For the past few years I've been observing Prairie Warblers along the fringes of the Indiana University cross country (XC) course. Among other things, there's been a singing male in the exact same location three years in a row.
I was interested in learning more about Prairie Warblers, so I went to Cornell's "Birds of North America Online". In reading the BNA entry on Prairie Warblers I learned that Nolan's "Ecology and behavior of the prairie warbler (1978)" is considered THE reference for Prairie Warblers. As the BNA entry notes: "The Prairie Warbler (D. d. discolor) was the subject of a long-term study near Bloomington, Indiana (Nolan 1978), which is the principal source for this life history."
Curious about the Bloomington reference, I found a copy of Nolan's monograph. In comparing a map in Nolan against Google Maps, I was surprised to find that the present-day IU XC course lies within the boundaries of his original "University Farm" research tract. Nolan's study began in this area in 1952, but later had to shift to a tract closer to Griffy Lake due to the construction of the IU golf course. Nolan stopped studying these birds in his original "University Farm" research tract in 1956, due to habitat destruction.
It's kind of cool to know that when I'm out on the XC course listening to Prairie Warblers, I am standing in the same area where Val Nolan stood as he began his study.
If anyone is curious, here's the citation for Nolan's monograph:
Nolan Jr., V. 1978. Ecology and behavior of the prairie warbler Dendroica discolor. American Ornithologists' Union, Ornithological Monographs 26:1-595. (Available online at: http://bit.ly/aaxXbS).
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Recent BIGBY (green birding) highlights
Wednesday morning went pretty well on the Indiana University cross country (XC) course. Beautiful weather for birding, with a fair amount of birds singing and calling.
About half way through my walk I ran into IU grad student Stephen Friesen doing some field work for IU’s new citizen science project that aims to document bird presence and abundance on various properties on the IU campus (for more info see: http://bit.ly/9vavKY). Stephen asked me to help him ID a half dozen sparrows he had seen where the IU XC course borders the IU golf course. The birds were very cooperative, foraging in very short grass for quite a while. We both agreed that they were Savannah Sparrows.
Some highlights from Wednesday (40 species in total for me):
* Savannah Sparrows - I don’t see Savannahs much on the XC course. This was maybe my second sighting since last fall. This wasn’t a first of year (FOY) bird for me, but it’s definitely the most Savannah Sparrows I’ve seen on the XC course in one trip.
* Osprey - A flyover bird. Stephen also saw it. Not an FOY species for me, but it’s always a real treat to see one!
* Barred Owl – Calling repeatedly from deep in the woods to the north of the XC course. For some reason I think owls sound cooler when they’re calling in broad daylight.
* Red-eyed Vireo – One back in the woods to the north of the XC course.
* Nashville Warbler – 1
* Yellow-throated Warbler – 1
* Prairie Warbler – 3, singing simultaneously at different spots along the edge of the north portion of the XC course. I think that’s a high count for me at this location.
* Louisiana Waterthrush – 1
* Common Yellowthroat – 2
* Field Sparrow – 7
* Eastern Kingbird – A near miss. Stephen had one before I showed up, but I couldn’t relocate it. I’ve been looking for this species for a couple of weeks now.
While Wednesday’s visit to the XC course was pretty good, Thursday’s was better (49 species, including four new BIGBY species). Here are some highlights:
* Henslow’s Sparrow – I tried to re-locate the Savannah Sparrows that Stephen found on Wednesday, with no luck. But while I was standing there, the Henslow’s popped up out of the grass and perched cooperatively on a low forb for about a minute. I came back to this spot a couple of times later and was unable to relocate the bird. This is only my third Henslow’s sighting in five years of visiting the XC course. An FOY bird for 2010, and BIGBY species #108 for the year.
* Eastern Kingbird – After striking out yesterday, I spotted a kingbird perched on the branch of a small tree. Then I looked to my right and nearby saw two more kingbirds perched next to each other on the same XC course directional sign (bluebirds, kestrels, and Tree Swallows also like these signs). A total of six for the day. An FOY bird and BIGBY species #109.
* Blue-winged Warbler – I was standing on top of a wooded bluff overlooking Sycamore Valley (this is to the north of the XC course) listening/looking for Northern Waterthrush along the creek at the base of the bluff when I heard a Blue-winged Warbler off to the northwest. Interestingly, this is maybe 2,000 feet to the southeast of where Julia Ferguson reported a Blue-winged Warbler earlier Thursday morning. Maybe the same bird? An FOY bird, and BIGBY species #110 for the year.
* Horned Lark – A couple flew overhead while I was on my way home. BIGBY species #111.
* Field Sparrow – My second day in a row with 6-7 Field Sparrows. There were three individual birds singing on the south section of the XC course, and a couple of them singing on the north section. The other(s) were in a grassy meadow to the northeast of the XC course. I believe this is the first year that I’ve had multiple singing FISPs actually on the XC course proper. The National Audubon Society has identified Field Sparrows as one of Indiana’s top five common species in decline (see: http://bit.ly/bmY2Ha). It’s good to see that IU’s no-mow policy is providing habitat for such a species.
About half way through my walk I ran into IU grad student Stephen Friesen doing some field work for IU’s new citizen science project that aims to document bird presence and abundance on various properties on the IU campus (for more info see: http://bit.ly/9vavKY). Stephen asked me to help him ID a half dozen sparrows he had seen where the IU XC course borders the IU golf course. The birds were very cooperative, foraging in very short grass for quite a while. We both agreed that they were Savannah Sparrows.
Some highlights from Wednesday (40 species in total for me):
* Savannah Sparrows - I don’t see Savannahs much on the XC course. This was maybe my second sighting since last fall. This wasn’t a first of year (FOY) bird for me, but it’s definitely the most Savannah Sparrows I’ve seen on the XC course in one trip.
* Osprey - A flyover bird. Stephen also saw it. Not an FOY species for me, but it’s always a real treat to see one!
* Barred Owl – Calling repeatedly from deep in the woods to the north of the XC course. For some reason I think owls sound cooler when they’re calling in broad daylight.
* Red-eyed Vireo – One back in the woods to the north of the XC course.
* Nashville Warbler – 1
* Yellow-throated Warbler – 1
* Prairie Warbler – 3, singing simultaneously at different spots along the edge of the north portion of the XC course. I think that’s a high count for me at this location.
* Louisiana Waterthrush – 1
* Common Yellowthroat – 2
* Field Sparrow – 7
* Eastern Kingbird – A near miss. Stephen had one before I showed up, but I couldn’t relocate it. I’ve been looking for this species for a couple of weeks now.
While Wednesday’s visit to the XC course was pretty good, Thursday’s was better (49 species, including four new BIGBY species). Here are some highlights:
* Henslow’s Sparrow – I tried to re-locate the Savannah Sparrows that Stephen found on Wednesday, with no luck. But while I was standing there, the Henslow’s popped up out of the grass and perched cooperatively on a low forb for about a minute. I came back to this spot a couple of times later and was unable to relocate the bird. This is only my third Henslow’s sighting in five years of visiting the XC course. An FOY bird for 2010, and BIGBY species #108 for the year.
* Eastern Kingbird – After striking out yesterday, I spotted a kingbird perched on the branch of a small tree. Then I looked to my right and nearby saw two more kingbirds perched next to each other on the same XC course directional sign (bluebirds, kestrels, and Tree Swallows also like these signs). A total of six for the day. An FOY bird and BIGBY species #109.
* Blue-winged Warbler – I was standing on top of a wooded bluff overlooking Sycamore Valley (this is to the north of the XC course) listening/looking for Northern Waterthrush along the creek at the base of the bluff when I heard a Blue-winged Warbler off to the northwest. Interestingly, this is maybe 2,000 feet to the southeast of where Julia Ferguson reported a Blue-winged Warbler earlier Thursday morning. Maybe the same bird? An FOY bird, and BIGBY species #110 for the year.
* Horned Lark – A couple flew overhead while I was on my way home. BIGBY species #111.
* Field Sparrow – My second day in a row with 6-7 Field Sparrows. There were three individual birds singing on the south section of the XC course, and a couple of them singing on the north section. The other(s) were in a grassy meadow to the northeast of the XC course. I believe this is the first year that I’ve had multiple singing FISPs actually on the XC course proper. The National Audubon Society has identified Field Sparrows as one of Indiana’s top five common species in decline (see: http://bit.ly/bmY2Ha). It’s good to see that IU’s no-mow policy is providing habitat for such a species.
NY Times on Birding Apps
Over the past couple of days the New York Times has published two blog articles about birding apps for the iPhone and the iPad.
The first blog post is a general overview of birding apps:
http://nyti.ms/a4P5gv
The second blog post describes a birding app designed specifically for birding in New York’s Central Park:
http://nyti.ms/cVNPKF
The first blog post is a general overview of birding apps:
http://nyti.ms/a4P5gv
The second blog post describes a birding app designed specifically for birding in New York’s Central Park:
http://nyti.ms/cVNPKF
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, migrating Blue Jays
I don't have time for a full report on species seen on today's trip to the Indiana University cross country course, so here are a few highlights:
* There was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak singing (and then calling) in the trees on the far south edge of the IU XC course this AM. I wasn't quite sure about the song, since I haven't heard it since last year, but the "sneakers-on-the-basketball-court" calls were unmistakeable. BIGBY species #107 for the year. Ironically, I found my first-of-year Rose-breasted Grosbeak last year on this same date, in pretty much the same place.
* There were lots of apparently migrating Blue Jays moving from the south to the north this morning. I saw *at least* 200 Blue Jays flying by in flocks of 20-30 birds each. I think that's my highest personal count ever for Blue Jays for a single day. Nowhere near a state record, but it's still very cool from my perspective! Interestingly, the local resident Blue Jays didn't seem to pay a whole lot of attention to them.
* At one point a pair of Canada Geese flew overhead. They seem to fly over the XC course every morning. But this morning, for some reason, they were attacked (unsuccessfully) by a Cooper's Hawk. The geese barely noticed the Cooper's. The Cooper's seemed frustrated, like the little chicken hawk in the Warner Brothers "Foghorn Leghorn" cartoons. :-)
* On the way home I spotted a pair of Canada Geese and a pair of Mallards on the Fountain Park apartments pond along 10th Street. That would be an odd spot to nest. High traffic volume on 10th Street, plus many people coming and going from the bus stop right by the pond. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled there.
Finally, I heard some really cool sounds at 3:00 this morning (4/20). A Great Horned Owl was calling repeatedly from nearby in the neighborhood. And a coyote was howling in what sounded like almost my back yard...very close by!! I stayed awake for quite a while, listening to some of my favorite sounds of the wild.
* There was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak singing (and then calling) in the trees on the far south edge of the IU XC course this AM. I wasn't quite sure about the song, since I haven't heard it since last year, but the "sneakers-on-the-basketball-court" calls were unmistakeable. BIGBY species #107 for the year. Ironically, I found my first-of-year Rose-breasted Grosbeak last year on this same date, in pretty much the same place.
* There were lots of apparently migrating Blue Jays moving from the south to the north this morning. I saw *at least* 200 Blue Jays flying by in flocks of 20-30 birds each. I think that's my highest personal count ever for Blue Jays for a single day. Nowhere near a state record, but it's still very cool from my perspective! Interestingly, the local resident Blue Jays didn't seem to pay a whole lot of attention to them.
* At one point a pair of Canada Geese flew overhead. They seem to fly over the XC course every morning. But this morning, for some reason, they were attacked (unsuccessfully) by a Cooper's Hawk. The geese barely noticed the Cooper's. The Cooper's seemed frustrated, like the little chicken hawk in the Warner Brothers "Foghorn Leghorn" cartoons. :-)
* On the way home I spotted a pair of Canada Geese and a pair of Mallards on the Fountain Park apartments pond along 10th Street. That would be an odd spot to nest. High traffic volume on 10th Street, plus many people coming and going from the bus stop right by the pond. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled there.
Finally, I heard some really cool sounds at 3:00 this morning (4/20). A Great Horned Owl was calling repeatedly from nearby in the neighborhood. And a coyote was howling in what sounded like almost my back yard...very close by!! I stayed awake for quite a while, listening to some of my favorite sounds of the wild.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Prothonotary Warbler!
This morning while in the woods to the north of the Indiana University cross country course, I noticed an interesting vivid yellow bird flitting about and occasionally singing. When I finally focused my binoculars on the bird I was very pleased to see a Prothonotary Warbler! That's BIGBY species #105 for the year. (If you’d like to know more about the BIGBY "green birding" movement, see: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
While I have seen this species a few times around here in the past, this was the best view I've ever had, thanks to the bright morning sun and my new binoculars. What a beautiful bird, contrasted against a clear blue sky!!! The Prothonotary is now my favorite bird with yellow-themed coloration (my apologies to the Eastern Meadowlark). I also love the derivation of their name. BNA Online says: "...the species was named for its plumage, which resembles the bright yellow robes of papal clerks (prothonotaries) in the Roman Catholic church."
I also had a second first-of-year BIGBY species today. This one was a little more mundane, although it was in an odd spot. A Solitary Sandpiper was foraging on a very small "mudflat" in the pond in front of the Fountain Park apartment complex on Bloomington's East 10th Street.
A few other species of interest from today:
* Northern Parula
* Nashville Warbler
* Yellow-throated Warbler
* Worm-eating Warbler
* Ruby-crowned Kinglet
* White-eyed Vireo
* Red-eyed Vireo
* White-crowned Sparrow
* White-throated Sparrow (singing!)
* Dark-eyed Junco (singing!)
While I have seen this species a few times around here in the past, this was the best view I've ever had, thanks to the bright morning sun and my new binoculars. What a beautiful bird, contrasted against a clear blue sky!!! The Prothonotary is now my favorite bird with yellow-themed coloration (my apologies to the Eastern Meadowlark). I also love the derivation of their name. BNA Online says: "...the species was named for its plumage, which resembles the bright yellow robes of papal clerks (prothonotaries) in the Roman Catholic church."
I also had a second first-of-year BIGBY species today. This one was a little more mundane, although it was in an odd spot. A Solitary Sandpiper was foraging on a very small "mudflat" in the pond in front of the Fountain Park apartment complex on Bloomington's East 10th Street.
A few other species of interest from today:
* Northern Parula
* Nashville Warbler
* Yellow-throated Warbler
* Worm-eating Warbler
* Ruby-crowned Kinglet
* White-eyed Vireo
* Red-eyed Vireo
* White-crowned Sparrow
* White-throated Sparrow (singing!)
* Dark-eyed Junco (singing!)
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Walking BIGBY species #100 for 2010!!
As I walked over to the Indiana University cross country course early Friday morning (4/16) I had one of those frustratingly familiar early spring migration experiences...a bird song that you know you should know, but that you just can’t quite figure out because you haven’t heard it in a while. After listening for a few minutes the cobwebs in the old brain cleared and the notes coalesced into the familiar song of a Common Yellowthroat. A relatively ordinary bird, but special in context...it marked my 100th BIGBY (green birding) species for 2010! That’s 100 species within walking distance of home so far this year. (If you’d like to know more about the BIGBY movement, see: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi).
Today’s Common Yellowthroat sighting marked a new personal record for me: the earliest date to record 100 walking BIGBY species in a given year. My previous record for earliest date to 100 BIGBY species was April 29 (2009). I went on to pick up three additional new BIGBY species later on Friday, and another one this AM, to bring my total to 104 BIGBY species for the year.
With April just about halfway over, I’ve added 22 new 2010 BIGBY species so far this month:
Blue-headed Vireo - BIGBY species #83 for 2010 (recorded 4/1)
House Wren #84 (4/1)
Great Egret #85 (4/2)
Barn Swallow #86 (4/2)
Northern Parula #87 (4/2)
Pine Warbler #88 (4/2)
Yellow-throated Warbler #89 (4/6)
Worm-eating Warbler #90 (4/6)
Palm Warbler #91 (4/7)
Black-and-white Warbler #92 (4/7)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow #93 for 2010 (4/11)
Chimney Swift #94 (4/11)
Prairie Warbler #95 (4/12)
Broad-winged Hawk #96 (4/12)
White-eyed Vireo #97 (4/13)
Black-throated Green Warbler #98 (4/14)
Ovenbird #99 (4/14)
Common Yellowthroat #100 (4/16)
Red-eyed Vireo #101 (4/16)
Yellow-throated Vireo #102 (4/16)
Nashville Warbler #103 (4/16)
Indigo Bunting #104 (4/17)
Today’s Common Yellowthroat sighting marked a new personal record for me: the earliest date to record 100 walking BIGBY species in a given year. My previous record for earliest date to 100 BIGBY species was April 29 (2009). I went on to pick up three additional new BIGBY species later on Friday, and another one this AM, to bring my total to 104 BIGBY species for the year.
With April just about halfway over, I’ve added 22 new 2010 BIGBY species so far this month:
Blue-headed Vireo - BIGBY species #83 for 2010 (recorded 4/1)
House Wren #84 (4/1)
Great Egret #85 (4/2)
Barn Swallow #86 (4/2)
Northern Parula #87 (4/2)
Pine Warbler #88 (4/2)
Yellow-throated Warbler #89 (4/6)
Worm-eating Warbler #90 (4/6)
Palm Warbler #91 (4/7)
Black-and-white Warbler #92 (4/7)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow #93 for 2010 (4/11)
Chimney Swift #94 (4/11)
Prairie Warbler #95 (4/12)
Broad-winged Hawk #96 (4/12)
White-eyed Vireo #97 (4/13)
Black-throated Green Warbler #98 (4/14)
Ovenbird #99 (4/14)
Common Yellowthroat #100 (4/16)
Red-eyed Vireo #101 (4/16)
Yellow-throated Vireo #102 (4/16)
Nashville Warbler #103 (4/16)
Indigo Bunting #104 (4/17)
Monday, April 12, 2010
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