August 2019 Volume 79 No 4
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August 2019 Volume 79 No 4 Bi-monthly publication of the Hudson-Mohawk Bird Club, Inc. New Mexico Delights By Jeff Schoonmaker In all of our travels, including multiple trips to Arizona, we have never seen so Inside This Issue… many Greater Roadrunners as we saw in New Mexico. We took our Spring Break New Mexico there in March primarily to visit Bosque del Apache NWR. We went there four Delights……..….…..…..…...71 times during our seven-day vacation, and we were not disappointed with our sightings, even thought the timing was not ideal for seeing many thousands of President’s Snow Geese and ducks. But we saw roadrunners almost everywhere we went, Corner……………..…….......72 including one at the top of a utility pole a hundred yards from our rental unit in HMBC Birding Guide..………73 Polvadera. Field Trip Reports…….……..76 The closest sighting was at the Rio Grande Nature Center just west of Albuquerque. I had crossed a footbridge over a side channel of the river and walked up a wide Upcoming HMBC Programs flight of wooden stairs on the other side. While standing at the top of the stairs a ….……………...….….………77 spotted two birds coming over the bridge. They were roadrunners. And they just Upcoming ASCR Programs. 78 kept coming in my direction. Taking Flight Conference…..78 Writer’s Page………………...79 Artists’ Page…………….…...80 Century Run.….……………..81 On Nature…………….….......87 Upcoming Field Trips………..……..................89 (continued on p.74 ) 72 HMBC BOARD Officers P RESIDENT ’ S C ORNER President: No President’s Column for this issue Patricia Fuller 1301 Sumner Ave Schenectady, NY 12309 (518) 421-2318 [email protected] Vice-President:: Tristan Lowery [email protected] Secretary: Debra Ferguson 3 Castle Point Rd Athens, NY 12015 518-221-3857 [email protected] Treasurer: Ellen Pemrick 117 Western Ave West Charlton, NY 12010 518-882-9163 [email protected] Directors Gregg Recer 518-899-2678 [email protected] Bruce Dudek 518-452-4938 [email protected] Eric Molho 518-439-6592 [email protected] Amanda Dillon - [email protected] Tristan Lowery [email protected] Cassandra Davis [email protected] Committee Chairs Audit: vacant Conservation: Kathy Schneider [email protected] Field Trips: Tom Williams [email protected] Membership: Gregg Recer 899-2678 [email protected] Outreach: Vacant Programs: Scott Stoner 785-6760 [email protected] Publications: Denise Hackert-Stoner [email protected] Records: Will Raup 944-8711 [email protected] Reist Sanctuary: Philip Johnson [email protected] Social: vacant Technology: John Kent 424-2234 [email protected] Youth: Vacant 73 You, too, can contribute to Feathers! Do you have a birding story or photos that might be of interest to other birders? Have you led a field trip for HMBC? Have you written short prose or poetry on the subject of birds? We’re starting a Writers’ Page! Did you take a birding vacation? Do you have a favorite birding spot? SHARE them with HMBC members by submitting them to: HMBC Contact Information BIRDLINE of EASTERN NEW YORK: E-mail: [email protected] HMBC website: http//hmbc.net Please send all electronic submissions for Feathers via e-mail to: Denise Hackert-Stoner at [email protected]. Send all paper submissions to: Denise Hackert-Stoner 6 Knob Hill Road. Loudonville, NY 12211 New printing of Birding New York’s Hudson Mohawk Region is now available Birding New York’s Hudson Mohawk Region, a new printing of HMBC’s classic book, is now available. A copy is $20 for HMBC members and $25 for non-members. An additional charge of $5 for postage and handling will be added to the price per book. Contact Gregg Recer [email protected] or (518) 899-2678 if you are interested in purchasing a copy. Checks should be made out to Hudson Mohawk Bird Club and should be sent to: Gregg Recer 23 Scotch Mist Way Malta, NY 12020 74 NEW MEXICO (continued………) I was standing right out in the open, but because I was already in a fixed position and not moving, the birds didn’t seem bothered by my presence. When they got to the bottom of the stairs, one decided to veer off to its left to climb the hill through the bushes. But the other one started up the stairs! With camera in hand, I took a few shots as it hopped up step after step. It finally became conscious of how close it was getting to me, and it decided to jump up to the railing and down into the brush. When it emerged at the top very close to me, I was able to get a couple of more frame-filling images of this extraordinary bird. Does anyone else see a hint of green on the primary feathers as it stood on the bike path contemplating where it would go next? Is that real green pigmentation, iridescence, or some photographic-induced illusion? 75 NEW MEXICO (continued………) Don’t neglect New Mexico in your birding travels. The variety and abundance of bird life in that state is truly fabulous! And I haven’t even mentioned here seeing all three rosy-finches at the top of Sandia Crest! 76 FIELD TRIP REPORTS Saturday, June 1, 2019 - Cherry Plain State Park Eleven birders met on a fine morning to explore the Rensselaer plateau. This was a first visit for several participants, so I was glad both the weather and bugs cooperated. As usual, we heard more than we saw, with Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, and (surprisingly) Least Flycatcher being the most numerous singers. We found 14 warbler species, all local breeders except a late Bay-breasted. These included Northern Waterthrush, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Blackburnian, and both the Black-throated. Near Black River Pond we had two counter-singing Brown Creepers, a lively Winter Wren, and a ragged flyover Red-shouldered Hawk. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were seen in four locations. Suprisingly low on woodpeckers, with only a Flicker and fewer than usual Sapsuckers. As the group went our separate ways we had good sightings in different directions - a Black-billed Cuckoo on CCC Dam Rd, and a Broad-winged Hawk over the Taborton fire dept. Thanks to all who came along - see you next year! eBird checklist of all species seen: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S57243908 Naomi Lloyd West Sand Lake 77 Upcoming HMBC Programs Date and Time: September 9, 2019 7-9 PM Location: Boght Community Firehouse, 8 Preston Drive, Cohoes, NY 12047 Speaker: Sarah Walsh Topic: Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy Come learn about Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC), who we are, what we do and more about our public and private lands. In 2018, MHLC expanded our volunteer programming to include citizen science initiatives such as wildlife cameras and eBird surveys of our lands. Learn about these initiative and how HMBC members can help us do more for birds in the Capital Region. Bio: Sarah is Conservation Director for MHLC, responsible for oversight of land stewardship and assisting with property acquisitions. Sarah brings nearly ten years’ experience in habitat restoration initiatives for bird habitat, riparian and wetland areas as well as experience in protection of conservation lands, non-profit program development, and trail planning. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Science from SUNY ESF and her Master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Albany in 2012. Sarah is an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys back-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, paddling, sailing, and bird watching. Date and Time: October 7, 2019, 7-9 PM Location: Boght Community Firehouse, 8 Preston Drive, Cohoes, NY 12047 Speaker: John Hershey Topic: Indian Safari In this program John will share experiences and photos he took on a birding tour and safari in northern India in March 2019. Some of the beautiful birds that will be illustrated include Indian Peafowl, Red Junglefowl, Ruddy Shelduck, Painted Stork, Crested Serpent Eagle, Great Hornbill, Chestnut-headed Bee-eater, Rufous Treepie, Indian Paradise-flycatcher, Indian Roller, and many more. In addition, he will show safari photos of some of India’s endangered and charismatic mammals including Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, and Indian Rhinoceros. There should also be time for a few photos pertaining to the rich culture of India as well as its people. Bio: John is a former Secretary and Director for HMBC. He has been leading HMBC field trips to Vischer Ferry Preserve, Peebles Island, and Fox Hill Road for many years. Birding has led him to travel throughout North America and more recently to Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama, and India. He has presented a number of HMBC programs on some of his favorite birding trips. He is semi-retired and works part time as a psychologist in private practice. 78 UPCOMING ASCR PROGRAMS Bird Walk: First Time Birders at Schodack Island Park Saturday, August 10, 8:00 am 1 Schodack Island Way, Schodack Landing, NY 12156 Space is limited! Please call the park to register at: 518 –732-0187 Bird Walk: at Albany Rural Cemetery Saturday, September 21, 2018, 7:30 am Cemetery Ave, Albany, NY 12204 (main entrance is off of route 378 in Menands) Join us in the Chapel with local historian Dr. John Pipkin for an intro to the history and design of this National Historic Landmark, featuring the resting places of John Boyd Thatcher and President Chester Arthur. Then walk the cemetery's rolling terrain and various paved surfaces to listen and look for fall migrants and avian denizens, guided by ASCR volunteer and expert birder - Tristan Lowry. Rain date is September 28. Space is limited and registration is required! Please call the Albany Rural Cemetery to register: 518- 463-7017 Speaker at Peebles Island State Park: Birds, Insects and their Urban Environments.