BLUEBIRD the Voice of ASM Since 1934 September 2008 Volume 75, Ho

THE BLUEBIRD The voice of ASM since 1934 September 2008 Volume 75, Ho .. 3

The Audubon Society of Missouri Missouri's Ornithological Society Since 1901 THE AUDUBON SOCIETY OF MISSOURI

Officers Bruce Beck+ (20 10) Poplar Bluff (573) 785-3871 Jim Zellmer*+, President (2008) 2001 NE 4th St., Blue Springs, MO JoAnn Eldridge+ (2008) 64014, (816) 228-3955 Kearny (816) 628-4840 [email protected] Terry McNeely+ (2010) Joyce Bathke*+, Treasurer (2008) Jameson, MO (660) 828-4215 813 Cornell, Columbia, MO 65203 Larry Lade+ (2009) (573) 445-5758 St. Joseph (816) 232-6125 [email protected] Ed McCullough+ (2008) Laura Gilchrist*+, Secretary (2008) Kansas City (816) 505-2840 7606 NW 73rd Ct Kansas City MO 64152-2385 June Newman+ (2009) (816) 7 46-8973 Carrollton (660) 542-0873 [email protected] Mike Thelen+ (2009) Honorary Directors University City, (314) 862-6642 Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis** Clare Wheeler+ (2010) Nathan Fay, Ozark** Lake Ozark & Canton (573) 365-2951 Leo Galloway, St. Joseph Jim Jackson, Marthasville Chairs Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** Josh Uffman, Rare Bird Alert Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** Ferguson, MO Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth** (314).387.8037 Rebecca Matthews, Springfield [email protected] Sydney Wade, Jefferson City** Dave Witten, Columbia** Bill Clark, Historian John Wylie, Jefferson City** 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. Columbia, MO 65202 (573) 474-4510 Dr. David Easterla, 2006 Recipient of the Rudolph Bennitt Award June Newman, Membership Carrollton, MO 64633 Paul E. Bauer, 2004 Recipient ofthe (660) 542_0873 Rudolph Bennitt Award + Board Position * Executive Committee Member **Deceased Regional Directors Lisa Berger+ (2008) Springfield ( 417) 881-8393 r Page i THE BLUEBIRD THE BLUEBIRD

The Bluebird Editor: Bill Eddleman*+, 1831 Ricardo Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, (573) 335-1507, [email protected] Christmas Bird Count Compiler: Randy Korotev, 800 Oakbrook Lane, St. Louis, MO 63132, (314) 993-0055, [email protected] Communication Services: Patrick Harrison Webmaster, http://mobirds.org. Susan Hazelwood and David Scheu, Co-owners Listserve, [email protected],edu Conservation Editor: Sue Gustafson+, 429 Belleview Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119 (314) 968-8128, [email protected]

Migratory Bird Count Compiler David Rogles, 60 Shadowridge Drive St. Peters, MO 63376 (636) 936-0660, [email protected] MO Bird Records Committee: Bill Eddleman+-Chair, (see Seasonal Survey Editors) Bill Rowe-Secretary, 9033 Big Bend Road, St. Louis, MO 63119, (314) 962-0544, [email protected] Seasonal Survey Editors: Spring: Kristi Mayo, 1807 Clear Creek Dr., Kearney, MO 64060 (816) 289-7828, [email protected] Summer: Josh Uffman, 420 North Clay Avenue, Ferguson, MO 63135 [email protected] Fall: Bill Eddleman, 1831 Ricardo Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, (573) 335-1507 (h), [email protected] Winter: Joe Eades, 517 Willow Lane, Kirkwood, MO, 63122, (314) 835- 0353, [email protected] * Executive Committee Member + Board Position

Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird Manuscripts for The Bluebird-to the editor by: Feb. 1 for March issue; May 1 for June issue; Jul. 15 for Sept. issue; Nov. 1 for Dec. issue Deadlines for submissions to the Seasonal Survey Compilers Winter (Dec. 1-Feb. 28)-to Joe Eades by Mar. 10 Spring (Mar. 1-May 31)-to Kristi Mayo by June 10 Summer (June 1-July. 31)-to Josh Uffman by Aug 10 Fall (Aug. 1-Nov. 30)-to Bill Eddleman by Dec. 10

Page ii THE BLUEBIRD TABLE OF CONTENTS

September 2008 Volume 75, No. 3 1 President's Corner-Jim Zellmer 2 Notes from the Editor-Bill Eddleman 3 Seasonal Report: Spring 2008-Kristi Mayo 20 A Birder's Guide to Missouri Public Lands-Edge Wade 26 Peer-Reviewed Paper: Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) Early Winter Status at Prairie State Park, Barton County, Mis- souri-Mark B. Robbins 30 ASM Scholarship Program-Susan M. Gustafson Special Insert: Fall 2008 ASM Meeting

Front Cover- Missouri's first Mew Gull, first cycle bird, May 18-21, 2008, Smithville Lake, Clay Co. Photo by Linda Williams.

Blue-winged Warbler, Rock Bridge State Park, Boone Co., 4 May 2008. Photo by Mark Gutchen.

THE BLUEBIRD is published quarterlyby The Audubon Society ofMissouri The submission of articles, photographs, and artwork is welcomed and encouraged. The views and opinions expressed in this journal are those of each contributing writer and do· not necessarily represent the views and opinions of The Audubon Society of Missouri or its officers, Board of Directors, or edi; tors. Send address corrections to ASM, 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122, Columbia, MO 65203-1261.

Page iii THE BLUEBIRD It does not seem possible that we have reached the half way point in 2008 and that we are a couple of months from the fall meeting. Plan- ning is going well and as always, it promises to be a good one. For those of you who are already making plans to attend, we will have the usual field trips and we will be adding Saline Valley CA to the list of other great spots. This year we will be hosting the students who were the recipients of the Paul and Fran Bauer Scholar- ship Fund. They will be giving presentations on their topic of studies. Robin Hirsch- J-acobson (2006 recipient ofthe ASM Graduate Research Scholarship) will be giving us an update on his research entitled, "Effects of Late Season Nests on Source-Sink Dynamics in Mid Missouri Forest Fragments" and Andrew Cox (2007 recipient) will give us an update on his research entitled, "Identification of Important Nest Predators and the Factors that Influence their Contribution to Overall Predation Rates in a Midwestern Landscape. The update should be quite informative and very interesting.

As always, there will be the great food that our caterers have been providing for the past several years. It has gotten to the point that the food is just as important as the events that we offer for our membership! Our caterers have been with us for many years and the fall meeting has become synony- mous of both good food and good company.

This summer has been a very busy one as I have been working with the De- partment of Natural Resources on a new agreement for the SPARKS project. I am pleased that we came to an agreement and have a new list of state parks to be birded. The new areas are: Bennett Springs State Park (SP), Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial SP, Katy Trail SP, Morris SP, Sam A. Baker SP, Big Oak Tree SP, Washington SP, and Meramec SP. Also, at the time of this writing, Brad Jacobs ofthe Missouri Department of Conservation and I are working on a new agreement for the CACHE IV project. Careful consid- eration is being given to the new sites because of the increase in fuel prices and an economy that is not too friendly for most of our pocket books. I have gone to our board of directors asking for suggestions on potential new sites that they thought would work under these conditions. All of the sites that have been submitted are being considered. These sites are also being exam- ined for their relation to the SPARKS target areas, in order to make it more productive for both projects and for those who will be birding these areas.

We can be very proud of ASM and what we as an organization have accom- plished over the past few years. With our involvement with both the Mis-

Page 1 THE BLUEBIRD so uri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, ASM has made contributions to these agencies that have made a difference in the birding community. I would encourage all of you to continue to get out when time allows. Go to some of the areas that you have not visited in a while and take a friend. Share the expense so that there is not a burden to the leader/driver. For those who continue to go out and work these areas, my "Thanks" to you for your dedication to both ASM and the partnership projects. Jim Zellmer The Audubon Society of Missouri

A Note from the Editor Bill Eddleman

As reported in the last issue, I have agreed to be the editor of The Bluebird. First of all, I would like to thank Clint Trammel for his service in the last year as editor. I would also like to thank Jim Zellmer for allowing me to renege on my offer to be Vice-President. I've often considered editing The Bluebird, but the time was not ripe until now. I told Jim when I agreed to do the editor job that I intended to do it for around 10 years, because I think ASM will benefit from some stability in the quarterly. So .. .look for me to stick around for awhile! One of my goals is to change the "look" of The Bluebird, with your input and the input of design professionals. However, don't look for any drastic changes in The Bluebird immediately. There is one more issue in this volume, so I do not want to alter the appearance just yet. I also assure you that the only change in content I would like to implement is an increased use of scientific (peer-reviewed) papers. This is not to change The Bluebird, but to make a lot more of the good studies that happen in Missouri more accessible to the birding community, to raise our profile in birding and professional circles, and to provide a better local outlet for publications on Missouri birds. I also want to continue to use all the "joy of birding" articles, photos, artwork, and other contributions that you can provide. Our quarterly should reflect all of its members, so we need your contributions. So, in summary, I want The Blue- bird to be everything it is and has been-plus more. So, please provide your input, your comments, and above all your contributions to The Bluebird. The Bluebird should continue to be a great place for ALL those interested in Missouri's birds.

Bill Eddleman Cape Girardeau, MO

Page 2 THE BLUEBIRD Spring 2008seasonal REPORT KRIST/ MAYO

Was this season colder and wetter than usual, or have the springs in recent memory been warmer and drier? Birders across the state commented on the cool, damp weather that prevailed through most of the period, but statisti- cally it was a close-to-average season. There were a few exceptions, however: St. Louis opened the month of March with a 10-in. snow event on the 4th. Late in the month, a weather pattern kept northern and western Missouri in a holding pattern of cooler temperatures and close-to-average precipitation, while southern and eastern Missouri experienced average temperatures and record rainfall. Between 17 and 19 March, a major storm system moved across southern Missouri, causing flooding in 70 counties. With that one event, Cape Girardeau received a 24-hour rain total of approximately 13 in. In southwestern Missouri, Springfield received 9.4 in. in 24 hours on 17- 18 March. Interestingly, immediately following this period of inundation, an inexplicable number ofrecord-early Hooded Warblers were reported in southeastern Missouri. The weather in April leveled out with slightly below-average temperatures and average to slightly above-average precipitation. The steady amount of rainfall in the northern half of the state improved wetland habitat in areas of northern Missouri, such as in Livingston and Adair, and helped wetland habitat in the east recover from a period of drought. Rain also brought persistent high water to Columbia Bottom CA St. Louis, making it a hotspot for shorebirding in St. Louis this season. Cool temperatures in early May did not necessarily seem to delay migration of warblers and other passerine migrants (arrival dates were quite average for most species and several observers raved about an excellent warbler migration), but some birders noted fewer vocalizations than usual in the migrant traps. Keen observers confirmed two species_for the state list: a White-tailed Kite at Columbia Bottom CA and a Mew Gull at SL. Two Black Rails calling from a field in Stoddard caused a stir for those anxious to get that bird on their state or life lists. A second-state-record Curlew Sandpiper and two separate sightings of Long-billed Curlews were highlights of the shorebird migration. Note: Records marked with a single asterisk (*) require documentation, but no documentation has yet been received by the Missouri Bird Records Committee (MBRC). Observers involved with such sightings are encouraged to submit documentation. The MBRC has received documentation of those records marked with two asterisks (**), and those marked (ace.) have been accepted.

Page 3 THE BLUEBIRD WATERFOWL Fulvous Whistling-Ducks* continue to be found in the Bootheel. On 9 May, a flock of 11 was at Mingo NWR Stoddard (SD). Peak counts for Greater White-fronted Goose seemed a bit below average, with 100+ on 2 Mar at RMBS (MT) and 1,000 on 6 Mar at TRW (SK). The peak count for Snow Geese was 150,000 on 5 Mar at Swan L NWR Chariton (SK). This species lingered in small numbers (up to 10), virtually all injured, through at least 10 May at locations in the east such as RMBS and OSCA (JE, JU, JM), and over 100 (the result of spring hunting season) were present through at least mid-May at SCNWR (MR). Individual Ross's Geese were observed through late March in the east at locations such as RMBS and WD (MT, JU) and-like the previous species-lingered in northwestern MO through early May: 1 on 26 Apr at the MSL (DE) and 2 on 4 May at SCNWR (TR). Up to 5 Cackling Geese from a wintering flock stayed at RMBS through 9 Mar (JU, MT). Larger numbers were recorded in the west: 125+ on 4 Mar at Pony Express CA DeKalb (MR) and 15 on 8 Mar at SL Clay (KM). The latest record reported was of 1 bird on 22 Apr at the MSL (DE). A peak count of 12 Trumpeter Swans came from TRW on 14 Mar (SK), and a report of an overflight of 12 Swan sp. on 1 Mar near Mystic Adair likely referred to Trumpeter Swans (PW). In the east, where Trumpeter Swans are more readily found in the winter in locations along the Miss. R., 2 imm birds lingered through 6 Apr at Dresser Island CA St. Charles, staying almost a full month later than the large wintering flock annually recorded at RMBS (BR). The latest Trumpeter reported was one, possibly sick, on 4 May at SCNWR (TR). The earliest Wood Ducks reported included 8 on 1 Mar at SL Clay (KM) and 2 on 12 Mar at University City St. Louis (MT). Six Gad- wall on 10 May at OSCA seemed late in their southeastern MO location (JE, JU, JM). The earliest report for Blue-winged Teal consisted of a pair at RMBS on 9 Mar (MT), and observers in the St. Louis area noted that this species stuck around in small numbers (groups of 3 to 8) through the end of the period (JE, JU, m.ob.). There were at least five unique records for Cin- namon Teal this season, all single males: 28 Mar at a small farm pond near SL Clay (KM); 29 Mar-13 Apr at Firma Rd. St. Charles (Tom Borman & DRo, m.ob.); 13 Apr at TRW (SK, Terry McNeely); 12-15 Apr (TR, KM) and 26-28 Apr (DE) at SCNWR; and a significantly late record of 1 on 20 May at NVCA (MR, Mike Anderson, Pete Hosner). Two Cinnamon x Blue- winged Teal hybrids were also recorded: 1 on 25 Mar at SCNWR (SK, LL) and 1 male on 18 May at NVCA (MR). The peak count for Northern Shov- eler was 4,500 on 27 Apr at SCNWR (DE), and this species stayed through the end of the period across state. In eastern MO, 1 was found on 18 May at BKL (Bittern Basin area) Lincoln (JE); in northwestern MO, 6 were at Coo- ley L CA Clay on 26 May (KM); and in central MO, 2 were seen on 31 May at TRW (SK);_170+ were still at SCNWR and BBCA on 20 May (MR). A single Northern Pintail stayed in southeastern MO until at least 26 Apr at OSCA (JE), and 2 lingered through 9 May at SCNWR (TR, DE)._Most spe· cies of the diving ducks persisted well into May in several locations. Up to 2 Canvasbacks stayed through 8 May at SCNWR (TR, KM. LW), while the latest record in the east involved 1 bird on 10 May at RMBS (JU, JE, JM).

I Page 4 THE BLUEBIRD The high count for Redhead was 24+ on 9 Mar at RMBS (MT), and the latest record was of one male that stayed through 3 May at SCNWR (TR, LW, KM). A nice count of 4,000 Ring-necked Ducks came from TRW on 23 Mar (SK). Continuing the trend for lingering diving ducks, more than 5 Ring- necked Ducks were sighted at various locations in Holt on 3 May (KM, LW), while 2 remained at RMBS (JE, JU) and 1 was at TSCA (MT) through 10 May; 4, 18 May, SCNWR & BBCA (MR). The only report of Greater Scaup involved 2 on 26 Apr at the MSL, where they are "tough to find in spring" (DE). A count of 5 Lesser Scaup was totaled on 20 May at SCNWR & BBCA (MR), and 2 (male & fern) were at the Excelsior Springs Wastewa- ter Treatment Facility Clay on 26 May (KM). Only one Long-tailed Duck was reported,_a fern at Mozingo L Nodaway, 23-29 Apr (DE)._The highest count reported for Bufflehead was 500+ on 22 Apr at the MSL (DE). A nice -sized flock of 75 Hooded Mergansers and 200 Common Merganser was present on 4 Mar at FGCA (SK). Single female Red-breasted Mergansers were reported at SCNWR and at Duck Creek CA and OSCA through late April (JE, DE). The highest count of Ruddy Ducks was 1000+ on 22 Apr at the MSL (DE), while 2 lingered until 18 May at RMBS (JE)_and 4 until 20 May at NVCA (MR). PRAIRIE-CHICKEN THROUGH RAPTORS Greater Prairie-Chickens were heard on 27 Mar at Bushwhacker CA Vernon (LH). Meanwhile, in northeastern MO, 2 were seen on a lek in early April near Mystic Adair. This represented a 75% decline from the high count at this location in 2007 (PW). An additional5 were seen on a lek in March near Lake Thunderhead Putnam (Greg Gremaud, PW). Always a treat to find but more rare in the spring, two Pacific Loons were carefully identified on 16 Mar at Table Rock L Stone (MT). Also at Table Rock L Taney/Stone, 11+ Common Loons were present on 22 Mar (MR). The season's high count_for this species was of 15 at SL Clay on 1 Apr (SK, LL), while one rather late bird in basic plumage was found on 3 May at RMBS (BR). Horned Grebes were widespread throughout the period on reservoirs and wetlands. Records extend from 2 Mar-18 May, with a high count of 53 on 16 Mar at Table Rock L Stone (MT), and a late date on 18 May that involved an apparent pair in alternate plumage at NVCA (MR). Eared Grebes also seemed more abundant, although the majority of records were from northwestern MO, extending from 1 Apr-9 May (LL, TR, JE, DE). A high count of 10 was present on 13 Apr at SL Clay (KM). Only one record came from southwestern MO: 1 on 9 Apr at Carl Junction Jasper (LH). The latest date was from eastern MO, where this species is rare: 1 in transi- tional plumage on 10 May near OSCA (,JE, JU, JM). A high count of 600 American White Pelicans was recorded on 14 Apr at SCNWR (TR). and this species was present in good numbers through end of period across the state: for example. 200 on 31 May at RMBS (JE); 30 on 31 May at TRW (SK). At SL Clay/Clinton, numbers of Double-crested Cormorants began to build at the beginning of the period and peaked at about 1,000 the first week of Apr (KM, SK,LL). American Bitterns were reported in small numbers (up to 3) across the state. begmmng 20 Apr through the end of period. Least Bitterns were reported in small numbers (up to 3) in Lincoln,

Page 5 THE BLUEBIRD St. Charles, and Buchanan beginning 14 May through the end of period (TR, JE, JH). The first Great Egret was seen on 16 Mar in Stoddard (CBa), but this species seemed slow to build its numbers in the rest of the state. Groups of just 13 were seen at TSCA (MT) and CBCA through the end of the period, with a sharp increase at CBCA just after end of May (up to 75 in first week of June) (BR). Snowy Egrets also seemed slow to arrive this year. First reports included 2 on 21 Apr at SCNWR (TR) and 4 on 26 Apr at OSCA (CBa). The first Little Blue Heron report was of 3 on 1 Apr at Ben- ton Scott (CBa). A single record came from northeastern MO, where it is quite uncommon due to usual lack of appropriate habitat: 1 adult on 8 May at URCA (PW). At CBCA, this species showed same pattern of occurrence as Great Egrets, with up to 12 present through end of the period, then their numbers grew to 45 by the end of the first week of June (BR). Cattle Egrets were quite uncommon in northwestern MO: a single sighting came from SCNWR on 2 May (TR), and 2 were seen on 26 May near Kearney Clay (KM). In eastern MO, 70 birds were observed on 17 May at CBCA was an uncommonly large flock for the St. Louis area (BR). Black-crowned Night -Herons also appeared to move late, with the earliest report involving a single bird on 27 Apr at OSCA (CBa). Two birds on 18 May at BKL (Bittern Basin area) Lincoln were uncommon to find in this location (JE). Steady rainfall and improved habitat allowed for the first sighting of a Yellow- crowned Night-Heron after several years of absence on 27 May at PSP (JH). Glossy Ibises were found in two locations this season: 1 bird from 18 Apr-6 May at Horseshoe L. and Muskrat L. Buchanan (LL, JH, SK)*, and 1 on 10 May at EBCA (PM, BJ). White-faced Ibises were present at SCNWR 16 Apr-20 May, with a high count of 57 on 26 Apr (DE) and 23 were still present on 20 May (TR). They also numbered up to 17 at Horseshoe L. and adjacent Muskrat L. Buchanan from 18 Apr-25 May (LL, JH). The only Ple- gadis sp. report from eastern MO was 1 adult in alternate plumage, thought to be White-faced but too distant to identify to species, on 26 Apr Stoddard (JE). Counting a flock of Black Vultures leaving their roost in Taney yielded an impressive high count of 100 on 16 Mar (MT). There were also three separate reports of groups of 2-3 in late April in Stoddard and Webster (JE, AK). Ospreys were slow to -arrive, with the earliest report being 1 bird on 21 Apr at SCNWR (TR). Participants with a SLAS field trip were treated to one of the best birds of the season: a definitive state record (there are three prior records) for White-tailed Kite** (ace.) on 3 May at CBCA (BR, Dick Coles, John Solodar, m.ob.). Mississippi Kites made their first appearances on both sides of the state on 26 Apr, with 2 at Mingo NWR Stoddard (JE) and 1 adult in Joplin Jasper (LH). The Joplin bird was also present on 12 May, and 2 more were seen on 5 May in Christian (Debbie Martin). Four active Bald Eagle nests were reported: two nests in Holt, one in Benton, and one in St. Louis (JE. DE, BR). The high counts for Northern Harrier seemed low: 3 on 30 Mar at CBCA (MT); and 2 fem/imm & 1 male on 31 May at Bushwhacker CA Vernon (LH). A fem/imm on 3-14 May at CBCA seemed a little late for the St. Louis area (JU, JE). There were three individual records of Red-shouldered Hawk in the north, including a nesting record in northwestern MO: 2 on 15 Mar at URCA & Sullivan (PW); 1 on 6 May at Brickyard Hill CA Atchison (TR); and 2 adults and 4 un-

Page 6 THE BLUEBIRD fledged young at a nest throughout the period at Watkins Mill SP Clay (LW, KM). Swainson's Hawks were reported in small numbers between 15 Apr- 20 May in western counties, with 4 1st year birds seen perched in a recently plowed field on 20 May, Holt Co (MR, Mike Anderson, Pete Hosner); plus one record from north-central MO: 1 on 4 May at PSP (SK, m.ob.). An adult "Western" Red-tailed Hawk was seen on 9 Mar at CBCA (MT). Two records of Rough-legged Hawk came from eastern MO at the beginning of the period: 1 dark phase on 1 Mar in the Mississippi floodplain of Perry (JE); and 6 on 1 Mar in Adair & Sullivan (PW). A hardy count of 3 adult Golden Eagles came on 2 Mar from Pike (JE). There were at least six unique records of Merlins, all from western MO: 1 on 9 Mar in Dade (CBu, Jerry Williams, m.ob.); 1 fern prairie race on 13 Mar in A.tchison (TR); 1 on 24 Apr in Christian (DB); 1 on 26 Apr at Palmetto Greene (CBu); 1 fern prairie race on 3 May at SCNWR (KM, LW); and 2 on the 10 May NAMC in Greene (DB & BB). Peregrine Falcons were spotted in at least five locations across the state: 1 adult on 11 Apr at CBCA (JU); with a high count of 3, an adult male & fern, and imm seen at the same time on 4 May at SCNWR (MR, Mike Anderson, Jon King); 2 on 27 Apr at TRW (SK); 1 on 27 Apr near St. Joseph Buchanan (JH); and 1 adult on 27 Apr at OSCA (JE). RAILS THROUGH TERNS The first spring record for Black Rail** (ace.) in 18 years came when two birds were heard calling from a wet wheat field near Bloomfield Stoddard between 3-10 May (CBa, m.ob.). A King Rail was heard on 28 May at Cooley L CA Clay (DW). A Sora on 5 Apr at OSCA was a little earlier than average (CBa). The highest counts submitted were fairly meager: 4 on 19 Apr at RMBS (JE) and 6 on 18 May at BKL (Bittern Basin area) Lin- coln (JE). Common Moorhens were reported in three locations: 1 on 10 May at OSCA (JE); at least 1 on 24-30 May at RMBS (BR, JU, JE, MT); and 1 on 28 May at Cooley L CA Clay (DW). The peak for American Coots during the last two weeks of April brought thousands of birds to locations in northwestern MO, including: 10,000 on 13 Apr at SCNWR (KM) and 6,000 on 27 Apr at SCNWR (DE). They lingered through end of season in groups of 6 to 12 in several locations, including Lincoln, St. Charles, and Livingston (JE, SK). Two Sandhill Cranes were seen at SCNWR from at least 16 Apr through the end of the period (TR, DE, m.ob.), and 1 flew over Thousand Hills SP Adair on 28 Apr (PW). No large groups of Black-bellied Plovers were reported. The high counts were of 6 on 14 May at CBCA (JE) and up to 6 that were present 24-31 May at RMBS (CA, JE, JM, CM, DRo). An esti- mate of 1,500-2,000 American Golden-Plovers on 1 Apr at Keeteman Rd Lincoln was a near record (CM). A count of 150+ on 25 Apr along Highway 162 New 1\1adrid was notable considenng the date was past this species' expected peak (JE). Even later in the season, a group of 13 was found on 18 May at CBCA (JE). Snowy Plovers are a good find anywhere in the state, but especially exciting in the east where they occur far less often. A single bird found on 24 May at RMBS represents the fifth record outside the northwestern corner of the state (,JE, CA. JU)**. Another bird was at SCNWR on 2 May at SCNWR(TR). The Semipalmated Plover high count was 50 on 29 Apr at SCNWR (DE). Two birds hung around until24 May at

Page 7 THE BLUEBIRD RMBS (JE). There were three reports of single Piping Plovers: 19 Apr at LC (LL); 27-28 Apr at SCNWR (DE); and 9 May at SOCA St. Clair (Lisa Berger, CBu). Continuing to increase statewide, Black-necked Stilts have become more regular outside the Bootheel. A group including 2 males and 1 fem on 5 Apr at OSCA was considerably early (CBa). Records in the northwest included: single birds at SCNWR between 27 Apr-9 May, and a male and fem were present together at SCNWR on 3 May (TR, DE); 1 bird seen 3 & 14 May at BBCA (KM, LW, TR); and 1 seen 23-25 May at Horseshoe L Buchanan (LL). The most interesting activity came from the St. Louis area, however, with 2 located 23-26 May at RMBS (JU, JE) and as many as 11 present between 25 Apr and the end of period at CBCA (m.ob.). Small flocks of American Avocets were reported 12 Apr-12 May by multiple observers at various locations in northwestern MO, incl. Clay, Buchanan, Holt, and Nodaway (LG, JH, TR, DE). The largest concentrations were at SCNWR the last half of April, with a high count of 55 on 27 Apr (DE). There were two records outside northwestern MO: 3 on 17 Apr at OSCA (CBa) and 1 on 9 May at SOCA St. Clair (Lisa Berger, CBu). A Solitary Sandpiper on 31 Mar at Dexter City L Stoddard was slightly ahead of schedule (CBa), and 2 Greater Yellow legs at CBCA on 17 May were a little late. Good-sized flocks of Willets were observed in northwestern MO: 45 on 25 Apr at Horse- shoe L Buchanan (JH), and 90 on 25 Apr at Bean L Platte (LG). There was only one report from eastern MO, where it is rare: 10 on 28 Apr at Thou- sand Hills SP Adair (PW). The earliest report of Upland Sandpipers was of 6 on 6 Apr at DR (SK). The place to look for Whimbrels in the spring in eastern MO seems to be RMBS: 1 was found in the late afternoon on 24 May and 7 were spotted on 26 May, although this last group was present only for 10-15 minutes just before sunset (JE). It had been 12 years since a birder found a Long-billed Curlew in MO, but this year brought two independent sightings: an impressive flock of 10 on 4 Apr in Dade (CBu)** (ace.), and a single bird on 14 Apr at SCNWR (DW)** (ace.). There was only one report of Hudsonian Godwit in the east, where it is rare: 1 from 31 May-1 Jun at RMBS (CM, JU, JE). Meanwhile, in northwestern MO, Hudsonians were quite common. High counts included: 50 on 26 Apr at Horseshoe L Bu- chanan (LL) and 51 on 18 May at BBCA & the surrounding area Holt (MR). Two separate reports of Marbled God wits both came from SCNWR: 2 males and 1 fem on 14 Apr and 1 on 3 May (TR). There were several reports of Ruddy Turnstones: 5 on 18 May at NVCA (MR); 2 on 24 May in St. Charles (JM, CM, DRo, JE) and 1 on 28 May at LC (LL). Sanderling reports included: 5 on 3 May at SOCA Vernon (KM, LW); 4 on 20 May at BBCA (MR, Mike Anderson, Pete Hosner);and 25 on 26 May at RMBS (JM, CM, DRo, JE). Peak count ofSemipalmated Sandpipers in northwestern MO was 750+ on 18 May at SCNWR and NVCA (MR). As expected, their numbers were smaller in the east: 4 on 10 May at OSCA (JE) and 12 on 1 Jun at RMBS (JE). Western Sandpiper, listed as rare in the spring, was found in two locations: 2 on 28-29 Apr at SCNWR (DE) and 1 on 7 May at BBCA (DE). A group of 6 White-rumped Sandpipers arrived at SCNWR on 29 Apr (TR), and their numbers peaked at 885+ on 18 May at SCNWR and NVCA (MR). Their numbers were smaller in the east, with groups of 5· 12 reported from locations in Stoddard, Lincoln, and St. Charles between 10

Page 8 THE BLUEBIRD -26 May (MT, JE). Baird's Sandpipers were only reported in small numbers (1-5) through late April and early May, its usual peak period. Being so late in the season, 31 on 18 May at SCNWR & BBCA was a notably large number (MR). A very early sighting of 3 Dunlin came on 5 Apr at OSCA (CBa). The peak count in northwestern MO involved 114 birds on 20 May totaled between SCNWR, BBCA, NVCA Holt/ Nodaway (MR, Mike Ander- son, Pete Hosner); the peak count in eastern MO was 4 on 25 May at RMBS (MT). Another exciting shorebird sighting was a single Curlew Sandpi- per** (ace.), a potential second state record, observed 26-27 Apr SCNWR (DW, m.ob.). The peak count for Stilt Sandpipers was 375+ on 20 May at BBCA (MR, Mike Anderson, and Pete Hosner). Individual Short-billed Dowitchers arrived on both sides of the state around 7-8 May, and the highest count reported was only 7 on 17 May at CBCA (BR). Comparatively, there were much higher numbers of Long-billed Dowitchers reported. High counts included: 400 on 27 Apr at OSCA (JE) and 150 on 29-30 Apr at SCNWR (DE, TR). Several American Woodcocks were still displaying on 26 Apr DR (SK). Large numbers ofWilson's Phalaropes stopped over at BBCA, with a high count of 500+ on 11 May (DW, LW). There were two reports of Red-necked Phalaropes: 8 on 11 May at BBCA (DW, LW) and 2 (a male and fern) on 14 May at SCNWR (TR). Laughing Gulls are listed as casual away from the Miss. R., so a report of 1 on 25 Apr at SL Clay was a surprise (DW)** (ace.). On the Miss. R. where this species is rare, birders at RMBS were kept on their toes on 26 May when a single adult was found early in the day (BR, Roger McNeill), 9 birds were counted mid-day (DRo, JM, CM), followed by a single imm observed late in the afternoon (JE). A single Franklin's Gull found on 1 Mar at Sugar L Buchanan was excep- tionally early (SK, LL). The peak count for season involved a flock of 900 birds on 20 May near Mound City Holt (TR). In eastern MO, where it is less common, it was present on three days at RMBS: 1 on 11 May; 5 on 24 May; and 12 on 26 May (JE). Counting the birds in a steady stream of Bona- parte's Gulls at Table Rock L Taney/Stone on 22 Mar resulted in a record high count of 2, 100+ (the previous spring high count published in R&E was 100+) (MR). A single bird observed 23-27 May at the MSL (DE) provided a near-record late date. Long overdue as a vagrant to the state, a first-cycle Mew Gull** (ace., definitive state record) was observed and well documented 18-21 Apr at SL Clay/Clinton (DW, m.ob.). A count of 137 Ring- billed Gulls on 31 May at RMBS was notable (JE). A tally of 60 Herring Gulls on 9 Mar at SL Clay was high for a location away from the Miss. R. (MR), and a count of 10 on 10 May at RMBS was high for such a late date (JE). The first Caspian Tern was recorded on 6 Apr at RMBS (Lincoln Shields area) St. Charles (JU), and this species was also observed at two other locations before May: up to 3 between 18-27 Apr at SL Clay (DW, LW, KM), and 1 on 30 Apr at Mozingo L Nodaway (DE). Black Terns obviously peaked 14-20 May in northwestern MO with flocks numbering in the hun- dreds that week (MR, TR). The high count was 635+ on 20 May at SCNWR and NVCA (MR). Much smaller numbers were reported in eastern MO-e.g. 47 on 26 May at RMBS (JE, DRo)-but groups persisted through the end of the period at RMBS. The earliest report of Common Terns included 8 birds on 10 May at RMBS, and an impressive 55 were counted on 24 May at

Page 9 THE BLUEBIRD the same location (JE). At least 2 birds observed at Thousand Hills SP Adair on 11 May were a good find at a location away from the major rivers (PW). Peak counts for Forster's Tern included 40 on 11 May at Thousand Hills SP Adair (PW) and 25 on 2 May at SCNWR (TR).

DOVES THROUGH WAXWINGS White-winged Doves were spotted in four locations, all associated with feeders: 1 on 18 Apr in Kearney Clay (Jo Ann Eldridge); 1 on 15 May in Springfield Greene (Bonnie Noble, CBu); 1 on 6 & 21 May in Joplin Jasper (Shirley Flood); and 2 birds on 25 Apr & 10 May in East Prairie Mississippi were returning for at least their third year at this location (JE, JU, JM). Observers noted that Yellow-billed Cuckoos were late in arriving. Al- though the earliest report was at WBSP Platte on 10 May (MR, Mike Ander- son, Jon King), the first wave did not occur until after May 20th. The earliest Black-billed Cuckoo reports included_! on 13 May in Atchison (TR) and 1 on 17 May at White Cliff Park St. Louis (JE). There was only one report of Greater Roadrunner: 1 on 17 Mar near Carr Lane Stone (MT). A Barn Owl was detected on 3 May in Vernon (KM, LW). The sole report of Long-eared Owl involved 1 on 10 Mar in Chillicothe Livingston (SK, LL). There was only one observation of Short-eared Owl from the St. Louis area-l on 30 Mar at CBCA (BR)-but they were found more readily in northwestern and north-central MO: several were seen on 10 Mar near Chillicothe Livingston (LL, SK); 12 were at DR on 4 Apr; and at least 1 was still present on 20 Apr at DR (SK). Common Nighthawks had arrived in the Bootheel area by 25 Apr (JM, JE), but they arrived later than expected in the St. Louis area, with the first report of a single bird on 12 May at CBCA (JE). The peak count involved 20 birds on 18 May at CBCA (JE). Sur- prising numbers of Chuck-will's-widow were recorded in northern counties (where this species is rare) on the May 10 NAMC: 5 in Livingston (SK, Terry McNeely) and 6 in Holt (DE). Whip-poor-wills are generally heard in early April in the south (R&E), but it wasn't until 19 Apr that 3 birds were detected at Little Lost Creek CA Warren (JE). With such a cool, wet spring, observers in the northern half of the state (Buchanan and Jackson) were surprised to see the first Chimney Swift arriving as soon as 9 Apr (JH, Bob Fisher). The first report for St. Louis was "unusually late" with 2 on 16 Apr (JE). Ruby-throated Hummingbirds arrived within the expected mid-April time-frame: 1 fem on 14 Apr in Joplin Jasper (LH) and 2 on 25 Apr in St. Genevieve (JE). Several observers noted that Red-headed Woodpeckers become less common each year in northwestern MO (MR, TR). The latest Yellow-bellied Sapsucker reported was observed on 5 May at Meramec Springs SP St. James (Linda Frederick). Individuals and pairs of Pileated Woodpeckers were reported locally in the northwestern part of the state, a continuing trend: 2 on 21 Mar at the River Walk in St. Joseph Buchanan (LL) and 1 on 18 May at SCNWR (MR). Olive-sided Fly- catcher seemed unusually easy to find in the southwest and northwest (DRi, KM). One bird found on 24 Apr in Springfield Greene was a record- early sighting by several days (Connie Tyndall)*. The first Eastern Wood- Pewee was reported on 27 Apr at OSCA (JE). Observers noted that Empi- donax species were particularly quiet as they moved through the state, but

Page 10 THE BLUEBIRD good numbers were recorded on several days in mid to late May. Yellow- bellied Flycatchers seemed rather abundant. A record-early date by several days was documented on 3 May in Boone (PM)**, but the majority of records fell between 14 and 26 May. As expected, most of the sightings were from eastern MO. The high count involved 6+, with "an apparent movement of this species this day," on 26 May at CBCA (BR, Roger McNeill). Two records came from western MO, where this species is rare: 1 on 20 May at SCNWR (TR) and 1 on 22 May in Kearney Clay (KM). An Acadian Fly- catcher on 27 Apr at Mingo NWR Stoddard (JE) was rather early. The earliest report of Alder Flycatchers included 3 birds found on 18 May at Fel- lows L Greene (Greg Swick, Zelda Ellison, Jan Horton, Nancy Vandenbrink). There was an apparent push of these birds on the east side of the state, where it is less common or rare, between 22-26 May: 1 on 22 May at OSCA (CBa); 1 on 24 May at RMBS (BR); 1 on 24 May at the Katy Trail Access St. Charles (JE); 3 on 24 May at WSCA (MT); and 2 on 24 May & 26 May at CBCA (BR). The first Willow Flycatchers were found on 10 May in the two southern corners of the state: 1 at Mingo NWR Stoddard (JE) and 1 in Greene (DB & BB). A high count of 3 came on 25 May at RMBS (JE). Least Flycatchers seemed to arrive and leave within their expected window: the earliest report was of 1 on 27 Apr at OSCA (JM, JE), and the latest report was of 1 bird on 26 May at CBCA (BR). The earliest report of the season for Eastern Phoebe was about a week earlier than average in northern MO: 1 on 4 Mar at Pony Express L CA DeKalb (MR). A high count of 7 was tallied on 16 Mar in Taney (MT). Several Great Crested Flycatchers had arrived at Duck Creek CA & Mingo NWR Stoddard by 26 Apr (JE). Western King- bird appears to expand its range north and east every year. Examples of reports where this species is normally rare or is growing in numbers: 1 on 5 May in Chillicothe Livingston (SK) and 3 on 14 May in St. Louis St. Louis City (JE). Arrival dates for Eastern Kingbird were consistent with average: 1 on 13 Apr at OSCA (CBa) and 2 on 22 Apr at Creve Coeur St. Louis (JE). The peak count of 15 birds came from various locations in Pike on 10 May (MT). Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is another species that is expanding its range north and east, as there were three reports of this bird outside of southwestern MO: 1 male on 5 Apr near Batesville Butler (CBa); 1 on 21 Apr in Platte (LG); and 1 on 2 May in Livingston (SK). There was only one report of Loggerhead Shrike from St. Louis (where it is rare): 1 on 30 Mar at Marais Temps Clair CASt. Charles (BR). A decline in numbers of this species in western MO was also apparent, with only one report provided: 1 on 3 May at BBCA (KM, LW). A winter invasion of Northern Shrikes persisted into the first part of the spring season: 1 on 5 Mar near Mystic Sulli- van (PW)** (ace.); 1 on 6 Mar at Clarence Cannon NWR Pike (Abby Darrah) ** (ace.); 1 adult on 4 Mar at Pony Express L CA DeKalb (MR); and 1 imm on 9 Mar at SL Clay, a tie for the latest date on record (MR). The first White-eyed Vireo was reported on 6 Apr at Mingo NWR Stoddard (Jeff Wright, CBa), and there were two reports from northwestern MO, where it is rare: 2 birds on 7 May at a banding station at Missouri Western State University Buchanan (JR. Karen Lyman) and 1 on 8 May at SCNWR (TR). The first Bell's Vireos were detected on 26-27 Apr at OSCA (CBa, JE), and there were two other reports from eastern MO where this species is listed as

Page11 THE BLUEBIRD rare: 2 on 31 May at CBCA (CM) and 3 on 31 May at WSCA (MT). The high count for the season came from western MO: 9 on 31 May at Bushwhacker CA Vernon (LH). The first Yellow-throated Vireo was detected on 6 Apr at Mingo NWR Stoddard (Jason Lewis, Jeff Wright, CBa), while a Blue- headed Vireo on 19 May at Emmeneger Park St. Louis was on the late side (JE). One observer noted that Warbling Vireos appeared to be a "less- common migrant than usual" (JE). The first bird was reported on 19 Apr at Warbler Woods CA Dunklin (CBa). One record of Philadelphia Vireo came from the western counties, where it is rare: 1 on 10 May at the Park- way (a walking path in St. Joseph) Buchanan (JH, Tom Nagel). All reports from the east were of single birds, but sightings of this species in eastern MO seemed more frequent than usual (JE). The first was spotted on 26 Apr at Duck Creek CA Stoddard (JE). Red-eyed Vireos may have arrived later than the average year, with the earliest date on 24 Apr at Lost Valley Hik- ing Trail St. Charles (JE). Observers noted a marked increase in the Fish Crow population in the St. Louis area (JE, MT, BR). A high count on 19 Apr at BCA & WSCA included one compact flock of 80 birds that flew past and two other flocks observed later that morning, possibly accounting for a total of up to 130 in the general area (BR). There was also one record from southwestern MO, where it is becoming more common-1 heard and seen on 3 May at SOCA Vernon (KM, LW)--and one record came from north-central MO in a brand-new location: 2 on 3 & 12 May at PSP (Patrick Harrison, Edge Wade, SK)** (ace.). A peak count of Bank Swallows tallied just 125 birds on 10 May at TSCA (MT), and it was noted that the nesting colony near SCNWR did not set up camp this year. A very early Cliff Swallow was recorded on 21 Mar at Table Rock L Taney (MR). One observer noted "crashing numbers" ofBiack-capped Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse in Nodaway (DE). As would be expected following a major winter invasion, Red-breasted Nuthatches lingered during the spring season in all parts of the state and a few persisted until near the end ofthe period. The latest date was from northwestern MO: 1 on 25 May & 27 May at a residence in St. Joseph Andrew (Leo & Ruth Galloway). Meanwhile, birds were reported at Creve Coeur St. Louis through 16 May (JE, JU, CBr). The high count for the season came from southeastern MO: 19 on 28 Apr at Cane Ridge, Mark Twain NF Butler (MR). In the southwest, there were at least two May records, with the latest known record from that region involving 1 bird on 16 May in Springfield Greene (Zelda Ellison). There was one record of Be- wick's Wren from northern MO, where it is rare: 1 on 28 Apr at Thousand Hills SP Adair (PW). There were an additional four records from southern MO, all involving observations of single birds: 23 Mar at Pea Ridge CA Washington (JlJ); 30 Mar at Truman L SP Benton (JE); 28 Apr at Carter- ville Cemetery Jasper (LH); and 29 May in Jadwin Dent (JE). Sedge Wrens may have been less common than usual, as they were noted by only one observer: 1 on 8 May SCNWR (TR). The earliest observation of a Marsh Wren was on 30 Mar at CBCA (MT), and the high count was of 3 birds on 18 May at BKL (Bittern Basin area) Lincoln (JE). One observer's best attempt at an estimated peak count was to call Ruby-crowned Kinglets "ubiquitous" on 13 Apr in St. Loll!s and St. Louis City (MT). The last one spotted in southeastern MO on 10 May at OSCA seemed to be running a little late (JE). A

Page 12 THE BLUEBIRD male Blue-gray Gnatcatcher found on 29 Mar at the Bootleg Access Madison (CBa) was rather early. Six reports of Veery all came from the St. Louis area, ranging from 8-21 May (JE, JU, CBr). One observer noted this species seemed more common than most years. All reports were of single birds except for 2 found on 8 May at TGP (JE). The latest Gray-cheeked Thrush reported was seen on 24 May at TGP (JE). A Swainson's Thrush on 19 Apr at BCA was surprisingly early (BR), and the last one reported moving through the state was on 26 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (JU). The last Hermit Thrush spotted was at TGP on 9 May (JE). Several Gray Cat- birds, the first of the season, were seen on 26 Apr at Duck Creek CA Stoddard (JE). Brown Thrashers arrived in the St. Louis area at the end of March, with 1 on 30 Mar at CBCA (MT) and 1 on 1 Apr at Columbia Bot- toms St. Louis (JE). The high count was of 11 on 13 Apr at TGP (MT). American Pipits began arriving in mid-March (JU, LL, JE). High counts included 30 on 12 Mar at LC (LL) and 40 on 15 Mar at Hawk Point Area Warren (JE); and a surprisingly high number for southeastern MO was recorded toward the end of this bird's migration window: 17 on 27 Apr in Stoddard (JE). A species that is not reported very often in the spring, 1 Sprague's Pipit was found on the early date of 20 Mar at Prairie SP Bar- ton (MR). One observer noted that Cedar Waxwings were absent in east- central MO prior to a sighting of 15 birds on 9 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (JE). A nest-building pair was spotted at the Pulltite Access on the Current River Shannon on 28-29 May (MR, Brett Benz). WARBLERS THROUGH TANAGERS Blue-winged Warblers were reported from three locations north of the Missouri R.: 1 on 17 May at Tiffany Springs Park Platte (LG); 4 on 24 May at WSCA (MT); and up to 5 seen between 1 May and the end of the period at several locations in Adair (PW). With at least 19 reports submitted of Golden-winged Warblers, this species got more attention from contribu- tors than any other warbler. Several observers remarked that it was a "good year" for this species (JE, PW). Records spanned the average window of migration for this species: 26 Apr-24 May, mostly consisting of 1 to 3 birds, with sightings representing all areas of the state (JE, MR, DRi, JCa, AK, Dave Catlin, PW). The high count involved 6 males on 10 May at WBSP Platte (MR, Mike Anderson, Jon King). One latish Tennessee Warbler was still around on 29 May in Kirkwood St. Louis (JE). One observer in the St. Louis area remarked that Orange-crowned Warblers were "seen much more frequently than usual" (JE). The earliest date was one 1 on 13 Apr at TGP (MT). A record high count (based on R&E) of 30 birds on 4 May at WBSP Platte was also late in this species' average migration window (MR). The latest date was 14 May at White Cliff Park St. Louis (JE). One Nash- ville Warbler on 23 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis was somewhat late (JE). A male Northern Parula on 22 Mar at T:vwappity Towersite Scott represented a record early date (CBa)*. Observers noted that Yellow Warblers seemed especially numerous this spring A record high count (based on R&E) was of 61 on 8 May at SCNWR(TR). Two Chestnut-sided Warblers on 26 Apr at Duck Creek CA Bollinger were the first reported this spring (JE). There was only one report of a Cape May Warbler from the western

Page 13 THE BLUEBIRD half of MO, where it is rare: 1 on 12-16 May in Springfield Greene (Suzy Major, DRi). Additionally, there were at least two reports from the eastern half of the state, including the high count: 7 on the 10 May NAMC in Phelps (Linda Frederick, et al). Yellow-rumped Warblers were present in impressive numbers in mid-April in St. Louis and the last week of April in the north. The published high count of this species is 78 (R&E), but three reports were much higher: 200+ on 12 Apr at Babler SP St. Louis (JM); 200 on 27 Apr at SCNWR (DE); and 150+ on 27 Apr at Watkins Mill SP Clay (KM). Several observers also noted groups of this species congregating to feed on paved and gravel surfaces, suggesting very hungry, stressed birds. The first Black-throated Green Warblers of the season was a group of 3 on 6 Apr at Mingo NWR Stoddard (Jeff Wright, CBa). and the last report was of one fem/imm on 18 May at CRSP (JE). A surprising record of 3 Blackburnian Warblers on 6 Apr at Mingo NWR Stoddard was a record-early date (based on R&E) (Jeff Wright, CBa)*. Farther north and west, this species was not detected until late in the first week of May (Debbie Martin, JE). The high count was of 4 on 18 May at CRSP (JE), and the latest date reported was of 1 on 21 May at the Springfield Nature Center Greene (CBu). Yellow- throated Warblers arrived in the southern half ofthe state the first week of April (AK, MT), and there was just one record from the north, where it is rare: 1 bird, returning for about the 5th summer at this location, 8-14 May in St. Joseph Buchanan (JH). Pine Warblers were found in two locations in the St. Louis area, where observers noted it as a rare migrant: 1 on 19 Apr at BCA (BR) and 1 on 9 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (JE). There was also one record from appropriate habitat in northeastern MO: 1 on 11 May at Thousand Hills SP Adair (PK, PW). The peak count early in the season was of 9 on 16 Mar in Taney (MT). There were three records of Prairie Warblers from the northern half of the state: 1 on 17 Apr at Francis Howell High School St. Charles (CM); 2 on 10 May at Cooley L CA Clay (LG, Jim Zellmer, Ellen Zellmer); and 1 on 13 May through end of period at Big Creek CA Adair (PW). There was a high count of 15+ on 28 Apr at Cane Ridge, Mark Twain NF Butler (MR). The earliest report received for Palm War- bler was also the high count for season: 5 on 25 Apr in St. Genevieve (JE). One bird observed on 17 May at CBCA was one day shy of a record-late date (BR). There were three reports of Cerulean Warblers away from the southeastern Ozarks: 1 on 13 Apr at Emmenegger Park St. Louis (MT); 2 on 20 Apr at Babler SP St. Louis (JM & CM); 5 on 24 Apr at Lost Valley Hiking Trail St. Charles (JE): and 1 on 27 May at Platte Falls CA Platte (Nancy Leo, Tracy Wohl. LG). Four Black-and-white Warblers observed on 22 Mar at Tywappity Community L CA Scott were the first of the season (CBa) *.Ahigh count of 12 was tallied on 19 Apr at Little Lost Creek CA Warren (JE). One observation of an American Redstart from late May in an urban -park setting was likely a late migrant: 1 fem/imm on 25 May at TGP (JE). There were three records of Prothonotary Warblers from the northern half of the state: 1 on 10 May at Watkms Mill SP Clay (KM); 1 on 27 May at Platte Falls CA Platte (LG); and 8 on 10 May at TSCA (MT). The earliest observation of a Worm-eating Warbler was surprising due its location in northeastern MO. where this species is rare: 1 on 25 Apr in a private wood- lot in Adair (PW). There were high counts of 9 on 1 May at Magnolia Hollow

Page14 THE BLUEBIRD REGISTRATION

$65.00 per person: Includes registration and six meals. Students-$25 per person: Includes registration and six meals. Children under 12 are free. Meals only: $8.00 per meal plus $20.00 registration.

I ACCOMMODATIONS

Cabins include bunk and mattress, shower and rest rooms. You must bring bedding, towels, and toilet articles. For those preferring a motel instead of the camp bunkhouse experience, nearby motels in Osage Beach include the Baymont Inn (573) 365-2700, Super 8 Motel (573) 348-4035 or the Holiday Inn Express (573) 302-0330. You are responsible for your own motel reservations and expenses.

AGENDA

Friday, September 26 3:00 p.m. Registration begins 7:00p.m. Dinner 8:00p.m. Program: Susan Hazelwood and Edge Wade, Beyond Feathers and Song: Perceiving Birds

Saturday, September 27 7:00a.m. Breakfast 8:00a.m. Morning Field Trips 12:00 p.m. Lunch 1:15 p.m. Afternoon Field Trips 1:30 p.m. ASM Board Meeting 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:15p.m. Program: Robin Hirsch-Jacobson and Andrew Cox, 2006 & 2007 recipients of the Paul & Frances Bauer ASM Graduate Research Scholarship

ANNUAL ASM GENERAL MEETING To FOLLOW PROGRAM

Sunday, September 28 6:30a.m. Refllection & Worship 7:00a.m. Breakfast 8:00 a.m. Morning Field Trips 9:30a.m. Hawk Watch 12:00 p.m. Lunch and weekend bird species summary

II WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

Friday The Friday evening program, Beyond Feathers and Song: Perceiving Birds, will be presented by Susan Hazelwood and Edge Wade. Saturday morning, Susan and Edge will lead a field trip for those wishing to implement the strategies presented Friday evening.

Saturday Field trips will begin Saturday morning and will include a choice of trips to Pin Oak, Brumley Hollow, Ozark Caverns, Saline Valley Conservation Area or the State Park savannah area. No need to sign up in advance; groups will organize according to field trip preference. Following lunch, afternoon field trips will gather. After dinner, the recipients of the Paul & Frances Bauer ASM Graduate Research Scholarship will update the membership on their research. Robin Hirsch- Jacobson (2006 recipient); Effects of Late Season Nests on Source-Sink Dynamics in Mid-Missouri Forest Fragments. Andrew Cox (2007 recipient); Identification of Important Nest Predators and the Factors that Influence their Contribution to Overall Predation Rates in a Midwestern Landscape.

THE ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING WILL FOLLOW

Sunday Activities begin with reflection and worship at 6:30a.m. Half-day field trips will begin following breakfast. After lunch, the birds seen over the weekend will be compiled.

Please have your cabins cleaned and be ready for departure no later than 2:30p.m. Thank you for doing your part in the clean-up!

III 2008 Fall Meeting Registration

NAME(S):

STREET: ______

CITY/STATE/ZIP: ------

PHONE: ------EMAIL: ______

Full Registration: $65.00 x ____ (No. of People) = $ ______Registration and Meals Only: A. Meals $8.00 x ___ (No. of Meals) x __ (No. ofpeople) = $ ___ B. Registration $20.00 x (No. of People) = $ Students: $25 .00 x ___ (No. of People) = $ ______Children under 12 ...... = No Charge

Names ------TOTAL=$

Number of persons for each meal (including students and children):

FrDn SatBr SatLn SatDn SunBr SunLn

RESERVATIONS • Deadline for registration is Saturday, September 20, 2008. • Send registration form with check or money order payable to: The Audubon Society of Missouri 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122 ' Columbia, MO 65203 • Full refund with cancellation before September 20, 2008. Contact Joyce Bathke, Treasurer, at (573) 445-5758 or email [email protected] by September 20, 2008. • Questions? Please contact Jim Zellmer, President-ASM at (816) 228-3955 or Joyce Bathke, Treasurer.

IV CA St. Genevieve (MR) and 4 on 24 May at WSCA (MT). A record high count (based on R&E) of 25+ Ovenbirds came on 28 Apr at Cane Ridge, Mark Twain NF Butler (MR). High counts of Northern Waterthrushes included 10 on 26 Apr at Duck Creek CA Bollinger (JE); 5 on 7 May at SCNWR (TR); and 4 on 10 May at TSCA (MT). The last ofthe season was reported on 24 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (JE). The first Louisiana Waterthrush for the spring was recorded on 20 Mar at Mingo NWR Stoddard (SD). A record spring high count of 10 Kentucky Warblers was tallied on 24 May at WSCA (MT). There were at least three observations of Connecticut War- blers this spring: 1 on 11 May at SOCA Vernon (DW); 1 on 23 May at Creve Coeur (CBr, JE, JU); and 2 on 23 May at Grindstone Park Boone (PM, BJ). Mourning Warblers apparently arrived in the state on 3 May, with the earliest reports coming from both sides of the state on the same day: 1 at OSCA (CBa) and 1 at Caplinger Mills Access Cedar (KM).This species was reported to be more common than most years in the St. Louis area (JE). The high count was of 7 birds on 19 May between two locations in St. Louis (JE). The latest date reported involved 1 male on 25 May at White Cliff Park St. Louis (JE). An observer counted 20 Common Yellowthroats on 10 May at TSCA (MT). One of the bigger surprises of the season was the early arrival of Hooded Warblers in late March in the Bootheel region. Reports included a record-early date involving 2 birds on 22 Mar Tywappity Commu- nity L CA Scott (CBa)** (ace.); 1 on 24 Mar at Forest Park St. Louis City (Chris Ferree)** (ace.); and 1 on 28 or 29 March at a residence in Jackson Cape Girardeau (Tom Draper). There were also five records from the northern half of the state, where it is rare: 1 male on 24 Apr at Little Lost Creek CA Warren (JE); 1 male on 3-14 May 2007 at WBSP Platte (fide JU); 1 on 3 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (CBr, JU); 1 fern on 9 May at TGP (JE); and 1 on 12 May at PSP (SK). The earliest Wilson's Warblers recorded were 2 found on 3 May at OSCA (CBa). The peak count was of 6 birds on 7 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (JE), and the latest individual was a male seen on 30 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (JU). There were many reports of Canada Warbler, suggesting it was more common than most years (JE). The bulk of records were between 17-25 May (m.ob.), but the earliest date reported was of an adult male on 8 May at TGP (JE). High counts were of 3 birds on 17 May at Emmeneger Park St. Louis and 4 birds on 19 May observed at two different locations in St. Louis (JE). Eight Yellow-breasted Chats on 26 Apr at OSCA represented a high count as well as the earliest date reported (CBa). In the St. Louis area, a high count of 5 was recorded 24 May at WSCA (MT). One bird observed at SCNWR from 3-8 May was an unusual find at this location (TR). The first Scarlet Tanager was detected 24 Apr at the Lost Valley Hiking Trail St. Charles (JE). TOWHEES THROUGH SISKINS There was one report of a Spotted Towhee from the east. where it is rare: a male observed from the beginning of the period through mid-April at a residence in Crestwood St. Louis (Jane Allen). American Tree Spar- rows are still around in good numbers early in the period--e.g. 200 on 1 Marat URCA (PW)-but drop off sharply at the first of Apnl. The latest record was of 1 on 6 Apr at RMBS (BR) The earliest Chipping Sparrow

Page 15 THE BLUEBIRD observed this spring was a single bird on 17 Mar at Roaring River SP Barry (MT), but one observer from the St. Louis area noted this species seemed slow to arrive (JE). Three Clay-colored Sparrows were reported from the St. Louis area, where this species is rare: 1 on 28-29 Apr at a residence in St. Louis (Mark Paradise, JU, JE); 1 on 6 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (Dave Becher, JU); and 1 on 9 May at TGP (JE). There was one record from central MO: 3 seen 7-10 May, coming to seed at the Columbia Fish and Wildlife Service office in Boone (PM, BJ, BG, m.ob.). This species was also easier to find in northwestern MO compared to most years.High counts included 12 on 8 May at SCNWR (TR) and 11 on the 10 May NAMC in Livingston (SK, m.ob.). A single Field Sparrow on 8 Mar at Bean L Bu- chanan was the first reported in northern MO this spring (SK, LL). There was just a smattering of reports of Vesper Sparrows from both sides of the state, all involving just 1 to 3 birds, between 29 Mar-29 Apr (JE, BR, TR). Lark Sparrow first arrived in mid-Apr, including a record of 2 on 12 Apr in Stoddard (CBa). A record high count (based on R&E) involved 150 birds on the 10 May NAMC in Livingston (SK, m.ob.). The same NAMC observers in Livingston posted a high count of 111 Savannah Sparrows (SK, m.ob.), and the last observations for the spring were on 18 May, including 3 at BKL and 2 at CBCA (JE). Four separate observations ofHenslow's Sparrows were submitted : 1 on 25 Mar in Stoddard (CBa); 2+ on 19 Apr at WSCA ("Blue Grosbeak Trail") St. Charles (BR); 2 on 18 May near CRSP (JE); and 7 + the 3rd week of May in a private hayfield in Adair (PW). Le Conte's Sparrow was included in only one report: 1 on 2 Apr at CBCA (JE). A Lin- coln's Sparrow found on 30 Mar at Marais Temps Clair CA St. Charles represented an unusually early date for the St. Louis area (BR). Latest dates included 1 on 24 May TGP St. Louis (JE) and 1 on 25 May at URCA (PW). The latest Harris's Sparrow reported was 1 that came to seed at the Columbia Fish and Wildlife Service office Boone from 8-9 May (PM, BJ, BG). White-crowned Sparrow lingered later than normal in fair numbers: 25 on 10 May at TSCA (MT); 30 from 7-10 May at the Columbia Fish and Wild- life Service office Boone (PM, BJ, BG, m.ob.); and 1 on 22 May in Greene, a tie for the latest date published in R&E (Drew Albert). A surprisingly high count for mid-April was tallied for Dark-eyed Juncos: 50 on 13 Apr at TGP (MT). The latest bird was seen 15-16 May at Creve Coeur St. Louis (JU, CBr). The biggest flock of Lapland Longspurs recorded included 200 birds on 8 Mar in the St. Joseph oxbow area Buchanan (LL, SK). The high counts for Smith's Longspur this spring was 22 on 29 Mar at HLPCA (JE) and 60 on 6 Apr at DR (SK). There was just one record from eastern MO, where this species is rare: up to 17 seen between 29-31 Mar at CBCA (BR, MT, JU, m.ob.). There was also one record from Swan L NWR Chariton, where its presence was a surprise: 1 on 22 Mar (SK). Nesting Rose- breasted Grosbeaks are rather scarce in the southern half of the state, so 1 male singing on 31 May at Bushwhacker CA Vernon was worthy of note (LH). A surprising report of 2 male Black-headed Grosbeaks* came on 4 May from Stoney Battery Lodge Iron (Scott House). An adult male Lazuli Bunting that showed up on 2 May at a feeder at Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary Clay 1s thought to be the same bird that visited those feeders last year (jzde LW). A high count of 125+ Indigo Buntings was

Page 16 THE BLUEBIRD tallied on 28 Apr at Donaldson Point CA New Madrid (MR) and 100 were found on 10 May in multiple locations in Pike (MT). Two adult male Painted Buntings* were observed in northwestern MO: 5 May at Muskrat L Buchanan (LL) and 16 May at Waterwell Park Clay (DW). Observers noted that none returned to the Weldon Spring access in Katy Trail SP St. Charles after the summer-resident male at this location was found dead in the summer of 2007 (JE). Bobolinks were first detected in the northwestern corner of the state 26 Apr (SK, TR). Subsequent reports from the southern half of the state followed in early May, with a high count recorded in mid-May: 32 (18 males, 14 fern) on 13 May at a residence in Webster (AK). There were two late records: 1 male singing on 24 May in Clay (KM) and 1 on 26 May at Bellefontaine CASt. Louis (BR). One Western Meadowlark was reported in the St. Louis area, where this bird is uncommon-to-rare, on 24 Mar at CBCA (JU). A high count of 6 was tallied during the Livingston NAMC (SK, m.ob.). There was one report of Yellow-headed Blackbird from St. Louis area, where it is rare: 1 on 29 Mar at CBCA (CM, JM, DRo). Not surprisingly, the high count came from the northwestern corner of the state: 125 on 23 Apr at SCNWR (TR). There were just two reports of Rusty Blackbirds: 3 on 15 Mar at Hawk Point Area Warren (JE) and 3 on 23 Apr at SCNWR (TR). There were also just three reports of Brewer's Black- bird: 9 on 15 Mar at Hawk Point Area Warren (JE), 1 on 22 Mar at RMBS (MT), and a record late date of 5 on 10 May at FGCA Linn (SK)**. Observ- ers in north-central MO made note of Great-tailed Grackles, stating that they are currently less common in that part of the state: 5 on 26 Apr at DR (SK) and 3 on the 10 May NAMC in Livingston (SK, June Newman). Three Orchard Orioles observed on 17 Apr at OSCA were the first of the season (CBa). The first Baltimore Orioles to arrive were about a week behind schedule: in the southern half of the state 1 was found on 25 Apr in St. Genevieve (JE), and in the northern half 1 was spotted on 1 May in Atchison (TR). The peak count was of 16 on 10 May in Pike (MT). Purple Finches were seen through the end of the period thanks to a substantial irruption the previous winter. A high count of 6 came on 18 Apr in Atchison (TR), and the latest dates (record-late date based on R&E) involved 1 on 24-25 May in Christian (Marilyn Owens)** and 1 fern that stayed until30 May at a Rolla residence Phelps (Linda Frederick)*. Red Crossbills this spring were also left over from the 2007-08 winter finch invasion. There were two records of birds lingering at feeders through mid to late Apr, both in the eastern half of the state: up to 11 stayed through 13 Apr at a feeder in High Point Jeffer- son (Chris Mizell, JE, MT, JU, m.ob.), and 2 (1 male, 1 fern) were seen through 28 Apr in Calloway (Robert Hansen, John Besser). Following the same pattern, Pine Siskins lingered in small numbers (singles and pairs) into late Apr and early May in the southern half of the state, and until mid- May in the north. Interestingly, all late-Apr and May reports came from the western tier of counties: 2 on 29 Apr in Joplin Jasper (LH); 2 on 3 May at Caplinger Mills Access Cedar (KM, LW); 3 from 1 May-4 May at Atchison (TR); and up to 9 during 5 Mar-l May in St. Joseph Buchanan (LL). The latest record was of 1 on 19 May in Atchison (TR).

Page 17 THE BLUEBIRD Observers Connie Alwood (CA), Barb Blevins (BB), David Blevins (DB), Chris Barri- gar (CBa), Charley Burwick (CBu), CBr (CBr), Jeff Cantrell (JCa), Stephen Dilks (SD), Joe Eades (JE), David Easterla (DE), Laura Gilchrist (LG), Bill Goodge (BG), Lawrence Herbert (LH), Jack Hilsabeck (JH), Brad Jacobs (BJ), Andrew Kinslow (AK), Peter Kondrashov (PK), Larry Lade (LL), Steve Kinder (SK), Charlene Malone (CM), Jim Malone (JM), Kristi Mayo (KM), Paul McKenzie (PM), Dave Rogles (DRo), Dean Rising (DRi), Mark Robbins (MR), Bill Rowe (BR), Tommie Rogers (TR), Mike Thelen (MT), Joshua Uff- man (JU), Doug Willis (DW), Linda Williams (LW), Phil Wire (PW) Abbreviations CA Conservation Area fern Female imm Immature juv Juvenile L Lake Miss. R. Mississippi River MO Missouri m.ob. many observers MBRC Missouri Bird Records Committee R&E Robbins, Mark B. and David A. Easterla, Birds of Mis- souri, Their Distribution and Abundance, University of Missouri Press, 1992. NAMC North American Migration Count NF National Forest R. River SLAS St. Louis Audubon Society SP State Park

Location abbreviations (counties are in italics)

BKL B. K. Leach CA, Lincoln Co. BBCA Bob Brown CA, Holt Co. BCA August A. Busch Mem. CA, St. Charles Co. CBCA Columbia Bottom CA, St. Louis Co. CRSP Cuivre River SP, Lincoln Co. DR Dunn Ranch, Harrison Co. EBCA Eagle Bluffs CA, Boone Co. FGCA Fountain Grove CA, Livingston Co. HLPCA Hi Lonesome Prairie CA, Benton Co. LC Lake Contrary, Buchanan Co. MSL Maryville Sewage Lagoons, Nodaway Co. NVCA Nodaway Valley CA, Nodaway /Holt Co. OSCA Otter Slough CA, Stoddard Co. PSP PershingSP. Linn Co. RMBS Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, St. Charles Co.

Page 18 THE BLUEBIRD SOCA Schell-Osage CA, Vernon Co. & St. Clair Co. SL Smithville Lake, Clay Co. & Clinton Co. SCNWR Squaw Creek NWR, Holt Co. TRW Thompson River Wetlands, Livingston Co. TSCA Ted Shanks CA, Pike Co. TGP Tower Grove Park, St. Louis City URCA Union Ridge CA, Adair Co. WSCA Weldon Spring CA, St. Charles Co. WD Winfield Lock and Dam No. 25, Lincoln Co.

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Corrigenda for Winter 2007-08 Seasonal Report

Change in the Trumpeter Swan account: " ... KM observed ... at SL (2-ad, 1-m)" to " ... KM observed ... at SL (2-ad., 1-imm)" Delete from the Greater Scaup account: "DAE had the peak concentra- tion of 150 on 7 Dec at MSL." There were only 2 Greater Scaup at MSL on 7 Dec. Change "MR and LH observed on each, presumably the same bird, 20 Dec and 19 Jan (1-m) in thetern boundary of Dunn Ranch, Harrison." to read: "An immature Northern Shrike was found on 20 Dec (MR) and 19 Jan (LH) at PrSP Barton." Add: Joe Eades saw a male Northern Shrike 31 Dec Gentry. Kathleen Anderson found one adult Northern Shrike 15 Jan t (accepted) at Whet- stone Creek CA, Callaway. The same bird was observed 25 Jan- 12 Feb (Jean Leonatti, Anne Downing, BJ, mob). Phil Wire documented one adult 21 Jan t (accepted) at Union Ridge CA, Sullivan (PW). In the Bootheel, Sue Hasse saw one 16 Jan* Stoddard. Larry Lade observed one 23 Jan chasing small birds around in a roadside tree on the west side of the auto tour loop, SCNWR, Holt. TR located one adult 5 Feb on State Rd. B, Nodaway. Steve Kinder reported one m 12 Feb Harrison and one m 28 Feb Poosey CA, Livingston. Doug Willis and Bob Fisher independently observed one m 27 Feb along the eastern boundary of Dunn Ranch, Harrison. Add the following sightings of note, all from the Maryville CBC No- daway on 16 Dec (DE): 2 Wood Ducks; 3 Pied-billed Grebes; 1 Northern Goshawk; 1 Golden Eagle; 71 American Coots; 1 Pileated Wood- pecker (a first for the count); 2 Winter Wrens; 1 Northern Mocking- bird; 1 Vesper Sparrow** (ace.); 36 Snow Buntings.

Page 19 THE BLUEBIRD A BIRDERS' GUIDE TO MISSOURI J>UBLIC LANDS Edge Wade

WAKONDASTATEPARK 1,054 acres Lewis Co. DeLorme 25, E-7 Directions: Three miles south of La Grange on US 61. When to Visit/Species to Expect: Spring and fall migration for passerines, waterfowl, and herons and egrets. Winter for Snow Geese and a good variety of ducks. Features of interest to birders: Paved road leads to several parking areas. Four trails (0.3 to 3.5 miles in length) provide easy access throughout. Six lakes and sand prairie are remnants of mining for glacier-deposited gravel. Agate Lake closed to boaters for waterfowl migration. No hunting in the park increases use by waterfowl. Spoil mounds of sand removed to reach the gravel are now rare examples of sand prairie habitat. Toilets: Pit toilets; modern restroom at campground may be closed off season. Camping: Seventy-nine campsites and 10 RV rentals. Hazards/Limitations: Spotting scope recommended for waterfowl.

MDC TOWER SITES NEAR THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS

These 4 sites have mature pines. All have nesting Pine Warblers. All should be checked in winter for Red-breasted Nuthatch, Pine Siskin, crossbills, and Evening Grosbeak in invasion years. ROCKY MOUNT TOWERSITE 40 acres Miller Co. DeLorme 45, A-8 Directions: Off Route Z west of Eldon. Turn left from Route Z onto the gravel road marked with signs for Dooley Cemetery. At the T-intersection, turn left, then continue 1/2mile to the area. Or, from US 54, take the Bus. 54 exit, then north to West Aurora, and go west on CR 52-12. Features of interest to birders: Parking area, no toilet. East side of area can be walked on old two-track.

BRANCH TOWERSITE 40 acres Camden Co. DeLorme 44, G-4 Directions: West from Macks Creek on US 54, then 2 miles south on MO 73. Features of interest to birders: Small pond. Fire tower is still open to the public.

Page 20 THE BLUEBIRD Toilet: One pit toilet.

CLIMAX SPRINGS TOWERSITE 4 acres Camden Co. DeLorme 44, E-4 Directions: Go north of Camdenton on MO 5, then 20 miles west on MO 7. Features of interest to birders: Very small site, but pines easily viewed. Pine Warblers and other species likely. Toilet: None.

PROCTOR TOWERSITE 115 acres Morgan Co. DeLorme 44, B-5 Directions: From Versailles, go south on MO 5, then west (right) on Rt. J, then north (right) on MO 135 for 3/4 mile. Features of interest to birders: Old two-track runs along the pines on the north side of the site, then into deciduous woods. Toilet: One pit toilet.

YOUNG CONSERVATION AREA

991 acres Jefferson Co. DeLorme 40, 1-4 Directions: Exit 264 offl-44, go south on Rt. W, then 3 miles west on Rt. FF. When to Visit/Species to Expect: Spring, early summer for a good mix of nesting warblers, including Pine Warblers in shortleaf pine grove; orioles and tanagers. Winter for sparrows and woodpeckers, possibly Red-breasted Nuthatches in invasion winters. Features of interest to birders: Parking area gives access to Taconic Loop Trail (2.5 miles total, with cut-off), allowing hiking and viewing along creek bottom and ridge; 2 small ponds in northern part of area. Some scrubby habitat edges accessible off the trail near the north end. Thirty acres of grassland converted to prairie. Old field trail (two-track) allows limited incursion into southern portion. Toilets: None Camping: None. Hazards/Limitations: Heavily forested, rugged terrain with no established trails limit birding in southern 80% of the area. Heavy tick population.

Page 21 THE BLUEBIRD APPLE CREEK CONSERVATION AREA

2, 100 acres Cape Girardeau Co. DeLorme 58, C-4 Directions: From I-55, take Exit 105 (Fruitland exit), go 7 miles north on US 61, then 6 miles east on Rt. CC. When to Visit/Species to Expect: Migration for passerines; winter for raptors, woodpeckers, sparrows, finches. Features of interest to birders: Wetland (70 acres) near the boat ramp onto Apple Creek. Nearly 1,650 acres afforest/woodland. Two parking areas off CR 525. 5 mile looping multi-use trail accessed in this area. Three small ponds accessible from the second parking area. Five parking areas off CC. Field trails run from these. Brushy, small creek bottom near shooting range can be viewed from the road. Toilets: 1 pit toilet at shooting range Camping: Primitive (no facilities) during deer season Hazards/Limitations: Major shooting range--shotgun, rifle, pistol; archery range with very high activity; very loud, in center of area.

SCHIFFERDECKER (W.L.) MEMORIAL CONSERVATION AREA 240 acres Carroll Co. DeLorme 28, E-4 Directions: From Carrollton, go about 6 miles west on Rt. E to the junction with Rt. D. Go south on Rt. D to reach main entrance. Or, from Norborne, go about 4.5 miles north on Rt. D. When to Visit/Species to Expect: Spring, early summer, autumn. Area has potential for some very good birding for upland species, wetland birds, as well as small nesting passerines. Features of interest to birders: Main entrance is at southwest corner of the area, on east side of Rt. D, near a memorial monument. 3 parking areas, 2 easily viewed ponds are along this road. Overall, a good variety of habitats, much of it accessible by car or with little walking. Car may be parked at the "Y" intersection of routes D and E to bird the northwest corner, a woody area with planted native trees and interesting signs. A 40-acre segment on the east side of the area, connected only by the corner, has creek bottom habitat. Toilets: None Camping: Primitive in parking areas

Page 22 THE BLUEBIRD Camping: Primitive in parking areas Hazards/Limitations: Turkey creek ditch (east 40 acres) subject to flooding.

ROCKY FORK LAKES CONSERVATION AREA

2,200 acres Boone Co. Delorme 30, I-5 (See also: Finger Lakes State Park (adjacent)) Directions: US 63, 6 miles north of Columbia; half-mile east on Peabody Rd. When to Visit/Species to Expect: Anytime. Summer nesters include Blue Grosbeak, Bell's Vireo, Blue-winged, Pine and Prothonotary warblers. Os- preys frequent the lake and Purple Martins stage beside lake in autumn. Marsh and big lake attract good variety of waterfowl, including di- vers (small numbers), and some shorebirds.

Features of interest to birders: Three parking areas at points around 48- acre Rocky Fork Lake; another at the shooting range, all accessed via the Peabody Rd. entrance. One parking area near the southwest corner of the area is at the north end of Patricia Rd., off Calvert Hill Rd. One parking area near the west end of Mt. Zion church Rd., offRt. B. These offer alternative points of entering/ leaving the extensive trail system. Most of the trails are not loops; they tend to radiate from points at or near the big lake. Many ponds and year- round pools, mostly created by mining, can be viewed from trails. A marsh may be viewed from the dirt road leading south from Peabody Rd. just west of the entrance (to the north) to Finger Lakes SP (See hazards). Pine plantations and alders were good for crossbills and redpolls in 1980s- 90s. Habitat still good and accessible by gravel road or short walks. 1,150 acres strip-mined area in various degrees of reclamation. Autumn Olive planted as part of restoration is now being removed, but much re- mains. Most of the 400 acres of grass is fescue. 25-acre blue stem prairie and other small bird-attractive habitats, including 200 acres of savanna may be reached by short or moderate length hikes along old field or mining roads. An old railroad right-of-way runs east from the southeast corner of the main area, providing an elevated view of woods, grasslands and ponds.

Page 23 THE BLUEBIRD Toilets: 2 pit toilets at big lake. Camping: At adjacent Finger Lakes SP. Hazards/Limitations: Shooting range and clay pigeon range, often very active. Marsh is beside and behind shooting range. In 2008, a gate was installed at the entrance to the road leading to the marsh. One must now park there and walk. Still, it's worth the effort, especially when waterfowl may be present. High tick population on some trails. Areas of rugged terrain caused by mining activity; some steep slopes.

FINGER LAKES STATE PARK

1,129 acres Boone Co. DeLorme 30, 1-5 (See also: Rocky Fork Conservation Area (adjacent)) Directions: US 63, 6 miles north of Columbia; half-mile east on Peabody Rd When to Visit/Species to Expect: Anytime, but weekdays preferable. Good, accessible warbler and thrush areas, especially in spring. Notably, a Cape May Warbler and Veeries have been seen here. Small numbers of a variety of waterfowl occur in winter. Pines and alders could be very. good for crossbills and redpolls in invasion winters, as they were in 1980s-90s. Features of interest to birders: Rugged strip-mined terrain with many nar- row lakes and ponds. Primary park users are ORV (off-road vehicle)/ATV (all terrain vehicle) enthusiasts (see hazards). Paved roads have several parking areas near lakes, some with short walking trails. Picnic area good for woodpeckers. ORV trails provide access to interior areas of the park (see hazards). Campgrounds good for warblers in spring. Toilets: 3 pit toilets. A Modern restroom at campground may be closed off season. Camping: 19 basic and 16 electric campsites. Hazards/Limitations: With 70 miles of ORV and motorcycle trails (90% of the park area open to ORVs), activity can be deafening. If you visit on a weekend (not recommended), bird before 9:00a.m. when ORVs rev up. Special events are held at the motocross track; even special mountain bike events. Trails through coal mine slag heaps are often steep and can be very muddy/ treacherous.

Page 24 THE BLUEBIRD DEER RIDGE CONSERVATION AREA

6,956 acres Lewis Co. DeLorme 24, B-4 Directions: 3 tracts. Main tract is 5.5 miles north of Lewistown on Rt. H, and 2 miles northwest on Rt. Y. Rt. H passes through/by the 2 smaller tracts south of the junction with Rt. Y. The southern portion of the main tract is accessed via Cottonwood, off Rt. Y, south of the main entrance on Chestnut. When to Visit/Species to Expect: Anytime for Wild Turkey, Northern Bob- white, Ring-necked Pheasant. Winter for raptors, Snow Geese, woodpeckers; early and mid summer for good variety of nesting flycatchers, vireos, warblers, tanagers and orioles, waders in wetland area. Black-billed Cuckoo and Upland Sandpiper have been seen here. Features of interest to birders: An excellent network of gravel roads with several parking area and 19 miles of field trails (which intersect with roads and form loops) provide access by auto or foot to the entire area. 48-acre Deer Ridge Community Lake can be reached and viewed from road or field trail. Nearly 5,000 acres are forest or woodland; 350 acres of savanna, more than 900 acres of old fields, nearly 100 acres of non-prairies grasslands, and more than 400 acres of cropland add up to a rich mix attractive to a variety of bird species. Six wetland pools providing approximately 225 acres of wetland habitat at full pool can be viewed from trails or roads. Toilets: 4 pit toilets. Camping: 8 designated areas; 4 improved, 4 primitive. Lake camping area has a shelter house. Hazards/Limitations: Small rifle shooting range. Some of the trails have steep segments.

Page 25 THE BLUEBIRD Peer Reviewed Paper

Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) Early Winter Status at Prairie State Park, Barton County, Missouri

Mark B. Robbins Division of Ornithology University of Kansas Natural History Museum & Biodiversity Center 1345 Jayhawk Boulevard Lawrence, KS 66045 [email protected]

Prior to the early 1990s, the Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) was considered a casual winter visitant/resident in Missouri, with a total of about 10 records, all involving single individuals (Robbins and Easterla 1992). In Arkansas, it was considered a winter resident "chiefly in the southern and southeastern lowlands" (James and Neal1986), and Thompson and Ely (1992) listed it as a "casual winter resident" in Kansas. In a synopsis of the North American Sedge Wren population, Herkert et al. (2001) stated that there was little information available on wintering birds, especially away from the Gulf Coastal Plain.

During the past decade or so the species has been detected in unprecedented numbers in southwestern Missouri, presumably the result of a combination offactors. Probable influences include the use of prerecorded vocalizations for soliciting response from this inconspicuous species, improvement in habitat, and milder winters. Here I present results from early winter surveys conducted at Prairie State Park (hereafter PSP), Barton County, Mis- soun. Methods With the exception of December 2001, I systematically surveyed, using prerecorded tape that included both song and call notes of this species, Prairie State Park, Barton County from December 1998 through December 2007. All surveys (n=1/per year/December) were initiated between 0700 and 0710 (CST) under similar conditions, i.e., little to no wind and no precipitation. Surveys typically were completed by 0930. Each survey entailed playing prerecorded tape in the following chronological order at the park: first stop was along the east-west gravel road (Central Road) just west of state road NN, foot survey of< 1 km north on the trail from the Tzi-Sho Prairie Unit parking lot, stops at pertinent habitat along the 1.5 km north-south gravel road (NW 13Qth Lane) to the northern boundary, 1.2 km on the east-west road (NW 10 Road) along the northeastern boundary, 1.2 km on paved NN along the eastern boundary, 4.8 km on the east-west road (Central Road) at the southern boundary, ca. 1 km walk on the east side of the railroad bed, and lastly stops along 1.8 km on the north-south road (NW 150th Lane) that passes by the visitor's center to the northern boundary.

Page 26 THE BLUEBIRD Results and Discussion

My first winter encounter of Sedge Wren at PSP was of a bird that was inci- dentally heard giving call notes that I eventually enticed through playback into view on 29 December 1994. Presumably that same bird and another were located at PSP on 15 January 1995 by C. Hobbs, S. Addinall, and E. Preston. However, I did not systematically survey for this species until De- cember 1998. Between 1998 and 2007, wren numbers at PSP varied considerably from year to year (x =8.5 ± 8.5), with the highest count on 17 Decem- ber 1998, when 29 were detected (Table 1). That was an exceptional year, because later the same day I detected three Sedge Wrens at Osage Prairie Conservation Area (CA), Vernon County, and one west of Unit 3 of Four Rivers CA, Bates County, resulting in an all time winter high count of 33 birds. The following day three wrens were recorded, likely involving one of the birds that I detected on the 17th, on the Horton-Four Rivers Christmas Bird Count (hereafter CBC) by C. Hobbs and E. Preston. Another bird was located a day later, the 19thon the Kansas City CBC by R. Knotts, L. Rizzo, and N. Minter (Rowe 2000). Other winter records since the compilation by Robbins and Easterla (1992) include single individuals at Duck Creek CA, Wayne County on 2 January 1993 by E. Hamburg and R. Lewis, and on the Poplar BluffCBC, Butler County on 3 January 1994 by S. Houston (Robbins 1995).

Table 1. Survey dates and number of wrens recorded at Prairie State Park.

Date #of wrens

17 December 1998 29 16 December 1999 4 8 December 2000 7 15 December 2002 1 29 December 2003 5 21 December 2004 17 21 December 2005 5 23 December 2006 1

20 December 2007 8

This wren is frequently overlooked during winter because it is very incon-

Page 27 THE BLUEBIRD spicuous, thus using vocal playback is crucial for detecting this species at this time of year. Underscoring the value of using playback is a comparison of my data (Table 1) with the Liberal, Missouri CBC, which encompasses PSP and was initiated seven years ago. Because I did not conduct a survey in December 2001, a direct comparison can be made for only the past six winters. During that period I recorded 37 wrens, whereas only one was recorded, 28 December 2005, on the six Liberal CBCs. No playback was used in detecting this species on the Liberal CBCs (L. Herbert, pers. comm.). Using prerecorded vocalizations likely will reveal wintering wrens at other areas of the state.

On only a couple occasions did I hear wrens giving one or two songs at dawn and very rarely did they sing in response to tape playback. Without playback, the most common vocalization they gave was a "chip, chip" call, which was most frequently given when I walked within a few meters of them. In response to prerecorded vocal solicitation, birds typically responded by giving the "chip, chip" calls followed by a brief nasal, grating call. The latter vocalization was given after they had approached the tape recorder.

Prime habitat for th1s species has improved considerably since the establish- ment ofPSP in 1980. Although available wren habitat at PSP varied from year to year as a result of grazing and prescribed burning, implementation of these management techniques alone do not fully explain the large variance in birds present from year to year (Table 1). For example, one prime wren site at PSP, the wet prairie that abuts the east side ofthe railroad bed at the southern extremity of the park, was not altered by grazing or prescribed burning during my decade long surveys. Yet, numbers varied from 0-4/survey there.

Milder winters during the past decade or so may have contributed to an increase in this species. Although no systematic December surveys were done until 1998, Sedge Wrens have likely wintered at PSP since at least Decem- ber/January 1994-1995 (see above). Thus, using 1994 as the minimum start- ing point for a comparison of December temperatures from the nearest weather station (Joplin Regional Airport), there has been an average of a two degree (F) increase in temperature in the following three parameters: average, average maximum, and average minimum between the 1994-2007 period and the previous 14 year period (1980-1993), respectively: 38. 7, 4 7.7, 28.9 vs. 36.6, 45.4, 26.8. However, December temperatures almost certainly do not fully explain the effects of weather on the presence or absence of wrens. For example, an ice storm followed by 8-12" of snow on 29-30 Novem- ber 2006 preceded my 23 December 2006 survey when I found only a single wren. One can only speculate how many birds were present at PSP prior to that storm.

Aclm.owledgments: I thank Paul McKenzie for comments on the manu- script and Larry Herbert for information on the Liberal CBC.

Page 28 THE BLUEBIRD Literature Cited

Herkert, J.R., D.E. Kroodsma, and J.P. Gibbs. 2001. Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) In The Birds of North America, No.582 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadel- phia, PA. James, D.A., and J.C. Neal. 1986. Arkansas birds. Their distribution and Abundance. Univ. of Arkansas Press, Fayetteville. Robbins, M. 1995. Seventh annual report ofthe Missouri Bird Records Committee. Bluebird 62:29-34. Robbins, M.B., and D.A. Easterla. 1992. Birds of Missouri. Their Distribu- tion and Abundance. Univ. of Missouri Press, Columbia. Rowe, W.C. 2000. Twelfth annual report of the Missouri Bird Records Committee. Bluebird 67:10-28. Thompson, M.C., and C.A. Ely. 1992. Birds in Kansas. Vol. 2. University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence.

Sedge Wren, Mist-netted 2 km north of Powder Mill, Shannon Co., 2 May 2004. Photo by Bill Eddleman.

Page 29 THE BLUEBIRD HELP SUPPORT THE ASM SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND PROMOTE ORNITHOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN MISSOURI Susan M. Gustafson In 2005, the ASM Graduate Research Scholarship Program was established with the generosity of Paul and Frances Bauer. The Bauers committed $2000 annually for three years which provides research funding to a graduate student at a Missouri university doing ornithological research in Missouri. A request for applications is sent to university contacts in the fall, and the applications are due the following January 15. A formal review process by the ASM Scholarship Committee (Brad Jacobs, Susan Hazelwood, and Sue Gustafson) determines the scholarship recipient. The 2006 Scholarship was awarded to Mr. Robin Hirsh-Jacobson of the University of Missouri-Columbia for his dissertation "The Effects of Late Season Nests on Source-Sink Dynamics in Mid Missouri Forest Frag- ment." Robin's required one year follow-up report appeared in the June 2007 issue of The Bluebird. The 2007 Scholarship was awarded to Mr. W. An- drew Cox of the University of Missouri-Columbia for his dissertation "Identification of important nest predators and the factors that influence their contribution to overall predation rates in a Midwestern landscape." An- drew's required one year follow-up report appeared in the March 2008 issue of The Bluebird. The 2008 ASM Graduate Scholarship, as announced in the June 2008 issue of The Bluebird, has been awarded to Ms. Cara Joos of the University of Missouri-Columbia for her research entitled: "Habitat selection and reproductive success of Bell's Vireo (Vireo belli belli) in managed habitats of central Missouri." The Bauers would like to continue the ASM Graduate Scholarship Program and are making a challenge to ASM members to also become involved in funding this important program. Specifically, the Bauers will continue to donate a minimum of $1000 for the program and would match up to an additional $1000 for member donations made to this program. This will provide an opportunity for ASM to increase the funding amount awarded to the student, or even make multiple scholarships possible! Our previous recipients have expressed tremendous gratitude for our funding support in this time of decreased university support and increased competition for limited external funding sources. The quality of the student's graduate research may influence the job opportunities available to them in the future. Often a small amount of additional funds for research support equipment will enhance the overall value of the total effort. Please join the momentum that the Bauers have initiated and become a sup- porter of the ASM Graduate Research Scholarship Program. Please send a check payable to the Audubon Society of Missouri, 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122, Columbia, MO 65203-1261 and indicate 'ASM Scholarship Pro- gram' on the memo line. We ask that all donations be received by October 1, 2008 so that we may confirm the amount to be awarded for the 2009 application process.

Page 30 THE BLUEBIRD THE BLUEBIRD

Awards Committee: The ASM Executive Committee Conservation Area Checklist Project (CACHE) State Parks & Historic Sites Project (SPARKS) Patrick Harrison, Web Development and Database Adminis- trator Mike Thelen, Editor Conservation Partnership Projects: River Hills Ruffed Grouse Habitat Project: Edge Wade, repre- sentative Northeast Mo Prairie Restoration Project: Anne Downing, repre- sentative Truman Lake Wetlands Restoration Project: Jerry Wade, repre- sentative Executive Committee: Jim Zellmer, Joyce Bathke, Laura Gilchrist, and Bill Eddleman MDC Issues & Access Committee: JerryWade, Chair Bill Eddleman, JoAnn Eldridge, and Steve Kinder Missouri Bird Records Committee: Bill Eddleman, Chair Bill Rowe, Secretary

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