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UMichBirders for Monday, March 10, 2008
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Subject: [birders] Re: interesting waxwing - not bohemian :(
From: jochen roeder <joroeder(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 10:30am
Hi!
I found an orange-tailed Cedar Waxwing at the Arb way
back in July 2007 and took some pictures that you
might want to look at here:
http://belltowerbirding.blogspot.com/2007/07/taste-of-home.html
Not as informative a blog post as Macklin's email, but
possibly interesting nevertheless.
Cheers from a springy Baltic Coast,
Jochen
--- Macklin Smith <macklins(AT)umich.edu> schrieb:
> All,
>
> There's an article on just this phenomenon--and many
> others--in the 39/5,
> Oct 2007 issue of Birding: "Color Abnormalities in
> Birds: A Proposed
> Nomenclature for Birders." The waxwing Rick
> describes has a condition
> called "carotenism"--or at least that's what the
> author, Jeff N. Davis,
> proposes we call it. (The nomenclature is, I think,
> a little much, I feel,
> and verges on pedantry.) Anyhow, this condition is
> a result of diet.
> Another article in the same issue of Birding is
> called "Tricks Exotic
> Shrubs Do: When Baltimore Orioles Stop Being
> Orange," and in this piece red
> orioles, orange-tail-tipped Cedar Waxwings, and
> White-throated Sparrows
> with orange lores are all tied convincingly to
> Morrow's honeysuckle and
> Tartarian honeysuckle, recently popular introduced
> plantings. The
> variations in birds are new and timed to the plants.
> The particular
> chemical ingested is rhodoxanthin, which (I quote)
> "is structurally similar
> to many of the carotenoids deposited in the plumage
> of birds." So maybe we
> should be careful what name we slap on this
> phenomenon...as it may not
> literally be "carotenism" at all.
>
> (No Bohemian Waxwing or indeed any waxwings at
> County Farm Park today. Two
> robins heard, a couple of subdued cardinal chips.
> Very quiet--maybe the
> weather, maybe all those flocks just moved on.)
>
> ~Macklin
>
>
> Macklin Smith
> Department of English
> University of Michigan
>
> ---
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>
Machen Sie Yahoo! zu Ihrer Startseite. Los geht's:
http://de.yahoo.com/set
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Subject: [birders] Re: The Pileated Woodpeckers of Macomb and
Southern St. Clair Counties
From: theduckpen(AT)att.net
Date: 10 Mar 2008 3:28pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Alan,
Thanks so much for the wonderful history of your discoveries of and encounters
with Pileateds.
We were lucky enough to have a male show up at our suet feeder last Thursday, so
I didn't have to trek deep into the woods. I just looked out the dining room
window. What a treat!
--
Bob Tarte, Lowell Township, Kent County
Author of "Fowl Weather"
Info and photos at: www.bobtarte.com
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Subject: [birders] sandhills in Clinton (village not township)
From: "Sally K Scheer" <winerat(AT)villagecorner.com>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 12:32pm
For the third day in a row, the sandhill cranes are grazing our cornfield.
Our farmer practices no-till farming so the field is never plowed and corn
residue is abundant.
Sandhills have nested in our swamp at the north end of the Clinton millpond
for several years but this is the first year they have consistently and
systematically grazed the cornfield. Two years ago I was pleased to chance
upon a pair in the back of the field (downhill from the house and out of
sight unless you purposefully go out there) doing their mating dance.
This early early spring grazing is very near the house and they are in sight
all day as they move from the south end of the field to the north end and
back again.
They are also in sight from the road. If anyone wants directions, email me
off list.
Sally Scheer
Clinton MI
Bridgewater Township
SW Washtenaw County
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Subject: [birders] Backyard Pileated, Kent County
From: Bob Tarte <theduckpen(AT)att.net>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 1:36pm
A male Pileated Woodpecker dropped by last Thursday to give our suet
feeder a try. I posted the handsome lad's photo on the GroveStreet site.
Question:
A female Pileated sampled the suet a couple of weeks ago. Neither the
male or female has been back to the feeder since then, at least, not
that I've seen. I'm wondering why, once the birds found a ready food
source, they wouldn't continue to use it?
--
Bob Tarte, Lowell Township, eastern Kent County
Author of "Fowl Weather" & "Enslaved by Ducks"
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Info and animal photos at: http://www.bobtarte.com
---
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Subject: [birders] Kehoe, Pennington hawks and horned larks
From: "Sally K Scheer" <winerat(AT)villagecorner.com>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 1:06pm
Took about a half hour drive around the Kehoe Rd square at last seeking to
charge up my cold-challenged car battery. Nothing on Kehoe road, no road
sign at Murphy Rd but went on to Bihlmeyer Hwy before turning south. Near
the corner of Bihlmeyer and Pennington, was a lovely Cooper hawk -- nothing
new and exciting but beautiful anyway. We have one that hangs around our
house and I love seeing him perch on the top of the old plum tree.
Cruising very slowly west on Pennington, near the gas installation, I was
rewarded by another hawk on the south side of the road. Back and forth
across the field from one wooded field border to the other, gliding up and
down, sometimes dropping to the tall grass momentarily then rising again. I
watched him for several minutes and noted the rather large white patch at
the base of its tail but did not see the round dark patches on the underside
of the wing that I thought would clinch the ID of rough legged hawk.
Just as this hawk disappeared into the woods again, from the west came a
darker hawk with definite round dark patches on the underside of the
wings -- rough legged hawk for sure.
Satisfied with both the sightings and the battery charge probabilities, I
started moving a little faster toward Clinton-Tecumseh rd and home when a
couple of little birds caught my eye. Two horned larks posed cooperatively
turning their heads this way and that to be sure I could see their little
horns and the dark patch on their throats.
All these birds were pretty much too far away for even my 300mm lens to make
good pictures. If the photos I attempted can be enlarged enough to show
details, I'll post them. Otherwise, the calming and exultant experience will
remain in my mind's eye and your imagination.
Sally Scheer
Clinton MI
Bridgewater Township
SW Washtenaw County
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Subject: [birders] Re: OT: Need crabapple tree info
From: "The Farmers" <ajf-jlf(AT)sbcglobal.net>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 5:07pm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Darlene,
I can't help you with the Tawas City crabs, nor with any certainty the =
variety that's been attracting the Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks =
around the birds@umich area, but I stopped by the local landscaper's =
place today and found that it is Prairie Fire that has brought the Cedar =
Waxwings and American Robins to his grounds this past week or two.
I checked, too, with another area nurseryman who has been most generous =
in helping our local township parks. When I put the general question to =
him, he also suggested Prairie Fire, but rated Malus x zumi "Calocarpa: =
Redbud Crabapple ahead of it for overwinter persistence of the fruit and =
attractiveness to waxwings and other spring birds. He also likes the =
variety Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crabapple..
He specifically suggested steering you away from Red Jewel, saying he's =
noticed that birds do not seem to like its fruit.
I'd add that those suggestions both came from people who make their =
living in the nursery trade and are inclined to use non-native stock =
that I've noticed has a high likelihood of escaping cultivation. With =
so much of our "wild" landscape being taken over by cultivars from =
Eurasian gene pools, I'd suggest checking the native plant nurseries for =
wild types that have evolved in North America. In line with the recent =
discussion of the book Bringing Nature Home and Dea Armstrong's earlier =
suggestion of books about native plants, I think we should all give more =
thought to selecting native species for our gardens and grounds and =
spread the word about the hidden hazards of using exotic species.
Hope that helps.
John Farmer
Milan, MI
Malus x zumi 'Calocarpa': Redbud Crabapple
]=20
Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crabapple
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Parula100(AT)aol.com=20
To: birders(AT)umich.edu=20
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 12:49 PM
Subject: [birders] OT: Need crabapple tree info
After seeing Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks devouring crabapple =
berries, I'd like to add a crabapple tree that keeps its fruit through =
the winter to my yard. Does anyone know which varieties have been =
attracting all these birds? I'd especially like to know which species of =
crabapple is in Tawas City--the birds were going crazy over its fruit. =
The bark was quite distinctive--very flaky and multi-colored, almost =
like Sycamore bark. Any tree experts out there?
Darlene Friedman
Novi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
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Subject: [birders] Re: Backyard Pileated, Kent County
From: "Mag Tait" <mtait(AT)med.umich.edu>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 7:47pm
Indeed a handsome fellow!
I can't answer your question, except that "at least, not that I've seen" might
be what has happened.
I have Red Bellied W'Ps that have been visiting my feeders for years. When they
come, they are high in the tree waiting for the right time, whatever that is,
then fly down, consume a large amount in a short time and then leave. If I am
not looking out during those few minutes, I never see them, though I do hear
them.
The Hairy and Downey WPs seem to just hang around for longer periods and go up
and down the tree at an eye catching level.
Mag
>>> Bob Tarte <theduckpen(AT)att.net> 03/10/08 1:36 PM >>>
A male Pileated Woodpecker dropped by last Thursday to give our suet
feeder a try. I posted the handsome lad's photo on the GroveStreet site.
Question:
A female Pileated sampled the suet a couple of weeks ago. Neither the
male or female has been back to the feeder since then, at least, not
that I've seen. I'm wondering why, once the birds found a ready food
source, they wouldn't continue to use it?
--
Bob Tarte, Lowell Township, eastern Kent County
Author of "Fowl Weather" & "Enslaved by Ducks"
Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
Info and animal photos at: http://www.bobtarte.com
---
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Subject: [birders] Re: OT: Need crabapple tree info
From: "Harry and Elnora Wallin" <owltalker(AT)centurytel.net>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 8:30pm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Greetings all,
If you want to see some spectacular plantings of a huge variety of =
crabapples, all nicely labeled, go to Hidden Lake Gardens on M-50 in the =
Irish Hills. They also have a fabulous collection of dwarf and weeping =
shrubs including evergreens. It's also very diverse habitat that would =
be great for birding. I remember years ago taking woodland wildflower =
drives and seeing a great number of species without ever leaving the =
car. =20
I remember a dwarf variety of Crabapple called Sargent, which is used in =
a lot of commercial plantings because it stays small and holds onto its =
small fruit. That might be one to start with. A nurseryman in a =
full-service nursery should be able to help you with more recent =
varieties and their characteristics. =20
Harry Wallin
Sunfield Township,
Northwest corner of Eaton County, MI
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Parula100(AT)aol.com=20
To: birders(AT)umich.edu=20
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 12:49 PM
Subject: [birders] OT: Need crabapple tree info
After seeing Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks devouring crabapple =
berries, I'd like to add a crabapple tree that keeps its fruit through =
the winter to my yard. Does anyone know which varieties have been =
attracting all these birds? I'd especially like to know which species of =
crabapple is in Tawas City--the birds were going crazy over its fruit. =
The bark was quite distinctive--very flaky and multi-colored, almost =
like Sycamore bark. Any tree experts out there?
Darlene Friedman
Novi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.
---
* birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
* photo sharing site - =
http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/se_mich/photos.html=20
* To unsubscribe from birders(AT)umich.edu send a blank message to
lyris(AT)listserver.itd.umich.edu with UNSUBSCRIBE BIRDERS as the Subject =
line. To
resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.=20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------=
-----
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.=20
Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1319 - Release Date: =
3/8/2008 10:14 AM
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Subject: [birders] Native plants for SE Michigan
From: ddarm(AT)umich.edu
Date: 10 Mar 2008 8:37pm
Here is a TINYURL link to NAP's info about native plant species
suitable in the Ann Arbor area. Thanks for the plug, John.
Dea
http://tinyurl.com/2d2aga
and the long link for purists:
http://www.a2gov.org/government/publicservices/fieldoperations/NAP/NativePlants/Pages/NativePlants.aspx
Quoting The Farmers <ajf-jlf(AT)sbcglobal.net>:
> Darlene,
>
> I can't help you with the Tawas City crabs, nor with any certainty
> the variety that's been attracting the Bohemian Waxwings and Pine
> Grosbeaks around the birds@umich area, but I stopped by the local
> landscaper's place today and found that it is Prairie Fire that has
> brought the Cedar Waxwings and American Robins to his grounds this
> past week or two.
>
> I checked, too, with another area nurseryman who has been most
> generous in helping our local township parks. When I put the general
> question to him, he also suggested Prairie Fire, but rated Malus x
> zumi "Calocarpa: Redbud Crabapple ahead of it for overwinter
> persistence of the fruit and attractiveness to waxwings and other
> spring birds. He also likes the variety Malus floribunda Japanese
> Flowering Crabapple..
>
> He specifically suggested steering you away from Red Jewel, saying
> he's noticed that birds do not seem to like its fruit.
>
> I'd add that those suggestions both came from people who make their
> living in the nursery trade and are inclined to use non-native stock
> that I've noticed has a high likelihood of escaping cultivation.
> With so much of our "wild" landscape being taken over by cultivars
> from Eurasian gene pools, I'd suggest checking the native plant
> nurseries for wild types that have evolved in North America. In line
> with the recent discussion of the book Bringing Nature Home and Dea
> Armstrong's earlier suggestion of books about native plants, I think
> we should all give more thought to selecting native species for our
> gardens and grounds and spread the word about the hidden hazards of
> using exotic species.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> John Farmer
> Milan, MI
> Malus x zumi 'Calocarpa': Redbud Crabapple
> ]
> Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crabapple
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Parula100(AT)aol.com
> To: birders(AT)umich.edu
> Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 12:49 PM
> Subject: [birders] OT: Need crabapple tree info
>
>
> After seeing Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks devouring
> crabapple berries, I'd like to add a crabapple tree that keeps its
> fruit through the winter to my yard. Does anyone know which varieties
> have been attracting all these birds? I'd especially like to know
> which species of crabapple is in Tawas City--the birds were going
> crazy over its fruit. The bark was quite distinctive--very flaky and
> multi-colored, almost like Sycamore bark. Any tree experts out there?
>
> Darlene Friedman
> Novi
>
>
>
>
>
>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms and advice on AOL Money & Finance.
> ---
> * birders FAQ - http://www.umich.edu/~bbowman/birds/birders_FAQ.html
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>
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> Subject line. To
> resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.
>
>
> ---
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>
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> resubscribe use SUBSCRIBE BIRDERS Your Name.
>
>
****************************************************
Deaver D. Armstrong
City Ornithologist
Natural Area Preservation Division City of Ann Arbor Department Park
Operations
1831 Traver Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-996-3266
****************************************************
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Subject: [birders] Lenawee County Owls
From: w8liftr40(AT)aol.com
Date: 10 Mar 2008 9:01pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Greetings,
On my way home from work, I drooped by the "Kehoe" block to see if the
Short-eared Owls were still around.
From 7:45-8:10 I watched 4 Short-eared Owls (on Kehoe) mob and dive bomb two
light morph Rough-legged Hawks that were perched in a?tree.
Two other Short-ears were seen from Clinto-Macon between Murphy Hwy & Sutfin.
I then went to Pennington Rd (between Murphy Hwy and Tecumseh-Clinton Rd). I
found one Short-eared Owl there and heard two Great Horned Owls. The presence of
the Great Horned Owls is probably as major reason the short-eared Owls left tis
original location for their new one on Kehoe.
Jeff Schultz
www.wildtangentphotography.com
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Subject: [birders] Re: OT: Need crabapple tree info
From: "Wild Birds Unlimited" <RosannKovalcik(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 8:09pm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
I checked the catalog from Wild Type, a reputable native plant nursery =
in Mason. Bill Schneider has Malus coronaria available in a gallon pot =
for $ 12.00.
Bill helped me to rid my yard of the "natives" that I had planted which =
did not attract birds, and to replace them all with natives from this =
area. This is most important as you need the plants that will ripen at =
the right time for the area. He's the best!
900 North Every Road Mason 48854 517-244-1140 wildtype(AT)msu.edu =
www.wildtypeplants.com
Hope this helps,
Rosann
Rosann Kovalcik
Wild Birds Unlimited
20485 Mack Avenue
Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
313-881-1410
www.wbu.com/grossepointewoods
----- Original Message -----=20
From: The Farmers=20
To: birders(AT)umich.edu=20
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2008 4:07 PM
Subject: [birders] Re: OT: Need crabapple tree info
Darlene,
I can't help you with the Tawas City crabs, nor with any certainty the =
variety that's been attracting the Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks =
around the birds@umich area, but I stopped by the local landscaper's =
place today and found that it is Prairie Fire that has brought the Cedar =
Waxwings and American Robins to his grounds this past week or two.
I checked, too, with another area nurseryman who has been most =
generous in helping our local township parks. When I put the general =
question to him, he also suggested Prairie Fire, but rated Malus x zumi =
"Calocarpa: Redbud Crabapple ahead of it for overwinter persistence of =
the fruit and attractiveness to waxwings and other spring birds. He =
also likes the variety Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crabapple..
He specifically suggested steering you away from Red Jewel, saying =
he's noticed that birds do not seem to like its fruit.
I'd add that those suggestions both came from people who make their =
living in the nursery trade and are inclined to use non-native stock =
that I've noticed has a high likelihood of escaping cultivation. With =
so much of our "wild" landscape being taken over by cultivars from =
Eurasian gene pools, I'd suggest checking the native plant nurseries for =
wild types that have evolved in North America. In line with the recent =
discussion of the book Bringing Nature Home and Dea Armstrong's earlier =
suggestion of books about native plants, I think we should all give more =
thought to selecting native species for our gardens and grounds and =
spread the word about the hidden hazards of using exotic species.
Hope that helps.
John Farmer
Milan, MI
Malus x zumi 'Calocarpa': Redbud Crabapple
]=20
Malus floribunda Japanese Flowering Crabapple
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Parula100(AT)aol.com=20
To: birders(AT)umich.edu=20
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 12:49 PM
Subject: [birders] OT: Need crabapple tree info
After seeing Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks devouring =
crabapple berries, I'd like to add a crabapple tree that keeps its fruit =
through the winter to my yard. Does anyone know which varieties have =
been attracting all these birds? I'd especially like to know which =
species of crabapple is in Tawas City--the birds were going crazy over =
its fruit. The bark was quite distinctive--very flaky and multi-colored, =
almost like Sycamore bark. Any tree experts out there?
Darlene Friedman
Novi
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Subject: [birders] Ann Arbor Peregrines
From: Sherri Smith <grackle(AT)umich.edu>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 9:21pm
On Friday Mar 7 late in the afternoon both peregrine Falcons were on
Burton Tower, the first time in a long time as far as i know. Today,
mar 10, I saw them flying about sort of together.
Sherri Smith
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Subject: [birders] LEMP and Pt. Moo birding - pics
From: "Jerry Jourdan" <jourdaj(AT)mail2world.com>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 6:28pm
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Yesterday was a particularly good day for photographing BIFs
(birds-in-flight) and I wanted to share a few w/ the group.
At Lake Erie Metropark I had no luck seeing the Long-eared Owls, but
managed several (lucky pics of Chickadees and Downies:
http://www.pbase.com/jourdaj/image/94033308
http://www.pbase.com/jourdaj/image/94033321
At Pt. Mouillee HQ I had a nice fly-by Red-tailed Hawk
http://www.pbase.com/jourdaj/image/94033342
and at the Flat Rock Landfill had a beautiful Northern Harrier and two
more RTH's
http://www.pbase.com/jourdaj/image/94033337
http://www.pbase.com/jourdaj/image/94033350
http://www.pbase.com/jourdaj/image/94033346
Thanks for looking. More on the blog!
Jerry
http://jerryjourdan.blogspot.com
Click to make millions by owning your own franchise.
<http://www.relevantads.biz/fc/Ioyw36XIjJ67VjtqOiXy21OJo2dp6xsp1V1e5eRZm
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Subject: [birders] a wonderful shrike moment/Rusty Blackbirds
From: ddarm(AT)umich.edu
Date: 10 Mar 2008 10:01pm
In Washtenaw County:
This afternoon I was headed north on Steinbach Road after turning off
of Scio Church when I found a co-operative, tail-bobbing Northern
Shrike. I watched the bird move from one close tree to another and then
lower, into a bush. I saw him pull a very small mouse from a crook
made by two close branches. The bird swallowed the mouse, head first
and then moved on to another nearby tree and eventually headed back
into the woods toward the east. Wow!
I also found a group of 5 Rusty Blackbirds on Peckins Road, just south
of Waldo.
Dea
****************************************************
Deaver D. Armstrong
City Ornithologist
Natural Area Preservation Division City of Ann Arbor Department Park
Operations
1831 Traver Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-996-3266
****************************************************
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Subject: [birders] Grackles
From: Krissi Harris <khiceland(AT)prodigy.net>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 8:20pm
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I had my first Grackle in the yard today right on schedule. They first appeared
last year on March 11 and on March 5 of 2006.
Spring is near!!
Kristina Harris
Redford
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Subject: [birders] Northern Shrike--New, Cheap Yard Bird!
From: Peter Collins <pcoll(AT)umich.edu>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 11:44pm
Number 77 in our scruffy former alfalfa field. Why cheap? I sat at the
kitchen counter munching lunch and heard a tremendous thump on the
window in front of me. I looked up at the feeder three feet away--not a
bird sight. No, wait, /right in front of me,/ a gorgeous, but
empty-clawed Northern Shrike sitting in the amelanchier. A great, cheap
bird (no calories spent chasing it) on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
ciao for now,
a birder lazy in winter,
Peter
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Subject: [birders] Re: The Pileated Woodpeckers of Macomb and
Southern St. Clair Counties
From: "Russell Emmons" <birdeland(AT)pasty.net>
Date: 10 Mar 2008 11:49pm
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Alan: This is a wonderful story and good read! I think your writing and =
story here is worthy of being an article in some type of journal such as =
"Michigan Birds and Natural History". I am so glad you posted this here =
and glad now I posted about "our" Pileated visit that somehow prompted =
you to share all this.
I remember some years back Martin Blagdurn telling me of the =
Pileated sighting in the "big" woods near New Baltimore when the Anchor =
Bay CBC was revived. I don't know if one was ever resighted on the count =
to this day (?)
Unfortunately it is sad that the wonderful old mature wet deciduous =
forest just east of New Baltimore has been clear cut, subdivided, and =
developed. Not much of it remains.
I only hope our visiting Pileated returns and remains for the count as =
we are in the Anchor Bay count circle!
Your persistence and obsession for Pileateds should be compared with =
those for Ivory Billeds--but that's another story!
I conclude reading your story here several similiaritys we have. You =
are just a few years younger then I; I too grew up in St. Clair Shores =
and wandered the remaining woods and fields! ; I too share a passion =
for Pileateds but not as intense obviously, my obsessions are spread =
among several species!; I too at one time long ago resigned myself that =
several species are just only "up North" birds and now find with delight =
that 30 years ago such species as Pileateds, Wild Turkeys, Barred Owls, =
Wood Ducks, Eastern Bluebirds, even Peregrine Falcons, Ospreys and Bald =
Eagles were almost unheard of in Macomb and most of St. Clair countys =
but now seen regularly.
I will be emailing you off list so we can compare notes of these =
locations etc. if ok with you.
Russ Emmons
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Alan Ryff=20
To: birders(AT)umich.edu=20
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 11:57 PM
Subject: [birders] The Pileated Woodpeckers of Macomb and Southern St. =
Clair Counties
I read with interest Russell Emmons view about recent Pileated =
Woodpecker sightings in southern St. Clair County. The Pileated =
Woodpecker is the source of passion within me. The world comes to a =
standstill when I see one. Therefore, I feel compelled to give my =
historical view about our local Pileateds. =20
I rode my bike the four miles to the J. L. Hudson Department Store at =
the Eastland Shopping Center in 1957, the year that it opened, and for =
the first time in my life, I entered a book store. I wasted no time and =
started looking at bird books. I had never seen the likes of a field =
guide. I opened a Peterson and went straight to the woodpecker plate. =
And there it was at the center of the plate, the bird of birds, within =
a ring of woodpeckers of lesser pedigree. Yes, I recognized royalty. =
In those days the Flicker, the Downy, and the Red-headed were among the =
familiar backyard birds of St. Clair Shores. But this woodpecker was =
something else. I was instantly possessed. I just had to see this =
bird. Little did I know that my obsession was going to be lifelong. =
Being just a kid, I innocently expected to find a Pileated in one of =
the remaining woodlots of St. Clair Shores. After several years of =
fruitless searching, I bowed to the inevitable: this was going to be a =
bird of "Up North," a bird of the real woods, the kind of woods you can =
get lost in. (My first encounter was to be with a pair on the nest in =
Cheboygan County, but that is another story.) For a while my Pileated =
Woodpecker experiences were limited to the St. Clair Shores library. I =
would open an old obsolete tome, Birds of America, and study a =
magnificent painting of a pair of Pileateds in courtship. Fuertes, the =
genius bird artist, had captured the vibrant energy of their heads and =
the majestic flash of their outstretched wings. This painting still =
haunts my eyes.=20
But I was restless. Why do you have to wait for a chance to go Up =
North? Luckily, I had the support of three seasoned naturalists. I =
went to Thelma Sonnenberg, a lifetime resident of Mt. Clemens. She was =
one of the three founders of the Michigan Nature Association. =
(Initially known as the Macomb Nature Association.) She was old enough =
to be my grandmother. "Thelma, where are the nearest Pileateds?" She =
told me. So I hitch-hiked up Gratiot Avenue to the Belle River bridge =
in St. Clair County and started walking downstream on river ice until I =
could see the big white pines. Then I knew I was on McGary's Farm. =
When I encountered Mr. McGary, he was hauling some big oak logs up a =
slope with a team of horses. He was easily in his seventies. It turned =
out that Thelma and McGary knew each other for quite some time. He said =
that ever since he was a kid he saw Pileateds in the Belle River bottom. =
He gave me permission to wander his land whenever I wished. And I did. =
His property had beautiful timber. The feeding holes and ensuing wood =
chips on top of the fresh snow were evident. But, to actually see the =
birds--that was easier said than done. It took a little more than one =
year. These birds were shy. =20
=20
In February 1964 I told Alice Kelley that Pileateds are still in the =
Belle River bottom. She was the second of the three seasoned =
naturalists who took an interest in me as a kid bird watcher. Alice =
introduced me to the world of bird-book dealers, the history of bird =
art, the accurate taking of field notes, bird banding, and the Cranbrook =
Institute of Science with its eminent naturalist Walter Nickell. Alice =
was one of the authors of Birds of the Detroit-Windsor Area: A Ten-Year =
Survey (1963). She had incorporated into this work Thelma's 1953 =
Pileated sightings of Columbus Twp, St. Clair County. Evidently, Alice =
told some birders from Ann Arbor about my sightings. Consequently I =
guided them into the Belle River bottom and they saw a Pileated =
Woodpecker. It turned out to be a life bird for one of them. (I was =
amazed. There actually were university people who had never seen a =
Pileated Woodpecker? Something was wrong. Higher education could do =
better than that.) My sightings are the basis for Alice's continuing =
inclusion of Columbus Twp, St. Clair County, in her update: Birds of =
Southeastern Michigan and Southwestern Ontario (1978).=20
Thereafter I have seen Pileated Woodpecker in Columbus Township in =
sections 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 33. My most recent sightings in that =
general area were on 10 December 2005 in sections 20 and 21, as well as =
on 21 December 2006 in section 2 of adjoining Casco Township. (I no =
longer roam this area like I used to.) =20
There is a story behind the Pileated Woodpeckers of New Baltimore, =
Macomb County, which brings me to the third naturalist mentor of my =
youth--my Uncle Clarence. He knew nature. He grew up at the tail end =
of an era that belonged to Ernest Thompson Seton, not to Peterson. He =
was at his best at tracking, trapping, fishing, and hunting. His father =
grew up in the 1880's and was the last of the big market hunters who =
brought in the cans, bluebills, redheads and butterballs. He took them =
down to the rich-man's restaurants in Detroit. The family, on the other =
hand, they had to put up with the fishy-taste of sauteed saw-bills. =
(Back then, like today, money was important.) In my uncle's world there =
also was high art--the carving of duck decoys--as well as the carving of =
any other kind of bird. =20
And yes, my Uncle Clarence had firsthand knowledge of many of our =
birds. Around 1966, he moved to Elsey Street on Lake St. Clair in New =
Baltimore, about one-half mile from the St. Clair County line. Whenever =
he wanted to wander through good woods, he just walked up the street and =
across State Highway 29. In 1968 he gave me the good news, "There are =
Pileated Woodpeckers in the woods." It did not take him long to show me =
one. And this was our little secret to enjoy: the New Baltimore =
Pileateds.=20
Sometime around 1950, Bertha Daubendiek, a close friend of Thelma and =
a co-founder of the Michigan Nature Association started the Anchor Bay =
Christmas Bird Count. After Bertha and Thelma had switched from =
bird-watching to habitat preservation, the Christmas count died. That =
was too bad. It is one of the top two or three counts in our state. =
Then along came Martin Blagdurn in 1977. He revived the count. He =
asked me to help out on a precount survey. Well, I knew that =
competitive Martin wanted every species that he could get. So, on =
December 3, I took him on a walk about tour through the New Baltimore =
woods and the rest became Pileated history. That is how the word got =
out about the Pileated Woodpeckers of New Baltimore. =20
=20
One of my best Pileated Woodpecker finds in Macomb County was the bird =
that spent December 1973 in the woods along Metropoltan Parkway just =
before Metropolitan Beach Metropark. My other Macomb County records are =
for Armada, Bruce, Richmond and Washington Townships, spanning from the =
late 60's to the present. =20
Yes, they are around, but they seem to prefer privacy. The best way =
to enter their strongholds is by canoe or on the ice in winter.=20
Alan Ryff =20
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