The Bluebird September 2002 Vol. 69, No. 3
The Audubon Society of Missouri Founded 1901 The Audubon Society of Missouri
Officers* Directors* Susan Hazelwood. President (2002) Paul Bauer (2003) 3005 Chapel Hill Rd. Florissant (314) 921-3972 Columbia. MO 65203 Mike Beck (2003) (573) 445-4925 Blue Springs (816) 229-6811 shazelwood@ socket. net Lisa Berger (2002) Springfield(417) 881-8393 Jerry Wade. Vice President (2002) David Easterla (2002) 1221 Bradshaw Ave. Maryville (660) 582-8468 Columbia. MO 65203 Hope Eddleman ( 2004) (573) 445-6697 Cape Girardeau (573) 335-1507 wadej @missouri.edu Steve Kinder (2004) Chillicothe ( 660) 646-6516 Jean Graebner. Treasurer (2002) Larry Lade (2003) 1800 S. Roby Farm Rd. St. Joseph (816) 232-6125 Rocheport. MO 65279 Ed McCullough (2002) (573) 698-2855 Kansas City (816) 505-2840 [email protected] Clare Wheeler (2004) Lake Ozark & Canton (573) 365-2951 Susan Dornfeld. Secretary (2002) 700 S. Weller Chairs Springfield. MO 65802 Bonnie Heidy. Membership (417) 831-9702 501 Parkade [email protected] Columbia. MO 65202 (573)442-2191 Honorary Directors [email protected] Nathan Fay. Ozark** Richard A. Anderson. St. Louis** Edge Wade, Bird Alert Sydney Wade. Jefferson City** 1221 Bradshaw Ave. John Wylie. Jefferson City** Columbia. MO 65203 Lisle .Jeffrey. Columbia*'' (573) 445-6697 Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** edgew@ socket. net Leo Galloway. St. Joseph Patrick Mahnkey. Forsyth** Bill Clark, Historian Rebecca Matthews. Springfield 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. Dave Witten. Columhia Columhia. MO 65202 Jim Jackson. Marthasville (573) 474-4510
*Year Term Expires **Deceased
------Cover Photo: Long-hilled Dowitcher at Eagle Bluffs CA. by William Palmer The Bluebird Editors: Seasonal Survey Editors: Bill & Kay Palmer Summer: Paul McKenzie 15100 S. Clinkenbeard Rd. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ashland. MO 65010 608 E. Cherry St. (573) 657-1076 Columbia, MO 65201 palmer! 07 6@ aoLcom (573) 876-1911 (w). 445-3019 (h) [email protected] Christmas Bird Count Editor: Randy Korotev Fall: Bill Eddleman 800 Oakbrook Lane 1831 Ricardo Dr. St. Louis. MO 63132 Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (314) 993-0055 (573) 335-1507 (h) [email protected] eddleman @clas.net
MO Bird Records Committee: Winter: Brad Jacobs Bill Eddleman-Chair P.O. Box 180 (see Seasonal Survey Editors) Jefferson City. MO 65102-0180 (573) 751-4115 Bill Rowe-Secretary [email protected]. 9033 Big Bend Road mo.us St. Louis, MO 63119 (314) 962-0544 Spring: Roger McNeill [email protected] 2520 Red Bridge Terrace Kansas City, MO 64131 Conservation Editor: (913) 226-3254 Dave Bedan [email protected] 200 I Chapel Wood Road Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 445-9834 davebedan@ sockets.net
Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird
Manuscripts for The Bluebird-to the editors by: Feb. 1 for March Issue; May I for June issue Aug. 1 for Sept. Issue; Nov. I for Dec. issue Seasonal Surveys: Winter (Dec. I -Feb. 28)-to Brad Jacobs by March I 0 Spring (March !-May 31 )-to Roger McNeill by June 10 Summer (June !-July 31 )-to Paul McKenzie by Aug. I 0 Fall (Aug. 1-Nov. 30)-to Bill Eddleman by Dec. 10 Table of Contents
September, 2002 THE BLUEBIRD Volume 69, No.3
3 President's Corner, Susan Hazelwood
7 An Adventure in Gambell, AK, Tommie Rogers
13 MBRC Update, Bill Rowe
15 Some Comments on Clark's Nightingale, Harold F. John
23 Our Bird Alert Service, Edge Wade
25 Rare Find for MO: Red-necked Stint, Larry Lade
31 Seasonal Survey-Spring, Roger McNeill
45 Birding in Central Caolifornia, Lester Pannell 48 Conservation Report, Dave Bedan INSERT-Fall Meeting
------The Bluebird is published quarterly by the Audubon Society of Missouri. Postage is paid at Jefferson City, Missouri, nonprofit organization status. Postmaster: send address changes to Jean Graebner, 1800 S. Roby Farm Rd., Rocheport, MO 65279. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of each contributing writer and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Audubon Society of Missouri or its officers, Board of Directors, or editors. The submission of articles, photographs, and artwork is welcome.
2 PRESIDENT'S CORNER Susan Hazelwood
the compiling and reporting of the data all appeared as no effort in Jim's capable hands. Jim volunteered for ASM in this capacity for five years. He recently resigned to be- come editor of the Columbia Audubon newsletter and president of another or- ho would have ganization. I'm sure he would thought a stint W be willing to train the next would really turn up in Mis- compiler. Who would like to souri? Many of us added this volunteer? Please contact bird to our life lists! What a Jerry Wade to express your find and what fun!!! I want to interest. express appreciation to Larry Lade for finding and identify- I have a question for you ing the bird, to Roger MeN eill to consider. The ASM Execu- for confirming the identifica- tive Committee would ap- tion, to Bob Fisher for giving preciate your feedback on lost travelers directions whether or not we should several times over, and to charge a registration fee for Edge Wade for her regular events we sponsor. We are bird alert postings. also wondering if the fee should be a token amount for Please also join me in members but a bit higher for thanking Jim Gast for serving nonmembers. Should the as the Missouri compiler of nonmember's rate be high the North American Migra- enough to provide the non- tion Count data. The or- members with an ASM mem- ganization of the surveys and 3 bership in addition to their know that is something participation in this event? everyone is eagerly anticipat- Thus far our ASM sponsored ing having. field days and workshops have either been free or MOBirds-L, the ASM priced to cover expenses. The sponsored listserve for dis- Executive Committee is torn cussion of wild birds and between wanting everyone to topics related to them, has be able to afford to participate successfully switched from in ASM sponsored events and one software package to the continuing need to another, twice! Thank you to generate revenue so we can Chris Snook, list owner, for pursue new endeavors. answering so many queries Please share your thoughts and solving so many with Jerry Wade, Susan problems. To join MOBirds-L Dornfeld, Jean Graebner, or send an email message to me before the fall ASM meet- [email protected]. ing. EDU
4 you can't remember these I'm thrilled to report that details you can go to the ASM our treasury is in sOLmd website (www.mobirds.org shape and that our member-
5 function. We will support those assuming ASM posi- what we currently do, we will tions of leadership will hold build quality, and we will do the course set by previous of- more to educate and increase ficers. I want to thank those the body of ornithological who have done so much for data in Missouri." ASM and to challenge those of you not actively volunteer- While some of us will now ing with ASM to step up to find more time in our lives to the plate. There is always go birding and help Jerry room, and a need, for new build the body of ornithologi- people and new ideas. cal data in Missouri, I think you'll agree that the vision of Good birding!
Jean Graebner, Susan Dornfeld, and other ASM members at Four Rivers CA. photo by Bob Ball
6 An Adventure in Gambell, Alaska Tommie Rogers
he adventure began Alaska Air's security being Twith a call from long- extremely cautious, the snap time, close birding friend, Ke- on my jeans set off the wand vin Calhoon. "Let's go to alarm. A friendly male se- Gambell so we can reach 700 curity guard laughed when I together." I had refused past raised my shirt and revealed invitations to go to Gambell an open fly, humorous to all andAttu with friends, always others but embarrassing for thinking there would be a bet- me. For the fourth time before ter time. However, I realized boarding the plane I was that since I'm not getting asked to remove my high-top younger, the time was not boots. Because all carry-on going to get any better. The items are searched at the gate, group, all friends, was made our group barely got on up of Kevin, Daniel, and board before departure. Kathy Jacobson, Clyde Blum, Arriving in Nome at 8:10 David Chaffin, Judy New- a.m., we eagerly birded the some, and Bonnie Johnson, airport parking lot while all from Tennessee, Floridian awaiting our flight to Gam- Roger Clark, and Missourian bell at 9 a.m. Red-throated me. Loon, Northern Pintail, Nor- It was after 10 p.m., but thern Shoveler, and Amer- still very much daylight, ican Wigeon were in a nearby when we checked into an canal with Semipalmated Anchorage motel. The next Sandpiper while Yellow War- morning we had no .time to bler, Golden-crowned Spar- bird Anchorage except by ear row, Common Redpoll, and while loading our luggage Graycheeked Thrush were into the airport shuttle. We along the bank. Fly-bys in- were off to Nome, 400 miles cluded Long-tailed Jaeger, to the northwest, at 6:30 a.m. Herring, Glaucous, and Mew
7 Gulls, Arctic Tern, and Gambell is a village on Pelagic Cormorant. Not a bad Saint Lawrence Island, lo- list for a parking lot. cated more than one hundred Bering Air charges miles west of Nome in the $.85/lb for any luggage Bering Sea, only forty miles weighing more than 60 from Siberia. Our flight was pounds. They found a gold aboard a twin engine, 12-pas- mine in us birders, each of us senger plane. Our pilot told paying approximately $50 us we were riding in a medi- additional for extra weight. cal emergency rescue plane. Worse still, we had to confess He was trained to remove all our actual body weight in seats within just minutes to front of everybody at the tick- enable transporting EMTs et counter! Thank goodness plus a patient on a stretcher. they don't charge for extra After disembarking from body weight! the small aircraft, we were immediately hit by a blast of
Long-tai ledJaeger,byTommie Rogers Artie wind. With luggage in on the kitchen floor, except hand we looked around the for mine, which did not ar- tiny airport toward the small rive until the dav before we village of Gambell hoping were to leavefor Nome. For- that the A TV s would be tunately, Mike Mullican's delivered as we had re- tour group (the group just quested. They were not. We preceding ours) left lots of were told that another group food in the house. I had also rented them first. Fortunate- packed lightweight food in ly the owner of the house my luggage, such as energy which we had reserved met bars. Our group had decided us at the airport with A TV s to share dinner every night, and a small trailer to pull our so that was one meal which I luggage to the house where was guaranteed, since it had wewould stay for the next six been shipped withthe other nights. On the way to the food. None of us skipped a house we passed racks of meal on Gambell. Judy and drying seal and walrus meat Bonnie had even brought and half a whale, lying home-baked cookies. One butchered on the beach. The night we celebrated a native Yupik Eskimos simply birthday with freshly baked slice off a portion of blubber cake. The cake mix came as needed. from the local grocery store The house was adequate which was well equipped witha space heater, bunks, a with the extras we needed. kitchen equipped with the Bottled water, costing $7 per basics, a shower, and a toilet. gallon at the store, sold out We each had our own sleep- our second day there. The tap ing bag, knowing that, al- water was purified, so I had. though we would have a roof no trouble drinking it, al- over our heads, it would be though most of our group no Marriott. Our food was boiled it first. shipped ahead of time and Mike Mullican offered was already present in boxes friendly adviceabout being
9 prepared with long under- wear, layers of clothes, Gore- tex outerwear, and water- proof boots. Face covers and eyewear were essential for comfort. The ATVs kicked up a lot of dust on the dirt roads en route to Troutman Lake and the marsh at the south end of the island. Because I was the only person with ski goggles, many other birders looked upon me with envy. Our clothes were so dusty on our departure from Gambell that we looked like homeless Rock Sandpiper by Tommie Rogers people. While unpacking our lug- From the point we saw gage, we made arrangem_ents Northern Fulmar, Long- to get other ATVs for rent tailed Duck, White-wing from village residents. ATV s Scoter, Emperor Goose, cost $150 daily but were a Brandt, and Ancient Mur- blessing since so much of the relet in addition to five village area is covered with species of whales and seals. small, deep gravel, making Migrating birds at the point walking difficult and tiring. were Loons (Pacific, Red- Two of us shared each A TV. throated, Arctic, and Yellow As soon as we had secured -billed), Eiders (Common, ATVs, we headed out to the King, Spectacled, and Stel- northwest point where we lars), Harlequin Ducks, and would spend many hours sea Sabine's and Glaucous- watching as thousands of winged gulls. A Slaty-backed birds flew past daily. Gull sat on an iceberg just off shore with numerous Vegae
10 Herring Gulls and Black- yards of whale and seal bones legged Kittiwakes. Thick- between the airport and billed and Common murres, Sevuokuk Mountains. These Horned and Tufted puffins, bone yards attracted pas- Least, Crested and Parakeet serines such as Hoary Red- auklets, Pigeon and Black poll, Yellow Wagtail, guillemots, and a few Bluethroat,Northern Dovekies roosted on the Wheatear, and shorebirds Chibukak Point outside the such as Rock Sandpiper and village. Common Ringed Plover. The incessant wind, dust, Troutman Lake harbored and cold reminded me of Red and Red-necked phala- winter in NW Missouri. ropes, Red-necked Stint, the Most of the snow had melted three jaeger species, a variety and only a few icebergs were of ducks, and a lone Black- drifting by the shore. The headed Gull sitting on the ice. snow-covered mountains of On the moist Arctic tundra Siberia were visible across were Lapland Longspurs and the Bering Sea. McKay's and Snow buntings. Many of the Yupik Es- On our last day we dis- kimos came by our house at covered a marsh on a hilltop dinnertime to sell their ivory near Troutman Lake contain- carvings and sealskin ing eight Reeves and other crafts. Being solicited to buy shorebirds. ivory and baby seal skin was The northwest winds we personally offensive. Also, experienced all week were the grocery store stocked not conducive to Asian bombs that are used to kill migrants. However, we were whales. The smell of whale able to locate many great blubber still hangs in my birds on our own without a nostrils. I'm glad we vvere not guide. This was a wonderful invited to dinner by the na- experience for each of us. tives. Amazingly, after all of the There were two bone travel, closeness, experien-
II ces, and the sharing of a Stick to a routine. single toilet by eight in- (Our routine was to dividuals, we are still friends. start the day at 5 a.m. Extensive communica- and end by 11 p.m., tion between our Gambell birding when not host and the trip planner eating or sleeping.) resulted in our having very few problems. However, We heard some stories there was an approximate from Old Timers. Flying two-hour delay leaving St. saucers have visited Gambell Lawrence Island on our flight in past years. Eskimos can back to Nome due to fog. We see the future ! They look had some close encounters across the International Date with an individual of ques- Line. tionable sanity or sobriety in Gambell. (Ed. note: Tommie did reach We have some advice. her gcroal off 700 in Gambell with Respect the birds and McKay's Bunting getting the do not harass them. honors for her 700th bird. Con- gratulations!) Always be thoughtful, helpful, and courteous to others. Two-way radios are a - MUST for having the best success in finding the most birds. Birds congregate around the icebergs. Get to the bone yards before the other groups. Dunlin, by Tommie Rogers
12 MBRC Update Bill Rowe, Secretary
Election of members: The documentation of bird rec- members of the Missouri Bird ords, and a commitment to Records Committee are accomplishing the work of elected to four-year terms, the Committee in a timely which expire one or two at a fashion ... Committee mem- time in successive years. As bers shall belong to the thecurrent members' terms ASM." expire, they may stand for re- Persons wishing to make election, and other can- a nomination should follow didates may also be these guidelines: (1) Nomin- nominated. ators may not nominate Two positions (called themselves.(2) A nominator Positions 3 and 7) will be must affirm the nominee's open for election at the willingness to serve on the Committee's annual meeting Committee. (3) A nominator on October 5. Bill Goodge should file the nomination in and Brad Jacobs occupy these writing, including a descrip- positions and will stand for tion of the nominee's re-election. ASM members qualifications. Please send may also nominate other can- nominations to the Secretary, didates with the appropriate Bill Rowe,9033 Big Bend, St. qualifications, as stated in the Louis, MO 63119. They MBRC by-laws: should reach him no later "Qualifications for Com- than September 25. mittee membership should include expertise in iden- Link to ABA: As announced tification of birds, knowledge in Birding last fall, MBRC of Missouri birds, familiarity member Mark Robbins has with birders and localities in become the Chairperson of MO, a commitment to the the American Birding As-
13 sociation's Checklist Com- mittee as of January 2002, suc- ceeding Jon Dunn. The article notes that, "Mark is an out- standing field and museum ornithologist who has au- thored numerous papers on North and South American ornithological topics and also co-authored Birds of Missouri (1992)."
Whimbrel
14 Some Comments on Clark's Nightingale
In which theYellow-breasted Chat is proposed for the role of mystery bird Harold F. John
ames Wallace in "The lace's arguments in support JMystery of Clark's of this idea are very cogent. Nightingale" (Bluebird, June This exclusively night-sing- 2002)1 has re-examined the ing bird has a loud and per- question of what bird William sistent song and should be Clark heard when he noted considered for that reason on June 4, 1804, that they" ... alone. There are t\vo other passed a small creek ... which factors, not explicitly dis- we named Nightingale Creek cussed by Wallace, that from a bird of that description would support this choice for which sang for us all last mystery bird. First, the night, and is the first of the Chuck-will' s-widow (and the kind I ever heard." Or- Whip-poor-will also) will nithologists and historians sing on almost any calm eve- have commented on this ning in May or June whether minor historical puzzle from or not there is much moon- time to time without reaching light. (Wallace notes that on any widely-accepted con- the evening ofJune 3/4, 1804, clusion. the moon was in the last Wallace considered and quarter, four nights from the rejected six often-proposed new moon.) Second, modern candidates for the mystery observations suggest that the bird before advancing Wil- highest numbers of Chuck- liam least Heat-Moon's idea will's-widows in the Missouri that Clark's night singer was River Valley are found about a Chuck-will's-widow. Wal- fifty miles up and down the
15 River from Jefferson City.So Another reservation a- it is quite possible that the boutthe Wallace/Heat-Moon party did not hear a Chuck- proposal comes from per- will' s-widow on any of the sonal experience accumu- evenings before they camped lated during Breeding Bird at Nightingale Creek. This Atlas work and follow-ons. does raise the question, From 1986 through 2000, I though, about why they did surveyed about forty blocks not report further experience throughout southern Mis- on the next few evenings sub- souri in areas where there are sequent to June 3/4, if indeed about equal numbers of the chuck's song were new to Whip-poor..:wills and Chuck- them. will's-widows. An important part of this work consisted of To my thinking, it seems questioning landowners a- unlikely, although not incon- bout birds they had seen or ceivable, that none of the heard on their property. Al- party had ever heard a most everyone I talked with Chuck-will's-widow, since it had some knowledge of, and is-in modern times, at comment on, Whip-poor- least-a fairlv common bird wills; only a few had noticed in the upper south, one that that there were, in fact, two outdoorsmen should have different calls, even though it noticed. Wallace notes that its does not take a trained ear to song, although distinctive, discern a difference. Even the has the same tonal quality, few who had noticed this dif- loudness, and repetitive char- ference always assumed that acter as that of the Whip- the Chuck-will's-widow's poor-will. One would have song was simply a variant call ex- pected Clark to have de- of the Whip-poor-will. I be- scribed the song as whip- lieve this reaction would be poor-will-like, even if he had expected from outdoors- never heard it before. oriented, but ornithological- ly-unsophisticated, listeners,
16 into which category the ly mentioned later in the Jour- Corps of Discovery par- nals, as Wallace has also ticipants would certainly fall. noted. Otherpossibilities are excluded on the strong What species, then, presumption that they were should be considered as can- common enough to be well- didates for mystery bird? In known to Clark. 2000-2001, I exchanged exten- Just how loud or persist- sive comments on this prob- ent the song was is not well lem3 with Carol Davit and established by the text. Cer- 4 JimD. Wilson . As a result of tainly it had to have been per- these discussions, I proposed sistent enough to merit some birds that fulfilled the Clark's "all night" mention in requirements implied in both his Field Notes and Jour- Clark's notes. Some personal nal. But was it loud or annoy- experience with night-sing- ing enough to keep them ingbirds was also factored awake? Or was it noticeable in . My interpretation of the only because they were up in contextual requirements fol- the middle of the night lows. making ·celestial observa- Since many birds sing oc- tions, as the record shows for casionally at night, the key re- the night of June 3/4? Some quirement seems to be that commentators have pre- the bird' s song be unknown sumed, or even stated, that to Clark and, presumably, to the song kept the party awake all other members of the all night. This presumption Corps of Discovery. Also the seems to be unwarranted as 6 phrasing of the entry implies the Moulton edition , the something distinctive and most recent and the most unique. Excluded are several definitive, makes no refer- likely night-singers, such as ence to the party being kept Brown Thrasher, Northern awake. Mockingbird, and Whip- The "nightingale" charac- poor-will, whichare explicit- terization has proven to be
17 more of a red herring than an Carolina Wren. This is also a aid. There seems to be no clue low probability candidate. in the Journals as to what Early in the breeding season might delimit "nightingale" in the Carolina Wren has a very 7 Clark's mind . Would it had loud, persistent song that can to have a thrush-like or me- be almost annoying at times. lodious song, or would any There is no evidence in the bird song, call, or croak given Journals that Clark knew the through the night qualify? I Carolina Wren; however, it is have assumed the latter. a common bird in the upper Some birds that satisfy the south and should have been requirements noted above well-known to the party. and also pass my "bedroom Carolina Wrens often nest window" test are discussed near my house. I have heard below. their calls and songs in the earlv dawn hours but have no Gray Catbird. This is a low experience with late night probability candidate. Wal- lace rejected this possibility because the bird was clearlv mentioned later in the Jour- nals. It is possible, however, that Clark was not familiar with all variations of the cat- bird's song which is less dis- tinctive that those of its Mimid cousins, and oc- casionallv one hears a fairlv elaborate version. I ha\Te heard the catbird sing pre- dawn and early dawn; but I have no recollection of hear- ing one in the middle of the night.
18 vocalization. Many of the same considerations apply to the Kentucky Warbler, which has a similar, persistent song, although not generally as loud. It is less likely to have been known to Clark than the Carolina Wren; but there is little evidence of night-sing- inginclinations.
Eastern Towhee. This is a medium probability can- didate, as it seems more likely to have been unknown than the birds listed above. The towhee's distinctive song is at times persistent, but not espe- Wood Thrush. This could be cially loud or otherwise a high probability candidate, remarkable. I often hear it if emphasis was placed on pre-dawn and occasionally in similarity to the European the early evening hours; but I nightingale. Its song and have no recollection of hear- plumage are closer to that of ing it in the middle of the the real nightingale than that night. There is no mention of of any other bird likely to be any bird that could be a singing in Missouri in June. towhee in the Journals. It This common woodland and should have been a fairly riparian bird should have 8 common bird in the Missouri been listed by Holmgren River valley into Nebraska, as (and Wallace) instead of the well as in the far west, where Hermit Thrush, an omission a similar species flourishes. probably related to her un- familiarity with Missouri birds. Its beautiful, ethereal
19 song-not one to keep you the chat is loud, often persist- awake, though-should have ent, and consists of a strange been known to any out- mixture of pretty whistled doorsman. There is, however, notes, some vaguely vireo- no mention of this bird in the like phrases, odd buzzes, Journals. There are no Wood grunts, rattles, and cro\v-like Thrushes in rnv area, so I have calls. Its full repertoire is not no "bedroom window ex- always employed in any perience. I have heard Wood given song; but occasionally, Thrushes at various places in especially early in the breed- Missouri,both late in the eve- ing season, a male will pull all ning and pre-dawn; but I stops and really let go. Its have no experience with any song in these circumstances individual bird or group of would definitely qualify for birds singing through the "first of the kind I ever heard" night. status. Anyone hearing for the first time the chats full Yellow-breasted Chat. I con- song would be inclined to sider this bird to have the think "This is like nothing I highest probability of being ever heard before!"-as in- the mystery bird. The song of deed I did many years ago. Although not so well known for all-night singing as the mockingbird, the chat is a frequent and vigorous night singer. I have on occasion heard them from mv bedroom window at all hours 9 the night , although I cer- tainly do not hear an all-night recitation every year. Some well-known authors have commented on the chat's night-singing inclina-
20 tions. Bent10 notes that, "It is phrases or some of the other a most versatile vocalist and calls; but it seems much less a most persistent singer at likely that they would have times; its voice may be heard been familiar with the chat's at any hour of the day or full song. night, especially on moonlit mg. h ts. Cl1apman 11 wn't es, The author is grateful to "As a vocalist the chat is uni- Carol Davit and Jim D. Wil- que among warblers ... and son for many stimulating e- among birds at large. No mail exchanges and for description does justice to his providing the incentive to ex- singular medley of calls and plore this problem in depth. whistles. Heard at night, when, especially if it be moonlight, the chat often sings freely, the performance NOTES takes high rank among the songs of North American 10riginally published m birds-not for its fluency or We Proceeded On 26:19-25 spiritual quality, but for its (May 22000) striking originality." From limited personal experience, indirect reports Would Clark or Lewis and data reported by Brad have known the chat's song Jacobs and J. D. Wilson, Mis- or the bird itself? There is no souri Breeding Bird Atlas 1986- mention of the chat in the 1992 (Natural Historv Series, Journals. Although it is a fair- No. 6. Missouri Department ly common bird in the upper of Conservation, 1997). south and is not as retiring as 3We did not have most warblers, it is a small Wallace's article at hand for and somewhat elusive bird. our initial discussions. It is possible that they had 4At that time with the heard and would have recog- Missouri Department of Con- nized the chat's whistled servation.
21 5Since returning to Mis- 1977. My records are far from souri in the late 1970's, my complete; but it appears that bedroom window has faced on perhaps three or four oc- an extended wooded area casions in the succeeding with some brushy fringe. I twenty years, I heard a chat have often listened for bird sing through most of the songs and calls in the pre- night hours. The moon in the dawn and dawn hours and, evening of May 27 I 28, 1977, on occasion, at all hours of the was in the 4th Quarter, three night. days from a full moon, as 6 Gary E. Moulton, Editor, determined from the U. S. The Journals of the Lewis and Navy Virtual Reality Moon Clark Expedition (Lincoln: Phase Pictures available on University of Nebraska Press, the Internet. 10 1986-99, 12 volumes)). The A. C. Bent, Lzfe Histories entries of June 4, 1804, are in of North American Wood Vol. II, p. 275. Warblers (New York: Dover 7 Nor can I find any Publications, 1963) (Facsimile guidance in contemporary or edition of the original 1953 earlier ornithological writing. publication issued by the I interpret vVallace's quote Smithsonian Institution.), p. from Charles Janson's book 593. (1807) to be primarily a com- 11 Frank M. Chapman, The mentary on the inap- Warblers of North America propriateness of the name (New York: Appleton, 1907), "Virginia nightingale" for the p. 267. bird we now call cardinal. 8Virginia C. Holmgren, Birds of the Lewis and Clark Journals, We Proceeded On 10:17-26 (Mav 1984) 9The earliest entry in my Notebooks on this subject is for the eveningof ivlay 27/28, Our Bird Alert Service Edge Wade, Missouri Bird Alert Compiler
The Red-necked Stint's The Red-necked Stint- appearance at Lake Contrary, How the System Works Buchanan Co., in late July, 2002, prompted me to reflect Larry Lade discovered the on the Missouri Bird Alert bird. It wasn't just blind luck. Service provided by the Larry is a diligent birder. He's Audubon Society of Mis- in the field nearly daily, he souri. I'd like to share my knows his turf and his birds. thoughts with ASM mem- He went home, got his bers. camera and took pictures. The Bird Alert compilers Then he had a decision to job has times of tedium, mo- make. He was 90% sure of his ments of frustration, carries a i.d., but what if he were yoke of responsibility, and wrong? He felt he couldn't, in has the potential of great good conscience, annotmce reward-to the compiler and the bird and invite people to to birders in Missouri and come (some for considerable across the continent. distance) and encounter a The last five years have misidentified bird. In short, brought revolutionary chan- he needed confirmation. ges. E-mail, the Mobirds He sent a few discrete e- listserve and cell phones are mails. The recipients could the technological advances not come immediatelv. I driving this revolution. The called Larrv and asked if he heart of the change, though, is would mind if I made some the heightened sense of com- phone calls to people within munity, that is, the awareness relatively short driving dis- of interdependency and re- tance. sponsibility among Mis- Of course, he didn't mind, souri's birders. and I began calling Missouri
23 Bird Records Committee means the alert appeared on members. Roger McNeill is Mobirds and on Birdcenter the closest to St. Joe. He could (the midwest's portion of the go. I called Bob Fisher (a North American bird alert former member) and caught service) distributed to sub- him en route to Cooley Lake; scribers continent-wide. The he turned around! Missouri Alert is also picked The wait for Roger's call up from Birdcenter and ap- was agony. It came. They pears on several web sites. couldn't relocate the bird. He Birders throughout North called again and said, "It's America knew about the Red- definitely a stint." necked Stint while on-site bir- The Missouri Bird Alert ders still had the bird in their was up in minutes. This scopes!
Red-necked Stint photographed by Tommie Rogers in Alaska
24 Mobirds messages h'gan pocket, or binoculars case. appearing; viewers reported Sure, the odds are small, but the time and circumstances of one of these days ... their sighting experiences. Call and/ or e-mail: (a) the The Bird Alert was updated Missouri Bird Alert compiler; about everv 12 hours tmtil and/ or, (b) a current or multiple reports of "no bird" former Missouri Bird Records were received on July 31. Committee member; or, (c) Many people got to see the any birder in your area who bird. Some made the trip may have prior experience twice. Missouri and out-of- with the species. state inquiries (from as far as While viewing the bird southern Louisiana) were take notes and I or photos for received and responded to. documentation. Some made it in time; some Even if you're not the ini- spent unrewarded hours in tial fortunate finder, call ore- the heat; others couldn't mail a sighting report to the make the trip before the stint compiler or to Mobirds while was reported gone. on site, or as soon after the The svstem worked! Here viewing as you can-many are some suggestions to keep people are waiting for the it working and make it better. most current information. If you have additional sug- Please don't assume someone gestions, please contact the else will do it. Missouri Bird Alert compiler, (573) 445-6697 or edgew@ socket. net.
What to do when you find an unusual or rare bird
Keep a list of phone num- bers and e-mail addresses in your favorite field guide, vest
25 Rare Find for Missouri: Red-necked Stint Larry Lade
arly Sunday morning, missed the idea that it might Ebefore church, on July be a Sanderling in breeding 28,2002 J headed for Lake plumage because it was much Contrary located on the too small. I was able to deter- southern edge of St. Joseph. I mine its size immediately be- pulled through the open gate cause of the other shorebirds near the boat dock, swimming nearby. It was much smaller area parking lot. As I slowly than the Killdeer and Pectoral proceeded down the steel rail Sandpipers. This different fence near the shore, I en- looking "sandpiper" was countered various species of about the same size as a pass- shorebirds I had routinely ing Semipalmated Sandpiper. been seeing in the past couple As the little rusty-headed of weeks. There were many sandpiper went picking and Pectoral and Least probing at the water's edge, it sandpipers, some Semipal- came face to face with a Least mated, Solitary and Spotted Sandpiper. Maybe it was its sandpipers. a Piping Plover, ruddy complexion or its head and the ubiquitous Killdeer. down, tail up, slightly spread I continued down the wings posture which in- shoreline looking through my timidated the slightly smaller 8 x 42 Swift Ultralites. Sud- Least Sandpiper. At any rate, denly a small peep appeared the Least turned away and al- in nw field of vision which lowed this stranger to con- stood out from the rest of the tinue feeding uninterrupted. birds! I was perhaps 30 or 40 I mounted my Kowa scope feet away from this brightly on my Jeep window and con- mantled bird with a rustv tinued to observe this colorful colored head and breast. I little bird. "Maybe this is just wasn't sure what it was, but it a slightly larger Least was different. I quickly dis- Sandpiper, a brightly plu- Saturday, Oct. 5
7:00a.m. Breakfast 8:00a.m. Field Trips Noon Ltmch 1:00 p.m. Field Trips 1:00 p.m. Workshop-Photo Identification Quiz 2:30p.m. Field Trips 2:30p.m. ASM Board meeting 2:30p.m. Bird Records Committee Meeting 6:00p.m. Dinner 7:15p.m. Program: John Hoskins, Direc(or Missouri Department of Conservation
Annualbusiness meeting to follow program.
Sunday, Oct 6
6:30a.m. Worship Service 7:00a.m. Breakfast 8:00a.m. Field Trips 9:30a.m. Hawk Watch Noon Ltmch and Weekend Bird Species Summary
Have a safe trip home.
Weekend Activities
Friday The Friday eveningprogram will be similar to last year. There will be a sharingof fun birding stories and discussion about making ASM1 an even better organization.
II ASM FALL MEETING Camp Clover Point Lake of the Ozarks State Park
1 i.
AGENDA Friday, Oct. 4
3:00p.m. Registration begins 7:00p.m. Dinner 8:00p.m. Program-Building a Better ASM 9:30p.m. Individual slide presentations by members Saturday Field trips will begin Saturday morning and resume in the afternoon. After lunch there will be a birding workshop. The workshop will be a photo identificntion quiz led by Bill Rowe and assisted by other Bird Records Committee members. Slides of common, easy to identify birds ranging to rare, difficult to identify will be shown. After participants have made their ID, the answers will be given and an analysis of the field marks will be presented. In the evening, John Hoskins, the new director of the Mis- souri Department of Conservation, will talk with us about MDC and the birding community. The annual ASM business meeting will follow
Sunday Activities begin with a worship service at 6:30a.m. Field trips will begin following breakfast. After lunch the birds seen over the weekend will be compiled. Have your cabins cleaned and be ready to go home by 2:30 p.m. PLEASE do your part in the clean-up activities!
Registration
$50.00 per person: Includes lodging for Friday and Saturday evenings and all meals through Sunday lunch (six meals). $40.00 per person: Includes Saturday night lodging only and four meals beginning at noon Saturday. Meals only: $6.75 per meal plus a $6.00 registration fee. Students: $30.00 per person. Children under 10 are free.
III Accommodations: Cabins include bunk and mattress, shower and rest rooms You must bring bedding, towels, and toilet articles.
Reservations: Deadline for registration is Sept. 21, 2002 Send registration form with check or money order to: Jean Graebner, 1800 S. Roby Farm Rd., Rocheport, MO 65279 . Phone (573) 698-2855 Make check payable to Audubon Society of Missouri Meals requested after Sept. 22 cannot be guaranteed
Name: ------Address: ______
Phone: email: __
Full registration: $50.00 X (No. of people) = ___
Partial registration: $40.00 X (No of people) =
Mealsonly: $6.75 X ------(meals) X ______(people)=______
Partial registration: $6.00 X (N o. of People)
Students: $30.00 X (No. of people) = ______
Total =______Refund Policy: Full refund with cancellation before Sept. 21 After Sept. 21 a partial refund will be given on a prorated basis from any excess funcfs left after all of our expenses for the fall meeting are pa1d Requests must be made in writing by Nov.7, 2002 to Jean Graebner
IV maged juvenile," I thought. and breastblack billand legs. "No, the legs were dark and The back feathers have dark the bill was more like a semi- centers with rufous edges, palmated, but a little longer. and are tipped with white. Least Sandpipers have yel- The belly and lower breast are lowish legs, it wasn't a Least. white with faint, dark streaks Perhaps it's a Western below the rufous on the Sandpiper," I thought. "No, breast. Note bird size and the western has some rufous comparisons. O.K. now I had on the cheek and crown bu the sketch and notes. not at all like this guy with a totally reddish head. Also the I really wished I had a cell Western's bill droops slight- phone so I could have tried to 1y. This bird' s bill looked pret- get some other birders to look ty straight." and see what they thought. I I needed to look in a field left Lake Contrary to run by guide. Turning my National Muskrat and Horseshoe lakes Geographic to the small to see what was going on shorebird section, I saw the down there. There were more bird-a Red-necked Stint! or less the same birds near Wow, a Red-necked Stint! those lakes, but no unidentifi- Wait a minute. What was this able ones. By now it was get- in the upper right hand ting late. I had barely enough corner of the page. That il- time to get to church in time lustration looked a little bit for the worship service. The like it, too. No, this bird has little red-headed bird would reddish all over its head. I have to wait. turned to the Western again. After church and dinner I No way! I needed to look at spent the afternoon pouring that bird some more. But over field guides and bird where was he? Oh, there he books. l also checked out was. "I had better make a many websitespertaining to sketch and take some notes," the Red-necked Stint on the I thought. Rusty head, neck internet. I telephoned and e-
27 mailed several people to go Mobirds. I resumed calling with me to see the bird, but and e-mailing people who was unable to get anyone. would be able to confirm or reject my identification. Mark Monday, July 29, 2002: r Robbins was phoned atKan- just could not get this bird out sas University. Mark was on of my mind. I had to try to vacation and would not be find what it was! I wondered back until Thursdav. Next I if it would still be at the lake. called David Easterla. There At 6:45a.m. I went back down was no answer. I was not to the Lake, this time taking a having much luck getting a camera. I could hardly believe hold of anyone. I called and it; the bird wasstill there in e-mailed some more. Tom exactly the same spot! I began Nagel, John Rushin, Steve to take pictures. I got a shot of Kinder and Jack Hils a beck it near a Killdeer (size com- were tried. Vacations, out-of- parison), then near a Least town, no-answers, etc. was all Sandpiper. Several shots I was getting. were taken of it feeding, I was begirming to think preening, wing stretching about "pulling my hair out" and running at other birds when I received a call from (somewhat aggressively!). By Edge Wade. She wanted to the time I finished the roll of know if I could give directions film I was pretty much con- to the bird's location or meet vinced that this bird was in- with someone from the Mis- deed a Red-necked Stint. souri Birds Record Commit- tee. Yes! By all means, I had Immediately upon arriv- been trying to get someone ing home r e-mailed Susan but without success! After a Hazelvvood informing her short time Edge called back to that I had a possible Red- inform me that Roger McNeill necked Stint. I told her that I was on his wav. We would thought we needed to get it meet at the Lake Contrary confirmed bef(lre we put it on beach area. Approximately
28 3:00 p.m. Roger McNeill, able to view the Red-necked Chris Hobbs, and I scanned Stint. I feel a little drained; all the assembled flock of the people I called ore-mailed shorebirds. Alas, the bird I were either not in, on vaca- had seen was not among tion or otherwise unavailable. them! Oh no, I thought they Edge Wade was the one who came up here for nothing! We actually "got the ball rolling." noticed shorebirds on the I wish to acknowledge her for other side of the lake. Roger her efforts and also Roger Mc- and Chris decided to check Neill and Chris Hobbs for them out, and I said I would their participation. I am stay on the beach side and happy that there were some watch for it here. When they 50 people who got to see this had not returned after thirty rare find for Missouri. I feel or forty minutes, I figured very blessed to have been able they had resigned themselves to see such a rare bird and to to the fact that the mystery share it with other bird bird was not going to show watchers. The bird stayed and had headed home. I, too, until July 30, 2002. went home. In a couple of hours, however, I got a phone The final disposition call from Roger McNeill. awaits the review of the Mis- They had spotted the bird and sour Bird Records Commit- had waved to me from the tee. other side of the lake, but I had not seen them. In their opinion it was a Red-necked Stint. O.K. We agreed it was now time to get the word out. As they say, the rest was his- tory.
1 estimate that ap- proximately 50 people were re you tired of birding the same old places? ASM's A Guide to Birding in Missouri gives directions to and descriptions of 143 birding sites in the state. There are 32 sites not described in the original edition of the book. These include Van Meter State Park (great for migrating warblers), Dunn Ranch (newly acquired Nature Conservancy praire habitat), Four Rivers CA (waterfowl and possible shorebird habitat), and Otter Slough CA in southeast Missouri (sometimes great shorebird habitat). To order-use the form below.
ORDER FORM: A GUIDE TO BIRDING IN MISSOURI Name:
Address:
City:
State: Zip:
Number of Copies: $17.00 each: Total:
Mailing and Handling: $3.00 per copy:
Total Enclosed:
Make checks payable to: Audubon Society of Missouri Send orders to: Barb Duncan, 1918 London Way, Jefferson City, MO 65109
30 SEASONAL SURVEY
Spring Report
March 1, 2002 - May 31, 2002 Roger McNeill, Seasonal Survey Editor
pring 2002 was encouraging to many birders who for Sthe past few years have been disappointed by minimal shorebird habitat and a limited observance of passerine migra- tion. This year, shorebird habitat was abundant with extensive mudflats at Squaw Creek NWR and Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area. Good shorebird species diversity was reported; however no record counts or unusual dates were approached. Not so on the waterfowl front. Squaw Creek and Dave Easterla combined for a number of noteworthy late season records. Limited winter precipitation impacted not only water levels, but also the onset of spring foliage. Botanists were uniform in reporting a two-week lag in normal seasonal wildflowers. The impact on passerines is debatable, but by the time we entered late April and early May the rain had picked up, and multiple stationary cold fronts created localized fall- out conditions. St. Louis birders was bouncingwith strong warbler diver- sity and, as is usually the case, the passerine migration was about a week or two ahead of Kansas City and Columbia. Weather contributes to an observer's impressions of migration with a "good" migration meaning poor migrating conditions for the birds. With the exception of above average reports of Black-billed Cuckoos, birds such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, kingbirds, and thrushes were tmder reported. Nocturnal thrush counts conducted by Roger McNeill over the past four years were off as much as 75% in South Kansas City. Previous
31 early May evenings produced more than 100 Swainson's Thrushes in a one to two hour period where as this year less than 30 a night were heard for two weeks straight. However, these birds are considered strong fliers and probably had little problems passing through the weather. Empidonax flycatchers were also under reported with the exception of a good day had by Chris Hobbs around Squaw Creek NWR. Warbler numbers seemed up from the past few years, but mostly associated with front conditions. However, multiple observers commented on lower than normal Blackpolls in the eastern half of the state: Winter finches were up from last year, and;species such as Siskins and Purple Finches stayed around later than usual. This was also a Red-breasted Nuthatch year; multiple birders reported this species hanging around until early May. Spring 2002 had a very strong push of White-winged Crossbills. This spring also seemed healthy for some birds of special concern. American and Least bitterns as well as Bewick's Wrens were reported by a higher than average number of observers.
Birds marked with a *** are on the state review list and require documenation prior to being added to the permenant record. Sightings requiring documentation not provided prior to The Bluebird deadline have not been included in this report.
LOONS THROUGH WATERFOWL Surprisingly late was a lone Common Loon reported by Bormie and Chas Noble May 27 at Fellows Lake, Springfield. Scattered reports of Eared Grebe were received this season with both the high count and seasonal late date of five birds at Squaw Creek NWR on May 19th by Kristi Mayo. This season generated a plethora of American Bittern reports with birds found at many wetland habitats across the state. Birds were found singing mid day at Fountain Grove CA, Linn Co. May 14-Steve Kinder; two at Eagle Bluffs CA between May 8 and 11 -Paul McKenzie and Bill Coodge; May7 at Busch CA Donald Hays; two -Charlene Malone -April 27, River- lands EDA (Pecan Pond); twopumping males on April 30 at Squaw Creek NWR- Dave Easterla; and a seasonal high of six birds at Mingo NWR on Mar 31 by Doug Willis. With no regular breeding grounds to our north, increasing sightings of White-faced Ibis continue to be of interest. A high countof 23 birds at Squaw Creek NWR on May 15, seven birds at Eagle Bluffs CA on May 5, and a single bird at Riverlands EDA on May 2 by Jim Ziebol were of particular interest. Both Snow and Ross's goose can be found into early sum- mer, often due to injuries. Numerous observers reported a group of five Ross's at Squaw Creek NWR, with a single bird lingering to the May 30- Dave Easterla. Steve Kinder reported a Black-bellied Whistling-Duck(***) flying over the western edge of Prairie State Park, Barton Co. on May 25. On the first day of our reporting period (Mar 1) a female Wood Duck was reported on eggs by Clare Wheeler, Lake Ozark, Camden Co. These birds were reported to have lain their eggs some two weeks prior! On May 20, 49 Gadwalls at Squaw Creek NWR was a good late season count- Dave Easterla. Rarer in the western part of the state, spring reports of American Black Duck are always nice. Four birds at Fountain Grove CA by Steve Kinder, Mar 19, and up to four birds at Swan Lake NWR between Mar 18 and Mar 27- LarryLade and Steve Kinder. Four birds found at Eagle Bluffs CA on May 22 were reported by different sets of observers as different species. The sighting of American Black Duck/Mottled Duck (***)are under current review by the state records committee. I Many other ducks also lingered well into the spring season. Cinnamon Teal were spotted in St. Joseph and at Squaw Creek NWR on April20 by Jack Hilsabeck and Larry Lade respective- ly. At Eagle Bluffs CA Jean Leonatti found a male on April 2. A single male Canvasback at SquawCreek NWR on April 25
33 by Dave Easterla, and a single female at Eagle Bluffs on April 28 by JoAnn Eldridge were the seasonal late dates. Dave Easterla at Squaw Creek NWR continued the string of late season diver reports with a single female Redhead on April 25, three Ring-necked Ducks and four Lesser Scaups on May 30. The late spring report of Greater Scaup was at Eagle Bluffs by Scott and Judy Lincoln, May 12. Two Surf Scoters in female- type plumage at Lake Jacomo on Mar 9 reported by Bob Fisher, were joined by a young male by Mar 17 as seen by Roger McNeill. Long-tailed Duck reports came in from two sources with an odd plumaged individual at Squaw Creek NWR on April 19th- Dave Easterla, and a female at Riverlands EDA by George Barker on Mar 21. DaveEasterla continued on his waterfowl roll at Squaw Creek NWRwitha new Missouri late date for Bufflehead set by a female on May 20. Possibly injured, a female Common Goldeneye was seen throughout the month of May and was last reported on May 30. Dave reported two separate broods of six and ten duckling Hooded Mergansers on May 20 and a new late spring record of a female Red-breasted Merganser on May 30. Ruddy Duck may tend to linger into the summer, but still noteworthy we two females at Squaw Creek NWR on May 30.
FALCONS THROUGH CRANES April 18 seemed to be THE day for Osprey migration as SteveKinder had three birds at Swan Lake NWR and Larry Lade had three birds at Squaw Creek NWR. A lingering bird at the St. Louis area "watershed" on May 31 by Jim Malone might indicate a possible breeder. Edge Wade had two early birds on Mar 8 in St. Charles Co. Multipleobservers reported increased numbers of Missis- sippi Kite along the eastern portion of the state- Jim Ziebol; 11 werereported from the Four Rivers CJ\, Vernon Co. area by
34 Matt Gearheart. In the western half of the state, Red- shouldered Hawks aren't often found north of Vernon Co. A bird in south Jackson Co. was a good Kansas City sighting- Roger McNeill - Mar 31. Broad-winged Hawks nest sporadi- cally outside of the Ozarks, and two pairs reported along the Blue River corridor in Kansas City, seen throughout the month of April and May by Roger McNeill were good finds. The small population of Swainson's Hawks around Springfield once again was observed to be nest building- Jean Leonatti- April 22. Steve Kinder reported a single Prairie Falcon over Pawnee Prairie CA on Mar 22; Scott Schuette found a bird near Win- field on Mar 26.
Mississippi Kite A drumming Ruffed Grouse was heard six to eight times early morning on Mar 30, Daniel Boone CA, Warren Co., by Susan Hazelwood, Jean Leonatti, and Edge Wade. Mike War- nock had one there on Apr 6. The state's declining population of Greater Prairie-Chickens warrant special tracking. All public access lek sites visited this spring had booming birds with the largest groups of 20 found at Hi Lonesome Prairie CA on Mar 30 by a Columbia Audubon field trip, and 20 birds on Apr 6 at Prairie State Park by Kay Johnson. Steve Kinder reported three birds leking at a new spot at Pawnee Prairie CA on Mar 22, and 13 birds at Dunn Ranch CA on the same date. Both locations are in Harrison Co.
Sandhill Cranes
36 Jim Jackson flushed a Yellow Rail from some wet grasses at Busch CA on Apr 18, and Connie Alwood found a bird at Marais Temp Claire CA in St. Charles Co. on Apr 26. The northwest corner of the state had Common Moorhen at Bob Brown CA- Bob Fisher- May 4, and two birds at Squaw Creek NWR on May 30 - Dave Easterla. The seasonal high and early date of Sandhill Crane was represented by five birds at Grand Pass CA on Mar 14 reported by Edge Wade. DaveEasterla had a bird at Squaw Creek NWR on May 26. Edge Wade found anotherbird at Eagle Bluffs CA on Mar 25 and Steve Kinder observed a single imm. bird there on Apr 20. I wo cranes were feeding in corn stubble at Van Meter State Park- Joyce Bathke.
SHOREBIRDS THROUGH TERNS Black-bellied Plover numbers were off this yearwith a small seasonal high count of 34 birds at Squaw Creek NWR on May 16- Dave Easterla. Charlene Malone reported a seasonal high count of 142 American Golden-Plovers at the St. Charles Co. Airport. These seasonal highs were also down. Three basic plumaged birds still hanging around at Eagle Bluffs CA on May 22 by Tim James, and a flock of 25 to 35 birds on May 19th were a bit late. Squaw Creek NWR had this season's only Snowy Plover with a male reported on May 15 by Dave Easter- la. Higher than usual reports of Piping Plover were received with a single bird at Squaw Creek NWR on Apr 26 by Dave Easterla and again on May 4 by Bob Fisher. Not to be outdone, Riverlands EDA had a bird on May 3 reported by Com1ie Alwood and possibly the same bird lingered a day - Rad Widmer,Riverlands. A good high count of eight birds was at Clarence Cannon NWR on Apr 25 in Annada- Randy Korotev. Only one Black-necked Stilt was reported. This bird was found at Squaw Creek NWR on May 21 by Tommie Rogers. Dave Easterla foundthe most American Avocets of the season with twoon Apr 19 and culminating with 29 birds on Apr 26
37 at Squaw Creek NWR. Ruth Grant found a single bird at Schell-Osage CA on Apr 21. Yellowlegs numbers overall were down, but a group of more than 200 Greater Yellowlegs and 300 Lesser Yellowlegs were foundby Charlene and Jim Malone at Lincoln Shields, Riverlands EDA, May 2. Eight Willets were the seasonal high at Riverlands EDA by Jim and Charlene Malone on Apr 28. Six Whimbrel at Eagle Bluffs CA on May 23 were reported by multipie observers and represented a very good Missouri report. Eighteen Hudsonian God wits at Eagle Bluffs CA were reported by Paul McKenzie on May 9; 22 at Squaw Creek NWR Kristi Mayo Apr 24, were the seasonal highs, but much smaller numbers compared to previous highs. Twelve Marbled God wits wereobserved by multiple observes on Apr 28. Two good groups of Ruddy Turnstones were found this season with 15 at Eagle Bluffs on May 18- Bill Goodge, and 13 at Squaw Creek NWR, May 16 Dave Easterla. Western Sandpipers are uncommon to rare in spring, however two individualsat Squaw Creek NWR were a good find by Dave Easterla on Apr 25. Observers in the eastern half of the state commented on low numbers of Pectoral Sandpipers this spring. Five birds at Eagle Bluffs CA on Mar 10 represented a good early record and a high cotmt of about 500 birds at Squaw Creek NWRon Apr 26 were the seasonal high- Dave Easterla Thirty-six Dunlins at Squaw Creek NWR on May 20 were the seasonal high - Dave Easterla. Two hundred and fifty Stilt Sandpipers, including a partial albino bird, were the seasonal high for our region at Squaw Creek NWR- Dave Easterla, May 16. Quite unusual was a one day observation of a Reeve (a female Ruff***) at Lake Contrary - St. Joseph, May 24. Unfortunately this was just a single day sighting of a rare shorebird- Larry Lade. An evenly mixed flock of 500 Short and Long-billed dowitchers at Squaw Creek
38 NWR represented the season's high on May15- Dave Easterla. Two Red-necked Phalaropes at Eagle Bluffs CA associat- ing with Dunlin rather than Wilson's Phalarope were reported by Paul McKenzie on May 20. Thirty-two Wilson's Phalaropes were the season's high at Eagle Bluffs CA on May 13- Edge Wade. The state's spring Laughing Gulls wereall found at River- lands EDA and were possibly the same bird. Dave Becher reported on Apr 21 and Apr 28, Dave Rogles on Apr 28, and Sherry McCowan on Apr 21. Edge Wade found a laggard Ring-billed Gull at Eagle Bluffs CA on May 22. Lingering into the spring season, a Lesser Black-backed Gull was found at Riverlands EDA by George and Terry Barker on Mar 16. Two Least Terns seen at Eagle Bluffs CA by Edge Wadeon May 9 were a good "inland" report.
DOVES THROUGH THRUSHES Eurasian Collared-Doves were reported by many ob- servers, continuing their methodical march across the state. Greene Co. received its first report with a bird found by Becky Matthews on Apr 22. Multiple reports of White-winged Dove(***) from Missouri seem to echo a regional trend. Jenny Webb reported a single bird on May 18 at backyard feeders associating with a Eurasian Collared Dove in Clarence Cannon NWR. A White-winged Dove was seen for several days from 13 April in Springfield by Zelda Ellison and many others. Heidi McCullough reported a bird in their north Kansas City yard Apr 22 and 23. Many reporters felt that Black-billed Cuckoos were about in larger numbers this season. Bill Goodge received a second-hand report of a nesting pair in Boone Co. Two reports of Greater Roadrunner came from a bird seen by Chas Stuffelbeam in Greene Co. on Apr 29 and one in northern Christian Co. by Francita Frank on May 22.
39 Randy Korotev found three fledgling Eastern Screech-Owls attended by adults on Apr 16 in Univer- sity City (St. Louis Co.). The young birds were already able to fly; Randy reports that this is a month earlier than Screech-Owls normally fledge around that area. Only a single Snowy Owl lingered into the spring season from a good winter count. This bird was reported from Grand Pass CA on Mar 10 by Edge Wade et al. The bird had been present for about a month. Scarcely reported this season were Long-eared Owls. Two at Poosey CA in Livingston Co. were the onlv birds re- ported Steve Kinder, Mar 26. :Many observers reported Ruby-throated Humming- birds showing up two weeks later than normal. The over- wintering Shell-Osage CA Lewis's Woodpecker(***), seen by dozens if not hundreds of birders over the past eight months, was last seen on Mav 4th in the same small, flooded woodlot Eastem Screech-Owl
40 where he was first discovered. Locally significant, a Pileated Woodpecker nesting pair was discovered by Rosalie Peters in northern Harrison Co. They were seen multiple times throughout the month of May. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was a bit early at Bush CA on Apr 24- Torrey Berger. Many observers reported finding this species this spring. Overall, Empidimox flycatchers were under reported. Chris Hobbs reported the best day with this difficult genus when we found 29+ birds in the Squaw Creek area on May 19. A pair of Western Kingbirds returned to Charleston, in Mississippi Co. to nest- Leslie Kohler, May 10. Noteworthy in the bootheel,a female Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was found by Leslie Koller along the Mississippi/New Madrid Co. line on May 14. Two Loggerhead Shrikes were reported on May 11 in St. Charles Co.- Charlene Malone. Bewick's Wren reports were up this year with multiples reported from the eastern part of the state. Uncommon in the west, a Mar 17bird at Lake Jacomo by Matt Gearheart was a good find. A late but well described Hermit Thrush was reported by Leslie Koller from Otter Slough CA on May 2nd.
WARBLERS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS For the third year running a Brewster's Warbler set up territory at Weston Bend State Park- Nancy Leo et al.,- May 20. Doug Willis had a good count of 15 Chestnut-sided Warblers at the Dr. F. R. Crouch Wildlife Sanctuary in Far- mington on May 9. These birds were associated with a mini- fallout of 24 warbler species. Unexpected were two Cape May Warblers near Dunn Ranch CA on May 18- Steve Kinder. Black-throated Blue Warblers are an annual occurrence, but are found by only a few observers each spring. Scott Schuette reported a female in Troy, Lincoln Co.- May 19; Mike Warnock had one at Grindstone Nature Area in Columbia -
41 Apr 30. Up to 15 territorial male Yellow-throated Warblers seen between Martin City and Swope Park along the Blue River was a very good count for the Kansas City area- Roger McNeill, May 17. Pine Warblers were reported in good numbers this spring by multiple observers, but of local interest was a singing bird on May 4 in the Kansas City Union Cemetery- Jim Rising. A Prairie Warbler was observed at Watkin's Mill State Park - May 5 - Steve Dillinger. Two Palm Warblers in northeast Jackson County were found by Jim and Ellen Zellmer on May 11th. Bay-breasted Warblers were reported by a few observers, with a somewhat early bird on Apr 21 at Castlewood State Park - Jim Ziebol. A particularly early single, silent Blackpoll Warbler observed on Apr 19 in South Kansas City by Roger McNeill. Weston Bend State Park again is hosting territorial Cerulean Warblers, with two to three singing males being reported by multiple observers. A singing Connecticut Warbler was reported at Tower Grover Park on May 13 and 14, and another on May 25 by Tom Barman; Mike Brady found two birds on May 15; one bird was still present May 16 at MO Botanical Garden. Laura Dunn located a singing bird at Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Center, Clay Co., on May 13. It was seen and heard by multiple observers over the next two days. Hooded Warblers fledged young at Bush CA this spring- May 18. A single territorial male with up to two females were reported by Mike Brady et al. Double digit Canada Warblers in the western half of the state indicate a good movement. Six wereseenonMay 19ona GOAS trip to the Springfield Nature Center led by Zelda Ellison, and two singing birds were found by Roger McNeill and Larry Rizzo along the banks of the Blue River- May 17. Six reports of Clay-colored Sparrows, a western migrant, were recei\·ed, with a high of four birds in north Kearney- Jo Aru1 Eldridge. Birds were also found in Kansas City, Liberty, Columbia and Dallas Co. The last seasonal report of Savannah
42 Sparrow came from Squaw Creek NWR on May 30 by Dave Easterla. Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow approached a state high count. Ten were found at Squaw Creek NWR on May 14 by Tommie Rogers. Late Zonotrichia sparrows were all reported between the second and third weeks of May. White- throated Sparrow was last seen May 15 at Tower Grove Park by Sherry McCowan; Harris's Sparrow was last reported on May 14 by JoAnn Eldridge in Kearney; and White-crowned Sparrows were seen last by Bill Rowe and Randy Korotev. They had two late birds at Weldon Spring CA- May 18. Bruce Beck found three to five individuals at a bird feeder on the same date at Poplar Bluff. Somewhat late was a Dark-eyed Junco at the bubbler in Tower Grove Park on May 9 by Sherry Mc- Kowen. Lapland Longspurs were reported in low numbers this season with small groups of six birds by Bill Goodge, and 50 birds by Susan Hazelwood on Mar 3, both in the Columbia area. The season's high count of Smith's Longspurs was 250 + individuals found by Jack Hilsabeck at Rosecran's Airport on Mar 13 outside of St. Joe; Steve Kinder reported 75-80 birds at Pawnee Prairie CA on Mar 22. For the seventh straight year a male Lazuli Bunting has briefly visited a rural feeder in Atchison Co. between May 2 and 6. This year a second bird accompanied the regular visitor -Wilber and Evonne Wright. Indicating that cooler temperatures don't necessarily corre- late to winter finch movements, Purple Finches were found lingering all across the state and reported by many observers into late April. No Red Crossbills were reported lingering into the spring, but White-winged Crossbills were likely one of THE birds of the season. This spring a bevy of White-winged Crossbills were reported from the western half of our state with no fewer than eight individuals found. Three birds (two females and one imm. male) found in Excelsior Springs on Apr
43 17 abd Apr 20 by Elly Stock, and a revisit of the imm. male on April 29, represented a new late spring date for Missouri. Multiple observers saw a pair of birds at the Squaw Creek NWR headquarters until late April. Barb Lee of St. Joseph had a male at her feeder between April 7 and 17. Myrna Carlton had one at a feeder bird near Poosey CA in Livingston Co. between Mar 31 and Apr 12; Mike Doyen reported a feeder bird in Rolla. Larry Lade had the season's only report of Common Red- poll in his yard in St. Joseph for a short time- Mar 21. Three hatchling Pine Siskins were observed with adults on Apr 29 at Rockwood Reservation, St. Louis Co. Sherry McCowan found the nest earlier in the moth. Awav from northwestern Missouri flocks of Yellow- headed Blackbirds are not found by many observers. Bill Goodgehad a migrant flock of 10 birds at Eagle Bluffs CA on 1\pr 21; Edge Wade found 13 birds at the same spot on May 14. Brewer's Blackbirds are found in small numbers during the winter and early spring, but extreme caution needs to be exercisedin separating them from similar species. Edge Wade foundabird on Mar 24 at the Horse Research Farm in Boone Co., and Bill Goodge reported a single bird at UMC South Farm on Mar 29. Steve Kinder had three birds on Mar 17 in Fountain GroveCA.
Corrigendum: for Winter2000-2001 Seasonal Survey. Corrections to this report appear in the June 2002 issue of The Bluebird. David A. Easterla has made the following correc- tions to the corrections to that report. American Pipit sighting was made by David A. Easterla and David J. Easterla. On Jan. 15 DavidA. Easterla, Jack Hilsabeck, and Kirby Goslee visited REDA and compiled a gull survey from dawn to dusk.
44 Birding In Central California Lester Pannell
y wife, Charlene, we headed west across Mand I drove to Walker Pass down into the California this summer. Our Kern River Preserve, which is purpose was to see some of its well known for its rich diver- wealth of bird life and to sity. enjoy its beautiful scenery. Our first stop was at a Our first birding stop was pleasant little oasis where I at Ritle Falls State Park in saw my first life bird of the Western Colorado where we trip, a Nuttall's Woodpecker. observed Scott's Orioles, The South Fork of the Spotted Towhees, and an Kern River supports the American Dipper. largest remaining stand of The following day we Great Valley Cotton- spent several hours in Zion wood/Willow riparian forest National Park, Utah. Among in California, and has been the most notable birds seen designated a globally impor- there were Black-throated tant bird area. Gray Warblers, White- As we drove in to the val- throated Swifts, Rufous- ley, we soon noticed several winged Sparrows, Say's Prairie Falcons, one in pursuit Phoebe, Pinyon Jays, Black- of a Red-tailed Hawk. Here in chinned Hummingbirds, Bul- this \Vonderful place we lock's Orioles, Western vvalked se\ era! trails, one Wood-Pewees, and another co\·ering 1.5 miles along ex- Anwricm Dipper. ceptional river habitat. Here Our first important we saw a Barn Owl in flight, California speoes were and saw Townsend's Soli- Black-throated Sparrows at a taire, Western Bluebird, desert rest stop. We spent our House Wren, WesternWood- first night in California at Pewee, Violet Greenand Tree Ridgeway. From Ridgeway swallows, a Black Phoebe, We spent the next three days exploring the moun- tainous scenery of Sequoia American Dipper and Yosemite national parks. Birds of interest observed in these two parks included Mountain Bluebirds, Juniper Tihnice, Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, Mountain Chickadees, Cassin's Finch, Clark's Nut- crackers, and Hermit War- blers. Near our motel we saw and many Yellow Warblers. California Quail, Phainope- In the vard at Conservan- pla, California Towhees, and cy headquarters we sat w1der WesternBluebirds. a shade tree observing Black- Crossing over 9,945 foot chinned and Anna's hum- high Tioga Pass we left mingbirds and Bullock's Yosemite and descended into Orioles coming to feeders. the valley around Mono Lawrence's Goldfinch sang Lake. At a campground we from the trees. Along a mag- found Western Tanagers. At nificent river trail we also ob- Mono Lake we saw California served Lesser Goldfinch. Gulls, Sage Sparrows, Throughout California Brewer'ss Sparrows, Wilson's Brewer's Blackbirds, Western Phalaropes, and American Kingbirds, Song Sparrows, Avocets. Common Ravens, Steller's From Mono Lake we Jays, and Acorn Woodpeck- drove to Bodie State Park- ers were abundant. the site of an old mining Drivingacross the Sierras town. On the road to this des- we saw White-headed Wood- olate, but interesting, place peckers and Black-billed we saw a Sage Grouse with Magpies young. From here we continued north to a place called Black Oystercatcher Bridgeport Reservoir. Again California Gulls were abun- dant; we also saw Cattle, Snowy, and Great egrets, American White Pelicans, Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Cinnamon Teal and other ducks, and Western, Pied- billed, and Horned grebes. and Common terns, while Again we drove west, Pigeon Guillemot swam around Lake Tahoe. South of about the bay. Sacramento we stopped at We ate dinner from our Cosumnes River Preserve. car at Point Lobos State Park We ate dinner at head- where we saw a Black Oyster- quarters amid feeding Black- catcher. That afternoon we chinned Hummingbirds. Af- drove the spectacular Big Sur ter dinner we took a mile-long Coast on Highway 1 for a dis- walk through the refuge. In- tance of 80 miles. teresting bird life there in- The following day we cluded Yellow-billed stopped at Kern National Magpies, Wrentit, Ash- Wildlife Refuge. Among throated Flycatchers, birds seen were Black-necked Western Scrub Jays, Oak Tit- Stilts, White-faced Ibis, Yel- mouse, Spotted Towhees, low-crowned Night-Herons, and Black Phoebes. and numerous ducks and The following day we egrets. drove to Monterey Peninsula Our last night was spent where our first stop was at in Barstow. Summer is Fisherman's Wharf. At the probably the worst season for pier we saw Brandt's Cor- birding California, but the morant, Western and best time for visiting Heermann's gulls, Caspian Yosemite and Sequoia.
47 CONSERVATION REPORT Dave Bedan
Audubon Missouri caused by off-road vehicles comments on Mark Twain and the constant threat of National Forest plan lead mining. And there is still revision more clearcutting than there The Mark Twain National should be. Forest (MTNF) is the largest The current Forest Plan tract of public land in Mis- for the MTNF was developed souri at 1.5 million acres. This in the early 1980's and be- forest has great habitat and came effective in June of 1986. other natural values. The But now the mangers of the many streams, springs, caves forest are initiating a revision and sinkholes are among its of the plan. This will take virtues and at the same time, nearly four years and you its greatest source of vul- will have several oppor- nerability. Excellent manage- tunities to participate. The ment of the forest is necessary Forest Service planning staff to protect these water resour- initially identified five major ces. revision topics: (1) vegetation MTNF is Missouri's best and timber management, (2) chance for sustainable ecological sustainability and forestry and land manage- ecosystem health, (3) fire ment. The management of management, (4) manage- the forest has not always been ment area boundaries, and as good as could be, but some (5) riparian areas and water trends in recent years have quality. After some pressure been positive. For example, from the public the staff there has been less reliance on agreed to also consider clearcutting for timber har- revisions to other areas of the vest. But the forest is facing plan, such as endangered many challenges including species and the impacts of damage and disruption lead mining.
48 The initial round of public Forest Land and Resource scoping meetings have just Management Plan and Notice of Intent to Revise the been concluded and the Forest Plan (April 2002). Forest Service will be prepar- However, we belie\·e that all ing a draft Environmental issues of concern to the Impact Statement (EIS) for public should be considered public review. Audubon Mis- for revision and not only the five issues discussed in the souri and some Audubon document. Chapters sent in comments in "Audubon Missouri is par- the initial scoping process. ticularly interested in seeing On July 31, 2002, Roger Still, the following issues con- Executive Director of Audu- sidered in the plan revision: bon Missouri, submitted the l.Water Quality & Soil Con- following comments on the servation- A key part of sus- MTNF plan revision: tainable forestry manage- ment is the protection of "Audubon Missouri is inter- water quality and preven- ested in participating in the tion of soil erosion. We sup- recently announced MTNF port the selection of Plan revision. We agree that "Riparian Areas and Water the plan needs revision in Quality" as a major revision light of current conditions topic. In many cases, the and knowledge. Audubon riparian area along a stream Missouri is the state office of should be defined as "the en- the National Audubon tire floodplain." It is par- Society and we strongly sup- ticularly important to rigidly port sustainable manage- protect the high water ment of our nations National quality in Karst areas. The Forests. We hope that this highest level of best manage- plan revision will further the ment practices should be management of the Mark mandated and strictly en- Twain National Forest in forced in all timber harvests. that direction. "We congratulate the Mark 2. Biological Diversity- The Twain for the meaningful protection and restoration of anal vsis in the Assessment of biological diversity is anoth- the Need for Change for the er hmdamental aspect of su- Mark Twain National stainable forestry. We sup-
49 port the increased use of socio-economic points of prescribed fire to restore and view. Sustainable forestry maintain Ozark's ecosys- operations should be con- tems. We endorse the use of ducted in compliance with revised land type association the principles and criteria of boundaries as an ecological- the Forest Stewardship ly sound basis to delineate Council. The forestry prac- Management Areas. We tices of the MTNF should be urge that the best biological certified so that forest diversity and ecological data products harvested from the available be used to drive MTNF are qualified to be management decisions. We sold under the Value Mis- encourage the MTNF to in- souri label and other cer- corporate the science based tification programs with Important Bird Areas similar criteria. We strongly derived by Audubon and its agree with the proposed partners into its manage- changes in suitable land ment considerations. determination, demand es- timations, and allowable sale 3. Ecosystem Management quantities (ASQ) determina- Since the last revision of the tions. All pine plantings MTNF plan ecosystem should use Missouri Ozarks' management has increasing- seed sources, not sources ly become the approach used from other states. The Forest in national forest plans. Plan should continue to Ecosystem management is delineate the landtype as- an ecological approach to sociations (LT As) and natural resource manage- ecological land types (EL Ts) ment to assure productive, on which pine planting is al- healthy ecosystems by lowed with pine restoration blending social, economic, occurring on those lands in- physical, and biological dicated to be in pine prior to needs and values. We urge European settlement. the MTNF to use this ap- proach. 5. Fire Management We agree that fire management 4. Timber Management should be used to restore The MTNF should be a ecosystems in order to main- model of sustainable timber tain healthy glades, forests, management practices from wildlife habitat, and to re- both the ecological and duce fuel loads. We are espe-
50 cially interested in more fire "Thank you for the oppor- management in glade tunity to participate in the habitat. revision of the MTNF plan. Please notify Audubon Mis- 6. Wilderness Areas- Road- souri of all future activities in less areas should be inven- regard to the revision of the toried to assess whether they MTNFplan. should be recommended for wilderness designation. All To learn more about the roadless areas should be MTNF plan revision process managedas de-facto wilder- ness areas so that wilderness go to: http:/ /www.fs.fed.us values are not compromised /r9/marktwain/ and click prior to afinal decision being on "Forest plan revision pro- made. All Mark Twainper- cess has begun" and then sonnel should vigorously promote and enforce road- click on "Planning Journals." less area vehicle restrictions. Or contact Laura Watts at (573) 341-7471 and let her 7. Minerals Exp !oration- All know that you want to areas of ecological sen- notified of opportunities to sitivity and high biodiver- sity priority should be participate. withdrawn from considera- tion for mineral leasing. A full Environmental Impact Statement based on the im- pacts of mining should be developed for all proposals for mineral exploration.
8. Off-road/all Terrain Ve- hicle Use - Audubon has long believed that off-road and all terrain vehicles are a major threat to most other forest values. There should be no new ORV I ATV areas designated, and a reassess- ment of the existing areas should be conducted.
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