September 2017 Volume 84, No. 3
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September 2017 Volume 84, No. 3 The Audubon Society of Missouri Missouri’s Ornithological Society Since 1901 The Audubon Society of Missouri Officers Regional Directors Mark Haas*+, President (2018) Charles Burwick+ (2017) 614 Otto Drive; Jackson MO 63755; Springfield (417) 860-9505 (573) 204-0626 Lottie Bushmann+ (2018) [email protected] Columbia, (573) 445-3942 Bill Eddleman*+, Vice-President Jeff Cantrell+ (2017) (2018); 1831 Ricardo Drive, Cape Neosho (471) 476-3311 Girardeau, MO 63701, (573) 335-1507, [email protected] Mike Doyen+ (2017) Rolla (573) 364-0020 Scott Laurent*+, Secretary (2017) 610 W. 46th Street, #103; Kansas City, Sherry Leonardo+ (2018) MO 64112; (816) 916-5014 Grandview (816) 763-1393 [email protected] Brent Galliart+ (2018) Pat Lueders*+, Treasurer (2017) St. Joseph (816) 232-6038 1147 Hawken Pl., St. Louis, MO Greg Leonard+ (2019) 63119; (314) 222-1711 Columbia (573) 443-8263 [email protected] Terry McNeely+ (2019) Honorary Directors Jameson, MO (660) 828-4215 Richard A. Anderson, St. Louis** Phil Wire+ (2019) Nathan Fay, Ozark** Bowling Green (314) 960-0370 Leo Galloway, St. Joseph** Jim Jackson, Marthasville Lisle Jeffrey, Columbia** Chairs Floyd Lawhon, St. Joseph** Bill Clark, Historian Patrick Mahnkey, Forsyth** 3906 Grace Ellen Dr. Rebecca Matthews, Springfield** Columbia, MO 65202 Sydney Wade, Jefferson City** (573) 474-4510 Dave Witten, Columbia** John Wylie, Jefferson City** Kevin Wehner, Membership Brad Jacobs, 2016 Recipient of the 510 Ridgeway Ave. Rudolf Bennitt Award Columbia, MO 65203 Jim Jackson, 2012 Recipient of the (573) 815-0352 [email protected] Rudolf Bennitt Award Dr. David Easterla, 2006 Recipient of the Rudolf Bennitt Award + Board Position * Executive Committee Member Paul E. Bauer, 2004 Recipient of the **Deceased Rudolf Bennitt Award Page i THE BLUEBIRD The Bluebird The Bluebird Editor: Allen Gathman*+, 3148 Hwy. C, Pocahontas, MO 63779, (573) 579-5464, [email protected] Christmas Bird Count Compiler: Randy Korotev, 800 Oakbrook Lane, St. Louis, MO 63132, (314) 993-0055, [email protected] Communication Services: Patrick Harrison+, Webmaster, http://mobirds.org, Susan Hazelwood and David Scheu, Co-owners Listserve, [email protected],edu ASM Scholarship Committee: Sue Gustafson, Chair, 429 Belleview Ave., Webster Groves MO 63119 (314) 968-8128, [email protected] MO Bird Records Committee: Brad Jacobs+—Chair, 11300 Vemers Ford Road, Columbia, MO 65201, (573) 874-3904, [email protected] Bill Rowe—Secretary, 7414 Kenrick Valley Drive, St Louis, MO 63119- 5726 (314) 962-0544, [email protected] Seasonal Survey Editors: Spring: Lisa Berger, 1947 South Kings Avenue, Springfield, MO 65807- 2733, (417) 860-9108, [email protected] Summer: Paul McKenzie, 2311 Grandview Circle, Columbia, MO 65203- 7240, (573) 445-3019, [email protected] Fall: Joe Eades, 517 Willow Lane, Kirkwood, MO, 63122, (314) 835-0353, [email protected] Winter: Mary Nemecek, 7807 N. Merimac Ct, Kansas City MO 64151; (816) 210-5148; [email protected] * Executive Committee Member + Board Position Deadlines for submission of material for publication in The Bluebird Manuscripts for The Bluebird—to the editor by: Feb. 1 for March issue; May 1 for June issue; Aug. 1 for Sept. issue; Nov. 1 for Dec. issue Deadlines for submissions to the Seasonal Survey Editors Winter (Dec. 1-Feb. 28)—to Mary Nemecek by Mar. 10 Spring (Mar. 1-May 31)—to Lisa Berger by June 10 Summer (June 1-July. 31)—to Paul McKenzie by Aug 10 Fall (Aug. 1-Nov. 30)—to Joe Eades by Dec. 10 Page ii THE BLUEBIRD Table of Contents September 2017 Volume 84, No. 3 115 President’s Corner—Mark Haas 116 We Welcome our New ASM Members—Kevin Wehner 117 PLAN NOW TO ATTEND THE FALL MEETING!—Camp Clover Point, Lake of the Ozarks State Park, September 22 – 24, 2017 119 The Great Missouri Birding Trail—Mike Doyen 123 Missouri River Academy—Leif Nordstrom 125 Winter 2016-2017 Seasonal Report—Mary Nemecek 134 Current River & Echo Bluff State Parks Survey —Edge Wade 136 A Birder’s Guide to Missouri Public Lands — Edge Wade and Mark Haas Front Cover— Yellow variant Red-Bellied Woodpecker observed this winter at feeders in Clinton County. Photographed by Bill Blackledge. Apple Creek CA, Perry Co. 1/14/17 Photo by Allen Gathman THE BLUEBIRD is published quarterly by The Audubon Society of Missouri. The submission of articles, photographs, and artwork is welcomed and encouraged. The views and opinions ex- pressed in this journal are those of each contributing writer and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of The Audubon Society of Missouri or its officers, Board of Directors, or edi- tors. Send address corrections to ASM, 2101 W. Broadway, PMB 122, Columbia, MO 65203-1261. Page iii THE BLUEBIRD President’s Corner—Mark Haas Dear Fellow Birders, I trust you’ve done some birding this summer. I feel that each season of the year can be rewarding. One of my re- wards was assisting Allen Gathman again on a Breeding Bird Survey route in Perry County. This was one of 80 such routes in Missouri and 3,000 in North America. For over 50 years, these surveys have helped monitor status and trends in bird populations. This information, just like Christmas Bird Counts, is crucial to bird conservation. Each year, a few of these five- hour routes go unfilled in Missouri, so think about getting involved—either by filling a vacancy or assisting another birder already committed to a route. I must sound like a broken record each time I emphasize the importance of our volunteers who keep ASM going. But it bears repeating. Bill Eddleman has stepped aside as The Bluebird editor to fill our Vice President vacancy. Allen Gathman has moved in to become our new editor. We owe them both many thanks. On July 1, we began a new one-year cooperative agreement with the Mis- souri Department of Conservation. This includes a commitment for in- creased birding effort at designated conservation areas (announced on the MOBIRDS listserv). When you bird there and submit your data to eBird, you support the work of ASM. A new opportunity came this summer when ASM funded two students to attend the Missouri River Academy. This edu- cational program focused on many aspects of the Missouri River, including its importance as a migratory route for birds. Conservation education is a key part of ASM’s mission. Thank you for birding these areas. Our annual Fall Meeting will be September 22-24 at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. We offer a great keynote speaker, an eBird workshop, graduate student reports, field trips, and most of all—a chance to reconnect with your birding friends. If you haven’t done so already, go to our mobirds.org web- site and register. I look forward to seeing you there. Mark Haas, President Page 115 THE BLUEBIRD Carolina Wren at Seventy-Six Conservation Area, Perry County. July 3, 2017. Photo by Allen Gathman. WE WELCOME OUR NEW ASM MEMBERS!! Kevin Wehner Remember, new members are our future. If a new member lives near you, say, “Howdy and welcome to ASM.” In addition, recruit another new member. Welcome to these seven new ASM mem- bers in the 3rd quarter of 2017! Kelly & Phillip Amelung St. Peters, MO David Becher St. Louis, MO Cara Joos Columbia, MO Jess Miller Independence, MO Caryl Posada-Stillings Ava, MO Natalie Rekittke Kirkwood, MO Page 116 THE BLUEBIRD PLAN NOW TO ATTEND THE FALL MEETING! Camp Clover Point Lake of the Ozarks State Park September 22 – 24, 2017 This should be a fun and relaxing weekend. It’s a chance to re- connect with old friends and to make some new ones, while birding and learning more about birds. Once again, $75 will cover two nights’ lodging, six meals, and your registration fee. Alternatively, there are several nearby motels for those who prefer not to “camp.” As always, you can register only, and pay for individual meals if you desire. On Friday evening, we will hear about a variety of current research on birds from graduate students at Southeast Missouri State and University of Missouri. You’ll also have time to socialize with other ASM members and ask for details on field trips scheduled for Satur- day and Sunday. We will have Christian Hagenlocker joining us on Saturday. Those of you who followed his blog on “The Birding Project” website know some of the details of his Big Year in 2016, in which he tallied 750 species and 2 provisional species in the American Birding Associa- tion area. He will share highlights from his Big Year and enlighten us on The Birding Project Saturday night. (More details on Chris- tian are at: http://www.thebirdingproject.com/). Another highlight this year is an eBird workshop that will answer many of your questions on how to get the most from this online checklist and bird reporting site. Brad Jacobs and other members of the Missouri Bird Records Committee will present the workshop on Saturday afternoon, or you can do additional birding trips after lunch on Saturday. Kelly McCay will have a poster presentation displayed at the meet- ing on research on bird-window collisions. He will be happy to an- swer questions on the research at any time during the weekend. Sunday morning we have additional field trips, a hawk watch, and tally time after lunch. Late September usually promises mild weather and a variety of Page 117 THE BLUEBIRD potential birding sites and a lot of experienced birders to help out the novices. Ha Ha Tonka State Park and Bagnell Dam are among the possible field trip destinations. Visit our website, www.mobirds.org, to learn more about our speak- ers, details of weekend activities, and to register for the meeting.