A pair of Sandhill Cranes were seen mating on April 26 in the wetlands of Heron County Park in Vermillion County, IL, six miles west of the Illinois/Indiana state line. This marks the first known Sandhill Crane mating activity in east central Illinois in nearly 140 years!!
Here's a map showing the location of Heron County Park: http://bit.ly/bJZxtX
In a posting to the Illinois birding list, Illinois Natural History Survey biologist Steve Bailey noted that "This is quite a ways south of the most southern known Illinois nesting right now…at Grundy County's Goose Lake Prairie S.P."
According to "ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES OF ILLINOIS: STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION - VOLUME 2: ANIMALS" (published by the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board in 2004) the last known Sandhill Crane nesting in east central Illinois was in neighboring Champaign County in 1872!! (It also happened to be the last known nesting in Illinois before the cranes returned to the state in 1979).
Specifically, the report says:
"Former Illinois Distribution: The sandhill crane was once abundant on the large marshes in northern and central Illinois but had become very rare by the late 1800s (Kennicott 1855, Nelson 1876b). Prior to its return to the state in 1979, the last known nesting in Illinois occurred in Champaign County in 1872 (Greenberg 1980)."
The report is on the Illinois DNR website. Here's the short URL: http://bit.ly/bvx8ty. It's on page 134 of the PDF, but the page number printed at the bottom of the page on the source document says page 120.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Six new walking BIGBY species
Birded the Indiana University cross country course yesterday afternoon after the rains, and this AM. Pretty much perfect birding weather, with six new first of year (FOY) and BIGBY birds.
Some highlights, starting with the FOY/BIGBY birds:
* Grasshopper Sparrow (4/27) - BIGBY species #117 for the year. I was looking for possible Field Sparrow nest sites when the GRSP flew into view and briefly sang his odd little song.
* Baltimore Oriole( 4/28) - BIGBY #118 for 2010. Four of them, in the usual spot...northwest corner of northern section of XC course, near a tee on the IU golf course. When I run into them on the XC course, they are almost always in this general location. Beautiful birds, and I love their lilting songs, and the way the songs contrast with their harsh calls.
* Common Nighthawk (4/28) - BIGBY #119. Foraging over the par 3 section of the IU golf course. I thought it seemed kinda early, but I checked Brock and the arrival date for this species for southern Indiana was this past Monday.
* Scarlet Tanager (4/28) - BIGBY #120. Calling from the woods to the north of the XC course.
* Great Crested Flycatcher (4/28) - BIGBY #121. In the area where I usually see them...along the edge of the woods...area is mostly a stand of young tulip poplars.
* Blackburnian Warbler (4/28) - BIGBY #122. In the woods to the north of the XC course.
* Bald Eagle - Adult. High off to the northeast, in the general direction of Lake Lemon. Not an FOY, but a cool bird nonetheless.
* Chipping Sparrow - 70+, in numerous small flocks, on 4/27. Numbers were back to normal today (4/28).
Prairie Warbler - Has been singing in same spot every day for one week now (see the green marker on this map: http://bit.ly/dxbtsY for location). Since it looks like Prairie Warbler habitat (cedars, pines, scrub) I'm thinking they might nest there.
* Field Sparrow - Speaking of nesting, it looks like there may be at least two Field Sparrow nests in the grass in the south section of the XC course. I've observed birds come up out of the grass there this week, and the sites match the BNA Online description of FISP nesting sites. The cool thing is that this is the first time I've seen FISPs nesting in the grass on the XC course since IU adopted its no-mow policy!!
* Had my first XC course "three swallow day" of the year on 4/27 - Tree Swallow (10), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2), Barn Swallow (2)
* Saw a Cooper's take a female Cowbird on 4/27. Sure, Cooper's kill songbirds, but I guess every now and then they help them out by taking out a cowbird. :-)
* There's been a small flock of White-throated Sparrows hanging out in the brush for about a week. Saturday was a very gray morning. I was back in the woods when about 15 WTSPs slowly came through, serenading me. The fresh damp air, dim light, bright green new leaves, and the melancholy songs of the sparrows made for a neat experience.
Some highlights, starting with the FOY/BIGBY birds:
* Grasshopper Sparrow (4/27) - BIGBY species #117 for the year. I was looking for possible Field Sparrow nest sites when the GRSP flew into view and briefly sang his odd little song.
* Baltimore Oriole( 4/28) - BIGBY #118 for 2010. Four of them, in the usual spot...northwest corner of northern section of XC course, near a tee on the IU golf course. When I run into them on the XC course, they are almost always in this general location. Beautiful birds, and I love their lilting songs, and the way the songs contrast with their harsh calls.
* Common Nighthawk (4/28) - BIGBY #119. Foraging over the par 3 section of the IU golf course. I thought it seemed kinda early, but I checked Brock and the arrival date for this species for southern Indiana was this past Monday.
* Scarlet Tanager (4/28) - BIGBY #120. Calling from the woods to the north of the XC course.
* Great Crested Flycatcher (4/28) - BIGBY #121. In the area where I usually see them...along the edge of the woods...area is mostly a stand of young tulip poplars.
* Blackburnian Warbler (4/28) - BIGBY #122. In the woods to the north of the XC course.
* Bald Eagle - Adult. High off to the northeast, in the general direction of Lake Lemon. Not an FOY, but a cool bird nonetheless.
* Chipping Sparrow - 70+, in numerous small flocks, on 4/27. Numbers were back to normal today (4/28).
Prairie Warbler - Has been singing in same spot every day for one week now (see the green marker on this map: http://bit.ly/dxbtsY for location). Since it looks like Prairie Warbler habitat (cedars, pines, scrub) I'm thinking they might nest there.
* Field Sparrow - Speaking of nesting, it looks like there may be at least two Field Sparrow nests in the grass in the south section of the XC course. I've observed birds come up out of the grass there this week, and the sites match the BNA Online description of FISP nesting sites. The cool thing is that this is the first time I've seen FISPs nesting in the grass on the XC course since IU adopted its no-mow policy!!
* Had my first XC course "three swallow day" of the year on 4/27 - Tree Swallow (10), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2), Barn Swallow (2)
* Saw a Cooper's take a female Cowbird on 4/27. Sure, Cooper's kill songbirds, but I guess every now and then they help them out by taking out a cowbird. :-)
* There's been a small flock of White-throated Sparrows hanging out in the brush for about a week. Saturday was a very gray morning. I was back in the woods when about 15 WTSPs slowly came through, serenading me. The fresh damp air, dim light, bright green new leaves, and the melancholy songs of the sparrows made for a neat experience.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Two new BIGBY birds: Hooded and Kentucky Warblers
The weather wasn't exactly cooperative this morning on the Indiana University cross country course. Light drizzle, pushed by a stiff northerly breeze, with 50 degree temps. It was basically too wet to spend much time in the woods. And the birds didn't seem especially cooperative...only 35 species. But I did come up with two new first-of-year and BIGBY species.
Some highlights:
* Kentucky Warbler - FOY bird, and BIGBY species #115 for 2010.
* Hooded Warbler - FOY, and BIGBY species #116 for the year. Odd experience with eBird for the Kentucky and Hooded Warblers. Brock's "Birds of Indiana" shows these two species with southern Indiana average arrival dates of 4/25 and 4/22, respectively, meaning it shouldn't be surprising to run into them now. But in eBird I had to click on "Rare Species", and then confirm them, to get them into eBird. Makes me curious about how eBird assigns cutoff dates during migration?
* Peregrine Falcon - Circling high above Fountain Park Apartments.
* Winter Wren - Singing!! That may be the last one I see for the season, since Brock's departure date for southern Indiana is today!
* Northern Parula - 1
* American Woodcock - Flew rapidly past me from the southern edge of the XC course. About ten seconds later it flew rapidly by me again, back in the direction it originally came from.
Finally, my bird-of-the-month to look for right now is Great Crested Flycatcher. Earlier this month it had been White-eyed Vireo, and then Eastern Kingbird, but I've checked them off this month now. Right now, whenever I think I hear a Great Crested Flycatcher it turns out to be an Eastern Towhee calling. :-)
Some highlights:
* Kentucky Warbler - FOY bird, and BIGBY species #115 for 2010.
* Hooded Warbler - FOY, and BIGBY species #116 for the year. Odd experience with eBird for the Kentucky and Hooded Warblers. Brock's "Birds of Indiana" shows these two species with southern Indiana average arrival dates of 4/25 and 4/22, respectively, meaning it shouldn't be surprising to run into them now. But in eBird I had to click on "Rare Species", and then confirm them, to get them into eBird. Makes me curious about how eBird assigns cutoff dates during migration?
* Peregrine Falcon - Circling high above Fountain Park Apartments.
* Winter Wren - Singing!! That may be the last one I see for the season, since Brock's departure date for southern Indiana is today!
* Northern Parula - 1
* American Woodcock - Flew rapidly past me from the southern edge of the XC course. About ten seconds later it flew rapidly by me again, back in the direction it originally came from.
Finally, my bird-of-the-month to look for right now is Great Crested Flycatcher. Earlier this month it had been White-eyed Vireo, and then Eastern Kingbird, but I've checked them off this month now. Right now, whenever I think I hear a Great Crested Flycatcher it turns out to be an Eastern Towhee calling. :-)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Three new BIGBY birds for the year
What's a BIGBY? See: http://bit.ly/bGUVxi
I managed to get in a decent walk on the Indiana University cross country course before Saturday's rains started. It was pretty dark and damp due to a lingering high fog. I recorded 42 species for the morning...
Here are a few highlights from Saturday, April 24:
* Northern Waterthrush – BIGBY species #112 for 2010...also a first-of-year (FOY) species. Along a creek back in the woods. I don’t think I could have positively ID’d this bird if it hadn’t sung a few times, and if there hadn’t been a Louisiana Waterthrush cooperatively singing downstream for comparison.
* Cerulean Warbler – BIGBY species #113 (and an FOY bird). On the edge of the woods at the far north end of the XC course. For some reason the north section of the XC course is better for warblers...must be the wooded hills to the north.
* Wood Thrush – BIGBY #114 (and an FOY). I love their ethereal flute-like songs, and I don’t usually get to actually SEE one singing like I did on Saturday.
* Rose-breasted Grosbeak – My second of the season, doing a few “sneakers-squeaking-on-a-basketball-court” calls.
* Eastern Kingbird – Second sighting in three days. There was a pair hawking insects together at the far southeast corner of the XC course. Maybe it was just the dim lighting that morning, but these birds seemed exceptionally striking...the bright white band at the tip of the tail contrasting very nicely with the inky dark tail feathers.
I managed to get in a decent walk on the Indiana University cross country course before Saturday's rains started. It was pretty dark and damp due to a lingering high fog. I recorded 42 species for the morning...
Here are a few highlights from Saturday, April 24:
* Northern Waterthrush – BIGBY species #112 for 2010...also a first-of-year (FOY) species. Along a creek back in the woods. I don’t think I could have positively ID’d this bird if it hadn’t sung a few times, and if there hadn’t been a Louisiana Waterthrush cooperatively singing downstream for comparison.
* Cerulean Warbler – BIGBY species #113 (and an FOY bird). On the edge of the woods at the far north end of the XC course. For some reason the north section of the XC course is better for warblers...must be the wooded hills to the north.
* Wood Thrush – BIGBY #114 (and an FOY). I love their ethereal flute-like songs, and I don’t usually get to actually SEE one singing like I did on Saturday.
* Rose-breasted Grosbeak – My second of the season, doing a few “sneakers-squeaking-on-a-basketball-court” calls.
* Eastern Kingbird – Second sighting in three days. There was a pair hawking insects together at the far southeast corner of the XC course. Maybe it was just the dim lighting that morning, but these birds seemed exceptionally striking...the bright white band at the tip of the tail contrasting very nicely with the inky dark tail feathers.
A "very" interesting birding coincidence
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).
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).
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
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