From Bernies at Uillinois s1

From bernies at uillinois.edu Tue Nov 1 12:41:22 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Tue Nov 1 12:41:25 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkeys? Message-ID:

I was talking to another member of the Birdnotes list this AM, and we were curious to know if anyone has seen any sign of the Urbana turkeys lately?

Bernie Sloan

From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Tue Nov 1 13:39:14 2005 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Tue Nov 1 13:39:15 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crummy Day...to be indoors Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Well...I got outside for a few minutes at lunch :(

White Throated Sparrows and Goldfinches, Robins and Mourning Doves, numerous small things I frustratingly couldn't identify as they flitted about.

However-as I filled the finch feeder-a Woodcock flew up from about 8 feet away...first one I've seen in the yard in several years.

Bob :) From bernies at uillinois.edu Tue Nov 1 13:49:30 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Tue Nov 1 13:55:33 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Crummy Day...to be indoors Message-ID:

It was a beautiful morning at Meadowbrook today (about 7AM)...white throated sparrows, white crowned sparrows, some waxwings, a red-winged blackbird or two, possible bluebird, pheasants calling. And, as Bob would put it: "numerous small things I frustratingly couldn't identify as they flitted about."

Also saw something rare for this time of year...a grackle flying overhead about 50-100 feet up...all by itself! :-) Haven't seen a single lone grackle in awhile.

Bernie Sloan

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Vaiden, Robert Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 1:39 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Crummy Day...to be indoors

Well...I got outside for a few minutes at lunch :( White Throated Sparrows and Goldfinches, Robins and Mourning Doves, numerous small things I frustratingly couldn't identify as they flitted about.

However-as I filled the finch feeder-a Woodcock flew up from about 8 feet away...first one I've seen in the yard in several years.

Bob :) ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From derekliebert at yahoo.com Tue Nov 1 16:18:20 2005 From: derekliebert at yahoo.com (Derek Liebert) Date: Tue Nov 1 16:18:22 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Champaign County Vision Discussion In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello everyone,

Tonight is the first of a series of opportunities to encourage the development of a Champaign County vision that supports parks and natural resources. Please consider attending one of the sessions below to see what all the buzz is about and to make your wishes heard.

> Mark your calendar and plan to share your ideas for > Champaign County at one of the upcoming Countywide > Community Dialogues! > > > Get involved. Come to discussions. And share your > ideas. The Dialogues mark the start of an important > conversation that will shape the future of Champaign > County for decades to come. > > There's a seat at the table for everyone - big > institutions, small businesses, organizations of > every kind, cities, villages, and the countryside. > There's room for all voices from every occupation > and folks of every age, status, and heritage. > Whether you live in the heart of the city or in the > middle of America's richest farmland, we want your > thoughts on building the best possible community > that, together, we can imagine. > > There is no set agenda. The discussion in your > community could involve everything from the arts to > agriculture or the importance of enhancing > education. But in order to create an effective > vision, it needs to involve you.. So come to the > nearest Countywide Community Dialogue meeting. > > Dates and Locations > > > Tuesday, November 1, 7-9 pm, Urbana Middle School, > 1201 S. Vine St., Urbana > Thursday, November 3, 7-9 pm, Rantoul Township High > School, 200 S. Sheldon St., Rantoul > Monday, November 7, 7-9 pm, Royal Community > Building, Main Street, Royal > Tuesday, November 8, 7-9 pm, Unity High School, 1127 > County Road 800 North, Tolono > Wednesday, November 9, 11:30 am-1:30 pm, Illinois > Terminal, 45 E. University Ave., Champaign > Thursday, November 10, 5:30-7:30 pm, University of > Illinois , Levis Faculty Center, 919 W. Illinois > St., Urbana > Monday, November 14, 7-9 pm, Lincoln Trail > Elementary School, 102 E. State St., Mahomet > Tuesday, November 15, 7-9 pm, Martin Luther King, > Jr. Elementary School, 1108 Fairview Ave, Urbana > Thursday, November 17, 7-9 pm, Edison Middle School, > 306 West Green St., Champaign > > Share your voice! > > Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to set the > agenda for the future of Champaign County! > Visit www.bigsmallall.cc for more information, and > feel free to print and post the attached flyer. > > Please forward this email to your colleagues, > constituents, neighbors, friends, and family - we > want to hear from them too! See you there! > > > "big. small. all." is a project to bring all the > people of Champaign County together to build a > vision of our future. The project was initiated by a > host of Champaign County citizens, as well as > leaders from the business community, not-for-profit > organizations, and government.

______Yahoo! FareChase: Search multiple travel sites in one click. http://farechase.yahoo.com From bpalmore at egix.net Tue Nov 1 16:49:21 2005 From: bpalmore at egix.net (Bland Palmore) Date: Tue Nov 1 16:51:24 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Message-ID: <[email protected]> Tons of Robins on the Hickman Wildflower Walk, this evening at 4:15.

From charleneanchor at msn.com Tue Nov 1 23:57:56 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Tue Nov 1 23:52:34 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Mahomet CA Message-ID:

This morning (Tuesday) I went to the Conservation Area entering from Crowley Rd. on the west side. Walking from the parking lot towards the north path which runs along the cornfields, I could hear and see EASTERN MEADOWLARKS in the fields. Then one flew from the field and landed nearby in a shrub. It sang - it was a WESTERN MEADOWLARK! If it hadn't sung I know I wouldn't have taken any note of it. What was interesting was hearing both species of meadowlarks singing at nearly the same time. A little later I saw a SEDGE WREN. Heard a call in the grass and didn't know what it was until it popped up just a short distance away. Since I mostly hear them singing at a distance rather than seeing them, I especially enjoyed the close-up view...reminded me of what a beautiful little bird it is.

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051101/12 694047/attachment.htm From rdigges at excite.com Thu Nov 3 06:47:36 2005 From: rdigges at excite.com (Roger) Date: Thu Nov 3 06:47:42 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Woodcocks at Meadowbrook Message-ID: <[email protected]>

On a stroll through Meadowbrook early this morning, I had an American Woodcock flyover near the "statue" bridge on the south side of the park, and flushed another along the sidewalk a few yards to the west. Nice to have the time change move dusk an hour earlier!

Roger Digges

______Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web!

From bernies at uillinois.edu Thu Nov 3 07:47:20 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Thu Nov 3 07:47:32 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] FW: Environmental Lecture - Tim Gallagher on the Rediscovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, Fri. Nov. 4 at 4PM Message-ID: FYI...

Bernie Sloan

-----Original Message----- From: Prairie Group Alerts and Notices [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Alice Englebretsen Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 7:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Environmental Lecture - Tim Gallagher on the Rediscovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, Fri. Nov. 4 at 4PM

MessageFREE LECTURE Tim Gallagher

Friday, November 4, 4 p.m.

College of Law, Room D (The law building is near the corner of sixth and Pennsylvania, just south of the Kranner Art Museum)

(first floor, SE corner of law building)

Renowned birder, author, and wildlife photographer, Gallagher was one of the first three people to see the fabled Ivory-billed woodpecker, previously thought extinct because of widespread habitat loss. Gallagher is editor-in-chief of the Cornell Ornithology Lab's award-winning quarterly Living Bird, as well as author of the new book, "The Grail Bird: Hot on the Trail of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker." He'll be visiting the UI directly from the field in Arkansas, with first-hand reports on on-going search efforts to learn more about the bird and its habitat needs.

Sponsored by the Environmental Law Society and the Department of NRES

------To get off the IL-PRAIRIE-ALERTS list, send any message to: [email protected] From bernies at uillinois.edu Thu Nov 3 07:54:02 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Thu Nov 3 07:54:05 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Woodcocks at Meadowbrook Message-ID:

A couple of years ago I spotted some woodcocks in almost that exact same spot. It was the week before the time change though. It was dark as night, with the sky just beginning to brighten.

Bernie Sloan

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Roger Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 6:48 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Woodcocks at Meadowbrook

On a stroll through Meadowbrook early this morning, I had an American Woodcock flyover near the "statue" bridge on the south side of the park, and flushed another along the sidewalk a few yards to the west. Nice to have the time change move dusk an hour earlier!

Roger Digges

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Thu Nov 3 08:03:13 2005 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Thu Nov 3 08:03:15 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Meadowbrook 4:30-5:30 last evening...

1,254,876 (by exact count!) Robins along the creeks and flying over the prairie (OK...slight exaggeration)

Minus 1 Robin... Coopers Hawk that rocketed over the path 25 feet in front of me at about 12 feet altitude. It pulled up abruptly to clear the trees in Pomology, then plunged into the trees, scattering 1,254,876 Robins (Pretty sure it got one...)

Then, near the tip of the "Peninsula", a large, heavy, slow moving bird ponderously flying, with 2 Grackles on its tail...no "ears" visible...probably a Great Horned Owl, possibly a ...? Headed East toward Pomology...another Robin snack?

Bob :) From bernies at uillinois.edu Thu Nov 3 09:43:45 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Thu Nov 3 09:43:47 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Message-ID:

I saw a Coopers Hawk nabbing Robins on several occasions last winter. Same location. It was right around dawn, as the Robins started stirring and leaving their roost area in that thicket of apple trees just across the fence from the eastern edge of Meadowbrook.

Looked like easy pickings. :-)

Bernie

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Vaiden, Robert Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 8:03 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook

Bob :) ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From bernies at uillinois.edu Thu Nov 3 10:04:02 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Thu Nov 3 10:04:06 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook (yesterday) Message-ID:

Yesterday morning, about 7AM.

With the exception of Robins (a few hundred thousand less than the 1.2 million that Bob Vaiden reported from yesterday afternoon :-) ) and Grackles (300-400 passing overhead) Meadowbrook was pretty quiet.

Two crows flying across the park. No pheasant calls. There was a fair amount of small bird activity in the prairie grass (various sparrows) but I was running late and couldn't dawdle long enough to ID them.

I think I saw a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak in a catalpa tree near the east end of the Hickman Wildflower Walk. I say "think" because I'm not sure if they are supposed to still be around at this time of year? Bernie Sloan Senior Information Systems Consultant Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois 616 E. Green Street, Suite 213 Champaign, IL 61820-5752

Phone: (217) 333-4895 Fax: (217) 265-0454 E-mail: [email protected]

From charleneanchor at msn.com Thu Nov 3 11:32:49 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Thu Nov 3 11:27:28 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook and GH Owl Message-ID:

This last March, one evening while scouting out the Woodcocks on Meadowbrook's south side, I saw a Great Horned fly over from the Forestry and land in a tree top along the south border. The Woodcocks were displaying in the prairie right in front of the owl!! I thought the owl was probably considering a future meal. Would have preferred if it had taken one of Bob's 1,254,876 roosting Robins, but they wouldn't be roosting yet at that time of year. Guess the owl has to take what's available.

Charlene Anchor

----- Original Message ----- From: Vaiden, Robert Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 8:03 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook

Bob :) ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051103/d9 8fbb86/attachment.htm From lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu Thu Nov 3 15:24:22 2005 From: lambeth at ad.uiuc.edu (Gregory S Lambeth) Date: Thu Nov 3 15:24:24 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Snow Geese Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I had a mixed flock of 21 Snow/Blue Geese migrating due South at 12:30pm today at Leal School in Urbana (near downtown). There were only 3 Snow Geese and the rest were Blues. They were out ahead of the front.

Greg Lambeth From REGEHR5 at aol.com Thu Nov 3 17:25:41 2005 From: REGEHR5 at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Thu Nov 3 17:25:48 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Sandhill Crane trip Message-ID:

On Saturday, Oct.29, there were, by last count, 13,600 Sandhill Cranes at Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area in northern Indiana. Seventeen participants went from Champaign-Urbana and enjoyed good weather and good viewing from the observation platform. A more complete report will appear in The Meadowlark Messenger, newsletter of the Champaign County Audubon Society, written by John Chato, who lead the trip. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051103/d1 7c02da/attachment.htm From spendelo at uiuc.edu Fri Nov 4 01:20:45 2005 From: spendelo at uiuc.edu (Jacob Spendelow) Date: Fri Nov 4 01:20:36 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Ross's Geese Message-ID: <[email protected]>

While playing volleyball on the sand courts at Oak and Stadium this evening around 8:45 PM, Sonja and I heard some peculiar bird calls, and looked up to faintly see a flock of 15-20 large duck-sized or small goose-sized birds flying over at a height of about 100 feet. They were heading SSW. They had white bodies, but I couldn't make out the wings. I'm pretty sure, but not positive, that they were Ross's Geese. The size seems right for Ross's Goose. Also, I am familiar with Snow Goose calls, and these calls seemed too high and squeaky to be Snow Geese. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed to discover that my Stokes Eastern Bird Songs CD omits Ross's Goose. I guess they were trying really hard to limit it to three CDs and had to cut some things. If anyone knows where I can find a recording of Ross's Goose calls online, I'd appreciate hearing about it - a quick google search didn't turn anything up.

Also, if anyone sees the jaeger at Clinton Lake, please post it. As far as I know it hasn't been seen since Monday. Jacob Spendelow Champaign

From charleneanchor at msn.com Fri Nov 4 08:47:03 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Fri Nov 4 08:41:40 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] roosting birds Message-ID:

Because of my interest in nest boxes, I belong to Cornell Lab's "Bluebird-L" list serve. Since the "robin roost" on the east edge of Meadowbrook was just referred to, I decided to quote a description of something that is referred to as a "swallow tornado" in the South. This is a description of the behavior of tree swallows.

"The swallows accumulate and circle overhead in huge numbers that look like hundreds of thousands. This accumulation process begins about 4:30 pm and continues for about an hour. Then, during about a two minute period the entire throng begins diving into the sugarcane to roost. That two-minute period is when you have to be present to observe the "tornado" effect. After the tornado of swallows dives into the cane, there is not a swallow overhead to be seen or heard."

The observer witnessed 2 of these "swallow tornadoes" on 11/03 taking place at exactly the same time about 1/4 mile apart in Vacherie, LA. (Coincidentally, he also commented on the presence of a Cooper's Hawk which flew by and landed on a nearby powerline.)

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051104/23 eba91c/attachment.htm From jane_easterly at hotmail.com Fri Nov 4 09:04:10 2005 From: jane_easterly at hotmail.com (Jane Easterly) Date: Fri Nov 4 09:04:12 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Ross's Geese In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

I'm at work where the sound is locked down so I can't play it, but this page has a link to a Ross's goose voice: http://percevia.duncraft.com/db/birds_of_north_america_western/obj/293/ target.aspx

>From: Jacob Spendelow >To: [email protected] >Subject: [Birdnotes] Ross's Geese >Date: Fri, 04 Nov 2005 01:20:45 -0600 > >While playing volleyball on the sand courts at Oak and Stadium this evening >around 8:45 PM, Sonja and I heard some peculiar bird calls, and looked up >to faintly see a flock of 15-20 large duck-sized or small goose-sized birds >flying over at a height of about 100 feet. They were heading SSW. They >had white bodies, but I couldn't make out the wings. I'm pretty sure, but >not positive, that they were Ross's Geese. The size seems right for Ross's >Goose. Also, I am familiar with Snow Goose calls, and these calls seemed >too high and squeaky to be Snow Geese. Unfortunately, I was very >disappointed to discover that my Stokes Eastern Bird Songs CD omits Ross's >Goose. I guess they were trying really hard to limit it to three CDs and >had to cut some things. If anyone knows where I can find a recording of >Ross's Goose calls online, I'd appreciate hearing about it - a quick google >search didn't turn anything up. > >Also, if anyone sees the jaeger at Clinton Lake, please post it. As far as >I know it hasn't been seen since Monday. >Jacob Spendelow >Champaign > >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From bernies at uillinois.edu Fri Nov 4 09:38:57 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Fri Nov 4 09:39:00 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Ross's Geese Message-ID:

Jacob,

This site looks like it has Ross's Goose calls, but you have to e-mail them to get the recording, i.e., it's not directly available online: http://www.naturesound.org/Bird%20Recordings.htm

Bernie

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jacob Spendelow Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 1:21 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Ross's Geese

While playing volleyball on the sand courts at Oak and Stadium this evening around 8:45 PM, Sonja and I heard some peculiar bird calls, and looked up to faintly see a flock of 15-20 large duck-sized or small goose-sized birds flying over at a height of about 100 feet. They were heading SSW. They had white bodies, but I couldn't make out the wings. I'm pretty sure, but not positive, that they were Ross's Geese. The size seems right for Ross's Goose. Also, I am familiar with Snow Goose calls, and these calls seemed too high and squeaky to be Snow Geese. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed to discover that my Stokes Eastern Bird Songs CD omits Ross's Goose. I guess they were trying really hard to limit it to three CDs and had to cut some things. If anyone knows where I can find a recording of

Ross's Goose calls online, I'd appreciate hearing about it - a quick google search didn't turn anything up.

Also, if anyone sees the jaeger at Clinton Lake, please post it. As far as I know it hasn't been seen since Monday. Jacob Spendelow Champaign

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From spendelo at uiuc.edu Sat Nov 5 18:53:32 2005 From: spendelo at uiuc.edu (Jacob Spendelow) Date: Sat Nov 5 18:53:32 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Arcola Marsh 11-5-2005 Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Sonja Kassal and I saw the following birds this afternoon at Arcola Marsh: Greater White-fronted Goose (about 60) Snow Goose (20 - 30, approximately equal numbers of white and blue phase) Canada Goose Mallard Gadwall Green-winged Teal Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Ring-necked Duck American Coot Killdeer Long-billed Dowitcher (1) Dunlin (16)

The geese were in the field just to the east of the marsh.

Also, Sonja saw a singing first fall male Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the back yard this morning.

Good birding, Jacob Spendelow Champaign

From smithsje at egix.net Sun Nov 6 21:18:49 2005 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Sun Nov 6 21:16:58 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Birding at the Boardwalk Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird, This afternoon, we went birding at the Boardwalk at the north end of Lake Vermilion. 8 birders. The following birds were found: kestrel great-blue heron (many) turkey vultures Carolina Wren winter wren sedge wren red-headed woodpecker downy flicker pileated red-bellied song sparrow blue jay kingfishers goldfinch house finch robin mourning dove bald eagle (adult) starling (flocks) red-wing blackbirds (thousands) grackle great-horned owl red-tailed hawk duck (specie ?)

Best regards.

Jim & Eleanor Smith [email protected] 2005-11-06

From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Mon Nov 7 08:27:09 2005 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Mon Nov 7 08:27:10 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Coopers Hawk Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Coopers Hawk flying out of the trees just east of the Solo Cup parking lot on E. Main this morning. I had a great view of the hawk as it curved back to the trees.

Back yard full of groups of small birds constantly moving about: Goldfinches, White Throated Sparrows, Juncos, plenty of Robins...but nothing unusual :(

Bob :)

From bpalmore at egix.net Mon Nov 7 11:27:15 2005 From: bpalmore at egix.net (Bland Palmore) Date: Mon Nov 7 11:27:17 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] MEADOWBROOK Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Still lots of Robins in every tree along Hickman Walk, yesterday around 4 pm.

From bernies at uillinois.edu Mon Nov 7 14:08:10 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Mon Nov 7 14:08:13 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Elk in Champaign County? Message-ID:

Not birds, but still interesting: http://www.newsgazette.com/localnews/story.cfm?Number=19297

Bernie Sloan Senior Information Systems Consultant Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois 616 E. Green Street, Suite 213 Champaign, IL 61820-5752 Phone: (217) 333-4895 Fax: (217) 265-0454 E-mail: [email protected]

From bernies at uillinois.edu Mon Nov 7 14:23:52 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Mon Nov 7 14:23:56 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Message-ID:

This morning in Meadowbrook, about 7AM.

* Once again, lots of robins, eating fruit from trees. Very noisy, too.

* Several pheasants flushing out of the prairie grass.

* About a half dozen red-winged blackbirds calling at regularly spaced intervals along the south sidewalk.

* Several cardinals flying in and out of the underbrush.

* A couple of crows flying overhead.

* Small flock of starlings overhead.

* Several white throated sparrows.

Couple of highlights:

* Probable ruby-crowned kinglet at east end of Hickman Wildflower Walk.

* Fresh remains of probable coyote kill in grassy area by "Marker" statue at south end of park (lots of rabbit fur and a few other items).

Bernie Sloan

Senior Information Systems Consultant

Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois

616 E. Green Street, Suite 213

Champaign, IL 61820-5752

Phone: (217) 333-4895

Fax: (217) 265-0454

E-mail: [email protected]

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051107/be 2387b6/attachment.htm From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Mon Nov 7 15:35:07 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org ([email protected]) Date: Mon Nov 7 15:35:09 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Elk in Champaign County? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birdnoters,

I forget where...but I read once of an elk which rambled from Montana to Missouri before the Missouri DNR captured it and placed it in a zoo.

So it is concievable that the Elk which was hit by truck/car was wild.

> Not birds, but still interesting: > > http://www.newsgazette.com/localnews/story.cfm?Number=19297 > > Bernie Sloan > Senior Information Systems Consultant > Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois > 616 E. Green Street, Suite 213 > Champaign, IL 61820-5752 > > Phone: (217) 333-4895 > Fax: (217) 265-0454 > E-mail: [email protected] > > ______> Birdnotes mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes >

From ej2akind at sbcglobal.net Mon Nov 7 17:05:45 2005 From: ej2akind at sbcglobal.net (Erin Glynn) Date: Mon Nov 7 22:33:50 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] turkeys Message-ID: <[email protected]>

The four Turkeys were in my front yard on Hawthorne Drive in Urbana (near Wiley school) about 11 am today. They wandered through a couple of front yards and then headed south towards Michigan into a backyard. I was able to take a couple of digital pictures. They weren't bothered by my husband pulling into the driveway, but moved along into the neighbor's yard when the car door slammed. From bernies at uillinois.edu Tue Nov 8 15:16:19 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Tue Nov 8 15:16:31 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Back yard birds and a couple of questions... Message-ID:

I've been working at home today...my computer desk faces a window that looks out on the back yard.

At about 8AM I tossed out a liberal amount of oil sunflower seed on the ground. Lots of activity all day. At one point this afternoon (about 2:00) there were at least a couple dozen house sparrows, 15-20 juncos, about a dozen white-throated sparrows, several white-crowned sparrows, four blue jays, a couple of cardinals, two house finches, a probable fox sparrow, a couple of robins(?), four or five squirrels, a rabbit (two rabbits a minute ago, chasing each other), and a curious crow. A hawk (Coopers?) scattered the group once, but I don't think it got anything.

A couple of questions/observations:

* I think it's been a while since I've seen four blue jays in one viewing. I was wondering if this is common/uncommon? The blue jays weren't eating. They were quickly filling their crops with sunflower seeds, flying away to go stash the seeds somewhere, and returning for more. Reminded me of the time I had a homemade box/shelf feeder on the outside ledge of a kitchen window. My kids convinced me to mix some Purina dog chow in with the bird feed, maybe five or six pieces. They figured they would watch birds peck away at it. But the Purina dog chow kept disappearing mysteriously. After a couple of weeks of observation, we realized a blue jay was taking the dog food, sometimes two or three pieces at a time, and flying somewhere else to eat it. One time we saw a blue jay on a tree limb in the back yard holding a piece of dog food between its feet and leisurely pecking away at it.

* House sparrows and my Weber grill. Right outside my home office window I have a classic Weber charcoal grill with an ash catcher attached to the legs of the grill. It was full to the brim after the last time I cooked out (a month ago, maybe?). I've noticed it wasn't quite as full lately and thought maybe the wind had blown out some of the ashes. But today I noticed the ash catcher was being frequented by house sparrows (i.e., no other kinds of birds). They weren't using it for dust baths. They were pecking at the ashes and ingesting something. Any ideas why they were doing this?

Thanks!!!

Bernie Sloan

------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051108/5e b684ea/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Tue Nov 8 16:00:07 2005 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Tue Nov 8 16:00:09 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Back yard birds and a couple of questions... Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I don't see Blue Jays at home very often, but about half the time I DO see them, they're flying by in a group of 4...family group?

Bob :-) ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051108/8e f2c9a7/attachment.htm From bernies at uillinois.edu Tue Nov 8 18:03:16 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Tue Nov 8 18:03:18 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook at twilight Message-ID:

Just got back from an extended twilight circuit through Meadowbrook Park...

Not much to report...LOTS of Robins returning to their roosts. Most Robin roosts are in Pomology to the immediate east of Meadowbrook. A few are in the cottonwoods along the sidewalk/creek area in the southeastern part of Meadowbrook. A little further to the west there was a lone Robin in a small walnut tree along the sidewalk plaintively calling to passing Robins as if in hopes of setting up his/her own personal roost. :-)

I did notice Robins taking evasive maneuvers before settling in to the big roost in Pomology. They would fly in very smoothly, but did very erratic dives/moves when they got near the apple tree thicket. Bob Vaiden and I have both seen Coopers Hawks frequenting that area near dawn/dusk. Maybe the Robins are trying to deal with that?

Walking on the sidewalk on the west side of Meadowbrook I heard some fairly loud and deep owl hoots from Forestry. Great horned owl??

Finally, I heard several coyote yips/yaps from the central prairie area right before I left...

Bernie Sloan Senior Information Systems Consultant Consortium of Academic & Research Libraries in Illinois 616 E. Green Street, Suite 213 Champaign, IL 61820-5752

From bernies at uillinois.edu Tue Nov 8 18:18:43 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Tue Nov 8 18:18:47 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook at twilight Message-ID:

Forgot to mention one thing.

Possible Woodcock near the end of my sojourn...the lighting was rather darkish so the profile was not clear, but the whistling sound from the wings was very distinctive.

Bernie Sloan

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sloan, Bernie Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 6:03 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook at twilight

Just got back from an extended twilight circuit through Meadowbrook Park...

I did notice Robins taking evasive maneuvers before settling in to the big roost in Pomology. They would fly in very smoothly, but did very erratic dives/moves when they got near the apple tree thicket. Bob Vaiden and I have both seen Coopers Hawks frequenting that area near dawn/dusk. Maybe the Robins are trying to deal with that? Walking on the sidewalk on the west side of Meadowbrook I heard some fairly loud and deep owl hoots from Forestry. Great horned owl??

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Wed Nov 9 08:20:31 2005 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Wed Nov 9 08:20:33 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook at twilight Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Not "possible"..."probable" to "certain"! I was out there too, from twilight to dark. One or more Woodcock were flying about the south stretch of Meadowbrook-I had a good look at them! I'm sure it was a Woodcock that you heard.

Bob :) ______

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sloan, Bernie Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 6:19 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook at twilight

Forgot to mention one thing.

Possible Woodcock near the end of my sojourn...the lighting was rather darkish so the profile was not clear, but the whistling sound from the wings was very distinctive.

Bernie Sloan

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sloan, Bernie Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 6:03 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook at twilight Just got back from an extended twilight circuit through Meadowbrook Park...

I did notice Robins taking evasive maneuvers before settling in to the big roost in Pomology. They would fly in very smoothly, but did very erratic dives/moves when they got near the apple tree thicket. Bob Vaiden and I have both seen Coopers Hawks frequenting that area near dawn/dusk. Maybe the Robins are trying to deal with that?

Walking on the sidewalk on the west side of Meadowbrook I heard some fairly loud and deep owl hoots from Forestry. Great horned owl??

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From charleneanchor at msn.com Wed Nov 9 08:45:37 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Wed Nov 9 08:40:12 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Back yard birds and a couple of questions... Message-ID:

Blue Jays do form family groups in late Summer, early Fall. (Is this early Fall?) But the groups are usually larger than 4. Then in later Fall (Is this later Fall?) they form smaller groups of 4-6 to forage together through the Winter. In late Winter they form larger flocks, chasing each other noisily in prep for breeding :-)

Charlene Anchor

----- Original Message ----- From: Vaiden, Robert Sent: Tuesday, November 08, 2005 4:01 PM To: Sloan, Bernie; [email protected] Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Back yard birds and a couple of questions...

I don?t see Blue Jays at home very often, but about half the time I DO see them, they?re flying by in a group of 4...family group?

Bob J ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051109/16 2bbea2/attachment-0001.htm From smithsje at egix.net Wed Nov 9 20:01:32 2005 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Wed Nov 9 19:59:29 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] red-tailed hawks Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird, While doing farm field work, a few red-tails have learned to follow tractors. I saw one chasing a rabbit around a nearby house. Rabbit was hopping slowly to cover when the hawk attacked. Rabbit went into full speed, and ran around the house with hawk in pursut I did not see the outcome. From one to three hawks have come to expect mice and voles to be exposed by field operations and they follow the tractor. About every 5 to 15 minutes, one will dive to the ground in an attempt to make a kill. They often don't succeed. Sometimes they have carried a cornstalk to the perch, only to learn that the mouse had escaped. They usually carry their catch to a tree or light pole and eat it there. Today there were three hawks, one yesterday and three on Monday.

Best regards.

From bpalmore at egix.net Thu Nov 10 17:16:41 2005 From: bpalmore at egix.net (Bland Palmore) Date: Thu Nov 10 17:16:41 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Fwd: Re: [Wuna-list] Crying Wolf? Message-ID: <[email protected]>

From a neighbor on W. Delaware, member of the West Urbana Neighborhood Assoc. Bland

>To: "Susan Frobish" >From: Bland Palmore >Subject: Re: [Wuna-list] Crying Wolf? > >At 02:45 PM 11/10/2005, you wrote: >>Just chased a grey wolf out of my yard ..thought it was my neighbors >>German Shepard..but it was not a dog. Chicken owners beware.heading >>north on Busey! >> >>Susan Frobish >> >> >>______>>Wuna-list mailing list >>[email protected] >>https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/wuna-list

From bernies at uillinois.edu Thu Nov 10 19:32:41 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Thu Nov 10 19:32:48 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Fwd: Re: [Wuna-list] Crying Wolf? Message-ID:

I have to say that this one seems rather a stretch. A wolf in Urbana?

On a few occasions I've seen large rather wolfish-looking coyotes on the fringes of Urbana. We almost ran over a big one about a year ago near Race and Windsor (it was running north across Windsor from Clark-Lindsey) on our way back from an evening at Pages for All Ages.

My bet is on a bigger than average grayish coyote. There are also dog breeds that look more wolfish than a German Shepherd.

Bernie Sloan

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bland Palmore Sent: Thursday, November 10, 2005 5:17 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Fwd: Re: [Wuna-list] Crying Wolf?

From a neighbor on W. Delaware, member of the West Urbana Neighborhood Assoc. Bland

>To: "Susan Frobish" >From: Bland Palmore >Subject: Re: [Wuna-list] Crying Wolf? > >At 02:45 PM 11/10/2005, you wrote: >>Just chased a grey wolf out of my yard ..thought it was my neighbors >>German Shepard..but it was not a dog. Chicken owners beware.heading >>north on Busey! >> >>Susan Frobish >> >> >>______>>Wuna-list mailing list >>[email protected] >>https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/wuna-list

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From REGEHR5 at aol.com Thu Nov 10 20:25:15 2005 From: REGEHR5 at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Thu Nov 10 20:25:35 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Saturday, Nov. 12 Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Champaign County Audubon Society is sponsoring a trip to Clinton Lake on Saturday, Nov. 12. We meet at the parking lot of the Anita Purves Nature Center, 1505 N. Broadway, Urbana at 8:00 AM. Bring a telescope if you have one, and lunch. Bryan Guarente is leading and plans to stop first at Parnell Access, the first bridge across the lake. Elaine Regehr, Field Trips CCAS ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051110/83 1e0270/attachment.htm From h-parker at express.cites.uiuc.edu Thu Nov 10 21:13:36 2005 From: h-parker at express.cites.uiuc.edu (Helen Parker) Date: Thu Nov 10 21:12:51 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Bonaparte's Gulls Message-ID: <[email protected]>

A friend in Winnipeg said he had a huge flock of Bonaparte's gulls going by--they are apparently on their way down. Be on the lookout for them at Clinton Lake Saturday! --Helen Parker

From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Fri Nov 11 01:42:25 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org (James Hoyt) Date: Fri Nov 11 01:42:27 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Busey Woods November 10th 4PM In-Reply-To: Message-ID: Birders,

Saw a large owl west of the board walk.

3 Cardinals a half dozen Golden Crowned Kinglets near the old "BIG OAK". 1 Junco Sprarrow sp.

1 fairly large 4 point atypical Buck that had a damaged antler w/4 does

Nice pile of red bricks...

Good to see the area getting cleaned up.

Jim :)

-- James Hoyt "The Prairie Ant" Champaign Co. Audubon Co-steward Parkland College Prairies. Monitor Urbana Park District Natural Areas. Champaign County Master Gardener Allerton Allies Prairie Rivers Network

*********************************************************************** ******** *********************************************************************** ******** "The human culture is considered to be a 'geologic force' and with good reason. But if we are at a stage where our actions are to decide the world's future, then surely we have reached a level where we can be held acountable for the world's future." Durward L. Allen "Our Wildlife Legacy" *********************************************************************** ******** *********************************************************************** ********

From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Fri Nov 11 01:44:24 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org (James Hoyt) Date: Fri Nov 11 01:44:26 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Saturday, Nov. 12 In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

Birders,

Looks like I will need my wind pants this Saturday. Jim :)

On Thu, 10 Nov 2005 [email protected] wrote:

> Champaign County Audubon Society is sponsoring a trip to > Clinton Lake on Saturday, Nov. 12. We meet at the parking > lot of the Anita Purves Nature Center, 1505 N. Broadway, Urbana > at 8:00 AM. Bring a telescope if you have one, and lunch. > Bryan Guarente is leading and plans to stop first at Parnell > Access, the first bridge across the lake. > Elaine Regehr, Field Trips > CCAS >

From smithsje at egix.net Fri Nov 11 11:22:49 2005 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Fri Nov 11 11:20:41 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird, I have seen coyotes that vary in color from very reddish brown to almost black with all combination between. Some have been considerably bigger than normal coyotes especially if they are dog crosses. I have seen big gray ones that I suspected were crosses with German sheperds. Some of these had shorter tails.

Best regards. Jim & Eleanor Smith [email protected] 2005-11-11

From CatheC at hkusa.com Fri Nov 11 11:31:33 2005 From: CatheC at hkusa.com (Cathe Capel) Date: Fri Nov 11 11:31:21 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes Message-ID: <[email protected]>

A large animal of that description was lying (dead) on the south shoulder of I-74 eastbound this morning about three-quarters of a mile west of the I-57 intersection. It did not look like a German Shepherd, although it was unusually large for a coyote. It was quite dark with a tawny undercoat. I saw a dead badger very near the same location about 6 weeks ago. Regards, Cathe Capel Mahomet

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim & Eleanor Smith Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:23 AM To: Bird Notes Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes

Best regards.

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu Fri Nov 11 17:59:56 2005 From: rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu (Ray F. Boehmer) Date: Fri Nov 11 18:00:17 2005 Subject: (possibly spam: 11.7388) RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]> I am very interested in the badger observation, Cathe. I am going to check on this, but I think they would be extremely rare in this part of the state. Did you get a good look and are certain about the ID?

Thanks,

Ray, Urbana

At 11:31 AM 11/11/2005 -0600, Cathe Capel wrote: >A large animal of that description was lying (dead) on the south >shoulder of I-74 eastbound this morning about three-quarters of a mile >west of the I-57 intersection. It did not look like a German Shepherd, >although it was unusually large for a coyote. It was quite dark with a >tawny undercoat. I saw a dead badger very near the same location about 6 >weeks ago. >Regards, >Cathe Capel >Mahomet > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] >[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim & >Eleanor Smith >Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:23 AM >To: Bird Notes >Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes > >Hello, Bird, >I have seen coyotes that vary in color from very reddish brown to almost >black with all combination between. Some have been considerably bigger >than normal coyotes especially if they are dog crosses. I have seen big >gray ones that I suspected were crosses with German sheperds. Some of >these had shorter tails. > > >Best regards. > >Jim & Eleanor Smith >[email protected] >2005-11-11 > > >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From j.courson at mchsi.com Fri Nov 11 20:42:34 2005 From: j.courson at mchsi.com (Jeffrey A. Courson) Date: Fri Nov 11 20:42:38 2005 Subject: (possibly spam: 11.7388) RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes In-Reply-To: AAAAANZU4JBwmrtOkzChiqUdCIOk0iIA Message-ID:

Hello All,

Actually, a few years ago I too found a badger just West of Champaign on U.S. Route 150. It was later I.D. by the INHS and taken for necropsy.

Jeffrey A. Courson Voice/FAX: 217-586-5110

"Never become too busy...to watch a sunset...enjoy a rainbow...listen to the sounds of nature."

> -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:birdnotes- > [email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray F. Boehmer > Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 6:00 PM > To: Cathe Capel; Bird Notes > Subject: Re: (possibly spam: 11.7388) RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes > > I am very interested in the badger observation, Cathe. I am going to > check > on this, but I think they would be extremely rare in this part of the > state. Did you get a good look and are certain about the ID? > > Thanks, > > Ray, Urbana > > At 11:31 AM 11/11/2005 -0600, Cathe Capel wrote: > >A large animal of that description was lying (dead) on the south > >shoulder of I-74 eastbound this morning about three-quarters of a mile > >west of the I-57 intersection. It did not look like a German Shepherd, > >although it was unusually large for a coyote. It was quite dark with a > >tawny undercoat. I saw a dead badger very near the same location about 6 > >weeks ago. > >Regards, > >Cathe Capel > >Mahomet > > > >-----Original Message----- > >From: [email protected] > >[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim & > >Eleanor Smith > >Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:23 AM > >To: Bird Notes > >Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes > > > >Hello, Bird, > >I have seen coyotes that vary in color from very reddish brown to almost > >black with all combination between. Some have been considerably bigger > >than normal coyotes especially if they are dog crosses. I have seen big > >gray ones that I suspected were crosses with German sheperds. Some of > >these had shorter tails. > > > > > >Best regards. > > > >Jim & Eleanor Smith > >[email protected] > >2005-11-11 > > > > > >______> >Birdnotes mailing list > >[email protected] > >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes > >______> >Birdnotes mailing list > >[email protected] > >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes > > ______> Birdnotes mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From albers at uiuc.edu Fri Nov 11 23:50:44 2005 From: albers at uiuc.edu (Geriann Albers) Date: Fri Nov 11 23:50:46 2005 Subject: (possibly spam: 11.7388) RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes Message-ID:

Actually, badgers are most common in the northern half of the state. There is an open trapping season on them, so their populations are pretty stable, though trappers are limited to 2 a season in the north and 1 in the south zone.

Geriann Albers

> >Hello All, > >Actually, a few years ago I too found a badger just West of Champaign on >U.S. Route 150. It was later I.D. by the INHS and taken for necropsy. > >Jeff > >Jeffrey A. Courson >Voice/FAX: 217-586-5110 > >"Never become too busy...to watch a sunset...enjoy a rainbow...listen to the >sounds of nature." > > >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:birdnotes- >> [email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray F. Boehmer >> Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 6:00 PM >> To: Cathe Capel; Bird Notes >> Subject: Re: (possibly spam: 11.7388) RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes >> >> I am very interested in the badger observation, Cathe. I am going to >> check >> on this, but I think they would be extremely rare in this part of the >> state. Did you get a good look and are certain about the ID? >> >> Thanks, >> >> Ray, Urbana >> >> At 11:31 AM 11/11/2005 -0600, Cathe Capel wrote: >> >A large animal of that description was lying (dead) on the south >> >shoulder of I-74 eastbound this morning about three- quarters of a mile >> >west of the I-57 intersection. It did not look like a German Shepherd, >> >although it was unusually large for a coyote. It was quite dark with a >> >tawny undercoat. I saw a dead badger very near the same location about 6 >> >weeks ago. >> >Regards, >> >Cathe Capel >> >Mahomet >> > >> >-----Original Message----- >> >From: [email protected] >> >[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim & >> >Eleanor Smith >> >Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:23 AM >> >To: Bird Notes >> >Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes >> > >> >Hello, Bird, >> >I have seen coyotes that vary in color from very reddish brown to almost >> >black with all combination between. Some have been considerably bigger >> >than normal coyotes especially if they are dog crosses. I have seen big >> >gray ones that I suspected were crosses with German sheperds. Some of >> >these had shorter tails. >> > >> > >> >Best regards. >> > >> >Jim & Eleanor Smith >> >[email protected] >> >2005-11-11 >> > >> > >> >______>> >Birdnotes mailing list >> >[email protected] >> >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes >> >______>> >Birdnotes mailing list >> >[email protected] >> >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes >> >> ______>> Birdnotes mailing list >> [email protected] >> https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes > >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

Geriann Albers Fish and Wildlife Conservation Major Animal Sciences Minor University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Illini Wildlife Society President Illini Orchid Club Treasurer and Sale Chair Prairie Rivers Network Volunteer Recruiter International Illini Member College Democrats Member Cell (618) 540-8556 [email protected]

Office: 147 Natural History Survey Annex 217-265-5123 From spendelo at uiuc.edu Sun Nov 13 19:34:06 2005 From: spendelo at uiuc.edu (Jacob Spendelow) Date: Sun Nov 13 19:33:45 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Urbana birds Message-ID: <[email protected]>

A few notable birds from Meadowbrook Park and Illini Forestry Plantation this afternoon include an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, at least three very vocal RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK. Also seen were RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and FOX SPARROW. A COOPER'S HAWK was patrolling the area, as usual. I also saw another Cooper's Hawk later this evening, perched atop the Ceramics Building (just north of Green St. on Goodwin).

From rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu Sun Nov 13 20:45:42 2005 From: rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu (Ray F. Boehmer) Date: Sun Nov 13 20:45:57 2005 Subject: (possibly spam: 21.6489) [Birdnotes] Urbana birds In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I think I saw the same Cooper's patrolling between Morrill and Burrill yesterday,

Ray Boehmer Urbana,

At 07:34 PM 11/13/2005 -0600, Jacob Spendelow wrote: >A few notable birds from Meadowbrook Park and Illini Forestry Plantation >this afternoon include an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, at least three very >vocal RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and an AMERICAN WOODCOCK. Also seen were >RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and FOX SPARROW. A COOPER'S >HAWK was patrolling the area, as usual. I also saw another Cooper's Hawk >later this evening, perched atop the Ceramics Building (just north of >Green St. on Goodwin). > >Good birding, >Jacob Spendelow >Champaign > >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Mon Nov 14 08:36:30 2005 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Mon Nov 14 08:36:34 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes Message-ID: <[email protected]>

That dead critter was still there Saturday afternoon...it was a coyote in my book. Coyotes in Urbana are not a rare sighting. Although they're not around constantly (I think), I've seen them a number of times in the last few years.

Almost 2 years ago, we had a pair of Red Fox at Weaver Park...after several months, they were "replaced" by a pair of coyotes, which stayed for at least a month.

Bob ______

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cathe Capel Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:32 AM To: Bird Notes Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes

A large animal of that description was lying (dead) on the south shoulder of I-74 eastbound this morning about three-quarters of a mile west of the I-57 intersection. It did not look like a German Shepherd, although it was unusually large for a coyote. It was quite dark with a tawny undercoat. I saw a dead badger very near the same location about 6 weeks ago. Regards, Cathe Capel Mahomet

Best regards.

Jim & Eleanor Smith [email protected] 2005-11-11 ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From rdigges at excite.com Mon Nov 14 08:37:17 2005 From: rdigges at excite.com (Roger) Date: Mon Nov 14 08:37:21 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Morning walk Message-ID: <[email protected]>

A brief (chilly!) morning walk through the west end of Meadowbrook yielded little of interest birdwise except for three American Tree Sparrows in the brush near the confluence of the creeks, the first ATS I've seen this season.

Roger Digges

From REGEHR5 at aol.com Mon Nov 14 09:41:07 2005 From: REGEHR5 at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Mon Nov 14 09:42:55 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Clinton Lake Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Several Common Loons, Snow Geese, a Ross's Goose, a Horned Grebe, and a Solitary Vireo were sighted on the CCAS trip to Clinton Lake led by Bryan Guarente on Saturday, Nov. 12. Ducks: American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Duck. Some of the other species seen were Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gull, Cormorant, Great Blue Heeron, Sandhill Crane, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Bluebird, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatch, Fox Sparrow. Elaine Regehr ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051114/e9 1183f5/attachment.htm From bernies at uillinois.edu Mon Nov 14 10:19:21 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Mon Nov 14 10:19:25 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes Message-ID:

I agree with Bob that coyotes are not a rare sighting in Urbana. And if you look for signs (and listen for sounds) of coyotes, rather than physical sightings, you might come to the conclusion that not only are they not rare, but that they actually might be relatively common.

Earlier this summer I found some signs in my backyard that indicated a coyote might have passed through several times over a three or four week period. In a former residence (near the Brookens Center on E. Washington) I saw a pair of coyotes trot down my street several times late at night one winter. And one time at about 10PM on a winter night maybe ten years ago I was riding in a car that hit one on far east Green Street, i.e., quite a bit east of Vine. My son had his learner's permit and I was riding along with him to take a friend of his home. It came from out of nowhere. We circled around the block and by the time we got back to the spot, it was gone. Must have just been a glancing impact, although I did find some coarse hairs stuck in the right front wheel cover the next morning.

Speaking of size, the largest coyote I ever saw was northwest of Kankakee, near the Kankakee River State Park. It ran parallel to the road for a full 20-30 seconds. If it had been in an area inhabited by wolves I would have been hard pressed to identify it as a smallish wolf or a very large coyote. My kids were impressed.

Bernie

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Vaiden, Robert Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 8:37 AM To: Cathe Capel; Bird Notes Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes

That dead critter was still there Saturday afternoon...it was a coyote in my book. Coyotes in Urbana are not a rare sighting. Although they're not around constantly (I think), I've seen them a number of times in the last few years.

Almost 2 years ago, we had a pair of Red Fox at Weaver Park...after several months, they were "replaced" by a pair of coyotes, which stayed for at least a month.

Bob ______

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cathe Capel Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:32 AM To: Bird Notes Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes A large animal of that description was lying (dead) on the south shoulder of I-74 eastbound this morning about three-quarters of a mile west of the I-57 intersection. It did not look like a German Shepherd, although it was unusually large for a coyote. It was quite dark with a tawny undercoat. I saw a dead badger very near the same location about 6 weeks ago. Regards, Cathe Capel Mahomet

Best regards.

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From bernies at uillinois.edu Mon Nov 14 15:22:17 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Mon Nov 14 15:22:21 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Hawk identification? (Photos on CCAS web page) Message-ID:

The Champaign County Audubon Society home page has two photos of a hawk sighted in the Chato's yard: http://www.champaigncountyaudubon.org/ The text associated with the photos reads:

"This immature buteo was in Chato's back yard on Oct 30. We could not decide what it was--best guess is red-shouldered. Does anyone have an idea of what it could be??? Email the Birdnotes listerve if you think you do."

I pointed out the photos to an Indiana birding list and got the following reply back from a pair of Indiana University ornithologists:

"Hard to be 100% certain. It would have been nice to see the back, but it certainly looks like a juvenile Red-shouldered. The streaking is pretty extensive and goes up to the throat. The lightness around the eye is good for Red-shoulder, and doesn't appear to be real bulky, as you would expect a Red-tailed to be. The eastern forms of the Red-shouldered Hawks are lighter in coloring than some of the western forms, and most of the field guides do not show all of the variation."

From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Mon Nov 14 15:58:19 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org ([email protected]) Date: Mon Nov 14 15:58:21 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Canid behavior In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birders,

I once saw a red fox standing on its rear legs to get a peak at a coyote near Fish Hook Waterfowl Area in Moultrie County.

Once the fox saw that the larger canid was traveling south the fox went north!

Jim :)

> I agree with Bob that coyotes are not a rare sighting in Urbana. And if > you look for signs (and listen for sounds) of coyotes, rather than > physical sightings, you might come to the conclusion that not only are > they not rare, but that they actually might be relatively common. > > Earlier this summer I found some signs in my backyard that indicated a > coyote might have passed through several times over a three or four week > period. In a former residence (near the Brookens Center on E. > Washington) I saw a pair of coyotes trot down my street several times > late at night one winter. And one time at about 10PM on a winter night > maybe ten years ago I was riding in a car that hit one on far east Green > Street, i.e., quite a bit east of Vine. My son had his learner's permit > and I was riding along with him to take a friend of his home. It came > from out of nowhere. We circled around the block and by the time we got > back to the spot, it was gone. Must have just been a glancing impact, > although I did find some coarse hairs stuck in the right front wheel > cover the next morning. > > Speaking of size, the largest coyote I ever saw was northwest of > Kankakee, near the Kankakee River State Park. It ran parallel to the > road for a full 20-30 seconds. If it had been in an area inhabited by > wolves I would have been hard pressed to identify it as a smallish wolf > or a very large coyote. My kids were impressed. > > Bernie > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Vaiden, > Robert > Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 8:37 AM > To: Cathe Capel; Bird Notes > Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes > > That dead critter was still there Saturday afternoon...it was a coyote > in my book. Coyotes in Urbana are not a rare sighting. Although > they're not around constantly (I think), I've seen them a number of > times in the last few years. > > Almost 2 years ago, we had a pair of Red Fox at Weaver Park...after > several months, they were "replaced" by a pair of coyotes, which stayed > for at least a month. > > Bob > ______> > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cathe Capel > Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:32 AM > To: Bird Notes > Subject: RE: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes > > A large animal of that description was lying (dead) on the south > shoulder of I-74 eastbound this morning about three-quarters of a mile > west of the I-57 intersection. It did not look like a German Shepherd, > although it was unusually large for a coyote. It was quite dark with a > tawny undercoat. I saw a dead badger very near the same location about 6 > weeks ago. > Regards, > Cathe Capel > Mahomet > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim & > Eleanor Smith > Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 11:23 AM > To: Bird Notes > Subject: [Birdnotes] Wolves and coyotes > > Hello, Bird, > I have seen coyotes that vary in color from very reddish brown to almost > black with all combination between. Some have been considerably bigger > than normal coyotes especially if they are dog crosses. I have seen big > gray ones that I suspected were crosses with German sheperds. Some of > these had shorter tails. > > > Best regards. > > Jim & Eleanor Smith > [email protected] > 2005-11-11 > > > ______> Birdnotes mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes > ______> Birdnotes mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes > > ______> Birdnotes mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes > ______> Birdnotes mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes >

From smithsje at egix.net Mon Nov 14 21:44:42 2005 From: smithsje at egix.net (Jim & Eleanor Smith) Date: Mon Nov 14 21:43:39 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] longspurs Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hello, Bird,

There are some flocks of LONGSPURS along rural township roads. Look where there are foxtail grasses in corn and soybean stubble fields.

Best regards.

From bernies at uillinois.edu Wed Nov 16 10:13:53 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Wed Nov 16 10:13:57 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Kestrel Message-ID:

Saw an American Kestrel flying across Lincoln Avenue this AM near the intersection with Oregon.

Also, there must have been something mighty tasty on the pavement in the middle of Illinois Street by the entrance to the Krannert parking garage. I watched a crow picking at something on the pavement, and it would wait until the last minute to fly out of the way of an approaching car or bus. It would sit on a streetlight and wait for the coast to clear, and then fly back down.

From denstrom at inhs.uiuc.edu Wed Nov 16 12:17:59 2005 From: denstrom at inhs.uiuc.edu (David Enstrom) Date: Wed Nov 16 12:18:02 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Re: Birdnotes Digest, Vol 22, Issue 14 In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> References: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

I got a great look at a Barred Owl in my neighborhood in Champaign last night. The bird flew in and I got a flashlight on it (which I borrowed from a pizza delivery guy while walking my dogs). It flew off after a couple of min. The bird was seen near the corner of Willis and Washington.

I mention it because in 30 years of living in that house I have never seen or heard a Barred Owl in the neighborhood. DE From spendelo at uiuc.edu Wed Nov 16 23:39:34 2005 From: spendelo at uiuc.edu (Jacob Spendelow) Date: Wed Nov 16 23:39:27 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Arcola Marsh, 11-15-05 Message-ID: <[email protected]>

The following species of waterfowl were present yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon at Arcola Marsh (southern Douglas County):

Canada Goose Mallard Gadwall Green-winged Teal American Wigeon Northern Pintail Northern Shoveler Wood Duck Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Hooded Merganser

There were also some American Coots, Bonaparte's Gulls (7), Greater Yellowlegs (3), Dunlin (5), and one Long-billed Dowitcher.

From rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu Thu Nov 17 19:47:48 2005 From: rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu (Ray F. Boehmer) Date: Thu Nov 17 19:48:10 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] screech owl Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I just saw a Screech Owl in the hole near California and Race at 4:50 PM. Reddish phase. First time I've seen it since perhaps late March.

Ray Boehmer Urbana

From bernies at uillinois.edu Thu Nov 17 19:53:15 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Thu Nov 17 19:55:29 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] screech owl Message-ID:

I've been hearing Screech Owls off and on recently, but not since the cold snap...

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray F. Boehmer Sent: Thursday, November 17, 2005 7:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] screech owl

I just saw a Screech Owl in the hole near California and Race at 4:50 PM. Reddish phase. First time I've seen it since perhaps late March.

Ray Boehmer Urbana

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From h-parker at express.cites.uiuc.edu Fri Nov 18 18:59:34 2005 From: h-parker at express.cites.uiuc.edu (Helen Parker) Date: Fri Nov 18 18:59:09 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] bridge Monday--I hope! Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Your weekly reminder: bridge Monday 11/21, usual bat time and channel. I trust that by then I will be sufficiently over my cold that I won't be seriously contagious. --H. Parker

From bernies at uillinois.edu Sat Nov 19 11:33:04 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Sat Nov 19 11:33:07 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Suburban coyotes Message-ID:

Since we were talking about coyotes earlier on the list I thought I pass along the following from yesterday's Chicago Tribune: http://tinyurl.com/dsx6a

Bernie Sloan From h-parker at express.cites.uiuc.edu Sat Nov 19 14:28:26 2005 From: h-parker at express.cites.uiuc.edu (Helen Parker) Date: Sat Nov 19 14:28:26 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] I goofed Message-ID: <[email protected]>

My apologies to everyone for sending my bridge notice to "birdnotes" instead of the "bridge" listserve! I can only plead that my cold had rendered my head inoperative. --Helen Parker

From charleneanchor at msn.com Sun Nov 20 08:53:29 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Sun Nov 20 08:47:56 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Suburban coyotes Message-ID: Bernie, thanks for passing on the coyote information from the Tribune. It is of importance to learn that the coyotes are protected by Illinois State law and that it is illegal to hunt or trap them without a license. Not leaving food or pet food outdoors to attract them is important as well It would be nice if we could learn to adjust our ways to live with wildlife. I would think coyotes get killed in illegal ways without our being aware of it.

Charlene Anchor

----- Original Message ----- From: Sloan, Bernie Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 11:33 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Suburban coyotes

Since we were talking about coyotes earlier on the list I thought I pass along the following from yesterday's Chicago Tribune: http://tinyurl.com/dsx6a

Bernie Sloan ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051120/af 1a51d8/attachment.htm From bernies at uillinois.edu Sun Nov 20 17:53:17 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Sun Nov 20 17:53:28 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Interesting hawk behavior Message-ID:

This afternoon I was headed west on I-74 between Indianapolis and Crawfordsville, maybe 15-20 miles east of Crawfordsville.

Anyway, there was road kill to the side of the road, on the shoulder. About the size of a woodchuck or raccoon (I didn't identify the animal because I was focused on the bird sitting on top of it). It was a relatively smallish hawk engaged in sort of vulturish behavior, gorging itself on the road kill.

I first saw it as a semi tractor-trailer passed it, and then a car. It was buffeted by the backwash from both, and also as I passed it. It obviously had its talons anchored in the carcass so it could hang on for dear life.

It didn't seem large or chunky enough to have been a buteo, although it did have more than a passing resemblance to a smallish juvenile red-shouldered hawk, which is my best guess. I observed it closely for just a few seconds...after all, I was in traffic hurtling down I-74 at 75mph. :-) Anyway, I was amazed that it was eating while sitting at most two or three feet away from large fast-moving vehicles. The wind backwash from passing vehicles (especially semis) had to have been fairly strong. Is this atypical for hawks? I don't think I've ever observed that sort of behavior before in hawks, i.e., the close proximity of speeding vehicles plus the eating of carrion.

Thanks!

Phone: (217) 333-4895 Fax: (217) 265-0454 E-mail: [email protected] From rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu Sun Nov 20 21:21:32 2005 From: rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu (Ray F. Boehmer) Date: Sun Nov 20 21:21:48 2005 Subject: (possibly spam: 12.0505) Re: [Birdnotes] Suburban coyotes In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Does anyone know how long the state has issued "varmint licenses"? I was on the EIU campus back in the 80s when a guy brought in a gorgeous adult coyote that he had just shot and wanted to show it to the wildlife biologist there. I was incensed and I guess I asked him why he shot it in a rather confrontational way and he got in my face and said citizens could shoot coyotes anytime they wanted.

I am wondering if they have always been "fair game" for anyone with a gun.

Ray Urbana

At 08:53 AM 11/20/2005 -0600, charlene anchor wrote: >Bernie, thanks for passing on the coyote information from the Tribune. It >is of importance to learn that the coyotes are protected by Illinois State >law and that it is illegal to hunt or trap them without a license. Not >leaving food or pet food outdoors to attract them is important as >well. It would be nice if we could learn to adjust our ways to live >with wildlife. I would think coyotes get killed in illegal ways without >our being aware of it. > >Charlene Anchor > >----- Original Message ----- >From: Sloan, Bernie >Sent: Saturday, November 19, 2005 11:33 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: [Birdnotes] Suburban coyotes > >Since we were talking about coyotes earlier on the list I thought I pass >along the following from yesterday's Chicago Tribune: > >http://tinyurl.com/dsx6a > >Bernie Sloan >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes > >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051120/18 f2fa72/attachment.htm From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Mon Nov 21 01:35:36 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org (James Hoyt) Date: Mon Nov 21 01:35:38 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Saturday Morning birds In-Reply-To: Message-ID:

Birders,

On the way over to help with the Master Gardener's Idea Garden on South Lincoln this past Saturday I had to make a slight detour down St. Mary's Road.

Fortunate Coincidence.

A coopers hawk sailed over my front hood on its way to investigate a large flock of startlings at the tennis fields!

I also saw a crow pestering a Red Tailed Hawk above the Florida Avenue Residence Halls.

On Sunday at around 3 PM at Busey Woods I saw a White Breasted Nuthatch and some doves.

Jim :) -- James Hoyt "The Prairie Ant" Champaign Co. Audubon Co-steward Parkland College Prairies. Monitor Urbana Park District Natural Areas. Champaign County Master Gardener Allerton Allies Prairie Rivers Network

From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Mon Nov 21 02:29:22 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org (James Hoyt) Date: Mon Nov 21 02:29:28 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Suburban coyotes (no sightings) In-Reply-To: Message-ID:

Birders,

Sorry I accidentally deleted a post from an Eastern Illinois Uninversity person.

In case you are interested...

Unfortunately we no longer seem to have a IDNR biologist on the payroll who can keep tabs on furbearers (ie. Coyotes).

There do not appear to be enough trapppers or varmint shooters (who buy hunting/trapping liscenses to pay for this position.

If anyone wishes to learn more please log on to www.dnr.state.il.us/admin/systems/Digest/index.html

I hope this answers some of you questions. Jim :)

PS. As for me I buy a Hunting/ Fishing Liscense, Habitat Stamp, etc. even thought I haven't hunted or fished in years. The taxes and revenues generated through hunting and fishing indirectly help both huntable and non-game wildlife and their habitat. :)

On Sat, 19 Nov 2005, Sloan, Bernie wrote:

> Since we were talking about coyotes earlier on the list I thought I pass along the following from yesterday's Chicago Tribune: > > http://tinyurl.com/dsx6a > > Bernie Sloan > ______> Birdnotes mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes >

From charleneanchor at msn.com Mon Nov 21 08:13:18 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Mon Nov 21 08:07:45 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Interesting hawk behavior Message-ID:

Sunday afternoon must have been hawk-feeding time. My husband and I were traveling west on Rt. 10. There was some traffic on the road which I was watching but then I became suddenly aware of a large hawk (I assume a red-tailed) "mantling" a kill in the ditch as I quickly passed it by. I watched out my rearview window as other cars passed it. I was concerned that the hawk may get hit but I never saw it leave the ground. Since hawks use telephone poles so frequently for hunting I assume that they get used to cars flying by and will eat without being disturbed. On our way back into town at the corner of Springfield and Mattis a Cooper's Hawk flew right through the intersection. It took me by surprise. I didn't see where it had come from and it almost looked like it was going to fly into traffic. All my husband said was "what was that!"

Charlene Anchor

----- Original Message ----- From: Sloan, Bernie Sent: Sunday, November 20, 2005 5:53 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Interesting hawk behavior

This afternoon I was headed west on I-74 between Indianapolis and Crawfordsville, maybe 15-20 miles east of Crawfordsville.

Anyway, there was road kill to the side of the road, on the shoulder. About the size of a woodchuck or raccoon (I didn't identify the animal because I was focused on the bird sitting on top of it). It was a relatively smallish hawk engaged in sort of vulturish behavior, gorging itself on the road kill.

I first saw it as a semi tractor-trailer passed it, and then a car. It was buffeted by the backwash from both, and also as I passed it. It obviously had its talons anchored in the carcass so it could hang on for dear life.

It didn't seem large or chunky enough to have been a buteo, although it did have more than a passing resemblance to a smallish juvenile red-shouldered hawk, which is my best guess. I observed it closely for just a few seconds...after all, I was in traffic hurtling down I-74 at 75mph. :-)

Anyway, I was amazed that it was eating while sitting at most two or three feet away from large fast-moving vehicles. The wind backwash from passing vehicles (especially semis) had to have been fairly strong. Is this atypical for hawks? I don't think I've ever observed that sort of behavior before in hawks, i.e., the close proximity of speeding vehicles plus the eating of carrion.

Thanks!

Phone: (217) 333-4895 Fax: (217) 265-0454 E-mail: [email protected] ______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051121/cf 8810b6/attachment.htm From charleneanchor at msn.com Mon Nov 21 08:30:56 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Mon Nov 21 08:25:23 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Shooting wildlife Message-ID:

One of my earliest experiences with birds was shooting them. I had relatives living in central Wisconsin in dairy farming country. They didn't want the birds in their barns. I had just gotten a pellet gun and was target practicing so they told me to shoot the birds. I did. I would put them in my pocket and take them into the house, was praised and told to shoot some more. I have no idea what I was killing. But I know the attitude of having guns and feeling it's ok to shoot what you want.

I recently was communicating with someone who was visiting her sister in Arizona. She described the early weekend mornings in the desert on the outskirts of the city where her sister lives as sounding like a war zone. "Sportsmen" illegally kill the desert birds, especially the flickers who nest in the Saguaro, even shooting within 1,000 ft of private residences. She and her sister walked through some thickets hoping to see birds. She said the thickets were silent and littered with rifle shells. Not a pretty picture.

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051121/06 33b38d/attachment.htm From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Mon Nov 21 09:55:27 2005 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Mon Nov 21 09:55:28 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Saturday Morning birds Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Coopers Hawks now in the area of my yard and the Humane Society...I've seen them several times in the last week along the stretch of E. Main from the "Solo Cup Oaks" east to my house & the Humane Society.

Also near Meadowbrook on Windsor, and near Mumford & Philo Road...

Bob :)

______-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of James Hoyt Sent: Monday, November 21, 2005 1:36 AM Cc: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] Saturday Morning birds

Birders,

On the way over to help with the Master Gardener's Idea Garden on South Lincoln this past Saturday I had to make a slight detour down St. Mary's

Fortunate Coincidence.

A coopers hawk sailed over my front hood on its way to investigate a large flock of startlings at the tennis fields!

I also saw a crow pestering a Red Tailed Hawk above the Florida Avenue Residence Halls.

On Sunday at around 3 PM at Busey Woods I saw a White Breasted Nuthatch and some doves.

Jim :)

************************************************************************ ******* ************************************************************************ ******* "The human culture is considered to be a 'geologic force' and with good reason. But if we are at a stage where our actions are to decide the world's future, then surely we have reached a level where we can be held acountable for the world's future." Durward L. Allen "Our Wildlife Legacy" ************************************************************************ ******* ************************************************************************ *******

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Mon Nov 21 10:06:16 2005 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Mon Nov 21 10:06:18 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Saturday Morning birds In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Speaking of Accipiters, I saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk in teh Forestry Division Hemlocks, while searching for wintering owls (no owls to report, but plenty of white-wash). Nothing else to report from the area, but the raptors are definitely more abundant this time of year. Keep your eyes peeled for Northern Goshawks, since so many of them have been seen so far this year migrating south, and since the winter finch populations up north are expected to erupt farther south this year, we should expect their raptor predators to follow suit.

Forestry Division is located west of Meadowbrook Park near Windsor and Race St.

Bryan Guarente Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Assistant Champaign, IL

------Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051121/02 79906c/attachment.htm From bernies at uillinois.edu Mon Nov 21 10:23:45 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Mon Nov 21 10:23:50 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook morning Message-ID:

It was relatively quiet at Meadowbrook earlier this AM.

Couple of crows flying across the prairie. A lone blue jay calling one or two times along McCullough Creek. One pheasant call. A few small groups of robins flying over the park. A few robins in the trees at the east end of the Hickman Wildflower Walk. A few miscellaneous unidentified sparrows chirping in the bushes. The sound of two squirrels gnawing on walnuts. Brief glimpse of a great blue heron flying above McCullough Creek...looked like it had been in the creek and was spooked by something...flew down the creek a short bit and disappeared back down into the creek bed. Like I said...quiet.

The high point of my walk was deer. Saw a fairly good-sized whitetail buck, maybe a ten-point. It was crossing the meadow on the west side of the park, headed from the brush along McCullough Creek towards Race Street. I was maybe 75 feet away from it as it hit the sidewalk. Traffic on Race Street was fairly heavy (people headed to work...about 7:40AM). It seemed a little nervous, eyeing me and the traffic. I walked backwards a bit and stood still, so as not to spook it. I was really worried it would get hit by a car. But it patiently waited until there was a small gap in the traffic, trotted across Race Street, and jumped the fence into Forestry. Seemed to be a streetwise deer! :-)

Then I was walking on the small circle sidewalk, just east of the end of the Hickman Wildflower Walk and there was a doe maybe five feet off the sidewalk. I walked maybe ten feet away from it as I passed on the sidewalk. It didn't flinch. It must have thought it was camouflaged.

Bernie Sloan E-mail: [email protected] From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Tue Nov 22 01:44:52 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org (James Hoyt) Date: Tue Nov 22 01:44:54 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook morning (no recent sightings) In-Reply-To: Message-ID:

Bernie and others,

Hopefully this buck will pass on whatever genes that help it to survive traffic and help out the insurance companies!

Intelligence is a heritable trait.

It is a well documented fact that Pheasants in the '80s were running ahead of the dogs during hunting season.

Most of the "dumb" roosters that flew had been shot and were lost to the gene pool.

It took a really smart bird dog and tall CRP cover to get the pheasants to hold.

Fortunately my ultra smart Cocker Spaniel had a personal vendetta against rooster (male) pheasants and would bark before they flew.

He never barked at the hens which were protected.

Alas that was the last year that the Feds paid farmers to keep hilly land out of production.

Habitat is more important for providing for animal and bird numbers than just about any other factor.

I just wish that I still had that dog for bird counts.

He used to scare up every sparrow, cardinal, and junco around.

Jim :)

On Mon, 21 Nov 2005, Sloan, Bernie wrote:

> It was relatively quiet at Meadowbrook earlier this AM. > > > The high point of my walk was deer. Saw a fairly good-sized whitetail > buck, maybe a ten-point. It was crossing the meadow on the west side of > the park, headed from the brush along McCullough Creek towards Race > Street. I was maybe 75 feet away from it as it hit the sidewalk. Traffic > on Race Street was fairly heavy (people headed to work...about 7:40AM). > It seemed a little nervous, eyeing me and the traffic. I walked > backwards a bit and stood still, so as not to spook it. I was really > worried it would get hit by a car. But it patiently waited until there > was a small gap in the traffic, trotted across Race Street, and jumped > the fence into Forestry. Seemed to be a streetwise deer! :-) > > Then I was walking on the small circle sidewalk, just east of the end of > the Hickman Wildflower Walk and there was a doe maybe five feet off the > sidewalk. I walked maybe ten feet away from it as I passed on the > sidewalk. It didn't flinch. It must have thought it was camouflaged. > > Bernie Sloan > E-mail: [email protected] > ______> Birdnotes mailing list > [email protected] > https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes >

-- James Hoyt "The Prairie Ant" Champaign Co. Audubon Co-steward Parkland College Prairies. Monitor Urbana Park District Natural Areas. Champaign County Master Gardener Allerton Allies Prairie Rivers Network *********************************************************************** ******** *********************************************************************** ******** "The human culture is considered to be a 'geologic force' and with good reason. But if we are at a stage where our actions are to decide the world's future, then surely we have reached a level where we can be held acountable for the world's future." Durward L. Allen "Our Wildlife Legacy" *********************************************************************** ******** *********************************************************************** ********

From bpalmore at egix.net Tue Nov 22 14:55:40 2005 From: bpalmore at egix.net (Bland Palmore) Date: Tue Nov 22 14:57:48 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Finches/Cornell Lab Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Disease peak: This time of year is a severe peak in disease prevalence for conjunctivitis. While it can be alarming, it is not unusual to see higher than "normal" levels of conjunctivitis this time of year. Try to keep your feeders clean (weekly, if you can, with a ten percent bleach solution).

From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Tue Nov 22 16:06:19 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org ([email protected]) Date: Tue Nov 22 16:06:21 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] A neat birding place In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Birders,

The Heritage Park Coridoor in West Champaign is a neat place to bird.

Especially the east side of the Copper Slough.

There are a lot of pines and some old dead logs in the prairie grass that the Champaign Park District left in their.

Lots of sparrows and Juncos.

One beaver dam and some chewings...

Jim :) From ccas at prairienet.org Tue Nov 22 20:23:58 2005 From: ccas at prairienet.org ([email protected]) Date: Tue Nov 22 20:24:00 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] CCAS Website Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Dear birders,

The CCAS website information has been updated to include everything you need to know about what's going on in December. Find information about upcoming bird counts, the next all-member's meeting (on Dec 1) and more.

See www.champaigncountyaudubon.org

Happy Thanksgiving! Pam CCAS Webmaster From albers at uiuc.edu Wed Nov 23 00:20:56 2005 From: albers at uiuc.edu (Geriann Albers) Date: Wed Nov 23 00:21:01 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Coyotes Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I am not sure how long this has been in place, but coyote hunting season never closes. So yes, anyone with a gun and hunting license can shoot one whenever they want, though they can only be trapped from November to January.

IDNR does have a furbearer biologist (unless he has very recently been laid off and I am not aware of it), his name is Bob Bluett and he is based out of Springfield. He deals with all the trapping in the state.

Geriann Albers

> Does anyone know how long the state has issued > "varmint licenses"? I was on the EIU campus back in > the 80s when a guy brought in a gorgeous adult > coyote that he had just shot and wanted to show it > to the wildlife biologist there. I was incensed and > I guess I asked him why he shot it in a rather > confrontational way and he got in my face and said > citizens could shoot coyotes anytime they wanted. > > I am wondering if they have always been "fair game" > for anyone with a gun. > > Ray > Urbana Geriann Albers Fish and Wildlife Conservation Major Animal Sciences Minor University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Illini Wildlife Society President Illini Orchid Club Treasurer and Sale Chair Prairie Rivers Network Volunteer Recruiter Alpha Zeta Member International Illini Member Cell (618) 540-8556 [email protected]

Office: 147 Natural History Survey Annex 217-265-5123 From vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu Wed Nov 23 08:00:43 2005 From: vaiden at isgs.uiuc.edu (Vaiden, Robert) Date: Wed Nov 23 08:00:46 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] swans? Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I've received a report of 2 swans on a pond near Penfield/Middle Fork...any wild swans about?

Bob :) From rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu Fri Nov 25 09:22:27 2005 From: rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu (Ray F. Boehmer) Date: Fri Nov 25 09:23:13 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] chickadee Message-ID: <[email protected]>

I have lived in this house on Iowa near Race for 18 years. Only once in that time had I seen a chickadee in my yard - until this morning. A chickadee (no white in wings that I could see) came to the hopper feeder just 18 inches from my face while I was putting a squirrel guard on the other feeder.

Are there chickadees regularly seen in Busey, or elsewhere in C-U these days?

Ray Urbana

From bernies at uillinois.edu Fri Nov 25 22:57:53 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Fri Nov 25 22:57:56 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] chickadee Message-ID:

This reminds me...is there a way to search the Birdnotes archives??

Maybe I am missing something, but I don't recall seeing instructions for this at https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes Thanks!

Bernie Sloan

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ray F. Boehmer Sent: Friday, November 25, 2005 9:22 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Birdnotes] chickadee

I have lived in this house on Iowa near Race for 18 years. Only once in that time had I seen a chickadee in my yard - until this morning. A chickadee (no white in wings that I could see) came to the hopper feeder just 18 inches from my face while I was putting a squirrel guard on the other feeder.

Are there chickadees regularly seen in Busey, or elsewhere in C-U these days?

Ray Urbana

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes From jbchato at uiuc.edu Sat Nov 26 15:26:13 2005 From: jbchato at uiuc.edu (John & Beth Chato) Date: Sat Nov 26 15:26:15 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Peregrine Falcon Message-ID: <[email protected]>

There is a peregrine falcon cruising the Curtis Road Corridor. Today Ray Boehmer reported while watching it perched on a tall antenna of the old UI farmhouse about 1 mile west of Race Street on Curtis Road today. Rob Kanter saw one, presumably the same bird, yesterday on South First Street near the U/I Credit Union. John C. Chato 714 W. Vermont Ave. Urbana, IL 61801 217-344-6803 From rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu Sat Nov 26 17:48:55 2005 From: rboehmer at mail.millikin.edu (Ray F. Boehmer) Date: Sat Nov 26 17:50:03 2005 Subject: (possibly spam: 12.0505) [Birdnotes] Peregrine Falcon In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Thanks for posting the falcon observation, Beth. Today, at about sunset, I watched two Cooper's Hawks harassing a large flock of pigeons in the vicinity of Jumer's and the Co. courthouse. The falcon should have been there!

At 03:26 PM 11/26/2005 -0600, John & Beth Chato wrote: >There is a peregrine falcon cruising the Curtis Road Corridor. Today Ray >Boehmer reported while watching it perched on a tall antenna of the old UI >farmhouse about 1 mile west of Race Street on Curtis Road today. Rob >Kanter saw one, presumably the same bird, yesterday on South First >Street near the U/I Credit Union. >John C. Chato >714 W. Vermont Ave. >Urbana, IL 61801 >217-344-6803 >______>Birdnotes mailing list >[email protected] >https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

From jwhoyt at prairienet.org Sat Nov 26 19:16:12 2005 From: jwhoyt at prairienet.org (James Hoyt) Date: Sat Nov 26 19:16:16 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Allerton Park In-Reply-To: <[email protected]> Message-ID:

Birders,

Slight breeze in the upper 40's.

As I was patrolling the trail north of the Sangamon River I heard a Barred Owl south of the river. About 4:00 PM.

Also saw and heard several Red Headed Woodpeckers near the Centaur.

Maybe a couple of YS Flickers.

A couple Titmice and a W B Nuthatch.

Maybe heard (?) a Chickadee.

The usual suspects.

Jim :)

PS. Didn't see a single deer. (maybe they're all married) Bad Pun!

From bprice at pdnt.com Sat Nov 26 22:04:23 2005 From: bprice at pdnt.com (Brock Price) Date: Sat Nov 26 22:04:29 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] (no subject) Message-ID: <000e01c5f307$a7490bb0$46e0ddce@YOURCD7BB1D575>

Hearing a Great Horned Owl somewhere very near my yard at this time. 1st one around my area that I've heard or seen in probably 4 years. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051126/f9 869224/attachment.htm From Birderdlt at aol.com Sat Nov 26 18:34:08 2005 From: Birderdlt at aol.com ([email protected]) Date: Sun Nov 27 00:22:24 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] South Champaign Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Apparently saw the Peregrine Falcon that others have reported late this morning flying over the south farms. It appeared to be quite dark. Also during early afternoon I had a flock of 10 Sandhill Cranes fly over my house in south Champaign. This is the first migrating flock of cranes I have seen in Champaign.

David Thomas ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051126/90 71ba9b/attachment.htm From birder1949 at yahoo.com Sun Nov 27 07:10:18 2005 From: birder1949 at yahoo.com (Roger Digges) Date: Sun Nov 27 07:11:23 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkeys Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Didn't know if anybody was still reporting the Turkeys in southeast Urbana. (My dogs and) I saw the five of them Friday (the 25th) on the small parkway between East and West Evergreen Courts. (Would have reported it then but e-mail was down.)

My wife and I have been hearing a Great Horned Owl several mornings somewhere south of Holmes between Race and Vine.

Roger Digges

------Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051127/ea f6c0b5/attachment.htm From bernies at uillinois.edu Sun Nov 27 10:07:08 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Sun Nov 27 10:07:10 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook Friday Message-ID:

Took a stroll through Meadowbrook late Friday AM. Gray, chilly, and blustery.

Very little bird action.

Had an interesting deer experience. I was headed west on the sidewalk at the south end of the park and saw a whitetail doe standing on the sidewalk about 100 feet away. I kept getting closer, and it didn't flee. At about 50 feet it actually trotted a few steps towards me down the sidewalk, so I stopped. I talked to it, clapped my hands, etc. It didn't budge...in fact it took a few more purposeful steps twards me. Occasionally it would glance nervously to the north.

After a couple of minutes of trying to shoo it off of the sidewalk it took one last look at me and bounded off the sidewalk to the north. As I passed it was still looking at me intently from about 30 feet away. A few seconds later I noticed a couple of this season's fawns in the brush to the north of the sidewalk. The doe seemed to be acting unusually protective considering the fawns by now are not that much smaller than her.

It always unnerves me when a deer exhibits agressive behavior towards me.

Bernie Sloan From bernies at uillinois.edu Sun Nov 27 11:07:55 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Sun Nov 27 11:10:08 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkeys Message-ID:

Interesting...I think that's the first time I recall someone reporting five turkeys. Aren't there usually only three?

______

From: [email protected] on behalf of Roger Digges Sent: Sun 11/27/2005 7:10 AM To: Birdnotes Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkeys

Didn't know if anybody was still reporting the Turkeys in southeast Urbana. (My dogs and) I saw the five of them Friday (the 25th) on the small parkway between East and West Evergreen Courts. (Would have reported it then but e-mail was down.)

My wife and I have been hearing a Great Horned Owl several mornings somewhere south of Holmes between Race and Vine.

Roger Digges

______

Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free. From bernies at uillinois.edu Sun Nov 27 20:10:08 2005 From: bernies at uillinois.edu (Sloan, Bernie) Date: Sun Nov 27 20:10:11 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Meadowbrook tonight Message-ID:

Started a Meadowbrook walk a little after 4PM today, Sunday, November 27. It was very cloudy, breezy and very dark.

Really quiet, as far as birds.

There were quite a few people walking Meadowbrook considering that it was gray and breezy and getting pretty dark. Must have been post-Thanksgiving resolutions to walk off the holiday food! :-)

Didn't see much except for one deer...I walked ten feet away from it, and it just stood there and chewed contentedly like I wasn't there. Interestingly, it was in almost the exact same spot where I saw a deer last Monday morning (11/21). Here is my description from that day:

"I was walking on the small circle sidewalk, just east of the end of the Hickman Wildflower Walk and there was a doe maybe five feet off the sidewalk. I walked maybe ten feet away from it as I passed on the sidewalk. It didn't flinch. It must have thought it was camouflaged."

From dafekt1ve at yahoo.com Mon Nov 28 21:12:52 2005 From: dafekt1ve at yahoo.com (Bryan Guarente) Date: Mon Nov 28 21:12:54 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Cackling Goose time!! (no sightnings, but there will be soon) Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Hooray for Cackling Geese!!

At this point, most of you sigh and say, yeah whatever... so, for those of you that may still be in the camp of "White-cheeked Goose" versus Canada or Cackling Goose IDed to the subspecies (Richardson's, Parvipes, Lesser, Maxima, Minima, Taverneri), you should try this photo quiz that is posted on the Colorado Field Ornithologists Website. http://www.cfo-link.org/MrBill/index.php

This is a weekly photo quiz put on by ornithologist Tony Leukering of the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, but used to be put on by Bill Maynard (ABA Field Trip Supervisor, or something like that). The answer will be posted next monday or tuesday, and you can email your answers to Tony if you would like, or you can just hold off until they post the answer, coward... just kidding.

Despite the subject of this email, I am not sure of the ID of this goose, I just saw that it was a "fun" goose to examine and thought that the list might be in for a treat if we all tried this one together, and learned from our experience.

So, check it out if you get the chance, and submit an answer if you feel saucy enough.

Also, you should also check out last week's quiz (use the drag-drop bar in the top right corner). It is of significant importance to Illinois birding this year specifically.

Thanks for your attention, and good luck.

Bryan Guarente Atmospheric Sciences Graduate Assistant Champaign, IL

------Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free. ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051128/52 28e9e5/attachment.htm From h-parker at express.cites.uiuc.edu Tue Nov 29 13:30:22 2005 From: h-parker at express.cites.uiuc.edu (Helen Parker) Date: Tue Nov 29 13:29:52 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] peregrine at Meadowbrook?? Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Walking the dog at Meadowbrook this morning, a large raptor flew rapidly over into the teeth of the howling gale. I didn't see it for more than one second and saw no markings, but it seemed bigger than our friendly local Cooper's hawk and I had a vague impression of pointed wings. It just might have been the peregrine that people have been reporting. --Helen Parker

From ej2akind at sbcglobal.net Tue Nov 29 14:34:11 2005 From: ej2akind at sbcglobal.net (Erin Glynn) Date: Tue Nov 29 14:34:12 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkeys Message-ID: <[email protected]>

There are 4 turkeys wandering around Urbana, mother and 3 (now very big) poults. They were back on cureton drive the other day and there are still 4. Someone let their dog out while the turkeys were in their yard and they flew up on her roof. They're not worried about cats, however. They chase away any that get too curious. Email me if you want a link to photos from the summer when the poults were little.

Erin Glynn

--- "Sloan, Bernie" wrote:

> Interesting...I think that's the first time I recall > someone reporting five turkeys. Aren't there usually > only three? > > ______> > From: [email protected] on > behalf of Roger Digges > Sent: Sun 11/27/2005 7:10 AM > To: Birdnotes > Subject: [Birdnotes] Turkeys > > > Didn't know if anybody was still reporting the > Turkeys in southeast Urbana. (My dogs and) I saw > the five of them Friday (the 25th) on the small > parkway between East and West Evergreen Courts. > (Would have reported it then but e-mail was down.) > > My wife and I have been hearing a Great Horned Owl > several mornings somewhere south of Holmes between > Race and Vine. > > Roger Digges From charleneanchor at msn.com Wed Nov 30 08:14:41 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Wed Nov 30 08:09:07 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Peregrine Falcon Message-ID:

On 8/26/05 I reported a Peregrine flying east over my head while standing on the Prairie Play bridge. A short time later it returned flying west and then changed directions, flying northwest towards campus. If the present Peregrine that is being reported happens to be the same one, would that indicate that we have a resident Peregrine? There are enough pigeons around for feeding. Would there be an adequate roosting/nesting place? Just wondered....maybe we should be watching the campus area closer?

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051130/d1 79518d/attachment.htm From charleneanchor at msn.com Wed Nov 30 08:16:33 2005 From: charleneanchor at msn.com (charlene anchor) Date: Wed Nov 30 08:10:53 2005 Subject: [Birdnotes] Falcon p.s. Message-ID:

That's the Prairie Play bridge at Meadowbrook, to be more specific :-)

Charlene Anchor ------next part ------An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: https://mail.prairienet.org/pipermail/birdnotes/attachments/20051130/d8 b7bb09/attachment.htm From j.courson at mchsi.com Wed Nov 30 10:09:54 2005 From: j.courson at mchsi.com ([email protected]) Date: Wed Nov 30 10:10:01 2005 Subject: FW: WARNING(virus check bypassed): [Birdnotes] Peregrine Falcon Message-ID: <113020051609.16277.438DCED1000C7BBD00003F95219792474102019C9D9A010CD20 [email protected]> Charlene and Others,

I have seen a Peregrine hunting Pigeons from the WCIA Channel 3 tower on several occasions. Now that you bring up the idea of "resident", could they be nesting on the tower? ....just an idea.

-- Jeffrey A. Courson

"Never become too busy to...watch a sunset...enjoy a rainbow ...listen to the sounds of nature."

------Forwarded Message: ------From: "charlene anchor" To: Subject: WARNING(virus check bypassed): [Birdnotes] Peregrine Falcon Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:09:03 +0000

______Birdnotes mailing list [email protected] https://mail.prairienet.org/mailman/listinfo/birdnotes

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