 Feb 2003   2:49pm   Hawk Owl T/Root   Alex Wood    Sun, 9 Feb 2003   4:26pm   Gulls   joe brin    Sun, 9 Feb 2003   7:03pm   N. Shrike   Gregg Dashnau    Sun, 9 Feb 2003   10:18pm   No owls   Bill Purcell    Sun, 9 Feb 2003   10:24pm   Nations & River Rd.   David Wheeler    Mon, 10 Feb 2003   9:22am   Hawk Owl - No, Shrike - Yes; Snowy Owl - Yes (1)   Derek    Mon, 10 Feb 2003   1:53pm   Madison County   Matthew Young    Mon, 10 Feb 2003   2:16pm   Root Hawk Owl, Monday, 2/10/03   Peter Doherty    Mon, 10 Feb 2003   4:04pm   Root Hawk Owl   Cheri Sassman    Mon, 10 Feb 2003   7:27pm   Peregrin Falcon in Utica?   Cheri Sassman    Mon, 10 Feb 2003   7:31pm   Gray Catbird   David Wheeler    Mon, 10 Feb 2003   9:59pm   Phoenix Dam Gulls   Bernie Carr    Mon, 10 Feb 2003   11:01pm   Root Hawk Owl, Tuesday, 2/11/03   Peter Doherty    Wed, 12 Feb 2003   9:01am   Re: Hawk Owl - No, Shrike - Yes; Snowy Owl - Yes (1)   Derek    Thu, 13 Feb 2003   10:53am   Fenner Snowy Owl   Bonnie Folnsbee    Thu, 13 Feb 2003   11:08am   Carolina Wren-still alive!   joe brin    Fri, 14 Feb 2003   5:00pm   Carolina Wren in Whitesboro   Betty Armbruster    Fri, 14 Feb 2003   5:15pm   Cedar waxwings   Betty Armbruster    Fri, 14 Feb 2003   5:25pm   FW: Hawk Owl?   Brenda Best    Fri, 14 Feb 2003   9:24pm   Cayuga Lake Basin Report: February 5-11, 2003   Matthew Medler    Fri, 14 Feb 2003   9:38pm   Interesting Paragraphs: 2 extinct birds   John Rogers    Sat, 15 Feb 2003   1:02am   Snowy Owl - Sauquoit   Jody Hildreth    Sat, 15 Feb 2003   11:04am   sauquoit snowy owl   Bonnie Folnsbee    Sat, 15 Feb 2003   6:35pm   Jefferson   David Neveu    Sat, 15 Feb 2003   6:51pm   Syracuse RBA - February 15, 2003   Mickey Scilingo    Sat, 15 Feb 2003   7:30pm

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Subject: No Chittenango Hawk Owl or Fenner Snowy Owl
From: Tony Shrimpton <fiveshrimps(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 9 Feb 2003 2:49pm

Tried this morning(Sunday) for these two owl species
in the previously reported locations, again no luck.

Tony Shrimpton
Fayetteville, NY

=====
Tony Shrimpton
509 N Manlius St
Fayetteville NY 13066

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Subject: Hawk Owl T/Root
From: Alex Wood <awood_2(AT)HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: 9 Feb 2003 4:26pm

Greetings:

Just returned from Town of Root.  Second Sunday with no
Hawk Owl.  If the Wind blows; advise, stay home, cause the
Owl does.  Number of vehicles and no one saw the owl while
we where there, 12noon to 1pm.  Saw number of Rough-legged
Hawk, and one Red-tail Hawk while checking for the Owl.

AJ Wood
Oneida, NY

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Subject: Gulls
From: joe brin <jnnbrin(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 9 Feb 2003 7:03pm

I searched Baldwinsville and Phoenix for Gulls this
morning. I found Glaucous at Cooper's Marina and
Mercer Park in Baldwinsville first. At Phoenix I found
One Glaucous (tremendous number of Gulls at Phoenix)
before the snow moved in and made viewing impossible.
I returned to Cooper's at B'ville and found a Lesser
Black Back before snow moved in there too.

Joseph Brin
jnnbrin(AT)yahoo.com
Baldwinsville, N.Y.

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Subject: N. Shrike
From: Gregg Dashnau <gdashnau(AT)TWCNY.RR.COM>
Date: 9 Feb 2003 10:18pm

Hello Everyone

While out Ski-birding through the fields of the Three Rivers WMA in
Baldwinsville this afternoon, I found a NORTHERN SHRIKE. It was perched
at the top of a tree illuminated by the late afternoon sun against a
clear blue ski. Very pretty. After a few minutes it even began to sing
at length.

Good birding.

Gregg Dashnau
Baldwinsville, NY
gdashnau(AT)twcny.rr.com

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Subject: No owls
From: Bill Purcell <wpurcell(AT)TWCNY.RR.COM>
Date: 9 Feb 2003 10:24pm

Another negative report on the Madison County Hawk Owl and Snowy
Owl(s). I spent parts of Sunday morning and afternoon searching for
the Hawk Owl with no luck. The Erie Canal from Harsh Rd. to Bee Bee
Bridge Rd. had little habitat for a Hawk Owl, I did find Mockingbird,
Titmouse, Robins and Cedar Waxwings along the towpath. Trying to find
a Snowy Owl on a windy day in Fenner (do they have calm days?) is not
worth the trouble.

Bill Purcell
Hastings NY 13076
wpurcell(AT)twcny.rr.com

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Subject: Nations & River Rd.
From: David Wheeler <Tigger64(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 10 Feb 2003 9:22am

From Nations Rd. and vicinity:

7 SHORT-EARED OWLS (end of S. Avon Rd.)
1 RED-HEADED WOODPECKER (Root Tavern @ Nations)
2 E. BLUEBIRDS
4 N. MOCKINGBIRDS

Several hundred birds in a mixed flock on Boyd Rd. comprised of HORNED LARK,
SNOW BUNTING, and dozens of LAPLAND LONGSPUR.

From River Rd. south of Chandler, a N. SHRIKE with prey in a thorny bush.
Also, ROBINS, MOCKINGBIRDS and many WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.

---David Wheeler
NSyracuse, NY
Tigger64(AT)AOL.com

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Subject: Hawk Owl - No, Shrike - Yes; Snowy Owl - Yes (1)
From: Derek <dbirdwhite(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 10 Feb 2003 1:53pm

    Spent a good part of the morning out birding for the two species of
owls.  Did a thorough search of Rt. 5, Harsh, Gee, New Boston (two
bluebirds and a northern flicker), Canaseraga, Kimberly and Jennings
(south of Rt. 5) Roads.  On Kimberly Rd., I parked and walked a good
length of the canal path (eastward).  Absolutely no luck finding the
northern hawk owl.  On Rt. 5, though, an AMERICAN KESTREL was observed
just south of the road 150m east of the Del Mar Hotel.  3 R-T HAWKS in
the area with many more throughout the countryside.  On the corner of
Gee and Canaseraga was a female COOPER's HAWK.  0.5 miles east on Gee
Rd. (before the gun club) in the first field on the left was a NORTHERN
SHRIKE (nice consolation prize).
    After giving up on the hawk owl, I went to look for the Fenner
snowy owls.  I located one SNOWY OWL on Bellinger Rd. 100m north of
Peterboro.  This bird, a heavily barred individual, was being harrassed
by three crows (which had originally caught my attention) as it sat
perched on the 6-8' snow banks on the east side of the road.  It then
flew to the west side and perched there for a couple of minutes.
Finally, it flew south to Peterboro Rd. (100 west of Bellinger) and
perched 8m in a tree.  Not only was this the first time I've observed a
snowy in a tree but the first time one was more than 1m off the ground.
    Also, a large flock of snow buntings were observed on Larkin Rd.
They were flying in one direction and I was driving in the other, so I
did not stop to look for other species mixed in.
Derek J. White
Fayetteville, NY
dwhite5(AT)twcny.rr.com

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Subject: Madison County
From: Matthew Young <grosbeak(AT)CLARITYCONNECT.COM>
Date: 10 Feb 2003 2:16pm

Greetings,

I did sort of a Madison County raptor survey this past
weekend-Unfortunately I didn't get over to Brookfield. I only covered from
my house/Georgetown to Fenner and then to Canastota. No luck on multiple
trips for the Hawk-Owl or Snowy Owl. Good to see Derek saw the Snowy-I was
starting to believe it was a myth even though all the locals including
plows men have recorded at least 2 birds intermittently for the past 6
weeks. Surprisingly I found zero Lapland Longspurs even though there were
hundreds of field birds floating around the area. Here are the results.

Georgetown to Fenner:

15 RED-TAILED HAWKS
5 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS(3 dark and 2 light)
1 FEMALE COOPER'S HAWK just north of Bingley Rd. on Nelson Rd.
1 COMMON RAVEN just north of Bingley Rd. on Nelson Rd.
150+ SNOW BUNTINGS just north of Bingley Rd. on Nelson Rd.
30 HORNED LARKS just north of Bingley Rd. on Nelson Rd.
20 SNOW BUNTINGS on Larkin Rd.
20 SNOW BUNTING South of Bingley on Nelson Rd.

Fenner to Canastota:

12 RED-TAILED HAWKS
3 AMERICAN KESTRELS (1 on Jennings, 1 on Gee and 1 on Rt 5/13)
1 MALE COOPER'S HAWK
150-300+ SNOW BUNTINGS at the corner of Ingalls Corners and Nelson
Rds.(pure flock of 300+ on Friday and a pure flock of 150+ on Saturday.

Matt Young
grosbeak(AT)clarityconnect.com
Madison County

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Subject: Root Hawk Owl, Monday, 2/10/03
From: Peter Doherty <leasttern(AT)HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: 10 Feb 2003 4:04pm

Owl present at noon on perch behind houses .3mi north of home perch on east
side of Corbin Hill Rd.  Bird thereafter moved to different perches on five
occasions during the next half-hour, each time moving south.  The fifth
perch was located in an elm in the middle of the hedgerow 200 yds north of
home perch on the west side of the road.  A rodent kill was made fm this
perch and the bird consumed its prey on this perch and remained there until
2:20 p.m.  The owl then flew to home perch where it remained until i left
area at 2:30.  Weather conditions were light snow and light N wind.  best,
Peter Doherty

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Subject: Root Hawk Owl
From: Cheri Sassman <CESASSMAN(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 10 Feb 2003 7:27pm

Along with a large group of birders and photographers, I was able to observe
the hawk owl on a sunny but very cold Saturday.  While I was there, I noticed
that a photographer entered the driveway to get a closer shot.  Most people
are very respectful of the residents but some get carried away with the
moment.

A professional photographer from Ohio asked me if I would pass along this
information.  He stopped and introduced himself to the property owners that
morning.  They told him that their mother who lives with them is ill and she
gets very upset when someone enters the property.  Hopefully, people will
keep a watch out for this.

Cheri Sassman
Utica, NY
cesassman(AT)aol.com

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Subject: Peregrin Falcon in Utica?
From: Cheri Sassman <CESASSMAN(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 10 Feb 2003 7:31pm

I received secondhand information that a peregrin falcon has been spotted in
the vicinity of the Utica Psychiactric Center on York St. on several
occasions.  I am trying to find out when it was last seen.

Cheri Sassman
cesassman(AT)aol.com
Utica, NY

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Subject: Gray Catbird
From: David Wheeler <Tigger64(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 10 Feb 2003 9:59pm

I found that Gray Catbird on the Erie Canal trail.  Park at the Manlius
Center Rd. crossing and walk east.  After about 4/10 mile there's a bunch of
berry bushes and plenty of birds concentrated there (at least a dozen
Cardinals).

The Catbird was there feeding and keeping warm playing chase games with two
Mockingbirds.  The Catbird looked very black against a white background!!!

There's tons of berries and great habitat in the area.

---David Wheeler
NSyracuse, NY
Tigger64(AT)AOL.com

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Subject: Phoenix   Dam Gulls
From: Bernie Carr <bcarr(AT)ZHIGHWAY.NET>
Date: 10 Feb 2003 11:01pm

There were more gulls at Phoenix this lunch time than I've seen all =
year.  Most were herring gulls.  There was 1 lesser black-backed gull on =
the ice above the dam and an iceland gull below the dam.  With gull =
numbers well over 2000 birds, I'm sure that there are many more =
interesting gulls to be found.

Bernie Carr
Syracuse, NY
bcarr@zhighwaydotnet

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Subject: Root Hawk Owl, Tuesday, 2/11/03
From: Peter Doherty <leasttern(AT)HOTMAIL.COM>
Date: 12 Feb 2003 9:01am

Owl was present on home perch when i arrived at 2:30 p.m.  Weather mostly
cloudy, cold at 15, very light N wind.  The bird remained on perch til 3:30,
save one outflight w brief hover and return over the line of round bales on
the east side of Corbin Hill to the south.  At 3:30 the bird flew behind the
Lemp house and thereafter was not seen until 4:40 when found perched .4mi
north of home perch at top of maple by farmhouse on west side of Corbin Hill
at very base of the ridge.  There is a cedar/maple swamp across the road and
to the east.  I have not previously seen the owl in this area.  Owl remained
on this perch until 5:10;  a Great Horned Owl was clearly calling fm the
cedar swamp while the Hawk Owl was perched on the maple.  At 5:10 the HO
flew 400 yds east to a perch <200 yards fm where the GRHO was calling and
not 30 seconds later flew to a higher, nearby 2d perch, both on deciduous
trees.  Within a minute the bird dropped to the snow beneath its perch,
clearly after prey.  No confirmation of kill; owl not seen thereafter.  GRHO
continued to call as light fell.  The use of this cedar swamp by the HO is
also a first observation by this observer.  Not surprising;  it must seem
like its boreal home.

This early Wednesday a.m. has already seen several heavy snow squalls pass
through Sharon Springs on strong WNW winds.  Not a good owl day for people.
best, Peter Doherty

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Subject: Re: Hawk Owl - No, Shrike - Yes; Snowy Owl - Yes (1)
From: Derek <dbirdwhite(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 13 Feb 2003 10:53am

Adding to the usual birds at the feeder, a group of 7 BROWN-HEADED
COWBIRDS showed up in this chilly weather.  There were two males in the
group with one female that looked to be rather stressed.  She seemed to
be stationary and lethargic.  Also, has a bit of snow piling up on her
shoulders.
Derek J. White
Fayetteville, NY
dwhite5(AT)twcny.rr.com

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Subject: Fenner Snowy Owl
From: Bonnie Folnsbee <owlbaby_2000(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 13 Feb 2003 11:08am

On Tuesday 2/11 My husband and I went to look for the snowy owls which have been
 reported near Bellinger rd. in Fenner. we saw one sitting on the top of a tree
next to the Fenner farms sign, not sure of the name of the road, But it does
intersect with Bellinger. Had some great looks and got pics. Talked to a local
who said there are usually two but she had only seen one that day.

Bonnie Folnsbee

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Subject: Carolina Wren-still alive!
From: joe brin <jnnbrin(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 14 Feb 2003 5:00pm

The Baldwinsville area has been hit very hard with
snow and cold this week. Nights have been near or at
zero and snowfall has been substantial. In spite of
this my Carolina Wren is still alive and kicking. Each
day when I come home from work I look at the feeders
and each day he is still there. Oddly, he does not go
to the suet, preferring instead sunflower seeds.

Joseph Brin
jnnbrin(AT)yahoo.com
Baldwinsville, N.Y.

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Subject: Carolina Wren in Whitesboro
From: Betty Armbruster <barm17(AT)EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: 14 Feb 2003 5:15pm

There has been a Carolina Wern in Whitesboro for about three weeks or more.
It goes to the suet feeders and the black oil sunflower seeds.  There is a
small hole in one of the trees where it seems to like to go into.
I did get to see it twice.

Betty Armbruster
barm17(AT)earthlink.net
South of Utica, NY

-

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Subject: Cedar waxwings
From: Betty Armbruster <barm17(AT)EARTHLINK.NET>
Date: 14 Feb 2003 5:25pm

What a great sight.  There are more than 50 Cedar Waxwings sitting in the
trees that are about 20 feet from my window.  The sun is shining on them and
they are preening and puffing up their feathers to stay warm.  I see them in
my trees 3 or 4 times a week.  I think they roost in the area.

Betty Armbruster
barm17(AT)earthlink.net
South of Utica, NY

-

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Subject: FW:  Hawk Owl?
From: Brenda Best <jabbest(AT)AMERICU.NET>
Date: 14 Feb 2003 9:24pm

Forwarding from NYSBirds-L:

 ------ Forwarded Message
> From: "Carena Pooth" <carena(AT)prodigy.net>
> Reply-To: carena(AT)prodigy.net
> Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 20:02:03 -0500
> To: "NYSBIRDS-L" <NYSBIRDS-L(AT)cornell.edu>
> Subject: [NYSBIRDS-L:9923] Hawk Owl?
>

> Does anyone have any news of the Root visitor after 2/11?
>
>      Carena
>

------ End of Forwarded Message

Brenda
--
Brenda Best
Durhamville, NY
jabbest(AT)americu.net

Nature Club of Central New York
http://www.natureclubofcny.com

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Subject: Cayuga Lake Basin Report:  February 5-11, 2003
From: Matthew Medler <mdm2(AT)CORNELL.EDU>
Date: 14 Feb 2003 9:38pm

- Cayuga Lake Basin Report

* New York
* Cayuga Lake Basin
* 11 February 2003
* NYIT0302.11

- Birds Reported

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
Redhead (Aythya americana)
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
GYRFALCON (Falco rusticolus)
"Western" Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)

- Transcript

Hotline:  Cayuga Lake Basin Report
Phone number:  (607) 254-2429
Dates:  February 5-11, 2003
To Report:  e-mail mdm2(AT)cornell.edu and/or mja43(AT)cornell.edu
Coverage:  The Cayuga Lake Basin of central New York, including portions of
Tompkins, Cayuga, Wayne, Seneca, and Schuyler Counties
Compilers:  Mike Andersen and Matt Medler
Compiled:  February 14, 2003

The week of February 5-11 was a relatively quiet one in the Basin, with the
frigid weather perhaps limiting the number of reports from
birders.  Despite at least a few attempts to find them, none of the "Big
Three" birds of this winter--Eared Grebe, Barrow's Goldeneye, or
Gyrfalcon--was seen during the reporting period.  [Editors' Note:  a
GYRFALCON was seen today, February 14, just north of the Village of Aurora,
shortly before this report was compiled.]  Even the massive flock of
REDHEAD that has been seen all winter at various places on Cayuga Lake
managed to elude most observers this week; there was only one report of
"thousands" of REDHEAD and CANVASBACK, with these birds being seen, along
with 250 TUNDRA SWANS, just south of the Village of Union Springs (AW, EW,
JW).  Other waterbirds reported from Cayuga Lake this week included ten
RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and a blue-phase SNOW GOOSE at Sheldrake, eight or
nine HORNED GREBES at Aurora Bay, and three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS at Myers
Point (SF & SF).  There were also "lots and lots" of COMMON GOLDENEYE along
the northwestern part of the lake, but no Barrow's was found in the crowd
(MH).  The only other birds of note from Cayuga Lake were two gulls, both
found on February 8:  an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL seen at Stewart
Park, and a first-winter ICELAND GULL seen just south of Union Springs (KR;
MA, PH, LS).  Stewart Park also hosted the impressive number of 225 COMMON
MERGANSERS that same day (KR).

The most surprising sighting of the week was certainly that of an EASTERN
PHOEBE found near the Fayette/Varrick town line on February 9 (BG,
LL).  The observers believed that this bird was taking advantage of a dryer
vent in order to keep warm.  Another out-of-season sighting was that of a
CHIPPING SPARROW at the feeders at the Laboratory of Ornithology
(EB).  Oddly, this marks the third sighting this bitterly cold winter of
Chipping Sparrow, a species that has only been seen four times in the
history of the Ithaca Christmas Bird Count.  The Sapsucker Woods area also
continues to host a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, an infrequently-to-rarely-seen
species in the Basin during the wintertime (AW & JW).

COMMON RAVENS continue to be seen quite regularly from various points in
the south Basin, with reports this week coming from Brooktondale, Caroline,
Etna, and Ithaca (SF; GH; AW; KR).  The "Western" RED-TAILED HAWK was seen
again in the vicinity of the Cornell Game Farm on February 9, and an adult
BALD EAGLE was seen soaring over Dryden Central School on February 6 (TL; JL).

Finally, the Cornell Lane area, near the Dryden/Harford town line on Rt.
38, continues to be a good place to see both SNOW BUNTING and LAPLAND
LONGSPUR; three longspurs were seen again this week, in the company of
eight to ten buntings and 100 HORNED LARKS.

Observers:  Mike Andersen, Eric Banford, Steve & Susie Fast, Bob Guthrie,
Meena Haribal, Pete Hosner, George Houghton, Leona Lauster, Tim Lenz, Jeff
Lewis, Ken Rosenberg, Lena Samsonenko, Allison Wells, Evan Wells, Jeff Wells.

Good birding,
Matt and Mike

- End transcript

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Subject: Interesting Paragraphs:  2 extinct birds
From: John Rogers <JR1950(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 15 Feb 2003 1:02am

 Interesting short paragraphs/exerpts about two extinct species:
(From A Walk Through the Year, by Edwin Teale)

Heath Hen:
...We recall the tragic story of this game bird. Its mounting slaughter
continued until the only place in America it was found was on the
Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. There, in 1916, disaster
overwhelmed these survivors. Fire swept through the thickets of shrub oak,
berry bushes, and pitch pine at the time when the birds were nesting. It
destroyed all the eggs and most of the brooding adults. The last heath hen in
the world was sighted on the island in the autumn of 1931.

Great Awk:
This remote dot of land, Funk Island off the coast of Newfoundland...provided
one of the final breeding grounds for this now extinct seabird. ..In May 1534
Jacques Cartier visited this rocky outpost and found it swarming with large
black and white flightless "penguins." The birds, unaccustomed to men, showed
little fear. Their slaughter was easy....They were killed for food. They were
butchered to provide bait for the fishing fleets on the Grand Banks. They
were slaughtered for their feathers....The last day on which a great awk
viewed the world its kind had known so long was June 3, 1844.

...When they died, a thread of life snapped, never to reappear on earth.

John Rogers
Brewerton
Sunrise555(AT)aol.com

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Subject: Snowy Owl - Sauquoit
From: Jody Hildreth <jody(AT)KIDWINGS.COM>
Date: 15 Feb 2003 11:04am

Hello All,

Earlier this week I was told that a Snowy Owl was spotted on Sulphur Springs
Rd. in Sauquoit.  It was seen by a lady who I work with who lives right
where the owl was seen.  I checked on Thursday, but could not find it.  This
morning she called and said the owl was right out in the field - so I hopped
in the car, despite feeling very sick, to check it out.

Sure enough, it is a Snowy Owl - and it is beautiful.  I tried to take some
digiscoped pictures - they are not the best since the owl wasn't close and
the sun was not in the best position.  If anyone is interested in finding
this bird I will give directions from route 8 heading south.  Get off at the
Sauquoit exit and turn right.  You will go over some railroad tracks and
come to a flashing red light.  Turn left at the light onto Oneida St.  Go
down a little ways and the road will fork.  Got to the right onto Sulphur
Springs Rd.  You will go past the Sauquoit Middle and Elementary Schools and
continue going uphill.  After going past a golf course the road will level
out.  If you go to where Timian Rd. comes into Sulphur Springs Rd. you have
gone just a little too far.  The owl was seen across the street from an old
greenish house.  There are a lot of places where this owl could be sitting
and not be seen.  From what the lady who originally spotted it has told me,
it likes to stay on the ground.  Try looking all around the fence posts.

For pictures of the owl you can visit my website.  I did put a landscape
picture of the area where the owl was seen to give people some landmarks for
looking.  To view these pictures go to: www.kidwings.com.  On the left click
on "Digiscoping" and then click on "Snowy Owl".  This will take you to a
page of thumbnail pictures.  Click on any of them to see a larger picture.

Jody Hildreth - jody(AT)kidwings.com
Library Media Specialist
Sauquoit Valley Elementary School, New York
Webmaster for KidWings - www.kidwings.com
Inspiring the next generation

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Subject: sauquoit snowy owl
From: Bonnie Folnsbee <owlbaby_2000(AT)YAHOO.COM>
Date: 15 Feb 2003 6:35pm

Hubby and I went to Sauquoit this afternoon to see the snowy owl, it was there
exactly where jody said it was, pretty far out, sitting in a field, i really
couldnt get any good pics but we enjoyed looking just the same.

                                                                    Bonnie
Folnsbee

---------------------------------
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day

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Subject: Jefferson
From: David Neveu <davneveu(AT)DREAMSCAPE.COM>
Date: 15 Feb 2003 6:51pm

2/15/03

Made a sub-zero foray to the various Ontario points in Jefferson county =
today.Good numbers of the usual suspects.  Nothing extra-ordinary.

Point Peninsula- 5 Rough Legged Hawks, 40 Snow Buntings, 3 Horned Larks =
and numerous Tree Sparrows.

Three Mile Point - 1 Rough Legged Hawk, 13 Snow Buntings and 5 Horned =
Larks.

Pillar Point - 3 Rough Legged Hawks, 5 Red Tail Hawks and 42 Snow =
Buntings.

Cape Vincent area - 11 Horned Larks and 14 Snow Buntings.

No open water visible up there.  Didn't  see a single gull or waterfowl.

Received a second hand report (Tom McDonald of Snowy Watch) of three =
Snowy Owls in Philadelphia, on Rte. 11.  He was attempting some banding =
at Point Peninsula.

David Neveu

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Subject: Syracuse RBA - February 15, 2003
From: Mickey Scilingo <mickey.scilingo(AT)GTE.NET>
Date: 15 Feb 2003 7:30pm

Compiled by: Mickey Scilingo=20

RBA BirdBox: 315-637-0318
E-mail: mickey.scilingo(AT)gte.net
Onondaga Audubon Home Page:
www.onondagaaudubon.org
=20
# 7 - Saturday, February 15, 2003

The HAWK OWL in Chittenango remains very elusive, with no reports of the =
bird being seen within the last week.  Birders have had better luck with =
the SNOWY OWLS in Fenner, with at least one of the owls being seen =
Monday and Tuesday on or near Bellinger Rd.  Birders scouring these =
areas for these owls have come up with a multitude of other raptor =
sightings, including up to 5 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, numerous RED-TAILED =
HAWKS, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 1 COOPER'S HAWK, a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, and =
several AMERICAN KESTRELS along the roads surrounding the Rod & Gun =
Club.  A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen along Harsh Rd near Rt 5 last weekend, =
while another sighting of NORTHERN SHRIKE comes from along Gee Rd on =
Monday.  Several large flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS were found along Larkin =
Rd and Nelson Rd on Monday, with the Nelson Rd flock having 30 HORNED =
LARKS in the mix.  Another notable sighting was that of a COMMON RAVEN =
along Nelson Rd near Bingley Rd on Monday.

Another SNOWY OWL was seen today along Sulphur Springs Rd in Saquoit, in =
the southeast corner of Oneida County.  The owl was seen across the =
street from an old greenish-colored house west of the golf course, and =
has been present for several days at least.

Gulls were the big story during last week's OAS field trip along the =
Oswego River up to Lake Ontario.  In Phoenix, 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED =
GULLS were among the 1000 gulls near the dam, and a first year ICELAND =
GULL was on the river just north of Fulton.  At least 3 first year =
GLAUCOUS GULLS were among the estimated 10-15,000 gulls at the Oswego =
Harbor, with the waterfowl present being the typical SCAUP, GOLDENEYE =
and LONG-TAILED DUCKS.

In Baldwinsville, work has begun to replace the broken floodgate on Lock =
24 on the NYS Canal, which resulted in the lowering of the Seneca River. =
 Before the construction, a first winter ICELAND GULL could be found on =
the river below the dam, seen from the Town of Lysander Office parking =
lot, while a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a GLAUCOUS GULL were found =
near Mercer Park, above the dam.  Back in Phoenix, a GLAUCOUS GULL was =
present on Sunday, while one of the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS was still =
present among the 2000 gulls on Monday.  There has also been an adult =
BALD EAGLE making cameo appearances in Phoenix from time to time.

The PEREGRINE FALCON in downtown Syracuse was reported again yesterday, =
after going almost 2 weeks without being seen.  It was on its usual =
haunt, the HSBC building, spending the morning on the northeast corner =
then moving to the southeast corner in the afternoon.  Another PEREGRINE =
FALCON has reportedly been spotted in the vicinity of the Utica =
Psychiatric Center on York St in the city of Utica.

The GRAY CATBIRD found along the Erie Canal in Fayetteville was seen =
again on Monday near some bushes full of berries about 4/10 of a mile =
down the trail east of Manlius Center Rd.  Five PURPLE FINCHES have been =
visiting a feeder in Baldwinsville lately, and the feeders at Beaver =
Lake have had at least one PURPLE FINCH, along with a WHITE-THROATED =
SPARROW and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.  The CAROLINA WREN is still being =
seen in Baldwinsville, despite the heavy snow and bitter cold, while =
another CAROLINA WREN has been visiting a feeder in Whitesboro.

Continuing the recent winter trend, a TURKEY VULTURE was spotted on =
Sunday over the Wegmans in DeWitt.  Also on Sunday, one of the NORTHERN =
SHRIKES was spotted at Three Rivers WMA in Lysander.  On Friday, a flock =
of 50 CEDAR WAXWINGS were found in Whitesboro, and in what could be the =
oddest report of the week, a GREAT BLUE HERON was observed today hunting =
in a horse pasture with at least 3 feet of snow on the ground.

Mickey Scilingo
Parish, NY
mickey.scilingo(AT)gte.net

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