BIRD NOTES~~October 25, 2006

 

 

Bird Notes

 

Cape May in October

The following is a comment from a friend in New York State about a field trip to Cape May, New Jersey in early October:

 

“It was an incredible trip.  From Cape May south through the Carolinas we had a nor'easter. Sat. AM, right after we parked the cars at Stone Harbor behind the beach, emergency sirens blared followed by an announcement "Move all cars to higher ground".  From there south to North Wildwood was solid water with no visible vegetation.  It was a full moon, the highest tide of the year and the bays could not empty at low tide due to the high winds.  Below the Hawk watch platform was a Clay-colored Sparrow & a Dickcissel.  But, it will always be remembered as the Merlin Trip.  Saturday we had hundreds everywhere throughout the day!  We had a total of 121 species for the trip.”

 

So you see my friends, good birding doesn’t always happen in good weather.

 

 

 

Crucial Legislation Signed Into Law
In the waning hours before Congress recessed, the Senate unanimously passed a revised Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Improvement Act of 2006 (NMBCIA, H.R. 518). The legislation, originally authored by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), was added to H.R. 4957, the Tylersville Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act. The Act was signed into law by the President on October 17th.

NMBCIA is the only federal funding program designed specifically for migratory bird species throughout North America, and it also provides the only dedicated source of funds for migratory birds on their wintering grounds in Latin America and the Caribbean.

NMBCIA enables the only significant federal funding source for neotropical migratory birds to continue through 2010. For more information, see: www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NMBCA/index.shtm

Darin C. Schroeder
Deputy Director of Conservation Advocacy

American Bird Conservancy

 

 

 

S  I  G  H  T  I  N  G  S

 

Retreat Meadow & West River Cornfield

On Saturday Oct. 21^st after checking out the water treatment path and tallying only a Great Blue Heron and a Mockingbird I drove to Marina Rd. along the West River. At the puddle in the cornfield past the Quonset hut I found the Wilson’s Snipe still there. While watching it a lone EASTERN MEADOWLARK flew into the drier portion of the field.

---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro

 

 

Word from Wilmington

Not many birds to speak of here - Hermit Thrush, Chickadees, a few Juncos, a confusing fall warbler, though I think it is a Myrtle, and very few woodpeckers.  Maybe it’s the lull before the storm situation. Today after saying I had not many birds a little flock of Juncos arrived and two laggard Robins chirped from the treetops, and a Raven, but not much else.

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington

 

 

 

Demise of the Hermits

I recently found a dead Hermit Thrush in my yard. A short time later I found another. Neither appeared to have been mauled, every feather seemed to be in place. I am concerned that maybe there is a fatal disease that is taking a toll on them or just avians in general. Has anyone else out there experienced anything like this?

---Burt Tepfer, Putney

 

 

Area Birds

On Sunday we checked out the setback at the base of Cotton Mill Hill and tallied 3 Ring-necked Ducks, 16 Common Mergansers and a Double-crested Cormorant. At Peck’s Pond there were a dozen Green-winged Teal and many Mallards. Upon returning to Brattleboro a check of the Water Treatment Plant path gave us good looks at an immature White-crowned Sparrow, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, a couple of Dark-eyed Juncos and some Song Sparrows. On Mather Road this morning (10/24) a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER flew in front of our car and over the open field to a cottonwood tree on the hillside. Here at Chipmunk Crossing there have been 3 juvenile Wild Turkeys a couple of White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and the usual Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Black-capped Chickadees, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves and 5 obnoxious Crows.

 

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

 

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