TAS March07.Pub

5530 Sunset Drive; Miami, Florida 33143 (305) 667-7337 March/April 2007 TAS Birdathon 2007 ur Annual Birdathon will span pledge $50 or more get a t-shirt too! Prize categories include OApril 7- 22, 2007. You can count Birdathoners win prizes for raising • Highest pledge total ($) birds during any 24 consecutive hours money and for counting the most • Most bird species seen by an individ- in this period. A Birdathon is like a birds. Prizes in the past have in- ual or a team walkathon. You collect pledges for cluded birding trips to the Dry Tor- birds species seen instead of miles tugas, tickets on American Airlines, To participate, simply download the walked (for example, $1 per bird, 25¢ binoculars, accommodations in New pledge forms from tropicalaudubon. per bird, etc.), or simply for a flat Orleans and the Keys, Audubon org. amount. You can bird solo, form a prints, restaurant meals, native plants team, or join an existing team. You and more. Check our website for a You can receive mailed copies of the can even do your Birdathon on any of list of this year's prizes or call the Doc pledge forms by notifying us by e-mail the TAS birdwalks during this period. Thomas House for info. Please con- at [email protected] or by tact us at 305-667-7337 or at direc- phone at 305-667-7337. Collecting $50 in pledges nets you a [email protected] if you or your colorful TAS t-shirt. Individuals that business can donate a prize. (Continued on page 3, “How To Birdathon“) Status of Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow 2006 Survey Report from Everglades National Park n December, Superintendent Dan Kimball of Ever- individuals, had only 48 birds. In 2006, no sparrows were I glades National Park announced the results of the Ever- recorded during routine surveys; however, a couple of glades National Park annual Cape Sable Seaside Spar- birds were recorded in the area during additional, more row survey. Overall, population numbers of this endan- intensive searches. gered bird are similar to those reported in 2005; however, while some specific subpopulations are increasing in size, The subpopulation located west of Shark River Slough others are declining and 4 out of 6 subpopulations are at was up slightly in 2006, but has declined compared to his- risk of disappearing. toric levels. In the past, this subpopulation comprised more than 50% of the total population. Biologists estimate Native to south Florida, the Cape that there were more than 2,600 birds during the period Sable Seaside Sparrows occur in from 1981-1992; however, from 1993-1995, this subpopu- 6 separate subpopulations on lation’s size fell dramatically to 240 birds. After 1995, the State and National Park Service sparrows recovered somewhat, but an unexpected dry lands. In 2006, the total popula- season storm in 2000 raised water levels nearly 2 feet, tion was estimated to be 3,088 flooding nests and preventing reproduction. In 2006, only birds, the same as estimated in 112 birds were estimated to occur in this group. 2005, but down significantly from the 6,600 birds estimated during Other subpopulations, totaling 2,944 birds, occur in the the period from 1981-1992. park. Of these, the smallest subpopulations (with less While some variation in popula- than 1,000 birds) have shown some minor increases in tion size is normal for this spe- size. The National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife cies, this decline is atypical. Service and other partners will continue to monitor, study and provide recommendations to ensure the recovery of One of the subpopulations is of particular concern to park this endangered species in its natural habitat. biologists. In 2005, this group, which once contained 400 (Continued on page 3) 2 hite-winged Crossbills, with found in southeast Florida this winter. catchers were reported from several other W uniquely crossed bill tips evolved The most reliable was an individual dis- locations in and around Everglades Na- to pry seeds from the cones of pines, covered in mid-January at Evergreen tional Park, including Research Road, spruces and firs, are native to Cemetery in Ft. Lauderdale and seen into Royal Palm and along CR 9336, just out- the boreal forests of the February. Up to two were seen at Bill side the park. Scissor-tailed Flycatchers Northern Hemisphere. In Baggs Cape Florida State Park on Key were also found this winter behind Ken- North America, their breeding Biscayne; one in December and another dall-Tamiami Airport, around the intersec- range includes Alaska and in February. Another was spotted at the tion of SW 212 Avenue and SW 312 much of Canada. While their Deering Estate during the Kendall Area Street in Homestead and on SW 209 Ave- winter movements in the Christmas Bird Count. A number of other nue near CR 9336. United States may occasion- interesting sightings occurred during local ally extend as far south as CBCs. The fifty-one Bronzed Cowbirds Sightings of note from elsewhere in Flor- the Carolinas and possibly seen during the Miami CBC were a first ida include a Hammond’s Flycatcher, northeastern Georgia, this for that long-running count. The seven found at Hal Scott Preserve, southeast of species has never been seen Scaly-headed Parrots seen on Miami Orlando and potentially a second state in Florida. Until this past Beach were not only a first for the Miami record. Ivory-billed Woodpecker sightings January, that is, when I found CBC but a first for CBCs anywhere! High- continue from around the Choc- the carcass of a White- lights from the Coot Bay CBC include tawhatchee River in the Panhandle, winged Crossbill at the Long Greater Scaup, Least and Vermilion Fly- though photographic evidence remains Pine Key picnic area in Ever- catchers, Swainson’s Thrush, Prothono- unpublished to date. Golden Eagles were glades National Park. The tary Warbler, Bronzed Cowbird and Or- seen in Big Cypress National Preserve, remains were found along chard Oriole. In the Dry Tortugas, Red- as well as near Osceola National Forest the edge of a parking space footed Booby, Pomerine Jaeger, Antillean in North Florida. Calliope Hummingbirds in the picnic area; its wings Short-eared Owl, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, were coming to feeders in Tallahassee and legs were bent in un- American Pipit and Wilson’s Warbler and Jacksonville; Western Tanagers and natural positions, suggesting were notable. Franklin’s Gull and Ten- a Bullock’s Oriole were also coming to that the bird may have died nessee Warbler were reported during the feeders in Tallahassee. Common Eiders after an impact with a solid Kendall Area count; a Magnificent Frigate- and Long-tailed Ducks were in St. object. It has been hypothe- bird was spotted well inland during the Augustine, a Brant was at Ft. Island, in sized that the bird was struck Long Pine Key CBC. Nashville Warblers Citrus County and Ross’s Geese and by a vehicle somewhere were found during both the Long Pine Key White-faced Ibis were at St. Marks Na- within its range, lodged within and Kendall Area CBCs, while Louisiana tional Wildlife Refuge in Wakulla County. the front grill and then fell off Waterthrushes were seen during the Mi- Glaucous Gulls were at the Volusia (or was removed) once that ami, Long Pine Key and Coot Bay counts. County landfill and near the Destin vehicle arrived at the picnic Bridge, in Okaloosa County. Horned area. It has also been sug- Though heavily impacted by hurricanes in Larks were discovered in agricultural gested that the bird could be 2005, the area around Flamingo in Ever- fields in Jackson County and Western a Hispaniolan Crossbill, en- glades National Park has attracted a wide Meadowlarks were found in similar habitat demic to high elevation pine variety of birds this winter. In addition to in Escambia County. While the Masked forests in Haiti and the Do- species mentioned for the Coot Bay CBC, Duck seems to have disappeared from minican Republic. The re- sightings from this area have included Veira Wetlands in Brevard County, the mains are now in the posses- Lesser Nighthawk, Short-eared Owl, Eared Grebe continues to entertain visit- sion of the Florida Museum Brown-crested and Scissor-tailed Fly- ing birders at Green Cay Wetlands in of Natural History at the Uni- catcher, Western Kingbird, Yellow- Palm Beach County. Finally, among the versity of Florida in breasted Chat, Painted and Indigo Bun- victims of the tragic storms in central Flor- Gainesville, where a thor- ting, Baltimore Oriole, Bobolink, Dickcis- ida were seventeen Whooping Cranes ough examination of the sel, Shiny Cowbird and a variety of spar- wintering at Chassahowitzka National specimen (hopefully, to in- rows, including Clay-colored, Chipping, Wildlife Refuge in Citrus County. The clude a stomach content Grasshopper, Nelson’s Sharp-tailed, cranes, raised in Wisconsin and trained to analysis) will help to deter- Swamp and White-crowned. A sparrow migrate to Florida with the assistance of mine the origin of this bird. thought to be a Lark Bunting, as well as a ultralight aircraft, were the latest arrivals Brian Rapoza’s Birding Report raptor believed to be a Rough-legged in the otherwise successful reintroduction As for birds seen alive and Hawk was also reported from the Fla- program; only one member of the flock well, as many as four West- mingo area, but these sightings were survived. ern Spindalis, all males, were never confirmed. Brown-crested Fly- Tropical Audubon Society (TAS) is a group of dedicated citizens 3) Enjoyment: as a society of members with compatible Drive; Miami, Florida 33143.

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